Coffs Coast Focus i114 by Focus

Jolly Roger

March 2020 issue 114

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From the

Welcome to the March issue of Coﬀs Coast FOCUS .

his month, we’re celebrating women who have taken a leap of faith and are making a name for themselves in small business. We don’t mean to brag, but we have some of the best ladies in business here on the Coffs Coast, and we are very excited to share their stories of success with you this month! Our annual Women in Business edition allows local leaders, managers, and workers to step out in front of their brand, and celebrate the amazing work they do within their business. We hope you enjoy reading all about them and our five women who are featured on the cover: Tanya Watts (Pacific Bay Resort), Daisy Moroney (hair and makeup stylist), Rebecca Te Whatu (RM Kitchens/Granite Transformations), Nina Bowden (Bowden Concrete) and Sarah Speirs (One Step Convey-

ancing). Special thanks to Living Doll Premier Stylists for styling the hair and Harlow and Co for the makeup. Inside this Edition Gary Wilson is the man behind Jolly Roger Barber here in Coffs Harbour. The story of how he came to be a barber might not be what you’d expect, but his life experience in the Army and also as a marriage celebrant has led him to this exciting stage of his life and career. We spoke with Simon Whittaker, a local award-winning photographer, and he told us of how he grew up learning about photography from his father, who was a successful photographer himself, and how after a time working in a completely different profession he was drawn back to the world of photography. Ean Rosenberg started with the Australian

Air League in 1996 and has been involved with the squadron here in Coffs Harbour ever since. Here he explains what the Air League is all about and why he remains so committed to the club and its mission. Next Month - Sport and Fitness Edition The health and fitness industry has developed in leaps and bounds, with people naturally wanting to live longer, be healthier and look better and have fun! If you are involved in the sporting, fitness or health industry, this is your chance to show how you’re leading the pack in our April edition! You don’t want to miss out on this! It’s going to be HUGE! Final Say “Success isn’t about the money you make; it’s about the difference you make in people’s lives” - Michelle Obama.

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contents

Issue 114 - March 2020

focusinterviews

feature a special

WOMEN IN BUSINESS

Ean Rosenberg Ean Rosenberg started with the Australian Air League in 1996 and has been involved with the squadron here in Coffs Harbour ever since. Here he explains what the Air League is all about and why he remains so committed to the club and its mission.

Anika Learoyd

Anika Learoyd is quite an extraordinary young woman. Her passion for cricket was ignited at a young age, and she set out with determination on a path that has led her to incredible success in her sport. We think she’s one to watch!

Mitch East

the Usual

Suspects

09. FROM THE ARCHIVES with Kev Smith 14. WHAT’S ON for March

Mitch East took up competing in bodyboarding competitions in his thirties, and despite being a busy business owner and dad, he has managed to do very well in not only local competitions, but many other comps up and down the coast including a national title!

34. SOCIAL SCENE with Carole Beros 37. TRAVEL TIME with Kerry Moss 44. STARGUIDE with Terri Hall 81. BUSINESS MINDS with Sam Wardman 83. EDUCATION with Nick Johnstone

84. ABODE Property Guide 90. REAL ESTATE with Amanda Langlands

Christine Wilson Art has been a part of Chris Wilson’s life since she was a small child. She made a career as an illustrator and now that she has retired from the world of commercial illustration, she is creating her own work and exhibiting locally.

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I W L S Y O R N A G JOLLY ROGER

Gary Wilson is the man behind Jolly Roger Barber here in Coffs Harbour. THE STORY OF HOW HE CAME TO BE A BARBER MIGHT NOT BE WHAT YOU’D EXPECT, BUT HIS LIFE EXPERIENCE IN THE ARMY AND ALSO AS A MARRIAGE CELEBRANT has led him to this exciting stage of his life and career. i Gary. You’re the owner of Jolly Roger Barber here in Coffs. How long have you been barbering? How did you first get into it? I trained as a barber around two years ago. I was working in management after I retired from the Army and found that it really wasn’t for me, so decided to start formal qualifications in barbering. I guess I wanted a career that I could do on my own terms, take anywhere, be creative but most of all, was engaging. With some of the mental health stuff that was discovered as I began transitioning out of defence, I was having a lot of trouble bringing myself to interact with a lot of people, so I had to get better at that, and being a barber really makes you interact with people. The career change has been amazing for my physical and mental health, all the while allowing me autonomy and creativity; I love it. Walking into Jolly Roger, you have created quite the space. How did the interior and exterior design come about? I suppose that all started with the name and the logo. The Jolly Roger concept was borne of feeling a bit distant from society as a Veteran. I didn’t realise how different life would be as a civilian. Not unlike a pirate, and not to sound dramatic, I felt somewhat like a social outcast in a setting that I was not yet used to. So, once I had the pirate concept, I went directly for the chairs. When I was searching for the perfect chairs, these leather, ornate and functional chairs jumped right out at me, so I snapped them up immediately. The rest of the shop was themed around the chairs. I went to see Nicolle at Natural Habitat Interiors here in Coffs to help me, as I consider interior Design as one of my particular “weak points” and I really didn’t want to stuff this up. She and her team were amazing after being given a brief of “Old London Barbershop meets 17th Century Pirate Ship Captain’s Cabin”, in turning my concept into a reality. Barbering is much deeper than a place to get a haircut. What can someone expect coming into the shop? I’m glad you mentioned this. I think traditionally, barbershops were a place for men to gather, yarn, laugh, whinge and be in a safe place among other dudes. I believe our lives are so much busier nowadays, along with the prevalence of communicating by words on a screen, that we have lost our collective gathering spots. That is what I want Jolly Roger to be. A place where people, men and

women, come to chill, have a drink, have a chat and It taught me a lot about the world and how provide each other with some company. In terms different our lived experiences can be, person-toof service, you will always get our best. Our mantra person. I learned about the dangers of the world and here is “Old-World Luxury meets New-World Style”. seeing past that; but mostly I learned that we take What that means is we want to provide you all with a so bloody much for granted. Some of the happiest truly traditional barbershop service. Hot towels, good people I have met live in a canvas tent, in the middle conversation, excellent banter, a stiff drink, cut-throat of the desert and tend a singular goat for a living. razors and a comfy chair. You will feel a bit pampered, These experiences, maybe not at the time but but leave feeling fresh and stylish. certainly upon reflection, have really shown me the We work hard on our training and extracurriculars, importance of gratitude. to make sure you get the best cuts and the best You are a man of many skills; you also work as a experience. All people are welcome in our space, celebrant! Can you tell us how that came about? but as well as our services, we also want to provide a So, when I was being retired from Army, I had a bit place, especially for men and Veterans to be able to of a freak-out, as I was a combat soldier and with my relax, be themselves and really enjoy an experience injuries, didn’t have a lot of transferrable skills. So, I designed specifically for them. We men don’t have a looked at myself and what skills I did have … public lot of “pamper” options that still feel masculine, so speaking was probably my most developed skill, so I that is what we really want to wondered how I could monetise put into the community. that. There were a couple So before you were a barber, of options; one was a coach/ you were in the Army. Can motivational speaker (tried that, you tell us a bit about that failed miserably) or a priest, but We want to provide experience? Where you I am not even remotely religious, you all with a truly served and for how long? so I thought a celebrant was the traditional Barbershop I was. I was regular Army for next best thing. I love that gig service. Hot towels, 12 years. Most of my career was though - so many happy people, good conversation, spent in the Cavalry (operating gracious and thankful people; excellent banter, a in light armoured vehicles). every time you work is an uplifting stiff drink, cut-throat During that time, I was posted to experience. razors and a comfy Darwin, Oakey, Puckapunyal and What do you enjoy most about chair. You will feel a Brisbane; with two operational being a celebrant? bit pampered, but leave tours of Iraq thrown in as well. It has to be, being a part of, in feeling fresh and stylish. These 12 years gave me some of a lot of cases, one of the biggest the best experiences of my life. days of people’s lives. I had a What would you say you small part in what is a lifetime learnt from that chapter of of happiness, and this makes me your life? feel great. I love hearing people’s I had so many experiences during that period of stories; you are all so interesting. I love seeing people my life. I guess from the outset the military teaches being so open and vulnerable with each other, in you resilience and self-discipline. I have found selffront of so many people and express what they discipline has been probably the greatest asset I promise, what they want. It is a special role. have branching into small business. The way to find What are your goals for your barbershop motivation every day, even on bad or slow days, to moving into the future? drag my ass out of bed, get ready and face the day to We really want to be a stalwart of the community. provide excellent customer experience. We want to be known for excellent customer That chapter of my life also taught me so much experience, service and technical ability. I plan to about people and myself, on how I deal with people. help the community by providing training in the Interpersonal relationships were, and sometimes industry to young people and Veterans and grow the remain to be, a bit of a struggle to me. The Coffs industry one barber at-a-time. We have a very exciting community has been so welcoming though, in announcement that we will be making very soon, so addition to really getting behind this business, which watch the socials! is making the transition a lot easier. Thanks Gary.

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Ean Rosenberg started with the Australian Air League in 1996 and has been involved with the squadron here in Coﬀs Harbour ever since. Here he explains what the Air League is all about and why he remains so committed to the club and its mission.

ey Ean. Tell us a little about what the Australian Air League is all about? The Australian Air League is one of the oldest youth organisations in Australia. It was started by a couple of WWI soldiers who noticed the youth of the day had very little to occupy their spare time, so formed a “club” with aviation as its basic theme. The Air League teaches young people (boys and girls) aged from eight to 18 years of age all about aviation from its early history to actually obtaining a commercial pilot licence, if that is the person’s goal. What part do you play in the Air League? I started with CH Squadron in June 1996 as a Trainee Officer. My first appointment was as squadron quartermaster, looking after stock and ordering supplies from HQ and issuing to members. I was also appointed to teach the new recruits the very fundamentals of the numerous courses the Air League provides. This Induction Course covered basics such as “What is an aeroplane”, how a plane takes off, what keeps it in the air and the basic parts such as wings, tail, fuselage undercarriage, engine and instruments, plus the control surfaces. As time passed, I was promoted through various ranks and was appointed OC of the squadron as Squadron Captain in 2000, when the original OC was elevated to Wing Captain. Currently my main involvement with the squadron is “Supervisory”and administration, as I have other officers to do most of the education. If they happen to be away for whatever reason, then I do the teaching as well. Where did Air League originate, and how did it get started here on the Coffs Coast? 8 Coffs Coast focus

The Australian Air League started with the formation of the first squadron in Manly in 1934 as “The Air Mindedness Development League”, but the name was changed to Air League in January 1935. Within the same year, squadrons were formed in as many as 10 Sydney suburbs. This spread to country areas very quickly and then to Victoria and Queensland. I became involved as my dad and oldest brother were officers in the Fortitude Valley squadron in Queensland. World War II had a major impact on the membership, as several squadrons closed due to members joining the armed services. My brother, John went to the RAAF and spent the war years as a pilot with 458 Squadron in England and the Middle East, and Dad was in a “Protected Vital “job, so was rejected. He did, however, become an officer with the “Air Training Corp” (now Air Force Cadets) when the organisation was founded in 1940. After the war many returned men were sick of uniforms and disciplined activities, so the Air League began a rebuilding program. Today, there are some 40 plus squadrons in NSW, with five/six in S.A. and several in Victoria and Queensland. The Coffs Harbour squadron was formed in 1995 by the original C.O. Wolfgang Lange, who was an officer with Penrith squadron and had moved to Coffs for business reasons, saw a chance to start a squadron here and opened the squadron in September 1995 with five adults as “officers” and some 20 cadets. By June of 1996, the squadron boasted 51 cadets and six officers. How many members do we have here on the Coffs Coast, and what is the age range? Like most organisations, the membership

has fluctuated over the paths such as mechanics, The aim of the Air League years, and at one stage electronics, weather, is to develop a spirit of in 2004 we had only me aircraft maintenance and aviation in the youth of and three NCO cadets, as administration positions, Australia, to develop good we had lost our meeting among others. citizenship, to develop facilities on five different What career the physical and mental occasions. In 2005 we aspirations do some abilities of its members, moved into our own of the members have, and to promote ingenuity and building at the airport, and how will Air resourcefulness of all members. and by end of year we League help them had 40 plus cadets and reach their career five officers. dreams? We have now again One of our former lost our building to the Enterprise Park cadets is now a Flight Instructor with FTA in development, so again we have lost several Adelaide and several others have qualified members because of cramped quarters and for a pilot’s licence over the years, some have also to universities and family movements out joined the Navy (Helicopter) the RAAF as pilots of the Coffs area. We are currently recruiting or maintenance personnel, and many are flying new cadets, but have limited space in which with various airlines like Qantas, while another to operate. Current cadet’s ages range from is a pilot with RFDS - but I think the majority 13 to 18. New members can join from the find the skills to just be “good citizens” and a age of eight years. Our education courses are credit to their family and community. formulated for all age groups. We have also had several cadets from 13 What do the members learn, and what to 15 who were capable of providing a flight skills do they acquire through the Air plan for any airline pilot in the world, provided League? they have the correct WAC (World Aero Chart). The aim of the Air League is to develop We are also able to provide a Public Speaking a spirit of aviation in the youth of Australia, course based on the Toast Masters Program. to develop good citizenship, to develop the Where can we find out more information physical and mental abilities of its members, about the Australian Air League? and to promote ingenuity and resourcefulness Information is obtainable on the internet. of all members. The courses the cadets can Just Google Australian Air League for general study are mostly related to aviation from information and then look for a particular “What is an Aeroplane” to a pilot’s licence if squadron, such as “Coffs Harbour”, or I can be a member has that as a goal. Courses include reached by phone on 0417 046 417. If anyone Aero Engines, Aircraft construction, Theory of wishes to make personal contact, the best way Flight, Air Navigation, Meteorology, Radio and would be to come out to the airport passenger Radio Navigation, which covers Instrument terminal on Wednesday night. We meet at Landing Systems (ILS), Administration, 6:30pm in the conference room inside the Electronics and many others, which can give passenger terminal. a cadet a good grounding in normal career Thanks Ean.

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WITH KEV SMITH

the smoke and maybe see the odd ember fall, but then what? These tough people walked into where they lived carrying everything they own; the shelters were mostly shanty tents and timber structures. Where did they run to, and in what direction? When the fire did rage through their section, they would be buggered. At least today we have that preconceived warning to escape and drive (hopefully) away on our designated escape route to safety. This is what is happening now in our Coffs region; we lost a stack of history when the fires ripped through our hinterland in the form of heritage buildings - old timber structures that were built in the bush around the turn of the century. I’ve seen old timber crosses on graves burnt to pieces.

FIRES & FLOODS It seems we can’t win at the moment, with devastation everywhere; first it was the fires, and now our horrible floods.

hile we needed the rain, I think everybody will agree it has just been too much at once. But, luckily in today’s day and age we have many apps, social media and text messaging, so that we can be informed nearly to the minute. But what about the poor buggers who worked the mines, the old remote timber mills and pastoralists, who never had warnings about flash

flooding or terrible fires about to rip through their camps! Just think: they might hear a rumble in the valley, and before they know it there’s a tonne of water gushing downstream, washing things over, knocking over the workers and water filling every conceivable hole it can. This would have made the mines extremely unstable and unsafe, and if they couldn’t get in, they needed to start work digging again to make a living. If there was a fire about they would be able to smell

Now we have our continual flooding around; it’s destroying other sections of our history. Big waves are knocking the Jetty around (the end of it is where it was finished back in 1942), mines are collapsing, as the ground has been made unstable, sections of old tramway lines are falling into the creeks around the area, because the waterways are swelling so much that the banks are collapsing from continual erosion. We have the choice of not entering them for our safety, but there are so many out there that have been dug through the clay and have collapsed. Around some of the old timber mills, the tall timber race structures have collapsed from the fires and burnt to ash, and mine relics washed off the steep banks, into the creeks and some covered in debris - some never to be found again, others miles away from where they should

be. This is our history being destroyed by the environment. We know there are more important things to worry about at the moment, such as people’s safety, working on broken and damaged infrastructure - but surely we can put in place a plan to protect our dying heritage. Why can’t the relics out there be transported to the local museum? They can be documented where they were found by the way of digital photos, taking a GPS mark to identify the area of significance, and labelled as they are bought out and shown. Don’t restore them to original condition; just leave them the way they were found in the bush. Our environment here on the coast doesn’t favour any one thing; the wet rainforest floors destroy timber foundations and rot structures, the ever encroaching vines and lantana are strangling relics laying or standing in the bush, and that’s if the marked trails are open in the way of fallen trees or just lack of maintenance. It bugs me to tears that locals travel far and wide to explore history in other areas and even other states, when we have so much here that is significant to our coastline and hinterland. If it wasn’t for our true pioneering effort by hard working men and women who saw a future and vision here - this place would be just another bush town with nothing to be proud of. Local cemeteries have plenty of these bushies respectfully laid to rest, whose head stones all tell a story, whether it be from pioneering efforts or unfortunate accidents. One day it will be gone.

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simon whittaker dps

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ey Simon. Tell us where your story behind the lens began? My father was a successful newspaper and commercial photographer, so I had an inside view from the start. I became hooked on the magic of being able to freeze a moment in time and put it on paper. What was your career like before photography? I was supposed to work with my father after leaving school, but wanted action and adventure, which eventually led to me joining the NSW Ambulance Service as a Paramedic, where I spent 14 years until finishing up in Woopi in 2014. The enjoyment and job satisfaction are poles apart; I love being a photographer. From portraits, fashion, to wedding photography, you have quite a variety in what you shoot. How do you ensure you are prepared for the different styles of work? Part of my AIPP (Australian Institute of Professional Photography) membership requires I continue professional development, so I spend a lot of time and money undergoing training with mentors. This includes one on one mentoring with Ryan Schembri, who last year was awarded International Wedding Photographer of the Year. I have also worked and trained under a number of other industry leaders, because I really want to produce the best work I possibly can. How big of a role does the Coffs Coast play in your photography? Being based in Coffs means I do a lot of my work here, but last year for example, work took me to Brisbane, Sydney, Canberra and Tasmania. The local photography scene is competitive,

It is awarded based on feedback from my clients;

but at the end of the day clients choose the photographer for their needs. As I see it, the people who like my work get me, those who don’t get someone else - if something is beyond my control, I don’t stress about it. I’ve also got some good photography friends in the area whom I enjoy catching up with, plus I help a few of the local camera clubs too. What have been some of the biggest learning curves for you when it comes to photography, and what challenges did you face when learning the art of photography? Moving from an enthusiast to professional was hard. As an enthusiast you shoot what you want, when you want, to your own standards. As a pro, you have to shoot what other people want, when they want, to their standards, but this is also a good challenge. Out of all the different styles you shoot, what is your personal favourite style and why? I love black and white photography. I always ask myself whether colour adds or takes away from the strength of an image and edit accordingly. The photography I like most is portrait/fashion photography from the ‘50s and ‘60s - Karsch, Newton, Jean Loup Sieff etc. When I first learnt photography, I wasn’t allowed to shoot colour until I had learned black and white; even when I did learn it, I reverted to black and white, because it cuts the distraction that colour can sometimes bring and makes you look at the person. Photography is much more than point and shoot these days. What is your process behind each shoot? I don’t like to hit the photographic ground running. I like to liaise with clients, so I can get a feel for them and what kind of work they want ahead of time; it gives me a chance to think

and plan the shoot and beyond my work as just the fact that they how I am going to edit a business transaction is were prepared to look and process their work. really special, because I beyond my work as just Every shoot I do is highly really put my heart and a business transaction personalised, and it takes soul into my work. is really special, because a lot of work to do it Two of the “Highly I really put my heart and soul properly. For instance, Commended” awards I into my work. I shot a wedding last received from Capture year and a significant Magazine’s “Mono family member became Awards” were captured so unwell, they couldn’t attend the wedding. It shooting a wedding photographer friend’s deeply affected the family, so I suggested the wedding, and these have a special place in my bride and groom dress back up the next day, heart. so we could do some photos with that family It was the hardest shoot I have ever done, member. We went ahead and shot the photos; because I was shooting for another wedding they were so beautiful and emotional; it was photographer; what’s more, she picked me well worth doing. over other local wedding photographers, so What would you describe as your ideal yeah - no pressure (lol). The venue was the shoot? garden of her beautiful (albeit small) inner city Oddly, my favourite shoot is one where I’m Queenslander, and she was expecting sixty either shooting for people who are genuinely guests. invested and active in getting the best results The big day came, and it rained all day possible, or those who have the “I love your with a brief respite for the ceremony, so the work; do your thing” attitude. whole dynamic of the day changed; planned You have received a few awards for your preparation shots inside the house and formal work. Tell us how you came to win these shots in the garden changed at the last awards? minute, and the reception ended up being My dad has this saying about awards: held under the house. I ended up having to set “Well done, but that was yesterday; what is some flashes up on stands and shoot in near happening today and tomorrow?”. It may darkness, but two of those images ended up sound harsh, but he is 100% right. That’s being awarded and for me perfectly summed up history; what are you doing tomorrow? them as individuals and as a couple. The different awards mean different things What advice would you give anyone to me because of what they were for. The wanting to learn photography that you NSW AIPP Silver Award was for an image wish you knew when learning? commissioned by the NSW Firefighters Union I’m really glad you asked this question, to support firefighters injured at work - an issue because it is something I often tell which is close to my heart. photographers. Your photography needs only The Brides Choice Awards are special because please you; there is no shortage of critics but if it is awarded based on feedback from my you enjoy it, then that is enough. clients; the fact that they were prepared to look Thanks Simon. Coffs Coast focus 11

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photo by Simon Whittaker

ANIKA Learoyd Anika Learoyd is quite an extraordinary young woman. HER PASSION FOR CRICKET WAS IGNITED AT A YOUNG AGE, AND SHE SET OUT WITH DETERMINATION on a path that has led her to incredible success in her sport. We think she’s one to watch!

ey Anika. Tell us how you got into playing cricket? I have a photograph of myself at four years old playing beach cricket on Moreton Island. I’m tiny, on strike, using a plastic bat, focused and serious. It’s fair to say that was the beginning. Notwithstanding my passion for cricket, my father signed me up with Corindi Soccer Club, hoping he might get away with just one hour a week at kid’s sport, before resuming normal life. But I persisted, played cricket with my neighbours every chance I got, smashed the odd ball (and homegrown lemon) toward the house windows, and by the time I was 12, Dad knew he was defeated. Can you give us a run through your cricket career so far, where you’ve played, and where you are now? I started as the only girl playing in the U12s Coffs Harbour competition. Pretty soon I came to learn of the North Coast Girls’ Cricket Academy, so of course I trialled for that. I was ecstatic to make the U15 squad. From there, I progressed through the cricket NSW pathway, culminating in representing NSW in the U18 National Championships, where I was awarded the highest run-scorer. In 2018, I began playing in the Sydney Women’s Premier Competition for North Sydney Club, Northern District, and scored my first century for them in December. This season I was also very excited to be added to the NSW Breakers Transition Squad; the NSW Breakers having recently become Australia’s first professional women’s sporting team. 12 Coffs Coast focus

I had the opportunity to play in some T20 practice games for them against QLD and Thailand, and last week was named in their 13-member squad for the games leading up to the finals. I have also received an invitation from captain, Alex Blackwell, to play in the first ever Bradman Women’s XI in a match to be screened live world-wide against a Global Women’s team later this month in Bowral. How much time would you say you put into training and playing each week? It might be easier to ask me, “When are you not training?”. I have a full-time load. I skill-train every afternoon, mostly at home with my father, for at least one and a half to two hours. I also do an average of one and a half hours per day of strength and conditioning at CrossFit Woolgoolga. I then spend all weekend, every weekend, playing in Newcastle and Sydney. During the cricket season, I leave home for Sydney on Friday mornings, train and play throughout the weekend, and drive the almost 600 km home very late Sunday nights. Playing sport at a competitive level requires hard work and dedication. At your age, how do you find juggling your education and social time with sport? I’ll admit that I don’t enjoy the long hours I spend on the road, but I do enjoy the training and the games when I get there. I’ve met lots of people along the way who have inspired me and supported me in my journey. My social life and my sporting life are one and the same. My friends are the people I train with, workout with, and play alongside. I’ve developed a lot of close friendships through my sport. My education has always been done at

home. Being homeenvisaged myself schooled has allowed where I am now; living 5 YEARS AGO, me flexibility in my study in regional NSW but I’D NEVER HAVE schedule. Sometimes I playing First Grade ENVISAGED MYSELF study at night, sometimes Women’s Premier cricket WHERE I AM NOW; very early mornings, and and training with the LIVING IN REGIONAL sometimes in the car NSW Breakers. It’s been NSW BUT PLAYING on the way to games. a lot of relentless hard 1ST GRADE WOMEN’S I’m currently studying work and commitment, PREMIER CRICKET towards a Bachelor of and it takes up a lot AND TRAINING WITH Science online at UNE, of my head space THE NSW BREAKERS so I still take my studies but, returning to the wherever I go. question, I would love What have been some to be playing cricket of your proudest professionally. moments in your time Who are your biggest playing cricket? supporters, and why has it been so The first to come to mind is being involved important to have them by your side? for the last four years in the NSW Women’s My family would have to be number one Indigenous team, who have won 13 on that list. They’ve made so many sacrifices consecutive titles (which I’m told is a record for my benefit, not least of which is their time among sporting teams). Another achievement and their unheard-of efforts in getting me to that I hold close to heart would be my U18 Sydney every weekend. I should also mention NSW Country team winning both the 50-over that I’ve taken the lion’s share of the family and T20 titles in the recent Nationals played in budget for years. Tasmania. Even my younger sister, who hates cricket Who is your inspiration? in equal measure to me loving it, has shown I admire the way NSW Breaker’s captain, Lisa selfless support by spending many of her Griffith, conducts herself, both on and off the weekends in grandstands and by regularly field. I’ve been privileged to play alongside her crossing into other states because I’ve had a and against her. She is always a fierce but fair tournament there. competitor. I’d like to model myself on players Number two mention goes to my second like her. family, CrossFit Woolgoolga, who have been Fast forward five years; where do you a huge inspiration to me over the last couple think you will be in your cricketing career of years and a source of ceaseless care and and women’s cricket? encouragement. It’d be a harder road without This is a challenging question. If you’d them. asked me that five years ago, I’d never have Thanks Anika.

