Greater Port Macquarie Focus i163 by Focus

Beric Henderson

June 2019//issue 163

decades TRADE IN THE

2 Greater Port Macquarie focus

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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: 62128786005. Material in Focus is Copyright © Creative House Publications PTY LTD 20052019 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.

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Welcome to the June issue of Greater Port Macquarie FOCUS.

inter sunrises are magical! Rich reds, pinks and filtering out to a haze of mauve, just as the sun clears the horizon … If you miss this part of the morning, then you are missing out on a joyful way to start the day. If you take a magical early morning photo - make sure you tag us in it, and then we can share it on our social channels. There has been much excitement in the FOCUS family this month ! First off we celebrated as Chrissy Jones’ eldest son, Will and his fiancée Brianna were married at Harry’s Lookout, followed by a reception at Port Macquarie Golf

Club on May 18th. Then as we were going to print, we were in preparations for our sales executive Sarah Dunstan to marry her beau, Mitch Baker, in a ceremony and reception at Seal Rocks on 1st June! And you know what follows after marriage … Well, no babies (yet) on the above, but we can confirm there will be an additional girl Gaul and girl Cowan added to each respective family in September. Just lovely! In our June edition, we share our Arts and Culture Feature - full of inspiring artists and creators, plus interviews about the Lower North Coast Dance Festival and the Saltwater Freshwater Aboriginal Art

LEE KERNAGHAN

Award and Touring Exhibition. Following on in the business section of the publication is our Decades in the Trade feature. Our cover models this month are the father and son duo, Warren and Andrew Plowright. Warren has been in the car dealership business since 1987 - go Wazza! And, you can learn more about them on page 73. So, what does it mean to be in business so long? Well, for the businesses featured, it doesn't only mean they've just been around for a while. Some are generational family businesses, and some are businesses that have had to evolve with the changing demands of

HASTINGS CHORISTERS PRESENTS

our town as it grows, but they've all had to innovate, re-create and always stay head of the pack to remain relevant. Congratulations to those who are marketing themselves this month in the feature! And, for a final say on the topic of marketing - a big shout out to our long-time friend and contributor, Jane Hillsdon! Jane is releasing her first book soon How to do Marketing "Regional edition". If you know Jane, then you know she is a high energy dynamo with a true knowledge of marketing in business ... We can’t wait to get our hands on a copy! More info on page 67.

WE’VE GOT TONIGHT TRIBUTE

BACKROAD NATION TOUR

THE PEACEMAKERS

SUNDAY 2 JUNE, 7.30PM

SUNDAY 9 JUNE, 7PM

SATURDAY 22 JUNE, 8PM

Lee Kernaghan is touring the nation with his new album and incredible new show – Backroad Nation! Special guests: The Wolfe Brothers and Christie Lamb.

A massed choir of singers and orchestra will come together from around the Hastings region and across NSW to perform The Peacemakers.

Dean Bourne, Graham Toole & Ashleigh Toole, join together to relive the magic and perform the greatest hits of superstars Roy Orbison, Kenny Rogers & Linda Ronstadt.

ROY ORBISON, KENNY ROGERS & LINDA RONSTADT

glasshouse.org.au

Cnr Clarence & Hay Sts,Port Macquarie NSW 2444

Follow Glasshouse:

GLASSHOUSE REGIONAL GALLERY

Gallery closed on Mondays

@ GLASSHOUSE MEMBERS’ ONLY

SALE SAVE 30% 1-14 JUNE *excludes gallery books and is not in addition to existing Members 20% discount.

Izabela Pluta Reversal Izabela Pluta, Variables (progress image), 2019, photo silk screen on found book and chromogenic print collage. Image courtesy the artist and THIS IS NO FANTASY dianne tanzer + nicole stein.

Saltwater Freshwater Aboriginal Art Award & Contemporary Cultural Objects 2019

Wendy Stokes Within and Between Walking in the Space of Landscape Wendy Stokes, Parallel Notations (detail) acrylic oilstick graphite and progresso pencil on canvas, 204cm x 530cm.

THURSDAY 4 JULY, 7.30PM Five comedians direct from the Melbourne Festival - ONE SHOW ONLY!

Greater Port Macquarie focus 3

contents Issue 163 - June 2019

focusinterviews

feature a special

ARTS AND CULTURE

Consentino.

Cosentino is Australia's number one illusionist, magician and escape artist. A true pioneer, he has carved his niche in the craft and is the face of a new generation of magic ...

feature

Belinda Balding.

Having moved to Port Macquarie just three years ago from Sydney, Belinda Balding is a hair and makeup artist who’s worked on many film and TV productions … and she’s passionate about sharing her skill with the next generation of aspiring artists.

the Usual

Suspects

14. WHAT’S ON for June 20. EAT local restaurants 29. OUT TO LUNCH with Susie Boswell

Heywood & Moore.

32. PALATE PLEASURES with Lou Perri 33. SOCIAL SCENE with Kate Wood-Foye

Brian Heywood and Dawn Moore have a background in music that extends from the U.K., around Australia and to the Greater Port Macquarie area. We find out more about them and their upcoming gigs ...

61. STARGUIDE with Terri Hall 63. TRAVEL THE WORLD with Susie Boswell 65. BUSINESS MINDS with Jane Hillsdon 68. TOURISM with Janette Hyde

110

68. PORT CHAMBER UPDATE with Michael Mowle 108. LANDCARE with Julie Ho

Chayah Australia. The ability to experience the bad and turn it into something positive is a skill local HSC student Nicola Di Bona has in spades … This young woman with the caring heart has created an organisation called Chayah Australia, with the aim of assisting all those who have experienced sexual assault or domestic violence …

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No matter where you are in the world, read Focus for free online every month @ www.focusmag.com.au

Geriatric Evaluation & Management [GEM] Garden upgrade Fred Hynes, Angelo Mifsud, Phil Adams, Donna Munro)

Lions Club If you’re looking for a way to get involved in your local community, talk to the Tacking Point Lions Club. This is an active and busy club that takes on challenges both large and small. Whether it’s infrastructure or environmental projects, creative or administrative tasks, fundraising or simply helping individuals or groups in need, Tacking Point Lions does it and does it well. No matter what your strength, passion, or area of expertise, there’s a way for everyone to get involved. The Tacking Point Lions Club also assists younger members of our community meet personal, athletic, and academic goals. The current Koala Smart project has literally hundreds of children brainstorming a way to slow the rate of decline in our koala population, which may result in some exciting projects in 2020.

Find out more at Tacking Point Lions Information Stand at Port Central on June 14 or at their Cocktail night at Port Golf Club on June 19. What does your community need? How can Lions help? How can YOU get involved? People of all ages and stages of employment should consider. It’s about achieving goals within a time frame that suits you. You too can become a Lion and make a difference locally. There’s great fun and personal satisfaction in seeing a job well done, putting a smile on someone’s face, and achieving a goal that benefits a whole community. Enquiries to Membership Chair, Duncan Wyndham 0418 264 455 Port Macquarie - Tacking Point Lions Club. www.portmacquarietackingpoint.nsw.lions. org.au tackingpoint@lionsdistrict201n1.org.au

Greater Port Macquarie focus 5

focusinterview.

Local artist Beric Henderson has been invited to submit some of his work for "Equilibrium" - an exhibition that highlights global warming and explores how we might go about reclaiming paradise and halting ecological devastation.

Beric Henderson eric was honoured to receive this invitation, which means his works will be showcased to a wide audience. The best part of all - the exhibition is in Venice, Italy, and Beric plans to explore some of the sights while he’s there! Hi Beric. Many would know you from your gallery, Ultragrafik in Port Macquarie. How has 2019 panned out for you and your business so far? It has been an amazing year! I spent the first three months finishing a single artwork I started five years ago. The picture is called Dreams of Utopia and is the largest and most detailed artwork I have ever done - can I plug the limited edition prints now available in my gallery? I supply a magnifying glass, so people can see all the details. Since then I have been planning other exhibitions and creating and selling art. I love the wonderful response of people when they first enter the gallery/studio and see my work. When FOCUS spoke with you in 2017, you mentioned you had a background in science, as you'd previously headed a cancer research team at the Westmead Institute for Medical Research. How do you still continue to merge science with art in your practice these days? When I was a scientist, my art was more about dreams and the subconscious. Now as a full-time artist, the science has returned and is influencing my artwork. My background in biology and genetics definitely helps guide my current artistic direction - exploring our deeper connections with nature. You've been invited to showcase five of your paintings in an exhibition titled Equilibrium at the Palazzo Albrizzi-Cap6 Greater Port Macquarie focus

When I was a scientist, my art was more about dreams and the subconscious. Now as a full-

time artist, the science

pelo in Venice from has returned and is June 1st. What's this inﬂuencing my artwork. exhibition about - and My background in biology and how were your works genetics deﬁnitely helps guide selected? my current artistic direction It’s an amazing opporexploring our deeper connections to look at the source tunity, and I was with nature. material and data for any pleasantly surprised to news relating to scientific receive the email. The issues. The evidence is curator, Mary Patricia pretty clear that we are Warming, is based in Berlin and had seen destroying the planet’s liveable surface, causing my work and invited me to contribute to this directly or indirectly the loss of animal species exhibition about global warming and how we and destruction of forests, polluting the oceans might go about reclaiming paradise and halt and contaminating the air we breathe. Given the ecological devastation. that the world’s population is increasing at the There will be 17 international artists, includexpense of our finite resources - there is only so ing one other Australian contributor - a team of long this can be sustained! engineers and artists from Victoria University in My art addresses some of these topics with Melbourne called Skunk Control, who do large a focus on our impact on nature, such as bee art installations to promote science. Should be populations and germination. My art is also fun! My trip is supported by a grant from the about hope and improving our connections Regional Arts Fund NSW. with nature. Tell us more about the individual works What sites are you hoping to explore in you'll be presenting in this exhibition ... Venice? I am contributing five acrylic paintings on There is so much to see and do. The canvas - four of them I painted recently for the Equilibrium exhibition is run by an independent show. They are all 60 cm high (ranging from team called Art Science Exhibits and will be 45 cm - 60 cm wide) which makes them easier held in an official Biennale venue, the Palazzo to transport, but also means they will line up Albrizzi, so they expect a lot of visitors. perfectly when hung. They are part of my curI will be there for 11 days, and when I am rent Tree of Man series, showing human not at the exhibition, I will be exploring the silhouettes filled with life and elements of city and taking lots of photos. Aside from nature. They are colourful abstract works that networking with the other artists, I will spend are rich in detail and ideas. I like art that is both time at the Biennale, as there is a LOT of art attractive and thought provoking. on display. I also hope to visit the Leonardo da Given your studies and science backVinci Museum and the new Science Gallery at ground, what are some of the key messagthe university. es you wish to convey via your artwork What are you hoping to experience/learn about climate change? from visiting and exhibiting in Venice? It is easy for the average reader to be swayed I went there once before in the ‘90s, so I by the media. As a former scientist, I prefer know to avoid the main tourist areas as much

as possible. I want to experience the history of the city and of course, connect with the other artists. That is really important to setting up future collaborative projects, and not as easy to do from Port Macquarie. I will also document the trip, as I am planning to give a lecture on the art-science experience at CSU during Science Week in August. Once you get over the jetlag, what are you aiming to work on/accomplish for the rest of the year? Busy times ahead ‘til Christmas - immediately after I get back, I need to finish a large lightbox design for the Artwalk Festival in Port Macquarie in July, and install a new group exhibition with local and Sydney artists called Supernatural in my Gallery (opens 18th July). Beyond that, I still have some new works to complete for my upcoming exhibition Symmetry of Nature, which opens at the Glasshouse in November. Excited about that one! Where can we find out more about your work/contact you? I am usually at my Studio at Ultragrafik Fine Art; come visit me there at Shop 4 in the Colonial Arcade (Hay Street end, opposite Bookface café), Port Macquarie. Opening hours and images of my work are on the website at www.ultragrafik.com People can learn more about me and my art at www.berichenderson.com I can be contacted at beric@ultragrafik.com or phone 0438 511 871. Thanks so much for the interview! Thanks Beric. Interview: Jo Robinson.

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focusinterview.

COSENTINO COSENTINO IS AUSTR ALIA'S NUMBER ONE ILLUSIONIST, MAGICIAN AND ESCAPE ARTIST. A TRUE PIONEER, HE HAS CARVED HIS NICHE IN THE CRAFT AND IS THE FACE OF A NEW GENERATION OF MAGIC. COSENTINO TAKES HIS AUDIENCE ON AN ENTHR ALLING JOURNEY OF MAGICAL MYSTERIES AND INTENSE ESCAPES WHICH TWIST YOUR VIEW OF REALITY, LEAVING YOU WONDERING HOW IT WAS POSSIBLE FOR ONE MAN TO ACHIEVE.

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ou’ll be coming to Port Macquarie for the Luminosity Youth summit in July. Let's take it back to the beginning of your career - where did your passion for magic begin? It started when I was a 12 year old boy - I was very shy and a bit introverted. I know everyone probably looks at footage now and goes, “Oh yeah - sure, very shy!” I had a lot of learning difficulties; I didn't learn to read at all until I was 12. I’d sit up the back of the classroom and avoid being asked questions, because it would look silly if I gave the wrong answer. I basically disguised my learning difficulties. But, my mother was (and actually still is) a school principal; she knew there was something wrong, and that I’d basically fallen through the cracks. She tried to encourage me to read. If you’re not good at something, you don't want to do it at all. You start to give up … but, my mother knew I’d fallen behind, so she took me to the library which is the last place you want to be if you can’t read! I looked at books with pictures, and I stumbled across a book called the Encyclopedia of Magic, that was beautifully illustrated and had these great posters of very famous magicians, like Houdini and Devant. My mum and I borrowed the book, and she read me stories and escapades about the adventures of Houdini, how he went to Scotland Yard, escaped from gaol and performed for royalty. It was fascinating! In the back of the book were magic tricks. My mother would read the tricks to me, I would look at the illustrations, and then I’d try the trick. It was this approach of reading, analysing and physically applying the principle that was the key. This was the ingredient that was missing for me before the physicality. I was able to understand what I was reading, as opposed to just listening to a story. Through this I slowly began to read. Of course, reading is linked to writing and spelling, so it boosted my confidence, and it was if a weight was lifted off my shoulders, because I didn’t feel stupid anymore, and I also gained a very unique skill - magic! I wanted to make things appear and disappear and all kinds of crazy stuff … I had no intention of being a magician, I didn't think I’d be on TV, and I didn't think it was really cool to amaze people - it was all about reading Houdini’s stories. I became obsessed with it! The first trick was actually for my father, who was a structural engineer; I made a 20 cent coin disappear for him. In my world as a little boy, my father was a genius - he made bridges and buildings and did complicated

focusinterview.

mathematics. I made a coin vanish, and my father actually asked how I did it. You can imagine … as a kid who was so shy, picked on and bullied, to be able to amaze his own father - this was a huge transfer of power. Magic, to some degree, is a bit about power - it's a power play. My last few shows with Sony pictures were called The Element, where I'm supposedly controlling Earth, wind, fire and water. As a kid who could clearly “control” the elements - I learned how to eat fire, do tricks with ice money and all these other things were very empowering. How do you prepare before you go out to perform? It's a long process. My new tour has been two and a half years in the making. Each illusion, each effect, each trick, takes three months of prep - or six months for an escape. You come up with an idea, then you do the experiment, try different things; you go down to Spotlight and Bunnings and buy sticks and bits of fabric and make a little mock up, and then you do a prototype and go to aluminium welders and engineers, and they give you aesthetic and structural drawings - I’m lucky, my father does them for me - and you get electricians involved … So, you can see this is a process in itself! You practice it, and if it doesn't work - you start again. By the time you get a working apparatus together, you then have to add the choreography, music, lighting - and practice. It’s a huge undertaking to just put together a 90 minute show. Once you've done each individual piece and there are about 12 - 15 pieces per show - then there are rehearsals. I have a studio in Melbourne, which we call “magic land”. We have a stage with curtains and lights, and we keep all our equipment there, but I basically rehearse as if I’m doing it for a real audience. I have the stage and space to do this, as this facility is purpose-built. It was my dream as a kid to have my own warehouse, where I could do all these things - I’m blessed that I’ve been able to achieve this. I go through the motions of putting the show together, bring the crew in, and we slowly build the show bit by bit with lighting, sound etc. And then we do what I call “saturation rehearsals”, until everyone is so sick of it and bored, they can do it with their eyes shut … that's where I want to be! If things go wrong, I want us to know how to perfect it. It’s the same with any craft - in order to be good, it’s got to feel natural. So with all of these escapes and illusions and magic that keeps the audience enthralled, what part is your favourite (and why)? What I love about my craft is achieving.

I love the creativity, I love the idea that you can think of something that’s impossible … in the new tour, I'm walking through a steel plate, like a door frame. I love working it out, prototyping … not wanting to make comparisons, but it's very Ironman, or Batman-ish. I experiment late at night in my studio, I tinker, I run down to Bunnings and say I need a hinge - it's a lot of experimenting! I love the idea of being creative, but then of course, the reason why you do all this in the end is so you can perform it in front of an audience. What is amazing for me is seeing the reaction on the audience’s faces. It doesn't matter what country I’m in! I found this out two years ago, when I filmed at an international show for Asia - the reactions are universal. I remember being in the Philippines and doing magic for some homeless children. I remember seeing them on the street, so I went up to them and performed, and their reaction was so wonderful and refreshing and honest. Two days later, I performed the exact same trick for the Malaysian Princess, and believe it or not - she had the same reaction. You practice it, and if it doesn't Magic transcends work - you start again. By the cultural, social, economic time you get a working backgrounds … it brings apparatus together, you you back to this childlike then have to add the wonder, and that's a choreography, music, wonderful thing … lighting - and practice. Do you think - without It’s a huge undertaking to just I come from. A lot taking offence - that put together a 90 minute show. of the time people you would almost be say, “You went on a little bit on the “mad Australia's Got Talent, scientist” side with you got lucky and some of this stuff? famous, and people know who you are” No offence taken, and yes, because in but that's not the truth. It’s about hard work, order to create the impossible, you've gotta it's about grind, it's about 15 years prior to do things nobody else has done before. get to where I want to be, it's about a lot Therefore, you’ve gotta go to uncharted of rejection, it's about getting back up and territory and think, “Why hasn't it been done sharing that and speaking with people and - I need to do it” - and you have to be mad letting them hear that your story is powerful to be able to do it. … But also, more importantly, understanding As a kid growing up, I was always the that your past does not equal your future. outcast. I was a little bit left of field, and I I was a kid who could not read, I stumbled hated that so much as a kid - and now, the across a magic book, it transformed my life. I worst thing you could say to me is, “You’re learnt how to read, I now (without trying to very ordinary”. I don't want to be ordinary! sound conceited) am a best selling children's I want to be extraordinary, I wanna be author. If you had said to me that one day I different, and I want to be mad. would have my own children's book series, You’ll be attending the Luminosity Youth Summit in July, which is a presentation I would have said, “No way, because I'm for youth aged 15 - 25 in our local area. the kid who can't read and doesn't want to What inspired you to come on board as go near a book”. So, that's an important one of the presenters? message - just because you don't like You can probably hear in my story that something now or are not good at it now, it there are so many parallels; it makes sense doesn't mean that's going to happen in the to talk to young people and explain where future.

As a kid growing up, I was always the outcast. I WAS A LITTLE BIT LEFT OF FIELD, AND I HATED THAT SO MUCH AS A KID - AND NOW, THE WORST THING YOU COULD SAY TO ME IS, “YOU’RE VERY ORDINARY”. I don't want to be ordinary! I want to be extraordinary, I wanna be different, and I want to be mad.

Things change, and sometimes we get stuck in this mindset of, “Oh I'm not good at it, and I'm never gonna be good at it” - so that's important. My story in itself, I think, is powerful and shows you don't have to follow a traditional path. That was really tough for me, because when I started doing magic, there wasn't really an industry - there was no one to benchmark … If you’re a singer, you could say, “I want to be like Kylie Minogue”, or, you could say, “I want to be an actor like Hugh Jackman” - there's an industry; you can go to school for it. There wasn't for me; I had to be a pioneer, because there wasn’t a blueprint. So, to get out there and to share my message and say, “Listen, things can be done” - it’s hard, not easy, but that's a key point too. Reaching out to young people - it’s the same reason I wrote children's books. It’s a real passion of mine - I wish someone had spoken to me like this, to be perfectly honest. It's really important, and I feel honoured I can do it … Thanks Cosentino. Greater Port Macquarie focus 9

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Beach to

Ball

Mary Laing drops by while travelling to fill us in on the latest info about the Beach to Beach Shared Pathway Project (B2B), which aims to complete a safe pathway for the Dunbogan, Laurieton and North Haven communities beside the Camden Haven River. B2B will be hosting their second ball on June 15 as a fundraiser … the theme is “celebrity” - so dress yourselves, and your table, for a night of fun!

i Mary. Thanks for taking the time to answer my questions while you’re travelling overseas! What’s your involvement with the Beach to Beach Project? I have been involved with the Beach to Beach Shared Pathway Project (B2B) for the past five years, firstly as a concerned resident wanting safe pedestrian access along the Dunbogan side of the Camden Haven River, then as B2B evolved, I became the Fundraising Coordinator and the Treasurer. We have held many fundraising events, including movie premieres, high teas, Melbourne Cup luncheons, BBQs at Dunbogan Boatshed, and an outstanding international ball. On June 15, the second “Beach to Beach” Ball fundraiser will be held at Laurieton United Services Club. Please remind us what the ball is raising funds for ... Beach to Beach is a community driven project to raise funds for a much needed shared pathway to bring safer pedestrian access and connectivity between Dunbogan, Laurieton and North Haven communities. We are working closely with Port Macquarie-Hastings Council to bring this project to fruition. So far there has been approximately 2 km of 12 Greater Port Macquarie focus

pathway completed. Where can we purchase tickets? What time will the ball commence ... and what You may purchase your tickets direct from the activities are planned? Laurieton United Services Club. The tickets are Doors will open at 6pm for a 6:30pm start. There $60 p.p. which includes a complimentary drink on will be champagne and refreshments on arrival, arrival, two course meal, entertainment by The Roys, followed by a delicious two and an opportunity to win one of course meal, with the President the five lucky door prizes, valued and guest speakers presenting. at $100 each. There will be lucky door prizes Final say … and an auction on the night. The Camden Haven THE B2B BALL HAS A We have been lucky to secure community has been very CELEBRITY THEME, local Crescent Head band The supportive of this project, WHERE YOU MAY Roys, who will play great covers COME DRESSED AS A and I would like to take this music that is sure to get the CELEBRITY, MOVIE STAR opportunity to thank everyone dance floor rocking ‘n’ rolling OR THEIR CHARACTER, who has donated in any way, all night long. SINGER ETC. YOU MAY whether you have donated a What’s the theme/dress code ALSO DRESS YOUR TABLE prize or helped with organising for the night? UP WITH YOUR THEME! the event, auctioneering etc. A The B2B Ball has a celebrity very big thank you! At this point theme, where you may come in time we are very grateful to dressed as a celebrity, movie have received auction items from star or their character, singer the following sponsors: High Adventure Air Park, etc. You may also dress your table up with your Camvet, Camden Head Pilot House, Diamond Waters theme! Retreat, LUSC, Dunbogan Boatshed. On the night we will be awarding prizes for best dressed male, best dressed female and best dressed Thanks Mary. couple and table. Interview: Jo Robinson.

Greater Port Macquarie focus 11

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TACKING POINT

LIONS CLUB BOB FORSTER Tacking Point Lions Club has been providing service to the Port Macquarie community and beyond for over 21 years. From supporting the leaders of tomorrow through our youth programs, to rallying together in times of natural disaster, Lions are making a huge difference in our community. Current president Bob Forster talks to us about Lions' role in the community and the projects they work on.

ou're the current president of the Lions Club; how long have you been involved with the club, and what are your responsibilities? I have been in Lions for nine years; the last two years have been with Tacking Point Lions. My wife, who is also a Lion, and I moved down from Armidale in March 2017. When looking into which Lions Club to transfer to, we had very clear views as to the sort of club we were looking for - that is, a Lions Club that was active in the community, strong and vibrant. We were told that we should consider Tacking Point Lions Club, as it was very energetic. We discovered that this was an understatement. A Club President is akin to the Chief Executive Officer, maintaining good governance. I preside at all meetings of the board of directors and the club. I also have a duty to issue the call for regular meetings and appoint the committees of the club, while cooperating with chairpersons to ensure regular functioning and reporting of such committees. I believe that it is important to appreciate that the Club President has no absolute authority. The President’s authority to act comes from directives from the board of directors and the members. However, most importantly, the Club President leads and guides the club as part of a team that includes the Vice-Presidents, the Club Secretary and Treasurer. How does the Lions Club help our community, and who benefits? Tacking Point Lions Club has been providing service to the Port Macquarie community and beyond for over 21 years. The

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club has always been immersed in community initiatives and has cooperated with and assisted, many local organisations. In addition to serving locally, we support five global service areas: the environment, diabetes, childhood cancer, vision, and hunger. Our strength comes We look for projects that are from our members, within our capabilities and are who are just ordinary locally based that will add partnering with other people doing extraordivalue to our community groups within the comnary things - supporting as a whole. We like partnering munity, such as Coastal people with a disability, with other groups within the Warriors, headspace etc. community greening, community, such as Coastal What makes the lions fundraising for worthWarriors, headspace etc. club different from othwhile causes, just to er organisations, and name a few. Also, in how do you see the part, our strength comes club growing/expandfrom the fact that Tacking in the future? ing Point Lions Club is a part of the larger Lions Firstly, 100 per cent of all funds raised by Australia and Lions International Lions, regardless of the appeal, is put back into organisations. the community. Lions have a proud history of What community projects does the club achievement and helping the neediest in the get involved in, and what are you looking community. Think about disasters like the for when you take on a new project? current drought and the Queensland floods; LiThe types are projects that we get involved ons were there helping in practical ways. Think with are many and varied; by way of example, about the Bionic ear, the Cervical Cancer vacGaol Point, Exercise Stations on the Doctors cine Gardasil, Fred Hollows; Lions were there Walk, Lighthouse Beach Park, gardening service in the early days funding research and health to the Women’s and Children’s Refuge, provistrategies, long before they became housesion of university scholarships to disadvantaged hold names. Think too, about the local parks, local students, the GEM Ward Garden and the monuments, sporting centres and facilities built Paediatric Therapy Playground at Port Macquaby Lions Clubs; built by people who saw a need rie Hospital, just to name a few. and got down to the job of meeting that need, We look for projects that are within our with their ideas, skills and labour. capabilities and are locally based that will add Our club will continue to grow by partnering value to our community as a whole. We like with other community groups and taking on

projects that are relevant to the community, such as our Koala Smart project. The Koala Smart project is a good example of us partnering with others in the community. What type of people are your members, and how can new people get involved? Our members come from all walks of life, including agriculture, education, business, health, public service, construction, technology and many others. As a member of Tacking Point Lions Club, you will find that there is a variety of club projects that enable all members to be involved and to contribute only as much time as they have available. I am saying that if you are new to the Port Macquarie area, then volunteering is a great way of contributing to your local community and giving something back, as well as learning more about it. If we have an idea for a project, how can we let you know about it? We love to hear from the community; the best way to do this is via email at tackingpoint@lionsdistrict201n1.org.au or if you see us out and about, just come and talk to us. Thanks Bob.

Greater Port Macquarie focus 13

focus_Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s On Greater Port Macquarie

J U N E

2 0 1 9

Let It In Workshop

Hosted by Guy Lawrence Page and The Hollow Store. A proven meditation practice to help cultivate change in your life. A proven workshop demystifying meditation and neuroscience to create transformation from the inside out. What you will learn: - Create the future you want on your terms. - A proven meditation practice to help cultivate change in your life.

Club North Haven On Ice

- How to cultivate belief in yourself and then act.

Club North Haven are transforming a bowling green into an ice skating facility for the period of 5th - 21st July. Bringing winter to North Haven - all ages can attend, with plenty of accommodation available. There will be a minimum of five one hour sessions available each day, with a maximum of 50 people on the ice rink at any one time.

- Live with courage and not let doubt or fear hold you back. - Tools to quieten and focus the mind. - Move through negative emotions and create more joy in your life. - Develop and tune in to your intuition. When Sunday, June 16, 10am - 3pm.

When Friday 5th July - Sunday 21st July. Annual event 9:30am - 8:30pm.

Where The Hollow Store - Shop 2, Murray Street, Port Macquarie.

Where Club North Haven - 1 Woodford Road, North Haven.

Tickets $89. Bookings www.letitin.com.au

Contact (02) 6559 9150 contact@clubnorthhaven.com.au www.clubnorthhaven.com.au

Term classes

After School Art Fine art classes at The Seed provide an environment of expressive and creative innovation in a friendly, relaxed environment.

Lions Club Member Drive We want to know - what does your community need? Where Information Stand at Port Central. When June 14th, 9am - 4pm (outside Target).

14 Greater Port Macquarie focus

The After School art program is designed for students in primary school, aged six to twelve. They will be introduced to and explore the styles and works of specific artists. Students look at and interact with famous artworks, learn and practice the techniques involved and create their own artworks in that style.

Billy Boiling Races and Damper Cooking Competitions

Hosted by Creek to Creek Queens Lake Trail and Kew Hotel.

When Offering term classes or drop ins.

On the 29th June from noon, Creek to Creek will host billy boiling races and a damper cooking competition at the Royal Hotel, Kew. Billy boiling heats will be run, and the winners of the heats will win a prize and have their time recorded for the prize for the fastest male and female.

Check website for class bookings. 3:45pm - 5:15pm.

Damper cooking - plain, savoury and sweet categories.

Where The Seed Creative Workshops, 44 Gordon Street, Port Macquarie.

Great prizes and great fun to be had. Try your hand at either or both. Stew and damper is on the menu, so come along for dinner and make a night of it. Live music is also on offer.

Their projects explore a wide range of mediums, including drawing and charcoal, paint and texture, clay and wire sculpture, layering and collage and more.

