Coffs Coast Focus i84

COFFS COAST

September 2017 2017. issue 84

1 coffs coast focus.

Feature Story Chad Homan

Expert Online Education There are now many ‘johnny-come-lately’ universities in online education. UNE has been delivering distance education since 1955 – that’s longer than any other Australian university. Perhaps that’s why our students continue to rate us so highly for student satisfaction and teaching quality.

Study across three study periods with 24/7 online tutor support. If you don’t have entry qualifications, our free Pathways Enabling

Course gives you entry and credit to most of UNE’s undergraduate degrees. If you prefer to study on-campus, UNE has a campus in Armidale. If you’re not ready to commit to a whole degree right now, we also have our revolutionary new Bespoke Courses where you can design a short course of just 2, 3 or 4 units. Because they’re real degree units you may get credit towards a full degree later.

Courses available for online study from October ACCOUNTING AND FINANCE Bachelor of Accounting Majors Available: Advanced Accounting, Agribusiness, Finance. Master of Professional Accounting

ARCHAEOLOGY AND INDIGENOUS STUDIES Bachelor of Arts (Archaeology, Indigenous Studies) Bachelor of Science~ (Archaeology, Palaeobiology)

AGRICULTURE, RURAL SCIENCE BIOLOGY, BIOMEDICAL AND PLANT SCIENCE SCIENCE AND PHARMACY Bachelor of Agribusiness Bachelor of Agricultural and Resource Economics Bachelor of Agriculture Majors Available: Animal Production, Plant Production, General Agricultural Production. Bachelor of Agriculture/Bachelor of Business Bachelor of Agriculture/Bachelor of Laws Bachelor of Agrifood Systems> Majors Available: Crop Production, Feedlot Management, Livestock Production, Production Horticulture. Bachelor of Plant Science Majors Available: Evolutionary Biology, Physiological and Molecular Biology, Plants in the Environment. Bachelor of Rural Science

ANIMAL SCIENCE AND ZOOLOGY Bachelor of Animal Science Majors Available: Canine and Equine Science, Livestock Production, Wildlife Management. Bachelor of Science~ (Animal Science and Veterinary Studies, Zoology) Bachelor of Zoology

ARTS

Bachelor of Biomedical Science

BUSINESS, MANAGEMENT AND MARKETING Bachelor of Business Majors available: Accounting, Agribusiness, Business Analytics, Economics, Finance, Human Resource Management, International Business, Management, Marketing. Bachelor of Business/Bachelor of Laws Bachelor of Organisational Leadership Bachelor of Training and Development Graduate Certificate in Business Graduate Certificate in Human Resource Management Graduate Certificate in Management Master of Business Administration Majors available: General Program, Human Resource Management. Master of Strategic Organisational Development and Human Resource Management

CLASSICS, HISTORY, PHILOSOPHY AND STUDIES IN RELIGION

EDUCATION AND TEACHING

LAW AND CRIMINOLOGY

SCIENCE

Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood Teaching) Bachelor of Education (K-12 Teaching) Bachelor of Education (Primary) Bachelor of Special Education (Primary)/ Bachelor of Disability Studies Bachelor of Training and Development Graduate Certificate in Education Studies Specialisations available: Careers and Transition Education, Gifted and Talented: Teaching for High Potential, Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL). Graduate Certificate in eLearning Master of Education Majors available: Comparative Education, eLearning, Gifted and Talented Education, Indigenous Australian Education, Literature and New Literacies, Special Education, Teaching English to Speakers of other Languages (TESOL). Master of Teaching (Primary) Master of Teaching (Secondary)

Diploma in Prosecution and Advocacy Bachelor of Agriculture/Bachelor of Laws Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Laws Bachelor of Business/Bachelor of Laws Bachelor of Computer Science/Bachelor of Laws Bachelor of Criminology/Bachelor of Laws Bachelor of Economics/Bachelor of Laws Bachelor of Environmental Science/Bachelor of Laws Bachelor of Criminology~ Bachelor of Laws (3 years) Bachelor of Laws (4 years) Bachelor of Science/Bachelor of Laws Master of Laws Majors available: Commercial, Crime and Criminal Justice, Health and Science, International, Natural Resource Governance

Diploma in Science Programs Available: General Studies in Science, Medical Sciences, Science Pathways. Bachelor of Science~ Majors available: Animal Science and Veterinary Studies, Applied Physics, Archaeology, Biochemistry/Biotechnology, Biodiversity, Botany, Chemistry, Computational Science, Forensic Science, Genetics, Geography, Geoscience, Mathematics, Medicinal Chemistry, Microbiology, Neuroscience, Palaeobiology, Physiology, Psychology, Zoology. Bachelor of Science/Bachelor of Laws Bachelor of Scientific Studies

ENGLISH, WRITING, MEDIA AND COMMUNICATIONS Diploma in Professional Communication Bachelor of Arts (English, Writing, Screen & Media Studies) Bachelor of Media and Communications Majors available: Media and Culture, Writing and Publishing.

ENVIRONMENTAL AND EARTH SCIENCES

of Environmental Science/Bachelor Bachelor of Arts (Ancient History, Australian Bachelor of Laws History, Classical Languages, History, Diploma in Arts Bachelor of GeoScience International History, Philosophy, Islamic Advanced Diploma in Arts Bachelor of Science~ (Geography) Studies, Studies in Religion) Bachelor of Arts Graduate Certificate of Planning and Bachelor of Historical Inquiry and Practice Majors available: Ancient History, Management of Natural Hazards Graduate Diploma in Local, Family and Archaeology, Australian History, Chinese, Graduate Diploma of Planning and Applied History Classical Languages, Criminology, Management of Natural Hazards Graduate Certificate in Arts English, French, German, History, Human Master of Planning and Management of Geography, Indigenous Studies, Indonesian, Master of Arts Natural Hazards International History, Islamic Studies, Italian, Majors available#: Ancient History, Japanese, Linguistics, Music, Peace Studies, Australian History, Classical Languages, GEOGRAPHY AND PLANNING Philosophy, Physical Geography, Political History, International History, Islamic and International Studies, Psychology, Studies, Studies in Religion. Diploma in Arts Screen and Media Studies, Sociology, Bachelor of Arts (Geography) Spanish, Studies in Religion, Theatre and COMPUTER SCIENCE AND Bachelor of Science~ (Geography) Performance, Writing. Graduate Certificate in Arts (Geography) INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Business Graduate Diploma in Urban and Regional Bachelor of Computer Science~ Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Laws Planning Majors Available: Data Science, Software Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science Master of Arts (Geography) Development. Graduate Certificate in Arts Bachelor of Computer Science/Bachelor of Majors available: Ancient History, Chinese LANGUAGES AND CULTURAL Laws Studies, Classical Languages, Geography, Bachelor of Science~ (Computational Science) STUDIES History, Italian Studies, Peace Studies, Theatre and Performance. Bachelor of Arts (Chinese, French, German, ECONOMICS AND Indonesian, Italian, Japanese and Spanish) Master of Arts Bachelor of International and Language Majors available#: Ancient History, Applied AGRIBUSINESS Studies Sociology, Archaeology, Australian History, Bachelor of Agribusiness Chinese, Classical Languages, Criminology, Bachelor of International Studies Majors Available: Economics, Finance, English, French, German, History, Human Marketing and Management, Rural Science. Bachelor of Languages Geography, Indigenous Studies, Indonesian, International History, Islamic Studies, Italian, Bachelor of Agricultural and Resource Majors available: Chinese, French, German, Economics Japanese, Linguistics, Music, Peace Studies, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese and Spanish. Bachelor of Economics Philosophy, Physical Bachelor of Languages and International Majors Available: Applied Econometrics, Geography, Political and International Business Economics, Economic Development, Studies, Psychology, Sociology, Spanish, Environmental Analysis and Policy. Studies in Religion, Theatre and Performance, Writing. Bachelor of Economics /Bachelor of Laws Graduate Certificate in Agribusiness

Apply now

LINGUISTICS AND APPLIED LINGUISTICS Bachelor of Arts (Linguistics) Master of Applied Linguistics Majors available: TESOL, General Program. Master of Arts (Linguistics)

NURSING, SOCIAL WORK AND HEALTH Bachelor of Audiometry Bachelor of Nursing with Honours Master of Health Management Master of Nursing Practice**

PEACE, POLITICAL AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES

SUSTAINABILITY Bachelor of Sustainability Majors available: Community Engagement and Development, Cultural Heritage Management, Environmental Governance, Environmental Resilience, Governance and Regulation.

THEATRE, PERFORMANCE AND MUSIC Diploma in Music Skills^ Diploma in Music Technology Bachelor of Arts (Music, Theatre and Performance, Stage and Screen Acting+) Bachelor of Music^ Bachelor of Theatre and Performance

ENTRY PATHWAYS

Pathways Enabling Course Science Pathways Diploma in Arts Advanced Diploma in Arts > This course will be renamed in 2018 to Bachelor of Arts (Peace Studies, Political and Bachelor of Agricultural Production and International Studies) Management. Bachelor of International and Language ~ Honours year also available. Studies # Not all majors are available to all Bachelor of International Studies candidates. Graduate Certificate in Arts ** First 2 units offered on-campus only in Trimester 3. Master of Arts ^ Early Application closing date. PSYCHOLOGY AND SOCIAL + Restricted to candidates admitted under the Stage and Screen Acting Articulation SCIENCE Program. Bachelor of Arts (Psychology, Sociology) Bachelor of Psychological Science Please note some degrees have mandatory Bachelor of Psychology with Honours intensive schools which require attendance Bachelor of Social Science on campus. Majors available: Aboriginal Perspectives, See website for individual course rules and Criminology, Health Management, admissions criteria. Linguistics, Organisational Management, Peace and Developmental Studies, Political and International Studies, Psychology, Social Philosophy, Sociology, Urban and Regional Studies. Graduate Diploma in Psychology

All courses available to start 23 October une.edu.au/expert • 1800 818 865

University of New England CRICOS Provider Number 00003G

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Welcome to the September issue of Coffs Coast FOCUS.

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t is officially spring! We have had some wonderful weather of late, which has made the cool change of winter slightly better to cope with on the Coffs Coast. People were actually enjoying the beach in the middle of winter. What a place to live! There is so much happening around the Coffs Coast this month. So much so, that every weekend is totally booked up for the FOCUS girls. But, hey! We aren’t complaining. On the Cover Madonna Bannerman woke up one day and thought … “Today, I think I’ll buy a winery!” And that is exactly what she did. If you haven’t already been out to Two Tails Winery, we suggest you do. The things that Maddie and husband Barry have done with the place will amaze you. The buzz around town at the moment is her new tapas restaurant, called Velvets. The food is seriously to die for, and the view …. Go check it out for yourself. We adore

Maddie’s drive and passion, which is why we love her to bits and want to share her success with you all. Turn over to page 26 for the full interview. Inside this edition Cliff Guy is a man of many talents who has vast experience sharing his adventures from around the world through film, television, music and photography. Now based in Nana Glen with his partner, Sandi, son Samuel and father Cliff Senior, he is building Wild Guy Station to share his love of family, the environment and adventure with others. FOCUS visited the stunning eco-friendly property to find out how they have done this and what’s in store for the future. As a teenager, Chad Homan discovered a love for breakdancing. With the support of his family and some great teachers, he went on to perform around Australia and the world. Chad tells FOCUS more about his adventures and how

he has found himself in Las Vegas performing and mingling with the best entertainers in the world. Ultimate Food Guide When it comes to food, the Coffs Coast has some of the best. FOCUS presents to you a feature that will make you drool. The feature is showcase of venues, interviews, recipes and more ... Turn to page 22. We promise it will make your mouth water. Thanks for coming Coffs Cup is one of the biggest days of the year and the FOCUS team got to share the day with some of our favourites in our very own marquee. We must give a massive shout out to Two Tails Wines for donating an array of tasty desserts. They were to die for. Check out Page 38, to see who was part of the fun! Final Say: “Spring is Nature’s way of saying let’s party!” - Robin Williams.

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issue inside this

Issue 84 - September 2017

Michael Crossland. After a turbulent twelve months, our favourite Coffs Coast identity, a man known for giving back, has received a special gift of his own …

12

Alison Williams.

41

You may have seen the public work of local Indigenous artist Alison Williams while wandering around Coffs Harbour. FOCUS

caught up with Alison, to find out more about her art practice ... And as a gallery

director and curator, she also shares her insight into the role of Indigenous art in the wider community and where it might be headed next.

Meg Mac.

Meg Mac is on tour with her new album,

“Low Blows”, and will be performing in Coffs Harbour on the 28th September and at Festival Of The Sun this December in Port Macquarie. FOCUS catches up with Megan, to find out all about her latest tour …

Regulars 14. WHAT’S ON SEPTEMBER 22. EAT FEATURING LOCAL RESTAURANTS 46. SOCIAL SCENE CAROLE BEROS 65. STAR GUIDE WITH TERRI

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No matter where you are in the world, read Focus for free online every month @ www.focusmag.com.au 4 Coffs Coast focus

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Las Vegas is a place that has the bestthe entertainers in t to world, and I ge t mingle amongs e them. It is a plac full of fantasies.”

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CHAD

Homan

FROM COFFS HARBOUR TO LAS VEGAS

AS A TEENAGER, CHAD HOMAN DISCOVERED A LOVE FOR BREAKDANCING. WITH THE SUPPORT OF HIS FAMILY AND SOME GREAT TEACHERS, HE WENT ON TO PERFORM AROUND AUSTRALIA AND THE WORLD. CHAD TELLS FOCUS MORE ABOUT HIS ADVENTURES AND HOW HE HAS FOUND HIMSELF IN LAS VEGAS PERFORMING AND MINGLING WITH THE BEST ENTERTAINERS IN THE WORLD.

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hat is your connection to the Coffs Coast? I grew up in Coffs. I spent some of my best years

there. What was the best thing about growing up in Coffs Harbour? The relaxed atmosphere around Coffs was definitely the best. I loved the beaches a lot, but grew up on a property with enough space to ride motorbikes, and the freedom for life was great. When and how did you know you wanted to be a professional dancer/performer? I started breaking when I was about 12, under a guy called Travers Ross. I was definitely hooked from my first class and trained every day. There was even a time I wanted to go to a breaking class, but the river was flooding and if I went, there would be no way possible to get home. Mum had to stay home to care for my siblings, so I asked her drop me on the other side of the river, and I found my own way there! Breaking had definitely consumed me, but it wasn't until about 15 that I thought maybe I could make it a career. From then on, it was full steam ahead. Can you tell us a bit more about your breakdancing and hip hop adventures? I began teaching with Travers in Coffs around the age of 15 and at 17, encouraged by my ballet teacher, I moved to Queensland to study dance. This was the beginning of my training with some of Australia’s best breakdancers. While I was teaching and performing full6 Coffs Coast focus

time with Team Cream Studios, I got to travel around Australia and the world, performing and competing in events such as Audi Hamilton Island Race Week and the Australian Hip Hop Championships. I then moved to Melbourne to experience a bigger city and for a bit of change, where I was performing plus teaching dance until I moved to Las Vegas. You have been part of So You Think You Can Dance and a finalist in Australia’s Got Talent. What was this experience like? Australia’s Got Talent was one of the most fun experiences I have ever had. I was there with my crew, "Instant Bun", and we were like one big CRAZY family. We each lived in different states, so when we got together to film the show it was like a reunion. We got up to a lot of cheeky mischief. It was my first time on TV and some parts were nerve-racking, but the amount of fun we had dancing for the show over shadowed that. So You Think You Can Dance was a solo competition and a little more nerve-racking, I guess, because I was doing it alone. But my mates from Instant Bun were also competing individually, so that took a few nerves away. In fact, SYTYCD threw a surprise challenge at us and gave us a couple of minutes to put a routine together as a crew. It was amazing, spontaneous fun and of course, we were up to the challenge. So how did you end up in Las Vegas? I received a call from Darren Sutton from Aussie All Star Productions, saying he was putting a show together for Las Vegas and wanted me to be part of it. I thought that it would never happen. Las Vegas is an extremely

hard place to get into, especially for a brand new show. I said yes, thinking if it happens, great, if not, I’ve lost nothing. We put our all into making the show and somehow, Darren got us into Las Vegas, and not only Vegas but right in the middle of the strip at Planet Hollywood. So if you ever go to Las Vegas, check out the guys of Aussie Heat. What do you enjoy most about living and performing there? Las Vegas is a place that also has the best entertainers in the world, and I get to mingle amongst them. It is a place full of fantasies. People come here from all over the world to fulfil whatever outrageous visions they have in their mind. Because of this, generally everyone that comes here is happy and loving life, always in a good mood and having a great time. Where else in the world has your career taken you? I have been to many countries for dance, including New Zealand, Europe, United States, Japan and the Philippines. Travelling is one of the greatest things that a person can do, and to get to travel so much doing something I love is a blessing. What do you like to do when you come home to Coffs? When I come back home, it’s chill time. I love just kicking it with my family and friends and being in full relax mode. I certainly try to make use of the beaches and rivers. Las Vegas is a desert, and the nearest beach is 400 km away! Your mum, Berni, is a big supporter. What does this mean to you? She certainly is, and it means the world to me. I was very lucky that both my parents were extremely supportive of what I wanted

to do. They said, "Do whatever you want and do it well". If they weren't the way they were and didn't teach me to follow my dreams, I definitely wouldn't be having the same life right now. What are your plans for the future? Right now, having already trialled Puerto Rico, our company, Aussie Heat, is working on setting up a tour in different countries around the world, so keep an eye out for it. Do you have any advice for others who dream of a career in dancing/performing? Always just go for it! There will be many times in life where it may feel easier to take the normal road. If you have a dream of what you want, don't stop until you get it. Thanks Chad.

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WWW.BIGBANANA.COM | PH: 02 6652 4355 351 PACIFIC HWY, COFFS HARBOUR NSW 2450

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KIRSTEN JACKSON-BALDWIN FROM NOURISHED EARTH

5 ways

Alkalise & Improve your health. As a mum, I often reflect on the types of foods best suited for the health of my family - foods that will not only sustain them, but enable them to thrive. In this modern era we have plentiful, convenient options that are not always the healthiest or most nutritional choice. Here are some of my daily health tips to alkalise and complement a healthy lifestyle. 1. Think greens … red, purple, orange and yellow. Fill your fridge with organic, fresh, non GMO produce in a rainbow of colours. They not only taste amazing, but also infuse your body with essential, alkaline rich minerals. Basically, if it is fresh, colourful and crisp, find a way to include it into your daily menu and start to increase those organic leafy greens, add a tablespoon of barley grass to that smoothie and start juicing! We have access to an abundance of information, healthy recipes and community events to inspire, guide and motivate you to live a healthier lifestyle.

4. Don’t sweat the small stuff! Make time to breathe! Yoga, meditation and breathing exercises work wonders on reducing We have access to an stress.

abundance of information, healthy recipes and community events to inspire, guide and motivate you to live a healthier lifestyle.

2. Water, water, water - good quality filtered water is the key to great health! The best acid cleanser for your body is regular H2O. These days many water sources are full of toxins, chemicals and harmful bacteria. Filtering your water has profound advantages for your health, and then adding alkalising delights such as a squeeze of fresh lemon or a slice of cucumber will not only aid in absorption, but also allow your body to function more optimally. Water is essential to flush toxins produced and accumulated in your body, so detox every day by drinking adequate amounts of water. 3. Exercise moves acid waste from our body, so get moving! Reduce the accumulation of acid in your system by increasing your heart rate through exercise. Cardiovascular and aerobic workouts will improve circulation and oxygenate your cells, 8 Coffs Coast focus

which will not only allow you to physically feel fitter and stronger, but also improve your mental outlook. The key to a great exercise regime is finding what you love to do! Whether it be walking, running, tennis or surfing, make some time each day to move your body. Making health goals and achieving them will not only be satisfying, but inspiring to those around you!

The Coffs Coast has a variety of options to cater for many schedules, so finding a class that is close and convenient should not be a problem.

Addressing stress will promote better sleep, increased energy and a more alkaline body! 5. Reducing the acids. Work on creating an environment that provides lots of alkalising options for you and your family. Taking time out of your busy schedule to plan and make healthy snacks and meals will benefit everyone and have you feeling full of energy and vitality for the week ahead. Often when we are time poor, our focus shifts on making healthy eating a priority, and instead we reach once again for convenience instead of sustenance. Some of the benefits of living an alkaline lifestyle include the following … • Deeper, restful sleep • Enhanced memory and cognition • Improved movement • Increased energy • Enhanced weight loss

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BIG GA RDEN FURNITURE IN WOOLGOOLGA H AS BEEN BUILDING FURNITURE ON THE COFFS COAST SINCE 1996. FOCUS TR ACK ED DOWN ONE OF THEIR REPEAT CLIENTS, BA RBA R A, TO SEE SOME OF THE A M AZING CUSTOM PIECES GA RETH H AS DESIGNED FOR HER AND TO CH AT WITH HER ABOUT HER EXPERIENCES WITH BIG GA RDEN FURNITURE.

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Big Garden F U R N I T U R E

irstly, what made you choose purchased from Big Garden Furniture? to go to Big Garden Furniture Two outdoor settings, a custom mirror, a to purchase your furniture? beautiful bedroom suite with tallboy and our I have, over the years, admired bathroom vanity - all custom made, with a lot BGF furniture. When we were of love. renovating our beach house into What is your favourite piece our permanent home, I decided of furniture and why? to discuss with Gareth, the Some are practical owner of BGF, possibilities pieces, so the favourite Gareth is my d where we could use his is the bed whilst in timbe r guru an wonderful work. use. Others are both on my go to pe rs ts ec oj We had many days of practical and pieces of pr r for any othe be r in tim g in discussions and drawings, art. I would have to say rega rd .” es at st r he ot picking out the exact with those pieces, my pieces of timber, and as the bathroom vanity comes organic timber pieces evolved, to mind. so did our beautiful furniture What is the most and bathroom vanity. This project important thing one should was new to me and a learning experience. consider when purchasing custom Gareth was a great “hand holder” made furniture? responsive and quick to change tack if Open communication, flexibility and having required. a great partnership with whoever you are How did you hear about Big Garden working with in the project, from conception Furniture? through to installation. Local drive by. Are there any more pieces of furniture How many pieces of furniture have you you have in the pipeline for Big Garden

Furniture to make for you? Not at this stage, but no doubt I will think of something. Describe your relationship with Gareth, after purchasing these items from him? Gareth is my timber guru and my go to man for any other projects regarding timber in other states. Share some expert advice on Big Garden Furniture with our readers? Enjoy from conception through to installation. Keep up an open communication going both ways. Thanks Barbara.

plug! If you want to see some of the furniture that Big Garden Furniture create, visit their showroom. The showroom is open 9am 3pm, Mon - Sat, at 1852 Solitary Islands Way, Woolgoolga (old Pacific Hwy). Alternatively, if you want to discuss a custom piece, give Gareth a call on 0417 205 807.

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Handmade, Natural Beauty Products When Casey Cook had children, she became much more aware of what was in - and the packaging of - the products she was using. As a result, Lazy Girl Green is not just a range of natural, organic and easy to use beauty products, it is a way of life. Casey tells FOCUS what

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goes into making her products, shares her journey from mainstream to green, and gives some tips on how you can start living a greener life.

hat is your connection to the Coffs Coast? I went to school locally, married my high school sweetheart and after a bit of moving around, we are now settled in Boambee East, raising our two beautiful girls. Staying on the Coffs Coast is a no-brainer, really; the city might occasionally call us, but I wouldn’t want to be bringing my family up anywhere else. What is Lazy Girl Green, and how did it come about? Lazy Girl Green was born out of curiosity and a desire to change how I approached my skincare and the kinds of products I would allow into my home. I became a savvy label reader, and I was quite shocked at some ingredients. This curiosity naturally progressed on to my own skincare, personal care products and cleaning supplies, and at the same time I completed a “Low Tox Life” course by Alexx Stuart, which helped me to slowly change the products in our home to more natural products without hormone disrupter chemicals or harsh preservatives. My Lazy Girl Green products started as a creative outlet whilst on maternity leave. After turning 30, it was clear that relying on my lazy, non-existent routine was not going to cut it for my changing skin. I wanted multi use products, with minimal packaging, that were simple to use and most importantly, effective, but I couldn’t find anything suitable. So with lots of research and planning and trial and error, my first multi-use face oil was created. After a year of formulating for my friends and family, I braved the big leap of faith and put them out into the big wide world! What type of products do you make, and what goes into them? They must be affordable, especially for mums who have limited time and resources; they must 10 Coffs Coast focus

have multiple uses, to eliminate packaging The products are then packed and labelled and waste and to save time for us lazy girls; and ready for lazy girls (and guys). they must have environmentally friendly I have a background in administration and packaging with minimal plastics. accounting, which helps behind the scenes, I currently have a small range of vegan, and I am currently completing a Diploma in natural, synthetic and preservative free face Organic Skincare Formulation, which has really and body products, from lovely face oils to taken my skills to the next level from DIYer clay masks, multi-use body balms, essential to skincare formulator, which has given me a oil rollerball blends formulated to support great confidence boost. specific issues, as well as a delightful all natural What are the benefits of using natural perfume blend. My newest and favourite beauty products? product is the “Scrube” There are so many a body scrub set in a cube benefits! Your skin is shape, with zero plastic your largest organ and packaging and amazing is absorbing up to 60% natural scents. of what you put on it. By I source high quality switching to natural and raw material, cold pressed organic products, you so I think it is time we collectively oils, Fairtrade and mostly are avoiding oestrogen start changing our bad habits and organic ingredients with mimicking and pore start taking care of each other and 100% pure essential clogging chemicals, the earth we walk upon. oils. I use Australian parabens, fake synthetic grown products as well fragrances and potential as Australian supplies as carcinogens. much as possible, and There are also products are only tested environmental benefits. on other lazy girls and NEVER on animals. Natural/organic beauty and skincare brands are Can you describe the process of making not polluting the air and water (no microbeads natural beauty products, and do you have here) like chemically manufactured brands. any special skills or qualifications that Natural brands also consider factors such as help? Fairtrade, deforestation due to palm oil and For me, the process starts at the research mining, as well as animal testing. and planning stage, which is quite lengthy. What are your top tips for others wanting I am forever scribbling down possible to live greener? formulations to try out. I love essential oils There is no Planet B, so I think it is time we and herbal medicine, so I have spent a lot of collectively start changing our bad habits and time researching and learning about uses, start taking care of each other and the earth advantages and disadvantages in skincare and we walk upon. how they work. I create my own organic herbal For me, it has been about starting small macerations and use these in some of the and making changes that are realistic and formulations. attainable. Just striving to be more green each Then it’s a matter of trial and error. It is day, in whatever ways we can, will make a difference. essential that formulations are tried and tested Stop using disposable coffee cups. They are and tried again! While I currently don’t use designed for single use and they’re often not any ingredients that require preservatives, it is recyclable. Even if you only have one coffee essential to batch test for stability and efficacy.

There is no Planet B,

a day, that's 365 that you will save from a permanent fixture in landfill. Start ditching other single use items, like water bottles, straws and plastic bags. Lazy Girl Green has a Plastic Free Starter Kit to help your transition. The easiest swap is to get a reusable water bottle, say no thanks to a straw, and don’t forget to put your reusable bags back in the car before the next shop. Vote with your dollars. Avoid the big supermarkets and frequent local markets and your local butcher/baker instead. If you do shop at the supermarket, shop with some intent. Those big supermarkets are monitoring what you buy, especially if you use a reward card, so tell them what you want by your repeated purchases. Buy locally and seasonally, buy products in glass jars that you can reuse, avoid convenience foods with a ton of single use plastic attached, and buy organic products, palm oil free products, ethical and additive free products. What does the future hold for Lazy Girl Green? I have so many dreams, and I am working hard to make them a reality. I would really love some local stockists and will be getting out and about at various markets so that you can see, touch and smell all the Lazy Girl products. Further in the future I would love to have my own DIY beauty bar/workshop space, so that I can educate others on how to make their own beautiful products. There is a website in the works, and I am planning a Lazy Girl Green big kids/little kids beach clean up. For the moment, I am planning and testing some new products that I hope to release over the coming months. Where can readers find out more and try out your products? If you are interested in my products, my web based store can be found at lazygirlgreen. bigcartel.com There is also Facebook: @lazygirlgreenau and Instagram: @lazygirlgreen. Thanks Casey.

Nick Johnstone.

B I S H O P D R U I T T C O L L E G E I N C O M I N G P R I N C I PA L 2 0 1 8

From the start of 2018, Nick Johnstone will be the principal at Bishop Druitt College. Nick is an experienced, innovative educator. He is skilled in curriculum leadership, technology integration and partnership building. His love of teaching and providing the best education possible for the students is his greatest asset.

