new england
April 2018. issue 131
1 new england focus.
Feature Story Matt, Dave & the Other Guy
Oak Tree Retirement Village Armidale resident Fay Cluley
I made the right move!
SENIORS CASHING IN FOR THEIR FUTURE
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here are many reasons seniors might consider a lifestyle change into a Retirement Village, but perhaps one of the biggest factors is the growing cost of living and the affordable and alternative options Oak Tree Retirement living can offer.
Oak Tree Residents as far North as Cairns in Queensland, to Kingston in Tasmania, have taken advantage of Oak Tree’s affordability. Many have released an untapped source of hardearned equity in their homes and when sold, they use surplus funds to set themselves up for the future and enjoy the benefits of a relaxed retirement lifestyle.
one of our villages,” said CEO of Oak Tree Mr Mark Bindon.
Managers. Residents to enjoy a stress-free lifestyle.
“This residual money means they have genuine savings and cash to enjoy regular holidays, fund medical expenses, upgrade to a reliable vehicle, buy new furniture suitable for their next stage in life and generally enjoy life more”.
“There are weekly fees charged to run the village and these cover such costs as council and water rates, insurances, gardening and pest control. Costs are actually shared amongst residents and this helps keep fees lower for the individual resident,” said Mr Bindon.
“Family homes often require extensive maintenance and repairs but buying into a retirement village presents as a viable financial option in that residents have the opportunity to avoid such costs,” he said.
“We continually review our pricing and village running costs to ensure we provide value for money to our residents and affordable retirement living options to Australians.”
Oak Tree’s Retirement Villages in Armidale offer brand new turn-key homes which are ready for residents to simply move in and relax.
The Oak Tree village in Martin Street is well known to Armidale seniors and a second village in Taylor Street will open later this year.
“Many of our residents often remark that for the first time in their lives they have money left over in the bank after they have sold their homes and moved into
The comfortable two & threebedroom homes require minimum upkeep and all home maintenance including gardening is handled by the on-site
To discuss your individual requirements and learn more about Oak Tree Retirement Villages, call Kate Pigram on 0407 333 453.
2 New Martin England focus. Street, Armidale 89
1300 367 155
www.oaktreegroup.com.au
focus_ team.
team From the
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Welcome to the April edition of New England FOCUS.
pril brings many things; it’s our long awaited holiday, Easter, which brings chocolatey smiles to many children (and adults) around Australia and also a long weekend for the adults. April is a month that typically brings pleasant temperatures around the region - still being warm, without that scorching heat we expect in summer. We’ll also see our beautiful region transform into the vivid hues of autumn, which can be the most dramatic landscape eye candy of the year in the New England - a photographer’s dream. ON THE COVER Young entrepreneurs are amongst us. They are running successful businesses throughout the New England, from cafés to law firms to hair and beauty salons. Speaking of the latter, gracing this month’s cover we have Marissa Cross from Ella Baché and Robert Carlon from Equilibrium Hair. These two movers and shakers have been training young professionals for years now and are always
contacts. Got a story idea? Looking to advertise in Focus? Contact us for more information.
looking for new avenues to excel in their chosen fields. We embrace their new techniques and congratulate them on their successes. INSIDE THIS EDITION Inside our jam-packed 60 page edition this month you find some great stories. You may have heard about the amazing new creation from Dobson’s Distillery, Dobson’s Sweet Pea Gin. With a rich deep blue colour, it literally transforms in the glass to a purple or pink hue, depending on what it is mixed with. Josh Dobson (son of the well known distiller Steve Dobson) has returned to the New England and is the brain behind this booze. Ever wanted to be hypnotised? Are you sceptical of hypnotism? FOCUS was dazzled by Wayne Donnelly, a Hypno-comedian who’s bringing his act to the Armidale City Bowling Club in April. The condition of Dumaresq Creek and the use of its surrounds are of considerable interest to the Armidale community, which is why a potential
Tracy Le Messurier
GRAPHIC DESIGNER Jeff Cowan
SALES MANAGER Louise Beaumont
GRAPHIC DESIGNER Joey Dable
kyle@focusmag.com.au
michael@focusmag.com.au
MANAGING EDITOR Jay Beaumont
COPY EDITING Rite ‘n’ Rong Media Services
dylan@focusmag.com.au
Ascent can provide support with daily life and activities designed around your NDIS plan. Support can be provided on an outreach basis, where staff can assist you in your own home. Higher intensity accommodation support can be provided for up to 24 hours per day within small group home residences.
GRAPHIC DESIGNER Kyle Rathbone
matthew.korodi@fairfaxmedia.com.au
ART DIRECTOR Dylan Gaul
jeff@focusmag.com.au
ADVERTISING CONSULTANT Matthew Korodi GRAPHIC DESIGNER Michael Marchment jay@focusmag.com.au
Ascent provides general assistance with daily life and activities to enable you to live inclusively within your local community. Our support is designed to meet your individual needs and to maximise your independence.
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Housing and Supported Living
EDITION CO-ORDINATOR ADVERTISING CONSULTANT
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ADDRESS 5/164 Beardy Street, Armidale PHONE 02 6771 5551 FAX: 02 6772 5551 WEB www.focusmag.com.au FACEBOOK www.facebook.com/ne.focus TV www.focustv.com.au
upgrading of the area is a very positive and popular project. Why is Council developing a Master Plan for the Dumaresq Creeklands? Find out inside ... Coming from a long line of lawyers, John Harris has pursued a passion that once was a dream. From being a small business owner, hospitality worker and parent of two young boys, John has finished his law degree and has now taken up a role at Rice, Moore and Gibson. FOCUS finds out what his journey was like, moving from Canberra to Armidale ... FINAL SAY From the entire FOCUS crew, we’d like to wish you all a safe and happy Easter long weekend. We’ll leave you with this little beauty: “Love has no age, no limit; and no death” - John Galsworthy.
rnrmedia@bigpond.com
PHOTOGRAPHER James Brooks james@focusmag.com.au
Comments and opinions of our contributors do not necessarily reflect the opinion or view of the Publishers or Editor. All reasonable efforts have been made to trace copyright holders.Information appearing in Focus is believed to be correct at the time of going to press however no liability will be held for inaccurate information approved or supplied by advertisers or contributors. While all care is taken it is recommended that readers confirm dates, times, prices and any other material including advice with individual businesses and industry professionals. New England Focus is produced and published by Creative House Publications Pty Ltd ABN: 62128786005. Material in New England Focus is Copyright © Creative House Publications Pty Ltd 2016 and may not be reproduced whole or in part, in any form, without permission of the Publisher. All rights reserved.
Want to learn more?
02 6776 8977 ascentgroup.org.au
New England focus. 3
Dave and the Other Guy
Four piece band Matt, Dave
and the Other Guy is a conglomerate of fantastic local musos comprising, of course, Matt and Dave, Josh and lead singer Amy. FOCUS
tuned in Matt Nolan, to hear about what is happening in the world of these upcoming stars.
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ell us a little about Matt, Dave and the Other Guy ... We are a four-piece band that started in 2017 in Armidale and have been playing gigs around the New England area. The band is Amy Roff (Vocals), Matt Nolan (Guitar), Josh Dobson (Bass), and Dave Van Tongeren (Drums). Dave and Matt run their own studios in town, teaching drums and guitar respectively, and Josh creates wonderful delights at Dobson’s Distillery in Kentucky. Amy works at every establishment in town… We started by playing all sorts of covers together, which helped us figure what kind of sound works for us as a group, but we are now working on writing our original music, with the intention of releasing an EP in the near future. Tell us how the Matt, Dave and the Other Guy began ... After meeting during some Armidale Drama Musical Society productions, it started with the intention of being an acoustic duo, but we quickly realised we wanted to have bigger palette of sound to play with, so that’s when Dave and Josh came on board. What sort of genre do you play? Rock and Pop would probably describe us best. We
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ROCK AND POP WOULD PROBABLY DESCRIBE US BEST. WE TRY NOT TO TRAP OURSELVES INTO A SINGLE GENRE AND ENJOY PLAYING WHATEVER IS FUN OR INTERESTING.
try not to trap ourselves into a single genre and enjoy playing whatever is fun or interesting. Biggest influence and why? Everything! We all come from different musical backgrounds. Our singer, Amy, has a musical theatre background. Matt has come from Rock and Classical Guitar, and Josh and Dave have played in Jazz and Rock bands in the past, so it’s hard to pick one - but Shaggy’s It Wasn’t Me was probably the impetus for our love of music. What has been the biggest challenge you have faced over this time? Logistics. We all have day jobs, so getting everyone together in the same place at the same time for rehearsals can be a bit of a nightmare. Also, we played at the Tamworth Country Music Festival this year, and it was so hot the PA fried - so that was a challenge! Is there anyone you would like to acknowledge who has supported your band? The Welders Dog, for asking us to play at the anniversary of their opening last year, which was our first gig. Also, the community for coming along and
grooving with us. How can the community help; when is you next gig? By coming to see us play, and by supporting live music in general! There has been a lot of live music around Armidale again in the last couple of years, which is great, and the more people who come to gigs, the more opportunities there will be for musicians to play. We have a few things in the works for upcoming performances, so keep your eyes peeled! What next for Matt, Dave and the Other Guy? More gigs, more writing and hopefully creating a wider reach for the band. We are putting in some hard work to get our original songs together, so that we can release an EP in the near future. Any final words? We’ve had lots of fun in this early period of the band, playing gigs and writing music, and we hope that people have been entertained by our stuff so far. For any booking, you can find us on our Facebook page. P.S. Dave the drummer is single. Thanks Matt.
Welcome to your brand-new lifestyle at Newling Gardens Enjoy a more connected and supported lifestyle when you make the move to the warm and welcoming community at Newling Gardens Retirement Village. It’s easy to make the most of every day with maintenance-free living, a range of activities and events, exclusive facilities and the security of village life – all within easy reach of amenities and the centre of town. Drop in and see for yourself!
Some of the perks at Newling Gardens: • • • •
Refurbished community centre Heated pool & gym Manicured gardens Craft room, library & more!
WE ARE OPEN
Monday to Friday, 9am to 3pm Villas now selling!
173 Taylor Street, Armidale
For further information, call Jeremy on 0401 508 801 retireaustralia.com.au/newlinggardens New England focus. 5
focusinterview.
JamesWhite “An Italian Sojourn”, paintings by local watercolourist James White, opens at Gallery 126 on Friday 13th April.
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trip to Italy last year with his wife, Anne, has been the inspiration for this exhibition. James talks about his travels... Sometimes you hear of people who have been fortunate to spend time living in a foreign locale, and you think wouldn’t that be great! Usually it’s only wishful thinking. Not so this time. Anne and I were offered the opportunity by friends to live for two months in a farmhouse in rural Italy. It was time to take the chance. The area was surrounded by hill towns, traditional farmers, no tourists and a complete lack of spoken English. What to do! The farmhouse did have a pool, fantastic views, eateries close by and very welcoming locals, though sign language and drawing were the main forms of communication. Very early on I remember being in the local supermarket and Anne remarking, “Why are there no people in here?” One very patient girl waited at the checkout for us and drew our attention to a sign interpreted
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as - chiuso (closed) 1.00 - 4.00. The lunchtime siesta was very much alive and well. So I began to make art - the summer was seriously hot, the hilltop villages ancient, so the subject matter simply fell into my lap. The summer heat meant bright reflections, deep shadows and wonderfully textured walls. The hilltop towns were brimming with potential artworks. Fountains became one of my focuses. These structures are omnipresent in all towns, villages and cities and offer the opportunity to refill waterbottles or just sate thirst in the heat. Then there were the churches everywhere, substantial and sumptuous, with art that was breathtaking. You forget just how important the biblical story is to the Italians, until you see every village church painted or carved with some aspect of religion. Then there were the wonderful piazzas. We arrived and departed from Rome, so had the opportunity to sample the capital briefly. I was particularly fired up by the Piazza Navona, with its three amazing fountains with colourful buildings as backdrops; plus, a history that in
Roman times had seen it well patronised, and used as a site for chariot shopping was done at YOU FORGET JUST races. That’s quite old! a more traditional pace. HOW IMPORTANT THE These piazzas We spent some time in BIBLICAL STORY IS TO dominated the towns and Lecce, in the south, a THE ITALIANS, UNTIL were often the centre fabulous Baroque town YOU SEE EVERY VILLAGE of life, with eateries, with its churches and CHURCH PAINTED OR great shops, festivals and palaces gloriously carved CARVED WITH SOME concerts. And dogs, they from the soft local ASPECT OF RELIGION. were everywhere, but on sandstone. Exhuberant leads and well behaved. mythological beasts, In tourist areas there were fantastic creatures and dogs from all over Europe, floral pieces were all and they even had their own passports! minutely carved. This town was one of the We had leased a car, so we also spent some surprising joys of our Italian sojourn, because of weeks “cruising” around the countryside, its unexpected artistic beauty. with me being inspired. We focused on the All in all, how fortunate were we to have the east coast from Venice down to the “heel of opportunity to observe the Italian way of life Italy”, which revealed a gentler side of Italian outside of the big cities, to produce art and to life. These were farming areas with vast tracts really enjoy “An Italian Sojourn”. of sunflowers and cereals, sheep, grapes Come to my opening at Gallery 126 and and olives. Market days occurred with great enjoy the watercolours I painted while in Italy. frequency in the local towns - fruit, veg, meat, clothes etc. all readily available. The stalls were Arrivederci.
Wayne Donnelly. Ever wanted to be hypnotised? Are you sceptical of hypnotism? FOCUS was dazzled by Wayne Donnelly, a Hypno-Comedian who’s bringing his act to the Armidale City Bowling Club in April.
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issue inside this
Issue 131 - April 2018
Sydney Chamber Choir. The Sydney Chamber Choir will be performing on Thursday 3rd May at the Armidale Town Hall. Described as sacred and profane, ancient and modern, imported and homegrown: join Sydney Chamber Choir on a musical journey into the heart of beauty.
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Regulars 12. WHAT’S ON APRIL 20. ICING ON THE CAKE WITH SUSIE DUNN 45. BUSINESS MINDS WITH INGRID ROTHE
High Country
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A new exhibition and book recently launched at the New England Regional Art Museum (NERAM) provide an opportunity to see a diverse range of images from across the entire New England region.
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focusinterview.
RotaryLodge Expands! Rotary Lodge has been providing low cost onsite accommodation at the grounds on the Port Macquarie Hospital Precinct for over 20 years. The growing demand for accommodation for patients, guests, and family has seen a recent expansion of the premises. We chat to the Operations Manager Paula about what Rotary Lodge is and what they have been up to recently.
W
hen was Rotary Lodge established, and by whom? Rotary Lodge was the brainchild of Ron Walesby, a member of the Rotary Club of Port Macquarie, after the unfortunate tragic Kempsey bus crash. With the support of the District Governor and two members of each of the four local Rotary Clubs, namely Port Macquarie, Port Macquarie West, Laurieton and Wauchope, they formed the committee, and Ron as the chairman made the first press release in Feb 1991. The proposal was to build six units to accommodate accident and emergency patients’ families, which they completed in 1996. Then in early 2000, planning commenced by the then committee chairman Richard Morocco for Stage 2, which was opened in 2005 containing an additional 18 units to service the further expansion of the Base Hospital, including a Radiotherapy Unit along with patients at the Port Macquarie Private Hospital. In 2014, the realisation was that we either continue as we were with 24 rooms and turn people away, or extend the accommodation for patients and carers with the new $150 million extension to the Base Hospital and the Private Hospital. The decision was really a given, as we are here to support as many people as possible who need to attend Port Macquarie for their medical procedures. So, 2018 sees 12 more rooms opened up, and 8 New England focus.
the slab laid for another 12 rooms when funding allows. Can you tell us about THE LODGE OFFERS 12 NEW your role with Rotary ROOMS, MAKING A TOTAL Lodge, and who else is OF 36 ROOMS. THEY ARE A part of the team? FULLY SELF-CONTAINED My role is to ensure MOTEL TYPE UNIT, WITH and accommodate our the efficient operation EXTERNAL LAUNDRY clients from outside Port of Rotary Lodge 24/7, FACILITIES, COMMON Macquarie, from the every day of the year, to ROOM LOUNGES AND OFFManning region to the ensure the clients have a STREET PARKING. south to the Queensland comfortable and relaxing and western state borders. stay whilst undergoing We will also be able to their medical procedures. provide hospital in the I am supported by my home type accommodation for people who live able-bodied staff and the 10 volunteer members in outlying areas who may not need to be in of the Rotary Lodge Board. hospital, but who require daily medical services to Who does the Lodge offer its facilities? support their recovery. Rotary Lodge offers accommodation to What is the next stage that is planned? patients, carers and family members coming to The next stage for Rotary Lodge development Port Macquarie for any medical appointments is the completion of the final 12 rooms. This will and/or procedures. We also continue to service compete the full development of 48 rooms. the needs of Accident and Emergency patients, Where does the funding come from? as per our original charter. The funding comes from grants from the You've just complete a new stage of the Federal and State Governments and community development - how many rooms and what is groups, and with the current expansion funded included? by a loan from Holiday Coast Credit Union. The Lodge offers 12 new rooms, making a Funding for the original land was funded by total of 36 rooms. They are a fully self-contained the operator of the Base Hospital in the form of motel type unit, with external laundry facilities, the donation of the land, and the first stage was common room lounges and off-street parking. funded by Rotary Clubs and Federal Government How will the extra rooms benefit locals. This increase of rooms will allow us to expand grants, along with various community groups.
Stage 2 was funded by federal funded grants, Cancer Council of NSW, Hasting Council and a financial loan from Holiday Coast Credit Union. We were also funded by various local community groups. For Stage 3, unfortunately we have been unable to receive any grants from Federal, State or Local Government Areas, so we have again gone to the Holiday Coast Credit Union to gain a loan facility to complete this stage of the building. Various local community groups have contributed to the cost of the fit out of each of the individual 12 units. How can locals help Rotary Lodge? We would love to see locals assisting community groups to raise funds for Rotary Lodge. We are like so many not for profits; a dollar donated goes a long way. Also, donations given to the Rotary Lodge stay in Port Macquarie. Our biggest wish would be for local community groups to assist with putting on a evening meal for our guests. These are such rewarding events for not only our guests, but also for the community groups. Thanks Paula.
focusinterview.
Wayne DONNELLY Ever wanted to be hypnotised? Are you sceptical of hypnotism? FOCUS was dazzled by WAYNE DONNELLY, A HYPNO-COMEDIAN who’s bringing his act to the Armidale City Bowling Club in April.
