35 minute read
State of Play - Gurmesh Singh
by Focus
STATE OF PLAY
with
COFFS HARBOUR MP GURMESH SINGH
Festivals are helping people across the Coffs Coast emerge from the despair and devastation of COVID, floods, bushfires and drought, by simply being able to have fun. Festivals are about celebrating inspiration, creativity, appreciating new perspectives, and admiring and respecting the contributions of the participants.
The recent 2022 Screenwave International Film Festival, better known as SWIFF, is a Coffs Coast signature event and is increasingly popular with locals and visitors. So much so, just over 10,000 people attended this year’s SWIFF, which is proudly locally produced and sponsored. The Festival Patron is Australian film and screen icon and Coffs Coast resident Jack Thompson. The 7th annual SWIFF was a full 16-day festival with more than 130 sessions to enjoy, bringing us an even larger World Cinema program with titles direct from Sundance and the international circuit. We celebrated world premieres, Australian premieres, and an extensive selection of Australian films with the launch of the inaugural Ferguson Film Prize. SWIFF is driven by the passion and dedication of founder and artistic director Kate Howat and founder and festival director David Horsley. They and their festival team work tirelessly to deliver a challenging, exciting and unique festival experience, while the small army of volunteers makes the festival hum. SWIFF this year saw the addition of STORYLAND, a new live music, installation arts and performance festival-within-afestival. I’m proud to say STORYLAND attracted some $700,000 in funding from the NSW and Commonwealth governments. It was originally set down for 23 April at Park Beach Reserve but the constant wet weather presented significant obstacles. Organisers are working towards a date in the near future. STORYLAND is a one-day playground of live music and art thanks to the talented creative directors Alison Page and Nik Lachajczak and their extraordinary team. From the moment the gates are thrown open, we will be farewelled from Gumbaynggirr Country to enter STORYLAND, a world built by light and sound which will immerse us in the mythology of stories and take us back to the place where stories were created. The inaugural Coffs Coast Food & Wine Festival - which received $225,500 in NSW Government funding through the Regional Events Acceleration Fund - will be celebrated across various local venues from 4-13 June. I know the Amplify Events team looks forward to presenting the Coffs Coast Food and Wine Festival to our community. It promises to be a major drawcard for local foodies and visitors who are set to spend up in local shops, cafes and businesses. The Festival will be a mixture of dining sessions, workshops and digital experiences, featuring live music and art installations to create an immersive, multi-sensory dining experience.
with RESIDENT JULIE
Moving into a new home is a major event all by itself. Add downsizing your whole life into the mix and you have a scenario that is often pushed into the ‘too hard’ basket.
But according to new Marian Grove Apartments resident Julie, once she made up her mind it wasn’t as hard as it first seemed, in fact “it was the best move I could have made.”
What prompted you to think about changing your lifestyle, Julie?
“I wasn’t keen to leave my home. I had it built 23 years ago and I loved it. In fact, I wasn’t even thinking about downsizing until my brother came to see me and said, “Where will you go next?” I was quite shocked, because it just hadn’t occurred to me that I’d be going anywhere! But that’s when I started to think about how I was finding it harder to keep the garden looking nice on my own, and then a friend moved into a retirement village. She kept telling me to come and have a look. Her place wasn’t for me, too much high rise, that’s not how I want to live. Still, it helped me start looking at things a bit differently.”
So, you decided to consider Marian Grove?
“Yes, another friend suggested I come and have tour of the apartments. That was when I realised that I could stay here, in my own neighbourhood of so many years that I love, near Sawtell village and the beach, close to all my friends and be better off financially, as well as not having all the maintenance and cleaning of that big house. I wanted to take advantage
of the good property prices you can realise at the moment too. I’ve been here for 6 weeks now, and I think it’s definitely the best move I could have made.”
What are the most positive aspects of living at Marian Grove for you, do you think?
“Well, it’s much easier to clean this place for a start! I have a three-bedroom apartment and it’s a breeze compared to what I was used to. I have more time to spend living and enjoying life without all the maintenance and expense of a big house and garden. I visit friends and entertain, and I love the sense of community and all the social life here. I’ve already met people who I know will be friends at our resident get-togethers, and the staff have been so helpful and supportive through the whole process of moving in. Nothing was too much trouble for them. I don’t even miss my garden since I have this beautiful view, and now we have The Link to enjoy, all the pleasure of a garden without the maintenance!
