Manning-Great Lakes Issue 89 by Focus

Feature Story MANNING-GREAT LAKES

Judith Conning

July 2014 // issue 89

MUSIC OF spectacular

editor.

from the

Welcome to the July edition of Manning-Great Lakes FOCUS. t never gets old … every month I sit down to start work on a new edition of FOCUS, and every month I’m still amazed at how many wonderful local people we can find to interview and feature. Producing a publication like FOCUS is a mammoth team effort – going to press each month could be likened to putting a giant jigsaw puzzle together (incidentally – just did one of these at home: 1,000 pieces, with a white polar bear mother, an even whiter polar bear cub against a backdrop of white snow. NOT my brightest idea yet!) Still, somehow every month our team of sales experts, graphic designers, admin staff and editorial personnel manage to piece this giant puzzle together perfectly, and the completed work is one we’re always proud of.

ON THE COVER Ian Cooper – what a phenomenal talent! Ian’s renowned as a violinist the world over and together with a team of 40-plus dancers, singers and instrumentalists, he presents The Music of Andre Rieu Spectacular at the MEC this month.

talent and passion for the artic landscape and wildlife are captured in her double page interview, while local Possum Brush-based artist Christine Long showcases her love of nature using a different medium – brushes and paints. Sammi Zajko shares her knowledge about eating a traditional diet, encompassing practices such as fermentation, and ABC Reporter Emma Siossian drops in to share her local farmstay experience at Red Belly Farm. We’ve managed to cover sport, education, and local events as well! Read on … EDITOR’S PHOTO This month’s photo was shot by Linda Bryant and supplied by Great Lakes Tourism. FINAL SAY “There are no extra pieces in the universe. Everyone is here because he or she has a place to fill, and every piece must fit itself into the big jigsaw puzzle.”- Deepak Chopra.

INSIDE THIS ISSUE Local photographer Judith Conning’s sheer

contacts. Got a story idea? Looking to advertise in Focus? Contact us for more information. EDITOR: Jo Atkins

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Comments and opinions of our contributors do not necessarily reflect the opinion or view of the Publishers or Editor. All reasonable efforts have been made to trace copyright holders. Information appearing in Focus is believed to be correct at the time of going to press however no liability will be held for inaccurate information approved or supplied by advertisers or contributors. While all care is taken it is recommended that readers confirm dates, times, prices and any other material including advice with individual businesses and industry professionals. Manning-Great Lakes Focus is produced and published by Creative House Publications PTY LTD ABN: 621 287 8600 5 Material in Focus is Copyright © Creative House Publications PTY LTD and may not be reproduced whole or in part, in any form, without permission of the Publisher. All rights reserved.

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profile

christine long Inspired by the natural world and its beauty, local artist Christine Long creates gorgeous paintings using acrylics, although recently she’s begun exploring other mediums such as pastels and watercolours. Christine’s enthusiasm and passion for her art is contagious, and she shares this with art students at her Possum Brush-based studio … i Christine. Please share some of your back story with us … what led to you living in our local area, and what’s your family history? Both my parents were born in England and immigrated to Australia in the 1950s. I was born in Mona Vale, Sydney, in 1966. My family moved from Bayview Heights in Sydney to Wang Wauk, just south of Nabiac in 1974. I was 8 at the time and remember moving to this large country home which was comfortable but also in need of some renovation and a lick of paint. My parents farmed Angora goats and cattle on a 325acre property. The decision to move to the country at that time was made because even back at that time, suburbia was encroaching. How did you first develop an interest in art? I must admit, I really had no interest in art when I was younger; however, on going to high school we had to choose electives and I missed out on one of my selections and was left with a choice of art or metalwork – with a whacky teacher! I chose art, and to my surprise found I enjoyed drawing and was reasonably good at it. I especially enjoyed doing detailed pencil work of native flora and fauna. In 1985 I returned to Sydney to enrol in a 2 year Art Certificate Course at Meadowbank TAFE, coming first in stage 1. In the second year I majored in photography and chose sculpture as a minor subject. I then returned back home and sometime later worked as a compositor at the Manning River Times, 4

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before leaving work to raise a family. It’s only now that my son has left home, that I’ve really had time to take up painting again. How would you describe your creative approach? I generally try to simplify my subjects and see things in blocks of colour in light and shade to start with, and then gradually build up the detail from there. You have to be careful though, and know when to stop. It’s probably more what you leave out in the end that matters. What mediums do you like to work with – and how would you describe your style? I usually work in acrylics, although more recently have been exploring pastels and watercolours. I like the use of bright, bold colours with a strong element of design and pattern. Although having said that, I also enjoy painting the subtle changes of tone and detail found in wildlife. What are the favourite subjects you like to capture (and why)? I’ve always been drawn to the beauty of the natural world and enjoy painting native flora and fauna, as well as still life subjects. I really admire Margaret Preston’s work with her strong sense of design and bold use of colour, especially in her still lifes and linocuts. This was probably influenced by my younger years living in Bayview Heights. This is sandstone country, and even though I was quite young, I can remember the beautiful native flora – banksias, boronia and heathland flowers that I spent hours exploring while rock hopping as a child with my sisters. More recently we travelled to Tasmania,

and I’ve just completed a series of pastel your artwork – what would it be? landscapes. What a stunning place! It’s not I think beautiful artwork always has a focal hard to find inspiration down there. point. To be able to produce an artwork that What are some of the exhibitions/events has areas of intricate detail contrasted with you’ve been involved with in the past? areas of simplicity – that’s the challenge. To date, I’ve mainly exhibited in art Please share the details of any upcoming exhibitions held in the Manning Valley projects, pieces you have in and Great Lakes area and have mind to complete, or been lucky enough to win a forthcoming exhibitions few prizes along the way. that may be in the en In 2014 I received a first pipeline … be s ay w al e I’v auty in the pastel section in Some upcoming drawn to the be orld and w l both the Wingham and pieces I have ra tu na e th of tive Nabiac shows. in mind to enjoy painting na well as as In 2013 I also complete would flora and fauna, really I . ts ec bj su e received a first in be a series of still lif s t Preston’ admire Margare ng sense the members section artworks in acrylics ro work with her st use of in Great Lakes Open showcasing an ld bo d an of design Exhibition and placed array of beautiful colour ...” 2nd in the 2012 Taree flora, such as Open exhibition members banksias, waratahs and section. heathland flowers. I am also a member of Taree A recent trip to Dorrigo Artists Incorporated and have held National Park has also whet the position of Treasurer for the past 7 my appetite to do a series on the years. I help a dedicated group of people rainforest. Later this year and early on who organise the annual Taree Open Art to next year, I plan to hold exhibitions in exhibition, as well as workshops with some of the cafés in Taree, as well as in the renowned artists. Through being a member Hallidays Point Library. I have had the privilege of meeting and Where can people/view purchase your making friends with like-minded people. work? Sadly missed at present is the opportunity I work from my studio at Possum Brush, to display and sell works at the Mayo Private just south of Taree, where I teach art and Hospital due to recent renovations. Taree calligraphy in my spare time. For enquiries Artists Inc. is hoping that the chance to regarding purchases, viewings or lessons, I exhibit there presents itself once again. may be contacted on 6554 3007 or by email If there was one thing you’d like to – christinelong@bigpond.com. improve or perfect when it comes to Thanks Christine.

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inside this

Christine Long. Inspired by the natural world and its beauty, local artist Christine Long creates gorgeous paintings using acrylics, although recently she’s begun exploring other mediums such as pastels and watercolours.

Issue 89 - July 2014

Red Belly Farm. ABC journalist Emma Siossian recently visited Red Belly Farm, a farmstay in a picturesque valley near Hannam Vale, with her husband and almost threeyear-old son, Aidan. It turned out to be a great experience for the whole family and Emma discovered the owners have big plans for the future …

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usual suspects.

the

8. What’s On for July 20. Tourism Update with Sharon Bultitude 22. eat featuring local restaurants 35. Star Guide with Terri

No matter where you are in the world, d, read Focus for free online every month @

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Premier League. Chris Cheers and Beau Wynter from the Wallis Lake Premier League have high hopes for a successful season of football this year – hot on the heels of their first and reserve grade teams taking part in the grand final last year! The beautiful Boronia Park is the home ground for these boys, where you can catch all the players in action on Tuesday and Thursday nights …

www.focusmag.com.au u follow us on www.facebook.com/mgl.focus www.twitter.com/focusmag www.focusmag.com.au/eat

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JudithC o n n i n g

Just in time for the cold weather – and to remind us that in our beautiful part of the world we don’t really experience a true winter, talented photographer Judith Conning showcases her latest amazing images from a recent trip to Iceland and Greenland. The raw majesty of the ice scenery and the contrasting warmth of the Inuit people is truly spellbinding … i Judith. It’s been quite a while since we touched base with you – so to refresh our memories, explain how you first became interested in photography ... I got my first camera at 13 when we were living in Penang, so there was plenty of interesting events and sights to photograph. Over the years I have photographed my children, family events and any travel that we did. I still have albums containing those photos, and they bring back wonderful memories of those carefree days. What do you feel has changed the most about photography over the years, since you first picked up a camera? I believe the most marvellous aspect of today’s photography is the amount of control for a photographer. A digital camera or Smartphone gives you immediate feedback and the opportunity to retake. The ability to process your own images with today’s amazing software ensures that your images are more likely to turn out as you envisaged. The various forms of printing including canvas, acrylic and metal allows for immense creativity and photo books are a fantastic way of preserving memories and telling stories. You’ve been to Iceland and Greenland for 6 manning-great lakes focus.

a trip recently. That sounds fantastic, but they’re not usual holiday destinations! Why did you choose these locations – and how long were you away? I’ve always been attracted to those places off the beaten track – Patagonia, Tierra del Fuego, the Yukon Territory. I visited Iceland in August 2010 and was determined to return, especially during winter, when the aurora is dancing and Iceland is a photographer’s paradise. Greenland has appealed for many years, mostly because it is a country that is so different and most people know very little about it. I chose Ilulissat to visit, as it sits on the famous Disko Bay which fills with icebergs breaking off from the glacier, and the opportunity of four days’ dog sledding was too good to pass up. In all I was away for 4 weeks, spending the first week in Yellowstone’s Lamar Valley, wolf watching. How many times have you actually visited Arctic/Antarctic countries now ... what is it that keeps drawing you to these regions of the world? Five times in all – once to Antarctica in 2008, then in 2010 it was Svalbard and beyond the Arctic Circle and Iceland. It was the Yukon Territory in 2012 and 2013 and then this year’s journey in February/March.

I chose Ilulissat to visit, as it sits isko on the famous D ith w ls fil ch hi Bay w off ng icebergs breaki d the an r, ie ac from the gl four days’ opportunity of too dog sledding was .” good to pass up

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These places are just so different from what we experience in Australia, and the impact of climate change and global warming is most significant in the polar regions. I want to draw people’s attention to the beauty of these regions and the fact that if we each do a little, it can make a difference. You must have witnessed some amazing light shows – the Aurora Borealis – while you were so far north. Describe this experience for us ... The Aurora is a temperamental and mysterious thing. Some nights it reveals itself as a faint white glow close to the horizon, and other nights it explodes across the sky in ripples of green, red and purple, and other nights it just does not appear. The experience is awe-inspiring. What other activities did you most enjoy while you were away? In Greenland I went dog sledding and to say it was white knuckle, terrifying, exciting, amazing and yes, I would do it again experience, still doesn’t capture how incredible it was. The mushers were all experienced Inuit dog sledders, and each dog team comprised 12 - 16 dogs harnessed side by side in a

fan pattern. Consequently, they tend to play “unders and overs” as they run along, and the leads become very tangled. The dogs are strong, hard workers, always ready to run, and clever – as soon as we stop, they curl up on the ice and have a nap. The sleds are unchanged from years ago – wooden and covered with reindeer skins. The passenger sits on the sled and the musher alternates between sitting on the front of the sled and steering the dogs or running behind. This passenger also had to assist pushing up a steep, icy, rocky slope for about a kilometre. The mushers have a manoeuver for going down a long, steep hill to avoid running over the dogs. They command the dogs to move to the rear of the sled to act as a brake. Then we all hurtle downhill over ice, snow and rocks with the passenger hanging onto the sled with a death grip and staring wide-eyed at the onrushing terrain. There is no way to be prepared for this, as the mushers speak little English and my Greenlandic was a little rusty. It’s exhilarating, to say the least! Our first day was picture perfect, with blue skies, but the next was overcast and windy.

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The journey involved crossing several frozen fjords and then up over saddles of land. On one fjord crossing the wind really struck – the dogs were sliding one way and the sled spinning madly in the other direction. The musher was yelling commands, but the dogs couldn’t get a grip on the ice and we were skidding towards some very thin ice. This passenger was hanging on for dear life and thinking, “This is obviously not a good time to ask if I can take a photo”. We stayed in very basic but warm fishermen’s huts at night. The toilet was behind a rock – no trees in Greenland! The mushers made a big pot of soup each, and there was plenty of bread and biscuits, coffee and tea. Fortunately, the supplies stayed well frozen through the day. You’ve met and shared some amazing experiences with the Inuit people over the course of your travelling. What do you most admire about these people? Coming from a country that is warm, and

’t Th e dogs coul dn e th on ip gr get a e skidding ice, and we wer ry thin towards some ve r was ge en ice. This pass ar life hanging on for de is his and thinking , 'T od go a t no y sl ou obvi n take a ca I time to ask if photo' ... ”

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where most of us live, green, it is hard to comprehend life in these frozen places. Yet the people of Ilulissat were just going about their lives, doing the daily things we all do, such as kids kicking a soccer ball, albeit on a frozen playing field. Many in this town are fishermen, work in the fish factory, or are involved with tourism. Yes, they have their share of social problems, but the people I met were very warm and welcoming and fascinated that someone would come so far to visit their country. Typically, what do you find are some of the challenges associated with photographing in environments that would be seen by many as being quite hostile? Today’s digital SLRS are pretty tough pieces of equipment. They tolerate freezing conditions, and the batteries last well. Not the same can be said for my fingers, when sometimes

it is too unbearably painful to keep photographing, so hand warmers in your pocket are your best friend. One of the big challenges is negotiating ice – one second you are up, and the next you are down. More cameras and lens have been destroyed with this manoeuver than anything else. When you’re back home in the ManningGreat Lakes area, what do you like to photograph? Despite my love of travel, there is nothing

I like more than enjoying and photographing my local area plus anywhere else in Australia if I can get there. However, I also enjoy people photography – babies, toddlers, teens, families and even the occasional wedding. Where can people view your images – or contact you if they’re interested in finding out more about your work? To check out my work, please pay a visit to www.judeconningphotography.com or phone me on 0418 828 338, email djconning@ bigpond.com plus my site at facebook.com/ WonderfullyWildPhotography Thanks Judith. manning-great lakes focus 7

AROUND THE REGION //JULY 2014

Road to Recovery The Curtis Landers Appeal We need your help to support Curtis Landers and his family: a local young Rugby League player who fractured two vertebrae in a match at Port Macquarie on May 24. A huge auction, with special guest Ray Hadley, will be held to raise funds for the appeal. Donations of gifts/auction items are also being sought. When 31st July, 7pm. Where Club Forster. Tickets $50; available from Club Forster 6591 6591. Contact For donations/auction items – Aaron Temple 0412 490 159. Event Enquiries – Darren Pettet 0418 616 846. For further info about how to donate to the appeal and other fundraising events, visit Curtis Landers: Road to Recovery on Facebook.

Dance/Entertainment Night Art Exhibition Great art from local and interstate artists at the Taree Artist’s Open Exhibition during July. Over 400 new paintings, pastels and drawings with prize money of $5,550 for the winners. Last year’s exhibition attracted more than 1,200 visitors and this year will be even more popular, with miniature paintings and 3D sculptures featured. All works will be for sale at a wide range of artist’s prices. Cost Free entry; all welcome. Where Taree High School Hall. When Open every day, Saturday 5 July to Sunday 13 July, 9am 4pm. Contact Helga Visser 6551 3543 or helgavisser@westnet.com.au

Caddy Van Runner

$22,990 0 Driveaway*

Transporter Runner

$31,990 #

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Cancer Council’s Relay for Life Walk "Dottie's Team" Fundraiser A dance/entertainment night dancing to the fantastic music of The Band with No name, also featuring James and His Simply Irresistibly Gorgeous Gals and Dottie's Synchronised Men's Swimming Team. “Dottie's team” is named after Old Bar’s inspiration Dottie Shultz, who is 90 years young and has been affected by cancer; she is part of the team, attends meetings and will take part in the walk on 8th/9th November. All money raised goes to The Cancer Council’s Relay For Life.

When 2nd August, 8pm. Where Club Old Bar. Tickets $15; can be purchased at Club Old Bar or from Sheryl or Gynette Elbourne 0411 183 559.

Crafter Runner C

$41,990 $ ^

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Volkswagen Runner models. Dash in for a deal now. Get a winning deal on your next van with competitive driveaway deals on Volkswagen Runner models. Make a dash for a Caddy Van Runner, Transporter Runner or Crafter Runner – all hardworking superstars committed to getting you and your tools wherever you need to go. All offer excellent fuel economy, generous cargo space and payload capacities, electronic stability programme (ESP), daytime running lights, air conditioning and Capped Price Servicing. So beat the siren, and run into John Oxley Volkswagen while stocks last.

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John Oxley Volkswagen 130 Hastings River Drive, Port Macquarie MD7571 Tel. 02 6588 8555 www.johnoxleyvolkswagen.com.au *Driveaway price of $22,990 is for new Caddy Van Special Edition ‘Runner’ TSI160 manual, white (no added options) only. #Driveaway price of $31,990 is for new Transporter Special Edition ‘Runner’ TDI250 manual, white (no added options) only. ^Driveaway price of $41,990 is for new Crafter Van Special Edition ‘Runner’ TDI300, manual, white (no added options) only. *#^Offer applies to stock vehicles only. While stocks last. Government, fleet and rental buyers are excluded from the Caddy Van Runner, Transporter Runner and Crafter Runner driveaway offers. Not available in conjunction with any other offer. Volkswagen Group Australia reserves the right to change, modify or extend this offer. Capped Price Servicing applies to the first 6 standard scheduled services of vehicles. Exclusions apply. Volkswagen Group Australia reserves the right to at any time modify or discontinue the Capped Price Servicing Program. ‡Conditions apply to unlimited kilometre 3 year warranty. See www.volkswagen-commercial.com.au for details.

