editor's note note.
kim gould.
editor.
from the
Welcome to the February issue of Coffs Coast FOCUS. ell, we’re finally back in the swing of things after an enjoyable festive season. It has taken us a couple of weeks to get our heads out of holiday mode, but we got there ... just in time for a fabulous February! I’ve always liked February ... it brings great weather, and people really start to get stuck into the joys of a new year and the metaphorical blank canvas that it brings with it. I’m really looking forward to what the Coffs Coast has to offer us this year – many festivals, great entertainment, a myriad of community events and all the interesting characters that we get to meet along the way.
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IN THIS ISSUE This month our focus (pardon the pun) is on longevity, with our special feature ‘Decades In The Trade’ highlighting an array of businesses who have been operating in the local area for more than 10 years. Read their success stories from page 38. We also introduce you to some ordinary local people with extraordinary stories. Charlotte French tells us about her creative side (page 32), George Maguire tells us about being a champion lawn bowler (page 48), and the guys down at the Coffs Harbour Men’s Shed tell us what their facility is all about (page 6). And that’s just to name a few!
says that he loves doing the regional circuit, because he gets to meet his fans up close and personal. Josh tells us about his third studio album, Only Sparrows, and his plans for 2012 (page 10). A SPECIAL THANK YOU This month we say goodbye to one of our Advertising Consultants, Kylie Soultanian. Kylie has been with us for the past year and has been a real asset to FOCUS. Without her hard work, passion and genuinely kind nature, the last year would not have been as much of a success (or as much fun) for FOCUS. So we’d like to thank her for being such a great team player, and although we are sad to see her go, we wish her all the very best of luck in her future endeavours. EDITOR’S PHOTO This month’s landscape photo featured above is courtesy of 16 year old Liam Hardy of Sapphire. He’s been doing photography for about two years now and hopes to make it his profession. We think he’s on the right track! If you’d like to see your photography published in FOCUS in 2012, email samples of your work to kim@focusmag.com.au FINAL SAY “Take the first step in faith. You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.” – Martin Luther King, Jr.
ON THE COVER One of Australia’s favourite homegrown musicians, Josh Pyke, comes to Coffs in February. He always puts on a great show and
focus C O F F S C OA S T
Got a story idea? Looking to advertise in Focus? Contact us for more information.
Kim Gould – Editor kim@focusmag.com.au
contacts. EDITOR: Kim Gould kim@focusmag.com.au
ART DIRECTOR: Jay Beaumont jay@focusmag.com.au
SENIOR DESIGNER: Dylan Gaul dylan@focusmag.com.au
ADDRESS: 3/57 Grafton St, Coffs Harbour POSTAL: PO Box 286, Coffs Harbour PHONE: 02 6650 9343 FAX: 02 6651 3798 WEB: www.focusmag.com.au iPHONE: www.focusmag.com.au/eat TV: www.focustv.com.au
GRAPHIC/WEB DESIGNER: Michael Marchment michael@focusmag.com.au
GRAPHIC DESIGNER: Joey Dable joey@focusmag.com.au
JUNIOR DESIGNER: Kyle Rathbone kyle@focusmag.com.au
JUNIOR DESIGNER: Zac Wright zac@focusmag.com.au
SALES MANAGER: Louise Beaumont louise@focusmag.com.au
Comments and opinions of our contributors do not necessarily reflect the opinion or view of the Publishers or Editor. All reasonable efforts have been made to trace copyright holders. Information appearing in Focus is believed to be correct at the time of going to press, however no liability will be held for inaccurate information approved or supplied by advertisers or contributors. While all care is taken it is recommended that readers confirm dates, times, prices and any other material including advice with individual businesses and industry professionals. Coffs Coast Focus is produced and published by Creative House Publications PTY LTD ABN: 621 287 8600 5. Material in Focus is Copyright © Creative House Publications PTY LTD 2011 and may not be reproduced whole or in part, in any form, without permission of the Publisher. All rights reserved.
ADVERTISING CONSULTANT: Nicci Seccombe nicole@focusmag.com.au
ADVERTISING CONSULTANT: Kylie Soultanian kylie@focusmag.com.au
ADVERTISING CONSULTANT: Chrissy Jones chrissyjones1@bigpond.com
COPY EDITORS: Reg Brookhouse/Jo Atkins reg@focusmag.com.au jo@focusmag.com.au
PHOTOGRAPHY: Russell Pell russellpell@gmail.com
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