“I’m just really pleased I finally listened to my brother and my friends who were right, as it turns out. It’s a new life and I’m going to make the most of it.”
Thanks so much for sharing your story with us Julie, we wish you many happy years here at Marian Grove!
If you’ve decided that it’s time to think about making a change too, why not give us a call and arrange for a visit with our friendly sales team, we’d love to hear from you. There really never has been a better time to come home to Marian Grove, where your new lifestyle is waiting.
Call us on 02 6653 1241, 0490 522 596 ,or visit our website at scca.net.au
Showcasing our local business powerhouses as they celebrate their solid track records.
Vanessa Simpson has many years’ experience as a real estate agent working both here in Australia and in the US, where she enjoyed the model of representing either the buyer or the seller, rather than both, to give them the best possible representation. She started Beach Or Bush Exclusive Buyers’ Agents here on the Mid North Coast to give buyers a helping hand in navigating what is usually the biggest purchase of their lives.
Hey Vanessa, tell us how you came to be on the Coffs Coast?
I was in the midst of a very painful divorce and wanted a fresh start for myself and my daughters. We lived in a small community and the demise of my marriage felt very public. I was desperately seeking safety and solitude. We found exactly what we were looking for on a 110 acre property in the Orara Valley. The serenity of our surroundings, with the mist rising through the bush in the mornings, swimming in the crisp, fresh water of the river, hearing nothing but the sounds of the birds, plus being surrounded by nature, were all instrumental in our healing. We now live by the beach at Sawtell. Because my office is in Coffs Harbour, near the Jetty, living ‘in town’ with teenagers makes things a lot easier for me. Sawtell is an amazing location with a lot to offer from a lifestyle perspective, beautiful beaches, a myriad of choices for cafes and restaurants, plus lots of pavement and I was desperately seeking safety and solitude. We found exactly what we were looking for on a 110 acre property in the bitumen for walking Orara Valley. and bike riding. We have horses in the Orara Valley, at Nana Glen, so we still get our country fix. My daughters and I are very close to my mother. Thankfully, she also made the move to the Coffs Coast and loves it as well.
You have spent some time in the USA, can you tell us about that?
I was backpacking throughout America in 1993. Whilst exploring the East Coast, I landed in a place called Kent Island, which is located on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. I loved the small-town vibe and how everything was centred around the local seafood, local produce and the Chesapeake Bay, which is a huge body of water that splits Maryland in two. I found a job waitressing and bartending at a dock bar and restaurant called The Jetty. This is where I met my first husband. He and his friends hung out there a lot playing beach volleyball. It was a fun place to work. Patrons would pull up on their boats and eat steamed crabs, steamed shrimp and soft-shell clams, accompanied with pitchers of beer and frozen cocktails.
Continued over...
People loved to hear me talk, they loved my accent, and I was always tipped well. I was married in 1994 and started my career in real estate in 1995. I loved living on the Eastern Shore, we never locked our house and left the keys in our cars’ ignition, parked in our driveway. I formed wonderful friendships, and still keep in touch. My daughters, Ella and Brooke, have family there and they’re very fortunate to hold dual citizenship. We’re planning a trip back next year.
You own Beach or Bush Exclusive Buyers’ Agents here on the Coffs Coast, how did the idea for this business come about?
When working in real estate in America, there were times when I would represent the seller, and other times I would represent the buyer. That’s how the industry works over there, whether a person is buying or selling, they usually engage a Realtor to assist them. I found that I preferred the journey of working with buyers. I enjoy it even more so in Australia, where the real estate industry operates on the premise of ‘caveat emptor’, meaning “let the buyer beware”. The scales are tipped in favour of the vendor and buyers are on their own when purchasing property, which is likely to be the most expensive purchase of their lives. The role of a Buyers’ Agent is to represent the buyer throughout the transaction, protecting their best interests every step of the way. It’s something I’m passionate about and I felt compelled to start up my own agency because I knew I would make a difference for my clients, and I do.
Tell us a bit about how it works and why this different approach works so well?