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THE FUTURE OF WORK AND SCHOOLING

he only constant is change. This is the world we live in. Think about the last 30 years. In 1987 there was no access to the internet, no mobile smart phone technology (if you had a cordless phone you thought it was pretty cool), no subscription television, no email, no DNA testing, no fibre optics, no non-invasive survey, no GPS devices, no online shopping, no compressed music files (CDs were a new invention), no airport scanners, no digital photography, and ATMs were new, as were bar scanners at the shopping centres. Our parents probably had one or two jobs in their lifetime, if your mum had a job at all. The world has changed. Adults in their 40s will have three to five career changes in their working lives and our

children will, it is predicted, work on short-term contracts for 18 to 25 different organisations. The 21st Century is a dynamic place, and our children do not know any different. It is what they live in and understand. Next year’s Kindergarten students will graduate from year 12 in 2030. What will the world be like then? Author and visionary HG Wells stated that “civilisation is a race between education and catastrophe”. Sir Ken Robinson noted that “if education is to win, we need urgently to pick up the pace of change in our schools”. The industrial revolution model of education does not meet the technological revolution world we now live in. So what can schools do? Research is calling for schools to be more adaptive, innovative and entrepreneurial. Richard

Gerver, the author of Creating Tomorrow’s Schools Today, is encouraging schools to focus on projects linking different learning areas together. The latest educational trend, STEM education (Science, Technology, Education and Mathematics) supports this doctrine. This projects will give purpose to their learning. This idea in not a new one and has been in many schools at different levels since the 1970s. Other professionals, such as Steve Sammartino, an Australian business technologist, believe that STEM is missing economics and entrepreneurship. I am inclined to agree with Sammartino. What recent Australian history has shown us is that Australians are bright enough to innovate, invent and adapt, but not fantastic at capitalising on these ideas nationally and internationally. The addition of a business acumen is a skill that will support the next

generation. Workplace and student wellbeing play a huge part in current organisations. Eric Schmidt, the Executive Chairman of Alphabet (Google’s business arm), believes as I do, that employers have a responsibility to their employees not just to support them in with workplace health and safety issues, but that this should include mental health support as well. Stress and disconnection are two of the largest concerns in society today. In schools, student stress, self-harm issues, and student disengagement are key issues relating to student wellbeing. Education is a humanist experience, but the humans sometimes come last in the decision-making process. The good news is this is changing in Australia, with most schools having student wellbeing programs and resources to match.

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focusinterview.

our Miracle MICHAEL CROSSLAND

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ichael, you penned a book on your life, Kids don’t get Cancer, and it is #1 in six countries. It must have been an emotional roller coaster recalling everything as you wrote your book? It was something that my mum had always wanted me to do, and she was the one who gave me the controversial title. When I was diagnosed with Stage 4 Neuroblastoma at the age of 11 months, my mum said to the doctors, “No, that can’t be right; kids don’t get cancer!” When Mum told friends and family, they also said the same thing; hence, the title of my book was born. I found it the hardest when I was re-reading it, as it had me visually walking through my life, not just from the outside looking in, but also walking in my mum’s shoes. Several chapters of the book are Mum’s words, which made it extremely emotional. To see my book make a difference in so many lives around the world is a great blessing and privilege. My wife and I decided to donate the profits to different charities, which has resulted in well over $50,000 helping people in need. It is still a bumpy road, with a health scare last year. We trust all is on the mend now? Last year was one of the toughest I have had in many years and as many of your readers know, there have been many bumps. When the doctors told me they had found four tumours in my throat, everything seemed to stop; I thought that this was going to be it. I remember the day I found out. I thought, "You know what? If I’m going out, it’s going to be with a bang", and I went straight down and gorged six hot cinnamon doughnuts ha ha. However, I realised very quickly that I needed to start to use the tools that I teach others to help me through this next battle. My fear of dying was replaced heavily with my faith in God; I just felt that I still had more to give, lives to touch, a legacy to leave, and I needed 12 Coffs Coast focus

AFTER A TURBULENT TWELVE MONTHS, OUR FAVOURITE COFFS COAST IDENTITY, A MAN KNOWN FOR GIVING BACK, HAS RECEIVED A SPECIAL GIFT OF HIS OWN … to reflect on my favourite saying: “adversity negativity to drag me down and suck the life doesn’t define you; how you deal with it does”. out of me. I find it so important to surround The specialists told me that if I was fortunate myself with great people - people who want enough to make it through surgery and that I to give to the world and bring positive change. didn’t lose my ability to speak, that I would be I love it when others stretch your mind to on bed rest and unable to speak for a month! become the best version of yourself. It is so true Fourteen days after the operation, I was on that everybody dies, but not everybody “lives”. I stage in Perth. Power of the mind and a passion am truly living and loving it! to serve can help so much. I have begun to Back home, a passion project has been your understand that no one in your life is going to home for sick kids - can you tell us about tell you what you can do; they’ll only ever tell that? you what you can’t! I have been extremely busy over the past few The health issues don’t slow you down too years and extremely blessed. The road to where much. We hear you have had a big year on I am professionally has not been easy. People TV in the USA and also on stage with the told me I was crazy leaving my corporate career likes of the Dalai Lama - people learn so with a goal of making a global impact, starting much from you, but out with small presentawhat did you learn tions of 50 odd people from these events? in my hometown to now Yes, it’s been an unbegetting a chance to travel lievably crazy ride. 2016 the world and speak in I believe that when you saw me on 152 flights, front of packed convenunderstand your purpose speaking at 103 confertion centres with 10,000 and not allow others’ ences across 12 counpeople. I have always reperspectives to impact tries, and I loved every mained grounded (thanks your ability or passion minute. I featured on The to my beautiful wife, who to be the best version Daily Edition, Fox Sports keeps me in check) and of yourself, is when you News, a stack of radio there is no point travelling truly shine. We live in a shows throughout the so much and earning a society where people love to world, and last month I good living when you knock you down when you’re was on America’s funny can’t share it with people starting to succeed in life. show, Ridiculousness, on who are less fortunate. MTV, with more than 3 It has always been a million viewers. dream of mine to build They say when you find something you love a beach house not only for my family and doing, you will never work another day in your friends, but to also to set it up as a respite life. Self-belief and a passion to give to the centre for sick kids and their families, who are world, rather than take from it, is something really doing it tough. Fortunately, after a very people on the world stage continue to share. I long build process, we got the keys on the 16th believe that when you understand your purpose June and have our first family staying there in a and not allow others’ perspectives to impact few weeks’ time. A really big bucket list finally your ability or passion to be the best version of ticked off! yourself, is when you truly shine. We live in a We believe you bought a house for your society where people love to knock you down mum. I bet that was a huge moment! when you’re starting to succeed in life. I see it I have been very fortunate to achieve some so often; however, I don’t allow other people’s great things in life, Young Australian of the Year

finalist, Australia Day Ambassador for seven consecutive years, International Hall of Fame inductee, opened a school and orphanage in Haiti, but without a doubt one of the greatest things I could ever do is give back to someone who never gave up on me! My mum was told by all the doctors to go home and let me die; she sacrificed so much of her life, because she had hope in her heart that her little boy was going to make it. The day I put the pink ribbon on that door and gave her the keys to her new home was without a doubt one of the greatest days of my life. When you give to others expecting nothing in return, the joy you receive can be life changing. Speaking of home, health and big moments, we hear there is a miracle about to enter your life. Could you share that story please? I love sharing on stage a story that instils perspective and priority in people’s hearts. It’s about a little boy who knocked on his dad’s office door every day and asked if they could go play catch, and his dad would say every day that he was too busy. One day the little boy asked his daddy how much he earnt an hour, and his dad said that it was a very rude question, but he earns $100 an hour and that is to put a roof over his head and food in his tummy and asked him to leave his office. Eight weeks go by, and that little boy goes back and knocks on daddy’s office door and says, “Daddy, I have been mowing lawns, weeding gardens, have done every chore Mum has asked of me, and I have been able to raise $25. Daddy, can I please just have 15 minutes of your time.” I share this story in tears, as I have been told all my life it would be very tough to become a father. I would give away all my possessions and all my successes to have a little boy or girl knock on my office door and ask me in that sweet, innocent voice, “Daddy, can we go play catch?” Well, I am excited to share that in February 2018, I AM GOING TO BE A DADDY! Congratulations Michael and Mel!

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focus_What’s On Coffs Coast

SING under the stars

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S E P T E M B E R

Movie Under the Stars at Coffs Harbour Public School on the school oval, with food trucks, entertainment and the movie SING! When 1st September. Where Coffs Harbour Primary School. Cost $7pp or $20p family. Available from Coffs Central or school office.

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& 9

Blues and BBQ Festival

The Coffs Classic The Coffs Classic is back for its second year, running at the beautiful Opal Cove Resort! Bringing together the best athletes along the East Coast of Australia, this show will be a spectacle and a holiday in one! If you are interested in health and fitness, then this event is not to be missed! When 2nd September. Where Opal Cove Resort. Time 10am until 5pm. Tickets $45 from the door (children under 12 years free).

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Coffs Harbour Running Festival The Bendigo Bank Coffs Harbour Running Festival is a community event for people of all ages and abilities and consists of a 21.1 kilometre half marathon, 10 kilometre fun run, five kilometre fun run, and a three kilometre family fun run/walk. When 3rd September. Where Coffs Harbour Showground. To enter Visit www.villagesports.com.au or Phone 6651 2029.

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17

3 ON 3 Charity Basketball Tournament

Australia’s biggest barbecue competition. 100+ teams expected. Live blues bands, authentic BBQ food trucks and more. Buffalo Trace Australian Barbecue Wars. When 8th September, 3pm - 8pm. Blues and BBQ Festival 9th September - 10am - 6pm.

CHILL Sunday Sesh Movement, dance, music, film, markets brought to you by Sammy Ross. When 10th September. Where Coffs Harbour Showgrounds. BYO Drinks, blankets, nibbles, chairs. Cost Adults $10; kids $8.

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Represent your organisation in a 3 on 3 charity basketball tournament in support of Felicity and Mat Cook, Stars of Coffs Coast Dance for Cancer 2017. All proceeds go to Cancer Council NSW. When Sunday, September 17. Time: 10am - 2pm. Where Sportzcentral, Coffs Harbour. Details $300 per team nomination, Maximum of six players, ages 15+. Contact For a nomination form, please contact Felicity Cook at felis55@hotmail.com

Until

The 2017 Big Banana Big Day Out The Big Day Out deal! Get two Laser Tag mission, two Toboggan Rides, four Giant Slides, 18 holes of Mini Golf, one Ice Skating session, one Theatre & Tour Experience PLUS 10% OFF selected outlets for just $28.90! (Conditions apply.) Where The Big Banana Fun Park. Time Available seven days, until 22nd September 2017. Price $28.90 pp. Contact (02) 6652 4355.

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Coffs Harbour International Buskers and Comedy Festival The Coffs Harbour International Buskers and Comedy Festival is once again set down for the last week of September, and locals and visitors can expect a week long event full of fun, laughter, mischief, mayhem and a few surprises. When 23rd September until 1st October. More info www.coffsharbourbuskers.com or Facebook.

focusinterview.

Night Deck A

on the

Love to dance? Check out the event that Nicole Donovan and Callum Clifford have organised to raise funds for this year's Stars of the Coffs Coast Dance for Cancer. FOCUS popped their dancing shoes on and had a chat to Nicole, to find out what we can expect from the night.

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hen and where is your fundraiser being held? Friday night, 15th September 2017, at the Surf Club Restaurant and Bar, Coffs Harbour. How does it work, and how do people get a ticket? We are asking people to donate $50 per person directly to our fundraising site: www.starsofcoffscoast2017. everydayhero.com.au/nicole-andcallum or just Google: Stars of Coffs Coast Nicole and Callum Everyday Hero. Simply RSVP in the comments section. You will then receive a ticket on entry to go into all the draws. Two hundred people at $50 will raise our pledged donation amount of $10,000. Over 50 lucky door prizes will be given away on the night. Of course, any smaller donations are welcome and greatly appreciated. What will be included on the night? Guests receive entry to a “Night on the Deck� overlooking the beach inside the Coffs Harbour Surf Club venue, with standup dinner, DJ, dancing and

dance performances by Julie Ross Dance Studio. The venue is kindly being decorated by Sharon from Coffs Coast Wedding Stylist, a photo booth is being provided by Jordan Oppy Entertainment, Sound and Lights by Craig at Any Entertainment, Gourmet Finger Food by Surf Club Restaurant and Bar, Music by DJ Head Twin and the venue courtesy of Coffs Harbour Surf Life Saving Club. We are so lucky to have such amazing sponsors. There will be prizes given away on the night, is that right? Yes! We are totally giving away every prize that has been donated to us. We have over 50 prizes already, and will gladly accept any more prizes, and we will advertise you on the night! Who is your dance teacher? The lovely Shell Warman from Julie Ross Dance Studios, who is also our MC for the night. She is really going to help bring it all together, and we are so grateful for her participation. Tell us about Stars of Coffs Coast (Dancing with the Stars) which is held on Saturday 28th

October 2017 at the C.ex Club? We wanted to learn to dance together and when we were asked to participate by Sarah from Cancer Council, we decided it was meant to be. My mum died of cancer two years ago, as did my best friend from school, who was only in her 40s. Callum has a friend in his 40s who is really battling. It is so rewarding to have the honour of being in the position to raise money to help beat cancer, as none of us know how and when we, ourselves, or our family and friends will be affected. Tickets are still available for this event. What is the theme of a Night on the Deck? To have fun! Rock up for after work drinks and complimentary dinner. Girls' night, mates' night, or with your partner and family. Casual dress, although feel free to frock up if you like! The venue will be beautifully decorated and quite classy. We just want people to mingle, relax, eat, drink (the Surf Club bar will be open to purchase drinks) and perhaps even have a dance. It will be a great night and lots of fun. Please come! Thanks Nic.

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focusinterview.

Cliff

Guy.

Cliff Guy is a man of many talents who has vast experience sharing his adventures from around the world through film, television, music and photography. Now based in Nana Glen with his partner, Sandi, son Samuel and father Cliff Senior, he is building Wild Guy Station to share his love of family, the environment and adventure with others. FOCUS visited the stunning eco-friendly property, to find out how they have done this and what’s in store for the future.

Guy d l i W Station 16 Coffs Coast focus

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hat is your connection to the Coffs Coast? While co-hosting and story directing on the outdoor adventure TV series Escape with ET, I was travelling all over Australia and to many parts of the world. We filmed numerous times on the Mid North Coast, and I fell in love with the geography and natural beauty of the region, with its vast wilderness areas and National Parks. The climate and central location of Coffs were also extremely attractive. Ultimately we moved here, and our connection has continued to strengthen over the past 15 years. Can you tell us a bit about your background as an actor, TV presenter and photojournalist? I studied acting, voice technique and presenting in Sydney in my early twenties. I then went on to do formal singing training and learned various visual media disciplines, as I was increasingly inspired by the creative combination of vision and music for story telling. My creative work as a performer, songwriter and photographer continued to grow, and so did my skills.

My songs began receiving substantial airplay, and I was nominated for and received numerous industry awards. So, I joined with a Sydney agency that got me work in a variety of commercials, TV series and promotions, whilst my band and I were touring consistently throughout Eastern Australia. Over the years my songs have featured on numerous television shows and events, and this led to me writing and performing the theme song for Andrew Ettingshausen’s Escape with ET fishing series. I was then offered the position of co-host on this series and spent the next seven years presenting and directing my segments on the show. Some highlights so far have been filming wildlife in Africa on the Escape Africa TV special, performing for 15,000 people at the 2000 Millennium Celebrations, producing and launching the most successful product released in the 40 year history of global giant Manfrotto in Las Vegas USA, meeting and working with so many amazing and talented people around the world, immersing in different cultures and continually learning about life. Some lowlights (and scary moments!) have been losing

We have an incredibly efficient r our recycling system fo of sy te ur co s, garden ats hens, worms and go er ov d te and have plan e 200 flowering nativ and es be s, rd bi r fo plants .” other pollinators

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traction while four wheel driving up the side of an icy volcano filming on Escape, living out of a suitcase and ironing my own shirts, being a heartbeat away from death from a wild buffalo attack while filming a documentary for the ABC in Arnhem Land, and having to decline the offer of several beautiful wives from a Zulu chief in South Africa! How does this work fit in with being a wilderness adventurer and environmentalist? Seeing and experiencing much of the world as I have, has opened my eyes to the many different ways people live and how humans as a species engage with the natural environment. I choose an adventurous life, so I can keep learning and sourcing inspiration from this amazing planet and all of its life forms. Nature provides us with the life-sustaining ingredients we need and because of this, I believe we must always seek to work in harmony with nature and each other. As my scientist wife, Sandi, says, and I totally agree with: “It is the duty of all people to make good, long-term decisions wherever

possible, and this begins at home with teaching our children the importance of understanding and respecting our natural world and caring for one another”. We developed the Eco Media Production Group and more recently, Wild Guy Productions, through which we can facilitate visual media and wellbeing initiatives that promote and showcase amazing stories and positive outcomes for people and the planet. We have always been about sharing adventure and experience through stories, songs, and more so our latest venture, Wild Guy Station, could be seen as a very natural progression - albeit a huge project with considerable challenges. Can you tell us more about Wild Guy Station? Nestled amongst vast forests and close to magnificent coastal rainforests and extensive marine sanctuaries, Wild Guy Station is a wonderland for wildlife. While it’s close to the Nana Glen Township, and just 20 minutes from Moonee Beach, it feels like you have entered in to hidden oasis.

Sandi and I both share a love for simple, no fuss lifestyles, that encompass family, good friends, healthy living and minimal impact on the environment wherever possible. We wanted to live comfortably, yet in harmony with nature, so together we embarked on an owner-build on 115 acres, ultimately establishing a fully solar powered home, 100% off the grid. We have toiled relentlessly over the past four years on Wild Guy Station to turn our home into an eco-paradise. It has its own water, spring fed dam, crystal clear creek, orchard, vegetable gardens, chickens and goats. The sun heats all our hot water and a 6 kW system provides uncomplicated, ample power for the home, shed and outdoor living areas. The well insulated home itself is perfectly positioned, facing north, and maximises passive solar-thermal energy through its dense, recycled brick finish, which was sourced for us by one of our dearest friends. The Coffs Coast region offers an excellent climate for solar power and heating, as well as abundant rainfall. We have an incredibly efficient recycling system for our gardens, courtesy of hens, worms and goats and have planted over 200 flowering native plants for birds, bees and other pollinators. Fencing is minimal, so the views are uninterrupted, and native animals can come and go as they please, and 100 of the 115 acres remains in its natural state, with existing and proposed trails weaving through a stunning variety of terrain. What is your favourite thing to do there? Our favourite pastime here is sharing with others the serenity and abundance that Wild Guy Station offers. Sandi and I have always had a fairly open-house approach, extending a warm welcome to good people we have met on our travels to visit and share our Australian lifestyle. Since being on the property, even in its infancy development wise, the immense happiness and good energy our family and visitors have experienced here is amazing. We also love visiting and supporting our local township of Nana Glen, with its cafés, general store, winery, accommodation and ultra-friendly people. Nana Glen is also home to Synchronicity

Farm, where another local is sharing farm life and fresh produce with the greater community. Can you tell us about your recent trip to New Zealand? The Wild Guy is so intriguing and worthy, we were very recently invited to New Zealand by 100% Pure New Zealand www.NewZealand. com to gather content and discuss Wild Guy - NZ collaborative opportunities. The New Zealanders have immense proactive and forward thinking people and models, and they are seeing The Wild Guy as strong brand and link to their Aussie neighbours. The New Zealand Government’s valuable support, and the support of a number of likeminded businesses and tourism groups, made our recent trip one of the most amazing expeditions I have ever had; especially so, because my family was with me. This is how I want to do all my travel from here forward, for we are a great team, and their input into all things Wild Guy is invaluable. What’s next for Wild Guy Station? We will be looking at all aspects of providing a safe and nurturing environment for children and families of all abilities and walks of life. On a property of this size, this will take some effort and a variety of expertise, so we will be working closely with local authorities, businesses and organisations. With my television and media background, I am used to working in partnerships to achieve great results, and we are currently considering select partnering opportunities for Wild Guy Station. At this stage, in between taking Samuel to the wonderful Nana Glen School, caring for my 93 year old father, Cliff Guy Senior, who still “oversees” our vegetable gardens and henhouse, we are meeting with a range of great people to discuss the best ways forward for Wild Guy Station, developing the exciting new Wild Guy website and refining the nuts and bolts of future Wild Guy operations. Anyone interested in knowing more can contact us via our website www.ecomedia.com.au Thanks Cliff. Coffs Coast focus 17

focusinterview.

Coffs Coast

DANCE FOR CANCER

Tickets to Stars of Coffs Coast Dance for Cancer selling fast ... Coffs Harbour locals invited to a night of fun, dancing, and entertainment.

BRAD PEARCE Dental Welcome to the Brad Pearce Dental team. How does it feel to be under new management? Candice - We are very lucky to have a dentist with such a great reputation take us into the family. I have heard some wonderful things about Brad Pearce Dental, so our patients are also in very good hands. A lot of people travel to Coffs Harbour to see Dr Pearce, so now they don’t have to, which is a bonus for them. Please introduce yourselves to our readers. Candice - I am a local, born and bred, and I have been a Dental Nurse for seven years and love what I do. I have built strong relationships with our patients both in the practice and community, and I’m excited to be under the new management of Brad Pearce Dental, as I know of his outstanding reputation. Wendy - I’m the receptionist and really enjoy what I do. We have a great little team here, and I am looking forward to working with Dr Brad

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Pearce. We are always welcoming new patients, so call us today and get the very best dental care. Michael - I am originally from Canada, and I’m one of three dentists here at Grafton. Dr Vashy and Dr Pearce are also working from here now. The patients are fantastic, and I am looking forward to being part of a very skilled and reputable team. I heard you have some exciting changes happening? Absolutely. So, apart from highly skilled dental care, we are making it even more accessible for our patients. Firstly, seniors will get a 10% discount, so make sure they mention this article. Secondly, payment plans will be available; smaller, regular instalments help, as you can’t neglect your oral health, because it’s so important to your overall wellbeing. Call us today, and we will put you on the right track of not only exceptional dental care, but affordable dental care.

T

ickets for the highly anticipated Stars admits she has a competitive streak - is keeping of Coffs Coast Dance for Cancer are details of the routine secret; however, revealing expected to sell out soon! only that it will incorporate humour and is inspired The annual Cancer Council NSW by the couple’s favourite musical. fundraiser will be held on 28 OcSarah Whitaker from Cancer Council NSW’s tober at C.ex Coffs. This event has been proudly Coffs Harbour office said the event was a fun way supported by C.ex Group since its inception in for the community to support their local business 2011. people, while fundraising to beat cancer. This year our "stars" comprise eight couples “We hope everyone in Coffs will join us for a who are well known in the community and have fantastic night. It’s always a fun experience to see been matched with local dance teachers. Each people get well and truly outside of their comfort couple will learn a dance routine in a variety of zones and of course, it is all for a very worthy styles and perform in front of a judging panel at cause. the gala night. “In the Coffs Harbour Styles this year include community, funds raised will cabaret, salsa, jazz, Afrigo towards providing praccan, Latin, musical theatre tical and financial support We hope everyone in Coffs and hip hop, led by our to local cancer patients and will join us for a fantastic team of amazing teachers, their families. such as transnight. It’s always a fun including Carol Young port to treatment, payment experience to see people from Woolgoolga Dance of bills, legal advice, as well Studio, Carol Meyers from as prevention programs that get well and truly outside Pacific Dancentre, Hailey the whole community can of their comfort zones and Croxton and Michelle benefit from.” of course, it is all for a very Warman from Julie Ross Tickets include finger worthy cause. Dance Studio, Sue Sharky food, drink on arrival and a from Urunga Dance night of entertainment and School, Kym Ferrington, laughs. Tickets are $65 and Emily McMahon and Janelle Turner from Bellingen are available at www.cex.com.au African Drum and Dance School. Cancer Council NSW held the first Dance for Veteran dance teacher Carol Myers has been inCancer night in Coffs Harbour in 2011 and the volved with the event from the beginning, driven event became such a huge success, that gala by her passion for making a difference to the lives nights are now held across NSW, raising nearly of those touched by cancer. The Pacific Dancentre $1 million. principal has once again volunteered her time For more information on the Stars of Coffs and expertise to mentor a competing couple in Coast and to support your favourite star, please the fun-filled and increasingly popular fundraising visit www.everydayhero.com.au/event/starsofdance contest. coffscoast2017 or call Sarah Whitaker on 6659 Carol Young, a dance teacher of more than 40 8402. years, says this year’s preparations with star couple Photo credit: Time Warp Travel Photography. Kirsten and Russ are progressing well, with music, Styling: Carol Beros, Le Dãin Designs. choreography, and costumes finalised. Carol - who Makeup: Carmel Kestle, Harlow Hair & Beauty.

E V I T A E R C

Professional Printing

Local Speedy Service

Supporting our community

Our FOCUS is helping LOCAL BUSINESS Now we have your attention with a pic of our petit pooch, Pepe, let us tell you about what we do. Pepperprint has been providing our local community with a professional printing service for over 15 years, operating sophisticated state-of-theart printing technology with in-house graphic design capability, and a team of highly motivated, long standing local employees that have held a consistent reputation in the community for excellence in customer service and product. We are a total solution provider for printing related services and products, such as: Banners, Booklets, Brochures, Business Cards, Calendars, Carbonised Books, Christmas Cards, Desk Pads, Digital Printing, Drink Coasters, Envelopes, Flyers, Fridge Calendars, Fridge Magnets, Gift Vouchers, Golf Score Cards, Labels, Letterheads, Magazines, Newsletters, Note Pads, Pamphlets, Post Cards, Posters, Presentation Folders, Raffle Tickets, Referral Pads, Rubber Stamps, Signs, Stickers, Vouchers, Wedding Stationery, With Compliments Slips and so much more! Conveniently located just off Orlando Street, call in or contact us to find out how we can help with your printing requirements.

Fibre Network Choices

N O I S I V

The Business With over 14 years of telecommunication industry experience, helping countless amounts of clients and their families, Lachlan Hockings has gone into business for himself as an independent telecommunication consultant. His business is known as Fibre Network Choices.

®

Business Focus Lachlan’s core business focus is to deliver a professional, customer “comes first” service, that goes beyond what you have ever experienced, regarding support and advice for your internet and phone services. It’s a passion for Lachlan to have clients feel they are valued, important and confident that he will get what’s best for them regarding their internet and telephone needs. Business Model Lachlan understands how frustrating and time consuming it can be to get issues sorted with your telecommunication provider; this is why he has implemented a single point of contact service business model. Give Lachlan a call to find out more about how this will work for you. Contact Details Mobile 0474 922 688. Email l.hockings@fibrenetworkchoices.com Facebook Fibre Network Choices.

To our valued clients...

X A M T E ME E R U S O P EX R BRAND’S REVEAL YOU WERS SUPER PO DESIGN, WEB

A BigThank You

for supporting our local small business.

YOUR CALL US TO DISCUNSESEDS u AND MARKETING sasocreative.com.a

For those yet to use us...

6658 7666

You will be pleasently surprised with our commitment to provide our local community with a professional printing service at very competitive prices.

6651 1566

(02) pepperprint.com.au 6/9 GDT Seccombe Close, Coffs Harbour NSW 2450 info@pepperprint.com.au

WINNER 2016

Total minimum cost for BizPhone is $168.90 and is based on BizPhone Standard plan on a no lock-in contract ($29.95 x 1 month + $129.00 once-off charge + $9.95 handset delivery fee). Requires fixed broadband Ethernet connection to the iiNet provided handset. BizPhone service is not available for telemarketing, call centre function and similar uses.

WINNER 2016

WINNER 2015

Coffs Coast focus 19

focusMotoring. WITH LAARZ

Motor mouth rating

DRIVEN AUDI - Q5 2.0 SPORT TSFI DATE 29TH JULY 2017 DEALER BELLBOWRIE MOTORS

8.5/10

AUDI - Q5 2.0 SPORT TSFI

A

T H E A L L - N E W S E C O N D - G E N E R AT I O N A U D I Q 5 H A S V E R Y B I G S H O E S T O F I L L , I F I T I S T O A C H I E V E A N Y W H E R E N E A R T H E S U C C E S S O F I T S W O R L D - B E AT I N G P R E D E C E S S O R .

udi is back, with an allnew Q5. It boasts a new advanced and more efficient drivetrain, lighter but stronger underpinnings and evolutionary styling. The Audi Q5 Sport TFSI boasts a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine developing 185 kW and 370 Nm (up 20 kW and 20 Nm), with fuel consumption of 7.3 litres per 100 km. It comes with 20-inch alloys, adaptive LED headlights, full colour paintwork, sports front seats, leather upholstery, power tailgate with hands-free opening, tri-zone air-conditioning, keyless entry and ignition, navigation with MMI touch, Audi’s Virtual Cockpit digital dashboard and a 10-speaker sound system. All Q5 models will come equipped with Audi pre-sense city with Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB), exit warning system, cross traffic assist, blind spot warning and semi-autonomous parking system with rear-view camera. Techies and fashionistas are likely to be impressed with the new Q5 too. The cabin boasts the latest Audi layout, with a superb blend of soft-touch materials, plush leather, quality metal work and customisable high res display screens. As is typical from the brand, Audi is offering optional packages; there are three 20 Coffs Coast focus

for the Q5 - Comfort, Technik and S line It’s paired with an effortless seven-speed Styling. dual-clutch automatic transmission, coupled Comfort Pack, which costs $2,200 on the with Audi’s new “quattro ultra” all-wheel design model and $1,900 on the Sport, adds drive system. electric steering column adjustment, heated Quattro ultra instead defaults to frontand folding side mirrors, memory front wheel drive in most conditions, effectively seating position and a reach bench seat that disconnecting the rear differential and slides and tilts. driveshafts to reduce friction and efficiency The Technik Package losses. costs $5,600 and adds But Audi is adamant a head-up display, Bang that all-wheel drive & Olufsen 19-speaker traction must be sound system and maintained whenever it Matrix LED headlights. is needed, so the system Techies and fashionistas The S line Styling is incredibly proactive in are likely to be impressed Pack brings additional switching the rear end with the new Q5 too. The body styling, 20-inch back on. If any of the cabin boasts the latest alloy wheels and sensors detect wheel Audi layout, with a illuminated front S slip, in milliseconds the superb blend of softline door sills for an SUV is back in all-wheel touch materials, plush additional $3,300. drive mode. leather, quality metal The turbo petrol TSFI The beauty of the work and customisable high is a willing engine, system is you don’t res display screens. spinning up quickly know it’s working. and offering good The activation and response from low in deactivation of the the rev range. It doesn’t rear differential isn’t make the Q5 feel like a hot hatch, but it still noticeable, and Audi claims it helps reduce has more than enough punch to pull the fuel consumption by up to 0.3 litres per Q5 from 0 - 100 km/h in a respectable 6.3 100 km. seconds. This equates to the quickest SUV in The Q5 impresses on the road in other its class. ways. The cabin not only looks nicely

presented and finished, but is well insulated on the road, offering a quiet and comfortable place for long journeys. The steering is light in its weighting, but direct. The suspension does an outstanding job soaking up the bumps, but still offering responsive handling. All up, it’s enough to make the Q5 a tempting proposition for anyone in the market for a new mid-size luxury SUV. It’s a genuinely satisfying driving experience, be it in suburbia or having a bit of fun on an undulating country B-road. “Thumbs up for the latest version of Audi’s Q5; refinement is the name of the game here.”