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Provider #PR-40000780

www.ohanaelc.com.au

focus_What’s On Coﬀs Coast

M A R C H

2 0 2 0

Coﬀs Harbour 5 k Colour Frenzy

International Women’s Day Breakfast

International Women’s Day (IWD) is a global day celebrating the economic, political and social achievements of women. It is also a day to review how far women have come in their struggle for equality, peace and development. IWD provides an opportunity for women to unite, and foster meaningful change. When 6th March. Where C.ex Coffs Time 6:30am until 9:30am. Tickets www.stickytickets.com.au

All About Women Satellite

We’re excited to be streaming three headline sessions presented by our exclusive satellite host, live from Sydney Opera House. Designed to make you think and push your boundaries, All About Women is a vibrant festival that asks questions about gender, justice and equality. When 8th March. Where Jetty Theatre. More information www.jettytheatre.com

They are bringing the best of all events with their colour stations, foam station and obstacles designed for all ages! Come have a laugh and join in the Colour Frenzy family fun! You can walk, jog, run or even crawl. It’s completely self-paced and not timed. No pressure! When 22nd March. Where Jetty Foreshore More information www.colourfrenzy.com.au

The Italian Tenors Direct from Italy and returning in 2020 for their third Australian tour, the Italian Tenors are three of Europe’s most successful operatic tenors, who have become a worldwide pop-opera phenomenon. When 27th March. Where Sawtell RSL. Cost $50. Tickets www.sawtellrsl.com.au

The Perception Experiment A trickle of salt becomes a torrent, becomes a cloud, becomes a pattern, capturing breath and heartbeat before slipping away … The Perception Experiment invites audiences to explore time and space in an innovative and experiential live dance performance, sound and sculptural installation. When 6th and 7th March. Where Jetty Memorial Theatre. Time 7pm until 8pm. Tickets www.jettytheatre.com

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K+LAB + Mark J+ D-Funk For those that had fun at or those who missed out on the Goosebumpz gig we threw at the Brewery in December, we’re giving it another crack!This time it’s the funky keytar lord K+lab and support acts worthy of their own headline slots, D-Funk and Markj. This will definitely sell out, so get on it! When 14th March. Where Bellingen Brewing Co. Time 7pm until 11pm. Tickets $25 from www.stickytickets.com.au

Deb Webber’s Live Psychic Medium Show Deb is one of Australia’s most accurate Psychic Mediums. She features throughout Australian media, including Australia and New Zealand’s Channel 10 and Gem’s TV series Sensing Murder. Deb will bring her insight and gift to the area for one show. When 28th March. Where Coffs Harbour Golf Club. Time 7pm until 9pm. Tickets www.debwebber.com.au

I D L A L D A K

KALLIDAD COMBINES INFLUENCES FROM FLAMENCO AND MARIACHI MUSIC WITH ROCK AND METAL TO CREATE A POWERFUL, ENERGETIC AND UPLIFTING SOUND THAT GIVES THE AUDIENCE NO CHOICE BUT TO DANCE!

hat started out on the streets of Sydney in 2011 as a busking gig soon became a full-time passion for the young trio, when they noticed just how much interest they were getting from the public. Kallidad sold more than 5,000 CDs during their busking gigs on the streets of Sydney in those early days and have gone on to move 30,000 units since. The line up is two Spanish guitars and a box drum - but SO FAR IT HAS WORKED don’t let the A CHARM, WITH THE lightweight set BAND OUTDRAWING AND up fool you. OUTSELLING MANY TRIPLE Kallidad can J DARLINGS AROUND rock a crowd AUSTRALIA, BOTH AT THE from top to TICKET BOOTH AND THE bottom, as MERCH STAND. displayed on their tours all around Australia, plus visits to Japan, Indonesia, Germany, Holland, France, Switzerland, New Zealand and many others. With their trademark “Day of the Dead” facepaint, Kallidad has a visual image every bit as striking as their one of a kind sound. Featuring Jacinko (lead guitar), Raven

(rhythm guitar) and Senor Bang Bang (drums and percussion), band members are Jason Contos (stage name Jacinko), Thomas Raven (Raven) and Julian Lardis (Senor Bang Bang). The group is proudly independent, and is currently promoting their fourth album, Untitled on a massive tour that includes the whole of 2020. Kallidad generally shun mainstream media, radio and the music industry, focusing their efforts on their diehard fanbase, whom they communicate with on Facebook and Instagram. So far it has worked a charm, with the band outdrawing and outselling many triple j darlings around Australia, both at the ticket booth and the merch stand - all this with no management, record company or booking agent! Kallidad is as DIY as they come, and this ethos has allowed the group strict quality control and a direct link to their fanbase. Trips to festivals such as Splendour in the Grass, Falls Festival, Rainbow Serpent, Nannup, Wallaby Creek, Palm Creek, Swaggerfest, Nanga, Psyfari and Subsonic and others have helped Kallidad build a strong and loyal fanbase all around Australia.

Playing Friday 27th March from 8pm at The Coast Hotel.

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focusinterview.

Royce Ellie Royce was born in Adelaide, South Australia, and she's been telling stories ever since. Although she spent over ten years crafting nonfiction articles for magazines, she finally realised her real love was writing the stories for young people that blossom in her imagination.

llie is the author of four books, three of which are for children. Her first picture book, Lucas and Jack was published in 2014. Ellie truly believes in the power of stories to change the world for the better, so she writes and reads them all the time (quite often when she should be doing other things!) These days Ellie lives in right here in Coffs Harbour and plans to keep writing visionary stories for kids and young adults forever. Ellie, please tell FOCUS readers about your latest exciting project. Thank you for asking! I have the great privilege and pleasure of announcing the pre-release of my second picture book, Auntie Uncle: Drag Queen Hero, words by me, illustrations by Hannah Chambers, published by POW!Kids publishing in New York. The actual release comes in May, but anyone who wants to pre-order a copy can do it from now! Told from the perspective of their adoring nephew, Auntie Uncle: Drag Queen Hero is the story of a courageous drag queen who saves the day and brings two communities together. The young narrator thinks it's awesome that his uncle and his auntie are the same person. Uncle Leo is an accountant and is great at helping with maths homework. Auntie Lotta is a fabulous performer and loves to sing and dance with her nephew. One day Lotta's family comes to watch her perform at the local Pride parade. Suddenly, a dog breaks free of its leash and nearly causes a float-crash, but Lotta springs into action just in time to save the dog and the parade. The mayor wants to give her a medal for courage and to throw a big party for her and all her friends, but Lotta worries that her friends, who only know him as "Leo", won't get along 16 Coffs Coast focus

with her fellow drag performers who know her as "Lotta." With the help of their nephew, they put together a fierce look that is both Leo and Lotta, the perfect ensemble for an Auntie Uncle. A sweet, uplifting story about fearlessly letting your true self shine. What inspired you to write this? My daughter casually mentioned one day that the kinds of books that she and her contemporaries wanted to read to their kids didn’t exist yet, and it really made me question my writing process. I’ve always been a person who wants to challenge myths and stereotypes, so as a children’s writer I questioned myself, why was I not doing this? I started thinking about the themes and concepts I wanted to work with: respect, diversity, inclusion, equity, courage and unconditional love, and about how these essential qualities exist everywhere, in all kinds of people. Then I recalled a former colleague of mine who did drag on weekends and had a whole tribe of nieces and nephews who adored him. I was also really interested in the concept of “courage”, because it seems to me there are different kinds of courage. There’s the outward kind, as in when my character dives into the path of an oncoming float to save a runaway puppy, then there’s the kind that is personal and maybe the hardest to muster up - the courage to be your true self. Everyone can identify with this challenge of course, but it’s particularly relevant to LGBTQI+ kids and rainbow families. All of these ingredients went into the story! What do you hope that this story does for the readers? I have a saying: “Giving our kids stories is like giving them a magic wand to create the life

they were born to live.” Why? Kids need to see themselves represented in the stories they read. If you don’t see yourself, you don’t really exist. Stories validate and affirm different ways of being for our kids, letting them know that it’s OK to be who you are - whatever that may be. We are all made of stories - the ones we tell ourselves about ourselves, and the ones we see, hear and read. Stories create empathy and understanding. My hope is that everyone who reads this story closes the book with a smile on their face and a warm glow in their hearts that says, “Who you are is amazing”. Sounds schmaltzy, but totally true. Tell us about what you have previously published. I’ve had four books published previously, three for young readers. I was a freelance writer for various publications for about ten years, but I fell in love with writing for kids (our most important readers, since they will grow up to run the world!) when my girls were young. The first two children’s books, Amy’s Secret and Passion for Fashion were middle grade fiction, published in 2008 and in Norway and Sweden (which was awesome) in 2010. In 2014, my first picture book, Lucas and Jack about intergenerational connection through sharing stories was published. In the last few years I’ve had several stories published in The School Magazine and of course, Auntie Uncle in May. Later this year I’ll have another picture book coming out with Ford Street Publishing

in Melbourne, again featuring a rainbow family. (That’s all I’m allowed to say at this point!) How does the whole industry work with getting someone interested in your writing to publication stage? It’s a very long game, is what most people will tell you, and that’s the truth! Making picture books goes at a glacial pace. It can take months for a publisher to read a submission and respond, then it can take months for contracts to be signed and in my case as a non-illustrator, for the publisher to find the right illustrator. For example, I wrote Auntie Uncle three years ago and sent it to my agent about six months later. But you know what? It’s always totally worth the wait! Is it important to have a message in children's books, as well as the entertaining aspect? I think the most important thing about children’s books is that they encourage kids to enjoy reading. Every writer probably has some kind of message in mind when they write, but that should never be more important than the story. Humans (big and little) are hardwired to make meaning out of what they see, hear and experience, so overt messages aren’t really necessary - but a good story is! Kids loving the experience of reading a book is what it’s all about. Find me online at ellieroyceauthor.com Thanks Ellie.

We are all made of stories - the ones we tell ourselves about ourselves, and the ones we see, hear and read. Stories create empathy and understanding.

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Y DA AY N PE 6 M O 2 0 AY 2 20 ESD TU

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NEW...

Advanced Mechanical Services It’s coming up to holiday time again! The Easter long weekend is just around the corner. No matter where you’re going or what you’re planning to do, it’s imperative you have your vehicle serviced to ensure it’s safe on the road. We all know there’s nothing more inconvenient than a breakdown on your way to, or from, a holiday. Advanced Mechanical Services have an excellent offer for you to take advantage of. For the month of March, we’ll be offering a free rego check with every lube service. It doesn’t matter when your rego is due; we’ll give you a voucher! Trust the team at Advanced Mechanical Services to look after you and your vehicle. With decades of experience between us, there’s no one better to service your car. Our lubrication service will cover an oil and filter change, checking both the pressure and condition of your tyres, checking under the bonnet to ensure optimal levels of cooling system fluids, brake fluids and clutch, as well as hoses, lights and more! Book in your lubrication service now and get that free rego check! Conveniently located at 6/163 Orlando Street, Coffs Harbour. Call 0431 231 920 and book your service today.

This is the store you’re looking for.

Park Beach Plaza @edegrees | 66511575 Park Beach Plaza 2019 Retailer of the Year! Coffs Coast focus 19

focusinterview.

Mitch East took up competing in bodyboarding competitions in his thirties, and DESPITE BEING A BUSY BUSINESS OWNER AND DAD, HE HAS MANAGED TO DO VERY WELL IN NOT ONLY LOCAL COMPETITIONS, BUT MANY OTHER COMPS up and down the coast - including a national title!

ey Mitch; you have recently been winning bodyboarding competitions up and down the coast. What made you start bodyboarding competitively? Hi. Yeah, I started competing really late in life, early 30s. I used to surf all the time back then and travel a lot chasing the surf up and down the coast. You had a big chunk of time off out of the water. What took you away from the surf? A few years back I was competing competitively, then life just got in the road: kids, work, etc., and I had a few years off. At the end of 2018 I fell into a crappy, depressed state and decided that I was going to make time for myself and have a few surfs this year, so I entered back into the local competition (Coffs Coast Bodyboarding Association) and then entered into the bigger comps held up and down the coast as well. Word is you have been killing it in competition recently. What were some of the comps you entered, and how have you placed? I had an amazing 2019 in the water, with very little free surfing between events. I’ve ended up taking out the local CCBA over 35s title, first at the NSW State Titles held in Kiama, first at the National Titles held at Fingal Head. I also entered a Triple Crown Memorial event held at Port Macquarie, the Goose Gosby

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Memorial; Forster/ Tuncurry What’s your favourite place IT’S FUN TO DO THE at the Jeff Wilcox memorial; to surf here on the Coffs BODYBOARDING and Central Coast at the Matt Coast? COMPS. I DON’T TAKE Barron Memorial, where overall My favourite place to surf I ended up winning the over around here would have to IT TOO SERIOUSLY, 35s title. be Gallows, or to travel up SO WIN OR LOSE I What was the most to Yamba and Illuka when DON’T MIND; IT’S memorable comp you won? conditions are favourable. JUST ANOTHER SURF The most memorable comp You’ve also recently been THAT I WOULDN’T is definitely last year in the sponsored. What has it HAVE HAD IF I Nationals Final at Fingal. I been like seeing businesses HADN’T MADE THE was placed second, with 15 notice your success in the TIME FOR IT. seconds to go and managed water? to just score enough to slip Mid last year I was into the lead - and then to see lucky enough to pick up a my partner come running from the sandy dunes to sponsorship with ARZEN wetsuits, which worked congratulate me, and she was more stoked than I great, because I absolutely hate the cold, along with was! The Garage Board Store at Mullaway. Rich, the owner The time you actually spend in the water is is great; he is in constant contact with me and always fairly minimal with your busy lifestyle. What's posting on the socials with comp results etc. and as a your secret to killing it in competitions? former Bodyboarder himself, he loves it! I don’t get much time to free surf; I have an Between your active work as a landscape extremely busy business in the Woolgoolga area gardener, bodyboarding and dad life, do you Solitary Islands Lawn Care. If I do get a chance to get ever slow down? in the water, it’s normally on the jet ski or surfboard, I never slow down; with such an active life and but it’s fun to do the bodyboarding comps. I don’t workload, the once a year trip to Bali for a week or take it too seriously, so win or lose I don’t mind; it’s so is all I’m lucky enough to score - and it’s best that just another surf that I wouldn’t have had if I hadn’t way anyway! made the time for it. Thanks Mitch.

New location - Same personal service

As the number of Coffs Coast clients has grown, so has the need to grow our team of local brokers and advisors. We modified our old offices on Harbour Drive on several occasions, but the time has finally come to sell the premises and make the move to larger, more modern offices located centrally within the Coffs Harbour CBD. Our new offices remain convenient and easily accessible for our local clients, at an iconic local spot. Our clients are varied: After nearly 30 years in Coffs Harbour, we are across all different occupations to assist our clients with their risk and insurance needs. We look after many businesses - everything from large industrial, professionals, retail business, trades and construction, through to farms and small businesses. OIB has a friendly and expert team on hand, and they have many strengths and areas of service: We maintain an holistic approach to our clients’ risk and insurance needs by extending our services from Business Insurance, to specialist Workers Compensation and Life Risk Insurance advice. Business people are busy juggling their business and family lives, which can result in overlooking many important matters including insurance. Our team of experts provide advice on insurance solutions with an aim of providing our clients with peace of mind for their futures.

Our vision for 2020 and beyond is clear: Now that we’ve settled in we are really looking to continue to provide personal service and expert advice to our existing and new clients. As new clients continue to use our services we’ll continue to grow into our new home! We’re here to help. Our Coffs Harbour team continue to offer expert insurance and risk advice to ensure you can work, live or run your business with absolute peace of mind. Call, email or just pop in to speak to your broker at our new offices.

New Office Location: 1-3 Elizabeth Street PO Box 430, Coffs Harbour NSW 2450

Phone: 02 6691 9000 Email: coffs@oib.com.au www.oib.com.au

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focusinterview focusinterview.

WITH SAM DAWSON OF PFLAG COFFS COAST

The Welcome Here Project supports businesses and organisations throughout Australia to create and promote environments that are visibly welcoming and inclusive of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex and Queer (LGBTIQ) communities. Michael Atkinson from ACON (AIDS Council of NSW) chatted with me about this exciting project.

Michael Atkinson ACON (AIDS COUNCIL OF NSW)

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ichael, what is your role at ACON? Today, many businesses and services are proud to welcome LGBTQ customers and clients and are keen to make this known. My position title is Program Manager LGBT Safety and Inclusion, and I manage inclusion projects that support local businesses and services to engage and support lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) people. Tell us about the Welcome Here Project; what is it all about? Spearheaded by ACON, NSW’s leading LGBTQ health organisation, the Welcome Here Project aims to support local business owners and services across Australia to create and promote environments that are visibly welcoming and inclusive of LGBTIQ people. It’s a membership based project, where people register online and receive their Member Pack within two weeks. Membership costs $10, and you receive: • Rainbow stickers and charter to display in a prominent location. • A handy checklist to make the most out of the project. • Promotional postcards.

• Welcome Here Project badge and fridge magnets. • Use of our project logo, and social media designs and designs to print your own pull-up banners. We heavily promote our members to the LGBTQ community. For example, Welcome Here Project members are listed in our Member Directory, where we promote the LGBTQ community and strongly encourage people to visit members. Members also receive a quarterly e-Newsletter, where we provide useful information to support members on their inclusion journey. Can Coffs Harbour businesses and individuals get involved? Yes, everyone is welcome. Coffs Harbour is already a supporter of the project, with members ranging from community services to banks and other businesses. But we would love for more local businesses and services to become a part of the project. It all starts with visibility. Individuals can also go on our website and nominate their favourite businesses to join the project. We contact these businesses and let them know what we stand for. Why is it important to have a project like this?

Australians value diversity, because it works. Promoting diversity in the workplace lets staff know they can be themselves and lets customers and clients know they are welcome and valued. We hear a lot of LGBTQ community members say how great it feels to see the Welcome Here Project Rainbow stickers - they have an immediate sense of belonging, and it removes any doubt about walking in for a visit. What do you love about our Coffs Coast? Do you feel our community would embrace this? People from the Coffs Coast are friendly and welcoming, and I think this project fits perfectly. I lived in Coffs Harbour before I moved to Sydney and think it’s one of the best places in the world. The Twighlight Markets, Diggers Beach, Dorrigo National Park, Bello, the Promise Land. Love it all! Don’t tell my boss, but I miss Coffs and would love to move back. How can people find out more? Jump on our website www.welcomehere. org.au - like us on Facebook www. facebook.com/welcomehereproject/ or send us an email at welcomehere@acon.org.au We’d love to hear from you.

Bush spiced fried chicken, apple and radish slaw, bacon jam from Ernies Kitchen.

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with Madonna Bannerman from Two Tails Wines

wine month of the

CHOCOLATE CHILLI VELVET

If you like chocolate and chilli, this is for you! Grown and sold at our award winning Cellar door, Two Tails Winery at Nana Glen ...

his wine demonstrates a blend of Jacquez (Le Noir) grapes grown at the vineyard, and displays both varietal styles to perfection. With the combination of distinctive dark colouring, herbaceous aromas and black cherry, chocolate and chilli flavours, to the lush fruit sweetness of the Jacquez grapes, “Chocolate Chilli Velvet” was created. Perfect for drinking straight, on the rocks, warmed up for a coffee/hot chocolate or your favourite cocktail or dessert. CHARACTERISTICS: This wine presents deep red colours with berry driven aromas. Ripe and lush, this wine is bursting with black cherry and chocolate and chilli flavours, with a hit of chilli and a smooth chocolate finish. Low in tannin, with a hint of oak.

GOES WITH: A match made in heaven with dark chocolate or a rich dessert. COST: $50. AVAILABLE: Two Tails Winery Cellar Door, 963 Orara Way, Nana Glen NSW. Phone: (02) 6654 3633. Email: admin@twotailswines.com.au

cock otm of The

Smurf Tears

One of the absolute gems on the brand new Cocktail Menu at Element Bar on the Coffs Jetty Strip is this little blue delight, Smurf Tears. With it’s delicate blend of cherry cognac liqueur, citrus vodka, sour apple liqueur, fresh lemon juice & house syrup, not only does it look amazing on the eye, but is one of the most delicious & unique flavour surprises you’ll ever taste !! An absolute must-try for any cocktail lover! 24 Coffs Coast focus

Hux’s Seafood Many of us know the struggles trying to get your kids to eat healthy or try new things. Dealing with fussy eaters can be a real challenge. Most kids do like a fish finger or a fish finger disguised as a chicken nugget ... I’m sure there are a few parents who have tried that trick before; I know I have! This recipe is a simple way of getting your kids to eat healthy, and they won’t even know it! P.s. It is also a much tastier option than buying from the grocery store! Homemade Fish Sticks. (Prep Time 10 mins. Cook Time 10 mins.) Ingredients 1½ cup bread crumbs, plain; ½ cup Parmesan cheese, grated; 1 tablespoon chives, fresh, chopped; 1/3 cup flour, all-purpose; 1 large egg; 1 tablespoon water; 1/8 teaspoon salt; 2 fillets fish, flounder; 2 tablespoons olive oil. Instructions 1. Put the bread crumbs, cheese, and chives in a food processor and whiz to combine. Spread the bread crumb mixture on one plate and the flour on a second plate. Beat the egg with the water and salt in a shallow dish. 2. Remove skin and cut fish into eight pieces. Dust the fish fillets with the flour, then dip in egg, and coat in bread crumbs. Lay the fillets on a cutting board or baking sheet. 3. Heat the oil in a large frying pan. Fry the fillets for 2 minutes, each side, until golden and cooked through. You will probably need to do this in two to three batches. Blot with paper towels before serving.

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focuscontributor Rebecca Platts

Photography: Scorr Bruce

Rolling Sets Festival RED-C EVENTS / SATURDAY 25TH JANUARY FOCUS, along with Kingdom Sounds, Afends and Whatslively presented the first annual Rolling Sets Festival. The beachside festival took over RED-C’s Coffs Harbour Amphitheatre for the day, giving everyone involved a great view, great company and even better music. With a crowd of more than 5,000 people, the festival showcased one of the best line ups we’ve seen at a regional festival for a long time. Big names like The Rubens, Lime Cordiale and Mallrat were crowd favourites, along with George Alice, Los Scallywaggs and San mei, really getting everyone involved. Hip Hop

legends The Hilltop Hoods closed the night with an absolutely show stopping performance, promising to give us a show that would rival those of the big cities; the boys delivered. The festival also showcased a lot of local talent, with fashion stalls, food trucks and vendors all being on display at the event. It’s absolutely fantastic to see the community come together and support such an amazing event. As the first of its kind in the area, we can’t wait to see what the Rolling Sets crew have installed for us over the next coming years.

Photography: Zennieshia Butts

Screenwave International Film Festival JETTY THEATRE / 9TH - 24TH JANUARY The Screenwave International Film Festival, presented by Ashton Designs, has wrapped for 2020. SWIFF brought over 100 feature film screenings to the region and pulled over 9,000 festival goers into cinemas, over a 35% increase on the previous year, setting another new record for the Coffs Coast film festival. Likewise, Bellingen set its own record for attendance at Bellingen Memorial Hall. The locally produced festival attracted audiences from all Australian states and territories this year, generating over $1.1m for the local tourism economy. The Nextwave Youth Film Awards, presented by Southern Cross University, received record attendance too, filling up

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the Auditorium at C.ex Coffs. The overall Best Film winner was Blaise Borrer from Bellingen, with Best School awarded to Dorrigo High School and runner-up awarded to Macksville High School. Over $40,000 in film equipment and filmmaking development opportunities were awarded to young filmmakers again this year by the festival. Festival Co-Director couple Dave Horsley and Kate Howat are thrilled with the result. “People stepped outside of their comfort zone and tried something new when it came to the diverse array of films on offer,” said Dave Horsley. “So many unique moments happened across the 16 days of this year’s festival. We can’t wait to do it all again in January 2021.”

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FFS COAST

2 0

M A R C H 1ST MARCH

Vena Klymo - Dark Arts Brew & Bar Tim Stokes - Element Bar Paul White - RED-C Events Marshall Okell Band - The Hoey Moey

4TH MARCH

Peter L Barry - Element Bar Cocktails Craft & Acoustics w/ special guest The Coast Hotel

5TH MARCH

Paul White - Element Bar Thur night Vibes w/ Matty Devit - The Coast Hotel

6TH MARCH

Anna & Jed - Dark Arts Brew & Bar Josh Matheson - Element Bar Benny Black + DJ Dangerwaves - The Hoey Moey LISA HUNT - The Seaview Tavern TGIF w/ RJAY - The Coast Hotel

18TH MARCH

Scott Day-Vee - Element Bar Rockin Through The Ages - The Jetty Theatre Cocktails Craft & Acoustics/ w Max De Groot - The Coast Hotel

19TH MARCH

Alice Hills - Element Bar Thur night Vibes w/ Kailey Pallas - The Coast Hotel

20TH MARCH

Daniel Hopkins - Dark Arts Brew & Bar Coast & Ocean Solo - Element Bar Bobby Lea Coulton + DJ Richard Gear - The Hoey Moey The Strides - The Seaview Tavern TGIF w/Bisho - The Coast Hotel Smiley Squad - The Moonee Tavern

21ST MARCH

Peter L Barry - Dark Arts Brew & Bar Ryan Brooker - Element Bar Phat Tracta & Unison - RED-C Events DJ Richard Gear - The Hoey Moey Who Wants to be a Rockstar Feat Misschief Band - The Seaview Tavern Blakey - Chill Factor - The Coast Hotel

Jason Lowe - Dark Arts Brew & Bar Benny Black - Element Bar This is Me - The Man Behind the Makeup - The Jetty Theatre Coffs Rocks! - Black Tooth Grin, Seafome & Calling Violet - RED-C Events DJ Richard Gear - The Hoey Moey RnB Night with DJ Mark B - The Seaview Tavern Blakey- fella fellafel - The Coast Hotel

Paul White - Dark Arts Brew & Bar Billie-Jo Porter - Element Bar The Australian Army Band - C.ex Coffs All About Women Satellite - The Jetty Theatre The Killer Queen Show - The Hoey Moey

Coast & Ocean/Alice Hills - Dark Arts Brew & Bar Jason Lowe - Element Bar Jacob - RED-C Events Tim Stokes LIVING IN THE 70â€™S - The Hoey Moey

Vena Klymo - Element Bar Cocktails Craft & Acoustics w/ Owen Shannnon - The Coast Hotel

Josh Matheson - Element Bar Cocktails Craft & Acoustics w Benny Black The Coast Hotel

Kailey Pallas - Element Bar Songs in the Key of Motown - C.ex Coffs Thur night Vibes w/ Chris Grieve - The Coast Hotel

Peter L Barry - Element Bar Thur night Vibes w/Josh Matherson - The Coast Hotel

7TH MARCH

8TH MARCH

11TH MARCH

12TH MARCH

13TH MARCH

22ND MARCH

25TH MARCH

26TH MARCH

27TH MARCH

Peter L Barry - Dark Arts Brew & Bar Dean Sharkey - Element Bar Owen Shannon + DJ Dangerwaves - The Hoey Moey Marshall OKell B& - The Seaview Tavern TGIF w/ Bisho - The Coast Hotel

Kailey Pallas - Dark Arts Brew & Bar Dean Sharkey - Element Bar The Italian Tenors - Sawtell RSL Taylor Henderson - The Jetty Theatre Callum Foulis + DJ Richard Gear - The Hoey Moey Fat Albert - The Seaview Tavern Kalidad & DJ Panda - The Coast Hotel

Kailey Pallas - Dark Arts Brew & Bar Chris Grieve - Element Bar Merchant Bankers and The Beets - RED-C Events DJ Dangerwaves - The Hoey Moey Mick Bateman - The Seaview Tavern Jimmy Laing - Colonel Angus - The Coast Hotel Smiley Squad - The Moonee Tavern

Peter L Barry - Dark Arts Brew & Bar Chris Grieve - Element Bar Phat Tracta & White Water - RED-C Events DJ Richard Gear - The Hoey Moey Whos Charlie - The Seaview Tavern J-Stainz- modern history - The Coast Hotel

Chris Grieve - Dark Arts Brew & Bar Peter L Barry - Element Bar Unison - RED-C Events The Jacks Band - The Hoey Moey

Josh Matheson 9:30am - Dark Arts Brew & Bar Josh Matheson 4:30pm - Element Bar The Beets - RED-C Events Richie Williams THE WAYWARD SUNS - The Hoey Moey Sonny James - The Seaview Tavern

14TH MARCH

15TH MARCH

17TH MARCH

28 Coffs Coast focus

The Sunburnt Celts - The Moonee Tavern

28TH MARCH

29TH MARCH

Coffs Coast focus 29

focusinterview

W I T H S O P H I E B I R D O F TA L L O W A N D T I D E

Brigitte May is a new local artist based in Sawtell after relocating for a sea change from Tasmania. Her whimsical art transports you to other worlds ...

BRIGITTE MAY

30 Coffs Coast focus

ey B! So nice to have your talent in the spotlight this month. How long have you been creating? And what is your main source of inspiration right now? Hello! I fell into illustration whilst completing my Bachelor of Fashion Design in 2011 - so eight years of art now (five incredible years of working as a freelance artist). My main source of inspiration is always found in nature. The ocean has particularly drawn my focus lately, as I’m in the midst of illustrating the next chapter in a children’s book series, The Viking Boy. You have done some pretty amazing projects and collaborations in your career. What are your highlights to date? I’ve been lucky enough to work with some of my all-time favourite brands. I worked with Peter Alexander on a range of sleepwear a few years ago. I wore their pajamas religiously when I was young, so it was a dream to see my illustrations fill their store. I’ve also created many, many prints for Aje Clothing, who I adore. The designers, Adrian and Edi, are such talented designers and artists, so it’s always a pinch-me moment seeing my art on their beautiful ranges. You landed here from Tasmania, and before that Forster. What drew you to the beautiful Coffs Coast? My partner landed a marine science job in Coffs, and we were more than ready to move up into warmer waters after spending a few winters in Tassie. We both grew up in Forster, and Sawtell has a similar small-town, coastal vibe. We feel at home already. With a spirited little lady (Banksia, almost two years old) under your feet, how have you found the balance

between artist and mother? Are you finding your art has changed since becoming a mum? It’s definitely been a delicate balance! In the past, I would literally paint from dawn ‘til well into the night. And now, I’m lucky to squeeze in a couple of hours each day while she naps. I find that at the moment, my art has taken on a much faster and more efficient process. It’s practical in a work sense, but not so great at satisfying the meditative element of art that I so love. Having said that, motherhood is the most wonderful experience, and these early moments really do fly by. Art will always be there. Having Banksia saw you move into children’s apparel; it’s so, so gorgeous and a firm favourite in my little girl’s wardrobe. Was this a planned step for you, or you just fell into it after Banksia arrived? Oh, thank you! I’d actually planned this aspect of my brand just before Banksia surprised us with her arrival. But it all worked out rather harmoniously, as Banksia guided my collections and transitioned me into the world of babies and motherhood. Where can people find you next year, B? Any workshops or artists’ sessions where we can come and experience your talent first hand? Yes! I’ll be teaching a few watercolour workshops at The Art Department in Toormina, which you can book into via their website (www.the-artdept.com.au). Where can people buy, love and cherish your work? You can find my babywear stocked locally in Tallow & Tide. All art prints, illustrated books and clothing are available on my website (www.brigittemay.com). And the best way to follow along on my art journey is via Instagram (@brigitte_may).