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Forster Keys Family Fun Weekend Saturday 5th and Sunday 6th July presents the perfect opportunity to get outdoors, visit the beautiful

Elizabeth Reserve and enjoy some fantastic family entertainment, at the Forster Keys Family Fun Weekend. Jim Peters, Secretary of the Forster Keys Progress & Rate Payers Association tells us this year’s event will be the biggest yet!

i Jim. What’s your role with organising the Forster Keys Family Fun Weekend? I’m Secretary of the Forster Keys Progress & Rate Payers Association, which is quite a large group. I’ve been on the committee now for around three years. We’ve actually formed a small sub-committee, with the aim to increase the size of the Family Fun Weekend event. I’m heavily involved with the organisation of the event as part of this sub-committee, and I’m really looking forward to it – it’ll be a big weekend. What’s the aim of the weekend … where do the funds raised usually go? Quite a significant percentage goes toward the cost of running the event – e.g. public liability insurance and we also need to cover annual insurance for our army of volunteers who maintain some 17 parks (Dads Army) and for which we have purchased equipment, as well as all the canals (Dads Navy), for which we also have purchased boats and equipment, and of course we provide morning tea for these volunteers. We donate to the Great Lakes Band and too many diverse causes, such as Riding for the Disabled and we bought a special tandem bicycle for a local blind man, and other things. We also use some of the funds to upgrade the area – we’ve created gardens, assisted with Bus shelters and boat ramps for example. We haven’t finalised where funds will go this

year, as we’re not sure yet how much profit we’ll make. When and where will the event be held this year? On Saturday 5th July (from 11am), is all about the powerboats, a fantastic spectacle. On Sunday 6th July (from 9am), there’ll be powerboats again, plus a large car show with around 120 classic & vintage cars, 58 market stalls, a blow up castle, pony rides, a dog show, Zumba demonstrations, miniature power boats and sail boats – a huge variety of things! Radio 101.5 will broadcast direct from the event. The action takes place at Elizabeth Reserve, at the end of King George Parade, Forster Keys. There are 870 car spaces, so plenty of parking! There will be plenty of vantage points to watch all the powerboat action along the waterfront. Elizabeth Reserve is a great area – plenty of space for everyone to wander and soak up the atmosphere and enjoy the entertainment. Tells us a bit more about the car show. What types of vehicles will be on display? I’ve invited the Thoroughbred Sports Car Club from Sydney – I was originally a member of this club myself. They’re bringing vehicles such as Maserati, Aston Martin, GT40, Ferrari as well as a wide range of local cars. I’ve also invited clubs from Newcastle, Port Stephens, Taree, Forster and other areas, who’ll all have their vehicles on display under their club banners. We’re expecting around 120 cars in total!

The cars coming from Sydney are Most Beautiful Custom Car at Auto ones you won’t generally see Rama in Sacramento, USA. around this area – some of How big was the crowd at them are very expensive, last year’s event? What We donate to rare, special vehicles. kind of numbers are the Great Lakes Of particular personal you expecting at this any Band and too m interest to you is one year’s event? as ch su diverse causes , car that will be on Approximately 4,800 d le ab is D Riding for the l display (pictured top ia people. I expect there’ll ec sp a ht and we boug a right). What’s the be at least 6,000 this r fo e cl cy bi tandem , and history behind this year. local blind man vehicle? Which community .” gs in th r he ot This 1965 Mustang GT groups/businesses have is a car that Les Johnson and supported the event this I drove in a rally from Panama year? to Alaska in 1997. This was a 15,000 We have to thank Great Lakes km trip – it took us a month. One hundred Council, who kindly gave us $2,000. and ten cars started, 84 finished, one person Pacific Blue Metal gave us $1,000, as did Mid died, and several people were injured – but Coast Water. Without these organisations’ and we eventually got to Alaska. It was a very gruelothers support, we’d never be able to run the ling event! event. The car has sat in Les’s garage since the event This year thanks to Rotary, Forster Tuncurry and hasn’t moved since then. There aren’t many Hawks Junior Rugby League and Forster Keys of them around in original condition, so Les is Mini Mart, we’ll have some great refreshments, bringing it here for the weekend to put it on including espresso coffee outlets. display with some of his other cars. It’s a very Where’s the best place for people to find special vehicle … and that rally was certainly an out more info about the event? adventure. They can call me on 6557 2166. Local man Justin Hills (pictured top left) who As I mentioned before, there’s plenty of parkrestores custom cars, will have some of his ing, and we’ll have traffic people directing visivehicles on display as well. Justin loves to restore tors into the parking area. We do ask for a gold classic cars, but he also loves his hot rods. Justin coin donation when parking, to help offset costs. became well known recently when his 1960 It’ll be a fantastic weekend for all the family! Thanks Jim. Dodge Phoenix took out the title of the World’s

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manning-great lakes focus 9

Matters.

legallight.

[ with Alan T ickle ]

uhr A t lan waeni g T h si ck nke le [ wCith ioth Alan la Ti Tickle leed s] when considering will disputes

Dear Alan, My wife and I receive close to a full aged pension. We both have account based pensions and $100,000 in bank accounts and fixed deposits. Are there other options to consider with respect to the age pension? RW Dear RW, You have told me that you are not receiving a full pension, which means that you either have assessed assets in excess $279,000 or have excess assessed income. It is suggested that you request Centrelink to provide a statement of your income and asset assessment and you should then review the accuracy of the amounts recorded. A common mistake is overstating the value of home contents and other non-financial assets such as motor vehicles, caravans and boats. Furniture is valued at the second hand value, not replacement cost, and vehicles at the realistic trade-in or wholesale value. Because the pension is reduced by $1.50 per thousand of excess assets, if the asset test determines how much pension is paid, legitimately reducing the assessed assets by $10,000 for example, saves $15 in pension. That extra pension is like earning 3.9% per annum interest on $10,000 There are other means of reducing assets legitimately, but the message is that the asset test certainly impacts. What if the income test determines the pension amount paid? If the $100,000 is the only money invested apart from the account based pensions, and if assessed assets are less than $279,000, it is likely that the income received from the allocated pension is set well above the Centrelink deductible amount. Under current rules, Centrelink (or Veterans Affairs, if you're a veteran) takes your pension's purchase price and divides it by the

actuarial life expectancy when the account based pension commenced. Based on the 2005-07 Australian Life Tables, males aged 65 currently have a further life expectancy of 18.54 years. Females of the same age have a 21.62-year life expectancy. The result of this calculation is called your pension's deductible amount or DA. If the commencing balance for a new account based or allocated pension is $200,000, the DA is $10,787 if you're male and $9,250 if female. If more than those amounts are drawn, the extra amount is counted as assessed income. The older a person is when the account based pension commenced, the higher the DA, as the life expectancy is less. By transferring the existing account based pension to a new one, the current age of the pensioner is used, which results in a more favourable outcome under the income test. New Rules After December 2014 new account based pensions will not have the benefit of a DA to reduce assessed income and they will be assessed in similar way to bank accounts. Commencing account based pensions before then should be considered even if retirement is some time off. Reviewing the structure of existing account based pensions is also worth considering, if the income test is impacting or likely to impact on future Centrelink payments. It must also be remembered that the drop in pension when there is a death and the survivor is left to manage on a single pension, is significant. Ensuring that the structure of account based pensions is reviewed to account for that is important. The opportunity won’t be there from 2015, so there is six months from now available to consider those options.

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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Justin Stack. Wills are now being challenged at record rates partly due to the growing complexity of what constitutes a family in today’s world, with Brady Bunch type blended families and more live-in arrangements. dded to that are burgeoning estate values that make it worthwhile to aggrieved relatives, partners and dependents of the deceased to challenge a will if they feel hard done by.

a will to make things objectively fair; rather,

The Sydney Morning Herald recently reported the number of disputed wills has shot up by 59 per cent since 2005. Even though 95 per cent of disputes over wills are settled in mediation, almost a thousand ended up being heard in the Supreme Court last year.

“There are a host of matters the court

People are living longer and a major growth area in challenging wills has been with grandchildren and stepchildren. Older folk are marrying or partnering up for the second, third and even fourth time leaving a swag of children and stepchildren and grandkids from the various relationships who feel they are entitled to a slice of the pie.

it has the power to provide provision for an eligible person in circumstances that the provision for them is inadequate given the moral obligation that the deceased owed to the claimant,” says Crowther.

considers in making a decision, but very important is the size of the estate and also the financial position of the claimant. The greater the financial need for a claimant the better the prospects of success.” For example, if the estate is $200,000 and the will says it is to be divided between 3 of 4 children then a claim by the one left out is less likely to be successful. If the estate is $800,000 then the claimant is much more likely to be successful because there is more money to go around. This is subject to the

However Joshua Crowther, a wills specialist at Stacks/The Law Firm, says the net for potential challengers spreads even wider. Apart from certain relatives, any person who can prove they were a member of the deceased’s household and were “dependent” upon the deceased can bring a claim.

circumstances of the particular claim and

“The court is not in the game of changing

sufficient cause.

specialist legal advice is necessary. It is important to organise your affairs and will so that any such claims are mitigated. A person has 12 months from the date of death to challenge a will, but the court can allow an application out of time if there is a

SteveAttkins.

from G Great Lakes Winery

watch. steve attkins

Pruning the vines.... BY THE TIME JULY COMES AROUND, THE VINES ARE READY TO BE PRUNED ... LIKE ANY PRUNING IN THE GARDEN, THIS CAN BE QUITE THERAPEUTIC ALTHOUGH ACRES OF VINEYARD PRUNING IS A LITTLE MORE STRENUOUS THAN YOUR AVERAGE GARDEN PRUNING REQUIREMENTS!

t is important to prune when the vine is ready, which is usually 4 - 6 weeks after all the leaves have dropped from the vine and winter has well and truly set in.

of fruit on a vine isn't always what is desired, because this can impact the quality, so an understanding of the variety and age of the vine dictates how it is to be pruned. Cane pruning is the method we have

To confirm the time is right to prune and the vine is dormant, we do test cuts to ensure the vines are dry, which is after they have stored the residual nitrogen in readiness for next season's growth.

adopted, which involves selecting two

Visiting a vineyard during winter can be disappointing if you are wanting to soak up the visual beauty of lush green vine leave canopy ... what you get looks like a bunch of dead twigs.

the fruiting wire on either side of the vine

How the vineyard is pruned plays a significant role in the quality and quantity of fruit come harvest time. So, it is important at the outset to understand the variety you are pruning and ideally have knowledge and history of each individual vine. This may sound a little extreme, but pruning a vineyard is a work of art. Each vine ideally is to be evaluated individually to successfully achieve the result of quality fruit in 7 - 8 months' time.

to retain not so easy.

The vine is pruned typically to space the shoots, allowing sun to penetrate and air flow around the bunches. The vigour of the vine is also taken into consideration, which means how productive it is ... large quantities

dishes in the Weber – vine smoked meat and

healthy looking canes of the right size – sometimes you can be choosy, sometimes not. The remaining canes are removed and the two canes selected are wrapped around and tied into position. This sounds very straightforward, but the vines don't always present as you would like them for a variety of reasons, which makes the choice of canes

aree Film Society will screen My Sweet Pepper Land (M) at 7pm Monday 21st July at Fay's Twin Cinema. Baran, a hero of the Kurdish war of independence, has become Chief of Police in the capital, Erbil. No longer at ease in a society at peace, he thinks of quitting the police force, but finally accepts a position in a small valley in Iraqi Kurdistan, on the border with Turkey and Iran. It's a lawless territory, at the heart of a Bermuda Triangle for trafficking in alcohol, drugs and medicine. He refuses to bow down to the rules of Aziz Aga, a corrupt tribal chief and ancestral master of the valley. He encounters Govend, the village's new schoolteacher, who has come to work as the teacher in the newly opened school despite her twelve brothers’ hostility to the idea. She also comes up against the hostility of the inhabitants. Like Baran, she represents another law, that of the young autonomous Kurdish state, and she is in an even more vulnerable position because she's not married. Together, Govend and Baran will challenge the power of Aziz Aga, and will join forces with the Turkish Kurds.

My Sweet Pepper Land (M) 7pm Monday 21st July at Fay's Twin Cinema Writer/director Hiner Saleem shows us a country that has been opened enough to allow the youth to express their contemporary demands: more democracy, secularism and freedom of speech."Women are hoping to find a new identity, a new social and political role. Women, old friends of mine, who have become doctors, professors or school teachers have gone to work in these distant villages and told me their stories. Govend respects some aspects of tradition, but defies her family, society and the culture of honour. I admire these women. This is the story I want to tell in my film, with feeling and humour. For as the saying goes: God created ten Kurds, and then one more to make them laugh." This is the first screening for the 2014-15 season. Subscriptions are $110. Casual tickets $16. Find the society at the food table in the foyer, visit http://www.tareefilmsociety.org.au/ or phone 6552 3476.

The vine cuttings can be used for a variety of 2:38

uses as well. When we have the time we like to make wreaths in a variety of sizes. Other sculptures can be created with the miles and

Video

miles of canes left from the pruning and if inspiration takes hold. Another couple of

OF THE

MONTH

uses is to cut them into small portions to be used as fuel for smoking those gourmet fish YUM! The vine cuttings add another dimension to the flavour. Or, simply bundle them up and use them for kindling for the fire...you can never have enough kindling!

VIDEO BY: Forster Films.

Watch on your smartphone

ABOUT: Well known local artist H.Fish celebrated the opening of his latest exhibition, Visions, at Manning Regional Gallery recently. WATCH AT: http://youtu.be/3gal_xYxzEU

manning-great lakes focus 11

ROAD

__ T__o

R E C O V E R Y

The Curtis Landers Appeal Curtis Landers is a young local who was injured while performing a regulation tackle at a Rugby League match in Port Macquarie on May 24.

Curtis sustained fractures to two vertebrae, was taken to Port Macquarie Base Hospital for X-rays, then transferred to Royal North Shore Hospital for follow up treatment and assessment, where investigative and corrective surgery was later performed to two cervical vertebrae. While Curtis is making progress with his recovery, it will be some time before the full extent of his injuries and potential outcomes are known. The Rugby League community has rallied behind the Landers family to provide support during this difficult time, with multiple fundraisers planned (see below). Donations may also be made to help support the family though the coming challenging months.

DARE DREAM

24 June 2014 – Redkite is looking to Australia to champion its Dare to Dream Scholarship Program.

"Every year up to 980 young people will be diagnosed with cancer in Australia. They join thousands of teenagers and young adults undergoing treatment or who have survived cancer. For many, education or training has been disrupted, and we want to help them make their UPCOMING EVENTS dreams a reality,” says Jenni Seton, Chief Executive Wednesday 2nd July at Club Forster Officer at Redkite. 7pm: Under 18s Dance Party + Special Guests Redkite urges anyone who knows a young Friday 25th July at Tuncurry Beach Bowling Club person living with cancer or who is a cancer Primary School Disco survivor, to encourage them to apply for a Redkite Thursday 31st July at Club Forster Dare to Dream Scholarship. The program is open HUGE AUCTION with Special Guest RAY HADLEY to Australian residents aged 15 to 24 years who Tickets at the club or online www.clubforster. have had a cancer diagnosis at any stage of their com.au life, awarding $2,000 state scholarships and one Saturday 30th August at Tuncurry Beach Bowling $5,000 national scholarship to help with education Club and professional skills development, such as tuition “Brock Country” with guests “Bowden fees and equipment. “The scholarships are part of an education Brothers” and career program that is fully funded by Coles. Follow Curtis' progress on Facebook at Curtis We want every young person from 15 to 24 who Landers: Road to Recovery has been impacted by cancer to know about this Donations via Paypal or Credit Card at www. opportunity, and the community can play a key role juniorhawks.com.au

in encouraging people to apply,” says Seton. For many young people, there are significant and lifelong effects from cancer treatment. In addition to its Dare to Dream Scholarship Program, Redkite’s education and career support programs offer education grants and professional advice and mentoring by education and career specialists. 2013 national scholarship recipient Samantha Steadman encourages her peers to apply for this year’s grants. “The Scholarship has given my family much-needed relief in knowing I can complete my degree,” she says. Coles Marketing and Store Development Director, Simon McDowell, says, “All Dare to Dream submissions are truly inspirational and Coles is so proud to be able to support this amazing program again this year. I really hope everyone gets behind this so our support can make an even greater impact to help more remarkable young Australians.” For details on how to apply for the Dare to Dream Scholarships visit www.redkite.org.au/ daretodream. Applications close 22 July 2014.

2013 - Licensed through I.M.P.S. (Brussels) - www.smurf.com

81 Manning Street, Taree | manningmall.com.au |

12 manning-great lakes focus.

HOLIDAY COAST CREDIT UNION has announced the recipients of its 2014 Community Partnership Grants Program.

rants totalling $78,000 have now been distributed amongst 37 local organisations following the review and consideration of the many applications received from local not-for -profit community and sporting groups. The selected projects for funding this year again demonstrate the overarching credit union philosophy of “People Helping People” and in doing so, assist in making our communities a better place to live, work and play. “In this current financial year we have now given or committed to grants and sponsorship totalling $187,924, with our annual giving to Life Education and other community support initiatives in addition to the current funding distribution. Holiday Coast Credit Union remains focused on

improving the economic and social wellbeing of its members and the communities in which we all live. As a business, we focus on providing our members (our customers) with quality, independently accredited products and services with a continuing emphasis in the education of members in the benefit of saving and the wise use of credit. In addition to this, and in the true spirit of a mutual organisation, we annually distribute some of our profits to various local community groups that, like us, work to enhance the well-being of our community. We at Holiday Coast remain committed to the growth and well being of our local communities and the support of the many volunteer groups that enhance those communities”, CEO of Holiday Coast Credit Union Neville Parsons proudly stated.

manning-great lakes focus 13

MUSIC OF

andre Rieu Spectacular Ian Cooper is one of the world’s most recognised violinists, and he’ll be presenting a stunning concert with the combined talents of opera singers, prima ballerinas, the 2013 Australian Champion Pipe Band, the Blue Danube Orchestra and the Saint Barnabas High School Choir – among others – at the Manning Entertainment Centre . This show promises to be a feast for both eyes and ears – get your tickets fast!

our violin career began very early – starting to play at age 4, and your first TV performance occurring shortly afterwards when you were 5. That’s phenomenal! Describe that first TV appearance for us … do you remember much about it? That’s right. I started learning the violin from my mother at age 4. She was one of the first teachers of the world famous Suzuki violin method in Australia. Having to live with the teacher did have its advantages in the fact that I had a violin lesson every day of my life, unlike the usual one per week the other students got, so I guess I had an unfair advantage. My mother still says that I taught her how to teach – apparently I was a bit of a handful when I was a kid, which I find very hard to believe. Being the 5 year old of a teacher of this new method to come out of Japan, I was an Australian test case, so Channel 7’s 11am program invited me to come and play. I played a tricky piece looking back on it – the Three Grenadiers by Schumann, and I remember that all the TV studio lights were very bright. Roger Climpson was the host, and I remembered seeing him on the tele beforehand.

singers and dancers and will be presenting a program of popular music of the centuries from all across Europe. We’ll be performing music from Italy, France, Spain, as well as the musicals, a few light operatic numbers, music from the famous Hungarian Gypsy orchestras and of course the majestic music of Johann Strauss. Describe the concert in a bit more detail please … what are some of the pieces you’ll be playing? Having a cast as large as this (45) opens up the musical scope. I will be joined by three talented and gorgeous sopranos, an international tenor, the 2013 Australian Champion Pipe Band, classical ballet dancers and our amazing orchestra. The show's performance repertoire includes I Dreamed a Dream from the worldwide smash hit Les Misérables, Amigos Para Siempre (Friends for Life) from the Barcelona Olympics, Time to Say Goodbye – (Con te Partirò) made famous by Andrea Bocelli and Sarah Brightman, Ravel’s Bolero and The Blue Danube Waltz with the ballet, Scotland the Brave with the Pipers, Amazing Grace, perhaps a little something from Fiddler on the Roof, and of course Strauss’ famous Radetzky March. Many would describe your life as a musician as being a pretty charmed