We assist clients in converting their wish list into a realistic Property Brief, from which we base our search. The brief includes budget, location, plus property criteria such as lot size, number of bedrooms, whether they’re up for a full renovation, cosmetic renovation or if they’d like the home to be in move-in condition. We work with owner-occupiers and investors. Although many clients are from out of the area, we also assist local clients. Our local client base is growing as more
The role of a
Buyers’ Agent is local buyers understand the process, plus to represent the the advantages of working with a Buyers’ buyer throughout Agent. We handle all communication with the the transaction, sales agent plus negotiations on our clients’ protecting their best behalf. We also assist with due diligence. interests every step of the way. This works well for several reasons: we shield our clients from pressure tactics and take the emotion out of the transaction, which saves on costly mistakes such as paying too much or not conducting proper due diligence. Our purchase strategy is predominantly around market value, we steer our clients away from paying too much, whilst still meeting their property goals. We take care of the entire process by liaising with third parties to get the deal across the line. Third parties include conveyancers, building & pest inspectors, strata managers, property managers, insurance brokers, valuers, etc. We have relationships with local businesses to whom we refer our clients. Because of this, we can get things done quickly, whilst remaining informed of outcomes. Of course, an important part of the process is working with sales agents. This has only proved difficult with sales agents who don’t understand the process. Fortunately, I have developed a lot of good relationships with sales agents. We work together on silent listings, and I recommend
professional sales agents to vendors as part of our free Vendor Advocacy service. In this, we meet with people considering selling their home, discuss what’s currently happening in the market, prepare a market appraisal plus assist them in choosing an agent. We deal with agents every day, so we have a good understanding of their professionalism and which location is their area of expertise.
This area has seen huge growth in the past few years, what has it been like witnessing that through your work assisting clients in buying real estate?
I was frustrated with buyers paying too much for properties and driving prices up. If they had worked with us, we would have guided them on price and stopped them from paying too much. Imagine if every buyer was working with a Buyers’ Agent. We take the emotion out of the situation, guide our clients on market value and if the price is too high, we move on, there’s always another property. Prices rose significantly because of emotion, and out of area buyers, uneducated in our local real estate market, were paying too much. The emotional factor and fear of missing out was especially prevalent the past couple of years. Many buyers wanted to escape crowded city centres due to COVID. Emotions and fear led them to pay too much, and changed our local property market, the prices continued to reflect what people were willing to pay. Sales agents were continually surprised by the prices achieved.
Can you tell us a bit about your team?
The business has room for growth, which excites me. Currently, I cover from Port Macquarie to Yamba and I have a consultant for Byron Bay to Tweed. My daughter, Ella, has joined the team on a traineeship and is supporting us with her social media expertise plus Property Scout functions. I also have a virtual assistant.
What have you learnt about yourself starting your own business?
A lot! I’ve learnt I’ve got what it takes. Emotions and fear led them to pay too much, and changed our local property market, the I’ve learned to be prices continued to grateful for trying reflect what people circumstances that were willing to pay. have shaped me to be a person with strength, resilience, authenticity, humility and the ability to bounce back. I’ve learned I need to be grateful for the things, circumstances and people right in front of me. I’ve learned how many of my skills are transferable. I’ve learned to recognise the importance of continuous learning. I’ve learned to admit when I don’t know something. I’ve learned that following through on my promises pays off repeatedly. I’ve learned I can’t do everything on my own and that it’s OK to ask for help, and I’ve learned I have the tenacity to never give up.
What does the future hold?
I plan to continue to grow my business. Also, I am currently undertaking studies to gain the skills and qualifications I need to help the fastest growing demographic for homelessness, which is women over 55. I find this to be an incredibly alarming statistic, and since discovering this issue, I have been very passionate about uncovering a way I can help. I plan to help by creating and teaching investment strategies, geared towards women who want to put a long-term plan in place in order to safeguard their financial future. I am extremely excited to see what unfolds.
DR KRAMER
BEACH STREET FAMILY PRACTICE
40 YEARS in the TRADE
What services do you offer? General Practice Services: acute and chronic care, chronic disease management, immunisations, women’s health, travel medicine, indigenous health, Workcover and Third Party, skin checks, preventive medicine, child health, men’s health, aged care, home visits, hospital visits. How has your offering changed over the years? The range of services has broadened as the practice has grown. Our doctors have a diverse range of backgrounds and experiences, but all are committed to the welfare of their patients. We have trained 65 young doctors in the Art and Science of Medicine since 1988. Hundreds of medical students from a wide range of universities, including several from overseas (Ireland, South Africa, USA, New Zealand), have come to Woolgoolga to enhance their medical training. Orthopedic Surgeons from Grafton provide twice monthly consulting sessions. Pathology is collocated downstairs, proving very convenient for patients.