Contact 0422 036 948 info@theseedcreativeworkshops.com www.theseedcreativeworkshops.com/book-online

Where Kew Hotel, 2 Ocean Drive, Kew. When 29th June at 8pm. Cost Free.

focusinterview.

It’s Alice in Wonderland … but not … quite … as you know it! Melbourne City Ballet will present this enchanting not-to-be-missed production (with a completely Aussie spin) at the Glasshouse as one of the stops on their huge tour. We were able to chat with the Mad Hatter for a few minutes between performances … Meet Tristan Gross, who explains just how much fun it is to dance on the beach - with teabags!

i Tristan. Please share a little of your career background, and explain how you became involved with the Melbourne City Ballet. I was introduced to Melbourne City Ballet around when it first started, back in 2014 - I went and did a few classes there while I was still training. Between then and now, I did an apprenticeship with the West Australian Ballet, and I went to work for the Royal New Zealand Ballet. I’m back in Melbourne now, and I messaged Michael Pappalardo [Artistic Director] and asked if I could come and work for him. So, here I am now! What do you most enjoy about being a part of the Alice in Wonderland production? I enjoy the humour - there are a lot of little quirky bits in this production, which make it enjoyable to perform. This ballet is for kids to enjoy - but there’s a lot of humour and jokes which I find quite funny too! How much fun is it to play the "Mad Hatter" - and what do you appreciate most about this character? The Mad Hatter has his own little “thing” going on … I can be dancing, and then I might find something on one of the props and go, “Ohhhh … I really like this!” I can actually take this character and interpret him

differently every time, which is always good fun! There’s so much room to build on this character … I mean, the Hatter is mad! I feel like I need to change my performance each time, otherwise it could all get a bit stale. It always keeps things interesting and new! This must be a bit of a laugh for the other performers at times too? (Laughs.) Yes! I may suddenly pop up behind one of them, with a “Helllooo!” and they’ll have a bit of a jump fright and wonder where on Earth I came from! How technically difficult is your role to dance in this production? I think it’s difficult, because even though I’m having to goof around - it’s still ballet, with its patterns and correct technique, being conscious of your hands and feet … whilst trying to be silly! That’s actually quite challenging sometimes. The costumes look fabulous. What are yours like to wear and perform in? The opening costume is quite easy; it’s rather traditional, with a shirt, tie and vest … but when I have to put on what almost looks like a ‘20s swimsuit, it really changes everything! The hat really gets me (laughs). It’s a normal wide-brimmed hat, but because this production is set in Australia on the beach, we’ve done a take on the cork hat. But, instead of corks, there are teabags! They always make me laugh, because there’s

I enjoy the humour - there are so much I can do with - just told a different a lot of little quirky bits in this them. I can make a cup of way! production, which make it tea with my hat! Why would you enjoyable to perform. But those teabags flying encourage locals to This ballet is for kids around … they sometimes come and see the to enjoy - but there’s a lot of hit me in the face! It’s all performances? humour and jokes which I ﬁnd fun though. It’s just a lot of fun quite funny too! How closely does … it’s for kids and the story line for this adults alike - everyone production resemble laughs and enjoys it. Lewis Carroll's original People are allowed book? to laugh at this The production starts as the normal “Alice” production. story, with a garden party and everyone having On stage we’ve heard a few in the audience a dance and a picnic, Alice sees the white say, “Shhhh … don’t laugh!” But, we want rabbit, goes down the rabbit hole, there’s everyone to laugh - it’s supposed to be funny! the doorway scene … but instead of finding It’s also an opportunity to get out, gloves and a fan, she finds a pair of sunnies! experience the arts, and there’s always that This leads her on to the beach. idea that when you go to the ballet, you have Once at the beach, it becomes very the chance to dress up, enjoy a meal before different. We wanted to keep this a shorter or after the show; it’s always nice to make a ballet for the kids, as longer productions can proper night of it! become a bit tiresome for the younger ones Thanks Tristan. - so there are a few characters we don’t have Interview: Jo Robinson. due to time constraints - like the Caterpillar. At the beach, instead of flowers we have synchronised swimmers, and the knave (who’s actually a lifeguard) has to come and save Alice from a rip in the water. Alice in Wonderland will be performed at It’s very comical and quirky, and a whole lot the Glasshouse on July 20, at 7:30pm. of fun. Visit www.glasshouse.org.au or We’ve managed to keep the essence of the www.melbournecityballet.com.au story, though - just minus a few characters. for tickets and details. The moral of the story is very much the same Greater Port Macquarie focus 15

focusinterview.

Italian cuisine

Osteria Papazzo Alessandra hails from the city of Naples, Italy, and now calls Port Macquarie her home. She shares with us her passion for traditional Neapolitan food and her local business, which serves up dishes that are true to her roots.

lessandra, can you tell us a little about where you grew up and how you came to be here in Port Macquarie. I was born and grew up in Naples, but I have been living half of my life abroad and have been travelling a lot for work and passion. All of my family and best friends are in Naples and all around the world. I met my husband, Christian, in Byron Bay for the first time six years ago, then in India the second time when we were both practicing Ashtanga Yoga. Since then, we have been together. I moved with him to Byron in 2015, and last June we decided it was the best for us to move down here in Port to raise our son and restart our life. How long have you been cooking traditional Neapolitan food in a commercial sense? For 15 years on the side of career jobs in big companies like Yoox, Tods and Google. What is an Osteria? In Italy, an Osteria is a convivial place where you can taste traditional meals and local specialties - wine and simple food - served at shared tables, enjoying the company of friends and family in an intimate atmosphere that feels like your grandmotherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s home. I always loved the warmth and the love behind this way of serving meals and creating a culture with food. What are some of the traditions when cooking in your culture? Singing and dancing while cooking. Slow prepping and slow cooking with lots of love, patience, passion, humility and hand-making. Be generous with the ingredients, above all when using extra virgin olive oil. Where did you learn your recipes? From my grandma, Nonna Mena, my first mother-in-law Rosetta, my super chef Aunty Anna, and lately my mother Maria Cristina. I come from a big family of cooks. How easy is it to source the right ingredients here in Port Macquarie? We have been really lucky to find some amazing local suppliers in Kenny Little's, Gourmand Ingredients, Colonial Quality Meats, Port Fresh Seafood, just to name few. You have been hosting some pop up dinners. Can you

16 Greater Port Macquarie focus

tell us about the food truck and how it got started? I have always been cooking and delivering food since a young age; I always dreamed of having a mobile vehicle that would allow me to spread my food creations. When we moved to Port, due to several reasons I felt the urge to finally create my own mobile restaurant, my mobile Osteria. I felt here it was the right place to finally give birth to my dream. A chef we knew from Byron, where we used to live, happened to sell her food van that we always loved, so we thought I have always been cooking that the universe was and delivering food since sending us the message to a young age; I always start now. dreamed of having a mobile Why do you love hosting vehicle that would allow me and cooking? to spread my food creations. Cooking and hosting is an act of love for me. Through the cooking I am able to bring to life all my curiosity and creativity about food and keep the connection to my roots alive. Hosting is a celebration of life, and to me, life has always been a precious gift to celebrate, every day. What is your favourite dish to cook? the authentic Italian gourmet street food nights; no preTraditional Neapolitan meatballs with tomato sauce. booking, everyone is welcome, where we serve traditional Where can we find your next pop up? Neapolitan meals in a street food way. On Friday 7th June, We have few different types of pop up events, happening we will have our second street food night, and the next a few times in a month. Firstly, our pop up dinners and pop up dinner on Friday 21st June, both held at beautiful lunches - they are an authentic intimate food journey into Bandwagon CafĂŠ. We are really grateful to the owners of the Neapolitan/Italian culture, with very limited seats, preBandwagon, Tash and Dano, who have believed in us since booking, all the meals handmade, hand-crafted, included the beginning and continue to support us. the soundtrack, created just for the event, and lots of storyThanks Alessandra. tellings - they're very special, magic events. Then we have

Greater Port Macquarie focus 17

Balding

18 Greater Port Macquarie focus

focusinterview.

Above: learning makeup artistry at TAFE with Nicole.

Makeup artistry by Kay Alison. Pic by Lindie Kolver.

Having moved to Port Macquarie just three years ago from Sydney, Belinda Balding is a hair and makeup artist who’s worked on many ﬁlm and TV productions … and she’s passionate about sharing her skill with the next generation of aspiring artists.

elinda taught some exceptionally creative students at TAFE, and she’s very proud of their work and the amazing talent she’s found here in Port Macquarie … Hi Belinda. What brought you to the Port Macquarie area, and how long has it been home? I’m still a newbie - it’s been just three years in May. I have a friend of 20 years who moved here 15 years ago; we had worked together in makeup a lot down in Sydney. I used to come up to visit her sometimes, so I was familiar with this lovely part of the mid North Coast. Nicole is one of the Makeup and Beauty Teachers at TAFE, and they were looking at starting a new course in Specialised Makeup for Film and TV. She asked if was I interested. It came at a good time; I hadn’t long returned from a TV production job in the Northern Territory and was back into the “Freelance inner-city congested Sydney life”. Over the last 15 - 20 years, travelling around the country and to overseas locations has been wonderful, although I was looking for a bit of “get out of the city” sea change. Outback Australia can do that to you; sitting under our magically great southern land stars you can find yourself reflecting on your life, where you started from, where you arrived, and what next adventures the universe has planned for you. Please share a little of your backstory with us; how did you first become interested in hair and makeup, and where did you study/ learn many of your skills? A lady I met and assisted in doing makeup with, Pat Woodley (famous for being Miss NSW and Miss Australia in 1951), ran a model and talent agency in Sydney - this is going back 25 years ago. Pat planted the seed: “Why don’t you go and do a makeup course, so you can work in TV and film?” It was like a light bulb moment, and YES, I was so keen to do this!

At that time there were only two schools around - there are now about 10, Film Makeup Technology schools, including ACMUSE (Australian College of Makeup and Special Effects.) I loved it so much! After completing, I started working in a portrait photographic studio for a few years; I learnt from the hairdressers there how to style hair. Seeking more film and TV connections, I went along to the Australian Film, TV and Radio School (AFTRS) and volunteered to work on many of their short film productions; I did about 10 15. And, it was through those connections and networking I started working on paid jobs that led into advertising, TV commercials, TV drama and films. I have also done many short courses over the years; you can never stop learning new ways of doing things to fine tune your skills. What have been some the TV and film productions you’ve worked on, and who have been some of the people you’ve worked with? Such a variety of fabulous and different TV and film productions, including at least a good 60 - 70 TV commercials over the last 15 years, where I fond yourself working with sports legends and media personalities. There were quite a few music film clips for well-known Australian artists - John Butler Trio, Guy Sebastian, and Bliss N Eso recently, just to mention a few. Then there were The Wiggles and Leo Sayer - they were fun days indeed. I’m credited in a lot of productions that can be found on IMDb. What are some other projects you’ve worked on that you’re most proud of? I am proud of them all. To choose just a few would be difficult, as they are all so different. Even just some of the short films I’ve worked on were so brilliantly created and executed, from Writer/Director/DOP/ Wardrobe/Makeup. It’s such a massive teamwork environment. It’s very satisfying when the production is completed.

Balding Makeup artistry by Mikaylie Gooding.

8MMM Aboriginal Radio was one of them - a black comedy TV Series for the ABC and NITV shot in the Northern Territory about tolerance, self-determination and cultural understanding and why when all else fails, it’s good laugh! You’ve spent some time teaching and passing on your skills to others we well. How much did you enjoy this process? I very much enjoyed teaching at TAFE, inspiring and sharing my knowledge and experience, so that students can go on to carve out their own journey and career in the creative arts industry, or wherever they choose. It’s just a shame this course is no longer offered, due to the low number of student enrolments that TAFE has been experiencing over the last number of years, because of funding cuts. I also enjoyed finding opportunities in the community to allow students to go out and do work experience and network. Nicole and I have often been approached to put together a team of eager, in-training makeup artists to assist with events such as the NAIDOC Week Fashion Show in Kempsey, SES Casualty Training, and a few TV commercials shot here in Port. This is why I’ve included photos of students’ work with this interview; there are some really great emerging artists in this small town who need the opportunity to showcase their fabulous work, more than me. You’ve spent some time at the Koala Hospital recently at their Open Day, bringing joy to the youngsters there with your face painting skills. What plan do you have, if any, to engage in more public or street-style artistry? I’ve been a volunteer up there for the last 12 months actually working in the Kiosk, meeting all the wonderful local and international tourists who come there to see our koalas and the great work the hospital does to educate and raise awareness of the plight of the koalas. It’s been such a refreshing experience; I feel blessed to have been a part of this community of dedicated people. It’s completely different from my usual

line of work. When I was asked if I knew any face painters for Open Day, I replied, “No, but leave it with me, and I’ll put together a team!” So, Nicole and I managed to recruit some eager artists to assist on the day, and three local photographer friends - Lindie Kolver, Peter and Nic, who set up a small photography booth. Such an enjoyable was day had by all. Given it was at Easter, there were a few more very keen artists who weren’t available. I didn’t do much of the face painting on the day; I just came up with some concepts for designs we would use, and then on the day managed the crowds in the general public space, “Parents and Kids”, while the team did the artistry work. What do you love most about what you do? Everything! Meeting and working with all passionate creative production teams, the variety of people,personal and professional, and of course, travelling to amazing locations - both interstate and overseas. Doing makeup and hair, and contributing and sharing in the joy that makes people feel great about themselves. What would you like to achieve creatively and personally in the next few years? No major future plans at the moment; I’m at peace with what I’ve achieved creatively and personally. Given I am now in Port Macquarie, I'd love to connect with other creatives and collaborate with ideas about what we can do. Call me crazy, but I like to see other people happy and succeeding now at this stage in my life. Life is a journey, not a competition. Maybe with all the film and TV connections I have made over the years I’ll have a go at putting on a new hat and being a Producer/Director for a short film or doco about the Koala Hospital in Port Macquarie … Now, that’s a great idea! Where can we find out more about you and your work? Email belinda.makeup@gmail.com or you can contact Nicole Lorch at TAFE: nicole.lorch@tafensw.edu.au Thanks Belinda. Interview: Jo Robinson. Greater Port Macquarie focus 19

Photo: Lindsay Moller Productions

Glacier 51 Toothfish with shitake suimono, zucchini, black rice wafer, dill, daikon, enoki crisp, gai-lum from The Stunned Mullet. 20 Greater Port Macquarie focus

250 gram Filet Mignon encased in bacon, hasselback potatoes, beans and Bago Bluﬀ tomato relish

800 g Ranger Valley Wagyu Rump and house chimichurri served with sides

Aqua at The Westport Club

The Kove Kitchen at Panthers

Waterside dining featuring a fresh, seasonal menu. Sitting in the warmth and comfort of Aqua restaurant overlooking the sparkling Hastings River, sets the scene for what is to be a culinary experience available to all. Embracing the products that the season has to offer and showcasing them in each and every dish. Our favourite this month is a tender slow cooked Ranger Valley Wagyu rump to share, served with your choice of sides. A simple combination that warms the belly and when accompanied with a gorgeous glass of Reserve Shiraz and handmade dessert, your night will be complete. As the season changes, bring your dinner parties and celebrations to us, where you can enjoy that relaxed catch up with your special friends and family. With large tables accommodating parties of up to 12, make your reservation today so you can Relax With Us at Aqua.

A standout on the Kove Kitchen menu is out 250 g Filet Mignon. This mouth-watering fillet steak is encased in bacon and served with hasselback potatoes, locally sourced Bago Bluff Tomato Relish, beans and you can choose from our selection of sauces, which include peppercorn, mushroom, diane, gravy, béarnaise or hollandaise to accompany this flavoursome dish. Our chef will cook this tender fillet to perfection, and you will not be disappointed by the succulent taste or excellent quality of this marvellous mignon.

HEAD CHEF JESSE MCGARRITY

25 BULLER STREET, PORT MACQUARIE (02) 6588 7201 WWW.THEWESTPORTCLUB.COM.AU LUNCH 7 DAYS 11:30AM - 2:30PM DINNER 7 DAYS FROM 5:00PM

HEAD CHEF ADAM LOVETT

Whether you are visiting the area or are a local, you can take in the water views from our Kove Kitchen and enjoy your dining experience in a relaxed atmosphere. 1 BAY STREET, PORT MACQUAIRE (02) 6580 2300 WWW.PORTMACQUARIE.PANTHERS.COM.AU OPEN 7 DAYS. SUNDAY - FRIDAY: 12PM - LATE, SATURDAY: 10AM - LATE. BREAKFAST 8AM - 12PM SATURDAY AND SUNDAY.

Freshly baked scones

Hastings Coﬀee Co. at The Westport Club

Saltwater Wine Espresso Bar

Serving the best tasting coffee for the town with great taste. Start your day with a steaming cup of barista-made coffee and freshly baked banana bread, and we guarantee you’ll leave with a warm, snuggly feeling, like you’ve just had a big warm hug! Our pastry chefs work hard to ensure the cabinet is chock full of sweet treats made especially for your morning or afternoon tea. Try a coffee éclair, lemon tart or an old favourite, our freshly baked scones with jam and cream. Our convenient location offers undercover parking and plenty of indoor, sunny seating with a lovely Hastings River outlook – When you Relax With Us you might even be lucky enough to spot a passing dolphin. Hastings Coffee Co. is open from 8.00am daily and trades late for dinner Wednesday to Saturday. Bookings are not required for Hastings Coffee Co., so pop on in and enjoy the warmth The Westport Club has to offer.

You might have noticed a new face around the Saltwater Wine Café on Horton Street lately - that would be Minnie - acting Café Manager while Lorissa is away on maternity leave. Minnie completed her Cert 3 in Hospitality through a traineeship at Salty Crew Kiosk, where she continued to work for the last three years. Whilst with Salty Crew she had the awesome opportunity to learn from the coffee gurus at Clandestino Coffee in Noosa. Now Minnie is excited to be a part of the Saltwater Wine Team, where she can continue to share her love of great coffee and healthy food with people who love the beach lifestyle. Give her a visit and welcome her to the team! Follow @saltwaterwine_cafe on Instagram for updates on their ever-evolving menu of delicious drinks and eats.

25 BULLER STREET, PORT MACQUARIE (02) 6588 7201 WWW.THEWESTPORTCLUB.COM.AU BREAKFAST AND LUNCH 7 DAYS FROM 8AM, DINNER WEDNESDAY - SATURDAY FROM 5PM - LATE.

107 HORTON STREET, PORT MACQUARIE (02) 6584 0084 9AM TO 4:30PM, MONDAY - FRIDAY, 9AM TO 2:30PM ON SATURDAY, AND 10AM TO 12:30PM ON SUNDAY

Greater Port Macquarie focus 21

Selections from our brunch menu: Corn Fritters, Hotcakes, Belgian Waﬄes, Tasting Plate.

Middle Rock Pizza and Eatery A delicious brunch menu and yummy fresh baked goods paired with locally roasted Holy Goat Coffee, as well as our ever popular pizzas and pastas, with a few sneaky specials thrown in! Middle Rock Pizza and Eatery at Lake Cathie is the favourite go to for something sweet or savoury!

2 for 1 * coffee

Mention the dining guide to receive a free garlic baguette with any large pizza purchased.*

*Voucher valid for card holder only. One voucher per person. Offer valid for dine in only. Card holder must purchase one regular coffee to receive their second regular coffee for free. Cannot be used with any other offer. Valid until 31st March, 2019.

*Limit one per customer, offer ends 30th June 2019. Cannot be used with any other offer.

HEAD CHEF/OWNER IAN MARTIN

6585 5566 Shop 5/1613 ocean Drive , Lake Cathie open Wednesday to Sunday 7am till 1pm - 5pm till 8:30pm

SHOP 5/1613 OCEAN DRIVE, LAKE CATHIE. (02) 6585 5566 OPEN WEDNESDAY TO SUNDAY; 7AM 'TIL 1PM - 5PM 'TIL 8:30PM.

Chicken Supreme

Drift Bar.Café. Restaurant

Drift is a place we have created with you in mind … Our new season menu is almost here; look out for a new direction incorporating all the elements we love about the colder months. Our mission is to bring you simple food done well. With that in mind, we are introducing a variety of warm and hearty dishes to the new season menu that will make your tastebuds sing. Try our lunch and dinner menus today and be sure to catch our constantly changing specials board. New menu commencing 11th June 2019. Weekly specials include: $20 Steak and Schooner Sunday. $20 Chicken Schnitzel Tuesday. $20 Proper Roast Thursday.

HEAD CHEF ANDY WHITEHEAD PORT CITY BOWLING CLUB, OWEN ST, PORT MACQUARIE 6583 1133 WWW.PORTCITY.COM.AU LUNCH 11:30AM - 2PM AND DINNER FROM 5:30PM.

22 Greater Port Macquarie focus

It’s been a few years since his last local food venture, but local lad Adam Roberts comes home after travelling the world in recent years to establish "Cue Deli Barbecue Café" in Port’s industrial area in mid-June. We have a quick chat with Adam to find out where he’s been, what he’s done, and what’s next for one of Port Macquarie’s best-travelled foodies.

ey Ads. You spent a few years around the food scene in Port Macquarie with your food truck Yankee Deli around five - six years ago, and then dropped off for while. What have you been

up to? I loved my food truck, Yankee Deli, which was such a cool project and it really was a great foray into the food industry. I sold that venture to concentrate on my role as a Councillor and Deputy Mayor of Port Macquarie and also help establish (with good mates Jay Beaumont and Jess Pryles) the Australasian Barbecue Alliance (ABA), a non-profit association promoting woodfired barbecue and barbecue contests across Australia and New Zealand. Looking at your recent social media posts, you’ve competed a few times, with some success. You’re also a cookbook author! Tell us about your personal barbecue journey. In the first couple of years of competition barbecue in Australia, I was stuck in the back office as an adjudicator, making sure everything ran as smoothly as possible, as other teams competed for some awesome trophies and prize money. I’ve always loved cooking and really wanted to give competitive barbecue a crack, to see how I fared against the best in the country. I worked extra hard to help train up our adjudicators to a point where these folks could run a contest themselves, which allowed me have a go at competing myself. It took me a while to get a hold on the flavour and texture profiles the judges were looking for. Over the last 15 or so barbecue contests I’ve competed in, I’ve taken home a trophy almost every time I’ve competed and am currently ranked 23 in Australia - one of the highest ranked solo-cooks on the competition circuit. Aside from competing, I also travel Australia and New Zealand teaching classes on woodfired barbecue, and in 2017 wrote an cookbook called Ribs, which just won a Bronze Medal for

BBQ Book of the Year 2019 in Kansas City, USA. My buddy, Jay Beaumont and I also filmed a documentary series on barbecue called Beyond the Flame, which racked up over a million views online, and we won a Gold Medal for the World Barbecue Series of the Year in 2019. The new venture is called Cue Deli. Where did the name come from, and what are you offering customers? Years ago I had the food truck called Yankee Deli, which was a tribute to the American food truck scene. I always wanted to open my own deli after visiting some of New York’s finest delis and food trucks, and the deli part just stuck with me. Barbecue is the underlying focus of the new menu and when shortened, reads "Cue". Cue Deli is a natural progression from Yankee Deli, and the new menu has expanded to take in South, Central and North American barbecue, grilled or fried menu items. The new menu includes Southern fried chicken burgers, pastrami, brisket, smokey pulled pork, Cuban sandwiches made with barbecued lamb and some Tex Mex. It’s all about the most tender, flavourful and succulent meat dishes you can find! When do you open, and who'll be helping? We’re kicking off just after the long weekend in June on the site of what is currently known as The Cox Plate in Acacia Ave, a couple of doors down from the Black Duck Brewery. I have a good buddy of mine, Garry Waddel, formerly of Grumpy’s Butchery, who will be helping produce all of our own in-house menu items, including our signature beef and pork sausages, pastrami, fatty bacon, barbecue smoked hams and low 'n' slow chopped beef, pork and grilled minted lamb. We’ve got a comprehensive eat-in and to-go menu and will be making fresh sambos and wraps daily for our corporate clients. We’ll also have a range of barbecue cuts that people can purchase to low and slow or grill on their own barbecues at home. Good luck, Ads. We’ll be around in mid-June for a barbecue feast. Greater Port Macquarie focus 23

Club North Haven

lub North Haven provides year-round activities and entertainment for residents of the Camden Haven and visitors to the Mid North Coast of NSW, and there will be no exception in July, when they transform one of the bowling greens into an ice skating facility for the winter school

holidays. What a great idea for families! When and where will the sessions be running? The ice skating rink will be open from Friday 5th July to Saturday 21st July, which basically covers the July school holidays. It will be set up on the bowling green next to reception at Club North Haven, each session will run for one hour, and we can accommodate for up to 50 people in each session and five - seven sessions per day. The ice skating will be available all day, starting at 9:30am and finishing after dinner at approximately 8pm each night. How did you come up with the idea, and what was involved to get it all started? This event has taken approximately two years to put together, and the same set up has been used in shopping centres and carparks. We thought it would be perfect to set up on a bowling green, as it is extremely level and has a great amount of space, which can be utilised for seating and other events. Who can attend? The great thing about the way this ice rink is set up is that people from as young as three can participate by just wearing sand shoes and strapping the skates to the shoes. There will be 200 pairs of ice skates in various sizes available, so no one will miss out and for the novice or people a little unsteady on their

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feet, there will be penguins that you can hold on to for extra balance. How can bookings be made? We have had a great response so far, with vacation care centres booking full sessions from as far south as Pacific Palms and as far north as Kempsey. To make a booking you can come to the club and book at reception, or you can simply call reception on 6559 9150. There

will also be plenty of information on our website and of course, social media. Ticket pricing is $16 for children and $20 for adults; however, if you are a member or join the club, you will get a discounted price. We also have a great promotion for those people who join the club; apart from getting some great discounts, they will also go in the draw to win a holiday for two to Queenstown, New Zealand, plus $500 spending money.

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Britton With THE MELBOURNE INTERNATIONAL COMEDY FESTIVAL ROADSHOW SET TO VISIT IN EARLY JULY, we thought we should check in with one of their stars to ﬁnd out a little bit more about them and the show - meet Nikki Britton!

ou started out as an actor and exploded on to the comedy scene in 2011. How did that transformational crossover happen? I always had been cast in comedic roles in acting and to be honest, I was at a BBQ with some friends, clearly drunk telling a story, and a friend said, "You should go in a stand up comedy competition". I said, "Absolutely not - not in a million years"! And then she sneakily went and signed me up for it, and I thought ... well, OK - you only live once. I did the competition, and I’ve kept doing it and getting work ever since. Having gone into those competitions and won, how would you describe for those who haven't seen you what your comedic style is like? It's very energetic, very warm; there's very little filter. A lot of it is observational and personal stories ... Yeah, absolutely no filter. It's been described as sharing a bottle of pino with your best friend. You're touring widely with the 2019 Melbourne International Comedy Festival Roadshow. What are you looking forward to most about this tour? I love meeting the audiences afterwards, and I love figuring out the quirky little things about each town that we rock up to; it's just really lovely. I guess content on the tour is important. Do you find you're picking up stories and bits and pieces along the way? If you go to one really quirky town, do you talk about it the next night? Absolutely! I think there's a really lovely healthy rivalry between neighbouring towns

You can't make this stuﬀ

in regional Australia, so this. up! So, a lot of stuﬀ it's always really fun to It was phenomedoes come from the drop in the next town nal; the reaction and outrageous things along or the town we responses I got over that happen in my were in the night before there were probably life and a lot of people after just for a bit of context better than I’ll ever shows will go, 'Did that really and any local references have in my career happen - are you really?' always go down really again … It was incredwell. ible. Obviously you would If you're going have some sort of outto have a stab at line or script of where you're going to go Australia in general, what's your go-to within the show; would that be right? funny? Roughly - yeah! If I'm gonna have a stab at Australia ... Oh Where is the most interesting place man, I don't really stab! I'm so self-deprecatyou've performed? ing and, if anything, I'm the opposite of the The most interesting was probably India comedian who stands on stage and rips sh*t ... Yeah, it was wild! It was actually with the into the audience. I'm kind of like a humorMelbourne Comedy Festival Roadshow in ous life coach ... India. It was really lucky; we went there two Do funny things usually happen in your years ago and performed in the Bengaluru life that you can create stories out of? Comedy Festival and then all over, Delhi, To be honest, I wish that I could just have Hyderabad, Mumbai, Goa. a quiet, normal life - ha ha - stuff just keeps And cross-culturally, do people laugh happening to me, and I feel compelled to at the same things - or do you have to share this on stage. adapt it to their culture? Like, the other night after a date, a man I think certain styles of comedy lend themdropped me off, and I stepped out of the selves to a cross-cultural enjoyment, and a lot car and into a dead pigeon! I was trying to of my stuff is sort of about human experiencmake a good impression on a first date, and es and human bodies and human feelings, I squealed - and there was a pigeon attached so I think there was a lot that we shared and to my foot. You can't make this stuff up! had in common. So, a lot of stuff does come from the outraIt was a really interesting situation to be a geous things that happen in my life, and a lot white woman of a certain age speaking perof people after shows will go, "Did that really sonally about sex and things; it was quite emhappen - are you really?" And I say, "I prompowering speaking about sexual desire and ise you from the bottom of my heart that it openly speaking about the female experience. all happened". It's a blessing and a curse. It That's happening over there; it's starting to certainly works for comedy. come through, but it's still a statement for a Who do you look up to and admire as a woman to stand on stage and say things like comedian?

I grew up watching Lucille Ball, and I love Lucy, so you know the type of comedy she would have with just a facial expression ... I think again some of that transcends cultures and generations, which is amazing. Then, I love Hannah Gadsby, I love Maria Bamford, Michelle Wolf. Fast Five with Nikki ... For breakfast I eat ... Anything. Secretly I love ... A quiet night in. My go-to one liner is ...That's what she said. Don't talk to me about ... Women in comedy. My dirty little secret is ...There's a rat living in my apartment at the moment, and I’m having to live with my mum. We're going to be able to see you at the Glasshouse when you come through regional NSW. Any last words you'd like to add? Everyone on the tour is really fantastic. The Melbourne Comedy Festival do such a great job at hand picking the best acts from a variety of genres with a variety of things to talk about, and there really is something for everyone. It's always a great night. Thanks Nikki.