The concert you’ll be presenting in both

one … you are performing in Europe

Port Macquarie and Taree is titled The Music of André Rieu Spectacular. What is it about this concert that most excites you? The joyous thrill of performing with such a large number of cast members on stage is a feeling like no other. I am absolutely exhilarated every time. I’ll be joined by a cast of 45 musicians,

this week, in fact! Able to travel the

manning-great lakes lakes focus. focus 14 manning-great

world from a young age, performing in front of live audiences, what are some of your favourite memories from those very early days? My first overseas trip was to Hawaii, the U.S. mainland and Canada when I was 7. I was part of a contingent of violin students

to represent Australia at an international violin convention. I went to Japan to play for Dr. Suzuki himself when I was 10. In high school I went to Europe with a children’s orchestra and again with my school band. I’ll never forget the gorgeous sound of playing in St. Paul’s Cathedral in London and performing as a soloist for the Vienna Boys Choir at their school. You were awarded a scholarship to study at the NSW Conservatorium of Music when you were 8. How do you feel these studies helped to shape the artist you are today? I was fortunate to have been taught by the very best violin teachers in Australia. I was also a member of the Sydney Youth Orchestra under the conductor Stuart Challender. My passion for European and Russian orchestral music was ignited then, and I remember enjoying playing Tchaikovsky, Stravinsky and Mahler. One of the highlights of your career must have been when you played your own composition, Tin Symphony, at the Opening Ceremony of the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney. How did it feel performing at this venue? That was one of the most awesome nights of my life. I remember being in the dressing room under the stadium before the Opening Ceremony started, and every minute or so there was a huge, thunderous rumble from above. It took me a while to realise that this tremendous noise and shaking was the waiting crowd as the giant Mexican wave passed overhead. What a spectacle! During my piece there were a thousand performers on the stadium floor – acrobats, tap dancers, giant Ned Kellys etc. and having my composition choreographed like that was

indeed a thorough privilege. Playing in front of such a huge and electrified audience, there was no place for nerves. Performance instinct took over. What didn’t dawn on me until afterwards was that it had been watched around the world by an estimated 2.85 billion viewers. That’s as big as any Australian performer gets. I’m really glad I didn’t realise it at the time! You already have at least 8 CDs released (at last count), multiple Mo and Aria Awards, amongst many other achievements. What’s next on the agenda for you after you wrap up your current concert series? I was more than delighted that this new show received the Australian Club Entertainment Award (ACE Award) for Best Production Show for 2013. It is a magnificent show! On the agenda now is bringing it to regional centres throughout Australia and performing music that’s been loved for centuries, whilst showcasing some of Australia’s finest singers, dancers and musicians at the same time. We all look forward to these concerts and giving people a show to remember. Thanks Ian.

the plug! See The Music of Andre Rieu Spectacular at the MEC on Sunday 20 July, at 2pm. $65 adult, $60 concession, $55 groups 10+ www.gtcc.nsw.gov.au/bookonline or call Movies Games & More: 6552 5699.

manning-great lakes focus 15

focus naidoc week

Working on Country rangers Chris Sheed from TIDE tells us all about the WOC Rangers program that is currently doing great things in the community ...

an you tell us a bit about the program, WOC Rangers, and what it stands for? TIDE has been delivering the Australian Government funded Working on Country (WOC) Program since 2009 and has a contract until 2018. The objectives of WOC are to support Aboriginal aspirations in caring for their country, providing opportunities for Aboriginal people to deliver environmental services that protect and manage Australia’s environmental and heritage values, as well as providing nationally accredited training and career pathways. WOC now employs more than 680 Aboriginal Rangers across over 90 ranger groups nationally. The Australian Government has a substantial commitment to WOC – these positions are real, long-term jobs, and the program gives greater economic certainty to individuals, families and communities. Biripi Elder and TIDE CEO Mr. John Clark OAM says TIDE currently employs ten Rangers who are based in Taree, Forster, Karuah and Gloucester. TIDE has established partnerships with the Local Aboriginal Land Councils at Karuah, Forster and Port Macquarie. Importantly, TIDE can provide the Rangers free of charge for projects on Aboriginal land or land deemed to have Aboriginal cultural significance. Rangers provide services to a range of clients, including Aboriginal Land Councils, NPWS, the Weeds Advisory Committee, local Councils, Mid Coast

16 manning-great lakes focus.

Water, Landcare, Coastcare, the former Catchment Management Authority, Local Land Services and private landholders. The Rangers have also constructed several bush food gardens at local schools. Where did the idea for WOC Rangers first come about? Prior to 2009, TIDE delivered the Community Development & Employment Program (CDEP) also funded by the Australian Government. The CDEP allowed for the part-time employment and training of over 100 Aboriginal jobseekers from the Taree area. Using the CDEP and a partnership with Greater Taree City Council and Mid North Coast Weeds Advisory Committee, an Aboriginal “Green Team” was established to undertake natural resource management works across the Mid North Coast. As the CDEP was to be discontinued in 2009, TIDE successfully applied for the WOC Program, which enabled the former Green Team members to become fulltime Aboriginal Rangers. Who can be a WOC ranger, and how can they find out more? Given the limited number of Ranger places available and the strong commitment of the participants to the program, there is a very low turnover of Ranger staff. Nearly all the Rangers have been with TIDE for over five years. The WOC Program also allows for training of the Rangers, and Mr. Clark is very pleased to say that the Rangers have progressed rapidly over the years. They commenced Certificate II in Conservation and Land Management (C&LM) in 2010 and now – in 2014 – they have started a Diploma Course

in C&LM at Taree TAFE. The Rangers also have all the necessary skill sets, including Occupational Health and Safety, First Aid, Chemcert, chainsaw use and are fully equipped with all tools and equipment, including 4WD vehicles, and quickspray units. What other projects are TIDE working on at the moment? TIDE also provides the Indigenous Community Links (ICL) program in Taree, Wauchope and Port Macquarie. ICL is a community support service which aims to increase social inclusion and community cohesion by providing support to Aboriginal community members and improving access to local services. ICL offers advocacy, liaison, referrals and linkage to a range of mainstream and Aboriginal services. Assistance can be provided in areas including welfare and social support, family violence, health, drug and alcohol, housing, child care and legal issues. TIDE provides the Parent and Community Engagement (PaCE) Program, which enables TIDE to work with local schools and students to improve Aboriginal school attendance and provide parents and caregivers with a better understanding and appreciation of the education system. TIDE is also an approved Work Development Order (WDO) organisation and allows eligible clients to reduce their fines through unpaid work with TIDE. For more information on any of the TIDE programs: Call 6552 3652 or email info@tide.org.au Thanks Chris.

focus naidoc week

NAIDOC Local Calendar of Events 2014 2014 NAIDOC week Celebrations Taree/ Purfleet Biripi Nation and Manning Valley.

Community V's Staff - Touch Footy Police V's Community - Touch Footy

FRIDAY 11TH JULY NAIDOC DAY FOTHERINGHAM PARK

MONDAY 7TH JULY

Community 3on3 competition

Bus pick ups available.

Biripi AMS Maranbah Aged Care 10AM - Official opening for the start of NAIDOC week. Flag raising ceremony. Special guest and morning tea.

Men V's Police Game

9am - March, Official opening of NAIDOC AIDOC Day, guest speakers, Flag raising ceremony mony

TUESDAY 8TH JULY Hunter New England Health 10.30am - 12pm Palliative Care Unit on Oncology level 6, morning tea, Russell Saunder playing didgeridoo. WEDNESDAY 9TH JULY Biripi AMS Community Sports Day 9am - 3pm

Breakfast and BBQ Lunch THURSDAY 10TH JULY Gangga Marrang - Jail Dreaming Art Exhibition Mid North Coast Correctional Centre 9am - 11am Biripi AMS Disco - Drug and Alcohol free Purfleet Transport Shed

11am - Entertainment, Aboriginal inal Dancers 12pm - BBQ/Bush tucker lunch nch 1.30pm - Youth Racers Age racers boys and girls 2yrs - 16yrs 3pm Finish.. For more information n on any of these events contact Taree City Council.

Primary 5.30pm start High School 7pm

Proud to support Naidoc Week celebrations in the Manning, Great Lakes & Gloucester regions

www.midcoastwater.com.au astw

1300 133 455

manning-great lakes focus 17

focus naidoc week Guests, L-R Uncle John and Auntie Val Clark, Mick Leon, Joan McDonald

jail dreaming exhibition Gangga Marrang

Below: Naomi Sykes with one of the artworks

Above: Mid North Coast Correctional Staff: L-R Luke Morris, Raylene Ballangarry, Greg Sneddon, Donna Symes

ail Dreaming” exhibition of do not really open up – give them paint and artists from the Mid North canvas and it allows them to tell their story, Coast Correctional Centre where they are going, where they have been (MNCCC) at Kempsey and what they want to achieve in life. opened at Recognition from the community Gangga is important for the guys Marrang Arts & Cultural trying to make a positive Centre on Friday 6 change in themselves, is n The exhi bitio e on June. The exhibition and it is also good for t an rt an impo a gg an G r will run until Friday the community to see fo and the first us no ge di in e 11 July and links with Th something positive . Marrang n is io at er rc ca in other celebrations of coming out of prison. It of rate ry high ve lly na tio or op indigenous culture such helps the inmates to see pr in Aus tralia .” as Reconciliation Week that there is potential and NAIDOC Week in to turn themselves early July. around. An exhibition such as this also helps give them The exhibition is an important confi dence in themselves.” one and the first for Gangga

“

Marrang. The indigenous rate of incarceration is proportionally very high in Australia.

The name “Jail Dreaming” was chosen to reflect on the wish for inmates to be with their families and communities:

Raylene Ballangarry, an Aboriginal elder working at MNCCC and her colleague Luke Morris, spoke about how painting helps the indigenous men and women at Kempsey Jail tell their stories. “If you talk with them, they

Gangga Marrang is situated at 82 Victoria Street, Taree and is open from 9-3.30 on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. The Gallery can be opened at other times by arrangement, by telephoning 6552 7856.

18 manning-great lakes focus.

focus naidoc week

biripi amc holistic health care Biripi ACMC is aware of the needs of holistic primary health care, with the health status of Aboriginal communities being the organisation’s primary goal.

he Biripi ACMC Mission statement is: “We provide holistic primary health care that is based on cultural integrity and is closing the gap in quality of life for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, their families and local communities.” Our mission statement embraces cultural integrity, which is an integral focus and a distinguishing feature of Biripi ACMC. It is expressed in the Biripi Mission Statement and the diverse areas in which Biripi ACMC deliver their services. With three working venues in the Manning River area, Biripi AMS offers services including medical, dental, children’s services, aged care, social support, public health, social and emotional wellbeing support and education support to over 7,000 Aboriginal people

ion. within the region. Biripi is a community controlled organisation that is governed by a Board of Directors which comprises of members from the Biripi community. Members of the staff are dedicated to improving the health status of their community, and their devotion and passion is apparent. Five major programs provide professional services as part of Biripi ACMC: The Clinics Program: this program allows clients to receive primary care with practice nurses, health assessments, immunisation and chronic disease management. The program also includes visiting health clinics and cardiac specialists, allied health clinics, dental clinics, maternal and child health, which includes pre and post-natal health, child growth and development and parenting.

Family and Community Health Program: this program is of tremendous importance to Biripi ACMC clients. This program employs Aboriginal workers, who service and care for their community as well as their families’ social and emotional wellbeing. The hard work and dedication of the medical and health workers of Biripi ACMC is evident. The interactive relationship between the workers at Biripi and the Aboriginal community is a valued commodity, with the workers themselves attending to client needs in a relaxed and easygoing manner. Environmental health, health education, sexual and reproductive health, ear and eye

health, women’s and men’s health, mental health services, psychologists, domestic violence services, drug and alcohol services are all part of the workers roles in Biripi ACMC. The final three professional service programs provided by Biripi ACMA include: Access Program, Children’s Service Program and the Aged Care Program. There is a vital need for Biripi ACMC services. If there is a need for clients of Biripi ACMC to attend any of its programs, Biripi endeavours to provide transport as required to clients. Biripi ACMC continually strives to improve the way it operates.

manning-great lakes focus 19

focusTourism. Sharon Bultitude - Great Lakes Tourism

Tourism Sharon Bultitude Tourism is everyone’s business! What’s the value of tourism to the Great Lakes? The latest figures highlight why it’s in all our interests to support the Great Lakes Partnership Program and keep our region a vibrant drawcard for visitors. ver a million visitors come to the Great Lakes annually, stay for more than 2.3 million nights and spend $374 million in our local area. (Source: National and International Visitor Surveys, Tourism Research Australia

20 manning-great lakes focus.

2013.) The latest visitor figures highlight the continuing economic importance of tourism to the Great Lakes region, with a 12% growth in visitation and 19% increase in visitor spend over the past two years.

The $374 million spend by visitors though, is really only half the story. This expenditure refers solely to the direct economic contribution of tourism – that is where there is a direct transaction between the visitor and local business. However, tourism spending has a multiplier effect in the local community, as it is spent and re-spent by employers and employees. So whether it’s the butcher who supplies the restaurant or the accountant who does the motel cleaner’s tax return, the flow-on effect of the tourism dollar affects businesses at all levels. The benefits and returns from tourism will only continue to grow in the Great Lakes through a cohesive and collaborative approach by all industry stakeholders. How can businesses get involved? The Great Lakes Tourism Partnership Program is one way for individuals, companies and organisations to get involved in the promotion and development of tourism in the region. Great Lakes Tourism currently engages with over 200 businesses from across the region through this program. The annual Partnership Program has many significant opportunities for partners to actively participate in campaigns and other marketing activity that suits their requirements. Great Lakes Tourism’s marketing activities reach tens of thousands of visitor prospects,

allowing partners to promote themselves at a local, regional, national and even international level at a fraction of the real cost of advertising. There is an enormous cost to effectively market and manage a destination. Every partner that pays a partnership fee and participates in co-operative marketing is assisting the whole region to achieve consumer awareness and market penetration. All dollars raised through the partnership program go directly to market the Great Lakes. The next 12 months will see some exciting initiatives, including new commercials, increased social media presence, a new responsive regional website, innovative Visitor Guides, bigger events calendar and a program of business and technology workshops. All businesses are invited to become an industry partner with Great Lakes Tourism for 2014/2015. Annual partnership packages commence from the 1st July 2014. To find out more information on the Great Lakes Partnership Program, hop online at www.greatlakes.org.au/partnership, call 6554 8799 or email tourism@greatlakes.nsw.gov.au. Contact Sharon Bultitude Marketing & Partnerships Great Lakes Tourism (02) 6554 8799 sharon.bultitude@greatlakes.nsw.gov.au

focusinterview.

ABC journalist Emma Siossian recently visited Red Belly Farm, a farmstay in a picturesque valley near Hannam Vale, with her husband and almost three-yearold son, Aidan. It turned out to be a great experience for the whole family

and Emma discovered the owners have big plans for the future …

y husband, Adam, and I normally favour coastal destinations for our holidays, but we recently had some time off during a patch of colder weather and decided to head inland instead. It occurred to me that a farmstay might be a great option for a family escape and when I mentioned it to our son Aidan, his face lit up and he immediately began asking to see the farm animals. I was surprised to discover there are a large number of farm stays on the Mid North Coast. Some are large working farms, one even caters to tour buses, and others are much smaller, but all offer accommodation on the property and a chance to interact with the farm animals. We ended up choosing Red Belly Farm, nestled on 16 acres in the lush Waitui Valley, west of Hannam Vale. It’s relatively close to our Port Macquarie home and also close to some stunning landscapes and lookouts in the Coorabakh National Park, which also features a rainforest walk and caves, something we knew Aidan would love. We took the scenic way in, turning off the Pacific Highway at Moorland and winding our way into the National Park, blessed with a crisp, yet very clear and sunny winter’s day. We toured the park in peace (we didn’t see anyone else the entire morning); Aidan

The cottage is

“

d checked for bears help feed them each comfortable an r fo t pi e fir when we explored afternoon. a en there’s ev ws, lo al m sh ar some caves near a “We’ve got three m g ro astin night, at th d di e rainforest creek and cows, we’ve got a big w ch whi an to the we later enjoyed Brahman named Big Girl introducing Aid t, gooey a picnic lunch at a and we’ve got two little delights of burn under a marshmallows beautiful, panoramic Jerseys that are about starry clear, incredibly lookout. We then eight months old named sky.” arrived in time to enjoy Moodonna and Lulu and the afternoon at our farm we’ve got about 30 chickens stay. and a gorgeous goat named We were pleased to discover Leroy, a pig named Lucy Lou and of a small cottage, with a large verandah course our star, Jazz the dog,” Sharon overlooking a green valley full of explained and she gave us a tour of the farm. birdsong. There was even freshly made Interacting with the animals was definitely chocolate cake waiting for us inside. Aidan’s favourite part of our stay. He The Red Belly owners Sharon and Darren exclaimed with delight each time one of the Chelman (pictured above – far right) are cows let out a loud bellow right next to him, enthusiastic about their venture, which is just yelling, “Moo! Moo!” and he loved feeding celebrating its first birthday. Sharon told us she the chickens and collecting eggs, as well as has plans to develop a full market garden and handing some bread to Leroy the goat and a cooking school, where people can create Lucy Lou the pig (although the very large pig meals using farm produce. and overly enthusiastic goat did make him a “Well, we’d like to expand our little nervous). He also had a firm friend in Jazz accommodation to have some more rooms the dog, who followed him around the farm. on there, but eventually we’d like to run a After that he found a swing in a tree and his cooking school, where people can come and afternoon was made. experience harvesting produce and then going The cottage is comfortable and there’s even up to the kitchen and producing something a fire pit for roasting marshmallows, which out of that,” she said. we did that night, introducing Aidan to the The thing which pleased Aidan the most delights of burnt, gooey marshmallows under though, was the fact that the farm has a a clear, incredibly starry sky. bunch of friendly animals and guests can Our son’s first request at 6am the next

morning, despite the lack of light and very chilly temperature, was to go outside and visit the animals. He charged out in his beanie, jacket and gumboots, yelling, “Wake up cows! Wake up chickens!” Clearly we were onto a winner (admittedly, I was somewhat less animated that morning as I dragged myself out of bed in the dark). Sharon hopes the income from the farmstay will help get her cooking school off the ground and she aims to play a small role in encouraging people to eat fresh, healthy food and to live a more sustainable life. “I think we’ve lost touch with where our food comes from and I think for people to come out here and see how easy it is to have a few chickens in the backyard and how to grow their food and how to cook it is a wonderful experience,” she said. We ate the eggs we’d collected for breakfast and before we left we were able to pick some fresh grapefruit and lemons and also scored a large pumpkin to take home. After a final round of goodbyes to the animals, it was time to head off. Next time we might visit in the warmer months of the year when the nearby Brackenridge Blueberry farm is open for blueberry picking and we can also go swimming at the base of Watui Falls, which is only five minute’s drive from the farm. Regardless of the weather though, I have no doubt we will be back to Red Belly Farm. manning-great lakes focus 21

Manning-Great Lakes

Crumbed Chicken Schnitzel from Roadies CafĂŠ.

eat. Dining Guide is available for iPhone & Android mobiles. www.focusmag.com.au/eat

22 manning-great lakes focus.

eat. Basil mushroom bruschetta with balsamic onions, goats cheeses and Serrano ham

Roadies Café

Great Lakes Seafood

Premium fuel for foodies!

“We catch ‘em and we cook ‘em”.

Drop into Roadies Café for a bite to eat on the go, or stop and relax for a while with us.

Come on down to our new outlet store in Forster and tantalise your taste buds with our expanding menu. We've been local for as long as you have, so we know how you like your food ... LOCAL.

With a great range or meals to suit everyone’s tastes, from sandwiches to panko crumbed chicken schnitzel, Szechwan prawn pasta and our famous Roadies’ beef burger, you will be sure to find something that will delight you. Why not try our mouth watering wood fired pizzas - available Thursday, Friday, Saturday night.

It doesn't get any fresher than the Wallis Lake, cooked by our “Grill Master” and ready to serve next to an award winning coffee.

Owners Will & Erin Lute.

Mention FOCUS on your next visit to Great Lakes Seafood, and our chefs will let you in on their daily special for our dedicated readers.