Coffs Coast focus 31

Macca’s

junior

grants

McDonald’s Coﬀs Harbour and Nambucca are proud to support local children and groups through their Junior Grants Program.

Jarrod Hughes Fiori Musicali In early April, local audiences will have a rare opportunity to attend a live performance of J. S. Bach’s St John Passion, one of the pinnacles of Western musical culture. The chamber choir Fiori Musicali will be performing Bach’s masterpiece at Coffs Harbour Conservatorium and the Hoskins Centre (The Armidale School). It is the third time the Armidale choir has toured to the coast in recent years. Conductor Bruce Menzies comments, “While performing for our home community is always a thrill, we love the warm and responsive audiences we meet in Coffs Harbour too.” Bach’s St John Passion presents the Biblical story of the judgment, crucifixion, and resurrection of Christ. While it has a religious theme, the music is operatic in its emotional depth and complexity. As Fiori Musicali chorister and local

pianist Sheila Guymer comments, “This is an extraordinary work to perform. It’s musically challenging, but also richly rewarding.” As a Lutheran, it was important to Bach that his listeners understand the text. For Bach, that meant singing in German (rather than traditional church Latin), but Fiori Musicali will be singing the St John Passion in English. Singing in English enables listeners to appreciate how Bach brings out the meaning of the words through music, and helps performances to be the compelling experience that Bach intended. The St John Passion by J. S. Bach Fiori Musicali with conductor Bruce Menzies | 3pm, Saturday, 4th April: Coffs Harbour Conservatorium | 7pm, Sunday, 5th April: Hoskins Centre, The Armidale School | Tickets: $35 / $30.

What have your achievements been so far? At the BMX NSW State Titles held in October 2019, I achieved fifth place in the final, making me a state ranked rider for 15 year old boys for 2020. I hold the title for fifth in NSW. I often compete away at local BMX events throughout the year in NSW and QLD and always make finals. Why did you apply for this grant? I am aware that the cost associated with my training, bike enhancement/repairs, protective clothing and travel costs are expensive for my parents who support me. I would like to be able to contribute this grant money, so I am able to attend more events in 2020. How will this grant benefit you? And how do you plan on using it? This grant will benefit me by helping my parents with the cost of some new BMX pants and shoes that I have outgrown. If there is any left over, this will go towards my first BMX event in 2020. What are your hopes and dreams for the future? I hope to get to the Australian National

BMX Championship in Launceston, Tasmania in March 2020 to compete with other riders from around Australia. I dream of making finals and standing up on the podium as one of Australia’s top BMX riders. I hope that I can continue riding BMX for a long time.

Teliyah KENNDEDY ELIAS WILSON EVANGELIST JEREMY BOULTON CHRIST AIDAN O'DONNELL PILATE LEANNE ROOBOL SOPRANO ROBERT ADAM COUNTERTENOR BRUCE MENZIES CONDUCTOR FIORI MUSICALI CHAMBER CHOIR AND ORCHESTRA

$35 ADULTS $30 CONCESSION TICKETS AVAILABLE ONLINE AND AT THE DOOR

www.trybooking.com/BIAMP

fiori Musicali

C H A M B E R C H O I R A N D O RC H E S T R A

FIORI MUSICALI ARMIDALE

32 Coffs Coast focus

What have your achievements been so far? I have been dancing since I was four, completing RAD ballet classes and exams yearly, all with gold medals and distinctions. I’ve danced at the Australian Dance Festival with many talented dancers. I was lucky enough to be selected to be a part of the Nutcracker major stage ballet production at the end of 2019, performing with the Sydney City Youth Ballet at venues in Sydney and along the coast. I was selected into the Indigenous dance program, Bangarra, in 2019. Why did you apply for this grant? I’m applying for this grant so I can possibly extend my training. Being a country kid, there is not as much on offer as there is for kids in the city. I would like to gain a place in the parttime ITP ballet program with Lucinda Dunn or the Sydney City Youth Ballet. This would

require travel to Sydney a few times a year. How will this grant benefit you? And how do you plan on using it? The grant would benefit me by helping financially with the travel and fees to participate and gain more experience. What are your hopes and dreams for the future? I would love to become a full-time professional ballerina. Who inspires you the most? My inspiration are some of the famous ballerinas of the world, but I’m continually looking up to all of my teachers and older students that I dance with. I was totally inspired to dance on stage with the Sydney City Youth Ballet in December for the Nutcracker performance. It was a dream come true, and I was inspired by everyone who made me want to push harder to get to where I want to be.

experiment

P E R C E P T I O N

It’s not often the Coﬀs Coast gets to experience one of the most enthralling live dance performances to hit theatres across the country. But that’s exactly what you’ll get when "The Perception Experiment" hits the Jetty Theatre, 6th and 7th March.

he Perception Experiment invites audiences to explore time and space in an innovative and experiential live dance performance, sound and sculptural

installation. Through provocative sensorial immersion, choreographers Frankie Snowdon and Madeleine Krenek (GUTS || Dance, Central Australia) examine how the physical world may be experienced, blurring its edges and offering an alternative view of how to navigate through it. They’ve created something special. And expect to get involved. The performance starts with audience members being led into a dark space one by one - stripping back the visual and physical information that actual life constantly gives us and giving each individual space to be themselves. This work is an intimate experience that invites the audience to break the fourth wall. Shoes off, the audience finds themselves standing where the dancers would be as the lights go dark and the sound installation begins. What follows is a sensory experience of moving sound and a shifting landscape as the performers wind between the audience. Then invited to sit surrounding the dance floor, the audience becoming engrossed in an exploration of mind and movement as figures interweave in mesmerising circles of salt. From the moment you enter the theatre,

jetty theatre The Perception Experiment challenges the way you experience a live dance performance. With senses heightened, what you see, hear and feel may not be what you expected. When you move through a space, what do you experience? The sight? The sound? The way it feels? The Perception Experiment invites you to explore these ideas in this innovative live dance performance inspired by and created in the Australian desert. The work is not designed for a traditional proscenium setting and therefore works well for a smaller audience - a perfect fit for the Jetty Theatre. The choreographers are passionate about being part of a movement and conversation that sees support for and interest in work that is borne of places less well known. They want to showcase these works and present contemporary dance, especially in regional areas. Snowdon and Krenek are Victorian College of the Arts alumnae and since graduating have collectively worked with companies including Chunky Move, Lucy Guerin Inc., Not Yet It’s Difficult, Opera Australia, Lucky Plush Productions (USA) and a range of independent choreographers. More recently, Snowden and Krenek are the founders of GUTS Dance, the contemporary dance organisation responsible for The Perception Experiment. Hailing from the unique environment of the Central Australian Desert, it is the only platform for contemporary dance investigation,

When you move through a space, what do you

experience? The sight?

creation, training and Jetty Theatre The sound? The way it performance within Coordinator Natalie feels? 'The Perception a 1,500 km radius. Boyle is excited about Experiment' invites you GUTS Dance aims this performance. to explore these ideas to be recognised as in this innovative live dance “Our venue is a centre for artistic performance inspired by and sometimes deemed too growth and excellence, created in the Australian desert. small for professional championing bravery, dance companies, risk, community and so we’re very excited collaboration as tools about presenting for the development of great art, meaningful The Perception Experiment, a truly unique, experiences and empowered societies. sensory work designed with an intimate Repertoire Workshop space in mind. We are particularly interested Great news for contemporary dance in programming this beautiful and evocative enthusiasts or those studying dance: the work and exploring the notion of space, Jetty Theatre team have secured a workshop bringing work created in remote inland with the choreographers. It will include an Australia to a coastal area and navigating this introduction to improvisation, floor work and difference in the physical world.” basic contemporary technique, followed by Perhaps the biggest message to come from learning a large phrase based on repertoire the creators is The Perception Experiment is an from The Perception Experiment. In this experience meant for everyone. Don’t be put way attendees will be able to work through off by preconceived ideas of contemporary aspects of the show which are important to dance. It’s a rare opportunity not to be both the creation and performance of this work. It will also give students the opportunity missed, and one you’ll walk away from feeling a little more in tune with yourself and your to extend themselves and learn new skills. world. “The Perception Experiment is highly concept-driven … we [GUTS Dance] don’t come with a narrative perspective of the body as self. We are interested in the body as a conduit for action and movement and the stripping of ego/identity to achieve this.” Frankie Snowdon, Choreographer, GUTS Dance||Central Australia.

Jetty Theatre, Fri 6th Mar | 7pm; Sat 7th Mar | 7pm; Workshop: Sat 7th Mar | 3pm. Coffs Coast focus 33

focus_contributor

CAROLE BEROS FROM LE DÃIN DESIGNS

Tanya Watts & Janelle Turner

Kate Drum, Ken McAllister, Sharon Decker

Sawtell Surf Life Saving Club Team

Mercedes-Benz Cars & Vans Retailer Of The Year 2019 Awards Dinner

Legends

Amanda & Julie

Kathryn & Bec

Beccy Chronston and Nicole Trotter

Nicola & Dale Sagar

social scene.

Here we are in March already; I can’t believe it! I say this every year, but one minute I am raving on about Christmas trees and Santa, and the next minute we are looking for the Easter Bunny and chomping on chocolate and hot cross buns! Time definitely flies ... More of a good reason why we should count our blessings and make the most of everything!

awtell’s New Year Street party was once again a huge success, with hoards of locals and visitors enjoying the entertainment, along with the bouncing ponies, jumping castle, fairy floss and face painting laid on for the children. The street was closed off to enable people to walk freely through First Avenue, allowing them to peruse the stores and eateries. The outside live music area at the top of the town in between the Sawtell Hotel and Sawtell RSL was definitely the place to be, with music provided by Slipstream, First Avenue and Funk Thieves. The next street party is being held Saturday 22nd February from 4pm - 5pm. Enjoy dinner at The Sawtell RSL, Sawtell Hotel, Marley’s on the Beach, Taste or any of the other amazing eateries in town. The event will feature live music from the end of the back of a truck …how cool is that! You can find your best moves in Sawtell’s main street and dance under the stars with “Cheap Fakes”, then venture inside Sawtell Hotel to rock the night away with Funk Thieves. The FOCUS team attended the BWN Breakfast at the Beachfront Opal Cove Resort just recently. These events are early and are set up to attend before you go to work. I am not a joyous early

34 Coffs Coast focus

riser ha ha! But these meetings are uplifting and well worth the early bird start. Aside from enjoying a delicious breakfast, the meeting featured a panel discussion on how good health equals good business. The panel consisted of: Anna Miley, Thea O’Connor, Carla Marchant and Belinda Brown. The next combined event with BPW, Zonta and BWN will be staged at the C.ex Coffs and will be celebrating International Women’s Day. The keynote speaker will be Mariam Issa, and the Coffs Coast Woman of the Year and Runner up will be announced. We are coming up to our 10th year for Coffs Coast FOCUS, and I have been here from the very first day! I was hired by my bosses Louise and Jay Beaumont from head office at Port Macquarie to write the social pages, write a few stories and introduce the first editor, Kim Gould, to our Coffs Coast locals. She said this glossy magazine would smash it, and she was definitely right! Ten years later, and I can honestly say I am still loving being part of this publication. The very first event I covered for FOCUS was for the Coffs Coast Pipes and Drums … it was a loud bagpipes affair in a small church hall with a lot of excited guests, and a never ending flow of scotch! I have mentioned this because … ten years later we have just covered the Coffs Coast

Pipes and Drums Robbie Burns Immortal Memory Supper. Robbie Burns was a famous Scottish poet born on the 25th January 1759; he wrote Auld Lang Syne, A Man’s a Man’s for a ‘that, My Love is like a Red Red Rose, along with many poems. A group of ex pat professionals started a Burns Supper Night locally many years ago as a private function and as it grew, it became a yearly fundraiser for Coffs Coast Pipes and Drums. The traditional Scottish dish of Haggis is piped into the Grand Hall, then a reading of The Address to the Haggis, which is then served with tattis and nips and fine single malt Scottish whiskies. The speeches consist of The Immortal Robbie Burns, A Toast to the Lassies, and the Reply to the Toast to the Lassies. With so many Scottish professionals residing in the area, it is always a homely fun night, finishing with a traditional Scottish Cèilidh (dance) led by the Fireside Celts, a local Bellingen Band. This year Coffs Coast Pipes and Drums are preparing to hold their first Tattoo at the Coffs C.ex Club on Saturday 27th June. There will be four pipe bands from Northern NSW, highland dancers, Coffs City Choir and so much more. Burns suppers have been held worldwide since the early 1800s and may be formal or informal. The Coffs Coast events are known to be informal,

but that doesn’t stop the night being jammed packed with good food, entertainment, lots of fun and full of tradition. This one certainly didn’t disappoint! Another Friday Social Night was held at Le Dãin Designs - Sawtell last week. These mini events used to be called Red Carpet Nights, but that deterred people to rock up, as they thought it was a posh affair and you had to be dressed up like a “Dog’s Dinner”, so to speak. There was no chance the men would attend … that’s for sure! Since we have turned all casual, it was packed to the max, with more than a sprinkling of men attending. Lots of local tourists pop in and get to chat to the locals, the girls get to have a dress up and enjoy a beauty up from La Fleur D’Alyse, and we usually all go out somewhere for dinner after. Last week we all went to the Sawtell Indian Restaurant. Everyone is welcome; it’s nothing too serious, and we are about to run a little raffle on the night to raise a little something to support a local cause, the local primary school, Sawtell Church, or the Soup Kitchen for example. Here is to … Living each day to the fullest … Carole Beros, Le Dãin Designs.

focus_contributor

social scene.

CAROLE BEROS FROM LE DĂƒIN DESIGNS

Marianne & Brian Carpenter

Kyen Page, Harry Smith, Isaac Kelly, Seth Ryan

BWN Breakfast Event

Fowler Family

Kerstin Thode & Vicky Bamford

Sawtell Australia Day Event

Mercedes-Benz Cars & Vans Retailer Of The Year 2019 Awards Dinner

Paul Fitzpatrick, Andrew Thomson, Brett Weik, Jesse Lutton, Christopher Beros, Ivan Beros

Alice Kerridge and Ali Finkayson

Tamily, Lisa & Rachel

Piping in the Haggis

Simone, Laura, Kerstin, Cath, Lace

Holly, Christopher and Carole

Sawtell Australia Day Event

Sawtell Street Party

Scott Geddes Giving Toast to the Lassies

Bill Wright Adress to the Haggis

Douglas Scott

BWN Breakfast Event Panel

Coffs Coast focus 35

focus_tourism

WITH FIONA BARDEN

events+ UPDATE

Open for Business The importance of tourism to Australian communities has been at the forefront of many thoughts over the last few months, as the impacts of natural disasters and epidemics have been widely felt.

he Coffs Coast has not been immune to these impacts but with a number of local, national and international opportunities available, there are many ways for each of us to support this vital industry here and further afield. We are being encouraged to showcase #CoffsCoast to Australia and the

world by partnering with strong marketing campaigns developed by Destination NSW and Tourism Australia, to lead recovery. These campaigns highlight local businesses and attractions, along with supporting the promotion of the Coffs Coast region. NOW’S THE TIME TO LOVE NSW As part of a Tourism Recovery Package to Rebuild NSW, Destination NSW has planned

a new community-driven campaign - Now’s world. It’s quick and easy to get involved in The Time To Love NSW - which urges each this campaign. of us to take a break that gives back, and to OTHER SOCIAL INITIATIVES saturate social media with photos or videos Numerous opportunities have been of favourite holiday spots locally or across the organised to drive use of and spend state. in businesses in communities affected, We are inviting you particularly by the recent to get involved in the bushfires. campaign by showing #RecoveryWeekend the world what’s to love #Spendwiththem We encourage everyone to about the Coffs Coast, #emptyesky get involved and spread businesses or attractions #buyfromthebush the word that the Coﬀs by following these steps: #stayinthebush • Make your hands #EventHereThisYear Coast is OPEN FOR into a heart shape #BackingtheBush BUSINESS - and it’s your • Take a photo with From encouraging favourite place to be! your “heart” in a Coffs you to holiday, spend, Coast location purchase, visit, host or • Share the organise in a regional photo on your social media with the impacted area, people within Australia are hashtags #LoveNSW and #CoffsCoast being given every opportunity to support Help share the love and show the love! tourism and other businesses in many areas, HOLIDAY HERE THIS YEAR including ours. #Spendwiththem has already Add to this messaging from Tourism proven to be a fantastic initiative for a number Australia and their new campaign, of Coffs Coast businesses. Customers from all #HolidayHereThisYear, which encourages over Australia are purchasing from these local Australians to get out and see their own businesses, supporting economic activity and backyard, whether it be a weekend away near creating results for them, even through trying home, a trip to another state or discovering times. their bucket list destination in Australia. We encourage everyone to get involved Adding the hashtag #HolidayHereThisYear and spread the word that the Coffs Coast to any image of the Coffs Coast will showcase is OPEN FOR BUSINESS - and it’s your all the wonderful places on the Coffs Coast favourite place to be! to potential visitors around Australia and the #coffscoast #naturallyconnected

PAT’S MOBILE OFFICE Getting out to meet you

Pat CONAGHAN MP

• Tuesday 17 March Dorrigo 11am-5pm

• Tuesday 5 May Urunga 10am-3pm

• Wednesday 18 March Ullong 9am-2pm

• Friday 8 May Bellingen 10am-3pm

• Thursday 23 April Macksville 10am-5pm

• Friday 12 June South West Rocks 10am-3pm

• Tuesday 28 April Taylors Arm 10am-5pm

NATIONALS FEDERAL MEMBER FOR COWPER

Authorised by P. Conaghan MP, National Party of Australia, 39 Little Street, Coffs Harbour, NSW 2450.

36 Coffs Coast focus

To register phone (02) 5507 9555. Visit www. patconaghan.com.au for more sessions.

focus_travel

WITH KERRY MOSS FROM QUADRANT TRAVEL

Holidays WITH KIDS

Israel Delights Israel has always been a fascinating destination; from biblical times to present day, this slice of holy land in the Eastern Mediterranean has long attracted visitors. Over the years it has attracted its fair share of turmoil, but nevertheless its appeal for visitors is enormous, and the dayto-day issues have little effect on those coming to appreciate its astounding history, impressive religious sites and exquisite natural beauty. Israel is a world leader in technological research in agriculture, and local tour company Quadrant Travel and Journeys have developed a oneof-a-kind tour to take you to the fascinating Middle East, where you can experience its breathtaking beauty and ancient history and at the same time, experience first-hand the close cooperation between farmers and the agricultural industry. Together with visits to a kibbutz, private family farms, and Tel Aviv’s busiest marketplace, filled with colourful stall and vendors, travellers will

have the chance of a lifetime to experience a fascinating nation unlike any other. The most unique and one of the most visited attractions in Israel is the Bahai Gardens in Haifa city, consisting of 19 perfectly arranged terraces descending from Mount Carmel to the German Colony, which are one of the highlights of the tour and also one of more than 15 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Israel. It’s hard to go anywhere in Israel without stumbling upon a place of religious significance. None though, compare to the holy city of Jerusalem. This unique tour gives travellers the chance to extend their stay, with an optional Christmas Eve tour of Jerusalem and Bethlehem. If you would like to know more, drop in to see the team at Quadrant Travel and Journeys in Harbour Drive, or visit their website www. quadrantaustralia.com to read more about this intriguing itinerary.

We asked our local travel guru Kerry Moss about the perfect holiday destination for families. If you’re thinking about a get-away, then check out her list below.

ctivities Galore If you like the idea of a set budget with the option to prepay everything from your accommodation, to your meals and sightseeing, then it’s hard to go past cruising as a good family option. There are activities on-board the ships ranging from waterslides through to ice-skating and everything in between. The packaged upfront price covers your accommodation and meals, allowing families on a budget the chance to sail the seas with a little of something for everyone. Cultural Capital If your family likes to meet the locals and experience the culture, then it’s hard to go past South-East Asia; destinations such as Vietnam, Thailand and Indonesia are all accessible and affordable choices. Destinations such as these provide the perfect combination of cultural experiences and fabulous food, with spacious accommodation options including villas and apartments. Flop and Drop If living on one of the most beautiful coasts in the world is not enough and the idea of spending a week on a sandy white beach whilst snorkelling in turquoise waters appeals to you, then the Pacific Islands are an excellent choice for your family. Fiji and Vanuatu offer excellent packages and you’re not wasting time getting there, as the flight is only three and a half hours from Brisbane. The locals love family and children, and there are options to have a nanny help you during your stay with the younger children. The kids’ club ones are varied and have age-appropriate activities for children ranging from babies through to teenagers.

Spoil Yourself If your family want to create a once-in-alifetime opportunity, a chance to create lasting memories or celebrate a special occasion, the options are endless. They depend very much on your family’s interests and budget. Some inspiration include Santa’s workshop in Lapland, including being transported around by reindeer and sleigh or dog-sledding with the polar bears in Alaska. If luxurious tropical holidays are more your style, then why not consider the Disney Resort in Hawaii, where guests can hurtle down water slides, float along a lazy river or snorkel in a private lagoon while surrounded by everything Disney. Travel with a Conscience There has been a shift in families wanting to give back to the communities they visit, and there are lots of opportunities to do this. It can be as simple as using local tour guides so the money stays locally, or committing to help build a local school and volunteering in the communities. Other ethical choices include travelling with tour companies that support ethical practices including safe and sustainable animal protection, or a commitment to reducing child-sex tourism. Closer to Home Let’s not forget how lucky we are to have some of the most beautiful options right on our door step. Some of the fondest memories you’ll make will be on the most simplest of holidays available to you. Holidays Parks provide an excellent value option, with loads of free activities available for children and a range of accommodation options. With some of the best available in the Coffs Coast region, a holiday might be closer than you think. A visit to your local travel agent will help you with your decision. They are trained, experienced and often have access to exclusive deals. Coffs Coast focus 37

focushealth

and

Wellbeing WITH LAUREN VESTEY FROM LIVING DOLL

ROB BROWN DENTURE CLINIC

DENTURES explained

hat are dentures? Dentures are a removable prosthesis for people who have lost teeth and want to replace them for aesthetics and/or function. A lot of people just want their “smile back”. What are dentures made of? Dentures are generally made with acrylic bases and acrylic or porcelain teeth. Some dentures, especially partial dentures, can have a metal alloy base which most people prefer, because they are thin but extremely strong. The patient becomes more comfortable with them in the mouth, as they take up less room. The denture base can also be a nylon product, which are also very successful, as long as they are placed in the right situation. Not everyone is suitable for a nylon based denture. Milled dentures and 3D printed dentures will become the norm in the near future. Do dentures ever feel normal? Dentures will generally feel normal with perseverance. Dentures mostly need time to settle in and be comfortable, and you may need some adjustments from your denture professional. A lot of the time, you are replacing old dentures that don’t actually fit very well, even though they feel comfortable. The gums underneath the dentures can be soft, as the dentures haven’t been stimulating this area for quite a while. New dentures will fit very well, and the gums will need to toughen up again. Brushing the area with a soft toothbrush will help to toughen these areas. You need to remember, dentures are a foreign object in your mouth and will never feel like your own teeth. They will never be as good as your own teeth, but they should be better than having no teeth. Some patients feel at ease with their new dentures within days, but most need a few weeks or even months before they are totally comfortable. A very small percentage will never

38 Coffs Coast focus

livingdoll. feel totally “at home” with their dentures. How many teeth can you lose before you need dentures? Can you get partial dentures? I believe that lost teeth should be replaced. The main reasons are being able to chew food efficiently, for aesthetic reasons and to prevent adjacent teeth drifting or opposing teeth overerupting. You can get partial dentures, but I also like to inform patients of all their options available to them. Some may prefer to replace teeth with implant crowns/bridges, bridgework or implant over-dentures before looking at the option of the normal removable denture. Again, you should talk to your denture professional about options. Do you need to make sure you always wear your dentures? You should wear your dentures as much as possible to help them settle in. But it is also wise to give your gums a break from the dentures, which is why it is always recommended to leave them out of a night time. What are the most common complaints and solutions to wearing dentures? Sore spots: take the denture out, make sure there’s not something on the denture or in the mouth (e.g. a tomato seed) that is creating the soreness. If there is nothing there, leave the denture out for a while; when it settles down, put them back in. This may take a few times for the sore spot to go away. Rinse your mouth out with salty water or apply intra-oral topical products to relieve the soreness and/or reduce the inflammation. If it doesn’t go away in a few days, call your denture professional. Loose dentures; call your denture professional, as you may need yours adjusted, relined, or even new ones. Cleaning: always clean your dentures with soapy water and a soft toothbrush. Toothpaste is too abrasive and will wear them away. Soaking products are fine; just follow their instructions. NEVER use bleach. Thanks Rob, for all your great advice!

A GOOD HAIRCUT IS REALLY EMPOWERING.

It can not only turn any bad hair day into the best one ever, but your new added layers or bangs can completely sky rocket your self-conﬁdence, leaving you feeling like you can take on the world for weeks to come.

he big chop seems all the rage during the warmer months, but whether you’re thinking about a pixie or you’re just trying to take a few inches off your locks, there’s a thing or two you should know about cutting your hair. Below are six little known facts about cutting your hair, and some tips to help you get the best out of your hair. 1. Cutting your hair more often doesn’t make it grow faster: getting rid of the ends of your hair doesn’t directly affect hair growth. Trimming simply keeps hair healthier as it grows, by cutting off the split ends so that they stay intact, instead of fraying and breaking off quicker than your hair actually grows. Lauren explains, “Millimeter trims - I like to call micro trims - make a huge difference when trying to grow your hair.” 2. Layer accordingly: when cutting your hair, you should layer it according to your hair texture. Tighter curls work best with layers that aren’t perfectly even, while straighter hair works best with more even layers. However, don’t look past the very fashionable solid cut, at that LOB (long bob) length. 3. Love an (on-the-go) wash and wear hairstyle: it’s important to let your stylists know how you style at home, so that they

can address this and cut accordingly. In most cases, wash and wear styles are best cut dry. 4. All bangs aren’t cut equally: if you’re thinking about getting bangs (fringe), know what works best for your face and for your hair texture. Long, wispy bangs usually work best for a long face or high forehead, while softer, shorter bangs work best to frame a round face. However, if you have a dreaded cowlick, remember - is it worth all that work! 5. Short hair takes work: cutting off your hair doesn’t mean less trips to the salon. To keep it maintained, shorter cuts usually require more frequent trips to the salon to keep the shape and style fresh. But don’t despair - you’ll find it’s outweighed by the ease of styling it at home. 6. Bring options: sure, we’ve all got our Pinterest boards full of haircut inspiration, but make sure you bring multiple options. When you get to the salon, your stylist may explain that a certain cut won’t work with your texture, or that it will actually require much more work. So keep an open mind and trust the stylists, because that is what they are trained to do. Be brave, embrace a new you and come and speak to one of the Premier Stylists at Living Doll today. XO Dolls.

Meet Tianna What is the most asked for style at present? I find that the balayage trend has taken over and continues to dominate most requested styles. I feel because the colours that appeal more naturally are quite flattering to the face, with highlights placed strategically in and around the front of the hair, it can really give the face a lift and a fresh look. Along with soft beach waves; I know living in a beautiful coastal town like Coffs, the relaxed undone look is what’s very popular. Any home tricks that you could pass on to help people at home? I would say alway use good products, know what products are best for your hair type and individual needs and know how to use them. Then use them; I find we often buy so much and leave them in the cupboard. Just give yourself the time each morning, and you will feel great every day. When can clients see you in the salon? I work from Tuesday to Saturday, and late nights; it’s always best to ring for an appointment, as we like to have the adequate time to give you the best possible service. The salon’s number is 6699 2122. XO Dolls.

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focusinterview.