Tech Specs. 2017 Model PRICE from $65,900 (TDI design), $70,700 (TDI sport), $73,211 (TFSI sport) ENGINE 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo diesel/2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol OUTPUT 140 kW/185 kW TORQUE 400 Nm/370 Nm

Unprecedented ers Unprecedented off offers for foraalimited limited time time

Exceptional off ers range Exceptional off ersacross acrossour our demonstrator demonstrator range

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Exceptional offers available across our entire demonstrator at Audi Limited time only. Must end September . S tronic Audi A3 Sedan 1.4 TFSI S tronic Audi range A3 Cabriolet 1.4 Bellbowrie. TFSI Audi S3 Sportback 2.0 30, TFSI2017 quattro Cosmos blue, Audi sound system, 17" alloy wheels,

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Audi A4 Allroad* 2.0 TDI quattro S tronic From $75,990 Monsoon grey, Assistance package, Panoramic electric glass sunroof. DPV14H From $75,990*

black finish, S Performance Package. BBM100

Monsoon grey, Panoramic sunroof, Technik package, Assistance package. DMC79V Audi A3 $52,990 Sportback* 1.4 TFSI S tronic From

Cosmos blue, Comfort package 2, Audi smartphone interface. DPV14G Audi Q2 Sport 2.0 TDI quattro S tronic * Fromwhite, $44,990 Glacier Assistance package, Full LED lights Front and Rear with Dynamic Indicator, LED Ambient Interior Audi Q2 Sport 2.0 TDIColour quattro S tronic Lighting with Illuminated Inlays, 18” alloy wheels in 10-Arm Structure Design. DMC64CLED lights Front Glacier white, Assistance package, Full * From and$49,990 Rear with Dynamic Indicator, LED Ambient Interior

Visit Audi Bellbowrie today to find out more.

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Coffs Coast focus 21

Seafood platter for two - $55, from Greenhouse Tavern. 22 Coffs Coast focus

fHerb & pinenut crusted Barramundi fillet with

steamed brocolini and roast capsicum sauce. Berry Bliss, charlotte with a light coconut meringue, crunchy crumble, vanilla cream Located in the heart of the Orara Valley, and ruby jaffa

Velvets Restaurant

Crispy Skin Salmon served with sweet potato chips and snow peas, drizzled with béarnaise sauce.

Nana Glen.

Velvets Restaurant at Two Tails Wines has something for everyone. Velvets Restaurant prides itself on freshly sourced produce and champions the local artisans and provedores, with a strong emphasis on sustainability and community. Velvets have designed a Spanish tapas style menu, allowing its local produce to speak for itself.

the pier hotel

Plantation Hotel If you’re looking for the best value in Coffs Harbour, look no further than the Plantation Hotel … The team at the Plantation pride themselves on offering outstanding service alongside quality food at an affordable price, that will keep you coming back time and time again. Pop in and try something off our brand new à la carte menu, with a tasty selection of hearty winter dishes, as well as all your pub favourites, cooked using fresh local produce and plated with the personal touches of head chef Dave Newick.

With both indoor and outdoor dining options available, Velvets Restaurant provides a unique Coffs Harbour dining experience that At the Pier Hotel we’re excited to announce the opening of the newthe essence of the Orara Valley encapsulates “Cellar Lounge”. lifestyle. We welcome you to come down and feast your eyes on Coffs Harbour’s most historic hotel. With our winter menu about to finish up and summer approaching quickly, we will be kicking off our new menu shortly. Our chef, Blake Wittenberg, is very excited with all the great produce he gets to use over the summer period. Be sure to make Head Chef Blake Wiittenberg. your way down and have a look at the new and upcoming changes to the Pier Hotel.

HEAD CHEF DAVID NEWICK.

We are open seven days a week for lunch and dinner; to make a reservation, please call the Pier Hotel on 6652 2110. We look forward to seeing you.

The Plantation Hotel … Delicious Food, Friendly Service, Incredible Value!

HEAD CHEF NICOLE HATCH

lunch 11:30am - 2:30pm; dinner 5:30pm - 8:30pm; 7 days a week.

7 DAYS. MON - THURS & SUN: 12PM - 2:30PM; 5:30 - 8:30PM. FRI - SAT: 12PM - 2:30PM; 5.30 - 9PM.

WWW.TWOTAILSWINE.COM.AU WEDNESDAY TO SUNDAY FROM 11AM ‘TIL 4:30PM.

Pork Sirloin served with herbed mash, sweet potato crisps, finished with caramelised onions and apple jus.

The Hoey Moey

Welcome to the Beachside Bistro at the Hoey Moey with our newly renovated kitchen. We Visit the Hoey Moey Beachside Bistro and are the only hotel in Coffs Harbour with direct indulge in ourCome daily specials. our Crispy beach access. and enjoyEnjoy our beachside Snapper our featured Pork Sirloin. Two hotel withorspacious beer garden, fantastic to be drive enjoyed our allopen planmeals bar, bistro, thruinbottle shop weather Beer Garden, planour barnew and and TAB facilities. Have open you tried bistro. Enjoy Kids’ There Room,is renovated TAB Gourmet Pizzaour range? a large selection and Kenofrom facilities thru these bottleshop. to choose and and you drive can have eat inSign or takeaway. Come in and check out up for a Hoey Moey Member Cardour today takeaway specials or phone ahead for pick-up. and enjoy fantastic bistro, bar and bottleshop If a pizza is not what you are after our FAMOUS specials. $7.50 FEEDS are always available daily. The Hoey Moey! Great Food, Live Music, Good Times!

mr. g

We pride tuned esp made fro who walk

Spinifex has just brought out a brand new menu, with something to excite everyone’s taste buds. Friday and Saturday nights we have live entertainment provided by local singer songwriter Billie Jo in the Bistro from 6pm - 9pm, creating a relaxed vibe for your dining enjoyment.

FRIDAY AND SATURDAY LUNCH 12.00-2.30PM, DINNER 5.30-9PM. SUNDAY TO THURSDAY LUNCH 12.00-2.30PM, DINNER 5.30-8.30PM.

So if you a go at O

7am -

Spinifex Restaurant

COAST HOTEL, 2 MOONEE ST, COFFS HARBOUR 6652 3007 WWW.COASTHOTEL.COM.AU

Turmeric Curcumin states inc Also, Cur quenchin its power Chai spic

the hoey moey

Black board special..Jumbo smokey bbq pork ribs with wedges, garden green salad and sour cream/sweet chilli sauce.

Every Monday and Wednesday night with every full priced meal you receive ONE kid’s meal free.

Turmeric honey an taste bud

81 Oc 6652

Cnr Harbour Dr and Camperdown St, Coffs Harbour 963 ORARA WAY, NANA GLEN hotel: 6652 2110 bistro: 6651 8222 6654 3633

88 GRAFTON STREET, COFFS HARBOUR. 6652 3855 WWW.PLANTATIONHOTEL.COM.AU

café

SOUS CHEF KANELLA ORMSBY

HEAD CHEF

GUS PREZIOSO. Head Chef David Ricketts.

84 Ocean Parade, Coffs Harbour 84 OCEAN PARADE, COFFS HARBOUR 6652 3833 www.hoeymoey.com.au 6652 3833 WWW.HOEYMOEY.COM.AU 7 days. Mon - Thurs & Sun:12pm

- 2:30pm; 5:30 - 8:30pm. Fri - Sat: 7 DAYS. MON - THURS & SUN: 12pm - 2:30pm; 5.30 - 9pm.

12PM - 2:30PM; 5:30 - 8:30PM. FRI - SAT: 12PM - 2:30PM; 5.30 - 9PM.

Coffs Coast focus 23

Try the m made fres and semi potato w Mediterra light, yet

Follow us

Shop 1 6656

Monda and Sund

focusinterview.

Moroccan Lamb Burger, side of beer battered onion rings.

Greenhouse Tavern

Shirley Douglas, Head Chef at the Greenhouse Tavern, loves her seafood and is now offering you a choice of the best and freshest from the sea! Introducing the super Seafood Platter for two people, only $55 - a fabulous tasty mix of fresh cold and cooked seafood. Come in for “Oyster Happy Hour”, every day 6pm - 7pm or “Fresh Fish Friday”, showcasing the finest of local sourced delicacies on the Chef’s Suggestions Board. If you’re not in the mood for seafood, we have all the pub favourites, such as burgers, schnitzels and steaks plus 50c wings (cooked in a special JD sauce) in the Harbour Bar between 6pm - 8pm, while you catch up on your sports, $5 schooners all day every day or $4.40 for the feature “Beer of the Month”.

Scott K E N N Y

H

ow long have you been Executive Chef at Horizons Opal Cove? And what keeps you there? I have had the pleasure of running the kitchen brigade at Opal Cove Resort for the last six years. There is always a constant challenge in a resort of this size. Our kitchen caters for our à la carte Horizons Restaurant, resort room service, large and small conferences, then weddings as well; we have a constantly evolving and challenging kitchen. This is what keeps me and our team of chefs’ minds ticking over and constantly busy.

7 DAYS. LUNCH MON - SUN, 11:30AM - 2:30PM. DINNER MON - THURS AND SUN, 5:30PM - 8:30PM. DINNER FRI - SAT, 5:30PM - 9PM.

Pan Seared Swordfish topped with a lemon caper butter and served with broccolini and roast potato

What’s the key to success in Horizons’ kitchen? Now this is a easy one to answer; I have a great team behind me, which is built with years of experience in our industry. I have Scott Kenny (Sous Chef) who is a Grafton local who knows this region’s produce like the back of his hand. Scott has over 12 years’ experience as a chef in this area.

Toormina Hotel

The Toormina Hotel looks amazing since the renovations, and we are about to start again with more improvements; the new beer garden and kids’ area will be sensational when it’s completed.

Come into the hotel and try the delicious Pan Seared Swordfish topped with a lemon caper butter and served with broccolini and roast potato. You will be impressed. Check out our new menu online @ Toorminahotel.com.au. We look forward to seeing you. 13 MINORCA PLACE, TOORMINA 6653 1039 MON - SAT 10AM - 12AM, SUNDAY 10AM - 10PM.

24 Coffs Coast focus

H U N T E R

FOCUS sat down with Clinton Hunter and his right hand man, Scott Kenny, to find out about the incredible work they do at Horizons Restaurant and Bar, Opal Cove Resort.

CORNER PACIFIC HIGHWAY AND BRAY ST, COFFS HARBOUR 6651 5488

In the Bistro, we have a new Head Chef, Istvan Katona. Istvan and his family have recently moved to the Coffs Coast from Sydney. Istvan brings a wealth of experience to our hotel, having worked in various locations both in Australia and throughout Europe.

Clinton

Nick Taylor is a very qualified chef from Victoria (aka the Mexican) who comes from a strong Italian cooking background and who could make great pasta in his sleep. HEAD CHEF ISTVAN KATONA

Amanda Dryden (the best from the west) originally from Kalgoorlie, a great chef who has taken the reins of our desserts with finesse and enthusiasm.

people is Horizons’ secret to success. Do you like MasterChef and MKR - what do you think these shows bring to the industry? Well honestly, I don’t get much time to watch these shows; I’m usually working. But as for what I have seen, I believe they bring huge product knowledge to our customers and also show some of the pressures chefs are under these days. Overall, I think it’s a good thing, as it’s pushing chefs harder to improve all aspects of our food, service and restaurant business. What are your favourite dishes on the menu? With our latest menu, I have brought in a lot of those classic warmers. There are some creamy risottos, house made pastas and sweet potato gnocchi, red wine braised lamb shanks and to finish off with a butterscotch banana and date pudding ... With plenty more to mention! It’s too hard to pick favourites! What can we look forward to at Horizons? This is a great time to book a birthday party, engagement or a loving dinner for two, as the view from our window is picturesque, and the front of house staff are always warm and welcoming.

Johnathan Marshall (the Canadian), who has joined our team recently with a wealth of knowledge.

Can anyone book, even if they’re not staying at Opal Cove Resort? We have a lot of regular locals who dine but would love to see more; anyone can dine at Horizons. Bookings are recommended, and we would love to see you at the resort!

Lastly, our glue, Michelle Hough, who has served us proudly as our breakfast chef for the past 15 years. Not to mention a large crew of casuals, who really help out - this awesome crew of

How can people book? For the restaurant - book by calling Horizons Restaurant & Bar on 6651 0550. For functions and Christmas bookings - call our functions team: 6651 0553.

focusinterview.

focusfeature

Daniel KNOX • P L A N TAT I O N H O T E L •

The Happy Frog Easy Eating

Daniel Knox is the General Manager of the Plantation Hotel. FOCUS had a chat with Daniel, to find out about what sort of menu and dining experience we can expect ...

T

ell us about your connection to the Coffs Coast? I have lived in Coffs Harbour for the best part of my life. I grew up, went to school and first entered the workforce in this town. My connection to the Coffs Coast runs deep with family ties, but also friends I have made through the years, which really makes it home to me. When it comes to creating an outstanding dining experience, what do you take into consideration? The customer is first and foremost; they are the most important factor we consider when creating a dining experience. Key to our customers’ happiness is the quality and consistency of the food we provide. Couple that with great value for money and outstanding customer service, and it’s proved a winning combination! What local produce features on the menu at The Plantation Hotel? Head Chef Dave Newick sources fresh local produce from all over Coffs Harbour. Our menu is generally designed around fresh local, seasonal vegetables and seafood, to best utilise what this spectacular part of the world has to offer. When it comes to special events and functions, what range of food and services can you offer? At the Planto, we offer a range of options to suit any style of event, with a large space for hire at the back of the hotel complete with private bar and access points. We have options for full sit-down, two - three course alternate drop, or for a more casual cocktail style event, we can cater with a variety of platter options to suit all taste-buds and budgets. The room also comes with full access to projectors and in-house audio to suit corporate events, where we can provide a tea and coffee station,

as well as light snacks and refreshments. Where do you source new ideas from? They

We’re told these days, ”Eat more vegetarian meals ...” Or even, “Eat more veggies … eat legumes and fibre ... eat high nutrient foods … eat gluten free … stay away from sugar ...” Aaggghhh! It can all feel way too hard.

But the best thing of all is that our food is made fresh every day using as many local goodies as we can and loads of happiness. It’s made by a happy team, and you can taste that good stuff.

Well, the Happy Frog can help. We have super easy, delicious, nutritious meals that are made fresh and ready to go. Our food is all user-friendly vegetarian.

You can eat in anytime between 7:30am and 6pm and of course, you can take a bundle home to eat anytime. Happy Frog is a one stop shop, where you can pick up local fruit and veggies, groceries with a difference, baskets, bottles and keep cups.

You can mix and match salads with patties, pies, lasagnes and frittatas. There are loads of gluten free choices. All sauces and dressings are complimentary and made in our kitchen.

You can also find new friends, old friends, great ideas and happiness. Call in and say hi to the Bullfrogs and Frogettes.

say that there’s no need to re-invent the wheel, but the hospitality industry is in a constant state of flux, and staying ahead of the pack is difficult without some out-of-the-box thinking. Sourcing new ideas is very much a team exercise here at the Planto, with every idea put on the table given serious consideration - take our new Game of Thrones offering, where we show the new Season 7 episodes each Monday evening on our 3.8 metre projector screens - this was my manager, Adam’s, idea, and it’s been met with a lot of local interest. Tell us about your community involvement. The Planto always strives to give back to the community wherever possible. We currently support a different charity or not-for-profit organisation each month. Recently we have raised money for Camp Quality, the RSPCA, Rags 2 Riches Community Store and the Pink Silks. This month we are participating in the U.G.L.Y. bartender initiative (Understanding. Generous. Likeable. You.) in support of the Leukaemia Foundation. We are also proud sponsors of the Diggers Cricket Club. What plans do you have for the future of the Hotel? Coming out of a major business model shift in the last 12 months, I would like to continue on down the path of providing a fun, friendly, family-oriented environment to the local community. We will continue to give the best customer service alongside the best value for money on the Coffs Coast, never giving you a reason not to come back and visit us again! Thanks Daniel. Coffs Coast focus 25

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The buzz around town at the moment is the brand new tapas restaurant at Two Tails Wines. If you haven’t already been out to the restaurant, we suggest you do. It has certainly put Nana Glen on the map. Madonna and Barry Bannerman live and breathe food and wine, and what they have done with the winery is nothing short of amazing.

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he power couple invited the FOCUS team out to the restaurant to enjoy one of their infamous Tapas Towers, and here is what we learnt ... Tell us about your connection to the Coffs Coast? In the early stages of my life, I lived in Coffs Harbour. After spending over 15 years in Sydney and then marrying Barry, who works on the Pacific Motorway construction, and moving every few years, it was time to return to the area. Two Tails Wines was the perfect opportunity for us to fulfill our passion. As soon as we saw the property, we fell in love with it and knew that the ideas we had would work really well. We loved the small village atmosphere that Nana Glen offered, with the rural lifestyle we craved. When and why did you decide to own a winery? We saw the property for sale about a year prior to looking at it, and after this time I finally convinced my husband to go and have a look at it. Once we arrived, we knew that it had great potential, and we loved the village lifestyle Nana Glen offered. So we made an

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offer on the spot. We were thrilled to take moment from Tuesday through to Sunday, the reins and have not looked back since. We but once the weather warms up, we will be have put a lot of work into the winery, and the opening nights from Friday through until changes have been very rewarding. We want Sunday. Bookings are essential, as we can only our visitors to experience a slice of the Hunter cater for certain numbers daily. Valley in the Orara Valley. When did you first become interested in You have just opened a Spanish tapas owning a restaurant? restaurant. Tell us a briefly about what we After owning the winery for 12 months, we can expect? decided that a restaurant Our menu is very would work extremely unique, with a Spanish well in the area, so the tapas style on offer decision was made. using local produce. Our There are many factors that Barry and I had always Head Chef, Nicole, has loved the tapas style, so contribute to food growth. created very tasty dishes from that, we decided to Being able to adapt and that can be shared go with a Spanish tapas use the season’s produce between everyone at the style restaurant, as Coffs when designing menus is table. Harbour didn’t really a very important skill, and We have a large have anything like it. it is our belief that the current selection of meals to Tell us about your season’s produce should always choose from, such as Head Chef, Nicole be showcased on our menu. seafood, meat dishes, Hatch. Spanish salads, lighter Nicole is a very meal options, and passionate and stunning desserts. For a larger group we also professional individual and has relocated offer out Tapas Towers, which are proving very to Coffs Harbour with a vast amount of popular. experience. She has catered for the discerning The restaurant is open for lunch at the eastern suburbs clientele for the past 16 years

in functions, events and corporate catering. Nicole is well travelled and has gained extensive knowledge from her travels, which has allowed her to create a menu which is unique to the newly established Velvets Restaurant. When it comes to creating a seasonal menu, what do you take into consideration? Seasonal produce is very important, as the season reflects what we can and cannot put on our menus. There are many factors that contribute to food growth. Being able to adapt and use the season's produce when designing menus is a very important skill, and it is our belief that the current season’s produce should always be showcased on our menu. What local produce features on the menu at Velvets Restaurant? It’s very important to support the local growers and businesses. Our suppliers have worked with us to offer only quality products, such as local honey, micro herbs, black garlic, organic farmed meats through to handmade olive oils and vinegars. We are currently engaging the skills of a local potter to create a range of plates and platters for our special

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events. What is your favourite dish on the menu currently and why? Our grilled prawns with chorizo and saffron seem to be well received. I guess being the boss's recipe might have something to do with it! Personally, I love dessert - our traditional Dulce De Leche with a glass of White Velvet is something not to be missed. When it comes to special events and functions, what range of food and services can you offer? Cocktail parties, functions, corporate events, romantic vine and dine lunches, weddings and bespoke dining experiences.We are happy to work with our clients to tailor a very special and unique experience with the new style of vineyard dining. Where do you source new ideas from? Nicole, our Head Chef, has been quite addicted to travel from an early age and has been lucky enough to have travelled extensively through Europe and Asia Pacific, appreciating many cooking cultures and styles. Whilst she has her favourite dishes in each country, she constantly gets inspired by the exceptional produce we have here in Australia, especially the locally grown produce such

at Two Tails, from Villard Blanc, Chardonnay, as herbs, lettuce, fruits, garlic, honey and Charvill Blanc, Sparkling White, and Moscato preserves. Even though the tapas style offering in our whites. Our reds are Chambourcin, is quite the Spanish tradition, it’s true freedom Black Velvet, Blush, and Red Bubbles and allows you to fill a table with a selection of our famous Lizard’s Blood - (vintage port), favourite dishes that have no boundaries. along with our fortified wine range, White Tell us about your community Velvet (white port), Ginger Wine, as well as involvement. some being quite unique, like our Blueberries Nicole works with a number of local food in Wine and Raspberry producers to source Fortified Wine, with local local products, to keep berries - all of which go the money local. We well with our menu. also have a number of Our menu will change with the You also cater for large local items available to seasons, as we use a lot of local groups and weddings purchase at the Cellar produce. We like to keep how do you make these Door, from beauty things interesting for large events special at products from Bare our customers, so they can Two Tail Wines? Beauty, local honey keep on coming back and try We are lucky to have from Glenreagh, chilli new items from our menu. such a beautiful venue, and lime condiments which is unique for the from Westlime, and area. We have a beautiful we will continue to setting for such events and have the menus source local products. We are also holding a to cater for everyone's needs and wants. We lot of local events at the winery now we have can tailor packages to suit our customers’ Velvets open and will continue to do more. requirements. Our team takes the time to Wine matching is important for work with our customers to work out the restaurateurs - tell us about your wine finest details. choices. How often do you change the menu? We have a large selection of wines here

Our menu will change with the seasons, as we use a lot of local produce. We like to keep things interesting for our customers, so they can keep on coming back and try new items from our menu. We will always retain core dishes that our customers return for, but are constantly sourcing new flavours and ingredients to pepper the menu. How important is customer service and staff culture at Two Tails Wine? Customer service is our number one priority. We want to make sure that everyone who walks in the door is treated like part of our family. We greet everyone on arrival with a smile and welcome them into the Cellar Door. Our staff are a great team of professionals and will spend the time with people to talk about the wines available, as well as the menu options available. What plans do you have for the future for the restaurant? Velvets Restaurant will continue to grow and change with the times; we are always on the lookout for different ingredients to create unique dishes, whilst offering outstanding customer service to our customers. Thanks guys. Coffs Coast focus 27

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JOSHUA COOK FROM COFFS HARBOUR FISHERMEN’S COOP

Bonville Functions & Events For 25 years, Bonville Golf Resort has created truly unique and memorable functions and events. The team of professionals behind the multi award-winning property will make sure that your 2017 Christmas party or end of year celebration is executed perfectly, and it’s the attention to detail that Sales Manager Stephanie Kesby says makes all the difference. “In essence, it’s our job to take the stress out of planning the perfect end of year celebration for your staff and/or clients,” she says. Adding, “We’ll personalise your event, coordinate entertainment and theming and provide you with a personal function coordinator on the day.” The iconic venue is famous for its views from

the Terrace Lawn and Club House Venues, but it’s the food and wine that really sets Bonville apart. The Flooded Gums Restaurant, led by Executive Chef Darren Ryan, will create an amazing culinary experience, whether it be a three course à la carte dinner, a cocktail party with an innovative and delicate canapé menu, or a carvery buffet with all the trimmings. Book your Christmas Party or end of year celebration at Bonville Golf Resort before the end of October to receive FREE transfers and FREE sparkling on arrival. Visit www.bonvillegolf.com.au/functions to peruse the 2017 menu options, or call or email Stephanie Kesby on (02) 6653 4002, sales@bonvillegolf.com.au to book.

Ingredients 350 g - 400 g fresh Coffs Harbour Snapper fillets 2 lemons 2 limes ½ tsp of finely grated ginger ½ tsp of finely grated garlic 1 tbsp. heaped with chopped coriander ¼ of a brown onion Three to four 22 cm rice paper sheets Salt and pepper to taste

Joshua Cook Coffs Harbour Fishermen’s Coop Phone (02) 6652 2811 69 Marina Dr, Coffs Harbour www.coffsfishcoop.com.au

Method Preparing the Snapper Marinade • Juice lemons and limes into a bowl; remove all seeds and pips. • Add chopped coriander leaves, sliced onion, garlic and ginger. • Season with salt and pepper to taste. • Dice skinned and boned Snapper fillets into 1 cm cubes and add to marinade. • Cover and refrigerate for 15 - 20 minutes. Rice Paper Cups • Cut each sheet of rice paper into quarters with scissors. • Set your bench fryer to 185 - 190°C. • Have a clean tea towel handy, a pair of tongs, an upside down shot glass and a dish lined with paper towel to place your cups into. This is a very quick process, so you will have to be well prepared. • Using the tongs, hold a rice paper quarter in 28 Coffs Coast focus

the hot oil until it turns from clear to white (2 - 3 seconds) then immediately remove from oil and place over the upside down shot glass. Form the rice paper over the glass using the tea towel, so as not to burn your hand. This will set in a matter of seconds. • Carefully lift the cup off the shot glass and store in a tray lined with paper towel (so as to remove excess oil) and repeat the process. To Serve: • Place a spoonful of the Snapper ceviche mix into each rice paper cup. Garnish with fresh coriander and either diced chilli or diced red capsicum (for a milder option). This recipe and others are available online at www.coffsfishcoop.com.au/recipes. We hope to see you at one of Cookie’s cooking demos, held every Saturday at the Coop at 10am.

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Twenty 46 Pasfields Treat yourself with first class food home delivered, picked up, or dine in from both Pasfields casual and à la carte menus. Spring time is upon us, so make sure you book the beautiful balcony for your lunch, dinner or special occasion. Walk in to the “wow” factor of Pasfields, always set beautifully for all occasions in the panoramic surrounds high on the hill at Paradise Palms Resort, 675 Pacific Highway, Korora (just three minutes north of the Big Banana). Open Tuesday to Saturday for dinner from 5pm and Friday and Saturday lunch. Pasfields will open other occasions for 50 or more. Hen’s party, birthday and baby shower high teas, with the option of skincare and makeup pamper sessions, are a fun way to celebrate in style, with basic high teas starting from $30 ph and other high end options available. Spring Friday afternoons or evenings on the deck … Watch this space for great flights, cocktails and fun options coming soon. Want to keep up to date with what’s on … Like Pasfields Restaurant on Facebook.

Warm up at twenty46; our new and exciting menu is packed full of culinary comforts, guaranteed to satisfy. “Twenty46” - the postcode of a small suburb in Sydney, Five Dock, where we spent years creating lasting memories and were inspired to achieve our dreams as a mother and daughter duo and create a place on the beautiful Jetty strip, where you, too, could create lifelong memories for years to come. When looking for a bite to eat in Coffs Harbour, wander into Twenty46 on Harbour Drive for a gourmet style breakfast or lunch. New to the café circuit, a wooden accented interior creates a warm, homely vibe for easy, relaxed dining. Early risers may be tempted by our delicious “BREAKFAST CROISSANT” - with fried eggs, bacon, hash brown, baby spinach and hollandaise sauce, paired with an Adore coffee. Those dining later can wrap their hands around ”THE RAGIN CAJUN” - Cajun spiced chicken tenderloins with rasher bacon, avocado, house-made pickle aioli and snow pea tendrils on a triangle damper bun, served with sweet potato wedges. While for lighter eaters, you must try one of our famous antipasto plates.

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CAKE

Surf Club Restaurant & Bar Our delicious cakes and desserts are all made in house by our dedicated pastry chef, Gay. On any given day there is a selection of baked cheesecakes to choose from, as well as healthy carrot cake, decadent chocolate mud and gluten free orange and almond torte. This week she is making chocolate caramel tart with pistachios. Celebration cakes are also made to order for in house parties or to take home. Our favourite is lemon meringue cheesecake … It literally walks out the door!