4/25 Wharf Street Forster t 6555 9947

77 church St, Gloucester t 6558 2772 e yum@roadiescafe.com.au fb ‘roadies cafe’

open 7 days per week. 7am - 10pm.

open Sunday - Wednesday 7:30am - 3:30pm. Thursday, Friday, Saturday 7:30am - late.

Beach Bums July means winter warmers at Beach Bums. Soups and chowders served in a cob loaf and yummy chia porridge will be back on the specials at Main Beach. If coffee isn’t your cup of tea ... Keep calm we stock a selection of Chamellia organic teas to soothe your mood. Warm your hands on a mug of 9 Spice fresh chai, steamed with your preferred choice of milk (almond, original Bonsoy or regular) it’s perfect for those cooler mornings. Winter is great at Main Beach!

Bowlo Bistro Taree West Bowling Club Tues - $8 homemade chicken schnitzel and chips NOW for lunch and dinner PLUS members badge draw and free raffle from 6pm. Wed - $8 beer battered fish and chips NOW for lunch and dinner. Thurs - Bingo from 11am, our club super draw from 6pm PLUS free kids’ meals and drinks and a free raffle. Fri - Treasure chest jackpot and raffles from 5pm. Sun - Lunch and dinner, $10 roast pork with all the trimmings. Our amenities include a Kids’ Playground, Free Wi Fi and Function Rooms.

116 Edinburgh Drive, Taree t 6552 2094 open 6 days. Closed Monday. Lunch: noon ‘til 2pm. Dinner: 5:30pm ‘til 8pm.

Head Chef James Nossiter.

Owners Kate and Darrin.

North & Beach St, Forster Main Beach. t 6555 2840 w beachbumscafe.com.au open 6.30am - 4pm (weather permitting).

manning-great lakes focus 23

focusinterview.

HEAD CHEF

YUU

ITR A H S U S

ort ell , a P n r u P ryce has Meet B al wh o c o l e i trai n ar f sushi Macqu o n i a h c ising shed a franch a d establi n a ths! rants 18 m o n r restau e d n ss in u busine

James Nossiter Tare e W e st Bow ling Club

ryce, you’re 25. What’s your Then things took off? story? Once I’d taken the plunge here and got Yuu I saved hard in my first jobs when Sushi humming, I risked it all and jumped in the I left school: as a personal trainer, deep end again, into Tamworth – opening up my nightclub barman, restaurant manager. second Yuu Sushi train over the Range about Then I bought an old house, a year later. It was new territory for renovated it – and sold me, but we prospered. Then, it! It was the only way a few months ago I took a to finance my first deep breath and opened ed st I’ve te ed fin restaurant, Yuu Sushi up in Sydney, at Kogarah re and el od m ss ne here on Horton – which is what I’d si my bu e day nc si ly nt ta Street, from scratch. always wanted to ns co oved it The banks wouldn’t do! It was awesome, one. Now, I’ve pr ent id works . I am conf k for touch a 23-year-old achieving that. or Yuu Sushi will w me entrepreneur; this So now you’re e sa anyone with th was about two and a offering Yuu Sushi eate enthusiasm to cr .” half years ago. franchises? ss their own busine You risked I’ve tested and everything. How’d it refined my business model go? constantly since day one. It was hard work and long Now, I’ve proved it works. I am hours: finding premises, designing confident Yuu Sushi will work for the fit-out, planning menus, sourcing anyone with the same enthusiasm to create quality produce, luring oriental sushi their own business. The hard work’s been done: chefs from Sydney to the bush. And then just follow my lead, and you can successfully fine-tuning the menus, opening hours, seating, establish a Yuu Sushi franchise of your own in a staffing arrangements and so on, after receiving rural centre or coastal town anywhere around customer feedback ... not to mention balancing Australia. Like it has for me, Yuu Sushi can take the books! But, I always had an unwavering you away from a humdrum job, give you a belief I could do it. Yuu Sushi is 100% mine, but career you can enjoy, and set you up for a happy I had the goodwill of my family behind me. My and profitable future. dad, “Purno”, has run Flynn’s Beach Kiosk since I See: www.franchiseselection.com.au or was a kid; I worked there as a youngster. email: info@yuusushi.com.au

“

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WITH SUCCULENT ROASTS, STEAMING LAKSA AND HOT CHILLI DISHES ON THE MENU, THE BOWLO BISTRO HAS YOU COVERED FOR WINTER DINING! HEAD CHEF JAMES DESCRIBES HIS COOKING AS RUSTIC, WITH A PINCH OF RETRO ... I really like to cook with seafood. There is so much you can do with it, it’s good for your health and most importantly, it tastes Some come from old great. We like to mix it up at The Bowlo magazines, others from Bistro with favourites like our mixed seafood the internet and television. We even get grill, the fisherman’s basket, fettuccine suggestions from our customers for new marinara and of course, the laksa. ideas, but mostly they come We also have our regular grilled from flashbacks from my Barramundi or Alantic youthful days. Salmon, and the ever How often do you popular beer battered OF change the menu? M Y ST YL E IS G fish and chips. CO OK IN We change the HA IT W IC ST RU How would you PROB A BLY menu with the N’ T OF RE TRO . I DO CH describe your style N PI seasons. Now in FO OD AT DR ES S U P TH E of cooking? OD winter we have the Y TH E FO A LL ; H OP EF U LL My style of cooking ” . LF R IT SE hearty favourites, W IL L SP EA K FO is probably rustic with like lamb shanks a pinch of retro. I don't and mash or for the dress up the food at all; more adventurous, try hopefully the food will speak our spicy seafood laksa to for itself. We try to prepare as really warm you up. We always much as we can on the premises, have famous roast pork with crackling like our chips, schnitzels and our great on the menu. desserts. People really do appreciate our When it comes to creating a homemade approach to club food. seasonal menu, what do you take into How do you help develop the skills of consideration? upcoming trainees and apprentices at The weather plays a big part ... now the your establishment? slow cooked dishes are popular, and also Throw them in the deep end. Give them our chilli dishes are selling quite well – the chance to see what they're capable of because it’s so bloody cold at the moment! doing, and they soon develop. Sure, they Do you have a favourite ingredient to will make mistakes along the way, but it’s work with? the only way to learn ... “hands on “.

here do you source new ideas from?

“

LOCAL RECIPE from bent on food

Bent on Food our prides itself on s ke ca se cakes; our chee ongst am are a favourite who will our customers, ces just drive long distan for a slice ...”

“

Owner Donna Carrier

Bent о F d W 95 Isabella St, Wingham, NSW 2429 Phone (02) 6557 0727 Web bentonfood.com.au

Featured in.

baked hazelnut latte cheesecake ... just like a hazelnut latte, only eaten with a spoon.

Title. 100 Dishes

IN GR EDIENT S

METHO D

Base 2 cup plain sweet biscuits – Nice or similar – crushed (you could substitute half with crushed roasted hazelnuts) 75 g butter, melted

Combine biscuit crumbs and butter; press into the base of a greased 20 cm springform tin.

Filling 4 egg yolks 250 g Marrook Farm quark or cream cheese 60 ml espresso coffee 30 ml hazelnut syrup 100 ml cream 250 g caster sugar

Beat quark/cream cheese and sugar with an electric mixer until smooth. Add egg yolks one at a time, and beat until smooth. Beat in the cream until well combined. Add hazelnut syrup and coffee and beat until all combined. Pour mixture into the prepared base and bake at 140°C for one hour. Allow to cool in the oven with the door slightly ajar. Serve cheesecake chilled, or at room temperature.

One of the largest regions in NSW now has a stunning cookbook featuring some of the top restaurants along The Legendary Pacific Coast from the Central Coast to the Tweed. 100 Dishes of the Pacific Coast is a collaboration of North Coast chefs, photographers and passionate foodies lovingly crafted throughout the past six months. The imagery is not restricted to the plate. Destination snapshots set the tone and transport readers on a coastal journey covering more than 700 kilometres along The Legendary Pacific Coast.

Serves 12 - 14

C HEF ’S N OT ES :

I love this particular one, as it is perfect with a coﬀee. The texture is thick and creamy and tastes just like a hazelnut latte, only eaten with a spoon.

Tastes of the sea, rivers, fertile farm land and mountains feature in this 240 page edition selling for only $29.95 at each of the restaurants or online by visiting www.100dishes.com

manning-great lakes focus 25

socialscene with Donna Carrier from Bent on Food.

Below. Peter and Kallee Niksic

Below. Mary McEnallay and Kevin Williams Below. Casey Merwood Above. Matt Zarb

Below. Tourism Launch

Social/scene.

Above. Di Rayson

By the time you read this, I will be on a plane heading away for a month. It has been 14 years since I backpacked for the most wonderful year and a half of my life and it is 10 years since I have taken any more than 2 weeks off, so I believe a holiday is in order.

am finding it a little difficult to leave my business; it is like my baby but I am sure once I am on the plane all will be fine, and the internet allows us to stay in contact these days. I am really looking forward to staying with some of our helpers and seeing them in their environment. Lucky for me I had saved up many Frequent Flyer points, so the airfare was on Qantas. On the 4th July, Di and Phil Rayson, my partner, Grahame, and I will be somewhere in Paris toasting Phil Rayson with for his 50th birthday. I promise there will be no dressing up like my 50th. It is my job to book the restaurant before we go; oops ... another task not ticked off. Consequently, there will be no Social Scene for August. First time since 2008 that I won't have written this page; I can’t believe how time flies. Sometimes I wish we could slow it down a little, to give us time to breathe and take in the beautiful fresh air that we are so lucky to have here in the Manning Valley. It is a busy old world, but sometimes the simplest things are what make us the most content. For many people, one of those simple things is cooking, and we have had some fabulous classes at the school lately. Nick has been teaching the men of the Manning Valley some tricks with seafood, and Vietnamese has been a popular class for me, with a team building class for Catholic Care Social Services held on 12th June. The group of 15 had a marvellous time and cooked up a storm, including Vietnamese rolls and Beef Pho, which they enjoyed together after the class. The talented Casey Merwood came back to Taree on 22nd June and taught a very tasty Spanish class. You may know Casey; her brother owns Jack Rabbit in Taree, and her family has lived in Taree for a long time. Participants came from Port Macquarie and Sydney to learn the secret to making great paella. Casey’s company, Biznaga Travel, takes tourists to Spain

26 manning-great lakes focus.

and there isn’t much that Casey doesn’t know about this amazing country and its cuisine, so I ran my Spanish itinerary by her, and she approves! ArtCare Plus is a 10 week program of a once a week 2.5 hour art class for people who have had a stroke, or a traumatic brain injury or live with a neurological condition such as Parkinson's, MS, or Motor Neurone Disease. An inaugural ArtCare Plus program was held recently in Forster, funded through a CASP grant (Country Arts Support Program). On April 30th, Kevin Williams, Arts Mid North Coast, opened an exhibition showcasing the work of the students who were taught by artist Mary McEnallay. Art was also exhibited by members of Great Lakes Art Society. The exhibition will continue until 27th July at Great Lakes Art Society, Lake St, Forster. A painting by Mary McEnallay and another by Kadek were donated to be raffled to raise funds to conduct another ArtCare Plus course in the future. For something different than the usual evening or lunchtime gig, Matt Zarb played in the garden out the back of Bent on Food for a morning melodies gig. We all know what a great storyteller and musician Matt Zarb is, and the gig was fabulous. It was a great morning filled with sunshine, song and our yummy breakfasts. This month also saw young musicians Grace and Jai come back to the café for a lovely gig on Friday 20th June. The Manning Winter Festival is a cultural highlight for Manning Valley residents, with a packed program of music, art and theatre. Sinfonia Mid North Coast presented "A Farewell Tribute" in recognition of Hon Conductor James Hannah who, after 8 years with Sinfonia's baton, has announced his retirement. The concert was held at St John's Anglican Church on 14th June and included the official opening of the 2014 Manning Winter Festival by Mr Kevin Williams: Executive Officer and

Regional Arts Development Officer, Arts Mid North Coast Inc. It was a huge night in Wingham on Saturday 21st June, with Maggie Young’s production of Isabella the Play selling out very quickly. The story of Isabella Mary Kelly is an important part of the region’s history, with her story being written by Maurie Garland. Snippets of her life were also featured in The Valley by Di Morrissey. Around 280 people went along to see the play and I was very proud of “my other mum”, Lyn Catt, who played a fantastic part ... but of course, the entire cast did a great job. Peter Niksic enjoyed a 50th birthday party at Bent on Food, with around 27 people who travelled from Darwin, Perth, Sydney and all over the region to celebrate this milestone. His lovely wife, Kallee, organised the event, along with a luscious chocolate cake that they even shared with the staff. Happy 50th, Peter; we hope you had a wonderful time. Around 200 people attended an inspirational presentation by David Engwicht. David’s company Creative Communities works towards bringing people together to transform an ordinary space into an extraordinary place. David has over 25 years’ experience in place making. He is a passionate designer, artist, author, communicator, and social inventor, best known as the creator of the Walking School Bus. It was a great presentation, and extremely motivating. David is working alongside some forward thinking Taree business people with a vision to create a civic space in Taree’s CBD. Thanks to Graham Brown for organising David’s visit and to the businesses of the Manning Valley for their contribution. Bonjour until September, Donna. I would love to hear from you if you have any social events, weddings, parties anything! Send pics and info to donna.carrier@bigpond.com

Wood Smoke Reduction Program MIDROC (Mid North Coast Regional Organisation of Councils) has received a grant from Environment Protection Authority (EPA) as part of their Wood Smoke Reduction Program 2014. Wood Smoke is a major cause of air pollution. During the colder months where wood heaters are used regularly they can produce up to seven times as much pollution as cars alone. Evidently, Wood Smoke is not only detrimental to our health but also on our hip pocket, costing community members large amounts of money each month to service their wood heaters. The Wood Smoke Reduction Program 2014 aims to reduce wood smoke emissions through educating wood heater owners on better wood heater operation. Wood smoke comprises of a number of poisonous gases (including carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide, and a range of organic compounds, some of which are toxic or carcinogenic) and fine particles, which go deep into the lungs. How to 'Burn it Bright" Always use plenty of paper, good kindling and small logs. Why? Establishes a hot fire quickly. Add some newspapers above the fuel load. Why?Heats flue and increases draught, making it easier to start the fire. Other important tips• Do not overfill the heater. • Operator should check smoke outside. • Do not try and burn one large log. After refuelling, always leave air control fully open for 20min. Why? Reheats the firebox and

What's On at Club Forster drives off moisture After refuelling sometimes a new load does not ignite. It can smoulder for hours. If there is no flame within 1min, add some newspaper and light with a match. Never place a log across the front of the firebox. Why? It blocks combustion air and makes a lot of smoke. MIDROC wood smoke reduction program 2014 involves; Television commercials, radio commercials, social media advertising and print media advertising. It is also a component of the education program to hold information stalls on wood smoke reduction at various community markets within the MIDROC area. To find out more about the MIDROC Wood Smoke Reduction Program visit their stall at the the Hub Markets in Taree, Saturday 19 July 2014, the Gloucester Farmers Market, Saturday 12 July 2014 or check out their website www. midroc.nsw.gov.au.

Peter Byrne's Forever Diamond | Saturday 5th July | 8pm. Neil Diamond is a phenomenon who gives truly special and personal shows that legions of fans return to see again and again – a style that transcends music fads by consistently touching people of all ages and interests. This is your opportunity to experience that same spontaneous display of energy and sensuality with the superb talents of Peter Byrne and Forever Diamond, a show performing Diamond's greatest hits spanning over three decades, in an uncanny portrayal that has to be seen to be believed. Oh What A Night | Sunday 24th August 2pm This show features a talented group of performers who look, act, and sound just as amazing as Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons did so many years ago. This fully scripted and choreographed production is the perfect way to relive the magic of the Four

Seasons, or to enjoy it for the very first time. During the show, you will get the chance to re-live hit tunes like Walk Like a Man, Oh What a Night, Can't Take My Eyes Off of You, My Eyes Adored You, Sherry, Big Girls Don't Cry, Grease, and so many others. The Delltones | Friday 17th October | 8pm Australian music legends The Delltones were told back in 1958 “Don’t give up your day job; this music is not going to last”. More than 55 years later The Delltones are still touring and delighting audiences with their highly polished, colorful and energised show. The Delltones remain one of the most consistent live entertainers in Australia with arguably the longest performing and recording history for a vocal harmony band with an original member – Peewee Wilson. If you only go out once this year, don’t miss the Delltones Live – they’re better than ever!

manning-great lakes focus 27

Watch the seeds Grow Watch the seeds grow at Greenpatch Organic Seeds! Greenpatch Organic Seeds was established in 1993 by Neville and Sophia Donovan. Non-hybrid heritage varieties were difficult to come by, and there was a need to save these seeds from disappearing. By growing such varieties and distributing them, they have become more readily available. We ventured to be early pioneers, growing and saving seeds as well as rare edible plants. Our love of plants, nursery and horticultural background led us to a future with organic gardening. With the popularity of gourmet cooking shows and an increase in healthy eating, there has been a strong interest in home grown fresh garden produce. Gardening can happen in a small vegetable patch, or sprouting on the kitchen sink, producing beautiful tasting culinary herbs. Seeds and plants are produced on our certified organic property on Old Bar Road, and distributed Australia wide. We cater for small space gardeners to commercial growers. We produce over 450 varieties each year onsite. Our broad seed range covers vegetables, flowers, herbs, grains and sprouting seeds. By walking through our nursery, see herbs, edibles, fruiting trees, cottage garden, bamboo, and bromeliads. The shop is open Monday to Friday, 9am – 4:30pm. There are plenty of choices available, from 700 varieties of seeds and plants. All are welcome to browse through the various gardens, orchard and farm.

28 manning-great lakes focus.

Meet the WILDLIFE Wow! Billabong Zoo can’t wait for the start of another school holidays. Shrek the monster croc has made himself quite at home and has been thrilling crowds with his feeding shows at 12.30 daily. Our gorgeous "Happy Feet" Little Penguins star in their own daily feeding routine at 10am, and not to be missed are our beautiful red panda sisters, Rato and Tito, who enjoy their dinner at 2:30pm daily. The latest arrivals are our two mischievous meerkats, Bido and Pongo, who are on the go nearly all day, digging, taking turns to act as the sentry and of course, munching down on as many bugs and worms as possible. Our special animal encounters are a great way to get even closer than you think and feature our pythons, koalas, snow leopards, penguins, meerkats and red pandas. Prices, times and experiences vary, and bookings are essential. If watching the animals eat is making you feel hungry, why not grab a bite yourself from the zoo café; our new chefs are sure to have something to tempt the tastebuds, with fresh ground coffee, homemade scones and biscuits, burgers, wraps and sandwiches made to order. Take home a special memento from our huge gift shop and remember, Billabong Zoo is the place for you! Enquire about our catering for group functions and children’s birthday parties. Visit our website www. billabongkoala.com.au and like us on Facebook for the up to the moment goings on around the zoo.

focusinterview.