Catch The Melbourne International Comedy Festival Roadshow 2019 on 4th July, 7:30pm, at the Glasshouse. Visit glasshouse.org.au for tickets and details. Greater Port Macquarie focus 25

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DaN Hopkins

WITH A SOUND THAT DR AWS ON HIS LOVE FOR BLUES, ROOTS AND FOLK MUSIC, BOTH TRADITIONAL AND MODERNDAY, MUSO DANIEL HOPKINS HAS JUST RELEASED A SINGLE, "WHERE MY BABY BELONGS" AND VIDEO FROM HIS FIRST LP. YOU CAN CATCH DAN AND HIS BAND AT VARIOUS GIGS AROUND THE MID NORTH COAST …

i Dan. What led you to settle in the Mid North Coast area? It had been on my mind for a while to move out of the city. I keep saying to people, “I’ve lived through one too many traffic jams!” We looked around and found a property that ticked our boxes. My wife and I were getting ready to start a family, and I thought that if we were serious about moving regionally, the best time would be to act now, not in ten years when the kids were settled at school. Plus, we decided we wanted to be on property, grow veggies and live off the grid. It’s been four years now, and my wife is nearly convinced! I also found a part-time job in my field - I work as a counsellor with vulnerable people in the Macleay Valley region. What's your background in music? I grew up training to become a professional tennis player. I would do air guitar solos to comfortably numb for years, before I ever learnt to play a guitar. Then a mate who started learning got frustrated and said his fingers were too big; did I want his guitar? I was part of a youth church group at the time, and some friends showed me how to play some strummy church standards. Not too long after, we formed a bedroom band called Brown. It was loud and heavy. And, we didn’t have a bass player! Needless to say, we never made it out of the bedroom! A few years later I hooked up with a singer; we had the vision of starting up a ’70s sounding rock band called Halcyon. We did a 26 Greater Port Macquarie focus

few gigs, before the wheels fell off. played drums, Phil Hitchcock played bass, and By 2008/09 I’d continued writing songs, Bernard Smith played lead guitar. having more half-finished songs than There's a video to accompany the single anything. Instead of trying to tell a singer as well! Tell us a bit about that ... how to sing it, I thought I may as well give it Last year I was sick with a tummy bug - so a crack myself. I had to crook I could hardly push through a lot of get out of bed to use personal fear to get to the bathroom, but point where I could put watching a movie was Living off grid and my face on a poster, let effortless. I decided to developing a more alone sing in front of get into some of the sustainable anyone. I often say that old Spaghetti Westerns approach to living a gig is in your kitchen to with Sergio Leone is what I call a the cat, then your mum, directing and Clint different economy. then a friend or two, Eastwood playing the The time I save in traffic is then an open mic. Build lead. A Fistful of Dollars more time I get to spend it from there. was great, because of with my wife and kids. In 2005 I formed a the low budget and band called the Dan editing technique, and Hopkins Band, and we I thought to myself recorded a demo called that one of my songs Silencing Sun. We were pretty naive and the could theme up and team up with a Spaghetti songs were raw, but I was proud we managed Western idea. to have a CD of our work. It took months of letting ideas come In 2010, I decided to go full-time with music together in my mind. I originally asked a guy to learn the ropes. Since then I’ve been fullwho did my clip, Think Twice, from 2014. time and part-time, I’ve done a few courses He’s affordable and great. He recently won at TAFE, sat in songwriter workshops, played an award for doing the documentary film on heaps of gigs. Now I’ve got my own project Radio Birdman. However, I just seem to sit on studio, and I’m recording an album out of it! an idea for a while, and then in a moment - I In May, you released your single, Where see it all in my head! My Baby Belongs. Where was this So, I put the word out to a friend with a recorded? horse, I needed some villains, some guns, It was recorded in my solar powered some cowboy outfits - and some cigars! shipping container studio, called the Blues We spent a full day filming, and we had so Den. It was mixed at Soundshed Studios with much fun! It was creative, and there was no Stewart Peters at Valla Beach. Peter Harries Jr time to get it perfect. Then we sat down for

six hours straight and cut the thing. The single is the first release from your debut LP, Different Economy. When will the LP be released? This album has really been a long time in the making. Some of the songs are six months old, and some are five years old. However, I couldn’t see how I would tie the project together and get a title for it. Then, as I was playing around on my brand new (preloved) Cole Clark lapslide, the idea came. It resonated, because lyrically, it’s the closest thing to where I’m at personally. Living off grid and developing a more sustainable approach to living is what I call a different economy. The time I save in traffic is more time I get to spend with my wife and kids. There are about three songs left to record, and the mixing, mastering, artwork still left to be done. I’m looking for a release date in about three months’ time. What are some of the venues you'll be playing at in upcoming months? I’ve just come back from a run of shows in Southern Queensland. My band, Dan Hopkins & The Generous Few and I are playing at the upcoming Howling Moon Festival in Port Macquarie over the June long weekend with some other incredible acts, and I’ve got a series of local shows following that - including 14th June, at the Port Macquarie Hotel. We’ll be heading down south for some dates in July. Where can we find out more about you? Visit www.danhopkins.com.au or my Facebook page, Dan Hopkins Music. Thanks Dan. Interview: Jo Robinson.

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Out to Lunch

with Susie Boswell

SARAH ROHDICH

Early this year an enterprising quartet of friends pooled resources and took a plunge, opening a factory in Port’s industrial area. Susie ﬁnds a small idea’s looking very big for them and their innovative product.

he 21st century phenomenon that’s the tiny house movement is a repudiation of last-century lust for bigger homes and grand appointments, butler’s pantries and private cinemas. As public taste went crazy for conspicuous consumption, a quiet pushback occurred: a less-is-more move to cheaper, humbler, tiny, housing nevertheless offering many of the amenities of its grandiose counterparts. Tiny houses appeal to the cubby-house kid of childhood, charming in their simple yet ingenious, compact efficiency, challenging how much comfort can fit into how limited a space. A full washing machine and dishwasher in a tiny home? Tick. Glide-out pantry? Tick. Even a convenient laundry chute. Chief among the attractions of tiny houses are their low cost, heating-cooling-maintenance economy, off-grid ability, sustainability, flexibility, and a desire for a less acquisitive, less complicated lifestyle. Less housework! The trend has exploded, spawning TV series, home shows featuring the mini residences/ getawayson-wheels (adapted as holiday rentals and granny flat alternatives), tiny house “estates”

and associations, and multiple websites. Yet it was almost coincidental that Port Macquarie’s Sarah Rohdich and her carpenterjoiner husband Scott aligned with the zeitgeist. Six years ago between a string of forays overseas the couple, expecting their first child (now, their boys are 5 and 20 months), set up on a family farm near Mt Hotham, Victoria. Scott converted a shipping container into a tiny home - uncannily, a rustic version of those they’re producing today. “We wanted something small, to leave our things and come back to, not dreaming it would turn into a business. We love keeping things simple, spending time outdoors; we saved a lot on bills. We were fully off-grid; a great experience.” In a coup of fate, they’d met, and married, in Port. Sarah, with an overseas aid group in Laurieton, went to developing countries on practical projects, a “passion” since once working in the Philippines. “I’d been unaware how much poverty there is in the world, how difficult some people’s lives are, the disadvantages they face - no idea how blessed we are.” Scott was on a working holiday from Northern Ireland. A former housemate there, David Boyd, had married an Aussie and the

men caught up again. Locally, Scott met Sam Verlaan, a surfing buddy and 4WD mechanic. The Rohdichs wanted to move from their isolated alpine location and had “a great community” here; Sam and David were best man and groomsman at the couple’s wedding. Together, the friends formed Hauslein. (Hauslein in German is a cute, diminutive, house, often as portrayed in fairytales like Hansel & Gretel.) “We looked at the growing interest in tiny houses; we’d experienced building and living in one ourselves and with Scott’s background it all seemed to fit. We built a prototype display home, parked in a beautiful setting at Cassegrain Winery. We had open days and were overwhelmed and encouraged by people’s feedback. We took it to the Sydney Home Show; thousands came through, a [massive] response. We’ve since sold that one; we’re doing our first customer build, and another display home.” The four each bring complementary skills to the business, including first-class marketing and customer liaison. They’ve FB videos showing the quality of the chassis, insulation and custom build, VR tours, and at www. hauslein.com.au supply information on

issues such as towing and council regulations applying to the houses’ caravan status. (PMHC has inspected them). Scott, a perfectionist, uses tongue and groove “warmth and character” cyprus pine and superior waterresistant materials internally, Canadian western red cedar and matt Colorbond outside. Info events at the factory have drawn keen interest; another’s planned later this month. “It’s a new concept: we like to help people navigate all the aspects,” Sarah says. “We’ve a lot of people in the pipeline for the second half of the year.” She shows me how a Hauslein cleverly connects to permanent services, or relies on its own water and solar power. There’s extra slideout sitting room space, a drawer dishwasher, in-door “add a sock” washing machine, big fridge - “full-size appliances make it easy to live in a small space” - flush toilet, skirting cavity for brooms and stick-vacs, beds on gas struts for storage beneath. The possibilities of cosy, tiny house living are only limited, it seems, by your imagination. As Sarah sums up: “You don’t need that much to have a full life, joy and good relationships.”

Greater Port Macquarie focus 29

30 Greater Port Macquarie focus

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HOEDOWN BAND

BRIAN HEYWOOD AND DAWN MOORE HAVE A BACKGROUND IN MUSIC THAT EXTENDS FROM THE U.K., AROUND AUSTRALIA AND TO THE GREATER PORT MACQUARIE AREA.

s the Heywood and Moore duo, they’ve performed for British aristocracy, at weddings and festivals - but they’re currently glad to call our little patch of the Mid North Coast home. Now, with their local band members, they’re set to entertain us at various upcoming events … Hi guys. Brian, you're originally from Sydney and Dawn grew up in the UK. How did you two meet? Brian I was putting together a country band in the UK and was looking for a singer to complete the line-up, so I placed an advert online - and luckily Dawn answered. It turned out that she lived just down the road, so we got together and immediately hit it off. Dawn It must have been fate. What was the impetus behind forming the musical partnership, Heywood and Moore? Dawn The band was becoming quite successful, and we were performing at lots of festivals, concerts, parties, weddings - we’ve even done a few house parties for the British aristocracy. This meant that we spent hours in the van travelling to and from gigs chatting about what we could do next … well, I chatted, and Brian listened (laughs). Brian As we’d both had experience of writing individually, creating something together seemed like the next natural step. Dawn To our great joy, it worked - and people really liked our songs too. You've toured in both the UK and Australia ... why did you decide to settle down near Bonny Hills? Brian Although I grew up in Sydney and started my professional music career with the Bluetongue Bush Band there, it’s changed so

much that I couldn’t a lot of people, as it spent see myself moving back seven weeks in the Top AS DAVE RENEKE FROM again. So, when travelling 40 Country chart, saying 2WAY RADIO IN WAUCHOPE around Australia, that it is never too late to PUT IT; 'YOU’RE NOT dreaming about where follow your dreams. COUNTRY, YOU’RE NOT we’d like to eventually Dawn It is so flattering ROCK AND YOU’RE NOT live, we discovered the to find out that people FOLK. I DON’T KNOW WHAT beautiful Mid North Coast enjoy our music. We’ve YOU ARE, BUT I LIKE IT!' - it seemed like a little also had chart success slice of paradise. with a rocking version of Heywood and Moore's Patsy Cline’s Walkin' after first full length album, Midnight and our festive Goodbye Yesterday, was released in 2017. single Headin' Home (for Christmas). I think that What are some of your favourite tracks our sound is accessible to everyone and hope it’s from the album? obvious how much we love what we do. Dawn That’s a tough one; we worked with Brian Our songs range from full on Country so many gifted musicians on it. For instance, Rock and Blues to more reflective ballads. Maybe Second Time Around features pedal steel guitar it’s because we span the genres that we appeal from BJ Cole. He’s worked with such greats as to such a wide age range. As Dave Reneke from Marc Bolan, Sting, R.E.M. and Elton John and 2Way Radio in Wauchope put it; “You’re not was just a dream to work and gig with. country, you’re not rock and you’re not folk. I If pushed, I’d say the title track Goodbye don’t know what you are, but I like it!” Yesterday, which sums up our philosophy Introduce us to the members of your towards life and also reflects the underlying "Hoedown Band" … theme of the whole album - namely looking Brian We have found a great rhythm forwards, not backwards. section based right here in Port Macquarie. We Brian Incidentally this song, along with two have joined up with Christian Shaun on bass others, was recorded at Hugh McDonald’s guitar and Nat Burgio on kit drums, who have (Redgum) studio in Melbourne, and he also both worked internationally. Together, they played on it. This is bittersweet for us, as he help to drive the band’s sound, and we were passed away shortly afterwards. We feel pretty very fortunate to find two such talented and blessed to have the lasting gift of his amazing experienced musicians in our own backyard. talent forever on our album. What upcoming gigs do you have? You've achieved some recognition in Dawn We’ve got an exciting few months Australia, with some of your tracks hitting ahead of us, kicking off with a Hoedown Australia's Country Top 40 chart. How themed Bush Dance at the Conservatorium Mid would you describe your sound, and why North Coast in Hollingworth St, Port Macqaurie do you feel audiences are responding so on Saturday, June 1st at 7pm. Tickets for The well to it? Hoedown on June 1st are available from The Brian Turn the Key must have hit a chord with Conservatorium or TryBooking.com and cost

$10 - kids free - BYO. The following week we head off on our UK/ Eire tour, which culminates in a headline slot at Busfest, the biggest VW camper van festival in the world. We’re really excited, as last year they had over 27,000 campers, so this is probably our largest audience ever. Brian When we get back, we’re gigging in Melbourne, before heading off on a tour of rural NSW, details of which will be on our Facebook page and website. We are also working on our new album. So, busy times. What types of music can we expect to hear at one of your shows ... and will you be encouraging the audience to get up and have a dance? Dawn Our Hoedown parties are a fun mix of up-tempo songs and easy to follow called dances. Brian The songs are a combination of our original music mixed with some classic, upbeat Country Rock and other favourites. Dawn Our aim is for everyone to have a lot of fun, so I try to encourage the audience to get up on the dance floor with me. There is always a huge amount of laughter, a ton of giggles, and many smiling faces. Where can we find out more info? Brian You can keep up with what are doing on Facebook (fb.me/HeywoodandMoore) or Instagram (heywood_moore). You can also find us on the web at www.Heywood-Moore.com and www.HoedownBand.com or email us at info@hoedownband.com if you would like to have a chat. There are links on the website to purchase our music, either digitally or mail order a CD. Thanks guys. Interview: Jo Robinson. Pic courtesy of Christina Jansen. Greater Port Macquarie focus 31

focus_contributor

Port Macquarie Golf Club Port Macquarie Golf Club will be conducting the annual Seaside Classic Tournament from Sunday 28th July through to Sunday 4th August 2019.

FREE finger food will be available at halftime, and the FREE courtesy bus will be operating all night to take guests to and from the club.

Entries are now open, and you can pick up an entry form from reception or download online from www.portmacquariegolf.com.au Be sure to enter early, as spots are limited.

Also, $4 Tooheys New schooners are available every game!

State of Origin is also just around the corner, and all fans are welcome to join us and cheer on their team, the Blues or Maroons.

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Game 1: Wednesday 5th June 2019. Game 2: Sunday 23rd June 2019. Game 3: Wednesday 10th July, 2019.

LOU PERRI FROM THE STUNNED MULLET

The Politics of Dining Hmm, politics … You’ve had enough of it lately, you haven’t. Whatever the case may be, there’s no doubt it’s a tricky old business - no, actually make that a tricky old mineﬁeld … There’s trouble to be found at every turn, unless you’re inclined to tread very, very carefully indeed.

ow fear not, this article is not intended to torture anyone further with politics of the parliamentary kind, but the politics of - you guessed it - the dining table. The recent musings and unpredictability of the voting public has got me thinking about what plays out across dinner tables everywhere on a nightly basis and when you think about it, there are all manner of power struggles, negotiations and downright takeovers going on as we speak. The drama begins to unfold even before you are seated at your table - let us call this phase “bums on seats politics”. So many variables right here - to be seated inside or outside, bench or chair, which way to face, too hot or cold, cushions or not - or even, “Gosh, there’s my boss, need to move to the opposite side of the establishment quick smart”. As I mentioned - minefield, and we haven’t even got the menu yet. Speaking of which - where is it? Cue small talk, fidgeting, really need a drink! Phew, here comes our fabulous knight in shining waiter. Now, brace yourself for the hardcore coalface political stuff … This is where participants remember that dining out in public is a refined social ritual, and one must consider the predilections of one’s dining companions and hosts of the establishment at all times when making culinary choices. It is necessary to suss out the following, all the while attempting not to shove your own preferences down everyone else’s throat (literally). As follows - there’s the old faithful of offering to share dishes (even if you’re a compulsive nonsharer) - to get that “communal” feeling flowing. Then you encounter the time worn dilemma of is everyone or no-one having starters - otherwise

it’s very shady politics indeed if others are left salivating whilst you shovel in your spring rolls. The lovers amongst the group will then wonder - might it be possible to order the same as the other half, as I actually bagsed it first? The answer is definitely no, as it is always protocol to be able to nab a bite or two of your nearest and dearest’s prawn pasta, while they get a minuscule crumb of the parmigiana they actually really wanted. Someone won’t be getting lucky later … The above brings me to my personal favourite - which I refer to as “The Wandering Fork”. This happens when one of your dining companions can’t quite control their fork, and it keeps wandering over to your plate and helping itself to your rapidly diminishing ravioli. Usually this dining companion is that other half who is already in the doghouse, but occasionally it is your mother-inlaw, or a vague acquaintance who’s been hitting the happy hour margaritas a little too hard. Happily, once main courses are consumed, the members of this table are somewhat more chilled out with full bellies and a couple of bottles of cabernet under their belts. To dessert or not is a lesser hurdle for the most part - apart from the chocoholic contingents amongst us who are inclined to take it a little too seriously. Sitting back with an espresso martini, one would think this one’s in the bag - but fear not the worst is still to come … THE BILL. Enough said. This is where the political bloodbath plays out. Not even going to go there, but you get the picture … Luckily for all the participants, the relaxing state of being in a partial food coma helps everyone get through this final challenge. ‘Til next time - and for the record, it just so happens that politics is so much more fun with food, wine, friends and even mothers-in-law in the mix!

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W I T H K AT E W O O D - F O Y E

Arcadia Meldrum & Ruby Simmons at The JB Beach Ball

Lovely Ladies at the Huddle & Craze Long Lunch

Beachin' fun at The JB Beach Ball

JB Beach Ball fun at Rydges

The Berry family and friends at The JB Beach Ball

JB Beach Ball babes

KABOOM ... challenge accepted! Life is like an amazing roller coaster of discovery, and this month I am riding it all the way out of one adventure into another.

hat feels like the saddest of times can make way for the most exciting times, and this month I have said goodbye to some special people who have been on this crazy and amazing journey with me for such a huge part of my working life - that magic space where friends, family, clients, events and career blur and smudge to leave a giant imprint on your heart. Yep, absolute BUCKETS of tears in my final days at the hotels, spattered with huge laughs and a farewell shindig to end all shindigs that celebrated 12 years in the hotel and event biz in our beautiful community … disclaimer … it may or may not have included champagne, more tears, giggling fits and a sneaky espresso martini! I love a good book, and this is my next and newest chapter at Charles Sturt University. I already love the energy, team and possibilities of this organisation and what it means for us as a community. As I navigate my giant learning curve in my new role as Director of External Engagement - I look forward to connecting with you all in the community, partnerships, events, exciting campus developments and beyond … so much to share of what is going on … promise to keep you posted and to catch up for a bubbles at the next event! Apparently dinner in Port Macquarie is now becoming deadly … if you like a sneaky side dish of death with your main course, you will need

to check out the murder at the Rydges Hay St Mansion happening this July 5th … Dinner to Die For is already causing a sensation on social media due to the wickedly designed creative behind this exciting new experience. You and your dinner guests will indulge yourselves in an interactive and murderously immersive dinner and theatre experience that will leave you feeling like you have inadvertently stepped into a glamorous true crime story … dinner, wine, friends, murder and mayhem. It’s the culinary version of Criminal Minds meets Cluedo … Delicious any way you slice it! Dinner takes yet another thrilling yet nasty turn for dance and theatre buffs, who will love the Glasshouse performance The Dinner Party on the 5th June, where power, control, ambition, greed and jealousy collide to question who really has the power at a sophisticated table? This wickedly fun story is shared by dancers and performers from Expression Dance Company and Queensland Preforming Arts Centre … revealing the not-so-beautiful in the beautiful people. Locked in for a girls' night out! Congrats to the team behind the Huddle & Graze Ladies Long Lunch event. Kelly Shipway and the H&G crew put on a fabulous day at Long Point Vineyard, with over 100 ladies enjoying magnificent grazing tables and plenty of fun in the sun. Glam guests included Jo Martin, Emma Nowak, Laci Sutherland, Lauren Gridely, Kodie Shipway, Jess Blake, Belinda Charet, Leanne Webber and Emma Stewart, to

name just a few of the gorgeous crowd on hand to soak up the live tunes and sunshine amongst the barrels, vines and on the lawn. Sad to miss this event, but I was on a family adventure hiking up in the ridiculously stunning wilds of Kippara. Congrats to all - looking forward to next year! I will make up for missing the fabulous huddle event and get my girls'-afternoon-out fix at this year’s High Tea on the Hastings, which I will emcee for Camp Quality and Rydges. This year is super special, as it is the 10th anniversary of when we created this special event in memory of beautiful Rachel Flakus, formerly of Essential Energy, friend to many, including Natalie Junge and Sandra Hollins and daughter of the lovely Pam Madden. This year will be an extra special celebration, as for the first time the High Tea will actually fall on Rachel’s birthday. As a toast to this fabulous lady, gone all too soon, the event will be styled in a Parisian Breakfast at Tiffany’s theme - one of Rachel’s favourites and will have all the usual fun, including a fab high tea of sweet and savoury treats, a cocktail and plenty of bubbly and live music. A grand total will be announced of all the funds raised over a decade of High Tea. These funds have directly and positively impacted our local families who have been touched by cancer. It's glam time, ladies! Camden Haven turned it on for a heavenly Slice of Haven Festival this year - this hugely successful annual pilgrimage down south for fine food, wine and festivities celebrates

local produce, talent and tastes. This year’s festival theme was inspired by Hollywood celebrity comedian Bob Hope and his cohort of superstars, who made an emergency landing in the Camden Haven back in the 1940s. Between the big bands and the huge crowds, the toughest decision on the day was to coffee, Kransky, chutney, cha cha or chimichanga, as the region's chefs and providores turned it up, with some cracking weather to match! Congrats to all involved! A bevy of beach babes and blokes came together to celebrate the third annual JB Beach Ball at Rydges recently, with Ruby Simmons and her CSU student team, Julie and Paul Berry and the Rydges event crew coming together to celebrate and raise funds for The Jacob Berry Memorial Scholarship. The night's festivities awarded Emily Everett the Scholarship in Paramedic Studies at the university and blended loads of fun with fundraising, with beach balls, Pimms cocktails and an illegal amount of inflatable pool toys, deck chairs, photo booth bombs and DJ. An extra special night, also farewelling Julie and Paul from Port Macquarie, as they move north to continue their journey as grandparents on the coast. Cheers to new chapters and adventures for all - 'til next month! Kate. FOCUS looks forward to attending your next event. Send us your invitation to info@focusmag.com.au Greater Port Macquarie focus 33

r e t n i W

NIGHT MARKETS PANTHERS AUDITORIUM

JUN 20 | JUL 18 | AUG 15 6PM - L ATE

LIVE MUSIC | GOURMET FOOD UNIQUE ARTS & CRAFTS

1 BAY STREET, PORT MACQUARIE NSW 2444 | 1300 PANTHERS

panthersportmacquarie@panthers.com.au 34 Greater Port Macquarie focus

The Digital Mindscapes exhibition displays a diverse range of photographic art at the Macleay Valley Community Art Gallery at Gladstone from June 4 to 16 (open every day).

Digital Mindscapes EXHIBITION

Swistars ngin'

hile all three photographers are accomplished at capturing traditional subjects like landscapes and portraits, they are taking their work further. Instead of photographs of the real world, you will see flights of fancy and landscapes of the imagination. All three photographic artists draw their inspiration from their imagination, and from legends and folklore. Pam Hudson is a photographer who has been inspired by her colleagues and mentors to push the bounds of photography toward a more creative approach to the craft. She enjoys the freedom that comes with the transformation of conventional digital photographic images into original and expressive artwork. Mike Kane is a professional photographer and teacher with many years of experience. He is successful in all genres of photography and is taking this opportunity to exhibit his more artistic work to a wider audience. Mike is no longer bound by rules and freely creates stunning works of imagination. Denise McDermott, an experienced photographer, has concentrated on aspects of creative photography for the past few years. She has now decided the time is right to be part of an innovative group and exhibit her artwork to a wider artistic community. Every day of the exhibition there will be two artists on site to speak to visitors and answer questions. Meet the artists on Saturday, June 8, from 1pm. All are welcome. Macleay Valley Community Art Gallery, Gladstone NSW. June 4 - 16, every day, 10:30am - 4pm.

Ken Little's Fruit & Veg Wow! Just look at all these beautiful citrus fruits! We have had a bin of navel oranges from Moorland already, and very soon Peter Mobbs will arrive with his delicious oranges also. Do you remember them from last year? Mandarins have been very sweet, right from the first arrivals. There are plenty of lemons and limes from all around the local area. There are still good supplies of crisp apples available. Pink Ladies and Galas are the pick. Soon it will be winter! Can we really call it winter? They are so mild now. Gone are the days of very heavy frosts. Still, it is a wonderful time to be looking at the good old soups and casseroles. We have started making up the soup packs, which are so popular, and we have lots of local produce coming in: spinach, broccoli, red and white cabbages, cauliflower, beans, peas, pumpkin, Lebanese cucumbers, just to list a few. Here is a little recipe for you to try: “Lemon Yoghurt Shake”. Two cups white grape juice, 250 ml plain yoghurt, ½ teaspoon grated lemon zest, ¼ cup freshly squeezed lemon juice, extra water if needed, crushed ice. Combine all ingredients except ice in food processor or blender for one minute. Serve over ice in chilled glasses. Please visit us soon. We would just love to show you all our fresh and amazing produce! Ken.

under the

Ocean Dance Studio’s seventh anniversary party will take place at The Old Butter Factory at Telegraph Point on Saturday 22nd June from 6pm - 9pm.

e are inviting everyone to come and join a truly magical night - it will be so much fun to participate in this special event. Dress code (optional): add a touch of sparkle to your formal vintage wear. There will be a free Lindy Hop workshop, showcases, lots of dancing, best dressed prize and some amazing live big band tunes from the ‘30s and ‘40s. Tickets are $25 presale, or $30 at the door. For more information, contact Krista via email at oceanstudiossa@hotmail.com or call 0432 935 799. Greater Port Macquarie focus 35

36 Greater Port Macquarie focus

ROCK

boat

the

CELEBRATING 10 YEARS of rocking the high seas Celebrating 10 incredible years, Rock the Boat returns for its biggest Rock music festival at sea in 2020, showcasing the best of International and Australian rock artists, spanning a colourful decade of past cruises presented by Choose Your Cruise.

ue to popular demand, and for the very first time, American Rock legend Suzi Quatro will be headlining for a second consecutive year! The Wild One will be performing alongside 28 fellow Rock artists who have helped pave the way, making Rock the Boat what it is today. Joining Suzi on board is Noiseworks and INXS front man Jon Stevens, arguably one of Australia’s most enigmatic performers, Adam Thompson of Chocolate Starfish presenting Bohemian Rhapsody live in concert, along with Russell Morris, Ross Wilson and The Radiators - all of whom have been Rock the Boat fan favourites throughout the years. As we will be celebrating ten years of Rock the Boat, Royal Caribbean’s beautiful cruise liner

Radiance of the Seas has been our home for the better part of the last five years, so we wanted to celebrate on board a ship our passengers know and love. Brisbane is the Radiance’s new home for the 2020 cruise season, so we look forward to sailing out of the brand-new passenger port for this special cruise. The Radiance of the Seas will be travelling to the South Pacific from November 24th - December 1st, 2020. New Caledonian ports of call for the seven-night journey include Isle of Pines and Noumea. We invite you on board to experience a week of music at sea you won’t have the chance to enjoy anywhere else. Contact Port Macquarie Travel and Camden Haven Travel for the full itinerary and information on this great cruise.

7 NIGHT CRUISE ABOARD RADIANCE OF THE SEAS DEPARTING BRISBANE VISITING ISLE OF PINES & NOUMEA

JON STEVENS RUSSELL MORRIS • ROSS WILSON ADAM THOMPSON: BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY PLUS MANY MORE! OVER 30 ARTISTS ON BOARD

24TH NOV - 1ST DEC 2020

Shop 4, 114 William St, Port Macquarie 02 6583 1422 • info@pmtravel.com.au

Cruise includes all main meals+, entertainment and gratuities.

INTERIOR

$3,019PP

Shop 4, 75 Bold St, Laurieton 02 6559 9048 • chtravel@bigpond.net.au

OCEANVIEW FROM

BALCONY FROM

$3,549PP

$4,199PP*

*Prices are per person, cruise only, in AUD, based on lowest available twin share accommodation in the specified categories, inclusive of all savings/discounts, port and government charges and onboard gratuities (excluding onboard purchases), correct as at 17 May 2019. Offer is capacity controlled, subject to change and availability and may be changed or withdrawn at any time without notice. +Excludes specialty restaurants. 25% deposit is required within 7 days of booking. Some staterooms may have an obstructed view. Single supplements may apply for solo travellers. Agents may charge service fees and/or fees for card payments which vary. Cancellation penalties and conditions apply. To be read in conjunction with the full terms and conditions of the Rock the Boat 2020 brochure. Rock the Boat is a brand name of Choose Your Cruise Ltd and is operated for Cruisin’ Country Pty Ltd by Discovery Travel Centre Pty Ltd trading as Cruiseco.