There have been big changes in technology – how
has that helped your business? Prescriptions have been computer generated for over 20 years, but only in 2022 is it becoming possible to transmit them to patients and pharmacies electronically. Medical Records were being computerised around the turn of the century.
What advice do you have to other business owners on the Coffs Coast?
• Dare to dream • Try new things • Have fun at work Don’t be afraid to work on the weekend, but make sure you have regular holidays.
Looking back – what have been some of your biggest
accomplishments? Surviving and thriving as a small business serving the health needs of a rapidly growing coastal town. We are a “Family Practice’’ whose staff I regard as part of my extended family. We all watch out for each other as well as our patients and their families. How do you define success? I’m still here after 41 years, Dr Judy Haines has 35 years under her belt, and Drs Harjinder Singh and Janet McLachlan are both well into their second decade. I have no desire to retire, just slow down a bit, and take more holidays. Success mandates succession planning. I have it in hand.
41 years in business BEACH
S T R E E T
FAMILY PRACTICE
How has your offering
changed over the years?
BSFP is a teaching practice. Over the years we have been able to increase our GP availability by being invested in this training and recruiting. The journey from Medical Student to GP Registrar to General Practitioner has enabled us to recruit successfully to address the needs of the community.
There have been big changes in technology – how has that helped your
business? The practice was using a hybrid system when I first started (2003), some paper files and some computer based. The transition was years in process with all paper records being scanned individually into patients’ electronic records, some of the patients had been attending the practice since 1981!! We are still working on becoming totally paperless with the implementation of virtual faxes and utilising encrypted email. The practice’s IT provider has been instrumental in our journey, keeping us up to date with new technologies. This enables us to stay current with state-of-theart equipment which in turn improves our service AND patient outcomes. The amount of paper and other consumables used in our industry is an ongoing issue. Technology has solved some, but sustainability is something we strive for every day. We have a team that is passionate about reducing waste without comprising the service to our patients.
Looking back – what have been some
of your biggest accomplishments? The new purpose-built surgery was 6 years in the planning and building. From the purchase of the adjacent property at 51 Beach St to completion of the building you see today. Success for me is a happy team at the end of each day and hearing It was a juggling act during the building patients compliment phase but the reward the staff or shout us of opening the doors morning tea, simple in August 2016 was an stuff! absolute joy to doctors and staff. We all felt so privileged to be involved in such an awesome community serving project. How do you define success? Success for me is a happy team at the end of each day and hearing patients compliment the staff or shout us morning tea, simple stuff!
What advice do you have to other
business owners on the Coffs Coast? Work smarter not harder. Surround yourself with the right people and put your business in the hands of a team you can trust. Be wholly invested in your community… You can’t go wrong!
FAMILY PRACTICE
Beach Street Family practice is a family friendly general practice established in Woolgoolga in 1981. We are an eleven doctor practice, including several general practice registrars. We are committed to providing personal compassionate care in an environment that is both professional and relaxed.
02 66541282 | 51 Beach St, Woolgoolga | staff@wnbmc.com.au | beachstreetfamilypractice.com.au
CHANDLER
MACLEOD
Jo Ellerman and Kristy Madaffari Celebrating their 12th year with Chandler Macleod Coffs Harbour
Sixty years ago, Chandler Macleod was established by Alf Chandler and Doug Macleod as Australia’s first firm of registered psychologists. The firm built a reputation of expertise in predicting employee behaviour and critical success factors for roles, teams and organisations and used this expertise to provide specialised recruitment solutions. Chandler Macleod was established here in Coffs Harbour 13 years ago in a small home office. Since then the business has grown and diversified up and down the coast from Taree to Tweed Heads and out West in the New England region.
Where are we now
Over a decade now in Coffs Harbour! With the expertise of Jo and Kristy having focussed on placing the right person in the right job, our business here in Coffs Harbour has grown exponentially. In the past 3 years we have grown our own team to support our local businesses in the post Covid “Talent War” – finding and retaining good staff. Only last year Chandler Macleod moved from a small serviced office to our new location at 22 Park Avenue to accommodate our growth. Chandler Macleod Coffs Harbour recruit to ALL Industries and ALL Roles. We deliver recruitment support to Local, State & Federal Government agencies and commercial business both local and national. Stay tuned over the coming months to hear more about our successes here in Coffs Harbour and some of the Job Seekers and Employers we have supported.