Lee Winkler has been an instrumental part in getting “The Rippers” division up and running at Coffs Harbour Boardriders Club; this is a division for surfers with mixed abilities who want to get involved with the club and compete in club competitions. We spoke with Lee and also with members of The Rippers about how it all got started and what it has meant for the club and its members.

LEE WINKLER

ou have been part of Coffs the boys loving their surfing so much, it was Boardriders Club for some about increasing the surfing experience and time and are now involved in a club environment. There are so many with The Rippers division; friendships built, and with that comes support can you tell us about your on many levels across the community. To get role and how you came to it up and running there were a few questions be a part of the club? and answers to run by Surfing Australia and I guess it was a combination between Joanne once that was cleared, we networked with the Magill (Dane's mum) and I discussing how to families on what we wanted to achieve - and integrate a little more surf culture into the boys' here we are now. We are now into our third lives as an addition to what we were doing year. within the Surf School. The boys had asked a What do you enjoy most about being few questions and loved what they heard about involved? the club, and I guess we went to work as a club The smiles on these boys’ faces and the to make it happen. relationships they We gave it a trial to have built outweighs see if the boys enjoyed everything else. Not only the day, and the first that, but how it has THERE ARE SO MANY comp was a huge impacted on our club FRIENDSHIPS BUILT, success, as The Rippers and the joy it gives our AND WITH THAT thoroughly enjoyed members to have them COMES SUPPORT ON the day and all aspects here with us; they are MANY LEVELS ACROSS surrounding the day, much loved and valued THE COMMUNITY. including the competitive members of the club! and social sides. The Who can join in, and members of our club what is required loved having them a part to be part of Coffs of the day also; the feedback was amazing. Boardriders? So from there on, we continued to have Go to our club website and send an email The Rippers division as a permanent division, to our secretary, or please give me a call; I’m and the boys haven’t missed one comp day. happy to discuss what's involved. We would They not only participate in the surfing, but love to see The Rippers division grow with a are included in all aspects of the club; they few more members, to give them some more help and learn to judge heats, they help set competition! up and pack down, and never miss a preso at Do you think other clubs might follow your the Hoey! They are included in our Hoey raffle lead and start divisions for people with roster and participate in our annual Golf Day mixed abilities? and annual camping trip to Crescent Head. I really believe it will become a massive part You are the only club in Australia with a within the Australian Boardriders Club system, division like this. What was involved in and we are trying to advocate it to other clubs. getting it up and running, and what was We are speaking regularly in meetings with the motivation behind getting it started? Surfing NSW on the positive impacts, and we On a motivational level, it's about making hope to see more of this in the future. a positive impact on someone's life and with Thanks Lee.

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MEMBERS

hat do you love about experience! being involved with How often do you surf, and how often do The Rippers division? you participate in club comp days? DANIEL JEFFCOAT: GUY THIO: I surf usually on Wednesday, Everything about being Friday and Saturday and also every second involved in the Coffs Sunday I attend Surf School with my friends, Harbour Boardriders Club is awesome. I love which I really enjoy. hanging out with everyone on competition I like joining in surf competitions with CHBC days and have made lots of new friends. each month, and I like to go camping with On comp days I compete in The Rippers CHBC and my friends on the annual camping Division with three mates, Guy, Emil and Dane. trip to Crescent Head. We have lots of fun I like the friendships surfing against each the club provides and other. I have to try very we all get together, and hard to surf my best communicate. I learn when competing, and different techniques in I LOVE SURFING sometimes the waves surfing. WITH MY MATES AND can be very big. I Iove I like to be part of a BEING PART OF THE surfing with my mates team, and the CHBC CLUB; IT MAKES ME and being part of the makes me feel welcome as FEEL REALLY GOOD club; it makes me a member. ABOUT MYSELF. feel really good about Lee Winkler has been myself. instrumental in getting us I like helping the all together, and he has guys pack up all the given us a good hand up equipment at the end of the day, and then into the club and the world of surfing. All my everyone meets at the Hoey Moey for the friends enjoy surfing together. presentations. Aside from surfing, what other things do It’s great having my name called out and you do as part of the Boardriders Club? going up to get a certificate for competing; EMIL BURTON: I love being a part of the everyone claps, and sometimes one of the teams events and supporting everyone, plus members buys me a beer! getting to travel away to new places! Our What’s your most memorable experience camping away competition with all my mates with Coffs Boardriders so far? and our club members is sick fun! We have EMIL BURTON: Making heaps of new also learnt how to judge heats, and we are also friendships and getting to surf against a part of the raffle roster, where we sometimes the legendary 1999 WSL World Surfing help with the meat and seafood trays on a Champion “Occy“ last year at the CHBC Sunday at the Hoey Moey. Thanks everyone. Club Championship day was an awesome

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focusﬁtness

W I T H D U N C A N M A R C H A N T , C O F F S C O A S T H E A LT H C L U B

MyFitnessStory

.com.au

This month’s inspirational health and ﬁtness story comes to us courtesy of Jen McCulloch, who is a Personal Trainer and Group Fitness Instructor at Coﬀs Coast Health Club. READ ABOUT HER HERE AND THEN POP IN TO SEE HER AT ONE OF OUR CLUBS FOR ALL OF YOUR HEALTH AND FITNESS NEEDS …

ave you always lived on the outside of work? Coffs Coast? My life is fitness, so if I am not training my No, I haven’t. I was born in clients you will find me training myself. I love New Zealand and brought up CrossFit, Olympic lifting and also have recently in the UK, so, I’m a Pommie taken up kickboxing. On a rest day, I like to get through and through. My parents are British; out and walk. Oh ... and in between, you will they, however, moved from the UK to Australia find me eating. Brunch is my favourite meal of 15 years ago. My husband and I moved to Coffs the day. Harbour two years ago to be closer to them. What is your philosophy on healthy living? What do you love about the Coffs Coast? For me, healthy living is all about creating Oh my! Where do I start! This is a very positive energy, a willingness to try something special place. Endless unspoiled beaches, bush, new and to recognise when something is rainforests, mountains ... not good for you. It’s the Do you want me to go small daily habits done on? To be honest, it’s not consistently over time that just the environment. The have the greatest impact, people make it special too! both mentally and physically. My life is ﬁtness, so if I am I have felt welcome from I believe everybody has a not training my clients you the start. It’s a big thing responsibility to themselves will ﬁnd me training myself. I moving continents, with and the people around love CrossFit, Olympic the fear of the unknown. I them to be educated with lifting and also have had a good life in the UK; I the skills and knowledge for recently taken up just didn’t know there was a long, healthy and happy kickboxing. On a rest day, a better one waiting for future. I like to get out and walk. me here. What tips do you have Why did you decide for people looking to live to work at Coffs Coast a healthier life? Health Club? Find a physical activity I think fate had a hand in this! I was travelling that you enjoy and that involves like-minded around Australia, just under two years ago, people. Take walks outside as much as you can. when I had a sponsored ad come up on Sleep. If you struggle getting good sleep, work Facebook advertising for Personal Trainers at on improving it; it’s an investment in the next the club in Coffs Harbour. Right role in the right day. Drink plenty of water; you are made up of place. it! Surround yourself with positive people who I applied for the position on a Sunday, came support you and make you happy. Smile more back to Coffs on Monday, interviewed on often; you are still here! Tuesday and the job was offered by Thursday. Thanks for sharing, Jen and if you are I have now been with the club for 18 months looking to kickstart your own inspirational and absolutely love it. fitness story, contact her directly on 0431 What is your role at the club? 141 701 or drop in to see her at either Coffs I am predominantly a face to face and online Coast Health Club Toormina or Moonee 1:1 Personal Trainer. I also teach circuit training Beach. More inspirational fitness stories and boxing classes. can be found at: What types of activities do you enjoy www.myfitnessstory.com.au

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focuscontributor

WITH AARON HARDAKER FROM MID NORTH COAST PHYSIOTHERAPY

ith the weather outside so unpredictable of late, ranging from steaming hot to sopping wet, it’s common for many of us to find a range of excuses to avoid exercise. The decrease in activity often leads to more pain from your arthritic joints, weight gain and a general decrease in your overall wellbeing. So, what if there was an ideal way to exercise in comfort, reduce your pain levels, and increase your strength and flexibility? The good news is: there is! We caught up with Candy Williams and Sam Brown, Exercise Physiologists at Mid North Coast Physio, to find out how to look after yourself by exercising in a different way. Why can hydrotherapy be so helpful for my aching joints? If you suffer from general aches and pains, regularly complain of a bad back, or you’re sick of hip and knee pain, then hydrotherapy is ideal. Exercising in chestdeep warm water reduces the load on aching bodies by up to two thirds of your body weight. This allows you to move more freely in the water than would normally be possible on land. Something we often hear from our clients in the pool is, “Wow! I would never be able to do this on land!” How does it work? Hydrotherapy can be beneficial for such a wide and varied range of acute and chronic health and musculoskeletal conditions, including arthritis, post-surgery rehabilitation and back pain. It is a very safe, challenging and beneficial environment for

neurological conditions including Cerebral Palsy, Parkinson’s Disease and Muscular Dystrophy, as well as being popular in older populations, particularly those at risk of falling. It’s the properties of water itself that contribute to water-based exercise being such a beneficial form of treatment for rehabilitation - mainly the buoyancy, the warmth and the resistance of the water. Can I do hydrotherapy at MNC Physio? Yes. The great news is we have our own private hydrotherapy pool in our Woolgoolga clinic, the only privatelyowned clinic with this available in our region. Our pool sits at around 32°C, which is beautiful all year round and is an ideal therapeutic temperature at which to exercise. There is also a ramp available for easy access into the pool. The classes are small and individualised, to ensure you get the attention you deserve while getting the most out of each session. You will complete a couple of individual sessions in the pool prior to joining a class, so you are comfortable and have a great understanding of your initial exercises. How do I get started? If you want to reduce pain and improve movement, strength, and balance, contact the friendly team at Mid North Coast Physiotherapy NOW. For this month only, Coffs Coast FOCUS readers can get your Initial Hydrotherapy Assessment and Program for FREE (save $99). There are only 10 spots available for this special offer, so call 1300 27 37 47 now to secure your spot and avoid disappointment.

What is this about? Endometriosis is a disease that affects around 10% of women and goes undiagnosed for an average of 7 years before it is diagnosed and treatment begins. Although difficulties with fertility may affect some women with endometriosis, it is the pelvic pain that make this disease so horrid. Being told “it’s normal”, “it’s not that bad”, or “it’s all in your head”. Even after diagnosis women may still be confronted by those don’t have knowledge or understanding of this disease. So, we want to get the word out on Endometriosis! Endometriosis Awareness Month March is the month to help shed a little more light on endometriosis. All around the country, events will be taking place arranged by local groups as well as national groups such as Endometriosis Australia. A Community Event One of the biggest difficulties with Endometriosis is feeling alone. Uncertainty of how the disease will progress, will it get better, will there be problems with having a baby, will I be able to get back to normal life. And women aren’t the only

ones with these questions as friends and family struggle for answers too. What’s going to happen? This event is here for the community and the information shared is everybody. Whilst medical professionals are welcome to attend the aim to cast some light on the disease and not provide in depth treatment plans. To help us along with the day we have: • General Practitioners in Women’s Health, • Gynaecologists, • Physiotherapists, • Yoga Instructors, and • WOMEN (your stories) The Important Stuff When: Sun 15th March 2020 Time: 10am to 12pm Where: TBC (Please register to stay in touch as this is finalised) Register: Please let us know if you plan to come along so we can accommodate everyone. You can register your interest at info@draaronbudden.com.au If you suffer from endometriosis and would like to share your story in a public forum, or would like details of local support groups, please get in contact at the email above as well.

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with Clairvoyant Terri Hall Phone. 0424 818 343

March 2020

AQUARIUS.

GEMINI.

LIBRA.

JANUARY 21 - FEBRUARY 19

MAY 22 - JUNE 22

SEPTEMBER 24 - OCTOBER 23

Love yourself enough to receive the best possible outcomes. This will ensure a peaceful, uncomplicated existence, giving you the quality time you need to immerse yourself in your personal life happily. Career and other responsibilities will fall into their rightful place and life will seem better balanced. Garnet will enhance your passion for living.

You are a person of your word. Your wisdom will be greatly drawn on in this next cycle; to make the most of every possible opportunity, set some fresh goals and don’t compromise your standards. Your mind is likely to be busy recognising possibilities that exist, so make the most of this talent and seize the moment. Amethyst is great for connecting to our higher qualities and life’s purpose.

PISCES.

CANCER.

SCORPIO.

FEBRUARY 20 - MARCH 20

JUNE 23 - JULY 23

OCTOBER 24 - NOVEMBER 22

You are gifted at being able to think laterally and offer practical solutions to life’s dilemmas. For this reason, people are drawn to your energy. Hear the wise words you are offering in a counselling situation, as these words are channelling through you for your guidance as well. Protect your energy levels by thinking yourself in a bubble. Citrine shatters negative energy; wear some whilst helping others.

Self-esteem issues need to be addressed, as these will create scenarios that potentially ruin your most cherished feelings if not attended to. Know you are a beautiful soul, so you attract an abundance of nice things into your life. Smile at your reflection to realign your selfworth with positive influences. Citrine attracts abundance; carry some.

Your sensitivity is increasing and so is your wisdom. This is the reason so many people are drawing strength from you at this time. If you find you are being drained or affected in a negative way, look inward and recognise all the qualities you bare that you are proud of. This technique will charge your energy. Clear Quartz enhances our energy; carry some.

ARIES.

LEO.

SAGITTARIUS.

MARCH 21 - APRIL 20

JULY 24 - AUGUST 23

NOVEMBER 23 - DECEMBER 21

Listen to your wise words when helping others, as these are your answers too. You will be feeling quite independent and secure as you make plans for your future happiness. You may need to protect yourself from energetic drainage, as your vulnerability increases; simply achieve this by thinking yourself inside a bubble. Selenite is great for auric protection; carry some in stressful times.

A feeling of stagnation is taking place, because your fears have stopped your progress. You must take hold of them and reshape them, and then positive things will begin to flow again. Your soul is learning selfappreciation and self-love. Listen to your wise words, as they will provide clear direction. Turquoise is great for self-confidence.

You can expect an opportunity to fulfill a dream from a long time ago or one that you carried for a long time to cross your path very soon. Prepare your mind by recognising it and list everything needed to make it a reality, then take action and acquire a few things from the list. This way you will be armed and prepared for it and little time will be wasted. Turquoise assists in recognition of one’s higher purposes.

TAURUS.

VIRGO.

CAPRICORN.

APRIL 21 - MAY 21

AUGUST 24 - SEPTEMBER 23

DECEMBER 22 - JANUARY 20

Think about what you want, but be aware of why you want it because if your motive is beneficial to your highest good, you are very clever at manifesting. If your motive is insecurity based, you will align yourself with some big challenges. Remain in a positive headspace when goal setting, just to ensure a good outcome. Clear Quartz amplifies a happy mood; hold some to set fresh goals.

44 Coffs Coast focus

Avoid taking life too seriously at present; this is why all your fears and insecurities are playing with you. This is leaving you feeling trapped in life, instead of owning it and creating it. Try to connect to your silly self and do some pranking to lighten up your energy and brighten your world. Ruby shatters fear and leaves us feeling safe and comfortable in our reality.

Look within and identify all your attributes and qualities that you chose to bring forth in this life that leave you feeling proud to be who you are. You are getting ready to step into a new cycle, and it will be very emotionally rewarding. Your nurturing compassion will be used a lot in this cycle, delivering great self-worth. Clear Quartz will help maintain strong positive thoughts.

Patience is one of the higher lessons you’re drawing into your reality at this time. In pursuit of exciting outcomes where you have little control of timing, avoid making hasty decisions to cure frustration, as this will alter your happy outcome. Instead, re-connect with the passion driving you. Clear Quartz keeps us focused on positive outcomes; carry some.

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EMMA & SANDRA MAKINSON J & P CRANES (JENNY & PHIL) & COFFS CITY CRANES E M M A - O P E R AT I O N S M A N A G E R . S A N D R A - O F F I C E / A C C O U N T S PA Y R O L L M A N A G E R

hat do you like about what you do, Sandra? I love being part of a family business. Our parents started this company in 2004. I was living overseas at the time, but wanted to move back to help them with the business. Being a part of building something makes you more emotionally invested. It becomes a passion, rather than a job. The work stays fresh, as there’s always

46 Coffs Coast focus

something new we are asked to do. We have a great team, and it’s fantastic to be exposed to other women working in the industry. What do you like about what you do, Emma? I love everything I do, because our team makes it great! Without them we could not do what we do - they all work very hard, they work safely, are all multi-skilled, and we appreciate all that they do. And I love our clients! They keep us on our toes with some challenging (sometimes strange)

requests, but also the regular jobs that help our business run. They have stood by us year after year, and we are so grateful. I love that the job has such variety. Each day you are presented with new challenges that we have to find solutions for, from developing lift plans to finding the most efficient crane to carry out the works, all within a client’s budget. Personally, I love everything about what I do. However, I could not do any of it without my right arm, which is Sam Smith (our Supervisor). Without him, I would have no hope of time off to spend with my family! Last year I had the honour of being nominated into (CICA) The Crane Industry Council of Australia (NSW) Board. Being around so many knowledgeable industry professionals is an amazing chance to learn and take ideas back our business. What is unique about your business? Our business requires real skill and attention to detail. We are operating huge machines that can be moving incredibly heavy and expensive structures, and it is essential that in our project set up we address every possible scenario that could happen - and then ensure none of it doesn’t! Liaising with third parties for a job to happen is an important part of the job. We’re also unique in that we operate a business in a “not your everyday” female industry. It is a very male dominated industry with a great bunch of men (our team) being mothered every day at work and over protected by their managers (the she’ll be right attitude is no longer accepted in our workplace). Tell us about your own initiative and how this has been recognised recently?

Sam, Sandra and I are working closely with the NHVR and CICA to ensure the integration of the Local Governments running the crane permit system through the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator. We recently donated our cranes for a demonstration day at the Coffs Race Club with all the regional councils from Port Macquarie to Ballina, to demonstrate the variance in size cranes, levels of permits issued, and how crane pneumatic suspension is so very different to a normal truck suspension on bridge approach. For this, we were issued a Crane Industry Council of Australia Excellence Award 2019. Our company has also been recognised for our contribution to the Certificate 3 in Construction mobile crane operations traineeship participation, having four enrolled in 2019 from regional areas. Last November, we gave a presentation about the Traineeship program at the Annual CICA regional meeting in Newcastle. To date, our company has been featured in three consecutive issues for recognition in the industry. This is a great honour and is confirmation that the initiatives we have in place and the business we are building in this industry are making a difference. How important is it to provide locals with employment and training? Our company is very passionate about employing locals and providing training to existing employees and engaging the younger generation into our industry. Last year we enrolled four Trainees into the Crane Industry Council of Australia (NSW) division Certificate 3 mobile crane operations in conjunction with TAFE Annandale.

Sarah Speirs BUSINESS OWNER, JUSTICE OF THE PEACE ONE STEP CONVEYANCING SERVICES

How do you define your business' unique selling point? At One Step we understand everyone is busy. Life these days can be very demanding, and personal affairs can get pushed aside due to busy schedules and time constraints. One Step prides itself in removing this problem. Our aim for our clients, industry associates and stakeholders is to provide the most streamlined and stress-free experience to the most complex and intimidating aspects of conveyancing transactions. We use the most up-todate legal software technology and have developed our in house Electronic Conveyancing Service, meaning there is no need to leave your busy daily routine to attend appointments at our office. All you need is access to a computer, tablet or smartphone, enabling us to meet with you anywhere and at any time. I am also fully certified in electronic conveyancing (E-conveyancing), enabling electronic settlements through the Property Exchange Australia (PEXA) platform. What is the most interesting part of your industry / role? I love every part of conveyancing and feel truly grateful for being able to work and do something I love doing every day! From the first phone call of an excited purchaser, to a vendor moving on from their family home to retire, to settlement day when all the work comes together. Our team at One Step is very close knit, meaning we all work together to ensure all parties involved in a transaction are kept up to date and the best possible service is being provided. Buying or selling can be a very stressful period in someone’s life, so we are always here to alleviate that stress with our friendly and approachable manner. Forget the legal “jargon”; we speak your language, and you will be reassured by us that no question is ever a “dumb” question. What does 2020 hold for your business? I am very proud to announce that 2020 marks five years of One Step Conveyancing being established. Starting out initially back in 2015 in my small home office, we have grown quickly and are now based in our new office at Surfside Plaza, 2/58 Beach Street, Woolgoolga. We thrive on handling local clientele; however, we can also service clients living anywhere within Australia and around the world with their New South Wales conveyancing needs. Establishing One Step five years ago I had a vision to bring forward a fresh and innovative approach to conveyancing. We are proud to be supporters of several local sporting clubs throughout the Coffs Coast and we're always willing to support community-based initiatives. What is your best advice for doing business with other local businesses? Being born and living on the Coffs Coast my whole life, I understand the importance of building working relationships with local businesses within the community. Clear and open communication, with the ability to communicate on all levels, and always striving to act honestly and ethically is priceless when forming business partnerships. We pride ourselves on maintaining a respectful and trustworthy relationship with all industry professionals in the community. Phone: (02) 6654 1771 Address: Shop 2, 58 Beach Street, Woolgoolga Email: sarah@onestepconveyancing.com.au Web: www.onestepconveyancing.com.au Licence number: 05001089

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The other dimension is the joy of building a team of professionals who can laugh, cry and fist pump alongside you.

BARBARA HAIGH S I L K L A S E R C L I N I C PA R K B E AC H P L A Z A CLINIC OWNER / SKIN + LASER THERAPIST

hat do you like about what you do? We help you be your best you, by being our best us! I like that we see results from the very first treatment and that our investment in medical grade equipment ensures we can create confident and smooth clients. I enjoy being a witness to the long term benefits of our dedicated skin programs, and I like how our hair reduction clients share their results. My role at SILK Laser Clinics sees me wearing many hats and carrying out a broad range of tasks. I thrive on our extensive range of modalities and working with a highly skilled and motivated team of young professionals. What are some of the unique aspects about your business? We continue to remain an Australian owned franchise and 100% locally owned, staffed and operated. We have succeeded

in creating a nurturing, warm and caring atmosphere with an “everyone is welcome” policy. Laser hair reduction, skin treatments and cosmetic injections are continuing to grow in terms of customer demand, driven by proven results. What is your background in this industry? My professional experience spans more than 28 years across beauty therapy, business mentoring, industry training, small business ownership and people leadership. I have remained true to industry and have observed the innovations as the beauty industry has evolved. I have traded in the wax pot for lasers, my precision hands for microdermabrasion and skin needling machines and added registered nurses to the team of technicians to offer cosmetic enhancements. Each team member brings an extensive and diverse skill set and experience to our clinic. What is the most interesting part of your

role? The joy in running a laser clinic lies in using latest technologies and proven medical grade procedures to help clients feel better about themselves. This can manifest in many ways, including acne-scar treatments, pigment reduction, unwanted hair removal, through to cosmetic enhancements. The other dimension is the joy of building a team of professionals who can laugh, cry and fist bump alongside you. While I still have plenty of stressful and frustrating days, I feel blessed to be working with a great team to serve Coffs Coast residents. Our targets and budgets are large, and they stretch our resources and capabilities; month after month we have been able to achieve them and become the regional benchmark in our network. Do you have a goal this year for yourself personally or in business? I want to continue to invest in our community. I’m consistently looking at ways

of how the SILK brand can expand and grow, offering more local jobs and creating great relationships with our clients. We strive for outstanding results for our clients at SILK and are determined to remain the industry leader for our clientele. Our best us, for your best you! What is your best advice for doing business with other local businesses? Always shop local and keep the wheels of our local economy turning first. Our business is built on referrals and repeat business and mutual respect for each other’s strengths. Owning a business can often present challenges whilst juggling client expectations, but we can all offer support and encouragement and continue to ensure our Coffs Coast business prospers. How can people get in touch? Contact the clinic direct: 6651 1592, email us at coffsharbour@silklaser.com.au or check out our website: silklaser.com.au

LASER HAIR REMOVAL | COSMETIC INJECTIONS | SKIN TREATMENTS | SKINCARE

SILK Laser Clinics Coffs Harbour 48 Coffs Coast focus

Park Beach Plaza 6651 1592 silklaser.com.au

“People often really don’t know what innovative designs are available that will make their life simpler, and we do.

Rebecca Te Whatu R M K I T C H E N S + B AT H R O O M S / G R A N I T E T R A N S F O R M AT I O N S

What is distinctive about your business? We are a husband and wife team who actually really love working together! Our business, RM Kitchens + Bathrooms specialises in exceptional design and joinery, all built in our own factory here in Coffs Harbour. My husband Mana is a brilliant cabinet maker while I design, project manage and co-ordinate customer service, our skills really complement each other. What excites you about what you do? Pretty well everything! The design process can be so varied. Meeting new customers and working to combine all the functional and design elements, then their excitement as the 3D plan of their build comes to life. Then there’s negotiating the jigsaw puzzle of the joinery on our factory floor, which then becomes someone’s dream kitchen or bathroom. I even love the challenge of those days where everything seems to go pear-shaped, but you sort it out, and finish the day knowing that you have given it your best shot and you deserve that glass of wine. How did you get into this industry? Several years ago, I decided to have a career change from media and started working with a leading kitchen design company. I loved it and progressed to designer and project manager. After meeting my hunky husband Mana, we took a leap of faith and bought Granite Transformations together. Now it’s time to really make it all about us, Rebecca and Mana – so we are changing the name to RM Kitchens + Bathrooms. Does RM Kitchens + Bathrooms say it all or do you offer other services? Your kitchen is the central hub of the home and beautiful kitchens are what we are known for, but we do custom joinery in any area of your home. We have our own factory, so we are not limited, from small vanities and shaving cabinets to joinery for entire houses. We will design, create and project manage, and deliver something special. Do you have a goal this year for yourself personally or in business? Launching RM Kitchens + Bathrooms is a very personal project for us, it’s about moving forward. We want to be the business that people turn to because we hone in on you “the client”, a premiere business that delivers great outcomes that are not just beautiful but really work well. For me personally this year is about growing and nurturing the great relationships I have with customers, businesses, family and friends. My life is good!