Greater Port Macquarie focus 37

38 Greater Port Macquarie focus

Greater Port Macquarie focus 39

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40 Greater Port Macquarie focus

ALEISA BYFIELD Artisan Hi Aleisa! You're a wonderfully talented and creative ceramic artist based here in Port Macquarie. Tell us about the development of your craft from a young age ... I recall making mud creations as a child and admiring the unassuming forms I could make with my bare hands. Childhood and hardships guided me away from playing with clay, until I was re-directed to finding the joy and limitless possibilities of creating with clay once again and my business was born. What are you currently working on, and where do you draw your inspiration? Currently I am enjoying the challenge of making tiles and a basin for my own renovation, which I’m really excited about seeing come together. I am hugely influenced by nature - the textures and colours which find their way into my work. Nature really is the best designer! Why do you think the expression of art and having a creative outlet is so enriching for a person? Considering we’re all growing, learning and healing, being creative teaches us about ourselves, where we are at and allows self expression that perhaps cannot be achieved verbally. It has personally helped to unearth my own self confidence and belief and find the voice I never had. It takes an immense amount of courage to put your creations out into the world, but ultimately what’s really important is self acceptance, because you won’t always be everyone’s cup of tea and that’s OK! For people wanting to reach out and find out more about you and purchase your work, how can we best get in contact? Through my website, Instagram and Facebook, Artist Market, Art Walk, studio opening in August, locally at Three Little Birds and stockists throughout the country.

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KYLIE'S ART STUDIO & Supplies Kylie’s Art Studio and Supplies is now in its seventh year serving the people of Laurieton and surrounding areas with quality art supplies and gift lines at affordable prices, comparable to larger chain stores. We have extended our range of art supplies over the last year to include a full stand of Daniel Smith Watercolours, Faber-Castell Pitt Pastel Pencils, Jacquard Pinata Alcohol Inks and Lumiere Adhesive and Dimensional Metallic Paint, adding to popular brands such as Matisse, Atelier and Jo Sonja acrylics; Art Spectrum and Winsor and Newton oils; chalk pastels; Colourcraft Brusho powder pigments; Derwent Graphik Line Painters; as well as a large range of watercolour, acrylic and oil brushes.

ARTHOUSE Industries Arthouse Industries is the place to purchase handmade, unique and limited-edition products in Port Macquarie, but it is also the place to be if you want to indulge in creativity and learn some new skills. The creative classes held at Arthouse are a popular outing for locals and visitors and are a great way to take some time out for yourself or connect with friends. Included in these are a range of awesome resin classes, watercolour, acrylic, jewellery making, and so much more. Arthouse endeavours to make these classes available to everyone, so they start at just fifty bucks, including refreshments and materials (refreshments means wine). So, we have some news …

For the colouring enthusiast we have a full range of Prismacolor pencils, as well as box sets plus Derwent and Faber-Castell colouring pencils, with many colouring books to choose from.

To make these classes even more awesome, we are opening a new studio/creative space in town, where we will continue to run all our creative classes and we will be adding to the list. More space, more class options, more teachers, and more fun!

Scrapbookers are also catered for, with a large range of Kaisercraft papers, gel pens, stamps, collectables and much more.

We want everyone to be able to connect with like-minded people in a beautiful environment that encourages creativity, and this is what you will experience when attending a creative class with us.

We offer five classes a week, teaching acrylics, drawing and basic watercolour painting. Our gift range includes hands on craft plus classic art prints on glasses cases and nail files. Paintings by local artists are also featured.

We will be working out of the new space from mid-June, but you can access information on the classes and book via the website www.arthouseindustries.com.au or by popping into the shop on Sunset Parade.

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A Hand Up not a Hand Out feature

communit y grAnts program

Have you ever wondered what’s the best way to get the most bang for your buck from a small amount of money? Port Macquarie-Hastings Council has - give it to a volunteer group and let them do what they do best.

very year Port MacquarieHastings Council provides approximately $180,000 through their Community Grants Program for local not-for-profit community groups who apply for funding to assist them in delivering projects for the benefit of the whole community. The program is delivered in two rounds each year, and the competitive process sees organisations from across the local government area apply for a wide range of projects - from improving our public spaces, delivering community events, through to providing services to our more vulnerable members of society. So why is there such good value in providing grant funding to volunteer groups? Volunteers provide their skills, their labour and their passion for free. They do what they do, because they are passionate about the activities they are involved in, they get the opportunity to interact with like-minded individuals, and they love the communities in which they live. In November 2018, Port Macquarie-Hastings Council awarded $5,000 to the Friends of Kooloonbung Creek Nature Park through the Environmental Grant stream of the Community Grants Program. This group of volunteers donate their time to ensure this key green space and water body is free from invasive weeds, and for years they have been working together to make it a beautiful resource, not only for the community to enjoy, but also for the betterment of our local environment. So what does $5,000 get you? Over $18,000 worth in volunteer hours. Volunteer hours that involve wearing waders and trudging through the waters of the creek removing the invasive weeds that have escaped domestic gardens; volunteer hours replanting native tree species for our local wildlife; volunteer hours spent maintaining the boardwalks that allow us to access and enjoy this beautiful natural resource. Working closely with Council’s Natural Resources team, volunteers from the 42 Greater Port Macquarie focus

Friends of Kooloonbung Creek Nature Park and the Port Macquarie Landcare Group (another group that is supported by Council’s Community Grant Program), are selflessly protecting and enhancing the environment in which we live. As the dairy industry across the country continues to struggle with a deregulated market, smaller communities such as Comboyne have struggled with falling milk prices, the inevitable farm closures, and the loss of employment opportunities. Not being a community to give up, local volunteers decided to take their destiny into their hands and are now in the process of establishing a museum at the site of a historical house on the outskirts of the village. The hope is that not only will they protect and display the proud heritage of the region, but in doing so they hope to attract visitors to the museum, stimulating the local economy. In 2018, the Comboyne Community Association was successful in obtaining Council funding to replace the stumps on the dilapidated building, and the village continues to hold working bees and hopes to get the museum up and running in the near future. So what else does Council support? Five funding streams are available through the Community Grants Program: General Community Grants, Place Making Grants, Christmas and New Year’s Eve Grants, Environmental Grants, and Non-Council Owned Hall Grants. “The funding that Port Macquarie-Hastings Council provides through the General Community Grants Program is a hand up, not a hand out. We are proud to support these local community groups and recognise the amazing contribution they make to our beautiful region,” says Mayor Pita Pinson. Do you know a local group that would benefit from a Port Macquarie-Hastings Council Community Grant? Go to: https://www.pmhc. nsw.gov.au/Community-Culture/Grants/AboutCommunity-grants for more information about the program and how to apply.

Building the next

Generation of

artists

LOCAL

In 2017/18, Port Macquarie-Hastings Council piloted the ArtSmarts Program - A NEW INITIATIVE DESIGNED TO ENHANCE THE CREATIVE ECONOMY of the Port Macquarie Hastings region.

he program was written and developed specifically for the creative sector in our local region, to enhance artists’ and creative workers’ skills and networks, to assist them in identifying ways in which they are able to turn their passion into profit, helping to sustain their creative practice to continue to contribute to the cultural and creative economy of our community. In its first year, an inaugural group of 15 participants were given the opportunity to be part of the ArtSmarts program, which ran over a period of six months. Each participant attended a monthly two-hour facilitated program focusing on marketing, branding, product development and pricing, along with six, one-on-one mentoring sessions with local arts business facilitator, Skye Petho. At the end of the six months, participants were invited to be a part of Council’s ArtWalk program, a night-time creative activation which sees business and artists come together throughout the night, to showcase artists and the creative sector. Eighty per cent of the participants developed new product to showcase at ArtWalk in 2018, which included a published book, tea towels, jewellery range and workshop programs. An audience of over 9,000 people attended

ArtWalk 2018, providing an opportunity for participants to exhibit their product to the community. Each participant was able to confidently talk about their practice, their business and provide key information about the product and services they offered. The ArtSmarts program is now in its second year and has seen a further group of local creatives develop their business skills and build connections within the local creative community. During monthly oneon-one sessions, participants have learned how to commercialise their art, branding and marketing tips and strategies, customer service, pricing, accounting, and strategic goal planning. Graduates from the ArtSmarts program are now working on their contributions to ArtWalk 2019, to take place in the Port Macquarie CBD from 6pm - 9pm on Thursday 18th July. An additional outcome from the program has seen the need for the establishment of a Creative Industries Networking Group, which hopes to expand and strengthen the sector, provide opportunities for further collaboration and help to foster a vibrant cultural community within the Port MacquarieHastings region. Planning for this new initiative is currently underway, with a launch date set to coincide with ArtWalk 2019.

focusinterview.

THE 2019 LOWER NORTH COAST DANCE FESTIVAL PROVIDES A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY FOR LOCAL SCHOOL STUDENTS - BOTH PRIMARY AND SECONDARY - TO SHARE THEIR CREATIVE TALENT WITH THE WIDER COMMUNITY.

estival committee members Renee Marchment - Administration Manager, Crescent Head Public School; Julia Livingston - Dance Teacher, Camden Haven High School; and Peta Harris - Principal, Huntington Public School share what’s in store for us this year on the magnificent Glasshouse stage … The Lower North Coast Dance Festival has been around for many years now, although it’s had its name changed since the early days! What have been some of the other major changes the festival has experienced? Our festival has continued to grow in quality and quantity. This has led us to holding the whole festival at the Glasshouse. We trialled its new "home" in 2017, with only one night being held as a Festival Showcase. It was such a success, that since then all four nights are being held there. Each year we hope that schools look beyond just moving to a beat and create items that are able portray an emotion or tell a story and captivate the audience. We are very proud to see schools increasingly doing this. The quality of items has lifted to a professional level and are so worthy of having their moment to shine on such an outstanding stage at the Glasshouse. The beauty of our festival is that it still remains a celebration - and not a competition. In 2018, we worked with a graphic designer to create a logo, which we have been consistently using for our branding in the community and online. Our festival really has moved with the times, in that our whole festival is organised electronically via our website and social media pages. The LNC Dance Festival is concerned about minimising its carbon footprint by reducing the amount of paper we use, and going online was our way to ensure this. We’ve been very lucky to have new members join our committee: Jock Garven - Principal,

Festival

L OWER NORTH COAST

Dance

The workshops are open to Lake Cathie Public School; more ownership of the any student performing in Jacynta Moylan - Deputy staging of their items, the festival, which allows Principal, Hastings through making some students to meet and Secondary College; and creative lighting and engage with students from Katie James - School visual projection requests other schools and works Learning Support Officer, of the very talented towards forming meaningful Aldavilla Public School. production team at the memories and friendships. They, too, are dedicated Glasshouse. This leads to staff within our public a polished performance education schools. that is competitive on any Together, we collaborate professional stage. to ensure all students When will the festival have access to amazing opportunities. be held this year? We’ve also added merchandise for students The 2019 Lower North Coast Dance Festival to purchase. 2019 will be our second year is being held over the nights of 17th, 18th and offering T-shirts for groups to purchase. It 19th June, with a Festival Showcase being held really helps increase the hype and positive vibe on Thursday 20th June. All shows commence at when groups are entering the venue and out 7pm. and about in the community. It's a fantastic Roughly how many schools/students will be way to promote the event and their school’s involved with the festival this year? participation. This year we have 31 schools participating, Team Spirit Sports have generously with 66 items and approximately 1,400 partnered with us as a supporting sponsor. students. Their contribution is assisting us to stage these That’s huge! What styles of dance will we workshops. be able to experience at the festival? This year, we have also added student There is such a variety of dance styles that comperes to host the show. Although we are a schools have chosen as the vehicle for their dance festival, we want to provide experiences items. These include Contemporary Dance, for all students, particularly in the Creative Jazz, Hip Hop, Musical Theatre, Cultural Dance Arts, across our region. We also have students and for the first time this year, we have a Ballet assisting in the production team. Ensemble. What's it like for performers and teachers There are also some dance workshops to present their routines on such a available as part of this year’s festival. What magnificent stage at the Glasshouse? can you tell us about these? The feedback we’ve received has been We really wanted to promote the idea extremely positive. What teachers, students of a “festival of dance”, rather than just and choreographers are creating together is so performances. So, we decided to run some worthy of being presented in this magnificent student workshops in a range of dance styles, venue. For some small schools, this is a chance which allows students the opportunity to learn for them to perform on stage in front of a from a highly experienced dance teacher from large audience and for many, this is a once in a Sydney - an experience they would otherwise lifetime opportunity. need to travel for. We are thrilled to see schools now take We are extremely excited to announce that

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Heath Keating is the visiting tutor, joining us in between his extremely busy schedule performing in West Side Story at the Sydney Opera House. These workshops are for both primary and secondary students in the Jazz, Funk, Hip Hop and Commercial Dance genres and run for one and a half hours each. The workshops are open to any student performing in the festival, which allows students to meet and engage with students from other schools and works towards forming meaningful memories and friendships. Senior students will be chosen from these workshops to lead the Showcase Finale. There's also a State Festival of Dance held each year; this year it will be held in Sydney in September. How have our local students fared in this festival in the past? We’ve had a consistent representation from the Lower North Coast Dance Festival each year for the past 10 years at the State Dance Festival. Last year was our most successful, where we saw both secondary and primary schools successfully audition. Camden Haven High School had two items in the festival, including their distance education students. 2018 also saw Aldavilla Public School in the State Dance Festival programme, which was so exciting. These items depicted dance as an artform by communicating ideas through their work. They are wonderful ambassadors of the LNC Dance Festival, and we are hoping for an even more successful representation in the 2019 State Dance Festival. Where can we purchase tickets to the Lower North Coast Dance Festival? All tickets are available from the Glasshouse Box Office. These can be purchased online at glasshouse.org.au or by calling 6581 8888. More info: www.lowernorthcoastdancefestival. com.au Thanks everyone. Interview: Jo Robinson. Greater Port Macquarie focus 43

Arthouse UNE ART HED

feature

Skye

petho SKYE PETHO IS A LOCAL ARTIST WHO HAS CREATED A UNIQUE EXPERIENCE IN HER STUDIO/ SHOP ON SUNSET PARADE and offers locals and visitors the opportunity to watch a working glass artist, participate in creative classes, as well as purchase from talented Australian creatives.

hat do you want people to experience when they visit

Arthouse Industries? We want people to be able to connect with like-minded people in a beautiful environment that encourages creativity. We want people to be able to support Australian handmade, and we want them to do all these things while experiencing great service. Everything we do is about educating customers about the amazing talent we have in our region, as well as showing people that shopping local/ handmade has such an awesome positive impact on so many people. You have work from lots of our local artists. Tell us a bit about this. We have the most amazing pool of talented creatives in the area, and we have the pleasure of selling work from people like Adam Murray, Mel Casey, Leah Doeland, Fiona Solley, Yvonne Kiely and Kate Moen. All of them are so talented in their disciplines, and it’s great to be able to explain who these people are when someone purchases their products. It’s the connection between the maker and the purchaser that we facilitate, and this is the magic of

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shopping with us. are the Creative Classes we run, so we Arthouse Industries has been have decided to expand the business open for six years now. How has it and open a dedicated Creative Space changed over that time? in town for all of our classes. The biggest change has been the We are so excited about this, and Murray Street precinct. as usual it will be a beautiful space When we first opened, it felt like that encourages creative indulgence, we were on an island by ourselves, connection with like-minded people and slowly over and fun! the years other The new space businesses have is right in the heart taken the plunge of town, with and joined us to heaps of parking. We have the most amazing create a really You can still pool of talented creatives cool shopping/ continue to book in the area, and we have eating area in your classes via the the pleasure of selling Port. website, or pop work from people like You can now into the store on Adam Murray, Mel Casey, grab a great Sunset Parade, and Leah Doeland, Fiona coffee or some we will be using Solley, Yvonne Kiely and lunch and this space for Kate Moen. shop with six classes from midlocally owned June. independent How can people retailers, all access more within a block. information about the business or The business has evolved over these your creative classes? years too and it’s been awesome to You can access all the information see the changes that have happened, via our website: www.arthouseindutries.com.au or pop as these have helped us establish into the shop on Sunset Parade ourselves as a small business both with (6584 5443). locals and tourists. Alternatively, you can follow us on So, you have some news to share… Facebook or Instagram. Yes, one part of the business that Thanks Skye. has continued to grow over the years

focusinterview.

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Five of the BEST TENOR VOICES in Australia. The Australian Tenors will bring a sensational program for 2019, along with romance, excitement, warmth and humour to their performance at the Glasshouse Port Macquarie. The concert encapsulates the spirit, the beauty and vocal demand of truly authentic tenor voices. Audiences are thrilled by the ever popular classical arias from the popular operas such as the tenor trademark Puccini's Nessun Dorma, Verdi’s Anvil Chorus, to popular tenor tunes from The Student Prince, I’ll Walk With God and the Drinking Song. The Australian Tenors also delight audiences with songs from hit music theatre productions, including Tonight and Maria from West Side Story and their stirring rendition of The Holy City.

Beautiful duets are also a part of the program, including Time to Say Goodbye. Proudly Australian, a performance from world renowned The Australian Tenors is never complete without the ever popular, Waltzing Matilda, Australia My Country (Dorothea Mackellar poem), I Am Australian, among other favourites. The Australian Tenors unite in this wonderful concert, with a dynamic display of true Australian talent, backed by The Southern Cross Orchestra with guest soprano, Opera Australia’s Giuseppina Grech. The Australian Tenors are: Lorenzo Rositano, Murray Mayday, David McKenzie, John Donohoe and Martin Buckingham, backed by The Southern Cross Orchestra under the direction of Musical Director and Conductor Mr Joesph Macri.

WHAT IS MISSING FROM THIS PICTURE but we will get back to that. Why Enable Gardens? In short, so you or anyone you know can garden without bending, kneeling or even standing.

Third, having worked in the disability sector most of my life and seeing the positive impact gardening has on those who grow.

It doesn’t matter whether you are nine (9) or ninety (90), have a bad back, dodgy knees, wheelchair or are walking frame bound, Enable Gardens mean you can get back into the garden and play in the dirt again.

All people missing out on the pleasure of getting dirt under their fingernails - they just could not get down to ground level so, “how to raise the earth”?

Enable Gardens came about for a number of reasons: First, watching my wife on her hands and knees in our overgrown pumpkin patch and worrying, “There could be snakes in there.” Second, visiting my beloved mother-in-law Thelma, who could no longer enjoy her much loved garden, because her body was now saying “NO”.

Thus, the seed of Enable Gardens was born and grew in Port Macquarie 10 years ago. That is the short and short of it but, what is missing from this picture? If you answer "YOU", when you call for your free quote, we will give you a fifty dollar ($50) discount from your Enable Garden purchase. Just phone us on 0490 049 617, or email mark@enablegardens.com.au or check our website: enablegardens.com.au

Greater Port Macquarie focus 45

focusinterview.

Aiming to promote Aboriginal art from the Saltwater Freshwater region of the Mid North Coast, the prestigious Saltwater Freshwater Aboriginal Art Award and Touring Exhibition begins its tour at the Glasshouse Regional Gallery.

he winner of the award has also just recently been announced, so Art Award Judge and exhibition curator Amanda Hayman shares some more details with us … Hi Amanda. What was your role with this year’s Saltwater Freshwater Aboriginal Art Award and Touring Exhibition? I am the 2019 Saltwater Freshwater Aboriginal Art Award judge and touring exhibition curator. How many entries were received for the award this year? We received 32 entries for the 2019 Saltwater Freshwater Aboriginal Art Award. There are also over 20 objects included in this year’s exhibition. How broad was the range of media used/ topics covered in this year’s entries? There was a real vibrancy to the artwork, and the majority of entries were acrylic paint on canvas, with the exception of photographic video stills by Tyrone Sheather and a pencil drawing by Gus Kelly. The topics were varied, but there was a definite sense of culture, exploration of identity and pride of place.

Cultural Immersion Weekend

Who was this year’s winner ... and what qualities were you THERE WAS A REAL looking for when you VIBRANCY TO THE chose this particular spending $3 million on a ARTWORK ... THE TOPICS artist’s work? new monument of Captain WERE VARIED, BUT THERE This year’s winner Cook in Botany Bay. WAS A DEFINITE SENSE OF was artist YOWA and I love how the artist CULTURE, EXPLORATION her artwork entitled reversed the norm OF IDENTITY AND PRIDE Matriarchs. The winning and positioned black OF PLACE. artwork was bright and women on pedestals as colourful, with a very a demonstration of their unique aesthetic, almost authority and importance surreal - it felt like you within our families and were taken into a dream. community. This is a perfect example of sharing The focal point of the artwork shows four Indigenous perspectives through art. elderly Aboriginal women on pedestals, with What have you enjoyed most about being coastal country in the background and an a part of this year’s award and exhibition iridescent sunset. The artwork reflects the process? current global paradigm shift in gender equality I am a curator from Brisbane and have worked and also significant social and political push all over the state of Queensland, but have limited for recognition of female leadership. Pedestals experience working in New South Wales. Since are a western construct of power, where white accepting this role in November last year, I have males have been predominately placed. It comes been coincidently meeting people from the Mid at a time where Australia is in the process of

Free. Bookings required.

artist in residence, curator talks and much more...

Saltwater Freshwater Arts 2019

Saturday 29 June

Sunday 30 June

Ross Family Studio

Glasshouse Regional Gallery

YARNING CULTURE WITH OUR ELDERS 11am*

ARTIST IN RESIDENCE 10am - 2pm

Join Aboriginal Dunghutti and Biripi Elders in this interactive and engaging session.

Immerse yourself in Aboriginal culture with a weekend full of language, storytelling, exhibiting

Aboriginal Art Award & Contemporary Cultural Objects

LEARN OUR LINGO 12.30pm*

Come and yarn with some of the 2019 Saltwater Freshwater Aboriginal Art Award finalists.

CURATOR TOUR 11am & 2pm

Explore the Gathang and Dunghutti languages through an informative and intimate journey

With Saltwater Freshwater Art Prize curator, Amanda Hayman.

facilitated by local linguists.

An interactive and collaborative drop-in experience of weaving, yarning and making.

CURATOR TALK 2pm* Join this year’s Saltwater Freshwater Art Award curator, Amanda Hayman. *Refreshments provided.

WEAVING IN THE GALLERY 10am - 2pm

Ross Family Studio FILM SCREENING: YARNING THROUGH CULTURE FILM 10am - 4pm Short films from four of the Saltwater Freshwater communities.

Cnr Clarence & Hay Streets, Port Macquarie NSW 2444 46 Greater Port Macquarie focus

North Coast region, which has been a really nice affirmation to learn about the Country and hear some of the stories that are captured in the artworks before I arrived in Port Macquarie to see them for the first time. The exhibition will be on show at the Glasshouse Regional Gallery from 25th May - 7th July, before travelling to other venues. How many/what types of pieces will be travelling with the exhibition? The exhibition will tour to the Coffs Harbour Regional Gallery, Manning Regional Gallery and Wadjar Regional Indigenous Gallery later in the year, with all of the 2D works and hopefully all of the 3D works included. Thanks Amanda. Interview: Jo Robinson. For more info about the Saltwater Freshwater Aboriginal Art Prize and Touring Exhibition, please visit www.glasshouse.org.au or www.saltwaterfreshwater.com.au

02 6581 8888

I info@glasshouse.org.au

focus_contributor

DON MACKENZIE

community S E R V I C E

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Greater Port Macquarie focus 47

Visit NSW Forests with Hello Koalas

Live large

Visit NSW Forests with Hello Koalas

Guula the koala, artists Wauchope TAFE Visual Art Students

Travel by train to Wauchope Old bottlebutt, Burrawan State Forest 48 Greater Port Macquarie focus 20190507-Hello Koala Posters-700x1000.indd 7

Focus Hello Koalas 340x275.indd 2

www.forestrycorporation.com.au/visit

10/05/2019 2:35:26 PM

27/05/2019 1:34 PM

focusinterview.

PHOTOS BRONWYN ELLIS

The Department of Primary Industries (DPI), Forestry Corporation of NSW (FCNSW) and the Port Macquarie Koala Hospital are working together in the State Forests around Port Macquarie to get a better picture of how koalas live in the forest through a GPS tracking project. Dr Brad Law from DPI and Chris Slade from FCNSW talk to us about how the research is progressing.

Koala TRACKING IN NSW FORESTS

Koalas are an amazing animal,

rad, tell us about the project and what you are studying. We are using GPS collars on koalas to track their movements in State Forests, to understand how koalas use the landscape just a few years after it has been harvested for timber. For example, do they prefer ridges or gullies and where the koalas go when it’s hot. We also want to learn more about the different tree species and sizes of trees koalas use, and whether they use different trees for browsing or resting. An important part of the research is understanding the effectiveness of the protections that are put in place when timber harvesting occurs in State Forest. The research has been going for about six months now, and we have four koalas giving us real-time information on how they are using the forest. Chris, how do you get the GPS collar on the koala; is it hard to keep the koala calm? After the koalas have been safely captured, using an enclosure and cage trap that we set up at the base of the tree, we transport the animal to the Port Macquarie Koala Hospital for a check-up. Depending on the time of capture, we have dropped a koala in at 2am, the koala is placed under anaesthetic to enable Cheyne and the wonderful staff at the Koala Hospital to assess the health of the koala. After they have been checked, the fitting of the collar occurs. The collar is designed with a small section of material that will disintegrate over time or break if stretched too far, to prevent the collar being caught by a stick or branch. The koalas remain calm during

so beautifully adapted to the transport, with the trap Australian environment. They or carry basket being and were admitted are as soft as they look covered by a sheet, and to the hospital for a and have the softest each koala is returned short stay to receive paw skin you can to the same trees from treatment. Both were imagine. They are still a where they were caught. treated successfully and wild animal though, so we treat Brad, what have been released, free of disease, them with the utmost respect. your observations so back in the forest. The far with where the koalas being tracked koalas have been? are checked daily for It’s probably not the first week after being released and then unexpected, but the koalas have surprised us periodically after that, and we have noted that a bit with what they have been doing. Each they all are happily moving about the forests. koala is a bit different; we have found some of Brad, what other koala research have you them using areas away from gully lines over the been carrying out over the past couple of summer months when we expected them to be years? there. This was even during quite a hot and dry While the GPS tracking allows us to look period. Some koalas also regularly used small at fine-scale habitat use by koalas, this has trees in the stand regenerating after harvesting built on our recent research that looked at over summer, especially shady turpentines. We larger, regional patterns of occurrence. We can’t wait to see what they do in winter. used acoustic sensors to record the presence We have found them feeding in both the of koalas in a survey of the hinterland forests regenerating areas and areas that have been of northeast NSW. This covered a vast area of excluded from harvesting, so it may be that a almost two million hectares (about the size of mosaic of tree ages in the forest is important the country Wales). to koalas. But it’s still early days, and we have What we found was that, unexpectedly, plenty more to learn. koalas are more widespread in these forests Chris, you talked about koala health. How than people had previously thought. We also do you ensure the koalas are healthy looked to see whether timber harvesting before they are released and during the affected their occurrence, but we found no project? evidence for this. The Koala Hospital screens each of the Instead, elevation was the main driver, with individuals as they are captured. Swabs koalas much less likely to occur at higher and blood are taken as part of a full health elevations along much of the tablelands screening, which also includes an ultrasound of northern NSW. Other factors like site to assess for symptoms of Chlamydia and productivity (fertility) and recent wildfires also other diseases. Two of the koalas we captured had an influence on koala occurrence. had conjunctivitis due to Chlamydia infection

Chris, the question everyone has is what’s it like working with koalas - are they as soft as they look? It is fantastic to be involved in the project collaborating with Brad and the DPI team and Cheyne and the Koala Hospital. It is wonderful to go out to the forest with the mystery of where they will be each morning and seeing their interactions. I found two of our males in the same tree recently, which was a great surprise, watching them eye each other off. Koalas are an amazing animal, so beautifully adapted to the Australian environment. They are as soft as they look and have the softest paw skin you can imagine. They are still a wild animal though, so we treat them with the utmost respect. Brad, what are your future plans for continuing with this project? We want to track koalas over a full twelvemonth period, to see how the use of their habitat changes with the seasons. We also want to increase the number of animals that are tracked. This will give us a much more comprehensive picture of how the koalas are using the forest after harvesting and how management practices designed to protect koalas can be improved. We are also continuing our acoustic sensor work, using the sensors as a way of monitoring trends. We now have four consecutive years of data for the northeast forests, and we would like to continue this into the future. That way we can be more confident about how the koala population is changing over time. Thanks guys. Greater Port Macquarie focus 49

Share the view

Visit NSW Forests with Hello Koalas

Share the view

Visit NSW Forests with Hello Koalas

Forest the koala, artist Pauline Roods

Travel by train to Wauchope Broken Bago State Forest

50 Greater Port Macquarie focus 20190507-Hello Koala Posters-700x1000.indd 5

Focus Hello Koalas 340x275.indd 1

www.forestrycorporation.com.au/visit

10/05/2019 2:34:27 PM

27/05/2019 1:34 PM

6 June 2017 2019 1 -- 119 June

www.hellokoalas.com/festival

cArIng fOr OuR kOaLas aNd OuR eNvIroNmEnt sYmPosIuM

hEllO kOaLas fEsTivAL tReAsuRe hUnt

When 9am - 5pm Where UNSW Rural Clinical School, Medicine

Find The Mayor of the Koala Republic and 20+ Hello Koalas Sculptures

Shared Health Research & Education Centre (SHREC)

hello koalas

tH sCulPtUre tRaiL 6 jUne pOrT mAcQuaRiE-hAsTinGs, nsW

55+ sCuLptUrEs 55+ sUrPriSinG lOcAtiOns 55+ uNiQue aRtIstSâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; dEsIgnS 55+ cOmMunItY cHaMpiOnS aND sUpPorTerS

8 tH

When Friday 7, Saturday 8 and Sunday 9 June

7Th, 8Th, 9tH jUnE

20 Highfields Circuit, Port Macquarie

Where Across Port Macquarie-Hastings

hEllO kOaLas aT thE fOrEshOrE mArKetS

cArS fOr kOaLas sHoW anD sHinE

hEllO kOaLas fEsTivAl fAmIly dAY

When Saturday 8 June 8am - 1pm Where Westport Park

When Saturday 8 June 8am - 2.30pm Where Westport Park

When Sunday 9 June 9.30am - 3pm Where Douglas Vale Historic Homestead and Vineyard 235 Oxley Highway, Port Macquarie

8 tH

jUne

9 tH

jUne

Stoney, the koala, meets Stoney, the Hello Koalas sculpture, at Billabong Zoo, Port Macquarie. Artist Bruce Whittaker. Photo Lindsay Moller.

tHE dAy tRiPpeRS

M e m ofAvoUrIte r A bkOalAsi l dEsiGnS ia When Saturday

jAkE rAtTle N rOlL

7 tH

jUne

50's & 60's Rock and Roll Dance Band When Friday 7 June 7.30pm Where Panthers

Ho P f O r y s8 o U R 7.30pm June

Where Panthers wWw.hEllOkOalAs.cOm/sHop

jUne

sEE hEllO kOaLas

Hello Koalas Sculpture Poster

sCuLptUrE tRaIl LoCatIonS

On ThIs Map

jUne

hAstIngS cHorIsTerS pResEntS tHE pEaCemAkErs When Sunday 9 June 7pm Where Glasshouse

Please check www.hellokoalas.com for more Hello Koalas Festival events and updates Shop online for Hello Koalas Memorabilia Download the Hello Koalas Sculpture Trail Guide at www.hellokoalas.com

email info@hellokoalas.com email info@hellokoalas.com phone 641 482 phone 04160416 641 482 Project Owner and Manager Supporting Partner Like us on Facebook web www.hellokoalas.com Follow us on Instagram

Like us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TripAdvisor

Supporting Partner Koala Hospital

Silver Winner, NSW Tourism Awards 2018

Gold Winner, NSW Tourism Awards 2017

2017 Finalist Australian Tourism Awards Cultural Tourism

Finalist, NSW Tourism Awards 2016

Bronze Winner, NSW Tourism Awards 2015

Winner, Tourism & Attractions, Greater Port Macquarie Business Awards 2016

2018 Port Macquarie Business Awards Excellence in Innovation

Silver Winner, Events, North Coast Tourism Awards 2016

Gold Winner, New Tourism Business, North Coast Tourism Awards 2015

2018 NSW Regional Finalist Business Awards Excellence in Innovation

health F E A T U R E

52 Greater Port Macquarie focus

brave Dental anxiety or dental phobias are extremely common. It has been estimated that 9% to 15% of adults avoid seeing the dentist because of anxiety and fear.

eople with dental anxiety often put off routine care for years, or even decades. Even a low level of anxiety can cause someone to put off essential checkups. Others opt to live with chronic treatable infections, pain, or even broken and unsightly teeth until the pain is more unbearable than the fear and … at last they are forced to visit the dentist. This often means the problem that could have been diagnosed and treated easily requires much more complex treatment that costs the patient more.

treatment (including injections), virtually pain-free. • Find a dentist who communicates well with YOU, is patient, genuinely caring and makes you feel comfortable. • Schedule a time when you’ll be relaxed, not before something important. • Let the clinician know you’re nervous ahead of time and allow longer time for your appointment.