T
ell us a little about yourself ... I have been doing the shows for about seven years now. I originally got into hypnotherapy by doing a fire walk with Anthony Robins many years ago. Then in 2005 I had a major back injury, which included some drastic surgery to get me walking again. I ended up going through some major depression, and a hypnotherapist brought me out of my depression. In 2008 I was managing a financial planning firm, and during the GFC my presence was no longer required. So, I took a look at what I could do and thought, I’ll try to help people. I was helped by hypnosis, so I started to study it and neuro linguistic programming. I was already doing some therapy work as well. In 2011 I got into stage work; I got a professional out from the States to come and assist me and help me with my first show. After that, away I went - and I have been doing shows ever since. So now I travel Australia doing shows and workshops. What happens at a show with you? To give you the best idea, you’ll come to the show and expect to be entertained for two hours, with a break in the middle. The first part of the show is creating a rapport with people. I have to create the trust pretty quickly, so as to get some volunteers on stage. We do some tests to see if they will allow themselves to go into a hypnotic state on the night of the show. I don’t take too long putting people into a trance; it can be very quick. I generally find three types of people come to a show. 1. the people who think hypnosis is great, 2. the sceptics and 3. the people who put their
hands in front of their eyes and say, be in the town. Places are limited I have to create the “Please don’t look into my eyes”. to about twelve participants. I trust pretty quickly, Does the comedy come into it like to talk to people before the so as to get some naturally? workshops, to make sure they will volunteers on stage. The focus is on getting people be in the right frame of mind. If We do some tests to see if to do things that are funny - not you are keen to make a positive they will allow themselves to embarrassing, just funny. Like when change in your life, come and get go into a hypnotic state on you see a guy give birth to a doll in contact. the night of the show. or a kangaroo and he thinks it his So there are two types of own, feeds it and so forth - it can hypnotism, the permanent and be pretty entertaining. We might do the temporary. Is it possible to a talent quest, which we did at the have both? Tamworth Country Music Festival recently. Yes, it is. For the people in the show, if they are wanting Is there a certain ratio of people who will be to, for example, quit smoking, I’ll give it a very nasty taste susceptible to being hypnotised? and after they leave the show, when they smoke, the taste Generally if you get somewhere between 10 - 20% of will present itself. The funny suggestions given in the show the audience as volunteers, usually you’ll have about half are meant to be temporary. I make sure of this at the end of them who can be hypnotised. Within that group who of every show, by making a very strong command that: stay hypnotised, you’ll have a beautiful few who are what “All suggestions in the show were just for fun and are now we like to call “floppers”. They will be the ones who when null and void”. Everyone has had a lot of fun, and now I click my fingers, they “flop” in their chairs, they’ll respond they go home, still chuckling about the show. to whatever suggestion I given to them, like forgetting Thanks Wayne. their own name or not being able to lift a chair because it’s stuck (mentally) to the floor. It’s always fun to get the strong young man to try and lift it, but he can’t and can’t figure it out. Around the hypno-comedy shows, do you host WAYNE DONNELLY HYPNOTIST, workshops to hypnotise people? FRIDAY 20TH APRIL, Absolutely. I run workshops for weight loss, stopping 8PM TO 10:30PM. smoking, nail biting, amongst other things - like phobias. Tickets are $35 and can be purchased via the Generally I run some workshops around the time I will Club or online through EVENTBRITE. New England focus. 9
MARTIN’S GULLY PUBLIC SCHOOL Martin’s Gully Public School was established in 1923 and has been providing educational opportunities for the young people of Armidale and surrounds ever since. The school was located just out of town, providing a small school setting for the local children in the Martin’s Gully area. Since then, it has grown into a modern day school with seven classes from Kindergarten to Year 6. Martin’s Gully Public School is an excellent school where students are nurtured and cared for in a stimulating and rewarding learning environment. Principal Brad Hunt tells FOCUS more about this very unique school. How long has Martin’s Gully Public School been providing educational opportunities for the young people of Armidale? Martin’s Gully Public School was established in 1923. The school is located just out of town, providing a small school setting for the local children in the Martin’s Gully area and over time, has grown into a modern day school with seven classes from Kindergarten to Year 6. Martin’s Gully Public School is an excellent school, where students are nurtured and cared for in a stimulating and rewarding learning environment. How long have you been Principal at the school, and tell us about your team? I have had the opportunity to lead Martin’s Gully Public School as the relieving Principal for over six years and during that time have had the opportunity to work alongside our amazing teachers in a range of subject areas and local events. Our teaching staff are committed to selfimprovement, and our school plan reflects this. We have a very dedicated staff ranging from early career teachers, to very experienced teachers. The students at our school are very fortunate to have such a talented and diverse staff to support their learning journey. Describe a typical day/week for students at Martin’s Gully from Kindy to Year 6 ... Our school strives to provide dynamic, 21st Century
learning styles based on futures education pedagogy and is resourced to provide outstanding approaches to all learning programs. Our school is unique in character and offers students a range of approaches in the main subjects, including English, Maths, Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Technology (STEAM). Martin’s Gully Public School has embedded a strong wellbeing policy, where programs exist to support young people in their educational and emotional growth. We pride ourselves on the notion that we know all of our students. Our school is small enough to have a thorough understanding of all students, but big enough to offer amazing opportunities for all children. We know how they learn, and we cater for individualised programs. A nurturing and caring environment in our school ensures students feel safe and secure in coming to school each day. You have featured your school leaders in this month’s FOCUS. Can you tell us about the leadership opportunities students have at Martin’s Gully? Although we have elected School Captains, Vice Captains and Sports Captains, EVERY student in Year 6 is a school leader. Courtesy of the P&C, all students in Year 6 attend the Grip Leaders Conference, along with many other school leaders from local schools. Every student in Year 6 is automatically a part of the Student Representative Council (SRC) and has leadership roles in peer support and lunch
Providing quality education in a caring environment We take pride in delivering an excellent education in a happy and nurturing environment. We have a strong commitment to academic excellence, and our experienced teachers are committed to helping your child reach their full potential.
E N R O L L I N G N O W 2 0 1 7/2 0 1 8 10 New England focus.
Welcome to our Kindergarten Class of 2018
time management of sports equipment. Year 6 students receive training and then coordinate our peer support lessons in Term 3 for all students across the school, K - 6. School Captains and Vice Captains meet with me three times per term, so there is a clear link between the staff and the student body. Leadership is an integral component of life at Martin’s Gully, as we prepare our students for the future! We also see you have featured your Kindergarten class of 2018. What programs does the school offer junior students? Our Kindergarten class has made an enthusiastic start to the year, and we have welcomed many new families to our school. Mrs Jess Corcoran works with our Kindergarten students, providing them with interesting and stimulating programs across the key learning areas.
All students are involved in targeted programs in English, Maths, Creative Arts, Science, History, Geography, Personal Development, Health and Physical Education. Our You Can Do It! program is embedded across all areas of the school and is very important for our Kindergarten students, ensuring they are well supported. Every student has a “Year 6 buddy”, who is responsible for making sure they are settled at school and are there to help in any way. Any other plans for 2018? This year, we have accessed qualified teachers from the New England Conservatorium of Music (NECOM) to provide choir rehearsals for all students in Years 3 to 6, and orchestra lessons for those students in our school who can play an instrument and are interested in
orchestral performances. Our students continue to excel in various sporting events. Students from our school represent the school at local, zone, regional and state events. We provide opportunities for our students to compete against other schools at PSSA events throughout the year. Strong programs in literacy and numeracy are evident in all classes across the school, as we continue to work hard to provide opportunities for every student to learn and grow to achieve their personal best. We will continue to build our capacity in futures based pedagogy and work closely with the Armidale Community of Schools (ACOS). Please contact us to arrange a time to explore the wonderful options available at Martin’s Gully Public School.
Congratulations to our 2018 School Leaders
CONTACT US Martins Gully Public School Bona Vista Road, Armidale 2350
PHONE: 6772 3314 EMAIL: martinsgul-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au New England focus. 11
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focus_What’s On New England
KARIN SCHAUPP & UMBERT CLERICI In 2018 they continue their critically acclaimed collaboration with a programme exploring song throughout the ages. Where Armidale Town Hall. When Thursday 5th April, 7pm. Tickets Adults $45, pensioners $35, students $25. Bookings www.trybooking.com/
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COFFS OCEAN SWIMS Presented by Beachside Radiology. Choose from a 600 m swim around the iconic Jetty, 2 km swim across the harbour, or Junior Swims for 8 - 14 years at Coffs Harbour’s beautiful Jetty Beach on Sunday 8th April. All funds raised go to local charities and community groups. When 8th April. Where Jetty, Coffs Harbour. www.villagesports.com.au
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ROBYN HAIG - NAFDA ADFAS Armidale lecture - Backstage with Margot Fonteyn. Dame Margot Fonteyn, the world famous ballerina, led the Royal Ballet from the age of sixteen until her retirement at the age of sixty. When Thursday 12th April at 6pm. Where Michael Hoskins Centre, The Armidale School, Brown Street, Armidale. Tickets www.trybooking.com Enquiries Phone (02) 6772 6441 or adfasarmidale@bigpond.com
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A P R I L
What’s
ANZAC CONFERENCE
The White Family and New England during the Great War, Women and the War Effort in the Great War, The 33rd Battalion “New England’s Own”, Poetry of the AIFD, War Memorials in the New England District, Australian Light Horse Museum, Armidale Soldier Settlement in the New England District. Some resources will be on sale during the day. Cost $30, includes light lunch and morning and afternoon teas. When Saturday 21st April 9am - 3:30pm. Enquiries phone (02) 6772 3616 or 0488 199 361. Email: saumarez@nationaltrust.com.au
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PRIME MY PROJECT GALA PRESENTATION DINNER The Prime My Project Gala Presentation Dinner is a two course meal accompanied by presentations from three projects vying for assistance from the Rotary Club of Armidale AM and Armidale City Bowling Club. When Friday 13th April at 6pm. Where Armidale City Bowling Club Auditorium, 92 - 96 Dumaresq Street, Armidale. Tickets www.trybooking.com/book so get in quick before tickets are all sold out!
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FIRST SATURDAY CHATS
Our next First Saturday chats will be hosted by Christopher Serow (Solicitor) from 10am to 1pm at the Legal Minds office at 157 Beardy Street, The Mall, Armidale on Saturday 14th April. As this is a popular program, bookings are essential on (02) 6788 1100.
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BOBBY JACK’S FESTIVAL
Bobby Jack's Festival is a celebration of original arts and music for all ages. The inaugural line-up will feature Claude Hay, Goldheist, The Jug Addicts, Foundlings, Greg Windred's Racketeers, The M Cooperation, The Grim Brothers and Caramello Café. Additional performances include Bellydance Earth & Sky and The Dunghutti Dancers. Onsite camping available. When Sat 21st April, 11am to 11pm. Where: Walcha showground. Info & tickets: www.bobbyjacks.com.au on sale now!
12 New England focus.
focusinterview.
New England
Peter Hoare, a Saumarez Homestead Volunteer who is a mature age student studying history at UNE, is coordinating a special program of events and activities relating to the involvement of New England and in particular the White Family with World War I - The Great War.
P
eter, ANZAC Day is coming up in April. What is happening at Saumarez Homestead to mark this event? The National Trust at Saumarez Homestead is hosting a series of events focusing on the White Family and New England in the Great War, from 19th March to 2nd June 2018. Most of the events are to be held at the Saumarez Homestead. They will include an exhibition from19th March to 12th May; a museum workshop on military memorabilia and regalia on Friday 20th April; the Official Opening of the Conference that evening; a Commemoration Service on Saturday 21st April at 8am, followed by the Conference at 9am; and Open Days and House Tours with military themes on 23rd and 25th April. The activities will also include a Junior School Art competition from 19th March to 2nd June. What will be on display for the Museum Exhibition? The exhibition will feature photographs showing the local support for Australia’s WWI effort, including photos of the 33rd Battalion “New England’s Own” and Lt. Colonel Harold Fletcher White. These are supplemented by memorabilia drawn from collections of medals, uniforms, souvenirs collected at the battlefields and local fundraising badges. Many of these items were provided by the Saumarez Homestead Collection, while others were supplied by the University of New England
Heritage Centre and local museums and private collections. The exhibition will be open to the public from 19th March to 12th May. What is the purpose of the workshop? The purpose of the workshop is to identify and preserve Military Memorabilia and regalia. It will be open to interested museum curators and volunteers from the New England District. This workshop will be led by Bill and Janet Storer from the Newcastle Maritime Museum. It will be held on Friday 20th April, 9am to 4pm and will cost $20. Who will be remembered at the Commemoration Service, and what is the main focus? The main focus of the commemorative service will be to remember the sacrifice that the local community paid in The Great War, especially by the 33rd Battalion. It will also commemorate Lt. Colonel Harold Fletcher White, who commanded the 33rd, 35th and 36th Battalions in the AIF. A plaque will be unveiled and a flag pole dedicated in their memory. The service will be held from 8am on Saturday 21st April in front of the Saumarez Homestead, and all members of the public are warmly invited to attend. Who will be speaking at the conference, and what will they be speaking about? The conference will feature addresses on the White Family and New England during the Great War. The keynote speaker will be Dr Melanie Oppenheimer, formerly of the University of New England, and her talks will be on Women and
THE THEME WILL BE ARMIDALE AND THE GREAT WAR. THE SPONSORS WILL BE ARMIDALE EX-SERVICE CLUB, GALLERY 126, NORTHERN INLAND ARTS SOCIETY AND THE NATIONAL TRUST OF AUSTRALIA (NSW).
the War Effort in the Great War and Soldier Settlement in the New England District. The supporting local speakers will include Bill Oates on The 33rd Battalion, “New England’s Own”; Ian Johnstone, Poetry of the A.I.F.; Graham Wilson, War Memorials in the New England district; and Doug Lennox Australian Light Horse Museum Armidale. The Conference will follow the Commemorative Service in the Saumarez Conference centre and will cost $30. What was the involvement of Harold Fletcher White in the A.I.F? Lieutenant Colonel Harold White CMG, DSO was born at “Saumarez” station, Armidale 1883, the son of Maggie and FJ White and died in Armidale 1971. He served with the 33rd Battalion in France and later Commanded 36th, 33rd and then 35th Battalions A.I.F. He was Mentioned in Dispatches three times, awarded the French Croix de Guerre and received the Most Distinguished Order of St Michael and St George from King George V “for services in France and Flanders”. In 1919 he returned to “Bald Blair” to become a successful grazier and cattle breeder and was an active community man. What other activities will be held over the ANZAC Week?
The Saumarez Homestead and grounds will be open on Sunday 22nd April from 10am and ANZAC Day 25th April. Guided Tours with an ANZAC theme will be available on Sunday at 10:30am, 2pm and 3:30pm and on ANZAC Day at 2pm and 3:30pm. What are you doing to involve the young people in our commemorative events? Local school children and families are invited to view the exhibition and to attend the open days. Special themed school excursions are available to view the exhibit and homestead from 19th March to 12th May. We are also hosting the National Trust Saumarez ANZAC Art Competition. This is open to children from participating local primary schools from 19th March to 11th May. The finalists and winning entries will be exhibited from 26th May to 2nd June in The Armidale Regional War Memorial Library. The theme will be Armidale and the Great War. The sponsors will be Armidale Ex-Service Club, Gallery 126, Northern Inland Arts Society and the National Trust of Australia (NSW). Thanks Peter. For further details, please contact the Manager of Saumarez Homestead, Les Davis Ph: (02) 6772 3616. Mob: 0488 199 361. New England focus. 13
focusinterview.
BACH festival
H
Interview with Benjamin Thorn
ow long has the Bach Festival been going? The first Bach Festival was in 2003. This year is going to be the ninth, and the seventh one of which I’ve been the Artistic Director. So, it has become part of Armidale’s cultural calendar every two years, and both locals and visitors look forward to it. We have a number of people who regularly come to Armidale for it. One visitor to the last festival described it as Armidale’s best kept secret. With luck, it will continue to be the best, but perhaps not so secret. Why Bach? Johann Sebastian Bach is, of course, one of the really great composers from the Baroque era and is one of the heroes of Terry Norman, who started the festival in 2003. An important feature of his music is that he was quite eclectic, writing across several genres and explored ideas from different countries, so it is possible to build interesting programs that link him to a wide range of other composers, including of course, ones from later eras. This is something that I have tried to do in all the festivals that I have directed. The other reason for a Bach Festival in Armidale is that Armidale is home to a number of very fine Baroque performers and the festival can therefore build on this strength, bringing visiting performers here to share their skills and collaborate with the locals. Over the years the festival has helped establish some very productive links between performers. The local performers are really important for this year’s festival, because due to tight funding we have very limited scope for bringing a lot of visiting musicians, but it will have some fantastic performances, including one overseas performer. So, what can we expect to see? You mean hear! The festival runs for four days, from 10 - 13 May. It starts with the
14 New England focus.
Lotti Trio (Alana Blackburn, Laura Curotta conduct, and Eliza Scott is violin soloist. and Robert Jackson) who will be playing As well, Kylie Constantine will present a range of Baroque trios for recorder, a lecture/recital on the Cantata Philomèle viola and cello and will include a work by Jean-Baptiste Stuck, and we will have I’ve written specially for them. Then we out traditional free events - this year the have a lovely keyboard duo concert with Peasant Cantata in Hanna’s Arcade, as a visiting Israeli performer Michael Tsalka, change from the usual Coffee Cantata, who appears on over 20 CDs, and Diana and the Festival Evensong, will feature Weston. They have a program of music, Bach’s Cantata 44, which was written for Bach and Sons and will be playing on that specific day in the church year. The harpsichords, piano and organ. Evensong provides an opportunity to hear Guitar duo EphenStephen (Steve Tafra Bach’s sacred music in the context for and Steve Thorneycroft) will present an which it was written, which gives insight all Bach program, into that part of his including some output. of their own As you can arrangements, and see, the program Camilla Tafra will play aims to give THE PROGRAM AIMS TO a Bach cello suite multiple ways of GIVE MULTIPLE WAYS OF with original dance approaching the APPROACHING THE MUSIC accompaniment by music of Bach OF BACH AND HIS AGE, Georgia Vaughan and his age, and I AND I BELIEVE THERE and music by believe there will WILL BE SOMETHING IN Boccherini and a new be something in it IT TO APPEAL TO A WIDE piece by me. to appeal to a wide RANGE OF PEOPLE. We will also range of people. have the traditional Bach is not just Armidale Organ music of the past, Crawl - Armidale is but is reinvented in almost unique in having four good organs every age and wil continue to be into the in just over a block in town, which lends future. itself to an ambulatory concert that moves How can we find out more, and where between them (it’s like a pub crawl, but can we get tickets? with an organ recital instead of a beer Details of the program are on the festival in each venue!) It will feature Warwick website www.ne-bach-festival.com and Dunham, Tim Godden and Lena Schmalz. our Facebook page www.facebook.com/ NewEnglandBachFestival/ Then there will a tribute concert to the Tickets are available from Regional great fusion group of the 1970s and ‘80s, Australia Bank branches or on line at www. Sky, recreating their Baroque arrangements trybooking.com - search for nebf and that that give a whole new perspective on the will find both season tickets which let music. It will feature Steve Tafra, Steve you in to everything, or individual concert Thorneycroft, Warwick Dunham, Dave van tickets. Tongeren and Sarah Thorneycroft. I look forward to meeting as many For the first time the Armidale Symphony people as possible at the festival, since I’m Orchestra is part of the festival, with sure there’s something in it that will appeal a program including Bach, Haydn and to everyone. Mendelssohn, who was a key figure in the Thanks Benjamin. 19th Century Bach revival. Stephen Wu will
focusinterview.
Sonya
buck Pet Sitter
Sonya Buck’s love of animals led her to start her perfect business - Pet Sitting.
H
ow long has Pet Sitter Plus been running? I officially started my business in July 2016, but I have been visiting my family and friends’ animals for many years. What influenced you to start a pet sitting business? From early childhood I’ve always owned and loved animals and a suggestion from my mum led me to start my business. Mum reminded me that you should do what you love. What services do you offer? Pets are visited in their own homes or yards once or twice per day while their owners are on holiday, away on business or sometimes just while they are at work. Pets receive their food, water, medication (if any) and plenty of pats. The yard or litter tray is taken care of as well. I’ll also collect mail and water plants. Do you walk dogs as well?