Meet the team
From right to left meet our recruitment professionals here to assist you in this candidateshort market to source quality applicants for your job vacancies. Kate Watson - Commercial/Local Business Recruitment Specialist Neva Niland - Local Government Recruitment Specialist Jo Ellerman - Permanent Recruitment Specialist - Team Lead Kim Collett - Recruitment Coordinator Kristy Madaffari - Manager Regional NSW Emily Caslin - Recruitment Specialist State Government
IAN ‘MAC’ MCARTHUR O P A L S
Ian ‘Mac’ McArthur has been a jeweller for over 50 years, and he is as passionate now about the trade as he was when he started out on this journey. He creates beautiful pieces of jewellery, but has also mined his own opal and precious stones, and loves to create wearable art for competitions.
Hi Mac. How did you come to work in the jewellery trade?
I embarked on this award-winning jeweller path unknowingly whilst still at school. The questions I was asked as a young schoolboy were the tipping point. Most kids are asked the question, ‘what do you want to do when you leave school?’ I was also asked, ‘what do you love?’ My answer was immediate. ‘Treasure.’ I admit to playing at pirates for many an hour, even going so far as to create pirate ships out of upturned car roofs on a local creek, a recreation for kids that would be kiboshed today because of the inherent and obvious dangers.
Can you tell us a bit about how you learned your skills and got started in the industry?
My first job was at the prestigious department store Dunklings in Melbourne, as a salesman. I loved working with the public, but was dissatisfied with the overall job, so I left. The decision to go to Coober Pedy to find my own treasure changed and directed my life. It was there that I discovered this passion for opal. I dug a lot of dirt, found very little but I learnt how to cut, shape and polish this magnificent uniquely Australian stone. I
returned to Melbourne, met an artsy bloke who said to me, ‘sell me some opal, I will carve wax patterns and cast them in silver’ and this was my introduction to Lost Wax Casting, a 3,000-year-old jewellery making technique, and so my manufacturing jewellery career was born. This was in the 70’s and there was very little silver jewellery in Melbourne. My brother and I made sterling silver marijuana leaves, magic mushroom pendants and wild boar tusks set in silver which we sold to retail and wholesalers throughout Australia, predominantly Melbourne. We made penguins for Phillip Island, Ned Kellys for Glenrowan and at the Sunbury Pop Festival in 1972 we sold everything to anyone and everyone.
Today, over 50 years on, the passion has not abated. I continue to make and sell precious metal and gemstone jewellery, delighting especially in the shaping and fashioning of gold, an incredible metal. My zeal for opal has taken me to the opal fields where I bought several mines over the years, both in Lightning Ridge and in Yowah in south west Queensland. We cut it here in Bellingen, where I have a home-based lapidary workshop and we sell in our Hyde Street shop as well as online from macsopals.com and the usual social media outlets. Overall, I’m self-taught in most techniques, but I did attend RMIT in Melbourne and the Gemmological Association of Victoria which has stood me in good stead. The Coffs Harbour lapidary club taught me finer points of stone cutting and faceting and, in the 80’s, my partner at the time and I ran a shop on the highway, the Quartz Crystal Awareness Centre.
How has the industry changed in the time you’ve worked as a jeweller?
The decision to In the words of Bob Dylan, ‘times they are a go to Coober changin,’ and within the jewellery trade never Pedy to find my own is this more so. Renting a shop or a gallery treasure changed and space, fitting it out with stock, furnishings, directed my life. It was there that I display materials, lights and, in our present day, cameras and security systems, including a protection guard for the outer window and discovered this a safe, is costly. On a comparative level, my passion for opal. first business venture, MCM Designs, was my brother, a mate and myself, literally returned from the Coober Pedy opal fields. We lived, worked and saved our money together in order to open our first shop. Gus and Doug worked full time, I drove taxis weekends for some spending money, and I worked the business, eventually the business was big enough for the three of us to work it. >>>
The pace of life was much slower. This was followed by a wholesaler who said to me, ‘reduce your price by two thirds and I will buy one hundred of each design.’ We did and this fired up the business. We opened a retail shop in the CBD of Melbourne with a factory on the third floor, a shop in St Kilda and one in the inner city, Collingwood.