Besides chronically infected teeth and gums, which can aﬀect your medical status, your ability to chew, digest and SMILE, there are other aspects of your life that can be seriously compromised without dental care.

Besides chronically infected teeth and gums, which can affect your medical status, your ability to chew, digest and SMILE, there are other aspects of your life that can be seriously compromised without dental care.

Without healthy teeth and gums, your speech, your ability to chew and swallow the food you love can be affected. An unsightly smile and bad breath can affect your selfconfidence, and a lack of self-confidence can limit your future. How to overcome your dental anxiety: • Understand that modern dental techniques and technology have made most

• Bring along a friend for moral support and arrive early. • Start small, with a check-up, or a small filling, then build up to a larger treatment. • Bring along your own music and headphones. • Ask your dentist about relaxation options such as “Happy Gas” (Nitrous Oxide).

• When you are done with your dental treatment, reward yourself - treat yourself to something special and ENJOY YOUR REWARD - YOU EARNED IT! Don't let a dental anxiety hold you back; get on top of your dental health and your reason to SMILE. For more information about the gentle and caring team at Sundial Dental, Happy Gas or a full list of services, visit www. sundialdental.com.au or call one of our four friendly locations on 6583 3533 to book a consultation today. Greater Port Macquarie focus 53

Massage @ Port Macquarie SMART launches Pilates The Equipment and Reformer Pilates sessions are an allencompassing body workout designed to develop longer, leaner muscles and establish good core strength and stability. Many of us suffer from core weakness, which can lead to postural problems and pain. Pilates allows you to strengthen the core and stabilising muscles around the joints, helping you to move more freely and with less pain. The Reformer Pilates classes allows my clients to focus on their body awareness, whilst teaching them how their bodies work, how they age and change over time and how they can restore their wellbeing through preventative measures such as Pilates. Drawing upon my expertise, in both working with the body through sport to the rehabilitation perspective through remedial massage, allows me to structure the Pilates program specifically. If practiced consistently, Pilates can assist, restore and strengthen each and every body, from the elite athlete to people with limited mobility or low levels of fitness. The Winter Special is a great way to introduce yourself to Reformer Pilates - a special rate of $35 per class when you book a block of sessions. The results for my clients have been truly amazing and life changing, so why not invest in yourself today to become a healthier, happier you.

54 Greater Port Macquarie focus

In today’s busy world filled with physical and emotional stresses it’s ironic that so many people are turning to one of mankind’s oldest substantiated solutions. Professional massage therapy delivers results and He Ling Ying (Ling) the hugely popular and highly-skilled principal of Massage at Port Macquarie, provides the very finest Remedial Massage treatments available anywhere. Highly qualified in Australia, as well as in her native China, Ling’s abilities are quite unique, as she successfully combines today’s recognised contemporary techniques with time-honoured Chinese modalities to provide genuine assistance to those with physical discomfort, sport, health or occupational mobility issues, insomnia or even common fatigue. In fact, Ling’s loyal long-term clients are an ongoing testimony to her incomparable massages and to her outstanding level of care. Fully accredited by Australian Association of Massage Therapists / Massage & Myotherapy Australia, Ling practices from her air-conditioned home clinic in the Lighthouse Beach area, where parking is just metres from the door. Approved treatments are recognised by all major health funds, with HICAPS providing instant rebates where applicable. Warm, gracious, considerate and surprisingly strong, Ling cares for her clients – male, female, young and not-soyoung – with compassion, respect and always with traditional Chinese courtesy and values.

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THIS IS JULES’ STORY... Jules injured his shoulder in an accident 25 years ago. He suffered limited mobility and severe pain. Weekly physiotherapy treatments were not improving his medical diagnosis of shoulder tendinitis. Jules had resigned himself to a life of pain. “About 3-4 months ago I heard about Somatherapy Clinic and decided to try this new therapeutic approach. Three months into the weekly treatments I have had gradual major improvements in the use of my arm and shoulder. At present my tendinitis and other post-injury pathologies are gone. I have full mobility in my shoulder and Joint pain is hard to manage... arm and can sleep again at night Did you know: NSAIDs and some with no pain.” drugs might help with pain but they cause more damage to your joints. “NSAIDs, that is little appreciated, is that as a This is a fantastic outcome for class of compounds they cause the breakdown Jules. It’s so rewarding to relieve of articular cartilage in your joints, thereby patients from the misery of pain. accelerating osteoarthritis, the very disease for MANY MO R E PATIENTS ’ FEED BACKS which they are most commonly prescribed! The AVAIL ABLE O N R EQ U EST pathogenesis of osteoarthritis is accelerated by NSAIDs.” Simply stated, that means the risks of using NSAIDs outweigh the benefits …

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23 Serene Circuit, Port Macquarie NSW 2444

Greater Port Macquarie focus 55

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*Your pharmacist will advise you whether this preparation is suitable for your condition. Always read the label. Use only as directed. If symptoms persist see your healthcare professional. Limit 1 per customer. **Vitamins may only be of assistance if dietary intake is inadequate. The pharmacist reserves the right not to supply when contrary to our professional and ethical obligation. Retail quantities only. Limits Apply. 6 or less. «Breast milk is best for most Babies. Retail quantities only. Limits Apply. †The save prices listed in this catalogue are calculated from the suppliers RRP (Recommended Retail Price) at the time of preparation and when no such price exists is the retail price found at competing retailers. Due to discount policy we may not have sold at RRP. All products may not be available from all Chemist Warehouse stores. ^Free gifts subject to availability while stocks last. Free gift is an in-store promotion and not always available online. Not all products or promotions featured in this catalogue are available online. We beat everyone’s prices! At Chemist Warehouse if you find a cheaper price on the exact same item at another Australian Retail Store, we will match it and give you 10% off the difference! (Excludes ‘online only’ offers) Exact same item means exact same product, with the same packaging and where the product on offer at the other retail store is not clearance or run out stock. All products subject to Manufacturers Availability. We reserve the right to correct printing errors.

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carrot a day keep the D O E S

optometrist A W A Y ?

Local residents are familiar with the old saying "an apple a day keeps the doctor away", but does a carrot a day keep the optometrist away?

ccording to Anson Liang from OPSM Port Macquarie, carrots contain a lot of beta carotene and vitamin A, which can contribute to eye health. However, Anson wants locals to think beyond carrots and understand the importance of a healthy, balanced diet and active lifestyle for good eye health. As more than one in three Australians fear losing their eyesight*, the question is: how can a change in diet improve our eye health? “Our eyes, much like our bodies, crave healthy foods rich in antioxidants and omega oils. Some simple additions to the weekly shopping basket, such as green leafy vegetables, can have a big impact on eye health. Providing eyes with the nutrients they need helps us see better and can help prevent common eye diseases, such as macular degeneration and glaucoma,” said Anson. “For the over 40s, snacking on fruit and nuts throughout

the day is another great option. Doing so can reduce the likelihood of dry eyes and macular degeneration,” Anson continued.

Carrots contain a lot of beta carotene and vitamin A, which can contribute to eye health.

Anson’s top food recommendations for healthy eyes: • Fruit - including blueberries and strawberries, as they are rich in antioxidants, which are present in high concentrations in a healthy macula. • Leafy green vegetables - spinach, broccoli and kale for their essential vitamins and minerals, including lutein and zeaxanthin, which are important for good retina health.

• Oily fish - such as salmon for their omega-3 fatty acids, which can reduce the risk of high eye pressure and glaucoma. • Eggs - for fatty acids, lutein, B-vitamins and zinc, which are essential for general eye health. • Garlic - to enhance blood flow and boost the immune system, for overall health benefits. • Dark chocolate - for its antioxidants and flavinoids, which help circulation and blood flow in the retina.

*Source: OPSM research conducted by Pure Profile in June 2011 from a sample size of 1000 people across Australia aged 18 to 65+

Port Macquarie Settlement City – Ph: 6583 4271 Port Macquarie Clarence St – Ph: 6583 1377 Wauchope – Ph: 6585 2755 // Laurieton – Ph: 6559 9007 Kempsey – Ph: 6562 5886 // Taree – Ph: 6552 2391

*Sale on selected sunglasses and frames. Discount can be applied to complete pair purchase (frame and lenses), non-prescription sunglasses or frame only purchase. Conditions apply, see staff for details. Sale ends 23/06/19 or while stocks last.

Greater Port Macquarie focus 57

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focus_guest contributor Ainslee Dennis from

HOMELESS Blunt razors, frayed toothbrushes, no toothpaste, shaving cream, deodorant or shampoo, AND THREADBARE TOWELS. ORANGE SKY VOLUNTEERS SEE AND HEAR OF THIS REALITY FROM HOMELESS PEOPLE ON THE MID NORTH COAST, and so Coopernook Pop Up Op Shop decided to help.

hat is Orange Sky, and how does it help homeless and vulnerable people living on the Mid North Coast? Orange Sky is a free mobile laundry service that helps homeless and vulnerable people. The van is based in Port Macquarie, is named “Maddy” and since arriving in November 2017, Orange Sky volunteers have done more than 1,870 loads of washing while sharing more than 2,900 hours of genuine and nonjudgmental conversation. Maddy is one of 29 vans in Australia and if you open her doors, you will find two washing machines, two dryers, a water tank, generator and a pile of folding orange chairs. While washing is in the machines, volunteers simply sit and chat, and the focus is on creating a safe, positive and supportive environment for people who are too often ignored or who feel disconnected from the community. The volunteers are not social workers or experts on homelessness - they are empathetic listeners and great conversationalists. Where does Orange Sky set up on the Mid North Coast, and what has been a milestone moment for the service? Maddy clocks some serious kilometres every week, as volunteers drive her to locations for shifts varying from two to three

hours. The service has grown to eight shifts that run across six days of the week, with a team of around 70 volunteers. The van is in Taree on Monday, Kempsey on Tuesday, Port Macquarie and Laurieton on Wednesday, Port Macquarie on Thursday, Taree on Friday and Port Macquarie on Sunday. Live statistics are kept on every load of laundry as they go into a washer, and on May 10 at 10:30am on our Port Macquarie shift, Orange Sky celebrated the achievement of one million kilograms of laundry. William Lu (pictured) was one of the volunteers on shift that day with Graham Carroll, who also regularly drives Maddy from Port Macquarie to Taree on a Monday and Friday. Coopernook Pop Up Op Shop coordinator Elaine Windred learned of Orange Sky and visited its Friday service in Taree earlier this year to meet team leader, (and Love Pray Do column author, Ainslee Dennis), to find out how its members could support the people who use the service. Elaine, why did you choose Orange Sky? From a faith point of view, it is because Orange Sky is reaching out to less fortunate people, to people who are struggling, and have different pressures in their lives. We don’t supply toiletries through the pop up op shop, so we ran a little campaign from February to April through the Lower Manning Uniting Church, and it was supported by the

congregation, members Pop Up Op Shop, of the adult fellowship and how has it FAITH IS NOT group, volunteers, contributed to the ABOUT BEING SEEN friends, and some of community? IN CHURCH; IT’S our customers also We are such a ABOUT HOW WE donated things. disposable society, MANAGE BEING Over 300 items and hopefully the next WITH AND CARE were given, including generation will be wiser FOR OTHER PEOPLE. 71 bars of soap, 16 and learn from our bottles of shampoo mistakes. and conditioner, 19 The pop up op shop bottles of body wash, is all about giving 21 tubes of toothpaste, everything another 15 toothbrushes, 30 deodorants, packets of chance, another value, before it ends up in razors, wipes, sunscreen, 15 bath towels, 15 landfill. It is certainly helping my awareness of washers, and seven hand towels. the need for repurposing and recycling, and In the past we’ve supported the Women’s when local members bring their goods to us, Refuge in Taree, provided clothing to the they know they are helping someone, and it’s Kairos Prison Ministry, and at the moment we not just going straight to landfill. have made bundles of baby clothes to go to While it hasn’t brought new people into an orphanage in Peru. the church, we are finding people are willing What is the Coopernook Pop Up Op to come across the church lawn to the church Shop, and when is it open to the hall, and we are reaching people from as far community? as Mount George, Wauchope, Laurieton and We use the word “pop up” because we Pacific Palms. It has certainly increased our only open two days a week from 9am to 2pm profile in the community. on Wednesday and Thursday - and on the It’s another way to connect with the first and second Saturday of every month. community and to reach out to people who We average about 50 hours a month. It is an don’t particularly believe in coming to church extension of the church, and its purpose is for every week, and faith is not about being seen the recycling and repurposing of goods and in church; it’s about how we manage being connecting to the community. It’s as simple with and care for other people. as that. I love everything about being involved in From a very naive perspective I guess, I the pop up op shop; it’s almost two years would like the public to know that when they old, and I think it’s answered a prayer for us. are donating their goods to us, it’s not just There is such a strong sense of community, about the money. We are able to send out fellowship, and it offers quality experiences gifts on behalf of the community through the like being able to help others - none of us are connections we are making, and I think that’s young, but we are all willing and enthusiastic. pretty special. To learn more about Orange Sky, Why did the Lower Manning Uniting Church decide to open the Coopernook visit orangesky.org.au Greater Port Macquarie focus 59

Greater Port Macquarie focus 59 Greater Port Macquarie focus 70

with Clairvoyant Terri Hall Phone. 0424 818 343

June 2019

AQUARIUS.

GEMINI.

LIBRA.

JANUARY 21 - FEBRUARY 19

MAY 22 - JUNE 22

SEPTEMBER 24 - OCTOBER 23

You are about to tumble into a new experience, filled with passion and natural talent. Listen to your intuition, as you will be divinely guided along the way. You are being given an opportunity to strengthen your self-worth and your self-confidence, which will enable you to receive bigger and better things out of life. Carnelian is a very powerful motivating crystal.

PISCES. FEBRUARY 20 - MARCH 20

You need to make a choice. There are beautiful gifts coming into your reality, but you need to know you deserve these things. Sit quietly somewhere in nature and state (even to yourself) what your heart desires, then give yourself permission to receive it. Aventurine is great to carry for changes.

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.

Your attention is being called to your appreciation this month. You have been too caught up in life’s challenges to recognise the things in life that make your heart sing. Try keeping a gratitude diary for several weeks, where you write down three things daily you are thankful for, as this will establish new patterns of gratitude. Turquoise is great for expression.

CANCER.

SCORPIO.

JUNE 23 - JULY 23

OCTOBER 24 - NOVEMBER 22

Listen to your inner voice. Your restlessness is quieting, and change is imminent. Pay attention to cycle’s endings and know when to move ahead. Opportunity to express your creative self is approaching, so remain focused until the task is complete. Citrine connects our imagination to our intellect, resulting in new ideas.

Life has felt challenging to say the least recently, but try to reconnect with your laughter to ease your fears of the unknown. You have a brilliant sense of humour, and this aspect of your nature will keep you excited about the future. Ruby shatters fears and rejuvenates a love of life.

ARIES.

LEO.

SAGITTARIUS.

MARCH 21 - APRIL 20

JULY 24 - AUGUST 23

NOVEMBER 23 - DECEMBER 21

Celebrations are on their way, so don’t give up your dream. You have needed to recognise your own strength and independence, so you can succeed. Don’t allow the frustration of feeling suspended to spoil your passion or focus. Ruby worn daily energises the aura with passion and persistence.

You have answers to other people’s dilemmas. This is because you have a cosmic understanding of life. You are a natural teacher and other people are drawn to you, because they know you have their answers. Don’t be afraid to speak; just be aware of your motive. Sugilite helps us to connect to our dreams for understanding life from different perspectives.

The world is your oyster. You will soon be finishing off old business ties and making ways for new opportunities so be prepared. Some new friends are entering the picture, which is why old relationships are fading away. Words need to be spoken to clear some old issues. Speak your truth from your heart. Zincite helps creation of new ideas.

TAURUS.

VIRGO.

CAPRICORN.

APRIL 21 - MAY 21

AUGUST 24 - SEPTEMBER 23

DECEMBER 22 - JANUARY 20

Love life and relationships should be lifting your mood. Enjoy the little things in life, to realign your energy with joy that can be lasting. Don’t be afraid to wear your heart on your sleeve. Rose Quartz is the crystal of love; wear it.

“Enjoy the moment” is this month’s lesson. You have the chance to soul search and look deeply within. Treat your discoveries with respect, as this will help you to grow at a tremendous pace. Selfappraisal should be an honouring process. Kunzite and Hiddenite give us inner balance and harmony. Try wearing some.

Make a wish, but be aware of WHY you want what you are asking for. The universe is calling for your attention to your personal needs. Release fears of being proficiently able to support yourself. Larimar enables us to nurture ourselves.

Greater Port Macquarie focus 61

UP TO 50% OF F FR AM E S

PORT MACQUARIE 95 William Street Ph 02 6583 7333 PORT MACQUARIE 29 Horton Street Ph 02 6584 3948 WAUCHOPE 6 Bransdon Street Ph 02 6585 2393 georgeandmatilda.com.au Terms & Conditions Apply. See in store for details 60 Greater Port Macquarie focus

focus_contributor - Travel Editor Susie Boswell.

Top End Glamping all the go

ew non-indigenous Australians have visited the Northern Territory’s Coburg Peninsula. The remote bulge of country thrusting into the Arafura Sea 350km north-east of Darwin is the very top of the Top

End. I’ve been there, and found the sense of isolation, immersion in the environment and pure wonderment unequalled even by the magnificent abandoned wastes of our vast Red Centre deserts. It’s this part of the world, Arnhem Land, that truly grabs the soul, stirring visitors seeking a raw uncompromising encounter with unsullied Australian nature. The region lies beyond Kakadu’s well-admired massive waterfalls and fascinating rock art, abutting its easternmost border and stretching on to the western coastal shores of the Gulf and the town of Nhulunbuy, also known as Gove. Nothing in this awe-inspiring land of close to 100,000sq.km strikes the neophyte intruder more harshly than the pest-ridden climate that must be endured, the treacherous terrain and, at its peak, the volcanic heat - all of which, once challenged, go to make up the most exhilarating of life experiences. Now, the tenderfoot nevertheless keen to make the trek is happily hosted in new facilities that make it all possible, with ease. Glamping, once an effete word coined for glam camping, has come into its own across the Territory as a welcome, real and practical means of allowing otherwise cosseted western adventurers to thrill to the charms of this harsh, wild, totally alluring land with still the basic essentials of a comfy bed, protection from the elements (and wildlife), good bathing facilities and easy sustenance. Today the visitor can have it all, the rough with the smooth, pleasure without pain. New glamping opportunities are opening up: mini settlements of screened tents with individual bathing facilities, central compounds for meals, or barbecue areas, a base for striking out on tours with Aboriginal guides - still with the rustic appeal essential for feeling close to it all, and in small-scale style for intimacy. The intense ruggedness of the Territory can be encountered with a minimum of robustness or, for the elderly and less fit, physical exposure. BANUBANU WILDERNESS BEACH RETREAT,

on Bremer Island 15 minutes’ flight from Gove, is due to re-open next month with a suite of upgrades including a new restaurant, plunge pool and six eco safari tents (picture). Known for its untouched beaches, lush tropical surrounds and abundant sea life, Banubanu offers fishing and mud-crabbing experiences off the pristine coast of eastern Arnhem Land. An escape from the hustle of modern life, it hosts just 14 guests to enjoy the space and freedom of natural beaches, abundant sea life, rich Yolgnu culture and lush tropical surrounds in a truly tranquil location. Fly from Darwin or Cairns into Gove. COOINDA LODGE and CAMPING, KAKADU, launches its new glamping village this month, in celebration of the 40th anniversary of Kakadu’s declaration as our precious National Park. Dreaming@Home Billabong features 20 upmarket environmentally-friendly tents configured for couples or families, with queen or bunk-bed options, outdoor deck for star-gazing and shared cooking and bathroom facilities. The Lodge’s rooms too have been fully refurbished with new bathrooms, air-conditioning and furnishings, upgrading comfort and facilities. The settlement also provides temporary camping and caravan sites. All guests can access the Lodge’s restaurant, bar, shop and two swimming pools. Cooinda means Yellow Water, named for the adjacent amazing waterlily-strewn - croc-lurking - billabong 250km east of Darwin. At the heart of the national park, it offers attractions such as Yellow Waters cruises, 4WD adventure touring, scenic charter flights and nearby Warradjan cultural centre, established by the traditional owners for better appreciating the history and meaning of the many surrounding wonders. It’s ideally located for trips to Nourlangie rock art site and tours to Jim Jim Falls, Twin Falls and other noted waterfalls and rockpools. A WEALTH OF FESTIVALS is scheduled this year throughout the NT Dry Season: Kakadu Bird Week, 28/9 to 7/10; Katherine Bird Festival 1215/10; Tropical Light in Darwin, late October (by Bruce Munro, creator of Uluru’s “Field of Light” installation); Australian Opera at Uluru 2/11; and ongoing arts trails, open-air cinema and exhibitions. The Ghan’s 90th anniversary tour from 4/8 is already booked out. Ensure up-to-date details beginning at www. tourismtopend.com.au and consult travel agents.

E S T A T E Build Your Dream Home - Small Acreage Blocks Right Near The Coast SELLING NOW - 12 Blocks currently SOLD!

average temperatures, a unique scenic location ake your dream of building your own home a reality! with a welcoming community, excellent Wattlebird Estate is just a restaurants and cafés, and lovely quiet towns short 10 minute drive from with all the amenities. Of course, Nambucca Nambucca Heads, with 24 Heads has great medical facilities, including a lifestyle acreage blocks selling now! Starting at newly announced $73 million dollar hospital $230,000.00 and ranging in size from one (1) coming to Macksville, as well as a good choice hectare lots (2.4 acres) to of schools available the largest block being a in Nambucca Heads, huge 9.37 acres. Imagine Macksville and Bowraville. the endless country Wattlebird Estate is ideal Wattlebird Estate is ideal lifestyle opportunities with for people looking for a sea for people looking for a sea that much space … microchange/tree change and a change/tree change and a break agriculture, vineyards, break from suburban life. from suburban life. If you chooks and even stables If you are someone who are someone who loves for a couple of horses for loves the outdoors and the outdoors and are either yourself or the kids! are considering building considering building Or, if you are more of your own home, then this your own home, then a coastie, you also have is your opportunity, without this is your opportunity. pristine beaches, an island buying a second job. If you are someone who golf course, boating, loves the outdoors and are fishing and water skiing considering building your also in close proximity. own home, then this is a Wattlebird Estate is truly a great opportunity for you. piece of paradise. Wattlebird Estate is well under construction! You could be building your new home by the end of the year, with subdivision works due to be completed in October 2019. Location and Lifestyle The Nambucca Valley has Australia’s best

Get Help Choosing the Right Block for Your Needs To help get the dream of owning your very own acreage, contact the sales agent Paul Loughland on 0402 639 265 or 1800 699 560. Greater Port Macquarie focus 63

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focus_contributor.

Business Minds with Jane Hillsdon of Dragonfly Marketing

BUSINESS MINDS

ROBYN Flanagan WA U C H O P E T R AV E L

obyn, you are the owner of Wauchope Travel, which is a member of HelloWorld, a leading Australian based travel agency. Can you tell us a little bit about your business’ history in the region? We purchased Wauchope Travel in 2008, right at the start of the global financial crisis. It had been a Travelworld office and prior to that a Harvey World Travel Office, and even prior to that a small local travel agency, so in some way or form we have been around for at least 45 years! There have certainly been big international changes that have affected the day-to-day running of our travel agency along the way; such as the Australian pilot strike, the global financial crisis, the advent of personal computers; however, the basic premise behind our agency has not changed. It’s always been about helping people to have life changing experiences and to achieve their travel dreams. What do you love most about running your business? What I love most about running this business is being able to deal with wonderful staff who have been so loyal to us over the years, as well as spending time with clients who are happy to be planning their exciting holiday. There are the odd times when we need to help someone travel for sad reasons, but mostly travel is a joyous purchase. Our customers are generally so pleased to be planning their holiday with their significant other or family, or perhaps heading off into the great unknown on their own. Booking with us means they are not really on

their own though - they appreciate our support and contact throughout their journey. My inspiration comes from those around me who run businesses and still have a life balance, particularly living in this beautiful area. I think you really do need to stop and smell the roses. I am always saddened when I see couples who always intended to travel, but suddenly are no longer able to. We are fortunate to travel to wonderful destinations and meet all sorts of people, but time and again it comes to me that there really is no place like home. During your time as a business owner, what have your learnt about creating an environment where you can succeed? You never really know what you are going to be dealing with, as each day is so different. One day it might be a huge European itinerary with cruises, flights, touring, hotels and all the detail in the world. The next might be a flight to Sydney to see a show or football match. The staff take a personal interest in why the customer is travelling, and we get caught up in the excitement of planning their journey. I attribute our success over time in business to our staff. They are the backbone of our agency. What do you think is the single most important factor in running a successful regionally based business? Working in a regional area is a little different to working in a city. Here we get to know our clients personally. We know their family members and can often offer far more detailed advice, because we know their back story. We are involved in many local charities and groups and have a real sense of belonging in the area. We are also not

My inspiration comes from those around me who run businesses and still have a life balance, particularly living in this beautiful area.

restricted by a geographical boundary, as most of our clients contact us via email. We could be on the other side of the country or world and still be chatting to our clients by email or via Facebook. Have you experienced roadblock as a business owner? How have you overcome them? One of the questions we are constantly asked is if the internet is hurting us. I think the answer varies from client to client. Some embrace it and learn from it, which helps them to be so much better informed, then they ask us to do the booking. Some ignore it and just leave their holiday planning up to us. Some people pick and choose what they are comfortable to book themselves, then they ask us to plan, book and organise the aspects of their holiday that they don’t feel comfortable doing themselves. It can be a daunting playground, and putting your hard earned holiday dollars through a website without knowing who you are dealing with can sometimes end badly. We are so well supported by good companies that we have used for years, and we pride ourselves on the number of repeat clients we have. What are you hoping to achieve in business this year? I am already pretty happy with what we have achieved this year. We had the opportunity to open a new store in January in Taree. We have a wonderful team there who all have many years of experience in the travel industry. Taree is a great

town, and they have been very welcoming towards us. Is there a particular quote that you live by in business? In business as in life there is a Buddhist mantra: "This too shall pass". I try to hold on to this whenever things get tough. There are always challenges to owning a business, but whatever conflict or situation you are facing one day, you can be sure it will come and go, and life will move on. And finally, if you could invite three business people to lunch, who would they be, and why would you invite them? One business inspiration for me is Richard Branson. He took on Australia’s iconic flying kangaroo and gave us a real alternative - he continues to innovate and is so creative and non-traditional! Another person I admire is Andrew Burnes - he is the CEO of HelloWorld Travel and a real influencer in the travel industry. He calls a spade a spade, which is refreshing at that corporate level. If I could have lunch with these two men and my mother - my other business mentor - now that would be a business meeting to record! In her life, our mother’s mantra on business was always to treat your customers with complete respect, don’t park in their car space, and that manners matter. She would pull Andrew and Richard into line for a lunch to remember … Thanks for your time, Robyn. Greater Port Macquarie focus 65

focusinterview.

kellon beard

Kellon

Beard NSW Business Chamber

As a Regional Manager for the NSW Business Chamber, Kellon Beard’s role covers the area from Woolgoolga in the north to ForsterTuncurry in the south - a huge undertaking, as he and his team work to assist local businesses grow and prosper. The Chamber advocates on behalf of businesses when it feels Government policies are not in their best interests, and it’s on hand for information and business advice when needed …

i Kellon. Please share a little of your history in the Port Macquarie area. I moved to Port when I was 14 years old from Blacktown and completed 4th Form (Year 10) at St. Joseph’s Regional School. After finishing Year 10, I worked briefly at Woolworths (Food for Less) until I obtained an electrical apprenticeship with a local electrician, Ross Hoy. I moved back to Sydney in 1979 to work at Ultimo TAFE, as an electrician and scientific instrument maker. I got off the tools in 1985 and started a career in purchasing within the NSW State Government and worked in various roles until early 1999, when I moved back to Port with my wife, Sharon and two young boys, Bryce and Ethan. The move was prompted because I wanted my boys to go to school in Port Macquarie and at the time, the eldest, Bryce, was about to start school. Sharon was not that keen to come to Port, but having purchased some land a couple of years earlier, I convinced her it was a great place to raise a young family. My first role in Port was at MBC; I stayed there for two years and ended up running the business for the owners at the time. After that role I had a number of other positions, before I started at the NSW Business Chamber. How did you become involved with the NSW Business Chamber? I first joined the Chamber as a member when I worked at MBC. I saw so much value in the services the Chamber offered, I ensured that all other businesses I worked at were members, or they

66 Greater Port Macquarie focus

joined just after I started. Whilst working at MBC, I was elected to the Regional Advisory Council (RAC) of the NSW Business Chamber. This Council is made up of members who volunteer their time to make recommendations to the State Council of the Chamber. I was a member of the RAC for five years, before I started working for the Chamber as Regional Manager in February 2006. What’s your current role with the Chamber ... and what does this position involve on a day to day basis? My current role is Regional Manager for the Mid North Coast, so I cover the area from Forster-Tuncurry to Woolgoolga. Every day with the Chamber brings something different and rewarding; my days are spent representing and assisting members with issues or problems they may have. These issues vary widely, from concerns with Government legislation or red tape to sourcing information or products and services to help them grow their businesses. For those not in the know, how does the Business Chamber hierarchy/structure work? Many people know there’s a Port Macquarie Business Chamber, or a Coffs Harbour Business Chamber, for example. How do these local chambers work with the NSW Chamber? The NSW Business Chamber is an independent not for profit member organisation that’s been championing business interests for over 190 years. We are a state-wide body and our organisation is a member of the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI), who in turn are members of the International Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Locally we work with most of the local

THE CHAMBER IS A PASSIONATE ADVOCATE FOR BUSINESS IN THE PUBLIC ARENA: WHETHER STANDING UP TO GOVERNMENT AND DECISION MAKERS WHEN BUSINESS INTERESTS ARE NEGLECTED, OR WORKING TOGETHER TO CREATE POSITIVE CHANGE.