Roasters REVIEW. with Luke Floyd from Artisti Coffee Roasters

Artisti HQ, Unit 3-11 Craft Close, Toormina

Artisti HQ is now located in Toormina! Thank you to you all! Your local support has allowed us to employ more locals and expand our business. Come and see our new roasting facility, espresso bar, training centre and coffee machine workshop. We can now offer fully customised training for the home user wanting to learn more about their special machine or the art of becoming a barista. All the coffee accessories in the one location, direct from the supplier. Our 30 Coffs Coast focus

online store now offers 10% OFF coffee beans for all orders when you pick them up in store OR “FREE NATIONAL FREIGHT” if you wish to share some coffee LOVE with your family and friends. Opening Hours: Monday to Friday, 6:30am - 3:30pm. Closed public holidays. UNIT 3-11 CRAFT CLOSE, TOORMINA (02) 6653 1182 WWW.ARTISTI.COM.AU

Product Review

with Piccolo to go

Ecoffee cup is a new generation of reusable takeaway cup. Created with the world’s fastest growing, most sustainable crop - bamboo fibre (as well as corn starch and strengthening binder), Ecoffee Cup is BPA and phthalate free. It has a re-sealable no-drip lid, making it perfect to take with you everywhere you go. The whole product (cup, lid and sleeve) is dishwasher safe and should last you for years. Available in a wide range of fun, contemporary patterns - bright, vibrant colours or classic prints - there’s one to suit your style, wardrobe or mood. That’s why we think Ecoffee Cup packs just a little bit more

ECOFFEE CUP

style than its plastic, ceramic or stainless steel cousins. Piccolo to go are currently the only stockists in Australia and Coffs Harbour. They are embracing the cups with open arms. Piccolo to go are entering their 10th year of business, and they have finally found a reusable coffee cup they are happy to stock and sell. Conscious of the waste disposable cups present, Piccolo to go want to offer their customers an alternative: ”Piccolo to go have an exclusive offer - buy five coffees and get the sixth coffee FREE when you purchase your reusable Ecoffee Cup from us”.

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Piccolo To Go. Entering our 10th year of business, Piccolo to go has Coffs Harbour’s First shipping container coffee shop at the Bailey Centre.

offering fabulous designs.

We are a dedicated team of local coffee lovers with many years of experience in the coffee industry.

Pop into the Bailey Centre and see Mikey, Ros or Craig for your next coffee fix.

For years we’ve been searching for a reusable coffee cup we loved, and finally we found it - the Ecoffee Cup. We are currently the only stockists in Australia and Coffs Harbour. The Ecoffee Cup is an alternative to plastic, made from organic bamboo, ranging in size and

Piccolo to go is open early Monday to Friday, 5am - 1pm and Saturday, 6am - 1pm.

THE BAILEY CENTRE 153-156 PACIFIC HIGHWAY, COFFS HARBOUR 0431 142 597 FACEBOOK.COM/PICCOLO.GO

Big City Vibes with Local Heart & Soul. Palate & Ply is the brain child of Artisti Coffee Roasters’ owner, Luke Floyd. The team is dedicated to bringing you the latest trends in the coffee industry. Still going strong after four years, P&P showcases the latest single origin coffees to enjoy black or Artisti’s Signature Blend for milk based. With six additional blends to buy for home, there is one to suit your taste buds.

With the largest range of coffee geek gadgets and a service workshop, you have it all in one location.

37 VERNON ST, COFFS HARBOUR, NSW 2540 PRE ORDER: 0434 700 910 WWW.ARTISTI.COM.AU

Surf Club Restaurant & Bar. Come in for coffee and cake on our beachside deck seven days a week, from 7am until 2:30pm. We are proud to serve Botero Coffee, delivering freshly roasted beans from their Maclean roastery. Brass Blend is Botero’s signature blend and is a smooth, heavily bodied coffee with rich caramel flavours and a gently spiced finish. Soon we will be revamping our café to include a separate servery made of Jarrah wood - bench designed by Marcus at Designer Living Kitchens. We can’t wait!

23 SURF CLUB RD, COFFS HARBOUR (02) 6652 9870 WWW.SURFCLUBCOFFSHARBOUR.COM INFO@SURFCLUBCOFFSHARBOUR.COM

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Loaves & Fishes

DISH and SPOON “Mother Nature makes it perfect; it is our job not to mess it up” - an anonymous quote I am sure I have heard sometime, but one that summarises specialty coffee so well ... A naturally occurring cherry that is affected differently by every stage in its life, from growing conditions to processing, roasting to brewing, finally to producing the cup of coffee you know and love. It is the understanding of each of these stages, the traceability of coffee from farm to cup, and all variables in coffee production which ensure the customer gets to enjoy an awesomely delicious coffee culminating from the experience of hundreds of coffee professionals in the chain. It is to this end and in keeping with the ideals of specialty coffee that we at Dish and Spoon Specialty Coffee seek to provide our patrons with not only a superior coffee product, but also one that is ethically sourced and continually innovated to be a market leader in the specialty coffee industry. Offering direct sourced specialty coffee from Sensory Lab, third wave filter methods, changing varieties of single origin coffee and a menu to complement these options. Come and check us out and relax with friends over a stunning cup o’joe.

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Through his work at Loaves and Fishes, Wayne Crowther works to divert an oversupply of food from supermarkets and farmers to the people in our community who need it most. FOCUS checked out the food centre and op shop, looking behind the scenes to see how it all works and the wider impact this initiative has on people’s lives and reducing waste.

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hen and why was Loaves and Fishes founded? Loaves and Fishes is a part of The Door of Hope Community Welfare, which was started by Pastor Russell Jones and his wife, Helen, about 17 years ago to meet the growing need in the community. It aims to support families in times of need and to regain hope. Many of the people we assist have for one reason or another found themselves struggling to make ends meet. They are from many backgrounds and all have a need that eats away at the budget. They might be unemployed, staying at Women’s Refuges, refugees, single income families, pensioners, homeless, or caring for a family member that needs medical treatment. How has it grown since then? From small beginnings in the front room of the Abundant Life Church (A.L.C), it has grown quickly, and a larger unit at 3/47 Lawson Cres, Coffs Harbour was rented to open the Loaves and Fishes Centre in 2005, supporting over 4,100 families with food. The A.L.C Op Shop has also been opened, making clothing, furniture, white goods and bric-a-brac available at cheap prices to further alleviate the demand on people’s household budget. The Loaves and Fishes Centre is helping over 4,100 families. This is about 150 families per week, with the number of people needing assistance increasing by about 10 families per week. We also support other charities in the region and beyond. Without this help, many simply cannot afford to pay the rent, mortgage, electricity, water, fuel and other increasing costs. What is your role, and who else is involved? I am the Manager of Door of Hope Community Welfare, and I oversee the daily management of Loaves and Fishes

Food Centre and the A.L.C Op Shop. Our group is made up completely of volunteers; there are no paid staff at A.L.C. Russell Jones is the founding Snr Pastor and CEO, and we are governed by a Church board. We have around 30 volunteers, who are a wonderful group of people giving of their time and energy to serve others in the community. Where does the food for the Loaves and Fishes store come from? The produce comes from suppliers who have an oversupply that would otherwise go to landfill. Bread and an assortment of fruit and veg that remain on the shelves at end of trade and are still perfectly good for human consumption are sorted and made available. We purchase around 50% of the food and other products from Sydney, and we also receive food from companies in the Coffs Harbour region. This includes produce such as bananas and cucumbers that are too large, small or marked or otherwise unsuitable for the supermarkets. What are the wider impacts of the re-use and recycling works associated with the store? Our number one priority is to help people in need, and being able to source product from producers who have an oversupply or have product changes enables more people in the community to be helped. We currently source enough food from these suppliers to make around 300,000 meals per year. That is around 2,400 loaves of bread and 3 tonnes of food, fruit and vegetables saved from landfill each week. We say a big thank you to our suppliers, as it’s definitely better than sending food to be dumped. We also supply bread to schools for their Breakfast Club, and any bread or produce that remains unused is supplied to farmers to feed stock, once again keeping it from landfill. What other services do you provide,

and why is it important to have a holistic approach to helping people in the community? We aim to help restore people’s lives and in most instances food needs are just the starting point. We have an op shop with very low prices, we offer household budgeting, and we refer people to other charities in order to meet their specific needs. Coffs Harbour has many organisations working hand in hand to support people. We also offer a free meal to all who come on Sundays from 1pm - 2pm during school terms, with a church service at 9:30am. What do you find most rewarding about this work? I enjoy having the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of people. Seeing the smiles on the face of families and the kids as they leave is reward in itself. Seeing the generosity of businesses and producers giving of their excess stock and saving it from landfill is seeing the difference a small group can make. Just recently New Start Early Learning phoned to say their young people were collecting money and goods to go towards people in need; it was amazing what the kids achieved and very heart warming to receive their help. How are you funded, and how can people help? We receive donations from our small church group and The A.L.C Op Shop, and we are happy to receive further donations so that we can help more by sponsoring a family weekly, monthly or yearly. We are happy to talk to people about volunteering during the week or on a Sunday for the café or being a corporate volunteer for an hour or two. How can people find out more? Website: www.alc.net.au/loavesandfishes Phone Russell: 0413 182 053 or Wayne 0408 298 899. Thanks Wayne.

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Direct Wholesale Services Coffs Harbour FISHERMEN’S CO-OP The Coffs Harbour Fishermen’s Co-operative is the perfect meeting place between local fishermen and fresh seafood lovers. We have been around since the early 1950s and are owned by about 50 local fishermen. They supply us with fresh seafood almost every day, which you can buy straight off their boats through our retail store, takeaway, and now directly from our website. We sell all our locally caught fish, including our famous and award winning Snapper, Whiting, Flathead, Pearl Perch, Kingfish, Tuna (perfect for sashimi), Mackerel, Swordfish, Mahi Mahi, Marlin, and others. We also catch delicious prawns, lobsters, Balmain Bugs and crabs. In addition to locally caught produce, we stock the standard staples you’d expect to see, so that we can always provide you a full range of seafood. What’s more, we deliver! That’s right, we are the only seafood outlet in the Coffs Harbour area that delivers fresh seafood right to your door! You can order directly from our website, and we will leave you a cooler full of the very best local seafood at your home or business. There is no need to drive down to the jetty. We will deliver any day of the week, from Arrawarra to Nambucca!

#BYOCup - now trending on Twitter and Instagram - yep, it’s a thing, and we’re on to it. With current media focus on the socalled war on waste, cafés around the country have experienced an increase in the number of customers choosing reusable rather than disposable cups. Right on cue - Direct Wholesale Services (DWS) will soon have in stock a full range of BioPak BYOcups to meet that demand. • Made from bioplastic - a rapidly renewable material made from plant resources, not oil. • A more sustainable and healthier alternative to conventional plastic and melamine. • Free of BPA and phthalates and have FDA food contact approval. • Modified to withstand temperatures up to 120°C. • Microwave and dishwasher safe. • Compostable in a commercial facility. Custom printing and colour options available. Of course, at DWS we continue to offer an extensive and expanding range of eco-friendly disposable packaging products: • Perform as well as traditional alternatives. • Economical, Recycled, Recyclable, Biodegradable and Compostable. • Made from renewable resources. Call in or contact us today for more information on our full range of packaging solutions for food on the go.

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Food brings friends, family and communities together. I can’t imagine a gathering without food, it wouldn’t make sense.

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All around the world, food plays a large part in expressing culture and bringing people together. To learn more about the role food plays in Ethiopian culture, FOCUS had the privilege of joining Alem, who moved to Australia from a small town in Ethiopia seven years ago, in a traditional Ethiopian coffee ceremony and the experience eating Enjera, accompanied by some delicious stews.

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hat is your connection to the Coffs Coast? I moved to Australia seven years ago, and I now live in Woolgoolga. I love living here; it’s a beautiful place with beautiful people.

It is as an act of respect, friendship and love and when dining at someone’s home, it’s most common for the host to offer the guest Gursha as a gesture of hospitality.

Can you tell us a little about where you are originally from? I was born in the central province, Shewa, in a small town close to the capital city, Addis Ababa, in Ethiopia.

What role does vegetarian or vegan food have in Ethiopian culture and religion? Meat is highly valued for consumption in Ethiopian culture. While it is customary to mix meat and vegetables in Ethiopians dishes, people normally tend to prefer a meat dish to a vegetarian dish, except when they have to refrain from meat and other animal products due to religious commitments (fasting).

What is your favourite food from Ethiopia? Are there any ingredients you can’t live without? My favourite food is Enjera. I can’t live without chilli, garlic, salt and green coffee beans. What role does food play in your family and community? Food brings friends, family and communities together. I can’t imagine a gathering without food ... It wouldn’t make sense. When hosting events like weddings or religious ceremonies, the family prepare and organise the food with the support from extended friends and especially help from their neighbours who also help serving to guests. Neighbours are very important in Ethiopia. We have a saying: “You get up because of your backbone and neighbours”. Enjera is a staple food in Ethiopia. What exactly is it, and how it is eaten? Enjera is a sourdough-risen flatbread with a slightly spongy texture. Traditionally made out of teff flour, it is a national dish in Ethiopia. You can use other flours like wheat, barley, corn or rice flour.

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With Alem.

Enjera is laid on the plate with servings of other dishes (stew or curry) on top, which is eaten by breaking off pieces of the Enjera with your right hand to scoop up bite-sized amounts. Can you describe the practice of Gursha? During a meal with friends or family, it is a common custom to feed others in the group with one’s hand, by putting the rolled Enjera or a handful of another dish into another person’s mouth.

When Ethiopians feed themselves, they try not to consume large mouthfuls of food, so as not to leave the impression that they are not so well provided with food at home; but with Gursha this doesn’t apply, and a larger bite of food is always offered.

It is said that coffee originated in Ethiopia. Can you tell us more about the traditional coffee ceremony? The coffee ceremony is a ritualised form of making and drinking coffee and an integral part of social and cultural life in Ethiopia. Coffee is offered when visiting friends, during festivities, or as a daily staple of life. An invitation to attend a coffee ceremony is considered a mark of friendship of respect. Performing a ceremony is almost obligatory in the presence of a visitor and brings people together to have conversations about important social, cultural and other matters. Considered an honour, the coffee ceremony is typically performed by the women of the household, who is usually dressed in traditional costume. The coffee is brewed by fist roasting the green coffee beans over an open flame in a pan. This is followed by the grinding of the beans, traditionally in a wooden mortar with pestle. The coffee grounds are then put into a special pot with boiling water. The coffee ground may be brewed three times. The coffee ceremony may also include burning various traditional incenses, and the coffee is often complemented by a traditional snack such as popcorn, bread or roasted whole-grain cereals. In most cases, children are not allowed to drink coffee. Thanks Alem. Coffs Coast focus 35

Coffs

GIG GUIDE

1ST SEPTEMBER

Chris Grieve - Element Bar DJ Bisho & DJ Rjay - Coast Hotel Mighty Ocean + DJ Ob - Hoey Moey Quick Fix - Seaview Tavern

2ND SEPTEMBER

Chris Wiggins - Element Bar DJ Ob1- Hoey Moey Then Jolene, Orca + Lizard - Seaview Tavern

3RD SEPTEMBER

Aqwa - Element Bar Fathers Day With Marshall Okell - Hoey Moey Antidote Satellite - Jetty Theatre

13TH SEPTEMBER

Yhan Leal - Element Bar

14TH SEPTEMBER

Hit That Hit Musical Bingo With DJ Bisho! - Seaview Tavern Sydney Comedy Festival Showcase - C.Ex Coffs

15TH SEPTEMBER

Owen Shannon - Element Bar DJ Bisho & DJ Flak3y - Coast Hotel Lazy Sundays + DJ Brown Sugar - Hoey Moey Gunshy - Seaview Tavern Women Like Us - Sawtell RSL

16TH SEPTEMBER

Hit That Hit Musical Bingo With DJ Bisho! - Seaview Tavern

7TH SEPTEMBER

Cruisin The Cosmos & Dj Rjay - Coast Hotel DJ Brown Sugar - Hoey Moey Zach Abbott - Seaview Tavern Melinda Schneider - C.Ex Coffs Much Ado About Nothing - Jetty Theatre

8TH SEPTEMBER

17TH SEPTEMBER

6TH SEPTEMBER

Vena Klymo - Element Bar

Dean Sharkey - Element Bar DJ Bisho & DJ Flak3y - Coast Hotel Josh Matheson + DJ Layne - Hoey Moey Who’s Charlie - Seaview Tavern Josh Wade - Jetty Theatre

9TH SEPTEMBER

Mum Says Rock & DJ Breno - Coast Hotel DJ Layne - Hoey Moey DJ Bisho - Seaview Tavern Bloom Sings The Adele And Amy Songbook - Jetty Theatre

10TH SEPTEMBER

Josh Matheson - Element Bar Electrik Lemonade + DJ Helmy - Hoey Moey

36 Coffs Coast focus

Grace Brown - Element Bar Mason Rack - Hoey Moey

20TH SEPTEMBER

Peter Barry - Element Bar Go Your Own Way - Jetty Theatre

21ST SEPTEMBER

Aqwa - Element Bar Hit That Hit Musical Bingo With DJ Bisho! - Seaview Tavern

22ND SEPTEMBER

DJ Bisho & DJ Flak3y - Coast Hotel Tessa Devine - Element Bar Aqwa + DJ Brown Sugar - Hoey Moey Ambrosia - Seaview Tavern Friendlyjordies - Jetty Theatre

23RD SEPTEMBER

Dean Sharkey - Element Bar Pink Zinc & DJ Breno - Coast Hotel DJ Bisho - Hoey Moey Rowland Moye - Seaview Tavern Harrison Craig - C.Ex Coffs Paradise Playboyz - Jetty Theatre

24TH SEPTEMBER

Shanteya & Jo - Element Bar Madam Parker & The Vibe City Band - Hoey Moey

27TH SEPTEMBER

Jack Churchwell - Element Bar

BlueberryBeetle Blueberry Beetle is a developing online art school based in Coffs Harbour, offering courses in drawing and painting, mini-lessons for kids, videos, art forums and an art blog.

T

he art school aims to address the accessibility issues many people have in attending art classes, especially those in regional or remote areas. Many students struggle to find courses at the right level, medium or time, meaning they miss out or get a very piecemeal art education. Others miss critical lessons in art fundamentals, but don’t know what the missing gaps are. Many students also can’t afford the material or course costs. There is inequality in arts education for those living outside of capital cities, and yet the creative industry is one of the world’s fastest growing industries. This means that people living in regional areas are being left behind and

regional voices under-represented. Blueberry Beetle is tempting to address these issues with courses based in the classical tradition, guiding students progressively through the basic principles. The courses combine written materials, videos and practical exercises, delivered online, to train students to become independent artists. Currently, Blueberry Beetle is seeking to fund the next stage of development through a Kickstarter project. The school is giving away courses, personalised portraits and other swag for backers. Please go to www.kickstarter.com or meg@ blueberrybeetle.com for more information.

28TH SEPTEMBER

Hit That Hit Musical Bingo With DJ Bisho! - Seaview Tavern Meg Mac - C.Ex Coffs Land Of Mine - Jetty Theatre Gone But Still Famous Starring Wayne Rogers - Jetty Theatre

29TH SEPTEMBER

Josh Matheson - Element Bar DJ Bisho & DJ Smokin Joe - Coast Hotel Who’s Charlie + DJ Ob1 - Hoey Moey Lazy Sundays - Seaview Tavern Drapht - C.Ex Coffs

30TH SEPTEMBER

The Quick N The Dead - Element Bar Lockout & DJ Smokin Joe - Coast Hotel DJ Bisho - Hoey Moey Mick Bateman - Seaview Tavern

Dark Arts Coffee Academy Now Open Seven Days.

DA R K A RTS COFFEE ACA DEM Y If you’d prefer to dabble in the dark arts rather than going to church on Sunday, now you can!

D

ark Arts Coffee Academy is now open seven days, serving breakfast from 7:30am every day. The espresso bar opens 6:30am weekdays, ideal for a quick takeaway coffee on the way to work. A visit to the dark side is now easier, with the Grafton Street entrance now open via Bowl Arcade, connecting Dark Arts Coffee Academy to Coffs CBD, an easy walk. It’s never been easier to visit the dark side.

Coffs

GIG GUIDE

1ST SEPTEMBER

Chris Grieve - Element Bar DJ Bisho & DJ Rjay - Coast Hotel Mighty Ocean + DJ Ob - Hoey Moey Quick Fix - Seaview Tavern

2ND SEPTEMBER

Chris Wiggins - Element Bar DJ Ob1- Hoey Moey Then Jolene, Orca + Lizard - Seaview Tavern

3RD SEPTEMBER

Aqwa - Element Bar Fathers Day With Marshall Okell - Hoey Moey Antidote Satellite - Jetty Theatre

13TH SEPTEMBER

Yhan Leal - Element Bar

14TH SEPTEMBER

Hit That Hit Musical Bingo With DJ Bisho! - Seaview Tavern Sydney Comedy Festival Showcase - C.Ex Coffs

15TH SEPTEMBER

Owen Shannon - Element Bar DJ Bisho & DJ Flak3y - Coast Hotel Lazy Sundays + DJ Brown Sugar - Hoey Moey Gunshy - Seaview Tavern Women Like Us - Sawtell RSL

16TH SEPTEMBER

Hit That Hit Musical Bingo With DJ Bisho! - Seaview Tavern

7TH SEPTEMBER

Cruisin The Cosmos & Dj Rjay - Coast Hotel DJ Brown Sugar - Hoey Moey Zach Abbott - Seaview Tavern Melinda Schneider - C.Ex Coffs Much Ado About Nothing - Jetty Theatre

8TH SEPTEMBER

17TH SEPTEMBER

6TH SEPTEMBER

Vena Klymo - Element Bar

Dean Sharkey - Element Bar DJ Bisho & DJ Flak3y - Coast Hotel Josh Matheson + DJ Layne - Hoey Moey Who’s Charlie - Seaview Tavern Josh Wade - Jetty Theatre

9TH SEPTEMBER

Mum Says Rock & DJ Breno - Coast Hotel DJ Layne - Hoey Moey DJ Bisho - Seaview Tavern Bloom Sings The Adele And Amy Songbook - Jetty Theatre

10TH SEPTEMBER

Josh Matheson - Element Bar Electrik Lemonade + DJ Helmy - Hoey Moey

36 Coffs Coast focus

Grace Brown - Element Bar Mason Rack - Hoey Moey

20TH SEPTEMBER

Peter Barry - Element Bar Go Your Own Way - Jetty Theatre

21ST SEPTEMBER

Aqwa - Element Bar Hit That Hit Musical Bingo With DJ Bisho! - Seaview Tavern

22ND SEPTEMBER

DJ Bisho & DJ Flak3y - Coast Hotel Tessa Devine - Element Bar Aqwa + DJ Brown Sugar - Hoey Moey Ambrosia - Seaview Tavern Friendlyjordies - Jetty Theatre

23RD SEPTEMBER

Dean Sharkey - Element Bar Pink Zinc & DJ Breno - Coast Hotel DJ Bisho - Hoey Moey Rowland Moye - Seaview Tavern Harrison Craig - C.Ex Coffs Paradise Playboyz - Jetty Theatre

24TH SEPTEMBER

Shanteya & Jo - Element Bar Madam Parker & The Vibe City Band - Hoey Moey

27TH SEPTEMBER

Jack Churchwell - Element Bar

BlueberryBeetle Blueberry Beetle is a developing online art school based in Coffs Harbour, offering courses in drawing and painting, mini-lessons for kids, videos, art forums and an art blog.

T

he art school aims to address the accessibility issues many people have in attending art classes, especially those in regional or remote areas. Many students struggle to find courses at the right level, medium or time, meaning they miss out or get a very piecemeal art education. Others miss critical lessons in art fundamentals, but don’t know what the missing gaps are. Many students also can’t afford the material or course costs. There is inequality in arts education for those living outside of capital cities, and yet the creative industry is one of the world’s fastest growing industries. This means that people living in regional areas are being left behind and

regional voices under-represented. Blueberry Beetle is tempting to address these issues with courses based in the classical tradition, guiding students progressively through the basic principles. The courses combine written materials, videos and practical exercises, delivered online, to train students to become independent artists. Currently, Blueberry Beetle is seeking to fund the next stage of development through a Kickstarter project. The school is giving away courses, personalised portraits and other swag for backers. Please go to www.kickstarter.com or meg@ blueberrybeetle.com for more information.

28TH SEPTEMBER

Hit That Hit Musical Bingo With DJ Bisho! - Seaview Tavern Meg Mac - C.Ex Coffs Land Of Mine - Jetty Theatre Gone But Still Famous Starring Wayne Rogers - Jetty Theatre

29TH SEPTEMBER

Josh Matheson - Element Bar DJ Bisho & DJ Smokin Joe - Coast Hotel Who’s Charlie + DJ Ob1 - Hoey Moey Lazy Sundays - Seaview Tavern Drapht - C.Ex Coffs

30TH SEPTEMBER

The Quick N The Dead - Element Bar Lockout & DJ Smokin Joe - Coast Hotel DJ Bisho - Hoey Moey Mick Bateman - Seaview Tavern

Dark Arts Coffee Academy Now Open Seven Days.

DA R K A RTS COFFEE ACA DEM Y If you’d prefer to dabble in the dark arts rather than going to church on Sunday, now you can!

D

ark Arts Coffee Academy is now open seven days, serving breakfast from 7:30am every day. The espresso bar opens 6:30am weekdays, ideal for a quick takeaway coffee on the way to work. A visit to the dark side is now easier, with the Grafton Street entrance now open via Bowl Arcade, connecting Dark Arts Coffee Academy to Coffs CBD, an easy walk. It’s never been easier to visit the dark side.

Coffs Coast focus 37

Social /Scene

THANKS TO THOSE WHO ENJOYED THE DAY WITH US!

A DAy at THE RACES

Lisa Cross and Henare Degan

Marni Kitcher and Felicity Cook

Pippa Tabone, Sam Howland and Nicole Donovan

Mayor Denise Knight, Madonna Bannerman and Nicci Seccombe

Michael Close, Amanda Langlands, Renae and Matt Donovan

Alicia Davies Ryan and Amy Goode

Marcus Philips and Abby Rieger

Jaimee, Luke and Nicci Seccombe

Sam Nolan, Matt Jackson and Billy Nolan

Mayor Denise Knight and Dr. Christopher Knight

Nicci Seccombe, Natalie Hunt and Lace Browning

Marcus Phillips, Brendan & Jenni Graetz, David, Neyha and Robyn Laarhoven, Nicci Seccombe, Madonna & Barry Bannerman, Mayor Denise Knight, Dr. Christopher Knight, Nicole Donovan, Callum Cliord, Jaimee Seccombe, Matt & Renae Donovan

David, Neyha and Robyn Laarhoven

Aaron Hardaker, Katie Drury, Made Goodenough and Mihai Mitrache

Madonna and Barry Bannerman

38 Coffs Coast focus

Coffs Coast focus 39

Catherine Alcorn: Go Your Own Way

Jetty Theatre in September Sick of political rants on Facebook? Join the real discussion - protest, politics, money, and fake news - at the Antidote Ideas Festival (Sun 3 Sep), livestreamed direct from the Sydney Opera House. Potty-mouthed stand-up comedian Josh Wade brings the giggles with his show Me, Myself, and Cunny (Fri 8 Sep). Rising diva Bloom sings the soulful sounds of the Adele/Amy Songbook live on centre stage (Sat 9 Sep). Love Fleetwood Mac? Catherine Alcorn brings the magic of the band’s most prolific songwriter, Christine McVie, to fans at the Jetty Theatre (Wed 20 Sep). Not to be missed! Think self help is a joke? Political satirist and comedian Jordan Shanks has read over 300 books on the subject - and is bringing the best and worst of it in his hour of power show, Chin Up, Stooge! (Fri 22 Sep). Ladies (and gents) - do you like Magic Mike? Paradise Playboyz (Sat 23 Sep) brings its exciting new cabaret show direct from the Gold Coast. Oh my! For bookings and information, call the Jetty Memorial Theatre Box Office on (02) 6648 4930 or visit www.jettytheatre.com

Certain Women

Laura Dern, Michelle Williams, and Kristen Stewart star in the new powerhouse film by Kelly Reichardt. Show: Thu 14 Sep

The incredible Melbourne City Ballet perform for one show only. Screening: Fri 15 Sep Go Your Own Way: The Story of Christine McVie Love Fleetwood Mac? See Catherine Alcorn perform the story of Christine McVie. Screening: Wed 20 Sep

jettymemorialtheatre @jettytheatre Box office hours Tues to Fri 12 noon – 4pm jettytheatre.com | phone 6648 4930 337 Harbour Drive Coffs Harbour

40 Coffs Coast focus

LIVE MUSIC

UT

O SOLD

A Midsummer Night’s Dream

CINEMATINEE

Show: Sun 3 Sep

Thursday fortnights

Protest, politics, and fake news. Live from the Sydney Opera House.

DANCE

Antidote Satellite

LIVESTREAM

Upcoming Shows

PROUDLY SUPPORTED BY

focusinterview.