Coffs Coast focus 49

ToughTITTIES A N O V E L I N I T I AT I V E

Tough Titties is a collective of hard working, risk taking, creative, powerful chicks - making awesome. We chatted with founder Emily Cooper, to find out more.

here did Tough Titties start? Tough Titties is a Novel initiative that literally came to life over a salad sandwich. Our team have all spent the majority of their careers in Sydney and made the shift to the Coffs Coast to soak up a little more of that work-life balance. As sunny and glorious as it is, we were all missing the creative inspiration and ambitious buzz that’s oozing out of city life. As a creative studio, rather than complain, we thought, let’s do something about it! Our team had every skill set we needed to get this off the ground stat. What’s with the name? While munching on that sandwich, a sneaky glass of wine and a lot of laughter, we landed on Tough Titties. The name had to capture our cheeky, ballsy attitude and showcase that we aren’t afraid to get our hands dirty. We foster a can-do attitude that breeds positivity and a youthful vibrancy. What’s it all about? Tough Titties is a collective of hard working, risk taking, creative, powerful chicks - making awesome. Designed to inspire and empower women who have a fire in their souls. It’s a celebration of uniqueness and independence with a foundation of coming together and supporting each other. There are four major events each year - Summer, Autumn, Winter, Spring - and smaller catch ups sprinkled throughout (Follow us on @toughtitties.co for 50 Coffs Coast focus

all the details). of excellence to their brand AND, yes, there will be something for the boys too - less about the Catch Ups. These are smaller gatherings goodie bags and more about the home brew. sprinkled throughout the year where we We want to celebrate the best of the Coffs collaborate with some of our amazing Coast and the incredible creativity that’s on collective. They are all about creating offer so we will be ever evolving. community, highlighting the creative skills of While we began this venture organically, some of our entrepreneurs and encouraging in our region, the uptake has been incredible people to explore and we can see both the something new. need and desire on a Events. These are the big global level to inspire and guns, literally designed to encourage women who make our collective feel DESIGNED TO INSPIRE have an entrepreneurial, amazing, both personally AND EMPOWER WOMEN ambitious spirit. This and professionally. It’s a WHO HAVE A FIRE IN THEIR means our access to welcoming, beautifully SOULS. IT’S A CELEBRATION partners, speakers, curated night where we OF UNIQUENESS AND sponsors and venues partner with the best INDEPENDENCE WITH has grown much further in the business from A FOUNDATION OF than we anticipated. It champagne to sparkly COMING TOGETHER AND feels like we are in the shoes. We’ve made the SUPPORTING EACH OTHER. right lane and the flow is events something we genuinely exciting. all seriously want to go The Team to. The hardest thing is Emily Cooper - Founder getting people to leave at the end of the night! Em is the creative lead, both left and right What’s happening in 2020? brained this lady is strategy minded and We’ve been utterly blown away with the creatively driven. She is the go-to person for response Tough Titties has received to date high level campaigns and has a knack for and even though we consider it to still be in extracting exactly what you’re after. She sees its infancy, 2020 is looking to be a big year! things holistically and pushes for creative We are in the process of securing fire cracker excellence. Fiercely independent, but an speakers who will bring their unique voice, incredible leader for the Tough Titties team. dynamic inspiration and all round good vibes to Ash Vos - Co-ordinator the table. We will be launching Workshops to She’s a total go-getter this one. Ash has come alongside and support startups and small a diverse skill set but specialises in all things businesses who want to ingest a greater level

brand; what’s working, what’s not, how to grow, how to market. She lives and breathes what makes a brand tick. Ash is always behind the scenes, keeping all the ducks in a row. Amber Hannaford - Designer Amber is actually superwoman in the flesh. An enormous heart that is matched equally with her sheer design genius. Her creativity, artistic flare and eye for detail is incredible - she picks up things most would miss. Amber forges the way, all things design on our projects. And yes, there are some dudes! Dan Cooper - Director If storytelling is your jam, this guy’s your man. His cinematic eye, creativity and perfectionism are second to none. His incredible work, commitment and drive are highly admired in our team - “that’s why they call him Biggy Poppa”. Dan is the master of pushing creative ideas into motion and leads all things production. Gordon Baker Motion Editor Our token cool guy, Gordon keeps us all on our toes with what’s hip and happening. Gordon’s unique style and design flair have given him a reputation for fresh ideas and creative excellence. Gordon looks after all things motion. To get involved or join the collective, head to toughtitties.co And follow us on social for the latest @toughtitties.co

NINA BOWDEN Think H I B B A R D S Over 85% of people inquiring to own their own home with Hibbards are Women. Women are the doers, the influencers, the Mothers (even to those who are not their own) and arguably a driving force behind the continual success of businesses and society - to say the least. Women are so highly valued within this company and we attribute our success at Hibbards to the collaboration between the amazing Women and Men we have on staff. Here are just some of our awesome team at Hibbards working in Head office, Coffs Harbour: Kath Sparke: with Hibbards for 20 years! Together with her daughter Keryn Sparke they are the cracking team that run the conveyancing department. Tash Stengert: Pre-Construction Manager; managing the work leading up to the construction of each home. Kelly Frewen: Sales Administration Manager.

An integral part of driving each sale through to settlement across all our regions; assists with special projects and acquisitions. Karen Lauder: Accounts Manager, with Rachael Newman: accounts receivable; these ladies are the heart of the Accounts Department. Trisha Barry and Fiona Whalan: the clever duo forming a fundamental part of our estimating team. Kim Purcell: Service Consultant; running our After-Sales Service Department. Taking care of current clients, past clients, and assists property managers for our investor clients. Tamzin Shotbolt: Promotion; Marketing; PR and Media. Responsible for bringing in new business and making sure everyone in all our regions knows who we are. This is big business. And we’re changing lives by creating opportunities for people to fulfill their dream of home ownership.

BOWDEN CONCRETE A C C O U N T S / A D M I N I S T R AT I O N

What do you like about what you do? Apart from being in business with my best friend, I have always had a passion for property and construction. Having worked in real estate for over a decade, I had to make a difficult decision to make the move to work full-time for the family business, but I am happy to say that I haven’t looked back! What is unique about your business? We are a husband and wife duo, born and raised on the Coffs Coast. Together we combine an abundance of construction and building experience and a wealth of local property knowledge. We offer a diverse range of specialised concreting services, with our main focus on delivering the highest standard of workmanship on schedule and on budget plus always striving to be the friendliest and

cleanest bunch of concreters in the area! Do you have a goal this year for yourself personally or in business? I think my husband would say my business and personal goal should be try to not be so bossy … ha ha! But honestly, I have hopes and goals that 2020 will be another successful year for Bowden Concrete, where we continue to expand and evolve within the industry. Personally, I think sometimes we can put too much pressure on attaining “big” goals - so this year I want to focus on the “small” things like phoning friends I haven’t spoken to in a while, or making more time for a cuppa with hubby. Really, it’s these things that matter the most!

Coffs Coast focus 51

FRESH DENTAL CARE WITH BUSINESS MANAGER KIRSTY CHRISTENSEN

hat is your involvement in mentoring your team? I play a big part in mentoring the team. HR consumes a large part of my role, and we are continually improving and striving to be better at what we do each day. Having a happy and sound team is ideal, and it takes a lot of effort to maintain this in a team of 68! We are proud to have a strong dental assistant and reception team; the majority started with us with no dental experience and have been taken through our on boarding program to learn the skills they require. Some of our support team have continued further study (Certificates or Diplomas) in the dental industry and some have continued with their newfound passion to go on to study Bachelor of Dentistry or Oral Health Science. To lead young people to grow and develop, take hold of their futures, have a desire to succeed and make a difference is a huge achievement. When you have someone come back to work with you as a dentist or hygienist, or they aspire to take over your role - to me

this is the best compliment I could receive. guarantee you, you haven’t! Leaders are required Being a leader today has taken on a People will only engage with you if they to provide support in a greater scope than what it used to. In respect you as a manager or as a leader. Building whole new capacity, and completing courses such today’s modern working force it is common a respectful relationship (if you don’t already have as Mental Health First to find that you’re a mentor in someone’s one) is the first step to engagement. The best Aid assist in providing professional and personal life, finding that thing you can do is to just be you; if you cannot you with extra tools. the “leave your personal life at home” truly be you, how can people trust you? mentality no longer exists. Leaders are The second step is to recognise the positive required to provide support in a whole new things others bring to the team and what they capacity, and completing courses such as have to offer. Truly appreciate each person you Mental Health First Aid assist in providing you with extra tools. work with for who they are and the value that each person What tips do you have for team engagement? brings to your team. Creating a fun and inspired workplace was my top priority “Employee engagement is about feeling connected, when I stepped into my role as the Business Manager for appreciated, engaged, and happy and having the ability to grow. Fresh Dental Care - to build a team that have fun at work, If you can engage your employees and improve the workplace have opportunity to grow, are challenged and are appreciated. culture, then you will improve the experience that your customers This is not an easy task and is one that you work on endlessly, have when they interact with your business. If you look after your even when you think you have achieved your outcome - I can team, they will look after your business.”

Bulk billing CDBS available Family-friendly practice Extended opening hours Saturday availability

(Coffs Harbour & Macksville)

Children’s therapist PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & STAFF TRAINING FRESH DENTAL

2019

Grafton

Cnr Queen & Victoria Streets

6643 2225

Coffs Harbour

Suite 1, 252 Harbour Drive

6651 1350

freshdentalcare.com.au 52 Coffs Coast focus

Urunga

46 Bonville Street

6655 5800

Macksville

1 Princess Street

6568 1335

/freshdentalcare.com.au

T KYMBERLEI GOODACRE C O F FS L AW C O . P R I N C I PA L S O L I C I TO R

ell us what drew you to the legal profession. There were so many times in my life I was told, “You’d make a good lawyer”. I listened! I was working in the paralegal profession while studying psychology and communications, and the lawyers and barristers I worked with kept telling me my talents were being wasted; so I took their advice and found a career I love, being admitted in 2006 and in 2014 opening my own legal practice - Coffs Law Co. Coffs Law Co offers all facets legal service, but family law is a specialty. Is this an area you’re passionate about? In my personal life I’m very child focused, and in my business it’s no different. To me, kids are the most important piece of the family law puzzle. Early in my career, I saw the grief, anger and loss impacting the kids of separating parents and the struggles parents had because they didn’t have the tools to co-operatively co-parent. I had a strong desire to assist separating parents provide better outcomes for their kids. What sets you apart as a family lawyer? Apart from extensive experience and passion, I help families understand the family law process in everyday language in a relaxed and contemporary office. I’m all about making my clients feel relaxed and safe. There’s also a good chance we can trade stories, because I’ve been there and done that. I have two kids to two different fathers and I’m twice divorced; which has given me insight about what it’s like for

my clients and the sensitivity and empathy needed to support them. I also have two ears and one mouth and I use them in that ratio. I hear my clients and then strongly advocate for them. I use my words wisely based on all the information I have received. I also understand how important it is to work actively with you to resolve your issues confidently and effectively for your individual family’s circumstances. Court should be a last resort, and all parties should walk away feeling they got what they needed. Your focus is on family law, but you do much more. Tell us what other services Coffs Law Co offers? While I’m passionate about family law, I’m qualified and experienced in estate planning and administration, conveyancing - utilising the new electronic conveyancing platform PEXA - and providing independent legal advice for loans, guarantees, leases and employment contracts. Tell us how Coffs Law Co expanded in 2019? Adam Taylor is the newest lawyer to join Coffs Law Co. Adam delivers service to clients with his calm, educated manner. He has a diverse background and is ready and willing to assist parents through separation and their property disputes. Is it important to you that Coffs Law Co services and supports locals? Coffs is a small town and helping separated families be able to navigate a personal dispute in a tight knit community is our specialty.

Coffs Coast focus 53

focusinterview.

GLENDA HALLIWELL The Travel Centre was established in Coffs Harbour in 1949 and has been owned and operated by Glenda Halliwell since 1992. Glenda heads up a dynamic team of travel experts who have travelled the globe and share a wealth of real travel experiences. We sat down with Glenda, to find out more …

lenda, tell us about your role at the Travel Centre. Not only am I the owner and manager, I am also one of the “deck-hands”, which means I carry my own sales workload. Obviously, this dual role presents many challenges. On the one hand I need to think strategically about the business’ future, while managing the day to day in the office. Top priority is my staff … for them to function to capacity means their needs must be considered and catered for. I also like to keep well informed regarding the nuances of the industry and, importantly, ensure that we are providing the best possible service and product to our clients. I believe that first-hand experience and reliable information is the key when selling travel. Obviously, this all keeps me on the go and I suppose in some sense, quite time-poor. However, the satisfaction of delivering a highquality seamless travel experience to our clients is well worth the effort. What do you like about what you do? Well to start with, I love to travel myself and also love to learn about the world. The richness that comes from seeing other cultures, seeing historic places, meeting people from all around the world is food and drink to me. I’m sure that this job was made for me! Sharing my passion for travel with seasoned travellers, as well as introducing the pleasures and excitement to the next generation of travellers, really is an amazing buzz. The Travel Centre team bring enormous fun and joy to those who book holidays through us. How

54 Coffs Coast focus

could you not get off on that! What is unique about your business? Undoubtably the most unique aspect is that Travel Centre is the oldest continuously operating travel agency between Sydney and Brisbane. Add to that, the team have been together for many years (our newest recruit joined us eight years ago and the longest started 18 years ago.) Some of the other special points of difference is our specialisation in the cruise market, which we started 13 years ago. In this time the cruise industry has grown exponentially, and the business has followed suit. Tell us about the events you host throughout the year. The team and I all love a little socialising! We host several VIP client events each year. Also, we host the biggest Travel and Cruise Expo on the North Coast; this year the expo is Saturday 30th May. For anyone thinking of travel, our expo is a must. What is the most interesting part of your role? Determining where the growth in the travel industry is most likely to occur and of course, where it will drop off has to be number one. I wouldn’t be alone in wishing I had a crystal ball on that front! The next interesting part is finding the courage to act on those determinations. I think that in any area of sales, having belief in your product and knowing it well is essential if one is to offer genuine advice and information to people. Learning about what the world has to offer really is neverending and certainly interesting to me. Then

tailoring and shaping As record numbers Sharing my passion for travel an experience for of travellers take to the with seasoned travellers, as people who come to skies, the rivers and the well as introducing the me for advice is another seas - with more ships, pleasures and excitement factor altogether. It’s more flights and less to the next generation of challenging to make it legroom than ever - you travellers, really is an work for each individual, should never travel amazing buzz. The Travel but I never shy away without a professional Centre team bring enormous from a challenge! travel advisor behind fun and joy to those who book Why is experience so you. holidays through us. important in advising As travel professionals all things travel? we ensure that you are Clients come to me a person, not a number. looking for information We are committed to our they can rely on, and we help to work out clients' happiness and satisfaction - we want what they need to turn their travel ideas into to make sure each and every trip is packed full reality. For some people travel is a regular of positive lifelong memories. We are with you event; for others it is a trip of a lifetime or a before, during and after your trip - kind of like dream come true experience. No matter which "for better or for worse”. camp a client is from, it is essential that the If things go wrong, which are often outside travel memories are special and the experience anyone’s control, it can be overwhelming for is stress-free. With a good bank of information the traveller. The comfort of knowing you can and well-rounded experience, you have a call and have us take care of re-arranging your holiday is a huge comfort. Travel professionals chance to pull this off. Without it, no hope! have the access and knowledge to help speed I have spoken a lot about the positive aspect your re-accommodation and act as your of travel and holidaying; however, things can and do come unstuck from time to time. When advocate when there are problems. As professionals we have contacts and that does happen, your clients need you as insider information in many places and know their life-line to help them navigate their way the inside out of a cruise ship deck plan. We through the crisis. People want and need have all the information about visas at our reassurance; they need reliable information fingertips. We can recommend restaurants, and they often need you to take care of things sightseeing, shopping and where or where not for them. That’s the experience I’m talking to go. about. We do the work; you just pack and go! Why use a reputable travel agent when Thanks Glenda. planning any overseas travel, as opposed to doing it yourself?

COFFS COAST COSMEDICS

e are incredibly grateful to be able to live and work on the beautiful Coffs Coast. Coffs Harbour has been home for Dr Rouan Lerm now for the last 20 years, and Lisa has the pleasure of being able to call herself a “local”, having grown up and residing here most of her life. We hope the Coffs studio and Woolgoolga clinic will continue to offer our Medical and Aesthetic services for many years to come. Dr Rouan Lerm is a local trusted, and much loved GP, providing care and advice to patients and clients for more than 20 years. Lisa Engel is a Registered Nurse Cosmetic Injector with over six years’ experience in cosmetic medical treatments; her philosophy is nurturing, caring and gentle. Together we make up the team of Coffs Coast Cosmedics. Coffs Coast Cosmedics celebrates its 10th year in business on the Coffs Coast in 2020.

This is a milestone that we are both humble and incredibly excited about. Our ethos at Coffs Coast Ten years is a great achievement for Cosmedics is to provide beautiful, natural looking any small business, and we would results that restore, like to take the opportunity to thank enhance and refresh the our fabulous loyal clients. Thank you appearance. for a great 10 years and we hope, - so rewarding. many more to come. Thank you all It is with great pride for the recommendations and praise that we announce a you continue to bestow on us. fresh look for Coffs Our ethos at Coffs Coast Cosmedics is to Coast Cosmedics; after 10 years we thought we provide beautiful, natural looking results that might have a little freshen up too! So thanks restore, enhance and refresh the appearance - a to the overwhelming talent of local graphic fresh look that gives confidence and a boost to designer Sam Rowe from Co-Author, we unveil the self esteem. This is why we are so passionour exciting new brand. The look is artistic, ate about our work; it changes lives! The best confident, elegant, technical yet minimal, to repart of our day is the follow up consultation flect our natural style of work, passion and high - the Before and After Reveal is so exciting and clinical standards. The concept behind the new can be very emotional for everyone involved; brand is one of metaphorical journey as seen it is not uncommon to see tears of joy! Giving in the continuous line drawings - a pathway of people their confidence back is such a privilege renewal. The colour palette, shades of emerald

green, enforces a sense of positivity, growth and renewed energy … possibly a touch of envy too! Our work is our art. It is the art of precise science based technique, individual face to face assessment, personalised treatment plans, specific personal product choice, clinical safety precautions, ongoing education and training and most importantly, an artistic eye for detail. We love our work, adore our clients and are staunch ambassadors of individual and age appropriate aesthetic medical treatments. Subtle, beautiful and natural results that are not obvious, but give you a spring in your step and a cheeky, knowing smile.

Coffs Coast focus 55

JODI WOOD C E O

O F

K E Y

E M P L O Y M E N T

hat is your employment background? I have worked at Key Employment (KE) my entire adult life. When I was studying my degree in psychology, I worked casually on reception. When I finished my degree, I started work fulltime as an employment consultant. I became a fully registered psychologist and member of the Australian Psychological Society (APS) whilst working at KE, and I worked for three years in this role providing all assessment and counselling services to all clients. In 2010 I was promoted to Manager of Client Services and acted in this role for 12 months, before again being promoted to DES Manager, a role which saw me take over responsibility for managing all business contracts in three employment regions, across all sites. In the 14 years I have been at the company I have seen KE grow from a staff of eight to 61, with our client base going from 200 to over 1,500. I have seen KE’s business plan change and evolve dramatically, and I have played an instrumental role in assisting to establish several other business streams, including an RTO, Youth Service and now NDIS services. Despite moving further and further away from direct client contact as I have progressed into management, I remain passionate about helping people. I am still a registered psychologist and continue to provide free assessment and counselling services to young people in our youth programs. In 2019 I became the CEO of KE. I now manage all client services, business streams and staff, reporting directly to the Executive Director and Board of Management. After 14 years I still enjoy my work every day and can honestly say I love my job. What are your career highlights and milestones? There have been many milestones in my career, including the design and implementation of two of the most successful youth programs in Australia - KIKASS, which saw over 200 young people gain full-time 56 Coffs Coast focus

apprenticeships in 2011 - 2012 and KAPOW, which has seen over 700 significantly disadvantaged and disengaged young people complete an accredited qualification. Opening a self-funded youth hub was also a major highlight for me, as was winning the Regional Young Business Executive of the Year in 2017. But it is not these achievements that have defined my career. It is the many hundreds of moments and stories of triumph, success and sometimes heartbreak of the people with disability I have assisted that have truly defined my career. I still get goose bumps when a client is placed into employment. Every job placement KE makes is a milestone in my career and is so much more important than any ounce of personal success I have achieved. The clients I work with are some of the most resilient, strong, hardworking people that I have ever had the privilege to meet. Knowing that I have played some part in giving many of these people the opportunity to work; earn a wage; have work mates; and have a purpose is my greatest career achievement. What is your biggest challenge as a leader, and how do you overcome it? I have faced many challenges in my career, all of which have taught me invaluable lessons and ultimately made me a stronger leader. My biggest challenge though, is probably recruitment. I value my staff above all else, so finding the right people is extremely important to me. There are high turnover rates in the employment services industry, so keeping a strong team can be difficult. I’ve certainly learnt a lot about recruitment since becoming a leader at KE. It’s been important finding staff that don’t just match the job description, but match the values and ethics of the company. Experience and qualifications are important, but ultimately hiring people with passion, strong work ethic with the ability to be flexible and a strong sense of community will trump that any day. Our current team is the strongest it has ever been, with almost no staff turnover in the last 12 months. What do you do in your spare time? I am President of my soccer club - Coffs

City United FC and by my three beautiful The clients I work with are volunteer a lot of my children. some of the most resilient, strong, spare time assisting You clearly love hardworking people that I have the club in whatever what you do. Tell us ever had the privilege to meet. way it needs. I go to why? Knowing that I have played some the gym all the time, I am extremely part in giving many of these people enjoy playing many passionate about the the opportunity to work; earn a sports and love to work that we do at wage; have work mates and have a purpose is my greatest career plan and organise Key Employment. achievement events (kids’ birthday Whilst most of my parties and girls’ job focuses on our weekends are my revenue, outcomes speciality). Mostly and KPIs, I always though, I spend all ensure that no matter my free time with my family; my husband what, the individuals we are here to assist Adam and three beautiful kids Charlie (11), are the focus of everything we do. Yes, we Riley (9) and Ivy (2). Life is always hectic, but need results and income to stay in business never boring. but ultimately if it’s not what’s best for the Who inspires you? individual, then it doesn’t happen at KE. I am inspired to be a better leader by When the chips are down and the pressure my amazing hard working team at Key is on to perform, I always remember KE’s Employment. I am inspired to be a strong overall mission and the individual lives we female in business by all the amazing women help change. There is no better feeling than in my life, but especially my mum. I am that. I am so lucky to work for such a great inspired to love harder and laugh more often company, and I can’t wait to lead it into the by my soulmate and husband Adam, and I future. am inspired to be a better human every day Thanks Jodi.

K AREN KYBURZ

My business goal this year is to build my product knowledge and find more innovative products to pass on to the client.

SAWTELL KITCHENS CLIENT LIASISON, DESIGN & SALES

hat do you like about what you do? The first initial meeting with the client is the best; this is one of the most

exciting times, when all the creative juices get going and the dreams and ideas begin to flow.

What are some of the unique aspects about your business?

and designs and bringing them all together. Secretly, I think this is how I got the job.

measure and quote.

I love that there are no rules; there are so many products out there in the kitchen world, which allows for so much creativity. Sawtell Kitchens is unique in the way we listen to the clients’ wishes to help create their dream kitchen design, whether that be design functionality, aesthetics, blending a renovation or a brand new build. Each and every kitchen should be unique to the client.

What is the most interesting part of the role?

business with other local businesses? in the local area, I encourage people and

What is your background in the industry?

Guiding the clients who walk through the door thinking they don’t know anything about colour, design, textures or set out; I enjoy the process of bouncing ideas and dreams off clientele and helping pull it all together. Most people know what they like and don’t like; it’s a matter of personal choice, with a little bit of encouragement.

I have worked as a commercial chef on and off for the past 26 years, establishing commercial restaurants and food outlets in the area. It’s imperative that a kitchen is designed to flow for productivity and functionality - the same for a home kitchen. I have built and renovated several houses using Sawtell Kitchens. I love researching products

My business goal this year is to build my product knowledge and find more innovative products to pass on to the client. Another big goal is to build the social media platforms such as Instagram, Facebook and the Sawtell Kitchens website, uploading the exciting, beautiful and unique kitchens we have built and to inspire you to call us for your free

What is the best advice for doing Being a previous small business owner retailers to shop from locals, advertise through local channels, pass business or customers on to other local business, support local charities and create good healthy competition. Sawtell Kitchens has been servicing the Coffs Coast for over 38 years doing all of the above but most importantly, looking after our clients with exceptional quality built kitchens and outstanding customer service. People can contact us: Phone: 6653 3205 Email: sales@sawtellkitchens.com.au Instagram: sawtell_kitchens

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focusinterview.

NICOLE DONOVAN Nicole Donovan from the Surf Club Restaurant & Bar is a very special friend of ours who has a big heart for the local community, and she is and always has been a true inspiration for all women, both personally and professionally ...

ow do you define your business' unique selling point? We are a family run business and have been operating in the Coffs Harbour Surf Club for 11+ years. Over this time we have formed many long term relationships, giving us the opportunity to create and host memorable events for all generations of families (baby showers to 90th birthday parties). We also hold a unique partnership with the Coffs Harbour Surf Life Saving Club, creating income and raising funds to help with the important job of saving lives on the beach. What is the most interesting part of your industry / role? The hugely diverse and amazing people we get the pleasure of meeting every day, from a 100 year old local birthday girl to families visiting for lunch from France. I can be organising a corporate fundraiser, a government conference, a baby shower and a beautiful wedding reception during the one day. At present my Restaurant Manager, Jason and I are working on around 60 separate events coming up in the next year. New events come in every day. We are a restaurant, but just as importantly, we are an events centre. What are you passionate about, and is your passion also your work? Yes, hospitality is my passion, whether at work, at home or while teaching yoga or dance. I am a “people person” and feel honoured to be part of the story of people’s lives. I find humans endlessly fascinating and love to learn something from each and every one. I’m also very passionate about good food and the ceremony of sitting down to share love at the table. Do you know you get a dopamine release from sharing this time of

celebration with friends and family? I believe we all need to do this more, whether out or at home. Food is connection. Food is love! When it comes to networking, what's your top tip for success? I’ve been told I’m a natural networker, and I AM A ‘PEOPLE PERSON’ I suppose it’s because I AND FEEL HONOURED am genuinely interested TO BE PART OF THE in people and make STORY OF PEOPLE’S a real effort to listen LIVES. I FIND HUMANS and learn from them. ENDLESSLY FASCINATING You can’t take it too AND LOVE TO LEARN seriously or it doesn’t There are many, many SOMETHING FROM EACH work; people can tell people who inspire AND EVERY ONE. if you’re faking it! Just me daily! However, be yourself, really. And my Ashtanga yoga don’t rely on Facebook teacher of years and or Linkedin. That’s not years, Bec Gilby, challenges me to better “real” networking. Face to face is way more myself on the yoga mat and in life. Yoga is my effective. medicine: physically, spiritually, energetically Do you have any changes planned for and emotionally. I also have my mentor, Ron 2020 within your business? If so, what Vagg, who is my strength in business, as well are they and how will they benefit your as my saviour. He brings me back down to customers? earth and has helped me cope with the not so The most exciting thing that has happened nice aspects of business and has turned into a already this year was engaging my Executive friend for life. I don’t know where I would be Assistant, Damien. He is helping take us to without his glorious guidance. Namaste Ron! a new level, a very steep learning curve for You are a bloody genius. There is also Lynda me, considering the changes in how we do Marshall, my life coach, who has inspired me business (online) compared to a few years to evolve on every level. ago. After 11 years our systems needed Do you have a goal for this year for renewing, and he has helped orchestrate yourself, personally or in business? this magnificently! He has injected life into Personally I will continue to study, practice our business by helping us implement new and teach yoga and Groove dance. Businessprocesses and procedures. Our customers, wise, I want to share my business knowledge suppliers, the Surf Club and our team, by teaching hospitality and helping others will benefit by all the ways we can better grow. I also want to continue mentoring a communicate and service them. Who has been your biggest inspiration? young local entrepreneur and continue to raise

funds for various causes. Giving back feels good! What is your best advice for doing business with other local businesses? Don’t be afraid to negotiate with them if you find something cheaper online or out of town. I’ve found most local businesses will go out of their way to get you to spend with them. Buy local where possible. Also, being understanding that many small businesses in Coffs Harbour are run by sole traders or small companies, and that giving them your business could make or break them. Top tips for customer retention? Asking for feedback and not being defensive when receiving a complaint. Using it as a tool for growth. Remembering people’s names and being genuinely interested and listening when having conversations. Taking the time to do things properly and not rushing, even though you might think it will save money. Quality over quantity is a better business strategy for longevity, although you need the quantity to be successful once the quality and your reputation is established. Thanks Nic. Coffs Coast focus 59

The powerhouse conference, sales and functions teams

T A M M I E Diener

AT PA C I F I C B AY R E S O R T A N D B O N V I L L E G O L F R E S O R T

I N S P I R AT I O N S PA I N T C O F F S H A R B O U R

Growing Coffs Harbour’s conferencing and events business is something that Tanya Watts is truly passionate about. Recently appointed to the newly created role of Group Business Development Manager, Tanya is the newest addition to a team of local female professionals who are setting a new benchmark for business events at Pacific Bay Resort and Bonville Golf Resort.

Pacific Bay Resort in particular has seen the

Attention to growing not only opportunities for the resort properties but also taking a lead in bettering the product and experience for delegates lies at the epicentre of the group’s strategy. “Conferences & Events on the Coffs Coast is a market that is destined for significant growth. We’re focussed on setting high standards, offering a modern refreshed product and strive to enhance customer experiences” says Tanya

area completes the picture. The Bayside Green

refreshment of its main conference centre, new paint, new flooring and styling in addition to a purpose-built bar in the Island Courtyard area – restoring it to its former glory. These major updates compliment the ongoing room refurbishment program at the property. Newly created food and beverage offerings together with a new vision for activating the Bayside Green has been beautifully styled for a host of stand-out recent cocktail events. The team is working closely with Destination North Coast in partnership with the business events program which is aimed at shining a spotlight on the North Coast as the perfect regional conferencing destination.

MEETINGS & EVENTS | GALA DINNERS | NETWORKING | ACCOMMODATION | SPORTING GROUPS

Conference, Create, Connect

The North Coast’s most comprehensive conference and events centre

www.pacificbayresort.com.au sales@pacificbayresort.com.au | (02) 6659 7000 60 Coffs Coast focus

What is the most interesting part of your industry / role? The most interesting part of our industry is that no two customers are the same. Everyone has their own particular style and taste that they want to bring into their projects, and that’s what we love. Do you have any changes planned for 2020 within your business? If so, what are they and how will they benefit your customers? For 2020 we have a big focus on learning about what the customer really needs. This will benefit them, as there are a lot of times they come into the store thinking they know exactly what they want, where the majority of the time it isn’t the best product for their project. With our team talking to the customers about their project, we are better able to provide products they need.

