Feature Story
Creative Registry Australia
July 2018. issue 152
2 Greater Port Macquarie focus
Image courtesy of @ryanwhewayphotography
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contacts.
MANAGING EDITOR Jay Beaumont jay@focusmag.com.au
SALES MANAGER Louise Beaumont louise@focusmag.com.au
SENIOR EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTOR Jo Robinson jo@focusmag.com.au
ADVERTISING CONSULTANT Annette Wannell annette@focusmag.com.au
ADVERTISING CONSULTANT / EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTOR Chrissy Jones JP
Welcome to the July issue of Greater Port Macquarie FOCUS.
I
chrissy@focusmag.com.au
ADVERTISING CONSULTANT Sarah Dunstan
t was a crisp winter's morning when we headed out on a nature walk with the family to wash away the remainder of our jet lag last month. Jay and I were up early (3:30am!) We decided that we would head off to explore some of the natural attractions of our area. Down to the Camden Haven we headed, to Crowdy Bay National Park, where we trekked the Headland Walk and Mermaid Lookout Walk. It was a total of 6 km and took just over an hour and a half. The views from the headland were spectacular and worth the brisk walk to the top. If you are looking for walks similar to this, then check out the National Parks website for ideas, as they have put together some really informative details about things to do. So, get out there
sarahmay@focusmag.com.au
SALES SUPPORT/ FEATURE CONTENT CO-ORDINATOR Sarah Gale sarah@focusmag.com.au
ART DIRECTOR Dylan Gaul dylan@focusmag.com.au
GRAPHIC DESIGNER Joey Dable joey@focusmag.com.au
GRAPHIC DESIGNER Jeff Cowan jeff@focusmag.com.au
GRAPHIC DESIGNER Kyle Rathbone kyle@focusmag.com.au
PHOTOGRAPHER Michael Marchment michael@focusmag.com.au
COPY EDITING Rite ‘n’ Rong Media Services rnrmedia@bigpond.com
TRAVEL EDITOR Susie Boswell sunconsulting@ozemail.com.au
Comments and opinions of our contributors do not necessarily reflect the opinion or view of the Publishers. 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 material including advice with individual businesses and industry professionals. Articles marked as 'Interview or Contributor' are non-sponsored content. Greater Port Macquarie Focus is published by Creative House Publications PTY LTD ABN: 621 287 8600 5. Material in Focus is Copyright © Creative House Publications PTY LTD 2018 and may not be reproduced whole or in part, in any form, without permission of the Publisher. All rights reserved. FOCUS is printed by Fairfax Media Print & Logistics North Richmond. Our paper is FFC and PEFC certified and meets with ISO14001 accreditation. FOCUS delivery bags can be REDcycled at your local Coles Supermarkets and the paper through normal recycling methods.
JUSTICE CREW
WHAT’S ON
SO LONG TOUR
an enjoy our region's natural beauty (www. nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/visit-a-park). LEADERS LEAP FOR LIFE Our FOCUS team were out and about this month supporting the community again, with Sarah Gale taking on the Leaders Leap for Life Challenge. Sarah abseiled nine storeys down Rydges along with other leaders, to raise funds for the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service. Over $25,000 was raised. A special thank you from FOCUS to Companion Bakery, who supported Sarah’s fundraising with the provision of sweets in the form of eclairs, brownies, and other baked goodies. THANK YOU JANICE, CRAIG and team. LOCAL BUSINESS AWARDS The PM Chamber Business Awards are on
JOHN WILLIAMSON
SCHOOL HOLIDAY FUN!
GH 2009
Get creative with our Glasshouse Gallery Sprouts program – art activities for kids. Sprouts Road Show is on the move again! This July Sprouts Road Show will be at the Wauchope and Laurieton Libraries.
02 6581 8888 I glasshouse.org.au Cnr Clarence & Hay Sts,Port Macquarie NSW 2444
Follow Glasshouse:
this month, where local businesses will be celebrated for their achievements. As a Hall of Fame business, FOCUS is proud to have a long association with the local awards. On behalf of the team, we wish all nominees and finalists the very best! Go easy on the booze on the night - especially if your category is towards the tail end! Check out our new look contents page on page 6 for everything that is happening inside this edition. Enjoy! - Louise Beaumont.
THURSDAY 12 JULY, 7PM
FRIDAY 20 JULY, 8PM
Australia’s most exciting pop group and eight-time ARIA nominees Justice Crew are coming! Justice Crew will showcase their biggest hits, including Que Sera, Boom Boom, Everybody, Best Night, Love my Life and their hottest new material, which includes the song So Long.
Williamson has an unrivalled ability to deliver unforgettable live concert experiences offering the perfect blend of humour, romance and campfire stories woven together by his music. There is no denying that John Williamson is truly an Australian icon.
25-27 JULY, 9AM – 5PM Luminosity Youth Summit helps you explore your DANGEROUS IDEAS FOR SUCCESS. Do you want to ignite your creativity and entrepreneurship? Luminosity is a three day forum to help young people aged 15-25 foster purpose and well-being. Get involved! Cost: $295pp – includes 20 amazing speakers & workshops, catering & materials Register: www.luminosityyouthsummit.com.au BE THERE WE DARE YOU!
GLASSHOUSE 2018 MEMBERSHIPS
Bookings essential
SYDNEY DRAG QUEEN PRESENTS
PRADA’S PRISCILLAS
WIN A TRIP FOR TWO TO MCLAREN VALE, SOUTH AUSTRALIA, including flights and accommodation – experience the finest wine, food, art and nature in Australia’s premier wine region.
RICE HALF P JULY! 1 M O FR General: $22.50, Conc./U 21/ Student: $20 Save on tickets to selected shows and events No transaction fees Discounts at Encore Bar and the Glasshouse Shop AND MORE!
$5
WEDNESDAY 11 JULY, 11AM THURSDAY 12 JULY, 11AM @ LAURIETON LIBRARY SATURDAY 14 JULY, 11AM WEDNESDAY 18 JULY, 11AM THURSDAY 19 JULY, 11AM @ WAUCHOPE LIBRARY
SATURDAY 28 JULY, 8PM An all-male revue! Flanked by gorgeous men, be taken on a journey from where it all began with Les Girls in the 60’s, across the Aussie outback with Priscilla Queen of the Desert in the 90’s, & into 2018 with a celebration of today’s music icons.
Show your 2018 Glasshouse Membership when you purchase a glass of Angove wine from Encore Bar before 31 July 2018 to get your entry to go in the draw. For full terms and conditions please visit the Glasshouse website www.glasshouse.org.au/mclaren2018
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Skye Petho CREATIVE REGISTRY AUSTRALIA
“TINDER” FOR CREATIVES AND RETAILERS IS LIVE!
Skye Petho is one of the region’s most well-known creatives. SKYE’S SHOP, ARTHOUSE INDUSTRIES ON SUNSET PARADE, PORT MACQUARIE IS A FAVOURITE WITH VISITORS AND LOCALS ALIKE looking for unique fashion and giftware pieces from creative designers from our area and further afield. s well as being a retailer, Skye creates eye-catching glass bead jewellery and also works as an arts mentor and business trainer. Skye tells us all about her latest passion project, Creative Registry Australia ... What is Creative Registry Australia, and how did you come up with the idea? It’s a bit like Tinder - it helps creatives and retailers hook up! Creative Registry Australia is an online platform that connects small business creatives with retailers who are looking to buy and stock Australian handmade items. I’ve always been passionate about supporting Australian creatives and dedicated to sourcing unique, handmade, limited edition items. Working as both a creative and a retailer, I understand the challenges both face. For creatives, it’s difficult to be found. Creatives are great at creating, but often don’t want to spend their time or money securing retailers to stock and sell their items. For retailers, it’s time consuming and difficult to find those special, handmade, high quality items to make their stores stand out. And so, the idea for CRA was created! What type of creative artists are signing up? We’re looking to fill the site with unique offerings from a broad range of artists, creatives, makers and designers. 4 Greater Port Macquarie focus
CRA is for Australian, unique, quality handmade goods. We’re not interested in the cheap, junky, imported stuff you sometimes see at markets. That’s what sets us apart from other creative platforms like Etsy. The creatives who are signing up live and breathe their creative projects - whether it be painting, jewellery making, ceramics, photography, textiles, design and more. For these creatives it can be really expensive to break into the bigger wholesale markets and extremely time consuming to approach and pitch to retailers directly. Through Creative Registry Australia, it’s easy for creatives to be found by and connect with ready-to-purchase retailers. Creatives are able to reach new audiences, expand their brand, build their business and sell their products. The best bit is CRA provides the search power through the platform - the rest is up to you; we won’t charge commissions or a fee for sales. And how does Creative Registry Australia help retailers? By using Creative Registry Australia, retailers can stay one step ahead of their competitors by discovering unique stock for their shelves. It’s free to search and connect directly with top quality, independent creatives. Searching on Creative Registry Australia is as simple as typing in a keyword and browsing the results. It’s quick and easy, available anywhere - anytime. Retailers can choose to link up with creatives in their local area, or discover creative
I also want to use products from right around Searching on Creative Registry the country. Creative Registry Australia is as simple as typing I know how hard it can be Australia to build a in a keyword and browsing to source unique, handmade community, where the results. It’s quick Australian items that you we can all learn from and easy, available can’t find in every other store and support each anywhere - anytime. in town. other. I’m exploring Retailers can choose to link up Retail shop owners often with creatives in their local area, the idea of CRA spend hours of their time or discover creative products catch-ups to get outside of the business from right around the country. creatives together in searching for suppliers. the future. They also rely on crowded, What are your overwhelming trade fairs and plans for Creative wholesale markets, but this Registry Australia beyond Port Macquarie? obviously takes them away from their business We’re currently focusing on filling the site and doesn’t always uncover that special high with creatives from Newcastle to Coffs Harbour. quality piece they’re looking to stock. Creative Registry Australia is a businessWe have so many talented people in our to-business tool that smooths, simplifies and region, and countless boutique stores. We want speeds up the wholesale process. to help them find each other and support local What other benefits will Creative Registry businesses. Australia provide? From there, we’ll be launching the site I genuinely want to support individual Australia-wide next year! businesses and the industry as a whole. I’m Tell us about the special launch offer? putting together a whole host of valuable Creatives can sign up now to secure a listing resources to help creatives turn their passion for the first six months FREE! This is a limited into a profession. time offer, so get in fast. Those who join Creative Registry Australia It’s quick and easy to sign up - just tell us will have access to valuable tips and techniques a little bit about you, your business and your to grow and improve their businesses. items, then you’re ready to be discovered. Sign We’ll produce a range of business howtos on a range of topics, including pricing, marketing, merchandising, packaging, legals, accounting and sales conversion.
up for FREE now at www.creativeregistryaustralia.com.au Thanks Skye.
Primavera. Established in 1992, Primavera showcases the work of young Australian artists aged 35 years and under. Each year, Primavera provides an opportunity for young artists from around the country to present their work in a major museum. Primavera was initiated through an act of extraordinary generosity. In November 1991, on the eve of the opening of the MCA, Dr Edward Jackson AM and Mrs Cynthia Jackson AM and their family offered to endow an exhibition of work by young artists in memory of their daughter and sister, Belinda Jackson, a talented jeweller. As MCA Director Elizabeth Ann Macgregor OBE has noted, “it is a remarkable feat to have turned this tragedy into such
a wonderful opportunity for the artists of the future”. Primavera at 25 brings together works of 19 artists and artist groups who have participated in the annual Primavera exhibition series. Drawn from the MCA Collection, the exhibition features established and emerging artists working across a range of disciplines from painting, sculpture, video, performance, kinetic and installation art. For many artists, Primavera marks the start of a long relationship with the MCA. Since 1993, the MCA has acquired over 240 works by Primavera artists. These include artworks that were first exhibited in a Primavera exhibition and works made many years afterwards.
16 JUNE – 19 AUGUST Primavera at 25 is proudly supported by MCA Touring Partner, Red Energy
FREE ENTRY
Primavera at 25: MCA Collection, celebrates twenty-five years of the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia’s annual Primavera exhibition showcasing the work of young Australian artists.
GLASSHOUSE.ORG.AU
PRIMAVERA AT 25: MCA COLLECTION
MCA Touring Partner
Primavera was initiated in 1992 by Dr Edward Jackson AM and Mrs Cynthia Jackson AM and their family in memory of their daughter and sister Belinda Jackson. This project has been assisted by the Australian Government through the Australia Council, its arts funding and advisory body. Image: Barbara Cleveland, Performance Art (15 Actions for the Face) (stills), 2014, 2-channel video, sound, Commissioned by the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia for the Jackson Bella Room, 2014, image courtesy and © the artists
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contents Issue 152 - July 2018
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feature a special
EDUCATION & TRAINING
Afternoons Tonight!
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He’s played with bands such as Jo Jo Zep and the Models, he’s a television and radio presenter, especially known for his talkback segments with the ABC, he’s a published author, with a series of books for teenage boys. Now you can see James Valentine in his live stage show at the Glasshouse!
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Blake O’Connor. Fresh off the back of releasing his latest single, young local and rising country music star Blake O’Connor is set to share the stage at the Coastal Country Music Festival on August 4 at Wauchope Country Club.
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the Usual Suspects 12. WHAT’S ON for July
18. WHAT’S IN SEASON with Eric Robinson 22. EAT local restaurants 27. OUT TO LUNCH with Susie Boswell
Women Like Us.
30. PALATE PLEASURES with Lou Perri
Ellen Briggs and Mandy Nolan bring the day to day lives of being a woman to the stage, touching on (not so gently) those topics nobody wants to talk about, in a hilarious two hour stage show… FOCUS caught up with the pair in between school runs ...
40. ROBYN’S SPOT with Robyn Butler
35. SOCIAL SCENE with Kate Wood-Foye 46. A DAY IN THE LIFE with Michelle Parker 48. TOURISM with Janette Hyde 51. TRAVEL THE WORLD with Susie Boswell 59. STARGUIDE with Terri Hall 81. BUSINESS MINDS with Jane Hillsdon
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The Australian Bee Gees.
Formed back in 1996, The Australian Bee Gees have been going strong for 22 years! Having performed in Las Vegas for the past seven years, the boys love to adapt their stage show and tour it around the world.
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82. PORT CHAMBER UPDATE with Michael Mowle 91. LANDCARE with Julie Ho
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No matter where you are in the world, read Focus for free online every month @ www.focusmag.com.au
Precious metal is coming to Port Macquarie. The Mercedes-Benz Precious Metal Roadshow will be arriving in Andrew Miedecke Mercedes-Benz on Monday 6th August. This rare opportunity offers access to some of the latest and most exclusive models from the Mercedes-Benz range including the luxurious E-Class All-Terrain 220d, GT C Roadster and S-Class 350d. Don’t miss this exciting opportunity at Andrew Miedecke Mercedes-Benz, before it moves on. mbportmacquarie.com.au
Your car our passion
100 Hastings River Drive, Port Macquarie 6583 8855 DL8071 www.mbportmacquarie.com.au
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L A U R E L F R A N K - F O U N D I N G A N D C O S T U M E D E S I G N E R
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It’s been 40 years since the humble beginning of Circus Oz. SINCE THEN, THE COMPANY HAS SEEN MANY EVOLUTIONS, TOURS, SHOWS, UNBELIEVABLE TRICKS - NOT TO MENTION THE COSTUMES! FOCUS chatted with founding member, Laurel Frank …
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M E M B E R
i Laurel. Give us some background into your history as a founding member of Circus Oz? I’ve been with the company for 40 years. I’ve done other work, as I’m a freelance costume designer, but the core of my work have always been Circus Oz - and that started in 1977, when I was working at a theatre company and we created a circus project. This seemed to develop its own life - we joined with a small circus company from South Australia, and Circus Oz was born. Tell us about the first ever Circus Oz performance … The first proper public show in the tent that we built in the basement of the theatre company where I was working, was Moomba. That was in Melbourne, and we went on to the Adelaide Festival - so they were the first two shows. Before this we had done a lot of street theatre and a lot of smaller events, but I always think of that first tent as really being the launching pad for us as a touring circus company. How does it feel being in the industry for 40 years? What have been some of your greatest achievements or fulfilling moments? It’s a surprise that I’ve been doing this for 40 years - or even longer really, because my work started slightly earlier in a theatre company in Melbourne. I learnt all sorts of things that have really helped me; I was a lighting designer and rigger for a while, and studied under a senior lighting person. I was a stage manager, I did a whole variety of jobs, and I was always costume making on the side.
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M O D E L C I T I Z E N S
I think learning all those other skills and a bit of acting actually gave me a great understanding of all types of performance - and especially circus. I had a bit of a go at acrobatics (I was terrible) but I had a go, so I feel like I do have that knowledge of what it takes for performer to successfully get on stage and do what they have to do and communicate with an audience. Have you had a go on the high trapeze or any other daring tricks? Daring is probably going too far! I was a clown, and ran around doing that, and as mentioned a little bit of acrobatics. I was part of the group acrobatics, but in the early days it was as much about what we were talking about in the show - the message that was as important as the skill level. So no, I didn’t do anything daring! I did plenty of training climbing up web ropes and sat on trapezes, but I never seriously trained for any of those acts. And what do you love most about being a part of the Circus Oz family? Theatre productions always have that family feel. Circus Oz has such a long history, and we have a special structure in our company where performers, technicians and people in admin can become company members once they’ve been with the company for a certain number of years, so we now have a big pool of people who are distributed all over the world - as well as all around Australia - who at one time or another have been part of the company and have worked with us. They’re now family - it’s like you have lots of wise uncles, aunts, cousins who can be drawn on to help on whatever the company is doing at the present moment. It’s a pretty special thing, the Circus Oz family. How do you ensure costumes are high visual impact, yet still able to be moved/
and protect and support the performer? We are really happy with the stage picture we’ve created with Model Citizens; it was a result of a lot of meetings between the set and prop designer, Baxter and our Artistic Director Rob Tannion, so we threw around a lot of ideas and landed on this idea of the model kit world and the model citizens who Acrobats will back-flip off might inhabit that world. a giant vertical clothes peg, It was a really rich spring become tangled in board; it’s a long journey an oversized cotton from those initial ideas to reel, balance on a house of further research to clarify oversized collapsing cards and Citizens unfolds within the ideas and costume and fly high in an enormous pair a cleverly designed set design. of aerial undies! model-kit world that For me, there is a huge challenges perspective, input with whoever it scale and concepts of is that’s going to be in normality. In Model the cast, because I have Citizens, over-sized, everyday objects are used to modify all of those broad notions into as unexpected circus equipment that create an something that is going to work for a particular intriguing new playground for the all-human person who has a particular character who ensemble. Acrobats will back-flip off a giant works with particular circus gear - whether vertical clothes peg, become tangled in an it’s trapeze, or hand balancing, or whatever it oversized cotton reel, balance on a house of is. I always have to work technically for that oversized collapsing cards and fly high in an person, and it’s a long road, because there is enormous pair of aerial undies! a lot of interaction with gear in different acts. Exposing circus skills in unconventional You have to make sure the costume won’t get ways, Model Citizens presents stunning group caught up on anything or is going slide in the acrobatics with a twist. Model Citizens is a right way or not. It’s particular to each act, so visually and emotionally charged journey by that’s a journey I go on with each performer, to the multi-talented Circus Oz ensemble, which isolate their needs. explores what it really means to be a model Congratulations on 40 years, Laurel - and citizen in today’s “model kit” society. thanks. Model Citizens seamlessly blends the risk and beauty of breathtaking physical improbability with theatricality, choreography and Circus Oz’s distinct brand of Australian CIRCUS OZ PRESENTS MODEL CITIZENS AT THE GLASSHOUSE. humour. Stunningly lit and driven by a Dates and times 29 Aug, 11am; 29 Aug, 1pm; 29 Aug, 7:30pm. sensational live music soundtrack, Model For tickets and pricing, visit www.glasshouse.org.au Greater Port Macquarie focus 9
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Peta Pinson Mayor
First Year as Mayor of PMHC
FOCUS caught up with our effervescent local Mayor, Mrs Peta Pinson, as she approaches her first anniversary in the role. PETA SHARES WITH US HER EXPERIENCES OF THE LAST 12 MONTHS in the seat and what her future goals are for our greater community …
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ow has your first year as Mayor of Port Macquarie-Hastings Council been? My first year of being Mayor of the Port Macquarie-Hastings Council has been been really exciting, it’s been interesting, I’m learning lots, up-skilling; there’s been a lot of personal growth and getting to know the community on a different level. What have you learnt about the Mayoral position, that you didn’t know before being elected? There’s a lot of governance involved in being the Mayor of Port Macquarie-Hastings Council, regulations involved in the Local Government act, and I’m getting to know those as the time goes on. I guess I didn’t realise how involved that was right at the start. You’re the first female Mayor for our Council. Have you encountered any kind of stereotyping or issues in this field? Being the first female Mayor of Port Macquarie, I have experienced some stereotyping - obviously when you’re the first to enter into a realm like this as a woman there are people who aren’t very comfortable with women leading in that kind of role, and I’ve come up against that on a couple of occasions. How have you overcome those issues? I guess just speaking to people in general and explaining to them what my position is, what my vision is and what I intend on doing in the leadership role.
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Let’s talk relationships. One of your election comments was that you’d be strengthening the relationships between State and Federal Members; has this happened and how so? I believe that building and then strengthening relationships in business is extremely important. In all levels of Government we are in the business of delivering for our community. To do this we must have respect for each other and work together to achieve outcomes. From day one, I have been focused on improving the relationships with our Federal and State Members, and the feedback from many in our community is that they are glad to see us all working together. What’s one thing our Council does really well, in your opinion? I’ve discovered that the community engagement is exceptional. There are many Council staff who are so highly community focused; I’ve been involved in popup shops, where they go out and engage with the community, they ask what the community are thinking, and I can’t tell you how impressed I’ve been with that side of Council operations. How would you rate the support you get from your fellow Councillors? I’m not going to lie; as soon as we came into being together as a Council unit, there were some difficult moments. We’ve been overcoming those as we’ve gotten to know each other; I am respectful of the views of others, as I hope they are respectful of mine.
You’re juggling life What are your top In this first year I set three priorities as about strengthening as a business woman, Mayor for the next the relationships Mayor, attending to three years? between our State and your civil duties; how Duplication of Ocean Federal Members; we do you keep a good Drive between Matthew are very fortunate in the Port balance of work/life Flinders Drive and Green Macquarie-Hastings region to and your community Meadows; we need to have four elected Members, role? alleviate that congestion two Federal and two State. Soon after I was for motorists travelling elected, I made a from the south. It is in a decision to resign as high growth state down Managing Director of my company and take in the Camden Haven region, and we’re really on the role of Mayor as a full-time role, and experiencing the traffic chaos that comes I’ve done that since day one. I think the Mayor through those roundabouts. My second priority would be to see the designs and the detailed designs developed for the orbital road, which will again alleviate traffic concerns coming from the west, where we have congestion and blockage at the Wright’s Road Roundabout. As we grow, traffic is going to be an issue ... Parking is also an issue, so that is one of the priorities I’d like to see addressed also - our parking situation. Another priority of mine is more from a social aspect. The community has spoken loud and clear about its desire for an ocean pool, and I am working with the community on how we may realise that in the future. It's not going to happen overnight, there are constraints around the environment, but through working with Crown Lands and the support of Council as the proponent for any future DA is what I’d like to see happen, with funding raised through the community or community groups.
needs to be a full-time position to be available to the community and community events that are happening - and there are plenty of them. I have staff looking after the business; I do pop in from time to time to connect with my staff and touch base with what's going on. Being a people person, I really love to engage with different types people and listen to their stories, so the life balance is I’m busier than I’ve ever been, but I was a busy woman before! I get out in the community, meet new people, my husband gets involved on occasion, my children are grown, I’m a grandmother to a two year old little boy, and sometimes he comes along to events. It’s a bit of a family atmosphere. My daughter accompanies me as well; the family are sharing my experience too. Thanks Peta.
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focus_What’s On Greater Port Macquarie
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Eureka Explorers STEM HOLIDAY WORKSHOPS Three weeks of fun, hands-on daily STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) workshops suitable for primary school children ages 8 to 12. Includes all materials and healthy snacks. High child to staff ratio. Register Now Online! www.eurekaexplorers.com.au/register When Monday 2nd July Friday 20th July, 1pm to 4pm. Where Daily local locations: CSU campus, Library Tech Room, Rainforest Centre (see website for full schedule and program). Phone 0455 331 010. Email info@ eurekaexplorers.com.au Website www.eurekaexplorers.com.au
DEATH DO US ART Official Opening Featuring works from local artists; Adam Murray, Thomas Brown, Mel Casey, Matt Jorgensen, Todd Bourke Illustration, JJ - Studio6zeros, plus more to be announced! Live tunes from 3pm with Palomino. When 7th July. For details contact Death Do Us Art: www.fb.com/deathdousart
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Timbertown Annual STEAM FAIR
Enjoy the old world culture of Timbertown, with steam boats on the lake along with steam vehicles. Steam trains, traction engines and engines galore. The damper camp will be operating also, along with live music. See rare trades and demonstrations and much more. When Saturday 7th July. More info www.timbertown.com.au
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QUILT SHOW 2018
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Quilters and crafters need wait no longer - Timeless Quilters’ popular biennial quilt show is on again this year at the usual venue, Panthers Auditorium at Settlement City, Port Macquarie. This year the proceeds from the show will aid Hastings Home Hospice, Endeavour Mental Health and the Hastings Education Fund, which helps school leavers, both financially and pastorally, to transition to further education. There will be displays of all sizes of quilts, wall hangings, bags, fibre art and a children’s corner. And what would a quilt show be without a raffle? The major prize is a fantastic blue and white quilt - the theme for this year. When Friday 13th and Saturday 14th July, 10am4pm; Sunday 15th July, 10am - 3pm. Where Panthers Auditorium, Settlement City, Port Macquarie. Entry is $5 per person. Enquiries Lee 0402 437 604.
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BASTILLE DAY Lunch Celebrate France’s National day with a French inspired lunch in Seasons Restaurant. Bastille Day is the perfect opportunity to celebrate with food and wine. Enjoy our wonderful prepared share plates with the ones you love. When Saturday 14th July. Where Cassegrain Winery, 10 Winery Drive, Port Macquarie Bookings 6582 8320 or restaurant@cassegrainwines.com.au
BELLO WINTER Music BELLO Winter Music is dedicated to programming an exciting and eclectic mix of new and emerging artists, while showcasing everything that Bellingen has to offer. When 12th - 15th July. Where Bellingen. Tickets: www.bellowintermusic.com
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JOHN Williamson
He is firmly cemented in the nation’s musical culture; his impressive career spans more than forty years. He has survived and soared in the often cut-throat entertainment industry. When 20th July. Where Glasshouse. Tickets www.glasshouse.org.au
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Luminosity YOUTH SUMMIT DANGEROUS IDEAS FOR SUCCESS - igniting creativity, excellence and entrepreneurship. When 25 - 27 July. More info www.luminosityyouthsummit.com.a
Vultures P O R T M A C Q U A R I E ’ S F I R S T R E C O R D FA I R
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inyl vultures will not want to miss this! Music fans can sift through hundreds of LPs covering alternative, punk, metal, rockabilly, blues, jazz, country, reggae, club, hip hop and every other genre since the dawn of rock ‘n’ roll. Whatever way you spin it, the demand for vinyl is increasing, as vinyl sales continue to grow in Australia. A whopping $18.1 million worth of records were sold across the country in 2017,
figures from the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) show. It is the seventh consecutive year that the industry has seen an increase in the demand for vinyl. The ongoing revival of vinyl demonstrates this format’s enduring power of reinvention and popularity, with an increase of 19% all up in 2017. The physical market is being bolstered by vinyl as CD sales continue to drop. Ironically, CDs were the format designed to replace vinyl albums. “Vinyl formats continue to play a vital part
of the music business,” says record shop owner Travis Fredericks, “and sales are not just confined to nostalgic Baby Boomers; there are people from all walks of life enjoying the listening experience of a vinyl record.” Travis has just opened a record shop in Wauchope and has been surprised by the response and the types of people coming in to purchase vinyl. “We get people from all backgrounds and walks of life, but they all have one thing in common - an addiction to improving on their collections. “Record collecting ends up affecting the way the rest of us see music via a roundabout process. Many record collectors are also musicians, or music writers, or run record labels or recording studios (our best customer is Michael Lynch, who owns a recording studio in Beechwood). “So when they start collecting an artist or a style or music, they are in a position to do something about it. Musicians start to speak about that music in their interviews, writers publish pieces about formidable artists, and record labels reissue records again.” At the Port Macquarie Record Fair, you will find hundreds of new and used records from pop to hip hop to dance, blues, rock and jazz, too many genres to mention, from some of the area’s best vendors, who are bringing their extensive collections of music. There will be rarities, collectables, bargains and rare gems, not to be missed. It has never been easier to gain access to
wonderful pressings, both new and old, all in one place. The Duck on Clarence provides the perfect setting for the inaugural Port Macquarie Record Fair - a family friendly venue, in the convenient location of Clarence Street. There will be food and drink available to ensure the event is well rounded and fun. Singer songwriter Lauren Edwards will be performing live on stage throughout the day. Lauren has enjoyed local success over the past two years with her irresistible melodies and heartfelt lyrics. Making music from the instrument she was born with, as well as her guitar, Lauren is a gifted vocalist, entertaining audiences with her original songs, as well as some well curated covers. It takes just a few seconds of listening to Lauren to know that you’ve stumbled on someone special. DJ Healey and the Spin Academy will be on hand to keep things real on Saturday, July 7th. Made up of local DJ “Healy” and his collective of DJ mates who live in the Port Macquarie area, they will be playing a range of songs to entertain the vinyl vultures on the day. Anyone and everyone who has set foot into the DJ world will, at some point in their life, have heard the phrase “keep it real”. This refers of course, to the act of DJing using only vinyl. This is exactly what will be happening. Indulge your sense of intrinsic satisfaction by buying your vinyl at The Port Macquarie Record Fair on Saturday, July 7th at The Duck on Clarence. Keep updated on Facebook.
Greater Port Macquarie focus 13
V I NES
IN TH
E
July sees Cassegrain Winery celebrating ITS FIRST "BEEF IN THE VINES". FOCUS caught up with the team, to find out just what this new event is all about ...
W
hat was the inspiration behind the event? John Cassegrain has wanted to do a series of “in the vines” events and particularly a Beef in the Vines for many years. John has had the vision for a long time of creating an event that could showcase, support and more broadly introduce our local beef producers, butchers and local businesses supporting the beef industry. Cassegrain Winery has played host to many great festivals and events over the years, including Oysters in the Vines, and the Beef in the Vines event is something very new and exciting for the region. Is this an interactive competition? Will Beef in the Vines goers have the opportunity to feast on any tasty morsels and get a flavour for BBQ culture? Cassegrain Winery has teamed up with local barbecue enthusiast and seasoned barbecue pitmaster, Adam Roberts (former Deputy Mayor) to bring a National Championship Round of the Barbeques Galore Australian
14 Greater Port Macquarie focus
Barbecue Championships to Port Macquarie. Adam and another prominent local identity, Jay Beaumont, co-founded the Australasian Barbecue Alliance back in 2014, which is a non-profit incorporated association that sanctions barbecue competitions across Australia and New Zealand. Beef in the Vines will showcase a round of this year's championship series, which will see 12 competitive barbecue teams, including some local teams, from NSW and Queensland cooking off using wood-fired smokers and grills in the hunt for over $3,000 in cash and trophies. The winery's very own Seasons Restaurant will prepare some tasty morsels with a very meaty twist to serve the general public, whilst the competitors cook for a tent full of trained barbecue judges, who will determine which teams take home some silverware and decent bragging rights. What are the other categories competitors can enter? The barbecue teams will deliver to the judges four proteins, including chicken, lamb, pork ribs and beef. The competitors bump into the venue the night before the general public
arrive and cook all through the night, with some meats slow cooked over smoking coals for up to 12 hours before they are handed in to the judges. Guests can watch the competitive teams in action scrambling to get the hand ins in on time and stay around enjoying the day's other activities, before watching the trophy presentations at the end of the day. Who will be entertaining punters? Guests to the event will come across samplers, talks or can purchase take home goodies from Granny Mels, Good Ol Mums, Gourmet Sensations, Warinyan Bottled Culture, Australian Extreme Chilli Sauces, Hastings Coop and Bago Bluff Products, Casseras Bakehouse, Doppio or Nothing Coffee and more. Eungai Creek Buffalo will bring along a baby buffalo called Jed and Lavender Hill Open Pasture Byabarra will also be showcasing their prize-winning Brahman cattle. The event will be family friendly, with the team from Party Professionals
entertaining the kids, whilst Mat Brooker entertains with some soulful sounds to enhance the relaxed atmosphere with a live music performance throughout the day. What are the other activities available on the day? The Seasons Restaurant will be open for lunch as usual and the Cassegrain Cellar door will be open from 9am to 5pm. For those interested in learning a bit more about bbqing, whilst they enjoy a tasty bite or glass of bubbly, several barbecue team pitmasters will give talks on all things butchery, cooking over fire and competition barbecue.
plug! Beef in the Vines When Sunday 15th July, 10am – 5pm Where Cassegrain Winery, 10 Winery Drive, Port Macquarie Info www.cassegrainwines.com.au
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focusinterview.
Megan Robson: Photographer Jacquie Manning
Primavera at
MCA C O L L E C T I O N
Established in 1992, "Primavera" showcases the work of young Australian artists aged 35 years and under. CURATOR MEGAN ROBSON FROM THE MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART highlights some special features of the "Primavera at 25" exhibition, which can now be viewed at the Glasshouse Regional Gallery.