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hat is your connection to the Coffs Coast? I live in Corindi Beach and am a Gumbaynggirr descendant from the Garby Elders of Northern Lowlands of Gumbaynggirr nation. My grandmother, Joyce Taylor, was born at Pipe Clay Lake in Corindi, and my family have lived here for many generations, so I feel a very deep connection to country and people here. How long have you been creating art, and what have been some of the highlights so far? I have created art most of my life, beginning when I was a small child. My mother said she remembers me bringing drawings home from infants school and noticing how much detail I had incorporated. It was a natural talent that my parents and grandparents encouraged. Some of the highlights so far have been winning competitions as a child, being selected into HSC ARTEXPRESS touring exhibition, winning the inaugural Clarence Valley Indigenous Art Award, receiving the NSW Aboriginal Art Fellowship and a Coffs City Council NAIDOC award and working with Saltwater Freshwater in its early days to establish the SWFW Art Book and living map project. As an artist and curator, I have the benefit of enjoying both my own creations and those of other artists within the region. You produce a wide range of work; what are your favourite mediums at the moment? I just completed an Archibald entry with

You may have seen the public work of local Indigenous artist Alison Williams while wandering around Coffs Harbour. FOCUS caught up with Alison, to find out more about her art practice ... And as a gallery director and curator, she also shares her insight into the role of Indigenous art in the wider community and where it might be headed next. a portrait of Clayton Donovan. I had a lot of connection and awareness. early training in realism and portraiture, but Artistic and cultural expression is now it’s not something I do a lot of these days. I recognised as a fundamental part of building produce more expressive and illustrative types and strengthening social cohesion, resilience of work, which now includes a variety of public and strong cultural identities within Aboriginal art, some of which are very large scale. I also society. The importance of these linkages is have a passion for sculpting and ceramics. I widely acknowledged as essential components adore playing with clay, as it’s such a flexible within government policy frameworks, such as medium. the Closing the Gap agenda. Can you tell us about Artistic expression is the themes and stories a platform that brings you explore in your community together, art? educates and stimulates The themes I explore dialogue amongst our Artistic and cultural vary as much as my broader societies. expression is now thoughts. I am driven by Can you tell us a little recognised as a fundamental my cultural connection about your role as part of building and to nature and ancestors. Gallery Director at strengthening social I am inspired by the Yarrawarra Aboriginal cohesion, resilience and coast and seasons, Cultural Centre? strong cultural identities stories and heritage, I have been involved within Aboriginal society. social issues, political with Yarrawarra since its issues, or just creating early art shed days in the for the sake of creating. 1990s. I have had the Can you describe pleasure of watching the some common symbols you use and what centre develop over the years and am proud to they represent? have been instrumental in establishing Wadjar Tally marks are a symbol that I use to Regional Indigenous Gallery. represent ancient connection to country or My role as director has many responsibilities, traditional practices, and trees are a very such as developing exhibition programs, common design element in my work. delivering public programs, training staff, When I work with school groups, I try to sourcing funding for projects, advocating for incorporate local symbols to educate the education and working with school groups children and get them creatively thinking and and supporting regional Aboriginal artists using that type of language. through exhibition and purchasing arts and What role does creating art play in the crafts for the gallery gift shop. We also have wider Indigenous community? a small keeping place, which falls under my Our Indigenous artists are contemporary portfolio, that houses a significant collection storytellers and advocates for cultural of archaeological items tracking almost 4,000

years of North East Lowland Gumbaynggirr history. Where do you think contemporary Indigenous art is heading at the moment? I see the opening up of many mediums in contemporary works - large scale installations projected on to the opera house, film, sculptural works and many more public art installations, with exciting new design elements that often still draw from traditional motifs and story. You also curate exhibitions. What do you look for when putting an exhibition of Indigenous art together? That depends on whether there is a theme to the exhibition. We are fortunate to have a large amount of established and emerging Aboriginal artists living on the Mid North and North Coast who create in a variety of mediums. I like to have different elements within exhibitions, from two dimensional, three dimensional and animated installations. I have established many friendships and strong working relationships with the Aboriginal artists from this region and have a sound knowledge of their arts practice and transferable skills, so if I can get the artist involved in public programs, all the better. Where can people see more of your work? Apart from public art around Coffs Harbour (city centre, railway station, hospital) and some public art in South Grafton, I have a permanent foyer display at Coffs Harbour ETC. I exhibit at DNAAG in Kempsey, Armidale Aboriginal Cultural Centre, Yarrawarra and I have a website and a Facebook page. www.indigenousinteriors.com.au Thanks Alison. Coffs Coast focus 41

focusinterview.

L O W

B L O W S

A L B U M

T O U R

Meg Mac is on tour with her new album, “Low Blows”, and will be performing in Coffs

Harbour on the 28th September and at Festival Of The Sun this December in Port Macquarie. FOCUS catches up with Megan, to find out all about her latest tour …

T

o give the readers a little of your history, since winning the triple j Unearthed competition in 2014, describe your journey so far … I uploaded my first song to triple j Unearthed and it started to get some radio play, then things started to move on from there. After winning the Unearthed competition, I recorded an EP, then I went overseas to America and toured around from there. Now I have just released my debut album, Low Blows. With so many genres these days, where do you class yourself? I guess, most of all I’m a singer/songwriter and I play the piano, so it always starts from there. However, it wasn’t until I started releasing music and putting it out there that I started hearing what people would say about it. I guess people class me in the soul element. But I think of myself as a singer/songwriter/piano player. You perform on stage at huge festivals such as Splendour in the Grass, as well as more intimate gigs on tour. Is there a different mentality that goes into preparing for each of these situations? Yes, definitely. The intimate shows I get to have more of the special moments; I get to play the keyboard by myself, and I like to do songs where I play on a loop pedal, so it’s just me playing. When I do an intimate venue, it’s quiet enough to have those special moments. When we do the festivals, we try to keep everything high energy and with so many people buzzing around, you have to keep up the energy. I do like both events; in the intimate gigs you get to talk to the audience more, where in the festival events it’s harder to do that. Well, it would be different with 10,000 people screaming at you … Yeah, and that has its own excitement about it. It is so exciting to play in front of that many people with all that energy. But I do love every 42 Coffs Coast focus

Your sister, Hannah, sings in the band too. type of show, as they’re all different. What’s it like having a friend, confidant and With your current tour, what can people sister working with you? expect? It’s fun. I guess people say siblings always sing Now that I have my album, that came out a well together; it’s always really easy to just sing. few weeks ago, I will be playing a lot of new There are so many harmonies in my songs. When songs … I’ll be playing probably the whole I write my songs, I’m always writing them with album, really. So, it has a lot of energy and my harmonies in mind; with so many vocals all over band will be touring with me, but it will have my album, I really need the live singers to be those moments where it’s just me and the piano. there with me, to make the tracks feel alive. I’ll try my best to play all the songs and also have Tell us about the track, Kindness, on your a few surprises in there too. new album. It has a very different sound and For such a softly spoken person to transform seems to pay homage to past divas ... into a vocal powerhouse, what’s your rouYeah, I was singing it and having some fun tine before a show? with the delivery; it’s not Yes, I’ll always warm up as emotional, maybe. It’s before a show to get my voice ready. But I guess kinda got some attitude. the singing is kinda where It actually came together When I write my I feel more comfortable. with two different song songs, I’m always I’m not nervous about ideas, which is pretty writing them with singing; I feel more obvious when you hear harmonies in mind. comfortable when I’m the chorus come in. I had With so many vocals doing that, and it’s not heaps of fun with that all over my album, I as scary as having to do song, because I have never really need the live singers interviews! really written a song like to be there with me, to So, do you find the that, and it has a really fun make the tracks feel alive. interview process more aspect about it. I can’t wait nerve-racking than to do that one on tour. thousands of screaming On tour with D’Angelo fans? in the US, you adopted some new accessoAhh, yeah (laughs). ries, aka the signature hat - and I believe You recorded and released your new album, you broke your foot too! On your recent Low Blows, in the US. Did you find the protravels, have you picked up any new styles cess more immersive than having recorded it or stitches? in Australia? Well, at Splendour I wore a cream suit, like an Well, I chose to make the album in Niles City all cream suit (with a hat, of course), and I always Sound in Texas, and I wanted to make the album wear black or dark colours; I don’t know why, but with those guys because together we brought my I was like, I want to wear a white suit. So, I feel songs to life. We’d take a piano demo I’d written I may be kind of getting into suits lately? That at home and play with the band; it was actually might be my latest thing. But, I’m still doing the way more exciting in the studio. As in, we’d play hat! a song live as a band, recording them live, so I Tell us: is it true that you used to sing quietly kinda had to throw myself into it. into your phone at night, so as not to wake

the family? Yeah, it is. I can be a bit self conscious when I’m songwriting, so if my housemates can hear me or at family houses and stuff, I’ll just play the piano and sing really quietly. When I wrote Every Lie, the beginning was written because I was trying to be really quiet, but it turned into that staccato intro, that came from me trying to write quietly. But if I’m home alone, I’ll be singing so loud! What’s the hardest thing about what you do? Well, I guess you just have to keep going; it never stops. I can’t finish at the end of the day and go, “OK, it’s time to go to bed now”. You’re just continuously thinking about, or you wake up in the middle of the night, to get up and write something down; it’s constant. But, that’s one of the best things about it too. When you’re not performing, what’s Meg Mac doing? Well, besides singing a lot at home, I love op-shopping - finding cool things for two dollars. I end up wearing that stuff on stage. There’s a shop near me that has a rack that usually has stuff I’d wear on stage; however, I went back to that rack recently and it didn’t have anything, so I guess it’s not my rack anymore! Thanks Meg, and good luck with the tour.

COFFS EX SERVICES When 28th September Where Coffs Ex Services, Coffs Harbour. Tickets $39.80, available from kingdomsounds.oztix.com.au FOTSUN When 7th, 8th and 9th December 2017. Where Port Macquarie Breakwall Holiday Park, Port Macquarie. Tickets Available from tickets.fotsun.com

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focusinterview.

he funniest comedians from this year’s Sydney Comedy Festival are hitting the road and bringing all-star comedy showcases to a range of locations in every state of Australia - playing to audiences in over 60 different towns! The tour is coming to Port Macquarie, Coffs Harbour, Armidale, and Tamworth, with an epic comedy line up expertly curated from this year’s festival, sure to leave audiences sore from belly laughs! Headlining the Showcase is Luke Heggie, whose hilarious no-nonsense brand of comedy has made him one of the most in-demand comics in the Australia and a recipient of the coveted Director's Choice Award at Sydney Comedy Festival, among others. FOCUS caught up with Luke for a quick chinwag … Hi Luke. The Showcase kicked off a little while ago. What’s the tour been like so far? The line ups change each run, but the ones I have been on have been unreal. I daresay the others without me were nearly as good. You have been chosen for more than a handful of the showcase locations; any particular reason, do you think? There’s no real substitute for quality. Well, there is - but I don’t want to talk about that. When it comes to humour, what do you find funny? I find people falling over and really hurting themselves incredibly funny. Aside from that, there are a lot of top Australian standups out there most people have never heard of. Hopefully punters manage to discover one on the Mid North Coast. As your humour is considered rather dry, how do you smooth people over when you’ve properly offended someone at a show, or you’ve taken a joke too far? My standard M.O. is to thank a disgruntled crowd member for their critique after a show, then follow them to

the carpark and bash them. It tends to discourage further problems. Although, I’m open to suggestion. It’s impossible to predict what people will get offended by, but selfishly, it’s always something to do with themselves. Online is where the best abuse happens. It’s always delivered by qualified comedy aficionados in a well thought out manner. They don’t just let any old slob get Facebook. Looking back, how do you feel your "style" has changed or evolved? I have limited the amount of one-liners in my sets now. I still love them, but most people can’t listen to more than about 10 minutes' worth, at a stretch. You’ve written and performed a myriad of shows now. How do you keep things fresh? Idiots are everywhere. They proliferate better than the rest of us and will never stop being idiots. It’s just a case of keeping your eyes open and being ready to grab something from mid-air at any time. If you weren’t doing comedy, what do you think you’d be doing? Probably lifting heavy stuff for money. This is better. Plans for the next 12 months and three days? Five or six nights a week of gigs. Learning some bonsai, riding my bike around, and attending to my chronic health issues (if any arise). Thanks Luke.

Don’t miss out on seeing Luke at the Sydney Comedy Festival Showcase. Coffs Harbour - NSW. Thursday, September 14, 2017. 7:30pm - 9:30pm. C.ex Coffs.

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Coffs Coast focus 43

The P

COME VISIT US AT

Coffs Harb ou r’s

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Hair at the P R O M E N A D E It’s Hair at the Promenade’s aim to make your time in their salon your special time-out!

A

boutique hairdressing salon situated on Coffs Creek in the Promenade Centre, Hair at the Promenade’s small and intimate salon is flooded with natural sunlight and is a warm and welcoming environment. With decades of hairdressing experience, Michelle, Jodie and salon assistant Vicki aim to always make your salon visit personalised, relaxing and fun. They pride themselves on their loyal client base, excellent hairdressing skills and providing a quiet, tranquil and genuinely

Relax by e Waterside...

Sign up to receive our e-news at coffspromenade.com.au Follow us on or

COR NER POST

CREATIVE

321 Harbour Drive Coffs Harbour info@coffspromenade.com.au www.coffspromenade.com.au

44 Coffs Coast focus

friendly atmosphere. They offer extended trading hours for their clientele who might work during the day, as it’s always their aim to be as accommodating as possible. Find Hair at the Promenade on Facebook and Instagram. FOCUS OFFER: 10% off any hair service if you mention this article! Call us for a complete salon experience: 6651 4228.

green room

G A L L E R Y

For your good vibe retail therapy, visit Greenroom gallery - the little eco-minded boutique on the Promenade by Cos Creek, where you get personal and friendly help in a relaxed atmosphere.

T

his is where you’ll find bamboo and natural fibres like organic cotton, hemp and silk. Their clothes are comfortable, trans-seasonal, timeless basics for work or play and suit women of every shape. Bamboo is ideal to travel in, and the vibrant silk kaftans are delicious garments, perfect to take on your cruise. Accessorise with colourful pure silk scarves and jewellery. With experience and honest care, Charlotte can assist with styles and colours to help you find what you’re looking for. After seven years in business, their passion is still to offer a place for the conscious shopper with a heart for ethical fashion. They source worldwide from suppliers that take environmental and social responsibility. Stocking well-known Aussie

labels as well as minor brands, imported and unique to Australia. Brands such as Nomads Hempwear are popular with younger women, but most labels suit any age. And for the men, they have T-shirts, socks and underwear. Greenroom gallery is also home to the vivid ocean art by Wayne French. Original oils or acrylics are available, as well as reproductions of any size, and adorn the walls of the store. Charlotte’s monthly newsletter is popular with customers, and you can find them on Facebook and Instagram. FOCUS OFFER: Mention this article during September to receive a bonus gift voucher with your purchase. www.greenroomgallery.com.au

Lily & Fox Boutique East Coast Cabinets A recent survey just completed has brought to our attention the differences between Sydney and the regional areas. Our main sources of work are commercial projects, new homes and renovations of homes and units. This area has some new unit development, but it’s a very small percentage of the market as a whole. However, in the capital cities, units and apartments are currently the major focus of both new work and renovations. How will this affect the developers, building trades, local business and/or owners and tenants in the future? Are our local officials looking at these things and planning accordingly? Are we asking the right questions and following up for answers, or are we all drifting? Think about it. Congratulations go to the owners of 43 Ocean Street, Woolgoolga, on the completion of their prestigious home, and best wishes with the sale. Solitary Designer Homes have used their expertise to perfection in the whole building process, and we thank them for including us in a wonderful opportunity to do something different from the norm. Projects such as this one benefit the status of the whole area, affecting valuations and overall outlook. Have a good month, Deb.

Lily and Fox Boutique is a boutique store tucked away in Cinema Walk Arcade in the Coffs CBD. We are passionate about bringing beautiful women’s boutique clothing and the latest trends of fashion and accessories at an affordable price to the Coffs area. We stock many Australian designed brands of fashion, and we also have a range of other products in store - from our organic vegan skincare, to our soy candles, which have been hand poured in Australia, to our range of bohemian jewellery. As the weather is warming up, we are getting ready for spring and summer. There are heaps of stunning pieces, and something for everyone. Lily and Fox Boutique is a local store which has introduced AFTERPAY to our online store - meaning locals can AFTERPAY their new look online, then pop in and pick it up in store to instantly have their new clothes, with the pay later interest free option. To see our new stock arriving weekly, make sure to follow our Instagram and Facebook page, to ensure that you keep up with the latest fashion on the Coffs Coast. We are open Monday to Friday, 9 - 5 and Saturday 10 - 2, or feel free to shop online anytime. IG - lilyandfoxboutique FB - Lily & Fox Boutique www.lilyandfoxboutique.com

Love & Kisses Judy’s just back from buying lots of great new stock at the Melbourne trade fairs again, and she says her Top 10 favourites among all the goodies arriving right now at Love & Kisses are: • Watches from Denmark - every colour of the rainbow - sleek Scandinavian design. • A new brand of rustic leather unisex satchels and bags. • "MOR" handcreams, soaps and perfumes, made in Australia. • Meditation rings - spin and wish - sterling silver. • Little self-watering glass planters. • "Mad Men" skincare and gifts for blokes - brand new to Australia. • Jewellery from bicycle parts - handmade in Melbourne. • Wash-off non-toxic nail polish for kids, from Germany. • Sterling silver harmony ball necklaces - a lovely keepsake. • Socks - new stock of the great Otto & Spike socks from Bendigo - unisex, made in Australia using Australian cotton, wild colours and patterns - even the paper wrapper and plastic hook are made in Aus. Good overseas Christmas gifts! Do call in to Love & Kisses each time you’re in the town centre, and check out what new things have arrived … There will be something different almost every day. It’s fun to be first with the newest, and it’s just such a happy place to browse.

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WITH CAROLE BEROS FROM LE DÃIN DESIGNS

Rebecca O’Hearn, David Hahn

Christina Monneron and Andreas Ibold

Carole Beros, Jem Atkinson

Kay Ryan, Ivan Beros, Jill Bale

Leanne Zietsch, Adelaide Zietsch

Max Wood, Emma Binns

Glenn, Marree Aylward

Jackie James, Julie Armstrong, Karen Pinkstone

Janine Rayner, Kerrianne Rayner

Social /Scene

I

was always fascinated with the RSL and social clubs when I arrived way back then. It wasn’t the poker machines that impressed me; it was the opportunities that were available to people who probably might spend too much time alone at home. We have dined at the Sawtell RSL a few times just recently, something we haven’t done in years! Every night we watched different groups arrive to enjoy darts, snooker, cards, bingo and a dancing club (with more energy than me!) swirl around the dance floor to the sounds of an Elvis impersonater. With all these opportunities and the fabulous weather … What an amazing place the Coffs Coast is to live … How lucky are we! Creating new opportunities is part of what FOCUS is all about. I am proud of and love being part of the FOCUS team. We recently just launched one our social events, which was the Men in Business get together staged at the Coast Hotel in Coffs Harbour. This is the first of many, and this evening had close to fifty FOCUS guests enjoy some down time after work. Along with a few laughs, a touch of networking, attendees enjoyed a couple of drinks and some delicious finger food. The next one will be the Women in Business Social Event. We will keep you posted … Watch this space! Lots of fun was had at the races just recently, with the Sawtell Cup and of course, the big one,

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Socialising is good for us, and reading about others enjoying themselves and how they spend their leisure time hopefully encourages people to try something new and results in making new friends.

being our super popular Coffs Harbour Golf Cup. The Gold Cup sees numbers up in the thousands (over 6,500 attendees) travel here to enjoy the racing event. Mother Nature smiled, with the weather being glorious, which just made the day more enjoyable. With Le Dãin Designs being one of the major sponsors, we had tables up in the corporate area, and as usual the food was delicious. A few flutters were made, and few wins were had! Just enough to have a bit of fun and keep us entertained. There was, of course, the Park Beach Fashions on the Field, and the competition was high. The ladies looked stunning and the gentlemen looked dapper, making it extremely difficult for the judges to make their choice. I definitely wouldn’t want the job of being on the panel … Too hard to make the final choices! Sashes were won and the races were exciting, making it another successful event. FOCUS had its own super fabulous maquee, where I hear lots of fun was had by one and all! The next race days to look forward to are the Coffs Harbour Melbourne Cup Race Day and in December the new Le Dãin Designs Summer Cup, which falls just before New Year’s Eve. It sounds ridiculous, but lots of businesses are planning their Christmas parties and The Summer Cup Race day has fabulous luncheon packages, so this event could be the ideal staff Christmas party or early New Year’s Eve

event. Book early, if it’s anything like last year! For bookings, call 6652 1488. The Coffs Harbour Chamber of Commerce 2017 Sunny Awards were staged at the C.ex Coffs Harbour just recently, and as per usual the night had event guests enjoy delicious food, entertainment and the excitement of joining local business owners celebrate the achievements, both individual and collective, of the Coffs Harbour business community. Some of the night’s award winners, to name but a few, were Total Gardens and Landscape Supplies and Moonee Beach Tavern, who were dual winners, and both businesses were presented with “Business of the Year Awards”. DFM Financial won the “Excellence in Business” award, and the “Special Judges’ Award” went to Marion Atcheson from Dreamtime Day Spa.

Nidhi and renowned Australian chef Christine Mansfield, Indian Bhangra, and Gidha Dancing. As usual, you will be able to peruse the tempting market stalls and experience the delicious dishes the Curryfest has to offer. The event is on Saturday 30th September, so save the date.

We attended the 29th Rotary Cartoon Awards Night just recently. The Bunker Cartoon Gallery was packed to the max, and guests enjoyed the fun and entertainment of the night. The MC for the evening was Cardigan Comics Cartoonist Bernard Caleo, who never fails to entertain the crowd. Musical entertainment was provided by “Face of the Moon”. Another great night out at the Coffs Harbour Bunker Cartoon Gallery.

The Stars of the Coffs Coast Dance for Cancer Event is on the horizon. This brings along a string of pre fundraising events, which the stars are involved with before the big night. A lot of hard work goes into these events, and the stars have to fit their dancing practise in between. Trudy and Andrew Thomson will be holding one of their fundraisers at the beautiful picturesque Two Tails Winery on 24th September. The event is called “The Picnic in the Vines”, and I definitely think this will include delicious dishes. The tickets will be available next week via sticky tickets. Another of these fundraising events to look forward to is the Cocktail Evening at SUPPLY for Adelaide and Daniel. The date to save is Friday 1st September, and it’s set to be a fun filled event. The ticket price is $35, which includes a complimentary drink, tickets for lucky door prizes, canapés and live entertainment. So dress yourselves up and come and have some fun! Tickets available through sticky tickets.

A colourful and vibrant event to look forward to is the ever popular Curryfest Woolgoolga. The “Cooking Zone” includes MasterChef 2016’s

Here is to … Stopping to smell the roses … Carole, Le Dãin Designs.

focus_contributor

WITH CAROLE BEROS FROM LE DĂƒIN DESIGNS

Dr John Wenman, Barbara Wenman

Scott James, Jackie James

Nicole Moore, Jayd Urquhart, Karen Jackson, Emma Binns, Adelaide Zietsch

Julie Armstrong, Tony Pinkstone

Alice Williams, Vicky Bamford

Chloe Cooper, Darcy Tees

Christopher Beros, Shelly Lewis

Nicci Seccombe, Emily Dwyer, Natalie Hunt, Louise Beaumont, Lace Browning

Robyn and David Laarhoven

Men In Business launch

Lisa and Gareth Owen

Men In Business launch

Men In Business launch

Men In Business launch

Men In Business launch

Men In Business launch

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101 THINGS TO DO THE BIG BANANA FUN PARK The Big Banana Fun Park is the BIGGEST Fun Park on the Northern NSW coast! It boasts 7 fantastic attractions including a 17.5m tall Giant Slide, Toboggan ride, Laser Tag arena, 36 hole Mini Golf course, Theatre and Plantation tour, Ice Skating rink and the biggest Water Park between Sydney & the Gold Coast! TRADING: Open 9am to 5pm 7 days (Attractions time vary) ADDRESS: 351 Pacific Highway, Coffs Harbour PHONE: 02 66524355 WEB: www.bigbanana.com

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TWO TAILS WINES Come out and relax at the Winery. Enjoy some wine, local produce and Tapas dishes inside the newly renovated bar and Velvets Restaurant. Orara Vale Vineyard is located approximately 25km northwest of Coff s Harbour at Nana Glen in the heart of Orara Valley. Why would you want to be anywhere else? Bookings are essential. TRADING Tues to Sun 10:30am - 4:30pm Open Monday during school Holidays ADDRESS 963 Orara Way, Nana Glen EMAIL admin@twotailswines.com.au PHONE (02) 66 543 633 WEB twotailswines.com.au

JETTY DIVE SWIM with WHALES

MOONEE BEACH TAVERN

Jetty Dive Centre are starting their new “Swim with Humpback Whales” trips at the end of August. This new adventure trip involves joining Jetty Dive on their fast boat for an extended 3 to 4 hour Whale Watching and Swimming trip. During this time, when the opportunity exists, the snorkelers enter the water and wait for the Humpback Whales to swim over to them. As Humpback Whales are curious mammals, the chances are high that you will see them underwater. PHONE (02) 66 511611 A 398 Harbour Drive Coffs Harbour E mail@jettydive.com.au

Award winning “Best Family Friendly Venue”, Moonee Beach Tavern has a focus on providing for the whole family. Featuring numerous activities for the kids including, Jumping Castle, Putt Putt Golf, Ping Pong Table, Junior Jungle Gym, Climbing Wall & Activities Room you be sure to enjoy your time with family at Moonee. Check out the Buskers on the 23rd & 30th of Sep & Pig Racing on the 7th of Oct. PHONE 02 6653 6199 BISTRO 02 6656 4100 COURTESY BUS 02 6653 6199 E info@mooneebeachtavern.com.au W www.mooneebeachtavern.com.au

PADDLE COFFS COAST

MAJESTIC CINEMAS

Coffs Harbour & Northern Beaches only accredited Kayak and Stand Up Paddle board Instructor/Assessor. Learn to improve your paddle skills and safety on your own kayak or SUP - or hire one to learn on: Courses designed to suit the paddler - child to senior - everyone is catered for. Guided tours - kayak or SUP explore. Woolgoolga by water. Woolgoogla Lake - Woolgoolga Bay adrenaline junkies lets ride some waves! All equipment can be supplied or use your own. We may see a dolphin, sea turtles or even a whale! TRADING: Bookings only EMAIL: paddlecoffscoast@gmail.com PHONE: 0418 614 688 WEB: under construction SUMMER SPECIAL Book a group of 6 and 1 person paddles for free.

Movies come alive at Majestic Cinemas Nambucca Heads and Sawtell. You’ll see the biggest blockbusters, quality Art House titles and the best kids films all at the one place when you visit Majestic Cinemas. Join the Movie Club for ticket and Candy Bar discounts all year round. Purchase your tickets online now! PHONE Sawtell 5621 8101 Nambucca Heads 6568 6677 WEB majesticcinemas.com.au

ADULTS AT CHILDREN’S PRICES Valid until 24th Dec 2017. Not valid with any other offer. Subject to seat availability. Not valid for Special events. Produce voucher at the Box office to receive discount.

101THINGS TO DO ON THE COFFS COAST

SPRING INTO COFFS COAST EVENTS IN SEPTEMBER

BENDIGO BANK COFFS HARBOUR RUNNING FESTIVAL SEPTEMBER 3

WOOLGOOLGA CURRYFEST SEPTEMBER 23

This annual community event is for people of all ages and abilities and consists of a 21.1 kilometre half marathon, 10 kilometre fun run, five kilometre fun run, and a three kilometre family fun run/walk. Held on a picturesque bush trail on the Coffs Creek Walkway, the flat, shady track is perfect for runners. It hugs the beautiful Coffs Creek and competitors run over floating boardwalks, through swamp forests of mangrove, casuarina and paperbark trees, from the centre of town to the coast and back. The event raises funds for local children’s charities including Life Education Australia, Coffs Coast Autism, Camp Quality and the Early Childhood Intervention Program Coffs Harbour. www.villagesports.com.au

What began as a community celebration of Woolgoolga’s unique Punjabi heritage has evolved into so much more. On Saturday September 23, the beach reserve and main street is lined with food and market stalls where visitors can enjoy the wondrous curries and other special foods on offer. Chefs will show off their skills in the Cooking Demo area, there is a dedicated Kids Zone, with rides, activities and entertainment, and local teachers share knowledge and expertise free of charge in the Yoga & Meditation tent. The week-long event begins with Movies on the Beach on September 22, and ends with Eat Street on September 30. Masterchef 2016 contestant Nidhi Mahajan will also host cooking classes during this week.

COFFS HARBOUR INTERNATIONAL BUSKERS & COMEDY FESTIVAL SEPT 23 TO OCT 1

BELLINGEN (FINE) MUSIC FESTIVAL SEPTEMBER 21 TO 24

The festival is an eight day celebration of Australian and overseas busking performances, extending from Woolgoolga in the north to Toormina in the south. Locals and visitors can expect a week of fun, laughter, mischief, mayhem and surprises. Feature events include a return to the City Centre for three days, the incredibly popular KIDS DAY, adult comedy shows at the Pier Hotel and Seaview Tavern, family shows at the Hoey Moey and Moonee Tavern, plus shows at Toormina Gardens, the Harbourside Markets, and the Botanic Gardens. There are more than 20 acts from around the globe including USA Guinness World Record holder Pogo Fred and ‘Rubber Band Man’ Shay Horay from NZ. www. coffsharbourbuskers.com

This major annual event is proudly organised and presented by the Bellingen Community Arts Council and is now in its eighth year. Over the weekend, the lovely town of Bellingen comes alive with music in the streets, parks, cafes and especially in the Bellingen Memorial Hall with its admired acoustics. The festival brings sublime classical music and musicians with international standing to the beautiful Bellinger Valley and inspires and supports young musicians through its highly regarded Music-By-Youth initiative. Renowned piano duo Elena Kats-Chernin and Tamara-Anna Cislowska will feature in the festival line-up and there will be numerous concerts, an art exhibition, choral performances, workshops, a composer slam and more, for music lovers of all ages. www.bellingenmusicfestival.com.au

For more events click on coffscoast.com.au

DISCOVER THE BEST PLACES TO STAY, EAT, DRINK AND PLAY! Download the FREE Coffs Coast travel APP for apple iPhones, iPads, android devices and tablets.

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WITH STEPHEN SAUNDERS OF TOURISM COFFS COAST

buskers International

tourism

F E S T I V A L

UPDATE

The Waterfall Way. An iconic road trip links our region’s highlands to the ocean … and now the spectacular Waterfall Way is celebrated in a new marketing campaign.