Great Lakes

Hospice President Elizabeth Fisher

Great Lakes Hospice, one of the most valuable volunteer organisations in our local area, celebrates its 25th birthday!

ow and why was Great Lakes Hospice formed? In 1989, a public meeting was held to find ways to solve the problems associated with residents of Great Lakes who became terminally ill. The community nurse, ministers and doctors cited many examples of families who had been in great distress when the very sick patient was taken by ambulance to a nursing home anywhere in NSW that a vacancy could be found. A unanimous decision was made to establish a hospice in the Great Lakes. My husband, Robin, and I attended this meeting and were encouraged to see so many people committed to the idea of a Hospice. We added our name to the list! Time passed, and the important step was taken to register the name Great Lakes Cottage Hospice as a charity. A second meeting was called, but it was very poorly attended. It was clear that the ministers, doctors, nurses who had expressed their concern from firsthand experience would not have the time required to raise funds. What roles do you and your husband have in the organisation now? I realised the value of a hospice when my mother became terminally ill in England and unfortunately I lived many miles away and had a young family. I valued the care that was given to her in the small local hospital by specially trained nurses. My family was most appreciative of this special palliative nursing care. Both Robin and I have been part of this organisation since 1989. In fact, Robin was the first President, followed by Lance Jackson. I became President in 1998. How did the Great Lakes Hospice develop? It was clear from the beginning that the priority of our organisation was to raise sufficient funds to establish a small three bedded hospice, the size that this area needed. I became the spokesperson for our very small group, and talked to many organisations about our aims. While it was clear from the response that I received that there was a need for a hospice,

I think most people were daunted by the task ahead. However, in 1992 an amazing offer was made by a benefactor d I am very please who wished to remain r ou to say that anonymous. Every ed many funds have help through s nt dollar that was raised Palliative Patie in a t en em ng would be doubled, this arra ways. of ty rie va e id w and our existing bank hospice The dream of a account of about , but the le was not possib Hospice $16,000 was doubled a of t en developm as.” w ly immediately. What a Service certain Great Lakes tremendous difference Hospice holds two this made. Many people important meetings were fascinated – who was each month. the mysterious donor? How much The Management Comhad we raised? The number of supporters mittee consists of 8 people, most of and fundraising events increased greatly. whom have been involved with our organisaIn 1995 a milestone was reached. A house tion for many years. I am proud of their dedicain 44 Short Street, Forster was purchased, tion, determination and perseverance. furnished and equipped. Many enthusiasts lent The Hospice Auxiliary is the vital fundraising their skills to prepare the cottage for its role as part of our organisation, with more than 20 a hospice – builders, gardeners, nurses, cooks members. all came forward at this exciting time. Nurse Film nights, raffles, street stalls are regular Co-ordinator Marlene Kernick was employed, fundraisers, but in the past few years many and our first palliative patients were admitted. very interesting events have also been held – Alas, our many requests to the NSW DepartJazz By the Lake, visits by the Sydney Welsh ment of Health for ongoing funding were unChoir and by the RAAF band, variety concerts successful, and after two years Laurel Cottage by local groups of many kinds, and even a was closed. Bull’n Bush Concert. Since that time, Great Lakes Hospice has Apart from fundraising, their equally imworked closely with the local Community portant role is to ensure that members of the Health Palliative Care Nurses and with Forster public are aware of the services of Great Lakes Private Hospital. I am very pleased to say that Hospice. They are our ambassadors. We do our funds have helped many Palliative Patients not have a building, but we provide a support through this arrangement in a wide variety of service for Palliative Care in the Great Lakes, ways. The dream of a hospice was not posand all money raised is spent in this area. sible, but the development of a Hospice Service What support does Great Lakes Hospice certainly was. receive from the community? Our role today includes the following: Great Lakes Hospice feels very privileged to Extra Nursing and Domiciliary services are receive ongoing support from the people of provided, a store of special equipment is availGreat Lakes and from many organisations. I able for free loan, special machines and chairs remember from the first meeting in 1989 we have been purchased to enable the developwere assured by the community nurse that ment of Oncology services within Forster once the charity was established, money would Private Hospital, and we continue to expand flow in! Well, it certainly took a while, but the services available. her words have the ring of truth now. Once How does Great Lakes Hospice operate?

“

the community realised the value of a hospice service to the patient and more especially to the family/carer, Great Lakes Hospice received a high level of support. This ongoing support gives us the confidence to continue to find ways to expand the services that are provided. The purchase of essential equipment and special chairs for the Oncology service in Forster Private Hospital by our organisation has had a great benefit. All patients with Postcode 2428 can now avoid the journey to and from Taree. Forster Private Hospital has a much needed and busy Oncology Unit. Our next project is to offer a Wig Service for those patients who have lost their hair as the result of chemotherapy. Palliative Care is a very special branch of the nursing profession, and we provide as much support as possible for these dedicated nurses. So far, no request for help has been refused, and I am very proud to be able to say that. Most palliative patients express the wish to die in their own home. The national average for this is 16%, but in this area the figure is closer to 40%. I am assured by our Palliative Care Nurses that this is the result of the extra services that Great Lakes Hospice is able to provide. I know it is also because of the great dedication shown by our Palliative Nurses. How will you celebrate 25 years for Great Lakes Hospice? On July 19th, Great Lakes Hospice is celebrating the Silver Anniversary 1989 – 2014 with a High Tea for our Members in Tuncurry Memorial Hall. Thanks Elizabeth. manning-great lakes focus 29

By Taree Eyeware

By Luna Yoga

Let's Live a Vibrant Life Yoga: a lifestyle, not just a practice. Yoga is good for you - actually, its effects are almost instant. regular yoga practice will see changes in your health and attitude immediately: your energy levels will increase, you will see better sleep, balance, eyesight, posture, flexibility, memory, and focus. Yoga releases stress, strengthens the immune system, provides self confidence and stimulates creativity. We practice yoga to calm the mind and to find balance with the mind and body within our everyday lives. â€œYoga for me is about being the best possible person I can be. It's not only the time on the mat, but off the mat in day to day life. It has changed my life.â€? The practice itself is not necessarily about being the best or looking the best; it's about feeling the best. We don't come to the mat with expectations. There is no judgement. Yoga helps remind us to use this example in everyday life. Live colourfully, find freedom, smile, dance, give, create, and breathe. By Sally Botham, yoga teacher and owner of Lunar yoga and creative space, Tuncurry.

EYE

CARE Dickon Walch moved here in 1996 from Newcastle and has over 20 years' experience. In this time he has detected countless eye diseases from Macular Degeneration to Diabetic Retinopathy ... Removing problematic ingrowing eye lashes is an almost daily occurrence, through to more serious and urgent By YMCA diagnosis of retinal detachments and less often, melanomas. Unfortunately, many eye diseases don't show symptoms until it's too late. Each year, one in four Australians are at risk of losing part or all of their vision to eye disease and despite this, two out of every five are still not having eye tests on a regular basis. Therefore, it is important to have regular eye checks to maintain good ocular health.

Changing your

By East Coast Laser and Cosmetic Clinic, 6584 6266

Dickon says we are very lucky to have very good ophthalmologists in our area who always give urgent cases priority. After more then a decade of product development, Alcon released the much anticipated Dailies Total1 contact lenses to the Australian market. Alcon says Dailies Total1 promises to deliver a new era in comfort. The highly breathable silicone hydrogel core transitions into a soft hydrophilic surface gel made up of more than 80% water content, which then approaches 100% at the outer surface.

SKIN CARE ROUTINE

You may have found a moisturiser that works fine in spring and summer, but as the weather conditions change, so too should your skin care routine ! ry skin makes the once plump skin cells become shrivelled ones. In return, you are left with fine lines and wrinkles. In order to stop this from happening, a proper anti-aging regimen should be implemented into your daily routine, adding extra hydration in the colder months. Sunscreen isn't just for summertime. Winter sun and particularly snow glare can still damage your skin. To gain maximum long lasting benefits, active ingredients that are medical strength and chirally correct are the answer! Why? Medical strength products (only available in Cosmetic Medicine Clinics such as East Coast Laser & Cosmetic) not only meet much higher concentrations of scientifically proven active ingredients, but it is the way active ingredients are transported to the basal layer and dermis that make the difference. Latest technology

30 manning-great lakes focus.

has advanced methods such as fingerprint technology and liposomal coated ingredients to facilitate superior penetration into the deeper layers to reach skin cells. Key ingredients to note! - Ubiquinone: is a super anti-oxidant that boosts your cells to produce collagen and elastin. We need collagen and elastin to keep our skin firm and plumper, helping to reduce wrinkles and giving a healthy young glow. - Ascorbyl Palmitate: is an important anti-aging Vitamin C in its most stable form. The benefits are to promote collagen synthesis, photo protection, lightening of hyper pigmentation and reducing inflammation. - Retinol:Vitamin A. This is the only ingredient capable of reprogramming a changed cell. Vitamin A works by normalising skin functions so it corrects all skin conditions. Vitamin A thickens and stimulates the dermis and increases

blood flow. It wakens the skin, encouraging exfoliation, repair and optimises UV protection. It reduces clustering of melanin, reducing pigmentation and decreases sebum production for acne skins and helps to eradicate pre cancerous skin lesions and improves hydration. When using these ingredients in high concentrations, visible improvements in skin have been proven; however, it is important that you are guided and monitored by a skin specialist such as a Cosmetic Nurse. It is important to gradually build up your skin's strength and minimise potential side effects such as irritation, redness that can occur if active ingredients are introduced too much, too quickly. Visit East Coast Laser & Cosmetic Clinic for further information and advice or to purchase a simple, affordable but extremely beneficial skin care regime that will greatly improve your skin, whatever your concern!

focusinterview.

DR.

ANTHONY SUEN Rehabilitation Physician Dr Anthony Suen , Rehabilitation Physician at Forster Private Hospital shares some insights into his life and passion for Rehabilitation Medicine.

hat inspired you to do medicine? I always had an interest in medicine from when I was young. I guess it was a combination of an interest in the subject matter of the human body and how it functions, as well as the knowledge that you would be hopefully making a meaningful difference in people’s lives as a doctor. Also having exposure to friends’ parents who were doctors and a particularly inspiring GP further pointed me towards the profession. At university I studied physiology, and spent several years in a clinical laboratory environment conducting research in musculoskeletal physiology. As interesting as it was, it was at this stage I felt I definitely was missing the patient interaction side of things, so I decided to undertake the medical degree at the University of Sydney. After you achieved your medical degree at the University of Sydney where did you work? I initially worked at Royal North Shore Hospital where I decided I wanted to gain experience in as wide a range of areas as possible. Hence in the subsequent years I worked in the fields of Aged Care, General Medicine and Surgery, Orthopaedics, Emergency, Intensive Care, Paediatrics, and importantly, Rehabilitation Medicine. You did your Rehabilitation training through the Royal Australasian College of Physicians to gain your speciality in Rehabilitation Medicine? What made you want to go on and do this? As mentioned, I completed a rotation in Rehabilitation Medicine whilst a Hospital Resident. During this time I enjoyed the challenge of not only the wide variety of presentations of patients in the rehabilitation setting, but also the need to draw upon much of your training and clinical knowledge in order to achieve the right outcome for your patients. I also liked the fact that there were many different “subspecialty” areas in Rehabilitation Medicine which you could focus on if you so wished, such as Musculoskeletal Rehab, Aged Care Rehab, Spinal Cord Injury, Acquired Brain Injury, and Pain Management. Again, with

some great people in the field encouraging me along, the decision to specialize in Rehabilitation Medicine was made quite quickly. Could you explain what Rehabilitation Medicine actually involves? Rehabilitation Medicine is a medical specialty which evaluates and treats the whole patient who has limited function as a result of disease, injury, impairment or surgery. Examples of this could be an accident causing a brain or spinal injury, a stroke, major surgery such as joint replacements, or long term illness or surgery resulting in significant weakness. People who have chronic diseases, or who become more frail as time goes on can also benefit. Each person’s medical condition is looked at in terms of their mobility, ability to self care and psychosocial well being; with the aim being the restoration of optimal health and functioning. Dr Suen, what made you come to work at Forster Hospital? Forster has had a rehabilitation unit for over 4 years now. A specialist rehabilitation unit cannot run without the services of a Rehabilitation Physician and an opportunity arose for me to join the unit in 2012. I was excited at the time with the imminent opening of the Hydrotherapy Pool, and had also done several rotations during my residency on the Mid North Coast so I was quite familiar with the area. What happens in a Rehabilitation unit? The rehabilitation unit utilizes a large multidisciplinary team, under the guidance of a Rehabilitation Physician, which treats patients with the aim of restoring them to their optimal level of health and functioning. Activities not only include exercising in the gym and hydrotherapy pool; but also include aspects such as ongoing treatment of the patient’s medical condition; improving their ability to function at home and in the community; treating difficulties with speech and swallowing or diet; and improving their psychological status. Who works with you Dr Suen? A skilled multidisciplinary team which includes Nurses, Physiotherapists, Occupational Therapists, Social Workers, Exercise Physiologists, Speech

Therapists, Dieticians, and Allied Health Assistants. Once or twice a week the entire team meets to establish achievable treatment goals for each patient, which is then regularly re-assessed over the course of their stay. In this way we are able to pay close attention to the patient’s medical, social, and emotional requirements and goals. We are constantly striving to improve the outcomes for our patients. So Dr. Suen, if I am really sick after an illness, what is the pathway back to recovery for me at Forster? This can occur through a number of different pathways but generally, after your acute illness or injury, you may be transferred to our Rehabilitation Unit either from another hospital; referred by your GP; or transferred from our own medical wards at Forster Hospital. In the rehabilitation unit, with the care and attention of our experienced and enthusiastic team, you would take your first steps towards recovery. We have a fully equipped Physiotherapy Gymnasium and Occupational Therapy area. You would usually attend therapy twice daily with a specific program tailored just for you. Once you had reached a stage where you were stronger and suitable to consider returning home, we would review your condition and recommend you go home with whatever assistance and services our team can organise for you. You might then return to our Day Therapy Unit for further rehabilitation as a day-only patient if we feel this is beneficial for you. This would normally involve you attending the hospital twice a week for treatment lasting several hours each visit. We have heard that there is a hydrotherapy pool at the hospital now. Why is

Hydrotherapy good for rehabilitation? Forster has a fantastic Hydrotherapy pool which is extremely beneficial for a wide variety of conditions, as the warmth and buoyancy of the water can help increase circulation and reduce pain and muscle spasm, allowing the patient to benefit from a range of activities they might not normally be able to do on land. It is also particularly good for regaining the movement back into hips and knees after joint replacement surgery. I had surgery some time ago but still feel that I am not "right". Could I be involved in the Day Therapy, or do I have to be in the hospital first? No, certainly not. You would just need a referral from your GP, or your surgeon, just like you would to any other specialist doctor. I would be happy to review you and give you my advice, and recommend therapy if appropriate. Day therapy can be very beneficial for those living in the community preferring to come in to the hospital a few times a week. We also see people who have been injured at work and are under workers compensation schemes, as well as Department of Veteran Affairs patients. As your rehabilitation physician I would continue to review you regularly and liaise with your own doctor on your progress, and also recommend further treatment as necessary. Do you have any special interests? I have experience and interest in numerous fields including muscle and bone injuries, amputations, fractures and joint replacements; strokes, spinal and brain injuries; occupational and cardiac rehab; aged care and falls prevention; and acute and chronic pain management.

manning-great lakes focus 31

breast reduction surgery â€˜Breast Hypertrophyâ€™

reast hypertrophy (enlargement) can be an early problem for a woman or a gradual increase in size over the years, causing neck, shoulder and back pain, restriction in mobility and exercise and significant difficulty in getting well fitting clothes including brassieres. Principles of surgery Surgery involves reduction of skin and breast tissue (which is made up of glandular tissue and fat) and also the elevation of the nipple-areola complex. The method of choice While there are many methods to reduce the breast, the vertical mammoplasty, initially described by the French surgeon Dr. Daniel Marchack, later popularised by Prof Madeline Le Jour of the University

32 manning-great lakes focus.

of Brussels in Belgium and now fine tuned by Dr. Elisabeth Hall-Findlay of Banff in Canada, is a very sound technique. It gives an excellent reduction of breast size, good nippleareola complex elevation, minimal scarring and excellent long-term results, with maintenance of shape and position. Postoperative restrictions The surgery is done under general anaesthesia, usually as an inpatient in hospital. While surface healing takes place rapidly, internal healing, the regaining of strength and the restoration of shape takes up to 6 months. However, the initial three weeks is a key period in the healing process, during which there are many restrictions on the activities permitted. A specially designed compression garment is also used for the first

three months. Time off work, including at home and looking after young children for at least the first three weeks after surgery helps in the recovery from surgery. Breast droop (Ptosis) is also well-corrected, with a very similar technique, the vertical masto-pexy. There are a number of operations, for correction of ptosis, which use skintightening techniques. While technically simpler and less time-consuming, the improvement is short lived, due to the restretching of the tightened skin. The vertical masto-pexy, is quite similar to the vertical mammoplasty, but with a very small reduction of breast tissue, and with an excellent lift of the breasts and nipple-areola complex, and with long-lasting results.

Focus on Health

"Talking the Piss" by Dr Michael (Peng) Wang What goes into urine? Urine is the end result of the daily processing of hundreds of litres of bodily fluids. Through our kidney's microscopic plumbing and filtration systems our body's chemicals are balanced, recycled or sent onwards. From the kidneys, urine goes into two tubes called ureters that lead to the bladder. These tubes are the ones that may block with stones and give someone "renal colic," which is very painful. After the ureters, the urine goes into the bladder for storage and you all should know what happens next. Doctors have been examining urine since time immemorial. Historically, they used to have to taste the urine and see if it was sweet. This meant too much sugar and a diagnosis of diabetes. Doctors are all relieved these days to use little testing sticks instead. They pick up sugar in the urine, or "glucosuria" and also problems like "proteinuria". What is proteinuria? Proteinuria is excess protein in our urine. Proteins are the building blocks for our muscles, bones, hair, and nails. Proteins that circulate in the blood stream also help stop bleeding and fight infections. Healthy kidneys keep proteins in the blood stream and let hardly any out. But if our kidneys are damaged, too much protein passes through the filters and into the urine. Why is proteinuria important? The level and type of proteinuria is a good indicator of the amount of kidney damage and how it is changing. It can help show the

doctor who is at higher risk of developing heart attack and strokes. What can cause protein to leak from the kidney? Many diseases can cause Proteinuria. The most common causes in Australia are diabetes and hypertension (high blood pressure). Glomerulonephritis (inflammation of the kidneys) and auto-immune diseases (like lupus, where the body attacks itself) may also damage the kidneys. How can we know we have proteinuria? We rarely can see protein in our urine and most people with proteinuria won't have any symptoms. If they do have symptoms, some people notice foamy urine or swelling in the hands, ankles or face. A dipstick can quickly check for proteinuria, but to properly measure it, we need to collect a whole 24 hours of urine in a big container, hopefully with a tight lid. What should we do if we have proteinuria? People with proteinuria need regular and skilled care to stop it silently progressing. A biopsy, or small piece of tissue, sometimes may need to be removed from the kidney to diagnose the problem. Sometimes blood pressure medications may be prescribed to protect the kidneys even when the blood pressure is normal. If the proteinuria is caused by auto-immune diseases, steroids or other immune system medicines may be needed. If someone wishes to have their kidneys checked, they are welcome to see me or consult their regular GP.

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focusinterview.