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H
i Megan. Tell us a bit about your role as curator at the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia. My role is involved with all stages of an exhibition, from the initial research into artists and artworks through to the practical planning of how individual artworks will be installed in the gallery; in addition to working on the resources and events that accompany an exhibition from writing for an exhibition catalogue, producing online resources or developing programs and events that explore key themes and ideas. Each day is different and can include everything from visiting artists in their studio to discuss new artworks for upcoming exhibitions to giving a tour to Museum patrons, sourcing particular materials for an upcoming project (anything and everything from thousands of 3D glasses to a specialist publication) and meetings with the public and education teams to workshop upcoming
programs. into such a wonderful One of the longest-running Please share a brief opportunity for the exhibition series in the country, history behind the artists of the future”. Primavera has become Primavera exhibition. Primavera at 25: a significant platform Established in 1992, MCA Collection for early career artists. Primavera showcases celebrates 25 years From 1992 to 2017, over the work of young since the inception 214 artists have participated in Australian artists aged of the Primavera the annual exhibition. 35 years and under. Collection, which is an Each year, Primavera amazing milestone! provides an opportunity Why do you think for young artists from this exhibition has around the country to present their work in a achieved such longevity in the art world? major museum. Primavera is important, because it was Primavera was initiated through an act of the first exhibition of its kind in Australia - in extraordinary generosity. In November 1991, 1992 when the exhibition started, no other on the eve of the opening of the MCA, Dr national museum had a dedicated, ongoing Edward Jackson AM and Mrs Cynthia Jackson program to showcase the work of young AM and their family offered to endow an artists. One of the longest-running exhibition exhibition of work by young artists in memory series in the country, Primavera has become of their daughter and sister, Belinda Jackson, a significant platform for early career artists. a talented jeweller. As MCA Director Elizabeth From 1992 to 2017, over 214 artists have Ann Macgregor OBE has noted “it is a participated in the annual exhibition. Former remarkable feat to have turned this tragedy Primavera artists - such as Shaun Gladwell,
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Left: Front to back: Danie Mellor Native Gold 2008 Installation view, Primavera at 25: MCA Collection, Museum of Contemporary Art Australia, 2016 taxidermied kangaroo, taxidermied birds, wood, gold plated ceramic, mosaic tiles on eucalyptus branches, expanded polyurethane foam, glitter, neon lights Museum of Contemporary Art, purchased with funds donated by the Mordant Family, 2008 Agatha Gothe-Snape Emotional Wall with Everything Else 2012-13 synthetic polymer paint on wall Museum of Contemporary Art, purchased with funds provided by the MCA Foundation, 2016 Image courtesy and © the artists Photograph: Alex Davies
Below: Nell Unlimited Radiance 2001 Installation view, Primavera at 25: MCA Collection, Museum of Contemporary Art Australia, 2016 sequins, pins, synthetic polymer paint on cork mounted on MDF Museum of Contemporary Art, gift of Dr Edward Jackson AM and Mrs Cynthia Jackson AM, 2006 Image courtesy and © the artist Photograph: Sam Whiteside
Mikala Dwyer, Nell, Rebecca Baumann, James Angus and Danie Mellor - have gone on to exhibit both nationally and internationally, to become influential educators, and to play a significant role in the development of contemporary art practice both in Australia and beyond. How many artists’ works, and what range of mediums used, will we be able to view at the Glasshouse Regional Gallery when Primavera at 25 opens to the public? Primavera at 25 brings together works of 19 artists and artist groups who have participated in the annual Primavera exhibition series. Drawn from the MCA Collection, the exhibition features established and emerging artists working across a range of disciplines from painting, sculpture, video, performance, kinetic and installation art. For many artists, Primavera marks the start of a long relationship with the MCA. Since 1993, the MCA has acquired over 240 works by Primavera artists. These include artworks that were first exhibited in a Primavera exhibition and works made many years afterwards. Please describe two or three of the exhibited works ... Nell’s Unlimited Radiance (2001) comprises over 20,000 sequins individually pinned onto corkboards that depicts a sunset in shades of gold, red, orange, silver and yellow. A fan gently blows across the image, causing the sequins to vibrate and shimmer, each
reflective disc becoming a “miniature sun”. Rebecca Baumann’s Automated Colour Field (2011) consists of a grid of 100 flipclocks, in which the artist has replaced the numbered cards with sheets of brightly coloured paper. Set to a 24-hour cycle, the cards gently click over on the minute or the hour to create an ever-changing kaleidoscope of vibrant colours. In Native Gold (2008), Danie Mellor plays with form and language to reference ideas Drawn from the MCA around authenticity and Collection, the exhibition Indigenous identity in features established Australia. The title of the and emerging artists work is taken from the working across a range term used to describe new forms. Time is of disciplines from pure gold, which is explored in works painting, sculpture, 98.8% gold. Based on that record time, video, performance, a Victorian-era museum mark set intervals kinetic and installation art. taxidermy display, the or deliberately age; diorama consists three whilst other artists white mosaic branches, draw upon personal two cockatoos, a and shared memories. Elsewhere, artists taxidermy finch and a wallaby wearing a gold consider our relationship to the past by breastplate inscribed “King of the Golden their use of classical motifs and forms; they Age”. What themes does the exhibition explore reflect on our cultural histories or reinterpret traditional designs using contemporary as a whole? materials. Taking the 25th anniversary as a departure Final say ... point, Primavera at 25 includes artworks that explore ideas of transformation, time and The MCA’s Digital and Learning teams history. In the exhibition these themes are have created an amazing Primavera at seen in artworks that appear to transform 25 digital resource unit for visitors to the in front of our eyes, shape shifting to create exhibition at the Glasshouse Regional
Gallery, which includes interviews with the participating artists, in-depth information on the artworks on display, activities for school groups, and a timeline tracing the history of the exhibition series through archival materials, such as invitations, photographs (including some great images from the early '90s), and newspaper clippings. I am very excited about the range of educational and public programs that will be presented at the Glasshouse Regional Gallery as part of Primavera at 25, including guided tours, teacher’s professional development programs and HSC student workshops. Thanks Megan. Interview: Jo Robinson. See Primavera at 25: MCA Collection at the Glasshouse Regional Gallery until August 19. Greater Port Macquarie focus 17
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CHUCK MURRAY 2 W A Y
image of the month. Title: ”No, I’ll hold the camera; I can reach further than you ...” ~ Warrior Photo by: Billabong Zoo. Taken a great photo of our local area? Like to see it published in FOCUS for the world to see? Just email sarah@focusmag.com.au
focus_Contributor
E R I C F R O M T H E O T H E R C H E F W W W . T H E O T H E R C H E F. C O M . A U
WHA
T’S IN
season Turmeric
A native of the monsoon forests of South East Asia, turmeric is a member of the ginger family. This perennial herb produces underground roots (or rhizomes) which are often dried and ground into turmeric powder, but it can also be used fresh. Ground turmeric accounts for around 25% of many curry powders and is used to give it a vibrant yellow colour. To use it fresh, peel the root, slice finely or grate and add to Asian or Indian recipes that call for dried turmeric. Fresh turmeric has an earthy, slightly citrusy flavour - but be warned, the bright colour stains easily, so handle with care! Research is showing there’s more to turmeric than spicing up a curry. Curcumin, the compound that gives turmeric its rich yellow colour, has extraordinary antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties - and Australian scientists are currently investigating its potential ability to ward off dementia. Other health benefits include reducing your risk of cancer, lowering cholesterol and combating inflammatory diseases. So, if you are cooking a warming curry on these cool winter evenings, you might want to sprinkle in some extra grated turmeric! Locally grown, fresh turmeric is available now from Growers Market on Gordon Street. WHERE
Find out more about The Other Chef at www.theotherchef.com.au
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F M
Celebrating 25 years’ volunteer involvement in community radio, Chuck Murray is a bit of a local legend. Chrissy Jones chatted with him about his community involvement as a radio host for 2Way FM and his gig as Footy Focus commentator Saturday afternoons for the Hastings League.
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ow’d you first start at 2Way? O’Keefe fan, love Elvis and Roy Orbison and I read an editorial in the Port am a bigger Beach Boys fan than a Beatles. Express talking about community My tastes have widened and now include radio and asking for volunteers Rockabilly. to become DJs, so I responded, You have another love, Footy Focus! Tell became a member, and did the next available us about that ... how and when it started training course. The timing was right as the and grew. station, which had only had its licence for 12 Growing up listening to Frank Hyde, I had months, was about to always wanted to call commence seven days a footy, and community week operations. radio gave me that My dream was to be chance. My mentor, Greg My dream was to be a a breakfast announcer, White was a football breakfast announcer and and that became a caller back then and that became a reality when reality when I did my was an invaluable help; I I did my first ‘live’ first “live” shift on practice called at games shift on Wednesday Wednesday 2nd June for all of 1995 and then 2nd June 1993. 1993. I was the station’s went LIVE TO AIR for the first ever Wednesday first ever time calling the breakfast announcer. I 1995 Hastings League did breakfast shifts for Grand Final. years, eventually shifting Then in 1996 I called to Mondays and then Thursdays. Now I am the full season of Hastings League and am now back doing Homeward Bound of a Friday in my 20th full season of doing that. In 1998 afternoon from 4pm to 6pm. we expanded our coverage by calling Group 2 You have a love for music ... where do you of a Sunday afternoon and have done Group think that came from? 3, schoolboys matches and NRL pre-season There is no doubt that it came from my matches. mother and my Samoan heritage. From the The name Footy Focus was given to my start of primary school onwards, I have been long-running Saturday morning talk show on listening to pop music, and my love of music all things local rugby league, that people still just grew and grew. ask me to come back to do. It is also the name Favourite music over the years and now ... of my Facebook group covering local rugby At first, it was the music of the ‘60s, then league that has over 4,300 members. Then in with the rock ‘n’ roll revival period, the music 2016, with the help of Peter Saville, I set up of the late ‘50s as well. Then came the birth my own online radio station and I now stream of heavy metal; my favourite band was Status LIVE rugby league calls from various grounds Quo, followed by Deep Purple, Black Sabbath each weekend. Details can be found on our and Led Zeppelin, plus many more from that website: www.footyfocus.org and also on the period. The 1970s gave us so many super Footy Focus Facebook group that fans should groups, and that period in music will never request to join. ever be repeated. I must say I am a big Johnny Thanks Chuck.
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MODEL EXPO 2 0 1 8 PA N T H E R S
The annual Model Expo has been a feature on the Panthers Club Calendar for nearly 20 years. Once again, for two whole days on a weekend in July, the Panthers Club auditorium will be filled with eye- popping examples of scale models. A wide variety of hobbies will be represented, including radio-controlled ships, cars and aircraft, period ships, working railways and steam engines. View models constructed from timber, brass, fiberglass, and even paper! Plastic scale models will include ships, armoured fighting vehicles, aircraft, science fiction and figures. Watch models being constructed! This year there will be colouringin activities for kids.
The Panthers Club venue also provides the
A selection of suppliers of hobby kits, tools and materials will be in attendance.
funds for the Port Macquarie Maritime
convenience of food and beverages on site. This is an unmissable event for all the family! When First weekend of NSW School Holidays: 9am to 5pm, Saturday 7th July, and 9am to 4pm Sunday 8th July. Where Panthers Club - Settlement City, 1 Bay St, Port Macquarie. Entry is by gold coin donation, which raises Museum.
South West Rocks Cinema It is less than an hour’s drive up the highway now to South West Roxy Cinema, and this winter there are several live shows you won’t want to miss. For school holidays, bring the kids to see Mo Award winning artist DONNA LEE singing the songs of DORIS DAY, all done with the legendary singer’s personal approval. Donna has many stories to tell about this Hollywood legend, and then following the performance will be a screening of one of Doris Day’s most popular movies. She made three romantic comedies with Rock Hudson, but it is PILLOW TALK that is the best known and about to celebrate its 60th anniversary. The show is happening twice for your convenience, so see it Saturday 7 July at 7pm or Sunday 8 July at 11am. Tickets cost $35 for show and movie, with free tea or coffee. The following weekend, The Roxy will be rocking with JUSTICE CREW, who are performing
an all ages gig on Friday 13 July. Tickets are $40 general admission, or VIP tickets cost $60, which give fans the chance to secure their spot close to stage when they get early admission to watch the boys’ dress rehearsal. And footy fans will not want to miss the outstanding RUGBY LEAGUE: THE MUSICAL. You may have already seen hilarious singer songwriter Denis Carnahan during many appearances on on THE FOOTY SHOW, but you won’t want to miss his loving send-up of the best blokes in the sport.
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AngusGILL Emerging Wauchope-based singer/songwriter ANGUS GILL has released a new single, “Starin’ Out the Back of a Car”, a poignant reflection of the loss and trauma experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples of the Stolen Generation. Angus co-wrote the song with highly regarded Indigenous singer-songwriter Kevin Bennett (The Flood/Bennett, Bowtell & Urquhart) and recorded it with Kevin and fellow Indigenous performer Amos Morris, bringing the talents of the popular multiple Golden Guitar award winners to the project. The song was released to coincide with National Reconciliation Week in late May. Gill says, “Just before the song came about, I had seen the Phillip Noyce film Rabbit-Proof Fence, and I basically broke down emotionally during the scene where they were taking the children away. This was when I had the line pop into my head, ‘It’s hard to look forward when you’re staring out
the back of a car’. I really experienced the weight of the words when I first performed the song to a small crowd, and the first lady in my line of vision completely broke down in tears when I reached the chorus. That was when I realised that she felt exactly the same listening to the song as I did when I saw the film.” Angus will soon be embarking on a USA songwriting trip taking him from California to Nashville, where he will write his new album, as well as attending a songwriting retreat with Rodney Crowell and the legendary writer Bernie Taupin. Greater Port Macquarie focus 19
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Afternoons with James Valentine. He’s played in bands such as Jo Jo Zep and the Models, he’s a television and radio presenter, ESPECIALLY KNOWN FOR HIS TALKBACK SEGMENTS WITH THE ABC, HE’S A PUBLISHED AUTHOR, WITH A SERIES OF BOOKS FOR TEENAGE BOYS. In short, there’s not much James Valentine hasn’t done in the entertainment and media industries. Now you can see - not just listen - to him live at his stage show, Aftenoons Tonight! at the Glasshouse …
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i James. Most of know you from the radio … How does a radio presenter come up with the idea to turn his talkback show into a
stage performance? Well, when I’m not performing in some way, I don’t feel very well! I may have a radio show, but I always try to do something else too. The segments I do can be quite interactive … one is called “This is what I live with”, which is where people complain about their partners and the stupid things they get up to. I could see how this would work perfectly well in a room with 500 people. I mean, who doesn’t want to whinge about their partner? And as soon as they do, it’s funny to everybody else. I take elements from the radio show - I might have some actual audio from the show, play that to people, it’s amusing, and then we pick up on who else is doing that sort of thing. Who’s picking up the dog poo, putting it in a bag, and then leaving it in the park? There’s always one in the room ... Who does that? Really? Are you a moron? It’s that sort of stuff, where you pick up on what people live with and want to talk about. And of course, with the stage show (unlike on radio!) couples are most likely to be in the audience together and can hear what’s being said about them! That’s what’s so beautiful about it! They’re sitting right next to one another; the hand eagerly goes up: “Yep, I’ll tell you about this idiot
20 Greater Port Macquarie focus
I’m coping with!” On the Central Coast, a guy put his hand up and said, “She won’t clean out the kitty litter tray” … They had five cats, but his wife wouldn’t clean out the tray. This went on for a bit, about how much work it was, and then I asked her why she wouldn’t clean out the kitty litter. She replied, “I’m a nurse - I clean up s*it all day!” (Laughs). The whole audience said he should be cleaning out the kitty litter tray - what was wrong with him? Cleaning up after animals (and people!) is bound to be a topic that sparks some interesting conversation. What are some of the other more interesting conversations you’ve had on talk back? What I love about talk back is when I get people to tell me a real story about their life, rather than their opinion on things, or what the government’s doing. Real stories from people’s childhood, for example, or stupid things you may have done when you were in your twenties. One guy told me he taught himself hang gliding. I asked him what he meant, and he told me he’d watched a documentary, so he’d built himself a hang glider and had a go. This was in about 1973, and hang gliding had only just started in California - he’d seen the first documentary and thought he’d try it. I said, “Mate, how did you think you were going to land?” And he replied, “I thought there’d be enough time on the way down to figure that out!” I don’t know how you’d find out about these
I play several examples of things that are really quite startling - which I’ll save for the show - but a lot of it
types of people usually, a lot of people sitting but I had about three or around. It’s quite intimate four people call in within in a way, because I know is about me telling you five minutes who’d all a lot of people are sitting what it was like to hear done completely insane listening alone in their car that, and trying to figure out things, when they were or at home, but you kind what I’m going to say next! around 23 or 24. How of get this feeling about hard could it be - you lots of people being there. know? And off you go! I don’t really find it very (Laughs.) different actually having People don’t generally people in the room with get to see what goes on behind the scenes me. I mean, I’ve been standing on stage, in front with a talkback radio show. What kind of of family, or in a radio studio since I was 17 insight do they get into this with your stage which is now 40 years! show? What are your plans for the rest of this year? More than any other element, the show is I’d like to keep doing this live show - it’s really like “come inside my mind” - this is what goes fun and I love getting out and seeing different through my head when I’m listening to a caller things and meeting audiences. I’m producing tell their story. I play several examples of things some shows for some other people, which have that are really quite startling - which I’ll save for been fun and will be announced soon. With me, the show - but a lot of it is about me telling you it’s like - let’s just see what happens! I might play what it was like to hear that, and trying to figure more music - but I don’t really plan that much out what I’m going to say next! (which is probably obvious!) Also, I talk a bit about my history - how I Final say … got into radio … How did a jazz loving 16 year Well, I think the show’s hilarious. So far the old with a tenor saxophone under his arm and reaction from audiences has confirmed that! hope in his eyes end up doing talk back radio in Thanks James. Sydney? Interview: Jo Robinson. How different do you find it being face to face in front of a live audience, as opposed to being behind a mic in a radio studio? plug! The curious thing about live radio is how See Afternoons Tonight! at the Glasshouse on present the live audience actually is. It’s an odd 21st July at 7:30pm. Visit glasshouse.org.au thing, but you actually feel like there are quite or call the Box Office on 6581 8888 for details.
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TAtyi Djiyagan
( SI ST E R - SI ST E R) E LEME N T S D R E A M I NG
This year’s NAIDOC Week is celebrating the women of our culture with the theme “BECAUSE OF HER, WE CAN”. LOCAL INDIGENOUS ARTISTS ANG-MARR GROGAN AND FELICITY RYAN HAVE CURATED AN EXHIBITION TO BE SHOWCASED AT SUNSET GALLERY, CELEBRATING THEIR HERITAGE. FOCUS chatted with the ladies about their artistic backgrounds and cultural history …
H
i ladies. Tell us a bit about your personal and local connections … Ang and Flic have known each other for over 18 years, and in that time have formed more of a sisterhood than a friendship. Angela Marr-Grogan is a local Birrbay Saltwater Woman from Port Macquarie with family connections to the Dhanggatti and Warrimay people on the Mid North Coast of New South Wales. Felicity Ryan is a Wadi Wadi woman, and her mother's family are freshwater people from the Swan Hill area in Victoria. Flic's father was of Scottish background, and his family hail from the Glasgow area. Together they share many interests and are deeply connected spiritually through cultural values and beliefs. They are both very interested in exploring the connection and interplay between saltwater and freshwater cultures. Their upcoming exhibition, titled Tatyi Djiyagan (Sister - Sister) Elements Dreaming is a creative fusion of traditional practices with a contemporary aspect. What’s the inspiration behind the exhibition? This year's NAIDOC theme “Because of her, we can” was the inspiration behind their collaborative exhibition. They wanted to highlight and
celebrate sisterhood within Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures through their art forms. Ang's work focuses on canvas works of art, along with her signature healing orbs featuring hand crafted intricate designs. Her works of art are contemporary, bold, fresh and symmetrical in style. Circles feature heavily in her works and she paints them for their timelessness, beauty and symbolism. They also represent a spiritual connectedness, and she is profoundly drawn to paint them in her works of art. Flic's works reflect the traditional art of weaving, and she often incorporates feathers in her works to symbolise the connection to her totem, Wiran (the Red Tailed Black Cockatoo). She has been focusing on using non-native vines in her works to reduce the impact that introduced plant species have had on the natural environment. When/where is the exhibition being held? The exhibition will be held at Sunset Framing and Gallery, Port Macquarie during NAIDOC Week, from Saturday 7th July - Saturday 14th July. Ang and Flic welcome members of the community to engage and celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures during this special week. Thanks ladies. Greater Port Macquarie focus 21
Anatra alle Arancia - Duck Maryland Confit with an orange sauce, served with coconut risotto from Terracotta Trattoria 22 Greater Port Macquarie focus
Lamb Shank
Osso Bucco with fried onion & pappardelle
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Synergy Restaurant & Bar located at the Mercure Centro Hotel in the heart of town. For an intimate dining experience, offering modern Australian cuisine at its best. Intimate private dining rooms available on request, for bookings of 10 or more guests. Also consider our unique rooftop banquet room, with amazing ocean views, for that spectacular event.
Our mission is to bring you simple food done well, where every ingredient on the plate can be a hero and will make your taste buds sing. EXECUTIVE CHEF SHIVANEEL NATH & SOUS CHEF CHRIS WHITE
Come in and try our new lunch and dinner menu, and be sure to catch our constantly evolving weekly specials: $20 Steak & Schooner Sunday,
HEAD CHEF ANDY WHITEHEAD
$20 Chicken Schnitzel Tuesday, Chef’s Special Steak Thursday.
Daily HAPPY HOUR - a refreshing 40% off beverages, including selected cocktails - every evening from 5pm. PORT CITY BOWLING CLUB, OWEN ST, PORT MACQUARIE 6583 1133 WWW. PORTCITY.COM.AU
CNR HAY & WILLIAM STREETS, PORT MACQUARIE 6583 0830 CENTROHOTEL.COM.AU OR BOOK ONLINE RESDIARY.COM
OPEN DAILY, SERVING LUNCH AND DINNER.
7 DAYS 6:30AM - 10AM, MON - FRI AND 7AM - 10:30AM, SAT - SUN - BREAKFAST. 5PM - LATE FOR DINNER. BOOKINGS ESSENTIAL.
Lamb Rump: smokey eggplant, capanatta, lamb, and rosemary sauce
Hazelnut and dark chocolate mousse cake with vanilla anglaise
Have you tried the new menu at Aqua Restaurant? The Aqua Winter menu features dishes such as tomato, garlic and chilli seafood with house-made sourdough and seasonal braises like the pork belly with roasted Bosc pears and cider jus. You might not know that all of the desserts on the Aqua menu are made on site by our team of talented pastry chefs. Favourites off the Aqua dessert menu include the hazelnut and dark chocolate mousse cake with vanilla anglaise (pictured), and the lemon cheesecake with raspberry gel, candied lemon and shortbread. On World Chocolate Day (Saturday 7 July) you can enjoy a special indulgent chocolate surprise dessert and the chance to win the value of your dessert gifted back to you in Reward Points!
The Boathouse Bar & Restaurant Soak up the winter sun and a delicious new season menu as you welcome fabulous flavours at The Boathouse Bar & Restaurant. The Hamptons inspired destination is the perfect spot to catch those winter rays whilst catching up with old friends over a long lazy breakfast and a sneaky Bellini on the side! Open to the public for espresso coffee and buffet breakfast every morning, dinner Monday - Saturday and weekend lunches. This gorgeous slice of Port Macquarie paradise is fully licenced ensuring you can enjoy a glass of bubbles with brekky, a boozy coffee or cocktails and snacks around the alfresco fire table with friends on a winters afternoon.
Aqua at The Westport Club
EXECUTIVE CHEF ANTHONY STUBBS HEAD CHEF JESSE MCGARRITY
INSIDE SAILS PORT MACQUARIE BY RYDGES, 20 PARK STREET, PORT MACQUARIE 6589 5200 BOATHOUSEBARANDRESTAURANT.COM.AU BUFFET BREAKFAST MON-FRI 6:30AM-9:30AM. BUFFET BREAKFAST WEEKENDS 6:30AM-11:00AM WEEKEND LUNCH FROM 12NOON-2PM. DINNER MON-SAT 5:30PM TILL LATE BAR NOW OPENS 5PM SUNDAYS FOR LIMITED DINING .
25 BULLER STREET, PORT MACQUARIE (02) 6588 7201 WWW.THEWESTPORTCLUB.COM.AU LUNCH 7 DAYS: 11.30AM-2PM DINNERS 7 DAYS: 5PM-8.30PM
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WITH RAYE FROM OFFTHERAYLES
Chocolate fondant, candied orange and crème fraiche.
Terracotta Trattoria salty's bar and grill
aqua theMe westport club “Butter Up”
Looking for a little taste of Italy? Don’t look past Italian restaurant Summer is not to far away, and with summer comes Christmas Terracotta Trattoria.
Holidays. Terracotta Trattoria has quickly become a favourite for locals in Salty’s have the perfect location to treat yourself to some much needed Wauchope, with its cosy and very warm atmosphere, whether you dine in time out from the hussle and bussel of daily life. With perfect water or take away. views, soaking up the sun and enjoying a glass of wine or cold beer has With friendly service, Izak and his wife, Lyn, along with son Pieter, have never been easier, match that with delicious meals andOWNERS you have the IZAK brought a special Italian flavour right to our backyard. AND LYN LESCH perfect lunch or dinner. They are offering the very best in homestyle Italian cuisine. Think of Salty’s when booking your next function or birthday party, talk Open Wednesday to Sunday for dinner; come in and try for yourself and to us today about the perfect package to suit your needs. see what all the fuss is about. Licensed Family friendly 38 CAMERON STREET, WAUCHOPE Indoor / outdoor dining 6585 1824
Butter Chicken
Enjoy exciting new options in Aqua with our menu whilst relaxing in our stunning, fully refurbished surrounds. Aqua now offers a full wine and dine experience with an emphasis on Australian Wines at our new Aqua Bar. A new menu, a new restaurant feel combined with our classic Hastings River view and friendly service.
The team at Salty’s.
Bookings are recommended.
9 McInherney Close, Port Macquarie OPEN WEDNESDAY - SUNDAY, 6584 0841 5PM - 9PM. Wednesday - Saturday, dinner from 6pm. Loaded Hummus Wednesday - Sunday, lunch from 12pm.
Kingfish carpaccio, fingerlime, chorizo and radish
25 Buller Street, Port Macquarie 6583 1499 thewestportclub.com.au 7 days. Lunch 11:30am This simplified delicious take5pm - 8:30pm. 2:30pm. Dinner on the traditional Butter Chicken is guaranteed to zebu bar+grill become a family favourite ... Summer is just around the corner - head to
Zebu to soak up the pre holiday atmosphere Ingredients Serves 4 - 6 with cracking water views and blue skys. Enjoy the quintessential taste of summer a 1 packet of Offwith The Rayles Butter Me Up
Zebu bar+grill
glass of vino or a muddled 1mojito teamed with kg chicken thigh meat - thinly sliced 3 tbsp ghee some succulent oysters or crispy duck spring rolls, onion,from finelymany dicedlocal whilst listening to some live1 tunes 3 cloves garlic, talented musicians. If it’s something a littlefinely morediced 2 cm piece fresh ginger, finely diced refined you are after, head to the grill for our 3 tbsp tomato paste degustation menu with five hand crafted courses coconut or thickened cream from Executive Chef Adam400 Tait ml matched with fine 2 tbsp lemon juice wines sourced from across Australia. Still can’t Fresh coriander for garnish decide? Be tempted by the King Fish Carpaccio
Raylene Alford Off The Rayles Phone 0422 226 823 www.facebook.com/offtherayles instagram.com/offtheraylescurry www.offtherayles.com
Keep the fires burning this winter and treat yourself to a lazy afternoon grazingwith fingerlime, chorizo and radish paired with a your way through the Zebu bar menu, enjoying great views and cosy corners crisp Andrew Thomas Six Degrees Semillon - simply with family and friends. Ponder a delicious list of treats to share, featuring the irresistible! ultimate in loaded hummus dips with lemon infused olive oil, pomegranate and Diary Date: New Year’s Eve - Bring in the New feta scooped up with warm garlic pizza bread. Back it up with a serving of pork lid on, until chicken is cooked. Heat oil in large frying pan until very hot, Year in Sin City Style with a night in Vegas and chive dumplings and a cheese platter with spiced nuts, crackers and quince Off the Hook is owned and operated by Paul and Narelle Walsh. Serve garnished with chopped coriander, and then add onion, garlic and ginger. Cook, with dancing girls, blackjack and poker! paste - divine! sides of basmati rice, Dahl or papadums. stirring, until soft and fragrant. Add the
Method
Diary Date: Saturday 18 August, 6:30pm Masquerade Charity Ball - $89pp. Step onto the red carpet for a good cause and celebrate the undeniable glitz and glamour of the Hope Shop annual Masquerade Ball with a glass of bubbles on arrival, canapés, main and dessert. Live entertainment by Alter Ego. Tickets online www.123tix.com.au/rydgespmq/events HAY STREET FORESHORE, PORT MACQUARIE 6589 2822 WWW.ZEBU.COM.AU SEVEN DAYS, FROM 6:30AM - LATE. BAR OPEN NOON DAILY. BOOKINGS RECOMMENDED.
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off the hook
We offer a great variety of choice: tasty old style hamburgers,
SOUS21 CHEF See page for more info! OWEN JONES offtherayles available online at packet of whole spices and stirsnacks, constantly for and salads, of course, fiissh and chips. offtherayles.com, Growers Market, Luigis another minute, or until fragrant. We have added a larger selection of fish to our menu, including our Bros Deli, Bandwagon Café, Blackfish Port Add tomato paste and lemon juice; cook favourite, the Flathead fillets. Macquarie and Crescent head locations, while stirring for another minute. Bonny Hills Friendly Grocer, Quality DisAdd packet of ground spices and cook for a count Vitamins, Meg n Me Café, Country further three minutes. Add the chicken and coat well with the paste; Interiors, Waniora and Lighthouse Butchers, Kew Corner Store, Sixty Degrees add cream, mix well, and bring to the boil. South West Rocks. LowerExecutive heat and simmer Chef 15 - 20 minutes with Adam Tait.
Hay Street Foreshore, Port Macquarie 6589 2822 www.zebu.com.au
Located along Port Macquarie’s Town Green. 6584 1146
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Mitchell Skrinnikoff ABUNDANCE CAFÉ
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i Mitchell. Tell us about your interesting combinations. Carol and John are background in the industry? both vegetarians, so my menu reflects this with Upon finishing school in Port several plant based options. Macquarie at Newman College, What are some of your signature dishes I completed my apprenticeship most popular with diners? at Rydges Hotel and then worked casually at Proving very popular is local fish with a The Stunned Mullet. I moved on to Abundance mushroom and star anise broth, green beans, in November last year shaved fennel, orange and and have taken on the tarragon butter, watercress role of Head Chef. and almonds. We are also Who or what getting excellent reviews inspired you to from our sweet potato PROVING VERY POPULAR become a chef? gnocchi with beetroot, silver I grew up in beet, crispy artichokes, sage, IS LOCAL FISH WITH A Sydney with a family Danish feta and honey. MUSHROOM AND STAR passionate about food What can we look ANISE BROTH, GREEN and cooking. forward to seeing on the BEANS, SHAVED FENNEL, My grandparents new season menu? ran a mango farm in Winter is definitely ORANGE AND TARRAGON Central Queensland, here, so we are producing BUTTER, WATERCRESS and holidays were heartier dishes. Some of AND ALMONDS. spent packing our favourites are wild mushroom tart with orange mangoes and cooking puree and jarlsburg, slow feasts together in the cooked lamb rump soubise farm kitchen. with Dutch carrots, savoy My Russian cabbage, rosemary jus and parsley. heritage passes down dishes we make as a family. Pelmeni, Shashlyk and Piroshki are all What are some of your favourite wonderful savoury dishes using various meat, ingredients to include when cooking and herbs and pastry. I hope to introduce them to why? our Abundance menu in the future. Everything is new and different when What do you enjoy most about being the exploring the combinations of different ingredients. Sweet potato with sage, enoki Head Chef at Abundance Café? mushroom with cauliflower, lentils and smoked I have free rein to experiment with both almonds are some great ways to utilise the vegetable and protein ingredients. We are so flavours from my heritage and incorporate them lucky to have some of the best produce on our doorstep. Creating menus with this in mind gives into dishes for today's menus. Thanks Mitchell. me a great scope to be creative with flavour and Greater Port Macquarie focus 25
coffee scene.
Café Buzz As I write this column, I can feel the cold of winter. It’s just appeared and made us change the menu at Café BUZZ to more filling, warming cold weather foods. The obvious addition is soup. Every day our chef Daniel makes a big pot of stock for the next day’s soup. What is the classic soup of all time?? Everybody sits down to a bowl of pumpkin soup with crusty bread sometime over winter. The pumpkins are plump, and, the flavour is perfect this time of the year. We do the classic of course, but, we also make a Thai style version. Not too hot, but full of Thai flavours. Also introduced this season is a pumpkin and honey. Local honey and local produce with an
intense stock base makes this one very popular. At BUZZ, you will see what the soup of the day is. It may be one of the above, but, it could be potato and mustard, potato and leek, tomato, and a full mixed vegetable option as well. Café BUZZ is comfy and warm for you to sit down and enjoy our food offerings.
PEACHTREE WALK, 9/72 HORTON ST, (02) 6583 7979 PORT MACQUARIE WWW.BUZZCOFFEE.COM.AU
Hastings Coffee Co. at The Westport Club Indulge on World Chocolate Day Have you been to Hastings Coffee Co. lately? Savvy locals know that Hastings Coffee Co. is the place to meet for all-day breakfast, a light lunch or afternoon tea. Our bakery is a wonderland of delicious treats and sweets to go with your coffee. The hero of the menu is our signature sourdough, baked daily by our artisan bakers - you can even take a loaf home with you!
with Vicki from Café Buzz
Café Buzz, Peachtree Walk Port Macquarie It seems quite a few people took my advice and purchased our “House Blend” for home or office drinking, thank you. Another of our single origin coffees that has been selling for the 15 years BUZZ has been introducing coffee, is the Kenyan AA. Kenya is the East African powerhouse of the coffee world. This Kenyan AA coffee, grown in the rich fertile soils surrounding Mount Kenya, is noted
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for its superb balance, bright acidity, and body – along with a fuller and more fragrant flavour. Kenya AA brews a snappy cup with a very distinct aroma, with intense flavour and a unique wine-like finish. We roast ours to a rich chocolate brown, so you can fully appreciate all the flavourful characteristics of this fine gourmet coffee. This coffee is available if bags of 250g and 1 kilo at the Café or on our website, www.buzzcoffee.com.au
Hastings Coffee Co. is open from 7:30am daily and trades late for dinner Wednesday to Saturday. Bookings are not required for Hastings Coffee Co.
Our convenient location offers undercover parking and plenty of indoor seating with a lovely Hastings River outlook - you might even be lucky enough to spot a passing dolphin! On Saturday 7 July, Hastings Coffee Co. presents the ultimate chocolate lovers’ event, as we celebrate World Chocolate Day!
Brew REVIEW.
Menu creations on offer will include the Chocoholic Supershake, Chockablock Hot Chocolate, and a decadent Chocolate Tasting Plate. More details on World Chocolate Day can be found on The Westport Club website.
25 BULLER STREET, PORT MACQUARIE (02) 6588 7201 WWW.THEWESTPORTCLUB.COM.AU
Saltwater Wine Espresso Bar. The Saltwater Wine Café on Horton Street will be your cozy little escape from the cold this winter. Any of these warm, friendly faces could be pouring your daily bean juice. From Left to right: Brae, Mike, Amy, Lorissa (Café Manager), Alex and Fraser all do their bit to keep the café running like a well-oiled La Marzocco machine. If sipping AllPress Espresso (or a deliciously colourful latte) and nibbling on tasty vegan treats while watching the Championship Tour live sounds like your cup of coffee, it’s the place to be!
