Feature Story Eli Worldon
October 2016 // issue 116
PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHER | COOPERPHOTOGRAPHY.COM.AU | HELLO@COOPERPHOTOGRAPHY.COM.AU
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Welcome to the October issue of Manning-Great Lakes FOCUS.
W
e’re not only gearing up for holiday season, but festival season. It’s an exciting time of year in the Manning-Great
Lakes! Both the Lakeside Festival and the Wingham Akoostik Festival will take place in coming weeks, providing a huge array of music, entertainment, food and fun for people of all ages. There’s also the usual array of fabulous entertainment at all of our local venues, and now that spring is well and truly upon us, many of our eateries have new menus and gastronomic delights on offer. Why stay at home, with so much to see and do!
ON THE COVER Hunter and Smoke are just one of the awesome acts at this year’s Akoostik Festival, which takes place in Wingham from 14 - 16 October. Go to www.akoostik.com.au to check out all of the planned activities and entertainment, for what promises to be an amazing few days. IN THIS ISSUE If you’re looking for a musical or theatrical experience, look no further than Ariana Shneider’s production, Crystal Dreaming, for which she wrote both the script, and the musical numbers. We also interview THE RUIINS, who’ll be performing at the Lakeside Festival (the event runs over the 4 - 5 - 6 November),
and the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards, who are visiting the MEC, all the way from Edinburgh. If it’s sport you enjoy, check out our interview with 15-year-old Eli Worldon, a future tennis star in the making and also our double page story on Chatham High School’s Opens Rugby League team, who won the Country Cup this year. We’ve also introduced a new “Locals” page this month, where we’ll get to meet a FOCUS contributor, a local businessperson, author/ photographer or other creative each month. FINAL SAY In honour of our upcoming festivals: “Music washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life” - unknown.
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ELI WORLDON US TENNIS TRIP A YOUNG TENNIS STAR IN THE MAKING, 15-YEAR OLD ELI WORLDON HAS BEEN INVITED TO TRAVEL TO THE USA WITH THE MARGARET COURT TENNIS ACADEMY NEXT YEAR. ELI’S TALENTED, DETERMINED, AND ISN’T AFRAID OF HARD WORK - ON AND OFF THE COURT; HE’S PREVIOUSLY RAISED FUNDS TO ATTEND TENNIS TOURNAMENTS BY MOWING LAWNS AND WASHING CARS. NOW, ELI HAS HIS EYES FIRMLY SET ON HIS DREAM OF TRAINING AND PLAYING IN THE USA … BUT HE NEEDS YOUR HELP TO GET THERE.
i Eli. Tell us a bit about yourself… I’m Eli Worldon, and I’m 15. I attend Great Lakes College. How did you get your start in tennis ... how old were you, and what first prompted you to pick up a racquet? When I was younger, I played soccer just for fun ‘til about Year 2, but as I grew older and positions came into it, I was constantly being put into the goalie position. I lost interest and didn’t find it fun. At the age of nine I just decided to change sports and happened to choose tennis. What do you most love about tennis and why would you choose it over any other sport? I love tennis because of the challenge involved, battling through fatigue and the mental side of the game. I would choose tennis over any other game because it is a solo game/effort, where you aren’t able to compare yourself to anyone, and that it is only about improving. How many hours’ training do you generally do each week? Generally in a week I do 14 hours of on-court training and anywhere from 1 - 2 hours of fitness and off-court training. I also do body maintenance e.g. stretching for ½ 4
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hour once or twice a week. I hear you’ve had some big news … Tell us about it. I’ve been invited to take part in a 26-day tour with the Margaret Court Tennis Academy in the USA next year - playing tournaments, visiting colleges and being trained by some of the world’s best coaches. What events have you competed in that have led to this point? The US trip will follow on from my success at the Fiji Tattslotto Tennis Open Championship last May, where I competed with the Academy and ended up winning the15-yearold boys’ doubles and reached the semi-final in the 15-year-old boys’ singles. I also took part in the Kanga Tennis Tours International in New Zealand last December. I raised the money needed to attend both events by mowing lawns and washing cars, as well as securing an amount of community donations. When I found out I had the opportunity to go to the USA to play tennis and learn more, I was super excited, but I knew my part-time job at a local café wouldn’t cover the costs involved. So, what are your dreams, Eli? I’m hoping for some community support to help achieve my dream of becoming an elite, professional player. In order to get there, I need at least
$10,000 to cover fees for three tourI’m asking the local community to partner naments, plus a whole gamut of tennis with me on achieving my dream. I’ll be equipment, travel costs and the high altitude making my way around various businesses, training. asking what they can contribute. I know My ultimate dream is to become a profesbusinesses get asked a lot, but anything will sional tennis player and open an academy help get me there. here in Australia, but I still have to develop Whom would you like to thank for my skills to go all the way. What would it mean helping you get to where you are for you to be able today with your tennis goals? to travel with the I would like to thank everyIn order to get Margaret Court one who inputted into my there, I need Tennis Academy to 0 00 0, physical game, Darren Nash, $1 t at leas to the USA? e re th r fo es fe r cove Jaime McDonagh and Travelling to us a tournaments , pl Wayne Deer. I would like the USA with mut of tennis
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whole ga
el costs the Margaret to thank my parents, who equipment, trav ude tit al gh Court Tennis hi e th d an have supported me through Academy would training .” my tennis journey, and also all be an especially previous and current sponsors, rewarding privilege. Priceline Pharmacy Forster, J R RichI would be playing tourards and a big thanks to Grant Fleming naments, completing altitude Solar and Wavelengths. training and looking at colleges, their systems and most importantMore info? ly, it would be an amazing opportunity to To find out more about making a doimprove my game. nation towards Eli’s US trip, please email: Going to the USA would allow me to get scott.worldon@gmail.com a taste of the college system and would give Media inquiries: Scott Worldon (Eli’s me a future academic and sporting pathway after I finish junior tennis here in Australia. How can our community help?
father) 0432 641 510. Thanks Eli.
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MISS KITTY.
You may recall the glamorous Miss Kitty from a previous interview … Now, this gorgeous, sassy lady has some exciting news! After winning a competitive heat in Newcastle, she’s off to compete for the title of Miss Ink/Miss Tattoo Australia™ in Canberra …
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JO NELSON.
Gorgeous, natural photos are Jo Nelson’s speciality … and she’s a photographer who isn’t afraid to try new things - or interesting locations - to capture one of a kind, beautiful images. Jo loves to connect with people, and she views her work as a special privilege …
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THE RUIINS. Best mates Adam and Pat, hailing from our very own shores here in the Manning-Great Lakes, will be bringing their vintage rock vibes to this year’s Lakeside Festival. FOCUS caught up with the boys and chatted about their journey so far …
R EGU L A R S 10. 35.
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WHAT’S ON FOR OCTOBER TOURISM INSIGHT SHARON BULTITUDE
45. STAR GUIDE WITH TERRI HALL 46. BUSINESS MINDS JEREMY THORNTON
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YOU MAY RECALL THE GLAMOROUS MISS KITTY FROM A PREVIOUS INTERVIEW … NOW, THIS GORGEOUS, SASSY LADY HAS SOME EXCITING NEWS! AFTER WINNING A COMPETITIVE HEAT IN NEWCASTLE, SHE’S OFF TO COMPETE FOR THE TITLE OF MISS INK/MISS TATTOO AUSTRALIA™ IN CANBERRA …
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ello Catherine! When we spoke last year, you were busy booking in modelling shoots. How have things changed for you since then ... is life still hectic? Life is so hectic at the moment! I’m currently working full-time Monday to Friday and squeezing those photoshoots in on the weekends and around family time. I’m loving my new workplace, and the staff are all fabulous. It’s been great to get back into the workforce after so long working for myself and raising my family. I hear you’ve made it to the Grand Final of the Miss Ink/Tattoo™ competition. Firstly, tell us a bit about this competition and what’s involved? Ok, Miss Ink/Miss Tattoo Australia™ was founded in early 2009 by Canberra-born Fallon Nicole. Miss Ink/Miss Tattoo Australia™ has been hosting tattoo pageants around the country for over five years. Australian tattooed women are put through three rounds - daywear, swimwear and formal wear - and are judged by a panel of professional individuals from within the Australian tattoo, fashion, and/or modelling industries. The winner and runner up from each local pageant won themselves a sash, tiara, cash prize, and are going through to compete at the national final in Canberra, where they compete for a larger prize pool and the title of Miss Ink/Miss Tattoo Australia. You won your heat in Newcastle for this comp, to progress through to the final. When did this take place ... and how tough was the competition? The Newcastle heat was on Saturday, July 2nd and was so much fun. I met so many fantastic colourful ladies from all over NSW. The competition was fierce! There were girls there with fantastic artwork done by local and international tattooists. Everyone had their sassy pants on, and we were all dressed to impress the crowd and judges. The Final will be held in Canberra on October 22nd. What rounds will form part of this final competition? Will you need to give speeches, as well as model 6
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n The competitio e! rc was fie There were girls tic there with fantas cal lo by ne do k or artw l na io and internat .” tattooists
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different outfits? During the grand final, there will be four rounds: swimwear, daywear, evening wear and outfit of choice. The outfit of choice category is so each contestant can express their individuality and wear whatever makes them feel beautiful, inside and out. There will be questions in the final round, but thankfully no “world peace” speeches are required. Most of the questions from previous rounds were opinion based, so pretty easy to answer, as long as you can focus. What preparation have you done for this event ... and how are you feeling ahead of the contest? The only preparation I’ve really done is maintain a healthy diet and a steady exercise regime. I try to run the treadmill most days, plus working full-time has kept me on my toes. I also made sure I had completed my back piece in time for the regional heat, but may have one or two more tattoos planned before the final. I actually feel great about the contest. I’m confident that my artwork will look amazing on the night and even if I don’t win, it will be a great experience. Can you give us a sneak preview/description of some of the outfits you’ll be wearing in Canberra?
I’ll be wearing a short, black and white striped backless summer dress for the daywear section, a black bikini for the swimwear section, a gorgeous silky red backless dress for the evening wear section, and a vintage style dress for the outfit of choice section. What’s the next item you’d like to tick off your bucket list? My next big goal is to represent an Australian based alternative clothing label. Fingers crossed! I love the interaction that social media provides, so would be happy to start with a small Instagram based company. Where can we check on your progress with Miss Ink/ Miss Tattoo, or find out more about your future plans? You can view my official progress on the Miss Ink Facebook page: www.facebook.com/missinkaustralia/ or follow me on Instagram: www.instagram.com/MissKittySummers or Facebook: www.facebook.com/MissKittySummers Thanks Catherine. Pageant photo: www.billyjunephotography.com.au Back photo: Southern Light Photographic. Tattooist: Eddy Lou at FLT Tattoo Studio, Newcastle.
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ARIANA SHNEIDER
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crystal
DREAMING A R I A N A
S H N E I D E R
CRYSTAL DREAMING IS A BEAUTIFUL, UPLIFTING MUSICAL THAT HAS BEEN FIVE LONG YEARS IN THE MAKING. LOCAL WELL KNOWN DRAMA AND MUSIC PERSONALITY ARIANA SHNEIDER HAS WRITTEN THE SCRIPT AND THE 22 SONGS THAT FORM PART OF THE PRODUCTION, AND A CAST OF 32 ARE NOW SET TO BRING ARIANA’S DREAM TO LIFE ON STAGE …
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hat is your history as a singing and drama teacher? I began teaching singing in Sydney almost forty years ago at my home studio, after training as a singer at Sydney Conservatorium. I also studied acting at the Independent Theatre, North Sydney, and in fact performed at that theatre in several plays. So when I moved to the Manning Valley thirty-five years ago, it wasn’t long before I began teaching singing combined with running a successful drama class every Saturday morning. I also taught drama in individual sessions at my studio in Taree. During my time in the Manning Valley I have taught in nearly every school in the district, as choir mistress, music and drama tutor, as well as staging several whole school performances. Being employed by various local organisations as Arts Worker through four government grants, I have been able to aid children in developing their performance skills. Where did the inspiration for your musical, Crystal Dreaming, come from - and how long have you been working on putting it together? Having been greatly alarmed by much of the so-called children’s entertainment, where violence is part of the norm and negative news is a way of life, I felt called to write a piece of theatre that was an uplifting, beautiful experience for children and children at heart. 8
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I happened to read the Telos Book Series (by Aurelia Louise Jones, published by Mt. Shasta Light Publishing) about the Legend of Lemuria, a utopian civilisation that disappeared beneath the sea, except for the 25,000 forewarned citizens who built a fifth dimensional crystal city (Telos) deep within a mountain. Their mission: to re-establish their lost utopian world and in so doing, demonstrate that this is a possibility for all. I have been working on the musical for five years writing the script, plus the tunes and lyrics to 22 songs. Over the last three years I’ve chiefly collaborated with a brilliant local orchestrator/ arranger, Peter Stevenson from Turn Around Music, who has taken my songs to a whole new level. What’s a brief synopsis of the musical? This is the journey of a feisty, idealistic girl called Mirabelle who has special other-worldy gifts. She hears angels singing, plays with beings from the fairy kingdom, goes on fantastical voyages and is eventually invited to act as an ambassador, a bridge between two worlds the world we know of as Earth and the fifth dimensional realm of Telos, a mystical, crystal city. Introduce us to some of your talented cast … How many people will be on stage for the production-are they locals? The production is a full scale musical, and the cast is amazing. There are five members who were in the Taree Arts Council production of Mary Poppins: Jodi Cooper, Chris Alcock,
Cassidy Donovan, Tristram de Jong, as well as Liz Hall (who played Mary Poppins) being the choreographer this time. Rod Illidge, Amy Crozier, Dale Kidd De Pyper and Deirdre Sutherland are also seasoned performers. Tim Gibbs (who played Chris in TAC’s production of Miss Saigon), also plays the romantic lead in this show, as well as recently taking over the directing of the musical. The cast consists of 32 members, including 14 children from the ages of 8 to 12 years, and they come from Taree, Wingham, Mt George, Forster, Harrington, Gloucester and Port Macquarie. You’ve received acknowledgement/ accolades for some of the musical numbers. Tell us about this ... In November 2014, the power ballad Here I Am was nominated for an award in the Solo Female Song Section of the Hollywood Music in Media Awards (HMMA) and a flying trip to Hollywood and walk on the famous red carpet ensued. In 2015, two of my songs received semi-final status and three other songs were highly commended in the UK Song Competition, and the power ballad was short-listed for an award in the Australian Song Competition. What “thank yous” would you like to extend to those who’ve helped this production come to fruition? I have had wonderful support, so there are many people and organisations to thank: Ian Herd, my husband has been housekeeper and cook and given his total support for the project; all the parents who have brought their children
to rehearsal in all weathers; cast members; Mid Coast Council for sponsorship; Taree Arts Council for the use of their premises, costumes and props plus being a huge moral support; Old Bar Men’s Shed for construction and painting of the set; Misty Ridge Products for projection and poster design and website; Taree Christian College for the use of their beautiful 106 seat theatrette; Wingham Public School for use of their costumes; Bron Squires - chief costume designer/maker and her team; Liz Hall for choreography; Tim Gibbs for directing; Gayle Cameron for offering helpful suggestions for the production; Deirdre Sutherland for assisting in teaching the choruses; Helen Grooteman for providing some of the props; and Paul Eade for supply of wigs. When and where will we be able to see Crystal Dreaming? The dates of the performances are: Friday 21st October at 7pm, Saturday 22nd October at 7pm and Sunday 23rd October at 2pm. The venue is Taree Christian College Theatrette (the small theatre), 423 Kolodong Road, Taree (there will be signs up in the school to show the location of the theatre). How much are tickets, and where can they be purchased? Tickets are $30 adult, $25 concession and $15 child under 12 years of age. They can be purchased at Bass ‘n’ Blues, 10/20 Albert Street, Taree. Phone 6551 5067 or email: sale@bassnbluesmusic.com.au Thanks Ariana.
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focus_What’s On Manning Great Lakes
October
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WORLD FOOD FAIR. Come and celebrate the inaugural Taree’s World Food Fair. Be part of a special multicultural celebration from the cultures in your community and the service sector - all welcome to a family fun day suitable for any age! Understanding, awareness and inclusion, with 2BOB’s Cultural Connections supported by Community Broadcasting Foundation. Enjoy traditional foods, music, singing from various countries, dancing, international hat making, hat parade, hand-made goods. When Saturday 5th November 2016; 9:30 to 4pm. Where Corner of Macquarie & Wynter Sts, Taree in Taree Park. Cost Entry by gold coin donation. More info 2BOB Radio 6552 6200 web: www.2bobradio.org.au Email office@2bobradio.org.au
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THE TAREE SHOW The Taree Show is an annual event held each October in the picturesque Manning Valley. Show events include showjumping, cattle and sheep judging, stalls, rides, food and drinks, show bags, and plenty more for a family fun day out. When Saturday 8 October to Sunday 9 October. A dog show and campdrafting events are also held during this show. For more info visit www.tareeshow.org
SURF CLUB OPEN DAY Get down to your local surf club on Sunday 16 October to be part of the annual Surf Club Open Day. Looking to join Surf Life Saving in NSW? There is a role for everyone at each local surf club whether you like competing, patrolling, education and of course being a Nipper; there’s something for everybody. When Sun 16 Oct 2016 Where Palmgrove Place, Forster NSW 2428
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FLATHEAD CLASSIC
14TH ANNUAL JAZZ CONCERT This year is billed as “A Jazz Reunion” and features John Boak, cornet and flugelhorn; Keith Bedggood, guitar and vocals; Garry Smith, guitar; and Dave Morley, bass. Once again the concert is organised by FOGLLS, who provide a splendid spread of food and drinks for free at the intermission. Their efforts raise funds for the library. Where Great Lakes Library. When Monday 17th October from 6:30pm to 8:30pm. Tickets: $15 and available at the library.