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he Waterfall Way connects the Pacific Highway at Urunga, near Coffs Harbour, with the New England Highway at Armidale, and true to its name, the route between the coast and mountains via the Nambucca Valley, Bellingen and Dorrigo passes many waterfalls on its 185 km length. These include the majestic Crystal Falls, Casurina Falls and Dangar Falls near Dorrigo, the Ebor Falls, and Wollomombi Falls, which at more than 200 metres is one of the highest falls in Australia. During the 2.5 hour scenic drive the Waterfall Way also traverses five National Parks and numerous Nature Reserves, a number of which are listed as World Heritage Areas by UNESCO and form part of the Gondwana Rainforest of Australia. Flanked at each end by established destinations, an amazing array of spectacular natural wonders can be enjoyed travelling in either direction at a leisurely pace. The new television commercial, created by award-winning media production company Good Eye Deer, seeks to capture the spectacle and awe of this amazing journey, showcasing experiences in nature such as bush walking, trout fishing, picnics and swimming in rivers and beaches, while also transporting viewers through lush green farmlands to the streetscapes and laid-back lifestyles of local villages and towns. Over the last 12 months Coffs Coast (Coffs Harbour and Bellingen Councils) has developed and rolled out a new tourism strategy that targets key growth markets, including young couples and families who are looking to experience a nature based holiday. This new

Waterfall Way project continues on from the “Create Your Paradise” campaign and reinforces the same strong brand message. Historically, the Waterfall Way has been promoted in a somewhat traditional and lowkey manner, and one of the challenges has been the number of local government areas which the route passes through and connects. The opportunity for collaboration to achieve a better collective result has now been realised. The councils of Coffs Harbour, Bellingen, Nambucca and Armidale have worked together to promote the unique drive experience of the Waterfall Way, not only an important connecting route, but also a destination and experience in its own right. Both Armidale and Coffs Harbour have important regional airports with direct connections to both Brisbane and Sydney, presenting the opportunity to generate more visitors to the area through the promotion of fly-drive packages. The hinterland areas have the opportunity to attract visitors from the coast, and coastal towns will benefit from visitors travelling from the highlands. Areas in between such as Dorrigo and Bellingen will benefit from the increase of two-way traffic. The local Councils now have the shared objective of increasing visitation to our region and stimulating demand for tourism-related businesses along the Waterfall Way. The new TV ad is currently being broadcast across regional NSW, and you can view it on www.mywaterfallway.com - and if you’re out and about on the Waterfall Way, use our local hashtag #MyWaterfallWay on your images and social media posts to share them.

To find out more about a BDC education, register for a tour or receive an information pack please email enrolments@bdc.nsw.edu.au or phone 02 6651 5644

Enrolling Now 2018 Kindy to Year 12 LIMITED places available

Bishop Druitt College | 111 North Boambee Rd. Coffs Harbour NSW 2450 02 6651 5644 | secretary@bdc.nsw.edu.au | www.bdc.nsw.edu.au

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focus_travel W I T H K E R R Y M O S S F R O M Q U A D R A N T T R A V E L As a travel specialist, the experienced team can assist you with all of your travel needs, including flights, packages, cruises and coach touring.

Quadrant Australia. Quadrant Australia have been tempting travellers with special interest tours for more than 30 years across five continents. As a travel specialist, the experienced team can assist you with all of your travel needs, including flights, packages, cruises and coach touring.

is the ability to experience a destination without worrying about the travel details, such as transfers, hotels, meals and much more. So if you’re looking for first-class touring with the personal touch, then Quadrant Australia’s tours have the right mix for you.

As well as being a travel agent, they are delighted to bring a unique product to the Coffs Coast region. Quadrant Australia share their knowledge and contacts, to allow the traveller experiences that they can’t get on their own. It might be dinner at a local farmhouse in Ireland, or preferred seating at the world’s greatest rodeo, The Calgary Stampede. With more than 30 special interest tours departing each year, Quadrant Australia are sure to have an option for you.

Coach touring takes all the worry out travelling. It’s an opportunity to travel in comfort and style at an all-inclusive price, including airfares from Australia, accommodation, transport, entrance fees and the majority of the meals. Travellers enjoy the freedom to make their own choices with the support of qualified and knowledgeable tour leaders.

Kerry Moss from Quadrant Australia tells us that there has been a rush of enquiry for the 2018 tours - and little wonder, with new destinations such as Sri Lanka, Cuba and Iceland. One of the greatest benefits of escorted travel

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Quadrant Australia also operate special interest tours within Australia, and overseas to Canada, USA, Europe, South America and Africa. They do have limited space available for their 2017 tours and their 2018 tours are filling fast, so if you’d like to find out more, visit their website or drop in to see the team in Vernon St, Coffs Harbour.

Tips for Travellers

Is Cruising for you? We asked our travel writer, Kerry Moss, why cruising is so popular now. Here are a few of the compelling reasons why maybe you could consider cruising for your next getaway.

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ruising Offers Great Value Cruises offer great value, because the upfront cost includes so much. Most cruises include food, accommodation, daytime and evening entertainment, and transportation between destinations. Some even include drinks and day excursions. Extra costs or spending money is at your own discretion. Unpack your bag once; wake up in a different place every day. On a cruise, you unpack your bag once, whilst your floating hotel takes you somewhere different every day. It might be an exotic city or a tropical island, but every morning you’ll wake in a new place, without having to lug your suitcase along sandy beaches or cobblestone streets. Cruise ships are family friendly If you are struggling to find a holiday that suits everyone from babies to grandparents, then consider a cruise. Cruises are fun for all ages, with activities for everyone from your five year old niece to your 85 year old grandmother. Cruise ships come in all shapes and sizes What one person may love, another may not. The ideal cruise ship for you could be the mighty ships' complete state of the art activities and facilities, whilst your neighbour might prefer an intimate ship with a warm ambience and silent glances. Fortunately, there are a large range of options available, including large ship, small ship, ocean cruising and river cruising. So many activities, so little time Cruise ships are designed to keep everyone happy. Whether it’s a pamper day at the spa or having a flutter at the casino, lounging by the pool or educating yourself at wine appreciation class, there is never a dull moment on board a cruise ship.

If, however, you’re after a relaxing holiday where the kids are entertained while you lay by the pool sipping cocktails, then there’s a cruise itinerary for you too. If that’s not enough options, each time you dock you can fill your days with the myriad of choices for shore excursions. Visit local villages, stroll through museums, or take walking tours through the historical streets, then head back to your luxury floating accommodation for the night. Ships are floating cities If you think you’re going to be left without all the creature comforts, then you’ll be mistaken. Cruise ships have everything you could possibly want onboard. If you really want to stay in touch with the mainland, there is Wi-fi, internet and live news channels. Onboard there are shops, doctors, laundries, gyms, movie theatres, swimming pools and a large choice of dining options. You’ll run out of time before you run out of facilities. Let’s get social If you’re a single traveller and want to meet people from around the world, then cruising provides ample opportunity to make new friends. Or, if you’ve been assigned the task of organising the family holiday for 20 of your nearest and dearest, then one visit to your travel agent and it’s all sorted: transport, accommodation, meals and activities. Once onboard, you’ll meet people at your dinner table, during the activities or by the pool, and if you wish to stay anonymous, then the ships are large enough to avoid running into the same people time and time again. Pick a destination … There are hundreds of them! If you’d like to know more about the diverse range of destinations and cruise styles, drop in to see the team at Quadrant Australia in Vernon St, Coffs Harbour.

buskers International

F E S T I V A L

The Coffs Harbour International Buskers & Comedy Festival from Sept 23 - Oct 1.

Locals and visitors to the Coffs Coast are waiting excitedly as the September school holidays approach - and with good reason. The Coffs Harbour International Buskers & Comedy Festival is set to be unleashed on an eager public, and promoter John Logan is equally excited. “This year the festival will cover two weekends and features a great line up of Aussie and International acts. The three nights of adult comedy at the Pier Hotel are set to be the strongest ever, and Geoff King Motors KIDS’ DAY is back with a bang on Tues 26th at the racecourse. We have four days in the city centre, and a few new venues to launch,” John said. Feature acts include BEAT THE STREETS, who

featured on CH 10 So You Think You Can Dance, the infamous RUBBERBAND BOY from NZ, KATE DYNAMITE, whom young ones would know from ABC’s Hoopla Doopla, two of the UK’s finest in DAN THE HAT and GREAT DAVE, and the biggest contingent of local acts to date. John is very proud of incorporating local acts into the program. ”It gives them a platform for expression in front of big and appreciative audiences,” he added. Dates are Sept 23 - Oct 1, and more info is available via the website: www.coffsharbourbuskers.com or call (02) 6652 8266 BH.

Crafty • Black hops pale ale •

The crew at Element Bar on the Coffs Jetty Strip have just whacked on their taps one of the hottest new beers to hit the craft beer scene, Black Hops Brewery’s Pale Ale. Based in Burleigh Heads QLD, these guys have truly delivered a pale with a big bold crisp flavour, perfectly balanced with incredible tropical hop aromas. If there is ever the perfect beer to match the sunshine season, this is it !!

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Health Wellbeing focushealth

and

Unlimited data on Optus nbn

WITH LAUREN VESTEY FROM LIVING DOLL

™

The Layered Bob

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$

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Minimum total cost over 24 months $1,440

Spring is just around the corner, and oh ... how we can’t wait! But, feeling you’ve let yourself go over winter? You don’t need to do anything drastic to your face or your body if you want to take years off it. Sometimes all you need is a nice, flattering haircut to make you look years younger. Maybe a new hair colour, or some soft curls, or some wispy bangs.

T Park Beach Plaza | Toormina Gardens | Coffs Harbour CBD Fair Go Policy applies. Available in selected premises in selected areas.

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he layered bob worn by Diane Keaton is a fun and flirty way to take years off your face. We especially love the dimension this haircut gives to the hair. Add highlights and textured pieces to make this hairstyle both casual and yet classy enough to be worn to any special event! If you want to up the sexiness and elegance factor without having to use too much hair product or make too many visits to the hair salon, this is the kind of hairstyle that you should be wearing. It’s a hairstyle that will look great on fine hair, thick hair, or curly hair; it’s the pixie cut. And no matter which hair colour you have, it will still be a showstopper! If you want to experiment with curls, make sure you don’t end up with pageant hair. Go for something natural, like Michelle Pfeiffer’s loose, carefree waves. To get her young-looking locks,

rake a tangerine-sized dollop of light-hold mousse from the roots of your hair to the ends. Let your hair air-dry, then wrap sections of it in various sizes around a medium-barrel curling iron for about five seconds each. Make sure your hair doesn’t look too done. Finish up by running your fingers through your hair to break up your curls. Be careful with blonde colors. If you go too light, you’ll look like you have a baby chicken on your head. It will also make your face look brittle and older. To look younger, opt for an ashier blonde, with a darker color on your roots. By doing so, you add more dimension to your hair and definitely more life to your look! Adding a full fringe will make you look instantly younger. It will look great on short hair or long hair, straight or curly. It can instantly transform your look and your face. Have fun looking 10 years’ younger, ladies. XO Dolls.

KABOODLE Body Beauty. Kaboodle Body Beauty offers EMERGE Fractional Laser. Fractional Laser skin resurfacing is a proven approach to skin rejuvenation with minimal downtime. EMERGE Fractional Laser drives thousands of individual columns of light deep into the epidermis and down into the dermis layer of the skin, leaving the surrounding tissue unaffected. Slowly, over many weeks, the body’s natural healing process then rebuilds the treated tissue with healthy new tissue containing new collagen and elastin. After each Emerge treatment, you can expect to experience a temporary redness, warmth and minor swelling at the treatment site - similar to sunburn - which typically lasts approx. 24 hours; however, the area may appear slightly reddened for a maximum of a few days. Some clients also experience dry, flaky skin - this is the shedding of the old cells, which become rough as they make their way out of the skin. Would you like to rejuvenate your skin? Kaboodle is offering their successful skin renewal package. Mention this ad to receive the $200 saving. Package consists of six Pelactiv progressive system renewal facials and three Emerge Fractional Laser treatments. Contact us today for your free consultation.

Meet the LIVING DOLL TEAM. Lauren Vestey - Director “Hair is not just about a simple colour and cut, more about what your colour does for your complexion and what cut will give you that much needed lift.” Lauren’s knowledge and experience to the clients who visit wanting that “Living Doll Experience” is second to none. Kate Collins - Manager Kate is one of Living Dolls Premier Stylists; with her years of experience and knowledge she is a real asset to the team. Candice Murphy - Premier Stylist Candice has a passion for everything hairdressing. “I love having the opportunity to look after wonderful people and help them look and feel great.” Tia Ward - Premier Stylist Tia has an eye for style, understanding the first difference to a great hairdressing experience is to really listen and care about what her clients want and desire. Jazmine Nash - Young Gun Stylist Jazmine is our newest member of the team and is already showing such natural talent. Being mentored by all our Premier Stylists, she is sure to be a superstar.

Coffs Coast focus 55

focusinterview.

London Meet Sam.

Meet Chloe. Brow Specialist/CT

London Ivy Owner

When and why did you start your business? Just over three years ago, I was a stay at home mum of a toddler and a newborn. With a background of retail, and no secure career, I began to think of what path to pursue that enabled me to work, but still care for my children as much as possible. After taking an eyelash extension course, what began as a hobby very quickly became a job. Fast forward two years from then, and here I am ... Opening London Ivy! It’s completely crazy to think about how fast it all happened.

NOW OPEN

What makes your business stand out? At London Ivy we focus on only specific treatments within the beauty industry. We have teeth whitening, Russian volume eyelash extensions, special occasion makeup, cosmetic tattooing and waxing. We are extremely passionate about each of our expertise, and the team strive to give every client only the best in our beauty treatments. Alongside that, we also stock Shibora and Loving Tan - both of which are proudly vegan friendly.

Meet Carley.

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What background experience do you bring to your current role? I started out on my hair and beauty journey back in 2002, when I completed my hairdressing pre-apprentice course as a part of my Year 10 certificate and swept floors on Saturday mornings for a salon in South West Rocks. After completing my HSC, I relocated to Sydney for eight years to study makeup, hair and beauty whilst working full-time and working freelance in the makeup industry. I then ended up moving home. During the past three years, I noticed the demand for microblading services within the town and with my brow sculpting clients, so I decided to take the plunge and study cosmetic tattooing. Most rewarding part of your job? It is amazing what a good set of brows can do for one’s confidence - and not only for those who are after the cosmetic enhancement or hassle-free brows, but the clients who have alopecia or are left with minimal brows as a result of chemo or other illness. The smile and thanks that I receive from those clients are what drives me every single day.

Makeup Artist/Waxer

What is your area of expertise? I am a makeup artist and qualified waxer, both of which I have a strong passion for and a slight case of OCD - which is definitely an advantage in this industry. I specialise in bridal makeup, but I love a bright lip or a classic smokey eye for an event or formal.

best part of my job would have to be the feeling

What is the best thing about your job? The

my partner, my business wouldn’t be possible.

of satisfaction I get from making someone truly feel beautiful. Being a makeup artist, I can appreciate a face without makeup, but for so many women it’s so much more than just a product; it’s a form of confidence. However, that being said, without the support of my family and

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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

Megan Whittaker

45 YEAR OLD REGISTERED NURSE

Thank you for such a positive response to last month’s story about Pat Allen. This month we are catching up with Megan Whittaker and her personal trainer, Simone Saunders, to hear her inspiring story. Megan Whittaker is 45 years old, a Registered Nurse at Coffs Harbour Health Campus, recently married this year and the mother of two grown up children, aged 23 and 20.

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hat is your exercise background, Megan? Before joining Coffs Coast Health Club, I had memberships at different gyms over the years. I went through periods of being quite dedicated. When not using a gym, I was walking fairly regularly and then began running. What prompted you to change your lifestyle? The decision to join the club came about when I was getting married. Of course, everyone wants to look their best on their wedding day, so I enlisted Simone to train me and have really noticed changes in my fitness levels and body shape. Has that lifestyle change had a positive effect on you and your family? Exercise and the lifestyle change have definitely had a positive effect on myself and my husband. We both are members of the gym now and train together regularly. We also trained for the City2Surf. We are both shift workers, so it can be difficult at times, but it has definitely been a positive thing for us. Did you find the support from your personal trainer helped you achieve your goals? Absolutely. Simone always keeps me on track, even when I want to stop or give up. She listens to what I want to work on and then tailors my program to fit what I want. She wants to see her clients succeed and has an approach that makes you try to give the best you possibly can. She has definitely helped me achieve my goals of fitness and strength. What goals have you set yourself in the future? 58 Coffs Coast focus

I work in the health industry, and I see a lot of unwell people due to poor lifestyle choices. My goals are now to be fit and strong and to grow old and be physically well. How has your exercise changed since joining Coffs Coast Health Club and doing personal training with Simone? Doing personal training with Simone has made me much more accountable and when you come away feeling strong and like you have achieved something, it flows into all aspects of your life. Personal training challenges you to your limits and makes you realise just what you are capable of. Coffs Coast Health Club is a gym that is friendly and offers a great range of exercise options. I feel comfortable there. What is the most useful advice you could share? Always get some professional input before starting an exercise program, especially if exercise is new to you. Find a gym that makes you feel comfortable and happy to go there. Be prepared to challenge yourself and be challenged by a personal trainer if you have one. To come out of a particularly hard exercise session makes you feel like you can move mountains. It is the best feeling! Exercise will make you feel good about yourself, and moving your body keeps you strong. Find a personal trainer who fits well with you. Simone challenges me and encourages me. Finally, have fun. Find exercise that you enjoy, put some music on, and just go for it. It’s the best! Thanks for sharing, Megan, and if you are looking to kickstart your own inspirational fitness story, call Simone directly on 0402 202 864 or drop in to see the team at either Coffs Coast Health Club Toormina or Moonee, to get started today.

focus_contributor

Community Initiatives

All the way from Canada...

He’s here to help. While moving to the opposite side of the planet is a daunting prospect for many, Mihai Mitrache did it to follow his dream. Having grown up and studied in Canada, the opportunity to complete his Masters in Physiotherapy through the highly acclaimed course at Sydney Uni was too good to pass up. The love of the Australian lifestyle has been what brought him to the Coffs Coast in January. Director of Mid North Coast Physiotherapy, Aaron Hardaker, caught up with Mihai to find out more about his love for helping people and what he can do for you.

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hy should I choose you as my physio? I’ve wanted to become a physiotherapist ever since I was 15 years old and broke my elbow playing gridiron in Canada. After many months of rehab, I was so thankful for all of the work the physio did with me to help me regain the function in my arm and return to playing. At that point, I knew this is what I wanted to do: help people become healthy and active again, and enjoy the things they love doing. Throughout my career I’ve helped professional athletes perform their best, whether it’s in the NFL, NHL or the NRL. However, my goal is to help everyone and anyone! How can you help me? Here are just a few examples of other things I can help you with: 1. Injury prevention Whether you’re playing sports or working a physical job, the best way to stop pain is to prevent it. I can run you through a functional assessment to determine if you’re at risk of injury and use those results to put together a preventative treatment plan for you. 2. Lower back pain You don’t have to live with lower back pain, even if it’s just a niggle. Hands on physio, dry needling, and a little bit of exercise can do wonders to keep your back in great shape, no matter how old you are. 3. Headaches Many headaches actually stem from stiffness

in the neck joints and a postural imbalance of the neck muscles. With a little bit of hands on work and gentle stretching, I can help you reduce the number of headaches you suffer from, all while improving your posture and range of motion in your neck. 4. Post-surgical rehabilitation Whether it’s a knee reconstruction, joint replacement, arthroscopy, or lower back surgery, I can help you regain your function and decrease your pain. In fact, my goal is always to get you back stronger than you were before! 5. Shoulder problems The shoulder joint is the most flexible joint in the whole body, and it’s for that very reason that it’s the joint most often injured. I can help you restore normal function, range, strength, and reduce pain in your shoulder. What’s the best way to find out if you can help? You can give the admin team at Mid North Coast Physio a call and request a FREE assessment with me or one of our other therapists. Come in and find out what’s wrong and what needs to be done to address the problem, with no cost to you. Simply call 1300 273 747 to book at one of our clinics in Woolgoolga, Moonee, Toormina or Urunga - these appointments are limited, so call now. Thanks Mihai. If you would like to see how Mihai can help, Mid North Coast Physio is offering 10 FREE physiotherapy assessments this month. To secure a spot, call 1300 273 747 and mention Coffs Coast FOCUS. Call NOW, before they are all gone.

McDonald’s Coffs Harbour and Nambucca are proud to support local children and groups through their Junior Grants Program. Maintaining an active life can reduce the likelihood of weight-related problems and can improve how one views themselves in their wider community of peers.

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articipating in physical fitness also reduces the risk of stress, depression and other mental health issues, which is a vital step towards managing the pressures of secondary education. Leerah Benson of the Coffs Coast community recently received a grant for her new community venture: a project aimed at empowering girls aged 12 - 17. The grant will support the holistic project, which will allow girls to learn about who they are and whom they want to become, through dance, by assisting with advertising and other related business costs such as insurance and venue hire.

Nationals, which gained her a place on the Australian team to compete at the FISAF World Championships in Martinique, France. Claudia applied for the McDonald’s Junior Grants Program for assistance with her travels and competition-related costs. “I am 14 now, and nothing would make me prouder than to represent Australia again … My mum and dad pay so much out for me to participate in sport. I would just like to be able to give them a helping hand for the upcoming National Championships,” said Claudia in her grant application.

The program “ will explore music, dance and positive thought patterns in a supportive and fun environment.”

“The program will explore music, dance and positive thought patterns in a supportive and fun environment,” stated Leerah. The program will begin in the Coffs Coast community in October.

One of the most versatile sports a teen can choose is aerobics, as it blends aerobics as a cardiovascular activity, with strength training and flexibility. Claudia, 14, of Nana Glen, happens to love competing in Sports Aerobics, which involves traditional aerobics and high-intensity movement patterns, varying in difficulty and performed to music. Claudia has contended in a myriad of events since 2011. Her titles have seen her take out third place in the

Undoubtedly, swimming is another excellent low-impact sport for any age, as it can be enjoyed on an individual level or within a team, improving stamina and promoting heart and lung health.

Thirteen-year-old Tayla Hall of the Sawtell Swimming Club competes in numerous swimming events within the Coffs community and at an interstate and national level. Tayla’s qualifications throughout this year have pushed her forward in her swimming career to the 2017 McDonald’s Queensland Short Course Championships, and the NSW State Age Championships at Sydney Olympic Park. Claudia’s travel and accommodation costs will be relieved with the help of her grant approval. If you are a local child or group who needs assistance with your sporting, academic, cultural or community project, we want to hear from you. Jump on the Grants website and apply today: www.maccasjuniorgrant.com.au Coffs Coast focus 59

June receives the care she needs in her own unit by Freedom Aged Care Personal Carer Ellie.

Brian and David enjoying an afternoon of fishing.

Is this really

care? Recently Brian and David from the Freedom family went on a fishing trip, boating across the bay for a boys’ fishing expedition and to soak in some warm sunshine. FOCUS found out exactly what they got up to ...

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hey enjoyed, reeled in, kissed, actively encouraged to stay over and share the and released their catches, before Freedom amenities and activities, which include sitting down to lunch. In the happy hour, movies, hair and beauty services and afternoon, they had a laid-back even veggie gardens and chook pens! At the heart wander along the shore with a of the Freedom experience is a powerful promise couple of coldies in hand, taking that sets this inspirational aged care network apart in the sun, sand and starfish that had washed up on - “What’s life without freedom?” What indeed? the beach. The sun set as they Those who live here speak cruised back home. passionately about celebrating, At Freedom Aged Care, they sharing and living every embrace the needs and desires moment to the full. Built on of what their residents like three key pillars - Care, Lifestyle Unlike nursing homes, to enjoy, as they receive the and Community - and four family and friends are care and support they need. sacred values - Love, Decency, actively encouraged to Everything about Freedom Aged Kindness and Respect - Freedom stay over and share the Care is designed exclusively Aged Care is as different from Freedom amenities and around meeting your physical, traditional nursing homes as activities, which include emotional and spiritual needs. you can possibly imagine. happy hour, movies, hair and With their focus firmly Every level of personal and beauty services and even veggie on freedom of choice, nursing care, from low to gardens and chook pens! togetherness, independence high, dementia and palliative is and care, Freedom Aged Care available to you through every communities are vibrant social stage of your ageing journey. hubs, where residents own their own self-contained Behind the everyday functioning of each Freedom units, live together as couples, regardless of their community is a seamless support team comprising changing care needs and are free to bring their pets. Registered Nurse, Village Manager, Carers, Diversional Unlike nursing homes, family and friends are Therapists or Lifestyle Coordinators, Cooks,

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Gardeners, Maintenance and Admin staff. For those who call Freedom “home” of course, these dedicated individuals are simply “family”, just like you! Our commitment is to every ageing Australian, who deserves not just good aged care or even better aged care, but the very best aged care this country can provide. Freedom Aged Care has a community right here in Coffs Harbour and more communities across Australia. Feel free to call Freedom on 1800 984 840 or visit www.FreedomAgedCare.com.au What’s life without freedom?

Reggie with Patch Freedom family

Noel Freedom family Joan and Jane Freedom family

Carmel and Kevin Freedom family

Chris Freedom family

Ursula and Helen Freedom family

Come see for yourself! The people you see in these photographs are not just residents. They are much loved members of our Freedom family. We consider it not just our job to care for them. It is our privilege and our passion. Love, decency, respect and kindness are the values we chose to live by to honour the dignity and beauty of the human being at the most vulnerable stage of life. Ultimately they are the values that make real freedom possible. Come see your local Freedom community, call us on 1800 984 840 or visit freedomagedcare.com.au Coffs Coast focus 61

focus_contributor

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

cyber mum.

Online Safety Tips for Parents

Big News for SCCA. September 2017 is big news for SCCA. Why? Because this month we’re celebrating the 25th anniversary of our Independent Living Village, Marian Grove. In 1992, our first resident moved into the 15 unit Stage One of Marian Grove, as the result of a vision of Mary Help of Christians Parish, Sawtell, to provide care and support for their ageing community. But my, how we’ve grown! Today, 180 plus units, a 101 bed Residential Care Facility, Chapel, Café, Recreation Hall and Workshop have created a community in its own right. Let Mary tell you why she loves it: “John and I moved into Marian Grove almost four years ago, not sure what to expect from living in a retirement village. We continue to

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be delighted and thrilled with our choice and feel so very lucky to be part of this wonderful community in Marian Grove. “We love the relaxed, almost resort, feeling of the village. The gardens and villas are professionally maintained and supported. The Grove Café has become a central meeting spot to enjoy with friends and family. “John and I have a great feeling of pride and contentment in living here at Marian Grove, a retirement village beyond all our expectations.” The future needs of our community continue to inspire us to expand, innovate and grow. But one thing will never change: the commitment to that original vision and mission which has become our touchstone - “We Care.” SCCA, it’s a great story, with the best yet to come.

Want to know what people think? Just when you think you’ve seen it all, another new app is released, and in my opinion this one is designed for the sole purpose of encouraging kids to be hurtful to other kids!

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eleased in June, Sarahah currently sits as the top app in 30 countries, beating YouTube, Instagram and other social media platforms. Sarahah is the latest popular anonymous message app and became more popular when SnapChat released an update which allowed users to share a link in a snap. Developed by Zain al-Abidib Tawfiq from Saudi Arabia in 2016, this app was created with the intention to receive an honest feedback from employees or friends, but anonymously. This app can be used in two ways: through its website and through its mobile app. It is available on the Android as well the iOS platform. Once downloaded, users have to register themselves. Users can then search other friends or users they want to send messages to. On selecting one such friend, a message box appears, which prompts the user to “leave a constructive message”, followed by a smiling emoji. Once confessed, the user can press the send button and “the truth is set free”. It allows only texts and no graphics. Those at the receiving end of the message have an option to either like it by pressing the heart button, and, if they think it is denigrating or a spam, the user has a choice to block that particular person. But, it does not provide any option to respond to those messages; however, as per Sarahah’s website, they are still working on this aspect. To keep things interesting, the app has an option to share the link of their Sarahah username, and also share any “constructive message” they receive. The link can be shared on all major social media buttons, like WhatsApp, Facebook, Snapchat, Twitter, and Telegram. So why would your teenager, who already has Snapcat, Instagram, Messenger and

Whatsapp, want yet another messaging app? Well, the hook of Sarahah is that any messages received are anonymous (sarahah loosely translates to “honest” in Arabic). Sarahah says it wants messages to be constructive and sells itself as a way for people to discover their strengths and areas for improvement; however, there is not a mechanism in the app to control positive or negative comments. However, as much as honesty is desired, being at the receiving end can be tricky. In my opinion, the whole point of the app is to invite people to tell you things that they don’t have the courage to say to you in person, which translates into Sarahah being a playground of bitchiness and a breeding ground for cyberbullying! The app is actually rated 17+ for the following: Unrestricted Web Access, Infrequent/ Mild Profanity or Crude Humour. It would therefore actually be fair to say that the app is not intended for use by our teenage children, yet once again its use is prolific and growing daily, so it is obviously targeting teenagers despite its 17+ rating. I strongly suggest that you discuss this app with your teenage kids. Find out if they’ve heard of it, as I’m sure they have! I’d go so far as to say they know it’s not good and is causing lots of trouble at school and amongst their friendship circles, so they may not actually fess up to using it. It’s important to talk to them nonetheless, let them know you are aware of it, let them know you think its intentions are wrong and hurtful. That way when and if something goes down online, they know they can come to you and talk about their feelings with your support. Cyber Mum www.cybermumaus.com www.facebook.com/cybermumaus

Lily focusinterview.