Regular trading hours are 9am to 4:30pm Monday - Friday, 9am to 2:30pm on Saturday and 10am to 12:30pm on Sunday. Follow @saltwaterwine_cafe on Instagram for updates on their ever-evolving menu of delicious drinks and eats.
107 HORTON STREET, PORT MACQUARIE (02) 6584 0084
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Out to Lunch
with Susie Boswell
PAUL DILLEY
Nobody knows more about road safety in Port Macquarie and surrounds than Sergeant Paul Dilley, boss of the Highway Patrol, and a local for nearly 30 years. Susie spends a lunchtime with him.
I
f I had to come across a highway patrolman, I’d pick Paul Dilley. Meeting the apparently easygoing sergeant is a relaxed encounter indeed, although maybe if I were speeding and he hauled me to the kerb it’d be different. Perhaps it’s because he’s just come from a police medals ceremony where the many times decorated officer, holder of the Australian Police Medal, has been honoured yet again. Just last month a cyclist heading into town lost his life in collision with a truck on the Oxley Highway, about 1km west of the old roadway overpass, a shock to the community that prompts me to ask Dilley about the state of play on our local roads. He’s Sergeant in charge of Traffic & Highway Patrol, looking after the areas of Port and Wauchope and down to North Haven, Laurieton, Kendall and Kew. He has eight male constables under his command and four marked cars, with an unmarked car and a bike on call. He draws on the resources of support troops and vehicles out of his Sydney headquarters when traffic volumes expand significantly, during school holidays and for big events like Ironman. Representing Police, he’s one of four voting members of the Local Government Traffic Advisory Committee, chaired by Cr Sharon Griffiths for PMHC; the other two members are State MP Leslie Williams and a representative of the RMS, meeting as often as required. The sergeant’s reserved when I ask him about local pinch points. Wrights Road roundabout, for example, at the old and
new Oxley highways merge, is one of several notable examples of the pressure Port’s exponential development in recent times has put on our roads: rapid western suburbs’ growth; heavy peak-hour commuter movements and traffic jams; hospital, uni, school and tradie travellers all at varying times of day; heavy vehicles plying between the Pacific Highway and industrial area; an expanded nearby retirement village, and Bunnings’ new superstore next year. Will it see Port’s tenth set of traffic lights? Underground infrastructure for lights is already installed there. Dilley and two other traffic committee members say authorities are “investigating” the busy location. What Dilley will offer is general advice: “There’s a lot of confusion about the use of indicators,” he says. “Indicating into a roundabout, you’ll get people blasting horns that you’ve done it, or you haven’t done it. You need to indicate when you’re leaving [but] you don’t want to give the wrong impression to the other driver: you need to enable him or her to make the right decision. You have to drive to survive; it’s like a chess game, you need to be thinking one or two moves ahead.” Then what about the behaviour of drivers who, instead of entering cautiously, speed through Ocean Drive roundabouts? Say, on the rise at Crestwood-Dahlsford, an often risky intersection also pending improvements, a bottleneck for exiting residents, especially hesitant motorists? Again, the sergeant responds evenly: “You’re always going to have
those who want to challenge themselves and get through a roundabout [fast]... that’s why I’ve still got a job, because we’ve got people who think like that. You’ve got an element who wants to the push the envelope; they need to be pulled back because they’re putting everybody else at risk. And then,” he says brightly, “you’ve got the majority who do the right thing.” Dilley’s apparent measured approach to road miscreants perhaps stems from a didactic streak, an urge to educate. He set out to be a teacher, but switched to the police force at 21, some 37 years ago. Equally, he has an inclination to fairness, if you can infer that from his favourite pastime: cricket umpiring. On the management committee of Country Cricket NSW, he organises umpire training. A family man – wife and adult son and daughter – he also loves to travel widely on extended trips. He’s off again soon, the prospect perhaps contributing to his equable mood this afternoon. In fact, the only time I see even a tiny chink in his even-tempered demeanour is when he addresses the subject of young drivers who can’t resist using a mobile phone behind the wheel. At pains not to single out any driver age-group, he notes however that the young are over-represented in road trauma: “The temptation for them to touch that damn phone. It comes down to them making a conscious decision to pick it up ...” In fact, he marvels at the march of modern technology as it’s applied to road safety
measures: police have so many excellent aids now, he says, to detection and enforcement. Among many examples he gives: in-car equipment that reads number plates near instantaneously (including, motorbike riders and box-trailer owners, when you’ve gone past in the opposite direction) and Brifen wire central dividers that will repel cars and even trucks that strike it, for fewer head-ons. His is a proactive, preventative approach to the job, he indicates. He’ll point motorists who may genuinely have overlooked rego renewal to a smart-phone app to alert them when it’s due. Owners who raise their 4WD suspension without accompanying brake and steering system modifications are referred to online safety advice. “It’s the best part of the job, preventing: it’s pointing out, whether you say it in a nice way or a [stern] wake-up call. The greater majority are terrific - but there are some people you have to deal with, you have to take action against.” Sophisticated roads and cars certainly erase many risks of the past yet a lead-foot on improved highways comes to grief at a higher speed. Today, even the phases of our traffic signals are controlled and adjusted to conditions remotely, 400km away in Sydney. Some people, though, object to the traffic lights? Ever non-committal, Dilley nevertheless remarks: “The alternative’s not that crash hot either.” Out to Lunch is hosted by Lou Perri at The Stunned Mullet on Town Beach.
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Sugar Mummah
H
FOCUS chats with PORT MACQUARIE’S DESSERT QUEEN, FREA LEWIS from "Sugar Mummah"…
i Frea. Most folks would recognise you from yours and co-chef husband Lindsey’s recently retired venture Fusion 7. How is life after laying down the knives? I can’t lie … it’s amazing! The decision to move on from Fusion 7 was so we could have our little family together and experience all the things we have missed out on for years. I remember being excited to even have a night together to watch a movie! We had a life changing holiday that made our path forward very clear. You have, however, started your own little project "Sugar Mummah"… How did this all come about? Have you always been a sweet tooth? When we had the restaurant, I made these carefully thought out desserts with six - eight components and I loved it, but I started drooling over my gourmet traveller magazines and tearing out pages and squirrelling them away to make ONE day … I had these cravings almost of just BAKING! So, that’s where the dream of Sugar Mummah began. I LOVE everything sweet! When I was little, I even used to put raw sugar on my green apples!! But it’s actually more about flavour for me. I want people to eat my strawberry melting moments and say that ACTUALLY tastes like strawberry! What’s your earliest memory of baking? It’s actually 12 years ago! At 29, I decided to become a chef. I had been in hospitality for years but something never felt right; I remember saying to Lindsey after two weeks of starting in the kitchen, that I felt like I was home. How would you describe your take on baking - modern or traditional? WHY? Ahhh, that’s a hard one! When I trained as a chef, I learnt
28 Greater Port Macquarie focus
all the traditional techniques and I truly believe it made me the chef I am today. Through making something by hand you get to learn and fail, and through that failure you discover new flavours, new combos and even new ways of making things. But there are some amazing new techniques and products that I use, like freeze dried fruits that I couldn’t live without! So, I say both! What do you specialise in? I love biscuits and tarts! Doing I love biscuits and tarts! tea parties is my favourite thing Doing tea parties is my in the world, but honestly favourite thing in the world, I want people to be but honestly I want people reminded of when they to be reminded of when they were a kid and eating a were a kid and eating a biscuit biscuit was sometimes the best was sometimes the best part part of your day. of your day. Tell us how you decided on months' time; what are your plans? the name Sugar Mummah? These first four months I have been slowly Lindsey and I were joking stocking up my favourite cafés around Port with one day about how I never my sweets. I am loving working with amazing do raw sweets, and he commented that I was more like a café owners who are passionate and so commited to their sugar mumma! My five year old piped up and said you mean businesses. Four Espresso, Drury Lane and Breakwall HQ have mummah! He has always called me mummah, so I guess it supported me from the beginning, and Social Grounds is on was meant to be. board as well as Rivermark and Agostinas. What's the secret to the perfect cake? Over the rest of the year I want to continue to turn their Time. I think if you put time and energy into whatever you visions and my dreams into reality. For me personally, I want to are baking, it will reflect that. Enjoy the process; it is a magic learn to let go even more and listen to my heart and stomach! thing making something from scratch. I still get excited after They seem to know the right way to go so far. every bake and have been known to do many a happy dance Thanks Frea. around the kitchen. IG sugarmummah Where would you like to see Sugar Mummah in 12 sugarmummah@gmail.com
Your Your home home of of entertainment entertainment CASUAL, CORPORATE OR PRIVATE
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THINK YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES? FREE ENTRY, ALL THE USUAL CASH PRIZES, PLUS EVERY TEAM HAS THE CHANCE TO WIN A ROLLING JACKPOT.
IT’S A NO BRAINER!
Corner of Ocean & Emerald Drives, Port Macquarie NSW (02) 6582 3939 | tackingpointtavern.com.au Greater Port Macquarie focus 29
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LOU PERRI FROM THE STUNNED MULLET
RED WINE Weather Many of us mourn the end of the long, hot and sunny days and curse the chill in the air and the need to haul out the heater. Being fortunate enough to live in the “best climate in Australia” - indeed, the outdoor lifestyle and mild temperatures make the living easy for the vast majority of the year.
T
hat’s partly why the need to unpack the winter woollies and rug up is a bit of a fun novelty around here. The idea of a temporary hibernation is kind
of appealing. A few weeks to stop, regroup, stay in and cook up some giant pots of comfort food and have a few early nights. Nothing better, in my opinion. And just knowing the “harsh” part of winter is a mere few weeks long makes it seem even more blissful. Hailing from the far northern hemisphere from a land of ice, snow and hardcore seasons, I’m aware of the concept of real winter. SAD disorder is real. Being deprived of sunlight and fresh air for such a huge portion of the year can indeed produce a true seasonal despair. The novelty of snow wears off - and then some. It’s dark and frozen, and that is all folks. But here in Port Mac, the much subtler change in season still manages to open up a whole new set of possibilities ... That’s right - red wine weather has arrived. This is worth celebrating! Now some might argue that red wine weather is any weather, all year around. Red wine tragics indeed - and I would certainly say that I am one of those,
Much in the same way Aussies might cringe at the British and their lukewarm pints instead of an ice-cold schooner, there’s just a subtle nod to the climate right there. Gloriously and happily though, now it is time to dust off those treasures in the cellar. Pinots, cabernet blends, GSMs, Nebbiolos and untapped treasures from other lands - the options are endless and delightful. Beers and whites away for now, cooler nights lend themselves so perfectly to hearty and comforting foods and warming, flavourful reds. Appetites are geared towards the need to keep oneself warm, so bring on the cook ups, bakes and life affirming soups. Somehow food just tastes so much better in winter - something to do with its additional comforting role, probably. No longer just grazing as we tend to do over summer, we crave the substantial and fortifying. That means more courses, more carbs, and did I forget to mention - more cheese? Red wine and cheese are mandatory for those cosy nights in front of Netflix. Somehow ice-cream (and it does seem impossible, I know), loses a slight bit of appeal when you’re rugged up under a
if not for just the sheer love of the stuff.
blanket with Ugg boots on.
But somehow to me, the flavour profiles,
Yet whatever your winter penchant is, be sure
warming tannins and ambient temperature of
to enjoy while you still have the chance …
most reds don’t seem at all attractive when
Indeed, that sun will amp up its power again
you’re wiping sweat of your brow on any
before we know it. Meanwhile - cheers to
ordinary February day.
loads of lovely red!
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Port Macquarie Golf Club. Port Macquarie Golf Club will be holding the annual Seaside Classic Tournament from July 29th to August 5th, 2018. Entries are now open, and you can pick-up up an entry form from club reception or download online at www.portmacquariegolf.com.au. Be sure to enter early, as spots are limited. STATE OF ORIGIN GAME 3 is just around
the corner, and we invite all fans to join us and cheer on the Blues or the Maroons. FREE finger food will be available at half-time and the FREE courtesy bus will be operating all night to take you to and from the club. We look forward to seeing you there! GAME 3, Wednesday 11th July.
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Jeff Martin STARS IN THE SAND TOUR
Preatures
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2018 has been a huge year for THE PREATURES, SHARING THE STAGE WITH THE LIKES OF THE FOO FIGHTS AND HARRY STYLES. You can catch them at Port Macquarie Panthers in July, along with Ali Barter! FOCUS chatted to front woman Izzy Manfredi …
t's only been a short time since we last featured you guys, but you pretty much haven’t stopped since Festival of the Sun! Foo Fighters, Harry Styles ... We’ve done a truckload of shows; its all a bit of a blur … we did the Harry Shows; that was really cool. Playing festivals, hanging out, having an Australian summer, thinking about what we’re going to do with the next record, I moved house ... I actually spent a couple of weeks up in Scotts Head; we do that every year. We’ve had a house up there ever since I was a kid. So, you mentioned a new record … anything you can give away? Not sure yet - still writing and trying to figure it out. Some vibes set, but nothing I really want to give away yet; I want to sit with it for a while. Let’s talk about Girlhood. It's been just under a year since its release, with a massive response. Is this what you expected? I think it was really difficult to have any kind of expectation, especially around Yanada and how that was going to be received, and to have expectations around that we would kill it. I was trying really hard not to have expectations and then at the same time, of course, you’re human and you just want it to go gangbusters. But, it was great in some ways, because it was such a different record for us to make. I think some people were surprised by that record; for us it was just it had been so long, we had spent so long in the studio - it was nice to just be like, "Hey, it's out; go grab it, get it!" And with the title, Girlhood - as a woman, how has this been received, and what have you taken from it? Yeah well, I mean it's interesting with this, because obviously it's been five months since all the stuff with "Me Too" in the community; 32 Greater Port Macquarie focus
we’re having lots of different conversations now. And before we put the record out, I struggled so hard to talk about those sorts of things in August of last year and when we were doing the long lead press, which was in June/July of last year ... Maybe that was just cowardly on my part, that I didn’t put my opinions out there, but I don’t think I was alone in that as a woman feeling like I couldn’t. There wasn’t a place for those discussions in the music industry. You’re bringing Ali Barter along for the ride on this tour. What's your connection with her? We’ve played a couple of gigs with Ali. I really liked her record; there have been huge amounts of transparency about talking what it's like to be a woman in 2018 and Ali’s record, I thought, was a lot more cohesive a record than ours was. For a debut record, I thought it was really honest, and it kind of reminds me of Cardigans, and like early 2000s bands. Shirley Manson and her partner Oscar, who helped produce the record, is in Holy Holy, who tuned with us a couple of years ago. What's up next, after you guys wrap up this tour? I’m going to go travelling for a bit and do some writing and hang out with my dad, spend some time with my family and just start writing for the next record … Thanks Izzy.
Get your tickets before you miss out! The Preatures Port Macquarie Panthers. Date Thursday 16th August. Door 7:30pm | Show 8pm | Tickets Presale $32 | Door $37 portmacquarie.panthers.com.au www.thepreatures.com
Lead singer and guitarist of THE ICONIC CANADIAN BAND THE TEA PARTY IS BACK ON THE ROAD ON AN EXTENSIVE 19 DATE SOLO ACOUSTIC TOUR ACROSS SOUTHERN AND EASTERN AUSTRALIA, that will see Jeff return to some of his much loved venues - including Port Macquarie.
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he Stars in the Sand tour will the many musical traditions in Morocco. Those bring an exciting element for field recordings I made have become the basis of fans and will coincide with the the inspiration behind the EP. release of Jeff’s first EP in two Share with us some of the highlights of your years, which will be available career. to purchase exclusively at these All I can say is I’ve lived a very blessed life as shows. The Stars in the an artist and it would be Sand EP will feature hard to pinpoint even a original compositions few, as there are so many. and some previously One catalyst would be unreleased with Moroccan the creation of The Tea The creative process began in musings - some of Party’s Edges Of Twilight Morocco a couple of years ago. I which were recorded in album - that record was travelled to various parts Morocco, where Jeff led a defining moment that of the country and whilst a musical odyssey with has continued to evolve there, I recorded some local musicians and fans in both my work with The incredible musicians who in 2015. Tea Party, and my solo were steeped deeply in the many Hi Jeff. It's been a career. musical traditions in Morocco. couple of years since Tell us about you graced the shores Mitch King, your of Port Macquarie. Are accompanying artist for you looking forward to this tour. getting back here? He’s a bright young talent. He’s piqued my Yes, very much looking forward to getting curiosity, and I am very much looking forward to down to the beautiful Port Macquarie. As you sharing a stage with him. mentioned, it’s been a while between drinks, Lastly, where can our readers get their hands and the performance I’m bringing this time is on Stars in the Sand? one that’s seriously augmented since the last The EP will be available exclusively at these time people saw me play. There’ll be new songs, shows. My team is working out a strategy for an new sounds, and a new five song EP, so it’s very international release further down the track. exciting. www.jeffmartinofficial.com This tour is aptly titled Stars in the Sand www.facebook.com/jeffmartin777 after the EP. Tell us about the creative process and inspiration behind this body of work. See Jeff Martin on Friday 3rd August at Port The creative process began in Morocco a Macquarie Panthers. Door 7:30pm | Show couple of years ago. I travelled to various parts 8pm | Tickets $15. of the country and whilst there, I recorded some www./portmacquarie.panthers.com.au incredible musicians who were steeped deeply in
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Fresh off the back of releasing his latest single, young local and rising country music star Blake O’Connor is SET TO SHARE THE STAGE AT THE COASTAL COUNTRY MUSIC FESTIVAL ON AUGUST 4 at Wauchope Country Club.
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oung local country music artist Blake O’Connor is only 17 and has already achieved so much in his young career: sharing the stage with some of Australia’s country music greats, graduating from CMAA, receiving the Australian Country Music People’s Choice Award for Most Promising Future Star,T amworth Country Music Festival. 2018 will also see Blake travelling with Adam Eckersley and Brooke McClymont for their Highway Sky Tour, with Blake supporting 13 of their shows. Most recently Blake has busted into the ARIA charts with his new single Travelin’ Man. We caught up with him in celebration of his outstanding achievements ... Tell us a little about yourself? I’m 17 years old, from Port Macquarie. I’ve been singing and playing guitar from around age 10 and playing gigs from age 14. I just finished a tour with Adam Eckersley and Brooke McClymont, travelling all the way up to Cairns and playing eight shows in nine days on the way back down, finishing in Toowoomba. It was an amazing experience, and I’m so grateful to have so much support from fellow artists and to be given these
opportunities. around to gig, and I don’t even have Describe your latest single ... enough time to catch up with you - let My latest single is called Travellin’ Man. alone have a girlfriend.” He laughed and The track is lifted from my self-titled EP, said, “I guess you are a travelling man”, which was released in June and debuted so I sat down later that day and wrote on the National Australian Independent the song. Record Labels Are you excited about Chart (AIR Chart) playing the Coastal at #1 and #2 Country Music Festival on the ARIA in Wauchope? Australian Country Yeah, I’m super My latest single is called Chart, just behind excited. It’s always good Travellin’ Man. The track Keith Urban. I to be playing at a local is lifted from my selfcan’t believe it, festival, especially a local titled EP, which was and a big shout country music festival! I released in June out to everyone just love performing live; and debuted on the who purchased a it’s such a passion and National Australian copy and helped it’s a thrill performing my Independent Record make this happen. songs to people who are Labels Chart at #1. The single is off relating and connecting to a great start; with them. what’s it all What’s it like to play about? alongside acts like Yes, it’s been Troy Kemp? great! We are It’s really cool. It’s just now getting airplay right around Australia awesome to be on the line up alongside on the KIX Country Radio Network and some well known country artists. And it’s ABC Saturday Night Country and a bunch always great to learn from them while of community radio stations. watching their live performance. It’s a bit of a funny story, really. I got Thanks Blake. the idea to write the song because I was Catch Blake O’Connor at the Coastal having a chat to my good mate, and he Country Music Festival - 4th August at was trying to set me up with this girl Wauchope Country Club. and I said, “Mate, I’m always travelling www.ccmfestival.com.au Greater Port Macquarie focus 33
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W I T H K AT E W O O D - F O Y E F R O M R Y D G E S A N D S A I L S P O R T M A C Q U A R I E
Photo Meraki Photography
Ron & Belinda Fischer at the Hastings Cancer Trust Glimmer Ball
Photo Meraki Photography
L-R Rebecca and Guy Terkelson, Adam and Mel Turner at The Winter Glimmer Ball
Emily Robinson & Kyle Rathbone at the Hastings Cancer Trust Glimmer Ball
Jo Jones Photography
Photo Meraki Photography
Photo Meraki Photography
Olivia & Jaspal Singh on their wedding day at Sails
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Glamour at the Winter Glimmer Ball at Sails
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very time we trek away from Port Macquarie, I find myself coming back with fresh eyes on this beautiful patch of paradise - we are SO lucky to call this place home, with its beautiful pristine oceans, countryside and an amazing community of people. Wanderlust and gratitude in equal parts this month and of course, just a little champagne! Family and new friends from Qatar, Zimbabwe, Saudi Arabia, UK and Australia jetted into Matabukgay Resort in Batangas, in the beautiful Philippines, for a celebration of family - a half way point for the merry travellers. The groom’s mum Anne Heaton partner Michael, Trevor and Rachel Brinkley, Stephen McDowell, Neilson, Natalie and Will, Anita Spink and the Wood, Foye and Lei clans gathered from across the globe to celebrate the wedding of cousin Wayne Heaton and Hannae Lei - our very own Harry and Meghan. The wedding was in a stunning catholic cathedral followed by an outdoor celebration on the beach at sunset, followed by dancing under the stars. Not even a C.R.A.Z.Y death defying mini bus ride through the goat track mountains at midnight or a little sandstorm mid reception could stop us! The celebration was a double whammy, with our last night in Manilla at the breathtaking Discovery Primea Hotel to celebrate Dad Eddie Wood’s 70th birthday in true style - Japanese Wagyu, Aussie lamb, lobster, French and Aussie sparkles and lots of laughs. Congrats Cuz, and happy birthday Dad!
The Ramsay Health Team at the Hastings Cancer Trust Glimmer Ball
Sneaky sunshine fix complete! From the celebration of family from all over the world in the heat and humidity in Lian, Batangas, almost at the equator to the crisp July winter chill back home in Port Macquarie, this last month has been filled with travel, big love and appreciation for beauty all over the globe ... and plenty of sun and sand!
We jetted back to Port, just in time to see Dr Chris and Peta Alexopoulos, Belinda Johnson, the hard work of the Hastings Cancer Trust Sarah Dahlenburg, Shane and Jodi McGuigan, team pay off with a fabulously fun night of Haydn Oriti, Dr Kristy and Stuart Kostalas, celebration with the first ever gala ball at Sails Bec and Dr Andrew Eakin, Mike Gray and Jip Port Macquarie in the Cape Ballroom. The event Panasot, Shayne and Mark McGuire of Ramsay organisation, led by Hazel and Steve Thomas, Health and Ian and Jeanne Ross. Plenty of sparkle Ron Fischer of First National and Dr Stephen and shimmer, with funds raised for the Trust Begbie brought together reaching an impressive two hundred and sixty one million dollars in the guests to shimmy and year’s leading from 2005 to sparkle their way through the event. Congrats to all the winter’s evening, involved and to dedicated We jetted back to Port, all in the name of local cancer services, training just in time to see cancer funding. and treatment in the the hard work of the MC Pete Murray led Hastings. Hastings Cancer Trust the glamourous guests Guests jetted in from team pay off with a through a night of India to celebrate when fabulously fun night of fundraising, fabulous Olivia Henderson-Brown celebration, with the food, fun AND plenty of and Jaspal Singh said “I first ever gala ball at dancing. Guests enjoyed do” at Sails Port Macquarie, Sails Port Macquarie in Angove Sparkling and with a stunning Punjabi the Cape Ballroom. canapés on arrival, Sikh wedding full of love, followed by tunes from laughs and some amazing 22 piece BlueHyp Big colours. Congrats to Sarah Band, entertainment J Hudson for her striking by Magic Jake, followed by decadent courses floristry and styling, set against the crisp white of finished with a naughty praline tart and the Pavilion Chapel and also to photographer Jo deconstructed strawberry meringue for dessert. Jones, who captured the stunning celebration. Supporters enjoying the celebration included The ceremony was followed by a beautiful Jerome and Di Robinson of Forty Winks, Vic waterfront reception at Rydges Port Macquarie, and Rose Azzopardi of A.H Beard, Meredy and with all the vibrant colours and energy of a Steve from Glasshouse Flowers by Design, Kristy traditional Indian event set here on the coast. Slocumbe of Big Fat Kiss Events, Peter Brasher Guests enjoyed both traditional Indian and of Port Macquarie Taxis. Other revellers included Australian dishes, danced to the beat of Rupi
the Dohli Drummer and hit the dancefloor with Bollywood DJ Nilesh. Olivia and Jaspal’s little ones, Baligh, Harley and Dileep were on hand to celebrate with many of the guests in stunning Indian dress. Guests were served wedding cake and finished the night with traditional Indian sweet treats - Gulab Jamon - rose water syrup dumplings. Congrats, Olivia and Jaspal! The time has come to gather all the amazing young people in your world and get them down to the Glasshouse from 25 - 27 July for three days of inspiration and motivation from over 22 international speakers from around the globe. Scientists, musicians, academics, artists, designers, entrepreneurs and elite sports people will all be on hand to uplift and engage 350 young leaders - exploring some seriously huge ideas for success. It’s all about igniting creativity, excellence and entrepreneurship and fostering purpose and wellbeing! If you have someone aged 15 - 25, get them along to this seriously entertaining three day summit - it may just rock their world and change ours for the better! Check out: www.luminosityyouthsummitcom.au From scorching hot afternoons with lime infused G&Ts poolside in Manilla, to toasty hot cups of tea by the fire back in Oz ... Thankful this month to have all my loved ones close and awaiting the arrival of another little niece or nephew at any moment! Aunty Kate ready and reporting for duty! ‘til next month. Kate. Greater Port Macquarie focus 35
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In Season at Ken Little’s. We have been having a few rather cold days and nights lately. I guess we have to expect this, as it is winter time - isn’t it?
Eureka Explorers Welcome Eureka Explorers is a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) school holiday workshop initiative for primary age children suitable for ages 8 to 12. Our workshops run at authentic local locations where science takes place. Children are inspired being one with nature and having fun with hands-on age appropriate activities at our creative environments. We encourage young minds to learn through genuine scientific enquiry so they can make sense of the world around them. Eureka Explorers workshops include all materials, safety gear and healthy allergy free snacks for each child. All staff are trained in first aid, and all adults are Working with Children certified and have police background checks. The high ratio of staff to children at our workshops delivers on our commitment to quality care. We look forward to meeting your child at your next session with us! Petriea Skitek.
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During July we will be trialling some paper bags and degradable bags to try and cut down on the use of plastic. We now have little packs of net bags in stock also. They have become very popular, and we are hard pressed to keep up with the demand. It is rather difficult to find just the right type of packaging to suit the fruit and vegetable business. We will keep searching! This month there are a lot of local products in stock, and we always like to support our very own growers. We have cauliflower, broccoli, red and green cabbage and spinach from Telegraph Point; fancy lettuce and salad mixes from Beechwood; beautiful Asian vegetables and a great range of herbs from Som at Bago. Don’t forget the tomatoes from Ricardoes too. In fruit there are bananas from Coffs Harbour, kiwi and avocadoes from Comboyne. The oranges from Pembrooke are so delicious! Mandarins are arriving from the Kempsey area, lemons and limes from Comboyne. Many more local products are in store too.
Australian Bee Gees Show Fresh from celebrating seven years and well over 2,000 shows headlining on the Las Vegas strip, the Australian Bee Gees Show will be heading Down Under for the Australian leg of their 2018 “Direct from Vegas” world tour! The Australian Bee Gees Show is currently performing at The Excalibur Hotel and Casino and has been in residence for the past seven years. The group has racked up over 2,250 performances on the Las Vegas Strip and has just been resigned for another two years until Feb 2020. The Australian Bee Gees Show was recently voted Best Tribute Show in Las Vegas by the prestigious Las Vegas Review Journal and has made the top 10 in the “Overall Best Show” category, an amazing achievement in Las Vegas. They were also honoured to receive the coveted Entertainer of the Year award for 2015 at the prestigious Win Win Headliners Bash. The Australian Bee Gees show was also the first Australian band to perform 1,000 shows headlining on the Famous Las Vegas Strip and with 2,250 shows already under their belt, they are looking forward to continued success in Sin City.
The list just continues on, so come on in and buy some of these lovely fresh local foods.
After 21 years on the world stage and over 6,500 performances in over 60 countries, The Australian Bee Gees Show has evolved to become the definitive live celebration of the wonderful music written by the Brothers Gibb.
We sure do live in the “lucky country”! Ken.
For one night only, be a part of the magic that is, The Australian Bee Gees Show.
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Engineering 101 Series: Aerospace Engineering
Lab Kids: Forensic Science
STEAM Pathways: Designing & Electrical Circuits
Designed by Nature: Bio-Domes
Ninja Challenge
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Ninja Challenge
Engineering 101 Series: Aerospace Engineering
Designed by Nature: Bio-Domes
STEAM Pathways: Designing & Electrical Circuits
Lab Kids: Forensic Science
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STEAM Pathways: Designing & Electrical Circuits
Ninja Challenge
Designed by Nature: Bio-Domes
Engineering 101 Series: Civil Engineering
Lab Kids: Forensic Science
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Like Us Ellen Briggs and Mandy Nolan bring the day to day lives of BEING A WOMAN TO THE STAGE, TOUCHING ON (NOT SO GENTLY) THOSE TOPICS NOBODY WANTS TO TALK ABOUT, IN A HILARIOUS TWO HOUR PERFORMANCE … FOCUS caught up with the pair in between school runs ...
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ell us a bit about yourselves off stage. How did you meet each other, and where did the inspiration behind Women Like Us come from? Ellen: I am a mum of twins, have been with the same bloke for 25 years (God help him), run not only my comedy business but our business from home, and run a farm with a small amount of cattle on it. I am a short, plain woman and if not for comedy, you wouldn't even notice me in a room. I can slip in and steal your purse, and you'd never know. That's my super power! We met 12 years ago when I decided to do Mandy's comedy course that she runs three times per year. This gets people writing five minutes of stand up comedy, and it culminates in a performance called The Virgin Sacrifice, where all the students perform that five minutes. It's kind of like a rite of passage around these parts - almost everyone who lives here has done the course. The idea for Women Like Us came from us both performing in regional areas, and having so many people approach us and tell us how refreshing it is to hear the voice of a regional, middle aged woman. It's probably the group in Australia that is least heard from - certainly in the comedy industry, that's for sure! So, we decided to put together this two-hour show and take it to all the regional centres that are really starved for good comedy! Plus, we like each other and are happy to travel together - that's important to us. There aren't 38 Greater Port Macquarie focus
many comedians I'd be happy to spend extended periods away with! Mandy: I am a mother of five kids; I've had three husbands. One I decided to keep. I've been a comedian for 30 years, a mother for 21. I am six foot tall, blonde, and 90 kilos. Let's just say I don't just slip easily into a crowd. I've always stuck out a little bit ... been the girl with toilet paper trailing out her undies. Been too loud, too fat, too big to be a trophy wife. Instead, I collected trophy husbands! I write, I teach, I basically spend my life telling other people what to do. Ellen and I met when she came to do my comedy course about a decade ago. She told people she was learning the piano. She just had it, I thought immediately. Either I kill her, or I love her. I chose the latter option. We created Women Like Us because we both think that comedy targets male audiences and that our stories are hysterical and need to be told. Our shows have been selling out wherever we go - and audiences have raved that they love our material, that it was like we were telling stories from their life. And we do. It's because those lives, are our lives too! There is a stigma around women's issues, but you make sure there is no stone unturned. What are some of the more "controversial" topics you cover in your show? Ellen: What don't we cover? We cover the frustrations of parenting, being a wife, ageing and what happens to your body and your mind, body image, death, sex after 25 years of marriage ... we don't leave anything out! Mandy: I always
As women, we do have the majority when it comes to planetary population. As for
You both have had find it weird that success in the comedy women's experience is controversial, we do the industry. As mothers and called "women's issues", usual - weight, sexuality, wives, how do you juggle but men's experience is labiaplasty, who unpacks career/life/sanity? seen as universal. I think the dishwasher, and I like to Ellen: We have very that’s why we need to declare a war on botox. supportive families, and talk about women's without them, it wouldn't experiences - we have be possible to travel and to make it part of the work evenings the way we universal domain. do. I write lots of lists. I have lists of lists I have After all, as women we do have the majority to write. I literally cut up my day into chunks of when it comes to planetary population. As for the different work I have to do, i.e. morning will controversial, we do the usual - weight, sexuality, be comedy admin, afternoon will be housework, labiaplasty, who unpacks the dishwasher, and I evening performing, etc. Otherwise, there would like to declare a war on botox. As much as we love and adore our kids, most be no sanity. Actually, maybe there is no sanity? Maybe my excessive list making and chunking is mums will have a story of when our kids actually a little bit crazy? have embarrassed us in public. Ellen, Mandy, Anything else you’d like to share with our please share yours … readers? Ellen: I took my kids to a friend’s house, whose Mandy: Women Like Us isn't just comedy. mum happened to be a very busy solicitor and It's therapy. You will walk away feeling normal. when I went to pick him up, he came running to Wonderful. Like you're not alone. Ellen and I me crying. When I asked him what was wrong, are on a mission - to bring Women Like Us to he said he had lost his socks. The mum of his women, particularly regional women in Australia, friend said that she would find them and send because we believe that so often no one really them back to school with her son, to which speaks to our real experience. WE do. my kid wailed, “But you’ll never find them in Thanks ladies. your messy house”! I don’t get free legal advice anymore! Mandy: When my middle daughter was about seven, she once gave a talk about what her mummy did for work and said in front of the Women Like Us Stand Up Comedy Show, school assembly, "My mummy gets paid to swear. Friday 13th July. Tickets: $35. Doors: 8pm. She can use the F word. She gets $50 every Starts 8:30pm. 18+ event. time". www.laurietonclub.com.au
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comfort Meets
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Formed back in 1996, The Australian Bee Gees have been going strong for 22 years! HAVING PERFORMED IN LAS VEGAS FOR THE PAST SEVEN YEARS, THE BOYS LOVE TO ADAPT THEIR STAGE SHOW AND TOUR IT AROUND THE WORLD.