Yes, in conjunction with repeat clients prefer to the pet sitting visits, if that just text me now with is what the dogs’ owners their travel dates, and I believe pets feel less would like. I confirm and visit their stressed staying in their What are the benefits of pets. It’s best if clients own home, and they also visiting the pets in their book early, as particular maintain their normal diet home? times of year it can be and exercise routine. I believe pets feel less very busy. stressed staying in their What’s the worst own home, and they also thing about your maintain their normal diet business? and exercise routine. While I am visiting the If I have been caring for a pet, particularly for pets, I am also checking on the home. a longer period of time, I actually feel a little sad What type of animals do you visit? saying goodbye on my last visit. I’ve cared for many different animals. As well What is the most important part of our job? as dogs and cats, there have been canaries, Trust. Clients need to be able to trust you, parrots, guinea pigs, ferrets and I’ve fed wild because pets are part of your family. I always magpies. ensure I care for all pets like I would my own, What is the best thing about your business? with love and kindness. It’s great to meet new people and animals What do you do in your spare time? and revisit existing clients. It’s very easy; many My friends and I volunteer at the Soi Dog
Rescue Foundation in Thailand each year and when possible, I help out the RSPCA Armidale branch. I also love to spend time with my own three dogs, Harley, Honey and Chia. Because of one naughty Jack Russell cross, I am unable to own cats. Tell us more about the Soi Dog Rescue Foundation. The Soi Dog Rescue Foundation rescues street dogs from all over Thailand and rehomes them in the United Kingdom, Canada and the U.S. They also take in unwanted cats. Volunteers from all over the world walk and socialise the dogs, which prepares them for their new homes. Plans for the future? Having experienced so much with animals, I’d love to further this knowledge by undertaking study in animal behaviour. Otherwise, it’s my goal to meet as many pets in Armidale as possible. Thanks Sonya.
New England focus. 15
16 New England focus.
farm
O’CONNOR AGRICULTURAL FARM HAS BEEN RUN BY STUDENTS FOR OVER 30 YEARS, DURING WHICH TIME THE STUDENTS HAVE WORKED CONSISTENTLY TO IMPROVE THE RESOURCES ON FARM AND BUILD A DEPTH OF KNOWLEDGE … SEVERAL STUDENTS AT SCHOOL TODAY CAN SEE PICTURES OF THEIR PARENTS AT THE FARM DURING THEIR SCHOOL YEARS. AG TEACHER FOR 30 YEARS, JANET PRICE TELLS US ABOUT THE SUCCESS AND ENJOYMENT GAINED BY THE STUDENTS AT THE COLLEGE.
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ell us about the Agricultural Technology course available at the College and which students is it offered to? All students in Year 7 and 8 study Agricultural Technology as part of the Technology Syllabus. Agriculture is a popular elective in Year 9 and 10. In Years 11 and 12 both Agriculture and Primary Industries is offered. Primary Industries is a Vocational Education course culminating in a Certificate II in Agriculture. It is a hands on course, where students are prepared for entry level jobs in the rural industry. Topics include basic tractor and machinery operation, livestock husbandry, soils and sustainability, safe handling of chemicals, weather and the basics of workplace safety and communications. Students are engaged in all aspects of farming. O’Connor students study several enterprises on the school farm. • Horticulture - fruit orchard and vegetable gardens; • Fine wool - fine wool Merinos; • Beef cattle – Devon stud cattle Not A Lot. Our Devon Cattle Stud was established after four students teamed up to win a cattle crush and 4 Devon heifers in 1995-6. The progeny of these original cows have been used to educate students over the last 20+ years; • Poultry - several breeds of chickens, including a rare breed called Vorwerks. These birds are part of a national program to preserve the genetics of this breed. We are working with a company called AvGen poultry, who are importing genetics into Australia to preserve rare poultry breeds; • Fat Lambs - six - eight lambs bred every year for the domestic lamb market; • Equine - basic horse care;
• Property planning - a program to integrate all aspects of agricultural production. Each enterprise is integrated into the teaching programs on a seasonal basis. The farm is cared for by the students, and they donate many hours of their time to keeping the animals and plants in good order. What will students learn and do? Students learn the basics of animal husbandry for each animal and they interact with the farming community at enterprise level. Students learn to appraise livestock and then use their skills at junior competition over the local show circuit. They judge animals in real time and often have to justify their decisions to a leading member of the rural industry. Students are given an understanding of livestock feeding and husbandry, being actively involved in shearing, drenching, moving stock from paddock to paddock, tending to sick/ injured animals, and keeping pens clean and habitable. Students are involved in planting and harvesting garden produce, and they are encouraged to cook and eat healthy chemical free vegetables from their gardens. They occasionally prepare a feast using the produce from the farm. Currently we are eating fresh corn and tomatoes. The college has had recent success in the local show circuit. What preparation goes into this and tell us about the awards received? Each year students prepare our stud cattle for four local shows. We attend Glen Innes, Guyra, Armidale and Walcha shows in the autumn and sometimes Wingham and Scone steer shows. In addition to the cattle, we exhibit the best of our Merino fleeces kept from the September shearing. The fleeces are hand picked by the student who has the most
experience in wool classing. This year we were caring for the cattle. awarded reserve champion Hogget Fleece from Our students enjoyed much success this year, a lamb bred from Shalamar Park and Arakoon with many students winning events. Bloodlines. Edward Simmons was crowned overall Junior Our vegetable gardens are cared for by Champion Judge in Armidale, placing in all five Year 7/8 students Aaron Coop and James of the events. Rogers during their lunchtime. This year they The schools cattle team herdsman entered 30 exhibits in the Armidale show and competition is a prestigious competition and were awarded most successful Junior Exhibitor this year was won by and best exhibit in the O’Connor’s team of Chloe produce section. This and Emma Gray and Allie week we harvested Carson. 20 kg tomatoes, 40 Plans for the future? STUDENTS LEARN TO corn cobs, cucumbers, The show and livestock zucchini marrows, WORK COOPERATIVELY appraisal program is very rocket, rhubarb,
IN A TEAM AND INTERACT
popular with students, dahlias, beetroot, WITH PEOPLE OF ALL AGES, and it allows them to radish and carrots. ASKING QUESTIONS AND interact with industry Over the next month SOURCING INFORMATION we will be planting leaders on an informal FROM A WIDE VARIETY OF out native trees basis. This program is set PLACES. grown by Aaron from to continue each year. Our seed donated by the breeding program within Armidale Tree Group. the stud will continue to Not A Lot Devon improve the quality of the stud (owned by stud cattle. The students are always working O’Connor) exhibits cattle at the local shows towards improving the farm infrastructure. and occasionally in Brisbane. Each year the Our senior agriculture program is gaining students choose a show team to prepare for popularity, with both Primary Industries and exhibition. Students are taught to prepare Agriculture running this year. We hope to cattle for show and how to present themselves continue this trend with both classes running and the cattle in the show ring. During the every year. Students have expressed interest show students care for the animals: feeding, in developing a sheep stud to complement watering, grooming, and cleaning halters and the cattle. Increased scientific investigation bedding. A small team of students camp at the grounds, starting work at 5:30 - 6am and often using “smart technology” such as robots and not finishing until 10pm. During the shows there are competitions for students to appraise a variety of livestock, opportunity to interact with agricultural businesses and industry leaders, as well as
drones are important aspects of the future of agriculture and are an inspiration for students. Both of these innovations are currently being investigated. Thanks Janet. New England focus. 17
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our new england Locally produced cookbook
table
"Our New England Table" celebrates the New England region’s local produce. It is a professionally designed and printed publication showcasing the New England, with a particular focus on local produce, cafés, wineries and restaurants. The cookbook, which introduces producers from across the region and features a great selection of recipes contributed by New England families and foodies, received an enthusiastic response when it debuted at the Seasons of New England event on 24th March. “Producers, and many local food and wine outlets, have sponsored Our New England Table - and added their special recipes to those contributed by the
school community!” said Sue Gooley, Armidale City Public School Parents and Citizens Association. “All proceeds from book sales will be used to support education programs and opportunities for the students of Armidale City Public School. A priority is the creation of a covered outdoor learning area for K - 2 children. The generosity of local producers and businesses means that every dollar you spend on this book goes straight to the school.” Our New England Table incorporates a map showing locations of local producers and eateries, as well as beautiful
images showcasing the region and its produce. “It's a great guide to sourcing the wonderful produce and beautiful foodie outlets of our region - and there should be a recipe to appeal to everyone’s tastes!” Our New England Table retails for $30. It is available for sale at locations across the region - including Armidale City Public School, markets, local bookshops, Visitor Information Centres and a range of other specialty shops. Enquiries: Armidale City Public School (02) 6772 3420 or www.facebook.com/ acpscookbook/
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ANKS FROM
Markets in the Mall TH
The Markets in the Mall has been running for over 25 years in our heritage mall, and we love seeing the community come and support us in all seasons. This couldn’t be possible without the management team and the great support of the Rotary Club of Armidale AM, and PCYC. 18 New England focus.
T
he markets were originally started by the PCYC as a community event and have continued to attract a large following and become a fixture in the community diary each month. The Rotary Club of Armidale AM came on board a number of years ago and are joint partners with PCYC in managing and running the markets. Together, the team ensure that the stallholders are able to enjoy their days and sell their products
to the Armidale and wider community. The proceeds from the markets are split between the two clubs, and all the money raised from the stallholders is redistributed back into the community with the great projects the two clubs participate in. At the helm, Garry, Sam, Brian and the other members of PCYC and Armidale AM Rotary can't wait to see you on 29th April, as we celebrate another Markets in the Mall.
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Celebrate the art of printing at Wimble’s Wayzgoose in April.
he Wimble’s Wayzgoose event (6 - 8 April 2018) is a celebration of printing and printmaking that this year will include a new public lecture event, as well as a half-day seminar, four practical printing and printmaking workshops and the return of the popular Printer’s Picnic day, which will include talks, demonstrations, music and food and making this year’s BIG PRINT. “The Wimble’s Wayzgoose event was developed to create community interest in the Museum of Printing and its unique collection of printing equipment, wood and metal type as well as unique graphic material,” said Robert Heather, Art Museum Director. “It brings to Armidale print enthusiasts, artists, designers, collectors, researchers and makers from around Australia for a fun weekend of activities, talks, workshops and events.”
“This year NERAM is launching the inaugural F.T. Wimble Lecture with a presentation by historian Shane Carmody on the great print collections and libraries of Britain. We are also bringing American letterpress artist Cynthia Marsh from Tennessee, who will present a workshop on using letterpress and wood type to make bold statements in posters and graphics. “We have a range of practical printing and printmaking workshops on offer, as well as a seminar on various aspects of the artform and its history,” he said. “This year we will be hosting workshops by leading print artists such as Glen Skien, Tim Mosely, Dianne Longley, Clint Harvey and Cynthia Marsh, as well as presentations and talks by local artists, including the Black Gully Printmakers.” The Wayzgoose was originally an entertainment given by a master-printer to his workmen to mark the beginning of the season of
working by candlelight. In later use, it meant an annual festivity held in summer by the employees of a printing establishment, consisting of a dinner and (usually) an excursion into the country. In more recent times it has become a celebration held by printing and printmaking studios and communities where artists, craftspeople, technicians and printers get together to celebrate their work with their friends and families. Wimble’s Wayzgoose 2018 is presented by NERAM and the Museum of Printing with funding the Regional Arts Fund and in partnership with The Bacon Factory, Black Gully Printmakers and Queensland College of Art at Griffith University. The inaugural F.T. Wimble Lecture has been made possible by Packsaddle and is being presented in association with ADFAS Armidale. Further information available at www.neram.com.au
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LOCALS 4 LOCALS
The lucky winners include Brian Charter, who only eats the best meat from Jackson’s Quality Meats; Benal Albertson, who shops at Inner Path Natural Therapies; Dave Bannon, who always relies on Beardy Street Servo; Virginia Wong-See, who makes sure her pets are looked after at Armidle Pet Shop & Aquarium; and Warren Nunns, who always shops at MyCar and Sound. All these winners each won $100 in Locals 4 Locals Gift Cards in the Draw.
Winners every month! It’s easy to see Locals 4 Locals love giving cash and prizes to you and me - March being no exception! Winning cold, hard cash has never been easier; all you need to do is shop and enter at your favourite shops. The more times you enter, the more entries you have to win.
With Easter approaching, Locals 4 Locals are
everyone.
ready to continue supporting local business-
When you spend your hard earned dollars,
es and the local community by continuing
why not spend them where it matters? Look
this amazing service of finding five lucky
for the Locals 4 Locals sign in the shopfront
winners.
of your favourite stores. Simply spend $25
With so many Locals 4 Local members
or more. Register your entry at the counter.
located in town, you’d be hard pressed to
That’s it! You have one entry in the L4L prize
shop anywhere else! Not only does it boost
pool. The more times you shop at partici-
our local economy, businesses spend dollars
pating businesses, the higher your chances
in the community too! That’s a winner for
to win! New England focus. 19
CO OL
WITH SUSIE DUNN
TH IS
IS
focus_contributor
REUSABLE BEESWAX WRAP PACKS
HoneyBee
wraps
Icing
The kitchen starter pack is a great way to organise your kitchen. No more plastic! Perfect for storing all types of fruit, veggies, snacks or lunches. Great for covering salad bowls, fermented food or platters at your next BBQ. HoneyBee wrap is made from 100% organic cotton fabric, natural beeswax, jojoba oil,coconut oil and tree resin.This collection of ingredients creates a flexible wrap that can be used over and over again. Simply mould the honeybee wrap to the top of the dish by using the warmth and pressure of your hands to create a seal. Use the same method for wrapping vegetables, cheeses, sandwiches and snacks on the go. It is not recommended for meat. From Things With A Difference, Centre Mall, Armidale 6771 9668.
ON
CAKE
Alice Cairns and Justine Kavanagh
OOPS... Recently I was, literally, at sea for a few days and deliberately didn’t see any news. Landing, I discovered our Federal Member had resigned as Nationals leader and Deputy PM. Then I discovered our Council CEO had been head-hunted elsewhere. Meanwhile, there seem to be some rough seas for Council ... We need to steer our ship full ahead.
I
saw our tireless State Member, Adam Marshall, at the airport, and only he seems to be sailing purposefully onwards on course. What is happening in the world? People simply want their representatives to work with intelligence, transparency and stability - undistracted - on their behalf. Our region has so many clearly positive advantages, yet on the point of resounding success, someone seems to throw an anchor overboard. Just as the SMH’s pages 1, 4 and 5 (26.2.18) are devoted to “the Sydney exodus” for the livable regions, we are too preoccupied to promote ourselves. Sadly, Barnaby Joyce’s painful TV resignation backdrop from the Lookout was itself a picture perfect promotion for an idyllic Armidale City! In March 2014 I wrote about similarities I saw between Tasmania and here, and how proud its people are in showing it off. Well, they’ve streaked ahead to the extent that Fairfax’s recent Good Weekend front cover was “How Hobart became a mainlander’s dream”. How many boats have we missed? Student activists after the terrible Florida school shooting asked pro-gun adults to “grow up”… “You might as well stop now, because we will outlive you”. We should be framing our activities to ensure the views of young entrepreneurs are taken on board. Can’t we hum and walk at the same time? People with passion care about our region, about our university and about our environment. These people deserve pre-emptive information about why certain things happen. The handling of the substantial demolition of Robb College is a case in point. If UNE explained earlier why an extensive rebuild was preferred to a much cheaper solution by the original architect, information would perhaps have calmed dissatisfaction. Good news that the APVMA are building headquarters on the sadly available old Armidale Club site, hopefully signalling new generational energy for this vital instrumentality. A tragedy in the Creeklands reinforces moves to rethink those ar-
20 New England focus.
eas. Council has received a commissioned report and the people-led Visions for the Creeklands group have launched their formalised group and are seeking members. Passionate people pursue their passions relentlessly. Grazier, citizen astronomer, meteorologist, member of the Royal Society, Henry Archibald Belfield of Eversleigh was passionate about his weather observations, recorded faithfully from 1877 to his death in 1922. Now digitised as a result of descendant Richard Belfield’s passion, they are being used in research into human impact on climate globally. Everyone can contribute to the whole if they follow their passion. Passion for art shapes life for Stuart and Anne Boggs of Armidale’s only commercial gallery, Gallery 126. Their March exhibition, Monolithic, shows works by Kerry Dunne and Jane O’Sullivan, both passionate contributors to our cultural scene. We have refugees from terrible war zones arriving here, and much thought has been put into settling them so they can join us in contributing to our diverse community. Wise people say, “What’s important is what brings us together, not what makes us different”. Each second becomes the future, and change is a condition of life. I was interested in The Australian’s “Online stores move to bricks and mortar” (24.2.18). And apparently there’s a move away from “boring centres” back to “High Streets”; and planners want Central Sydney to be car-free. It’s not over ‘til it’s over. Let’s get the Armidale Mall right! You’ve probably noticed advertisements for General Medical Practice lately. In Melbourne I saw an article, “Sad fact is that traditional GPs are dying out”. NO! GPs are the traffic police of the medical world. They direct us to appropriate specialists if necessary. And in the bush they are everything. My advice is to find a GP who suits you. Treasure them. A world without them would be inefficient and absurd. Susie Dunn.
focustea WITH ROSS FROM D A I LY R I T U A L A R M I D A L E
Blend
month of the
PEOPLE WHO DRINK TEA ARE MORE CREATIVE. Yet another reason to reach for your afternoon cuppa! Tea improves mental clarity and focus, which bolsters our creative juices, (1.) a new study claims. Researchers put the benefits down to the nation’s favourite hot beverage containing both caffeine and theanine (an amino acid) which they found improved attentiveness and alertness. They claimed that the effects could be felt within minutes of finishing the beverage. Half of the participants were given a cup of black tea to drink, while the other half were administered a glass of water before their cognitive and creative skills were put to the test. The findings suggest that tea boosted creativity in both tests, leaving researchers to conclude that the hot beverage improves overall cognitive function. However, they noted that participants consumed a relatively small amount of tea in the study and therefore may not have
Where
the same positive impact in the long term. “This work contributes to understanding the function of tea on creativity and offers a new way to investigate the relationship between food and beverage consumption and the improvement of human cognition,” the report states. “Two biological ingredients, caffeine and theanine, have beneficial effects on attention, which is an indispensable part of cognitive function. But the amount of tea ingredients our participants absorbed was relatively small. Also, theanine facilitates long-term sustained attentional processing, rather than short-term moment-to-moment attentional processing.” Still, there’s no reason why you can’t cite the study to legitimise your four-cup-a-day habit. (1.) In the study, published in the journal Food Quality and Preference, a team of psychologists at Peking University in China conducted two tests on 50 students, who had an average age of 23.
Find out more about other quality blends at www.dailyritual.com.au
focusinterview.
