Manning-Great Lakes locals
tracey ehlefeldt Endota Spa f o r s t e r
SHARON BULTITUDE
W
here in the Everything - the people, the pristine Manning-Great natural environment, the relaxed life-style Lakes do you call we’re unbelievably blessed! home? Favourite food/drink? I moved from Tapas, antipasto (basically anything I can London to Forster 13 years ago with my pick at) plus a glass or two of red. husband, who actually grew up in Tuncurry. Favourite music? “Home” now includes two kids, two dogs It’s a bit of a mixed bag really - Cold Play, and two cats. Artic Monkeys, Ed Sheeran ... How long have you been a Most humorous memory? FOCUS contributor? Hmmmmm, thankfully I think it would be there are many such about three years. memories. But like What do you like ng hi yt er most funny moments, Ev most about being – the people , they’re actually ral a contributor? the pristine natu much funnier at the e I have the best environment, th time than on paper, e yl relaxed life-st job ever, and I y bl va and some are simply lie be we’re un love sharing all the ” d! not shareable here! se bles amazing experiences Who/what is you and stories we biggest inspiration? have across this I’m a huge sports wonderful region. I also nut, so growing up all my enjoy examining the massive idols were sportswomen. Sport disruption that today’s tourism remains a passion, but as I get older industry faces and the things it needs what inspires me now is not so much the to understand and embrace in order sporting performance itself, but the “back to remain relevant and successful going stories” behind the achievements. The forward. The way we market, communicate Anna Mears, Dylan Alcotts and Bethany and “manage” the destination is
How long have you lived in the ManningGreat Lakes? My dad’s family have been here since the late 1800s. Mum, Dad my sister and I moved back to Forster from Yamba in the late ‘60s, in Dad’s old Holden ute. I moved away for a while, living on the Gold Coast, where I studied massage and beauty therapy, moved up to Kuranda to live amongst the rainforest and then over to Busselton WA, where I watched the sun set over the sea, whist enjoying a Margaret River wine. Home is where the heart is, and we all find our way back home. Favourite hobby/pastime outside work? I love the beach for an early morning walk and swim with doggies, either Tuncurry or One Mile, supping on the lake, play dates with
a n d
d i a m o n d
b e a c h
nieces. Best thing that’s happened to you so far this year? Well, I am very excited to have tickets for the Rodrigues concert in the Hunter Valley. What’s a skill or talent you have that you’d like to develop more? One day I would like to learn sailing and sail off into the sunrise, with our local dolphins riding the waves at the bow. If you were to win a multi-million dollar lottery tomorrow, what’s the first thing you’d buy with the money? Wow, wouldn’t financial freedom be amazing! I would share the winnings with my family and friends and for myself, book a holiday to see Paris, Rome, Greece.
“
completely unrecognisable to the way we did business even a couple of years ago. I guess too I feel a responsibility to make sure we don’t forget the significant economic and social contribution tourism makes to our community. Favourite thing about our area?
Hamiltons of this world ... Basically the persistence, the passion and the unswerving pursuit of a dream. Where are you answering these questions? Where I do my best work - in a coffee
Image of the month. The annual Old Bar Beach Festival attracted over 170 Kombis on the Saturday this year, with an estimated increase by Sunday. It was another great weekend for drooling over beautiful vintage Kombis and is always a photographer’s delight. With the largest markets held locally, carnival rides, displays, activities, music and food stalls from near and far there were smiles everywhere. Title: The Annual Old Bar Beach Festival. Photographer: Merryl Kemp. Camera: Olympus OMD em5 M 11, with the 12 – 40mm Olympus Pro lens. Taken a great photo of our local area? Like to see it published in FOCUS for the world to see? Just email jo@focusmag.com.au
shop with a long black! manning-great lakes focus.
29