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ichael Clift, one of the show’s founders and Barry Gibbs’ doppelganger in both looks and sound, shares his excitement ahead of his upcoming visit to the Glasshouse … Hi Michael. What can we expect to hear and see on stage when the Australian Bee Gees come to perform in Port Mac? We’ve tried to take as many elements as we can from our Las Vegas show and put it into a touring format - and it’s a longer format that we do on tour. It’s very much the big hits from all the eras of the Bee Gees, as we do with the Excalibur show in Vegas. The show is divided into two halves - which is the One Night Only modern point of view, and the retro Saturday Night Fever vibe. It’s a lot of fun; we cover all the big eras and different aspects of the Bee Gees’ career. What was the impetus to form your group back in 1996? We had an original project in Melbourne at the time with our own songs, but needed to have more funds to put into recording and promotion, so we thought we’d put a tribute show together. We had a cover band, but it wasn’t really doing enough business … There were a lot of tribute shows in Melbourne: ABBA, the Beatles, but no one was doing the Bee Gees. It seemed like there was a tribute to everything good BUT the Bee Gees, so that’s how we started. When we started doing it, we realised how difficult it was - and understood why no one else was doing it! (Laughs.) But, we kept pushing on! I think being able to pull off the look, the sound, and the music that spanned from the early ‘60s through the ‘70s … then the modern stuff from the ‘80s and ‘90s as the band evolved, was the hardest part.
What’s your earliest recollection of the Bee Gees? I was actually quite young. I grew up in Canberra, and it was probably in the late ‘60s/early ‘70s listening to am radio - which in those days consisted of music from the Beatles, the Seekers and the Bee Gees, pretty much. Funnily enough, I can remember being fascinated with Robin Gibbs’ voice from early on, as it was so distinctive. Ironically, I ended up playing Barry in the show! But that was definitely my first memory of the Bee Gees. I’ll run some numbers past you … 22 years on stage this year, over 6,500 performances in 60 countries. That’s impressive! Why would you say your group has achieved such longevity? I think it’s a testament to how popular the Bee Gees are all around the world. We were probably one of the first Bee Gees tributes in the world we were certainly the first one with a website, back in the day! We worked really hard … and coming from Australia, we had to work especially hard. There’s not a big population in Australia, so we had to expand into Asia and Europe. The Bee Gees are popular overseas, so we expanded into these markets - and I think that’s why the show’s still going - because we got our name out there early in the piece. Final say … We want people to come along and enjoy all of the hits … and there’s a few little surprises in there as well! Thanks Michael. Interview: Jo Robinson.
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See the Australian Bee Gees Show on 22nd August at 8pm. Visit glasshouse.org.au for tickets and details. Greater Port Macquarie focus 39
focus_contributor W I T H R O B Y N B U T L E R
Robyn’s
SPOT Finger LICKIN’ Dangerous Spring Gully Timbers What is Spring Gully Timbers? Spring Gully Timbers is a small furniture design and manufacturing company, situated in the hinterland of Port Macquire, specialising in hand made natural edge furniture, sourced mostly from dead or fallen trees. Where does your passion for building come from? My passion for building is in my DNA, I think. I have been building most of my life; I have built three homes - the last one out of recycled material. I made the kitchen and bathroom cabinetry, door thresholds, and window frames - designed and built everything, actually. I have always enjoyed making my own furniture. If one is to believe Chinese Astrology, I am a wood horse, and supposedly will be
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building out of wood for the rest of my life; so far that is true. What other products will you be introducing to the business? We will be adding new products to our range of natural edged furniture. Some will include colourful epoxy resins - great for adding interest to bathroom vanities, entertainment units, breakfast bars and more. How can our readers get in contact with you? I am currently putting together my website that will be live very soon; this will have my whole range of works so far pictured and you can buy online if you wish, or pop out to my showroom at 1052 Pipeclay Road, Beechwood. You can also contact me on 0487 508 792.
Warm days and cool nights ... dream weather in anyone’s book. Best time of the year I believe and for many, puts a “spring” in their step ... though it is “winter”.
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ast month I picked some bush from my next door neighbour’s garden to put in a flower arrangement. Five minutes later, my fingers were sticky, and silly me licked them to see what it was ... Alas, within five minutes my lips were swelling and my tongue went numb. To make matters worse, I rubbed my eye and I literally couldn’t see out of it for a good hour. It was so scary! I contemplated going to the hospital, but my neighbour gave me an eye wash, and within time I could see. I went to the chemist, who advised me to keep rinsing my eye and if it didn’t improve, to go to the hospital. The reason for this “saga” about me again is to warn you when picking anything that drips resin or sap, it can be very dangerous. I since found out my neighbour had a worse reaction than me with the same plant and ended up in hospital, unable to see for two days. Not everyone has a reaction, but forewarned is forearmed. For the life of me, I can’t find out the name of the bush - but it is a fine, brown leafed plant that looks lovely in amongst flowers ... Not much help to you, I know, but I will take it to a nursery (in a plastic bag} and find out the name of the little sucker. SNIPPETS 1. For those who receive the NRMA booklet, it was interesting to note as from the 14th May, 2018 NRMA Blue will offer a breadth of benefits and savings to members. You can download their app (see page 36 of the booklet) but selected Caltex Service Stations will accept your NRMA Membership card to automatically receive 5 cents a litre off Vortex premium fuels and 3 cents per litre of regular fuels. I know for a fact the Caltex Servo in Gordon Street Port Macquarie is one of the servos. At least the NRMA chose the only major Australian-owned fuel company to offer these deals. My sister in Perth said the offers are the same there. Just recently she had to do a first aid course for her job and received $30 off, because she was a roadside member the equivalent to our NRMA. Obviously worth looking at the app for its benefits. 2. I don’t know about you, but I check every docket after shopping, because mistakes are made - and in some cases whoppers. My friend in Nambucca went through the supermarket and on checking her docket when she got home, was charged $7.99 for a rockmelon on special for
$2.99. Another case was one red onion charged at $2.99, when in fact the lady had been charged for the bag, not one individual item. It doesn’t take long to run down the list and tick your purchases. In some cases, customers have been charged twice for the same item. You really do have to be on your toes these days, as mistakes are so easily made. 3. Congratulations again (how fast did that year go) to Pat and Betty Yates of Lighthouse Beach, Port Macquarie on celebrating their 74th wedding anniversary. Still the romantic, Pat drove Betty out for a lovely lunch, and both said they are looking forward to a family celebration next year for their 75th anniversary. What a milestone! 4. Another great icon and genuine nice fellow celebrated 35 years in business recently. Kenny Little in Munster Street can boast having many of the same clientele he had all that time ago. Congratulations, Ken and Judy and the great and helpful staff you have working for you. Hopefully Kenny will have, by the time this publication is delivered, a delicious non-alcholic sparkling ginger wine in the nice champers bottle. The cost is $10 - terrific drop, with no hangover. Way to go! 5. After Red Shield Appeal, something struck me and to be honest, worried me about receipts given when you donate to this wonderful charity. The girl asked me if I wanted a receipt. I asked how she’d balance her book at the end of the day if she didn’t issue a receipt, and I found out that the books aren’t balanced. This is rather disturbing, because aren’t you accountable for the amount of money you receive? Even if people don’t want a receipt, write one and keep it in the book. I know 99% of people are honest, but it is just too easy to be dishonest - and no questions are asked. I know it is not only the Salvos that do this, but most charities. Am I too old school? 6. Read something funny on FB the other day. The heading read: How old will you be in July 2061, when Halleys Comet appears in our skies? This fellow wrote: ”I’ll be riding it, mate”... Well, it made me smile. Love to see you all at the 2WAYFM fundraiser on the 21/7/18 at the station. BBQ, goodies for sale and great music - check your paper for times. BREAD IS LIKE THE SUN, IT RISES IN THE YEAST, AND SETS IN THE WAIST. Keep smiling, Robbie. x
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Koala PORT MACQUARIE
HOSPITAL
With the NSW State Government announcing a $45 million intervention package to help protect koala numbers across the state in May, one of Australia’s favourite furry icons has been in the media spotlight recently. CHEYNE FLANAGAN, CLINICAL DIRECTOR AT THE PORT MACQUARIE KOALA HOSPITAL, POSSIBLY KNOWS MORE ABOUT KOALAS AT A LOCAL LEVEL THAN ANYONE. Here’s what she had to say about the issues our local koalas are facing … and some ways you can help.
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i Cheyne. For those readers who may not know you, please tell us a bit about your role at the Koala Hospital in Port Macquarie and what it involves ... The role of Clinical Director is one of many hats. The number one priority is to admit, examine and treat all the koala patients who come into the hospital. We do the majority of the work here, such as treating dog attack injuries, hit by car injuries, chlamydia etc. We also use ultrasonography, take blood, urine and other pathology samples, take swabs for disease, collect aspirates and small samples for analysis. Major surgical procedures and radiography are done at the amazing Port Macquarie Veterinary Hospital, who have worked with us for almost 40 years. Another not so pleasant but necessary job is to conduct post mortems on any patients who have died - every koala has an important research story to tell. Other hats the CD wears is training other licensed wildlife groups/undergraduate veterinarians, nurses, zookeepers etc. The hospital teaches koala rehabilitation courses in NSW, Victoria and SA. We also have a comprehensive Koala Rehab manual that is updated every two years and is sold throughout Australia and internationally (to zoos). Another hat is the collaborative research work we do with a number of universities 42 Greater Port Macquarie focus
The number one reason for admission is the sexually and agencies. This can include anything from collecting various samples, to catching and anaethetising koalas in the bush for radio collaring projects, to collecting faeces and sending them off for DNA projects. The CD also sits on a number of “expert” advisory panels for both local government, local and state government agencies. The CD, along with a wonderful team at the Koala Hospital, put together and host the highly successful National Koala Conference, with the next one planned for early 2020. Roughly how many koalas do you see come through the doors of the hospital each year, and what are their most common injuries/complaints? Up until about five years ago, we were seeing on average 200 - 250 koalas per year. This has declined alarmingly since then - which is indicative of the predicted decline of this important coastal population of koalas. At the time of writing this article, we have only seen 50 patients so far in 2018. The number one reason for admission is the sexually transmitted bacterial disease Chlamydia, which causes infertility, blindness, renal disease and is commonly found in disturbed habitats such as urban areas. There is a very low level of chlamydial disease is forested areas not disturbed by human development. Other causes are being hit by cars, which also account for high mortality. Dog attack frequency is relatively low in this LGA in comparison to other areas, but still of major concern.
transmitted bacterial
Koalas also suffer from includes creating disease Chlamydia, many other problems, over 24,000 hectares which causes such as various cancers, of new koala infertility, blindness, glaucoma, cataracts, reserves and parks renal disease and is scoliosis/kyphosis, fungal across the state. commonly found in disturbed infections, burns from How do you feel habitats such as urban areas. bushfires, and occasionally the Port Macquarie we have patients with Koala Hospital and conditions that have not the local koala been described in the population will fare literature before. overall under the government's new koala Nonetheless, the number one cause of strategy? all of these issues, or the decline of koalas Whilst the initiative from the State here and across Australia, is the removal of Government to instigate this intervention habitat, repeated removal of single trees in package is admirable, there are many areas town, removal of forested land - all for human within this document that can only be development. Koalas are forced to move described as very disappointing. further to seek food to eat and seeking mates, The proposed 24,000 hectares of new koala crossing busy roads, climbing over obstacles reserves include a number of sites that have no such as fences and into backyards, carparks, records of koalas ever existing in that vicinity, industrial factories, high rise buildings and to some being so severely degraded through across open country. All of this places them at prior usage that their value is questionable, to high risk of being hit by cars and dog attacks. others that many koala people across NSW can The immense pressure on each individual koala only be described as “scratching their heads” creates immune suppression and increases to understand the decision to include them. their susceptibility to disease. The koalas of this region were not included Another way to describe this is that koalas in this 24,000 hectare reserve proposal, but are being hit by cars, suffering from chlamydia and being considered in another strategy within being attacked by dogs are the symptoms. The the Biodiversity Conservation Trust - so all is disease itself is habitat loss. Habitat loss is the not lost. key threatening process to the survival of this The package also aims to fix koala "roadspecies. kill" hot spots across the state. How much The NSW State Government announced a of an issue is this locally? $45 million intervention package to help Koala road kill hot spots are a major issue protect koala numbers across the state in in our LGA, particularly in urban areas. The May. One of the key areas in this package Port Macquarie-Hastings Council is proposing
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to address this issue, particularly in areas such as Ocean Drive, Oxley Highway and Hastings River Drive. Breeding season is just starting on the coast here, so there will be males actively moving within their home ranges seeking females. Usually it is the young, healthy sexually active males who get hit, which is devastating for an already declining population. Every breeding koala is vital. It is a very big aim to “fix the road kill issue”! In recent months, the Forestry Corporation of NSW and Port Macquarie-Hastings Council donated 10,000 plus Tallowood saplings to locals, with these trees being planted to provide a new food source for our koala population. How successful was this activity - and where did the majority of the trees end up? Forestry Corporation NSW donated the 10,000 Tallowood tube stock, with PMHC donating a further 600. The response from the public was so overwhelming, that the whole lot were gone in 10 days. The vast majority were planted out of the urban areas, and most were in the hinterland of the PM LGA. A good percentage also went to Kempsey and Crescent Head. The Koala Hospital’s licensed area also covers the Kempsey LGA. We have recorded where all of the trees have been planted (as we did with 2,000 donated Forestry trees in 2016) so we can plan for connectivity of these areas for future quality koala habitat. In February 2019, Forestry Corporation NSW will be donating 25,000 trees, with these being a mix of Tallowood, Forest Red Gum and Swamp Mahogony. Watch this space! Our goal long term is to ensure the survival
of the hinterland populations of wild koalas, as the developmental pressures on the coastal koalas The Koala Hospital is the training is too great. As more provider for WIRES NSW koala and more land is being carers. As a result of this, turned into housing we are now extending estates, shopping centres this to teaching many and other infrastructure, other licensed wildlife the coastal koalas are rehabilitation groups in all aspects being “placed in front of of wild koala husbandry and care. for WIRES NSW koala the firing squad” on a carers. As a result of this, daily basis. we are now extending What's planned for this to teaching many the Koala Hospital other licensed wildlife rehabilitation groups over the next year or so? in all aspects of wild koala husbandry and The hospital is in such demand these care. We are holding our third two day koala days, we are looking to expand our premises rehabilitation course in early August, which to include much more office space for the will attract a large number of people from amount of work we are involved in. As the across NSW. All of this is good for the local Koala Hospital hosts around 100,000 visitors economy, with accommodation, food and fuel per year, who come to see the hospital and etc. “koalas in the wild”, we are looking to also The Koala Hospital has been working in an expand our “visitor experience” facilities. This advisory capacity with overseas zoos for many will include increasing the size of the shop, the years, but this is now expanding to the point koala museum, walkways and interpretative that two of our staff will be attending a couple signage, all for the visitors’ enjoyment. of zoos in Europe to discuss future strong We also wish to finish the second stage of the exhibited koala enclosures, where our non- collaboration. Our goal is to assist them in better management of their koalas, particularly releasable patients can live, some of whom are from a handling and housing point of view. waiting “off site”, as we have nowhere to put How do you think our community them. All of these koalas have a story to tell government, landholders, residents can about the plight of the koala in this country. all best work together to ensure a viable All of this takes a lot of planning, a lot of future for our koalas? work, and a lot of money! The number one cause of decline of koalas Incidentally, Port Macquarie-Hastings in this country is habitat loss. The saying Council estimates that the Koala Hospital and “no tree no me” is so true. There must be the koalas of this region bring around $60 a concerted effort to conserve the existing million dollars annually to the local economy. The Koala Hospital is the training provider forested areas that have koala populations.
Replanting of degraded habitat and replanting areas to link up existing habitat or new sites is also critical. Every single tree has a role to play for each and every koala who lives there. Every single tree is as important to many other different species, who live in the same location as the koala. So many trees have been removed and continue to be removed on a daily basis in urban and rural areas. It’s easy to think, “Oh, this is only one tree that will be cut down, so it doesn’t matter ” … Well yes, it does! Every tree forms part of a koala’s home range and may be a very important tree from a food point of view, or simply as a refuge for the koala that lives there. Also, it becomes a case of death by a thousand cuts … every tree cut down becomes a forest cut down in a short space of time. We are all Australians, and the beautiful Eucalypts are part of who we are as a nation. Does it really matter if they shed bark and drop a few limbs? We must conserve and protect every tree. If we keep going at the rate we are going - the coastal koalas of this region will only be a memory. Thanks Cheyne. Interview: Jo Robinson. Greater Port Macquarie focus 43
in Greater Port Macquarie “IT’S ABOUT THE EXPERIENCE!”
BELLROWAN VALLEY HORSE RIDING
BAGO MAZE AND WINERY
We’re open 7 DAYS; bookings essential.
unique adventure for the whole family.
Take time out to visit Bago Vineyards, a
Phone 6587 5227 Web: bellrowanvalley.com.au n Take to the hills and explore the hinterland, a real Aussie bush experience n Daily 1hr & 2hr Trail Rides, Overnight Packages, 2 Day Pub Ride, Chicks in the Sticks, 3 Day Trek, 3 Day Kids Camp. n Small groups w experienced & friendly guides n Shady, picturesque trails, abundant wildlife n Easy scenic 30 min drive from Port Macquarie n Happy, quiet, healthy horses; the best!
Enjoy a wine tasting in the Cellar Door, with a cheese platter on the pergola overlooking
+MORE MOREschool school 2012 2012
the Vineyards and Maze. Or lose the kids (young and old) in the largest Hedge Maze in NSW - 2 m high and 2 km long! On the second Sunday of the month join us for live music and a picnic on the grass. Phone: 6585 7099 Open: 9am - 5pm with last Maze entry at 4pm (7 days) Address: Milligans Rd (off Bago Rd), Wauchope Web: www.bago.com.au
TRAIL RIDES AND TREKS
WAVE BOWL n Ten Pin Bowling Fun n Awesome Bowling Deals n School Holiday Early Bird $ 7 Games from 8.30-9.30am everyday during the school holidays. n Beers ’n Bowling Every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday & Saturday. 8pm - 10pm $ 4 Beers - $ 6 Games Phone: 6583 2238 Address: 159 Hastings River Dr, Port Macquarie Web: www.wavebowl.com.au
Bellrowan Valley Bellrowan Valley PORT CRUISE HorseRiding Riding ADVENTURE Horse We’re open 7 DAYS, n Whale We’re watching open 7 DAYS, and bookings essential. n Awesome oceanare thrill rides
and bookings are essential.
Phone 6587Port 5227 n Wave Rider, Macquarie's newest Phone 6587 5227 custom boat web:built www.bellrowanvalley.com.au
web: www.bellrowanvalley.com.au
■ Daily 1 & 2 hrPark Trailriver Rides. Pub Ride 2 Days n Eco - National cruise ■ Daily 1 & 2 hr Trail Rides. Pub Ride 2 Days n Famous sunset cruise ■ Tuition before and during every ride
■ Tuition before and during every ride
■ Quality beautiful n Jet Ski hire horses, in our exclusive jetscenery ski park and ■ Quality horses, beautiful scenery and n No licence required friendly guides ■ Freshly baked damper & friendly guides ■ Freshly baked damper & n 10% off your second refreshments after adventure every ride.with Port Cruise Adventuresafter every ride. refreshments Phone: 6583 8811 or 0419 620 765 Address: Cnr of Town Green & Short Street, Port Macquarie www.portjet.com.au
TRAIL RIDES AND TREKS TRAIL RIDES AND TREKS
HYDRO GOLF & PUTT-PUTT Web www.hydrogolf.com.au Phone 6583 3200 Boundary St, Port Macquarie. Open 7 Days
CUT ME OUT Buy 2 buckets of balls (value $18) and receive your 3RD BUCKET FREE. not to be used with any other offers
44 Greater Port Macquarie focus
SEE EVEN MORE AT WWW.52THINGS2DO.COM.AU
CENTRE OF Centre ofINDOOR Gravity GRAVITY Centre of Gravity ROCK CLIMBING Indoor Rock Indoor Rock &Climbing DARK ZONE & Dark Climbing & Dark LASER TAG Zone Laser Over 70 different climbs to choose from plus Zone Laser our two storey laser tag arena. All for ages
Over 70 different climbs to choose from 3 &Over up. Open every day during holidays. diff climbs tothe choose from From70 ages 3erent and up Contact us to find out about specials! From ages 3 and up Saturday NIGHTS - unlimited climbing and
NIGHTS unlimited climbing and laser ForSaturday more7-10pm info: 6581 -3899 laser www.centreofgravity.com.au Dark 7-10pm zone laser = IMMENSELY FUN! 52Dark Jindalee Rd, Port=Macquarie zone laser IMMENSELY For more info: 6581 3899 FUN! For more info: 6581 3899 www.centreofgravity.com.au www.centreofgravity.com.au 52 Jindalee Rd, Port Macquarie 52 Jindalee Rd, Port Macquarie
Cruise Terminal The best of contemporary and vintage river Cruise Terminal
MORE
MAJESTIC CINEMAS Movies Come Alive in Port Macquarie n New Screens n New Foyer n New Candy Bar
Join the Movie Club for great discounts!
Majestic Cinema's Select Series showcases a range of high quality content to engage the discerning audience. Hand picked for excellence. To book and for session times, head to our website.
BILLABONG CAFÉ Now open to the public n Breakfast from 9am to 11am n Lunch from 11.30am to 2.30pm Enjoy a delicious bite from our exciting new menu options, either with a visit to the zoo or just the café.
Web: majesticcinemas.com.au
Offering a range of delicious cuisines from Aussie faves to Mexican, Japanese and
Phone: 6583 8400
Indian – something to suit all tastes as well as healthy kids meals so everyone is happy. Hope to see you soon!
JUMBOS PLAYLAND
Web: billabongzoo.com.au Phone: 6585 1060
We've a great line up and we can't wait to bring you an awesome program in July School Holidays !!! We will have special appearances
July holiday fun!
for a photo opportunity with Paw Patrol and Peppa Pig, PLUS a Frozen Show. Also worth mentioning is Make-A-Bear Workshop, Plaster Painting, Sand Art, Sensory Textile Art and Craft plus much more. See our website and social media sites for more info. n School Holidays Trading Hours: Sun-Fri 10am-3pm • Sat - 9am-4pm n Children’s Indoor Soft Play Centre 0 - 10 years Phone: 6581 0909 Address: 17 Merrigal Road, Port Macquarie Web: jumbosplayland.com.au
PORT MACQUARIE GOLF CLUB n Enjoy a tasty meal at Aspire overlooking the golf course n Bingo Monday AM and Thursday Evenings n 18 hole challenging golf course n Golf lessons n Junior clinics and classes n Trivia Wednesday evenings n TAB & Foxsports n Friendly, comfortable and relaxing
Set in 10 acres of lush gardens with over 80 species of mammals, reptiles and birds. Rain or shine, Billabong Zoo is a great day out where you can get up-close to Australian & exotic animals.
ZOO TALK FREE presentations throughout the day. UP-CLOSE Book a personal animal encounter. ZOO CAFEÉ ZOO SHOP
Phone: 6582 0409 Address: Ocean Drive, Port Macquarie www.portmacquariegolf.com.au
Greater Port Macquarie focus 45
focusinterview.
with Michelle Parker from Parker & Co Communications
life AY IN THE AD
MONIQUE MUUSERS
M
F R A N K I E ’ S
onique Muusers and her trusty sidekick Frankie the turtle have been delighting locals and visitors with unique gourmet experiences and winery tours for almost two years. A reminder of Monique’s time running tours up the east coast of Australia, Frankie is the real star of the show. He gets up to all sorts of mischief with the guests - you’ll see him on Facebook stuffed into wine glasses, driving the bus and checking out the local breweries. “He’s my friend and business partner, and someone I can blame if things don’t go so well,” Monique laughs. Monique’s own travels have taken her on some amazing adventures. After growing up on an ostrich farm in Inverell, she came to Port Macquarie to complete her final years of high school. Being half-Dutch, an exchange semester in the Netherlands in 2010 helped Monique connect with her ancestry and also gave her the itch to travel. Monique studied a Bachelor of International Hotel and Tourism Management from the University of Queensland. Holidays were spent travelling and working, including a three-month stint on Dunk Island, a ski season and summer camp in America, 46 Greater Port Macquarie focus
M Y D AY
7:00am Walk on the breakwall with my Cavoodle, Sassy. 8:00am Check emails and respond to customer enquiries; call potential tours or bookings.
T R A V E L
and some English teaching in Siem Reap, Cambodia. “When I finished my degree, I thought I’d have it all figured out, but all I knew was that I didn’t want a normal job, so I went backpacking through South America.” Having fallen in love with South East Asia, Monique applied for a job as a tour guide there. After six months of pestering, a fourhour interview and with no local language skills or tour guiding experience, Monique finally landed the position. The job involved running 30-day loops through Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam and Laos with groups of 16 international tourists. “I thought, if I can do that, I can do anything!” Always keen to run her own business, at age 24 Monique opened a bar and restaurant in Battam Bang, Cambodia. Named Buffalo Alley, the hotspot employed 13 people at its peak and lured guests with an international karaoke bar upstairs. “That business was a huge challenge. There are hardly any rules and regulations in Cambodia, and everything is negotiated, even the price you pay for rubbish collection, but I didn’t speak the language. Now I see all the disasters as valuable lessons.” Monique returned to Australia and got her bus licence in Sydney over a gruelling two days. Working for tour companies, she
ran tours through the Blue Mountains and Hunter Valley. She also ran east coast tours from Sydney to Cape Tribulation over 22 days with 20 passengers, driving the bus and a trailer, coordinating the itinerary, preparing meals, tour guiding in each location with no rest. “I realised that if I wanted to set my own rules, I’d need to run my own business.” Port has always been home for Monique, so with a strong family connection, plenty of experience and a bucket-load of enthusiasm, Frankie’s Travel was born. Monique now runs small group tours for tourists looking to explore the area, and local groups celebrating birthdays, family reunions, hen’s days or Christmas parties. The possibilities are almost endless for private groups, and Monique loves customising tours to suit. “I love meeting new people every day. The guests are always out to have a fun day, and I get to be part of their celebrations. What I don’t love is dealing with the rare mechanical issue or flat tyre!” After the success of her local tours, Monique has recently purchased a second 13-seater bus and is set to start operating winery tours in the Hunter Valley soon. www.frankiestravel.com
10:00am Get ready for today’s tour, vehicle inspection and clean, print out run sheet, call suppliers to confirm times. 10:30am Start up the bus and pick up my guests. 11:00am Arrive at Cassegrain and enjoy a wine and cheese tasting. Go behind the scenes for a sneak peek of the winery. 12:15pm Take guests to Seasons Café and Restaurant for a delicious two course lunch with a glass of wine. 2:00pm Back in the bus to visit Long Point Winery, where guests enjoy wine tasting and explore the art gallery. 3:00pm Head to Black Duck Brewery for a beer tastings paddle and a tour with Al. Or, we might visit Vickers Fudge for sweet treats, Whalebone Wharf for a waterfront lunch, Roses Vineyard for wine tastings or Bago for wine, hen's party games and a run through the maze! 4:30pm Back to accommodation or out on the town if guests want to keep partying. Guests receive a wine glass gift etched with Frankie the turtle. 5:00pm Check emails and send through thank you email and feedback survey. Post photos on Facebook. Refuel and clean the bus. 6:00pm Finally, it’s my turn to have a glass of wine!
Need some motivation to run this winter? We all know how hard it can be to get moving and stay motivated during winter. It’s cold and dark, lots of layers are required and staying indoors can be very enticing. However, it is also a great time to run outdoors and the cold air can be invigorating. Training for an event or running with friends is the best motivation there is during the colder months. That’s the tip from the organisers of the annual Coffs Harbour Running Festival. The unique ‘off-road’ event has something for all ages and abilities with the choice of a half marathon, 10km run, 5km run/walk and the 3km family fun run/walk – all held on the scenic Coffs Creek Walkway. Entries for the event on Sunday September 9 are now open, with early bird prices available until the end of July. The course is spectacular, meandering along the banks of the picturesque Coffs Creek, through the town’s Botanic Gardens to the iconic Park Beach. The track is mostly flat and shaded and follows a bush trail through swamp forests of mangroves, casuarina and paperbarks. The Bendigo Bank Coffs Harbour Running Festival is now in its eighth year and attracts approximately 1,600 participants annually from all over Australia. “We are so lucky to have this
unique running track in the middle of our town, taking in so many beautiful sights,” race director Noel Phillips said. Marathon legend, Steve Moneghetti is returning as the event ambassador again this year, hailing it as one of the most unique courses he has run on. Steve will be on hand to chat to other participants, provide running tips, training advice and share his stories. For those looking for some motivation during winter, Armidale Parkrun is an excellent training option. It is a free, timed 5km event open to runners and walkers of all standards and takes place at 8am every Saturday morning at SportUNE, Madgwick. Phillips said, “It is a great way of assessing where your running fitness is at and testing yourself against others and the clock before deciding which distance to compete in at the Coffs
Running Festival.” $165,000 since the Early Bird prices for the inaugural event in 2011. The course is spectacular, event are on offer until Life Education, Coffs Coast meandering along the 31 July and organisers Autism, Camp Quality banks of the picturesque encourage all those and Early Connections are Coffs Creek, through the planning on taking among the charities that town’s Botanic Gardens to part to enter early and will benefit again this year. the iconic Park Beach. take advantage of the Volunteers from these reduced entry fees. “It’s groups also assist on the also a great opportunity day by manning the water to set a goal to work stations on the course. towards through the winter months and be part For more information and to enter the 2018 of a fun, community event,” said Phillips. Bendigo Bank Coffs Harbour Running Festival on The event raises money for local charities and Sunday 9th September, go to: www.villagesports.com.au community groups and has donated over
Mike Blewitt s Coast Coa Co astappy! ast Coffs Drive away h
SINCE 1978
mikeblewitt.com.au
Greater Port Macquarie focus 47
focus_contributor J A N E T T E H Y D E F R O M P O R T M A C Q U A R I E T O U R I S M A S S O C I A T I O N
tourism UPDATE
Hit new heights at Sealy! Award-winning, eco-certified Sealy Lookout in Orara East State Forest has a huge variety of visitor experiences - from Forest Sky Pier, to Gumgali Track First People’s experience, Korora Lookout, the Giingan Gumbaynggirr Cultural Experience, Nyanggan Gapi café and beautiful rainforest walks. Now, Sealy Lookout (Niigi Niigi in local Gumbaynggirr language) offers even more, with the addition of the new TreeTops at Coffs. The new TreeTop Adventure Park offers visitors the opportunity to see the world from the forest canopy. Visitors can enjoy tree-to-tree activities, from easy to the more challenging, within a safe and supported environment. Perhaps best of all, TreeTops is highly accessible, being suitable for people of some intellectual, physical and sensory disabilities. New carparking and toilets at Sealy Lookout
make it even easier to experience this forest playground. Getting there: Travel north from Coffs city along the highway and past the Big Banana. Take the left turn onto Bruxner Park Road. Drive up through banana plantations and enjoy amazing views along the way. Just after the Orara East State Forest sign, turn left at The Gap. Follow Scenic Drive and drop into Korora Lookout/Gumgali Track, TreeTops and Forest Sky Pier at Sealy Lookout. Find out more about all the Sealy Lookout experiences: www.treetops.com.au/locations/coffsharbour bmnac.org.au/giingan-tourism-experience www.forestrycorporation.com.au/visit/forests/ orara-east
WHAT'S on in JULY We are being spoilt with the wonderful display by the whales this season. Many stories have been told in the last two weeks about just how close the whales are coming to the coast. It is great to hear of the fantastic experiences of our locals and tourists from the Jet Boat. Let’s not forget the dolphins, who complement the magic display of these majestic mammals.
T
he Panthers Model Expo is happening on 7 and 8 July from 9am. The expo has been meeting in Port Macquarie for over 25 years and is always a great display for model enthusiasts, young and old. Have you ever wondered just what happens behind the scenes at The Glasshouse? Take a tour on the 11 July; explore the stage, dressing rooms and back of house areas and find out more about the magic of theatre. You just need to ring The Glasshouse and book your place. Cassegrain Wines, in partnership with the Australasian Barbecue Alliance, are so excited to invite you to Beef in the Vines on the 15 July.
Come along to enjoy: • wine tastings (Cassegrain Wines) • beer tastings (Hops and Tales Brewery • live music • a variety of food stalls including options from Seasons Café Restaurant • kid-friendly activities • cooking demonstrations + wine and beer masterclass • watch 15 BBQ teams compete for the Australasian Barbecue Championships. Have you walked along The Coastal Walk? The Walk is a 9 km scenic walking trail. You start the walk at Town Beach, winding along the coast via Flagstaff, Rocky Beach lookout, Nobbys Beach and Harry's lookout to Sea Acres. Take in the unique location of Sea Acres National Park along the coastal walk; the south end of the walk is one of the few places on the east coast where the forest meets the foam. The walk ends at Tacking Point Lighthouse. There are opportunities for barbecues and swimming along the way, including Shelley Beach and Flynns Beach. You will see several historical sites along the way and enjoy stunning seaside scenery that is available so close to Port Macquarie. Between May and November, you are sure to spot a whale or two on their annual migration; don't forget to record your sighting. The Walk is an important and much-loved asset for both visitors and the local community. Port Macquarie Hastings Council, with the support of the NSW State Government’s Regional Growth - Environment and Tourism Fund, have 48 Greater Port Macquarie focus
started installing some new signage along the Coast Walk. What a welcome improvement! The Elephant Trail Race - is happening in the Cairncross State Forest on 20 - 22 July. The Race must be completed on foot. Adults and kids can register - check out the website: www.elephanttrailrace.com.au The Greater Port Macquarie Tourism Association welcomes three local businesses who have recently become members. Whalebone Wharf - Established in 1971, is Port Macquarie’s iconic waterfront dining destination. Nestled over the banks of the Hastings River, it boasts outstanding cuisine and expansive water views. OCTEC Employment Services - Consultants support job seekers to identify and overcome barriers to employment, find suitable vacancies, undertake cold canvassing for positions, prepare for interviews and get each client ready to commence work once a suitable position has been secured. Newman College - Currently have over 50 students studying Certificate III Tourism and they are available to work within the tourism industry to gain practical experience. If you have a vacancy, please contact the college directly on 6580 3800. This month in Port Macquarie, we are remembering two lives who have very sadly passed away, that of Alison Lambert and Wayne Jackson, both very dedicated and community minded people. Wayne, along with being Manager of the Commonwealth Bank and Treasurer of the Port Macquarie Chamber of Commerce, was a wonderful family man who shared his life with many community activities. Alison was Secretary of the Greater Port Macquarie Association Tourism Board and a stalwart of the tourism industry. She was a friend and mate to everybody. For both Wayne and Alison, I would like to think that they would be saying to us, “So as you stand on the shore gazing at the beautiful sea remember us”. Check out what’s happening in our region: www.portmacquarieinfo.com.au
the rhi rebellion
JULY Workshops
July! What! When did this happen … It’s that time of year again where we all buckle down to try and live plastic free for a month; who’s signed up to Plastic Free July?