“NOBLE FORESTS” MIGHT NOT BE THE FIRST THING THAT COMES TO MIND WHEN CONTEMPLATING THE NEW ENGLAND TABLELANDS. BUT AROUND 1818, THAT IS HOW JOHN OXLEY DESCRIBED OUR LANDSCAPE.
tree
every counts
T H E
H
A R M I DA L E
e went on to write, “Finest stringybark I ever saw … far better and larger than usually seen”. Unfortunately, it wasn’t to last, and our New England landscape is still suffering from the effects of over clearing in the 1800s and the mass dieback event in the 1970s and '80s, when we lost millions of our trees. This had major impacts on our land health, wildlife and biodiversity. Currently, there is good remnant vegetation on the western and eastern sides of the Tableland, but the vast expanse of blasted landscape in between is forming a formidable barrier to flora and fauna needing to move through the landscape; we hope to change that with Every Tree Counts. Why was this idea created? We have long been concerned with the fractured, denuded landscape of the tablelands and how it affects flora, fauna, water quality and livestock. This project will allow wildlife, including our beloved koalas, sugar gliders and rare and threatened birds, to safely move through the landscape. It will enable them to seek food, mates, homes and to escape environmental pressures such as fires or localised droughts. It will increase genetic diversity in the landscape as we put back the trees and shrubs that provide a host of benefits to the land itself in the form of erosion control and natural insect pest management. Sugar gliders and
T R E E
G R O U P
the beautiful blue flower wasps prey on the beetles that regularly devastate our eucalypts. It will also have a positive impact on our farmers, as it has been consistently shown that joining nature and agriculture translates to improved livestock and pasture health and better financial returns. We have chosen the Saumarez Creek/ Salisbury Waters route, as it is one of the shortest expanses across the tablelands; it will also improve the quality of the water that flows into the beautiful Oxley Wild Rivers National Park. Describe what the Armidale Tree Group are planning to do. We are aiming to work with landholders, Local Land Services and other stakeholders to create a cross-tablelands wildlife corridor that will connect the western and eastern edges of the Northern Tablelands. This corridor will begin at Saumarez Ponds and follow a roughly 30-kilometre stretch of Saumarez Creek and Salisbury Waters, finishing near Dangars Falls. Rather than creating a long linear corridor, it will be comprised of patches of vegetation, like jewels on a necklace. There will be large patches of habitat linked by “stepping stones”. Stepping stones can be smaller blocks of vegetation, pre-existing shelterbelts etc. Joining these two parts sounds like a massive undertaking. Tell us, how many plants will this take? It’s impossible to say exactly, but we
WE’VE BEEN GROWING
estimate that on a not-for-profit, we’ll AND PLANTING TREES AND completion, it could need to rely on the SHRUBS FOR 35 YEARS NOW, be around one million goodwill of individuals trees and shrubs. We’ve and organisations to AND IN THAT TIME WE’VE also committed to a help us achieve this REFINED OUR LANDSCAPE two-year maintenance mammoth undertaking. REVEGETATION AND program for all the How can the RESTORATION METHODS. plantings, which will community get ensure that every tree involved? we plant really will Donations and/ count. or bequests will put Will the Tree Group be supplying all the trees in the ground - a living legacy that will plants and planting them? continue for many decades to come. We’re Yes, we’ve been growing and planting trees also looking to build partnerships, and we can and shrubs for 35 years now, and in that time help organisations and businesses with carbon we’ve refined our landscape revegetation and offsetting, environmental commitments and restoration methods. staff giving programs. If anyone has any ideas Has there been much interest in the or skills they feel would be of benefit, or if project? they would like more information, you can We recently held an information session on reach us via the following: Every Tree Counts at Dangarsleigh Community Email: manager@armidaletreegroup.org.au Hall. We invited local landholders, our first Phone: (02) 6771 1620 generous donors and other interested parties Web: www.armidaletreegroup.org.au to come along, and it was a great night. Any final words? There’s a lot of interest in the project, and it’s We believe there’s something of value in heartening to see people willing to contribute this project for everyone - whether it’s a desire to the long-term future of our landscape. to revitalise our landscape, leave a better Have you found the funds to complete future for the generations to come, help our such a project? threatened birds and beloved furry critters, We have the funds to start our first habitat improve livestock welfare or contribute to planting, but finishing the corridor is another carbon storage; the list goes on! We’d love to matter! A number of very generous locals hear from anyone who’s interested in helping have made private donations to the project, or getting involved; just give us a call or drop and we received our first corporate donation in. Together we can make every tree count! from Cleanaway last month. Obviously being Thanks everyone. New England focus. 21
focusinterview.
NEGS This month, FOCUS had the extraordinary privilege of showcasing two of Armidale’s finest educators in our latest issue.
ANDREW TRAVERS We talk with Mr. Andrew Travers, who has recently moved from Sydney to take up the reins as Head of NEGS Junior School. With a Master of Education (School Leadership), a Bachelor of Education and Bachelor of Teaching (Early Childhood) plus experience at some of the top private schools in Sydney, Andrew has taken to his role with gusto.
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hat attracted you to the school and the region? NEGS and Armidale have always held an attraction for me, and I had no hesitation when the opportunity arose to accept the role of Head of Junior School and move to Armidale with my family. After my initial interview, I knew I would appreciate the sincere relationships with staff, students, parents and the community, and I recognised my leadership style and aspirations would be an asset to the school. What are your ambitions for your new role? I would love to increase the extra-curricular opportunities offered to students, and we’ve already started this with new Junior School sporting teams, the opening of the new NEGS dance studio and our Junior School Cattle Team, which will start competing at shows later this year. The teachers in the Junior School are very experienced, dedicated educators, and together we’re committed to ensuring a personalised, positive learning experience for each NEGS student. Having worked in Sydney and in large regional schools, what do you hope to implement at NEGS Junior School? My teaching and leadership experience in independent schools is varied, having worked at Trinity Grammar, Scots Bathurst and Coogee Boys’ Preparatory School. With my background in ICT and science, I want to develop in our students a real ability to thrive in a digital age, and as students in a regional
22 New England focus.
area, use technology to open the door to opportunities and resources accessed by their peers in the city. Australia’s literacy and numeracy has been in the spotlight for many years: are there strategies you believe we should be pursuing to give children the best literacy and numeracy skills? Individualised intervention and extension work for students is vital to ensure their future academic success. The NEGS Junior School Transition Program is also a key component that enables young preschoolers to be school ready both in mind and age skill abilities, before they attend Kindergarten. It’s also important to provide clear guidance on explicit teaching and learning, because if those literacy and numeracy skills are described clearly and assessed meaningfully, it will result in successful learning for our students. By providing faster diagnostic assessments and implementing early learning intervention strategies, we can identify and support extension and support needs and develop individual learning plans, to ensure all students reach their full potential. Our small class sizes and access to Senior School resources allow us the perfect environment for this to happen. What do you love about working at NEGS? I love the enthusiastic, honest, down-toearth atmosphere at NEGS - you feel it as soon as you walk through the school gates. The dedication by the school community in creating a nurturing teaching and learning environment is second to none. Thanks Andrew.
CATHERINE McCANN We also chat with Transition teacher Catherine McCann, who is making a real impact at the grassroots level with her contribution to NEGS - acknowledged when she was awarded the highly prestigious 2018 National Excellence In Teaching Award, beating a field of 1,450 nominations.
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creating and working in groups. I am passionhat has been the most memorable experience ate about laughter in our classroom; it’s well of your time working researched that happy, relaxed children learn. as a teacher at NEGS What do you hope to achieve in the next 12 Junior School? months? There are many memoI hope to continue to support children during rable moments, but one moment that was very their early learning journey and to continue to touching was when a little boy who had started work with the rest of the school to implement part way through the year said to his mum at the super creative areas for children to further develend of the day that “Tranop their design, planning, sition is better than a day critical thinking and collabat the beach”. When his orative skills. mum told me this, I felt What do you love about that was all the confirI want children to want to come working at NEGS? mation I needed to know to school, to be curious and I work with an awesome to be engaged, to challenge that education at NEGS is bunch of educators who themselves and others. I fun and dynamic … are so passionate about get so excited when I look around What drives you to stay what they do. the room and see children actively so passionate about NEGS as a whole exploring, questioning, creating education? nurtures children to be and working in groups. The children inspire me strong and to be proud to stay passionate about of who they are - to education. I am motivated accept each other for their by the fact that we, as differences. The staff care educators, have the most deeply about each child fantastic opportunity to be a positive influence in in their care and provide programs that aim to the life of a child. Every day is different, as are the build on strengths. The grounds here provide the children that we teach. I love that children come children with a beautiful sensory experience on a to school with loads of questions, often leading daily basis. I love being able to take the children us down a path of enquiry. As the children are on nature walks, to work outside in a beautiful learning about their topic of interest, I am also natural environment and share many extra experilearning with them. The joy is shared, and the ences, all on our safe campus. enthusiasm builds. I want children to want to NEGS has a way of getting under your skin in come to school, to be curious and to be engaged, the most positive way. The NEGS spirit is strong, and no matter what is thrown at NEGS, it powers to challenge themselves and others. I get so excited when I look around the room on. and see children actively exploring, questioning, Thanks Catherine.
S G
NEGS Junior School
Enrolments are now open for Transition to Year 6 - 2019
For further information please contact NEGS Armidale, Enrolments on T: (02) 6774 8700 | E: enrolments@negs.nsw.edu.au or visit
www.negs.nsw.edu.au
New England focus. 23
Art in the garden
Artists from across the region will be converging on a lovely garden in Arding on Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th April for the annual NERAMble - Art In The Garden weekend.
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his, the twelfth NERAMble, Group will be providing a wide range of musta major fundraiser held by have plants ready for autumn planting. The Friends of NERAM, will be held Friends of NERAM will again be manning their in Julia and Don Hardman’s stalls, providing a range of autumn harvest “Orchard Cottage”, at 329 products and their popular stall of pre-loved Arding Rd, Armidale. baubles, bangles, beads and scarves, as This large cottage garden of several well as providing morning and afternoon acres contains soft Devonshire teas, and curving borders full lunches. of perennials and All of these grasses under a canopy attractions will be set of exotic and native amidst the expansive THE GARDEN WILL FEATURE trees. A large pond garden, including a MANY FORMS OF ART, spanned by a rustic magnificent orchard, INCLUDING SCULPTURES, bridge is surrounded which Don Hardman is POTTERY, JEWELLERY AND by sculptures, and the passionate about, and PAINTINGS. JULIA HARDMAN many seats strategically which will provide a placed around the stunning backdrop for IS A WELL KNOWN ARTIST, garden provide perfect the sculptures. Don is AND HER STUDIO WILL BE spots to admire the also a keen beekeeper OPEN WITH HER PAINTINGS expansive planting and and will be giving AVAILABLE FOR SALE. layout of the garden. demonstrations on the A very productive honey making process, vegetable garden after the bees have provides inspiration. made their contributions The garden will feature many forms of art, of course, in the morning and afternoon of including sculptures, pottery, jewellery and each day. paintings. Julia Hardman is a well known Saturday 7th - Sunday 8th April, 10am artist, and her studio will be open with her 4:30pm. paintings available for sale. $10 per adult ($8 for Friends of NERAM At least a dozen sculptors from across the members). Under 18s free. New England will feature, including Francois Raffle, teas and lunches on sale. Jaggi, Donna Harrison, Bronwyn Goodridge, Directions to Orchard Cottage James Rogers, Rick Tait, Lizzie Horne and From Armidale - at southern roundabout the Back Track team. Potters will include on New England Highway near airport, travel Rick and Suzanne Hatch and Max Powell, south for 6 km to the Arding turnoff; turn and silversmiths Felicity Chappel-Bragg and right and travel 3 km to garden on left - cnr Richard Moon will be selling their beautiful Jackson Road. Parking in Jackson Rd. For wares. Cedar Nursery and the Armidale Tree further details, check www.neram.com.au
24 New England focus.
Becoming a foster carer More than 40,000 young Australians are in need of care, protection and a place to call home. In New South Wales alone, more than 18,000 children and young people are unable to live at home. Coupled with this high number of children in out-of-home care are a low number of foster carers. Why is the number of foster carers not higher? There are numerous qualified, passionate people in our region who would make great foster parents, but who think they don’t qualify. Sometimes, it’s misconceptions that keep people who want to help children in need from enquiring about fostering, but we encourage everyone who may be interested or have ever considered foster caring in their lifetime to contact us for more information. What are the qualities needed to become a foster carer? Just like the young people who need care, Foster Carers are diverse and come from all walks of life. Foster caring isn’t based on race, identity, income or marital status. The most important qualities are your ability to care, nurture and
provide supportive environment to young people in need. Carers must be at least 21 years old, but can be single women or men, cohabiting, married or same-sex couples, with or without children. How can people access more information? You can contact Morgan Cameron, Pathfinders’ Foster Care Recruitment and Assessment Co-ordinator, on 1800 314 199 or morganc@pathfinders.ngo
New England focus. 25
26 New England focus.
focus_travel W I T H L E I G H M C L E N N A N F R O M H E L L O W O R L D T R A V E L A R M I D A L E
EUROPE RIVER RO EU CRUISING C RU I S PRE-RELEASE I NG P
Scenic Cruises.
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Jewelsof of Europe Jewels Europe
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here’s something unique about Scenic’s Canada and Alaska tours that appeal to the adventurer within. Canada is a land of uncommon beauty - a vast kaleidoscope of natural wonders spliced with cultures that are as inviting as they are enticing. From its breathtaking glaciers to its vast open spaces, it’s a land that some go to get lost in, and others go to find themselves. Whether you’ve been entranced by tales of grizzly bears or Anne of Green Gables, or been awed by images of immense mountains, crystalline lakes and log cabins, you’re sure to be both surprised and delighted by what you find on one of Scenic’s Canada and Alaska Tours.
concert at Palais Liechtenstein and exclusive Scenic Enrich the “Best concer t at Palais Liechtenstein and of the Sound of Music and Salzburg Show”.and Salzburg S of the Sound of Music
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The next chapter of Scenic’s amazing journey is the luxurious 6-star We are a Scenic Elite Gold Agent discovery Scenic Eclipse, and have sent our clients all which launches in the over the world on amazing Mediterranean on 31 Scenic tours and cruises, August 2018, sailing from plus we have also had the privilege Athens to Venice. The of experiencing some firsthand. World’s First Discovery FLY FOR Yacht sets a new standard * pp for ocean cruising. Taking Throughout the early guests to places previously 2000s, new destinations across Europe and thought inaccessible, it’s equipped with two on 14 Day Tour& & Cruise Calgary > Vancouver Calgary > Va 14 Day Tour Cruise Russia, Asia and South and Central America board helicopters and a seven-seat submarine, * * From $10,645 pp From pp were soon part of their tour itineraries. Scenic with an on board Discovery Team, a range of$10,645 creates and delivers the ultimate in touring for shore excursions and unparalleled luxury and Witness natural beauty and rare wildlife on this and journey through Western Witness natural beauty rare wildli Canada and Alaska. Includes: GoldLeaf Service onboard Rocky Mountaineer, travellers who seek extraordinary experiences service. Canada and Alaska. Includes: GoldLea of Fairmont Hotel stays, and exclusive to Scenic Enrich, early full range and exceptional service, with a captivating and of Fairmont Hotel stays, and range Opening in Januaryfull 2003 as Harvey World Travel entrance to Capilano Suspension Bridge Park before the public. entrance to Capilano Suspension Brid comprehensive portfolio of exclusive tours to all Armidale and now Helloworld Travel Armidale, corners of this incredible planet. we have shared the last 15 years of this amazing
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journey with Scenic. We are a Scenic Elite Gold Agent and have sent our clients all over the world on amazing Scenic tours and cruises, and we have also had the privilege of experiencing Scenic first hand. Conditions
In 2008 Scenic launched their first all-inclusive Scenic Space-Ships on Europe’s waterways - more akin to floating hotels, with private balconies, world-class dining and butler service;
Armidale Central next to Big W.
HELLOWORLD TRAVEL ARMIDALE HELLOW
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New England focus. 27
focusinterview.
Florence Mae
Brown
FOCUS found out more about Florence Mae Brown, helping to reveal the secrets behind reaching 104 years of age!
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here was Mae born? Epping and Newcastle, where they also lived in the Mae was born in late 1920s, was pleasant and involved many trips Urmston, a suburb of to the local cinemas to see the latest silent films. Manchester on 2 May She was a very keen film fan in her early teens. 1914 - three months When did Mae first arrive in Australia? before the start of Mae and her family arrived in Sydney in January World War One. Her father, Charles Champion, 1926 and went immediately to Newcastle, where was the manager of a her father had been promised steelworks at Irlam. a position in BHP by Essington What was life like while Lewis. The position never Mae was growing up? eventuated and they returned Mae remembers that on to Sydney, where her father AT AN EARLY AGE SHE one of her early birthdays, got a job as an engineer with JOINED THE JUNIOR she was taken to a birthday Babcock and Wilcox. They RED CROSS, AND SHE treat in a horse-drawn cab. returned to Newcastle in 1930. She also remembers being Mae learnt to drive in 1931, WAS VERY FOND OF scared of Zeppelin bombing learning on the next-door ANIMALS. SHE HAD raids at the end of WWI. At neighbour’s Salmson racing A FAVOURITE DOG, A an early age she joined the car. She was a very good WHIPPET CALLED BILLY. Junior Red Cross, and she driver. was very fond of animals. When did Mae marry; did She had a favourite dog, a she have big wedding? whippet called Billy. Mae married Jack Croft in What was Mae’s schooling like? Newcastle in June 1940, not long after he had Mae’s early school career was in Manchester. joined the army. Jack was 10 years older than Mae Her family migrated to Australia in 1926, when and one of a longstanding family in Newcastle. she was 12. In Sydney she went to a private school They had one child, Julian, born in May 1941, a in Epping and then to a secretarial college. Life in few months before Jack, a member of the 8th 28 New England focus.
Division, sailed for Singapore. After the fall of Singapore in February 1942, Mae did not know whether Jack was alive or dead until 1944, when she was told he was a Prisoner of War in Changi Prison. Jack died in 1948, and Mae married James Irving Brown in 1953. They had a very happy marriage of over 60 years. What sort of work did Mae do? Mae worked as a secretary for her father until Julian was born. Thereafter she was kept busy by domestic duties, charity work, and as an active spinner and weaver, having several successful exhibitions of her work in Newcastle in the 1970s and 1980s. How have things changed from then to today? The main change would be that most women these days have to work and have little time for their own interests and hobbies. Mae always read a lot and knitted and spun. She enjoyed being at home, but she also had an active social life. What’s Mae’s secret to a long life? Genes. Her grandmother and great grandmother all lived into the 90s - which was not common 100 or more years ago. Plus, keeping mentally and physically active and pursuing your own interests. Yoga also helped. Mae was doing Yoga in her 80s. What an amazing story; thanks Mae.
New England focus. 29
focus_tech
WITH
GAVIN MORONEY
Tech Head
APPLE
WATCH SERIES 3 42MM
As a self-confessed Apple fanboy, I have hesitated about getting an Apple Watch and found myself asking what was the point of having a device like a Smartwatch when I have a Smartphone? Now, after spending the past few months with the Apple Watch Series 3, I’m left wondering how I lived without it.
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n first view, nothing much has changed in the design since the first Apple watch. It comes in both 38 mm and 42 mm designs, both with 16 GB of storage and comes with all you can expect from today’s tech, including GPS, wifi, bluetooth and a handy heart rate monitor. There is the more expensive option of having cellular - which to be honest, with the $599 price tag and the monthly cellular plan, leaves me wondering if it’s worth the extra money to be able to make a call from your watch? Especially when you can make and receive calls from the standard Apple watch, as long as your phone is not far away. Coming in around 32 grams, it’s extremely
30 New England focus.
lightweight, unlike some traditional watches, and most of the time I don’t feel like I’m wearing a watch at all. The battery life, depending on use, is anywhere from one two days on a full charge, instead of the 16 hours stated by Apple. For those who take their fitness seriously, the inclusion of GPS is great for recording your speed and distances when running, cycling or swimming. With Apple’s built in fitness app, it almost becomes a daily game trying to beat your calorie, steps and standing goals. Once connected to bluetooth headphones, you can listen to music while exercising and leave the phone at home. The upgraded heart rate monitoring works extremely well. It’s no longer just counting
your beats per minute, but recording your daily resting heart rate, your workout ranges, pulse while walking, all to give you a chart of whether it’s improving or not. Some of the negatives to the watch would have to be the speed of apps; sometimes apps just don’t want to work or they run extremely slow, and there are only limited options for watch faces from Apple, but with some third party apps you can create your own. By far my favourite thing I have found about using the Apple Watch is that I’m spending a lot less time on my phone. Notifications for nearly every app on your phone are now displayed on the watch, and you have the option to choose whether to
reach for the phone or not. Gone are the days of checking a text message and ending up down the rabbit hole of social media. So with a flick of the wrist, those antisocial dinner dates with friends behind your phone screen, or trying to discreetly check whether that call coming through is an important one whilst mid conversation or meeting, are a thing of the past. This isn’t a stand alone device, but rather an accessory to your phone. It is great for anyone who enjoys fitness, tech, or loves everything Apple, and I have to remind myself it is first and foremost a watch, and it tells the time perfectly. Price: 42mm $499; 38 mm $459. Tech Heads: seven out of 10 Tech Heads.
focusinterview.
Sydney
Chamber
Choir
The Sydney Chamber Choir will be performing on Thursday 3rd May at the Armidale Town Hall. Described as
sacred and profane, ancient and modern, imported and homegrown: join Sydney Chamber Choir on a musical journey into the heart of beauty.