Who has been your biggest inspiration? In the business world I would say I have two people, the first being my husband Mark. He has more than impressed me with his capability of running and growing our business. To see it firsthand has been amazing. The second person would be my previous employer, Peter Game (Tritech Solutions). I worked for Peter for over 10 years, and I learnt a lot of things about business which I truly believe has helped me in the running of our business. What is your best advice for doing business with other local businesses? Supporting locally owned businesses should be the only way to go. Best advice is to show the passion for your job, and in return the other local business will show theirs.

Anna Manz O P E R AT I O N S & T R A I N I N G A D M I N I S T R AT O R M E N AT W O R K

Please introduce yourself and your business. Men At Work is a locally owned and family operated company that specialises in Traffic Services, Labour Hire and Training and Assessment. We take pride in providing the best service possible in all areas of the business and ensuring our clients walk away feeling satisfied. What is your business vision for 2020? 2020 is an exciting year ahead for our Registered Training Organisation. We have just finished building our brand-new training facility here in Coffs Harbour to accommodate our everexpanding student intake. While we have a rather large scope of delivery, we are constantly out of the office, consulting with industry and researching the market, asking clients what they want to see from us. Our focus is looking after our current clients by asking them what we can do to make their experience with Men At Work an even better one. We strive to be the one stop shop for all your traffic, labour and training needs. How does your business adapt to change? We’re responsive. For example, discussions with key clients uncovered a gap in the market for certain courses, that has led to additional courses being added to scope. One of these is a High-Risk Work Course for Elevating Work Platform - boom type 11 metres or more. Our first course will be starting mid-March, right here in Coffs Harbour! Also, keep your eyes peeled on our website throughout 2020; Men At Work will be releasing more courses as the year progresses. What are your greatest strengths in business? Relationships. I pride myself on making strong relationships with key stakeholders, students, trainers and colleagues - when you have strong relationships and exceptional networking abilities, the customer walks away happy. If you were down to your last $20, how would you spend it? I could sit here and be responsible and answer with things like food, bills, essentials … but realistically, and anyone who knows me will agree to this - I’d probably buy a six pack. 8/21 Industrial Drive, Coffs Harbour. T: (02) 5606 2499 W: www.menatwork.net.au

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K I M Connolly T I N Y H A B I TAT H O M E S

Tiny houses are good for the Australian economy as one solution to our lack of affordable housing and also to create an income stream for homeowners. I provide an affordable housing option for people, especially older single women who are ending up homeless because they are required to use their small superannuation funds or saved money on high rents. When that money is gone, they’re on a 10 to 13 year waiting list for a community house. My passion is helping old and young people create secure housing for the rest of their lives, or to build an income stream. All I have to do is say two words to get attention - tiny houses! Everyone loves them, even if they never plan on living in one.

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I’ve been using this to draw attention to our lack of affordable housing. I’m always looking for the best and lightest materials that will save labour costs and bring my sale prices down. The comments I get from people who know tiny houses and the industry say that my finishes are exceptional. My inspiration was frustration. I got tired of talking about the problem and decided to create an answer. This year I plan to treble my output of homes and as the president of ATHA (Australian Tiny House Association) to legitimise tiny houses. We are working to create standards, so tiny homes are built to certain regulations. I try to source materials locally. Also, be a person of your word. If you say you’ll show up, then be there. I love to work with the client.

LISA DANIEL THE DESIGN CUPBOARD

ow do you define your who have similar ethics as yourself. Be honest business’ unique selling and trustworthy, deliver what you promise, point? learn how to keep a secret, and continue on, if I listen! And I think! I things get tough. listen to what my clients say, Do you have any changes planned for 2020 so that the design concept within your business? If so, what are they has their thoughts represented, that it is what and how will they benefit your customers? they are actually after, and what they need to I’m not too sure what this year holds. Last portray. year three other ladies and I put on the event I ask the question, does the finished design BOTANICA, which took a lot of heart and reflect my client’s brand, does it impact on time. This year, I am working closely with their market, and does it generate more McGrath Real Estate as their stylist/designer, business for them? And I think, by seeking no doubt benefiting both their clients, and our inspiration from a businesses. I’m also on variety of art forms the lookout for another - fashion, film, creative project to take photography and what on outside my full-time nature has to offer. I work in interior design. I love what I do, and being ‘a then develop my design Who has been your creative’ means that what’s in by injecting my ideas biggest inspiration? my head needs to come out. incorporating colour, My father, an artist, I can’t think of any person finishes and innovation. was integral to my involved in the arts who would be content to keep on What is the most change of career from delivering the same thing. interesting part of food and restaurant your industry / role? owner (in Melbourne) Being creative! No to interior design. My project is the same husband Elliot (who and if they are, they is a filmmaker and shouldn’t be! photographer) has pushed me constantly to I love what I do, and being “a creative” achieve, and also my daughter Eden, who has means that what’s in my head needs to come my heart, and sees the world as I see my art. out. I can’t think of any person involved in Do you have a goal this year for yourself, the arts who would be content to keep on personally or in business? delivering the same thing. My aim is for my business to grow bigger What are you passionate about, and is and better. I have now been in Coffs Harbour your passion also your work? for four years, and I’m aware there are still a Yes, my work is my passion. And I just love lot of people and businesses that don’t know to paint and I love to create. me and my work. I’m always the one being coerced to help What is your best advice for doing family and friends with fashion choices and business with other local businesses? fitting out wardrobes. I also enjoy working Make the relationship an enjoyable one. with others on large community-based projects Open communication, and don’t do to people within the arts. what you don’t want done back to yourself. When it comes to networking, what’s your Top tips for customer retention? top tip for success? Relationships, and basically doing a damn Be yourself, be professional, but have a good job. laugh and enjoy. It’s great to work with people Thanks Lisa.

client money, manage a database to ensure you connect clients to their dream home, have knowledge of finance and investing, be a negotiation expert and have the determination to keep getting back up after being treated like a real estate agent.

every client is different and are dealing with different life situations and stresses when selling. I love the opportunity to be agile and work out what people need and when. Do you have a goal this year for yourself personally or in business?

What is your background in this industry?

AMANDA LANGLANDS M CG R AT H E S TAT E A G E N T S COFFS HARBOUR L I C E N S E D R E A L E S TAT E A G E N T

hat do you like about what you do?

Helping people move from one stage of their life to the next. Selling property is about so much more than offering houses for sale; it is a life transition and a huge upheaval in life. It can be scary, and people need to work with someone they can trust to

have their best interests at heart. What are some of the unique aspects about your business? In real estate you need to wear many hats. You need to sell yourself every day to be selected as someoneâ€™s agent, understand the physiology of your clientâ€™s circumstances, understand legal contracts, create and design a marketing program, understand building and potential hazards that could cost your

I always have goals both personally and professionally. My personal goals are focused I have worked in real estate for nearly on family, personal fitness 20 years, starting as a and happiness. My business receptionist at Coffs goals are very simple this Harbour Plaza real estate year, and that is to enjoy my before the internet had job and do it well. I am loving My personal goals are any influence on real being part of McGrath Estate focused on family, personal estate - back when agents and know the reach fitness and happiness, my buyers used to come look business goals are very this company has is going simple this year and that in your office window to assist me in providing the is to enjoy my job and do it and photography had to best service and presenting well. be taken to the camera my sellers with the best shop to be developed. I buyers. worked my way through What is your best advice the ranks, performing at for doing business with other local high levels nationally, then owned my own businesses? real estate business, mentoring a team whom Be true to your word. If you say you are I very much respected and enjoyed watching going to do something, make sure you do it, grow. I decided to sell my business at the end and when you said you would. Repeat and of 2019 to take up the role again that I love referral business is developed on trust, and most - listing and selling properties, looking these two small things will shift your business after my clients at the face level. massively. What is the most interesting part of your role?

How can people get in touch?

Every transaction is different, and you never know what to expect. That is because

Amanda Langlands 0408 561 682 amandalanglands@mcgrath.com.au

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BROOKE WICKS

BODYBYBROOKE NUTRITION & TRAINING COACHING / OWNER

hat do you like about what you do? My business is my passion. I wake up every day and genuinely enjoy what I do, which is helping people to become comfortable and confident in their own skin and learning to be the best version of themselves, no matter what stage of life they are in. I educate for long term results, not just a quick fix, through the process of flexible dieting. The issue with most “diets” is the fact that they are not sustainable long term and therefore, people tend to get results, but go back to where they started very quickly. Through the platform of Instagram, I post daily content, which I write in a straightforward, understandable manner. If I can reach just one person and help them “click”, I see that as succeeding, hence why I continue to do write educational posts daily. What are some of the unique aspects about your business? My business is now solely based online through the BBB app, check ins and Instagram, which provides me with the flexibility to help people reach their goals on a global scale, to the point where I now incorporate a waitlist to ensure my clients receive the highest quality of coaching. Each person has individualised macronutrient goals for their nutrition, along with individualised training programs. My coaching doesn’t involve changing every aspect

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of daily routines, but instead, creating positive habits which align with their goals. Most people have the assumption that they need to restrict foods they love, with a preconceived view of dieting, which has severely impacted their relationship with food. My goal is to show people that they can reach their goals with a balanced approach, being able to have their pizza, donuts and “treat foods” in moderation. What is your background in this industry? I have always had a passion for health and fitness, going to the gym since I was fifteen and incorporating a “balanced” approach to nutrition, rather than being restrictive. Throughout high school, I began to learn about the components of nutrition and experimented with different “diets” and training styles. After high school, I completed my University Degree in Bachelor of Education/Teaching, whilst also studying my Certificate 3 and 4 in Fitness, originally just for my own knowledge. After completing my degree, I worked as a teacher, alongside personal training/group fitness. I then studied to be a Sports Nutritionist through Sports Nutrition Australia. From there, my online coaching and personal training got busier and busier, which is when I began to phase out teaching. Whilst I love teaching students in schools, my true passion is educating within the health and fitness industry. What is the most interesting part of your role? Being a coach is such a rewarding job, seeing people evolve, both mentally and physically. Ultimately,

having a coach pushes you to learn from a difference perspective, stay accountable, whilst having someone to be able to reach out to at all times. Having a personalised plan in place is the key to success. My coaching covers more than just diet and training, including lifestyle factors such as sleep, stress, water intake and NEAT, which many people overlook but are a huge component when it comes to hitting goals. I encourage clients to be able to reach their goals without needing to spend countless hours in the gym or eating according to a restrictive meal plan. A large number of my clients are mothers who also cook for their families, so my goal is to create a maintainable approach whereby the whole family is involved, as opposed to having to cook separate meals and spending hours exercising, as opposed to spending time with family. What is your goal for this year? In 2019, my goal was to go 100% full-time with “BodyByBrooke”, which was a big step. In 2020, I have plans in place to expand further, helping a greater range of people to hit their goals, whilst taking on further study as a health professional regarding the psychology component, to continue to make my mark in this industry. How can people get in touch? Instagram - @bodybybrooke__ All links are provided from the link in my bio.

My role as an owner of ABCO Caravan Services is to ensure we are able adapt and position our business in the market to take advantage of the positive changes.

L I Z Harrigan

K A T H L E E N Saward

KINGDOM DENTURE CLINIC

ABCO CARAVAN SERVICES

How do you define your business’ unique selling point? At Kingdom Denture Clinic we deal directly with the client in manufacturing dental prostheses, whether it’s full, partial or implant overdentures, or even repairs, relines and mouthguards. We offer a friendly, professional service. We have also introduced digital technology and have been getting some truly amazing results What is the most interesting part of your industry / role? I love to be able to bring a smile back to the person in front of me. In our industry we have some exciting times ahead, and I look forward to continuing to educate myself with what’s out there. Digital is here, and here to stay. I’m proud that I have been able to move forward in learning new techniques to be able to create a better aesthetic and functional outcome. Every person who comes in to see us, they are very unique. No one’s mouth is the same, so it’s a very individual experience. What are you passionate about, and is your passion also your work? I’m passionate about creating that smile, but I also try to make the experience as happy as possible. I believe that the patient needs to be well informed of what to expect, but also to be comfortable to come in for follow ups and then recall for maintenance. I hear time and time again patients saying that they didn’t know that they needed to reline or replace their dentures. This is essential in maintaining

a healthy mouth. When it comes to networking, what’s your top tip for success? You can always learn something; don’t close yourself off from learning something new. Do you have any changes planned for 2020 within your business? If so, what are they and how will they benefit your customers? We have some big changes happening this year. We are moving to a bigger premises. I’m so excited! We have been in our current location for 37 years, and we are looking forward to our beautiful new space. Who has been your biggest inspiration? This goes without saying, but my dad, Des, is my biggest inspiration. Dental Prosthetists have come a long way in being regarded as part of the dental team. He has been my mentor, and I have been truly grateful to be able to learn from someone I look up to. He has always said, “Be professional in everything that you say and do!”

How do you define your business’ unique selling point? Our business is sales, service and repairs of caravans, but more than that we sell the idea of a lifestyle and an adventure to young families through to retirees. What is the most interesting part of your industry / role? The caravan industry seems to change every day with new products, or a different way of doing things. My role as an owner of ABCO Caravan Services is to ensure we are able adapt and position our business in the market to take advantage of the positive changes. What are you passionate about, and is your passion also your work? I’m very passionate about our staff.

Some have been with us for nearly 20 years, others are much newer, but without their support our reputation of delivering five star customer service could not have been achieved, nor maintained. Do you have any changes planned for 2020 within your business? 2020 will see a facelift for our Collison Place buildings, with our corporate colours, logo and fencing being used to establish us as one dealership, rather than 2 separate buildings next to each other. Top tips for customer retention? At ABCO we don’t take our customers for granted. Our first interaction is important, but not as important as the next one, whether it be tomorrow or in a year’s time.

Do you have a goal this year for yourself, personally or in business? Well, our goal this year is to have a smooth transition into our new practice and attend some more courses. Our goal is to make patients’ experience a happy and positive one. Top tips for customer retention? Offer a friendly, professional experience. Treat people how you would like to be treated.

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MEET NRMA COFFS HARBOUR Come in and meet our team of passionate insurance professionals at NRMA Coffs Harbour. With a combined experienced of over 60 years in the industry, Sandra, Liz, Cathy, Jodie, Simone and Ashlee pride themselves on providing high levels of customer service, tailoring policies to the needs of their customers.

his has been proven when the team took home the award for “Outstanding Team Achievement” in 2018 at the annual NRMA Insurance Country Partnership Event and was the runner up in 2019. The Coffs Harbour Team won the award in recognition of their exceptional performance, customer service and contribution to their Community. WE ENJOY BEING PART OF THE COFFS HARBOUR COMMUNITY Community participation is something the team is passionate about. February is a time of much activity when we visit Kindergarten students throughout the Coffs Harbour area presenting a Bus Safety Program. The program educates the students on safe behaviour around buses, what to do if they miss their stop as well as stranger danger. A highlight for the students is a short bus ride so they can practice what they have learned in the session. The Coffs Harbour team have been running the program for over 15 years, this year visiting 15 schools speaking with approximately 800 students. The program is now being extended with NRMA offices in Woolgoolga and Nambucca Heads visiting schools in their area. In November we help out at the Coffs Harbour RRISK (Reduce Risk Increase Student Knowledge) seminar, which is presented to Year 11 students and aims to reduce adolescent risk taking associated with alcohol and drug use, driving and celebrating. The Special Children’s Christmas Party is another annual event the team look forward to volunteering their time for, giving families with children of special needs a day to celebrate Christmas together. The day culminates in a visit from Santa, each child being given time with him to have a photo taken and receive a special gift.

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it’s time to buy Compulsory Third Party Personal Injury WHAT WE DO The Coffs Harbour NRMA office is privately owned (CTP Greenslip) insurance, which covers costs like and is part of the NRMA Mid North Coast group, medical treatment and lost income for people who with offices in Coffs Harbour, Woolgoolga, Nambucca need it after they’re injured in a road accident. Ask the Heads, Macksville, Kempsey, Tamworth, Armidale and team about NRMA Driver Protection cover. Gunnedah. When you contact one of these offices, you A lot of people don’t know we can also assist with will receive the same high standards the Coffs Harbour insuring your caravan, trailer, boat, farm, your life and team provide. income, as well as travel insurance. The team can show It is this high level of service the Coffs Harbour team how you are rewarded for your entire relationship with are most passionate about in NRMA through the loyalty providing their local community, discount. either over the phone or when If you have a small you walk in the door. Insurance business, or are a can be complex, and you can be Home insurance has a range tradesman, Liz can assured that when you speak with of coverages you can choose assist with your business one of our Coffs Harbour team from, such as Home Building insurance needs. She or Home Contents, or combine professionals, you will receive

can assist with providing them in the one policy to protect information to assist you to make your home inside and out, public and product liability an educated decision on insurance and Landlord Insurance can coverage that is right for you. insurance, covering also protect your investment They are always happy to take the for claims against you property, its contents or both. time to answer your questions, to for negligent acts in ensure you understand and know connection with your what you are covered for. business that results in The team can talk to you about personal injury or property a range of different insurance damage to third parties. General property can be products, such as Motor Insurance to protect your car included for your equipment and tools of trade against if damaged from an accident or for theft, flood and fire loss, damage and theft. There are a range of options or storm damage. They can also give you the choice and coverages available to help you protect what is just to protect you from claims made against you if important to you. you cause a crash. Home insurance has a range of Being local, the team know we’ve had some extreme coverages you can choose from, such as Home Building weather events and the difficulties experienced. We are or Home Contents, or combine them in the one policy happy to assist our customers when they are lodging to protect your home inside and out, and Landlord Insurance can also protect your investment property, its contents or both. When you register your car in New South Wales,

their claim. Come in meet the team and see why “Help is Who We Are”.

D E B Farquhar

O L I V I A Jamison

EAST COAST CABINETS

O R G A N I S AT I O N A L C U LT U R E S P E C I A L I S T

My best advice for doing business with other local businesses and our customers ... I was brought up to “do unto others as you would have them do unto you”, and I still endeavour to live by that mantra. Our employees have expanded on this by adding, “If you would not accept something yourself, do not expect others to”. This applies to suppliers, customers and anyone else that we are in contact with. If something goes wrong, swearing and tantrums are not going to fix it, but they will get people offside. However, finding a solution and happily acting on it will make everyone happy, and others will respond accordingly. What am I passionate about, and is my passion also my work? My work is one of my passions. I appreciate being able to give our employees a job and love it when they show their appreciation by putting 100% into that job and caring for our customers. Having happy customers is the best form of advertising. For respite from the wonders of being in business, I am a dedicated Rotarian serving the community and assisting with programs that help young people experience life and become wonderful adults in the future. I also serve on the Northern NSW Housing Industry Committee and as a Coffs Harbour Showground Land Manager.

Tell us what an Organisational Culture Specialist is all about? I believe the most important asset in an organisation is its culture. I work with organistions to create environments where employees will thrive, feel valued and appreciated. Organisational culture is made up of many things, policies and process being the most obvious, but the biggest driver of culture is leadership. This means a lot of my focus is on working with leaders to create cultures where people work more effectively together to increase the bottom line. What do you like about what you do? My job is about working with people to make their working lives better, and at the same time creating an environment where the whole organisation thrives. No job is ever the same, but working with leaders to make positive change is really rewarding, as any effective change always starts from the top. What’s unique about your business? I’ve worked in this space for over 25 years and have experience spanning 97 countries, working with some of the most senior government and company leaders in the world, including the UK Prime Minister’s office, BP and Barclay’s Bank. Whether I’m working for government, big corporations, small not-for-profits or small business, I’ve got a wealth of experience to draw from to find the best fit for the organisation I’m working for. What’s the most interesting part of your role? Learning about different organisations and how they work. No two are the same and, while I bring new ways of looking at things to the people I work with, I never fail to learn something from every job I take.

T R A C Y M A H E R and PALOMA BIRCH COFFS HARBOUR AND DISTRICT AERO CLUB Club Secretary and Licensee, and Student Pilot

What do you like about what you do? Tracy: I love being involved and part of making sure the Coffs Harbour and District Aero Club continues to be an integral part of the Coffs Harbour community and the centrepiece of the GA section of the airport, both now and into the future. Paloma: Learning to fly a plane! Learning to fly is an amazing experience; I have enjoyed every second of it. I am excited to continue my training and see where aviation takes me. What’s unique about your business? Tracy: We’re 92 years old this year and have one of the best flying schools in the district. We have a great cross section of the community involved in flying, providing training to students of all ages, and social members who have access to our great facilities and friendly atmosphere. Paloma: All the club’s members, instructors and staff are equally friendly and supportive; it’s such a joy to be a part of. What’s the most interesting part of your role? Tracy: The diversity of people flying; our students range in age from 14 to 76! It’s a real community club, with a great group of people from all walks of life. Paloma: Most people who fly here are much more experienced than me, and most of them have had at least a few amazing things happen in the air. Contact us at info@coffsaero.com or coffsaero.com facebook.com/coffsaero/

Coffs Coast focus 67

C A T H Fowler

J U L E S Vandermaat

T A M I L Y Jane Harling

REGIONAL ROAR

TA P P I N G W I T H J U L E S

THE GOOD BEAUTICIAN / OWNER

What do you like about what you do? I love translating something complicated into something simple. Digital marketing and search engine optimisation in particular (getting found on Google) can feel complicated. I educate my clients along the way about the approach I am taking, so they can feel confident in how the work I do fits into their wider business plan. What is the most interesting part of your role? Discovering the smart and talented people regional Australia has. Whether it’s a one on one client, where I am building a website, or a guest on my podcast, I love hearing the background and passion people have for the work they do. Do you have a goal this year for yourself personally or in business? I’ve been rebranding from Cath Fowler Marketing to Regional Roar, to become a full-service digital agency. So, I’d like to continue to expand my wider team and free up my time a bit more to help even more local businesses. What is your best advice for doing business with other local businesses? Just get involved. I’m President of the Business Women’s Network, and I attend other local networking events regularly. Given my work, optimising my website and Google business listing for people in Coffs Harbour has helped new clients find me. Locals love the face to face connection, so you’ll often find me in a coffee shop with a new client. Visit regionalroar.com.au Call 0404 367 887 | Email cath@regionalroar.com.au

I love to help people release stress, anxiety, and trauma from their mind and body in a way that is effective, safe, gentle and fast. I also teach people how to tap, so they can bring themselves calm in any situation.

What do you like about what you do? My passion is to make people look and feel good about themselves. I have dedicated 20 years to refining my skills to deliver just that. My objective is to continue to provide high standards and ensure customer satisfaction. I take great pride in choosing the highest quality products that are beneficial to the client’s needs, whilst being earth friendly and holistic. What is unique about your business? I believe in addressing the problem, along with the symptoms. To be able to do this we use local brand Heritagehealers Holistic Products. Heritagehealers is a unique, holistic wellness program that are committed to using ingredients of the highest quality and purity, derived from natural, renewable resources. Combined in the right quantities in proven formulations, the products work effectively in synergy with your skin to deliver amazing results ... I am also proudly stocking INIKA certified Organic Vegan Makeup. Do you have a goal this year for yourself personally or in business? In business I would like to place myself in the top three salons in Coffs Harbour and to continue to perform incredible and affordable treatments. To supply amazing products to look after each and every client’s skin, body, mind and soul. Personally, living on the coast allows me to focus on my wellbeing, so I’m able to continue to work and function at my optimal best.

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EFT/“tapping” is an evidence-based stress reduction tool, which involves tapping on acupressure points whilst focusing on negative thoughts/feelings. It’s easy to learn and works well on a wide variety of physical and emotional issues, including phobias and chronic pain, especially when done with a skilled practitioner. Children can learn to tap to deal with their emotions, and it’s the best stress management for parents! I offer a unique combination of 30 years of experience as a therapist/qualified Social Worker, with advanced skills and expertise as an Evidence Based EFT Practitioner and trainer. I have trained extensively with the best professionals in the world, so people know they are safe with me, whether they have long-standing PTSD, work stress or a sexual problem. I specialise in helping people who have experienced sexual abuse to recover from trauma, which they may have suffered with for decades. That brings me the greatest joy. And I train health professionals and educators how to do Evidence Based EFT as well.

Carole Beros LE DÃIN DESIGNS, CAROLE BEROS - OWNER / DESIGNER

How do you define your unique selling point? Our store’s vibe is a mix of old school with the buzz of today. We dress women aged from 18 to ladies in their 90s. Our sizes range from 8 to 20, and our prices range from affordable to treat yourself to something really special. Le Dãin Designs at Sawtell has an expensive look about it, but come in and see us and you will find that it is one of the more affordable boutiques around! We provide a personal customer service, which we have been told is second to none. We can dress you for all occasions, whether it is casual, race days or formal. We can style you completely and make shopping stress free. With the competition of online shopping, you have to strive to be different, professional and have a drawcard that will lure the customers back to you not only because you have a great product, but simply because they really enjoyed the shopping experience. We have an after hours service, which is a must in this fast world we live in, and there is an experienced stylist in store at all times. I agree that online shopping is fast and convenient, but it is only momentarily, and there is nothing exciting about sitting in front of a computer! What are you passionate about, and is your passion also your work? This is where I am definitely in a great position and super grateful for it! I am a people person, I am community minded, I have event experience, and I love the media, photography and the fashion industry. I am definitely passionate about all of these! So my role with FOCUS as a writer, social pages columnist and one of the fashion stylists marries perfectly with our Le Dãin Designs business. I’d like to add though, there is no conflict of interest with the fashion side from Le Dãin Designs and FOCUS; I am a magazine shoot stylist for FOCUS, and the two are completely separate. I also get to meet interesting people and hear their stories, both with FOCUS and at the store. I also get to cover events for the magazine, and we hold social events at our store most Friday nights between 5pm - 7pm, where everyone is welcome. I love both of my jobs; I count myself extremely lucky! Top tips for customer retention? Just keep working at making your business fresh! Don’t copy anyone; make your business so original that everyone knows that you stand alone and you are all over it! Dress ladies of all sizes and ages. We are not all a size 8 or 20 years old. Finally, make sure your customer service is the best it can be; be helpful and professional, and hard sell is not welcomed anywhere! Have you always been involved with the fashion industry; how did it all start? Like most people, I haven’t always had jobs that I liked, but you do what you have to and family has always come first with me! Before leaving Jersey, which is one of the Channel Islands off the coast of France, I was heading towards studying to be a fashion designer in London. My life changed and I moved to Australia, where I lived on the Northern Beaches in Sydney, before moving up here to the Coffs Coast. When I reached a certain age, I decided I would shake it up a bit and launched my own fashion label. Le Dãin (pronounced Le da) is my family name, and that is how the name evolved. It started with jewellery and as I have always been involved with the racing industry, I was lucky enough to be involved with the Waterhouse ladies and ended up designing jewellery for Suzie, Gai and Kate, along with providing prizes for their various charities. From there, we stocked stores and show cabinets in various resorts, both locally in Coffs Harbour, Port Macquarie, Sydney and overseas. Providing prizes for Fashion on the Field events has always been on our agenda, and we were and still are the major sponsors for FOTF events here in Coffs Harbour, Casino and Sydney. By this stage, the next step was to launch our Flagship Store, Le Dãin Designs on First Avenue in our beach town, Sawtell. That was seven years ago, and we are ever changing and still powering ahead. What are your business plans for 2020? We are at present re-vamping the store and introducing a few new labels. We will launch them at an event at the store in the next few months. We stock and will always stock one of our favourites, which is Australian label Philosophy. We support many charities, and we have a good reputation for putting on a great fashion event, so we are currently making plans to stage a fabulous fashion show and dinner supporting a local charity later this year. If you are interested in being a sponsor or being involved, contact us at Le Dãin Designs on 0417 471 019. Planning on a huge 2020!

Le Dãin Designs, 36 First Avenue, Sawtell. 0417 471 019.