This month you will find a great range of waste free living workshops to help you complete the plastic free challenge and help break some plastic habits ... as well as some great workshops to keep the kids crafty these school holidays! TOTE AND PRODUCE BAG WORKSHOP Ditching plastic bags in the first step in the right direction for Plastic Free July.
Leave with one completed tote bag and three produce bags, as well as the patterns to make many more at home!
Join me for a morning of sewing your own grocery and produce bags, made from 100% recycled materials. This workshop will have you feeling like an eco warrior!
When Saturday 30th - 4/34 Acacia Ave - 10am 12pm - $30. Bookings For bookings or enquires, please email rhirebellion@gmail.com
No skill is required; beginners to skilled sewers welcome.
BEESWAX WRAP WORKSHOP Crafting your own beeswax wraps are a lot easier
than you think and are a great way to ditch single use wrap! Join me for a morning of making your own beeswax wrap packs; leave with three completed wraps and the knowledge to make many more from home. When Saturday 7th - 4/34 Acacia Ave - 10am 12pm - $30. Bookings For bookings or enquires, please email rhirebellion@gmail.com SCHOOL HOLIDAY WORKSHOPS Seed Bombs Seed bombs are such a great winter craft! Construct as many seed bombs filled with bee and butterfly friendly seeds as you like for rainy day fun. These are perfect for those days that they kids feel trapped inside the house this winter! Once the bombs are dry, you can run around on a rainy day throwing them in all kinds of directions and when spring hits, revisit those places to see what flowers have sprung! I always like to make a little flower treasure map so I remember! Participants will leave with completed seed bombs and Port Macquarie Treasure Map. When Thursday 12th - 4/34 Acacia Ave - 10am 12pm - $15 Bookings For bookings or enquires, please email rhirebellion@gmail.com
Finger Knitting 101 This workshop is the best! Kids will learn how to make a finger knitted scarf in a few hours and the skills to head home and keep on knitting. Great for keeping hands busy in car rides and on those cold winter days! Participants can choose from a huge range of colours to suit their own personal style, each leaving with a knitting project completed OR started with wool to complete at home. When Thursday 19th - 4/34 Acacia Ave - 10am 12pm - $15. Bookings For bookings or enquires, please email rhirebellion@gmail.com Eco Beauty Products Learn how to make your own bathroom products that have no waste or impact on the environment. Good for you and the planet! We will be demonstrating a huge range of products, as well as hands on making. Leave with workshop recipes, completed products like deodorant, body scrubs, toothpaste and floss! When Saturday 21st - 4/34 Acacia Ave - 10am12pm - $45. ARTIST MARKETS Maritime Museum Port Macquarie Join all your local movers and shakers for a morning of local art. Find me under the Belle Property Tent from 9am, with free crafts for all. When Sunday 22nd - 9am- 1pm - free.
Y
ou’re invited to experience the best of New Zealand Coach Touring with Grand Pacific Tours. Join us along with top NZ tourism operators for a captivating and entertaining show that will highlight why a coach tour is the only way to see stunning New Zealand!
PORT MACQUARIE MONDAY 3o JULY 2018 PANTHERS Club DOORS OPEN 9AM
TALK TO THE NEW ZEALAND EXPERTS We’ll showcase the journey, the sights and the experiences you’ll enjoy on tour + meet 25 of our TOP NZ tourism operators.
5 styles of touring 200+ guaranteed departures
A 9 DAY NZ SOUTH ISLAND TOUR FOR TWO VALUED AT OVER $6900!
EXCLUSIVE HOST SCOTT MCRAE JUMP ON BOARD Scott is one of Australia’s most endearing TV personalities. He has taken viewers all over the world as host of Destinations with Scott McRae, Postcards Australia and A Taste of Travel. Get caught up in his infectious energy for travel, particularly to NZ.
DEAL OF THE
YEAR!
FLY* + M O R E ! FREE
*Conditions apply
THIS OFFER Available on the day only for those attending the show.
Take a seat and relax in armchair comfort aboard our incredible Kiwi ConnectioNZ coach. Coach Captains will be on hand to showcase the benefits of touring.
‘BUSINESS CLASS ON WHEELS’ Sample the luxury leather seats on display in the coach, a key feature of Ultimate Small Group Touring.
FREE SHOW BAG + LIGHT REFRESHMENTS $5 ENTRY SEATS ARE LIMITED RSVP NOW! www.gPTNZEXPO.com or 1800 622 768 Greater Port Macquarie focus 49
50 Greater Port Macquarie focus
focus_contributor - Travel Editor Susie Boswell.
Y
Oops, I missed my flight
ou’ve researched, planned and spent up big to secure your overseas holiday or even a domestic trip to the Margaret River or Broome. What happens then if it all begins to fall apart right at the start because you failed to meet a three-hour international check-in deadline at the airport? Even top travel insurance won’t compensate for the horror of rebooking flights, hotels or tours. You’re upset, plans have to be rejigged and you might be forced to find last-minute overnight accommodation close by and unravel carefully packed luggage to find pyjamas and fresh clothes. Even capital city dwellers can be reluctant to return home and start the whole process over again, given the uncertainty of traffic delays that possibly caused your late arrival in the first place, and the chaos of current massive roadworks around Sydney Airport. For those setting out from a regional area the possibility of delayed or failed connections is a greater risk. A recent transport survey reported that flights from, for example, Port Macquarie, an important hub for the NSW North Coast, topped the chart for being late to arrive at their destination 27 per cent of the time. A further 2.3 per cent of flights were cancelled before they’d even left Sydney to collect regional passengers. Starting out badly can only lead to misery, hence my top tip for a successful trip: get to (the vicinity of) the airport early, leaving no room for error. Increasing numbers of savvy travellers are doing just this: hence the growth at Sydney’s Mascot of various new airport hotels. I’ve tried quite a few, but none matches my choice preand post- a long-haul trip to South Africa last month for its facilities and efficiency of Pullman Sydney Airport, minutes from both international and domestic terminals. It’s simply the best, recognised by its status as the only five-star hotel in the precinct. Pullman’s rooms are not the generic style of hotels worldwide. Sure, they offer bed, bathroom, tea-coffee making, mini fridge and so on as guests expect, but the architect has done away with internal walls that waste space, rendering rooms with an uncramped open-plan appeal. Modesty is preserved via a tall smoked
crazy-glass designer panel separating the sleeping area from the luxurious free-standing tub, its plumbing cleverly concealed under-floor, and a frosted glass slider offers privacy for the shower and loo. An advantage of the relatively small premium one pays for five-star lodging - and here it’s way less than at five-star CBD hotels - are the points of distinction that make a “feel good” difference: comfy king bed; sleek bedsheets and feather-light duvet; pristine thick towels; top quality tea and other supplies; good acoustic sound-proofing; and dual adjustable handheld and rain shower heads with plentiful flows of piping hot water. As one who prefers to drive to the airport when travelling overseas, I love the parking garage, its space, cleanliness and excellent security, at more than competitive rates. I hope revealing this “find” doesn’t mean there’s no room for me next time! Pullman hotels are the high-end international brand named for American George Pullman’s luxury passenger railcars with carpeted sleeper berths, white-linen restaurants and even libraries, and superior service. And so it is here with all modern services including WiFi, fitness centre, excellent breakfast (with all egg dishes to order created right in front of you), and bar. There’s a ground-floor restaurant as well, also offering room service meals, but having checked in just 600m from the domestic terminal and 3km from international, I prefer to go out on the town and enjoy the many dining options in the nearby inner-city or even a show in the CBD. During daytime hours, you’re close to O’Riordan Street’s designer-store enclave. If you’re merely killing time between 9 and 5 and prefer to avoid the crush of terminals and airport lounges: Pullman offers Day Room rates to relax, dine, snooze, work out or attend to last-minute details. Auto checkout and frequent airport shuttle service at the door. On my return from South Africa at 11pm after some 24 hours on the go I was tucked up in bed around 30 minutes after landing. If travelling by road on O’Riordan Street from the city call the hotel first for easy access directions to avoid the median strip blocking right-turn entry. Tel: 8398 4600. Greater Port Macquarie focus 51
focusinterview.
World
Trekkers DY L A N & S H A N N O N WA R D
EVER IMAGINE QUITTING YOUR JOB AND TRAVELLING THE WORLD? WELL, DYLAN AND SHANNON WARD DID JUST THAT!
BACK FROM THEIR EXTENDED HONEYMOON, SHANNON FOLLOWS ON FROM LAST MONTH’S INTERVIEW, AND TELLS US A LITTLE ABOUT THE SECOND HALF OF THEIR TRIP THROUGH CANADA, ICELAND, THE UK, AND EUROPE ...
S A LT F L AT S , B O L I V I A
52 Greater Port Macquarie focus
focusinterview. JOH NS ON CA N YON BA N F F
G RU N AU I M A L M TA L , AU S T R I A
S KO G A F O S S FA L L S , I C E L A N D
PR AGU E
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here did you head off to for the next adventure? After the United States we headed North into Canada for a few weeks. One of Dyl’s best mates lives in Kelowna, so we headed there first for some mountain biking, hiking and food culture. We were so lucky to arrive during the Canadian autumn; the colours and overall vibe was so warming to the soul. From Canada we went to Iceland for thirteen days. By the time we arrived it was bloody cold, but absolutely stunning! We hired a car and did a ten-day road trip on the famous “Ring Road,” with a few diversions to stay at picturesque inns and cuddle with the fuzziest horses in the world. From Iceland we jumped the pond to the UK were we met up with some of Dyl’s Welsh family and proceeded to road trip mainland UK in the quaintest VW campervan, named Bongo. Bongo was our home for three weeks during the beginning of winter. What an experience - a cold, wet and memorable adventure! The amount of castles we visited in those three weeks was unreal! This was my first time ever visiting the UK and seeing anything older than a couple of hundred years …my heart warms, thinking back to those stoic stone towers on the hills. After road tripping and visiting more family and friends in the UK, we made our way to Europe via the underwater Eurostar train, where the final leg of our journey began. How did you balance accommodation and expenses for the trip? Did you have a budget? Our mission from the beginning was to keep
IC E L A N D B E AC H
our accommodation expenses to an absolute minimum. Depending where we were in the world determined our accommodation strategy. We did a TON of camping, sixteen bed hostel dorms and many friends and family visits. Our budget was more of a, “find the cheapest option available and go from there” budget. For each country we worked out what we thought a daily livable amount would be, factoring in: accommodation, food and transportation costs. From there, any extra money could be used for experiences like a walking tour, bike hire, or a cheeky drink out. I’m very proud of our budgeting; we returned home with $500! What was the destination highlight? There were SO MANY, but for our readers’ sake, I’ll give you the top five. • Seeing the Northern Lights in Iceland. • Spending a snowy weekend in a tiny Austrian town named, Scharnitz with one of our best mates, Mel. • Visiting the Lakes District in England and doing a hike that took us along the tops of
mountains and the valleys below, with a ridiculous amount of wintery colours surrounding us. • Prague. Hands down the most underrated place we visited in Europe. • Spending Christmas in Innsbruck with three of our mates and getting to hit the slopes on Christmas Day in the most perfect conditions imaginable. Was there anywhere you want to go back to and spend more time? One hundred per cent would go back to Austria. We were so lucky we had the opportunity to visit three very different places in Austria, each of which had their own unique charm and feel. Where to next for you both? Oh gosh, we have so many places we still want to travel to: Madagascar, Africa, French Polynesia, Spain, Croatia … I think next up will be somewhere on our side of the globe, where we can do a live-aboard scuba diving trip. If anyone has any recommendations, we’d love to hear them! Thanks Shannon. Greater Port Macquarie focus 53
focushealth
Health Wellbeing and
F UNC T ION A L
Benefits of Orthodontics
You might be forgiven for imagining that orthodontics is a cosmetic treatment. Indeed, improving the aesthetics of a person’s smile is one of the primary benefits and motivations of orthodontic treatment; however, millions of people worldwide use orthodontic treatments to straighten their teeth for the health benefits, which range from practical, functional, and structural, to long term improvement in their overall health. Bite Correction: A “bad bite” means that the jaws are not perfectly aligned - so upper and lower teeth won’t meet properly when closed. A poor bite can lead to a range of long-term problems, such as headaches, difficulty eating or even speech. It can cause uneven wear on the teeth and cause erosion problems. Correcting a bad bite leads to a generally healthier mouth for the patient and better long-term dental health outcomes. Resolving Overcrowding: Some patients struggle with the size and number of teeth within a relatively small mouth. This can be uncomfortable and can force teeth out of line. The best course of action is often to remove a number of teeth and realign them into a wellproportioned smile-line, which looks and feels better for the patient. Crowding can also make it difficult to keep your teeth clean and cause the formation of periodontal pockets that lead to gum disease. Impacted Teeth: Impacted teeth are those that do not have sufficient space to erupt properly. Orthodontics is used to create space to allow the tooth through and then ensure that it achieves a suitable position within the context of the other teeth. Gaps: Sometimes teeth naturally grow leaving gaps, and this can displace the load on other 54 Greater Port Macquarie focus
teeth and cause long-term problems such as cracked teeth. Orthodontic braces can be used to close gaps between the teeth for an even smile line and to create an even load on the jaw and the teeth. Jaw Realignment: Orthodontics can be helpful in realigning the jaw, the bite and the alignment of the teeth. Fully functional teeth need to be in alignment to work properly and jaw alignment has a skeletal and functional health impacts. Rotated/Misaligned Teeth: Many people have one or more teeth that are rotated, twisted or out of line. Orthodontics can address this and in some cases, results are surprisingly quick. Mouth Health: Straighter teeth can also reduce the risk of swollen gums, redness and periodontal pocketing and reduce the risk of gum disease, which can all be caused by widely spaced or over-crowded teeth. It can also remove “food traps” created by misaligned teeth or gaps, which increase the risk of dental decay. This improves the general health of your mouth, as well as improving your overall health. For more information about your dental health, book a consultation with the caring team at Sundial Dental Port Macquarie 6583 3533, or visit us at www.sundialdental.com.au
EXFOLIATE / NOURISH / HYDRATE / HEAL
Nudie Rudie Skin is a luxe range of natural, hand designed skincare products enriched with natural, organic ingredients and essentials oils. There’s a lot of scrubs out there, this month we take a look at locally made and owned NUDIE RUDIE… All of our products are specifically formulated to alleviate the appearance of cellulite, fade scaring, skin pigmentation, dark spots, stretch marks and heal skin disorders such as acne, pimples, eczema, psoriasis and dry, itchy, flaky skin. Why Nudie Rudie? All of our products are handmade with organic ingredients and essential oils. Nudie Rudie use only the highest of quality ingredients in all of our products. How do I get nude and rude with Nudie Rudie Scrub? Strip down and get wet. Take small spoonfuls at a time, massage in a circular motion and focus on problem areas.
weekly beauty ritual. Can I use Nudie Rude on my fake tan? Nudie Rudie is perfect at preparing your skin for your next fake tan. Nudie Rudie will nourish, hydrate and replenish your skin, giving you a perfect base for a flawless tan. And ... Did you know? Nudie Rudie's Cheeky Citrus body scrub is specifically formulated for the removal of fake tan? Will Nudie Rudie stain my skin? Nudie Rudie isn't as rude as you think. Our body scrubs are rude enough to leave a mess in your shower, bathtub or bathroom, but never rude enough to stain your skin. Our body scrubs will also leave your tattoos intact and glowing.
Can I use Nudie Rudie on my face? You sure can! Gently rub in a circular motion. Leave on for approximately 5 - 10 minutes, and then rinse.
Is it safe to use while pregnant? Nudie Rudie is 100% natural and chemical free; however, we recommend consulting your GP prior to use.
How often should I get nude and rude? For maximum results we recommend getting nude and rude with Nudie Rudie at a minimum of twice a week. Make Nudie Rudie a part of your
Jump online, visit our website or facebook page to find out more about our Nudie Rudie Skin Care Range. www.nudierudieskin.com
focusinterview.
Ella Heeney
Local MacKillop student Ella Heeney competed in the 2018 International School Sport Federation (ISF) WORLD SCHOOL CHAMPIONSHIP (WSC) CROSS COUNTRY IN PARIS A FEW MONTHS AGO - and came away with the win! For those who watched the race, it was a nail-biter - there was only one second between first and second place.
E
lla wishes to thank a few people who helped her with this amazing achievement - and she’s also thinking ahead to what she’d like to achieve in the future … Hi Ella. You're originally from Tamworth, I believe? What brought you to Port Macquarie - and how long have you been a local? We moved to Port about three years ago. My family has always wanted to make the move, so when a business opportunity came up - we took it. I’m definitely glad we did; I love it here! Tell us a little about yourself, your family, and your interests... I’ve got a brother and sister - Will’s 12 and Soph just turned 21. Mum and Dad own Port Jet, which is pretty cool. I’m currently completing Year 12 at MacKillop college this year. Of all the sports you've been involved with throughout your life, what was it about running that most attracted you? Coming from a sporty family, I grew up playing pretty much every sport possible, so have always loved being active for as long as I can remember. But when I hit probably about 14, I had to make the decision on what sport I wanted to have a real crack at and decided running was what I was best at and loved the most - so I stuck at it. You competed in the World School Cross Country Championships in Paris on 4th April this year. What were your feelings when you knew you'd been selected for this race - and how did you qualify? Selections happened out of School Nationals, which were held in Hobart late last year. I actually originally
I knew that I couldn’t get too caught up in the early stages of the race and had to work my way into it. As I was
was first reserve for the Australian mud on top! It definitely was a team going to Paris, so was very different course to anything absolutely over the moon when I I’ve ran before. moving up the field got the call up! What was the overall during the second lap, And ... what a run you had experience in Paris like for you I decided to try and in Paris! Tell us about your - did you get much downtime, break away, as I was amazing victory ... what was or was most of each day taken feeling pretty good! your time, and how close was up with training? the competition? We had a training camp the The race was pretty exciting! It week before in London, which wasn’t a bad place to run either was crazy cold! But we got a fair bit of time in Paris and … it made it a heap easier looking up at the Eiffel Tower London to sight see and do some tours and shopping, as whilst running! well as training! It was an awesome experience seeing It was a pretty close run; I knew that I couldn’t get different parts of the world. too caught up in the early stages of the race and had to You've had to overcome some injuries to get work my way into it. As I was moving up the field during where you are today. That takes some grit - so too the second lap, I decided to try and break away, as I was does winning a race with so little margin! Who are feeling pretty good! the people that have been instrumental in helping The Moroccan girl [Meryeme Azrour] came with me, you along the way? and we swapped the lead a few times and came down Yeah, I definitely have quite a few people to thank! to a sprint finish in the home straight! I just managed Leah from Phyx You Physiotherapy; my coaches, Gary to take the win in the final few steps and ended up Howard and Ben St Lawrence from Run Crew; and my winning by one second. parents! I actually went into the race thinking I would be I went into Nationals with an injury and pretty much stoked if I got into the top 20, so I was surprised and couldn’t run at all after Nationals, and Leah from Phyx over the moon to come away with the win! You worked hard with me in my rehab to get me back What was the course at the event like? How far healthy and strong again. did you have to run - and how much of a challenge What's next for Ella Heeney? What are your future was it? goals/plans? The race was about 4.3 km; it was a pretty flat course, I have had lots of US college offers for track and field, right under the Eiffel Tower! They actually had to add but I’m planning on having a gap year next year to train in two little dirt mounds to add in a little cross country and see what I can do with my running. factor to the race! Thanks Ella. Good luck for the future! It did rain pretty much all of the night leading up to the race though, so the course had a layer of slippery Interview: Jo Robinson. Greater Port Macquarie focus 55
focusinterview.
Chris
O’Brien L I F E H O U S E
The Chris O’Brien Lifehouse is the vision of a very special man - CHRIS O’BRIEN, WHO INSPIRED PEOPLE THROUGH HIS WORK AS A CANCER SPECIALIST AND HIS OWN BATTLE with an aggressive brain tumour.
C
hris’ legacy lives on in the Lifehouse … a not-for-profit centre that provides state of the art research and treatment options for cancer sufferers. Meet Associate Professor Carsten Palme and local cancer patient Elaine Madden, who share how the Lifehouse is benefiting people all around NSW … ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR CARSTEN PALME LIFEHOUSE What’s your role with the Chris O'Brien Lifehouse? I’m a consultant surgeon and director of head and neck surgery at Chris O’Brien Lifehouse cancer hospital. Patients are usually referred to me with either a diagnosis of head and neck cancer or a problem such as a persistent sore throat, change in voice or a neck lump. I’ll assess the patient by taking a thorough history and perform a clinical examination. I’ll regularly perform tests such as biopsies and order imaging studies such as CT scans, MRI or PET scans. Patients with complex head and neck cancers will be discussed at our weekly multidisciplinary team meeting and often managed with both surgery and/or chemoradiotherapy. I always work as part of a team of other surgeons, medical and radiation oncologists, speech therapists and clinical nurse specialists, in order to develop the best personalised and evidencebased management plan for each individual patient. My role is to routinely perform surgery, including using the latest minimally invasive and keyhole techniques, in order to successfully remove a patient’s head and neck tumour. After the completion of treatment, I will follow up my patients personally for a period of up to five years. I’ll see my patients both at Chris O’Brien Lifehouse in Sydney or closer to home in our satellite clinics in Port Macquarie, Orange and Nowra. How did you become involved with Lifehouse? 56 Greater Port Macquarie focus
I have been a consultant head and neck surgeon for nearly 20 years and was lucky enough to know Professor O’Brien personally. I had the great fortune of benefiting from his teachings and expertise throughout my training. I took a position at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital six years ago and transitioned to Lifehouse when it opened in 2015. In 2016 I was appointed the Director of the Head and Neck Department. What do you feel are the advantages for cancer patients who have access to the Chris O'Brien Lifehouse? Chris O’Brien Lifehouse is a comprehensive cancer centre, where a patient’s cancer care comes first and is the sole priority, and doesn’t compete with other specialties. The clear advantage for head and neck cancer patients treated by Chris O’Brien Lifehouse is that they are treated in a prompt, personalised and evidence-based way by a highly experienced multidisciplinary team of doctors, nurses and allied health professionals. In addition, we work very closely and in parallel with the local medical experts and healthcare infrastructure, in order to provide the best care possible for our patients. Head and neck cancer is incredibly complex and diverse and includes more than 10 different types of cancer. There is a high concentration of vital nerves and vessels in the head and neck region, meaning that surgery is often complicated and challenging. Treatment can affect speech and swallowing, and the lasting traces are very visible compared to other types of cancer. Having a concentration of cancer experts enables us to treat the most challenging and difficult cancers that no one else can. A recent report from the NSW Cancer Institute has confirmed that Chris O’Brien Lifehouse treats by far the most numbers of complex head and neck cancer patients when compared with any other major public or private hospital in NSW. The result of this has been that our patients enjoy a better outcome in terms of preservation
The aim of our regional clinics is for all patients with head and neck cancers to be
of function and survival My oncologist in Port able to promptly access when compared with the Macquarie, Dr Jacques the best level of care state average. Hill, arranged for me to and enjoy the benefits What are your see Professor Carsten from our multidisciplinary hopes and goals for Palme and his team at the team approach. the future of the Chris O’Brien Lifehouse. Lifehouse? Professor Palme and My vision for Chris his team operated on O’Brien Lifehouse me in 2017 in Sydney is to become a it was about a 10 - 11 recognised centre of excellence and leader in hour operation. The whole team, including the the management, education, research and anaethetist, Murray, was absolutely marvellous. prevention of head and neck cancer. When the Chris O'Brien Lifehouse The aim of our regional clinics is for all established a regional head and neck clinic patients with head and neck cancers to be able in Port Macquarie, what did this mean for to promptly access the best level of care and you? enjoy the benefits from our multidisciplinary It’s wonderful … we don’t have to travel to team approach. Sydney once a month to see Professor Palme. We hope to be able to inform both the It means the world! I’m fortunate that my general public, patients and medical community husband can still drive, and I have people in of our service and offer our expertise. Sydney I can stay with, but for most elderly We would hope that the community people it wouldn’t be so easy; they wouldn’t be recognises the need and value of our expert able to afford the trips to Sydney. head and neck cancer service and encourages If people can receive a diagnosis and follow our local and state governments to support us up treatment in Port Macquarie and not have to in the future. travel to the city, I really feel like half their battle Thanks Professor Palme. has been won. ELAINE MADDEN How are you these days? 76 YEAR OLD CANCER PATIENT I’m doing well. The cancer is gone; I’ve What's your background in the Greater Port had scans, and there’s no sign of it - which is Macquarie area? wonderful. I have a little bit of damage to my My husband and I live halfway between Taree jaw bone - possibly because of the radiation, and Port Macquarie. We’ve lived here for 40 and Professor Palme is assessing this situation years; we moved from Rouse Hill in Sydney. now. Tell us about your cancer journey ... I can honestly say if it wasn’t for Lifehouse, I went to the dentist because of a bleeding Professor Palme and his team, I wouldn’t be gum; the dentist then sent me for a biopsy, here today. I’m so grateful they took the chance which came back to show I had tongue cancer to operate on me; I can’t speak highly enough this was in April 2016. of them. This led to a few trips down to Newcastle. I Thanks Elaine. had quite a few tests down there, but because Interviews: Jo Robinson. I only have 30 per cent lung function (due to For more info about the Chris O’Brien emphysema) I was deemed inoperable. The Lifehouse, visit www.mylifehouse.org.au option was to have radiation treatment - and Port Macquarie Head and Neck Clinic Ph: (02) 8514 0432; it worked for about six months, but the cancer Email: headandneck@lh.org.au came back.
Weight & Cellulite Reduction Clinic Now Open
Linda Jane Weddings
Weight & Cellulite Reduction
Congratulations! You are getting married!
The fat and cellulite reduction machine has a multi function skin contouring system and has a remedial effect on: * Reducing weight and cellulite * Tightening the skin * Promoting lymphatic drainage * Proliferating collagen * Increasing elasticity * Improving the stretch marks of pregnancy
Let me introduce myself … My name is Linda Jane Kelly. I graduated from the Academy of Celebrancy Australia in 2011 and began helping couples design and create fairytale weddings filled with fun and precious memories. I love performing weddings and have an extensive range of resources to help guide and support couples as they select readings, vows and rituals. Wedding rehearsals are very important; it’s a great casual way for all the bridal party and parents to meet. I have my own battery operated PA system, and I love to travel. It is my responsibility to ensure that all the legal paperwork is lodged with Births Deaths and Marriages. You don’t need to worry about a thing! Being a celebrant allows me to explore and discover beautiful wedding venues like wineries, beaches, secret gardens and beautiful old buildings. I have even performed a wedding at the zoo.
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Greater Port Macquarie focus 57
E X P E R I E N C E
the
By Sonia Wei Boptom(Hons) BSc & Derek Fails BSc(Hons) Optometry, MC Optom, CertOcTher
Tired of wearing glasses? Have you considered trying contact lenses? Contact lenses are a comfortable and convenient alternative to glasses. The best contact lenses only cost about a dollar or two a day, so they really are an affordable option to complement your glasses. Most people don’t realise that they could be a suitable candidate for contact lenses and haven’t considered the extent to which contacts could greatly improve their quality of life by giving them some freedom from their glasses for style, sport, surfing and various other activities that they enjoy. There are many different types of contact lenses on the market, so the best approach to determine the most suitable type for you and your individual needs is to discuss it with an Optometrist and have them prescribe the best contacts for you. The most common type of contact lenses are disposable lenses, which are available to correct a wide array of focusing problems; such as short-sightedness, long-sightedness and
astigmatism (where the eye is "shaped like a football") and presbyopia (focusing issues that start after 40). Bifocal and multifocal contact lenses are designed to give visual freedom to those over 40, allowing them to read up close as well as focus on details in the distance without eyestrain and without glasses. Not only can contact lenses be used to correct your vision, but they can also be used therapeutically to help manage some ocular surface problems or distortions. There are even contact lenses that may slow down the worsening of short-sightedness (myopia) in teenagers. These fall into two groups: soft myopia-management lenses, and hard Ortho Keratology lenses, which have
experienced rapid growth in popularity in recent years. The new designs and technology of these lenses enable them to be worn overnight to correct your eyesight while you sleep. A wealth of research has been invested into modern contact lenses to make them as comfortable as possible, to the extent that patients now experience contacts that don’t even feel as though there is anything there. Contact lens technology has improved at the same rate as mobile phone technology. So even if you've had an unsuccessful experience with contact lenses in the past, it might be worth revisiting them now with your local Optometrist. At George & Matilda Eyecare, a contact lens consultation can be conducted with or after a
general eye examination. We assess if you're a suitable candidate for contact lenses according to your prescription, as well as your work and leisure needs. We then tailor a contact lens solution that is just right for you and your eye health. We'll teach you how to insert and remove the lenses, as well as provide instructions on care and maintenance for your eyes and contact lenses. We always ensure that you're comfortable and confident with your contact lenses and how to take care of them when you take them home. Contact George & Matilda Eyecare to book in a contact lens consultation today and discover a new world free of the limitations of glasses.
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58 Greater Port Macquarie focus
PORT MACQUARIE 29 Horton St. Ph 02 6584 3948 georgeandmatilda.com.au
with Clairvoyant Terri Hall Phone. 0424 818 343
July 2018
AQUARIUS.
GEMINI.
LIBRA.
JANUARY 21 - FEBRUARY 19
MAY 22 - JUNE 22
SEPTEMBER 24 - OCTOBER 23
The challenges you are facing at home stem from not being appreciated or honoured. It is time you try something new to break the dynamics and reeducate those surrounding you to be a little less selfish and more considerate of your needs. A journey is a strong possibility, resulting in further career success. Rose Quartz is wonderful for selfconfidence and appreciation.
Relationships are likely to be on the main agenda this month. Be open with your communication to avoid any misunderstanding and know which insecurities belong to you and which ones don’t. Kyanite helps build inner bridges, so we can literally get over things.
With regards to relationships, instead of looking at what you’re not getting, concentrate on all the special qualities of this relationship. You will feel completely different. Chrysocolla will keep your heart singing.
PISCES.
CANCER.
SCORPIO.
FEBRUARY 20 - MARCH 20
JUNE 23 - JULY 23
OCTOBER 24 - NOVEMBER 22
You may be feeling a little “up-rooted” lately, but don’t forget how badly you wished for change to come into the picture. The reason you may be feeling this way is because your outcome is not quite here yet. Try a little new goal setting, as this will assist in a happier outlook. Ruby or Garnet will help you feel grounded, taking away some of the dilemma.
Don’t get caught up in holding on to garbage or things that are not a priority; this takes your confidence out of the picture, leaving you wondering where to go next. Set some fresh goals and enjoy! Selenite is great for an abundance of crystal clear energy.
Life may seem a little suspended at the moment, because you need to let go of something from the immediate past that has been exhausting you and causing sadness. Don’t be afraid to try something different. Your awareness is being called to recognise your creativity, because it’s through this talent you will be drawing success near. Turquoise is great for self-validation.
ARIES.
LEO.
SAGITTARIUS.
MARCH 21 - APRIL 20
JULY 24 - AUGUST 23
NOVEMBER 23 - DECEMBER 21
Be patient a little longer; you’re about to step into some happier times, but your attitude is critical. If you can step into the unknown fearless, there will be nothing to worry about. Moldavite brings forward change and higher personal qualities.
This month your awareness is being called toward your usual happy way of processing life. The reason why you are so fearful at present is because you are currently taking life far too seriously. Lighten up and bring back your laughter, and watch your fears disappear. Pyrite will bring back courage.
Now is a really good time to debate your own rules and regulations for life. Your judgement prohibits you from enjoying life to its fullest, so be kinder to yourself. Plan a holiday for yourself and get out of your current circumstance to try a little new goal setting. Citrine will shatter negative thoughts and attract an abundance of positive ones.
TAURUS.
VIRGO.
CAPRICORN.
APRIL 21 - MAY 21
AUGUST 24 - SEPTEMBER 23
DECEMBER 22 - JANUARY 20
A sense of justice will be experienced to enable you the freedom to move ahead. Avoid giving your personal power away at this time, as this is an action that causes self-disapproval. Rose Quartz will aid in raising self-worth.
Adventure a little longer. If you’re feeling stuck, write some goals down and plan a course of action. Movement is important for dispersing some of your restless energy right now, so keep busy and keep having fun. Carnelian will empower and enthuse.
Important words need to be spoken to bring a happy outcome to a potential negative situation. Don’t be afraid to speak from the heart, as your intention will be felt. Enjoy some laughter, as celebration is on its way for a family member. Citrine keeps us positively focused and lifts our spirit.
Greater Port Macquarie focus 59
F O C U S
F E A T U R E
Health support & care
Omnicare Alliance
Hastings Headway joins Omnicare.
I
ndependence, identity and community connections are three major priorities for many Omnicare Alliance clients with disability.
We're committed to supporting those aspects of clients’ lives. Focusing on their individual abilities, interests and skills is the starting point for us in promoting and developing a strong sense of independence for clients. Omnicare staff and volunteers define clients by what they can do and what they want to achieve, not by their disability. We recognise belonging and contributing to one's community help to build a clear sense of purpose. These principles help us shape how we deliver our services and programs. Our disability support services prioritise the individual, ensuring they are at the centre
of all planning and decision making, with the support of their family, friends, carers and advocates. By focusing on what clients want to achieve, Omnicare offers support to maximise their fulfilment of what life has to offer. We offer tailored programs to ensure clients receive a service that suits them and their goals - whether they want support to enjoy activities they love, or to explore new interests and challenges. Clients remain in charge, with our experienced support staff ready and willing to provide any guidance they would like. We provide support for daily living through: • assistance at home • social and community participation • group programs • support coordination • home modifications and maintenance
• help to understand the NDIS and develop an NDIS plan
Joining the Omnicare Alliance is a logical
Hastings Headway enters a new era with a new dawn for clients and staff. The long-established provider of services to people with acquired brain injury joined the Omnicare Alliance fold on July 1. Hastings Headway clients typically have been affected by serious accidents, strokes, or heart attacks. Formed in 1995 by members of a carer support group, it has grown to become a dedicated centre and support service for people between the ages of 18 and 64 years living with brain injury to access community and living skills programs.
not-for-profit service providers that aim to
progression for Hastings Headway. Both are build community connections and to assist clients to live independently in their own homes. Hastings Headway brings to the table 23 years of expertise and experience in providing specialised support to people living with acquired brain injury. Omnicare’s size and structure allows Hastings Headway clients and loved ones to benefit from the increased opportunities this merger provides.