Prize for the largest Flathead at this year's event will be $1,000 cash - thanks to Capitol Café Stroud for your sponsorship and support. Prize money for categories other than the largest Flathead are still to be set (but I can assure you that these will also be impressive!) These will be advised as soon as possible. PLEASE ALSO REMEMBER THAT THIS IS STRICTLY A CATCH AND RELEASE EVENT OVERALL. When Sat 29 and Sun 30 Oct 2016. Where Lot 7308 Stroud St, Allworth NSW 2425 Email aadsfc@hotmail.com You'll find this fabulous event just off the Bucketts Way at Allworth Boat Ramp!
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GREAT LAKES MANNING VALLEY VETERANS' WEEK OF GOLF Ladies and Men Veterans over 55. If you are 55 or over, join your local Vet’s Club and play, or ring Peter Miller (02) 6557 5371 and join NSWVGA and play. Come and play three great courses in our 54 - Hole Event. When 17 - 21 OCTOBER. Monday 17 - TUNCURRY Sand belt 72 par championship Tuesday 18 - TAREE Well grassed undulating par 71 Thursday 20 - TALLWOODS Resort course par 72 Cost including Presentation Dinner Dance $130 ea. Great daily prizes, plus winner of 54 - hole Event Men and Ladies each win two nights’ accommodation @ Sails Luxury Apartments plus golf for two with cart at Tallwoods. Friday 21 - FORSTER 2BBB Medley Stableford Cost four days including Presentation Dinner Dance $145 Non Golfers Presentation Dinner Dance $35 FOR ENTRY FORMS ring Peter Miller on 6557 5371 or email Peter - verelle1@bigpond.com Bob Brownsmith Tournament Director 6557 6884 or email robertbrownsmith@bigpond.com
POP-UP MODERN ART SHOW A sale of modern/contemporary art to enhance every home. Art for children’s rooms - bring the kids - they will love this exhibition. Mini inspirational pieces; vibrant home decor pieces. Where Taree Craft Cottage, 7 Pulteney Street, Taree (Gift Shop & Cottage Café - also open). When 8 days 30th September to 7th October. Open 9:30am to 2:30pm, every day. Cost Gold coin - donation goes to Taree Lungnet Group. Contact 6551 5777.
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me nt, ul us on has a
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GORGEOUS, NATURAL PHOTOS ARE JO NELSON’S SPECIALITY … AND SHE’S A PHOTOGRAPHER WHO ISN’T AFRAID TO TRY NEW THINGS - OR INTERESTING LOCATIONS - TO CAPTURE ONE OF A KIND, BEAUTIFUL IMAGES. JO LOVES TO CONNECT WITH PEOPLE, AND SHE VIEWS HER WORK AS A SPECIAL PRIVILEGE …
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i Jo. You recently made the sea change to Hallidays Point ... what prompted the move to our area? Hallidays Point is where my family and I decided to call home, after spending last year travelling around Australia. Prior to our trip around Australia, I had lived in the Newcastle/ Lake Macquarie area for fifteen years and had my photography studio there for eight years. At the beginning of 2015 we packed up our home in Lake Macquarie and headed south with our four wheel drive and our caravan, which was to be our home for the year. As our trip came to a finish and we were heading down the East Coast of Australia, we knew that we had the freedom to settle somewhere new if it worked out that way, and so we did! We’ve always loved this part of the coast, and we have family nearby here, so we made the most of the opportunity we had. After seeing some amazing scenery around Australia and also many small towns, we felt right at home in Hallidays Point, because the beautiful beaches here made us feel like we were still on holidays, and it also has a small town feel. Whilst other travellers pack up and move on, we feel blessed to stay here!
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What do you most love about living on the coast? It’s the coastal lifestyle that I love, and the relaxed feeling amongst the people. There’s something about beach town communities that is so attractive to me, especially for raising a family. It’s nice to have uncrowded We felt right at exciting part of the process. s places to explore, fresh air, sunshine home in Halliday I learnt the value of each part e and friendly people. My husband Point, because th here in the photographic process for s likes to go spearfishing whenever he beautiful beache e creatively shaping an image, and w e gets the chance, and we all love the made us feel lik s, the value of a single frame. That ay lid ho were still on water. I love walking along the beach l al sm one instant could be completely a s ha and it also and finding we have a whole stretch different to another, and create .” el fe town of it to ourselves. a totally different impression, even Your love of photography began though they are side by side. The only playing with your father’s Pentax way to see if you had captured the moment camera and developing your own photos. and creative vision you saw in your mind’s eye What are some of the most valuable lessons was to develop the film. This especially taught me you learned through this more labour-intensive to be more precise in my technical ability, such as when style of photography? judging exposures. It was a great way to start learning about What formal studies have you completed? photography. My dad’s Pentax SLR camera didn’t actually I completed a Bachelor of Communication studies in 2005 have an in-built light meter, so I was experimenting with at Newcastle University, majoring in photography and video. light all the time, writing down my exposures, and then It was while I was completing my degree that I realised my developing the film to see the results, which was always an
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passion really resonated with photography. I want people to I also completed a Certificate IV feel comfortable to in Training and Assessment not long and free enough ey th express who after, as I had the opportunity to y are in front of m teach multimedia skills for a training e th at th so a, er cam doing something new in terms of organisation in Newcastle, and l.” ra tu ages are na im location, or having a little adventure to coordinated class involvement with the get to a specific location people want local film festival. In more recent times I’ve to use. enjoyed offering occasional photography What do you most love about your training, such as for mums who want to learn work? how to use their digital SLR to take better photos of I love the opportunity photography gives me to their kids. connect with people. I get to meet so many lovely people You specialise in portraiture and wedding photography. and when they get in front of my camera, whether it’s a What’s your artistic mission statement, or point of view, wedding or someone who wants photos with their kids, I love when it comes to these types of shoots? being able to give them natural images that truly remind them I’m all about capturing the personality and life of the people I of who they love. It’s very rewarding to know you’ve captured a photograph. I want people to feel comfortable and free enough special time of life for someone. to express who they are in front of my camera, so that the What are some of the more unusual places/locations images are natural. For this reason, I make sure that my portrait you’ve set up a photo shoot? and wedding shoots are fun and enjoyable, so that people feel I’ll sometimes get couples who want to do something fairly relaxed and can be themselves. adventurous on their wedding day, which lands me in unusual I like to direct what’s happening, but without interfering places - such as when I balanced across the suspended beam too much, so that the images are creative but authentic. I of an old railway track bridge, following behind the bride and love being able to photograph people in locations that are significant or have meaning to them, and I’m always open to groom to get some shots of them, because they used to hang
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out there when they were younger. I was impressed when the bridesmaids joined us also - that’s dedication. I’m often climbing up things to get an interesting angle on a photo shoot, and last year while we were travelling, I was known to set up my tripod on the roof of our four wheel drive. What are your “never leave home without” items when you head out to a photo session? I never leave home without my camera gear, which is a good thing - and a spare of everything - but besides that, some things I always take are tissues and wet wipes (especially on shoots with kids - for all the face liquids!), a towel (to dust sand off feet - brides thank me for this at the beach), a water bottle, and some secret items that I stash in my bag that I bring out when kids need to find their laugh. Where can we contact you or find out more about you? You can visit my website at jonelsonphotography.com or you can also find me on Facebook at facebook.com/ ForsterPhotographer and Instagram @jonelsonphoto Thanks Jo. manning-great lakes focus.
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CHATHAM HIGH SCHOOL’S OPENS RUGBY LEAGUE TEAM HAS REACHED AMAZING HEIGHTS THIS YEAR, WINNING THE COUNTRY CUP IN AUGUST AGAINST A STRONG UNIVERSITY OF VICTORIA SIDE. COACH SCOTT BROWN AND PLAYER OF THE FINAL JAKE HAZARD SHARE THEIR THOUGHTS AFTER SUCH A SUCCESSFUL YEAR OF FOOTY …
cott Brown - Coach. Hi Scott. Fill us in on a bit of the history of the Rugby League side/s you coach at Chatham High School. How long have you been a coach, and how many footy teams does the school currently field? For the past two years I have coached the Chatham High School (CHS) Opens Rugby League teams. In 2015, the majority of the Opens team were in Year 11, and we performed extremely well to become the North Coast regional winners of the Country Cup and progressed to the final four teams in the northern half of NSW. We built on this success to reach new heights in 2016. I have coached school Rugby League teams every year for the past 16 years. I have also coached junior Rugby League teams for the Scone Thoroughbreds and the Forster Tuncurry Hawks. CHS enters teams in the Under 13s, 14s, 15s, 16s and Opens divisions each year. With the recent popularity of women’s Rugby League, CHS has fielded two girls’
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teams in 2016, with great success. a very tough Victoria University side. Describe the match play ... the winning How long have the Opens side been score of 28 - 26 was very close! playing together ... and what is the Victoria University Secondary average age of the team’s College draw players from members? I have been lucky throughout Victoria to participate in enough to coach these e ng The students ra their Rugby League students for the past 18 in age from 16 to ts en Academy, where they six years, with the ud st the years. Many of t ns ai ag learn Rugby League assistance of Uncle or ith have played w e ag e th Matt Mitchell, who as a subject and om each other fr cal lo e th in train each day as a is the Aboriginal n ve se of six or ue ag Le y gb squad. We were not Education Officer Ru 3 Group ” n. io tit expected to give them at CHS. Mr Nick pe m co much competition in Timmins joined our this game. team for the past two Victoria University scored years as an assistant two early tries to take a ten coach. The students range in points to nil lead. Lionel Mitchell age from 16 to 18 years. Many of and Logan Simms scored tries for CHS the students have played with or against to tie the scores up at ten points all at each other from the age of six or seven halftime. in the local Group 3 Rugby League The second half started much the same competition. as the first, with Victoria University scoring The Opens team have had an amazing another two tries, followed by a Lionel year, clinched by winning the Country Mitchell try for CHS. The opposition scored Cup on August 10 at Dubbo, against
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again and had a handy lead of 26 points to 16, with only 10 minutes remaining. Our boys did not give up, and Michael Slater popped a beautiful pass to a flying Nathan Napier to score a fantastic try next to the posts. Bruwyn Tisdell added the extras to bring the score back to 26 points to 22, with only three minutes remaining. CHS worked their way back up the field into an attacking position, with fine work from the tireless Shannon Mullay and Toby De Stefano. Jake Hazard caught the ball on the 30 metre line, dummied to his left, and accelerated through a gap to score 15 metres to the left of the posts. Bruwyn calmly slotted the goal to take the lead for the first time in the match - one minute from full-time. Who were the talented players that made up this Opens side? Logan Simms, Reid Bourke, Nathan Napier, Mitchell Toy, Bailey Smith, Bruwyn Tisdell, Jake Hazard, Scott Howard, Toby De Stefano, Jared Wooster, Lionel Mitchell Michael Slater, Shannon Mullay, Reagan Towers, Nathan Potts, Coen Taylor, Jayden
Our boys are great mates and cking have natural atta as w le flair, and my ro ey th at to ensure th e trap didn’t fall into th e h th of going throug ing ay motions of pl ball.” ot fo e predictabl
“ Clarke, Dallas Clarke, Brodie Trotter, Matthew Hutton, Alex Thompson. This is the first time in history that Chatham High School has won the Cup. What was the feeling on the day? The feeling was of pure elation. None of us could believe that we had achieved something that we knew that we would remember for the rest of our lives. We arrived back at Chatham High School the following day, where the whole school were cheering us off the bus. It was a very proud moment for all involved. What preparation did the boys have ahead of this win ... and to what do you owe the team’s success? Much of the credit must be given to the weekend coaches of the Group 3
competition, who have built up the skills of these players over a number of years. We had to recruit eight players who had backgrounds in hockey, soccer, tennis and cricket to ensure that we had enough players to cover all positions. These players did not let anyone down and were often amongst our best. Training sessions were typically short and sharp and focused on communication, teamwork and enjoyment. Our boys are great mates and have natural attacking flair, and my role was to ensure that they didn’t fall into the trap of going through the motions of playing predictable football. Our success is due to talent, respect, desire and
mateship. Where next for this talented team of players ... what’s on the agenda for the rest of the year? By winning the Country Cup, we qualified to play in the Final of the GIO Schoolboy’s Trophy against De La Salle Catholic College Cronulla in a hard fought game at Campbelltown Stadium. This school had a whopping 500 Year 11 and 12 students to choose from, so we knew that we would be up against the odds again in this, our last game of the season. We played our best game of the year and were extremely unlucky to go down by 28 points to 26. I believe that a number of our players have a bright future ahead of them in the NRL, and I look forward to following their careers after they complete the HSC.
Jake Hazard - player Jake, how would you sum up your year of footy at Chatham High School? It was a great experience playing with my mates at such a high level. I have made more mates this year with students in the footy team that I don’t usually hang out with at school. We had such a good time on our trips away, and I will remember this for a long time. You were named the Player of the Final due to your part in defeating Victoria University in the Country Cup. What are your thoughts about this match and your performance throughout the competition? I owe my performance to the platform laid by the forward pack, and I had quality players running off me. It made my job so much easier, due to the fact that we have kept the core of the team together since Year 7. We stepped up our quality of play in the game against Victoria University and had to work hard for the win. Where do you feel you’re headed with Rugby League in future ... What are your goals, especially in light of the Futures Contract you’ve been awarded with the Sydney Roosters? My goal for 2017 is to make the starting side for the Roosters SG Ball competition, preferably at half back. My other goals for 2017 are to be selected for NSW in the Under 18s competition and make the Under 20s (Holden Cup) squad. Hopefully I will make it in the NRL, but that will be determined further down the track. Thanks Scott and Jake.
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Matters. [ w ith Ala n Tickle ]
Asset vigilance … time is running out. The question I have been asked frequently of late by part pensioners is, “Will I be better off under the new asset test rules that come into force January 1st, 2017?” The answer is not easy, because there are a number of variables that determines who will be better or worse off under the new rules. There will be a shift for many pensioners, from being paid under the asset test, to having their pension payment determined by the income test. The reason for this is quite simple; while the asset threshold before there is a reduction in pension has been increased, the assessment of income will still apply to eligible assets. However, those with income streams such as account based pensions that were established before 1st January 2015, will generally have a more favourable result than others when comes to the income test determination. As a guide, the following asset levels are an approximate indication of who may be better off under the new asset test thresholds. A home owner who is on a single pension with assessed assets less than $290,000 or a couple owning a home with assessed assets less than $452,000 are likely to be better off under the new rules. The pension will cut out altogether for a single home owner if assets exceed $547,000 and a couple $823,000. What options can be considered? A client summed it up beautifully, after she acknowledged that she’d lose the pension. “ Well, I figure if my investments do well, I’ll be happily self-funded, with the health care card retained indefinitely. I know that the
pension is not far out of reach and will still be a fall back if my assets decline.” Her attitude is one that I espouse to; that is, to have a quality investment strategy, with the pension a safety net in the background. However, for those who are on part pensions, then strategies to reduce assessed assets can generally be worthwhile, as this effectively means a 7.8% return based on saved or increased pension amounts from next year. Review existing assets recorded A place to start is ensuring that assets are correctly valued by Centrelink. A list of income and assets can be obtained from Centrelink either online if you are registered, or upon request to Centrelink. Having home contents listed at fire sale value and motor vehicles and caravans listed at current trade or wholesale price can make a difference. Sometimes investments that have been closed might still be listed, so ensuring that Centrelink have accurate records is important. What strategies can be employed? In previous columns, I have discussed viable options to reduce assessed assets, and there is not space to cover those complexities now. Advice is available through qualified financial planners on those options. One option that is not recommended is disposing of or wasting assets, simply to obtain an increased pension without consideration of need. Before embarking on such measures, getting advice is recommended.
This information and advice is of a general nature only and no reliance should be placed on the information before seeking individual advice from a Financial Planner and Taxation Adviser to ensure the appropriateness to individual circumstances. Alan Tickle and Your Heritage Financial Planning are both authorised representatives of Securitor Financial Group AFSL 240687 ABN 48009189495.