Chambers across the Mid North Coast, including Port Macquarie, Camden Haven and Wauchope in the Hastings, and all the Chambers in the Coffs Coast area. I am currently a member of the Board of the Port Macquarie Chamber of Commerce and one of only three Life Members, the other two being Janette Hyde and Peter Buckland, so I am in some really great company. We provide local Chambers and their members access to our vast service offering through our various business units, to assist them in growing. The Chamber is a passionate advocate for business in the public arena: whether standing up to government and decision makers when business interests are neglected, or working together to create positive change. What are some of the things you most enjoy about living in Port Macquarie? I enjoy the people I interact with from vastly different backgrounds and how they have the town’s best interests at heart. The beautiful environment in which we live and the buzz of the town are what make this place the best place to live, work and play in Australia. I have seen many changes across the area and how the town has grown; it is really starting to realise its potential. Having the universities here has made a huge difference to the town, and with the expansion of Charles Sturt University, the future looks promising. What are some of the key issues the NSW

Chamber is working on in Port Macquarie at the moment? The key issues we are working on at the moment are ensuring that members are compliant in the workplace relations area and that their concerns with Government at any level are heard and actioned on. We are working across the region with a number of other organisations to tackle youth unemployment, which we see as a major issue for the community going forward. What do you see as being some of the major challenges the Greater Port Macquarie area is facing at present ... particularly in light of the recent Federal Election? The major challenge for the Greater Port Macquarie area is how we handle our everincreasing size and how we focus on growing our economy. With the return of the Coalition Government, there should not be any major changes for business in the near future. The NSW Business Chamber has great resources that are available to members, so I encourage any business to contact their local Chamber and if not already a member, then consider joining and making a difference. Where can we find out more info about the NSW Business Chamber? You can find out more about the NSW Business Chamber by going to our website, www.nswbusinesschamber.com.au or by calling me on 6590 2402. Thanks Kellon. Interview: Jo Robinson.

JaneHillsdon on her first book...

H O W

T O

D O

M A R K E T I N G

A Comprehensive Guide For Small Business

These days, successful small business marketing requires us to be brave. If you own a small business in a regional area, you compete with your local competition, as well as the rest of the world.

hen it comes to solving a problem, your consumers now have the whole world at their fingertips. So how can your business compete? To help regionally based small business owners take a brave approach to their marketing strategy and execution. I have written a book to show them "How to do Marketing." As the name suggests, the book is all about marketing. But, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not just any old marketing book. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a book that addresses growing a small business in a regional town of Australia. I have chosen to write this book for this market because I believe that small business has the power to drive and sustain regional development, and I want to help build the capacity of regional Australia. Local businesses employ local people, we support local charities, we contribute to building sustainable local economies that help our nation thrive. We are ambitious and capable, and together we can collaborate to achieve a common goal that is bigger than us. I am at the point where I have realised I have an incredible passion for building capabilities in regional areas and by writing this book, I can contribute to building that capability by helping businesses in regional areas to grow. This may be stating the obvious, but operating a business in a regional town is very different to running one in a metro city. And for this reason, your approach to marketing needs to be different as well! As business owners, we need to back ourselves and our businesses and know that we will succeed. Learning how to effectively market your business will differentiate you in competitive markets. It will help build and create a strong and sustainable brand. It will drive the right customers in your direction and keep them coming back. How to do Marketing will be launched online in July 2019 and will be available via Amazon, Booktopia, Dymocks and Book Depository. It will then be available in bookshops from August 2019. To order your advance copy of How to do Marketing, visit www.dragonflymarketing.com.au/books/how-to-do-marketing/

Greater Port Macquarie focus 67

focus_contributor

MICHAEL MOWLE - PRESIDENT PORT MACQUARIE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

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 AT I O N

tourism UPDATE

Minding your If you love big band music, don’t miss the Big Band Blast happening 31st May to 2nd June at various venues. Check out their website for the full programme: www.bigbandblast.com.au

With the Federal Election now run and won, businesses in our area can move forward and plan with confidence. Scott Morrison has led the Coalition Government to victory with a slightly increased majority. The Port Macquarie Chamber of Commerce congratulates Nationals Patrick Conaghan as the newly elected Federal Member for Cowper.

n the final analysis, the Australian to proceed to construction and investigation electorate has favoured the promised respectively. Council has also recently personal tax cuts, lower spending agenda announced that a contract has been awarded and a generally more conservative for the design of the upgrade to Hastings River economic policy platform offered by Drive from Hughes Place to Boundary Street. the Coalition. With both elections now This is good news, and hopefully construction over, clarity around the implications of key work on the upgrade will commence in the not policies provides welcome certainty to the too distant future. business community. An immediate lift in the Construction of the new Airport Terminal share market following building is now well the election was clear advanced, and Chamber evidence of investor has recently met with confidence nationally. Council to seek assurances The big winners that upgrading a fast With funding in place and already are the housing deteriorating Boundary design work completed, industry, which is set Street will now be given the entire community is to be buoyed by the a high priority. When now anticipating that the removal of threats the new Airport Terminal actual construction work to negative gearing is opened later this year, will begin soon for this and capital gains tax this road will become the much needed and long concessions. There is also vital main entry and first awaited road upgrade. some assistance coming impression for visitors to to first home buyers in Port Macquarie. the form of government The Port Macquarie backing for those with a 5% deposit. Property Chamber of Commerce sub-committee is now analysts are already predicting the renewed well advanced with planning for the Business confidence will convert to a stronger housing Awards to be held at Panthers on 27th July market within the next six months. 2019. The recent Business Awards launch Infrastructure spending has been given a high was well attended, and past winners provided priority at both State and Federal levels. Funding excellent advice on their experiences to inspire of over $50m has already been committed others to enter this prestigious local event. by NSW Government for the Ocean Drive Chamber staff and the sub-committee have Duplication. With funding in place and design again secured the services of Jean Kitson as work completed, the entire community is now MC and local radio identity Mark Straun as coanticipating that the actual construction work host, so the night promises to be one of great will begin soon for this much needed and long entertainment. awaited road upgrade. Nominations for the business awards During the election campaign, Federal have opened, and Chamber encourages all funding was promised by the Nationals for the businesses to get started on their entries. Foreshore Bicentennial Walk and investigation To enter, go to www.portchamber.com.au into a tidal pool. It is expected that this funding and click on the “Business Awards” icon. will now be formalised, allowing both projects

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nother event happening 6th - 9th June is the Hello Koalas Festival, starting with the Caring for our Koalas Symposium, followed by the Treasure Hunt, Hello Koalas Car Show at the Foreshore Markets, two Rock and Roll Shows: Jake Rattle and Roll Dance Night and British Invasion with The Day Trippers, Family Day at Douglas Vale Homestead and Winery and also Hastings Choristers at the Glasshouse. Check out www.hellokoalas.com/festival Recently Greater Port Macquarie Tourism Association held their quarterly Network Meeting at Mercure Centro Hotel. Excellent venue - their customer service and attention to detail was just wonderful. Three very interesting topics were highlighted - Business Tourism, the Koala Smart Programme, and Customer Service Excellence. Beck Morley - who is employed by Destination North Coast as a Business Event Executive, highlighted her role to source conferences for our region. In the short time she has been with Destination North Coast, she has already secured two conferences. Tacking Point Lions Club is implementing a programme called Koala Smart into 26 schools in our region. It is curriculum-based learning project that asks students to research the koala plight then answer the question: "How would I save the koala". Rob Bruce and Janice McGilchrist enthusiastically explained just how desperately our koala population needs our support and vigilance. One subject that is important to all businesses is offering great customer service. Cassie Clark from Seasalt Café offers an excellent example of just how we all like to be treated. Her staff are a credit to her training methods. Through this column I would like to recognise a dynamic lady who has given so much to our community and business tourism industry, Kate Wood-Foye. She worked

tirelessly for Rydges and Sails over many years. She has taken up a position at Charles Sturt University and will continue her passion for the community and business tourism. We wish her well and know she will stay involved with our industry. A dynamic group of people are on the Board of Revive Lake Cathie, ably led by President Danielle Maltman and assisted by Cara Dale. The plight of this iconic part of our region is dire, and the strategy this group is developing will really plan a pathway to restore and maintain this landmark to its past pristine condition. Holiday Coast Port Macquarie Chamber of Commerce Business Awards is being held on the 27th July. This prestigious event is always welcomed by our business community. Entries are now open, and submissions can be lodged until the 8th June. Don’t miss out; it is the time of the year to celebrate business! Greater Port Macquarie Tourism Association welcomes five new members this month: • Aus Sports Scoreboards and Electronic Displays - Australia’s premier manufacturer of LED Scoreboards and matrix LED signage owned by Malcolm Neil and Peter Vane. www.aussport.com.au • Sign City Plus - operating since 1986, David Marshall provides our Hastings area with all aspects of signwriting and signage from design to completion. www.signcityplus.com • Fish Port Macquarie - Patrick and Monique Shelton welcomes you to check out their family owned Fishing Charter business. www fishportmacquarie.com • Clay Koala - visit Sue Brangwin’s new studio, offering all things to do with pottery in Merrigal Road, Port Macquarie. www.claykoala.com.au • Zumba Fitness happens in many venues in Port Macquarie. Krista Gilen offers fitness classes in a fun way, even in the pool. www.facebook.com/ZumbaKrista Check out what’s on in our region: www.portmacquarieinfo.com.au

iona fusion

THE ROBOTICS PROGRAM AT ST COLUMBA ANGLICAN SCHOOL IS MORE THAN JUST ROBOTS. Our STEAM endeavour is to build our students’ capacity in engineering, develop collaborative and critical thinking, as well as a sense of citizenship.

DANIEL ZAVONE

obotics at SCAS has provided matches played over several weeks leading up our students opportunities to to Houston,” Mr Zavone said. develop and showcase their skills After a challenging few months designing, worldwide. building and then competing on the world In 2019, our Iona Fusion team stage, the team are enjoying being back on were awarded the Highest Rookie home soil. However, the team are already Seed award and the Creativity of Design award looking ahead to next year, including team at the FIRST Robotics Competition South Pacific captain, Year 12 student Alex Reynolds. region final. This led to “It was a massive our students receiving competition, and it was runners up for the entire really cool to see all the competition and securing different designs people Director of STEAM at SCAS, a spot to compete at the had come up with,”Alex Daniel Zavone, has seen the world championships in said. “It was interesting Robotics program grow Houston, Texas, USA. that the best designs were from strength to strength An enterprising some of the most simple, after competing at their first team of eight students and it has definitely given national level event last year, to and a team mentor us something to think now becoming a strong force of competed in one of six about for next year.” international calibre. divisions at the World From Kindergarten Championship event. through to Year 12, SCAS Iona Fusion ranked 26th students experience a and earned the honour STEAM curriculum based of Highest Ranked Rookie team in their division, on an interdisciplinary and applied approach. showcasing our success as a first-year entrant. Rather than teaching five disciplines - Science, Director of STEAM at SCAS, Daniel Zavone, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics has seen the Robotics program grow from - as separate subjects, STEAM integrates them strength to strength after competing at their into a cohesive learning paradigm based on first national level event last year, to now real-world problem solving. becoming a strong force of international calibre. At the end of their schooling, SCAS students “The FIRST Robotics Competition is will graduate with a deeper understanding of considered the ultimate sport for the mind, and problem solving, and the transferable skills to the Houston event brought together teams from be competent and confident in their life-long 91 world qualifying events, with over 18,000 endeavours and careers. Greater Port Macquarie focus 69

The Brakes Have Been Applied People often ask “How much have prices changed”. Over the last five years, prices rose annually in Port Macquarie by 5.06%, 6.02%, 8.86%, 10.65% and 7.55% but in 2019 the price change was a big fat 0%. Not since 2012, where prices fell by 3.36% have we seen such flat performance. Nationally, tight lending conditions have contributed to house price falls since the peak in late 2017, but the rate of decline is flattening in many capital cities. Likely loosening of lending rules, tentative improvements in loan approvals and improving auction results suggest the worst of the price falls in Sydney may be behind us, and we do tend to take our lead from our state’s capital. It is interesting the while the number of national property listings is elevated, the number of new listings coming on to the market is down, which suggests vendors are willing to wait for improved conditions before deciding to sell. The number of investors active in the market is low and well below the long term average, so unless owner occupiers and first home buyers pick up the slack, we may see soft conditions for a little while longer. (All data from Corelogic.)

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focus_tech

WITH GAVIN MORONEY

TECH for the M O D E R N

Tech Head

DAY

In this review we take a look at some of the neatest pieces of tech to create masterpieces from the comfort of your own couch.

31st Birthday Expo at Camera House Billabong Celebrating our first year at Zoo our new location. Billabong Koala andnew Wildlife Park is How is theZoo, move to the location? NSW’s premier regional wildlifeand park, located We are loving our new bigger better in Port Macquarie. World-renowned for its location at 228a Harbour Drive, with parking breeding atkoala the front door programme, and customerBillabong parking atZoo theis a signifi a diverse range rear, withcant easeregional of accesszoo for with all. The increased of Australian and exotic and birds. store area has provided us animals with a greater retail

white dots indicating the active surface area; ntuos Wacom tablet: Wacom it’s a very minimalist piece of design. The stylus has been at the head of the is very close to a pen, with a very ergonomic game for years when it comes to digital art. From architects and feel and two buttons along the side, which can engineers to graphic designers and be mapped like a mouse. photographers, all found tablets to On the small Intuos, the included pen has be the perfect tool in the design process. The 4,096 levels of pressure sensitivity for a way the Wacom Intuous smooth, natural drawing tablet works is simple; experience. If choosing you have a pad which the bluetooth version of is connected to your the Intuos, you will get WACOM INTUOS computer and instead up to 15 hours of battery HOLDS UP NICELY. of a mouse, you use a life and being lightweight IT’S SUPER-EASY stylus (pen) replicating at 250 g, it‘s the perfect TO SET UP AND the life old tradition of travel companion for USE, AND THE pen and paper. From a whenever inspiration NEW FEATURES young age we adapt to strikes. A nice added AND BUNDLED a pencil and paper, so bonus is you also receive SOFTWARE ADD it is quite easy to adapt access to up to three EXTRA VALUE TO THE to using a tablet, giving creative apps, including TOTAL OF THE PACKAGE. you the freedom to Corel Painter Essentials 6, Corel Aftershot 4 and create smooth lines when Clip Studio Paint Pro via illustrating or replicating your Wacom ID after a certain stroke pattern registering your Intuos. from a paint brush. The simplest way to describe drawing with a mouse is like drawing with a rock! The more consumer friendly and most commonly used Wacom is the Intuos line. So far as being an entry-point for pen tablets, the Wacom Intuos holds up nicely. It’s super-easy to set up and use, and the new features and bundled software add extra value to the total of the package. The Intuos is a sleek, clean, plastic slate the shade of obsidian, rounded buttons along the top-most edge and a grid of

area more cameras, more bags, a large range We for have recently renovated our reception ofarea, frames, interesting gadgets and light, caféfun andand upstairs offices, providing accessories and a dedicated space available for airy and modern facilities where we welcome our biometric studio. as well as visitors from passport all over Australia, We also have a large room for specialised overseas. training large framing of canvas As partand of our renovations, we nowand have photographic prints. an elegant boardroom for hire that includes Miller the and localboardroom owner of a Lance kitchen, chillhas outbeen corner the business for over thirty years. He a 12 facilities for corporate functions of had up to background in electronics and was a wedding delegates. photographer originally. He has always strived Why not choose Billabong Zoo for your next to have the most advanced, up to date printing meeting? Not only do we have everything machines; he was the first to have a digital you need to run your professional meeting photolab machine outside a major city area. We were also the first regional lab to have a dry digital printing machine that uses no chemicals, keeping the environment clean. In this time, he has also been on the board of directors for Camera House nationally and chairman for three years. Paul Tidey has over thirty years of experience and passion in photography. He is a brilliant and passionate photographic trainer. In our new bigger and better location, Paul has his own dedicated area for his monthly camera training classes, which have been very popular with our customers. Whether it be a monthly group training or one on one training, if you would like to book, email training@chch.com.au Chad Miller has been around the photography industry since he was very young, carrying the wedding bag and second camera for Lance at weddings, working in the shop after school hours, weekends and holidays to now working in the family business for over 20 years full-time, growing to do his own wedding photography,

in a beautiful setting in the country, we have commercial work - including family portraits special add-on animal encounters and zoo and school formal photography. educational that will provideprinting a welcome Mel Carrolltalks is our photographic break for your and participants, as well as a specialist/guru has also been in the memorable experience. industry for team over 20 years. She has a high colour management skill set, to We offer tailored catering to being suit allable dietary colour correct all types of prints for allor types of requirements, with delicious platters photographic media, withscratch her expertise grazing plates,print all made from in our in Photoshop and other color management on-site kitchen. We source fresh, local and programs.produce as key ingredients. seasonal arelooking you celebrating a year at this ask new IfHow you’re for something different, location, and what activities do you have us about our Night Zoo options. Alternatively, planned? for other events, we can accommodate large We are very to be for celebrating with parties of up toexcited 100 people corporate a week-long expo, with all the major camera functions, private parties and wedding suppliers coming for daily and evening hands-on receptions. demonstrations and tutorials and daily prize give Call us now to book your next meeting or aways. function at Billabong Zoo on 6585 1060 or This is a great opportunity for customers to visit billabongzoo.com.au check out all the latest gear and touch, feel and ask questions of the experts. All are invited to come and celebrate with us. Who are you celebrating with? We will have representatives from all our major camera suppliers - Olympus, Canon, Nikon, Sony, Fuji, Panasonic, Promaster, Sigma, Tamron, Peak Design, Manfrotto, CR Kennedy’s, Phottix Lighting, Joby and Lowepro. They are bringing the latest cameras and accessories and plenty of give aways. When is this happening, and how can we join in? From Monday 17th June to Friday 21st June 2019. Follow us on Facebook www.facebook.com/ coffsharbourcamerahouse for all updates and the daily supplier, and also drop us an email: coffs.harbour@camerahouse.au to go on to our mailing list, so that we can contact you with an invitation. Thanks everyone.

From my use, it works exactly how you want it to. Be warned: there is a slight learning curve as you have to adjust to looking at your screen and while not looking at what you are drawing. I must admit after the first day of use, I wanted nothing to do with it and put it in the cupboard. But after a week of persistence, it‘s actually now the mouse that has been destined to be nothing more than a paper weight. To check out more of the Wacom line, check out wacom.com.au Greater PortCoffs Macquarie focus 37 71 Coast focus

Greater Port Macquarie focus 70

DECADES IN THE TRADE / FOCUS FEATURE

Andrew Plowright

ell us about the history of the dealership. Our family’s involvement in the industry goes back to the '70s, with Dad working for around 10 years at the Toyota dealership in Gosford. Mum and Dad then took on Toyota in Leeton in 1984, and the opportunity soon came in ‘87 to do the same in Port Macquarie. So that year they hit the ground running with a local team and a great range of new and used cars on Gordon Street, along with parts and service in Bellbowrie Street. How is it operating a business on the Mid North Coast? As we all know, the region has kept growing over the years, but I feel it’s maintaining so much of what makes the area special. I don’t think you’d find a better place when it comes to the local vibe, our environment and convenience. Just as the region has grown, so too has our business. We have an amazing team of 44 people working hard in a variety of roles. Mal, Kevin and Terry were part of the original team, and we're lucky that so many have had

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10, 20 and 25 year anniversaries working with us. How has the Toyota product range developed over the years? Rewinding to the early years, it’s fun to think of the cars and trucks that have been on the yard. I remember plenty of Corona wagons and sedans, Corolla hot hatches, Cruisers, the red ’74 Celica I learned to drive in - I wish I'd kept that one. The Carlos Sainz “Group A Rallye” Celica and the ’85 Supra we had were so good. I’m stoked that the new 250 kW Supra will be here soon - reservations open mid-June. Numbers will be limited, but head to the New Vehicles section of our website to get the latest news about Supra. LandCruiser utes and wagons and of course, HiLux have always been popular here. Some people need a tough vehicle for their property, some want to tow a van or boat. We find the range of utes and vans, like the all-new HiAce, are popular for getting on with the job, but also handy for the family. Hybrid electric vehicles are mainstream now. How has this range developed? A huge part of our business is our self-

Operating as a family owned local business since 1987, Warren, Andrew and Hiroko Plowright still feel the excitement of the industry, with all having spent many years working with the Toyota and Lexus brands. Chrissy Jones spoke to Andrew Plowright about the business. charging hybrid electric vehicle range. Toyota has delivered over 12 million hybrids worldwide, and our all-new RAV4 now joins other Toyota hybrids like Corolla, Camry, and the Prius range. It might seem that hybrid technology is new, but it was back in Japan in 1997 that I first experienced a drive in a hybrid Prius. Actually, that’s when Hiroko and I met while both working in Toyota’s Tokyo head office. In 2001 our dealership was chosen as the original Toyota Hybrid dealer for northern NSW and now we’re the only dealership between Sydney and Queensland to offer 15 different hybrid electric models. Tell us about your luxury vehicle dealership, Lexus of Port Macquarie. Back in 1993, we were appointed as the home of Lexus in northern NSW. As you’d imagine, our family has strong ties to Japanese culture. It’s the spirit of omotenashi – the Japanese word for hospitality and anticipating the needs of guests – that inspires Lexus. Our Lexus range features the UX and NX crossover SUVs, along with the RX, now

available with seven seats. Each of these models features petrol or self-charging hybrid electric drivelines. In fact, we offer nine different hybrid Lexus models. For the ultimate in off-road or towing situations, the LX four-wheel drive wagon offers the choice of petrol V8 or the legendary twin turbo diesel 4.5 litre V8, boasting 200 kW of power and 650 Nm of torque. We also offer the CT hybrid hatch, luxury sedans and of course, sports cars. All inspired by the legendary LFA Supercar, our sports car range is constantly evolving. The latest Lexus news is that the V8 351 kW RC F coupe is soon to star as the agents' vehicle of choice for their high-velocity pursuits in Sony Pictures' Men in Black: International starring Chris Hemsworth and Tessa Thompson. It really is an exciting brand and thanks to fantastic products and our team of motoring enthusiasts, Lexus guests can expect an ownership experience geared around ease and convenience. I invite everyone to drop in for a drive at Lexus of Port Macquarie. Thanks Andrew.

DECADES IN THE TRADE / FOCUS

FEATURE

Bennetts Steel Think Steel, think

for all your steel solutions

8 years in business is very impressive; how did Bennetts Steel originate? With changes in the area regarding timber and logging, in 1991 Gordon looked at getting out of the sawmill industry. He saw a need for a business to cater for locals who were looking to buy both steel and timber in Wauchope, hence Bennetts Steel was born. Gordon and Peta ran Bennetts until retirement in 2014, when their daughters took over the reins. The team now consists of a family of eight, with daughter Shiree at the helm. Your business has just undergone rebranding. With a great reputation and continued growth in the industry, why was it important for your company brand to develop with that growth? After a strong 2018 result and major support from Australian business, we were finally positioned to develop a plan to both update much of our plant and equipment and also identify key areas of our marketing where we could evolve. We were not looking to change the world,

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but rather bring in new and more up to date equipment, which has enabled us to save on power and maintenance costs. The development of our new branding was step Bennetts Steel has maintained one in our marketing roll its reputation over the years, out, and we are ecstatic because it does not rely with the new logo result, on any one person, but with responses from instead on the strength customers, suppliers and team that are here day of the team that are here our peers to date all being in and day out. We are day in and day out. phenomenal. From our so proud of our current logo to banners, brochures team, who are locals and flyers, we are currently that excel in their area, rolling out our crisp, new, and our ultimate aim is to continue to provide modern design created by Dylan at Two Minds a great variety of steel products and services to Creative. help with all your steel solutions. The next stage is equally as exciting and We focus a lot of our time on scouring the currently in progress, so watch this space as country looking for new and exciting products, we roll out over the next two months. It is very also sourcing downgrade and auction stock, so exciting for us to be looking at new avenues of promoting our products and services. that we can give the greatest variety of steel Bennetts Steel has maintained its reputation products on the coast. over the years, because it does not rely on any Going forward, what developments do you one person, but instead on the strength of the have planned for the business?

In addition to our new advertising campaign, we are looking to further promote our on-site cnc plasma cutter, which is really kicking goals with the DIY home improvement generation. This group of people are always looking for decorative screens, firepits and steel sculptures that are unique and long lasting. Our ability to design, cut and fabricate at Bennetts Steel is allowing our customers to be more creative with their ideas and enjoy working with our team. By far and away though, it is our wonderful team at Bennetts Steel that will drive our business over the coming years and enable future developments.

Scott Williams P A R T N E R

DONOVAN OATES HANNAFORD remember some years ago now, a young client thanking me after a conference and saying, “You know, Scott, you don’t talk like a lawyer”.

At first, I didn’t know whether I should take that as a compliment or not, so I asked him what he meant. He said, “I actually understood what you were going on about”. Over the years I have learnt that being able to listen and communicate are so important in all areas of life. One of the biggest kicks that I get out of being a lawyer is seeing people smile when they leave my office after their appointment. Whether it’s an anxious first home buyer, someone about to appear before Court, or even if I'm preparing a client’s Wills, my job is to take the burden off their shoulders. If they come in tense and anxious and leave a little bit less tense and maybe even smiling, I’m happy. Contributing to the community is important to me. Donovan Oates Hannaford sponsor a number of local organisations and charities. Personally, I have been actively involved in both Tacking Point and Wauchope Bonny Hills SLSCs in the past. I also love supporting the Salvation Army each year with their “Wills Day” promotion, and over the last several years I have regularly visited most of the retirement villages within the Mid North Coast to educate the residents on Wills, Powers of Attorneys and Enduring Guardians. I’m a huge believer in living for the moment and appreciating each day. I’ve never heard of anyone lying on their death bed, thinking back over their life and saying, “Jeez, I wish I’d spent more time at the office.” Watching my three teenagers growing up has taught me how quickly life happens around you. We are so fortunate to live and work in a place like the Mid North Coast, and we should be grateful for the privilege. As the saying goes, “We are here for a good time, not a long time.”

Address: Suite 1, 75 Clarence Street, Port Macquarie NSW 2444 Telephone: (02) 6583 0427 Email: swilliams@dohlaw.com.au Web: www.dohlaw.com.au

Greater Port Macquarie focus 75

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Greater Port Macquarie focus 74

DECADES IN THE TRADE / FOCUS

FEATURE

Port Macquarie

Orthodontics interview with Dr Darin Ballard

Port Macquarie Orthodontics is celebrating ten successful years in business within the dental industry. FOCUS speaks with Dr Darin Ballard about the practice’s growth over the past decade.

i Darin. How has the business evolved over the last ten years? Orthodontics has certainly come a long way and is continually developing as a profession. Advances in orthodontic technology mean treatment is getting quicker, easier and more successful. We offer a range of treatment options to align teeth; however, Invisalign treatment is the greatest advancement in orthodontics to date. It is the modern way to straighten teeth, without the pain and embarrassment of braces. From a business perspective, we have relocated to new practices in Taree and Port Macquarie, designed to accommodate for population growth and also the number of dentists in the region referring their patients to us for specialist orthodontic treatment.