Your lifestyle. Your choices. Our support.
omnicare.org.au/disability OMNICARE ALLIANCE LTD INCORPORATING:
For advice and support call
1300 336 488
60 Greater Port Macquarie focus
nursing agency
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62 Greater Port Macquarie focus
F O C U S
F E A T U R E
Health support & care
John Cooke from Manning Support Services
Can you please introduce yourself and your role at MSS to our readers? My name is John Cooke, and I was recently appointed to the Manager position of the MSS Port Macquarie team. I moved to Australia in 2003 and reside in Laurieton with my wife and four school aged children. Outside of work I enjoy spending time with my family and volunteering in my community. What do you find the most interesting about your role, and what previous experience have you had in the industry? I joined MSS with over 10 years’ management experience in residential aged care. I look forward to bringing my skills and passion to care for others into the home care sector, so those who want to remain living independently are able to do so with the help of MSS and our dedicated care team. I am extremely passionate about serving others and find the diversity of services and people keeps my role interesting and constantly changing. No day is the same, because no client is the same, and our goal is to listen to the client and provide them with the services required to meet their needs. I have found it very rewarding to
join a team that is committed to customer service with a vision to help our communities become resilient and self-sustaining. At MSS we strive to make everyone feel connected and empowered to achieve their full potential, and I am just extremely excited to be a part of a team that is dedicated to helping those in our community remain independent in their homes. For those who aren’t familiar with the company, what does MSS stand for, and what’s the business all about? Manning Support Services Inc. (MSS) is a not-for-profit community based organisation that has been dedicated to enhancing the quality of people’s lives by providing services which enable people to live with dignity and respect for over 30 years. MSS provides a variety of quality aged care services to elderly community members, to assist them to continue living independently and safely in their own home. The services are delivered either through the Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) or via a Home Care Package (HCP). The services MSS can provide include: • Domestic Assistance • Home and Garden Maintenance • Home Delivered Meals
• Personal Care • Social Support - individual or group based outings, assistance with shopping • Respite Care - in home, community or center based • Transport In addition to our quality aged care services, MSS runs an accredited No Interest Loan Scheme (NILS) program. NILS is a safe and affordable credit alternative which offers a respectful assessment process, to enable people living on low incomes the opportunity to purchase significant or essential new household items, or a service, that improves their quality of life or enhances social and economic participation. These loans are provided with: • 0% interest • No fees or charges • Maximum loan amount of up to $1,500.00 (depending on the capacity to repay) • Quick approval and turn around How can our readers who would like to find out more information about your services get in touch with MSS? Drop in to see us at 2/11 Clifton Drive, PMQ or give us a call at (02) 6584 5295. We can also be reached electronically at john@mssinc.org.au or http://mssinc.org.au/
Greater Port Macquarie focus 63
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Greater Port Macquarie focus 65
focusinterview.
Khym
Nepal is a world away in terms of both physical distance and lifestyle from the day-to-day running of a beauty salon in Port Macquarie … Khym Mountain, co-owner of Serenity Makeup and Beauty in Murray Street, has a passion for helping others. Her work with International Mission Ministries has changed the way she sees the world, and she’s determined to help in whatever way she can …
Mountain
H
i Khym. Please introduce yourself and your family. I’m married to Troy; we have four daughters and two grandchildren. Life is busy, but the best kind of busy! I’m very blessed to be able to fill my days working in an industry I love and to be surrounded by family and friends. I moved to Port Macquarie with my parents and three brothers in 1987. My parents started Port Patios and are now retired, my brothers started Holiday Coast Patios and now Mark owns Flynns Beach Laundromat and Matthew owns Studio 3 Espresso, next door to my beauty salon. What’s your day job? My daughter, Amber, and I own Serenity Makeup and Beauty in Murray Street; we’ve had the salon for four years. We absolutely love what we do. We offer everything in beauty, from massage and facials to acrylic nails and pedicures. Why are you passionate about helping others? I have always been compassionate and empathetic, and I think travelling to countries where people are not as fortunate as us definitely got me thinking there has to be more I can do. I made some contacts in Thailand and after a couple of trips last year, I realised that teens and young adults really are at such risk; with a lack of education and skills for employment, these kids have limited futures. I have plans to help facilitate such education and skills through scholarships, which will also be delivered with practical guidance to see them into adulthood. Also locally I would like to connect with youth and young adults who may be in need of some guidance/mentoring to change their current situation. I have some more planning to do, but when that is up and running I will give you an 66 Greater Port Macquarie focus
update! Recently you went to I will never forget the look in Nepal; how did that a little boy’s eyes as he sat in come about ? front of me, knowing that After a conversation he was not going to go about my thoughts for back home to see his mother helping youth overseas and siblings again ... with Ross Nancarrow, who is the founder of International Mission Ministries (IMM), I was view children who needed to be placed in homes fortunate enough to be invited on a trip to Nepal that are supported by IMM. to work alongside both Ross and Janelle, who It was definitely not a sunbathing, cocktail handles all the administration for IMM. Janelle drinking holiday break from work; it was heart and Ross have spent many years involved in miswrenching to see the desperation in the eyes of a sionary work and have massive hearts for Nepal. mother wanting to hand her children over to you, It was an amazing trip; the work that IMM is because her husband had died and she had no doing in Nepal is truly making a difference to the job, no food, no money, no options but to give Nepali people. her children up. Tell us more about IMM. I will never forget the look in a little boy’s eyes IMM exists to facilitate education and support as he sat in front of me, knowing that he was not for people disadvantaged by isolation, poverty going to go back home to see his mother and and limited life choices. As a Christian based siblings again, because being handed over to this group, we facilitate training and education for children’s home was his better option … his dry community leaders, funding for community little hand in mine, as I tried to console him, tore health and clean water projects, churches and my heart out. This feeling will push me forward sponsorships for children who are genuinely to try to bring hope to as many as I can. orphaned or abandoned and “at risk” of being IMM is offering hope, supporting 80 - 100 trafficked into slavery or prostitution. children across Nepal. Ross personally delivers any IMM’s current focus is in Nepal, where we are money from supporters to the homes, which is partnering with community workers and a numreassuring for anybody wanting to support IMM ber of children’s community homes to provide in its mission to change the future of these young safety and protection for children and life options children. for people in isolated communities. On returning home and attempting to connect Describe your personal experience in Nepal. my experiences and my heartache for the people To me, Nepal was beautiful, decrepit, dry, specin Nepal or Thailand, or wherever on this Earth tacular, sad and breathtaking, all wrapped up in life does not feel just or humane, I realised one one. It really is another world! We travelled from thing. We have become way too immune to the Kathmandu to Dhangadhi in the far west; we story, the images, the reality that some people were there to visit children’s homes and to inter-
are living, whether it be in our neighbourhood or across the water, and if we can love just one person, make their life better and give them hope - we should. Who’s the young boy you’ve sponsored? Aashish is 11 years old. His father died eight years ago, when Aashish was just three. He was killed in a Maoist uprising, fighting for freedom for the Nepali people (over 17,000 people lost their lives). Since his death, Aashish’s mother, Sharati, has struggled to take care of Aashish and his two sisters. There are no family members to help them. They live in a small wooden house, and Sharati finds work labouring on the roads carrying rocks and stones, or working in people’s fields. Sponsoring Aashish enables him to receive a good education and provides him with greater opportunities for the future. How can readers assist IMM in Nepal? Readers can assist IMM through contributions and sponsorships of our programmes. Current community programmes include a sewing education programme for impoverished women and resourcing a very poor school in Far West Nepal. We are also involved in delivering women’s health education via the “Days for Girls” programme in Nepal. Visit: imm.org.au Thanks Khym. Interview: Jo Robinson.
EDUCAIION TRAINING F O C U S
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L-R Jonathan Kosmeier, Harry Webb, Mitchell Hardie, Chris Palin, Alex McGee, Marie van Gend, Jordan Magnus-McCarthy, James Sutherland, Thomas Stanley, Brandon Green, Emily Reynolds and Greg Mitchell.
EDUCAIION TRAINING F O C U S
Ivy Moore
F E A T U R E
Carnegie Country to
A group of very excited teens from St Columba Anglican School are busy preparing for the trip of a lifetime this November! Marie van Gend, Vocal Coordinator K-12 at SCAS, shares the story of how our talented country kids were chosen to travel to New York to perform as part of a massed choir at Carnegie Hall …
H
ow long has the Chamber Choir of St Columba Anglican School been performing together? The choir started ten years ago, when a group of students in the Senior Choir asked to start working on more challenging classical music. At that stage there were 12 members. Since then, it has become the most accomplished vocal group in the school, with a rigorous and competitive audition process. How often does everyone get together to practice? We meet weekly for an hour before school. It is a big ask to get teenagers out of bed and at rehearsal by 7:45am! Once the music arrives, we will add extra non-compulsory sessions during the week to support them with their learning. How many students are in the choir, and what is the average age of members? The choir has grown to 38 members, ranging from 13 to 18 years old. There are 22 girls and 16 boys, which is a nice balance for adolescent voices. It’s a lovely story how the choir was invited to perform at Carnegie Hall in New York on November 11, 2018. Can you fill us in on how this opportunity came about? Two years ago we sang one of Paul Mealor’s works: Locus Iste. I got a parent to video our 68 Greater Port Macquarie focus
performance in the Glasshouse and put it on to YouTube, so the kids could hear their work. Last December I got an email from a person called Maggie, who said she had seen the video and was wondering if I’d like to bring the choir to sing in Carnegie Hall. I thought that it was a joke, of course, and deleted the email! Luckily, Maggie was persistent and contacted me again. I looked into the organising group, DCINY, and realised that this was actually for real! They phoned me to explain exactly how it was all going to work, and used the video as our audition tape. The committee accepted us, so I got permission from the school to go ahead and announced it to the kids the next night. Their reaction was one of the most priceless things I have ever seen. The concert in New York will involve performing composer Paul Mealor’s Requiem. The school has yet to receive the sheet music - but what do you know about this piece? How challenging will it be to perform? Paul Mealor’s work is incredibly difficult, and he makes no apology for it. I met him a couple of weeks ago in Auckland and had the chance to get some insight into the music. No one has seen it yet, other than the publishers, and we will be the first choir in the world to actually lay eyes on it! It will be ten movements, with the classic Requiem texts in Latin and four specially commissioned poems in English. It is about the beauty of sacrifice,
Hayley Whitworth
and there is a reason why it is being premiered on 11 November, as it is the 100 year anniversary of Armistice Day. Paul’s music is something you live in, rather than listen to. It is rich, complex and very emotional. His goal is to take his audience to a place outside themselves. As a singer it is a huge challenge, as there are up to nine parts, often with very tight and complex harmonies. It’s the Everest of contemporary choral music, in many ways. We will be singing with a massed choir of 200 - 300 voices, plus a full symphony orchestra. The students in our Chamber Choir are just ordinary kids. Many of them have no formal music training, and fewer than a third have any vocal training other than singing in our choirs. This is going to be one of the hardest things they will ever do, but the satisfaction will be equally great. Choristers from all around the world will perform in New York. How special is it for students to be chosen to be a part of this experience? This is life changing. To sing a work written and conducted by one of the world’s great living composers in the greatest performance space in the world is about as good as it gets for anyone who loves music, let alone a teenager from Port Macquarie! It will be an enormous challenge, but they will rise to it because they are remarkable young people. At this stage I understand we are
the only teenage choir; the rest will be adults. No doubt travelling to New York to be a part of this massed choir will be an expensive proposition. Are there any fundraisers planned to help support students, or is there any other way the general public can assist? We have been generously supported by the school, so have been able to ensure that any student who wishes to go on this tour is able to do so. The students have been working individually to raise money, but we are not running any specific fundraising events. We have received sponsorship from Port Macquarie Orthodontics for our team shirts and are always glad to hear from organisations or individuals who are interested in supporting our Music Scholarship fund, as that is how talented students from less well-off families have been supported. Where can we follow the students’ journeys? It’s funny that you mention it. We’re actually in the process of producing a short documentary on the journey of our choir, entitled, Country to Carnegie. The documentary is being filmed in several short episodes, which we will release throughout the year on our SCAS Facebook page, so the whole Port Macquarie-Hastings community can be a part of our journey to New York. It’s all very exciting! Thanks Marie. Interview: Jo Robinson.
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Port Macquarie
F E A T U R E
EDUCAIION TRAINING F O C U S
F E A T U R E
Orthodontics
FOCUS catches up with Gabi and Courtney from Port Macquarie Orthodontics about their recent achievements. Tell us about how Port Macquarie
Courtney: Having the opportunity to grow
Orthodontics has facilitated your training
and learn new skills on the job makes me feel
while studying, and contributed to your
like I’m achieving something each day I come
invaluable experience gained working in
to work. The new practice in Port Macquarie
the field?
has made it so much easier to cater for our
Courtney: I’ve always had very supportive
busiest days and I
workplaces in terms of training, but there
love the awesome
have been a lot more specialist technical skills
living Green Wall in
involved here. It has been great to have such
reception.
a supportive, professional team to learn from
Gabi: I most enjoy
who are always willing to help me.
working with
Gabi: Port Macquarie Orthodontics has
such a vibrant and
provided me with first hand experience
friendly team. Since
working in a dental practice. With this
moving into the
experience and ongoing support during my
new practice I have
Cert III, I was able to complete it with ease.
been able to further
What do you enjoy the most about
my interpersonal
working at Port Macquarie Orthodontics,
skills at open nights, communicating with
and how have the recent refurbishments
both doctors and patients.
contributed to the your learning?
What draws you to the profession of
HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO GROW AND LEARN NEW SKILLS ON THE JOB MAKES ME FEEL LIKE I’M ACHIEVING SOMETHING EACH DAY I COME TO WORK.
Orthodontics? Courtney: Seeing the impact it has on our patients - coming in the first time shy and then leaving with a totally new outlook after their treatment. In orthodontics we also see a wide variety of patients, so no two days are the same.
Where do you see yourselves career-
Gabi: I like to see how patients become more confident with their new smiles.
Oral Health Therapist.
wise in the next five years? Courtney: My next step is gaining a Cert IV in Dental Assisting, and I look forward to taking on a more senior role of training and mentoring new trainees in the future. Gabi: I see myself furthering my study in dentistry and orthodontics as a dental assistant and then studying to become an Thanks Gabi and Courtney.
Greater Port Macquarie focus 69
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F E A T U R E
Senior COLLEGE.
Nautilus Senior College is no ordinary school; it is the newest kid on the region’s educational block for Years 9 and 10. It’s an innovative concept based on the kind of model of individualised approach that’s been steadily redefining the way educationists view learning.
F
alling under the auspices of experienced community-based education provider Port Macquarie Community College, Nautilus is an accredited independent special assistance school that ticks all the boxes for students to complete the Record of School Achievement (RoSA), or a Transcript of Study to finalise Year 10, but it’s anything but an exercise in bureaucratic box-ticking. Nautilus is modelled on the Alesco style schooling - which in Latin means “learning through growth” - and aims to provide opportunities for young people in Years 9 - 10 who are unable to find success in traditional, mainstream schooling. What makes the school different? Principal Valerieanne Byrnes - There are many young people for whom the institutional environment of mainstream education isn’t ideal for a number of reasons - what we offer is the opportunity for these students to learn and grow in a smaller, more informal and supportive learning environment, rather than dropping out or not reaching their full potential. The concept came about because of an identified need in the community. The number of students being suspended, expelled, withdrawn or not completing Year 10 is not decreasing. There’s a whole group of students out there, young people who are quite capable, but who are unable to manage the traditional school environment - the classrooms, the schedules, the stress. Nautilus gives them a choice, and that’s a niche that isn’t being serviced to its full potential by existing educational structures. We believe the “whole of person” approach will be of significant benefit for students who are not managing mainstream schooling. Why do some students manage in a traditional school setting and others don’t? That’s a good question; why do some students wind up as square pegs in the round holes of mainstream schooling that has served the majority of children more or less very well
70 Greater Port Macquarie focus
for many years? I will not pretend to know the answer; it is probably the combination of many factors - a changing social, economic and regulatory environment. There are a lot of children staying at school who maybe in years gone would have moved off into work. Youth unemployment is an issue, because we have a mass of young people who are unable to move out of the formal education system because of diminished employment opportunities. Society also has a greater expectation that they achieve the HSC before transitioning to work. It’s simply not the best choice for everyone. And then there’s the increased pressure on young people from a busy world that just simply means some might be academically capable, but aren’t able to cope with mainstream school. Is the main reason for students not fitting in behaviour? It’s tempting for many to default to the “behavioural problem” conclusion, but that’s far from the case. The youngsters I meet are polite, bright, respectful and enthusiastic about their new educational adventure. Absolutely they need assistance to manage themselves to learn and manage a new environment; that is to be expected. Many have not engaged for years in learning or school life, physically and/or mentally. I am also quick to head off any suggestion that Nautilus is a “dumping ground”. It’s not a last resort option. It’s for those who recognise that they, or their son or daughter, are not thriving in the current system, but who genuinely want to continue their education. What is the key for Nautilus for success? There is no compulsion involved in making the switch to Nautilus. Students are all looking for a place to learn and look forward to more tailored learning, smaller classes, greater access to and consistency of the adults in their learning environment. What happens to those who are deemed not suitable for Nautilus?
NAUTILUS IS MODELLED
and to be responsible If we don’t feel our ON THE ALESCO STYLE Nautilus program can add to young teens there SCHOOLING - WHICH IN value to their learning has to be boundaries. LATIN MEANS ‘LEARNING proposition or where It’s not a free for all. THROUGH GROWTH’ they’re at, we accept that Students have to be AND AIMS TO PROVIDE Nautilus may not be the committed - that’s why OPPORTUNITIES FOR school for them; however, we interview them, and YOUNG PEOPLE IN YEARS as Port Macquarie match them with the 9 - 10 WHO ARE UNABLE Community College philosophy of the school TO FIND SUCCESS takes a holistic view of IN TRADITIONAL, - which is about making community education, MAINSTREAM SCHOOLING. individual choices about we will be able to offer participation, including an alternative learning the commitment to pathway if Nautilus is not learning. quite the spot for them. PMCC has a number of I want students to feel safe and I want them existing programs on offer which cater for that to own the space. That’s one of the common pressing and genuine need. Marcel Hennes, Head Teacher - Marcel has been a senior school teacher for over 25 years; he’s taught across the spectrum of educational models from independent to state schools, and from schools with as few as 22 students up to those with more than 1,200, within Australia and internationally. What is your focus? My focus is on the wellbeing and educational outcomes that matter - not on all the bureaucratic outcomes that don’t. What is different about the student - school relationship? Along with us all using our first names, this school has no uniform requirement, no bells, and no assemblies. It’s up to the students to manage their time. In saying that, there are boundaries. We are a NESA accredited independent school
things we’ve heard from all the students we’ve spoken with and interviewed for a position at the school. And that means the safety to say, look, I don’t get something, or I don’t understand this, or I need more help with that. Also, they need to feel physically safe, stressing that’s not an indictment of existing schools. But as far as the perception of these kids are concerned, creating that safe and inclusive environment is paramount. They also declare they don’t feel they belong, or they are unwanted because they are different. Nautilus aims to give all students a sense of belonging - it may be unconventional, but it’s their place. With thanks to Valerieanne Byrnes (Principal of NSC and CEO of PMCC) Marcel Hennes (Head Teacher) for the interview.
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toby focusinterview.
DENLEY CYBER SPECIALIST
Tobias Denley’s story may sound familiar … interested in computers, with a talent and passion for gaming, but not necessarily finding school studies a good fit. Toby chose to stop studying in Year 11, but has since gone on to work in cyber security for TAFE, achieving quite a few accolades along the way …
H
i Toby. Tell us a bit about your background in the Greater Port Macquarie area. Did you grow up and go to school here? Yes! I grew up in Wauchope and went to primary school at St Joseph's. My high school years were at Port Macquarie Regional. I was on a few local sports teams, including soccer, AFL, cricket and basketball, but was not the most athletic kid. Port Macquarie and Wauchope have changed a lot for me over the last two decades. The most notable to me is the Glasshouse being built. I was one of the lucky students to be sponsored a ticket to attend the Luminosity Youth Summit 2017, which inspires youth to be leaders for the next generation. What's your history with computers - have you been interested in programming/networking/gaming for a while? Growing up in the ‘90s, computers were something not well understood or easy to access. I took to the mystery instantly! I've always had to figure something out if it's confusing someone. I remember trying to set up private game servers with friends and hack our modems to make them faster, which I have since learnt is not how they work! Gaming has been a very interesting area for me; I've met a diverse range of people worldwide, which has taught me lot of cultural awareness. I find it fascinating how gaming has developed its own culture and am a strong supporter for gamification of learning. Many students who reach Year 10 at school
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struggle to work out their future direction. Work, apprenticeship, tertiary education ... what led to you deciding study at TAFE was the way to go? I had my struggles during Year 10 and after choosing to stop studying in Year 11, I earned some valuable farmhand and kitchenhand experience when I travelled to Darwin for a few months’ break. I ended up heading to TAFE NSW to prepare for the workforce, which was my first real dose of being treated as an adult, and I realised that I still had the option to choose my own path without having earned an HSC. I am still working out my future direction - but I believe that's OK, because if you're going to do something meaningful, it should take time and commitment. If you ask me right now, I'll be continuing to work in cyber security with a focus on social engineering and raising awareness of the importance of privacy. You completed a Certificate III in Information, Digital Media and Technology AND a Certificate IV in Information Technology Networking in 2016. This sounds like a challenge - how did you handle the workload? I also completed a Certificate II for Work and Vocational Pathways in 2016, which taught communication, time management, and interview skills. I had a motto of "just show up" and wasn't afraid to ask the silly question; this helped me quickly get feedback on assessments. With multiple life commitments, sometimes the best you can do is continue to show up and have a go. How did you transition from being a TAFE student, to a TAFE employee?
I think I was acting as a TAFE employee before I realised it. I had work experience rolling out fleets of iPads for libraries and computers for classrooms. As a class, we performed power and sustainability testing of devices, reporting findings to the ICT team I now work for. You now hold a Diploma of Information Technology, but you've also received some other recognition and awards. Please tell us about these … I was awarded Student of the Year for Port Macquarie in 2016. This led to ICT Student of the Year for TAFE NSW North Region. Last year I received the World Skills Bronze Medal for IT Network System Administration of the Mid North Coast region. I also completed my first Cisco course for routing and switching, an internationally recognised qualification. Recently, I featured in the Port News for my new career as a cyber specialist. I have given a talk on project management and skills to the current Diploma of Information Technology class at Port Macquarie, and I was the keynote speaker for Student of the Year during the Port Macquarie awards night. What's your current job, and what does this involve (without giving away any secrets!) on a daily basis? I'm part of an exciting new pilot for TAFE NSW, which is the Digital Careers Graduate program. It offers traineeship and graduate positions within the ICT section. There are also opportunities to participate in ICT events, bringing information back to the business and providing a TAFE NSW presence.
I have been exposed to a variety of work, including cyber security, service desk, asset management, and assistive technologies for people with a disability. Every day is different in cyber security. I may be scanning for incidents, investigating victims of phishing, facilitating legal requests for digital information, identifying system vulnerabilities, or contributing to the cyber security awareness campaign. How do you feel your studies at TAFE have helped you develop overall - and is there anything you'd like to say to your former teachers and/or coworkers? You're given a lot of autonomy when studying, and the teachers encouraged open discussions when troubleshooting problem scenarios. There is a clear connection between the quality of work the teachers expected and the workplace requires. I have found a great group of people to work with. I would like to thank the two people who are still supporting me in my journey, my coworker Peter Ford and former teacher Jarrad Tattersall, for their combined efforts incorporating work experience to the students. When you're not in front of a computer screen, what other activities do you enjoy? I enjoy having a varied lifestyle, so I fit a lot into my schedule. My favourite activities are cooking, hatha yoga, boxing, playing acoustic guitar, and practicing my Spanish. I'm also a huge fan of the Marvel universe TV shows and movies! Thanks Toby. Interview: Jo Robinson.
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EDUCAIION TRAINING F O C U S
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Looking to start AN APPRENTICE CHEF? Yes Chef is a fresh, innovative program developed by Enterprise & Training Company (ETC) and is set to tackle the industry’s skills shortage and bring a more personalised approach to Commercial Cookery Apprenticeships. ETC’s Business Relationship Manager for Traineeships, Ingrid Johansen said Yes Chef was designed based on feedback from locals in the industry. “We understand that all businesses and Apprentices are different - one size doesn’t fit all,” Ms Johansen said. Mitch Grady, Chef and Co-owner of two restaurants (one on the Mid North Coast and one in Sydney) was pleased with the program’s flexibility after enrolling his Apprentice Hannah into Yes Chef. “ETC’s model is more customised than other Apprenticeships I have experienced in the past, that were quite rigid and structured,” said Mitch.
“Also, Hannah doesn’t need to take a day off to attend training because she’s training on the job, so there’s less disruption to our business.” Ms Johansen said these were several benefits of ETC’s Yes Chef program, including: • Training and Assessment is delivered in the workplace. We come to you! So no more having to send your staff offsite for training one day per week. • We offer rolling intakes, so your Apprentices can start at any time. • You decide what areas of training your Apprentice most needs. • Select your own Apprentice or recruit from ETC’s pool of Pre-Apprentice trained students. • Employer incentives of up to $5,000 may be available. To find out more, contact Ingrid Johansen on 0447 162 970.
NEED AN APPRENTICE CHEF?
Introducing KELLY GAMBLIN Novaskill Port Macquarie has recently welcomed Kelly Gamblin as their new Traineeship Consultant. I have an extensive background in business development and marketing. I understand how challenging it can be for businesses to get ahead, as well as building skilled and dynamic teams that are going to take your business forward. Too many business owners and managers tell me how they often spend so much time on staff related issues, taking away from time that could be spent growing their business. Training and development is a key part of ensuring your staff are the best they can be. If you have a great team around you, your business can only benefit! Traineeships are a brilliant way for businesses to
Yes Chef ETC’s
develop a top class team. There are a number of government incentives available that make it an extremely attractive option. The trainee has the opportunity to achieve a nationally
COMMERCIAL COOKERY APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM
recognised qualification, while receiving on-thejob work experience. There can also be other possible incentives, depending on the individual
Flexible
circumstances of the trainee. For example, you can potentially receive an additional benefit if you
Rolling intakes
enrol a mature age employee as a trainee. Some
of the key areas where Traineeships are common include retail, hospitality, business, leadership and management and aged care; however, it can also apply to a range of trades and vocations. Accredited training can be incredibly costly, usually over $5,000 for a Certificate III. The great benefit of joining our traineeship program is access to nationally recognised courses for a fraction of the cost, sometimes even at no cost if the employee is eligible. You would be surprised at how many people are eligible; it’s definitely worth picking up the phone and enquiring. There are definitely some great benefits to both the business and the employee, but also to our wider community. It can be challenging to find work and even if there isn’t a permanent position in the business at the end of the traineeship, it is a great opportunity to get a qualification and hands on experience. If you are looking to employ new staff, please talk to me about how we may be able to include them in a traineeship program, so your business and your new team member can receive the benefits! I am contactable on my mobile (0408 977 463) or on email KellyG@ novaskill.com.au - always happy to come and see you for a chat about what options may be available for you.
Training & Assessment delivered in the workplace. We come to you! You decide what areas of training your Apprentice most needs. Select your own Apprentice or recruit from our pool of candidates.
Employer incentives
up to
$5,000 may be available
Contact Ingrid Johansen on 0447 162 970 or visit etcltd.com.au Greater Port Macquarie focus 73
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Nixi NixiKillick Killick Originally hailing from our region, NIXI HAS DEVELOPED A FUTURE CENTRIC FASHION LABEL WHICH HAS SEEN HER WORK WITH MUSIC SUPERSTARS, INTERNATIONAL FASHION EVENTS and has even paired up with one of the world's leading technology companies, Hewlett Packard. Photo Credit: Keren Sonia.
L
uminosity Youth Summit welcomes Nixi as a keynote speaker, and FOCUS was lucky enough to catch her for a chat in between flights ... Tell us about your upbringing and your relationship with Port Macquarie ... I grew up about an hour inland from Port Macquarie, in the rockpools and ridges of the Forbes River at the base of Werrikimbe national park. Both my parents are artists and turned an old primary school into their studios and home. I grew up as part of the local Slippery Sirkus, performing at many cultural events in Port Macquarie, and in my teens started to really engage with the arts and creative community, working on many local youth festivals, workshops and events. Since leaving the nest, you've developed a clothing label, which is more than just a label ... Tell us about this venture. I moved to Melbourne to study fashion design at RMIT University and unite my origins of arts, performance and costume. During the course I developed a fascination with innovation in new technologies, maverick hybrid practices and a synergy in the art-fashion nexus. Establishing my label was a way of developing this language, to speculate on the role of technology in dress, using the body to engage and challenge broader debates, negotiating my own unique platform for expression and interface within the critical discourses of visual culture. The label is part sculptured tech wearables - part
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psychedelic street wear; it's about empowering people unique and incredible experience. through colour, community and creative curiosity. You're a Keynote Speaker at this year's What is the "Colourtribe"? Luminosity Youth Summit - how do you intend on The Colourtribe is a way of connecting my empowering or inspiring our youth on the day? community through passionate positivity and My journey so far has taught me that our horizons empowered optimism. It's about sharing experiences are expanding exponentially and oportunities are born creating new links and through our own passion and embracing the future together drive. in a chorus of colour. We are the creators of the Tell us about some of the future, and it's our responsibility collaborations you have in to boldly dive into unmapped THE LABEL IS PART the design and production territories and dream the magic SCULPTURED TECH process? awake. WEARABLES - PART I often spend a lot of time Is there a quote or a certain PSYCHEDELIC STREET with laser cutters and working saying you live by? If so, why? WEAR; IT'S ABOUT with materials, machines and If it's not in the future it doesn't EMPOWERING PEOPLE methods that I have hijacked exist - it's a mantra that has always THROUGH COLOUR, from different fields. reminded me to keep moving COMMUNITY AND Collaborating with unfamiliar forward that to create the most CREATIVE CURIOSITY. technology and techniques incredible future I can imagine, I has often enabled me to must pull the present forward to unveil alternate possibles in meet it. production. Where can our readers find out more and You've worked with some big names; who have purchase your designs? you worked with, and what did it entail? www.nixikillick.com I have worked with a variety of musicians, such Thanks Nixi. as Lady GAGA, SIA, and Kimbra; performers Ultra Angels and Cyber Japan; and few key industry partners plug! like Hewlett Packard, Not Just A Label and Berlin Alternative Fashion Week. Each of these collaborations Luminosity Youth Summit 2018 has allowed me to explore new areas of my practice PORT MACQUARIE NSW, 25 - 27 JULY 2018. and evolve through experimentation; each have been a www.luminosityyouthsummit.com.au/2018/
focus_tech W I T H G A V I N M O R O N E Y
EDUCAIION TRAINING F O C U S
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TECH
Travel Kit
Tech Head
PART 1
Navigating the vast array of technology available to travellers can be daunting. What do I take? How do I keep my photos safe? How am I going to charge all of my devices? Don’t worry, because we have you sorted with the best tech travel kit you can’t live without.
W
e start the list with a one of the best power banks on the market, the Anker PowerCore + 13400. So many of the power banks we see are basic, no-frills
devices from companies you’ve never heard of - but they’re sold cheap, which makes them appealing. This Anker PowerCore tells a different story. Anker is one of the better-known brands in charging tech and actually does what it claims. Its has a sleek design, surge and short circuit
protection, and can charge up to 80% of those times laying by a pool or with friends at your iPhone or flagship Android smartphone the beach, you can't go past a Ultimate Ears in 15 minutes. For you Apple users, if you Wonderboom Portable Bluetooth Speaker. pick up the USB type C version, you can also For the size, this portable speaker packs a big charge your Macbook Pro. punch. You get 10 hours on a full charge, Anker PowerCore + 13400 and it’s waterproof. Seriously, you can throw www.myanker.com.au this in a pool, and it will still be as clear as the (be sure to check out eBay for a cheaper day you bought it. For those long flights, the price) Sony WI-C300 Wireless In-Ear Headphones For all your storage needs - the Samsung are hard to go past. The behind-the-neck T3 250 GB SSD Portable Hard Drive. This is design is shaped for comfort, for all those my go-to hard drive when I'm away; it has long flights. The sound is great, and it has a small form factor and is built for speed. eight hours of battery life and can also be You don't want to used for phone calls. spend your valuable Ultimate Ears holiday time waiting Wonderboom for uploads, so with Portable Bluetooth Music is one of the most USB 3 you will know Speaker - Sony WIimportant things for that your photos are C300 Wireless In-Ear me while travelling, safe and uploaded at Headphones: www. and sometimes you lightning speed. For jbhifi.com.au need a few options for those who are serious With all your devices, the occasion. about their storage carrying around 10 and can’t sleep different cables can knowing you have be a tangled chore, entrusted your holiday so the 1.2 m Baseus photos to a single hard drive, make sure you Rapid 3-in-1 Type-C / Lightning / Micro USB double your backup with a Dropbox account Charging Cable solves a lot of the headaches (an online storage device for all your files). of cable management. Whether it’s an Apple, Samsung T3 250GB SSD Portable Hard Samsung or Sony, this cable will handle nearly Drive: www.mwave.com.au all types of tech you need to charge. Music is one of the most important things 1.2 m Baseus Rapid 3-in-1 Type-C / for me while travelling, and sometimes you Lightning / Micro USB Charging Cable need a few options for the occasion. For www.gadgets4geeks.com.au
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HERITAGE Christian School Tucked away behind the car yards on Hastings River Drive, Heritage Christian School seems to be a well-kept secret in Port Macquarie.
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ecently however, it was cast into the limelight following a government report which named it one of three “Schools of Excellence” in NSW.
The NSW Ombudsman Inquiry into Behaviour Management in Schools Report found Heritage Christian School was exceptional in the way in which it measures, and addresses, the impact of life - including family circumstances, bullying and external commitments - on a student’s ability to achieve at school. School principal Geoff Brisby said the school had been recognised in the report as a result of the success of its detailed “heat-mapping” process for each student. “We collect a rich amount of data on each and every one of our students,” Mr Brisby said. “This comes from teachers, parents, the kids themselves. “And we have support staff who then input that information into a system which gives each child a risk rating, that is a colour code which indicates if there is anything in their life that may derail them in their learning. “This can include personal or family circumstances, health or behavioural issues, bullying or social problems inside and outside of school. “A lot of schools collect some of this data, but it is the richness of our information which sets us apart and then - the really big difference - is how we feed that back into the class room.” Mr Brisby said teaching staff used the information to implement strategies to keep those children at risk on track. Or to keep highachievers pressing ahead.