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you’re going to get wet, dirty, and have fun This is the third year of the Port Macquarie Sand Mudder, and it will be bigger, more interesting, more challenging and certainly more fun than the previous two events. Held along the foreshore of Port Macquarie from Town Beach to Rocky Point and back; it will include 21 obstacles of varying difficulty. There will be the Tunnel of Love on the flat below Gaol Point. There will be the new monstrous Mt Everest on Town Beach. There will be pole dancing in the ocean, water fighting in the fish nets, stairs to both Heaven and Hell and climbing walls and ramps, and just when you thought that’s OK, there is the mud pit at the finish, along with spectators attempting to flour and slime you as you cross the finishing line. It’s not about the time it takes to complete the course; it’s all about completing each of the obstacles
along the course and having fun along the way. Every competitor will receive a free photo at the finishing line from Nashyspix, to remind them of what a great day they had. This year we really want to encourage familes to take part, mums, dads and their kids (eight years and older); it’s a wonderful experience and a great way to spend quality time with your family. The event is run by the Tacking Point Lions Club, with the assistance of Marine Rescue and headspace, and the event is sponsored by Hastings Council, Coles, Hogs Breath Café, Hookers Port Macquarie, Greater Bank and Laing and Simmons. All monies raised from this charity event stay in Port Macquarie and go to supporting those vital headspace and Marine Rescue programmes within the local Hasting area.
greenpatch open day When: Sunday 23rd October. Cost: FREE. Where: 109 Old Bar Road, Glenthorne. Greenpatch’s Organic Seeds Open Day is an event we hold to encourage local gardeners to have an educational day out and see how we produce our seeds and nursery plants. We will be running workshops throughout the day, and the Grand Opening of our Self Guided Garden Tour. It is a rare opportunity with the nursery and shop being open on a weekend, so you can stock up on your spring seeds and plants. Itinerary: 10am - Neville will take you on a tour of our herb and cottage gardens, orchard and seed growing areas. This tour will encompass the opening of the Self Guided Tour, which will be open to visitors Monday to Friday. 11:15am - seed sowing workshop will cover the basics of seed sowing and raising young seedlings. This is an area we find some gardeners struggle with and can save you a lot of money. 12pm - lunch provided: BBQ German sausages and vegetarian option (gold coin donation). 12:30pm - seed saving workshop, covering the basics of harvesting, cleaning, storage and cross pollination, which is all relevant for the home gardener. For more information, phone: 6551 4240 or visit our website: www.greenpatchseeds.com.au
Forster Photos & FRAMING Your one stop custom framing and photographic printing shop. Mark and Judy have been in business in Forster for 19 years, servicing the Manning-Great Lakes area for all their framing and photographic needs. Come in and talk to Mark and Judy about their custom framing options; they have a computerised matt cutter and professional framing equipment and use only the best quality materials. Mark and Judy also have a huge range of mouldings, matt boards, quality glass options and a glass cutting service for all your framing needs. They are well known for specialising in photo restoration, digitalising old slides, negatives and print, changing video to DVD and passport photos. They also have state of the art printing equipment for large format printing and quality canvas printing. Mark has a degree and 30 years’ experience in photography, so he understands all aspects and techniques, from camera to photo printing to framing, including vast computer technical knowledge. Forster Photos and Framing can also help you with printing from your digital camera and mobile phones. Open Monday to Friday 9 - 5 and Saturday by appointment. Call today, or visit us at 15 Wharf St, Forster.
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with Steve Attkins from Great Lakes Paddocks
watch. Truffaut (PG) 7pm Monday 10th October at the Manning Valley Visitors Centre, Taree North.
WINE TASTING FOR EVERYONE. WINE TASTING CAN BE AS A SIMPLE PROCESS. WHEN YOU TASTE WINE, YOU GET APPROX. 15 ML IN THE TASTING GLASS, SO YOU CAN HAVE A COUPLE OF SIPS TO GET A GOOD SENSORY EXPERIENCE OF THE WINE.
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ome people find visiting a winery a A current trend in wines are the natural little bit intimidating, believing they wines. These wines have had no filtering or will look silly because they don’t fining and as a result, may have an orange know anything about wine. That is tinge. If visually the wine isn’t appealing, it a misconception - the main purpose probably won’t taste good either. of a tasting room at a winery is to educate. If you have a good sense of smell, it can be Wineries want you to learn about wine and as effective as your taste buds. A variety of fruit have tasting rooms to provide you with the flavours, from bitter citrus through to sweet opportunity to try wine you might not have pineapple, can be detected. had before. Usually the person Sometimes you can smell the serving you in the tasting room wood (oak barrels) that the will take the time to help wine may have been guide you through the Wine tasting stored in for a while, or can be a simple wine list and get an an earthy smell - the you taste process. When understanding of what very dirt the vines prox wine, you get ap glass, wines you are likely to have been grown in! ing 15 ml in the tast couple enjoy. Wine shouldn’t smell a so you can have You can decide vinegary or off. If your od go of sips to get a of ce which wines in the en nose tells you the wine ri pe sensory ex range you would like to is not good - trust it ” e. the win try, you don’t have to go your nose knows. through the whole wine list. And finally, your sense When I am wine tasting, I find of taste and how it feels in trying more than four wines can be your mouth. It might feel tingly a little overwhelming for my taste buds, so on the tongue or velvety smooth - the I either take a break and have something to flavours might be subtle or, in contrast, eat, or just wait a while and have a glass of overpowering. There may be strong acid or water before tackling the remaining wines I’m mouth filling fruit ... what you are looking for is interested in. a good balance of these properties that leave a All you need to do is decide if you like the pleasant taste in your mouth. wine or not - that is as hard as wine tasting Your taste buds will also be influenced by a needs to be. You can work a little harder variety of other factors., including the time of and let your senses take over, so you really day, what you have been eating before tasting experience each wine’s attributes. Sight, smell wine, your mood, and the environment you and taste can all have a role to play when are in ... and sometimes even the glass you are sampling wines. drinking out of! The colour of wine in good light can be So the thing to take away from this is to revealing. You can easily see nice, clear, clean, use your senses, take your time but most crisp white wines - there may be a tinge importantly, know that you are welcome to of green or maybe a little bit of a golden come and try. appearance. You don’t want to see a cloudy, We look forward to seeing you in the cellar off colour. door! Reds also will vary - colours may be light red Back Paddock Music at Great Lakes Paddocks to deep red to even purple - but a red wine - Sunday October 16th - with the “Riverina Jazz should not look brown or murky. Band”: $10 adults/under 13 FREE .
In 1962, legendary filmmakers Alfred Hitchcock and Francois Truffaut locked themselves away in Hollywood for a week to excavate the secrets behind the mise-en-scene in cinema. Based on the original recordings of this meeting - used to produce the mythical book Hitchcock/Truffaut - this film illustrates the greatest cinema lesson of all time and takes us into the world of the creator of Psycho, The Birds, and Vertigo. Then at 6:45pm Monday 31st October, Truman (MA) screens at Fay’s Twin Cinema. When theatre actor Julián (Darín) receives an
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unexpected visit from his childhood friend Tomás (Cámara), the encounter is bittersweet. This reunion is their first meeting in many years, triggered by Julian’s failing health. Tomas is baffled by his friend’s decision to forgo treatment and instead focus on putting his affairs in order: distributing possessions, reconciling past disputes, and, most importantly, finding a home for his beloved canine, Truman. It’s this task that is causing Julián the greatest concern. Info: www.tareefilmsociety.org.au or call 6552 3476.
with Horticulturalist Neville Donovan - Greenpatch Organic Seeds
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MULBERRY MULBERRY IS ONE OF THE HARDIEST OF FRUIT TREES TO GROW AND IS SUITABLE AS A LAWN SPECIMEN, PLANTED IN A CORNER OF THE BACKYARD, OR USUALLY IN WITH THE CHICKENS.
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t can bring up fond memories as a young child feasting in abundance on the luscious fruit. The risk of staining clothes was mostly unavoidable.
The Mulberry tree will grow in well drained average soil and a mostly sunny position. By providing ample water during dry periods, the tree will flourish. Older trees respond well to heavy pruning, cutting back by at least a third, which can be carried out most times of the year. The Mulberry is one of the first deciduous plants to burst into growth after a sleepy winter and gives a quick nudge that spring is not far away! Fruits form quickly in spring, and this is the time to make sure plants have ample water to help fill out the fruit for ripening during October and November. It is essential to at least to cover some of the
fruiting branches with bird or veggie netting, ensuring a good harvest ends up on the table. Mulberries are a favourite for bird life, and many migratory species will visit the trees each spring. It is a wonderful opportunity to observe different species that only visit your garden annually. The Black Mulberry is the most common variety grown, and the fruits are high in antioxidants with many health benefits. Delicious to eat fresh, they freeze well, and this way they can be available all year round Mulberry pie is a favourite and easy to make with an abundance of fruit. The Mulberry Shahtoot variety is a long white sweet fruit that is non staining with up to 30% sugar content and suitable for drying. Happy growing!
Come & Experience Evermore for Yourself Affordable 5 Star Supported Retirement Living - Forster • • • • •
Beautifully appointed spacious apartments and facilities 24/7 onsite care managed by our registered nurse Next door to Forster’s private hospital Central location - leisurely stroll to shopping and restaurants Independent and supported living options available
Stage 2
Open Day
Saturday 1 5th Oct 10am to 2 pm
18-30 Bruce Street, Forster Next Door to the Forster Private Hospital
02 6528 0442
www.evermoreliving.com.au manning-great lakes focus.
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from the sicilian.
download our eat. dining guide for iPhone & Android www.focusmag.com.au/eat
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club taree At Club Taree we are passionate about food, whether it be our inspiring restaurant menu in Dineon19, our amazing range of house made cakes and desserts through Café Connect, or our award winning functions catering. It’s clear that we LOVE food, and we spend a great deal of time ensuring that you have innovative, fresh and inspiring options here at Club Taree. We understand that food is important, and we appreciate that every day people choose Club Taree as their preferred dining option. Introducing the Secret Garden, a new and unqiue way to entertain.
Head Chef Murray Phillips.
121 Wingham Rd, Taree 6539 4000 Lunch from 11:30, 7 days. Dinner from 5:30pm.
Sweet Chilli Barramundi
kEnny’s thai kitchen Enjoy a taste of Thailand! $11 Lunch Specials. Entrée and your choice of one main meal; entrée includes a spring roll and curry puff. Choose from a range of delicious mains, including the popular crispy fried Angel Prawns with Thai herbs and coconut cream, stir fried crispy Pork Belly with Phi King sauce and peanuts, deep fried sweet chilli Barramundi fillets (pictured above), traditional Green Curry (chicken or prawn or beef), Mango chicken, Pad Thai or Pad Mee Mao Drunken Noodles.
Head Chef Kenny.
Club Forster, 19 Strand St, Forster 6591 6591 Open Wed - Sun, lunch and dinner. Lunch: noon until 2pm. Dinner: 5:30pm until 8pm. manning-great lakes focus.
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Manning-Great Lakes locals
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Donna carrier
here do you call home? My partner and I share 100 acres at Wherrol Flat, with a horse, four steers, two goats, four alpacas, a goose, two guinea fowl, seven chooks, a dog and a cat. How long have you been a FOCUS contributor? I think it would be at least nine years now. What do you like most about being a contributor? I love to write and dream of someday writing a book, but I also like sharing people’s special moments with the readers.
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Occupation/business name? Principal - Forster Tuncurry Professionals. How long have you lived in the Manning-Great Lakes? 18 years, born in Gloucester. Favourite hobby/pastime outside work? Surfing, snow skiing, fishing and travel. Best thing that’s happened to you so far this year? Married and moved into a brand new home.
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What’s a skill or talent you have that you’d like to develop more? My memory - especially for names! If you were to win a multi-million dollar lottery tomorrow, what’s the first thing you’d buy with the money? Property would be the expected answer from a real estate agent, but thinking purely selfishly - an exotic extended overseas trip for the entire family, and maybe some extras!
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Favourite food/drink? I enjoy a good Australian sparkling wine, and it always tastes better when sharing with friends. My favourite food is anything local, with not too much done to it. I love mushrooms, a good steak, a healthy salad, local oysters, or for breakfast I love Eggs manning-great lakes focus.
Favourite musician/band? I cried for a week when David Bowie died, as he was one of my faves. I love Ed Kueper, The Go Betweens, Beth Orton, The Smiths, Died Pretty, Archie Roach and Nina Simone. I really like lots of different genres. Locally we also have some terrific bands.
Most humorous memory/ experience? Seeing my normally conservative partner My partner and s dressed in drag along with I share 100 acre , with a some of my friends at my at Wherrol Flat , two rs horse, four stee s, 50th was pretty funny. ca go ats, four alpa ea The theme was “Priscilla a goose, two guin , a ks Queen of the Dessert” oo fowl, seven ch t.” ca and there were some a dog and amazing costumes, with everyone playing the part a bit too well.
Favourite thing about our area? We live in a pristine environment compared to others. You can swim with dolphins one day and visit a waterfall the next.
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Benedict. I am a sucker for cake.
Richard Crowther F o r s t e r
Who is your biggest inspiration? My nanna Millie was my biggest inspiration. She was a fabulous cook and loved to garden, and even though a bad car accident had left her with no feeling down one side of her body, she still managed to do much. Where are you answering these questions? I am at home on the farm. After weeks without a day off, I decided I needed a break from people.
LOCAL
READ Title. Flight from the Brothers Grimm Written by Valerie Murray. A European-Australian memoir.
“A remarkable journey from the Old World to the New World, from Hungary to Australia. Valerie Murray’s memoir is a flight from the horror and violence of World War II in Europe as reflected in the stories of the Brothers Grimm, but it is also a journey of discovery to a new land, a new people, new customs and freedom. Her story is a triumph of hope over loss and dispossession …” – Peter Skrzynecki.
Available direct from Valerie for $20 inc. postage. Call 6559 1550.
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Brass Bell Deli have some new faces behind the counter. FOCUS catch up with Michael and Alyce to find out a bit more about their family and what their plans are with the café.
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i Alyce and Michael. You are both the proud new owners of Brass Bell Deli in the Forster Arcade. Can you introduce our readers to your family and tell us a bit about yourselves? Yes, we are very proud to have purchased such a great business within Forster. We moved to Forster in July this year and have made the sea change from Bowral in the Southern Highlands, bringing our two children, Isabel and Riley, with us. We have always loved the Great Lakes, as Alyce originally grew up here. The children are very comfortable and familiar with the area, as we frequently came here to visit family and have holidays, so the transition has been very easy for them - which is very important. We have had two food based businesses prior to this and are really excited to put our own spin on a “funky fresh” style of cuisine at the Brass Bell. Alyce, you are a born and bred Forster girl. Did that make moving back to the area an easy decision for you? Since moving away from Forster, my family have always enjoyed coming back here and I have
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always had the coast at heart. I have always had plans to move back to Forster and when I introduced Michael to this beautiful place, we made it our holiday destination over the past 11 years. We have always talked about moving here and raising our kids in a great community. Having had time off from running a business (five years), we decided it was time to purchase another business, as we both started to get that itch for another venture. We always had ideas of a new venture in the back of our minds, so the decision to go into business again came as an easy decision for us, and the Brass Bell Deli was the answer. Michael, what is your background in the hospitality industry? I have 20 years’ experience in the hospitality industry. I competed my chef’s apprenticeship from 1997 to 2001, and in that time I competed in several cooking competitions and also competed as a member of the Australian Junior Culinary Olympic Training Squad, where I trained alongside extremely talented chefs from around Australia. I had the pleasure and privilege of being involved in cooking for 10,000 people for a function for Luciano Pavarotti in the Sydney Super-
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dome in 2000. on the go” really works for a pleasure and g in be of ge In 2001, I represented ile lot of people. iv pr ing Australia in TAFE world What can our readers involved in cook for le for 10,000 peop ano skills in Auckland, New expect when they visit ci a function for Lu dney Zealand. you at Brass Bell Deli? Sy Pavarotti in the In 2002, I was proud Great coffee and equally 00.” Superdome in 20 to be awarded Australian great food to match in a Culinary Federation’s NSW modern café setting. A relaxed Apprentice Chef of the Year. atmosphere that reflects the laid In 2004, Alyce and I started back coastal dynamic that people love our first business; we ran a restaurant for about Forster-Tuncurry. three years in Moss Vale. What are you looking forward to most In 2007, we opened a brand new juice, about living and working in Forster? salad and sandwich bar in Mittagong, called “The We are looking forward to enjoying the sea Green Tomato” and sold the business in 2012 to change and watching our children grow up in a start our young family. great community. We look forward to meeting What exciting changes do you have in store new people and showing them what we have for the café? to offer. We absolutely love everything that this We have a lot of exciting plans for Brass Bell, place has to offer, and people should not take for first of which is our new lunch and breakfast granted just how beautiful this place really is. menus, which have been well received by our We look forward to striving to build a business customers. We have future renovation plans to that provides consistency in quality and service add a bit of vibrancy to the café. Look forward and hopefully when people talk about the Brass to free wifi in the near future, and we have also Bell Deli, they relate it to a great experience and started to introduce funky, fresh salads, so that their dining choice for breakfast, lunch or just people can take them away for lunch. The majori- somewhere to sit and have a coffee. ty of people are time poor these days, so a “salad Thanks Alyce and Michael.
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AWARD
W I N N E R S I N T E R V I E W
L I S A
W I T H
R U P R E C H T
CLUB TAREE HAS JUST BEEN ANNOUNCED AS THE WINNER OF THE BEST FUNCTION/CONVENTION CENTRE AND CATERER IN REGIONAL NSW. FOCUS CAUGHT UP WITH FUNCTIONS COORDINATOR, LISA RUPRECHT, TO FIND OUT MORE ...
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ongratulations on your recent award and being named the Best Function/ Convention Centre and Caterer in Regional NSW. You must all be very proud
and excited; did you think you had a good chance?