Coffs Coast focus 69

JESS MILLER

G L E N D A Halliwell R O M A N C I N G T H E R I V I E R A , C R Y S TA L C R U I S E S

What is your dream voyage? Europe’s iconic wonders have long tugged on the heartstrings of the world’s most ardent travellers, and Crystal puts you in the middle of it all on an extravagant nine-night voyage from Rome to Barcelona, departing 31st July 2020. Lavish gardens and ancient ruins, lush vineyards and fields of lavender … from the grandeur of Rome to the glamour of St-Tropez and the UNESCO-chic of Ibiza, fall in love with Italy, Monaco, France and Spain in all-inclusive luxury aboard the award-winning Crystal Serenity. What is special about Crystal Cruises? Their ship, Crystal Serenity enchants with an unrivalled elegance. Discover the superb cuisine, welcoming hospitality and gorgeous suites and staterooms of The World’s Most Awarded Luxury Cruise Line. Aboard, your every wish is catered to with Crystal’s renowned six-star service and a rich roster of all-inclusive amenities. Everything from specialty dining and the finest selection of wines, champagnes and premium spirits to Broadway-style entertainment is included in your voyage - and complimentary unlimited Wi-Fi means it’s easier than ever to share your adventures with friends and family all around the world too. How can we find out more? You can pop in to our office at 15 Park Avenue, Coffs Harbour, or phone (02) 6652 1833.

ROMANCING THE RIVIERA 12 night holiday departs 28 July 2020 Rome to Barcelona

Visiting: Rome, Livorno, Porto Venere, Monte Carlo, St. Tropez, Ibiza and Barcelona

Return airfare 2 night pre & 1 night post cruise stay

9 night cruise aboard Crystal Serenity Transfers throughout

Balcony from $9,670pp* QANTAS POINTS~ AVAILABLE ON CRUISE PORTION.

Contact Travel Centre Coffs Harbour on 02 6652 1833 or visit travelcentrecoffs.com.au *Price is per adult in AUD, based on lead-in twin share accommodation in specified category, including Economy Class airfare ex Sydney and air taxes, port and government charges, hotel taxes, and onboard gratuities, correct as at 12 February 2020. Offer is valid for new bookings only made prior to 31 March 2020, is subject to change/ availability and can be withdrawn/changed at any time without notice. ~Membership and Qantas Points are subject to the Qantas Frequent Flyer T&C’s, available at qantas.com/terms. Further T&Cs apply; please ask your travel agent for more information.

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C A R O L Cowling T H E A R T D E P T. O W N E R / D I R E C T O R

C O W L I N G S R & R C A R P E T. M A N A G I N G D I R E C T O R

What do you like about what you do? On a regular basis I get to watch creativity in action. How people explore processes and concepts differently is absolute magic to witness. Having flexibility between work and stay-at-home-parenting is also something I’m so fortunate to be able to do. What is unique about your business? We work really hard to collaborate with other creatives to bring people of all ages opportunities to “play” creatively. A win/win for artist and community is the aim. There is a generous community of artists here in the Coffs region, with a wonderfully diverse range of skills to share. We provide a platform for them to do so, whilst fostering a supportive learning environment for people. What is the most interesting part of your role? I am always meeting such wonderful folk! Also, we don’t have just one model for delivering. We do classes, short courses, workshops, private workshops and one-off events; the flexibility in this means that if something isn’t hitting the mark, we just change it! Do you have a goal this year for yourself personally or in business? Business-wise, it is full steam ahead. In April we are opening up an additional studio with collective workspaces, as well as other fun things. Ensuring we do this well is a huge priority. In terms of personal goals, this year I will again attempt the elusive work/life balance.

What is unique about your business?

Which is, of course, a joke!

with the people in my life who are important to me.

My business is renowned for the good ole fashioned service – we spend quality time with our customers, they are important and without them, there would be no Cowlings R & R Carpets. We have a warehouse off site and carry stock for a quick turnaround if our customers are needing or wanting flooring pronto! What do you like about what you do? I like the diversity, no two days are the same! My passion is assisting customers with their floor furnishing selection and narrowing it down with them as there is an array of choices from all the leading brands just like the bigger chains. Marketing is something else I like to dabble in, there’s no marketing division or HR division in our family owned and run business it is all inhouse and created by us. Do you have a goal this year for yourself personally or in business? R & R turns 50 this year! I have been working on some rebranding, a bit of a freshen up (watch this space). I will be concentrating on working smarter, not harder and ensuring I continue to work on having a work/life balance

Meet the Team. Living Doll Premier Stylists is Coﬀs Harbour’s leading hairdressing salon. The staﬀ truly believe in bringing out everyone’s inner beauty! FOCUS chatted with the team ...

Lauren Vestey When and why did you decide to become a hair stylist? I have been a hairdresser for more than 14 years. I love the diversity of work; no two days are the same. When opening Living Doll in 2010, I had two main goals in mind - one, to be a leader in the hairdressing industry and two, to give clients the love and the attention they deserve. I am so proud of what Living Doll has grown to today. What do you specialise in? Experience personalisation; that’s a one of a kind hairstyle. Each individual is unique; we take pride in creating looks just for you. The best hairstyle is one that is tailor made, that complements your face shape, skin tone and lifestyle. #HairContouring with a personal touch of customisation is our specialty; we are here to make you look and feel your best! What advice do you have for people looking to join the industry? If you think a hairdressing career starts and ends with hair, you’re in for a surprise. From client psychology and customer service to time management and balancing your finances, working as a hairdresser will teach you all matter of transferable skills to take out into the world. All of these skills will make you a great hairdresser, but are also great life skills to learn if you do decide to go down another route - not to mention making you a better, more rounded individual.

Kate

Collins

When and why did you decide to become a hair stylist? I started hairdressing while I was still young at school, with my passion and desire shining through at an early age and now have over 16 years’ experience. Since moving to Coffs Harbour, and meeting Lauren, I realise Living Doll was the place for me. I am so passionate about hairdressing and elevating the industry to a new level. Living Doll strives to have the highest standards in customer service, provides ongoing training, keeps up with modern trends and techniques and has a fun, creative, passionate team who inspire each other every day and I feel so happy to be a part of. What do you specialise in? I specialise in cutting, colouring and styling. Using my years of experience to create easy to manage styles for my clients is what I love to do. To see clients walk out the door with a smile from ear to ear makes my day. For me it’s about wearable style, working with clients’ complexions, styles and personalities to really help to create that perfect look. What advice do you have for people looking to join the industry? I enjoy pampering my clients; knowing how life can be so busy, we often don’t have that “ME” time. When clients are in the salon, it’s all about them - getting to know them and gain their trust, so they can completely relax with me while I am working on their new styles. Find a salon that is filled with passionate people, who will push you to your full potential.

Sharna

Lindsay

When and why did you decide to become a hair stylist? I have such a passion for the art of hairdressing and making people happy. I feel very lucky to be part of the amazing Living Doll team. I have had some intense training at Living Dolls and am already trained as a Young Gun Stylist in the first year of my apprenticeship. What do you specialise in? I specialise in treatments, beauty and blow-dries. I really enjoy making my clients become completely relaxed and help by massaging away the stress of the day. I love to really do a wonderful blow-dry, where your hair can just sway in the wind. It’s great at Living Doll that we offer waxing and tinting, as I really think it finishes off a fresh new look with fresh eyebrows and lashes that pop. What do you enjoy most about your job? Everything! I love working at Living Doll so much; it doesn’t even feel like work, but more a hobby that I get to do every day. I love that each day you see and do something different, as no one’s hair is the same. You must use your imagination and really engage and listen to your clients’ needs to create that WOW moment. Hair is never boring.

Chloe

Sozou

When and why did you decide to become a hair stylist? I was approached by a salon that knew me and my natural abilities when I was younger. Ever since my first day, I knew it was for me. Eleven years later ... I am new to Coffs Harbour and have been working for a few months at Living Doll. Living Doll’s core beliefs are what I am very passionate about, and I knew straight away this was the team I wanted to be a part of. Continuous training, passionate styling, fantastic customer service, amazing up styling, and on trend cut and colour work is what I am about. What do you specialise in? I love playing with colour to creative texture and excitement in hair. I love balayage, the flexibility of just sweeping it over the hair to be natural or more defined, depending on your desired look, makes me feel like I’m an artist. I love melting multiple colours together in soft foils, so we can say goodbye to boring highlights. I love cutting to create movement and flow within a style, as hair is never perfect and needs to shift with everyday life. What advice do you have for people looking to join the industry? It’s very rewarding being part of the industry. You get to be creative all day long, and I love the relationship you build with your clients; to be able to have their trust with their hair is a great privilege. Knowing at the end of the day you have made people feel and look great is very rewarding, so just be yourself and treat people how you would like to be treated. You can’t go wrong. Coffs Coast focus 71

EMILY DOCKING & NATALIEAVARD DELLA FOX BOUTIQUE / CO-OWNERS

hat do you stock? Jewellery, crystals and clothing. How did Della Fox Boutique come about? We are a family duo who are more like sisters than aunt & niece. We have an extensive combined background in retail, fine arts, healing modalities, as well as clothing and jewellery production - all of which complement our relaxed and welcoming atmosphere in store. Previously, we independently ran wholesale businesses in jewellery and crystals, so when the stars aligned to transition into a retail format together, Della Fox Boutique was born. Tell us a bit about yourselves. Facing the challenge of both living with the disability of Fibromyalgia Syndrome, we

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understand each other very jewellery pieces from well and the daily limitations artisans on the Coffs Coast Searching for local that we encounter. We have and Australia wide. and Australian made embraced this and found The crystal collection is products is something very that running our business as hand selected to bring our important to us. a team is how we are able to customers the best quality cope better and be successful and range; whether you women, despite living with are a complete novice or an invisible illness. serious collector, we will What are you passionate about? have something to pique your interest. Both of us have always absolutely loved Our clothing is sourced from Australian jewellery, crystals and fashion. Searching and New Zealand designers, carefully for local and Australian made products is curated; the pieces stocked are all natural something very important to us. fibres to suit the humid climate of the Coffs Anything unique we can get our hands Coast. on, really. So, having a store with a collection We understand that every body is different, of everything we adore all in the one place and our aim is to cater for sizes 6 - 26, is awesome - and we get to share that with with stunning pieces from Jaase, Saffron everyone. Sand, Helga May, Hope & Harvest, Lou Lou What is unique about your business? Australia and more. We focus on procuring quality hand-made What’s the best part about what you do?

When we see our customers getting as excited as we do about the products and when we create loyal customers who return because they “love the vibe” of the boutique and our unique offerings. What is in store for you this year? To develop and grow awareness of the business will be a key area of focus for us, and continuing to source the most beautiful and interesting pieces for our customers. What do you like best about doing business with other local businesses? Supporting local business is something we strongly advocate for. It’s all about the community and building connections, and we get excited about promoting our very talented local artisans - “The Penny Man” and “Amber Moods”. *** Mention this article in the month of March to receive 10% off store wide (excluding sale items) ***

LIZ TURNER NRMA COFFS HARBOUR

Are you a tradesman or a small business owner? Perhaps you have a hobby farm?

tradesman at risk. Personal accident and illness

Liz is an important person for you to know.

should you suffer an injury or illness that prevents

With over 25 years’ experience in the insurance industry, Liz is a passionate professional who can assist you in making the right choice to protect you and your business. She can assist with arranging public liability to cover your business’ liability for injuries to another person or damage to their property. The likelihood of being sued for negligence is unpredictable and could be costly.

you from completing your normal work duties.

As a tradesperson, you do a lot to protect yourself at work, so don’t forget to protect your business too. Exposure to a wide range of hazards, such as working with power tools, machinery, volatile materials, and inexperience are just some aspects of the job that could put your livelihood as a

FOCUS this month, you’ll go in the draw to win

insurance protects your business or family income

SARAH QUINNEY

This can provide cover for the self-employed where there is no sick leave available. Our business insurance provides you with value for money, immediate cover, minimal paperwork and flexible payment options. As a special offer, if you mention seeing us in $100 fuel card. (Terms and conditions apply) Let our business help yours. Talk to Liz today about your business insurance needs and see why: Help Is Who We Are.

THE E-COMMERCE BUSINESS COACH

Sarah Quinney is the founder & CEO of The E-Commerce Business Coach. She has, and also helps E-commerce Business owners scale 6 + 7 figure e-commerce businesses through her Women in E-Commerce Mastermind Program.

arah has 20+ years direct When it comes to networking, what’s your experience in retail and top tip for success? e-commerce digital marketing. Be authentic in every possible way. Give Holds a Bachelor in Marketing and everything an opportunity Retail Management with a Masters Do you have any changes planned for in Design. She has built 4 leading 2020 within your business? If so what 6 & 7 figure e-commerce brands. She still owns are they and how will they benefit your and operates a leading e-commerce surf brand customers? and and runs her leading E-Commerce Agency, Looking to put on some two day workshops along with her leading E-Commerce Coaching/ as well as my online mastermind programs so Mentor Success Services. my clients have hot seat deep Her customer generating dives with experts in the and converting e-ecommerce e-commerce industry! + digital marketing strategies Who has been your are what sets her clients apart biggest inspiration? I am passionate from competitors enabling My mother to be honest! about women being them to unleash a faucet of She is the most genuine, independent business owners, Helping them never-ending, high quality honest and hard working get to where they customers and sales for woman I know - She was a want one in life both their growing E-Commerce single mum who raised two financially and in terms of their personal businesses. independent strong women! development How do you define your Do you have a goal for business’s unique selling this year for yourself, point? personally or in business? Helping e-commerce To help over 200 store business owners scale their owners scale their online online stores. businesses to 6 + 7 Figures. And also find the What is the most interesting part of your balance with my own time industry / role? What is your best advice for doing Watching the transformation of my clients business with other local businesses? lives! Seeing the transformation both in Act with integrity don’t do a job unless you their business skills, but also the personal know you can do it. development. Top tips for customer retention? What are you passionate about, and is Customer service is everything. Your whole your passion also your work? business should be based around the customer I am passionate about women being and their needs. independent business owners, Helping them If you are ready to transform your business get to where they want one in life both and close the gap between where you are and financially and in terms of their personal where you want to be. Apply for coaching with development Sarah at www.sarahquinney.com Coffs Coast focus 73

focus_tech

W I T H M AT T O S B O R N E F R O M T E C H A D D I C T S

Backing UPPhotos Y O U R

Tech Head

DAISY MORONEY

H A I R D R E S S E R

A N D

M A K E U P

A R T I S T

an you tell us a bit about photoshoot, how a bride would like to look your career as a freelance on her wedding day or how a client would hair and makeup artist? like their hair cut) is probably the most I did my hairdressing important part of what I do. I also love that I apprenticeship in Sydney, and get to do something creative and call it work! then worked as a hairdresser Where would you like to see your in a couple of beautiful busy salons over the business develop into the future? next few years. I was lucky to work with many I have been really enjoying working on talented people, all with different styles and some commercial projects recently, things like strengths, so I really focused on learning as working with teams from different businesses much as I could from each on doing high quality of them. I always knew I headshots/promotional wanted to add makeup shots, making team services to my skill set, so members look and feel I then went on to study I am a people person. I love great before they get in meeting new people and makeup at The Academy of front of the camera! Often getting to know a bit about Makeup in Sydney. I started them and their story. in these situations people working as a freelance haven’t had professional hairdresser whilst I was doing my makeup training. shots done before, so to Since then I have kept my give them some confidence business going, taking to enjoy the experience on all sorts of work, from weddings to film is something I really love! I have plenty of to photographic work. I moved to the Coffs experience with photographic work, and Coast a few years ago and have been working makeup for camera is different to how you part-time at a lovely hairdressing salon in might do it for an event, so many clients have Bellingen, Outpost Hair, as well as taking commented on how worthwhile it has been on freelance work. I love the flexibility and to have professional makeup done, which is versatility my business provides me and that really nice feedback! I also worked on a short no two days are the same! promotional film recently, which was also lots What do you love most about what you of fun. A different location each day, shooting do? a different scene and therefore some really I am a people person. I love meeting different looks. I would really like to do more new people and getting to know a bit of this kind of work, and my goal is to always about them and their story. I think one of be trying new things within my industry. the most important aspects of what I do is Where can people get in touch? communication, the consultation process Through my website: daisymoroney.com (whether you’re talking about a brief for a 74 Coffs Coast focus

DIGITAL CAMERAS ARE GREAT, AND THANKS TO SMARTPHONES, WE HAVE ONE WITH US ALMOST ALL THE TIME. WE’RE TAKING MORE PHOTOS THAN EVER BEFORE AND BUILDING A LIFETIME OF DIGITAL DATA. BUT DESPITE THE ENORMOUS VALUE OF THESE PHOTOS AND VIDEOS, MOST PEOPLE DON’T HAVE A BACKUP.

f you asked someone what possession most people store their data, but it still isn’t they’d save from a house fire, most enough. While you’re protected against would say photos, and they’d make device failure, that house fire is going to a point of grabbing an album on the take both copies up in flames. Thieves way out. But with digital photos, would probably grab the external drive you don’t need a fire to lose everything, while they’re bundling up your computer they could disappear in the blink of an eye too, so again, you’d be left with zero copies. with hardware failure or theft. There’s no It’s close, but it’s not a true backup system. warning, no smoke alarm, and without a THE RULE OF THREE! plan already in place, no chance to recover The backup rule of three is best. Just the data. reading this may sound like overkill, IS ONE COPY ENOUGH? but tech is fragile and device failure is You might think a constant risk. We saving your information recommend keeping one to an external hard copy on the computer/ drive or flash drive device, another on an The cloud backup can is enough. You’re external drive, and a be fully automated. If right, it’s better than third copy tucked safely the day comes that you nothing, but since away in the cloud. The need your data back, it’s the data is stored in cloud backup can be ready and waiting in only one place, this fully automated. If the perfect condition. Cloud isn’t a backup - it’s day comes that you technology also means just storage. That need your data back, your data is far away from drive could fail at any it’s ready and waiting in any potential ﬁ re or ﬂ ood, moment, perhaps from perfect condition. Cloud it’s secure and with the age, malfunction or technology also means right provider, guaranteed plain old theft. your data is far away against loss. Often enough, that from any potential fire drive even becomes or flood, it’s secure and lost over the years, put with the right provider, somewhere ‘safe’ and promptly forgotten! guaranteed against loss. And with the way technology is moving, “There are two kinds of people: those accessing that data in 5 years might even who backup, and those who have never lost bring up compatibility issues – some newer all their data”. No matter what the cause, it computers don’t even have CD/DVD drives, always has a deep impact, particularly when yet hundreds of thousands of homes would it comes to precious data. Re-creating some still have photos stored on a disc. homework or the family budget might be TWO COPIES? inconvenient, there’s no way to recreate You might have your extra storage photos once they’re gone. It’s a loss that drive as backup and keep a copy on your hurts for a long time, but it’s very avoidable computer. This is a better solution, and how with the right backup system in place.

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FFS COAS

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R S F E AT U

HOME Rod Lewis and Scott Marsh Home Instead Senior Care Mid North Coast is the trusted choice for in home care and companionship services. They are committed to making a positive diﬀerence in the lives of local seniors and their families. Chrissy Jones spoke with owners Scott Marsh and Rod Lewis about how they support seniors to age well in the comfort of their own homes.

i Scott and Rod, can The first step is to register with My you tell us a bit about Aged Care the Government Assessment Home Instead Senior Agency. They can arrange a face to face Care Mid North Coast. assessment for you in your home to discuss Home Instead Senior what Government subsidised services you Care Mid North Coast might be eligible for and any charges or cois part of a National network of over 38 payments. Unfortunately, there are waiting HISC offices around Australia. Each office times for a number of services due to the being individually owned and operated. We high level of demand. opened our first office in Port Macquarie in If you currently receive services and feel September 2015 and they are not meeting have since opened your needs we would offices in Kempsey, encourage you to Tuncurry and most speak with your service recently Bellingen. IF YOU CURRENTLY provide and talk to Our team over 120 RECEIVE SERVICES AND them about your CAREGivers provide FEEL THEY ARE NOT concerns. Frequently services to over 320 MEETING YOUR NEEDS senior do not speak seniors each week WE WOULD ENCOURAGE up but we value your across the Mid North YOU TO SPEAK WITH feedback as this is how Coast from Coffs YOUR SERVICE PROVIDE we improve what we Harbour to Forster. AND TALK TO THEM do. Delivering over 6,500 ABOUT YOUR CONCERNS. Can seniors change hours of home care their service provider service each month. if they wish? You mentioned you If they are accessing a Government now have an office in Bellingen. Home Care Package people can choose Yes, we now have an office at 82 Hyde the provider of their package from a list of Street, Bellingen covering Bellingen and the Government approved providers available Coffs Coast. The shopfront operates as an from My Aged Care. Ageing Information Centre and will initially We provide free Care Consultations to be open from 10am to 2pm on Mondays those considering changing provides, so and Thursdays or by appointment. Please they can compare costings and decide which pop in and see us for information on what provider best meets their needs. HISC Mid services and support might be available to North Coast offers one the lowest Package you. Management and Care Management Do you have any advice for people charges across the Mid North Coast. considering need services and support to remain at home? ‘To us, it’s personal’ and it always will be. Coffs Coast focus 77

BCC Cinemas Coﬀs Harbour Cinebuzz for Seniors is THE essential FREE membership for those 60 and over who LOVE THE MOVIES! The most talked about benefit is the Member Morning Tea Screenings. Held most Wednesday mornings at 10am, the $10 ticket price includes a mouth-watering table of treats in a friendly environment. Please come along with your friends to one of our upcoming events. Other great membership benefits are: movie tickets from $10*, points rewards to use towards free movies, discounted choc tops, coffees and more. Membership is FREE, and there is no annual renewal.

Rob Brown's Denture Clinic Rob, how long have you been in the denture making industry, and what credentials do you need? I started working in a dental laboratory in 1984 in Armidale. After qualifying as a dental technician, I then worked in Newcastle and Armidale for a number of years. I owned my own laboratory in Armidale but wanted to deal directly with the public, where a referral is not needed. So, I decided to enrol in the two year course, the Advanced Diploma of Dental Prosthetics at the Sydney Dental Hospital in 2008, to become a

To join, visit www.birch.com.au and have your email address ready. If you have any questions or issues signing up, please speak to our friendly staff at the cinema.

qualified dental prosthetist.

Already a member?

holidaying here, we have found the locals amazingly friendly

• If you lose your card, it can be replaced at the cinema

and down-to-earth. As we now live in Woolgoolga, it was an

• “Grandparents Pass” for Family Saver Films - you and two kids for $30*

opportunity for me to bring my business here and enjoy life in

• Designated Page for Seniors Morning Teas on the website

to the people here.

• Or follow Facebook.com/BCCCoffsHarbour for upcoming events

What is the most satisfying aspect of your role?

*$10.00 tickets are for standards sessions prior to 11am only; 11am onwards $11. Grandparents Pass available for advertised “Family Saver” films only. Online booking fees apply. Cinebuzz for Seniors Membership Terms and Conditions are available at www.birch.com.au

I always find it a humbling experience when you are able to

S E N I O R S M O R N I N G T E A MEMBERS TICKETS

$10

EVERY EVER

CLOUD P R O D U CT I O N S

W E D N E S D AY 1 9 F E B R UA RY

W E D N E S D AY 2 6 F E B R U A RY

W E D N E S D AY 4 M A R C H

T H U RS D AY 5 M A R C H

B I R C H C

C A R R O L L

C O Y L E H

C I N E M A S B

*Discount for registered members who are 60 years and over. Excludes online booking fees. Excludes special events and screenings. Films and dates correct at time of printing but may be subject to change.

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What do you love about living in Woolgoolga? We love the village atmosphere of Woopi. Previously when

this warm and beautiful place, while providing quality dentures

provide a patient with a set of dentures where they are happy with both the aesthetics and function of our product.

Subee Newlake In-Home Aged Care Staying at home and independent for as long as possible is a goal for most of us. But the tasks which used to be easy, get more difficult as we get older. If you need in-home help, to do tasks which are no longer as simple as they used to be, you may have already considered applying for a Home Care Package through My Aged Care. This funding is designed to help you stay at home longer and maintain your independence. You can choose where you need support and you remain in control of the choices about where those funds are spent. Choose Subee Newlake as your service provider, to access in-home care for personal care, transportation, housework, cleaning, domestic assistance, gardening and even clinical and nursing care. Call us today to book a chat with one of our helpful Service Coordinators. We can discuss your needs, listen to what your difficulties and goals are and help you decide on where to spend your budget, then deliver a plan to match your needs and funding. We charge one low monthly admin fee and always help you get the best value for your package-dollar.

in tune

innitus is very common and affects millions of people around the world. Tinnitus is a phantom auditory perception, and this auditory sensation is not related to an external sound. There are many potential causes of tinnitus, making each individual case unique. For example, an undiagnosed medical problem, exposure to loud noise, ear problems, viral infections, some drugs and hearing loss, may all contribute to your tinnitus. Although there is no cure for tinnitus, you can successfully learn to

with

manage your tinnitus, thus limiting emotional effects. Are You Suitable for Tinnitus Treatment? If you have one or more of the following, you may be suitable for Tinnitus treatment: - Tinnitus with or without associated hearing loss - Experiencing sleep disturbance due to tinnitus - Feel your tinnitus is out of control, where it is interfering with your ability to hear Taking Control of Tinnitus Because each personâ€™s hearing thresholds

and tinnitus characteristics are different, you require a tinnitus assessment and a diagnostic hearing test to help in identification of the auditory, limbic and neural pathways, which may contribute to the problems with your tinnitus. After assessment, the most appropriate tinnitus treatment strategy and management is recommended and if you agree to proceed, the treatment techniques used are designed to interact, interrupt and desensitise you tinnitus and give long term relief. For all your tinnitus and hearing concerns, phone 6656 3200 to arrange your

consultation with Attuneâ€™s Audiologists, Brett and Celia Chapman. Attune Hearing Coffs Harbour: Eye Clinic Building, Suite 2, 73 Albany Street. Phone: 6656 3200 | attune.com.au Also visiting Maclean and Nambucca Heads; call 6656 3200 to book your appointment. Attune Hearing - Medical Audiology, founded and supported by ENT Surgeons - Attune delivers the most accurate hearing evaluations and most appropriate treatments, making Attune the preferred choice for Ear Nose and Throat (ENT) specialists in Australia since 1986.

We support the

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Welcome to Marian Grove’s New Release! At Marian Grove Village you’ll be surrounded by valleys and hinterland to the west, yet only five minutes away are the unspoiled and pristine beaches of the Coffs Coast. Just down the road from your apartment you’ll find the gorgeous main street of Sawtell, offering a range of boutique stores, charming cafés, the iconic Sawtell Cinema and those beautiful beaches.

here is a major shopping centre within five minutes’ drive, as well as the larger regional hub of Coffs Harbour only 10 minutes away, with golf courses, RSL and bowling clubs also under 10 minutes’ drive. Access to doctors, services, Coffs Harbour Health Campus (hospital) and Coffs Harbour Regional Airport are all within 10 minutes by car. There are 51 stunning apartments in the complex, consisting of modern, contemporary one, two and three bedroom options. Apart from the one bedroom spaces, most of the others have two bathrooms - one main bathroom and an ensuite. They offer quality fixtures with two neutral colour schemes, “Hinterland” and “Coastal.” A lovely rooftop terrace with BBQ, as well as beautifully landscaped courtyards, and a second BBQ entertainment area downstairs, will allow

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residents to make the most of the indoor/ outdoor lifestyle our Coffs Coast has to offer. All retirement villages have a financial model - ours is by way of a Loan Licence agreement, which includes a departure fee. Once you’ve chosen your apartment, the entry price will really depend on the size, style and location of your preference. Average prices are around $590,000 but a full price list is available upon enquiry. Fully refundable deposits of $10,000 are now being taken to reserve your chosen home. This should give you peace of mind, along with the opportunity to ensure you get first choice and don’t miss out! Our first resident moved into Marian Grove 28 years ago. Marian Grove is now a well known and highly reputable part of the Coffs Harbour region retirement community. Sawtell Catholic Care is a not-for-profit organisation experienced in providing quality retirement living, with

a focus on the individual as members of an inclusive community of Christian care. Set within 27 acres of landscaped, award winning gardens surrounded by a bushland sanctuary, we have an enviable retirement community lifestyle, with a highly regarded aged care service co-located within the grounds. Apart from the external attractions of the location, our residents enjoy a rich and connected social life. Living in Marian Grove means having the company of like-minded neighbours, who will always give you a smile and a “hello” as you pass by. Our logo is “We Care,” and these words have become a part of the fabric of our lives. We watch out for each other, meaning that there

is support when it’s needed, friendships grow and develop, and there are opportunities to participate in all sorts of activities. We have an on-site café for your morning coffee, bushwalks, and a chapel which is used daily by various Christian groups. You can be as involved in the community, or as independent of it as you choose. Find out more at our website at www. scca.net.au/new-release-marian-grove.com/ mariangroveapartments/ If you’d like to make an appointment to view our display apartment, please don’t hesitate to give Michelle Oxley a call on (02) 6653 1241. We look forward to meeting you!