What are some of the achievements you are most proud of? Port Macquarie and Taree Orthodontics are now both recognised as a Blue Diamond provider of this treatment, meaning we are now leading Invisalign providers in the country. We also pride ourselves on innovation, reflecting the rapid environmental changes and advancements in technology. We know we must remain extra vigilant to continue to provide the cutting edge patient management and high level of dental and orthodontic techniques we offer to our patients. We invest a lot of time and energy into staff training and development, so that our patients can reap the benefits. What do you value as your business’ greatest asset? Our team! With over twenty employees operating in our clinics, each and every staff

Practice Manager Denise Buckley and Principal Orthodontist Dr Darin Ballard.

member works to ensure that our patient's journey with us is enjoyable and successful. Every staff member is highly trained and create an environment that is comfortable yet professional. Orthodontic treatment is typically a two year process, so we do get to know our patients quite well during that time., and we greatly enjoy being on this journey with them. How do you measure success in business? Success is seeing our patients, who can be initially self-conscious about their smile, complete their treatment with a beaming smile on their face. This is life changing for them and gives us great satisfaction within our business.

I understand Port Macquarie Orthodontics will be hosting an Open Day in celebration of your ten year anniversary. Please tell us a little about this event? That’s right. In honour of our 10 years in business, we will be celebrating with an open night special on Tuesday11th June from 5:30pm to 8:30pm at our Port Macquarie practice at 143A Horton Street. Join us for a FREE Invisalign Smile Simulation Tour, champagne and canapés. Call 6583 8425 or visit our website at www.portmacquarieorthodontics.com.au to reserve your space. Thanks Darin.

Greater Port Macquarie focus 77

DECADES IN THE TRADE / FOCUS

FEATURE

Pollard Pools celebrating

five decades in business

i Lee! Thank you for speaking with FOCUS. What makes Pollard Pools & Spas different? Pollard Pools & Spas has become an iconic business, known for its high quality products and services for almost 50 years now. We specialise in servicing commercial and residential swimming pools and spas. Staying accountable makes a big difference. Our assessment, recommendations and workmanship stand the test of time. Years of experience in pool construction and maintenance have enabled our team to provide and deliver unique and specialised services such as leak detection and repairs, vinyl liner replacements and pool renovations. As we lead into the cooler months we are promoting in-ground pool liners. Please tell us about this product. Pollard Pools & Spas can deliver more than you ever imagined possible with a complete pool renovation including vinyl pool liner replacements, concrete pool conversions and so much more. Each of our client’s goals are specific with a different vision for their pool. We work

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with the owner to provide either a quick and easy pool liner renovation by replacing their existing liner, or take the opportunity to significantly upgrade and modernise their pool. This could include: • Changes to the pool size or shape • Constructing steps • Adding child friendly ledges and swim outs • Replacing skimmer boxes or underground pipework • Installing new return jets to assist filtration • Upgrading to LED pool lights • Utilising heating systems or heating provisions • Building new water features Whether you’ve just purchased a new property with a vinyl pool that needs a renovation, or you’ve decided it’s finally time to give your old pool the upgrade and restoration it deserves, contact Pollard Pools & Spas. We’ll provide you with a free measure and quote, and work quickly and efficiently to ensure that you can start enjoying your revitalised pool as soon as possible. As the weather changes during Winter, what can we do to ensure our pools and spas stay in tip-top condition?

Regular pool servicing and pool cleaning is vital to ensure a healthy swimming environment for you and your family. Neglecting your pool during the harsh winter months will not only run the risk of damaging expensive filtration and sanitation systems but you could also damage your pool’s design. The Filter is the heart of all pool equipment so is essential to follow a good maintenance routine. The first and most important job is to degrease your filter after a swimming season to remove sunscreens and body oils that regular backwashing and hosing cannot

achieve. Have your water analysed, adjust levels and add an algaecide to help prevent algae growth. Check all equipment is working efficiently, that there is no calcium build up on the Chlorinator Cell and decrease your filtration hours per day. A great tip for water conservation is to invest in a high quality pool blanket. Once you’ve done the full winter prep, it’s important that you keep to a regular maintenance schedule. When it comes to pool maintenance, a little bit of work regularly will save A LOT of work later. Thank you Lee.

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DECADES IN THE TRADE / FOCUS FEATURE

Newton Blinds 13 YEARS IN BUSINESS The name is different, but the faces remain the same - Robert and Melinda Newton - born and bred locals, have been in the blinds industry in the Hastings since 2006. With a wealth of knowledge and experience behind them - Newton Shutters, Blinds & Awnings is growing into a very reputable blind business, offering honest advice, professional opinions, precise installations and 13 years of experience to guide you to find the right solutions for your home. Offering all types of internal blinds and shutter, as well as external shutters and awnings - fabric, aluminium and carbolite, as well as Ziptrak. There is something to suit every budget ranging from Australian made to imported and premium to economy - there is something for everyone. Whether you’re building, renovating, investing or improving - Robert and Melinda are the right people to ensure you choose the best product for your needs. Robert and Melinda have three girls who all go to school here in the Hastings and participate in many sports and activities - they like to show support and give back to others in our community as often as they can, recently

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having sponsored and donated to the Elders Real Estate Renovation Rescue, donations to the Scully Family Fundraiser, as well as being long term sponsors of the Hastings Education Fund, amongst other things. They firmly believe in supporting local, as this is what keeps our community thriving - keeps people in their jobs and allows the people of the Hastings to keep their business alive. If you’re needing blinds awnings or shutters - inside or out - call Robert and Melinda, Newton Shutters, Blinds & Awnings to find out why they are becoming the “go-to” blinds business in the Hastings, Camden Haven and Macleay regions. Find them on Facebook, Instagram, newtonblinds.com.au or call 0419 277 651.

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mbc Recruitment has been at the coalface of decades of change in the trade. Libby Stewart sat down with some of the company’s stalwarts to discuss how the industry has evolved and what is needed to succeed. Glenn Farley has been in the recruitment industry for almost 25 years and spent a large part of that time managing recruitment teams and branch operations. He oversees all aspects of mbc’s Labour Hire division. Chandra Armstrong has over 18 years’ experience in Human Resources and has been with mbc since April 2010. As a senior recruiter, Chandra works across a diverse range of industries, fitting talent to role. She has extensive experience with both government and private sectors. Chris Johnson is the General Nursing Manager for mbc nursing. He ensures the business meets all legislation and compliance, while giving guidance and clinical support to staff and clients. Chris has over 37 years’ experience in the health industry. What have been the main changes you’ve experienced working in recruitment and training? Glenn: The biggest change in recruitment has been the technological innovations, and the use of social media. Chandra: Now, the technology available

to us has automated many of those previously 'clunky' processes. This has allowed us to really focus on client and candidate care.” Chris: From a healthcare perspective, the amount and accessibility of information for our clients, while empowering, can create a lot of misinformation. While people will always have illnesses, in recent years these have become more complex. With people living longer, we are having to provide care for multiple illnesses at once. Have these changes affected the way you work and if so in what way? Glenn: It is now all about speed. With online platforms and mobile technology, both candidates and clients want a faster hiring process. For example, online applications make for an easier and faster experience for candidates. With mobile technology, candidates and clients expect timely and personal communication throughout every step of the process. Ten Years ago, recruiters mainly used email and phone, but now social media is a 'go to' for us to engage with candidates. Web tools such as Skype have made it easier to interview candidates remotely. Chandra: It means tweaking the way we work to maintain the connection with our candidates, clients and employees and taking advantage of tools like LinkedIn and Skype, as Glenn mentioned.

Chris: It has highlighted the need for us to find better ways of communicating with our clients. We want them to have the right information about their condition, for example, and to trust we will help them make an informed decision about the direction of their healthcare. mbc has become more flexible with the type of care we are able to provide and the accessibility of that care. Has anything remained the same? Glenn: It’s still all about the people; the relationships you develop with your clients and being consistent across all aspects of the business are all as important. Chandra: The importance of adhering to those core values that set you apart from others, particularly given the fast-paced environment and the feedback piece is still imperative between candidates and clients to ensure the best fit. How has the region changed, and how has this impacted the industry? Chandra: The demographic is changing and becoming more adaptable and innovative. We have a generation on our doorsteps who have grown with the changes in technology but being in this region, we are still fortunate be able to offer that very important consultation piece between candidate and client. Chris: I don’t think the area was expecting the growth it has experienced or

the changes in demographics. We are now providing care and support for clients of all ages. What does the future of recruitment look like to you? Glenn: I think candidates now evaluate employers just as much as employers evaluate candidates. We have seen with Millennials that they look to join employers that have something to offer them. I think this will continue and employers will increasingly need to think outside the box as far as flexible working arrangements and employee agreements. Recruiters will need to be aware of these mutual expectations to be able to attract the best candidates. The challenge for the candidates will be the face to face interaction and effective communication. At the end of the day, you still need to know how to talk to people. Chris: I foresee a dramatic move away from hospital to community-based care. With the growth in population and the access to this type of care, the need to give clients the correct information, as well as respect, dignity and safety is imperative. Our employees always follow best practice and have the extensive experience and knowledge to deliver against the needs of our clients.

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DECADES IN THE TRADE / FOCUS

FEATURE

Port Macquarie Fishing Charters YEARS IN BUSINESS: 23 Locally owned and operated by John Bolton since 1996, Port Macquarie Fishing Charters welcome you aboard the Ocean Star, a 40 ft custom Randel charter fishing boat. The Ocean Star is superbly equipped with the latest electronics, comfortable seating and a private toilet. What's included with your ocean star trip? Your charter fare includes the use of quality rods and overhead reels, all bait and tackle, food and drinks; plus, local knowledge, expert help and personalised customer service. Your catch is cleaned, iced and packed. Individuals or groups are catered for. Ocean Star departs most days from 6am, weather and numbers permitting. What can we expect to catch? We regularly catch Snapper, Dolphin Fish, Pearl Perch, Kingfish and Jewfish. Some of the wildlife you may see include dolphins and sea eagles. If you pick the right time of year to come aboard, we regularly see the beautiful Humpback Whales on their migration too! John and the crew look forward to welcoming you aboard the Ocean Star for a truly fun day out for everybody. Come along and enjoy a memorable and rewarding experience. Ph: 0416 240 877. Bookings essential.

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focus_archives

WITH DEBBIE SOMMERS

International Archives Day is held on 9th June each year. The day aims to raise public awareness of the importance of records and archives, and the role they play in providing the foundation for our rights and identity. Archives reveal much about our lives, our history and our heritage.

he Port Macquarie Museum has an extensive collection of individual, family and business archives, including business records of Port Macquarie builders, James and Hastings Bourne and their father John. John Bourne [d.1913] worked alone and with a number of other builders. Together with James Butler, he constructed the now State Heritage listed Port Macquarie Courthouse. The pair successfully tendered for the building contract of the courthouse and lock up in 1867, with the buildings in official use by 1869. In 1888, together with F Hayward, he erected a six roomed weatherboard cottage for sawmill owner John Hibbard, Sen. at Hamilton. The cottage was described as that: "which reflects the greatest credit upon the contractors". When local bank manager and amateur astronomer William Macdonnell upgraded to a Grubb telescope in 1884, he contracted John Bourne to build a new observatory to house it. The telescope was supported by an iron pillar resting in a foundation of brickwork, to avoid vibration. The 13 feet in diameter observatory and associated transit-room of 8 feet by 6 feet, furnished with an astronomical clock, was constructed at the rear of the Bank of New South Wales in Horton Street. Brothers James [1875 - 1927] and Albert, known as Hastings, [1881 - 1966] Bourne traded as the Bourne Brothers. In 1914 the pair completed the construction of the new Methodist

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parsonage in West Port Macquarie, reports at the time noting "the workmanship throughout is up to the high standard consistently maintained by Messrs. Bourne Bros". In 1926 the brothers built new commercial premises for Sawtell and Consoli’s Gift and Variety store in Horton Street. Local newspapers reported on the building’s details, including that the building foundations were reinforced to make it capable of carrying another floor, that walls were cavity and built of selected pressed bricks with cut and struck joints, and the 12 foot ceiling was made of fibro cement sheeting. Around the same time, the brothers enlarged business premises for grocer and ironmonger Mr. A. A. Cummings. This was a difficult job, as the shop continued to operate during the building works. Bourne Bros. also built the Hastings Shire Council chambers in 1913, laid the foundation stone for the Wauchope Presbyterian Church in 1915, and built the Port Macquarie Convent School in 1926, as well as many residential and business additions. Hastings Bourne continued to trade as Bourne Bros. after his brother’s death in 1927. The Bourne archives include account books, business registration certificates and invoices. The Port Macquarie Museum archives include Annabella Boswell’s papers. These have recently been inscribed on the UNESCO Australian Memory of the World. A small selection, including correspondence, artwork and journals will be on exhibit at the Port Macquarie Museum from 10th June.

DECADES IN THE TRADE / FOCUS

FEATURE

Kim Patrick

James Weber

H O S P I TA L E D U C AT I O N M A N A G E R

REGISTERED NURSE REHABILITATION UNIT

hen did you start at the hospital? I first started work at the hospital on 27th March 1987. I can remember my start date clearly. I came in and saw Ruth Doolan (the Matron at the time), who welcomed me with open arms and said, “Any chance you can work this afternoon?” Unfortunately I couldn’t, but told her I could work the next day, and that was how I started. Ruth was an impressive woman, she really established the Private Hospital in our community and made it work well. I had been living in Sydney; we were planning to start a family and having grown up in the area, I was pleased to move back to the family farm. You've had an interesting career - tell us about your journey. I started my nursing training at Manning Base Hospital in Taree. When I completed my training, I started working as a general Registered Nurse. I have qualifications in Intensive Care and Geriatric Rehabilitation. Before starting work at the Private Hospital, I had worked in St Vincent’s in Sydney working in ICU. Intensive Care was an interesting area to work in - very technical care. I was looking after very complex patients, like people having heart transplants. When I moved to Port Macquarie Private Hospital, I was looking forward to the change of pace and caring for patients I could talk with. Soon after starting, I was asked to take on the role of organising education in the hospital and then went on to work with Southern Cross University, coordinating student nurses and making sure they met their learning objectives during clinical placements at the hospital. I did that for just over 10 years; I really enjoyed working with young people and seeing them develop as nurses. During the 1990s I completed a Diploma of Education and taught in schools for over a

decade. Whilst I was teaching, I was still doing the occasional shift at the hospital. As a point of interest, my daughter, Manon, was the first baby born at Port Macquarie Private Hospital; the hospital had just received the licence to provide care for mothers and babies. What is your role now? I am now part of the Rehabilitation Team. I enjoy the enablement focus of rehabilitation. Our patients are usually with us for a little while, which means the team can get to know them and help them work towards their goals. I enjoy conversations and find patients are very interesting to talk to - everyone has a story. What is the highlight of your career to date? I think the biggest highlight of my career is the different roles I have had. I have worked in lots of different areas within nursing; I think this diversity of work has helped me be quite happy to work and keeps me interested. What is your secret to finding purpose in your work? I like working and am fond of the people I work with. I firmly believe that it is important to feel useful; both nursing and teaching are jobs that make you feel good about your contribution. In my view, life outside of your employment is important and helps you contribute to your work. I enjoy competition tennis (though I haven’t played for a little while now), I have a few older Renaults that I enjoy driving and I play violin in the Mid North Coast Sinfonia. I’m busy, lots of different interests making life full and engaging - this is what keeps you healthy.

ow long have you been working at the hospital? I have been a staff member with Ramsay Health Care (RHC) since 1990. I transferred to Port Macquarie Private Hospital in February of 2010. I started my career in Canberra as a student nurse at the Royal Canberra Hospital. We were the first university bridging course between the school of nursing and the Australian National University. I began my career with RHC in Nowra. I had been a new graduate nurse at Shoalhaven Hospital and after three weeks on the surgical ward, was offered the opportunity to take up a graduate position in ICU/CCU. I completed my Coronary Care Course at the NSW College of Nursing and within a few years was given the dual role of hospital night supervisor and in charge of ICU. Following the birth of my third child, I was unable to work full-time, and at that stage there was not the opportunity to work part-time in the public sector. I was offered a position at Nowra Private Hospital, working two evenings per week. The flexibility of the private sector was a welcome relief to a busy mum of three children under three years and a passion for nursing. I remained at Nowra Private Hospital for 20 years, becoming the Nurse Unit Manager of a busy Critical Care Unit in 1992. I transferred to Port Macquarie in February of 2010, with the view to taking life a little easier on our farm at Pappinbarra. What are the different roles you have had at the hospital? I commenced work in the High Dependency Unit at Port Macquarie Private Hospital in February 2010, and by April I had the opportunity to become the Clinical Nurse Educator for the Hospital. My early retirement plan went out the window. I jumped at the opportunity to impart some of the knowledge I had gleaned over time

to our new nursing staff and students. I was asked to take on the Infection Control portfolio in 2012 and was upgraded to Hospital Education Manager with the appointment of our then Director of Clinical Services Connie Porter (who is now our CEO). Tell us about your current role. My role today encompasses co-ordinating all education programs in the hospital, caring for both undergraduate university students, and Diploma of Nursing students, co-ordinating all hospital education and being involved in overseeing any patient admitted with an infection. I manage staff health and together with the team, implement the Infection Prevention and Control program for the Hospital. What is the highlight of your career to date? I have had many highlights in my career. I have had the privilege of working as a volunteer in the Western province of the Solomon Islands with Medisonship, delivering care to villagers in these remote islands. The most rewarding part of my career, however, has been working alongside other inspiring nurses who dedicate their lives to care for our patients; this is definitely number one. I love nursing as a profession and if I had my time over again, I would definitely still become a nurse. You have been at the hospital for 29 years what has made you want to stay? Port Macquarie Private Hospital has afforded me many great opportunities to learn, teach and develop as a nurse and as an individual. My loyalty to the company stems from the trust I have in Paul Ramsay’s vision for the company in “people caring for people”. This aligns with my personal ethos in life and allows me to live out that journey with so many staff I respect and call friends.

People caring for people.

Port Macquarie Private Hospital provides modern expertise and caring professionalism in a welcoming and relaxing environment. Just some of the comprehensive services offered: Orthopaedics, Ophthalmology, Rehabilitation, Medical/Surgical, Renal Dialysis, Urology, Dental & Gynaecology

T: 02 6582 9800 | portmacquarieprivate.com.au Greater Port Macquarie focus 85

DECADES IN THE TRADE / FOCUS

FEATURE

Lord Street

Podiatry

interview with Matilda Johnston

i Matilda. As the principal podiatrist of the business, tell us what gives you the most satisfaction in your role? Podiatry has been my life for twenty seven years. There are many aspects of podiatry that give me satisfaction. As a podiatrist you can have a patient walk into the clinic in pain and leave pain free; that is so rewarding. Due to the nature of ongoing care, I am able to build lovely relationships with my patients. I meet many people from all walks of life. I am blessed with so many gorgeous patients and a dream team to work with. Podiatry is often a misunderstood health service. What can people look out for, and how does your approach to treatment provide an individualised solution to optimal foot health? Podiatry, it seems, is largely misunderstood. From the people that we see in clinic every day, the general consensus or understanding is that a Podiatrist is just someone who deals with nails, corns, and calluses. In fact, Podiatry is a branch of medicine devoted to the study, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of diseases, injury,

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defects and pain related to the foot, ankle and lower limb. This means we deal with a large range of things, including, but not limited to, any type of knee, foot and ankle pain. We conduct gait analysis and do orthotic therapy, Diabetes foot assessments, ingrown nail surgery and high risk foot care. Our scope of practice is so much larger than most people realise. We are the experts in foot health! Please tell us a little about the many and varied services provided at LSP? Lord Street Podiatry caters for all types of lower limb foot issues, from various ages to varying levels of discomforts. Our services include: toenail management, callus and corn removal as part of our general treatments; Diabetes foot assessments, to monitor blood and nerve supply to the lower extremities, to ensure nothing goes unnoticed; orthotics - custom moulded and pre-fabricated to help correct and manage poor foot function; biomechanical assessments and gait analysis to help reduce abnormalities in gait; nail surgery for ingrowing nails; KeryFlex nail restoration, for nails that have broken down and need a helping hand regrowing back healthy. The practice is made up of a very talented

team of professionals. Tell us a little about the other staff members and how their contribution adds to the success of the business. Everyone here at Lord Street Podiatry has their own unique way of how they treat and go about their daily business. We find it gives our patients something to look forward to when they attend our clinic, whether it be a good laugh or talk about the events around Port Macquarie. We ensure that each client is treated as an individual, and their treatment plan is made according to their needs and goals. We all work together as a great team and family, which ensure that we provide a happy and energetic place for our patients to come to. I understand LSP is a stockist of F4 and Revere and Archieâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Thongs here in PMQ.

Why are these fashionable brands a good choice for people with podiatry issues? Our in clinic range of podiatry approved foot wear is very popular, especially our Frankie4 and Archie Thongs. In the time that I have worked as a podiatrist, the evolution of podiatry friendly footwear has been amazing. You no longer have to sacrifice style for comfort. The Frankie4 range of shoes are gorgeous and so, so comfortable. The Frankie4 brand was created by a physiotherapist/podiatrist and are made with the aim to be foot friendly, no matter the foot shape and size. The shoes come with a pre-made inner sole, which help to provide the necessary support most feet need in everyday life. The Archie Thong range is a recent choice for our clinic, providing the necessary support in a thong for your everyday casual comfort.

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MARGRET MEAGHER - EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, AUSTRALIAN CENTRE FOR ARTS AND HEALTH

focus_contributor

SUE REID

Isabella shares observations and a good yarn with Hello Koalas’ Guula and Ranger Riley

Arts Health AND

Photo Parks Australia 2018

Companionship is a Key to Happiness In Australia, we might call it mateship. One of the deﬁning moments from our Arts, Health and Creative Ageing Conference last year in Port Macquarie was hearing from older delegates about how they were awakened to the reality of planning the next stage of their life and enhancing the quality of time that was ahead of them.

ow, that sounds obvious. If you are 60 years of age, you need to think about being 70, or 80, or 90 or these days; with current life expectancy predictions, it is not unrealistic to think and prepare for being 100 and over. Until a month ago, I thought and felt like I would live forever. Now I am not so sure! When I had my 70th birthday in May, my four adult children and my nine grandchildren hip hip hoorayed for Grannie over a succession of loving and heart-warming dinners, lunches and holidays. It was fantastic to feel so appreciated. And, it was a real thrill to spend some of that time planning and chatting with my children and grandchildren about their benchmarks and aspirations and visions for their future. Sharing our lives with other people is really one of the essentials of a happy life, in my opinion. I was reading an arts and health article recently about loneliness. In the UK, the Campaign to End Loneliness defines the word as “an unwelcome feeling of lack or loss of companionship”. Of course, there are different types of loneliness. It might be the emotional loneliness of missing a particular person, often a spouse, sibling or close friend. Or maybe that our social networks as we get older become smaller and we feel a sense of social isolation. Sometimes, it is a transient feeling that comes and goes. It can be situational such as we might feel over Christmas when we miss family and friends. Or loneliness can be chronic, which means that someone feels lonely all or most of the time. And that’s when it is definitely not good for your health. I read that a study in the US (Holt-Lunstad, 2015) found that a lack of social connections is as

damaging to our health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day and is worse for us than well-known risk factors such as obesity and physical inactivity. That is something to think about. On the flipside, research shows that social networks and friendships not only have an impact on reducing the risk of mortality or developing certain diseases, but they also help individuals to recover when they do fall ill (Marmot, 2010). The body of evidence is very strong - being socially connected can have a positive physical effect on our mental health, and guard against the risk of heart disease, stroke and high blood pressure. One study concluded lonely people have a 64% increased chance of developing clinical dementia (Holwerda et al, 2012). The good news is that living in a regional environment like the Mid North Coast opens the doors to lots of ways to maintain friendships and be socially active. We have an abundance of social and sporting clubs, a wonderfully rich cultural lifestyle, a beautiful natural environment. Finding a new life through the Hello Koalas Sculpture Trail has given me insights into how valuable relationships are across the generations too. I love seeing grandparents out and about with their adult children and grandchildren having fun, chatting about the koalas and their often quirky designs, laughing, giggling, taking photos to share memories. But I also love to see little people offering gum leaves to our koalas to munch on, in case they are hungry, and the hugs and kisses that seem to follow from people of all ages. Makes my heart sing. And with nearly 70 Hello Koalas in my extended family, it’s hard to feel lonely at all!

At a recent Open Day, I had the delightful experience of showing members of our community through St Agnes Village and Lourdes Village, and they were thrilled with what they saw.

he recent refurbishment of our villas was particularly well received. People were pleasantly surprised that the refurbishment has included a focus on contemporary designs and functional layouts, with great opportunity to add those special touches to call it home. Residents have said they feel safe and secure in our community and are given peace of mind regarding the emergency support that was available.

Comments were made regarding the great sense of community present in our villages, which has come from 40 years of us knowing what works locally. The direct support provided to the villages through a locallyowned and operated team was also warmly received. Through our lifestyle and pastoral care programs, residents are encouraged to be as social as they want to be and offered support in The refurbishment has times of need.

included a focus on contemporary designs and functional layouts, with great opportunity to add those special touches to call it home.

Feedback was not limited to our new look villas, but also regarding the surrounding, supportive environment of our villages. Some were not aware that Catholic Care of the Aged (CCA) also provides extra support through home care and access to some of the best residential care facilities in the region.

CCA’s long-term presence in the community has meant our villages are closely located to town, facilities and transport, and people (and pets) from all backgrounds are welcomed.

The best way to get a feel for our community is to see it for yourself. I would be happy to show you our new look villas in person or via a weblink. You can contact me on 0407 843 515 to arrange this.

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Arthur Blackburn VC Gardens

Aged Care O P E N I N G

S O O N

This beautiful new living community will be a homely environment for 80 residents who seek residential care. Co-located at Pozières Village, our luxury accommodation will include private rooms with ensuites within an elegant, comfortable and secure environment, with a hotel-like ambience.

he home will feature: • Multiple dining rooms • Spacious, sundrenched terraces and gardens • A beautiful open-air internal garden courtyard • Shared living areas • Delightful aviaries and aquariums which can be viewed from the dining and lounge area • A hairdresser The type and amount of care a person receives is dependent on what is needed to maintain his or her "normal" lifestyle and will include assistance with basic

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activities of daily living (eating, bathing and grooming, toilet help, dressing, transport, etc.) in which a resident may require help or supervision. Skilled care will be provided for those who need medical or nursing care or rehabilitative services for the rehabilitation of injured, disabled or sick persons. Specialist dementia care accommodation will give residents the best quality life in a safe and supportive environment. A personalised activities program will also be available to all residents, and a village bus will also be available to take residents for regular social outings to local places of interest.

Custom-made lifts and hoists for the home or business, proudly made locally in Gloucester NSW. Is taking the stairs in your home becoming more difficult? Have you a family member who has trouble accessing the upper levels? Perhaps youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re tired of lugging the shopping up those steps! In our ageing population more people are opting to stay in their own homes longer, and Harwel Lifts & Hoists continues to help make this possible for so many people. Talk to us today about our Australian-made, custom-built lifts, or come and see our factory in beautiful Gloucester. We have almost 25 yearsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; experience in manufacturing lifts and hoists for homes and businesses. Our lifts are made to measure and come in a range of finishes and colours to suit your needs, space, dĂŠcor and budget. From glossy finishes in your choice of colour, to plain or tinted glass, from swing doors to sliding doors, the choice is yours. Every one of our passenger

lifts, limited mobility lifts, goods lifts or vehicle hoists comply with Australian Standards. We are proudly 100% Australian-owned and operated. You will find that Harwel is positively distinguished by the personal attention you receive from the design process through to installation and scheduled servicing to keep your lift in top condition. With a combined total of over 100 years in the lift industry, we take pride in our high quality craftsmanship and in working with you to design, build and install your lift. Please contact us for more information on either 1300 134 102 or admin@harwel.com.au or visit our website www.harwellifts.com.au.

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Village.

S F E AT U

Have you dreamed of retiring to a new home with fantastic amenities right next door? Newport Village may be just what you have been waiting for.

ewport Village is a friendly and welcoming community, perfectly located right in town, only minutes to every convenience, including hospitals, specialist medical services, shopping, entertainment and the stunning natural wonders of Port Macquarie. Residents enjoy all the benefits of community living, including resort amenities, with recent upgrades to the Clubhouse and resort pool, plus the addition of a brand new bowling green. Did you know we have three fantastic new home styles all waiting for you to add your own touches? They all offer a great

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range of features and inclusions. You may be downsizing, but you won’t have to compromise on your lifestyle ... Open plan living and dining, with seamless flow to the covered decks all designed to enhance outdoor living and entertaining. Large bedrooms with ensuite, plus plenty of spaces to relax and retreat. It’s the little things that mean a lot to our residents plenty of storage and clever features to make downsizing a dream. Our community is designed to be enjoyed with friends and family, or to socialise with other residents. Newport Village comes with the peace of mind of living in a gated community, with the opportunity to lock and leave whilst you pursue your travelling dreams.

Be one of the first purchase, NO Exit Fees and to see our new fully full retention of Capital Be one of the ﬁrst furnished display home Gains/Profits, Newport to see our new fully and inspect our other Village is a fantastic furnished display homes' style. As well a choice for anyone looking home and inspect our brand new homes, there for a safe and secure other homes' style. are some preloved gems community lifestyle, on offer and selling surrounded by like-minded quickly. Demand is high, people who are enjoying so we encourage you life to the full. to call Pam on (02) 6580 3000 to arrange a Visit our website for details on Newport time to inspect our display homes, or drop in Village www.newportvillage.com.au or other between 10am and 4pm, Tuesday to Saturday. Hometown Australia communities. With affordable prices, NO Stamp Duty on www.hometownaustralia.com.au

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Social Seniors staff and volunteers at their 2018 Christmas gathering.

Seniors.

S F E AT U

The Social Seniors and Friends Programme provides activities, SOCIAL OUTINGS, BUS TRIPS, AND A CHANCE FOR THOSE AGED 65 AND OVER TO CONNECT WITH OTHERS in both the Port Macquarie and Camden Haven areas.