Thank you. We are all so excited by this award. Club Taree has long had a passion for and commitment to exceptional customer service and quality products, and this award helps cement that this commitment is recognised by the restaurant and catering industry as industry leading. Our team work extremely well together to present each and every function with professionalism. We really didn’t know if we had a chance, but we are proud of what we do, and we know that our team puts in every effort possible all of the time. We are very proud of this achievement. Who else was in the category, and what was the judging criteria? We were lucky enough to be listed as one of four finalists across the state: City Beach Events and Weddings in Wollongong; Harbourview Function Centre Newcastle; and Merewether Surfhouse in Merewether; and of course us. Each of the other finalists have wonderful reputations and also deliver a quality product with great service. The judging process is quite intense and covers all aspects of the function process, from initial contact, to marketing information, websites, package information and design, customer liaison throughout the process, menu planning, menu costing, function costings. The judging process also obviously includes additional criteria such as cleanliness and hygiene, staff briefings, meal preparation and presentation, meal delivery, customer service, industry skills alliance, overall value for money
and customer feedback. Each of the judging criteria is broken down into sections, and each section is judged cited We are all so ex individually. It really d. by this awar is a comprehensive ree has long Ta ub Cl judging process r and had a passion fo ceptional and allows ex to t en commitm e and recognition customer servic , and ts of the whole quality produc cement s lp he function process. this awards ent is It certainly is that this commitmrestaurant In essence, e th coming into the by ed is gn reco it judges the stry as du in ng ri busiest season te ca d an whole Club Taree g.” for functions and industry leadin experience, and each gatherings. What member of our team does Club Taree offer contributes to the process. those wanting to hold a What does it mean to win an birthday, wedding or Christmas award like this, and what happens party at your club? next? We are so lucky that people value our This award recognises Club Taree as function experience, and as a result we are the premier regional function caterer in busy year round. We like to think that we offer NSW. The awards also feature a metropolitan unique experiences at Club Taree. We have a category for Sydney entrants. This year’s number of options, which all offer a sense of metropolitan award was won by Doltone House flexibility and appeal for different events. Our Pyrmont. Auditorium can cater for up to 400 guests at Club Taree has now been listed as one of a sit down function, or up to 800 cocktail, only seven finalists for the National Savour but can also be reduced in size to cater for Australia, Restaurant and Catering Awards for smaller functions. The Auditorium is modern, Excellence to be held in Sydney on the 24th well equipped with audio visual facilities and is October. We are in exceptional company in this supported by our commitment to service. national category, and it is a true honour to be We also have a number of outlets throughout joining them as finalists. The other finalists in Club Taree, The Chefs Table, The Terrace the awards are: QT Canberra; Doltone House and The Secret Garden, which offer their Pyrmont; Customs House Brisbane; Adelaide own unique experience and cater for various Oval Function and Events North Adelaide; numbers. We have a great range of packages Atlantic Group Docklands; and The University of for each outlet, and each can be customised to Western Australia. personal requirements and budgets. We will be heading to the national awards You can also cater and look after corporate with our fingers crossed - but with humility that functions; can you tell us more about this? we have already been recognised for the work We are the leading conference and that we love doing every day. corporate function venue in the region, which
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is something we are extremely proud of. We have a great range of user friendly and modern facilities across a variety of outlets. We cater for all corporate events, including conferences, trade shows, seminars, team building sessions, exhibitions, expos, staff retreats, training sessions, staff get togethers or gala dinners and again, we have a great conference package which outlines our facilities, services and products. Introduce us to your function team at Club Taree ... and for those wanting to find out more, whom do they contact? Our team here at Club Taree all works together across the business, so the fact that we have won this recognition is truly something that we can celebrate as a team. Each one of the Club Taree team has contributed to the success of our functions department, along with the success of our entire organisation. I am the main point of contact for all functions; as the Functions Coordinator, I manage the process from initial customer contact through to the completion of the event. The best way to contact me is either by calling the club on (02) 6539 4000 or email lruprecht@clubtaree.com.au - for more information on Club Taree, check out our website: www.clubtaree.com.au, or you can also follow us on social media, Facebook and Instagram. Thanks Lisa. manning-great lakes focus.
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World ’s STRONGEST V ICK IE FA R ROW
Garden day Hannam Vale
HANNAM VALE OPEN GARDEN DAY WILL HAVE A COLLECTION OF PRIVATE COUNTRY GARDENS OPEN FOR JUST SIX HOURS ON SUNDAY 23 OCTOBER FOR YOU TO VISIT AT YOUR LEISURE.
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estled in the Stewarts River valley in the heart of the Three Brother region, Hannam Vale offers you a delightful day, from cottage gardens, to woodland gardens, well established gardens and work in progress gardens - each delightful garden having the borrowed landscape of the beautiful Stewarts River valley. Sundays were made for motoring in the country, and no lovelier spot could you pick than this valley. On the recreation reserve in the heart of Hannam Vale you can collect your programme, only $8 per person (with under 16 years free) which will give you access to all the gardens. But before you motor away to these green garden havens, enjoy a breakfast or morning tea on our delightful bushland reserve, or our well-loved café for coffee, tea and heaps of yummy homemade cakes and slices, sandwiches and hot foods will get your
blood sugar levels up for a day of nostalgic wanderings. Come back to the reserve and enjoy a satisfying luncheon, whether it’s BBQ, sandwiches, soups or more, so bring a picnic rug and enjoy the ambience under the trees. Then browse our market stalls for a great variety of quality plants, preserves, bric a brac and much more. So this spring as the weather warms and the gardens bloom, make your way to the Hannam Vale Reserve, located at 1155 Hannam Vale Road, Hannam Vale. Gardens will be open from 10am to 4pm for one day only. Visitors making their way to Hannam Vale should exit the Highway at either Moorland or Johns River and follow the signs for approximately 11 kilometres. For more information, contact Anne CampbellCross on 0414 989 776 or Graham Bird on 0403 447 042.
BRUSHES WITH LIFE
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WSDM COMP - MANCHESTER, UK - 14TH AUGUST 2016. RESULT ... 1ST PLACE ... FEMALE STANDING DIVISION.
met the other athletes and officials the night before the comp to find out weights and events. I was very happy with the weights and events chosen, as I’m a lightweight athlete, so some were quite challenging. With the moving races, I was excited to see how fast I could complete them. I won four out of six events and tied first in two - very happy with my efforts! I made a few silly mistakes on the day, but have learnt from them, and had a total blast overall. I met many inspiring, strong people; I met friends and fellow competitors whom I’ve been chatting with via Facebook, and I was excited to meet another blind competitor and his wife. It was great being
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I hope one day WSDM (World’s Strongest Disabled Man comp) will be in Australia!
BRUSHES WITH LIFE GIVES PEOPLE WITH A LIVED EXPERIENCE OF MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, THEIR FAMILIES, CARERS, MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS AND PEOPLE WITH A GENERAL INTEREST IN ART THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPRESS THEMSELVES THROUGH CREATIVITY AND ART. nder the auspice of Flourish Australia (formerly RichmondPRA) participants come together once a month at the Cundletown Uniting Church on the first Thursday of the month to participate with like minded people in their creative pursuits, under the guidance of volunteer practising artists. Supported by both Flourish Australia, Midcoast Council, Manning Mental Health Service, Carers Assist, Phams, Subway, the Uniting Church and Regional Arts NSW, the workshops provide a safe and supportive space to create art, linking creativity, recovery and the maintenance of good mental health whilst promoting a wider network within the community.
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able to chat with them! I met athletes from all over the world and spent most of my time in the UK eating, chatting, site seeing and socialising with some of them. This competition was an extraordinary experience that I am so thankful for. It, and the other athletes, have given me the motivation to keep training and strive to get stronger. Meeting other athletes with varying disabilities and stories was absolutely empowering; they all have strong and positive personalities and outlooks. It was truly an honour competing with them, and I intend to again.
In its fourth year, Brushes with Life’s annual exhibition opens Thursday, 6th at 5:30pm and continues Friday 7th to Monday 10th October in Taree. Works can be viewed from 10am to 4pm, with a gold coin donation entry. Works from art enthusiasts across the Great Lakes and Manning area include paintings, drawings and photographs. Kirsten Olsen from Flourish Australia comments: “Art is a great outlet for people to express themselves; it encourages social participation and a sense of wellbeing, whether you live with a mental health issue or not.” Anyone interested in participating can download a form at the Brushes with Life Facebook page, or call Kirsten Olsen on 0448 060 661.
focusinterview. Organiser/Producer Tony Brady introduces us to the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards - perhaps among the most well-known of the British Military concert bands. With number one hits, multiple recordings and championship performances under their belts, the members of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards are fighting soldiers first, and musicians second … Don’t miss your chance to see this band in their full ceremonial garb at the MEC …
STARS OF THE ROYAL EDINBURGH MILITARY TATTOO
R O Y A L SCOTS DRAGOON G U A R D S
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i Tony. As the organiser/producer responsible for bringing the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards to Australia, what does your role
involve? My role started with meeting the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards in Edinburgh, Scotland, dating back to August last year. I attended the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, where they were one of the main performances. I had some discussions with them about bringing them to Australia … again … and I say again, because back in 2003 they came to Australia to do a fairly small tour. They performed at the Sydney Opera House, and they were very well received. Then there were subsequent meetings - I was in Edinburgh again in June this year to talk about the show and its content. The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards have their set routine, but they also take suggestions from me about what musical numbers they could include in their show. How many performers will be travelling with the Australian tour? There will be 27 on stage; we’ve added a couple of people to the show. A wonderful singer from New Zealand, Toni Gibson, has joined the show - an amazing soprano who’s done musical theatre and has worked various producers, including Andrew Lloyd Webber. Toni will be performing some lovely traditional Scottish songs. We also have two regimental dancers in the show and two supporting musicians who play keyboard and guitar, to add to the sound of the pipes and drums. How will the show unfold on stage? The MC will introduce the band and talk about their history, which goes back
hundreds of years. The regiment was originally a cavalry regiment - the soldiers, in those days, rode horses. But in more recent times, horses became tanks … so they were a tank regiment up until about a year ago, when the tanks converted over to a heavy armoured vehicle. This regiment was in Iraq with the British Army, and indeed they even recorded an album while they were in Iraq [in 2007] while they were part of the allied contingent. I believe the regiment’s military history extends back as far as 1678! The pipes and drums segment have had some amazing achievements over recent years, including the album Spirit of the Glen, which as you mentioned was made while on duty in Iraq. The band also hit number one in multiple countries with their rendition of Amazing Grace in 1972. Will some of these songs the band has made famous form part of the show? Absolutely. Amazing Grace will appear in the show. We’ll also hear Highland Cathedral, which is another major hit for the band - it’s worthwhile Googling this performance by the band, to hear the pipes and drums blended with electronic instruments. They’ll also be performing a piece called Going Home, which they recorded with Mark Knopfler. They do a lot of famous songs from movie soundtracks, including pieces from Dances with Wolves and The Last of the Mohicans, as well as some of the various famous Scottish marches like Scotland the Brave and Black Bear. Some of the pipes and drums segment members have visited Australia previously, as you mentioned. What was some of their feedback about
Australia from their previous visit? They love Australia! Of course, some of them were also in Melbourne earlier this year as part of the Edinburgh Military Tattoo. They receive great feedback from their followers. They have a very loyal fan base - they’ve been around for a while and have multiple recordings and DVDs in their catalogue. They have a large following in the Scottish community and also amongst the various pipe band associations … The feeling about coming back to Australia is very positive - and the reaction we’re getting from ticket sales and from venues is that this show is quite unique compared to what’s touring at the moment. Final say … We’re thrilled to be able to bring the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards to your region. It’s a family show - a show that will be enjoyed by the entire family. This is a very proficient pipes and drum band - they’ve won a number of top championships over the years competing against other pipes and drums bands from around the world. They’re highly skilled, and it will be quite a spectacle to see them marching into the theatre in their full ceremonial uniform. It will be a bit of an inside look into the Military Tattoo on a smaller scale. Thanks Tony.
the plug! See the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards at the MEC. 28th October, 7:30pm. Tickets: adults $89.90, pens. $84.90.
A SCOTTISH SPECTACULAR 28 MUSICIANS, DANCERS AND SINGERS ON STAGE PERFORMING IN FULL CEREMONIAL UNIFORM
MANNING ENTERTAINMENT CENTRE Friday 28th October, 7.30pm Book at theMEC.com.au ph 6592 5466 or Stockland Forster
www.themec.com.au
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DONNA CARRIER
from Bent on Food
A Smile Dental Opening
A Smile Dental Opening
Donna’s Dad at his 80th birthday
Meals in the Fields
Meals In the Fields
TAFE Graduation
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fter many years of being a contributor, each year the particular months start off almost the same way; seasons, events, festivals, birthdays, Father’s Day, Mother’s Day, all giving me lovely celebrations to write about. September is the beginning of the wedding season and my favourite season, spring! My garden is alive with fragrant flowers and herbs, and baby calves are running around the nearby paddocks. I am looking forward to longer days, with Daylight Saving starting soon. We were thrilled to be seated nearby some Manning Valley food lovers, Jane and Roger Liddle, along with poultry producers Beth and Hayden from Burrawong Gaian for the Spring Meals in the Fields held at Near River Produce on Sunday, September 11th. We love these events, and we enjoyed wonderful local produce prepared by the team from Drury Lane in Port Macquarie. Local duck from Burrawong Gaian, pork and vegetables from Near River, locally made bread and wonderful Tamborlaine organic wines were beautifully showcased to a long table of 80 people seated amongst the happy pigs and chickens. Bent on Food are looking forward to preparing the summer luncheon at Near 28
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eight weeks, whilst I have been training River on 15th January 2017. A Smile Dental at 31 York Street, Taree them on how to make a good coffee. Of recently held their grand opening. Barbara course, they will need to put these skills and Ralph Freier welcomed guests and into practice now, and most of them will be revealed their stylish newly renovated seeking some work soon. We are fortunate premises. A Smiles’ state of the to have a dedicated group of people art equipment was on who are making this happen and show, which will benefit along with Lisa and myself, patients with early some wonderful teachers, detection of decay. It including John Kell, Craig I My team and ly te lu is refreshing to see Freudenstein and Ken were abso e this new business, Oldfield are also working thrilled to win th fé Ca with crisp white closely with students. maj or award of al on walls and polished Classes will continue of the Year Regi NSW at the 2016 d floor, looking more after the holidays, an NSW Restaurant like an art gallery with a new group .” Catering Awards than a dentist! The being welcomed in early space has come alive, October. Congratulations to with landscape paintings my great group of students; I by local artist and Director of wish you luck. Well Creative, Timothy Clift. My team and I were absolutely The first group of hospitality thrilled to win the major award of Café of students graduated from the new the Year Regional NSW at the 2016 NSW facilities at Taree TAFE on Friday 23rd Restaurant and Catering Awards. It was September. It was great to train them on a major surprise after we had won Best the job at this new student enterprise and Breakfast - Northern New England Region provide them with barista skills, along with and Best Café Restaurant - Northern New customer service and cookery skills. Chef England Region earlier in the night. We were Lisa Chandler has been teaching them amongst some great company, with Club some valuable cooking skills for the past Taree winning the category of Functions/
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Convention Centre Caterer - Northern New England Region and Harrigan’s Irish Pub at Harrington winning Restaurant in a Club/ Pub/Tavern - Northern New England Region. And the good news continues, as we have all been notified that we are through to the nationals for all categories. The national gala awards night will be held on 24th October. These awards help to lift the profile of the Manning Valley, and I congratulate both Club Taree and Harrigan’s for these great results, that are judged anonymously by our industry peers. My dad turned 80 years old on September 17th, and we all got together at Nabiac Hotel for a small celebration with family and close friends. Mum and Dad’s lifelong friends travelled from the Blue Mountains, and locals joined the family for a lovely evening. Dad has worked hard all of his life and still remains as fit as a bull, so there are many years in him yet. Happy 80th, Dad; thanks for being a wonderful father. Llove you lots. xx I would love to hear from you if you have any social events, weddings, parties, anything! Send pics and info to donna@bentonfood.com.au Cheers, Donna.
© Jeff Busby 2016
SOCIAL/SCENE
HERE I AM AT PROBABLY MY NINTH OCTOBER OF WRITING THIS COLUMN AND TRYING NOT TO WRITE ANYTHING LIKE I DID IN OCTOBER 2015, OR 2014, OR EVEN 2008!
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kasey chambers in concert KASEY CHAMBERS IN CONCERT Friday 4th November at 8pm All ages show - adults $45, children $30 - reserved seating (children must be accompanied by their parent(s) or legal guardian(s)).
DARYL Braithwaite
AUSTRALIAN ICON DARYL BRAITHWAITE IS STOPPING OFF IN FORSTER ON HIS NATIONWIDE TOUR. HE CAUGHT UP WITH FOCUS IN BETWEEN SHOWS FOR A QUICK CHAT …
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t seems as though you’re always on tour! How do you balance life/work? I’d love to be able to say this is the tour that promotes “something”, but it’s just promoting all of the music I’ve had out and the band … Around Christmas time we have around two weeks off; otherwise, we are forever playing here, there and everywhere, and it works for us. We are all happy doing that and the public seem all right with it; it just continues on … Tell us about the guys in your band. You have a fair bit of history with all of them. There’s John; he’s on drums and he’s been there since 1987. The longevity of this band exceeds Sherbet by a decade or so; he’s a good friend! Then there’s David, who’s been there two years short of John; he plays acoustic guitar and electric guitar and harmonica. Geoffrey is on lead guitar; he’s been there just over 20 years and is also a good friend, and then there’s Mark on keyboards; he’s the youngest one - he’s been there 15 years. Just recently over the last five years I’ve had Jason on bass. I went and saw the Beatles movie the other night, and the thing I related to is that they were perceived (by me, anyway) as really good friends, and I think that’s really the essence of bands. You get on really well with all the people in your band, and I saw that with the Beatles. I thought, that’s why Sherbet lasted and got on so well, and I think to a degree with the unit I’ve got is that we’ve played together so long, we all know each other’s idiosyncrasies and God knows
what else! It’s part of the joy of making music - especially with people you know. Do you play any instruments? The only ones I play are vocal … I play a bit of guitar and a bit of piano, but not at the standard of the other boys in the band. They look at me sometimes when I bring a guitar and they roll their eyes; I don’t get a chance to play guitar. And that’s fine; I like singing anyway so much, and it would probably interfere if I played guitar. I read one of the Sherbet songs featured on a Daft Punk album … Yes, it’s We Ride Tonight. They (Daft Punk) picked it up and used it on their last album Random Access Memory and it’s called Contact; its the last track on their album. Who would have thought? A Sherbet song going on to a Daft Punk album? If you could collaborate with any artist, past or present, who would it be? Billie Jo from Green Day, and also watching the Beatles movie the other night, I was never a big fan of his, but I think John Lennon. That’s it, off the top of my head at the moment! Thanks Daryl.