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he human voice is the most expressive of all instruments, and this concert features some of the great masters of choral writing: Hildegard of Bingen’s ecstatic melodies, written for the nuns of her 12th-Century abbey; exquisitely passionate madrigals by Monteverdi and Gesualdo; the lush harmonies of Brahms and the delicacy of Debussy; and three thrilling Australian choruses for a mighty finale. We recently spoke with the SCC’s conductor, Australian icon Richard Gill, about his thoughts on music education, the importance of singing and what we can expect from the upcoming performance. In your career as a conductor and music educator you have worked in many contexts: with orchestras, choirs, opera companies, schools, Musica Viva, live television, and many more. Is there one of these contexts that has been more rewarding for you than others? My favourite gig is the one I’m doing right now. My favourite work is the one I’m rehearsing at the moment. All music-making has its joys, sorrows, challenges, difficulties, hardships and rewards. I’m happiest when I’m working and wish that I were better at it. I still have time to improve. In a 2013 article, you started with the statement, “Music education does not just make children more musical; it unleashes their creative powers”. Five years later, do you feel that schools are moving towards or away from a focus on musical education and experiences? While ever we have the stupidity of NAPLAN hanging over the heads of teachers, children and parents and while we still have this ridiculous push to teach the unteachable: e.g. “we are doing literacy today”, “we are
in our primary and preschools? Do we doing numeracy tomorrow”, our education need specialists here in all NSW schools? system will continue to decline. Literacy Part one. You can teach some classroom and numeracy are not subject areas. They teachers to teach aspects of music, and are states or conditions at which one this is being done very successfully in the arrives as a result of being educated. Many National Music Teacher Mentoring schools have cut back all programs which Program. There comes a time, however (Part appear to stand in the way of delivering two), when a specialist has to take good NAPLAN results, such as Music, Art, over, and I hope that time is not too far away. Dance, Drama, instrumental programs and You are currently the Music Director of the like. Our education system is a mess the Sydney Chamber Choir, which is locally and nationally. It could be improved especially renowned for its if the authorities who know nothing about interpretations of education stopped telling Renaissance and teachers and principals Baroque works what to do and allowed and as a champion the teachers to actually of contemporary teach. ALL MUSIC-MAKING Australian choral The time spent on HAS ITS JOYS, SORROWS, music. What can we pointless assessment is CHALLENGES, expect to hear in the time wasted. Children DIFFICULTIES, HARDSHIPS current concert tour? are sick of being taught AND REWARDS. Renaissance music, rubbish and teachers Australian music, early are sick of teaching Baroque music, some rubbish. Time to wake up, gorgeous Brahms and Australia. Debussy. It’s an aural feast. You continually stress the importance of In a recent TED talk you said, “When in early music education; what are doubt, improvise”. What advice some examples of musical activities that would you give to young musicians can be shared with very young wanting to explore this important aspect children? of musical expression? All those related to a very young baby Improvisation is gradually coming back into can contribute to its musical development music-making, and many studio teachers are from birth onwards. Humming to the baby, employing techniques of improvisation in the singing to the baby, dancing with the baby, early stages of children’s lessons. My advice saying nursery rhymes in imaginative ways all would be to start with very simple patterns contribute to musical development. Playing which children can rearrange by altering the recorded music to children in which a parent rhythm, for example, then adding a simple also plays a part as far as the direction of accompaniment and then extending the the listening is concerned is also incredibly patterns. It should be part of every lesson and important in the development of hearing and should always be grounded in a simple idea listening and subsequently in the child’s which can be developed. capacity to discriminate. Can any teacher be trained to teach music You are a champion of developing the
voice as the first instrument. What are the benefits of singing, especially for young children? Very young children are natural song makers. All my granddaughters made up songs from about the age of two until the age of five. When they start this singing, humming and making up songs, they are developing memory for rhythm, pitch and text and the patterns associated with rhythm, pitch and text. It is from this memory bank that we can teach musical concepts of a formal nature when children have a large body of repertoire including nursery rhymes, all sorts of chants and songs, games and dances. This tends to stay in the memory bank for life, so it would seem. Alternately, what importance is there in encouraging elderly people (especially those with special needs) to continue singing? Singing is almost the same as a physical exercise such as walking. Singing induces feelings of pleasure and joy, and many of the songs we learn throughout our life tend to stay with us. I can recall word for word and note for note almost all the hymns I learned as a five year old at St Anthony’s Clovelly. The singing is much more present in my memory than any other form of lesson we had. Sing on and sing always! Thanks Richard.
When Thursday 3rd May, 7pm. Book online www.trybooking.com/TDGY Phone NECOM 6788 2137 More info www.necom.org.au www.musicavivaarmidale.org.au New England focus. 31
Elders Insurance Making a Difference. Elders has partnered with QBE in their Premiums4Good campaign to help create positive change in communities here and around the world. Premiums4Good is a ground breaking program at QBE Insurance, whereby a portion of customer insurance premium is allocated to investments with an additional social or environmental objective. From social impact bonds supporting social services, child welfare, health and education to green bonds with environmental aims, Premiums4Good currently supports 18 separate investments. The Benevolent Society is one of Australia's oldest charities and is committed to helping individuals, families and communities achieve positive change. Through Premiums4Good, QBE has invested in the Benevolent Society's Social Benefit Bond, one of the first social impact bonds to be launched globally. The Benevolent Society's Social Benefit Bond funds the implementation of Resilient Families, an intensive family support program which aims to keep children with their families and out of foster care where it's safe to do so. Here at Elders Insurance we thrive on helping the community. Come on in and have a chat and together we can help the world.
32 New England focus.
New England focus. 33
34 New England focus.
MARISSA CROSS & ROBERT CARLON
BEAUTY
Legends.
R
Marissa Cross from Ella Baché and Robert Carlon from Equilibrium Hair began a professional friendship which has benefited both businesses in many ways. They tell FOCUS readers how networking and investing in apprenticeships adds growth and substance to their businesses.
emind us how long you have both businesses together. Surrounding yourself with motivated been in business and here in Armidale, people helps to give us the drive to grow our businesses and tell us about your professional to be able to deliver an outstanding service to all of our friendship ... new and existing clients. As both of our businesses are Marissa - I have been in the industry for 20 independently owned, we understand the importance of years, and in this time I have had a few business changes. I supporting local businesses where we can. We are both well started with my parents, originally buying the salon (Anna supported by our local business community and believe that Louise Beauty Salon) while I completed my beauty therapy their support and recommendation helps our businesses to apprenticeship. Once I finished, I took over the salon, then grow. progressed to becoming a franchisee with You are both very passionate the Ella Baché network and moving the about apprentices and training in salon to its current location in Dangar your salons; why? Street, which is now in its 12th year. I Marissa - Keeping up to Networking with currently employ six fully qualified beauty date with training is vital to our like-minded people is therapists and one apprentice who is near industry, as there are constantly imperative in gaining completion, and am on the look out for a new treatments, products and successful methods and new apprentice to join our growing team. technologies available. With over strategies in business. Rob - I have been living back in Armidale 60 years’ experience within my Sharing useful ideas for over four years and am loving being salon team, training apprentices is and knowledge with able to share my love for all things hair a great way to train therapists to a each other means that with my local community. Equilibrium high standard for my salon and to everyone involved is able Hair is now in its fourth year. In that short continue providing employment to to improve and grow time, I have seen a significant growth local people. our businesses together. within my business. We have recently Rob - There are two ways moved to 118A Dangar Street, directly of achieving a hairdressing opposite Ella Baché. Our new location has qualification; one being a onehelped with gaining more presence and year TAFE or college course, exposure. I currently have two wonderful employees, Bek where the individual does not gain as much experience Tearle and Brianna Clarke, who are both looking to expand or future employment opportunities, and the other being their clientele. We are currently on the lookout for a new an Australian Apprenticeship. This allows individuals the First Year Apprentice and also a qualified Senior Hairdresser opportunity to grow and develop their skills in a hands-on to join our team. work environment, while being mentored and engaged Rob and Marissa - Our professional friendship began by senior staff, along with attending TAFE or a private initially from us both requiring each other’s hair and beauty college to gain their qualification. I believe this method of services, but it didn’t take long for us to realise we both had learning to be the most effective way of helping to create so much in common in our similar industries. This has led passionate and skilled senior hairdressers within my team. to many informal meetings discussing our future business Apprentices are so important in my business, as it pushes plans and being able to bounce ideas off of one another and me to constantly update and improve my skills personally, so get advice. We both look forward to building our friendship I can pass on the most up to date training techniques and further to support the growth and success of both of our information. Without apprentices, the future of our industry businesses. will not have the same level of education and opportunities How important is networking with local businesses to that I was given as an apprentice. complement and grow existing business? What does the future hold for Rob and Marissa? Networking with like-minded people is imperative in Moving forward, we will be working together to make gaining successful methods and strategies in business. salon packages available for our clients. Whether it be for Sharing useful ideas and knowledge with each other means a wedding, formal or just a fabulous girls’ day out, we look that everyone involved is able to improve and grow our forward to making this all possible in the near future.
New England focus. 35
36 New England focus.
BEAUTY TIP #2
HAIR REMOVAL.
BEAUTY TIP #1
HAIR COLOUR CORRECTION.
BY MARISSA CROSS ELLA BACHÉ
So, what is the difference between "IPL (Intense Pulse Light)" and hair removal treatment?
BY ROBERT CARLON EQUILIBRIUM HAIR
I would like to talk to you today about hair colour correction. For example, it might be going from light to dark, dark to light, red to blonde or even a DIY hair colour disaster.
We get asked daily about what is IPL? Is laser the same thing? How does it work? Laser stands for Light Amplification Stimulated Emission Radiation. From the early 1960s, lasers
Either way, it requires an advanced colourist with a special set of skills and understanding of colour to get the colour correction just right.
were used for a range of medical purposes,
BLONDE. We have all been there or tried to go there at one time or another in our lives and as far too many of you would have experienced, the end result can be devastating, whether it be an undesirable colour or even breakage and hair fall. At Equilibrium Hair we use only the best hair colour and care products available to protect your hair throughout the whole process. Whenever lightening your hair, it is important to follow our advice on realistic outcomes that you are able to achieve depending on your existing colour, hair condition and products for your at home care. Using products from a chemist or supermarket when colouring your hair is a big no
for photodamaged skins and hair removal. Both
such as eye surgery, cosmetic procedures and so on. IPL was developed in the 1990s specifically laser hair removal and IPL are usually considered
tanned skin tones, whilst IPL is more effective
no, particularly when going lighter.
safe and effective hair removal solutions.
on a lighter skin tone with darker hair. It is also
BRUNETTE. Going darker is not as simple as putting a brown box colour over your blonde and hoping for the best. It requires replacing lost pigment prior to achieving your dream shade, which only a colourist can do for you. As with lightening, it is equally important to use the correct haircare regime at home. For all colour corrections I recommend using L'oreal Professionnel's SmartBond both during the colour process and to maintain your colour and condition at home.
Although IPL is not a laser, it can be compared to
important to note both these treatments are
one. The main technical difference between the
for hair reduction and are not a permanent hair
two is that laser uses one specific wavelength of
removal method. The only permanent method is
light, while IPL uses a full spectrum. IPL and lasers
electrolysis, but it can only treat smaller areas e.g.
work in similar ways, by sending light into the
facial hairs. We recommend a treatment course
hair follicles. The light absorbs in the hair follicle,
of six - eight treatments initially, and then top up
turns in to heat and destroys it. It is widely
treatments from there. We currently offer IPL in
discussed whether IPL or Laser is better for hair
our salon and electrolysis. If you are interested
removal, and the answer may depend on whom
in any of these treatments, we do offer a free
you ask. It can depend mostly on skin type and
consultation to discuss which would be the best
hair colour. Laser can be more safe on darker and
option for you.
New England focus. 37
JOHN
Harris. BA, LLB, GDLP
RICE MORE & GIBSON SOLICITORS.
Coming from a long line of lawyers, John Harris has pursued a passion that once was a dream. While being a small business owner, hospitality worker and parent of two young boys, John has finished his law degree and has now taken up a role at Rice, More and Gibson. FOCUS finds out what his journey was like moving from Canberra to Armidale, and everything in between …
T
ell us a little about yourself. I grew up in Sydney, my family moved to Canberra when I was twelve, then I came to Armidale when I was 18. Now I find the city almost overwhelming; I far prefer the pace of country life. I came to Armidale to study Arts and Law; I became involved in student politics and advocated for students from small and regional campuses on a national scale. I enjoyed networking with students with similar issues from all over Australia; needless to say, the law fell by the wayside, although I did finish the Arts Degree. I found the progression into hospitality from politics quite smooth. They are similar in that you meet interesting people from all walks of life and do your best to give them what they want - the difference being in hospitality your soul remains intact and you don’t have to lie anywhere near as much. I had a great run and was lucky to work in some of Armidale’s best restaurants, with some amazing chefs whom I learnt a lot from. I was even lucky enough to own my own little restaurant for three years. Along the way I made some incredible friends, became part of the community and started a family. Working nights meant that I could be there to enjoy lots of special moments wth my two amazing boys. I still believe that being a stay at home dad in those early years was the best thing I have ever done. I reached a point where I was ready for a change; I love hospitality, but I really wanted to play a more meaningful role in
38 New England focus.
the community. When I discussed going back to uni, my partner, Jobi, was incredibly supportive. She was by my side the whole way and without her, my friends and family, I never could have made it through. What began as part-time study evolved into a fulltime passion, and four years later I graduated and enrolled to obtain my practising certificate as a solicitor. I still love helping out at Courthouse Coffee on weekends; Peter and Chrissy are like family to me, and I enjoy showing the kids how it’s done. What made you pick Armidale to live, study and create you life? What was the most appealing part of the region? For me, getting away from the city as a teenager was a positive change; it really broadened my horizons. The longer I live in Armidale, the more I love it. I love the lifestyle, culture and great food which is out there if you know where to look. When I first came here there were plenty of pub meals, but few really top notch places to enjoy something special. I like to think that through my years at Red Grapevine, Turn Tables and Azka I was part of Armidale’s culinary evolution. With that said, I also still love a good pub feed; I reckon Impie’s Bangers and Mash is second only to my mum’s. As my kids approach high school, I am really appreciative we have been able to stay here. I enjoy the relaxed atmosphere and the convenience of having the whole town at my fingertips. What made you want to become a lawyer? The law is strong in my family. My mother and father are lawyers; so are my brother and
skills. I’m also interested in property law and one of my sisters. Even my other sister, who is a professional opera singer in London, can succession; I have been lucky to have been explain the “But For Test” better than most involved in some fascinating matters in these lecturers. My grandfather was a Magistrate, areas. and it was great hearing stories recently about The ethos at RMG is a perfect for me, and I him from a local senior practitioner who love being able to say that we are fighting the worked as his article clerk in times gone by. good fight. I work with some amazing people As a kid, I would go to my father’s chambers and enjoy the friendships and supportive team after school and wait for him to finish; I was atmosphere which is missing in many big lucky enough to name firms. The Partners have some amazing have really supported my legal minds as friends growth and development and mentors as a as a solicitor. They have Over the next few years teenager. given me a broad range of I’d like to focus on some My admission to the cases to work on, which is fundamentals. I believe Supreme Court was a perfect, because I think to I’m learning from the best really special day; for be a successful solicitor in criminal law team in the me, it symbolised the a country area you have to New England. end of a long journey be versatile and effective in and the start of a new multiple areas of the law. one. It was amazing What’s the best part of to witness how highly your job? regarded my parents Those two sweet words, “Not Guilty”. are in the legal community. I could only laugh Having all charges acquitted is an amazing when one of Canberra’s Top Silks approached feeling. Learning from Frank Falcomata, I me afterwards in mock outrage to ask why I have been lucky enough to hear that a few hadn’t briefed him yet. times now. He has also taught me that it’s not Finishing a law degree is one thing. But, it doesn’t finish there, does it? So what’s next? Over the next few years I’d like to focus on some fundamentals. I have always been drawn to Criminal Law, and it’s the area I did really well in at uni. I was incredibly fortunate that Rice, More & Gibson took me on. I genuinely believe I am learning from the best criminal law team in the New England, and I really want to hone and develop those
really cool to go for the high five when the
jury delivers a not guilty verdict in the District Court. What’s the hardest thing about your job? As a parent, watching the way legal proceedings affect children can be hard. I think kids really suffer when families break up, can’t compromise and end up fighting it out in court. Thanks John.
TWENTY FOUR on MOORE. What prompted you to go into your own business? Having both worked in the hospitality industry since we were teenagers, we decided that we would take a leap of faith and buy our own café. We have a love for food and people and felt it would be a great opportunity to combine the two and bring a fresh and welcoming café to the Armidale community. What do you love most about running Twentyfour on Moore? Nothing pleases us more than producing beautiful food and coffee for our customers. We pride ourselves on creating delicious meals, cakes and slices, and recently our freshly baked ciabatta bread, all in store. This is why we run our business - to provide great food, great coffee and exceptional service. Tell us about your menu ... Our chef has created a menu with a modern and contemporary feel and could be described as “classics with a twist”. Some of our customer favourites include our Eggs Woodhouse for breakfast, the Warm Roasted Pumpkin and Beetroot Salad, and our Pan Seared Polenta and Haloumi. Plans for the future? We hope to open of an evening for people to enjoy a drink and a meal and really make use of our wonderful location.
Laurence Nussbaumer nTech & Communications We started nTech & Communications three years ago, seeing a need in Armidale for a phone solution that would work on the NBN and be reliable, cost effective, and give businesses a range of features that would enrich the way they communicate. Mainstream providers were causing huge issues and blown out costs for local businesses, including loss of numbers, and down time. We’ve partnered with Vonex, whose sole business is providing IP phone systems, are market leaders in Australia and abroad, and have won the CRN fast 50 - Australia’s fastest growing IT company, 2014. We have disrupted the market by providing a viable alternative to the old traditional monopolies by using new, state of the art technologies. Having an existing relationship with Vonex and having used their products for years, we knew we could provide a high-quality solution at a fraction of the cost. IP phones work on the internet, as opposed to traditional copper lines, and as such provide a huge cost benefit and multiple features. Since launch, our customers have enjoyed high up-time, features which help their business, scalability, local knowledge and support, and the significant cost benefits, both upfront and ongoing, of a Vonex IP Phone system.
PEARCE EGGERT Bang for ya buck. Pearce, you have been in our young and successful business feature before - what is new since we last spoke? Our pest control service that we offer has boomed! I have been a licensed pest control technician for three years now, and I’m loving the line of work. In particular, I do a lot of end of lease flea and tick treatments for renters who are moving out and have had a pet. Whilst this is our most popular service, we also specialise in internal and external spider, cockroach, rodent, wasp and ant treatments. We service residential and commercial properties in Uralla, Guyra and Armidale, with travel available. Once a treatment is lodged in our system, we send out annual reminders to our clients to ensure that their residential property is free of pests all year round. We also service many local commercial premises with tailor made pest registers in accordance with Council legislation. What is the best time of year we should be treating for pests? The best time to treat for pests is before they multiply. Prevention is always better than a cure. Generally speaking though, I recommend to my residential clients that they have their property treated for spiders in the warmer months and treated for rodents in the cooler months. These factors can vary depending on location though, so it’s important to use a professional technician who can give you the best advice.
New England focus. 39
focusinterview.
RHONDA
Butler.
THE DANDELION CAFÉ & THE PEACH BLOSSOM CAFÉ
Rhonda Butler, owner of The Peach Blossom Café in the Richardsons Arcade has just purchased her second café, The Dandelion Café in the Coles Complex. We speak to Rhonda about what it’s like running two busy cafés in the New England.