What do you enjoy most about your trade?
As a self-taught jeweller, it has taken longer to be proficient in the techniques, but it also means that I have seen ways to make and create the seemingly impossible. The most exciting designs are coming via the apprentices and students of this art and craft.
The diamond is a fantastic accent stone for opal, especially the coloured diamonds. Jewellery is constructed primarily out of the noble metals and precious stones, and I have considered it the supreme privilege to work and create art using these materials.
What are some of the most challenging aspects of what you do?
One of the most challenging aspects of being a precious metal and gemstone artist comes with working closely with the clientele. The design of a personal, handmade bespoke piece, which they see in their mind and translating that into a reality, is easier said than done. It does not always turn out the way that they envisaged, but for the most part, the spontaneous reaction is one of pleasure. ‘I didn’t think it would look as good as this,’ I hear many times in my work and it is music to my ears.
What are some of your favourite kinds of pieces to create?
My passion leads me to create wearable art and jewellery for competition. It is deeply satisfying and enjoyable, and over the years I have been fortunate in that I have been recognised for this passion for both the creations and the love of the stone, opal being my primary love, followed by the depth of the colour in lapis.
Are there any particular pieces you’ve made over the years that stand out to you?
I would like to share a Bellingen Bowerbird story of one of my outstanding pieces, one of which I am immensely proud. It concerned my first and most prestigious accolade, Earth’s Curve. A pendant that depicted a view of the planet as if viewing from the window of a spaceship. It had the curve of the earth, which was an exceptional piece of matrix from the Queensland opal fields, and the curve of outer space, which was a top-quality piece of lapis lazuli with its brilliant deep blue and intercepted with small diamonds to emphasise the night sky. My dear and regular client, who coincidentally had also been a guest at my wedding, had come into money and decided to invest in something special. He purchased Earth’s Curve. He wore the piece with pride in the town. The day that he chose to swim in our local Never Never creek, he decided to take it off and put it on the river stones. He forgot
We won the to pick it up. Keep an eye on those bowerbird
Fantasy section nests, Bellingenites. of the Lightning My latest award win was a steam punk Ridge Opal Jewellery of wearable art made in conjunction with Competition in 2019 Alex Cowley of Awl Leather. The piece was making quite a fittingly and prophetically called ‘Plague Mask’ splash on the night and was based on the masks that doctors with the prime wore during the plague, filling a ‘beak’ with movers and shakers lavender and herbs in the belief that they of the opal industry would be protected from the plague. We won all in attendance. the Fantasy section of the Lightning Ridge Opal Jewellery Competition in 2019 making quite a splash on the night with the prime movers and shakers of the opal industry all in attendance. Of course, Covid put paid to any later opportunities for the next 3 years.
Where can people find you and your beautiful jewellery?
As mentioned earlier, our prime outlet is in Hyde Street, Bellingen and I’m available by appointment anytime. mac@macsopals.com is open 24/7.
BARRY HOCKEY
ACCOUNTANTS
Tax Time 2022 is looming fast – Make the most of the extended changes
It is hard to believe how quickly this year is going. As we go to print, we have a federal election looming. We have seen the present Government deliver many new (short term) policies to assist the economy through what has been an exceedingly difficult period in the last two years. Some legislation changes have been extended, particularly for small business owners. Small businesses should ensure that their financial information is up to date, so that important decisions can be made prior to June 30.
Rental property owners
should consider obtaining a tax depreciation schedule if you do not already have one. Depending on the age of your property, residential investors have historically found on average of $8,846 in deductions which has significantly improved their tax position. Small business owners should look to take advantage of the “full expensing” instant asset write off before 30 June. This could help to reduce or even eliminate tax payable this year. E.g. company buying a $100k piece of equipment before 30 June 2022 will save $26,887 of income tax at the corporate tax rate.
Extension of the Instant Asset Write Off - effective 6 October 2020
Businesses with aggregated annual turnover within the relevant threshold will be able to deduct the full cost of eligible capital assets acquired from 7:30pm AEDT on 6 October 2020 (Budget night) and first used or installed by 30 June 2023 (extended from 30 June 2022 previously) This applies to both new and second-hand assets as well as improvements to existing assets.
ATO Watch list - Capital gains from sale of Cryptocurrency
If you have traded, sold or gifted cryptocurrency you must include this information in your tax return for capital gains tax purposes.