Today, after years in the industry, Kasey is naïve no more. She’s felt music as both aggressor and healer - grinding and cleansing like some pure, vicious coast. It demands a lot from its maker. But whenever she feels lost, Kasey takes it back to basics. This raw approach helped knit together the loose threads that became the Lost Dogs, a band that healed Kasey, and allowed her to rediscover her love of song. Now the music of Kasey Chambers seems buried in Australia’s bones.
that have captured the spirit of the nation in
See Kasey perform her new album as well as her hits live on stage at Club Forster!
song unlike any other. Along his journey he has
JOHN WILLIAMSON IN CONCERT Saturday 19th November at 8pm All ages show - adults $44, children $33 - reserved seating (children must be accompanied by their parent(s) or legal guardian(s)).
Fame, secured three ARIA Awards, 25 Golden
There is no question; John Williamson is a musical icon of Australia. His name is firmly cemented in the culture and fabric of the country he loves. To his credit are unofficial anthems, tributes to legends and unsung heroes and tender ballads
been inducted into the prestigious ARIA Hall of Guitars, MO Awards, APRA Awards, Platinum and Gold albums and over four million album sales, to name just some of the recognition he has earnt. You can call him what you want, Mallee Boy, True Blue or just plain Fair Dinkum; but there is no denying that after more than forty years in the music industry, John Williamson is truly an Australian icon.
the plug! Catch Daryl Braithwaite at Club Forster on Sunday 16th October at 8pm. Tickets $37 each. Reserved seating, plus a dance floor. 18+ years. www.clubforster.com.au
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BEST MATES ADAM AND PAT, HAILING FROM OUR VERY OWN SHORES HERE IN THE MANNING-GREAT LAKES, WILL BE BRINGING THEIR VINTAGE ROCK VIBES TO THIS YEAR’S LAKESIDE FESTIVAL. FOCUS CAUGHT UP WITH THE BOYS AND CHATTED ABOUT THEIR JOURNEY SO FAR …
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i guys. Introduce us to THE RUIINS; who makes up the band, and how would you describe your vibe? Hey! THE RUIINS are a two-piece band comprised of two best mates, Adam and Pat. I guess our vibe would be best described as two best mates having a hell of a time and doing what they love. There's a cheeky brother-like vibe that comes out through our writing and when we play live. How did you both meet and come together musically? We first met in the early days of high school at Great Lakes College. We became good mates through surfing and our friend circles combining. We started playing music together with some other mates and played in a band called "Waiting For Adam". It wasn't until years later we started playing music together again, and formed THE RUIINS ... You’re currently residing on the Gold Coast but are originally from Forster. Tell us what you love about our beautiful part of the world … Lots of things. The area is one of the best
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We are in early Istages for THE RU ed stok INS, so we were email e th t go e w n whe ting to an from triple j w ack, tr t bu play our de re it was fo be ’, lly ‘Eventua released! ”
“ stretches of coast in the world. It's nice coming home and surfing with only your mates - a huge contrast compared to surfing Snapper Rocks! The biggest thing would have to be the people, though. We really couldn't have asked for a better place to grow up, with such a good mix of people from all generations. Who does most of the writing? The writing is pretty much split between the two of us. We either come to rehearsals with an individual idea for a song and then collaborate towards a finished product, or we just jam something out at rehearsals and build it from there. With Adam being the singer, he contributes more to the melody and comes up with the lyrics. How have your singles been received so far? Yeah good! Lots of positivity, both nationally and internationally. We are in early stages for The RUIINS, so we were stoked when we got the email from triple j wanting to play our debut track, Eventually, before it was released! You guys are on the bill for our Lakeside Festival this year. What are you looking forward to about playing to your hometown, and what can we expect from
your performance? Playing at home is always so much fun - nothing better than a hometown crowd! Super excited to see familiar faces in the crowd and to see both our mums dancing together at the front, as they normally do ha ha. From our performance, you can expect a good time! We want plenty of dancing from our friends and family, so no pressure! Personally and musically, what inspires you both? The things that inspire us both would have to be the experiences we have, our friends and family - other musicians and bands are probably the biggest, though. Whenever we see some live music, it always sparks some inspiration and the urge to create more music. What’s on the horizon for THE RUIINS? An album release? Tour? We are about to hit the road for a tour to celebrate the release of our next single, Open Up Your Soul, which will be out in October. We will be heading all around the East Coast,
playing the Caloundra Music Festival on the Sunshine Coast to kick it off, and making our way as far south as Wollongong and playing everywhere in between from September ‘til December! Where can our readers follow your journey and listen to your music? We are on Facebook and Instagram, so you can see what we're up to on the road and where we're playing on there: Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/ theruiins Instagram - @the_ruiins If you want to check out our music, you can download our songs on iTunes or on our triple j Unearthed and SoundCloud pages https://www.triplejunearthed.com/artist/ruiins https://m.soundcloud.com/the-ruiins
the plug! Catch THE RUIINS at the Lakeside Festival, 5 November: www.lakesidefestival.com.au
Photo credit: East Coast Photography
T WITH THE STUNNING WALLIS LAKE AS A BACKDROP, THE 4TH ANNUAL LAKESIDE FESTIVAL WILL BE HELD ON THE WEEKEND OF NOVEMBER 4, 5, 6. A FEAST FOR ALL YOUR SENSES, WITH MUSIC, ART, FOOD AND WINE, PLUS A BIG SCREEN OUTDOOR MOVIE NIGHT AND ART EXHIBITION - IT'S SET TO BE A GREAT WEEKEND IN BEAUTIFUL FORSTER TUNCURRY.
he main event is on Saturday from 10:30am to 6pm. An awesome day of live music, kicking off with the dulcet tones of AQWA, followed by East Coast rock and blues group Harry’s Lookout and the fresh indie rock of Soar. Coming home to the Great Lakes from their Gold Coast base are THE RUIINS, a collaboration of raw blues and vintage rock. The finale will rock, with the dapper dressed Cheap Fakes rounding off an awesome day with suave moves and brass fuelled funk. Take a leisurely stroll through the art market for some early Christmas shopping. Visit the many colourful stalls offering unique, local homemade arts and crafts. Amongst the art market stalls, a second stage will come alive, with up and coming new talent busking for their chance to play the main stage next year - plus, a live outdoor broadcast from MAX FM Radio during the morning.
Whet your appetite watching cooking demonstrations by local identities, including Donna Carrier from the multi award winning Bent on Food, Wingham. Then feast your tastebuds, with over 20 delicious food stalls ready to tempt you. To accompany your meal, The Bellevue Hotel will be running the Lakeside Bar and hosting a local wine promotion. Bring a chair or rug and chill out with family and friends at this unique boutique music festival. And you can bring the kids … The little people will be entertained with jumping castles, slides, face painting and a sand pit for the toddlers. The festival is a no BYO fully licensed event; under 18s are welcome under strict supervision of parents. Make a weekend of it with the Lakeside Moonlight Movie on Friday evening, a big screen outdoor movie night. Take a night off from cooking and treat the kids to a meal from the many stalls available. Watch the lake change colour with the setting
Saturday Nov 5
10.30am ‐ 6.00pm Entry $10 kids under 16 free Live Music Art Market Food & Bar Displays Kids entertainment
FREE
Local shu�le bus all day
sun, while feasting on some great food and maybe a glass of wine from the Lakeside Bar. Fun, pre movie entertainment 'til the stars come out and the movie starts at approx. 8pm. Then, settle in with a family favourite Daddy's Home, starring Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlburg - a hilarious movie for all the family to enjoy, right by the lake. A new addition to the festival is a three day art exhibition at Tuncurry Memorial Hall, just down the street from the main festival grounds. The exhibition will be open to the public on Fri 4th and Sat 5th November, 9am to 3pm, and on Sunday 6th, from 10am to 1pm. See the amazing creativity of artists, photographers, sculptors and artisans from all over the Mid North Coast. The Lakeside Festival - a feast for all your senses at Forster Tuncurry. For more information, go to: www.lakesidefestival.com.au or email info@lakesidefestival.com.au
Club Forster East Coast Photography Sails Apartments Evermore Re�rement Living Bellevue Hotel Johnny Mac's Ray White Forster Tuncurry Sevan Apartments Forster Tuncurry Business Chamber
Friday Nov 4
Open 5.30pm Movie 8pm Entry $5 kids under 16 free
John Wright Park Tuncurry
Pre movie Entertainment plus Food and Bar
www.lakesidefestival.com.au
Friday & Saturday are fully licensed. Under 18's allowed only under direct supervision of parents. No BYO food or drink and sorry no pets.
Admission by gold coin dona�on
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14-16 OCTOBER
WINGHAM SHOWGROUND CAMPING • WORKSHOPS WINE BAR • ART • KIDSPACE FOOD & CREATIVE STALLS
ROSS WILSON • ASH GRUNWALD SHANNON NOLL • BACKSLIDERS CATHERINE BRITT • BILL CHAMBERS
HUNTER AND SMOKE • BRENDAN GALLAGHER • DAVE MASON GRIZZLEE TRAIN • THE VANNS • MIRIAM LIEBERMAN JOSH NEEDS • AFRO • JODI MARTIN • JORDAN McROBBIE DAVE WILKINS • TRAVELLIN’ TEARDROPS • DYBALLS GALLERI • SOAR • JAY DAVIS TRIO • ALYCE GRAY HARRY’S LOOKOUT • THE GIRL FOLDER • THE TRAPPS THE SWAMP STOMPERS • ROUND MOUNTAIN GIRLS Z CHORDS AND MORE
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THIS YEAR’S AKOOSTIK FESTIVAL, 14 - 16 OCTOBER, IS GEARING UP TO BE ONE TO REMEMBER. HUNTER AND SMOKE ARE ON THE BILL THIS YEAR, BRINGING THEIR ECLECTIC SOUND TO THE STAGE…
Our favourite part of the ve to festival would ha es ag be that it encour d an ic us m al in ig or ine nu ge a that there’s ic us m e th in interest e.” er th ed ay pl g bein
“
I
ntroduce us to Hunter and Smoke. Where do you all originate from, and who makes up the band? Hunter and Smoke was created early 2012 in Byron Bay. Our current members come from all over the world. The bassist, Alessandro “Sanj” Berra is originally from Italy. Founder of Hunter and Smoke, composer and guitarist Luke Horsfield, hails from Townsville, and I grew up in Hungary, making my way back to Australia in early 2011. The most recent additions to the band, Chris Wesely, our keyboard/synth player comes from Adelaide, and on drums we have a very talented local boy, Jackson Somerville from Lismore. The band has been living in the hinterlands of Byron Bay for the past five years or so. There’s some unexplainable attraction to this place. We all love having our “Headquarters” here. How long have you been playing together, and how did you meet? The three founding members Sanj, Luke and I have been playing music together for the past four years. Luke recruited us from different jam parties around Byron Bay. Chris Wesely and Jackson Somerville joined us about a year ago. We were preparing for our Rocking Horse EP at the time, and we wanted to expand our sound. So, we invited new people in and tried a different instrumentation - this time going for a full band setup with drums, saxophone, synthesiser, and vocals. We actually had a different drummer for the recording, going
by the name of Scott Davey. The EP also features three tracks with our vocalist Madison Levi and an incredibly groovy saxophonist called Kim Moxham. It was humbling having so many musicians eager to join us, wanting to play our songs. It all gelled together so smooth. Connections were made fast and before we knew it, we had a full band, making sounds we haven’t heard before. It was very exciting. What are your backgrounds and experience within the music industry? We all have very different backgrounds in music. Luke Horsfield is totally self taught. Our bass player, Sanj, studied classical piano at the Con in Italy. I come from a well regimented classical background on the violin, finishing my education at the Conservatorium in Hungary. Our vocalist, Madison Levi, and our drummer, Jackson, are currently studying at Lismore SCU. All our band members are very active within the music scene, playing in multiple bands, and some of us are occasionally hired guns (studio musicians). I also hold workshops and tutor young violin players. You’ve just released your latest EP in June this year. What’s the vibe like, and how has it been received so far? It’s been great fun touring our EP up and down the East Coast. The crowd seems to really like it. We packed out the little Milk Factory room in Brisbane and received a raving review after playing at the Night Quarters on the Gold Coast.
People seem to be seeking original music. We’re excited to have you on the bill for our Wingham Akoostik Festival. What do you love about playing this festival and the Manning- Great Lakes? We love coming to Wingham to play. The people are so friendly and welcoming. We get taken care of every time we come down. Our favourite part of the festival would have to be that it encourages original music and that there’s a genuine interest in the music being played there. Donna from Bent on Food has always been a big supporter of our music, along with Nicola and Steve Morton. In five words, describe the feel and vibe of your music … Eclectic, fun, smooth, interesting, original. The most interesting thing that’s happened at a gig? The most interesting? Ha ha. We often improvise sections in a song. The most interesting thing that’s happened would have to be while jamming a section, not exactly knowing where it’s going, and then all of us at the same time just take a dive - playing what our instinct is telling us. The real magic happens when we all actually play the same groove. Most memorable moment to date?
Recording our most recent EP, Rocking Horse. We found a big enough room to record live. We took the whole band and delivered a mini set in the studio for a handful of friends and supporters. We had so much fun on the day - really feel like the magic was captured in the room. Where can we follow your journey and buy your music? We have multiple platforms. Our most popular would have to be Facebook and Instagram. We also have a website (www.hunterandsmoke.com) and you can follow us on SoundCloud. Plans for the next 12 months? We have a tour coming up in December this year, starting in Byron and then working our way up and down the East Coast of Australia, with a definite pit stop in the Manning Valley area. Amongst the gigs and tours, we’re writing new songs for our full album, we’re looking to release next year. Anything else you’d like to share with our readers? We would like to send out our biggest gratitude to all our supporters and fans. Thanks for allowing us to fulfil our dreams. Keep your ear out for more. We have a lot more coming. Thanks guys. Don’t miss Hunter and Smoke at this year’s Wingham Akoostik Festival. www.akoostik.com.au manning-great lakes focus.
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COMPETITION BENT ON FOOD Bent on Food is looking forward to the warmer months, when outdoor parties and luncheons will be in full swing. This award winning café can host your event in their beautiful big garden, with plenty of seating and a fabulous menu, or why not book them to come to you? Bent on Food is devoted to local produce, so you can trust that the food is fresh and supports your local farmers and growers. Specialising in weddings, the team can create a memorable event for your special day, with a menu to suit your needs.
October sees Wingham host its very first Low ‘n’ Slow BBQ competition, in collaboration with the Wingham Akoostik Festival. FOCUS spoke to event organiser and avid meat eater Grant Coleman, to talk all things barbecue …
H
i Grant. This year’s Wingham Akoostik Festival plays host to the very first “Smokin the Valley” Barbecue Competition. What inspired the decision to start this event and to merge the two? I competed in my first BBQ event in Port Macquarie this year and walked away after enjoying it so much, that I said to my wife, “Wingham needs one of these”. Being in Wingham all my life, I thought, “What a great idea, to have it with the Akoostik Festival!” We initially thought we may get around 15 teams, and all of a sudden we had 33 teams, which is the maximum for the area we’ve got. It’s been very popular! How long does the event run, and what can competitors expect? Most of the teams will arrive Friday night. It kicks off around lunch time Saturday and the hand ins are from Sunday morning to lunch time, with the presentation at 1:40 in the afternoon on the Sunday. Is this an interactive competition? Will Wingham Akoostik goers have the opportunity to feast on any tasty morsels and get a flavour for BBQ culture? Yes, they certainly will. We have the competition, which is a competition only and is judged, but we’ve also organised a catering company to come along to cook
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very similar products, which will be for sale for the punters of the Akoostik Festival. Speaking of BBQ culture, what is the local vibe like in the lead up to the comp? It’s been good. A lot of people are talking about it, and the interesting thing I see is it’s putting something in our area which a lot of people haven’t had a lot do with ... There are a few competition categories on offer, with one being “Grain Fed vs Grass Fed”. Tell us about that … We have the “Grain Fed vs Grass Fed” Brisket Challenge, where everyone will be cooking the same piece of meat, whether it’s grain fed or grass fed, which more or less will bring out the best cook. It’s not about whether someone can afford to buy Wagyu brisket, which is worth about $400, or grass fed brisket worth about $50 - it’s going back to who’s the best cook on the day. What are the other categories competitors can enter? We have the pork ribs, which is one of the specialities everybody loves, and we have the chicken category as well. With a huge 33 teams competing, where do they all hail from? There are teams coming from Brisbane to Sydney, one from Victoria, and even one from South Australia. Who are some of the sponsors who have come on board to support the
Have you met Travelling Millie? She is a retro caravan and travelling bar/café, perfect for the rustic wedding or for your next event.
competition? We have a number of sponsors. Radar Hill Smokers, Wingham Beef Exports, Firebrand, which is very good to the smoking community, Cellsera, which is a company that works here with the abattoir, Multivac, which is a bag and machine distributor for Cryovac machines, Bakewell Haulage and Country Clothing & Embroidery. What do you personally love about the Low n Slow BBQ culture that has taken Australia by the horns? Having been in the meat game all my life, the best thing I can see is the challenge to prepare and cook a tender, mouth-watering grass fed brisket. The culture of the Low ‘n’ Slow BBQ is laid back family friendly, good ol’ fashioned family values and good times, while still holding a very competitive streak. Also, the culture of the Low ‘n’ Slow BBQers is a gathering of a broad cross section of demographics, from the average “Joe Blow” through to esteemed professionals within their fields of practice. I personally believe that the Low ‘n’ Slow BBQ scene is only going to get bigger and better across the whole of Australia. Thanks Grant. To find out more about BBQ culture in Australia, head to www.ausbbq.com.au For enquiries about Smokin the Valley, email Grant Coleman: gfcoleman@bigpond.com
If you are looking for a corporate gift, go no further than Bent on Food, with a range of beautiful regional food hampers for your staff and clients, or maybe just for the relative who has everything. If you are unable to choose a hamper, then just up the road is Bent on Life, full of wonderful homewares and gifts for everyone in the family, enquire today. Wingham is the place for all your dining and shopping needs.Bent on Food is a proud sponsor of Wingham Akoostik Festival, so why not support businesses that help bring events to the region!