T
ell us how the journey all began ... Since I was young, I've always wanted to own my own restaurant. I have loved cooking since I was a small child, and that has turned into my life's passion. I've worked in hospitality most of my life and decided to make the leap into running my own business a couple of years ago. I saw that the kiosk where the Peach is was empty, and thought it was a great opportunity to get my first business off the ground. Tell us how you made the Peach Blossom different to the other cafés in the area? We make all our cakes and savoury dishes onsite. Our focus at the Peach Blossom is mostly grab and go, so it's great for those on short lunch breaks or pushed for time. We offer a good variety of sandwiches, salads and of course, the best baked spuds in town. If you have some time, you're welcome to sit and enjoy your meal or coffee and cake at the table. We recently introduced freshly squeezed juices, and our smoothies and thick shakes are very popular. So if running one café wasn't enough, what made you jump into becoming the owner of the Dandelion Café?
40 New England focus.
team on board! I seriously couldn't do it I love a challenge! The two cafés are quite without them. different and allow me to tap into different Tell us about your staff. aspects of my passion. Across both cafés we currently employ I love art and photography, so The eight staff. Dandelion is also a gallery where we display At The Peach Blossom I have an amazing and sell artworks by local artists. Do both the cafés have team! They have really the same items? picked up the ball, At The Dandelion Café which has allowed our focus is more on me to devote the time We make all our cakes and a social meet up with needed to get The savoury dishes onsite. Our family and friends for a Dandelion up and focus is mostly grab and quick lunch or leisurely running. go, so it's great for those breakfast. We offer a Chrissy is our baker on short lunch breaks or more a la carte menu, extraordinaire; she is pushed for time. which allows me to responsible for our utilise the abundance delicious cheesecakes, of wonderful seasonal brownies, slices and produce. our very popular kids' At the Peach we offer fresh house made cupcakes. She also takes care of all the little meals that range from sandwiches, quiche, things that need to be done. lasagne and our very popular baked spuds We also have the wonderful Katy, who has and pies. We are also introducing our new taken on much of my role in customer service range of ready made salads and meals for and makes an awesome latte! those short on time. On the weekends and afternoons we have How do you manage both places at the lovely Bella and Georgia. They are my once? superstar duo! With a great deal of support from my staff At The Dandelion, our Front of House is and my family and partner! We have a great the lovely and very creative Lauren, who
makes our cake display look so great. She is also fantastic at coffees and has introduced our new range of iced drinks. Lauren is also responsible for our Instagram and Facebook pages for both cafés. In the kitchen we have the awesome Sandy! Sandy is my lifesaver and opens the café at 6:30 every morning, ready to make breaky and your morning caffeine fix. You really need to try one of Sandy's scones; they are the best! We also have the lovely Kayla, who is my support during the busy lunch hours; she keeps everything running smoothly and covers both sections where needed. Georgia is our wonderful Saturday Front of House, and has excellent customer service skills and makes awesome coffees! What's the best part about what you do? I love people! In my day I get to chat to amazing people from all walks of life. We have our regulars who come in every day or a few times a week, and then there are those who are traveling through and I get to hear all about their adventures on the road. I also love to create good food. As the owner I get to choose what goes on the menu, which gives me the freedom to be creative. Thanks Rhonda.
New England focus. 41
Humulus Lupulus; more “u”s than a sheep factory and the Latin name for the common hop plant. The history of these fragrant little fellows is strikingly similar to this column; it abounds in unsupported statements, misleading or inaccurate quotations, and inadequate references. It’s the perfect topic.
T
he first mention in human history was penned by Pliny the Elder, who was a bit older than Pliny the Younger, by all accounts, about 77AD. At this time hops were
being utilised as a medicine to treat restlessness,
give us the flavours in beers that range from the banal - lemon, citrus, pine, tropical, to the bizarre - fermented bandages, rusty nails and Heidi Klum after a cigarette. In terms of bitterness, for those not so initiated into the dank dark arts of resinous refreshments, there’s a dubiously studied but
insomnia and anxiety,
definitely demonstrable
which explains perfectly
effect dubbed the
how they ended up in
“Lupulin Shift”, whence
beer 500 years later. Since then, all sorts of stupefying stories and deceitful ditties have diffused the historic discourse, not least that of the Jews and their jeopardous jail time behind Babylonian bars, during which their hoppy habits happened to have the effect of miraculously eliminating Leprosy. Now
once one whops enough
THE COMPREHENSIVE HOP COMPENDIUM I WAS SHAMELESSLY COPYING HAS COME TO AN END, AND LEST TOO THIS ARTICLE’S COHERENCE, IT MIGHT BE BEST TO CIRCUMVENT THE HOP PLANT’S CLOSEST COUSIN, CANNABIS - ASIDE FROM MENTIONING THE RESOUNDING FAMILY RESEMBLANCE.
in terms of skepticism, I’m right up there - I don’t even believe Harry Potter - so when I say that I don’t know a single person who drinks beer who’s had Leprosy, I think it’s safe to say the Jews weren’t joking. Alas, the comprehensive hop compendium I
hops, they shift their bitterness threshold and immediately need a bigger dose to get the same hit. Hops sound a lot like crack cocaine, right? They live in beer? Cannabis’ cousin! It would be easy to paint these green goodies as the party boys of the plant world, but in fact you’d be fudging one of their most fortunate features. Brewing clean
beer means constantly battling bad bacteria, and you know what bacteria hate? That’s right: a certain crime fighting climbing plant’s compounds that create bitterness! Boom, like Charlie Sheen
was shamelessly copying has come to an end,
and Mcauley Caulkin’s little danky dank love
and lest too this article’s coherence, it might be
child, hops bounce back from the brink and
best to circumvent the hop plant’s closest cousin,
become household heroes once again.
cannabis - aside from mentioning the resounding family resemblance. We best get back to beer. To both the brewer and the boozer, hops
Talk about a whirlwind tour of the history of hops! It’s doubtful any of those basic HTML websites from the ‘90s I used were remotely true,
throws down a triple threat; boiled for an
so you should really save the recalling of this
extended time they give us bitterness, added in
raucous rambling for your less well read friends
the final five to 30 minutes of boiling the brew
over a ridiculously hoppy red IPA, whose bouquet
they give us flavour, and added any later in the
reveals layer after layer of rusty nails, Chernobyl
process they provide aroma. These combine to
rubble and Rigor Mortis.
42 New England focus.
SAMMY Hodges
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NEW ENGLAND EVENT DOMES
ow long has your business allowing for projections to be seen from inside been running? and out. We have been operating our The 14 m x 8.5 m dome is our flagship and event lighting business in New truly is a sight to behold. It's floor area of England since 2008. Initially 44.4 m² gives it a max capacity of 300 standing, just providing disco lights for house parties, we 130 at round tables and 150 conference style, have grown to be the region’s premier wedding which makes it perfect for most weddings. It lighting supplier; our domes regularly travel can be heated in winter and air-conditioned in interstate for music festivals, weddings and summer, is waterproof and rated to 120 km/h conferences. winds. What do you offer with your lighting and Certainly a venue for all seasons! domes that puts you ahead of the rest? The new dome will be 10 m x 4.5 m, again Perfection! Big job or small, we are dedicated with a waterproof skin and a range of different to the process of finding door and widow options. out exactly the mood that This dome will be our most is required and delivering versatile and cost effective a result that both satisfies model. Through ten years of and surprises. What’s new for N.E.E.D? experience working Through ten years Projection mapping! with wedding and event of experience working We have been planners, brides, grooms with wedding and event experimenting with a and their families, we have planners, brides, grooms variety of projection developed a sixth sense in and their families, we systems for the inside getting the most out of any have developed a sixth and outside of the dome, space outdoor or in, while sense in getting the most creating super high keeping to a budget. out of any space outdoor definition, interactive or in, while keeping to a spaces, and have arrived at budget. a winner! Our new system We always have a technician at the wedding/ will allow us (and you) to control every aspect of event to ensure everything is functioning correctly the 360 visual experience. Motion sensors and when it is turned on. We then return to turn microphones placed throughout the dome will everything off again at the end of the night. We alter the visuals based on the levels of excitement leave nothing for the customer to worry about, in the movement and voices of the guests. except enjoying their event. We are applying for Arts Council and Festivals With New England Event Domes and Lighting, Australia grants. Expect to see an IMAX style, 360 satisfaction is guaranteed! degree, interactive movie event this year in a park Tell us a bit more about your domes. somewhere in Armidale. At the moment we have two different models, What’s the best way to find out more? with production on a third size beginning later Check out our Facebook pages to see photos this year. of some of the amazing lighting and dome The 6 m x 3.5 m dome is perfect for smaller installs we have done. events, making for a fantastic gifts or tea and Call 0412 188 359 for a quote or more info. coffee pavilion for weddings or an ideal front of Email ploof_sam@hotmail.com house tent for a concert or festival. This dome is Facebook fb.com/NewEnglandEventDomes also available with a specialised projection skin, or fb.com/looselighting
Josh
DOBSON DOBSON’S DISTILLERY
If you fancy a Gin and Tonic, you may have heard about the amazing new creation from Dobson’s Distillery, Dobson’s Sweet Pea Gin. With a rich and deep blue colour, it literally transforms in the glass to a purple or pink hue, depending on what it is mixed with. Josh Dobson (son of the well known distiller Steve Dobson) has returned to the New England and is the brain behind the booze. FOCUS sits and sips with Josh, who tells us about this chameleon spirit.
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ell us a little bit about yourself ... I’m originally from the Northern Beaches of Sydney. After studying and teaching, travelling the world, I thought it may be time to pursue something a little different. So I made the decision to move from the lovely beaches of Sydney to this amazing rural setting! It has been a bit of a transition, but I’m loving being a part of this awesome community. Did you always have the passion for the creation of boutique spirits? I had an interest in it, but it wasn’t something that I had a great understanding about, or was particularly driven to do. It was something a bit different, challenging and cool to experience something out of my skillset. When I tried it, I found the mix of scientific and the creative aspects seemed really interesting and captivating. Also, I really enjoy the pace of life out here (Eastview Estate - Kentucky). How did you come up with “Sweet Pea”? Well, there was a lot of encouragement from my dad to keep pushing the boundaries and keep finding new flavours. He was always pushing us to create new flavours and products. Ian (Distiller) and I have tried a variety of ideas, once I really focused on it and chose what I really wanted out of it. Because I didn’t have an alcohol connoisseur background, I felt I was free to create something that I liked, as I wasn’t bound by some of the rules that may hold others back. I set out to create something really natural and to capture the flavour of the fruits involved in the production. So when it came to the actual production of Sweet Pea, I knew I loved mandarin, grapefruit and tangelo; I knew that I wanted to drink something that incorporated them in a significant way.
then came scaling it up to a larger format. What was I did have some inspiration from some other Australian gins next in the process? too. The Legume Butterfly Pea Flower, which grows in South At the moment we are producing at the rate of 100 - 200 East Asia, traditionally has medicinal properties ranging from bottles per week; it’s quite limited, as we have to share the stress relief to memory enhancement. The use of it in the resources equipment-wise as well as ingredient-wise amongst world of cocktails and bar is quite limited in Australia. such a broad range of products. So, we do have to be After the numerous tests, trial runs and tastings, what conservative in how much we produce; came next? Did you take it to Dad however, at the moment, we are having (Steve Dobson) and say, “What do our products sold out across the region, you think of this?” so we are looking at ways to expand the Well, Dad and Ian were helping me production line, as well as increasing our taste it as I went along. But you do I had an interest in it, but yields too. We are hoping to eventually find that not everyone’s tastebuds are it wasn’t something that I can it and do a pre-mixed version. aligned and everyone has a different had a great understanding What’s next next for Sweet Pea? opinion about it, so, while we did about, or was particularly It’s currently been entered in the go back and forth a few times, once driven to do. It was Australian Distilled Spirits Award; while a flavour and colour that I liked was something a bit different, it is a quite competitive competition, we established, the big issues was the challenging and cool to hope it will get a place in that. Also, it’s scientific stuff, bottling etc. - like how experience something out really nice to get some feedback outside to create it so the proteins wouldn’t of my skillset. the local community, where everyone is settle in it. Also, there is a quite long so supportive. It’s also making its way to clarification process that the spirit has the San Fransisco World Spirit Competito go through to make sure it is at a tion, which is one of the largest comps level of neutrality and purity. Nailing down the flavour was the hardest bit, just finding the balance. in the world. So, what’s next for your journey as a distiller? Did you know that it would change to a different colour Look, there are always new products and ideas we are as you add a mixer to it? working on. I personally really want to capitalise on the popuYes, after experimenting with the Butterfly Pea, we did larity of Sweet Pea and see how far we can spread it around. know that it would have that effect. It was just finding the As of right now, at the qualities we are producing we can only quantity and quality of the colour we wanted to add to get really meet the demand to the local area. I would like to see the correct shade. As it is a neutral flavour, any smell of the where it could go on a global format. flower itself is washed out by the distilling process. Thanks Josh. So now, you’ve got your flavours sorted, ratios sorted, New England focus. 43
Prime PROJECT. My
Local events, local forests. The beautiful State Forests of the Mid North Coast play host to a range of different events, from fast paced car rallies, horse endurance rides, to adventure races. Forestry Corporation is excited to be working with Kerry and Mathew from Coastal Sport and Fitness in Port Macquarie in staging the inaugural Elephant Trail Run over 20th, 21st and 22nd July.
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ell us how everything is going money for the winning project. at the business end of the Fantastic! What about entertainment and project? other community support? It’s been a fantastic few weeks We’re in for a huge treat with our music, as the application submission with the well-known Sherona Rose trio coming period came to a close and the applications to play as the entertainment at the end of the were finalised for voting on. We fielded many night. Stay around and dance the night away calls and enquiries from people considering to some great classics and modern hits; we putting a project in, and we are continually can’t wait to have them along to play for us. overwhelmed with the community support and We have also got some exciting news, that encouragement surrounding Prime My Project. we have had Armidale North Rotary commit We’re proud to announce that we received to providing $500 as a second prize at the a total of 21 applications! We are absolutely dinner. This will help the other projects in their stoked, and it’s certainly made our job a whole attempts to get their ideas off the ground and lot harder to find the right one. We have spent turn dreams into reality. a lot of time going over all the applications, What’s your take-home message for and we’ve narrowed the field to 10 applicants. everyone reading We’re currently having about Prime My them come along to Project? the club, and they will We started this project present their ideas to us. with the goal of going The culmination of Prime Wow, that’s amazing! out into the community My Project will be our Gala When will the winner Fundraising dinner on 13th to find a project and be announced? April. We can’t wait for a have our Rotary Club The culmination of great night packed with fun, contribute in a positive Prime My Project will auctions, inspiring stories, way to help someone, or be our Gala Fundraising and the celebration of a a group, achieve a goal dinner on 13th April. winning project. that they didn’t think We can’t wait for a was possible before. great night packed with We’ve now changed fun, auctions, inspiring our scope completely, stories, and the celebration of a winning and now we’re wanting everyone to know project. The dinner will be in the auditorium what a great community we have in Armidale. of the Armidale City Bowling Club, our major Prime My Project’s message now is to showcase partner in the project, and we can’t wait to see you all there. Tickets are currently on sale and can be purchased from: https://www. trybooking.com/book/event?eid=353476& so get in quick before tickets are all sold out! We will be announcing the winner on the night, along with the cheque for $5,000. We have been lucky enough to get Peter Georkas from Hutchison & Harlow Real Estate as our charity auctioneer, so along with his great humour we will hopefully raise some more 44 New England focus.
to our region that Armidale is a driving force in community spirit, and community participation. We aren’t just a town of 25,000 people, but a community that rallies behind those who want to do good, and that’s been demonstrated by the support we’ve had from every corner of our town, both businesses and individuals alike. Above all else, that’s the message which we think is worth pushing to not just our city, but to everyone in New England.
Kerry says: The Elephant Trail run is in Cairncross State Forest. The event gets its name from Mt Cairncross and the undulating hills resembling an elephant lying down with its trunk out-stretched! Wanting everyone to experience the “Elephant”, we are offering 160 km, 100 km Solo/Teams of Two, 50 km, 25 km, 13 km and a FREE Kids Race. We are very excited to say that the race has made it as a qualifying race to gain points to qualify for UTMB© (Ultra Trail du Mont-Blanc, the World Summit of Ultra Trail Running). Only six
races in Australia qualify for a max of six points (100 Miler) and we are one of three that have five points (100 km) - this is great news in trail running circles! Cairncross State Forest provides not only the distance and elevation, but hosts many hidden gems amongst the diverse landscape. This treasure is right on our doorstep, and we want to share this with locals and visitors alike. We love trail running in State forests and taking our kids out there to show how the forests are so important to the environment and local communities. Coastal Track and Trail Runners hold an annual Forest Permit to take trail running to other magical locations across the Hastings area, including Burrawan, Queens Lake, Broken Bago, and Kerewong State Forests - look out for their distinctive red Land Rover in a forest near you!
Business Minds
with Ingrid Rothe of VIVID Thinking
Bronwyn
Pearson PINNACLE PEOPLE SOLUTIONS Introducing Bronwyn Pearson, Director and Principal Consultant of the multi-awardwinning HR Consultancy company, Pinnacle People Solutions (PPS). PPS specialises in serving regionally-based small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs) and not-for-profit (NFP) organisations. Their client base reaches from Southern NSW to Southern Queensland.
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ell us a little about yourself. I’m originally from Sydney, however, moved to Armidale in 1991 and raised two wonderful children. When I started out, I could have easily returned to the city, but my regional experience was so wonderful and became such a part of my DNA, that Armidale quickly became my preferred location. I firmly believe that career opportunities and stable employment are integral components of regional capacity building, and I strive to meaningfully contribute to this. At PPS, we aim to make a conscious, mindful contribution to the growth of the communities we serve. What does PPS do? PPS supports regionally-based businesses by providing HR services and helping them build internal capacity. Our services include HR health audits and framework builds, investigations, performance management, Industrial Relations, specialised recruitment, and executive coaching. We’ve also recently added HR training to our services. We are delivering a HR training series for the Hunter New England and Central Coast Primary Health Network, and before this, training for the RMA Network across NSW. Why has PPS been so successful? I am very fortunate to work with great people who are all aligned in terms of ethics and values and love what they do.