Isobella School of Sexuality

As a facilitator at the School of Sexuality, Lily Isobella provides a safe space for young women and their families to open up a line of communication on what can often be a tricky topic. FOCUS chats to Lily more about the programs she runs and the importance of parents being open about discussing sex with their children.

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hat is your connection to the Coffs Coast? It all started with a love story, but my love affair with this area lasted longer than the one with my boyfriend. When my first two children were born, I decided to return to Bellingen permanently, as I have always loved the family culture here. How did the School of Sexuality come about, and what happens there? I have worked for over 20 years helping women recover from sexual trauma, abusive relationships and the plethora of issues that come from having extraordinarily poor selfesteem and a dangerous relationship with body image. The common theme for nearly every single woman was the reclamation of her sense of sacredness concerning her body and her sexuality. Time and again, these were the foundational issues that these women needed to learn about. And time and again, I heard the phrase: “I wish someone had taught me this when I was young”. I started talking to other parents about how they relate to sexuality in their families. I spoke to social workers, youth workers, sexual health workers, intimacy coaches, trauma counsellors, doctors, psychologists and a lot of teachers. The message was really clear our young people needed to have someone start an honest conversation with them about sexuality. Our youth are intelligent, curious and resourceful. The school is all about helping families communicate honestly, and safely. We help parents understand the world their kids are moving through and give them the tools to initiate and navigate a constantly meaningful and ever developing conversation. We also have programs for young people, where they get to spend time with a parent, a group of peers and an educator to learn age appropriate information and can ask as many

sticky questions as they like. This is the stuff that is too tricky and too time consuming to tackle in school, so is being missed. How do your programs benefit parents? We believe that the best conversations about sexuality can happen, and should happen, within the safe environment of the family home. For a myriad of reasons, this does not seem to be the case in a lot of families. I think a number of parents feel ill equipped to handle the digital world their children are involved in and a lot of parents just do not know how, or where, to start the conversation. In all the research we did with parents, most of them were eager to be a part of the conversation, but unsure of when, what, and how much to share. During the Sex, Love & Self Esteem parents forums, we teach parents loads of age appropriate content, conversation starters and ways to handle the, “Oh my god, did you really just ask me that!” moments. What do children, teenagers and young adults get out of the programs? Some family dynamics just do not allow the kinds of conversations young people are in need of. There may be parental differences, there may be embarrassment, and there may just be a lack of connection and trust. That is not uncommon. The programs we run for young people give them a safe place to gain real world information about sexuality. Not just “don’t get pregnant; don’t get an STI”. I think by Year 5, most kids have had that covered in school. Most children are exposed to porn for the first time in search of answers we can give them. Is my body normal? What do I do when I like someone? How do I kiss? How do you have sex for the first time? We are providing a space for young people to ask these questions, and get some answers, in a way that encourages sexuality and relationships to be seen as a normal, healthy, interesting part of growing up.

Parents need to realise that kids r are going to look fo if re he answers elsew at they can’t get them st ju t n’ home. They do n we stop wondering whe stop talking.”

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What kind of response do you get from participants? I love watching parents attend the forums. They go from being nervous and giggling, or quiet and tense, to relaxed, open, engaged, and relieved! We play quite a few games in all the workshops, so it remains really low key and very approachable. Above all else, I want sex ed to be fun, in the same way sex can be fun (and geeky, awkward, giggly and outrageously silly). The most common feedback we get from parents is that they wish they had this when they were young, and from girls, it is just the huge sense of relief that they have a space in which to get some real answers without shame. Does our society still see sex as a taboo subject? Absolutely. I think it is one of the last great forbidden conversations. You know the old axiom: “Polite people don’t talk about religion, money, politics or sex”. I politely disagree! Sexuality is part of the human emotional spectrum that makes individuals so incredibly interesting. If you can approach a conversation about sex from an open minded, curious, compassionate perspective (and throw a huge helping of humour in there), you will learn so much about the people in your life and have some very memorable conversations. For our children’s sake, we need to have these kinds of experiences. It helps them see that we are open to engaging with them, and that we can navigate and appreciate our own sexuality. Why is it so important for parents or guardians to have open conversations about sex with their children? Children are insatiably curious. The internet has been incredible for the education of children, allowing knowledge to be accessed that previously may have come at great cost. This however, when it comes to things like

sexuality, can be a double-edged sword. Parents need to realise that kids are going to look for answers elsewhere if they can’t get them at home. They don’t just stop wondering when we stop talking. I think it is vital for family (and extended, trusted family) to be the first source of good information in this case. Parents have a responsibility to understand the dynamics of this facet of their child’s development and meet them in that place with respect and knowledge. Can you share some tips on how parents can be more open about the subject or initiate conversations? I cannot stress enough the importance of parents working on their own issues, all of the time! As with most things, children will model what they see, rather than what they hear. So, parents need to be addressing their own selftalk, their own body image issues, their own relationship dynamics and their own sexual beliefs. That journey will provide any parent with a lot of material. But be savvy. Take the time to be with your kids, listen to the radio with them, watch movies with them, question what they are engaging with and make everything an opportunity for a conversation. Their lives are absolutely full of messages about who and what they should be, and your voice as a parent should be in that mix, but you have to meet them in their space to be successful at that. How can people find out more? You can find the School of Sexuality online at www.schoolofsexuality.com.au You can send me an email direct to lily@ schoolofsexuality.com.au, and you can tune in to 2BBB at 8.30 on Thursday mornings, where I do a segment on The Mix Up. Thanks Lily. Coffs Coast focus 63

focusinterview.

AmandaFlack

H A P P Y H E A R T S P L AY G R O U P FA C I L I TAT O R

Amanda Flack immerses herself in the exciting array of cultures in Coffs Harbour through her social work at the Red Cross and as a facilitator at Happy Hearts Playgroup, which is run for families that are new to Australia. FOCUS went along to Breslford Park on a sunny Thursday morning to meet some of the families and chat to Amanda about the importance of this kind of initiative.

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hat is your connection to the Coffs Coast? The ocean! I was born and raised in Tassie and lived and worked in Indonesia and Darwin for many years until about 10 years ago, when the salty, wave crashing, blue ocean of the Coffs Coast lured me from the warm croc invested oceans of the NT. Here I believe I have reached a utopia of connection to cultures in my career and a divine connection to the ocean of Gumbaynggirr country - thank you with respect and gratitude to the Gumbaynggirr people and land for allowing me to experience this majestic part of the world. What is the Happy Hearts Playgroup? Who is it for and who runs it? Happy Hearts supported playgroup is an Australian Red Cross activity focusing on Cultural and Linguistic Diverse (CALD) families. The core aim is to connect cultures in community through play-based experiences. We have two facilitators, myself and Aulfina, and an amazing team of volunteers who support us in delivering our program. What does your role as a facilitator involve, and what do you enjoy most about this work? My role as facilitator is to engage CALD families in our weekly activities, co-designing with families to meet their needs, as well as recruiting volunteers, co-organising community events with local service providers, writing grants, inviting guest speakers to explore parenting and child development topics and much more. I encourage families, staff and volunteers 64 Coffs Coast focus

to try new ways of working and build creative different challenges that impact one’s sense confidence in our program. Everyone has of identity, self-esteem and confidence. This great ideas, and it is essential to co-ordinate can range from experiencing language barriers activities that are culturally safe and respectful, and social isolation, to the loss of cultural to have fun and share laughter and love. identity, family and community networks and These elements are vital in trauma growth and educational and employment achievements healing. or qualifications, to concerns about remaining I enjoy that every day is different. I am family members around the world. There blessed to be able to support families may also be ongoing effects from traumatic through their challenges and celebrate their experiences. achievements. There are so many moments of How does the Happy Hearts Playgroup joy, from the birth of new babies, attending help with some of these challenges? baptism ceremonies, to Through our values sharing laughter as I try of “engage, enrich and again and again to learn empower”, we aim many different languages. to assist families from Even being there to hold refugee and migrant Through our values of someone’s hand in a backgrounds to overcome ‘engage, enrich and difficult moment brings joy. challenges, build resilience empower’ we aim to As one parent said, “I am and create a fulfilling assist families from refugee stronger now because I am lifestyle in Australia. and migrant backgrounds not alone”. All of our activities, to overcome challenges, Every day I learn from large groups to build resilience and create a something new from a individual conversations, fulfilling lifestyle in Australia. diverse range of cultures encourage a connection and feel like I travel the and a deep sense of globe in a day. I have to belonging to ourselves, pinch myself sometimes our cultural identity and while sipping fresh brewed Ethiopian coffee our community. We also explore the concept of under a tree and listening to stories - I’m at play as the fundamental aspect of developing work! skills for life. Language, creativity, fine and Where do participants and their families gross motor skills, problem solving and social originally come from? skills all develop through play. Participants come from many countries, What kind of activities do you run? including Ethiopia, Eritrea, Sudan, Congo, Our program is diverse and flexible to Burma, Thailand, Japan, Korea and meet the needs of our families and is only Afghanistan. possible due to the fantastic support from local What kind of challenges do these families organisations, volunteers and the caring Coffs face? community. Thank you! Many people in a new country experience The Let’s Talk Together program run by the

Uniting Church and Red Cross is a conversation class to help increase confidence in the daily use of English, and Story Time is run in partnership with the Coffs Harbour City Library to engage families in early literacy activities by telling and reading stories with children. The Happy Hearts Playgroup is held at local parks, with a strong emphasis on community connection. We also run parenting sessions with individuals and small groups, exploring a wide variety of topics to develop knowledge and understanding in parents’ lives. A social club every Saturday from 5pm at the Anglican Church hall provides a cultural safe space to make new friends, have fun and break down barriers of social isolation. We also have excursions and encourage families to participate in events like the recent Freedom Feast, Teddy Bears picnic and Harmony Day, to continue connection and a sense of belonging to community. How can people volunteer or join in the playgroup? Volunteering is an essential part of Australian Red Cross and the way we work “Power of Humanity”. Within our program, volunteer roles may range from assistance with driving/transport (Red Cross vehicle supplied) study buddies, helping hands at any of the above mentioned weekly sessions. If you have a few hours a week or more, please come and have a chat with us. Families can join us at playgroup or any other activities. Please call, email or meet us at Breslford Park every Thursday, 10am. Amanda Flack - 0466 429 517 aflack@redcross.org.au Aulfina Deressa Bulto - 0466 313 881 aderessabulto@redcross.org.au Thanks Amanda.

with Clairvoyant Terri Hall Phone. 0424 818 343

September 2017

The dreaded double chin. Nonsurgical treatment of the dreaded “double chin”.

AQUARIUS. JANUARY 21 - FEBRUARY 19

If delays are doing your head in, visualise yourself walking the walk you desire, give yourself permission to achieve, and have fun on the journey. It’s time for you to have what your heart desires, but you need to know you are worthy. Citrine attracts an abundance of positivity.

GEMINI. MAY 22 - JUNE 22

Changes are looming for career or what you will be doing on a regular day to day basis. You are a person of your word, and your word is your honour. New opportunities will soon show themselves to you, and your ability to recognise them will increase. Give yourself permission to achieve success. Enjoy! Ruby shatters fear.

LIBRA. SEPTEMBER 24 - OCTOBER 23

Don’t be worried if you are feeling suspended at the moment; it’s only a part of the process of discovering what your role in the bigger scheme of things is. Set some fresh goals, and consider the importance of how you would like to feel. You are very connected to your heart, and feelings need to be a priority when setting your goals. Turquoise is great for self esteem.

The latest breakthrough in fat removal in the chin is the injection of “BELKYRA” (Deoxycholic Acid, a naturally occurring substance in the body). The fat collect superficial to the Platysma muscle (a pair of muscles on the front and sides of the neck forming a corset for the deeper structures). The treatment consists of three or four injections at two monthly intervals. The effect is permanent and works best for patients with moderate fat collection and good skin tone. The treatment of menopausal vaginal atrophy

PISCES. FEBRUARY 20 - MARCH 20

It is likely that you are feeling a bit trapped in life at present. This is because you are approaching a purging time, to release anything from your reality that stops you achieving your fullest potential. Try debating with your old beliefs to establish new ones for the future. Ruby shatters self doubt.

CANCER. JUNE 23 - JULY 23

You have outgrown some of your beliefs, so instead of feeling comforted in your beliefs, you may be feeling trapped in them. This next few months will be a purging cycle for you, so try giving intention to everything you take into your body and everything you release; this will raise your vibration and your mood will benefit. Clear quartz empowers us.

SCORPIO. OCTOBER 24 - NOVEMBER 22

Now is a great time to fulfil a dream that you have carried for a long time or from a long time ago. Make a list of all the things you need and take action get something from the list, so that when the opportunity presents itself, you won’t be likely to sabotage it. Rose Quartz is the empowering crystal of self love.

ARIES.

LEO.

SAGITTARIUS.

MARCH 21 - APRIL 20

JULY 24 - AUGUST 23

NOVEMBER 23 - DECEMBER 21

If you’ve been feeling unsupported lately, try to identify what emotion you’re hoping to feel from someone and wake that emotion up internally; using your breath you can activate it. This exercise will reconnect you to your leadership skills, and self love will follow. Rose Quartz is the crystal of love.

You’re getting reconnected to old gifts and talents, which will be likely to enhance your success with career. Journalise new things, so you can refer to them in future. It is likely that the next few weeks will bring opportunity to see how clever you are at teaching or training. This will bring a newfound confidence. Turquoise is great for self esteem.

TAURUS.

VIRGO.

CAPRICORN.

AUGUST 24 - SEPTEMBER 23

DECEMBER 22 - JANUARY 20

Self esteem and worthiness are high on the agenda this month. If you can love yourself enough to know you deserve the best of the best, you will be pleasantly surprised with the success you draw to yourself. Set some fresh goals to keep the momentum going. Citrine attracts an abundance.

The pulsed fractional carbon dioxide laser helps regenerate the vaginal mucosa, with significant mucosal thickening and new collagen formation. Three treatments at six weekly intervals gives excellent results.

You are coming into a very fertile time, where anything you put your nurturing energies into cannot fail. Set some fresh goals, give yourself permission to achieve, and throw yourself into new opportunities with gusto. Fake it until you make it! Rose Quartz is the crystal of self love.

APRIL 21 - MAY 21

If relationships have been a challenge recently, it could be that past unresolved issues are requiring healing. Embrace the past, no matter how hard it was, and become the answer to the past hurts. This will show you your divinity, and you will receive rewards. Jade is great for self worth and healing.

Vaginal dryness and discomfort is a problem in most menopausal women.

You need to know you deserve the best of the best, so that you won’t sabotage rewards heading your way. Smile at your reflection for the next few weeks, to raise your self worth and deservability. This will align you to live how you’re wanting … Peaceful and uncomplicated. Citrine attracts an abundance.

Coffs Coast focus 65

Coffs Coast focus 66

focusinterview

Business Minds with Sam Wardman of CornerPost Creative

BUSINESS MINDS

Tarina

Dorz

INTERIOR ARCHITECT

T

ell us a little bit about your background, Tarina, and how you came to call the Coffs Coast home? We had holidayed in Coffs Harbour previously, and it immediately came to mind when we were looking to move out of Brisbane a regional area to raise our family. It ticked all the boxes: good schools, coastal life, health facilities and was close to an airport for my husband’s work. It wasn’t until we moved here, that we actually ate dinner together as a family, because my husband was otherwise always sitting in Brisbane traffic! You’re an interior architect, not to be confused with an interior designer. What does this entail? The university degree has an emphasis on commercial design, so many of the graduates end up in firms specialising in health facilities, multi-residential, retail or, in my case, workplace design. It involves either modifying or creating the whole interior structure of a building or dwelling in relation to the external envelope, sensitively integrating mechanical, hydraulic and electrical services with the design and carrying the original intent right through to colours, finishes and fixtures in compliance with regulatory codes. I’ve worked on diverse projects, from a single bathroom renovation or project home to classrooms, corporate offices and chicken factories, so the work is not always as glamorous as straight-out interior design might be. On any project, though, I enjoy the documentation process - the layering of huge amounts of information with efficiency and clarity. I am just as proud of the set of drawings that a project entails than the completed space; and having a builder say they love working off your drawings is as good as winning an award. How did you get into the architecture and design industry? What was your big break? I was about to study the fourth year of an English degree in Secondary Education, when the Dean advised there was a shortage of jobs

on graduating and if I had been considering any I had my own practice in Brisbane, working other career, I should go for it. So, with no regard from a home office, and when we moved here for my mounting HECS debt, I decided to change I was fortunate to take time off whilst the kids to a Built Environment degree. were little. By the end of last year, I was 100% And it was the right change for me. Even ready to practise again - the timing was right for as a child, I would return home from visiting me and our family, and I am loving it. someone’s house and feel immediately It was also a great decision to base my studio compelled to sketch out the spatial changes I at The Promenade - “going to work” really thought it needed, so it was great to discover is easier when it’s a beautiful, relaxed setting this compulsion could translate into a career. with water views and surrounded by a little As corny as it sounds, space planning is like a community. therapeutic exercise for me. Technology plays an important role in You specialise in more commercial design business these days. How has it impacted work. Tell us about your industry? some of your When I graduated, most favourite projects? times it was still quicker to use I’ve found my a drafting table than CAD, Even though I’m older and wiser, favourite projects to be but, fortunately for me, the I admit that there are those closely aligned programs are so user-friendly still quite a few nights with my own values. now that my tech pens might where the work day It bothers me that, as well be museum relics. continues at home until particularly in retail Without a doubt, being midnight in order to environments, fitouts able to present 3D drawings meet a deadline. But now I can have a relatively to a client in the conceptual offset those late nights without short life span and stage of a project is of huge any guilt … I’m letting my family most likely end up as benefit. And, in recent years commitments carry as much landfill. Therefore, one I’ve enjoyed being able to use weight as work commitments of my favourite projects graphic design software for and hope that equates to balance. involved the reuse those aspects of a project that and adaptation of were often outsourced, such as every possible existing signage proposals. element. The result What are some of the was not only great for the environment, but also commercial design trends you are seeing for proved very economical for my client. this year and beyond? I also really enjoyed a recent restoration project If my personal philosophy can be declared a and realised I would like to have been a heritage trend, then in any year or decade, whether it’s architect. It reminded me of having to document residential or commercial I am fully advocating and draw up parts of Old Government House as the trend for perfectly functional, uncluttered a student and, to this day, being in awe of the spaces built with or featuring quality materials or quality of materials and craftsmanship and the items that are meaningful, practical, well-crafted, inherent permanence of such buildings. In an authentic or re-purposed. The result is next-toentirely unrealistic dream, I would have the job of timeless, and who would ever regret investing in approving of everything that gets built based on quality or sustainability? I know I would prefer that criteria alone! to sit in a bare room looking at a bare wall and How have you found setting up a new just appreciate the light or view than superficially business on the Coffs Coast? decorate it with throw-away items. I admit in my

house there is a blank wall that has screamed out for artwork for nearly five years, but until I find the piece I will love forever (or can afford it) bare is best. Any tips for businesses looking to update their office or store front? Possibly in contradiction to the above answer, I appreciate that budget can be a tricky reality and an “update” doesn’t have to be an expensive exercise to be effective. Whether the changes are spatial or just aesthetic, improvements are always appreciated. In the same sense, using a designer or architect doesn’t necessarily involve big dollars, but you are guaranteed a professional result. What does work life balance look like for you? I have terrible memories of not managing work life balance very well at all. I can remember what the stress felt like of overseeing the refurbishment of a private hospital in a remote location whilst a baby and toddler crawled around on the floor of my home office - and the floor may or may not have been dirty. Or looking for somewhere to express milk for a baby while I attended a meeting at the Westfield offices in Melbourne. I’m not sure I can look back and laugh about those years yet, but I promised myself that when I returned to practice it would not be from a home office. Other people can do it successfully, but not me. Even though I’m older and wiser, I admit that there are still quite a few nights where the work day continues at home until midnight in order to meet a deadline. But now I offset those late nights without any guilt. If I’m not at the studio the next day, it’s because the “Book Week School Costume” is now at the top of my list. I’m letting my family commitments carry as much weight as work commitments and hope that equates to balance. And I’ll add that “Mental Health Days” are totally acceptable in our family. They don’t happen too often, but if one or all of us are not coping, then we are allowed to “check out” for a day and just sleep. Thanks Tarina. Coffs Coast focus 67

The ultimate stylists

The ultimate Floor sanding

Dave Brighton

Property styling is an investment, not an expense First impressions are often lasting impressions, and you have under 10 seconds to impress a potential buyer. This is even more applicable when it comes to selling property in Coffs Harbour’s competitive market. From eye-catching photos through to immaculate open home viewings, professional property styling will ensure your property stands out from the crowd. Styling showcases a property, making it easier for buyers to envision how they could ultimately embrace the space. Our focus is to increase the appeal of a property to potential purchasers, which in turn will help to achieve a premium sale price. Working closely with real estate agents and vendors, we assess both the style of the home and the likely demographic of the buyers, then

tailor a home styling package to suit. By introducing the right combination of colour and texture though the use of furniture and soft furnishings, value is instantly added through our property stylists. The return on your investment is well worth the initial costing - considering you will enjoy, on average, a return profit of up to 17%. (Source US Housing and Urban Development.) JL Property Styling has introduced an easy pay system to help those property sellers from having to dig deep and pay up-front for a much needed styling. What better way to style your home now and not have to pay until you have sold your home. Conditions apply. Visit www.jlpropertystyling.com.au or contact Jodie Lee 0402 162 743 for further information.

//

DAV E BRIGH TON F LOOR SA NDING

What background experience do you bring

What is the most satisfying aspect of your role? The finished product. When you have a floor that is tired and run timber floor specialist and down, then you seen the have been operating here comparison with the finished in the Brighton Mid NorthFloor CoastSanding area is a fully licensed timber flooring business back in the 1960s. Dave product - and the floor looks since 1996. I have a vast and and insured fl oor sanding business that can When it comes to getting your Dave Brighton Floor Sanding is expanding. solid and engineered timber floors, as well as We operate on the amazing! Coffs Coast, Bellingen, I loveinthat. I also wide range of experience supply and install timber flooring. includes jobThis done withandand We now have eight staff members. Weby someone sanding polishing and existing Nambucca Macleay Valleys, as well floors. as out lovenew my customers’feedback knowledge a range engineered prefinished flBrighton, ooring, and experience, within theofflooring timber floor have four specialists, Dave We operate on request. the and Coffsreaction Coast, to in the Bellingen, of the area on finished you can’t go past Nambucca, a licensed Kempsey, including raw fl ooring that can be installed Mark Hiller, Damian Kearny and Daniel South West Rocks, industry. product. We can come to your home to give you an andsand accredited member over any surface - and we Tom can also and Johnson; two apprentices, Revelly and Macleay Valley, out to Dorrigo and anything in obligation free quote anddoour expert advice. How you effectively I am a member of The of The Australian Timber coat your new and flladies, oors with Daniel Brighton; andexisting our twotimber office Sue a between. We can sand and polish your existing timber market your business to Australian Timber Flooring Association, where Stride and Javena ourcoatings. amazing wide range of topVeale. of theThanks range Flooring fltooor When looking athave your next flooring project, fl oors, or if you a fl oor covering in your new customers? We use Association. When it comes standards are give highDave and team, wait at time is kept a the minimum. team a call. come When our looking your next to flooring project, house we and can the remove (such asHe carpet), then various forms ofwill media to to to getting your job done by reliability is everything. Dave Brighton Floor Sanding has also expanded your home, listen to your ideas and give you give Dave a call. He will come to your home, market ourexisting business. We we can sand and polish your timber someone with knowledge their of cars, soand you give mayyou see expert more ofadvice our expert advicehas on probably how get result listenfleet to your ideas, findtoFOCUS is best a very valuable floor, which hasthe been covered for and experience, youalong can’tthe highway. vehicles in youryears home, while keeping in mind your on how travelling to get the best result in your home, platform and has been a many and give your house a new look go pastkeeping a licensed and your budget. budget. greatyou toolwill forwant our business. while in mind making it a home that to come We have commenced installing floating floors. accredited member of The Australian Timber We have also branched out to Facebook, home to. We can supply and install, or you can purchase Contact Dave Brighton Floor Sanding forand an we Dave Brighton Floor Sanding has been Flooring Association, where the standards are upload regularly with before and after images of the floorboards and we can install them for obligation free quote and expert advice on operating on the Coffs Coast for over 45 years, For all enquires, please call David on floors we have completed. high and reliability is everything. you. We are still supplying and installing our 0447 683 388. 0447 683 388. as Dave’s grandfather and farther started a to your current role? I am a fourth generation

Dave brighton flooring

Dave Brighton Floorsanding

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68 Coff s Coast focus 74 coffs coast focus.

focus real estate

AMANDA LANGLANDS FROM LANGLANDS PROPERTY

real estate update.

I

The NSW Government has finally recognised a drastic change needs to be made in the real estate industry with the downward spiral of education. Finally, it will take more training than "what a budding barista needs to do to make good coffee" to become a real estate agent under new reforms.

n years gone by, agents had to complete a part-time course over two or three years to gain their qualification. It was long and rigorous. And it took a lot of work. Times have changed; rather than years, it’s now days.

Today, after the small cost of approximately $400, completing a three day course or an online course from home, someone who has no previous real estate experience can apply to NSW Fair Trading for their Certificate of

Registration and start working in our industry. Property is the largest asset most people will ever own, the buying and selling of property the largest transaction they will ever make, with the impact of that sale life changing. Real estate through property taxation is the single biggest revenue generator for the NSW Government, yet despite all this, the education standard of those working in the industry is downright scary. Over the last decade, REINSW has been relentless in its lobbying efforts to improve education standards for the real estate industry. The NSW Government has instead progressively been removing barriers of entry in the industry in their pursuit to create competition, that has had a negative effect on the professionalism in the real estate industry. Competition is an essential market force and pushes quality of service, as long as the competition is competent. Society has changed. Expectations have changed. Everything has changed, with clients expecting more. The current entry levels have achieved increased competition; however it has also diluted the expertise, talent and competencies of the real estate profession. In partnership with REINSW and NSW Fair Trading on the 5 November 2016, a training reform package was announced. These reforms include increased course modules, practical

experience and more structured ongoing annual professional development. This will raise the standards of education and improve skills and professionalism. The education standards at present for our industry are average at best. If our goal is to be recognised as a profession - if we want to be mentioned in the same breath as lawyers, accountants and other professionals - we need to take our education standards more seriously. Raising the level of qualifications required to become and remain a real estate agent will have a number of positive flow-on effects. We’ll start to see a higher calibre of agent enter and remain in the industry. Right now, the divide between the best agents and “the rest” is too great. We need to close the gap and have consistent, high standards of education and practice across the industry. Consumers are sophisticated and we need to respond to this by demonstrating our expertise and sharing our knowledge to help guide them through the transaction. This means we have to not only improve our traditional entry-level and ongoing education standards, but also extend our range of knowledge to those other areas that impact the property. We welcome the changes and know this is going to be an exciting shift in the NSW real estate industry.

Coffs Coast focus 69

The ultimate designers

Two birds design + Armstrong Architects Building your dream home or planning a renovation can be both exciting and stressful. While it’s an opportunity to create something that truly reflects your personality and lifestyle, the process of getting it “just right� can be daunting. Luckily, Armstrong Architects and Two Birds Design are with you every step of the way to create your perfect home. Both companies enjoy a cohesive partnership, working closely together from conception right through to the completion of your perfect home. The use of an architect for your project assures that every aspect of the design or renovation is thought through at the beginning of the process. From the flow between spaces to the use of natural light and ventilation, nothing is left unchecked. Balancing innovative and unique design

70 Coffs Coast focus

with functionality, budget and those often demanding deadlines, Armstrong Architects have got you covered. Two Birds Design are passionate about inspiring great spaces and giving your new home that personal touch, offering complete or partial interior design packages for interior and/or exterior spaces. When it comes to the design process, there are no rules, Two Birds Design can be involved as much or as little as you like. The comprehensive service is tailored to suit your individual requirements which includes colour, materials, finishes, equipment and hardware with detailed specifications. Two Birds Design offer a consultation service where they explore and refine your concept ideas. This can be at your site or our office and is charged on a simple hourly rate.

The ultimate builder

Brian Hopwood Homes

W

hat has been happening over the last twelve months at Brian Hopwood Homes? The last twelve months for our business have been massive, and we have seen some really beneficial changes occur at Hopwood Homes. What hasn’t changed is our passion for our clients and ensuring we continue to work close with them throughout the build process, from enquiry to completion. We have always prided ourselves on the relationships we form with our clients, whether they are first home buyers, downsizers or investors. I enjoy going through the process with each individual client to help them realise what it is they want in their new home. As for changes within the business, we have looked closely at our position on the Coffs Coast, and within the building industry as a whole. I have spent a lot of time revisiting past clients, as the after sales service is crucial. They trusted

me to build their home, and I want to make sure I have met their expectations and that the quality of the home is up to my own standards. We have reaffirmed our professional partnerships, ensuring the products we use and offer to our clients are of the highest quality and align with current market tastes. Since David has joined the team, his role has been to bring the business and its processes into the Twenty-First Century. We are in the process of implementing a new program, which will have a massive advantage to our clients, contractors and suppliers and the way they communicate with us. From your nearly thirty years experience on the Coffs Coast as both a builder and a carpenter, what do you believe clients feel is the most crucial part of the build process? Getting the design right, plain and simple. I tell people this is the home you will spend a lot of years in, or the investment you require for future security. As I do most of the designs for clients, they

sit with me. We will look over a few of our standard plans, but this is really just a starting point. They may like that plan there and then, or they may re-design every square inch of the home, but it just has to work for them and their lifestyle. What clients expect from the process is something as a team and a business we have asked of ourselves recently. So we put it directly to the community and asked, “What do you consider when choosing a new home builder?” The data came back, and the top three considerations were: “Being able to work directly with the builder on their home design; communication with the builder supervisor and office staff; and of course, price, were all of highest priority”. This data reinforced that the personalised service we give our clients from initial enquiry through to completion is on point with what the market is demanding. What hasn’t changed is our passion for our clients and ensuring we continue to work closely with them.