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“For some, this may involve extension classes to keep them engaged; for others it may be additional pastoral care or behaviour management strategies,” he said. A different approach Mr Brisby said this approach set Heritage apart. And the school was happy to maintain a niche position. “For many years we have been viewed as an alternative to mainstream private and public schools in the region,“ he said. “And that’s a position we enjoy - it has allowed us to be a bit experimental in our approach, to take some risks and to really focus on developing our philosophy and our staff.” The result, Mr Brisby said, is a unique educational approach aimed at creating students who are motivated to learn - not because they have a test - but because they see the value in it, are interested and engaged. “Many schools have set paths for their students; they have pre-crafted stories and are looking to fit their kids into a certain model of success,” Geoff said. “But at Heritage, we don’t have an end 'product' in mind. We are not looking to produce cookiecutter graduates. We want every student to achieve their maximum potential using their unique strengths and gifts. “We are like a rope of many threads. Every time someone new joins our community, we are all changed. “We are a little bit richer and more diverse as a community, and this adds to our strength as a school community. “Every student, every family, gets to determine how they weave themselves into the process.”
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Newman
Senior TECHNICAL COLLEGE.
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Newman students seize golden opportunity to learn success!
tudents from Newman Senior Technical College have just returned from Sydney, where they competed with outstanding success, adding gold and silver medals to the College tally in the WorldSkills Australia National Competition in early June. WorldSkills is a competition of skill, dedication and achievement that is engaging our youth and inspiring the next generation of successful business operators and employees. Often referred to as the Skill Olympics, this year’s competition saw over 500 competitors from all corners of Australia compete in over 50 skill categories. Newman College Principal Stephen Pares said the students representing the college acquitted themselves like true Olympians. “Not only did current Newman students win medals in the VET in Schools Category (VETiS), but former Newman students from the Mid North Coast also won medals in the Opens Category, which is fantastic,” said Mr Pares.
“These results validate the Newman model of training which, for nearly four decades now, has been providing vocational education to the local community as an alternative path of HSC study.” “But it’s not about tallying medals; equally it’s about students striving to challenge themselves,” he added. “When we reflect on our greatest achievements, the ones that mean the most are usually those experiences which have stretched us beyond what is easy or simple. And this is what our students are discovering. “These Newman competitors extended themselves well beyond what any classroom experience can provide - it is this kind of success that our College celebrates and, of which I am so proud. “Our students regularly experience learning beyond the classroom. There is no better way to encourage their desire to learn. Giving them these opportunities fosters curiosity and personal growth, because they understand there is real purpose behind their learning,” concluded Mr Pares.
Newman College current and ex students at the 2018 WorldSkills Australia National Competition Awards Ceremony, Sydney - left to right: Lachlan Waser, Adam Dixon, Jade Clarke, Matt Hobbs, Jye Geronimi, Brock Longworth, Connor Moore and Jordan Hoffman.
The aim of WorldSkills is to develop and promote excellence in skills. It recognises that the vocational education and training sector is central to Australia’s economic growth, productivity and future employment outcomes. WorldSkills Australia VET in Schools (VETiS) competitions operate on the same two year cycle as WorldSkills Australia’s Regional Competitions. The VETiS Regional Competitions are open to students enrolled in the first year of a VET course in secondary schools and are open to all Newman students enrolling in 2019. Contact Newman Senior Technical College on 6580 3800 for information on enrolment or visit newman.nsw.edu.au
RESULTS for Newman: WorldSkills VET in Schools (VETiS) Categories: Gold medal: Jye Geronimi - Electrotechnology Silver medal: Lachlan Waser - Automotive Silver medal: Jade Clarke - Information Technology Finalist: Connor Moore - Hospitality Food and Beverage WorldSkills Open Categories (Newman College Ex-students): Automotive Mechanical: Matt Hobbs - Gold IT Network Systems: Jordan Hoffman - Silver Welding: Adam Dixon - Silver Plumbing: Brock Longworth - Finalist
2019 YEAR 11 ENROLMENT
31 JULY 6PM
Register for our Open Night at newman.nsw.edu.au Phone 6580 3800 | Email newman@lism.catholic.edu.au
#ADIFFERENTCLASS
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Trendz Beauty, Makeup and Special Effects for Stage and Screen Port Macquarie’s Trendz Beauty & Training, now part of the Community College family, is offering an innovative new hairdressing program. Our brand new training salon is about to be completed and awaits its very first class of next generation hairdressers. The program, which has been developed after wide consultation with industry, will provide a supported learning environment with experienced trainers directly from the frontline in their own salons, who will prepare you for your future career. Our range of national qualifications has also grown and now covers all industry levels, from Certificate II right through to Diploma, including: Certificate II in Retail Cosmetics, Certificate III in Beauty Services, Certificate III in Nail Technology, Certificate III in Hairdressing and Diploma of Screen & Media (Special Effects MakeUp).
F E A T U R E
Midyear Enrolments at SkillsLink Training Midyear enrolments are now open at SkillsLink Training, with second semester courses now available.
A range of short courses are also available, for those wishing to learn new skills or as professional development for those already in the beauty industry wishing to upskill. Courses such as Braiding - The basics and Beyond, Upstyles - Everyday and Formal, Provide Lash and Brow Treatments, Provide Manicure and Pedicare Services, Spray Tanning and Lash Extensions, provide a great opportunity for existing business owners or salon professionals to expand their services. Of course, our clinic days are still a highlight, so go to our Facebook page for all the latest on days and particular services that are on offer: facebook.com/trendzbeautypmq/
This year we have new flexible learning opportunities in Certificate III and IV courses, allowing some face-to-face and some online, from-home or work, learning. These blended delivery options give you flexibility to study to suit your home and work commitments.
Your beauty career starts here, so come and see us at 77 Hastings River Drive, or phone (02) 6516 2238 for more information.
Full qualifications are always available at the college (many via our online platform), but we also have a range of accredited short courses
Beauty Industry Training
Maybe you need a more hands on supported approach. Explore our Pathway programs, which give participants the chance to access a range of industries from building and construction, horticulture, hospitality, business administration, to community service, early childhood or with Trendz, Hair and Beauty in a learning environment that’s paced right for you.
which can begin helping people to choose the career path they want. Thanks to the NSW Government’s Smart & Skilled program, we are able to offer those who may have experienced domestic or family violence a fee-free scholarship, on any of our courses. We are also able to offer support to all students who need a helping hand. The Community Service Obligation (CSO) program is designed to support people who are disadvantaged, such as having a disability or receiving a government benefit and are experiencing barriers to accessing “mainstream” Smart & Skilled funded programs. CSO can provide fee relief and allow entry into a mixed range of experiential courses. Everything we undertake at the college is designed to help strengthen our community and to create a community of belonging for our students and volunteers. Please come in, call or check out our website - www.skillslink.edu.au No better time to explore your options than now! Port Macquarie Community College Inc RTO 90315
ENROL
Port Macquarie Community College Inc RTO 90315
Funding available for eligible students
Semester 2 Program includes: I in Information, Digital Media and Technology
This training is subsidised by the NSW Govt
Your Beauty Career Starts here.....
SHB30115 Certificate III Beauty Services SHB30315 Certificate III in Nail Technology SHB20116 Certificate II in Retail Cosmetics SHB30416 Certificate III in Hairdressing Pathway programs also available including: Retail Cosmetics • Special Effects
Salon Services available by appointment
Call 6516 2235
Smart & Skilled Concessions may apply - contact us for more info Trendz Beauty & Training
admin@trendz.edu.au
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NOW
77 Hastings River Dr. Port Macquarie
www.skillslink.edu.au
CHC30113
III in Early Childhood Education and Care
CHC
III in Individual Support
TLI21616
II in Warehousing Operations
CHC43315
IV in Mental Health
BSB42615
IV in New Small Business
Ask about our practical pathway programs including: Beauty • Construction • Horticulture • Early Childhood Automotive • Retail • Warehousing • Individual Support
PORT MACQUARIE
Call 6583 7288
First Aid • RSA • RCG • White Card Smart & Skilled Concessions apply for eligible students. Contact us for more info This training is subsidised by the NSW Government
www.skillslink.edu.au
admin@skillslink.edu.au
YEAR 11 2019 Parents and students are invited to attend
Information Nights and College Tours
MacKillop College (02) 6583 2632 www.pmaclism.catholic.edu.au
Newman Senior Technical College (02) 6580 3800 www.newman.nsw.edu.au
St Joseph’s Regional College (02) 5525 4100 www.pmreglism.catholic.edu.au
Monday 30th July 2018 6:00pm
Tuesday 31st July 2018 6:00pm
Wednesday 1st August 2018 6:00pm
‘Excellence in Teaching, Learning and Vocational Education, Spiritual Formation, Pastoral Care, Sport and Creative Arts.’ Greater Port Macquarie focus 79
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focus_contributor.
Business Minds with Jane Hillsdon of Dragonfly Marketing
BUSINESS MINDS
Emily Burgess PORT MACQUARIE WORKWEAR
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mily, you have been a part of the Port Macquarie Workwear business for nine years and have just purchased the business recently. Can you please tell us a little bit about your business and what it offers? I would describe the business as a cohesive mix of retail menswear, personalised uniforms and of course, the namesake workwear! We do embroidery in house and screen printing at our new workshop space - this means we now cover every aspect of uniform supply and personalisation, something that has been a dream for a long time! What was it that first inspired you to buy and manage this local business? When I started at Port Workwear in 2009, I never would have thought I would be calling the business my own one day. I actually wanted to leave in 2012, which is why the current owner offered the option to become part owner - it was what I needed to stay motivated! Then two years later, I purchased the business in full, meaning I was the sole director of a company at 26! I knew the business inside out and had so many ideas of what I wanted to do to make it thrive. What valuable lessons have you learnt from serving your customers over the years? Our local businesses and retail customers are loyal to us, which I am so appreciative of. My customers have known me since I began as an employee and they’ve trusted me with their business for years and years, without any questions. If you do the right thing by them,
they’ll keep returning. It helps I’m great with names and faces. How do you manage to build and foster relationships in your business? Not only with the various customer segments that you have, but with other stakeholders such as suppliers? I listen to what the customers are asking for. The “target market” for Port Macquarie Workwear is quite broad, so it can be difficult at times. Feedback on new items and ranges is welcomed. Also, ensuring that we continue to supply a range of the “oldies but goodies”, products such as RM Williams boots, is a must. Suppliers in this business are in it for the long haul. I have been lucky to walk in to preestablished suppliers and have continued to deal with them exclusively. I would have only taken on three to four new suppliers in the last five years. As a bricks and mortar retail business, how do you anticipate you may have to adapt to the future e-commerce shopping trends that are enveloping your industry? The workwear industry in particular is very competitive online. I don’t believe the e-commerce world is for us. We pride ourselves on excellent face-to-face service that gets people in the door and has them leaving with their purchase instantly. What is it that you love most about running your business? The busyness of it all. We’ve been so lucky to have a constant flow of work to do. There’s never a dull moment. The whole idea that we can constantly be growing and doing more ourselves, i.e. no more outsourcing, is keeping everyone motivated right now.
WE PRIDE OURSELVES
majority of what we sell Also, the network of ON EXCELLENT FACEpeople in this town and is what people need, not TO-FACE SERVICE THAT surrounding areas means a luxury item. GETS PEOPLE IN THE there’s always someone No matter what you DOOR AND HAS THEM to say hi to. Everywhere are selling, you need to LEAVING WITH THEIR we go, especially now believe in what you are PURCHASE INSTANTLY. they’ve watched me start doing. Small business my family, customers takes so much energy are always asking how and hard work; it’s the baby is; it’s like an during the tough days enormous network of (or months) that you friends. really see what you and your business is made What are some of the challenges that you of. Get yourself a solid team, people who are have had to overcome in your business like-minded and can be as passionate as you journey? are about your business. The most difficult thing to begin with was And finally, if you could invite any three a business loan. As mentioned, I was 24 with business people to lunch, who would they nothing to my name, so not a single bank be and why would you invite them? would loan me a cent. I was lucky enough to All amazing women! establish a vendor finance system and loan Jane Lu - Jane founded Show Po. I listened money from family. I often wonder if this is to a podcast she did, and I’ve been inspired why there aren’t a lot of young people delving ever since. She took a tiny market clothing into the business world. store and turned it into an empire, while One of our current challenges is keeping secretly pretending to her parents she was up with clothing trends but still keeping the studying accounting. Her team is her support traditional items that we regularly turn over. system; she surrounds herself with people who Our downtown retail space is not huge, so are passionate about working for her. with our new workshop now open I want Bethenny Frankel - entrepreneur and reality to establish more of a “retail space” and a TV star. She keeps finding niche markets and “decoration space.” I don’t think it will be the killing it; plus, I love a good margarita! same at Colonial Arcade without the hum of Steph Claire Smith - social media influencer the embroidery machines though. and business savvy chick; she’s so young and What advice would you offer to other is checking all the boxes right now. I’d love people looking to open a retail store in a to know her long term plan; she would be regional area? able to provide helpful marketing insight into Find your niche. Workwear and uniforms are converting a simple Instagram post into sales. need items. I know that is one of the reasons the business is busy and successful. The Thanks for your time, Emily! Greater Port Macquarie focus 81
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MICHAEL MOWLE - PRESIDENT PORT MACQUARIE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
Minding your OAS Business Bookkeeping A bookkeeper is a bit like a GP - there’s one on every corner, but great ones are hard to find. And when you do find one, you should never let them go. But how do you know if your bookkeeper is good or even better, a great bookkeeper? Great bookkeepers have experience and qualifications. Every bookkeeper should have some sort of formal bookkeeping or accounting training and should be a registered BAS Agent.
simple and efficient as possible, and nothing is missed or duplicated. streamlined in your business. Great bookkeepers do the homework A sign of a really great is up to date on what
Every bookkeeper should have some sort of formal bookkeeping or accounting training and should be a registered BAS Agent.
Great bookkeepers understand your process. They will take the time to really understand your business and how you operate, so they can make sure that the processes are as
Local small businesses should be buoyed by some welcome reforms and news from, Canberra, Macquarie Street and our local Council recently.
They will be able to see areas that can be
bookkeeper is one who
A registered BAS agent means that the Tax Practitioners Board are satisfied that the bookkeeper has the required skills, qualifications and experience to correctly account for GST and prepare your BAS according to legislation.
By the Numbers.
is happening in the bookkeeping, accounting and technology spaces. The bookkeeping and accounting industries have evolved considerably over the past few years due to changing technologies. Great bookkeepers are
people you can trust. The relationship between a client and a bookkeeper is sacred. Make sure you like your bookkeeper, that you trust them and feel comfortable being completely honest with them. A good bookkeeper may not be good enough. You want and need a great bookkeeper.
At the Federal level, much needed and welcome tax cuts passed the senate and will flow on to PAYG salary earners from next year. Tax thresholds will also be raised progressively over the next few years to negate the effect of “bracket creep”. This is good news for retailers, as it should result in more money for consumers and increased spending. The proposed corporate tax reduction package now looks more likely and if passed, will bring a direct benefit to small businesses in the form of increased capacity and greater employment opportunities. Less company tax means more money can be invested by small business in growing capacity. Contrary to popular misconceptions, corporate tax cuts do not go into the pockets of owners or investors, who still pay personal tax rates up to 45%. Tax cuts for business is money available for re-investment within the business operation. This can be through either spending on facilities and more equipment, or simply employing more skilled people to boost productivity. The State Budget was just released and included some welcome relief for small business in the form of reduced Payroll Tax. The threshold was raised to $850,000, which means businesses can employ one or two more people without the tax or reduce their current levy. The plan announced is to progressively increase the NSW Payroll Tax threshold in $50,000 increments up to $1m over the next three years. Infrastructure spending of $1BN has been allocated to regional NSW. Included in our region is $5m for Port Base Hospital carpark and $28m upgrade of Oxley Highway, all on top of the recent completion of Pacific Highway upgrades north and south of Port Macquarie. These new freeway linkages have had an immediate and positive impact on local business operators’ ability to market trades and services across a wider area of the Mid North Coast.
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A massive $1.77Bn investment in TAFE NSW has also been announced, including important business skills and TAFE Training. Businesses with less than 199 employees can access subsidised business management, digital/financial skills courses; info at website https://skillsforbusiness.edu.au/ TAFE NSW will also offer an unprecedented 100,000 free apprenticeships over the next four years, including all current courses under the Smart and Skilled program; info at website: https://smartandskilled.nsw.gov.au/ Locally and at a recent Council meeting, two very important resolutions were passed. Firstly, the revised Urban Growth Management Strategy (2017 - 2036) was adopted. This planning strategy for land use and community infrastructure will underpin economic growth for the next 20 years. Future investment for employment generating industrial areas, new commercial and retail premises, health and tertiary education facilities, as well as residential areas planned to accommodate population growth are all catered for in this key strategy document. The second resolution passed was the adoption of Council’s Operational Plan 2018/19, which includes a very significant overall works program of $57m. Key infrastructure and community assets to be built or upgraded include the Port Macquarie Airport terminal upgrade ($3.5m), design work for a new Aquatic Centre ($0.5m), design work for John Oxley Drive from Ruins Way to Wrights Road ($0.5m), Coastal Walk upgrade ($1.265m) and over $3m for local road improvements. It is good to see a number of positive programs, initiatives and funding flowing through to our region from all three tiers of government. Whilst this is undoubtedly good news for small business, everyone in the community benefits from more vibrant economic conditions and the employment opportunities it brings.
Sam wicks FINANCIAL PLANNER / MORGANS
Sam joined Morgans Port Macquarie in 2017 after more than a decade of providing wealth management advice to private clients in Sydney. Combining his equities background and an in-depth knowledge of wealth management and financial planning strategy, Sam’s focus is to build lifelong client relationships and develop personalised financial plans.
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s a Financial Adviser with Morgans Port Macquarie, one of your major roles is helping people plan for a comfortable retirement. Can you tell us a little about this? Yes, providing people with peace of mind to enjoy a comfortable retirement is one of our primary roles. What makes a “comfortable retirement” is different from person to person. One of the great joys of our profession is meeting a wide range of people and helping them achieve the things that matter to them personally. Being a privately owned local business not tied to a bank or fund manager is really important to me. It means I am able to sit down with my clients and take the time to really understand them, so I can help them articulate their retirement goals and objectives. Once we have that clear picture of what success looks like, then we can use our knowledge of tax structures, current legislation and investment markets to formulate strategies that help them reach their goals. At what age or life stage should people start to really plan for their retirement? It is never too early to start planning, but it can certainly be too late. It is really important to be thinking deeply about super and retirement planning when approaching the ages of 45 - 50. Some people can be daunted by the concept
of planning for retirement. It is a significant change to the “working” lifestyle that a person has lived for a number of decades. Not earning another pay cheque coupled with navigating the complexities of the ever-changing landscape of superannuation, tax law and Centrelink can be a confronting combination. A large part of our role is to ensure clients understand the options available to them and help them navigate this complexity. I love watching apprehension turn to excitement as I help a person through this process. Quite often it is the small decisions that we help clients make early in their lives that significantly improves their choices to create a “comfortable retirement”. What are some of the major considerations that people should consider when planning for retirement? Having a clear set of goals and objectives is the best starting point. This will then provide the framework to work out how much income and capital they will need. These goals can range from how many holidays per year a person wants through to the quality of age care they desire when that situation arises. Another major consideration is what to do with the family home. The Government has recently passed legislation that allows certain people to make a one off $300,000 contribution to superannuation when they sell their primary residence. This law has been designed to
Planning for retirement means more than encourage downsizers to release the equity in a “financial plan” and it is important to have their home to help fund their retirement. There an understanding of how you will fill your are a number of hurdles that have to be met to time. We find our clients that have activities or be able to do this, so we encourage people to passions that have been fostered in the run up seek advice. to retirement seem to have a greater sense of What are some of the things that people can fulfilment. start thinking about earlier on in their life to Tell us a bit about the process you use in help plan for a comfortable retirement? order to help your clients Taking superplan for retirement ... annuation seriously no By far the greatest asset matter what age you we have is the ability to take are is a great starting A large part of our role the time to sit with people point. Your super is is to ensure clients and really understand what greater than a number understand the their “retirement” looks like. on a statement, and the options available Any competent planner can power of compounding to them and help them do the numbers and build will have a great effect navigate this complexity. a strategy. We enjoy taking over a person’s life. We the time to understand see people who have where a client is today put up with poor quality and help them clarify their goals for tomorrow. super funds and paid way too much in fees for Taking an active interest in the client’s life journey years, and the impact of these issues can be allows them to get the best financial and lifestyle massive when a person gets to retirement. outcomes along the way. It’s a shame, because these are issues that To help people navigate the financial are easy to fix with a simple super review. We considerations involved in planning for their encourage people to look really hard at their retirement, Morgans are running free information super and seek advice if they are not sure if their seminars. To attend one of these seminars, fund is up to scratch. Of course, the earlier you please call 6583 1735 to reserve your seat or visit start putting money aside and the better your morgans.com.au/portmacquarie/seminar superannuation fund, the more options you will Sam Wicks B.ESS, M.AppFin, ADFS (FP), FINANCIAL PLANNER Authorised Representative: 000431776. have in retirement.
Will I have enough to live comfortably in retirement? Learn how to realise your retirement goals by implementing smart and effective planning. Attend a free information session Financial Planning | Investment Advice | Superannuation Morgans Financial Limited ABN 49 010 669 726 AFSL 235410 A Participant of ASX Group A Professional Partner of the Financial Planning Association of Australia.
6pm – Wednesday, 11 July 2018 2pm and 6pm – Wednesday, 25 July 2018 2pm and 6pm – Wednesday, 8 August 2018 Morgans Port Macquarie Cnr Short St & Barracks Ln To find out more call 6583 1735 or visit morgans.com.au/portmacquarie/seminar Greater Port Macquarie focus 83
Partnering for prosperity
“Reece and Mark reviewed our financial situation holistically and presented a number of suggestions that would help us move the business forward, both tax effectively and efficiently.”
Pictured above left to right: Reece Dein, James Collins, Derek Collins and Mark Power
With another financial year done and dusted, Evolution Road Accountants & Advisers are once again gearing up to assist clients with their taxation obligations. For owners Reece Dein and Mark Power however, the service proposition doesn’t start and stop with a tax return. Whilst nurturing client relationships is integral, optimising positive financial outcomes for businesses in particular, is a yearround proposition. Award winning local building designers Collins W Collins are leaders in their industry. James and Derek provide the creative spark for residential, commercial and industrial builds and renovations. They speak about how collaborating with Evolution Road has provided the financial guidance, strategy and support necessary to take their business through 2018 and beyond.
How has Evolution Road assisted your business? We transferred our personal and company taxation affairs across to Evolution Road in late 2016. We felt we needed a fresh approach to our financial management and Evolution Road ticked all the boxes with the range of services they could provide under one roof. Reece and Mark reviewed our financial situation holistically and presented a number of suggestions that would help us move the business forward, both tax effectively and efficiently. Evolution Road offers a number of advisory services to their clients. How has this benefitted your family business? Reece, Mark and the team manage many aspects of our financial situation. They have an accessible team of BAS and Xero experts which has reduced our ongoing bookkeeping costs. The boys have introduced us to diversified investments within our self-managed superannuation fund whilst also reviewing our estate planning objectives and personal insurance requirements. They even save us time by liaising directly with our banker to ensure financing arrangements are optimised and competitive. Given how busy we are, it is a one-stop shop that works well for us.
Tax planning. How important is it for your business? Tax planning has played an integral part in shaping how we think about our business and where we want it to progress. Our plan is to meet with Reece prior to 30 June each year to review and discuss the tax situation for our group. Relevant strategies are presented to manage taxation and other financial outcomes so there are no nasty surprises. Do you see any synergies between Collins W Collins and Evolution Road? Yes we do. Just as our business strives to be a marketleader in the building design field, Evolution Road has a progressive approach to financial services. Reece and Mark really seem to like what they do and from our experience, they have a genuine desire to see us attain our financial goals. Would you recommend Evolution Road to another business? Absolutely! Working with the boys and their team has been great. We have asked them to keep things realistic and relatable to our business and they have gone above and beyond. The Evolution Road team are awesome to work with and would be an asset to any business seeking a fresh and modern approach to their accounting and wealth planning needs.
Taking the stress out of this tax season A committed accountant can make the world of difference when managing your taxation affairs. Whether you are an individual, business or other, contact our office for an obligation-free discussion. Make a positive change today. • Tax Preparation and Lodgement • Business Planning and Advice • Full BAS Lodgement Service
• Xero and other Cloud-Based Support • SMSF Administration and Audit • Online SMSF Portfolio Access
Contact our office on (02) 6590 1030 or visit www.evoroad.com.au
#taxtime ready
“You are in good hands with a Xero Gold Champion”
Experts in the Cloud Providing your business with 24/7 peace of mind
Free Xero established Customised for your business
SMART TODAY
SECURE TOMORROW
Ongoing support and reconciliations Tailored add-ons for your industry Data concession service
Your lifetime wealth partner
• Lifetime Strategies • Investment Advice • Self Managed Superannuation • Personal Protection • Mortgage Broking • Debt Management and Budgeting
Contact us for your free financial health check
reception@evoroad.com.au
www.evoroad.com.au
(02) 6590 1030
Suite 5 Clarence House, 16 Clarence Street, Port Macquarie, NSW 2444
focusinterview.
H Matthew Hobbs Following in his father’s footsteps, Matthew Hobbs is a light vehicle mechanic at Miedecke Motor Group. With only nine months to go to complete his apprenticeship, Matt recently took out first place in the World Trade Skills comp ...
i Matt. Please introduce yourself to our readers? My name is Matthew Hobbs. I’m a light vehicle mechanic at the Miedecke Motor Group; I have nine months left in my apprenticeship. I live on the North Shore. My family moved to Port when I was one; I’ve grown up in the area, gone to school here and naturally wanted to start my career here. What is your role at Miedecke Motor Group? I am part of a team of 14 mechanics in the workshop at Miedecke’s. I have nine months of my light vehicle mechanics apprenticeship left; I should be signed off in April 2019. I am manufacturer trained to work with Kia and LDV. How long have you been in the industry, and what was it that made you choose this as a career path? I started working with my old man when I was old enough to walk, rolling under the cars to check out what was going on. I officially started working with him during high school; I’d help him out in the workshop after school. I studied automotive at Newman College and officially started my apprenticeship in 2015. I have always had an interest in the automotive industry; I guess Dad passed that on to me. He worked at Miedecke’s for over 20 years, doing what I do now.
You have recently competed in World Trade Skills, where you took out first place. Can you tell us about the competition and what was involved? World Trade Skills is Australia’s biggest vocational education and excellence competition. After qualifying at regionals in June last year, I was invited to attend nationals. I had to do a number of different mechanical tasks within a time limit, as accurately as possible using correct procedures and safety equipment. The toughest one was the engine electrics; they gave us a car that wouldn’t start, with about 10 faults! What does it mean to you to win something like this? In 1987 Dad completed in World Skills and got 6th place. I was determined to do one better, and ended up with first place. It is a great acknowledgment that I am really proud of. The whole team here is so excited. What do you think the future holds for you in terms of these types of competitions; will you go in any more? Now that I’ve completed TAFE, I’m not able to complete in the World Trade Skills event next year. I would love to go back as a mentor or team leader for future Mid Coast World Skills competitors. I’d like to thank Jenny Frost for being the Mid Coast and Northern Rivers Coordinator, and organising the whole journey for me. Thanks Matt.
Vision 2030 Hastings Valley Shortly you will receive in the mail a survey seeking your input about major projects you might like to see completed or underway in our region over the coming decade. I want to hear about your vision, so I can work with my colleagues at the Local and State Government level to plan and deliver the things our community would like to see in the Hastings Valley and Camden Haven for the future. The survey can also be completed by visiting my website at www.davidgillespie.com.au
Dr David GILLESPIE MP He Listens. He Cares. He Delivers.
Authorised by Dr David Gillespie MP, National Party of Australia, Cnr Hastings and High Streets, Wauchope NSW 2446. 86 Greater Port Macquarie focus
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Being a natural building material, there are endless ways to bring out the beauty in timber floors. With new trends and changes in the industry, the versatility of timber makes it worth talking about. Chrissy Jones found out from Lucio how to get the most out of a timber floor and to keep it looking beautiful as long as possible.
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ell us about your business; how long have your been operating, and what is your main philosophy? We started our business around the time our daughter was born, six and a half years ago. We were really focused on using recycled timber, as we had a great supplier of recycled hardwood floorboards and really enjoyed creating floors which had stories to tell. We had a real interest in finding sustainable ways to make timber floors, from the timber to the finish. The market is changing every year, and we work hard to keep up with the changes in the industry. You never stop learning. Our business really grew in Sydney. It’s where we grew our reputation and learnt to be fast, efficient, highly professional and to really know our business inside out. With a growing family, the move to Mid North Coast to be close to our kids’ grandparents just made sense. We still keep our regular clients in Sydney; the builders, architects and designers we have been working with for five years trust us, and we like to keep these relationships. We are working to create these same relationships on the Mid North Coast. How many employees do you have? Is Lucio hands on? We have a team of professional floor sanders and installers whom we always use for large and commercial jobs. For small to medium residential jobs, Lucio works with one or two off-siders. Yes, Lucio is always on the job and takes a great deal of care to make sure each job meets his standards from
start to finish. What do you offer clients? We take pride in offering a service which is punctual, friendly, informative and high quality. We aim to leave every job as dust free as possible, and to leave our clients happy with the final result and their experience with us. You specialise in eco-friendly floor finishes … What are those, and how are they eco-friendly? We are one of only a handful of floor sanders in Australia certified by Livos Australia, a company which supplies natural oil finish with 100% transparency about their ingredients. There are also a lot of products coming onto the market that are low or no VOC, and the options along with new technologies are just growing. There is a lot more interest now about the materials people use in their homes, and the long term effects these have on our health. We feel it is important to be able to offer alternative options if that is what our clients are looking for. Tell us about the machinery you use … We use one of the best belt machines on the market. Lucio loves his Galaxy. All of our equipment is the highest quality, industrial grade, and industry leader brands. Not only because the result is better, but also because there is less dust, and it means we are able to be very efficient. Our customers are often surprised by how fast we finish a job, but it’s largely because of our investment in good machinery. We know how inconvenient getting your floors done can be for busy families or professionals, so we don’t muck
around! Top tips for maintenance after restoration of a timber floor? 1. Keep the grit off - vacuuming or sweeping regularly, especially under mats, can add years to a timber floor. 2. Water and harsh chemicals are not friends to you timber floor, no matter what finish. Keep them dry as much as possible (outside the bathroom and at the kitchen bench can be the biggest problem areas), and when mopping use a damp not wet mop, and minimum cleaning product designed for timber floors. 3. This seems obvious, but it’s one that is often forgotten: put felt protectors on your furniture legs, especially dining chairs and stools; I see a lot of floors destroyed by chairs! Can the colour of hardwood floors be changed? They sure can. We specialise in custom stains and washes, always creating samples before the job begins so that we get the colour spot on before we start sanding. Stains are generally from browns to black, antique brown being one of our most popular stains. Lime washing is not done with traditional lime wash anymore; it is actually a white wash with colour options from blue to grey to pink and anywhere in between, with a clear coat over the top. It’s a really great way to lighten up a space, or give that spacious coastal feel. We also have a process we are introducing which involves bleaching the timber. This is really useful when you have a dark timber
and want to lighten it up or bring it back to a workable base to then be able to lime wash. Can you tell us about any of your recent work? We recently restored the Tallowood floor at Port Macquarie Steiner School. The floor hadn’t been sanded in many years. It was very dark and beginning to splinter, which is not uncommon for particular species of timber. We used a very low VOC waterbased finish for particularly highly traffic floors. It looks and feels great, as it retains the natural appearance and feel of untreated wood, without changing the raw colour of the timber. The almost invisible layer is also extremely scratch resistant, and slip resistant, which is of course important in a kindergarten. We really enjoyed helping to create a safe and beautiful learning space. What guarantee do you offer? Our guarantee is industry standard 12 months workmanship. Our floors should last as long as the guarantee from the finish used. If there is an issue, we fix it. We guarantee our workmanship from the start to the finish. Check out our online reviews through Google and Facebook. Where should we go for more information? Our Facebook page is great for up-todate photos and our latest projects, and we are excited to announce that we will be launching Coastal Eco Floor Sanding’s new website on the 13th July. Keep an eye out for it! www.facebook.com/ecofloorsanding/ www.coastalecofloors.com.au Ph: 0477 695 878 Greater Port Macquarie focus 87
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Greenbourne nursery.
• a SpeCial FocUs FeaTure •
Kristin and Paul have owned and operated Greenbourne Nursery in Wauchope for 12 months now! The local nursery has prospered via their management skills and the introduction of new plant varieties and garden care products. Chrissy Jones chatted with Kristin about their first year in business at the helm of this iconic Wauchope business. Tell us about Greenbourne Nursery; what is your main philosophy? Our nursery is your traditional garden centre. We have a wide range of trees, shrubs, seedlings, pots, water features and giftware. We stock large numbers of different plants, to make planning your garden with us a breeze. Our philosophy is to offer our customers good quality products at country prices. What do you offer customers? We offer extensive plant knowledge, with qualified horticulturists available seven days a week. Our staff have come from all different working backgrounds and can help you plan your new garden or update your old garden, with expert advice and knowledge on what will grow well in your area. We also offer customer service which is second to none.
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Do you have a specialty? Our specialties depend on the time of year. At the moment we have seed potatoes, bare-root asparagus and rhubarb corms, as well as a huge selection of quality seedlings. We also offer a 50% off pots shed, for great value pots all year round. Any tips for gardeners to help their plants through the winter period? It’s the time to prune your roses and give them a good spray with lime sulphur; this helps to burn off any loose scale or bugs that have been living on the plants. Prune back to about 1/3 of your rose, leaving good structure in your shrub. Envy is a great product to help protect your plants through the frosty months; this increases frost tolerance by 4 degrees. Also, protecting your plants from the harsh elements with tree protectors will help them through the winter.
What do you have in the nursery at the moment? We have just received our first batch of roses for the season, with hundreds more to come in the next few weeks. Deciduous trees have also started arriving, with everything from fruit trees to ornamentals.
with new stock arriving weekly; we have something in our nursery for the whole family!
You have introduced new lines at the nursery; what are some of those? We have just become a stockist for Lawn Solutions Australia, so we are now selling DNA certified Sir Walter, as well as other varieties of turf. We have also broadened our succulents range and try to stock as many different varieties that are available.