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Business Minds with Sam Wardman of CornerPost Creative

Hunter C.ex Group

hona, tell us how you came to call the beautiful Coffs Coast home? I moved from the seaside town of Forster to Coffs Harbour in 1996 to attend Southern Cross University to study a Bachelor of Business in Hotel and Catering Management. Not long after I moved to Coffs Harbour, I obtained a job with the then Coffs Ex-Services Club as a bar attendant. I worked at the club whilst I completed my studies and loved the great friendships that I formed with my work colleagues and the fun we had at work. I have seen a lot of people come and go from the club in my time here and have made some lifelong friends. I also met my husband, Damon, whilst working at the club, and we have now been married for 16 years with three children. Although I had originally planned to move north after I finished my degree, I grew to love the Coffs Coast region and consider myself lucky to call it home. You are the Marketing Manager for the C.ex Group. Share with us what a day in the life of your role looks like. Each day brings a variation of tasks and can be anything, including editing our bi-monthly club Xcite magazine, preparing adverts for newspaper, TV and radio, maintaining our website, creating exciting new promotions for our members, social media updates, artwork collateral, signage and menu creation, through to market research, strategy and planning. So you could say it’s dynamic! How has your role evolved over the years? My role has changed significantly to what it was 10 or 20 years ago, with the organisation’s growth, the digital age and our need to remain relevant within the current market. A lot of effort goes into ensuring entertainment, promotions and events are successful across all three of our venues, and maintaining our brand awareness in the community is a high priority.

What do you like What I love about working at C.ex our venues as evacuation most about the club Group is the community focus centres to assist those who industry? that we uphold. I am proud were displaced or had lost As an ex-services club of all of the organisations, their homes. we have a strong focus on groups and events that Our C.ex Community remembering those who we continue to support Crew also play a huge fought for our freedom and have supported part in our community and are still serving our over the years. Clubs presence by volunteering country. Having had two are always there when over 1,000 hours each grandparents who fought needed in the community. year of their time to assist You only need to see the in WWII and a brother in local organisations in assistance that we were happy the Air Force, I have been need of assistance. These to provide during the recent brought up in a family are the sorts of things bushﬁre crisis, where we opened that respects this service that make working in a all of our venues as evacuation to our country. I always club feel rewarding; we centres to assist those who were look forward to ANZAC simply aren’t just supplying displaced or had lost their homes. Day and Remembrance quality food, beverages, Day each year and the events and entertainment chance to commemorate facilities, but are also those that we have lost helping the community and show respect to those who are still serving. while we do it. Another great aspect of working in a What do you find to be the most successful registered club is that there are so many different marketing activities? roles that you can do in the industry. I have Digital mediums have been very successful been fortunate enough to do many varied roles for us in recent years, including Facebook, in my time with the C.ex Group, including bar, Instagram, eDMs and our website, where we restaurant manager, cash reconciliation, payroll, have over 12,000 views each month. These are all data analysis, entertainment manager and now really cost-effective ways to get your brand and my current role as Marketing Manager, since communications seen. 2014. Not everyone is on social media though, so There is always the chance for progression in we like to ensure we are reaching different the club industry and once you have worked at demographics across the Coffs Coast by using one club, your experience and training can be FOCUS, TV, radio and our Xcite magazine, which used at any other club or licensed venue. was originally developed by you, Sam and is still What do you love about the C.ex Group? going strong! What I love about working at C.ex Group is the Marketing is a huge part of any business and is community focus that we uphold. I am proud of essential to ensuring the success of your business, all of the organisations, groups and events that so we make sure we have a blanket coverage of we continue to support and have supported over all mediums, plus targeted campaigns to ensure the years. Clubs are always there when needed we get our message out there. in the community. You only need to see the How does customer loyalty play a role in the assistance that we were happy to provide during business? the recent bushfire crisis, where we opened all of Customer loyalty is a huge part of our

business, and we are able to maintain that effectively with our C.ex Star Rewards program. With over 32,000 current members we want to reward those members that are loyal to us, which we do by discounting prices, offering rewards points, great promotions and ensuring our facilities are modern and fresh for our members to use. What advice would you give a young professional looking to get into the club industry? There are so many options and career paths in the club industry and once you have your foot in the door, you can virtually work in any club in Australia. We are always looking for great customer service staff, and we love to see these staff grow and progress over time. If you are considering the club industry as a career, you won’t be disappointed! What can we expect to see that’s new and exciting from the C.ex Group this year? We already have some great shows lined up for 2020 and will continue to source great acts, so that the Coffs Coast can continue to enjoy live music. There are two new outlets at C.ex Coffs, with Ribeye Rooftop Bar & Kitchen and Papaveros Italian Restaurant now open, which have both been well received by our members and guests. We also have our old favourites, The Brasserie and PLANK, so we have catering outlets to suit all tastes and occasions. Lastly, having a young family, what do you like to do in your spare time? I have three boys aged six to 11, and they love to get outside and see the Coffs Coast. In our spare time we could be doing anything from enjoying one of our great local beaches to trekking around one of the local national parks to see a beautiful waterfall. They are also into sports and enjoy tennis, swimming and rugby league so yes, I become a footy mum during the season … I don’t drive a minivan though (lol)! Thanks Shona. Coffs Coast focus 81

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Mills-Thoms

REPAIRS

K E Y

E M P L O Y M E N T

ho is Mills-Thoms Mechanical Repairs? We are a proud locally owned and operated business servicing the Coffs Coast community. We are led by owner/ operator Mike Mills-Thom. Mike is the type of mechanic who is not afraid to get his hands dirty and whatever your automotive problem, Mike will help you find the most cost effective solution to get you back up and running. You will not find a better level of customer service than from our friendly team of mechanics, and you can rely on us to do the little things that really make a difference. We believe that motorists in Coffs Harbour deserve the very best in customer service, mechanical advice and repairs. Let’s talk staff ... We have been in the local area since 1976, starting with two staff all those years ago. We now employ 11 staff, who all work really hard to ensure our customers’ needs are met. We are an equal opportunity employer and we currently employ three people with disability. We strongly believe every person should get the same training and career opportunities as the next. We are really proud of the team we have built and believe that our success is due to them. How has Key Employment helped your business? Key Employment has helped source two of our employees, who were both an excellent match for our business. Their KE consultant, Cheryl attends the worksite regularly and assisted with the initial training and early

professional development; she also assisted us with a number of worksite adjustments, including additional funding for work tools and equipment for one of our staff with physical restrictions, to allow him to work autonomously. Would you recommend hiring a person with disability through Key Employment? Absolutely! The staff we hired through Key Employment are valued and important members of our team, and Key Employment themselves have been so supportive of our business. Key Employment don’t just place people; they offer support for as long as necessary. We also love being able to give back to our community. Key Employment gives us the opportunity to do this. We are proud to provide work experience activities for students of KE’s KAPOW Program, allowing several disadvantaged youth to gain valuable experience and skills in a work environment. Why are you passionate about youth in the workplace? I strongly believe that young people need a chance. The self-confidence you get in the first few years of employment is crucial to people developing a full and happy life. I think the first few years are the foundation that shapes your life and the people around you. Keen and happy people are who I like be around, so I try to help where I can. We at Mills Thom’s Mechanical Repairs recommend Key Employment to any local business owner; just call Steve on (02) 6691 9999 and he will happily talk to you about the different services Key Employment can offer.

B-Select Park Beach HomeBase Tell us about B-Select and what products and services you provide. We have been trading as B-Select for ten years now, and we were previously known as the Bridgestone Tyre Centre. We have been servicing Coffs Harbour for over 40 years and do tyres, wheels, car servicing, Ironman 4 x 4 suspension and accessories. Whatever your make or model, book your next service with one of our qualified technicians. We offer log book servicing, package price servicing, mechanical repairs, and vehicle safety checks. We can fix your brakes, suspension, your wheel alignment, replace batteries, and more! We’ll go out of our way

to make sure your car performs at its best and ensure that you leave completely satisfied. What makes your business unique from others in the Industry? We are independently owned and have been a national winner three times of the Bridgestone Masterclass. We are stockists of the a wide range of Bridgestone and Firestone tyres. We have a customer friendly showroom, where you can wait comfortably with magazines and coffee! Any final tips for customers? Yes, check your air pressure in tyres on a regular basis and do a wheel alignment every 10,000 km.

vice d a y l d “Frien e faces from th ow...” you kn

www.parkbeachhomebase.com.au PACIFIC HIGHWAY, COFFS HARBOUR NORTH | Plus 15 lifestyle brands

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OPEN 7 DAYS

_education focus Photo: Chef Koochooloo W I T H

B D C P R I N C I PA L N I C K J O H N S TO N E

focus on

The Nationals - Kevin Hogan

Valuing our Teachers There is no doubting it; the world is increasingly global, digital and complex. There is increasing awareness that teachers will play a key role in preparing students for the challenges of the future.

e want and expect teachers to equip our children with the knowledge and the skills to be adaptive in this new and ever changing environment. Teaching, however, is not an easy career choice and, as you may have heard a teacher-friend say before, “It is a vocation, not just a job”. My article this month highlights the role that teachers play in our lives and encourages our society to value our educators to help raise the social status of teachers and the teaching profession. We have all heard the quotes about high quality teachers. “Great teachers fan the flames of wonder”. “Great teachers light the fire not just fill the bucket”. “The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires”. These quotes have been around in a variety of forms for more than a century. Greek philosopher and teacher, Plato, said “The direction in which education starts a man (person), will determine his future life”. I have, however, seen a worrying trend in Australian education over the last 10 years. The attrition rates of teachers has risen alarmingly. Statistics I read in a recent study suggested that over 40% of Australian teachers were leaving the profession in the first five years of their career. This figure has doubled in the last 20 years. This is compounded by the lack of males joining the profession. Amongst preschool teachers, less than 3% are male, in the primary years less than 15% are male, and in secondary education it is less than a third. We as a society need to increase the social status of teachers and to value our teachers in order to attract more high quality people to the field and of course, to retain the teachers we have in our schools. So how can we do this? Small acts of kindness and recognition can support the teacher. A simple email or note

that thanks them for their time or effort. A note on the school’s Facebook page to thank the teachers for sacrificing their family time to take children on camp, or that early excursion or an after school sports training. The power of language is key here. Support your teachers and your school in discussions with friends and family. This doesn’t need to be a competitive thing. All boats are elevated with a rising tide. I also encourage parents to speak with their children about the importance of building positive relationships with their teachers. A student who listens to instructions, asks questions to seek clarification and uses the social ettique of the classroom will get more out of their schooling experience. A parent, too, who communicates positively with the teacher and respects their role in the education of their children will have a more positive experience. If there is a positive relationship amongst this dynamic, then teacher efficacy increases, and data shows that a happy and engaged teacher produces improved educational outcomes for the children in their charge. I have had the opportunity to travel widely in my various roles in education over the last 20 years, and I have noted along this journey that generally speaking Asian and Scandinavian cultures have developed a respect for education professionals and value the importance of schooling in their child’s life. I have also noted that in the most recent International Student Testing data (PISA 2019) that eight of the top 10 countries were Asian or Scandinavian. While this observation is not causal, I would suggest that valuing our teachers and valuing education is at least worth the time and effort to further build positive relationships. We can all be part of the solution in valuing education and supporting our teachers.

Great to present Bonnie Hills with $500 and a certificate recently in recognition of her sporting achievements. Bonnie is a junior surfing champion from Mullaway. Bonnie and five others have represented our community at regional, state or national events. Congratulations to: Charlie Shipperlee, Football, Woolgoolga; Vereniki Duarara, Rugby Union, Karangi; Isobelle Muller, Pony Club, Nana Glen; Logan Debomford, Athletics, Glenreagh; Charlie Pade, Tennis, Woolgoolga. Applications are open for Round 4 and close on 31st March 2020; to apply, visit https:// www.sportaus.gov.au/grants_and_funding/ local_sporting_champions I am very humbled to be promoted to Assistant Minister to the Deputy Prime Minister. My first priority will always be as the Member for

Page. Without the support of our community, I would not have the opportunity to serve and represent us. I am grateful to have been given this new role. The Ministry covers the areas of Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development. Australians with type one diabetes will soon have free access to the FreeStyle Libre flash glucose monitoring system. The Government is investing $300 million in the Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) Initiative. The device measures glucose levels without the use of lancets, test strips and blood. The Government is streamlining the eligibility criteria, which will help up to 58,000 people. Under the scheme, from 1st March 2020, the Government will provide fully subsidised CGM products to a wider range of Australians.

kevin hogan

Source: Schleicher, A. (2018), Valuing our Teachers and Raising their Status: How Communities Can Help, International Summit on the Teaching Profession, OECD Publishing, Paris, https://doi.org/10.1787/9789264292697-en.

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i Jason and Sonja. Inspire Homes has had a busy year so far; can you tell us a bit about what you’ve been up to since we last checked in? Yes, it’s been such a busy year for us! In between completing many builds, we somehow found the time to move into our new office just before Christmas. Our custom designed office is in Forge Drive, and it’s given us so much space for our office staff, a complete display showroom, as well as shed space. We’re really happy to be in our new premises and hope to have the display showroom up and running very soon. We are working closely with our interior designer (Lisa, from The Design Cupboard) to create a space

that showcases our high quality products and workmanship and allows clients to easily choose every inclusion for their home. What is the history behind Inspire Homes? We ran a building company in country Victoria, where we used to live, for eight years. The bad weather in Victoria triggered a move north for our family. It’s true that, being completely tired of the cold and rain, we did Google where the best weather is in Australia, and Coffs Harbour was the answer! After a year in Coffs, we missed the satisfaction that comes with building beautiful, quality homes for clients, so we decided to relaunch the business. Jason is so passionate about building, he can’t keep away from it!

Whereas the business in Victoria was purely house builds, we decided to expand to offer our clients a complete build experience, from design to completion. Tell us about your team and their area of expertise. Jason is all things building! He is passionate and driven when it comes to building a quality home; so much so, that you often can’t stop him talking about it! Being a qualified builder, experienced project manager and the owner/ director of Inspire Homes, our clients love meeting with Jason to discuss their home. He offers great advice when it comes to design and practical building tips and works with the client to design a house that is perfect for them and

the block of land it is to be situated on. Being a builder, Jason is able to offer professional, informed advice on every aspect of the house build. This proves to be invaluable when coupled with the design component, to keep the build on track for the client’s budget. This is big point of difference for us; our clients never meet with a salesman, but rather the builder who will oversee the project from design to completion. “Bear” is our project manager, who supervises and oversees the day to day running of all our projects. He’s the one who makes sure the bricklayers, concretors, plasterers, tilers, painters and all the other trades are on the building site at the right time to keep the job running smoothly.

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He’s also responsible for making sure materials are there when needed, so that nothing is ever held up. He organises what’s happening and when and makes sure it’s done safely; it’s a big role, and he’s certainly taken on the challenge! Everybody loves Bear; he’s a friendly face around the building site, and our clients always comment on how great he is! TJ is our building estimator. He is the one who determines how much your house is going to cost to build. Every piece of material, along with every task to build your house is costed; from the first shovel in the ground to the turf being laid at the end, he has the entire build quoted from all our suppliers and tradesmen. Now, that’s a big job! For us, costing your home is not guessed, but accurately priced with every quality finishing and inclusion that has been requested.

TJ also orders every item as it’s needed, communicating with the building site to make sure it’s there at just the right time. This was a new role for TJ in the last year, and he is proving to be a great asset to our team. Sonja is our office manager. She works closely with all our clients, to ensure that every colour, every fitting, fixture, appliance, floor covering (you get the idea) that the client has chosen is what ends up going in to the house. Any changes during the build go through her; for example, if the client decides to change their carpet during the build, she organises it and makes sure it happens. Every detail in the build involves a lot of communication between the client, office and the building site, so attention to detail and communication is vital in this role. Sonja does an amazing job; we call her the “smiling organised

one” of Inspire Homes. She runs a tight ship, and nothing goes wrong on her watch. Out on the building sites we have carpenters, apprentices and labourers. This is the team that bring our builds to life. We have high expectations of these guys, and they are all fantastic and brilliant at what they do. We at Inspire are very passionate about building, and we know the importance of training the future builders in the next generation. It’s so exciting to take on apprentices and to see them learn skills through the four years of their apprenticeship, to the point of becoming qualified and being able to work independently. Carpentry is such a great skill; we love to give the opportunity to others to take this on as a great career. What is the process like when a client approaches you about a build or renovation?

This really depends on the client! Sometimes people approach us with approved council plans in hand; others just know they want to build but they’re not sure where! If you don’t have a block of land yet, we are able to help out with our knowledge of blocks of land available in the Coffs region. We always keep an up-to-date listing to show clients the many options, depending on the area they are considering to build in. Jason has been known, on many occasions actually, to drive clients around, showing the blocks and discussing the possibilities for each one. Jason happily negotiates the purchase of the block of land on behalf of the client if they aren’t comfortable doing so. Once our clients have secured a block of land, we have a couple options. They can custom design their home with Jason, where he draws

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on years of extensive experience in the industry to make it perfect for you and the block of land. Once designed, the client is taken on a 3D virtual tour of the building project. We ensure that the home works best on the block of land, taking into consideration the layout of the block, the lifestyle of the client and budget. After building homes for many years, Jason is brilliant at the form and function of dwellings, so not only does it look great, but is practical for everyday living! Many previous clients have come to us frustrated that they have had house designs drawn, but realised that it exceeds their budget once builders have quoted it. This is where Jason can work his magic and lean on his experience and make a few tweaks to the original design and bring it back in to budget! If that sounds too complicated, then we have

quite a few standard designs to choose from. All our standard house plans can be easily modified to suit the client and block. Once we have finalised the floor plan and the client is completely satisfied with it, we price this design with all our quality standard inclusions. The client meets with our very talented interior designer, Lisa from The Design Cupboard. Lisa guides our clients through the task of bringing all the fittings, fixtures, colours, along with any other finishing touches together, making the home just as they imagined it would be, and more! From here, now that we have all the information we need, we determine the final price for the home. During the construction process, our clients have the opportunity to meet with Jason regularly to walk through and discuss the home build,

seeing it brought to life! They meet with key tradesmen to discuss work onsite - for example the electrician, tiler, and the painter, to ensure that the home is being built just as they imagined and dreamed! What part of the process do you most enjoy and why? Handover day is amazing! We love seeing the excited owners turn up to their new home, which is now completely theirs. Being able to hand over a home that has been finished with the utmost quality and attention to every detail is honestly exciting for us. We share in their delight, as we are so passionate about what we do, and know that we are handing over a quality home that they will enjoy for many years to come. You work alongside many other trades and suppliers here on the Coffs Coast and seem to have a great working relationship with

many of them; why is this important to you? We canâ€™t run a quality building company without great suppliers and great tradesmen. Our company will only ever be as good as our products and our workmanship, so this is completely vital. It has taken years in creating, and now we have excellent working team of suppliers and tradesmen. Inspire Homes would not be the company it is today if it was not for the amazing suppliers and tradies which make an Inspire build a very high quality build. Our local tradesmen are some of the best in the industry, and we use them because we know that we can trust their workmanship. We trust them to be onsite when they say they will, and we trust that their finished work will be of a very high standard.

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Same goes for our suppliers; we trust that they will source us and be able to have the product onsite when we need it, and the product will be of a high standard. Our tradesmen and suppliers represent our company, and we have a great working relationship with every one of them. What advice would you give to people considering building or renovating? Come and see the team at Inspire … you will be impressed by our knowledge and professionalism. You need to be completely comfortable with your builder and know that your builder can

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see your vision for your home. Knowing that you will have communication with your builder throughout the construction process will put you at ease about your investment. What can people expect from an Inspire Homes home? They can expect a home that is exactly as they imagined it to be … in fact, more than they expected it to be. They can expect honest, genuine service and advice on all aspects of their house build. They can expect integrity in everything we do. They can expect communication throughout the build; we pride ourselves on the relationships

we develop with our clients. They can expect that we put the quality of the construction of their home above all else. We stand by our homes as being of the highest standard with quality inclusions. What are the stand out features or the benefits of working with Inspire Homes? Our point of difference is our focus on building a relationship with our clients; this ensures a personalised service and such an exciting and positive building experience so that next time they build they won’t consider going anywhere else! We don’t employ a salesman; our clients

only talk to the builder about their home, gaining positive input and feedback during the process of design right through to handover day. During the build, there is constant communication and site meetings to update our clients on progress, this also gives our clients opportunity to discuss anything that comes to mind. What do you enjoy most about living on the Coffs Coast? Being a Victorian convert, this list is endless! The weather is definitely number one, followed closely by the stunning surrounds and the outdoor lifestyle.

Blue Ribbon Homes Blue Ribbon Homes is a locally owned company that has been building homes on the Mid North Coast and surrounds for over 30 years. We are proud to boast a reputation of honest and reliable service to our clients, built with hard work and dedication. Design Flexibility At Blue Ribbon Homes we pride ourselves on offering our clients unique custom designed homes that will cost you no more than building from our extensive range of standard floor plans. You may already have some plans drawn up, or maybe even just a sketch; either way, we are more than happy to quote on your plans and help develop your ideas. Free Site Inspection We can arrange a free pre-purchase site inspection of your land, providing you with the right advice to help with your land purchasing and building options. After discussing the requirements of your new home, we will develop your unique concept

plan. You’ll then be provided with a full and comprehensive itemised quote; you’ll see exactly what we have included in the price, which means there’ll be absolutely no hidden extras. Challenging Site? No worries! Challenging sites are our speciality. We can achieve the desired outcome for our clients at an affordable price. If it fits your land, lifestyle and budget, rest assured, we can build it for you. Stress Free Building Some people consider building a new home to be stressful, but at Blue Ribbon Homes we make it easy and enjoyable, as it should be! Our experience and skills will give you the confidence to know you’re in great hands, leaving you free to enjoy the exciting experience of building your new home. At Blue Ribbon Homes we can make your dream home a reality! Call us today for a chat on (02) 6651 8144.

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A M A N D A L A N G L A N D S F R O M M C G R AT H S R E A L E S TAT E

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Feel the Nundle welcome this autumn Our small gold rush town of Nundle, 50km south-west of Tamworth, has so much to offer including boutique businesses The Peel Inn, Nundle Woollen Mill, Odgers and McClelland Exchange Stores, Sacs on Jenkins, Stormcrow Studio, Old Church Boutique, Mount Misery Gold Mine Cafe and Museum, Nundle Craft Inc, and Jenkins Street Antiques and Fine China. Explore the tranquil bush environment of nearby Chaffey Dam, Sheba Dams, Crawney Pass National Park, Nundle State Forest, Ponderosa Park, Hanging Rock Lookout, and Nundle River Walk. Visit our website to browse accommodation ranging from self-contained cabins to luxury B&Bs, motel, hotel, bunkhouses, and camping, and autumn events: Nundle Country Picnic, Sunday, March 22nd; Nundle Go For Gold Festival, Saturday-Sunday, April 11th-12th; Great Nundle Dog Race, Sunday, May 3rd; and Tamworth Regional Heritage Festival, Nundle Program, May 8th-17th.

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What is happening in the market? This is the question on everyone’s lips. Currently there is no shortage of “experts” trying predict the Australian property market outlook.

hen there are all those online Coast is still extremely affordable in comparison research reports telling you to other towns on the Eastern Coast of where to invest in the next Australia, and a significant number of buyers growth hotspot. Predicting the are still coming from out of town areas, both future property capital growth metropolitan and regional. It is imperative to is like trying to predict the weather; in fact, work with a selling agent who understands all meteorologists tend to get weather predictions aspects of marketing, as the old days of putting right more often than property commentators a sign up out the front and a picture of your do assessing the market growth. home in an office window are obsolete. Buyers Of course, the market is confusing right now. It are not looking in office windows; they are depends what media article you are reading or deciding from their lounge room if they want what news report you are listening to as to what to look at your property. And regardless of the market is doing. One the market conditions, a will show you strong home that is well present, evidence of economic marketed correctly and stability, job security and priced appropriately will population growth, and always sell. Of course, the market the next will be talking BUYING is confusing right now. about a crashing market. If you have done your It depends what media Sellers will align preparation and research, article you are reading or themselves with the the time to buy a home what news report you are strong stories in the or an investment property listening to as to what the market, and buyers will could not be more market is doing. align themselves with powerful. The Banking the weak market stories. Royal Commission has This is where we will see made it more difficult days on market push out for some buyers to as the adjustment is made by both buyers and secure a purchase. This will shift as buyers sellers as to what the new conditions look like. understand more about the new regulations SELLING and what is required of them to secure finance. House price growth around Australia has been However, until other buyers are able to make slowing in recent months, led by falling values the necessary adjustments, this gives you the in many locations; that trend looks set to opportunity to buy with less competition. Don’t continue, driven by tighter lending standards make the mistake of thinking though, that this from Australia’s banking regulator APRA. These is going to last. Our economy is strong and tighter lending conditions and the inability for unemployment is low; first home buyers are at many investors who could have in the past their strongest presence in five years. borrowed more are really having the same effect RENTING as a rise in interest rates. If you are renting, you will already know there is The impact of the tightening on lending means extremely high competition for rental properties we are experiencing a shift in the quality of in our area. As investor activity declines due the buyers we are working with. Buyers are to tightening of lending and low consumer more educated on their financial position and confidence, we will continue to see low vacancy understand their buying power. The Coffs rates and high competition for rental properties.

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Art has been a part of Chris Wilson’s life since she was a small child. She made a career as an illustrator and now that she has retired from the world of commercial illustration, she is creating her own work and exhibiting locally.

ey Chris. When did your artistic journey begin? When I was a small child. I have always drawn. I was fortunate enough to go to art school and we had a fabulous teacher, who made sure we were all taught the basics. Coming from a commercial illustration background, how have you found the transition from following a brief to full creative control? That required a sizeable break of about two years, when I did no artwork at all. This is a common problem with commercial creatives. Every journalist is going to write their earth-shattering novel ... same thing. In the end, a friend set up an exhibition and told me to do some pieces for it. Once I had a brief and a deadline, I got to work. I later had to learn to do this for myself. I still function better with a deadline though ... old habits die hard. You don’t stick to a specific medium or genre; you go from oil to charcoal, portraits to landscapes; why do you feel it’s important not to stick with what you know? The thing is, because of my background I have always done that. I keep thinking of something else I would like to try. I suspect it’s just my nature. Not everyone would react to change as I do. In the end, you have to go where the “muse” takes you. If something gives you joy, why wouldn’t you do it? In saying that, do you have a favourite medium or subject that you are often drawn back to? I love portraiture, and painting and drawing the

human figure. I don’t look for commissions, because I like to choose for myself the person I want to paint. Not everyone interests me in that way. Where do you draw your inspiration from, and how has the Coffs Coast played its part in our artwork? The wonderful landscape here is a constant inspiration. It’s also a hotbed of creativity. I have made many friends here in the arts community, not only in art, but in music and literature. It really helps to be in that nurturing environment. You have been involved with ArtSpace at Urunga over the past few years. Can you tell us about your role there? I was one of the original seven who moved in and threw up an exhibition in a week or so. I have had various roles, beginning with jack of all trades (cleaner, wall painter, GIVE YOURSELF co-curator, exhibitor, as we all PERMISSION TO were.) Later on I helped with CREATE, THEN selections for exhibitions. Now FIND A WAY TO I help with publicity. is; give yourself permission to DO IT. DOESN’T Out of all the pieces you create, then find a way to do it. MATTER HOW have created, what is your Doesn’t matter how you do it. YOU DO IT. favourite art piece and I believe creativity should why? be a subject in schools. Not all A painting I did of my schools are as enlightened as nanna when I was 16. I will Bellingen, though I believe the situation is very much never part with it. improved from when I was at school. We often think artists are born with “natural Where can we see more of your work? talent”, which is true in a lot of cases, but you I exhibit at the Art Space Urunga, and have three believe everyone has creativity within them. pieces there at the moment. What would you say to someone to invoke the I am also a member of Nexus, so I am often in the creative spirit? members’ shows. I have a piece going into Northern Clearly, not everyone will be a great artist, or Exposure at the Glasshouse in Port Macquarie (end of musician or writer. Some people have a particular February ‘til the end of April). talent. I do believe that everyone has the capacity My website is christinewilsonartaustralia.com and to be creative. Sometimes this can be beaten out most of my pieces are there. of people (not necessarily physically). My message Thanks Chris. Coffs Coast focus 91

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