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WELLBEING
permanent
HAIR REDUCTION
T
here are distinctive differences between IPL hair reduction and Laser Hair reduction, but unfortunately in Australia, laws do not require businesses to distinguish their method of treatment and often call IPL a Laser treatment. IPL stands for Intense Pulse light. Cheap, readily available IPL and laser systems are flooding our Australian market, and a quick laser course can qualify anyone to use them. There are different grades, and successful treatments simply come down to the quality of equipment, as well as the operators’ skills. Prices vary as much as Laser systems, and often what appears to be a better price can be more costly, as many more treatments will be required to achieve a result. Hair lasers are often more effective with stronger, coarse hair and with darker skin types. IPL systems reach the hair follicle,
but also captures the pigment in the skin at the same time. With darker skins, IPL needs to be turned down to prevent trauma to the skin. The lower the setting, the harder it is to destroy the hair follicle, which is what we want to achieve for permanent reduction. NDYag Medical hair lasers operate at 1064nm, specifically targeting the depth where the pigment in the hair follicle lies. It will also read some pigment in the skin, but has more versatility. The joules can be maximised but at a slower pulse, making it safer for darker skins and stubborn hair to be treated at a higher range. An operator with medical grade laser training and developed skills, with an understanding of the technology of their machine along with proper assessment of skin, hair, conditions and contraindications, will not only give you confidence, but will get you results!
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o matter whether you’re a “tradie”, truck driver, busy housewife or surgeon - perhaps you’re an office worker hunched over a computer all day - pro-
fessional remedial or relaxation massage can improve your life. Massage, as a means of assisting the human body, originated in China and Egypt some 5,000 years ago. Ancient practitioners, drawing upon traditional Chinese medicine and healing practices, were much-respected within the medical society of the day.
Benefits
MASSAGE Although taking its roots from early times, modern massage has evolved into a highly specialised profession, significant scientific advancements, together with its far broader understanding of human anatomy, enabling today’s expertly trained and qualified therapists to take the practise of massage to a whole new level. Many people wait until they are already in pain, but the truth is that regular therapeutic massage can do much to prevent work-related stress and injury. It certainly assists in optimising physical and mental wellbeing, and there’s no doubt that it feels good too!
Smoothie BOWL
Head
LICE
H
ead lice (aka Nits) are wingless insects that live on human heads. They are mostly spread by direct contact with somebody who already has lice and mostly occurs in children. Lice are very small and often match the hair colour, appearing lighter in blonde hair and darker in black hair. They live in the hair and feed on human blood through the scalp. Female lice lay eggs on the hair strands close to the scalp, which hatch seven days later. One of the easiest methods to find head lice is “wet combing”. This involves applying hair conditioner and using a comb to detangle the hair. The conditioner prevents the lice from
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crawling or clinging to the hair. You can comb through the hair in small sections and after each stroke, wipe the conditioner off the comb onto paper towel, and this will show if there are head lice present. There are many products available to use to remove head lice, including chemical and natural. These are available as shampoos, foams, liquids, etc. and are available in pharmacies. If you would like more information on head lice, please call Saxbys Pharmacy on (02) 6552 1662 or come in and talk to one of our pharmacists. Ian, Shari and Erinn.
NOW THAT WINTER IS OVER, IT’S TIME TO FRESHEN UP FROM THE INSIDE OUT. SPRING INTO HEALTH THIS SEASON WITH OUR SPRING SMOOTHIE BOWL. 1 cup mixed frozen berries Handful of ice cubes Coconut milk (just to get things moving in your blender) 1 tablespoon nut butter of your choice Handful of spinach or kale 1 teaspoon acai powder Maple syrup or sweetener of
your choice, to taste Topping options: Pepitas, hemp seeds, crushed nuts, blueberries, raspberries chia seeds, coconut flakes cacao nibs, oats, bee pollen (get experimental!) Instructions 1. Place the frozen berries, ice
cubes, coconut milk, almond butter and greens in a blender. Add acai powder and sweetner. Blend until smooth, adding additional coconut milk as needed. 2. Pour into two bowls and top with toppings of choice.
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KINETIC
Human
JOHN STEVENS
DAY EVENT
G U E S T
S P E A K E R
Munjed al muderis. MEET ADJUNCT ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR MUNJED AL MUDERIS, ORTHOPAEDIC SURGEON - A REFUGEE WHO FLED IRAQ FOR AUSTRALIA AND BECAME A PIONEERING SPECIALIST IN OSSEOINTEGRATION PROSTHESIS LIMB SURGERY.
M
unjed Al Muderis is an Orthopaedic Surgeon, Adjunct Associate Professor, School of Medicine, Notre Dame, Sydney and a Clinical Lecturer at Macquarie University. He has a passion for serving those in need, and this led him to represent the Red Cross as an Ambassador, speaking for Amnesty International and UNHCR. Much of his time is devoted to his humanitarian causes as a public speaker advocating for human rights and equality for all. He also devotes a significant amount of his time nationally and internationally doing charity work and operating in under-priviledged countries. Munjed will tell his extraordinary true story of how as a young man he fled war-torn Iraq, came to Australia as a refugee by boat, spent months in a detention centre and went on to become a pioneering surgeon. His book, Walking Free, is one man’s phenomenal tale of escaping a death sentence in Iraq, surviving the Australian refugee system and becoming a surgeon at the forefront of Orthopaedic medicine. In 1999, Munjed Al Muderis was a young surgical resident working in Baghdad when a squad of Military Police marched into the operating theatre and ordered the surgical team to mutilate the ears of three busloads of army deserters. When the head of surgery refused, he was executed in front of his staff. Munjed’s choices were stark - comply, or flee. That day, Munjed’s life changed forever. He escaped to Indonesia, where he boarded a filthy, overcrowded refugee boat, bound for Australia. Like his fellow passengers, he hoped for a new life, free from fear and oppression, but for ten months he was incarcerated in what became known as the worst of the refugee camps, Curtin Detention Centre in Western Australia. On 26 August 2000, Munjed was finally freed. Now, fourteen years later, he is one of the world’s leading osseointegration surgeons, transforming
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the lives of amputees with a pioneering technique that allows them to walk again. Munjed’s journey to become a world leader in osseointegration surgery started when he was a young child watching The Terminator movie. How to combine robotics and humans? This passion is what has driven him to search the world to find the best way to provide this technology for amputees ... To date, Munjed has helped more than 80 amputees, trans femoral and trans tibial walk with greater ease, comfort and control. Osseointegration enables the amputee to focus on destination rather than the journey; this in itself has been life changing for most of Munjed’s patients. On reflection, Munjed reveals in this statement some lessons which could, and should, be learned: “Of course I understand the raw popularity of the ‘Stop the boats’ catchcry. But I believe politicians should take a much more compassionate approach to asylum-seekers, rather than attempt to portray them as the evil enemies of the state. Mostly, they’re not. Long periods of incarceration are simply inhuman. “Sure, I realise the mass popular appeal of offering simple answers to complex problems. But it’s an utterly shallow approach. Don’t forget, we’re dealing with real human beings - unlike the treatment I received in Curtin, people are not just numbers or statistic. Every human being deserves something better than having their lives dismissed in a flood of simplistic rhetoric, posturing and crass political point-scoring.” Meet Adjunct Associate Professor Munjed Al Muderis at the Human Rights Day Event organised by Great Lakes Rural Australians for Refugees (GLRAR). When: Saturday 29th October; 2pm. Afternoon tea will be served. Where: Holy Name Primary Assembly School Hall, Lake St, Forster. For further information about GLRAR, email: info@greatlakesrar.org
SHOULDER PAIN. IT’S NOT QUITE A PAIN IN THE NECK, BUT IT’S PRETTY CLOSE!
A
ll puns aside, it’s a big deal. It rounds out the big three as far as painful sites go, behind only back and knee pain on the stats. 18% of all insurance claims relating to musculoskeletal injuries are related to the shoulder and, though the statistics do vary, as much as 47% of all cases of shoulder pain last up to one-year in duration. As a clinician, few things bother me more than seeing conditions like these go ineffectively treated or even ignored until such time has past that effective management becomes very difficult. Treating shoulderrelated conditions involves understanding the intricacies that can make or break treatment outcomes, and these often go unappreciated by even some health professionals. The main problem with the shoulder is in its design and how we now tend to use our upper limbs in modern society. The head of the humerus (the bone of the upper arm) is in fact an oblique shape, rather than perfectly round. This means that when we elevate the shoulder, we increase the stress on the tissues inside and around the joint. This can contribute to inflammatory stressors and can even cause other concurrent conditions to develop. Because this aggravation develops based on how you move, unless you get treatment that changes the way your shoulder moves, it isn’t
going to improve. Another issue lies in that what we refer to as the shoulder is, in fact, not just one joint. The glenohumeral joint, which is where the bone of the upper arm attaches the scapula (or shoulder blade), and the scapulothoracic joint, where the shoulder blade sits on the rib cage, are both vital to distinguish separately in treatment, because all these segments are controlled by muscles that must work together. Now, because we spend so much of our time using our arms to lift, push and pull below shoulder height, the scapula can easily and readily hitch upwards with most movements, reducing joint space and increasing load on important muscles of the upper arm. Therefore, significant attention has to be paid to effective strategies that improve the shoulder’s stability to do what we want it to, when we want it to. “All of that’s good and well,” you say, “but I’ve got some pretty big tears in there!” Well, you’d be surprised to hear that research conducted on thousands of subjects and published in the world’s most esteemed medical journals tells us that specialised physical therapy is at least as effective as rotator cuff repair surgery when compared over the course of treatment and recovery. Now, that should take a burden of your shoulders!
Kinetic Medicine’s Kinetic Medicine’s
Kinetic Medicine’s
OCTOBER SPECIAL OCTOBER SPECIAL Free gift for all new 10-visit passes Free gift for all new 10-visit passes
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Kinetic Medicine’s
manning-great lakes focus.
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focus_health
with Dr Linda Dade - Chiropractor
LIVE, LIVE, LIVER.
1st
I T I S S O V I TA L LY I M P O RTA N T T H AT P E O P L E STA RT C O N N E C T I N G T H E D OT S. YO U R H E A LT H AC T I O N S TO DAY D E T E R M I N E YO U R H E A LT H O U TC O M E S TO M O R ROW.
S
pring is the perfect time to clean out, so let’s talk about our glorious liver - the largest internal organ and the most important organ of detoxification. The liver is the largest blood reservoir in the body and is the blood filterer. Its processes removes damaged red blood cells and antibodies, removes and recycles any necessary circulating hormones (when addressing hormone issues, one must address liver health) and is also a big player with absorbing the vitamin D from the blood, plays a role in stabilising blood sugar and is responsible for the regulation of fat storage. The liver has two phases of detoxification Phase one is burn and clear. Poisonous substances are broken down - those who have intolerances to perfume, chemicals, coffee may have an impaired phase one. Poor gut flora, Valium, aging, PPIs, Prozac, SSRIs, grapefruit, trauma and inflammation can all impair this phase. Vitamins A, B, C, selenium, cruciferous
Birthday celebrations
vegetables assist this phase. Phase two takes those broken down segments from the toxins, marries them with compounds that allow them to go through six separate pathways. Any glitch here can mean your body is flooded with activated toxins (metabolites). This can result in extra fat storage and toxic accumulation leading to hormonal imbalances, exhaustion and brain dysfunction and premature ageing. A prescription for disease. I am learning that food is the carrier for microscopic nutrition, and what we are eating is full of signals that enable our liver to do its job. The liver will regenerate itself beautifully if you give it a chance - quality sleep, quality water, nutrient dense food, vitamins A, B and C, optimal nervous system function and a whole lot more. We regularly run “Healthier You” seminars. If you would like to get on our mailing list for future events, give us a call on 6557 6333 or email us on info@bdfchiro.com
EVERMORE HAS GROWN FROM STRENGTH TO STRENGTH, WITH THE COMPLETION OF THE FIRST TWO STAGES SINCE OPENING ITS DOORS LAST OCTOBER. STAGE 3 IS PROGRESSING WELL, DUE FOR COMPLETION IN MARCH 2017!
he support from the local apartments, ranging from spacious one bedders, community has been nothing through too stylish two bedroom ensuite short of tremendous, with designs. Stage 2 has been in high demand, residents coming on board and with just a few of the two bedroom apartments making the family atmosphere still available. Make sure you get in to see the apartments for yourself before they are all sold. of Evermore all it can be. By When you come into Evermore the time Stage 3 is built, the Evermore and feel the quality of the community will grow to 83 apartments, see the apartments and more than a exceptional facilities and hundred residents. Celebrations meet the people that Friendly New Faces to will continue make up the Evermore Support Evermores’ , th on m throughout the family, you are certain Residents on ay D with an Open er to understand why When Evermore opened ob ct O th 15 Saturday the village has quickly late last year, it started .” am 10 at g startin gained popularity as with 15 staff and today, the preferred choice for one year on, the team has supported retirement living grown to 25 friendly locals in the region. We’ve heard fulfilling hospitality, care and a number of Evermore residents maintenance roles. In addition to say that “Moving to Evermore has the village operations staff, there have been the best move they have ever made”. been up to 60 tradespeople working on When you come and see the residents enjoying Stage 2, and this number has increased happy hour in the lounge bar with like-minded slightly during the construction of Stage 3. The friends, delicious alfresco BBQs, classic movies Evermore team really feels like a part of the in the theatre, scrumptious dining in the Great Lakes community, with the patronage and restaurant, staying in shape in the gym, a quiet support from locals exceeding expectations. read in the library or being treated in style in Open Day 15th of October Celebrations will continue throughout the hairdressing salon, you start to understand the month, with an Open Day on Saturday why. There’s even plenty of secure storage 15th October, starting at 10am. It’s a great space in the basement carpark, which has lifts opportunity for you to savour a refreshment to all floors. For those who can’t make the whilst enjoying the Evermore family experience Open Day, be sure to call Braden to make an firsthand, or to take a guided tour of the appointment on 6528 0442. To find out more complex to see everything Evermore has on about everything that Evermore has to offer, visit offer. Stage 2 includes 23 beautifully appointed www.evermoreliving.com.au
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focus_interview
Business Minds with Jeremy Thornton of Insurance Advisernet
BUSINESS minds
BRADEN GRAHAM
O
I T ’ S N O S E C R E T T H AT O U R R E G I O N I S A R E T I R E M E N T D E S T I N AT I O N. A N D S O I T S H O U L D B E !
ne of the more recent developments has been Evermore Retirement Living, located at Bruce St, Forster. This month we learn more about Evermore by talking with Braden Graham, who is the sales and marketing manager. Braden, you’re a newcomer to our beautiful region. What was it that attracted you to make the move? My brother, Coyne, who is the CEO of Evermore Retirement Living invited me to become a part of the management team mid last year, whilst I was working in Asia. My wife and I relocated in November 2015 from Manila and we are both enjoying living the dream within the Manning-Great Lakes region! We are very fortunate to live in such a pristine part of the world. From Manila to us! Wow, tell us about life prior to Evermore. I’ve been involved with sales and marketing for over 20 years, and for the past nine was working for TAFE Queensland International Student Recruitment. The last two were working and living in the Philippines, regularly travelling throughout Asia on behalf of TQI. I thoroughly enjoy sales and marketing, as my previous employment gave me a direct opportunity to improve an overseas student’s way of life by studying in Australia. I see similar benefits now to that of the senior generation by marketing this amazing retirement village, to enhance one’s life by living at Evermore. The Evermore facility is stunning! How do you perceive Evermore to be different from others? Indeed it is! Our residents and their families agree that living at Evermore provides a high
quality lifestyle and is surprisingly affordable. specialist services will be required, benefiting all Apart from our beautifully appointed apartments within the Manning-Great Lakes community. and facilities, it is further supported by our How many locals make up the team now? friendly, dedicated and helpful staff, residents The Evermore staff number is growing steadily, and management team to ensure that all folk as we progress with each stage in key areas of are happy, comfortable and thoroughly enjoying care within our restaurant, medical, cleaning and living the life at Evermore! support services i.e. maintenance. Since October The Company Directors of Evermore possess 2015, our front of house staff numbers have a desire to exceed above and beyond and risen from 15 to 25 to date. noted by the way Evermore holds Looking at Manning-Great an onsite event - nothing is Lakes with fresh eyes, done in halves! Jump onto what do you see as our website or Facebook other opportunities or The more the , pages to view. The challenges facing our ps lo industry deve l events are always very area? na tio di the need for ad t well supported by our Driving tourism for lis ia health and spec , ed ir qu residents and their both domestic and re be services will e th in ith invited guests! international visitors, w l al benefiting s ke La at We have brought promoting whale re G Manning forward by 12 months watching, farm stays/ community.” our strategy of providing wineries, our coastline and 24/7 onsite care. It is natural waterways including proving very popular and Eco Tourism, are just some of provides peace of mind that the opportunities for this beautiful someone is always on hand if required, region. and is further supported by our 24/7 on The Manning-Great Lakes region benefits call emergency telephones located in each from its easy drive highways and volume of apartment and throughout the complex. population from Sydney and Newcastle and all Our region has one of the fastest growing in between. The challenge is how (as a newly retirement aged populations on the NSW formed local government region) we go to Coast. Whilst a positive for your specific market as a collective, ensuring that all businesses industry, what other opportunities do you and community within the region support and think this generates? drive it. We encourage and support this growing Some of this region’s coastline has been voted industry within our region, as our view is that the best in Australia, and there are places where each development offers different or varying you could confuse the coastline or lakes of the degrees of facility and accommodation, which Manning-Great Lakes to Fraser Island - all just greatly benefits the construction, services and a leisurely 3.5 hour drive from Sydney! Driving support industries. The more the industry through the picturesque Manning hinterland via develops, the need for additional health and Taree, Wingham to Gloucester is a must for any
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tourist, be it local or international. Evermore has been very active in the community and sponsor a number of events. How important is this involvement to Evermore? Evermore has been very fortunate to be invited to participate in a number of local community events, and we feel it is the cornerstone of our business strategy is to give back and support local community initiatives and clubs throughout the Manning-Great Lakes region. An Open Day is fast approaching. Tell us more about what we can see and do on this day. Open Day is on Saturday 15th October, from 10am to 2pm. We are actively promoting the final apartments of Stage 2 and releasing Stage 3 to the public. Our one and two-bedroom display apartments will be available to view and include guided tours throughout the complex of our facilities. Copies of our brochure, along with our generous incentive package, will be available on the day. We are very excited about Stage 3, as it will include a roof top garden and bar area, complementing an additional entertainment area to Evermore. If people can’t make our Open Day or wish to view earlier, then please make an appointment by calling (02) 6528 0442. For you, what is the best part about being in business in the Manning-Great Lakes? We are really enjoying the lifestyle and what the region has to offer. It must be noted that we are very appreciative of the support from the community, GL and Taree Chambers and our local council in developing Evermore into what is as an affordable five-star retirement village! Thanks Braden. Looking forward to the Open Day! manning-great lakes focus.