Photography by Deeanne Dickson www.photographybydeeannedickson.com

Sammi Z a j k o

Upper Lansdowne resident Sammii Zajko is an inspiring woman … mother, Doula, a Certified Infantt

Massage Instructor and an advocate for good health and d nutrition through eating a traditional diet. Sammi describess herself as a “fermentation revivalist”. ”. Here she describes just what this term means – and how you can learn n more about it!

i Sammi. How long have you lived in Upper Lansdowne, and what initially attracted you to the area? We bought our property in Upper Lansdowne 3½ years ago. We moved here about 18 months ago. We had always planned on living off-grid, growing our own food and being surrounded by nature. A friend suggested we might like the Manning Valley. After a weekend visiting, we instantly fell in love with the region. The moment we saw our unique property, we knew that we had found our home! I live here with my wonderful partner, Nathan, and our gorgeous 4 year old son, Jem. Tell us a bit about your career background – you have a lot of strings to your bow, including being a Certified Infant Massage Instructor and a Doula ... After having the support of a Doula for Jem’s birth, I decided to train as a Doula myself. I am also a Certified Infant Massage Instructor and teach this skill to my “newborn parents.” I have managed various health food stores over the past few years. I returned to my study last year, but transferred from Naturopathy to Nutritional Medicine: food as medicine is my passion. You might also see me around town with my Amber jewellery business – Earthy Birthy Amber. Please explain in a bit more detail exactly what a Doula’s role throughout pregnancy and childbirth is ... The term Doula (doo-la) roughly translates as “mothering the mother.” It’s a traditional role supporting couples during pregnancy and birth. It is a non-medical role. I don’t take the place of a qualified midwife or obstetrician, instead working to support the birth choices 34 manning-great lakes focus.

of the couple. I provide physical and emotional support and advocacy. I also provide continuity of care, which is so important. I get to establish a rapport and friendship during pregnancy, I support them during early labour at home, and transition with them to hospital for the birth. I never clock off my shift – but am with them the entire time! During pregnancy, we work to research a couple’s birth options, and I support any informed choice. I do lots of preparation with them and teach some powerful techniques to prepare for the intensity of birth. Being a Doula is such a privilege. Being invited into a couple’s intimate birth space is so special, and I love to support women through this incredible experience and transition into motherhood. I believe that birth and mothers need to be treated with respect. Women should be given choices about how their baby is birthed. Birth in all its variations should be celebrated, not feared. I have supported many beautiful families over the last four years through hospital births, homebirths, waterbirths, VBACs and twins. I am currently available to support couples in the Manning. You’ve described yourself as a “fermentation revivalist”. What does this mean – and how did you first become interested in the fermentation process? Since discovering the amazing benefits of a traditional diet a few years ago, based on the works and research of Weston A Price, I have embraced all traditional elements of food, including fermenting. I have experienced the profoundly beneficial health affects first hand. I call myself a “fermentation revivalist”, as I feel that it is important to keep this tradition alive so that future generations can enjoy the benefits too. I love teaching and sharing these skills. What are the benefits of fermenting food?

le By teaching peop t ea , how to cook ,I urish themselves no d an y el tiv si po n ca believe you d an ilies affect whole fam ...” ns tio ra ne ge future

“

Gosh, there are so many benefits! Fermented foods are teeming with probiotics (good bacteria) that are necessary for good gut health. You need a healthy gut to digest and assimilate nutrients. We now know that about 80 per cent of the immune system is based in the gut. There is also a lot of compelling research that links the health of our gut to our mental health. Fermented foods can add additional nutrients (B vitamins) to the diet as well as Vitamin C. They scavenge toxins in the body and they're absolutely delicious! What processes are involved with the fermentation of vegetables ... are they simple enough for anyone to master? Fermenting vegetables is easy, safe and fun and can be done at home without any specialised equipment or starter cultures. My son has been pounding sauerkraut with me since he was a one year old! The primary objective is to create an environment that allows lactic acid bacteria to proliferate, which enables the fermentation process to happen. My workshop gives you the theory and practical experience with fermenting. I also cover the simple, but important safety parameters involved. You’re currently studying to be a nutritionist. Why do you feel this is important? By teaching people how to cook, eat and nourish themselves, I believe you can positively affect whole families and future generations. To me, this is the true meaning of empowerment. My goal is to change the world, or at least the community, one meal at a time! Health doesn’t come from a pill or a bottle, whether pharmaceutical or natural.

Health comes from whole, organic foods – and a good attitude to life! What would you say to those who may describe fermentation as another “food fad”? People have been fermenting for thousands of years. Every single culture around the world has a tradition of culturing (the terms “culture” and “culture” are no coincidence!) The traditional foods of our ancestors can teach us a lot about nutrition, health, flavour and sustainability. I think fermentation has experienced a recent revival because people are searching for ways to reclaim their health and literally breathe life back into their body. Creating and eating fermented foods is a great way to experience vibrant health and reconnect to nature. You’re holding some fermenting vegetable workshops locally. When and where will these be held? I hold Fermenting Vegetables Workshops at beautiful Garden Grub café in Wingham. My July and early August workshops are already fully booked. I still have places available for the 30 August and 1 November workshops. Is there a cost to attend the workshops? How do interested people book a place or contact you to find out more info? The cost is $110 per person. Bookings are essential, as places are limited and fill quickly. Absolutely everything is provided – you will get to create and take home two generous jars of organic fermented vegetables. Price also includes a kombucha SCOBY (more about that at the workshop!) and a cuppa from the café. You can contact me on 0407 766 525 or at www.facebook.com/vibranttraditionalnutrition Thanks Sammi.

JULY 2014

WITH TERRI

BLUE TIGER EDUCATION CENTRES Victoria Habraken B.Ed., Dip.Teach

AQUARIUS.

GEMINI.

LIBRA.

January 21 - February 19

May 22 - June 22

September 24 - October 23

There’s magic to be had in your nurturing. You heal and empower so many and are very pacified in nature. Keep it as your retreat and play in the garden; you will surprise yourself with what nature reflects back to and about the gardener. Clear Quartz amplifies our manifesting abilities.

Stand strong and independent emotionally as the more you give in to feeling unsupported and let down, the more vulnerable you are at becoming a needy person. Think of the emotion you need and breathe it through every cell in your body. Turquoise and Citrine are great for self worth, throat and solar plexus chakras.

PISCES.

CANCER.

February 20 - March 20

June 23 - July 23 Ju

Avoid taking life too seriously; all this is doing is bringing out a grumpy you, which isn’t you. You are the practical joker the fun loving one, so lighten up and watch your spark affect everyone else. Rose Quartz is a wonderful crystal for self-esteem and unconditional love.

Laugh and lighten up. You’re taking life far too seriously, and this is leaving you feeling trapped by your own negative thoughts. Be aware of your thoughts and disciplined enough to reshape them. Your fears and doubts will dissipate, and life will seem to pick up momentum again. Rhodochrosite helps us find our inner child’s joy of life.

ARIES.

LEO.

March 21 - April 20

July 24 - August 23

Trust in yourself better. Everything you truly put your mind to is successful. Avoid relying too heavily on others for emotional support, as this is making you see yourself weaker and needy. Instead, wake up those emotions in yourself and breathe them through every cell in your body. No hurdle will seem too large. Moldavite will transform your energy and gives flight to new opportunities.

SCORPIO. October 24 - November 22

Think about what you want, then fill yourself with the excitement of already having it, then think a huge thank you to the Universe and forget about it. Then sit back and watch how clever you are at manifesting what you want. Ruby helps connect us to our passionate and creative self.

An exciting new opportunity is likely to surprise you. You will realise how meant to be it was when you acknowledge your gifts and talents it requires. Peaceful surroundings will stimulate your creative thoughts; aim for serenity in your workplace.

Citirne enhances our intuition and connects to the solar plexus chakra.

Selenite is a very powerful cleanser.

Turquoise is great for self-improvement.

TAURUS.

VIRGO.

CAPRICORN.

April 21 - May 21

August 24 - September 23 A

December 22 - January 20

Yellow Jade connects the heart and solar plexus charkas.

Zincite helps creation of new ideas.

The Centre is owned an operated by local Victoria Habraken. Victoria is a qualified teacher and has had experience teaching both as a full-time teacher and more recently as a tutor teaching Primary and Secondary students. Victoria believes, "All students have the ability to achieve success in learning and sometimes that little bit of extra help to boost a child's confidence is all they need." At Blue Tiger Education Centres we provide a positive learning environment, so that your child can experience success. We target problem areas as they arise and develop skills that are specific to your child's needs. Each child is working on their own individual program. Whether your child is gifted, struggling, or in-between, our programs are designed to build confidence and help them become more effective learners in the classroom. Enquire today about our Get Ready for 2015 program. Call Victoria for a FREE assessment on 0422 383 533. Don't Delay Get Your Child on their Way!

November 23 - December 21

You are good at manifesting your desires, but you are trapped by your old beliefs. If you debate your old beliefs and create new ones, luck will follow. The Universe is offering a path of cleansing through a purging of anything or anyone not serving the highest good for your future.

Romance is strong for you; to benefit the most, avoid having expectations of your partner. Keep focused in the romance and notice all the little things your partner does for you. Set some short term goals and remain focused in the now.

We provide individual programs in • Reading • Writing • Spelling • Comprehension • Maths • Research Skills • Assignment Writing

SAGITTARIUS.

Make some choices, and then be patient for your outcome. Having no control of the timing may prove a little frustrating at times but if you keep the passion for what you’re pursuing in sight, the journey will be fun, rewarding and well worth waiting for.

Listen to your “gut feel” with matters of the heart. Your mind complicates things and as your decisions will affect your emotions, your heart knows best; so let your heart guide you, and feel protected by your intuition.

IS YOUR CHILD READY FOR 2015? At BTEC we provide tuition to assist your child get a headstart for 2015. If your child is starting YEAR 7 in 2015, then we can help.

You have had a lot of reflection time lately and now are going into a new cycle where your passed experiences will hold no power over you. This result of personal growth has also attracted new fertility in your mind, body and spirit. So expect some adventure. Angle aura in Quartz or Danburite aligns our highest good.

manning-great lakes focus 35

focusinterview. BRONTE O'BRIEN

"A National Youth Summit challenging today’s generation to become tomorrow’s leaders". 300 youth aged approximately 15 – 25 from across the region are invited to attend a 3 day youth summit on July 16th, 17th, 18th in Portt Macquarie.

AKRIM AZIMI

PETER KAGEYAMA

KATHRYN STEPHENS

Just some of the amazing speakers to present at the 2014 Summit are: KRIM AZIMI Over the last seven years, Akram has mentored young Indigenous and non-Indigenous students in rural, remote and metropolitan Western Australia. How he came to mentor these young people is a story in itself because Akram was born in Kabul, Afghanistan, in the midst of a raging civil war. In 1999, as one of the very lucky ones, Akram and his family arrived in Australia, with only a few torn suitcases. But with the help of their incredibly generous neighbours, Akram and his family thrived; and now, they are proud and contributing New Australians. Empowered by this support, Akram is currently completing a triple major – Law (Hons), Science and Arts (Hons) – at the University of Western Australia. During his university studies, Akram also co-founded two organisations: the first one was aimed at empowering fellow students and the community at large, with emotional resilience and conflict resolution skills through free workshops; and the second is called iAmtheOther, which is a youth-run advocacy organisation that seeks to transform social inequalities in Australia. Last year, Akram was named as the Young Australian of the Year for 2013. Devoting his whole life to this office, Akram gave over 1,000 speeches, travelled to every part of Australia, raised substantial funds for charity and and spoke face-to-face with over 350,000 of his fellow Australians on our most pressing social issues, from reconciliation to the eradication of (extreme) poverty. Akrim’s talk will focus on: “A Leader as a Dealer in Symbolic Capital.”

36 manning-great lakes focus.

We know the most effective leaders do not change people directly. Instead, they"offer" us (almost by way of a gift) an alternative and highly compelling way of being; they present to us a self that is more valuable and more valued. These successful leaders are known to us, usually after the fact, as changers of "culture". But how do they do it? In this talk, I will explore how these successful leaders (for both good and ill) change culture by creating new "fields", (re)distributing "symbolic capital" and transmuting contested ideas into "common sense". KATHRYN STEPHENS Kathryn Stephens is a Hastings local whose motivating and inspiring message illustrates how it is not about what life throws at you – it's how you work with it when it does. On holidays from her role as an Agribusiness Economist with a big-four bank, Kathryn encountered a little more than she was bargaining for. The result of a collision with a semi-trailer left Kathryn totally blind at the age of 24. Grasping this apparent adversity as an opportunity, Kathryn is now a mindset coach, using her life experience and skills to bring out the best in people, help them realise their potential, and beyond, and take action to lead fulfilling lives. Community and participation are an integral part of Kathryn's life. Youth mentoring programs, Guide Dogs NSW/ACT, Sailability, Hastings Business Women’s Network and the Rotary Club of Wauchope are amongst her interests. Kathryn's constant companion is her Guide Dog, Perri. Having worked together for more than seven years, they are rather a well-known team seen around the Hastings. Kathryn also contributes her energy and

expertise to the health sector – as a member of the Advisory Committee for the Mid North Coast Local Health District’s Your Health Link website.

achievements, she was also the Dolly Magazine Teen Writer – an experience that still torments her.

PETER KAGEYAMA BRONTE O’BRIEN – Mental Health Peter Kageyama is a community and Advocate and Prolific Scribbler economic development consultant Bronte is a mental health based in St. Petersburg, FL. advocate, emerging writer, He looks at what makes t ou ab ks ea sp perennial student and cities lovable, what r Pete prolific scribbler; however, motivates citizens to do how we can turn nal io ot em 's le by reputation she has extraordinary things for op pe their simply affectionately their places and how engagement with action le place into tangib ment become “The Journals some cities use that te and use that exci uch Girl”. She wrote her energy to fill in the m and energy as a first book at age five, gaps that “official” city ity needed commun urce.” entitled The Coluor makers have left when so development re Flower, which she resources disappear. immediately abandoned after Peter speaks about how we noticing she had made a spelling can turn people's emotional mistake! Today, she delightfully engagement with their place into flaunts her 123 cm high journal collection. tangible action and use that excitement As an advocate, she often melds her and energy as a much needed community experiences with bipolar disorder together development resource. with her interests in writing and speaking. He is the co-founder and producer of the Her advocacy has extended to presentations, Creative Cities Summit, an interdisciplinary event television, radio, personal essays, mental that brings together citizens and practitioners health service considerations and research. around the big idea of the city. Peter is the Bronte gave an address at the National Press former President of Creative Tampa Bay, a Club on World Mental Health Day 2011. In grassroots community change organisation. He 2013, she gave a presentation at Sydney Town has spoken all over the world about bottom Hall for the Young Minds conference, where up community development and the amazing the Dalai Lama was a guest speaker. Bronte people that are making change happen. His is heavily involved with Rotary, being a past book, For the Love of Cities, was recognised by Secretary and current member of Sydney City Planetizen as a Top 10 Book for 2012 in urban Rotaract Club, and sitting as a permanent planning, design and development. His new speaker at the Rotary Youth Leadership Award book, Love Where You Live, will be published in (RYLA) annual camp. She is currently an arts and 2014. science undergraduate student at the University For more information about the program, visit of Sydney. Oh, and amongst other failed writing www.luminosityyouthsummit.com.au

“

Manning Valley Anglican College Choosing a school for your child is one of the most important decisions you will make

CSU Paramedic students learn from the world Studying paramedics at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Port Macquarie gives students plenty of opportunities to get out of the classroom. In fact, students from CSU’s Bachelor of Clinical Practice (Paramedic) have had the chance to experience ambulance and hospital services in China and Thailand during recent study tours. While in China, paramedic students visited two emergency medical centres in Beijing and the Changchun ambulance service, studied with nursing and medical students at Beihua University, and completed a one-week shift rotation in the emergency department and intensive care at Jilin Hospital. The study tour is another example of the practical focus of CSU’s degrees, giving students hands-on experience from early in their studies in most degrees.

CSU’s strong relationships with the local community and businesses in Port Macquarie provide opportunities for students to undertake placements and develop the practical skills and insights that are not possible in a traditional classroom. As a result, CSU graduates enter the workforce job-ready, with an understanding of the working environment and demands of their profession. Workplace learning opportunities are a key component of CSU’s courses, with students able to undertake placements in businesses, health services, schools or community organisations to develop skills related to their course and their future career. To find out more about the practical learning opportunities at CSU in Port Macquarie that provide you with so much more than just a degree, call 1800 334 733 or visit: www.csu.edu.au/port-info

School plays a fundamental role in shaping the person he or she will become. At Manning Valley Anglican College, parents appreciate the focused learning environment and individual attention possible in a smaller school where everyone knows each other. Staff turnover is low, so students make meaningful long term connections with staff and their peers. Ours is the only local school offering specialist Japanese language, Music, Arts, History and Geography electives from Kindergarten through to Year 10. Students explore their interests and abilities in music, dance and the performing arts and a range of individual and team sports in competition with other Hunter Region Independent Schools (HRIS) to State level. We offer debating and cultural activities and membership of lunchtime or after school clubs. Free school buses bring children directly to school.

We challenge and empower students to grow and stretch themselves within a supportive Christian environment. Students develop character, personal identity and critical thinking, achieve academic excellence, learn Christian values, and demonstrate faith in action through service in the community. Call to arrange a College Tour and hear about our Transition to School Program. Manning Valley Anglican College Room to Move, Grow and Achieve.

Curious about where you’re heading? That’s why in 2015 at CSU’s Port Macquarie Campus we’ll be offering courses in the following exciting areas: • • • • •

Accounting Advertising Business Studies Criminal Justice Education (K-12)

• • • • •

Graphic Design Medical Imaging Paramedics Psychology Public Relations

CSU Port Macquarie and North Coast TAFE will also offer options in these areas: • Accounting • Gerontology • Social Work

A1037

FIND OUT MORE www.csu.edu.au/port-info 1300 135 435

manning-great lakes focus 37

12 week business bootcamp round 2

Mid Coast Connect

Essential Tax ESSENTIAL TAX & ACCOUNTING SERVICES PTY LTD

Is your child starting to make subject choices and career decisions that will affect their future study and employment opportunities? Career choices, study options, further training, RTO, GTO, AAC, UAC, ATAR, ROSA? What does it all mean for your child as they start to look at what lies ahead for them beyond high school? Mid Coast Connect are offering free workshops to assist parents in helping their child make career and transition to work choices. These workshops are aimed at giving parents a greater and more accurate understanding of how the education and employment systems work beyond school and how to find out the information both they and their child need to make this transition successfully. PACTS Workshops have been running in Australian secondary schools since 2002, with parents saying they are really helpful in understanding the different options. The two hour workshops are intensive but very interactive and include the following topics: How to assist your teen with career exploration; Simple careers assessments; What are HSC & VET pathways? How to use the Job Guide and other resources; Understanding TAFE, Apprenticeships and university; Communicating with teenagers about careers; Identifying interests and skills; Information sources and resources; These workshops are very popular and will fill up fast. To register your interest in attending in either Term 3 or Term 4 of this year, please go to ur website: www.midcoastconnect. com.au and click on the PACTS icon. Places for each workshop are limited to 18, so register your interest today!

38 manning-great lakes focus.

As our business continues to grow, we are excited to welcome two new staff. Daniel Oxford is a Certified Practicing Accountant. He completed his schooling in Taree and holds a Bachelor of Business from Southern Cross University. Daniel has worked in local accounting practices for the past 11 years. His experience enables him to deal with complex accounting, GST, income tax, and superannuation issues. Daniel married his high- school sweetheart in 2010 and is the father of two beautiful daughters. Bede Clarke graduated from the University of Washington (Seattle, USA) in 2011 with a Bachelor of Business Administration with a focus in Accounting. Since then he has completed a graduate accounting program with a mid-tier firm in Sydney. He has returned to Taree with his wife and newborn daughter. Bede grew up in Wallabi Point, was a member of Saltwater Boardriders Club, Manning River Aero Club, and Manning River Rowing Club. Bede is currently completing his Chartered Accountants qualification, juggling his rowing aspirations, and will be working with both Audit and Tax clients. We offer a complete professional service in the areas of taxation, audit, accounting, superannuation and other business services to individuals, partnerships, trusts, companies and self managed superannuation funds.