We take the time to understand our clients’ businesses inside out, so that the support we give is entirely fit-for-purpose and unique to each business and circumstance. There is nothing more rewarding than seeing a problem solved or a business thriving. We are as invested in our clients’ successes as they are, and we’re always open to learning about additional needs that we may be able to provide support for. Also, we are not a traditional consultancy service who “fly in”, drop a report and walk away. We offer a meaningful and ongoing commitment to our clients and pride ourselves on this. What were your biggest challenges starting out? Belief. Could I do this? What if no one wanted to work with me? What if, despite all the research into the market, people still didn’t want it or didn’t want it from me? But, I always believed in the purpose. And it was purpose that made me overcome belief. What is your favourite part of running your own business? The flexibility. I work hard and often over long hours, but I’m able to be there for my family. I also get to work and meet with interesting people and businesses across NSW and Southern QLD. I love the diversity. Our work is a constant challenge; it requires us to be across a huge variety of awards, arrangements, and industries, and I love that. I like being my own boss, but that is not the main thing. For me, it’s getting to
When I started out, I had see the difference we a business. If you can great support from make. afford it, get a good the Armidale Business As a small business business coach or seek Chamber, and I still owner, what out mentoring. When have a great business qualities have you I started out, I had coach. She helps me with found the most great support from perspective, working through useful? the Armidale Business issues and challenges me to Resilience, Chamber, and I still take the time to work on the innovation, and have a great business business, as much as in it. attention to coach. She helps me detail - this is vital with perspective, given regulations working through surrounding HR. Also, issues and challenges me to take the time the ability to have difficult conversations to to work on the business, as much as in it. help the business get through a crisis and Sometimes, you need an external prod to do come out the other end stronger and more it. If you don’t, your business can fall victim capable. In our team, we call it being “frank and fearless”. There is an opportunity in to being “busy”, and then you’re busy until every crisis, and we help businesses realise you’re not. that opportunity by providing perspective Where to from here? and insight. What we have discovered is that our What inspires you? fit-for-purpose solutions for regionallyMy family. I’m incredibly proud of my adult based SMEs and NFPs is translatable to all children, who have launched into the world regional contexts. The need in the New and are achieving great things. To see them England is the need in all regional areas. “grabbing life by the scruff of the neck”, While each area has unique challenges and forging their own paths with integrity and opportunities, regionally based businesses drive, is just fantastic. everywhere are looking for a trusted advisor What would you advise a business just to help them attract, develop and manage starting out? their staff. We are still the only specialists Do your homework. I’m a person who in this space, so our next big challenge is likes to have plans A to Z, with all the developing scale without losing our boutique alternatives covered. Don’t just research your feel and hands-on approach. speciality and whether there is a need for it. Go out and understand what it is to run Thanks Bronwyn. New England focus. 45
focustourism
W I T H K AT R I N A G E O R G E F R O M T H E A R M I D A L E V I S I T O R I N F O R M AT I O N C E N T R E
tourism UPDATE
April Tourism. April is a hive of activity, with conferences, school holidays, graduations, TAS Rugby Carnival and many tourists visiting our city to experience our beautiful autumnal colours and climate. There are some wonderful events to entice you to get out and enjoy this lovely autumn weather. 7th - 8th April: NERAMble open garden fundraising event in the stunning gardens of “Orchard Cottage”, 329 Arding Road, Armidale. The garden will feature many forms of art, including sculptures, pottery, jewellery and painting. There will be an Autumn Harvest Stall, plant sales and many other garden related
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attractions. 8th April: Rosemary Leitch AYO Garden Party is a morning of beautiful music from the Armidale Youth Orchestras in the magnificent gardens of Chevy Chase. Catering by Bistro on Cinders. Tickets include lunch and a glass of champagne on arrival. Tickets are available from
www.trybooking.com promoting the "Paddock to Plate" experience, 7th April the Wayzgoose 2018 Workshops as we are currently designing a new information return at NERAM. These one-day workshops pamphlet highlighting the businesses where include Letterpress; Folding Concertinas; Solar people can either buy or enjoy local produce. plate printmaking; and Print and Collage. For Armidale locals are very excited to see some more information, please contact NERAM. wonderful new coffee shops that have recently There are plenty of live music acts throughout opened in Armidale. We hope you enjoy visiting the month, including: Karen Schaupp and these new businesses: Umberto Clerici; Pseudo Echo; and Cello with Café’ Patisserie - 140 Miller Street. Open Love. For something completely different, the Monday - Saturday. Medieval Arts Society invites you to join them The Dandelion Café - Coles Food Emporium. in the Armidale Pine Open seven days. Forest for their open Seesaw Coffee Company day on Easter Monday, - 126 Faulkner Street. Open 2nd April from 11am Monday - Saturday. 5pm. Entry $15 single The Armidale Farmers' Piknic - 4/117 Beardy or $25 family ticket. Market is increasingly Street. Open Monday This will be great fun gaining interest with visitors Friday. for everyone and a searching for ‘Paddock to Did you know how many wonderful way to finish Plate’ experiences. coffee shops are open in your long weekend! Armidale on a Sunday? If you would like any Café 195; Caffiends in further information on the Mall; Armidale Coffee any of these events, please do not hesitate to House; Azka; Crossword Café; Elly’s Coffee call the Armidale Visitor Information Centre or Lounge; Era Espresso; Fat Goose Crossing Café; visit www.armidaletourism.com.au/events Little Cocos; NERAM Café; The Two Brothers The Armidale Farmers' Market is increasingly Café ; Two Goats Café and Baa; Westside gaining interest with visitors searching for Espresso; and Bistro on Cinders. Please support "Paddock to Plate" experiences. The Visitor these wonderful businesses and enjoy a lovely Information Centre receives daily requests Sunday breakfast with your family and friends. for restaurants which have local produce and Don’t forget to get your tickets for the New retailers who sell local products. When designing England Bach Festival 10th - 13th May. Tickets your menu, customers are looking for specific can be purchased through www.trybooking.com details such as the name of the farm, or its location. Please advise us if your business is or at branches of Regional Australia Bank.
focusinterview.
Barbara
Albury Barbara Albury came to Armidale in 2000 because her husband, Randall, had been appointed Dean of Arts at UNE. Barbara had a lot of experience in theatre - mostly acting, but also some writing and directing ...
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he last two big projects in Sydney’s Belvoir Theatre Downstairs were Hungarian Sunday - Tales from the Corner Shop (stories of Hungarian migrants in Australia, which was part of the run up to the Sydney Olympic Games in 2000), and Women in Shorts (a collection of short plays by women writers which received Australia Council funding). Rosemary Mort talks to Barbara about her production experiences here in Armidale. How did you get involved in theatre in Armidale, and what was your first production? The first show in Armidale was Up the Creek, which was originally done at the Belvoir but was redirected for Armidale - a play with music and stories based on the factory and bush stories of Mary Gilmore and Edward Dyson. Define your approach to theatre ... Which productions have given you the greatest satisfaction and enjoyment? I like storytelling and creating characters and creating a look; maybe that comes from doing cartoons and working in art and journalism. I like people to come out of a production and go “wow”. There are challenges, some failures and many wonderful moments. The Last Supper (with a mute, bespectacled but perfect Jesus) and most recently The Red Balloon were particularly special. When people come away with their eyes glowing, I feel I have done my job. You are always breaking new ground. Tell us about some of the community based theatre you initiated and the difficulties and challenges you faced.
EVEN WITH CONVENTIONAL THEATRES, I TEND TO REORGANISE THEM INTO ALTERNATIVE THEATRICAL SPACES. I LIKE TO ENFOLD THE AUDIENCE IN THE MOOD AND RESONANCE OF THE PLAY.
I just look around and see what is offering. I like to engage people’s talents - a good example is Ben Thorn’s fantastic musical skills. Mostly I want to get strong performances from the actors and quality design, sound and lighting from the crew. It has to be significant and important for both actors, crew and audience. I am persistent and push people to go beyond their perceived limits. I also expect to do strong publicity to get an audience - and I have to say Armidillians are wonderfully supportive. You started the Saturday Magic Theatre here for people with disabilities and also a number of productions with young people. What has been the outcome? I took over Saturday Magic Theatre from what was then known as Magic Circle (run by Gail Smith). I was hooked by the idea of giving people with disabilities a place to develop natural movement, mime and speech skills. I thought that they might be able to be drawn out of their shells and extend their physical, verbal and emotional range. I worked with Saturday Magic Theatre for over four years and we did three amazing shows - A Kind of Cinderella, Rockin’ Robin, which we took to the Chapel Theatre in Glen Innes, and The Last Supper. They looked and sounded good, were great fun and we had full houses. My engagement with young people began with a drama developed with Aboriginal students at Duval High School (This Land Our Land, continued in Our Town (the story of Armidale), developed further in The Little
Prince in 2016 (codirection with Gordon Cope. An exquisite set - a mountain structure designed by Peter Szacsvay and an almost full size biplane built by Richard Tromp) and culminated in The Red Balloon, the story of an unusual friendship between a boy and a magic balloon. There are always challenges in building an audience and working with inexperienced actors. What is your approach to engaging the community in your projects? I have worked with very experienced actors such as Jan Wyles, Allan Wilkinson and Gordon Cope, as well as beginners. The former direct themselves; the latter need simple ideas to make things work. For instance, walking and talking is hard to do naturally on stage, so they might sit more. In Who is Frank Archibald?, the story of a much loved and revered Aboriginal elder, many of the performers were inexperienced. You find their strengths. If they can sing, you let them sing. If they dance, they dance. You are also noted for choosing alternative venues for theatre. Tell us about some of those and the ways these venues defined the performances. I love working in alternative venues - a sort of cuckoo syndrome. You don’t have to build a set and you can get a stronger reality infusing the production. Even with conventional theatres, I tend to reorganise them into alternative theatrical spaces. I like to enfold the audience in the mood and resonance of the play. Most memorable were Hildegard in
the Ursuline Chapel, Away (both outdoors on the Booloominbah lawn and inside in the Arts Theatre, with a domed floor to represent sand dunes), Cabaret in the Armidale Showground (co-directed with Gordon Cope), Vincent in Brixton (Van Gogh at NERAM), The Last Supper (the story of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem - using the whole of the Uniting Church), The Naming of Armidale (about the first Commissioner to Armidale in Macdonald Park), Armidale - Our Town (in the body of the Town Hall) and of course, The Red Balloon (Hanna’s Arcade). Will you take on new projects in Sydney, and are there any you are considering? Well, High Country Theatre, which we founded in 2014, is going to continue in Armidale with three projects in the pipeline Animal Farm (script by Ben Thorn), Jack and the Beanstalk (script by Bob Thompson) and David Hare’s Copenhagen. I am an interested observer. Randall and my main objectives in Sydney are to create a strong link with family for our son, and after that I will look around and see what might be possible. Summary ... I counted up about 49 projects since coming here. Apart from theatre, these include a photographic project called One of Us (four photographers created images of disabled people in the community), a calendar based on the NERAM exhibition, writing a column for the Independent Newspaper, being president of PCYC, helping create a television program on disability for ABC’s Compass, taking a performance to villages around the New England and to Budapest, the city of my birth. I have received two local Australia Day Awards for community cultural activities. Thanks Barbara. New England focus. 47
Real Estate Experts Feature
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Real Estate Experts Feature
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• S E L E C T I N G
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R E A L E S TAT E A G E N T F O R YO U Researching, short-listing, interviewing and finally selecting a real estate agent can be difficult and result in poor choices with adverse financial consequences.
n the good old pre-internet days, personal referrals and word of mouth were the primary benchmarks. However, these days there is an infinite amount of data and statistics on the web regarding agent performance. The choice should be easier - but it isn’t. Increasingly, potential vendors are turning to “agent rating” websites for assistance. These portals purport to provide you with recommendations based on what agents are doing - but they don’t. There are two business models in play. Agents can either subscribe to sites for a fee and receive preferential promotion, or accept “leads” from them and give up 20% of any commission earned. In response to the latter, some agents increase their commission rates quoted on these sites to try and mitigate the commercial loss. Many users do not appreciate that they are paying more for the agent’s services than if they engaged them directly. These sites claim that their services enable consumers to make an informed choice - but that’s not so. So, if the use of “agent rating” services is not the answer, what is? Consumers of real estate services do so for a variety of reasons and in accordance with their own priorities. Investors wanting a cheap fee and a quick sale are very different to prestige home vendors demanding a more nuanced approach, where the agent’s expertise can generate significant added value. Rural sales require agents to have direct understanding of the
business processes underpinning the operation and what metrics need to be communicated to the market. It is unlikely that any single agent will be the “best” choice in all these segments. What do you need to look for? There are three primary metrics that might be important to a prospective vendor. Specifically, the number of sales made by an agent, the average value of those sales, and the time taken to achieve them. Each will have a different weighting, depending on the needs of the vendor. High volume, low value and a quick turnaround time might be attractive to an investor. High average value with a relatively short sales time frame should appeal to the upper end of the market. Rural vendors will be less concerned with time on market and more interested in the type and value the of sales achieved. Agents with higher average sales value are more likely to be in continuous contact with buyers looking for quality property. So, if you are a prospective vendor of that type of real estate, look to an agent who sells mostly in your price segment. Look for an agent with a high average selling price. Similarly, should your property be lower in value, select an agent who is represented in that space. Finally, make sure that your selected agency matches you. That is, they are a cultural fit and represent what you hold to be important. Honesty, transparency, hard work and ethical conduct should always be a consideration. Can you find the right agent? - yes you can.
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W W W. C A R G O L A N E . C O M . A U
Real Estate Experts Feature
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GREEN HOMES D E S I G N • B U I L D • S A V E
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Local builder Toby Smith along with his wife, Alice, have joined forces with Green Homes Australia, aligning their vision of building energy efficient, sustainable homes, whilst still guaranteeing the highest quality.
here are you originally from, and how long have you been in the building industry? I’m originally from Uralla. I have been in the building industry for the past 15 years. I started my apprenticeship with a local builder and then moved to Wagga Wagga, working for a builder down there, before returning back to the district to establish my own business, Toby Smith Building in 2012. Over the past six years we have completed a range of renovations, extensions and new homes in the New England region. What attracted you to align your construction business with Green Homes Australia? A few years ago I was fortunate to build an energy efficient, sustainable home for a client.
I remember being inside this home on a typical freezing Armidale winter’s morning and the inside of the home was beautiful and warm, without any heating. I remember thinking at this point, we need to change our building practises. This project was the spark for my passion in wanting to move towards building energy efficient sustainable homes. So, when an opportunity came with Green Homes Australia, it was a no brainer for us, as it really aligned with our vision for our business of building energy efficient, sustainable homes and kept with our values of quality building. Why should prospective clients consider Green Homes Australia Armidale? We have been building in the New England for many years, and we believe that everyone should be able to get a premium quality built home that
has lower running costs, without the expensive price tag. We offer clients the choice of either building a custom built home or a Green Homes Australia pre-designed home. Every home we design and build, we customise to the client’s needs and budget. Our homes we design and build incorporate passive solar techniques (taking advantage of the sun’s movement throughout the day/year), thermal mass, and advanced insulation strategies, to ensure they get maximum energy efficiency. An energy efficient home drastically reduces household energy costs. Green Homes Australia is the only builder in Australia to be certified Green by the International Standards Organisation (ISO), with nine independent inspections on each home. This means the homes we build are guaranteed to be energy efficient and of the highest quality.
Do you use local tradies? Yes, all of the tradies we use are locals. As I have been in the area for a number of years, I have established great working relations with my tradesmen and without their support and expertise, we wouldn’t be where we are today. One of our aims is to ensure we support local business and continue to build new relationships with other trades and services in the area. Plans for the future? Our plan for the future is to continue to provide quality built, energy efficient homes to Armidale and its surrounding areas. We know that the building industry has a huge effect on the environment, and we want to work with the community to reduce the impact we are having on it. We look forward to continuing to build in our local community.
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HUTCHINSON HARLOW 2 0 1 8
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Hutchinson and Harlow Real Estate wins 2018 Agency of the Year and Peter Georkas wins 2018 Agent of the Year in the RateMyAgent 2018 Agent of the Year Awards.
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utchinson and Harlow Real Estate has won the Agency of the Year in the RateMyAgent 2018 Agent of the Year Awards. The awards, which are the largest real estate awards in Australia, recognise those agents and agencies that have ranked the highest based on customer reviews and feedback. The office is also proud to announce Peter Georkas as the winner of Agent of the Year 2018. “I’m ecstatic to be named the top agent in the Armidale market,” said Peter. “This award recognises the hard work of my team and the dedication we have to the local property market. We’re thrilled so many of our customers appreciate our work and have rated us using the RateMyAgent site. To be voted number one by your customers is a real testament to the service we provide.” The RateMyAgent Agent of the Year Awards compare over 32,000 agents and agencies across the country. They highlight the leading real estate agents and agencies in each suburb, city and state across Australia, and on a national level. The awards, which are in their fourth year, are the only major customer choice awards for the real estate industry in Australia. Rather than being judged by industry peers, the awards are calculated based on the reviews that customers provide.
What makes HH different from all the other agencies in Armidale? We are a dedicated TEAM. No one “owns” a listing or a buyer. Everything is dealt with from start to finish by the entire team. All the team know each property intimately, and we all have the knowledge and experience to answer (or find out) all the questions, which means your enquiry will not be placed in a queue to call back later. Tell us who is in the HH team right now? The HH team is led by Peter and Meg Georkas with Ali Suter, Rhonda Hall, Helen Higgins and Ari Georkas. We have a committed and sometimes chaotic team of dedicated real estate specialists who are fuelled by coffee and cakes! How does the HH team stay on top of the industry? We all love to learn, and we all participate in industry training and personal development courses. HH Real Estate is a member of Armidale Chamber of Commerce and regularly attends local events. Meg and Rhonda also attend the WIRE (Women in Real Estate) conference in Sydney each year. Ali has attended the Australian Real Estate Conference, an invitation only training session with Mat Steinwede - a top McGrath agent, and she won gold tickets to attend a Million Dollar Evening with The Altman Brothers LA’s Million Dollar Agents. Contact the team on 6772 5333 if you need to talk real estate. We are happy to meet with you in a hassle-free environment!
Real Estate Experts Feature
realestate • E X P E R T S • focus feature
Property Management Specialists. What we offer you as a Landlord ... Management is ALL we do! • Photo evidence of the condition of your property at three months and six month intervals. • Weekly arrears letters are sent to any tenant that is falling slightly behind as a reminder of their rental payment obligations. • Regular phone and email contact regarding any issues that may arise. • All maintenance will be approved by you and copies of all maintenance invoices and quotes will be sent to you via email or mail. Maintenance will be checked with you as the owner prior to any repairs occurring. Completed maintenance will be inspected prior to payment of invoices, to ensure the job is complete and done to satisfaction • Advanced accounting management systems for statements, tradesman payments and management of arrears. • Direct transfer into your accounts, to make your money instantly available to you. • Very thorough REFERENCE CHECKS - strict procedures are followed to qualify all tenants before anyone is placed in your investment property. • A Property Manager that has extensive sales experience can SELL your property for rent to any potential tenant. Also, a thorough understanding of the importance of good rental return in relation to capital gain and selling. MAKE THE CHANGE TODAY - CALL US ON 6772 6626.
JA N E T C O O K E • 1 0
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A N N I V E R S A R Y •
As Janet nears her 10th anniversary as a real estate agent in Armidale, we ask her to reflect on career highlights and why she is so passionate about what she does.
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hat is it about real estate that excites you? I think that the real estate profession is as much about people as it is about property. I really enjoy meeting new people and finding common ground. Most of us want real estate to provide security for our families and create wealth well into the future. The fact that I can add value to others in that process is fantastic and a real privilege. What achievements have you been most proud of? When Richardson & Wrench Armidale won the Chamber of Commerce award for Best New Business in 2009 and then Best Real Estate Agency in 2010, I felt immensely honoured. As a family business we had worked very hard, and it was a real joy to receive those accolades. Then in 2014 we were awarded Best Regional Agency in the R&W Network, which was just the icing on the cake. Is working in a team environment important to you? No-one can be the best at everything. Peter and I, together with our assistant, Sam, are involved in every property campaign, bringing different skills to the table. Peter is very focused on market
conditions and providing the most accuservice, achieve superior results and hope rate appraisals possible for our vendors, that the market can see that for what it leaving me to nurture our buyer contacts. is. Sam provides the sales and administraWhat innovations will R&W bring to tive support to the process. We feel that the Armidale market? when everyone is doing what they do Technology is driving change in the real best, the team must perform at a higher estate industry at a rapid pace. The old level. models of “put a What are some sign and wait for of the trends the phone to ring” emerging in the are long gone. Technology is driving industry? Google and Facechange in the real estate Unfortunately, as book have joined industry at a rapid pace. with many other inthe party and offer The old models of ‘put dustries, real estate some cutting-edge a sign and wait for the practice is being strategies to enphone to ring’ are long digitally disrupted gage with customgone. Google and Facebook by fewer, larger ers. Agencies will have joined the party and players. The market need to develop offer some cutting-edge power of portals the ability to create strategies to engage with like realestate.com. quality content. customers. au and domain. The norm for propcom.au to name erty marketing will but two, is ever be multi-channelled increasing. They and multi-layered. are charging agencies more and more R&W Armidale is moving very quickly in for their services and simply adding to these areas, and you will be able to see our overheads. In addition, agent rating the fruit of those labours shortly. That services either take fees or 20% of any excites me greatly, and I look forward to commission earned, for no real value. harnessing these digital resources to the Frankly, we can’t control any of that. benefit my clients. What we can do is provide the very best Thanks Janet. New England focus. 53
Real Estate Experts Feature
realestate • E X P E R T S • focus feature
UNIPLAN • M O D U L A R
H O M E S •
Uniplan is not only one of the largest employers in the New England region they are also dedicated to creating extraordinary homes to suit all tastes and budgets across the state while based here in Armidale
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ho is Uniplan and what do you do? Uniplan is a family owned business based in Armidale. Since starting in September 1999 with a three man team, we have now grown to a team of over 100 fantastic staff. We manufacture modular homes in our factory in Acacia Park, Armidale. These homes take all different shapes, sizes and designs which are custom built to client needs. Our team includes a wide range of skills such as architecture and design, project management, interior design, along with all the building skills required to make your project easy. We live, eat and breathe modular building so that we can bring you an affordable and appealing home in a hassle-free and timely way. What’s the difference between modular, transportable, pre-fab, factory-built and relocatable homes? Good question! How many words can you use for the same thing?! They’re all trying to describe the same thing – a home built in a factory and then transported to site once it is nearly 100% complete. One thing to be clear about – a ‘kit home’ is something quite different. A ‘kit home’ is just all the materials you need to build a house and then you have to either build it yourself or employ a builder (a.k.a. hard work!). A modular home comes out of our factory fully built and just needs to be delivered to site and placed on its foundations – which we do for you. So call them what you like – ‘Modular Homes’ is the predominant term used these days. 54 New England focus.