Coffs Coast focus 71

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Coffs Coast focus 73

Coffs Harbour Hardwoods is a locally owned hardwood timber processing company that was begun in 1951 by Ray McCarthy. We are based in Glenreagh, about half an hour west of Coffs Harbour. The company is owned

by the McCarthy family, which has a proud and rich history in the timber industry. We provide timber all across the country for many different projects, in all shapes, sizes and uses.

74 coffs coast focus.

focus _ feature.

ow many people do you employ? We have a large operation here and to keep the place ticking we require a large amount of staff, that is around the mid-90s in numbers. We have several different facets to the company that require staff with different skills, from sales, administration, truck drivers, machine operators, wood machinists, labourers and more. We are one of the area’s biggest employers outside of the multi-national companies. How has the business developed in the past 50 years? What challenges has the industry faced, and how have you overcome these problems? The business has seen a lot of changes over the last 50 years. The original focus was exporting poles interstate and to overseas countries, which began when Ray McCarthy would send these poles by ship loaded from the Coffs Jetty. Along the way the company has diversified, to be able to provide

a number of different products using hardwood. The need to utilise all of your wood and limit the amount of waste you get always gets us thinking as to what product we can make next. Today, we are capable of making just about anything; if the market warrants it, then we will make it. Our business has seen several changes; we moved sites in the mid-80s to relocate to Glenreagh, which allowed us the room to grow. We have faced challenges from companies within the timber industry who are given larger resources to work with, which gives our company a much harder task of being competitive. The way we faced that challenge was to rely on providing quality products and service. This has proven important to some of our customers and their customers, who have made it clear that they would like to purchase our products as they know the quality will be what they need.

coffs coast focus. 75

focus _ feature.

What products do you offer both residentially and commercially? One of the main products that we produce regularly for residential use is hardwood tongue and groove flooring and also hardwood decking. We produce this in many species, sizes, grades and thicknesses. We are producing this in large volumes each day that we not only sell locally, but supply to all parts of Australia. We produce several different profiles in our internal kiln dried products, such as wall cladding, lining boards and other custom moulds that may not appear on a shelf at any of the hardware stores. Our joinery can manufacture a lot of different products, such as handrails, verandah posts, benchtops, pickets and wood turning. That is a small portion of what we can provide; our large number of different machines gives the ability to create most products imaginable from hardwood.

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Commercially we provide a lot of timber across the country for the bigger projects. We are currently working on seating for the waterway around Darling Harbour and have in recent years provided the same product around the Barangaroo precinct. The new resort and casino being built up in Townsville will see a lot of our commercial sized decking being used. Our company also holds several contracts with power companies to provide timber power poles and cross arms that they rely on to be of the highest quality, to ensure that the highest safety standards are met. How much work goes into getting the timber to the customer? Timber is a natural product, and therefore it grows and adjusts to its surrounds through its lifetime. There are a number of different factors that can change the way each piece of timber develops.

A tree during its lifetime is affected by many different things, like the soil in which it grew, the conditions it suffered in its growth, such as a bushfire and attack from insects, plus other things. When the timber reaches our mill and it is cut, its intended use affects what happens to it next. If the timber is being used for a bridge job or fencing and landscaping job, then this may be as far as the timber goes before being sold. If the timber is to be kiln dried or seasoned, then this involves a lot more time and nurturing. We rack the timber out and place drying sticks between the layers; this enables air flow through the timber. The reason for this is to allow the timber to get below what we call fibre saturation point; this is when the free flowing water within the timber has dispersed and the only remaining water is within the walls of the cells within the timber.

Once timber has reached this point, then the chances of movement of that timber have reduced greatly and any movement afterwards should be minimal. When we have seasoned the timber for long enough, which can take six to 12 months, we then place a large volume of the same size and species where possible into one of our drying kilns. This will stay in the kilns until all of the timber can reach a similar moisture content of somewhere between 9 - 14%. When the drying is complete, we move to the manufacturing stage. Depending on the product, the moulders are set up to a specific profile to run through. After this is complete, we will wrap it and strap it and store in our warehouse ready for shipment. Some products are only partially machined, that we keep as stock to create our custom made products. This may be things like benchtops and stair material which may require further work done,

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Timber is more than naturally beautiful and versatile; it continues to store carbon long after the tree is harvested. Up to 50% of timber’s dry weight is carbon.

such as gluing, sanding and re-machining. There can be some confusion when a customer orders a piece of timber - thinking that it is like a tin of paint and there is plenty on the shelf and another hundred out the back. As you have just read previously, a lot of time and effort goes into what the customer receives at the end. Why use timber? “Timber has no disadvantages, only design challenges.“ A forgotten knowledge of fire and durability has limited timber use, but that is changing. The key aspect for timber is that its properties are well known and very predictable.

Structural type, location and intended service life are all factors when determining the appropriate use of timber, but in general terms it is lightweight, easily worked, very adaptable to offsite manufacturing and generally cheaper than other materials. Its main market is in low-rise residential structures, but there is a growing interest in the mid-rise sector for apartments, office buildings and school buildings. Timber has higher structural efficiency as carried load per unit weight compared to reinforced concrete and steel structures. Many timbers are either naturally durable or can be easily treated to make very durable.

What are the environmental benefits of using timber? Patrick Moore Ph.D, chairman and chief scientist of Greenspirit Strategies Ltd, and co-founder and former director of Greenpeace says that, "One of the best ways to address climate change is to use more wood, not less. Wood is simply the most abundant, biodegradable and renewable material on the planet". Timber is more than naturally beautiful and versatile; it continues to store carbon long after the tree is harvested. Up to 50% of timber’s dry weight is carbon. Throughout history, people have used

wood for many reasons and enjoyed its beauty, workability and practicality. Today, as we transition to a low carbon economy, the advantages of wood are increasingly making it the material of choice for a growing range of applications. The vast majority of structural timber is sourced from sustainably managed forests and plantations. People have been building with timber for thousands of years. Timber is continually being grown in our forests and plantations. As long as new trees are planted to replace those harvested, timber will continue to be available.

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What is the best advice you can give to a prospective customer? Do your homework. The biggest challenges we often hear are from a home owner asking our advice, due to their contractor not knowing enough themselves. Often when quizzed about why they installed something a certain way, the common answer is, “She’ll be right”. Ask our friendly sales team for some advice; if we don’t have the answers, we can certainly provide you with some information sheets that may give you them. The hardest part is telling someone that they may have to fork out more money, as they were given the wrong product to use for that particular application. The other piece of advice is oiling decks. So many people pay a lot of money for a nice deck to sit and have a drink and socialise on, but one thing people to tend to overlook is the initial coating of their deck. Coating just the top of the timber once is not enough. We

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always recommend coating the top and bottom excitement in our customers’ voices when we and giving the deck at least three coats on top can tell them, “Yes, we can do the job that when you first get it. After that, once every six you’re after”. So many people now enjoy DIY to 12 months is usually sufficient, but that all projects to make their home different from the depends on if you have a rest. When they come to roof on or not. If you’re us with an idea, we can not sure whether or not it more often than not come needs oiling again, then up with a solution for what If we have to change we can, throw a cup of water onto they need. but otherwise it’s business as it. If the water beads, then Do you offer solutions usual. If you have a project your deck is still OK. If the for budgets of different you’re working on, get in water soaks in, then it’s sizes? contact with us and we’ll gladly time to re-apply another Yes, we do. Some timber be of service - as we have coat. is cheaper than others, done for the last 56 Spending that little bit depending on the size and years. extra on decking oil is the grade of the timber, but best way to preserve your this may be all that you’re deck and keep it looking looking for. Having timber great for many, many years. in the home is what we What is the most rewarding part of your find gives it character. So, having some is better job? than having none at all. The best part of our job … It is to hear the How has the local building and construc-

tion industry changed over the last few years? We’ve noticed a lot of changes in the last few years, whereby customers want to break up the look of bricks, concrete and aluminium. Having some sort of timber feature has become a very trendy thing to have in your home, and even a lot of commercial projects are using timber to break up that sterile look that some products give you. Timber historically was used for structural purposes, but lately we have found that a lot of projects use timber to create warmth and for more aesthetic purposes. What are your plans for the future of Coffs Hardwoods? At this stage there are no major plans, but who knows what tomorrow brings. If we have to change we can, but otherwise it’s business as usual. If you have a project you’re working on, get in contact with us and we’ll gladly be of service - as we have done for the last 56 years.

The ultimate Blinds & Shutters

BLINDS &

DIRECT

blinds & shutters direct SHUTTERS

W

here did Blinds & Shutters Where did Blinds & Shutters Direct come Direct come from? Purchasing from? Doors Plus 10 years ago, I very Purchasing Doors Plus 10 years ago, I very quickly found my customers quickly found my customers wanting more wanting more than just doors. So I chose to than just doors. So I chose to diversify into diversify into window furnishings, adding to our window furnishings, adding to our already already excellent products and customer service. excellent products and customer service. I I found of our customers wererenovating, renovating, found mostmost of our customers were building new homes or just updating, and we building new homes or just updating, and we wanted to be able to give them the quality wanted to be able to give them the quality options their windowfurnishings furnishings as as we options forfor their window we did previously worked fitting did for fortheir theirdoors. doors.I had I had previously worked blinds and and shutters for several exclusive local fitting blinds shutters for several exclusive interior design businesses, as well being local interior design businesses, as as well as a being a licensed cabinet maker/builder licensed cabinet maker/builder for over for 30 years, overso30 years, it addition was an easy it was an so easy to myaddition business.to my business. How did you do that? Doors Plus staff and How did yousource do that? I constantly from industry qualified Doors Plus staff and I constantly source from manufacturers using the best quality industry qualified manufacturers using the components, fabrics and fittings. We are very bestaware quality components, fabrics and fittings. of the need for affordable options. Our We are very aware of the need for affordable customers drive our business in that way; we options. Our customers drive our business in listen to their needs and with our experience, that way; we listen to their needs and with source the best options. But we don’t leave you our experience, source the best options. But there ... We have a team of experienced fitters we don’t leave you there ... We have a team of experienced fitters to complement your

to complement your purchase. Just part of the purchase. Just part of the service; all our service; all our blinds and shutters come with full blinds and shutters come with full installation installation included in the price. included in the price. What sort of things do customers want? What sort of things do customers want? Basically, a wide range of window covering Basically, a wide range of window covering options. We are able able to options. We are to provide provideemerging emerging products and new trending their products and new trendingitems itemstotofulfill fulfill needs. Roller Blinds, Vertical Blinds, Timber their needs. Roller Blinds, Vertical Blinds, Venetian Blinds, Roman Glides, Timber Venetian Blinds, Blinds, RomanPanel Blinds, Panel Plantation ShuttersShutters … Come… and ask how Glides, Plantation Come andwe ask can we help! Thehelp! latestThe trend is shutters. how can latest trend isMost shutters. customers don’t don’t realiserealise the range options Most customers theand range and available for shutters alone. Thermal, options available for shutters alone. Aluminium, Thermal, Aluminium, Basscomposite Wood and … each Bass Wood and …composite each with their with own application, look and purpose. owntheir application, look and purpose. I am proud to I am proud to say that most our blinds are say that most of our blinds areofmanufactured in manufactured in on Australia. onshowroom down Australia. Come down toCome our new toonour showroom Cnr Sts, Pacific Cnrnew Pacific Hwy and on Marcia andHwy we can and Marcia Sts, and we can help you with help you with your choices and show you the your choicesinand show so youyou thecan differences differences products, make your ininformed products, so younot canbased makeonyour decision, priceinformed alone. decision, not based on price alone. What about outside blinds and awnings? What about outside blinds and awnings? Due to customer demand, we have also Due to customer demand, we have also introduced a large range of external fabric introduced a large range of external fabric awnings, which will be adaptable to most awnings, which will be adaptable to most applications, from a simple pull down blind

applications, from a simple pull down blind over over your west facing window, to fully your west facing window, to fully automated automated systems for your enclosed alfresco systems for your enclosed alfresco area. Come area. Come and speak with George or Danny and speak with George or Danny about your about your needs. The best thing about our needs. The best thing about our awnings is they awnings is they are made in Australia are made in Australia What if I don’t really know what I want? What if I don’t really know what I want? We We provide a free in house consultation provide a free in house consultation measure and measure and quote service, so we can come quote service, so we can come and see the area and see the area in need and talk with you in need and talk with you about what you are about what you are trying to achieve and talk trying to achieve and talk about what products about what products may work best. Having may work best. Having someone with experience someone with experience in a wide range of in a wide range of options for blinds, shutters options for blinds, shutters and awnings opens and awnings opens up your choices and will leave up your choices and will leave you with the you with the best solution and look possible. best solution and look possible. What is different about Blinds & Shutters What is different about Blinds & Shutters Direct?

Direct? Most other blind, shutter and awning Most other blind, shutter and awning suppliers DO NOT offer a happiness guarantee. suppliers DO NOT offer a happiness guarantee. Typically, their products do not allow returns Typically, their products do not allow returns or exchanges. At Blinds & Shutters Direct, we or exchanges. At Blinds & Shutters Direct, are different! Our commitment is to provide we are different! Our commitment is to great products and service. We also pride provide great products and service. We also ourselves on turning up every time and on time pride ourselves on turning up every time and to our measure and quotes. Faulty items are on time to our measure and quotes. Faulty unacceptable, and therefore will be replaced, items are unacceptable, and therefore will be repaired or refunded and service - well, we replaced, repaired or refunded and service guarantee that you will be happy with everything well, we guarantee that you will be happy with we offer. everything we offer. With Blinds & Shutters Direct there will be no With Blinds & Shutters Direct there will be compromise; you will be looking up at your newly no compromise; you will be looking up at your furnished windows, doors or patios in admiration newly furnished windows, doors or patios for many years to come. We guarantee it! in admiration for many years to come. We guarantee it!

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F L O O R I N G Choices Flooring at 48 Park Avenue, Cos Harbour is celebrating an amazing milestone this month 20 years as Choices Flooring on the Cos Coast. FOCUS went out and chatted with owner James Robinson about this fantastic accomplishment.

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H

F L O O R I N G

Plantino Engineered Oak Cremona Country

i James. Can you tell us a bit about 1959 a small group of independent Victorian furniture your store’s background? retailers met to discuss the possibility of forming an My family has owned and operated a association to maximise the effectiveness of their flooring retail shop in Coffs Harbour for businesses in the face of increased competition from over 30 years. Our business has been servicing the Coffs large, franchised organisations. As a result of this initial Harbour area longer than any other flooring retailer. Our meeting, Newfurn Floor Coverings Ltd was formed. business was established in the Over 30 years later, in 1993, they late 1960s and has always been launched the Carpet Choice brand in Park Avenue. The business has with 17 stores in Victoria. Since had a few name changes over the then, after a further brand update, In 1959 a small group of years. It originated as Max Finlay Choices Flooring has rapidly grown independent Victorian Carpets, it has evolved to Max to include more than 140 stores furniture retailers met to Finlay Carpet Choice, and is now across Australia. Since those early discuss the possibility of Choices Flooring. days, Choices Flooring has arguably forming an association to We changed from Max become Australia’s most progressive maximise the effectiveness Finlay Carpet Choice to Choices retail floor coverings group and a of their businesses in Flooring Coffs Harbour, because major force in the Australian retail the face of increased we were giving our customers sector. competition from large, more Choice. We are a part of What services do Choices franchised organisations. Australia’s largest retail flooring Flooring provide provide? company, Choices Flooring, which At Choices Flooring Coffs helps us to buy better and pass Harbour, our product range our savings on to our customers. By joining the Choices includes: carpet, laminate, timber, bamboo, ceramic Flooring group, we were able to offer more surface tiles, luxury vinyl, and rugs. choices, more contemporary colours and patterns, more Professional installation is a service that we provide choices in carpet, vinyl, timber, laminate and bamboo and also a free measure and quote. flooring, to help our customers find the floor they have We have in house certified design consultants to help been searching for. with those hard choices of what colour and product to What’s the background of the Choices Flooring select for what area of your house. group? All products can be viewed at: Like many modern day success stories, Choices www.choicesflooring.com.au Flooring can be traced back to humble beginnings. In

*Offer valid from 26 Aug until 27 Sept 2017. Terms and conditions apply, see in-store for details.

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(image 8609)

JAMES ROBINSON.

SHIRLEY FRANZI.

JENNI LEE.

JEN BAURHENN

O W N E R / O P E R AT O R

A D M I N I S T R AT I O N & F I N A N C E M A N AG E R

S A L E S M A N AG E R

S A L E S C O N S U LTA N T A N D A D M I N I S T R AT I O N

I started out as a storeperson of Max Finlay Carpets at the age of 17 years. At 22, I ventured to Sydney and was the manager of three different outlets for Carpet Fashion stores over the following three years.

I returned to Coffs in 1997 and resumed with Max Finlay Carpet Choice as a partner in the business. I took on the sole ownership of the store in 2002. I have two children, Flynn and Ella, who were born in Coffs, enjoy touch football and surfing in my spare time and have an interest in finding the right investment properties.

Shirley oversees the administration and accounting tasks of Choices Coffs Harbour. She joined the business in July 2000 at the time of the introduction of GST in Australia. Initially, she carried out the dayto-day computer entry and compiling the relevant information for the installers. Over time, Shirley has maintained the efficiency of the administration/accounting side of the business. She had come from an office background of engineering, town planning, accountancy and manufacturing environments.

These skills and experience have been a valuable asset in our retail business.

Jenni has been a part of the Choices Flooring team for over six years, firstly as part of administration, then trying her hand in sales.

Jenni thoroughly enjoys her sales position, and she was recently recognised with a National Award as Store Person of the Year 2015 2016 for NSW & ACT. The most satisfying part of her job is knowing that all our customers are happy with the outcome of their flooring experience. Jenni is currently away from work on medical leave, but she is looking forward to coming back soon.

Jen joined the team in February. She came to us from Sydney, where she worked in the flooring industry for over 11 years. Jen’s role is quite diverse; she handles the scheduling of installations, client and suppliers’ invoicing, as well as other clerical and administrative duties. She most enjoys the sales side of her role. She loves interacting with and meeting her new and existing clients. Jen gets satisfaction when her clients leave the store feeling well informed and taken care of. It is Jen’s passion in life to help clients through the process of selecting the right choice for their needs, whether it be carpet, laminate, timber, bamboo, vinyl, vinyl planks, rubber, indoor/outdoor, tiles or rugs. Jen looks forward to working with her new colleagues at Choices and within the Coffs Harbour community.

Congratulations on 20 years to James and the Choices Flooring team Ashley Trengove 0428 806 335 | Nathan Bentley 0438 453 251 info@bentleyhomes.net.au | www.bentleyhomes.net.au

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KATHLEEN EZARD

ALEXIE GRICE

MALCOLM TROTTER

ANDREW PAVEL

S A L E S C O N S U LTA N T

J U N I O R S A L E S A S S I S TA N T

TIMBER FLOORING SPECIALIST

M E A S U R E R A N D WA R E H O U S E

Alexie is born and bred in Coffs Harbour. She completed her high school years at Coffs Harbour High School. Alexie has a background in retail and hospitality. She joined the Choices Flooring team in May this year. Alexie is also undertaking a Certificate 3 Traineeship in Retail. Alexie is enjoying her new role at Choices Flooring and learning knowledge on all the different products. Aside from work, Alexie spends her weekends surfing and being involved in the sporting community with football.

A N D I N S TA L L E R

S U P E RV I S O R

Malcolm moved to the Coffs Coast four years ago, and he joined the team full-time in April. He completed his flooring apprenticeship in Melbourne for Floorworld and has been in the trade for 10 years. Malcolm specialises in floating floors, but also installs vinyl planks and carpet. Malcolm and his fiancĂŠe have recently bought a house, so they are here to stay as they love it here! He is also a huge AFL fan and plays locally for the Sawtell Saints.

Andrew grew up in Woolgoolga, then ventured to the big smoke of Brisbane for 12 years. He has worked at Furniture Court in Brisbane, working in the warehouse. He also has a couple of years’ experience working in the retail industry. Andrew has a five year old daughter named Kaitlen. When Andrew is not at Choices Flooring, he can be seen on the rugby field playing for the SCU Marlins or watching the Broncos in NRL.

Kathleen grew up on the Coffs Coast and completed her education at Coffs Harbour High School. She then moved to Canberra, where she completed a Bachelor of Interior Design at the University of Canberra. Kathleen then moved to Sydney and worked in the flooring industry as a colour consultant. She enjoys working in the flooring industry and assisting clients with interior design advice and ideas.

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F L O O R I N G

Embracing the latest product developments and styles, and interior decorating training for our team members, are just some of the many ways in which we are helping to support your decorating project.

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At Choices Flooring, you have the catchy saying, “The floor you have been searching for”. What does that mean? At the heart of our business is our key promise to you - to help you find the floor you’ve been searching for. With so many elements to consider in your decorating project, we help you design your interior from the floor up. Our holistic approach ensures we support you in creating the perfect space for your lifestyle. Embracing the latest product developments and styles, and interior decorating training for our team members, are just some of the many ways in which we are

helping to support your decorating project. It’s an exciting phase in the life of our business, as we continue to look for new and improved ways to help you find the floor you’ve been searching for. During your time in the industry, how have you seen the region grow, and how has the flooring industry changed? Yes, the region has grown quite steadily over the years, but I have definitely noticed over the past couple of years the strong growth in new house builds. There has been land open up from Urunga up to Woolgoolga and surrounding areas, and the influx of new builders speak for themselves. Also on

the commercial side, Park Beach and the Jetty area are seeing some action in new high rise units and townhouses. What are some of the challenges that the industry has faced, and how have you overcome these? The main challenge is having new blood/ young people wanting to learn the trade of flooring installations. It doesn’t sound as attractive as a electrician, plumber or carpenter, but if you are good at what you do as a professional floorer, it can be financially and self rewarding with the compliments you get from happy customers.

focus _ feature. Tell us about the commercial side of your spill bonds to the fibre. But with eco+® carpet, business. spills sit on the outside of the fibre, where they The Choices Flooring Commercial team helps can be washed away with just cold water. This clients create and manage commercial flooring is thanks to the breakthrough eco+® triexta solutions that meet both practical and visual fibre that is totally impervious to liquids, with requirements. From no surface bonding sites residential builders, for permanent stains. You corporate offices, can also play with your pets commercial buildings, indoors worry free, thanks hospitality and retail, to a lifetime pet protection Godfrey Hirst eco+® carpets airports, health and guarantee (conditions apply) have permanent stain education facilities, on all eco+® carpets, protection built into every we will help you find Nothing adds visual fibre that never wears off; the commercial floor warmth and comfort like all you need is cold water to suitable for your project. a carpet. It brings with it a remove the most stubborn We have been heavily softness that is hard to beat household food and involved with work for and forms an excellent base beverage spills - even red the health sector. We layer to any room. And with wine and cordial. are currently working the latest fibres and textures on the new high rise that technology allows, Seashells, with local carpet is a perfect flooring builder FM Glenn. solution for any home décor and lifestyle. What products are on trend at the moment? On trend at the moment is luxury vinyl tiles; they come in timber look planks or stone tile form - ideal for any room of the house. There are quite a few benefits, such as durability, water resistance, and the cost is half the price of real timber or stone. No need to worry about the kids giving the floor a flogging - luxury vinyl tiles will go the distance. These products are as soft on your feet as they are on your budget. Also, Godfrey Hirst eco+® carpets have permanent stain protection built into every fibre that never wears off; all you need is cold water to remove the most stubborn household food and beverage spills - even red wine and cordial. With no need for chemicals, cleaning your carpet has never been easier. Put simply, staining can occur on regular carpets, when a

Godfrey Hirst eco plus

We support local because we are local.

G.J. Gardner Homes properly supports Choices Carpet. Get in touch. 171 Orlando Street, Coffs Harbour NSW 2450 Contact us on 6691 3509 or visit gjgardner.com.au Fischer Built Pty Ltd trading as G.J. Gardner Homes Coffs Coast. Builders Licence 191313C.

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Eclipse White - Matt will hear less footsteps, and less items being dropped and dragged along the floor. Carpet is soft, comfortable and warm underfoot, making it great in winter. There are many style options, from colour to fibre types and various textures. What are the advantages of luxury vinyl flooring? Vinyl flooring has a softer surface than timber and tile floors. It is resilient and longlasting, easy to maintain and clean. Vinyl flooring can be installed directly over just about any sub-floor. Last, but certainly not least, luxury vinyl plank floors are costSticking to the one floor friendly when compared covering type in large main to real wood or real tile areas will, however, create What are the advantages floors. continuity and make the of tiles? Choosing the right space appear larger, but Tiles are hard-wearing, flooring - the verdict. mixing it up throughout sturdy and hard to scuff or Choosing the right the house might be what’s mark. They offer endless fl ooring for you is a right for you. colour/size/style options, personal choice, and so you’re bound to find as well as reflecting on a tile you love and that the advantages and helps create the look you’re disadvantages of each after. Gloss and light colours offer a high-end option, it’s a good idea to look at how you use modern look; whereas, light tiles can make your home and what’s the most practical floor spaces appear bigger, and various sizes and covering for your family. But remember, you darker colours can create a dramatic impact in definitely don’t have to stick with one floor certain rooms or living/entrance areas too. covering throughout your whole home. What are the advantages of choosing Sticking to the one floor covering type carpet? in large main areas will, however, create Carpet generally equals less noise compared continuity and make the space appear larger, with tiles or floorboards. The soft cushioning but mixing it up throughout the house might creates a quiet atmosphere, meaning you be what’s right for you.

Brease - Notus - Tazza

Eclipse Zenith Sardinia + Yura

F L O O R I N G

Proud to be partnered with James and the team at Choices Flooring Coffs Harbour

carpets carpet tiles luxury vinyl vinyl plank 86 Coffs Coast focus

®

your style, your home

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Tell us about your community to shop locally to encourage community involvement. engagement whilst creating long term Choices Flooring Coffs Harbour sponsor relationships and promoting loyalty with the local sporting teams, clubs and schools, community. such as touch football, Sports Central and St What can you tell us about your new Augustine’s Primary School. We also donate Inspiring Choices Spring/Summer to Stars of the Coffs Coast, Police Smart Handbook, Save the Catalogue? Children and the Special If you are looking Children’s Xmas Party. for the latest trends in Every little bit helps, and flooring and everything it’s satisfying seeing how So if you are looking for new underfoot, then grateful people are for ideas and exciting ways look no further than our our support. to freshen up your home How important is latest catalogue. It is our for the new season, pop it to support local Inspiring Choices Spring/ into our showroom, grab businesses? our latest catalogue, and Summer Catalogue, It is vital to support chat to my team. which shows inspiring local businesses to keep room settings paired with the dollars in Coffs beautiful floor coverings. Harbour, because it means employment at the end of the day. When you support locally owned businesses, you’re not only supporting the local economy and employment, you are also directly supporting your local sporting groups and your local community in general. Overall, it is important

So if you are looking for ideas and exciting ways to freshen up your home for the new season, pop into our showroom, grab our latest catalogue, and chat to my team.

F L O O R I N G

Thanks James.

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Your trusted Your trusted local builder. local builder.

When When you you build build with with G.J. G.J. Gardner Gardner Homes, Homes, you you build with a local. build a trusted trusted Whenwith you build withlocal. G.J. Gardner Homes, you build with a trusted local. As your trusted local builder, G.J. Gardner Homes As your trusted local builder, G.J. Gardner Homes provides you contract price with provides you a a fixed fixed priceGardner with no noHomes As your trusted local contract builder, G.J. hidden extras -- only inclusions you so hidden only the the inclusions you want, want, providesextras you a fixed contract price with no so

you don’t need to about over budget. you don’t need- only to worry worry about going going over budget. hidden extras the inclusions you want, so you need to worry about going over budget. Pop into local G.J. Homes office Pop don’t into your your local G.J. Gardner Gardner Homes office

Get Get in in touch touch with with your your trusted local builder. trusted local with builder. Get in touch your trusted local builder. Office Office 171 171 Orlando Orlando Street, Street, Office Coffs Coffs Harbour Harbour NSW NSW 2450 2450 171 Orlando Street,

Coffs Harbour Display Home Display Home NSW 2450 3 3 Cherry Cherry St, St, North North Sapphire Sapphire Beach Beach Display Home 7 7 days, days, 10am 10am -- 5pm 5pm 3 Cherry St, North Sapphire Beach

or display home and let us you we’re or display home and letGardner us show showHomes you why why we’re Pop into your local G.J. office Australia’s Most Trusted National Builder. Australia’s Most and Trusted National Builder. or display home let us show you why we’re

7 days, 10am - 5pm Call Call us us on on 6691 6691 3509 3509 or or

Australia’s Most Trusted National Builder. Fischer Fischer Built Built Pty Pty Ltd Ltd trading trading as as G.J. G.J. Gardner Gardner Homes Homes Coffs Coffs Coast. Coast. Builders Builders Licence Licence 191313C. 191313C.

visit gjgardner.com.au visit gjgardner.com.au Call us on 6691 3509 or

Fischer Built Pty Ltd trading as G.J. Gardner Homes Coffs Coast. Builders Licence 191313C.

visit gjgardner.com.au