Are you ready to strengthen your marketing muscles ... create the mindset of success and make your business stand out in 2014? Strong businesses have strong people leading them. I’m going to push you out of your comfort zone and make this year your best year in business yet. Over 12 weeks I will show you the foundations of success for you, in your business. This will be the FINAL 12 week business bootcamp run this year – don’t miss out! This is for you if: • You’re in business or management, or ready to go into business. • You are ready to create a great foundation mentally as a successful business owner. • You are willing to try something new, put in the effort and have some fun along the way. • You’re already in business, but frustrated that the old ways aren’t working any more. This NOT for you if: • You want a quick fix. • You aren’t willing to accept the responsibility that success, or lack of success, is completely dependent on you. • You are not willing to explore some new ways of thinking. • If you are prepared to accept “busy” as an excuse. • So ... are you ready to step up? Take the challenge? It’s not too late to join the next group! Enquire now.

Careers Information Night Working at McDonaldâ€™s is more than just

These are the skills that will enhance any further

your average job. One of the many benefits

career options â€“ whether with McDonaldâ€™s or

in working for McDonaldâ€™s is the opportunity to

elsewhere. These skills are often called â€œlife

receive outstanding training and development in

skillsâ€? or â€œemployability skillsâ€? and can often be a

whichever role is performed. For more than 15 years

determining factor in a promotion or job interview.

McDonaldâ€™s has been recognised as a Registered Training Organisation (RTO). We are proud to offer our employees nationally recognised qualifications at every level throughout their career in our restaurants. The qualifications issued by McDonaldâ€™s are equal to the same qualification that can be completed at a TAFE or other educational institution. In fact, we believe they are even better; practical

Traineeships McDonaldâ€™s offers traineeships to our employees in Certificate II in Retail Services SIR20212 and the Certificate III in Retail Operations SIR30212. Traineeships are structured, self paced training programs that combine hands on experience and skill development with off the floor study and activities.

and transferrable work skills are gained whilst

Employees completing a traineeship with

completing our qualifications.

McDonaldâ€™s receive paid time to complete their

Skill Development

study and are supported through the program

The benefit of completing a nationally recognised

by a designated coach in their restaurant and the

qualification with McDonaldâ€™s is not only the

McDonaldâ€™s RTO team.

certificate, but the valuable skills that are developed

Find out more at our â€œCareers Information

alongside the formal training and development.

eveningâ€? on July 28th. See ad below for details.

CASTLE PERSONNEL. Castle Personnel has successfully provided employment services to people with disabilities for over 20 years, and their service covers the Lower Hunter, Manning, North Sydney and Central Coast. Castle Personnel has been in the Manning for the last 15 months and services over 300 participants in Taree and Tuncurry in Disability Employment Services, Transition to Work. Castle Personnel is also a Registered Training Organisation. Adam Polley has been a participant with Castle since they opened their doors on March 5th, 2013 and staff at Castle provided ongoing support to Adam at his place of employment, where he had been employed for over two years. Due to a downturn in business and the local economy, Adamâ€™s employment was affected. Jamie Moorehead, Account Manager for Castle Personnel in Taree, approached Colin at Old Bar Quality Meats and spoke to the employer to investigate any potential opportunities where Adam could utilise his skills and experience that he had gained from his previous employer. Colin created a position for Adam for 8 hours per week, and Adam is rapt and very excited about his new employment. â€œI was really disappointed when I lost my job, but everyone at Old Bar Quality Meats are really nice,â€? said Adam. â€œI like that Colin lets Jamie support me on site until I feel more confident and can work on my own.â€? Colin Lucas (owner of Quality Meats) said, â€œIt is very rewarding to be able to make a difference in someoneâ€™s life, and other employers

in the local community should look beyond peopleâ€™s disabilities and focus on what abilities an individual can bring to their business. Adam is a hard worker and is a valued member of the team,â€? said Colin. â€œThe staff at Castle Personnel are very professional in their approach, and the support they provide me and Adam is commendable.â€? Jamie provides post placement support at Adamâ€™s employment, to assist Adam to learn new job tasks. Jamie also provides support to the employer on Adamâ€™s learning style, to ensure a smooth transition into the workplace. Training can also be offered to work colleagues if required. Castle provide transport to and from work for Adam, so that he is able to sustain his employment. Castle can provide wage subsidy incentives, financial assistance with training and also work related clothing and tools. Training options and education is also available, with the introduction of Castleâ€™s RTO for accredited and nonaccredited courses. If there are any other employers who are keen to find out more information about the services that Castle Personnel can offer, please contact Suzanne DiFrancesco on 6592 8600.

Employment Services Â‡ )5(( UHFUXLWPHQW Â‡ 2Q WKH MRE VXSSRUW Â‡ (PSOR\PHQW DQG WUDLQLQJ LQFHQWLYHV

â€˜The right person, the right jobâ€™

castlepersonnel.com.au

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manning-great lakes focus 39

focuseducation + Training

Tanaya Wrigley Taree McDonald's

Brooke Hartland

AGE: 20 STARTED WORKING FOR MCDONALD'S: 13/5/2009

Taree McDonald's AGE: 17 STARTED WORKING FOR MCDONALD'S: 30/10/2011

FOCUS chats to Tanaya and Brooke about their experiences completing a traineeship via thier employer, McDonald's Taree. Traineeship completed: Certificate II in Retail Operations in 2013 after she finished her HSC at school. Tanaya is currently employed with us as a shift assistant. ou have been employed for five years; what do you enjoy about your employment? Everything! I love being able to learn new things all the time and to further my career. I have been lucky enough to be able to be trained in every area of the restaurant, including kitchen, McCafé and front counter. Learning about how everything works and starting in management is really good. I also love the people I work with; they are all part of a great team, and we are like a family. I have been able to develop a wide variety of skills working at McDonald’s, including cash handling, customer service, time management, food safety, workplace health and safety and organisational skills. What made you decide to embark on the traineeship at McDonald's after your HSC? I wasn’t really sure what I wanted to do after school. I wasn’t too keen on going to uni, so I decided to have a gap year and halfway through my gap year I became interested in completing a traineeship with McDonald’s. I spoke to my Manager and the opportunity to complete a Certificate II in Retail Operations while working was very appealing. The learning and training that I would complete and the qualifications that I would receive were something that I believed would help me with any further career choices I decided to make. It also made my parents happy that I was doing something during my gap year that would help me with my future career. 40 manning-great lakes focus.

What opportunities for further study are available to you after completing your Certificate II in Retail Operations, and are you planning on furthering your studies? I can go on to complete my Certificate III in Retail Operations, and this was offered to me; however, my passion is with dancing and this is where I am hoping to further my career. I was promoted to the role of a Shift Assistant after my completion of Certificate II, and being in this role has developed my leadership skills and has helped me to gain more confidence in managing other people and supervising areas. I am hoping to move away at the end of the year to study dance full-time, but I know that if that doesn’t work out for me I would love to continue my development through McDonald's and complete a Certificate III in Retail Operations. What would you say to other people interested in doing a traineeship? I would recommend to anyone to complete a Traineeship though McDonald’s. It is a great opportunity for you to study while consistently learning new skills. I learnt so much throughout my studies which has helped me on a daily basis, both inside and outside of work. It is also a great thing to have under your belt for any future career paths. McDonald’s is also an excellent employer to complete your Traineeship through, as they provide all of the necessary training tools that you need and they want you to succeed with your career and your traineeship, so are willing to spend the time to help you with it. Thanks Tanaya.

Currently completing School Based Certificate III in Retail Operations. Brooke is currently employed with us as a part-time employee. ow did you gain employment and a traineeship at McDonald's Taree? I applied for the job at McDonald's just after I turned 14 and soon after I got an interview for the job, which then led to becoming an employee of McDonald’s Taree. It had been about two years that I had been working there when a Manager mentioned to me that I should complete a traineeship at McDonald’s. I told him that I would love to but I wanted to complete my HSC, which is when he explained to me about a School Based Traineeship, where I would have the opportunity to complete my HSC whilst completing my traineeship through McDonald’s. What is the study requirement for you each week? The study can be difficult at times, but I have to ensure that I stay organised and utilise my study time well, as it can be hard studying not only for my traineeship but with my HSC also. I receive one paid hour a week off the floor at work to complete my traineeship, and I ensure that I utilise this study time each week so I can focus on school work when I am at home. At the beginning of the traineeship a training plan is developed for you with projected completion dates for each different module, so you know if you are falling behind a bit and can put more study time in if needed. The great thing with the traineeship is that I am also learning while completing my work on the floor, not just during my study hour.

What kind of opportunities do you feel will be available to you on completion of your traineeship? After I have completed my traineeship and HSC, I am hoping to move into a Shift Supervisor role within McDonald’s. I love my job here and I plan on keeping it as I go through uni. Because I have completed the School Based Traineeship, I will be able to move into more of a supervisor’s role as soon as I finish school, rather then having to wait 12-18 months after school. When I do decide to find a new job or take a new career path, not only will it look good on my resume, saying that I have worked at McDonald’s, but also that I have completed my Certificate III in Retail Services though McDonald’s. It will give me more experience and knowledge and will open a wider range of opportunities for me in the workforce. What would you say to other people interested in doing a traineeship? If they think that it is something they would like to complete and they have good time management, then I would say to go for it! It has been a great opportunity so far for me; I am learning a lot from completing the workbooks. McDonald’s is great to complete the Traineeship through, as they supply everything to complete your studies and they pay for you to complete the traineeship through them. They are also very helpful with the whole process and Craig and Amanda Evans, Management Team and my Coach are always willing to help when I need it. Thanks Brooke.

focusinterview.

focusbusiness. with Michele Chapman from Forster Tuncurry Business Chamber

Michele Chapman

BLUETIGER Education Centres VICTORIA HABRAKEN B.Ed., Dip. Teach operates Blue Tiger Education Centre in Forster, where students in both primary and secondary school receive tutoring in a positive learning environment …

ow long has your tutoring business been in operation? What led to you offering this type of service in Forster? Blue Tiger Education Centres was launched in May 2014. The business is in its early stages and growing steadily. The students enrolled at BTEC vary from primary school to secondary students, all with varying needs. As former owner of Kip McGrath Education Centres Forster Tuncurry and Taree, I felt the need after several years break from tutoring, to re-establish myself as a primary and secondary school tutor in the Great Lakes area. My passion has always been teaching, and this is my way of giving something back to the community by helping students achieve better results at school and boosting their self-confidence. What academic qualifications and skills do you bring to the business? I have a Bachelor of Education and a Diploma in Teaching. I have also had experience as a classroom teacher locally, as well as in North Queensland. My background in tutoring more recently has definitely given me the knowledge, experience and resources to teach students effectively. I believe all students with the right encouragement and skills can achieve their full potential. This is why, at BTEC, we provide a positive learning environment so that your child can experience success.

What school grades do you cater for with your tutoring and what subjects can you assist with? I cater for PRIMARY and SECONDARY students, all with individual needs. This is why each student who comes to BTEC has their own individual program to work on. I offer a FREE assessment, so I can establish a program to suit each child. It is really important to recognise the specific needs of every student and understand that each child is different. At BTEC we provide tutoring in Reading, Writing, Spelling, Comprehension and Maths. Homework and assignment work is also catered for. What is the most rewarding thing for you about tutoring children? The most rewarding thing for me about tutoring is definitely seeing the student grow in confidence when they learn a new skill or concept. I always finish a lesson on a positive note, so the student feels a sense of achievement. All students leave BTEC smiling. Where are you located, and how can people contact you if they need to know more? BTEC is located at 29 Underwood Rd, Forster. For a FREE No Obligation assessment for your child, please call Victoria on 0422 382 533. Thanks Victoria.

Well, just as we take a breather – it seems like only yesterday we got over Christmas – we had the "end of financial year" week . Hopefully everybody will be busy getting their bookwork sorted. t seems so frantic, we will be planning Electricity is always a timely expense our next Christmas in no time! to look at too – maybe that's one you Setting aside all the mandatory normally limit looking at every few years! requirements required at the end of Another good thing to plan this time the financial year, it is also a good time to of the year is to have a calendar for next set this as a milestone date for reviewing year, so you can forward plan some events expenses etc, enabling us to put this as a and improvements for your business. (A priority at the beginning of new financial template can be supplied to you via email year, and then making it an annual review if you contact Vice President Michele process each year. by email: micheles@midcoast.com.au Things get away from us time) and I will be happy to pass on this wise, so having a milestone simple but effective idea. period in our business Some things you need allows us to reassess to visually mark on things at the same your calendar om fr ay aw t ge time every year, are any sales or s Thing ving ha so e, is w eallowing us tim promotions us our in d rio pe e on st to hopefully you may a mile to reassess business allows use time negotiate want to plan, things at the saming us to cheaper rates any window every year, allow te cheaper and better dressing that hopefully negotia als, which deals, which needs to be de r rates and bette e money in then means or revamped and m then means ” . more money in themes you may et our pock our pocket for want to come the next financial up with, plus any year. months of the year Take some time to look where you'll need to at your current advertising address any of your policies that commitments and when their renewals need reviewing. fall due, phone and internet bills, seek out By doing this in advance, you will receive new rates and competitors' rates, as this greater benefits for the year ahead. area is getting cheaper all the time. I hope everyone has a smooth period Look at your insurances and try to for the end of financial year paperwork negotiate with your insurer, who will and reports. Let's all look into our new give you benefits for multi-insuring; you financial year with enthusiasm and be as can save a lot by asking the question. organised as possible.

“

manning-great lakes focus 41

VERTO SUPPORTING EDUCATION AND TRAINING IN THE WORKPLACE.

Masters of Retail Graduates

John Gay and Heather

VERTO is committed to transforming local businesses and changing the lives of individuals through industry-based, vocational education and training.

ur aim is to provide a comprehensive service to employers for all their workforce development and training needs,â€? says VERTOâ€™s Area Performance Manager, Gabby Barlow. â€œVERTO offers free onsite consultations to assess employersâ€™ needs and to provide advice about industrybased training options and available Government funding.â€? If an employer is seeking to recruit new staff, VERTO partners with local job service providers to help find the right person. Upon commencing new staff, VERTO can arrange an appropriate traineeship or apprenticeship, ensuring an ongoing education and training program to benefit both the employer and learner. Through an apprenticeship, the New South Wales Government subsidises the cost of training and VERTO assess eligibility and

ERTO also

V administers additional funding provides from the Federal Government to information to support on-the-job training. s students, parent Our goal is to make the s of VERTO Australian ol ho sc and process of recruiting and Apprenticeships in relation to training as easy and cost Centre and local school-based d traineeships an effective as possible for the job service providers. .â€? ps hi es tic en appr employer. It can sometimes be Employers also spoke difficult to know what qualifications of the positive experience are most appropriate for positions and they had when dealing with what registered training organisations are VERTO, including the financial available to deliver the training. We help with this rewards and support that was provided. and more. VERTO also provides information to In May 2014, VERTO proudly sponsored the students, parents and schools in relation to Manning Valley Chamber Business Breakfast, school-based traineeships and apprenticeships. where local job seekers shared their heart-felt Students completing Years 11 and 12 can integrate stories of how their lives had been changed a traineeship or apprenticeship with their Higher through employment and training with the support School Certificate, and our experienced staff can

â€œ

Masters, Jobfind, VERTO, Jade & Rickie

answer all of your questions and help steer you in the right direction. Students thinking of this educational pathway should start getting organised mid-way through Year 10. Many local employers find that the school-based arrangement is an ideal way to train and recruit young staff into their business. Whether youâ€™re looking to sign up an apprentice or trainee or just need some advice and information about staff training and funding, give either Gabby, Heather or Carrie a call at our local office, Suite 4, Hooke Chambers, 142-144 Victoria Street, Taree, or phone 1300 4 VERTO or find us on verto.org.au.

Apprenticeships? Traineeships? Contact our workforce development specialists. ' ! &

# ! "

!! "

( % !# ! $ 42 manning-great lakes focus.

House with No Steps For more than 50 years, House with No Steps has been supporting people with a disability to live a good life as valued members of their community. With our services and businesses across NSW, QLD and the ACT, we’re one of Australia’s largest disability organisations. We provide support and disability services for all people with a disability to achieve their goals and fulfil their potential. Whether you’re looking for a job, a place to call home or new ways to make friends, we’ll work with you to plan for and achieve your goals. Whether you enjoy being creative, playing sports or visiting new places, our recreation programs are full of activities for you to enjoy and make new friends. Our recreation programs support young

people and adults with a disability to stay active and social, while enjoying a wide variety of sports, entertainment and cultural and social experiences. We can also support you to enjoy activities that interest you by developing a personalised program. Our disability recreation programs for young people and adults include: Holiday recreation programs – have the time of your life during your holidays with a wide variety of activities for teenagers and travel destinations for adults. Weekly recreation programs – enjoy new experiences, try different activities, and make friends in your age group with our weekly disability recreation programs.

manning-great lakes focus 43

focuseditorial.

focusrealestate.

from Coasting Home

with Amanda Tate - L.J Hooker

M RKET

FOR YOUR NEW HOME

REVIEW C A N A N YO N E S E L L I N T H I S M A R K E T ?

AmandaPriester Well, you have just finished your renovations, or maybe you have just moved into a new home. Often the biggest thing we consider is the furniture: are you going to keep the things that you moved in with, or is a whole new look on the cards?

ew spaces often will dictate if Where existing blinds can be limiting, maybe existing furniture and décor items a small drapery on either end will help soften will work; it may be that the shape the window and at the same time, bring in a of the space or the configuration colour that you want to work with. This bit of of you furniture will not fit, and you will have to trickery is often used in display homes, when start with a fresh approach. whole windows of drapes are not needed and Once you have worked out what you want to they're an expense the decorator cannot afford. achieve and either decide to work with what you Prints and lamps can instantly bring a room have or start again, there are a few elements to together. A dominating image can dictate consider. When buying new items for you home, colours and stylistic elements. you will need to visualise what they are going to A large modern artwork will lead you look like in the intended location. to colours choices in other areas, and a Some people find this an easy thing to do, and photographic print can do the same thing. others do not. Mirrors add light, dimension and are When estimating the size or a very effective way of increasing scale of furniture, making a the sense of space; face a g in mud map with paper can mirror towards a lighter pt m When atte e yl st help to realise the size area to make the light is th to hang em th y la and scale of the items reflect and brighten the n, tio of decora d an st fir you have in mind. room. or flo on the to get nd ou ar em Having the Lamps can be a great th e mov nation. measurements at way to add light and the right combi aces hand, you can lay the some intimacy at night. Measure the sp take a d an n ee in betw paper on the floor or Depending on the member photo, so you re carefully stick to the wall furniture choices you how you did it.” the "map" of the item in may want either a floor question. How does this feel lamp or a table lamp. Shade in the space, and is it what you colours can be limiting, but thought it would be? there are ways around this and If the answer is yes, you can proceed to some upholsters can cover your shades the next step. to suit. This is the point where you need to Creating groups of items into a collection consider what overall feel the room will have; is is a great way to make a room individual and it going to go with the other rooms in the house, personal. or as a space will it stand alone? Over time you may have collected objects and What do you want from this space? Are you images that have not only a relationship to each going to theme it in a style that you love, other, but also to you. Displaying them as a or are you going for a more practical and group either on the wall, or on shelves, can add organised space? a very individual touch. You can reflect you personal style either way. Even though they may be different sizes or The relationship between fabrics and hard shapes, putting them in the same frame style, surfaces can also dictate decisions. Is there going or grouping them closely can also give the to be carpet, or more durable hard flooring? impression of a much larger image. Will a small rug or large natural fibre mat When attempting to hang this style of warm the floor in winter, only to be taken away decoration, lay them on the floor first and move in summer? them around to get the right combination. Are you going to have curtains and blinds? Measure the spaces in between and take a Maybe they are already there, and your budget photo, so you remember how you did it. does not extend to replacing them. How do you Just remember: it is your space and your style. make them work in with what you want to do? Get creative!