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with Clairvoyant Terri Hall Phone. 0424 818 343
OCTOBER 2016
with Terri
AQUARIUS. January 21 - February 19
A lot of people will be drawing on your strength and wisdom this month. Protect yourself by thinking you are inside a bubble, as this will create a barrier between their stress and your divinity, allowing you to offer guidance at no personal cost to your energies. You will hear yourself speak wise words; hear these for your guidance also. Turquoise is a great crystal for communication. Carry some when counselling.
PISCES.
February 20 - March 20 Time to make decisions and set some new goals. Don’t allow your challenges to interfere with your heart’s desire. Keep the bigger picture in mind as you are at a time of discovering your role in the bigger scheme of things. Ruby is wonderful for shattering fear.
ARIES.
March 21 - April 20 You are so clever at getting what you want. Victory involving an important speech is at hand, and this will alleviate the feeling of waiting and wanting change to come forward. You are not on your own; there is a wonderful support system available to you. Ruby helps us attain our highest ambitions.
TA U R U S .
April 21 - May 21 Set some fresh goals to maximise on the creative and artistic influences affecting your sign. Leadership qualities can be tapped into this month and offer self-enlightenment. Travel is likely to be high on the agenda soon. Herkimer diamonds are terrific for all kinds of change.
GEMINI. May 22 - June 22
Change is coming to any circumstance where entrapment is concerned. Being unable or afraid to express yourself will soon be something of the past. Justice will be served and a new sense of freedom will be enjoyed. Set some new goals and enjoy. Clear quartz amplifies strength.
CANCER. June 23 - July 23
Celebrations are coming, so don’t give up your dream. You have needed to recognise your own strength and independence, so you can succeed. Don’t allow the frustration of feeling suspended to spoil your passion or focus. Ruby worn daily energises the aura with passion and persistence.
LEO.
July 24 - August 23 Love is in the air. Honest and open communication needs to be a high priority in relationships. Major life changing decisions need to be completely thought through, so avoid any hasty choices this month. Justice and peace will be a strong influencing factor where career is concerned. Rose Quartz is a wonderful soothing crystal; carry it.
VIRGO.
August 24 - September 23 Plans to travel may be interrupted, or may not flow smoothly. You have been gifted with an acute sense of intuition, so use it to live by and all fear will dissipate, leaving you only in the right place at the right time. Record keepers are great to travel with.
LIBRA.
September 24 - October 23 Your personal strength is guiding you to a more determined and independent you; however, you may be feeling disconnected from your family and or loved ones at present. This will soon pass, leaving you in a confident, motivated and creative manner.
SCORPIO.
October 24 - November 22 Recently “love” represented heartache and hurt, but now your disconnection has aligned you with change. There are some magical rewards coming for home, work and in matters of love and friendship over the next few weeks, so enjoy! Turquoise is great for fun and friendship.
S A G I T TA R I U S . November 23 - December 21
Your new sense of personal power has recently shifted, and you are vulnerable to being domineered if you don’t stand your ground. You are such a wonderful, gentle example of love personified; this is your strength. Good luck will come through work soon. Carnelian can evoke creative energy quicker than many other crystals.
CAPRICORN. December 22 - January 20
Congratulations - your recent hard efforts at work have paid off. A newfound respect has been activated from your personal changes. You have the ability to puppeteer people at the moment, so use this skill with the highest intention for all concerned and enjoy the success you deserve. Apophyllite tip placed on the third eye helps to visualise.
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focus_tourism
Sharon Bultitude - Tourism and Marketing Coordinator, Great Lakes Tourism
Tourism
TURNING AN ONLINE COMPLAINT INTO A MARKETING WIN WHEN PEOPLE SAID MEAN THINGS ABOUT YOU AS A KID, YOUR MUM TOLD YOU TO IGNORE THEM; WHEN THE SAME THING HAPPENS TO YOU AS A MARKETER OR BUSINESS OWNER, IGNORING IS NOT AN OPTION.
A
negative comment is like a candle. It may be harmless, but with the right triggers it can escalate quickly to a fire. And you’d like to put out the fire before it spreads. The same thing is true for your brand. A slightly negative tweet from someone with a few followers doesn’t sound like a big deal. But it could escalate into 10,000 negative comments across multiple platforms. That’s when you have a full-blown crisis to deal with. Humanising brands online Looking at it simply, marketing is about finding ways to connect businesses with people. This human element is the reason many of us choose to work in the industry. Seeking to understand who the target audience is and creating content and campaigns that communicate effectively and meaningfully with them is both interesting and rewarding if you’re a people person. We often talk about a company’s values and mission, as well as the personas that represent its target audience. However, we should take this a step further and humanise the brands themselves, as ultimately at the heart of every business is a bunch of people who have senses of humour and get things wrong sometimes. When we go to work we, of course, try to remain as professional as possible, but we’re still only human! However, this sometimes gets forgotten about, where we often get a bit lost in unnecessarily formal jargon-heavy modes of communication. The truth is, unless you are in search of something very product-specific, that kind of communication is inaccessible and runs the risk of becoming a lifeless blurb. It can work in our favour when we are more honest in our approach, and that includes acknowledging when we mess up a bit. As we all know, no matter how hard we try in life sometimes, we make mistakes. Every one of us
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has accidentally upset or annoyed someone, whether it’s friends, family or work colleagues. It is also important to recognise that not everyone is going to like us, and sometimes people have bad things to say. Doing the ostrich thing and putting our heads in the sand tends to be counter-productive. Discover negative brand perceptions - and then change them. You can’t respond to conversations you don’t see, so great response starts with great listening. In digital marketing, we have many tools that enable us to listen to what people are saying about our brand online - both good and bad. When we see a bad review or negative feedback, we should think about how this can be turned into an opportunity for good. When bad things happen, it is tempting to try and erase them as soon as possible, but it is best to face them head on. People often vent at businesses due to a lack of visibility - a failure to see the people behind the corporate facade. Show them you’re human too. For example, maybe you put all your energy and passion into running your restaurant, only to see a few bad reviews damage your rating on TripAdvisor. It is a good idea to reflect on what their issues were and think about how they can be addressed. Respond to the person quickly and publicly to apologise for their experience (just be nice about it) and then engage with them privately saying that you will address the issue and then invite them back another time so you can prove this to be the case. On the other hand, maybe it isn’t something as serious as direct negative feedback; perhaps someone is just having a general moan about something to do with your business. If you are keeping your ear to the ground, you can listen out for the little gems and turn negatives into positives and marketing wins!
Dog friendly Forests State Forests in NSW are dog-friendly forests. That’s right, besides being free-to-visit, you can bring your best buddy with you when you visit your local State Forest. In celebration of our dog-friendly status, and in response to a request for this unique event, the inaugural Dirty Dog Tail Run was held recently in Coopernook State Forest. Set amongst towering eucalypts, the event offered entrants the opportunity to walk or run with the canine member of their family. Starting from Coopernook Forest Headquarters, entrants participated in either a 4 km or 8 km course, taking in some beautiful forest scenery in the process. Forestry Corporation of NSW was very proud
to partner with Fully Rad Adventures to host the Dirty Dog Tail Run, and we hope to see more of them in the future. We hope to see you and all the members of your family visiting NSW State Forests in the future. Dogs under control of their owners are always welcome. Forests - fun, free and yes, you can bring your dog! #visitnswforests For further information on Coopernook State Forest, go to: www.forestrycorporation.com.au/visit For further information on Fully Rad Adventures, go to: www.facebook.com/fullyradadventures
Celebrating National Water Week 2016
Top quality water is on tap We all know drinking water is a better choice for our body than sugary beverages – but did you know the water that comes from our taps is some of the highest quality water around? With tap water 2,000 times cheaper than bottled water, it makes sense to just turn on the tap when you are thirsty. Members of the community will have a chance to learn about the quality control processes our tap water undergoes when MidCoast Water opens the doors at the Bootawa Water Treatment Plant as part of National Water Week celebrations this week. The Bootawa plant, which provides water to the Manning and Great Lakes communities, is a state-of-the-art facility where our water goes through a microfiltration process. During the tour participants will learn about the filtration process and what goes into making sure your tap water is of the highest quality. The Bootawa Water Treatment Plant, which supplies drinking water to communities from Crowdy Head in the north to Tarbuck Bay in the south, produces award winning water.
Community tours at the Bootawa Water Treatment Plant will be held on Sunday October 23 at 10am and Wednesday October 26 at 10am. Bookings are essential and can be made by calling 6592 4813.
Clap, Clap – choose tap!
That is the tune MidCoast Water’s well known mascot Whizzy the waterdrop will be singing as he entertains preschool aged children at library storytimes across the mid coast as part of this year’s National Water Week activities.
Whizzy will visit the following storytime sessions: · · · · · · ·
Wingham Library - 11am Monday October 10 Greater Taree Library - 10.30am Thursday October 13 Hallidays Point Library - 10.30am Friday October 14 Forster Library - 10.30am Wednesday October 19 Harrington Library - 10.30am Thursday October 20 Tea Gardens Library - 9.30am Monday October 24 Gloucester Library - 10am Monday November 14
To help promote the importance of tap water, MidCoast Water has joined the Choose Tap coalition, a group of water utilities aiming to raise awareness of the benefits of tap water for our communities. Whizzy will also be helping to spread the Choose Tap message to more than 80 local preschools and primary schools over the coming month.
For more details go to www.midcoastwater.com.au manning-great lakes focus.
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T H E
M A N N I N G - G R E A T
L A K E S
C A R E E R S
G U I D E
CHARLES STURT UNIVERSITY Beginning university is much more than a study experience - it’s a foray into your future life. At Charles Sturt University (CSU), from the moment you start studying it, you start living it, and this is especially true at our newest and only beachside campus.
Study with us , study online, , study anywhere ” study anytime…
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NORTH COAST TAFE Horse enthusiasts from around the country choose to learn at Taree TAFE. Students from all over the country increase their industry skills and knowledge online, while learning practical skills in workshops at Taree TAFE Equine centre. They range in ages from 15 into their 60s! Equine Online delivers nationally recognised equine courses to students from HSC through to and including Diploma level, which is only offered from Taree TAFE. “The Taree TAFE Equine centre facilities provide an excellent industry back drop and learning environment for students. The facility is a working equine centre with eight resident horses. “Students are able to complete their practical work at the Equine Centre or remotely. The Equine Centre is open for students to come in and practice their industry skills at any time to assist them with job readiness,” said Linda
Molloy, equine teacher and coordinator of Equine Online.
CSU in Port Macquarie opened at Innes Lake, about five kilometres from the city centre, at the start of 2016. As the new education hub of the Mid North Coast, CSU offers students the best of both worlds, with access to the region’s natural beauty and warm weather (did we mention the beach) and hands on learning at a state of the art campus. As a student at CSU in Port Macquarie, you’ll be part of a vibrant campus community. You’ll
This Equine training equips our students to go onto many different job roles or career pathways in industry. These include - strapper, stud hand, stud groom, head groom, stud administration, foaling attendant, stable foreman/supervisor, stable/stud manager, bloodstock agent, trainer, coach, nutritionist, consultant, along with roles associated with subsidiary businesses including - commercial transporter or assistant, retail, education and the likes.
CSU degrees are developed in collaboration with industries leaders, to ensure your learning is both current and relevant. Courses available at CSU in Port Macquarie number more than 20, with everything from paramedicine to graphic design to business to social work, and there will be more courses added to the roster in 2017 and beyond.
Get the experience you need to pursue your future career by studying with your local university in Port Macquarie.
Taree TAFE also offers a wide range of courses in Agriculture, Horticulture, Animal Studies and Vet Nursing.
Our courses are backed by hands-on learning in your chosen field, experienced lecturers, and the support you need to succeed.
T LO EMP THE COUN IN
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On completing your study at CSU, you’ll not only have lots of great memories, but you’ll enjoy excellent career options. In fact, CSU has the highest graduate employment rate of any university in the country.
All of the equine teaching staff at Taree TAFE are highly qualified and current in industry, with many of them having their own equine enterprises that are fully operational. There is years of experience to pass on to the students.
EST E H G I H DUATATE GRA YMENT RRY.
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know all your fellow students, will be on a first name basis with your academics, and will bump into friends in the courtyard.
Make your study experience one to remember at CSU. Find out more at: www.csu.edu.au/courses *Graduate Destinations Survey 2013–15, published at: www.qilt.edu.au
T H E
M A N N I N G - G R E A T
L A K E S
C A R E E R S
G U I D E
VERTO
MEN AT WORK As the Mid North Coast’s premier recruitment company, the team at Men At Work understand the importance of producing fully qualified and work ready candidates.
training with the qualification and practical
The quality in the delivery of training through Men At Work Training and Assessment is second to none. Highly skilled and experienced trainers and assessors deliver courses which are both trained and assessed on Men At Work sites.
Men At Work Training and Assessment deliver
This means that the participant will leave the
4600 or email training@menatwork.net.au
experience needed to begin work. Men At Work is a locally owned and family operated company. Traffic Control, White Card, First Aid and Forklift qualifications. If you are a corporate client, we can come to you. If you would like to learn more about our available courses or to receive updates on training dates, please call (02) 6581
As your local Apprenticeship Network Provider in Taree, VERTO is dedicated to helping businesses to skill their workforce through Australian Apprenticeships. VERTO provides assistance at every stage of the apprenticeship and traineeship process, at no cost to the apprentice or employer. This includes providing free job search services to aspiring apprentices and trainees to help them find the right Australian Apprenticeship. VERTO also connects apprentices and employers through targeted job matching. The support provided doesn’t stop there, with VERTO providing free access to specialist support services such as workplace mentoring, Disability Employment Services and Aboriginal services. The team also administers incentives and Trade Support Loans to eligible businesses, employers and apprentices.
VERTO’s Taree Workforce Development Consultant, Phillip Mumford, said VERTO makes it easier for employers to find, train and retain quality apprentices and trainees at no cost to them. “We provide local employers with advice about mentoring to at-risk students and facilitating all paper work associated with employer incentives and Trade Support Loans,” Mr Mumford said. Local businesses will receive additional benefits, such as access to up to $4,000 in Australian Government incentives and additional rebates (eligibility applies), increased productivity through well trained staff, and better staff retention rates. For further information on how the VERTO Taree team can assist your business, contact Phillip Mumford on 0408 948 709, visit verto.org.au/apprentices or find the VERTO team on Facebook.
apprenticeships? traineeships? Hooke Chambers, Suite 2, 142-144 Victoria Street taree
verto can help. call us today!
Visit VERTO at Suite 2,142-144 Victoria Street,Taree. Call Phil Mumford, Workforce Development Consultant on 0408 948 709.