30+ YEARS in the TRADE
At Blue Ribbon Homes our service is personal, and our communication is friendly, open and honest. You will feel part of the team as we guide you through the building process, every step of the way in making your dream home a reality! The Blue Ribbon Homes team consists of Greg Bull (Director), Ben Smith (Building Supervisor), Jackie Hensby-Davies (Home Sales Consultant), Michelle Kearney (Administration Manager) and Phil Grace (Director) who we chatted to to find out more…
When did your business open and who was involved?
The business was started in 1988. Bruce Ellem was the original owner and Greg Bull, my business partner, was with him from day one. As with many great Australian institutions, we started in a garage!
What have been some of the changes in your business – how have you evolved?
We entered the building industry supplying Traditional & Attic Style kit homes. As the business grew, the demand for someone to build the kits on site grew and so we started to contract some carpenters to erect the kits.
From there the company started to develop a range of standard building designs and take on the whole building project management and contract administration process. Inevitably clients like to change standard plans to suit themselves, and as we have always had inhouse design and drafting staff, it was a natural progression into the design and construct segment of the industry.
For the last two decades this has been our specialty. In the last decade we have seen a significant shift in the contract price range that we are designing and building in, moving into higher priced homes. This has meant we can sign up less jobs to meet our annual sales budget, do more complex projects and give our clients a more intensive servicing level as required by the more involved homes we are producing.
Our primary focus now is to build a great working relationship with our clients, which leads to a more inclusive and lower stress building experience. Anyone can build you a house, but it takes a lot of conscientious effort to build a great relationship that will naturally yield a premium home as the end product. People will forget the details of what is said and done, but they will always remember how you make them feel.
Do you think experience and years in the trade are important?
Absolutely YES! Greg and I both have industry backgrounds. I am a Carpenter and Joiner by trade and Greg started as an Engineering Draftsman.
Coming from an engineering background means Greg takes quantities with a higher level of accuracy than your average building quantity surveyor would! This has many benefits for our company. Less waste to dispose of is good for the environment and for the bottom line, and cost efficiencies can yield a higher quality product with less upward pressure on the building price. Our orders are placed well in advance, ensuring smoother supply chain
delivery, especially in these times of supply shortages. Greg’s experience and years in the trade have paid big dividends for the company operations and our clients over the years.
Greg was working in the building industry when I was still in school. It was after I completed my Trade course and an Associate Diploma in Applied Science - Building, that I joined the Blue Ribbon Homes team as an employee. Greg has been an invaluable mentor over the last two and half decades for my transition from working onsite to working in the office. We were still drawing with ink pens on drawing film when I started in the office, who better than an Engineering Draftsman to have as a tutor to improve drafting skills? Then Computer Aided Drafting came along, Bruce sent us to TAFE CAD courses, and we’ve been drawing on computers ever since. 25+ years of CAD experience certainly makes my job easier, as I do all the concept design and working drawings for our clients’ homes. The market has also been serviced by some excellent local builders over the years, so carving a niche that is unique to us has been our biggest challenge I Our Building believe. Supervisor, Ben Smith, is a Carpenter & Joiner also. He brings a huge range of experience to our team. Everything from running his own business doing Queenslander style renovations to project managing high rise building sites and large-scale tilt up warehouses in Brisbane, commercial building sites in Northern Queensland and retirement villages here in Coffs Harbour. As a direct result of Ben’s experience, the quality level of finish we are achieving in our homes has never been higher. Constant positive feedback from our clients, tradesmen and suppliers confirms the value of experience and years in the trade.
What have been some of your challenges?
Coffs Coast is a very competitive building environment, over the years we have seen many project-style builders come and go. The market has also been serviced by some excellent local builders over the years, so carving a niche that is unique to us has been our biggest challenge I believe. Maintaining Home Owner Warranty Insurance Eligibility has also been one of the bigger challenges facing all builders!
What is the secret to your success?
Great tradesman and suppliers! Without them we can’t put our homes on the ground.
Do you have a motto that you work/live by?
I have a life credo:
Live life with respect,
Love the worthy with reckless abandon,
Work, train and volunteer with dedication and take the ride with an open heart.
What is on the horizon for Blue Ribbon Homes?
Blue skies and fair sailing! Our compass points to where our clients want to take us.