“

44 manning-great lakes focus.

This may surprise you, but yes ... I do think anyone can sell in this market. Prices are on the way up, and the market is changing. Technology allows information to be freely available to anyone that seeks it, especially in real estate. Buyers are armed with knowledge and knowledge is power.

that your real estate agent is an expert in

So if that’s the case, why choose an agent? Your real estate agent should be a professional person who has an in depth knowledge of our current local market place, so that they can empower that knowledge to both their sellers and buyers allowing them to make the right choices. It is just as important to create a good relationship with the buyer as it is with the seller.

they even forget who their client is. My

In today’s fast paced world, it is also imperative

this with your current agent, it is time to change!

negotiation – one of the most important skills in real estate. If you believe that all agents are the same and will give you the same result, think again. Some agents are more focused on getting the sale than ensuring they are maximising the result for their client. And yes, sometimes recommendation – choose wisely and remember the cheapest agent is not the one with the cheapest commission, but in fact, is the agent that has the skills to negotiate the best price for you in your hand. Your real estate agent should give you a sense of trust, professionalism and an understanding of your needs. If you don’t have

manning-great lakes focus 45

focusinterview. Photos Thomas Donnelly Photography

Wallis Lake Premier League

Chris Cheers and Beau Wynter from the Wallis Lake Premier League have high hopes for a successful season of football this year – hot

on the heels of their first and reserve grade teams taking part in the grand final last year! The beautiful Boronia Park is the home ground for these boys, where you can catch all the players in action on Tuesday and Thursday nights …

i guys. What are your roles/positions with the league, and how long have you been a member? Beau I've been involved with Great Lakes United Football Club my whole life, starting with the under 6s. This year I am first grade captain of Wallis Lake and a committee member of Great Lakes United Football Club. Chris I've been playing Premier League for about 11 years; 8 have been with Great Lakes United Football Club/Wallis Lake Premier League. This year I'm reserve grade captain and a committee member of Great Lakes United Football Club. When was the Wallis Lake Premier League established, and what have been some of the major changes the league has experienced since it first started? Beau/Chris Wallis Lake is in its sixth year in the Premier League competition. Wallis Lake was established at a time when Great Lakes United Football Club was struggling in the Premier League, sitting low on the table, and a small group of senior players and people involved in the club came up with the idea of becoming a Premier League identity that would represent all football clubs in the area to try and attract the best players from the area to join forces under one banner. With the Premier League ruling that any team in the competition must also field junior competitive teams, Wallis Lake had to stay attached to Great Lakes United Football Club

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to be able to compete! This wasn't an issue, as GLUFC was already the only Premier League team in the area and had all the requirements you need to be part of the competition and Boronia Park, which was and arguably still is the best playing field in the area. Wallis Lake colours started off as green and gold to tie in with the local rugby league team, the Forster Tuncurry Hawks, and since then we have slowly moved to a fluoro green and black. How many teams/divisions are you fielding this season? What age groups do you cater for? Chris/Beau To be in the Premier League you must field a first and reserve grade team! This year we have a squad of around 30 players! Ages range from 16 years old to almost 40! It's more about ability than age. When (and where) do you all meet for regular training sessions? Beau/Chris: We train at Boronia Park Tuesday and Thursday nights between 6 - 8pm. What comps/matches have you been involved with this season ... and how successful has the league been overall? Beau The majority of our squad plays in the local twilight 6 aside competition over summer which is run by GLUFC, and the squad also plays in the Viking Challenge run by GLUFC. It's a fairly highly regarded 6 a side competition that most of the Wallis Lake teams do fairly well in. One of our sides even won it last year. Chris We made a bit of a pact when we first moved to Wallis Lake that we would try to improve our position on the ladder each year

as we progressed. And we have, true to our word, this far. In our 6 years we have gone from running from 7th or 8th to making semi finals, to last year where we have both grades in the grand final and our first grade finishing minor premiers. This year we are on track 6 rounds into the season, with both teams sitting first on the ladder! Whether you call it football, or soccer, what do you see as being some of the big advantages of being involved with this particular sport? Chris Football is the fastest growing sport in Australia and it's good to see the young talent coming out of our area. There are a lot of people doing a lot of good for the next generation of Forster footballers. What have been some of your most memorable experiences being associated with the league? Chris I missed last year’s season with a major knee injury, but I coached our reserve grade. It was just a different experience for me, and I learnt a lot! Working under our head coach Herb Kemplerer opened my eyes to a whole new level of football. Another big part of our club is the brotherhood and sense of family that comes with being a Wallis Lake player. We have guys coming from different clubs that usually wouldn't hang out or talk, but by mid season they are best of mates - that's pretty special to me! Beau Definitely the grand final last year was a highlight! The fact that we lost it in a penalty shootout is heart breaking, but the club had an

awesome day with two coach loads of players, families and supporters behind us the whole way. Like Chris said, family is huge at Wallis Lake, and having the friends, girlfriends, wives, kids and family of the players hanging around is pretty awesome. What’s planned for the league over the next few months ... when does your season wrap up? Chris/Beau We have a lot of season left at this stage, and the plan is keep winning and having a good time! Finals time is around September, and we hope to be involved. Where can people go to find out more info about the league if they’re interested in playing? Chris The best place to find out about Wallis Lake is on our Facebook page! Just search Wallis Lake Premier League. Final words We would like to thank all of Wallis Lake Premier League’s sponsors for the 2014 season: Club Forster/the Sporties Manning Shoes Forster Berg Building Graham Barclay Marine Forster Family Medical Practice J R Richards and Sons Forster Keys Mini Mart CJ and CA Chipperfield Building Bangers and Mash Bistro The Professionals Forster Primary Screen Printing Holcim Concrete Thanks guys.

COFFS HARBOUR HARDWOODS

e are the home of hardwood timber. Whether it’s renovating old or designing new, choose Coffs Harbour Hardwoods timber. It’s beautiful, natural and timeless … Coffs Harbour Hardwoods is a family owned and operated company and has been supplying timber products around Australia and overseas since it was established by Timber Merchant and world champion axeman, Ray McCarthy, in 1961. Since Ray’s passing, his sons and grandsons have taken the company forward and grown it into a first rate hardwood timber supply company. The company had its beginnings as far back as the 1850s, when pioneering and Cedar getting was the mainstay of many North Coast families. This involvement with timber has grown to now encompass the fifth generation and has included in our history such diverse products as the famous Red Cedar for furniture and building products to piles and structural hardwoods

for wharf developments and bridges around Australia and overseas. We provide a range of services in hardwood timber; whether it is tongue and groove flooring, cross arms for electricity distribution companies or even architectural bespoke mouldings. We have the expertise and capabilities to provide our customers with a range of products and services that could rarely be matched by many companies within Australia over the entire spectrum of cutting and milling hardwood timber products. Our timber joinery enables us to provide timber in a moulded form in all different profile types. If you’re after something specialised such as a federation style moulding for an older house or you’d like to line your music studio with a timber moulding for acoustics, we can do this all… and more. Next time you need timber, think of Coffs Harbour Hardwoods. Phone: (02) 6649 2006 Email: office@coffshardwoods.com.au Web: www.coffshardwoods.com.au

Developing local skills and providing valuable business growth. ayden Timbers Pty Ltd (Haydens) currently operates a privately owned hardwood sawmill owned and operated by the Hayden family, who have been involved in the timber industry for a number of generations; Darrell & Val Hayden took over the business in 1978 from his father Roy Hayden. Since relocating to the current site in 1999 Haydens embarked on a multimillion dollar upgrade and now operate a state of the art hardwood sawmill, employing 30 plus people, and providing work for a similar number of personnel through support of subcontractors, freighters, supply and maintenance businesses. As one of the major sawmilling operations on the Mid North Coast, Haydens supply a diverse range of products both domestically and for export. Managing Director Darrell Hayden credits this to key long term staff who form an integral part of the mill operation. Jenni Robertson has been the office manager since 2001 and is involved in all facets of the mill administration. Trent Whitby joined the business in 2007 and has worked in many areas of the mill and was promoted to mill Manager in 2011. Managing a mill of this size provides many challenges

and Trent has grown with the mill and its operations – he begins with sourcing good quality logs and then continually works at efficiencies in production; while producing high quality end products. Leigh Langens operates the Twin Edger – which breaks down the logs coming in to the mill and sets up production for the saw benches. Leigh has been employed for 12 years. Greg Alexander has been working at Haydens since its commencement in the area. He is a skilled operator who has learnt and developed his trade over 30 years. Both Greg and Leighs’ experience in sawmill operations is invaluable in ensuring production runs to schedule and in producing a quality product. The company is keen to promote and train new employees in the business; there is the opportunity to learn the trade and become a valuable and skilled machine operator. In this regard, the company offers young people an opportunity for employment. Hayden Timbers is a success story for the district, in both promotion of business, promoting responsible forestry practices and providing employment opportunities in the area.

weathertex WEATHERBOARDS Hardwood flooring on a budget: ustralian Solar Timbers (AST), like other sawmills in the local area, is privileged to have access to some of the most sought after Australian hardwood species. Approaching its centenary in the timber industry, the company boasts 4 generations of family working sustainably from the same forests; and with 100 years of work, comes 100 years of experience. Here are a few cost saving tips when considering your next floor: Species: When choosing your floor, start by considering a ‘colour range’ rather than a specific species. Australian hardwoods can be divided into 3 broader colour groups (blondes, reds and earthy browns). By asking what options are available in a colour range rather than a single species, you may find a similar coloured floor at a fraction of the

price. Level of natural feature: Natural variation or ‘feature’ is a great way to mask everyday marks and abrasions. Higher levels of feature in your floor can be a great choice if you have young children or pets. While different levels of feature may affect the price, it won’t affect the structural integrity your floor. Choosing the right installer: Without a doubt choosing the right installer is a must. Most problems/costs that can occur with a hardwood timber floor are the result of poor installation or preparation of the site. AST works closely with some of the best builders and floor layers on the Mid North Coast. Call our office on 6562 6839 for further advice. 116 Armidale Road, West Kempsey, NSW 2440

ustralian owned and manufactured with a better than zero carbon footprint, Weathertex external timber cladding is the ideal solution for any builder, architect or designer in search for environmentally conscious and high quality material. All Weathertex products are made from, without any chemical additives, certified state forest or private hardwoods in Australia. Weathertex Weatherboards are guaranteed not to rot, split or crack for 25 years. Sustainability and durability being at the forefront of all products ensures Weathertex delivers natural, long lasting, eco friendly timber products to customers in Australia and around the world. Weathertex timber product is the only product of its kind in the world, containing absolutely no artificial glues or binders.

Weathertex generates CO2 during its manufacturing process however more CO2 is stored in the timber than is generated hence Weathertex has a better than zero carbon footprint. This was confirmed by an independent Government approved auditor during an audit of Weathertex for the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme. Timbers (and mud bricks) are the only building materials that can sequester Carbon. Features and Benefits: • Easy to install: lightweight, strong and easy to cut using standard DIY tools • 100% natural: 97% timber and 3% natural wax • Better than zero carbon footprint • Termite resistant: all sugars and starches removed • 25 year guarantee: not to rot, split or crack www.weathertex.com.au Ph: 1800 040 080.

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focusinterview.

with Linda Bryant from Photography by Linda

Nigel Ferguson, CEO of Edstein Creative Stone, talks to us this month about business growth, change and what is means to have created a business which is sustainable. Edstein's took out the prestigious sustainability award at the NSW Business Awards; it's a huge achievement to be named at the top of their game for the entire state.

Nigel Ferguson CEO Edstein Creative ve Stone

Business ow did your time at Edstein’s begin? I joined J.J.Edstein and Sons in December 1996, when an opportunity arose to take up an option to buy a small share of the business. This step began the exciting journey of transforming a sleepy traditional stone masonry business into one of Australia’s leading technology based stone companies. In 2001 following the establishment of the Manning Great Lakes Memorial Gardens, Ross Meldrum and I decided to change direction and I took over sole ownership of Edstein Creative Stone and Ross concentrated on the Memorial Gardens. This continued until 2006, when I sold the business to a group in Newcastle where I continued as the General Manager but when the group failed, the business was again sold to the current owners, Paul and Jennifer Gray, who had been long time customers of the company. The period from 2008 to today has me filling the CEO role, and I must say has been the most exciting and rewarding part of my association with the business. The business in 2014 is a very modern company basing operations around the latest cutting edge technology sourced from around the world across three sites in NSW. We have a focus on continual improvement and ensuring we are setting worldwide best practice within the stone industry. You took out a huge award at the NSW business awards last year. Tell us more about this and what it has meant for the business? In 2008 Edstein Creative Stone was 48 manning-great lakes focus.

instrumental in establishing the Manning Valley Sustainability Advantage Cluster. This was the start of our goal of making the business a sustainability champion in the Manning Valley and within our industry. In 2009 we gained Bronze recognition in SA and then Silver in 2011, and we hope to achieve Gold later this year. Being part of the NSW Government Sustainability Advantage program has been an amazing opportunity and has allowed us to make huge savings in operational costs, while also improving our environmental sustainability. Some of the initiatives put in place have gained reductions in water usage by 96% or over 25 million litres per year, reduction in energy consumption per unit of production of 50%, recycling of over 400 tonnes of waste products, and numerous other smaller achievements. Last year we were recognised by the NSW Business Chamber, winning the Regional Award for Excellence in Sustainability. The Regional Award automatically qualified us for the State Award and put us up against 12 other regions showcasing the very best NSW has to offer. We were very fortunate to take out the State Award for NSW Business Chamber, Excellence in Sustainability. As I said in my speech: “In business you can stumble across a great idea or product, but sustainability is a conscious decision to dedicate time and resources to achievable outcomes. The dedication and hard work of our entire team at Edstein Creative Stone and the assistance of the NSW Government Office of Environment and Heritage have ensured we have exceeded our Environmental Goals”. How have you grown the business?

Since starting with Edstein’s in 1996, the Australian market for stone bench tops has grown from around 15% of all work surfaces to almost 50% today and still growing. The other side of the business based on the traditional range of Monumental products continues to come under pressure from changing trends towards cremation, so growth in the kitchen bench top market has formed the basis of our growth. With the invention of Engineered Quartz products such as Caesarstone, the growth in this segment has accelerated much faster than any other product offered. Today, the easy care nature of a Quartz bench top, consistency of colours, durability and affordability sees products such as Caesarstone making up 85% of our bench top sales. What changes do you foresee for your industry? As in most industries, the market changes demand, so we are always looking for new products to give us the edge over our competition. Over the last couple of years our travel to Europe has shown growth in a new segment of Ceramic Bench Tops, so we are closely monitoring these products as they come into Australia. We also see some growth coming back to the natural stone range, with Granite, Marble, Quartzite and Dolomite all gaining favour with the discerning buyer. The popularity of the Engineered Quartz has some people looking for a product that has more unique characteristics, and our ever increasing range of Natural Stone is filling this niche. For the past three years we have been importing our range of Natural Stone slabs from Brazil, India, China and Africa

directly, thus cutting out the middle man and providing our customers with unique products at affordable prices. To assist with the growth and demand for our Natural Stone Range, we have recently upgraded our website to include an online selection centre where our stocks can be viewed 24/7. www.edstein.com.au Do you think that businesses in the Manning Valley need to adapt to different trends these days? Yes, unfortunately the Manning Valley is a region not experiencing the growth of many other areas, and the decline of many local jobs places a lot of pressure on the region. In our case we recognised early on that the Manning Valley was a good base with lower cost of living and available workforce, but our markets would have to be much further afield to gain the growth we were seeking. The Hunter Valley and Central Coast Markets provide 75% of our turnover and with satellite sales and warehousing outlets in these locations, we have been able to cement our position in these markets. I would imagine that today many people drive past our Taree South Factory and have no idea that behind the front doors is a world class stone production facility that is internationally recognised. I think the single biggest fact that has driven our success is travel to Europe, USA and Asia accessing the largest markets in the world and adapting the best technology to suit our situation. We have a great team of people working in our business and we enjoy living and working in the Manning Valley. Thanks so much, Nigel. We look forward to hearing about further growth and exciting times for Edsteins.

WT Howard Funerals William Thomas Howard founded WT Howard Funerals in 1922, and we have been an integral part of the Manning Valley, Great Lakes and Gloucester areas ever since, growing with our community while serving families through the generations. William Thomasâ€™ heritage is still present, with family members still working and sub contracting in the business today. The business began and still operates in its original location at 5 Flett Street, Taree. What was a humble 1920s building now incorporates state of the art facilities, while still preserving the fundamental values that have been with us since the 1920s. WT Howard Funerals is proud of its heritage but recognises the need to stay abreast of technology, social and clinical changes, whilst moving and growing through the decades. Our philosophy of being there for families â€œbefore, during and afterâ€? the funeral service plays an integral role in maintaining our reputation as one of the most ethical and respected funeral homes on the Mid North Coast and throughout NSW. WT Howard Funerals has been and still is

proudly independently and family owned, currently by local resident Elaine Miller since 2005. Elaine, more than most, knows the reality of grief after tragically losing her son and sadly her husband and business partner, Terry, in November 2012. Our team of highly qualified staff provide care and support 24/7 to help families throughout the funeral arranging process. Our offices have grown with the business and are located in Taree, Gloucester, and Tuncurry.

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focusinterview.

Oasis

Lifestyle â€˘ Homes â€˘

Oasis Lifestyle Homes redefines the humble "granny flat" in ways that will amaze you... Oasis Lifestyle Homes is adding a totally new dimension to the suburban Australian backyard with its unique range of affordable housing designs - whether it's for an investor or an owner occupier. With stunning architectural designs to choose from, stylish finishes and double windows that bring the outside into your light filled additional living space, Managing Director Peter Cook tells us more. he NSW Government has made investment property easier and faster to obtain. The new Affordable Rental Housing â€“ State Environmental Planning Policy (SEPP) provides a range of planning alternatives to encourage investors, home owners and developers to invest and create new rental housing. "We see this as an opportunity for the Manning Great Lakes existing landlords, families, SMSF and retirees, given the recent regional investment and uptake of this scheme in the larger cities. "Two income streams from a single property are better than one, and the secondary dwelling is proving an attractive cash cow for the investment

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market. Two incomes may also help reduce risk in investment property ownership and may even reverse a negatively geared property to a positively geared property. However, just providing an income from the property is one source of financial gain; the other to consider is maintaining capital growth on your property, as some time in the future it may be sold or used for additional equity in growing your portfolio. "It is only at this time that a Practicing Valuer will identify the overall property's real value and not snub their nose at a poorly sourced option, damaging your capital gain potential. Maximising both income and capital growth

can be tricky in the short term; however, smart investment decisions can be made when selecting the secondary dwelling and ensuring that you are giving yourself the best opportunity to take advantage of all the upsides. "For these reasons we have planned our homes for our buyers who are looking at the Garden Villa/Granny Flat and Affordable Housing alternative with fresh eyes." That alternative is now available from Oasis Lifestyle Homes, supported by local tradesmen and builders using materials from local companies. Mid North Coast Consultant - Sarah Green - will be available to help with your selection: "All you need to do is choose the design most

suited to you, specify your fit out and finish for the interior and exterior, and we do the rest," Sarah said. "They come with a fully designed kitchen and bathroom, fully insulated, timber flooring and with all the fixtures of a modern home. There is a four to six week build time, and it takes two or three days to erect on your site, then you just move in! They are also perfect for a weekender or rural property or beach house; the choice is yours." If you would like to know more about this exciting new alternative in the housing market, you can call Oasis Lifestyle Homes on (02) 6562 5956, or call Peter on 0407 429 242 or Sarah on 0447 244 434.

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Coast Focus Magazine