1300 4 VERTO | VERTO.ORG.AU
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T H E
Ngarralinyi
M A N N I N G - G R E A T
L A K E S
C A R E E R S
G U I D E
radio
Ralph Saunders is the Manager at Ngarralinyi 2TLP Radio Station in Taree. His role at the station is diverse, as he and his team work extensively with both Indigenous and Non-Indigenous communities in a variety of ways. Ralph says working in community radio is a rewarding experience …
H
i Ralph. Please share a brief history of Ngarralinyi 2TLP 103.3FM. When and how was it established? The idea to establish an Indigenous Hub came in 1997-98. A committee was formed, with representatives from as far as Nambucca, Kempsey, Wauchope, Bellingen and Taree, which saw the start of the The Mid North Coast Indigenous Broadcasters Aboriginal Association Corporation (MIBAAC). The committee members’ main objective was to secure a Broadcasting Licence in any of the areas represented on the committee. A licence became available in the Taree area; this was achieved through campaigning, writing a submission, and travel. The submission was submitted to the then Australian Broadcasting Association (ABA) and a Community Broadcasting Licence was secured in 1999. We were allocated a frequency of 103.3FM. The name “Ngarrlin-yi” means “The Listening Place; it comes from the local Indigenous dialect called “Guthung” (pronounced Gut-tongue) and is also spelt Kattang by different people. After securing the Broadcasting Licence, a test broadcast took place in the old Purfleet Clinic storage room south of Taree, which was made possible by the then Manager of the ABC’s Message Stick Programme, Mr Patrick Malone, who gave badly needed technical support in order to get the project off the ground. Funding was then sourced from ATSIC to establish the now community based radio station 2TLP, which is situated in Victoria St, Taree. When 2TLP was first established, we used the National Indigenous Radio Service (NIRS) to make content for 128 hours per week. We also did local programming during the week from 9am to 5pm approx. eight hours a day, but now we broadcast mainly local content 24/7. The NIRS is a super Indigenous network that allows new developing stations to utilise their services until they get up and running. 2TLP 103.3FM has been broadcasting for the past 17 years in and around the local area; we are also now streaming and can be heard on 2tlp.com.au What is the aim/business ethos of Ngarralinyi 2TLP?
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To provide a full broadcasting and information service to Aboriginal people within the broadcast area; provide an educational broadcasting service in the areas of health, law, social services and items of public interest, and in doing so attempt to overcome the problems of low literacy levels existent within Aboriginal communities; to arrest social disintegration within Aboriginal society by the broadcast of programmes in Aboriginal languages, with emphasis upon Aboriginal traditions, culture and music; use the dissemination of information in regard to employment opportunities and work programmes to assist in alleviating significant economic problems that exist within Aboriginal communities; promote knowledge and understanding by the Australian community of Aboriginal culture and tradition and of the special difficulties experienced by Aboriginal people as a minority within that community; engage in and conduct research into areas of application of the broadcasting media to and for the benefit of Aboriginal people; ensure access by Aboriginal people to existing and forthcoming communication facilities, so that they may benefit in accordance with its objects; record and preserve Aboriginal oral history and music; employ and train Aboriginal people in the areas of broadcasting and the electronic media; and for the purpose of carrying out its objects, liaise, borrow, invest, donate, expend and lend assets to associated Indigenous broadcasting groups, acquire and dispose of any form of property, employ staff, enter into contracts and establish companies. We support Indigenous events, such as discos for the children in NAIDOC Week, NAIDOC week activities with schools and the community and also general birthdays, 18ths, 21sts, 50ths and so on. These are activities that were basically nonexistent before MIBAAC was established for the community. We assist with community activities and support local Non-Indigenous activities, making us a diverse community organisation. It is very important to have an Aboriginal presence in media in Taree, as an outlet for local Indigenous people to have voice and to participate in an interactive Indigenous radio station. This project is knocking down walls and building bridges every minute of the day.
What are some of your most popular programmes? We have a number of different programmes; some are music based and others are information and education. Sound Wave, Variety Breakfast, Hits of the Ages, the Afternoon Mix - we also play Country Music, Reggae, Blues and others. It’s a great mix of music, and we also play Indigenous content that suits the particular programme. We have notices and interviews regarding health laws, meetings, up and coming events. Yarn up with the Doc has been another programme that’s doing well; the Doc is a semiretired GP, who interviews local people working in the community for Indigenous and other organisations. This programme goes to air usually on Thursdays and repeats on Saturday; 10am on both days. We also have a very popular programme that starts at 6pm every Saturday night; the Wolf Man’s Request Line. This programme has listeners from all over the world; the Wolf Man has a unique humour, that I’m sure will have you laughing. Having the capability of streaming has really opened this programme up, and having international listeners has really been great, extending our scope. Coming soon we will be starting up our language programme, called “Djuyalin Ghuttung” (Speaking Language). This programme is locally produced by our staff here at 103.3FM. It also incorporates other language speakers from the Cert III Language Courses that have been running at TAFE Taree Campus for some time, using our Language Grammar and Dictionary, developed by Muurrbay Aboriginal Language and Culture Centre Co-operative in Nambucca Heads a few years ago. Muurrbay achieved this by working closely with the community over a period, creating a Language Committee that we have been a part of since its establishment in this area ... Introduce us to your team and their roles at the station. Our multi-media crew are Wayne Paulson (Cultural Officer) and Reece Lalor (Production Assistant, in both Audio and Film); their roles here at the station range from presenting, producing, editing, archiving, documenting, preserving culture and heritage via film and audio.
Miranda Saunders, Alan Everett, Andrew Mackintosh, the Wolf Man and I are all presenters, doing programmes on a daily basis. Keisha Simon, Administration Assistant, is also a presenter on the RnB Fridays Night Count Down and helps out with notices, audio sponsorships and panel operation. Harold Maher, Janelle Callaghan and Lisa Simms work at various times answering phones, taking messages and also taking requests from our listeners. There would be some in the community who are thinking of a career in radio, whether it's announcing or in production. What would your advice be to them? Being involved in a community radio station can be a rewarding experience, giving you access to training and equipment that you don’t find every day. Media is a great option, but isn’t for everybody - but you will never know if you don’t try it. The main attributes you would need are: commitment, punctuality, responsibility, patience, consistency, and perseverance. I started as a volunteer back in 1995-6 with a community radio. I play guitar and just wanted to learn sound and panel operation. I never had an interest in presenting, just an interest in music. I’d come back from Sydney and was out of work; my cousin used to listen to a community radio and he said they’d give me a go, so I decided to enquire. It’s that easy, but skills don’t happen overnight. Don’t be too focused on your faults community radio is about developing untapped skills and having a go. Who are some of the people that help keep Ngarralinyi running? Volunteer staff Harold Maher, Janelle Callaghan and Lisa Simms. Our sponsors for our prize draws, Solomons Fruit and Veg, Bruce Lang’s Butchery, Michel’s Patisserie, The Department of the Prime Minister and cabinet, and other sponsorship agencies - we appreciate their genorosity. Our committee - both NonIndigenous and Indigenous communities. More info? Our website 2tlp.com.au or you can like our Facebook page 2tlp. You can also tune into 103.3FM locally. When you head to our website, click on the microphone to listen live to 2TLP 103.3FM. Thanks Ralph.
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focus_Travel _editorial withwith Robyn Buttler Travel Editor Susie Boswell. focus
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with Jeremy Thornton from Manning Valley Business Chamber
BUSINESS
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H E AV E N A F L O AT
he world’s most luxurious resorts, enclaves of excess, have traditionally been designed as temples of indulgence: opulent accommodation with best furnishings, no expense spared. Incompatible, often, with sustainable values. But now, as generations have become more aware of caring for the planet, the desire for exclusive retreats has melded with clients’ preference, or insistence, that the environment, too, is respected, protected and enjoyed. And so the well-heeled traveller eschews air-conditioned comforts and joins rudimentary campers in the simple pleasure of sleeping under the stars: it’s just that, at the Maldives’ newest resort Soneva Jani (open October 1), the stars are revealed when the massive roof of a magnificent two-storey lagoon villa glides open to reveal the night sky. Soneva resorts, crème de la crème of unpretentious exclusivity, are named for their creators, Sonu and Eva Shivdasani; they’re also (three in Maldives and one in Thailand) recognised as leading exponents of treading lightly on the earth. British hotelier Sonu was destined to lofty pursuits, educated at Eton, Switzerland’s Institut Le Rosey and Oxford; across the years he and his Swedish wife perfected their template, an “intelligent luxury” ethos, for the finest in holidaymaking coexisting in harmony with the environment. An enviro levy on guests at the top-notch resorts has funded reafforestation in Thailand, windmills in India and innovative support programs for the people of Myanmar and Darfur. SONEVA JANI: Set within a crystal-clear lagoon, fringed by pure beaches and lush tropical greenery. Guests’ days are filled with morning yoga sessions, cycling island trails to the Eco Centro, discovering lagoon marine life, dolphin cruises and “Robinson Crusoe” picnics. At night the villas’ retractable roofs slide open at touch of a button. Each of 24 water villas has its own private pool and some feature slippery slides running from the top deck into the lagoon. SONEVA FUSHI: Established 20 years ago, Fushi is considered to have set the standard for all of the Maldives’ renowned desert island “barefoot luxury” hideaways: 57 private villas each with its own stretch of beach are hidden among foliage within touching distance of a pristine coral reef and serviced by “intuitive” unobtrusive butlers. It has a pristine UNESCO-protected biosphere reserve and is known for its legendary service.
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I dined “in the sky” in a tree-house pod high above the fruit, vegie and herb garden providing the produce for the resort’s unparalleled cuisine. There’s an open-air cinema, high-tech observatory, home-made chocolate and ice cream rooms, 500 wines to choose from and nine dining options. SONEVA IN AQUA: An ultra-refined 19m twocabin yacht with exceptionally spacious interiors sails out of Fushi, combining the benefits of the resort’s services with the freedom and exclusivity of a private boat charter. Crew comprises a captain, first officer, “Mr Friday” butler, sous chef, interior steward and therapist, and if wanted a diving host and astronomer. Guests can charter the vessel for one to seven nights and explore the Maldivian atolls at the price of a twobedroom Fushi villa. SONEVA KIRI: An hour by private plane southeast of Bangkok, 36 vast pool villas on beach level, hillside or cliff tops, overlooking the Gulf of Thailand. Chic furnishings, personal electric buggies, impeccable butler service, and mouthwatering organic Thai food. All: www.soneva. com TRAVEL BOOK OF THE MONTH: Shannon Bennett’s London - A Personal Guide to the City’s Best. For most of us outside Victoria, 40-year-old Bennett, owner of Melbourne’s superb Vue de Monde restaurant, is best known for his role in TV’s MasterChef. Many regard him as Australia’s finest chef: pupil of the magnificent Marco Pierre White (and, earlier, classmate of Curtis Stone) he opened Vue at just 24 and garnered Restaurant of the Year many times, as well as an unprecedented 19/20 in the SMH/Age Good Food Guide, becoming globally acknowledged along the way. This new book follows his similar guides to Paris, New York, France and Provence, with Best of Europe on the way, as well as other culinary titles. Because we trust him, we can trust his guide to the luxury hotels, fine dining, restaurants (note the distinction), bars and pubs in some 13 geographical London districts. Concise, with an easy to use layout, fascinating and charming anecdotes, written in the Aussie lingo, unambiguous and clear to understand. The hardback is compact enough yet a little weighty for travel. But then you’ll want it sturdy to remain a treasured souvenir in your bookcase. A good, unusual gift for traveller friends and family, too. Hardie Grant Books. RRP $49.99.
SUMMER TOURIST SEASON LOCAL BUSINESS IS ABOUT TO ROLL INTO THE SUMMER TOURIST SEASON. IN FACT, WHEN IT COMES TO EVENTS AND FESTIVALS, WE’VE GOT A PACKED CALENDAR FROM OCTOBER ONWARDS.
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hether chilling out at The of hockey in Taree! This is the spin off that as a Wingham Akoostik Festival, region we need to be aware of. I personally don’t Old Bar Beach Festival, care which towns have more events, as the spin Lakeside Festival, Myall River off is felt everywhere. Festival, Manning Night Stepping away from tourism directly, but this Bazaar, Wingham Christmas Carnival or Old is exactly the reason we need to have a single Bar Christmas Markets, the trip into Christmas group focusing on the economic activity of the will be a quick one. These events all entire region. All Business Chambers serve a strong purpose to get in the region have either officially the community together and signed off or have in principal enhance the local economy. ts en agreed to the formation of ev e es We are such a strong tourist Th a e rv se an umbrella “MidCoast” l al destination and when you to e os rp pu ng Business Chamber to work stro line up all the events on munity m co e th t ge with MidCoast Council on offer, is it any wonder we together and are becoming known as the economic development l enhance the loca an event destination. of the Local Government economy.” After these events, Area. It’s an exciting time we then move into postto be involved with this, as Christmas, which brings more all are seeing true benefits in events. January kicks off with John working as one to grow the MidCoast Gollan at Harrington, then moves into area. Council as well are very supportive sport of all sort. From the awesome Troy of this initiative, which we hope will be in Bayliss Classic, Wingham Summertime Rodeo, place before Christmas. Chamber has long been Taree Summer Rowing regatta and Dragonboat working on a number of projects that will form Racing Regatta, there’s lots to keep you active. long term employment and change the economic We also now have Tastefest coming up on the landscape in the Manning- Great Lakes. With the banks of the Manning and if we want to stretch groundwork complete, a more united business it out a little further, Opera by the Lake in March and power boats at Easter! This is all just in a sixcommunity and council will, we hope, see fruit month period, and I know I haven’t mentioned all fall from the tree. We cannot continue to see our of them! Get excited!! unemployment rate rise, with no planning in place I’ve had people say nothing happens in the to redesign our economy. Manning-Great Lakes. Really! Check out that lot! Times are changing, and now is the perfect When you consider all the events hosted in the time for major projects like the freight terminal to area within an hour from your home, you haven’t be activated by our representatives. Hundreds of got many free weekends. jobs will be formed, and the whole region boosted Every single one of these events brings tourist economically. dollars to the region. An event in Taree will have I hope you support the upcoming events. direct economic spin off in Forster and vice versa. There is genuinely something for everyone in When the Manning Valley hosted a hockey event our backyard. Be ambassadors and tell your in July, it was the weekend of the Forster Glitz friends and family to be part of the dream that is and Glamour Ball, which Nikki and I attended.
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We struggled to get a room in Forster, because
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FORSTER –TUNCURRY is currently experiencing a large volume of sales in the top end of the market. Our area has been very strong in the low to mid price range all year. September has proven to be a boom month at JKL selling numerous properties in the mid $500’s to in excess of $1.3 million. We have buyers including young retiree’s coming from Sydney looking for their dream home in Forster. Thinking of selling? Now is the time! Offering reduced commission for our 20th Birthday celebrations!
JKL’s newest listing has a price tag of $1,480,000. Imagine living the coastal life at One Mile Beach Forster !
Phone or email our Sales Team for your Free Market Appraisal Carlie Basham 0439 757 378 or email: carlie@jklrealestate.com Alex Jacobs 0400 643 317 or email: alex@jklrealestate.com
Carlie Basham congratulates both the Vendor & buyer on this great home at One Mile Beach.
Karen Hoswell congratulating the Vendors on a successful sale in Becker Road (Sisterly Love)
Carlie Basham congratulating the Vendor on a successful sale of the beautiful “Saltwater” Penthouse
Karen Hoswell congratulating the new owners on their recent purchase of this property.
Alex Jacobs sold this property to another happy JKL client. They love the location.
Alex Jacobs sold this property at Forster Keys. Happy Vendor! Happy Purchasers!
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with Amanda Tate form LJ Hooker
OCTOBER MARKET UPDATE OUR SPRING MARKET IS JUST LIKE SOMEONE HAS SWITCHED ON THE LIGHT, AS THERE ARE BUYERS EVERYWHERE AND IN ALL PRICE RANGES. DESPITE HOMES FOR SALE BEING LIMITED IN THE COASTAL AREAS, SPRING HAS BROUGHT A FRESH SUPPLY OF PROPERTIES IN THE TAREE AREA, BUT THEY ARE TURNING OVER VERY QUICKLY.
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average, supply will slow, driving our capital ooking at what has sold in the Forster area, sales have been growth over the next 12 months or so. Is strong in the last couple of this good for our community? I believe that months, with the number of anything that creates activity and drives sales up from the same time growth in our area has a ripple effect right last year. After the huge volume of sales through our community. The only thing over the last couple of years in Old Bar and holding us back now is employment, or good capital growth, it would appear that lack thereof. If our leaders can entice large new properties to the market are slowing companies to relocate here, thereby creating down. Hopefully with all the new job opportunities, the Manning Valley in land subdivisions opening particular will fire on all cylinders. up, buyers will consider As real estate agents, we speak building. This will have with people all the time who Investors still count a really positive effect would love to relocate here, of on our community, but cannot find work. for around 30% t our sales, and ye creating work and Some even buy whilst they al market nt re r ou retail sales and plenty are working in Sydney, continues to be of employment then lease the property g in ld ho strong and opportunities in a out, with the hope of te ra y nc the vaca .” 2% wide range of areas. finding work up here prior to at th r unde moving. So where are all these
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buyers coming from? Everywhere, it would seem. We’re still seeing buyers from Sydney, especially the western suburbs, and a few from Queensland, usually transferring for work reasons. Investors still count for around 30% of our sales, and yet our rental market continues to be strong and holding the vacancy rate under that 2%. Despite the continual supply of new properties available to lease, rents continue to increase at a steady rate. Expected returns on investments can still reach 6% gross; however, my prediction with the current activity is that over the next few months a 6% return will become a lot harder to find. As with any industry, the market is driven by supply and demand, and as our properties are being sold in less than 25 days on 54
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Investment opportunities in the commercial side are few and far between; however, a piece of history is just about to go up for auction this month in L J Hooker Taree. With the recent relocation of the Fairfax crew to their new modern offices in Victoria Street opposite the clock comes the sale of the original Manning River Times building on the corner of Manning and Albert Streets, with vacant possession. Having been in residence there since 1899, it will be interesting to see what the future holds for this prime piece of real estate. To summarise, real estate in our area continues to thrive and as we approach the best time of the year, it will be interesting to watch where this increase in activity and capital growth takes us - so stay positive and enjoy the ride.
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