I’ve never really liked ‘transportable homes’ as they look inferior. Thoughts? Yes – you’re right. In the past modular homes have had very plain façades with little architectural appeal. This is where advantage of modular OUR MANTRA IS TO “MAKE Uniplan really makes building is that we can give a difference. With IT EASY”. EVERYTHING, you a fixed price and a our passion for RIGHT FROM THE delivery time. What you’re great design, who BEGINNING OF THE SALES getting is COST CERTAINTY. would have guessed AND DESIGN PROCESS, Building a home is a scary the photos on this process. Research shows that IS DESIGNED TO MAKE page are all modular on typical building projects, IT AS EASY AS POSSIBLE homes. Uniplan is 61% run behind schedule FOR OUR CLIENTS. WE leading the way and 49% run over budget. with clever façade WILL COME AND INSPECT With Uniplan and our options. We offer YOUR SITE TO MAKE SURE modular building system we our clients a choice ACCESS IS OK. give you cost certainty. of true old fashioned How long has Uniplan ‘Country’ design, been doing this? very up and coming We’ve now reached ‘Contemporary’ finishes or the sleek angular lines adulthood as we’ve raced past our 18th year of our ‘Coastal’ architecture. And of course, if you in the industry! Over this time we have built have a special design preference our team can up an outstanding team with great talent. This work with you to get exactly the custom-made allows us to take on a diverse range of projects look you’re after. with confidence. No building process is ever So what’s the advantage of a Modular 100% smooth sailing. There will always be some Home? unforeseen challenges that come up. That’s why Most folks think the advantage of modular having a team with great experience and a good homes would be that they’re much cheaper cross section of skills is so important. than traditional building. Perhaps if you wanted What benefit does Uniplan offer? very standardised homes without the ability Our mantra is to “Make it Easy”. Everything, to customise them to your needs they would right from the beginning of the sales and design process, is designed to make it as easy as possible be a cheaper option. We believe the fantastic
for our clients. We will come and inspect your site to make sure access is OK. We handle the entire council process for you from start to finish. We give you concept drawings and budgetary pricing so you can evaluate different options at the early stages so you can work out your best option. We can steer you in the right direction for finance as we have some great banking partners we work with. In a nut shell, we love whatever Uniplan can do to make the home building process easy and hassle-free. Right at the moment we are finding new ways to keep our clients better informed during the building process as it’s important for you to know what is happening at each stage of the way. What’s the first step? If you have land waiting for a new home, give us a call or drop in to visit. We can show you our display homes so you can get a feel for just how amazing a modular home can be. Chatting with our friendly sales and design team will quickly give you a good understanding of how a modular home could work for your site. What are Uniplan’s plans for the future? 2018 is an exciting year for us. We are in the final stages of approval for a third factory adjacent to our two existing factories in Myrtle Drive. This will see us expand our workforce and increase our capacity. It’s going to be a busy year!
MODULAR HOMES
At Uniplan Group we’re passionate about making your home building experience as easy and hassle free as possible. By building your new home in our factory in Armidale we can control every facet of the job. When it’s complete we deliver and install the finished home on your land. Our experienced team makes every step of the way simple.
CALL US TODAY ON 1800 864 752 OR VISIT OUR DISPLAY HOMES Drop around to 22 Myrtle Drive, Armidale to see our stunning displays between 9am - 5pm Monday to Friday and Saturday By Appointment
VISIT OUR DISPLAY HOMES IN ARMIDALE
22 Myrtle Drive | PO Box 5004 | Armidale NSW 2350 | 1800 UNIPLAN (1800 864 752) sales@uniplangroup.co |
@uniplangroup.co |
@uniplangroup | www.uniplangroup.co
Smart Design for
AFFORDABLE HOUSING New England focus. 55
focusinterview.
DUMARESQ
Creeklands
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56 New England focus.
for Council provides an understanding of the likely impact that proposed developments and structures located within the creeklands floodplain may have on flooding. The master plan will formally acknowledge that the creek serves an important function as a floodway during storm events; any changes/improvements should not impede this role and improve it where possible. Isn’t there contaminated land in this area? Yes, there is contaminated soil located within the area identified in the master plan. Any construction work within the parklands or the riparian zone must take into account the existing hydrocarbon soil contamination and the cost of disposal, treatment and remediation. Will the master plan address any safety issues with the creek? Community safety will be a major and essential consideration in the master planning process. The plan will include risk analyses for playground safety, identifying preferred locations if any, proximity to the creek and other risk factors. Individual risk analyses should be undertaken for community event areas, cycleway improvements, parking and traffic movements. A comprehensive safety analysis will be undertaken of proposals that may be put forward by the community to alter the riparian zone, e.g. removal of rock revetments along the creek, localised widening or reshaping, in-stream or offstream ponds, weirs, storm water treatment options such as wetlands, sand beaches, revegetation and additional pedestrian bridges or boardwalks etc. The plan will also give advice in relation to practical and cost effective control measures for Cumbungi and Phragmites aquatic reeds, that are clogging parts of the creek. What is hydrology, and how is it
Dumaresq Creeklands
Have your say today
Dumaresq Creek and the use of its surrounds are of considerable interest to the Armidale community, which is why a potential upgrading of the area is a very positive and popular project.
hy is Council developing a master plan for the Dumaresq Creeklands? This interest has sparked much debate about what to do with this resource and how to manage it. Many different ideas have been put forward over the years; however, seldom have these ideas been sufficiently analysed to enable the community to make sound judgements on their relative merit. Undertaking a master plan which the community has input into means Council has a long term plan for upgrading the area, can identify shovel ready projects, and apply for funding. How much of the creek will be covered by the master plan? The master plan will focus mainly on the creekland area east to Taylor Street and west to Markham Street (Albion Park, opposite the TAFE). This is the area mostly frequented by the public. General prescriptions for areas outside the main focus area will be provided. What is this costing the community? The vision and plan for Dumaresq Creek will include capital and maintenance cost estimates and the impact on Council’s existing Maintenance and Servicing Levels. The scoping of external funding opportunities would assist with capital costs. Projects within the Master Plan can be completed in stages or when there is funding available. The realisation of physical infrastructure changes may take many years to complete; however, community input into the plan will provide a good impetus to identify budgets to undertake works and assist with funding opportunities. What about flooding in the area? If it is a floodway, why are we spending time and money? Won’t everything wash away? Recently completed flood modelling
Help shape the future of the
related to the creeklands area? Hydrology is the study of water and its impact on earth of its movement, distribution, and quality, including the water cycle, water resources and environmental sustainability. An understanding of the original hydrology of Dumaresq Creek and how this has changed must underpin considerations for proposals that seek to alter the riparian zone. The feasibility of proposals such as creek widening or ponds and revegetation must take into account the nature of the local hydrology. What about all the existing underground services? The feasibility and costings of any proposals will take into account existing infrastructure such as storm water pipes and gross pollutant traps, water, sewer and electricity networks. How will the master plan address biodiversity? Landscaping proposals should consider riparian habitat and water quality improvements that integrate well into the wider park landscape. Aesthetic improvements to the wider park landscape will require thoughtful selection of appropriate species that enhance and complement traditional landscape elements and also mesh well with aquatic ecosystem enhancements. Appropriate landscaping can play a role in improving water safety. What will happen after all of the community feedback has been gathered? The feedback gathered during the public consultation phase will play an important role in the development of a draft master plan. Once a draft plan has been developed and reviewed, it will be presented to Council and placed on public exhibition for at least 28 days. This will allow the community to review the draft and provide further feedback.
A Master Plan is being prepared for the Dumaresq Creeklands The Master Plan will address community ideas to create an attractive focal point for Armidale and increase tourism opportunities. The plan will guide environmentally sound future development for a liveable, safe and vibrant space for community interaction.
Complete the online survey at
yoursay.armidale.nsw.gov.au or visit the Community Connect Engagement Centre in the Armidale Mall Council is also accepting submissions, referencing Dumaresq Creeklands Master Plan Consultation ARC17/2184, and can be emailed to council@armidale.nsw.gov.au or mailed to Armidale Regional Council PO Box 75A Armidale 2350 or delivered in person to the Armidale Customer Service Centre 135 Rusden Street by Monday 9 April, 2018
www.armidaleregional.nsw.gov.au
High Country Forty photographers
New England
A new exhibition and book recently launched at the New England Regional Art Museum (NERAM) provide an opportunity to see a diverse range of images from across the entire New England region.
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he book, New England High Country: Forty Photographers includes over 122 photographs by 40 local photographers and has been a project organised by experienced photographer Terry Cooke over a number of years. The exhibition at NERAM provides visitors an opportunity to see some of these images in larger formats. “Terry Cooke is a remarkable photographer in his own right, whose work has showcased our region over many years in a number of exhibitions and publications,” said Robert Heather, Art Museum Director. “In this project he has shared his talents, expertise and time to create a unique reminder of the beauty of our region. “The book and exhibition provide viewers with a portrait of New England through the eyes and lenses of a number of different people, creating a unique glimpse into the people, place, landscape and culture of the High Country.” The aim of the project was to collect photographs of the region from as many photographers as possible, raise the required funds through crowdfunding, and then have judges choose the images to be used and then print and publish the book. It was planned that this book would replace Terry Cooke's 2014 crowdfunded book New England High Country - Contrast and Colour, which sold out by early 2018. After consultation with a small group of local photographers, a project plan was
drawn up and a Flickr THE BOOK IS A website created, PICTORIAL JOURNEY where photographers THAT BEGINS IN could upload their ARMIDALE AND THEN images. By 2017, over MOVES OUT INTO THE 3,000 photographs SURROUNDING REGION. of the region had been submitted to the Flickr website by 94 photographers. With a brief to make a selection of images that would appeal to an Australian and overseas audience and also reflected life and living in the New England High Country, four judges were given the unenviable task of selecting, from this massive collection of images, those that were to be published. After spending many hours refining their selection, they chose 122 photographs taken The book is a pictorial journey that begins by 40 photographers for inclusion in the book. in Armidale and then moves out into the Ranging widely across town and rural life, surrounding region. It takes you out to the landscapes and waterscapes, flora and fauna many towns and villages of the region, while and the four seasons, their chosen images along the way taking time to pause for a look beautifully highlight the diversity found in this at the local flora, fauna and some unique region of Australia. country mailboxes. In mid 2017, with the support of 137 After a career in Land Surveying and contributors, a crowdfunding campaign Information Technology, Terry Cooke retired successfully raised the funds required to to pursue his other interests, one of these print 1,500 copies of the book. As one of being photography. His focus over the last few the aims of the project was “to have a local years has been photographing the many and community organisation raise funds through varied landscapes and urban environments of the distribution of the book”, the New England the Northern Tablelands of New South Wales, Regional Art Museum will be earning income Australia. He enjoys photographing local drama from the distribution of the books to various and musical productions, photographing outlets in the region and from retailing through their own store. while travelling around Australia and teaching
photography. Designed to show off what life is like on the New England High Country, the book New England High Country: Forty Photographers makes a great gift for both visitors and for people leaving the region and also for taking as a gift when travelling. Terry Cooke's book New England High Country - Contrast and Colour, which sold 800 copies over four years, now resides in many countries around the world. The exhibition New England High Country: Forty Photographers will be on display at the New England Regional Art Museum until Sunday 3rd June 2018. The book is available through NERAM and other local tourism and retail book outlets. Further information www.neram.com.au New England focus. 57
with Clairvoyant Terri Hall Phone. 0424 818 343
April 2018
AQUARIUS. JANUARY 21 - FEBRUARY 19
You may be feeling a little uprooted or unsettled lately. A new move or the discussion of moving is likely to be on the agenda. Avoid rash decisions, wait for what feels right, and you will have no regret. New friends are coming into the picture. Herderite helps us to see our evolution, thus making it less of a challenge.
PISCES. FEBRUARY 20 - MARCH 20
An ending of a situation is bringing an exciting new influence into the picture. Your task at the moment is to understand your place in the scheme of things. Don’t compromise your standards to soothe your fears. Keep in touch with what makes your heart sing. Rose Quartz attracts us towards loving experiences.
TAURUS. APRIL 21 - MAY 21
Even though your challenges may seem overwhelming, look at the new you that you are expressing to the world. You are a very strong person, so congratulations on owning your own power. Try a little fresh goal setting; this will ease your restlessness. Tourmaline amplifies your inner peace, playful inner child energy and settles restlessness.
GEMINI. MAY 22 - JUNE 22
You are in desperate need of some personal time. You make everyone else a priority, but neglect your own personal needs. Set some new goals and try to remain positive. You have such a gift of manifesting; just play with it. Tiger Eye helps to maintain a sense of balance and direction.
LEO. JULY 24 - AUGUST 23
Focus on your most important challenge at this time, in order to achieve your hard- earned sucess. You are too easily distracted at present, which is causing frustration. Be a little more aware of your thoughts, and eliminate negativity, self doubt and fear. Turquoise and Rose Quartz will enhance your loving charisma.
VIRGO. AUGUST 24 - SEPTEMBER 23
Your focus will be clearer after you have set some new goals or direction. Get that clever Virgo mind active and satisfy your intellect. An exciting new opportunity is out there through learning something different, so look for that perfect course or read an imformative book. Azeztulite allows us to explore alternate realities comfortably.
SCORPIO. OCTOBER 24 - NOVEMBER 22
Remove all self-doubt. You already know what your challenges’ outcome will be. You even have your answers for getting there quicker. Find out what it is that renders you powerless, so that you can not be played with. Snowflake obsidian is wonderful for shattering negative thoughts.
SAGITTARIUS. NOVEMBER 23 - DECEMBER 21
Bring out your happy self, as you are taking life far too seriously. This has left you drained lately and feeling unenthused. You just do things, you don’t need to talk about it or plan it, so remember this when you are next tempted to procrastinate. Sugilite would be of great benefit at this time, as it helps us face our challenges with a joyful outlook.
ARIES.
CANCER.
LIBRA.
CAPRICORN.
MARCH 21 - APRIL 20
JUNE 23 - JULY 23
SEPTEMBER 24 - OCTOBER 23
DECEMBER 22 - JANUARY 20
A holiday will soon settle some restlessness within. Visit a travel agent or look at some travel brochures, to awaken the adventurous you. A fresh new perspective will be gained, which will reflect positively back on your life. Expect some new friendships too. Carnelian helps us take active steps towards change.
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You so desperately want a change in direction, but this is challenging your rules and boundaries in life. At present, your personal strength is being tested, which also may make it harder to pursue your desires. Ask yourself how badly do you want change? Let this motivate you. Phenacite helps us to release other people’s worries from our energies.
Connect with a passion you have. Your love of life needs satisfying. Change is coming forward, and this is a natural challenge for the Libran. Start a project or play with your creative energies. You will soon offer your family members some profound healing advice, so don’t be afraid to speak. Topaz strengthens our self-esteem and brings personal power to situations surrounding us.
Begin something new. Soon work opportunities will keep you busy, fill your being with satisfaction and complete you. However, your enthusiasm needs to be strong when the project begins, so now is the time to feed it. Rhodonite helps us to discover new talents in the workplace.
thinking student visas & options
WITH CHRISTOPHER SEROW AND SAM DOYLE
thinking
student visas & options
S
tudent visas are a significant are of the Migration program in Australia and contribute to the education system at both a secondary schooling and university level. Many students come on a Subclass 500 Visa to complete a course of study at an Australian education institution; but a common question that arises, is ‘what next?’ A classic example would be an international student who commences a Bachelor Degree at University, and toward the completion of their degree wishes to continue living in Australia but doesn’t know which visa to apply for. At Legal Minds, we are conscious that there are many options available, and choosing the right one can be a daunting process. Temporary Graduate Visa The most common visa for a student visa holder to apply for once their current visa is set to expire is the Temporary Graduate (subclass 485) Visa. This visa allows the student to stay in Australia for a period of up to four (4) years depending on whether one applies for the Graduate Work Stream or the Post-Study Work stream. The Graduate Work stream best suits those students that have completed a course of study and attained the qualifications to work in their chosen field. This visa is granted for a period of 18 months. The main requirement that a student must meet, is that your chosen occupation must be a part of the Medium and Long-Term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL) which can be found at the following address: https://www.homeaffairs.gov. au/trav/work/work/skills-assessment-and-assessing-authorities/skilled-occupations-lists. You must also complete a skills assessment that relates to your chosen occupation in order to obtain the visa. The Post Study stream of the 485 Visa is aimed at students who graduate from an Australian Higher Education institution and wish to remain in Australia for a further period of time. The visa can be granted for up to four (4) years depending on the level of study completed. The main requirements for this stream of the visa is that you obtained a Student Visa on or after 5 November 2011, and that your qualification was awarded by an Australian university that is registered with the
Commonwealth Register of Courses and Institutions for Overseas Students (CRICOS). Students applying for this stream must have completed a bachelor’s degree or higher and must meet the Australian Study Requirement. This states that a student must complete a course of study registered with the CRICOS, and that course of study must be for a period of two calendar years. Temporary Skilled Shortage Visa On 18 March 2018, the 457 Visa was abolished, and the Temporary Skilled Shortage Visa was established. The TSS Visa is for people who have a set of skills or qualifications and wish to work in their chosen field in Australia for a period of up to four years. The Visa has specific requirements and obligations on the employer, who must register to be an approved sponsor. This visa is aimed at Australian employers who can’t find Australian workers to meet the needs of their business and opt to fill the gap with international employees instead. Employer Nominated / Regional Sponsored Migration If you are thinking of applying for permanent residency, then the Employer Nominated Scheme or Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme may be the most appropriate visa to apply for. The requirements for these Visas are that the applicant has a suitable skillset and have an occupation that is on the MLTSSL. If the applicant is applying for the Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme, they must agree to live in Regional Australia for a period of two years. Students may also apply for a subsequent Student Visa and commence a further course of study. It’s important to make sure the choice of visa is right for you. Applying for any visa can be a complex and stressful process. Seeking professional advice from a registered Migration Agent can ensure that you have the necessary advice to make the correct decision and ensure that your application will satisfy departmental requirements. Talk to us, you’ll be inspired! Christopher K C Serow Principal, Solicitor Director, Notary Public Migration Agent (MARN 0854319) Samuel L Doyle Paralegal New England focus. 59
UNE OPEN DAY
Friday 11 May 2018 Check out our courses, meet lecturers and get a feel for campus life. Friday is your day to ask lots of questions, explore the UNE campus and ďŹ nd out everything you need to know about going to university.
une.edu.au/openday University of New England CRICOS Provider Number 00003G