Winter is upon us, but spring will be here before we know it. How can we prepare our garden - any tips? August is a good time for tidying, planting, pruning and soil preparation, which are all important jobs and best done now. Pull out all of your winter weeds while the ground is still nice and soft and the roots are shallow. Mulching can be done now, to ensure you retain that moisture in the ground when the weather starts to warm up and suppress any new weeds. Ensure you leave a few centimetres around the trunk of your trees, to avoid any rot.
Indoors we offer a huge selection of giftware,
Thanks Kristin.
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• A SPECIAL FOCUS FEATURE •
Are you looking at purchasing solar from a company from “out of town?” Read this before you do!
he biggest difference between the quality of solar installers is the company you choose; rest assured, you are choosing wisely with SolaXs.
You should consider the local first. Buyers can often be “dazzled” with cheap prices being offered by companies from out of town. The price might be cheap and the products may be good quality, but that is only half the equation when it comes to your solar choice.
If you get a quote over the internet or via email, don’t you want someone to visit your home first? We are amazed by people making such a large investment in their home allowing people from hundreds of kilometres away to turn up to a “site unseen”. In the event of an issue or problem with your system, can you be guaranteed that they will send those same installers hundreds of kilometres to service the issue? Unlikely, says the team at SolaXs. The price might look good, but think twice about having warranties that will actually be honoured
by the retailer. Who are SolaXs? SolaXs is a LOCAL solar and renewable energy business taking pride in delivering the highest quality products at the most competitive prices, backed up with the highest level of customer service. Solar is still a solid investment. Most systems have a pay back period of three - five years and a solid rate of return of around 25% - won’t get that in the bank!
SolaXs were great to deal with, from quote to install and back office. Friendly,
professional, efficient, knowledgeable and helpful. Arrived and
completed as promised, were happy to explain all as the job proceeded and left the site neat and tidy ... - Vic.
What do SolaXs offer? We use the latest and most advanced solar products available on the market in Australia. Our solar panel and battery systems come from some of the biggest brand names in solar, including Solax Power, Zeversolar, LG, SMA, REC and Jinko Solar. Our solar and renewal energy business provides the highest quality solar PV products at the most competitive prices for both residential and commercial use.
We handle all the Essential Energy and Metering requirements, and we even have finance options!
Not only do we supply solar and battery storage solutions, but also scaleable commercial solar systems, upgrades and repairs, battery retrofits and all associated general electrical work. Our services are comprehensive: from grid connect solar, hybrid solar to battery energy storage. Plus, our maintenance, repair and upgrade service is second to none.
Why choose SolaXs? Enjoy peace of mind by dealing with one person from start to finish - a local who knows the area and is only a phone call away in the event of a problem or the need for a prompt site service. Our happy customers are the best indication of our professional, personal service; our client testimonials on our website back this up. How do we get in touch? It’s easy! Check out our website solaxs.com.au and fill in the enquiry form and we will give you a call back; phone Terry on 1300 585 877; email: terry@solaxs.com.au or call into the shop at 14/10 Bellbowrie Park, Port Macquarie. The shop front is open Monday to Friday 9am to 5:30pm and Saturday to Sunday 9am to 4pm.
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JULIE HO FROM PORT MACQUARIE LANDCARE
Creating a
community at the
retreat JESSIE O’CONNOR
landcare. update Red Listed Meeting a Whale Shark face to face is unforgettable. Just last month I was privileged to swim with these rare creatures - the world’s biggest fish, as big as a bus. Wow!
T
hese gentle animals wear beautiful dappled patterns. Each one is unique, and scientists tell them apart by using the kind of algorithms developed for astronomy.
Where they swim in the waters of Ningaloo Reef there is very little plastic litter, and that’s important for Whale Sharks, because they are filter feeders. Plastic never degrades in our oceans, and it injures marine creatures that swallow it. So Whale Sharks are relatively safe in Australian waters, but their numbers worldwide have halved in the past 75 years - and this is continuing. They swim vast distances and may be killed by ship strikes; also, some countries still kill them to harvest their shark fins. Whale Sharks are listed as endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. This list provides the world’s most comprehensive information on the global conservation status of animal, fungi and plant species. Australia’s role is to maintain existing protection for Whale Sharks here, while working to increase their protection throughout the Indian Ocean and Southeast Asia. This is intended to enable the Whale Shark population to recover, so it’s no longer a threatened species. Another special Australian on the Red List is the koala. IUCN says it has declined by 28% over the past 18 - 24 years, which is three koala generations. Current threats include habitat loss and modification, bushfires, disease, and drought. Climate change is expected to worsen koala population decline over the next 20 - 30 years, and during this time threats will increase (http://
www.iucnredlist.org/details/16892/0) The number of mature koalas is declining. Koala subpopulations are declining. Here, we still enjoy living among koalas, and their popularity contributes lots to our economy. Surely we can take responsibility for our local subpopulation of koalas? To help koalas survive in our forests and in our suburbs, we should retain the best food and shelter for them: old native trees. And planting more native trees will also benefit us, with shade and free natural “air conditioning”, as trees lower the surrounding temperature by several degrees. In our suburbs, Landcare plants local native trees and understorey plants to close gaps in wildlife corridors. Your garden can be part of this network of vegetation that connects up the bushland.
It says a lot about Port Macquarie that someone who has lived in exotic locations like Mexico, Japan and Canada was excited to take up her latest role here!
J
essie O’Connor is the proud says. “Bringing Jessie on-board to provide Community Manager at The management support was another positive Retreat by Gateway Lifestyle, after step for this community.” spending her career working in One of the things Jessie enjoys most about hotels her role is helping create across a community where the world, including residents can enjoy living. a managerial role “I love to see residents at Rydges in Port who are making the most Macquarie and most of their lives despite the We’ve just released the recently managing a challenges life throws final nine new homes for restaurant and bar in at them,” Jessie says. The Retreat, and have Japan. “I find that incredibly already had a lot Gateway Lifestyle inspirational.” of strong interest. CEO Trent Ottawa Mr Ottawa confirms says most residents The Retreat has always are looking for a low had great community maintenance lifestyle spirit. when moving into a Gateway Lifestyle “Demand is really building to join this community, and having a friendly, reliable oncommunity, and given we only have eight site team is one way the organisation helps new homes left, we’re expecting The Retreat facilitate that. to be fully occupied before winter is over,” “We’ve just released the final nine new Mr Ottawa says. homes for The Retreat, and have already Inspections can be arranged by calling had a lot of strong interest,” Mr Ottawa Jessie on (02) 6581 1121.
Landcare needs your help to stop and turn around the destruction of trees across Australia. We are one of the world’s worst 10 countries for land clearing, but the only one that’s “developed”. Faced with climate change, it makes no sense to kill trees and thus release their stored carbon. There is even a plan to cut down and burn native trees to generate electricity, although that would release more carbon than burning the same amount of coal. It’s up to all of us! If you are keen to help conserve our local bushland and wildlife, please email us at info@landcareportmac.com.au Contributed by Julie Ho. Greater Port Macquarie focus 91
Greater Port Macquarie
Whether it is a new home, home renovation or largescale commercial project, Joyce Constructions always delivers superior results. A perfect blend of experience and knowledge means that Joyce Constructions can handle any residential or commercial construction project, regardless of its size or complexity. A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF THEIR EXPERTISE IS THE RECENT RENOVATION/EXTENSION CARRIED OUT ON ONE OF THE ORIGINAL LIGHTHOUSE BEACH FRONTAGE HOMES. The scope of the works was complex, taking into consideration the steep footprint, the desire of the owners to have safe access, a stunning outdoor entertaining area and to take full advantage of the magnificent ocean views. Chrissy Jones spoke with local builder Mitch Joyce …
R E S I D E N T I A L , C O M M E R C I A L & I N D U S T R I A L C O N S T R U C T I O N AT I T ’ S B E S T
92 Greater Port Macquarie focus
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F
OCUS is featuring a major extension project you have recently completed in Watonga Street, Port Macquarie this issue. It was a complex project; tell us about the construction… This original 1980s Lighthouse Beach facing development sits on a steep footprint. The owner desired to regain safe vehicle access to the home, garage storage and of course, wanted to take full advantage of the spectacular ocean views. Did you face any difficulties and if so, how were these overcome?
R E S I D E N T I A L , C O M M E R C I A L & I N D U ST R I A L C O N ST R U C T I O N AT I T S B E ST A big concern was the safety of our employees and sub-contractors on such a difficult site. A regular procedure for our company is to invite SafeWork NSW to visit some of our difficult or larger projects, to make sure they are happy with our procedures and/or offer us any suggestions to make the site safer for our workers. We have found this a great way to keep Joyce Constructions a leading construction company in our area. How did you achieve the end result? We put together a team of consultants and a strategy to excavate beneath and underpin both the residence and its adjacent
neighbouring properties, to convert an existing dangerously steep access and driveway into a spacious two and a half car garage, with winding and multilevel stair access on to a deck that can support a party that any property would be proud of. In addition, Joyce Constructions had to negotiate access and construct a large piling rig platform and ramps on the adjacent vacant lot that could not exceed 15 degrees slope for 12 m long cantilevered piles, to preserve and support existing in-ground infrastructure that supplies its suburb and ensure no adverse vibration and settlement
to its zero boundary neighbouring properties, all consisting of large masonry retaining walls and conventional construction. The residence had already had significant alterations internally, and with care and precision this site took on a reinforced concrete structure that was witnessed by onlookers through its four-month construction, with no recorded movement or damage to it or surrounding properties. End result - a residence that certainly would not look out of place on any Sydney waterfront property with top harbour views.
Greater Port Macquarie focus 93
About R E S I D E N T I A L , C O M M E R C I A L & I N D U ST R I A L C O N ST R U C T I O N AT I T S B E ST
Tell us about Joyce Constructions … How long have you been operating? Joyce Constructions is a locally-owned business run by a local builder, Mitchell Joyce. Established in 2015 after a decade working in the building industry, Joyce Constructions caters to construction projects across the residential, commercial and industrial sectors. Whether it is a home renovation or a largescale commercial project, Joyce Constructions always delivers superior results. We believe we have the perfect blend of experience and knowledge, that means Joyce Constructions can handle any residential or commercial construction project regardless of its size or complexity and deliver it on time and on budget. You have a talented team; tell us more …
94 Greater Port Macquarie focus
We believe we have the perfect blend of experience and knowledge, that means
builders and earned his Ours is a hand-picked stripes as an apprentice team of qualified builders Joyce Constructions can carpenter, before turning and tradespersons handle any residential or his attention to become supported by a team commercial construction a qualified and licensed of sub-contractors and project regardless of its builder. Born and raised suppliers, specialising in size or complexity and in Telegraph Point, all aspects of building deliver it on time and on budget. Mitch has extensive local across residential industry knowledge construction, renovations and is an accomplished and additions, problem solver; he can commercial and industrial construction and turn his hand to any construction project, small commercial fit-outs. or large. The team at Joyce Constructions are experts Accounts Casey Hyde work tirelessly in the in their field and hands-on builders. Overseeing office making sure suppliers and subcontractors every aspect of a project, the emphasis is on are all looked after for all of our projects. delivering the highest quality end result, each Manager Naomi Otto has 30 years of industry and every time. experience to bring to the Joyce Constructions Director Mitchell Joyce grew up in a family of
team. She is a qualified draftsman with extensive knowledge and skills. Naomi and her husband then moved to Port Macquarie, where she now offers assistance in the office with contract administration, quoting, documentation, client interaction and design advice and enjoys the challenges that the wide variety of work that Joyce Constructions is involved in brings to the table. Foreman/Leading Hand Chris Watt has nearly two decades in the construction industry and has gained a wealth of experience in residential and commercial projects with a range of building companies. With solid training and experience in carpentry. Carpentry is what Chris loves, and he returned to the trade to work with Joyce Constructions as Foreman/Leading Hand. Chris
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most enjoys the diversity that carpentry brings, and seeing the look on a client’s face when they see the end result. Apprentices Ben Cutler, Thomas Rourke, Joel Waters and Jason Ray. We pride ourselves in investing in the future by training carpenters offering a well rounded education on our many and varied sites helping them gain experience in the many facets that carpentry offers. Jason is actually a qualified boiler maker and is retraining as an older aged apprentice so learning carpentry is not limited
to just the young but also the willing. What type of construction do you do? Joyce Constructions have all areas of building works covered, residential, commercial and industrial. Residential new builds to residential renovations, additions and extensions, plus residential multi-housing developments. Commercial new builds to alterations and additions, plus commercial interior fit-outs. Industrial new builds. We have the experience and expertise to complete projects of all sizes and complexities,
putting the same level of care and attention into every project we take on. Our team are committed to making sure every client has confidence in our ability to get the job done to a high standard, on time and on budget. By taking the time to ensure a project has been fully researched, we ensure there are no “surprises” at a later date and that we deliver to exactly what we quote. We offer a full building and tendering service that is based on architectural and engineered plans and Council approval and complying
developments where required. And you can be assured that we communicate with you every step of the way through the construction process. How do prospective clients contact you? It’s easy! Call us on 6581 1643 or 0421 672 258, email us: info@joyceconstructions.com or use the contact form on our website: joyceconstructions.com.au and one of our friendly staff will be in contact. Thanks Mitch.
PORT MACQUARIE
stone experts Tuscany Travertine $59.95m2
Proud Supplier to Joyce Constructions
193 Lake Road Port Macquarie (02) 6581 5066 ambertiles.com.au Greater Port Macquarie focus 95
R E S I D E N T I A L , C O M M E R C I A L & I N D U ST R I A L C O N ST R U C T I O N AT I T S B E ST
FROM COLLINS W COLLINS Design Brief To add a double garage that integrates with the existing dwelling, improves vehicular and pedestrian access to the site and expands on the outdoor living. Design Constraints The site presented a challenge with its steep contours across the frontage - an almost 6 metre fall across the building footprint. Maintaining integrity of the existing dwelling during construction was paramount and, in this regard, the early stages of design required substantial consideration to the engineering
96 Greater Port Macquarie focus
requirements to achieve the desired outcome. The owners wanted the garage addition to blend with the existing dwelling, without having to undertake any significant alteration works to the existing structure. Design Solution Structural integrity of the existing dwelling and avoidance of land slippage was achieved through the construction of bored piers almost 12 metres deep across the entire frontage of the existing dwelling adjacent the proposed garage. Thanks to a helpful neighbour, a temporary access driveway was created on the neighbouring vacant land for
the 25-tonne piling machine to access the site. Minor alteration works to the existing dwelling were required to accommodate the garage addition. These works primarily related to the existing front retaining walls and planter boxes and included some cosmetic works such as re-painting. The garage position provides an almost level vehicle entry from the street, a significant improvement on the previously steep driveway. The covered stair access along the side boundary provides for easy pedestrian access to the dwelling, with the
added bonus of improving security to the home. The garage roof increases the outdoor living area and is seamlessly integrated with the existing deck and internal living spaces. The new outdoor area enjoys expansive views of Lighthouse Beach, with the design style reflective of the existing dwelling and its coastal location. The outcome achieved through the combined team work of the designers, engineers and builders is a well-integrated renovation that has ticked all the boxes for the owners.
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FROM LTS MINING & CIVIL - LANCE TOLONE MANAGING DIRECTOR LTS Mining & Civil was approached by Joyce Constructions to assist in the design and construction of a piled retention system to allow excavation adjacent to a multi storey building, on sloping terrain. This had many obstacles involved, and required LTS, Joyce, and Dale C. Carr associates to work together to a find a way to complete this task in the safest and most cost-effective alternative. As a result, the construction of a secant piled wall, 600 mm diameter up to 12 m deep was constructed to allow the excavation to gain access to a garage at street level. This required LTS & Joyce to work together with geotechnical and structural engineers to design a piling platform on fill and temporary piles, to gain access with our 27 tonne Soilmec SR20 to work in a tight and complex site. LTS is proud to have been a part of such a challenging task, and was able to complete the works with other local businesses, to the highest quality. For more information on LTS Mining & Civil, please visit our website www.ltscivil.com.au
FROM THE ENGINEER: DALE C CARR & ASSOCIATES Every extension or alteration to an existing property has a risk of exposing unknown costs. Even with slope stability investigation, the quest to excavate 6 metres below an existing threestorey residence required an acute understanding of soil mechanics and a level of trust between designer and contractor. Joyce Constructions, Collins W Collins, Dale C. Carr & Associates had already established that level of trust, where every stage needed exceptional communication, experience and detail in the construction and supervision of the proposed garage. The new owners placed their trust in the team to execute the project in a tight timeframe and budget. Enter the experienced Pat Gibson, with an already 15 years long relationship with Dale C. Carr & Associates on constructing large multi-storey and large excavation projects within Port Macquarie. LTS Piling provided valuable advice on piling options to meet an expedited construction program that would significantly reduce the risk of potential movement at zero clearance boundaries, with a secant piling option that alternated grout piles with reinforced
piles. This enabled unconventional but effective bracing to the existing residence with a perimeter capping beam, and a cantilevered support of all the existing retaining walls of the adjacent neighbours. This created a program of piling, shoring and excavation that meant the original 20 week program was reduced to just 12 short weeks, with the December peak holiday rental period deadline being met. This was despite the fact that the unknowns turned out to be the demolition of large concrete beams buried beneath, and the redirection and upgrade of all essential services connected to the property. It also involved a number of temporary and permanent bracing supports, temporary access platforms, with each stage having a potential of great risk to cost and timing. But the residence was sound in its 1980s construction and peer review provided by Regional Geotechnical Solutions led to an excavation strategy leading to a compliant and safe means of off street parking and an exceptional viewing platform over Lighthouse Beach. Dale C. Carr & Associates has been proud to be a part of this iconic development, an original and nonstandard construction.
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CHRIS STEVENS, SITE FOREMAN, BELLA SAID, PROJECT MANAGER, PAUL GREENUP, DIRECTOR OF SUNRISE VILLAGE.
Sunrise Supported Living Village
Expansion Almost Complete!
P
Speaking with FOCUS, Paul Greenup, Director of Sunrise Supported Living Village in Forster/Tuncurry, discusses the exciting expansion.
aul, we hear that there are exciting things happening at the Sunrise village at the moment. Yes, that’s right; the plan to double the size of the village in Tuncurry is almost complete. Stage One comprises 26 new, larger one and two-bedroom villa unit designs, and we are on track to open by early August. Will the new units be as impressive as those in the existing Sunrise Village? Yes, the new units are larger than those in the current village and have high 9-foot (2.7 m) ceilings that really give an impressive feeling of space. The new units being built will feature high quality designer kitchens with lovely granite benchtops and soft polyurethane two-pack finish joinery. The kitchens come with all appliances provided, including stainless steel drawer-style dishwashers, convection microwave ovens, ceramic cooktops and stainless-steel fridges. The laundries feature quality washing machines and dryers already installed. All villas are reverse cycle air-conditioned, and every room has ceiling fans. Every unit has it own private rear landscaped courtyard. What sort of support services will be available to the residents? Naturally all the new residents will be able to avail themselves of all the support services that Sunrise already offer onsite to our existing residents. They can enjoy delicious meals in the community dining room three times a day, seven days a week if they wish, or just once a week if they prefer. Our village bus provides easy transport to all residents for weekly shopping trips and regular outings. The expansion of the village also includes a huge new community lounge room for the enjoyment of all our residents. It includes a cinema and computer kiosk and library and a tea/coffee bar. The new community lounge will
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be connected to the existing community dining more flexible in the way that we provide care to room with a large covered outdoor dining area. our residents. This new lounge will also be used for our regular Most people who live in their own home and exercise classes, craft and games afternoons and currently receive a Home Care Package get a visit painting classes. It is also a lovely space just to from their nurse once a day, or possibly once sit and have a chat with friends over a tea or every two days, usually for one hour at a time. coffee. At Sunrise if our resident is on a care package And Sunrise also provides nursing and like this, we can see them for, say, 20 minutes personal Care in the village? in the morning, 20 minutes in the afternoon Yes, this is what and also 20 minutes in really sets Sunrise the evening. Our residents apart from every other really do love the flexibility retirement village on the that we can offer. coast. Sunrise are fully If you don’t have a care We have some wonderful approved, Accredited package, then Sunrise can new staff who can provide Home Care providers and facilitate your application additional services, from have their nursing team to obtain a Government physiotherapist approved onsite 24 hours a day/ funded package at no cost individual exercises seven days a week to to you. Couples get to and group exercise provide whatever care stay together in their own consultations, massages and and personal services the home, regardless of their counselling if ever needed. residents may need. differing care needs. This means that our Can Sunrise provide residents can receive the high care in the village? care they need in the Yes, we are approved privacy of their own villa unit. It also means that to provide Level 4 High Care. This is the same couples can stay together, in their own home, level of care as you would receive in a high care and each receive any individual care or support Residential Care Facility. It means that for 99% they need. Having this high-level support of our residents, they will never need to move available 24/7 allows a degree of freedom for again. This is very comforting to elderly people. the partner that has low, or no, care needs. They I have heard you can provide a wide range can go out and enjoy a coffee or “lunch with of services to your residents to make life so the girls” for example, knowing that their loved much simpler for them to live at Sunrise. one is being well cared for in the village. This What type of additional services can you can mean a lot to the “carer” of the couple. provide to them? What happens if someone already has a Yes, we are very excited about all the new Home Care Package and they want to move services that we are providing to residents. into the Sunrise village? We have some wonderful new staff who can If you currently have a Home Care Package, provide additional services, from physiotherapist you can bring that with you and Sunrise nursing approved individual exercises and group exercise staff can provide your care in your own villa unit consultations, massages and counselling if ever at a time, and in a way, that suits you. Because needed. Sunrise staff are onsite 24 hours a day, seven We also have Allied Health Services come days a week, it means that we can be much directly to the residents in their own villa, from
doctors, podiatrists, physiotherapists, dieticians, hairdressers and equipment providers (so you can trial the equipment) and any other services the resident may need. We also provide the electricity. We have just installed a very large solar electricity generating system to provide an additional reduction in price on the resident’s bill. Telephone and communication needs are also provided to the residents at greatly reduced prices - both these services negating the need for the resident to deal with a third-party provider. Foxtel TV is available to all those residents who want it at a greatly reduced fee. What do you think is the best thing about Sunrise Supported Living? Oh, that’s an easy one! Love and family. There is a lot of love at Sunrise. Our residents, their family and staff really are like one big family. There is also a very strong connection between all our staff and our residents. Our residents really do appreciate that our staff always go that extra mile to care for them in such a loving and respectful way. Our residents have a very active social life, with regular visits to the village by singers and entertainers, even bush poets! We have regular craft and painting classes and games afternoons. Our “movie and a choc-top” afternoons are always well attended. BUT, by far and away, the best thing about Sunrise is the way that our residents look out for each other; there is a genuine, warm camaraderie between our residents. It is a very happy village. Have the new units been popular? Yes, nearly all the units of Stage One are already sold. There is one of each style of unit left at the moment. We are now taking deposits for Stage Two, which offer a further 13 one and two-bedroom units. Most of our new enquiries now come by “word of mouth”. I guess that really is a true reflection we are doing it right at Sunrise. Thanks Paul.
Pollard Pools and Spas
Real people, real stories, Dallas’ story
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inding Real Relaxation In Her Hot Spring Sovereign™... Dallas had a 23-year career as a DJ, spending hours standing at gigs. That took a lot of energy out of her, and she would come home shattered. She’s also very active, enjoying fishing, paddle-boarding, kayaking and swimming. To unwind, she climbs into her four-person Sovereign spa, sits back, and completely relaxes. That’s just one reason Dallas says the spa was, “The best thing she ever bought”.
spending time with them there. The spa is also the place where she and her husband really connect. They’re both very busy people but when Dallas’ husband gets home from work, relaxing together in the spa helps make sure they really communicate. She says, “It’s better than just sitting in front of the TV. It’s even better than a date out at a restaurant, where many people just end up looking at their phones. I’m guilty of it myself. But when you sit in the spa, you’ve got to talk to each other!”
“After all those hours, you sit in the spa, and it relaxes you totally. It helps you with sleeping too.”
Rain or shine, she and her husband find time to be together in their spa. “If it’s raining, I get the husband to hold the umbrella - that’s him being romantic!”
FAMILY TIME, COUPLE TIME, SPA TIME According to Dallas, the spa is a great way to bring couples and families together. Her grandchildren love to climb into her spa and she loves
THE HOT SPRING SPA DIFFERENCE Dallas and her husband have had a Hot Spring Spa for almost a quarter of a century. Back in
1994, when they sold their house and bought another one, they found they had around $10K left over. It was a lot of money in those days, and they discussed how they might best spend it. It didn’t take long to decide: with their active lifestyles and busy workloads, they’d always wanted a spa to help them unwind at the end of a tiring day. Their search for just the right spa brought them to Hot Spring Spas, where they found exactly what they were looking for - a choice of quality spas that included important safety and efficiency features, like strong, weather-resistant covers. 24 YEARS, AND THE SPA WAS STILL GOING STRONG. Dallas explains that choosing a quality spa rather than going for the cheapest option has saved her money in the long run. Because of its high-quality
insulation and close-fitting cover, keeping their Hot Spring Spa heated day and night has been surprisingly cost-effective, and it’s ready for them whenever they need a soak. “WE HARDLY NOTICED A DIFFERENCE IN OUR POWER BILLS.” For Dallas, the quality of her Hot Spring Spa over 24 years has meant it’s been no trouble to maintain. She says they’ve had only a couple of things replaced, which she considers “pretty good going over 24 years”. Even now, although they’ve decided to upgrade to a six-person Sovereign, she insists there’s nothing wrong with the old one. “We’re building a new house, and we thought yep, it’s time for a new spa!” Now, Dallas and her family are looking forward to another quarter century of relaxation and connection with their new Hot Spring® Spa.
Greater Port Macquarie focus 99
Ask the Fitz
family...
The team at hem on average meet over 500 active buyers each month, providing both vendors and buyers with the area’s most accurate and valuable information on the state of the market. Straight talking, practical advice, unmatched energy and powerful marketing strategies. It’s what we do all day, everyday. However, don’t take our word for it, why not talk to any of our happy clients. happy ever more | 6583 2324 | hemproperty.com.au
"Their professional and authentic approach is a breath of fresh air. They are leaders in the industry, yet still have that wholesome, old school value. First 100 Greaterclass." Port Macquarie focus
Greater Port Macquarie focus 101
Sawtell
C
festival
an you briefly describe the event? The Sawtell Chilli Festival has been an annual event in First Avenue for the past 19 years and now attracts over 13,000 people to the village on the first Saturday of July. The festival features over 100 chilli related stalls offering a variety of foods and flavours from some of Australia’s leading chilli product manufacturers, as well as local restaurants and cafés showcasing their own famous cuisine. Entertainment, music, competitions and giveaways guarantee a great day out for the whole family. Who are some of the vendors we can look forward to seeing? We have so many, that sadly we cannot accommodate all the vendors who wished to be
The Sawtell Chilli Festival will be running for its 20th year in 2018 - IT'S A FESTIVAL THAT'S GONE FROM STRENGTH TO STRENGTH, VISITED BY MORE AND MORE PEOPLE, YEAR ON YEAR. FOCUS had a chat to Kathryn Greenway, to find out more ... part of the 2018 festivities. This year we have concentrated on chilli related products, so there is a huge variety of chilli products and food from all over the country; that is the majority of all vendors. The balance of the stall holders are charitable organisations and community clubs such as Rotary, Lions, Boardriders, Landcare and stalls offering children’s activities. Make sure you arrive hungry, as there is so much to taste and of course, products to take home. Who are some of the music acts and attractions people can look forward to seeing? There are two stages at each end of First Avenue with jam packed line ups. Mayor Denise Knight will open the event at 10am on the main stage, and NBN New’s Kate Haberfield will be our MC during the day. Sawtell Public School choir and dance group
will showcase their talent for us, Magic Mike will be there to entertain the kids, there will be dancers, Zumba sessions, an appearance by Big Dog and the Smurfs. For a small seaside village, Sawtell certainly has a big music scene. We can enjoy the music of KADA, singer songwriter and 2013 finalist in the Music Oz Awards and a proud Sawtell local. There are also bands visiting from out of town. There will be an "Aussie BBQ Great Chilli Cook Off" at 1pm, where celebrity judges will be casting their vote for chef of the day from Sawtell’s very own restaurateurs. Once again we
will have best dressed and best stall announced. Triple M’s Moffee will be broadcasting live from the festival between 9am and noon, adding to the fun and entertainment. Where can we find out more? People can visit our Facebook page to keep up with announcements and news on the event.
Saturday, July 7 from 9am until 4pm on Sawtell’s First Avenue, and entry is by gold coin donation.
Resort-style living for over 55s
Brand New & Pre-loved homes available now Priced from
$380,000
hometownaustralia.com.au 102 Greater Port Macquarie focus
CALL (02) 6580 3000
1A Lincoln Rd, Port Macquarie, NSW
newportvillage.com.au
Visit our website for more information
Greater Port Macquarie focus 101
Warm Welcome Expect a
retreat at the
Peter and Clare Arkley count themselves in the 85% of residents that would recommend living in a Gateway Lifestyle community.
A
s regular holiday-makers in Port Macquarie over the years, they heard about The Retreat from friends who were already residents. Peter and Clare say they moved
Peter says. “Add to that the uniqueness of the
Another reason
houses here; they all have their own character
Peter and Clare
and individuality to suit all tastes.”
enjoy living in
Residents at The Retreat also enjoy a number of
the community
recreational and physical activities.
is the friendly
from Sydney to The Retreat, as it was time to
“From lawn bowls to darts and cards, bingo,
residents.
downsize and they knew Port Macquarie and The
aqua aerobics and line dancing, we have it all,”
“The residents
Retreat would meet their needs.
Clare says. “Everything that you could want is
are warm and
The five remaining modern, purpose built homes
here.”
welcoming,
“Over the past few weeks, demand
with sought-after features like high ceilings
With stunning sandy beaches, including Town
and we’ve met
has really been building to join The
and spacious living spaces provide the perfect
Beach, Flynns Beach and Lighthouse Beach,
so many great
Retreat community. We don’t expect
opportunity to downsize in style.
a pleasant climate, parks and walking trails
people at events like the pot luck dinner.”
the remaining homes to be available for long.”
“We love that The Retreat is so close to services,
- seniors from all over are discovering Port
Gateway Lifestyle CEO Trent Ottawa says The
Inspections can be arranged at any time by
local shops and only 10 minutes to the beach,”
Macquarie is a great place to retire.
Retreat has always had great community spirit
calling Jessie on (02) 6581 1121.
the retreat
104 Greater Port Macquarie focus
The five remaining modern, purpose built homes with
sought-after features like high ceilings and spacious living spaces provide the perfect
opportunity to downsize in style.
and continues to welcome new residents, with all the attractions Port Macquarie has to offer. “With only five brand new, purpose built homes on offer at the moment, this is a great time to be downsizing into a low maintenance lifestyle,” Mr Ottawa says.
Greater Port Macquarie focus 45
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simon REVEREND
chen
Port Macquarie Baptist Church’s new reverend, Simon Chen, has an interesting story or two to share … born in Malaysia, emigrating to Australia, he also spent seven years travelling aboard the ship “MV Doulos”, a floating ministry and bookshop. A LOVING HUSBAND AND PROUD FATHER OF THREE GIRLS, SIMON DOESN’T HAVE A LOT OF TIME TO CALL HIS OWN THESE DAYS … but he’s happily settled into life and his new role in Port Macquarie.
H
i Simon. Where are your originally from? I was born in the city of Johor Bahru, in Malaysia. Its current claim to fame is that it is only 15 miles north of the historic Trump-Kim meeting! My family moved to Malacca when I was only a few months old, and that’s where I grew up. Please introduce us to your family ... I am married to Susanna, who was born in Wagga Wagga but grew up in rural NSW. She was actually living and studying in Canberra when we started going out. We got married in 2011, and we now have three little girls - Beatrix (4), Elizabeth (2), and Catherine (11 months), all born in Dubbo. I believe you spent seven years aboard the Doulos. This must have been an amazing experience! What can you tell us about the ship and your time aboard? During my time on board, I lived with 350 people of about 50 different nationalities. It was an opportunity to learn all about different cultures and languages (and how miscommunication can happen, even though we all speak English!) I spent two years in East Asia, two years circumnavigating Africa, and three years in
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Baptist Church, what do you see as the most Europe. By the time I left, I'd visited almost 60 important aspects of your role? countries in total. Happy to be just known as Simon (or Simmo, Some of my jobs on board included deckhand, if you feel like it)! I think it is important for any on-shore ministry coordinator, on-board pastor to love his (or her) people and preach programmes director, sound engineering, project faithfully from the Bible. As far as possible I management, journalist, press officer, and want to be there for the telephone receptionist. congregation, to be quick I know that the refugee/ to listen, slow to speak, asylum seeker issue is a and to exercise grace as complicated one, but a often as possible. visit to a refugee camp I also believe that everyone has What do you hope to in Djibouti has always a life story; everyone is on a share with the church, been with me. If there is journey. I enjoy listening your congregation, anything at all we can do to people share about and the greater Port to help refugees/asylum where they have been, Macquarie community? seekers, we should do it. how God has worked in I only got to Australia When did you feel the their life ... in 2007, and I feel I call to become a pastor? still have much to learn When I was 15 years about this country. Even old (and still living in so, I sometimes wonder Malaysia). how many of us are driven by fear. Fear of Your career has taken you to a few places, the economy tanking, fear of illness, fear of including Mudgee and Narromine. How long abandonment, fear of losing control. It’s not have you been in Port Macquarie - and how good to be driven by fear. It can cause us to do you feel you and your family are settling make decisions that may be good for us, but not in? necessarily for others. We have lived in Port Macquarie for nine I think Jesus calls us to be more than that. He months now, and we love it. What’s not to love taught us to think of others before self! What about Port Macquarie? Our girls would visit the if we made choices based on how good they beach every day if they could! were for others? What if we all did our best to As the new reverend at Port Macquarie
be ridiculously patient, kind, gracious, forgiving, generous, even when we didn’t feel like it? Wouldn’t that be revolutionary? Personally though (and not that I always get it right!) I believe it is only the power of Jesus working in me that makes it possible for me to do these things. I actually think knowing, understanding and following Jesus is very radical! What are you most looking forward to with your new role? I love Jesus and hope to challenge people to take a fresh look at the man. We often hear about him from others, but we should read about him first-hand. I also believe that everyone has a life story; everyone is on a journey. I enjoy listening to people share about where they have been, how God has worked in their life and reflecting and learning from them. I know you enjoy writing and still write a "Spiritual Snack" for the Narromine News. When you're not running around after your three little girls, what else do you like to do? Being with my wife and girls takes up a lot of time (!) but whatever time I have left is spent studying (I’m a part-time student), reading fiction (sci-fi and fantasy), watching movies, thinking, and playing CRPGs (computer role playing games). I might fish more one day. Thanks Simon. Interview: Jo Robinson.
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1333 Ocean Drive, Lake Cathie