MNCLHD Transport Officer Doug Koppel and Jocelyn Fox with the Social Seniors bus “Thelma”. Jocelyn has been involved with Social Seniors for more than 30 years, first as a volunteer and now as a participant. The Social Seniors group enjoyed a visit with Horses for Humans last year.

ianne Penberthy Programme Coordinator Social Seniors and Friends, Aged and Community Services, Mid North Coast Local Health District - tells us more about how you, too, can become involved … How long have the Social Seniors and Friends sessions been operating in the Port Macquarie and Camden Haven areas? The Laurieton Social Seniors and Friends Programme began in 1975 in the Camden Haven Community Health Centre, before moving in to a purpose-built centre in 1993. The Port Macquarie Programme began in the 1980s in the Senior Citizens Hall in Munster Street. It has had several different locations over the years. In November 2003, the programme partnered with the Seventh Day Adventist Church on Ocean Drive, where it currently operates from. What are the aims of Social Seniors & Friends? The aim of the programme is to provide a respectful, innovative, client-based service for people who are living in their own home in the community. We strive to empower our members to continue to live in their own homes safely and

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with dignity, for as long as they choose. The aim of the To do this, we programme is to work collaboratively provide a respectful, shopping trips and and innovatively with innovative, clientgoing to the movies. Mid North Coast based service for We have even Local Health District people who are living participated in a clinicians, external in their own home in mock trial at the old partners such as the community. court house, where Rotary, Whiddon and our clients took on Bethany Hostels and the roles of judge, also with the clients witnesses, jury and the accused. and their carers to provide social support, We spent a lovely day last year cuddling recreation, health promotion and wellness up to some beautiful therapy horses on a activities. picturesque farm, followed by a relaxing lunch What are some of the activities enjoyed and afternoon tea on the owner’s enormous by those who participate? back verandah, which overlooked acres of Our programme is based on social activities unspoiled nature. which provide mental and physical stimulation Transport to the programme is provided to promote independence and improve by our own bus, called “Thelma”, named in mental health and wellbeing. honour of a very generous past Social Seniors We include a variety of in-house activities, client. Clients wishing to attend are picked such as board games, cards, bingo, indoor up from their homes in the morning and bowls, trivia, darts, quizzes, arts, crafts, delivered back at the end of the day; however, discussion groups, dress-up theme days, certain criteria apply for this service based singalongs and monthly speakers. We also have a bus trip every Friday. on safety requirements and geographical Popular destinations include morning tea and location. Unfortunately, the bus is not lunch at local restaurants, clubs and cafés, wheelchair accessible. picnics and barbecues, museum excursions, Where and when do the group sessions

operate? Camden Haven Community Health Centre; Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9am to 2pm. Bus trip every alternate Friday. Port Macquarie Seventh Day Adventist Church; Mondays and Wednesdays, 9am to 2pm. Bus trip every alternate Friday. What’s the criteria to join the sessions - is there an age limit/costs involved? The programme is open to anyone 65 years or over (50 years or over for Indigenous people) who are living in their own home in the community and not in a nursing home or residential care. There is no cost to join, but there is an attendance donation of $3 per day. Referrals can be made from any community member or service. Where can we find out more info? To find out more about the Social Seniors and Friends Programme, please phone the Camden Haven Community Health Centre on 6559 9003. Thanks Dianne. Interview: Jo Robinson.

Greater Port Macquarie

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The significant changes in the home lending sector will be the focus of a free finance Q&A session in Port Macquarie this month.

he Sovereign Hills Display Village is inviting first home buyers, families, investors and downsizers to come along and learn what these changes mean for you when planning your new home. An experienced panel of finance experts has been assembled for the event on Tuesday 11th June at 5:30pm at Sails Resort. Prompted by your questions, they will share their knowledge and expertise regarding the impact of the Banking Royal Commission, the Federal Election and the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority’s (APRA) flagged easing of the home loan rules. Local panel members include Mortgage Choice’s Gary Owen, Westpac’s Kathryn McGuire and Holiday Coast Credit Union’s Matt Lester, who have a combined 90 plus years’ experience in the banking and home lending sectors. Attendees will also hear from KPMG Director

and Head of Real Estate Advisory Services NSW Tim Gavan, who will kick things off with a property market overview. The free event seeks to educate and better equip you with the tools to plan your finance. “Lenders are required to make detailed investigation into a borrower’s spending habits, in an effort to more accurately identify a borrower’s loan affordability threshold,” explained Matt Lester. “A focus on household expenditure, coupled with an overall tightening of lending policies in general, has led to credit becoming harder to obtain, as expense levels in assessments are now generally higher than what they were 12 months ago.” Port Macquarie’s master planned community Sovereign Hills will host the Q&A session on behalf of the Sovereign Hills Display Village, which is inviting attendees to come armed with their burning finance questions for the panel.

“This is the perfect opportunity for people considering building or buying a home, who may be unsure of how much they need to save and where to start, to learn about the lending approval process,” a village spokesperson said. “There have been noticeable changes in both the lending assessment criteria and approval timeframes of late. The panel members have been carefully chosen to reflect the diversity of finance avenues available. Please don’t be afraid to put your questions to the panel, as the answers will benefit everyone in the room.” First home buyers in particular are encouraged to learn about the Federal Government’s borrowing criteria changes. “The government has yet to release the details on how to apply for the scheme, but it plans to roll out the program by January 2020,” shared Gary Owen. “If you are a single first home buyer who

earns up to $125,000 annually, you are eligible for this benefit. Couples taking home up to $200,000 yearly are also allowed to apply. The scheme will offer up to $500 million in equity through the National Housing Finance and Investment Corporation. “Beneficiaries of the scheme will be able to receive support from the government for the life of their loans, or until their mortgage is refinanced. The scheme will be helpful for those who are struggling to meet the 20% deposit hurdle imposed by most banks.” Westpac’s Kathryn McGuire encouraged locals to soak up the free information on offer. “Knowledge is power! This event provides an opportunity for locals to learn insightful information in a relaxed environment,” she stated. To register for this free event, visit sovereignhills.com.au and follow the prompts, or call the Sovereign Hills Land Sales Centre on 6581 1711 today.

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our experience D I S P L AY V I L L A G E

FIND YOUR

• Award-winning builders

much more than clients during the course of their • Flexible floorplans build. • Interiors inspiration “More often than not, floor plans, complete • Open seven days a real friendship develops. with clever zoning for They’re entrusting each parents and children, builder with the single media rooms, study biggest purchase many of nooks, and expansive alfresco areas which invite them will make in their lifetime,” he shared. the outdoors in. “The new home sales teams are the first While the display homes are the star of the point of contact, and they will often maintain village, it’s the new home sales teams which that contact with the customer right throughout amplify the experience with their intricate the home building process, until the moment knowledge of their product range, the building they are handed their keys, and even beyond. process and the local property industry. “It’s a real honour when those same The people who greet you at the door also customers return for their second or third new live within the Hastings; they’ve raised or are home or refer their friends and family because raising their own families in the community and of their experience.” understand what it’s like to build a new home, Whether you’re looking for a house design to while juggling the demands of life. suit a pre-purchased block of land, or a house Speaking on behalf of the Sovereign Hills and land package in the Hastings region, start Display Village builders, McDonald Jones’ David your new home journey at the Sovereign Hills Malvern said new home customers become Display Village on Sovereign Drive today.

Disillusioned with the high-density development appearing over their fence in Western Sydney, Barbara and Paul Eichorn fast-tracked their five-year plan to leave the city.

he couple stumbled upon the Sovereign Hills Display Village in Port Macquarie while visiting a friend at Lake Cathie, and within hours had settled on their builder and block of land for their dream home. “It was just the vibe we felt from the home,” explained Barbara. “It was the second home we went through and everything just felt so good.” Barbara and Paul chose Hotondo Homes to bring their new home vision to life. They felt so confident in their builder, they rarely visited the construction site while they sold their property in Schofields, packed up decades of memories and bid farewell to their colleagues. After travelling up and down the East Coast in search of the perfect community to start their next chapter, they chose a block of land overlooking the Stirling Green parkland at

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home

Sovereign Hills and have created a beautiful haven for themselves and their visiting family and seven grandchildren. “My parents used to live in Port Macquarie and our children were used to coming here for holidays, and now our grandchildren are creating similar memories with us.” The Sovereign Hills Display Village features 15 single and double-storey homes from 11 award-winning builders on Sovereign Drive, Port Macquarie. Builders include Perry Homes, Pycon Homes and Constructions, Sorensen and Caldon Builders, Vaughan Homes, Coral Homes, Stroud Homes, Better Homes, McDonald Jones Homes, Adenbrook Homes, Regional Builders Network and Hotondo Homes. Whether you’re expanding your family home or downsizing, the village offers a wide range of

• Build to your budget

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HOTONDO HOMES

ho are Hotondo Homes Port Macquarie? Hotondo Homes was established in 1979 and has always been a family run business. It is now made up of over 70 builders across the country. We are one of those builders, and our reasoning for joining the Hotondo Homes group was because of that family base; they have the same values and ethics that we too are proud of. Hotondo Homes Port Macquarie is also a family run brother and sister team, with Andrew Petterson as the builder partnered by Fiona in administration. Fiona and Andrew specialise in building family homes and duplex designs. They offer strong customer service, attention to detail and most importantly, you deal directly with the builder. Plus, we are a five out of five star product review builder. What are the overall objectives of the business? The client is our primary focus. We build quality homes that we ourselves would be comfortable living in - not necessarily the biggest homes, but the most affordable, quality homes to meet our clients' budgets. We strive to deliver homes on time or ahead of schedule and never to cut corners to save us time or money. How will your business act as a role model in the future?

on the coast. In years to come, your home will continue to give back and will be cheaper to run, and we will be providing an environment that future generations can enjoy. Current promotion? Our current promotion focuses on helping people to afford new homes. We will Pay Your Rent While You Build, so you can focus on the fun things like choosing colours and watching your home rise out of the ground! Come see our sales team today, out at the display. Terms and conditions apply; ask our team for details â&#x20AC;Ś

Hotondo Homes Port Macquarie is very focused on building eco-friendly and sustainable homes. Our current display home is a small example of moving in this direction, and our next display home will push these boundaries even further. We are striving to build smaller, more sustainable, eco-friendly homes that are suited to the Mid North Coast environment. It is just a matter now of trying to get clients to see that this is the future direction in home building - that even though there is a small up-front cost and your home will be a smaller footprint, it will actually work better for your family and the way we live here

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6583 1034 | hotondo.com.au Come see our disply at: 20 Sovereign Drive Thrumster

Terms and conditions apply, enquire with Hotondo Homes Port Macquarie for further details, photos used for illustrative purposes only Builders License: 284665C

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MORTGAGE CHOICE Local mortgage broker, Gary Owen of Mortgage Choice in Port Macquarie, was named NSW Residential Finance Broker of the Year at the Mortgage and Finance Association of Australia (MFAA) Excellence Awards in Sydney in early May. This is on the back of his coveted Mortgage Choice Single Operator of the Year for NSW in January this year. Both awards recognise the mortgage broker who best represents the mortgage industry across key factors, including but not limited to: customer service; relationship management; professional development; business growth; and sustainability. Gary and his team in Port Macquarie have raised the bar for our Mortgage Choice broker network in NSW. The recognition from the

MFAA is a testament to Gary’s work ethic, passion and dedication, which has seen his business go from strength to strength. With over 20 years in mortgage broking, Gary continues to set an example to his peers in the industry by constantly looking for ways to improve processes, introduce new systems and tools in order to run a more efficient business and increase the team’s capacity to see more customers. "My team and I are determined to be the best brokers we can be. It is an ongoing pursuit, which requires dedication and regular education in order to keep up with this changing environment. We are at a pivotal time for the mortgage broking industry, and I am confident my team and I will be able to adapt and thrive in order to help more people realise their homeownership dreams."

Outgrown your home and ready to upgrade? We’ll take you through a number of finance options that might work for you – like using the equity you have in your current home, or organising a bridging loan to tide you over if you find the ideal property before selling your current place. And because we know how busy you are, we’ll take the stress out of the loan process by doing the legwork for you. Contact us today for expert home loan advice at no cost to you.

talk to us today p 6584 0355 m 0409 770 096 e gary.owen@mortgagechoice.com.au w MortgageChoice.com.au/gary.owen Mortgage Choice Limited ACN 009 161 979. Australian Credit Licence 382869. Mortgage Choice Financial Planning Pty Limited ACN 158 645 624. AFSL 422854.

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ADENBROOK HOMES CELEBRATES 10 YEARS OF COMMUNITY CONTRIBUTION

ADENBROOK HOMES In May, ADENBROOK HOMES MID NORTH COAST CELEBRATED THEIR 10TH BIRTHDAY and have taken this milestone moment as an opportunity to reﬂect on their contribution and support to the local Port Macquarie and Coﬀs Harbour communities throughout the last decade.

usiness owner Matt Morris prides himself on running a family owned and community-centric business, saying,“We have worked hard to create a culture that attracts the most experienced and passionate industry professionals focused on delivering superior customer service, and ensuring the client experience is second to none.” Adenbrook Homes Mid North Coast has been the recipient of numerous HIA and MBA building awards and has had a significant impact on the

local economy since their launch. Directly employing almost 30 locals and providing employment opportunities to over 300 contractors and suppliers within the region, Adenbrook Homes is one of the largest businesses in the region. Since opening their doors, Matt Morris and his team have delivered over 600 new homes and are on track to deliver 100 this financial year alone, showing strong continued growth. Mr Morris says,“Engaging with and supporting the local community and giving back is so important to myself and my team” and this ethos

of generosity is evident through the support and sponsorship of the Starlight Foundation, Giggle Ball and the National Breast Cancer Foundation, while locally in Port Macquarie the team supports touch football, soccer, cycling and the art society, and in Coffs Harbour soccer, surf lifesaving and dance groups. Matt Morris eagerly looks forward in anticipation for the next 10 years and aims to build on the positive impact the award-winning new home builder has had on the community to date, with ongoing employment opportunities,

continued support for local groups and the delivery of quality new homes to families throughout the region. Adenbrook Homes is a national franchise network of new home builders servicing the Eastern Seaboard of Australia, having been in business since 2001 and building over 10,000 homes in that time. The Port Macquarie and Coffs Harbour franchises have been delivering superior builds and exceptional customer service since opening in 2009.

Big Brand Local Builder

Adenbrook Homes Port Macquarie have an unrivalled reputation for excellence and have been building award winning new homes in the region for the last decade. Offering a flexible design range, quality workmanship and superior customer service, Adenbrook Homes can help you build your dream Sovereign Hills home sooner. Call us today to find out more (02) 5524 7902. VISIT OUR ‘INDIGO’ DISPLAY HOME AT 29 SOVEREIGN DRIVE, PORT MACQUARIE Greater Port Macquarie focus 101

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Your local home team!

McDONALD JONES Over the past 30 years, homes on the Mid North Coast have continued to evolve, meeting the changing population and lifestyle aspirations of the growing Port Macquarie and Hastings community.

t’s easy to see why locals and visitors alike say we live in one of the most beautiful regions in Australia. Our stunning coastline, the tranquil hinterland, all with such great accessibility up and down the coast - we really are so fortunate. So, there's no surprise that the local property and building industry has continued to drive jobs and growth throughout the region and since McDonald Jones built their first home on the Mid North Coast, over a decade ago, their focus has continued to be on employing locals and partnering with local trades to build architecturally designed homes that enhance or transform lives. Jason Speechly, Building and Design Consultant from McDonald Jones Homes, certainly loves where he lives and works. “There are so many things I love about living

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in the Port Macquarie region. The climate, the people, all this mixed with a picturesque coastline, plus being able to assist people to build their dream homes daily is such a gift.” Responding to the remarkable Mid North Coast location, McDonald Jones offers a range of home designs perfectly aligned to the stunning coastal or the tranquil hinterland settings. With a broad array of distinctive and timeless architectural designs, complemented by a selection of eye catching facades, no matter what your preferred style, be it Contemporary or Hamptons, you have the opportunity to create the home you’ve always desired with McDonald Jones. McDonald Jones has become one of Australia’s leading builders by creating affordable, awardwinning homes that can fit any lifestyle or budget,

and their range of inclusions is unmatched! And because our homes are built with the strength of steel frames, you know they’ll be around for years and years to come. The Port Macquarie McDonald Jones team actively work with numerous developers to offer a wide range of House and Land packages across the region. From Ascot Park, with its larger than average blocks in the magnificent bushland setting, to the incredible master planned community at Sovereign Hills or Elanora, the beautiful beachside estate at Rainbow Beach, you are sure to find your dream home, at a fixed price, with this local team. The McDonald Jones team are committed to taking the hassle out of getting into your dream home, by assisting you to connect with the construction finance specialists at MyChoice

Home Loans. The experts at MyChoice Home Loans remove the stress of finding your own finance - making securing the funds for your dream home easy, enjoyable and uncomplicated. If you are looking for a design that delivers unrivalled comfort following an afternoon of beachcombing with the kids, or a home full of vibrant and energised spaces ideal for entertaining, or simply an environment to kick back and enjoy peace and quiet, then you will find that a McDonald Jones home will help transform the way you live. To discover all of McDonald Jones designs and wonderful House and Land packages, drop in to experience two of their best selling homes located at Sovereign Hills display centre, drop into their Port Macquarie Office, or call 55525 2500

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grow with us at

grow

• Choice of residential precincts

SOVEREIGN HILLS

• Level, elevated, or gently sloping home sites • Registered and unregistered land

Set midway between Port Macquarie’s stunning coastline and lush hinterland, Sovereign Hills has been carefully planned to offer you the benefits of true master planned living.

eveloped by the Lewis Land Group (LLG), Sovereign Hills is now home to more than 1,500 locals, parklands, cafés, onsite schooling and childcare, while the jewel in the community’s crown - the first stage of the $100 million Sovereign Place town centre - is on track to open in November this year. Starting as a 5,200 m² neighbourhood shopping centre and then growing over time, Stage 1 will include a full-line IGA Supermarket, chemist, café/restaurant, specialist retailers and service providers. The future Stage 2 will bring a community centre, entertainment precinct, commercial offices and additional retail spaces. The predominantly outdoor centre features

lush landscaping, locally-sourced recycled timber arbours and natural sandstone, blending seamlessly with the environment. The overall offer strives to meet the demands of an increasingly savvy regional consumer base seeking a blend of quality retail and social connection. Sovereign Hills Land Sales Manager Luke Moreta said residents were eagerly awaiting the opening of this new community heart. “There is such a buzz amongst our residents right now,” he shared. “I think the value Sovereign Place will add to not only College Rise, but the wider Sovereign Hills community and beyond, is huge. “I’m very confident there will also be an immediate market response in terms of property

• Tree-lined streets with footpaths and cycle tracks • Modern, quality homes built

demand and pricing within the estate as a result... Knowing what’s still to come with the future stages of the commercial precinct, the value will keep on growing.” With space for 2,500 homes, Sovereign Hills will grow in stages over the next decade and will offer locals a community where they can live, work and play. Sovereign Hills offers families of all ages a mixture of level and gently sloping lots in beautiful Port Macquarie at an achievable price. Land prices start at $199,000 in Sovereign Hills’ College Rise precinct, located within walking distance of the new town centre, parkland and popular St Joseph’s Regional College. “I would encourage anyone considering buying

by your choice of builder • All lots NBN ready

land in College Rise to act now, as there are only eight lots remaining, and this is the last land release in this precinct for the foreseeable future,” Luke Moreta added. “Shopping, dining, education, and sporting and recreation facilities are key drivers for property values, and this precinct will soon boast all of these features.” To find your perfect block of Sovereign Hills land and discuss town centre leasing opportunities, visit the Sovereign Hills Land Sales Centre (open seven days) at 14 Sovereign Drive, Port Macquarie, or contact 6581 1711.

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Home of the Month

Found in the tranquil beachside precinct of Catarina Estate, the June FOCUS Home of the Month is a grand design showcasing meticulous craftsmanship and attention to detail.

hrissy Jones had the pleasure of being shown through the executive residence by owner Belinda. The two storey home is a standout in the tranquil estate; it is a home that fits perfectly into both its landscape and the young family's busy lifestyle. The exterior is framed by a striking white powder coated aluminium picket fence, beautifully crafted by Port Balustrades & Pool Fencing, adding an old world charm that blends well with the modern facade. It is a striking mix of James Hardie Sycon horizontal wall cladding, stacker stone tile and rendered brickwork, softened by landscaped garden beds and topiaries. The grand residence comprises two levels of spacious living areas, connected internally by a gorgeous hardwood staircase, painted white and then sanded to give a whitewash effect. GROUND LEVEL - ENTRANCE HALL, MEDIA ROOM, KITCHEN, DINING, LOUNGE AND OUTDOOR ENTERTAINMENT AREA Entry is via an exposed aggregate driveway that leads to both the covered entrance portico and garage. A custom made solid timber entrance door, that is framed by glass panels, opens into the foyer. Champagne Oak vinyl planks are the flooring of choice underfoot throughout the home. Inspired by European Oak, these distressed planks feature unique grain details and are finished with a lightly brushed surface texture. Right of entry, tucked away behind a set of three custom made timber and glass sliding doors, is the media room.

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Luxuriously furnished, the media room is a private space to sit back, relax and watch the big screen. To the left in the foyer is a set of sliding glass doors, from Mid Coast Windows, that open on to the outdoor entertaining area and lead you into the home to the open plan kitchen, dining and lounge, guest powder room, laundry, staircase down to the double garage and staircase leading to the upper level. A truly magnificent kitchen has been supplied and installed by Mid Coast Kitchens. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Cloud Burstâ&#x20AC;? Caesarstone bench-tops, a Smeg induction cooktop and oven, a pressed metal tile splash back from Colortile Tiles With Style, an integrated dishwasher placed in the large island bench, plus an expanse of overhead and under bench solid front and glass panelled cabinetry, provides a huge amount of storage for the home cook. Neatly concealed behind a wooden sliding cavity door is the butler's pantry. The custom-built U-shaped bench-top has plenty of space for food preparation and appliances; shelving nooks above and below provide a spot for condiments, cooking implements and the like. The open plan kitchen, dining and lounge rooms all combine seamlessly to create a wonderful space to relax with family and entertain friends. Opening out from the lounge is the outdoor alfresco entertaining area. This is a fantastic part of the home design and one that suits the family to a tee. Comprising three relax zones, to say this outdoor area is special would be an understatement. Merbau timber encases and wraps around the exterior of the home underfoot, frameless glass

focusAbode.

Home of the Month

balustrade sections the pool area and non-slip tiling in the outdoor kitchen area adds to the mix of textures. Step down to the fire pit, that is surrounded by Merbau timber seating, enter the tranquil pool area, or sit back and take in the ocean views from the outdoor kitchen/dining alfresco - three simply perfect relax zones. 2ND LEVEL - MASTER BEDROOM, EN-SUITE, FAMILY BEDROOMS Ascend the beautifully crafted stairway to the second level landing; further Champagne Oak vinyl planks are underfoot and lead you left to the family bedrooms and right to the guest accommodation and master suite. Three mirrorimage bedrooms are all carpeted, each has a ceiling fan and downlights and are fitted out with roller blinds from Apollo Blinds Port Macquarie. The family bedrooms are all very comfortable, having built-in glass fronted double wardrobes, and two have balconies. The bedrooms are serviced by a roomy family bathroom comprising

I had a very good idea of what I wanted in my mind and when I first spoke

an oval freestanding bath the magnificent ocean to him about it, he placed under an opaque views and adjustment could see where I was glass window, wall hung of cooling sea-breezes. wanting to go with double vanity with inA walk-around his/her the build and was very bench hand basins, under robe is placed behind a accommodating of that. bench storage drawers dividing wall and has an and a wide vanity mirror. abundance of hanging and A glass screened corner shelving space. Customshower, grey floor tile built cabinetry from Mid and white floor to ceiling Coast Kitchens, comprising wall tiles all add up to a sleek, easy clean family a set of five drawers and mirror is placed either bathroom. side of the robe. The guest bedroom that doubles as a sitting Adding to the luxury of the master is the room has its own private balcony on two sides. adjoining en-suite. His/her double glass fronted White aluminium balustrade provides a safety shower with stainless steel rain showers and element, but also adds a touch of class to the two wall recesses are complemented beautifully balcony, that is visually pleasing both inside and by the Artisan range floor tile. White floor to out. Completing the second level is the exquisite ceiling tiling and a wall hung his/her vanity with master suite. Luxurious, the master is spacious, round above bench hand basins and mirror above also has its own private balcony, plus a louvred complete the en-suite. glass panel vertical window that allows for Overall, the home is a wonderful design by

Collins W Collins, built with exacting precision by Portside Projects. It is suited to the family that calls it home and is both a private oasis and a comfortable, inviting space to entertain family and friends. FROM THE OWNER, BELINDA HODSON. You chose Anthony Awad to construct your new home. How has it been working with Anthony and his team? It has been so much fun, and I say that wholeheartedly. We were so fortunate to have such a competent builder to work with. Anthony and his team were always so relaxed and understanding every step of the way; he made the process so easy and fun, as I said. Would you recommend Anthony to prospective home builders? Absolutely! If we were to do it all again, Anthony and his team at Portside Projects would be my first pick, 100 per cent. What were the first steps when you began

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your new home journey? We purchased the block from the developer of Catarina after he shared his thoughts and future plans for the area over a cup of coffee. We knew after speaking with him that this is the place we want to bring up our young family. We then engaged with James Collins to bring to life our ideas and our vision for our forever home. From there, we met Anthony and before we knew it, we were turning dirt and building our home. Did you have any particular desires when you first approached Anthony in relation to the building? If so, what were they, and how

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were these met? I had a very good idea of what I wanted in my mind and when I first spoke to him about it, he could see where I was wanting to go with the build and was very accommodating of that. My desire to paint the whole house white took a bit of convincing with both him and my husband ... ha ha ... but they both trusted my vision (I think) and by the end of it they were both very happy with the result; I know I definitely am! What is your favourite part of your home? It’s hard to pick one, to be honest ... inside I absolutely love my kitchen; it’s amazing. It was

one part of the house that I was so clear in my mind about how I wanted it to look, but it did take a lot of time making selections to get it exactly how I wanted. Steve and Trudy did a wonderful job of delivering that. Outside, I can’t go past our summer/winter zone, with our pool meeting our fire pit with only glass separating the two. Our family loves being outdoors, and it’s nice to have an area that accommodates all seasons. How does the home suit your lifestyle? Both myself and my husband live very busy lifestyles between both of us working and bringing up our three wonderful children. We

love entertaining, so our outdoor entertaining area gets a lot of use most weekends with family and friends. We were very mindful when designing our house to have an area big enough outdoors for our kids to play happily and safely, as they are still young and need that outdoor space. The front courtyard below our entertaining area always has kids playing games or kicking the footy around. Obviously, our house being only a stone's throw away from the beach is bliss. We are there most days, and our dog has also become accustomed to the beach lifestyle.

Artist Impression

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NOW UNDER CONSTRUCTION

Beachside Terraces Hamptons Style Beachside Homes - created for you to enjoy and love the great Australian beach lifestyle. These elegant Torrens Title homes are designed for relaxed living - master-built three to four bedroom homes on level land within the prestigious Catarina Living enclave, Lake Cathie NSW. Without a major road to cross, save time and walk easily to Rainbow Beach via the rainforest boardwalk, to soak up all that beachside living has to offer. Secure your new home; register now to secure your lot in this soon to be released development. • Torrens Title (no additional fees and no hassles) • Internal elevators optional, • Air conditioning • Stone benchtops and quality appliances • Internal access to secure garaging, plus offstreet parking We are also pleased to announce the architecturally designed hilltop Catarina Terraces are now "under construction". Choose your dream home and live "on the beach" with an easy summer lifestyle. These architecturally

designed homes are now under construction; they're affordable and ready for you in time for summer fun. The ultimate in beachside lifestyle, these homes cleverly combine awe-inspiring and functional architecture with the natural beauty of an idyllic setting. Listen to the ocean as you relax at home or, save time and take an easy drive to local Woolworths, Coles or speciality shops and all that Lake Cathie, Port Macquarie and surrounds has to offer. Love the lifestyle and upgrade to a spa, plunge pool or internal lift, or simply enjoy all the luxury that is incorporated into the design of these beautiful beachside terraces that provide a safe and easy lifestyle. Love life and relax in the generous open plan spaces, to enhance your everyday living. • Torrens Title (no additional strata fees) • Three bedrooms, two bathrooms, double secure garage plus off street parking • Air conditioned, ensuite bathroom and private courtyard with alfresco area Don’t delay; call the team at NPB on 0447 020 742 or 1800 223 768.

Award Winning Interior Design Trentini Design is an award winning interior design studio located in the beautiful Lighthouse Beach, Port Macquarie. We offer a variety of services to suit your individual needs and project. Since its launch in 2011, Trentini Design has been dedicated to the creation of relaxed, sophisticated, modern Australian homes. With an emphasis on authentic liveable environments, we help transform our clients’ vision into experiences they will enjoy in their new home. Delivering an impeccably detailed, aesthetically beautiful and functional space is a given; it’s the fun we have taking this journey with you that allows us to create a warm and inviting home for you.

Trentini Design integrates all areas of the design-build process, to give you, the homeowner, a great experience. By engaging Trentini Design, you’ll know that everything is being taken care of, from the design concept through to the final reveal of your gorgeous new home.

Trentini Design uses a proven system for managing not just your project, but our working relationship with you. With transparency, clear milestones, accountability and honesty, our process is designed to earn the trust and confidence to create something truly fabulous.

Trentini Design has worked on residential properties in both metropolitan and regional locations. The one thing our projects have in common are our discerning clients, who expect as much from us as they do from themselves, creating a fabulous, mutual relationship.

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JULIE HO FROM PORT MACQUARIE LANDCARE

landcare. update The Mighty Quin. The yummy scent of honey in autumn. Fascinating papery bark for birds to build their nests in spring.

ectar to feed insects, birds and mammals. What kind of tree can give us all of this? It’s the Mighty Quin! We all know it: Melaleuca quinquenervia, the Broadleaved Paperbark, also called Belbowrie or honey-myrtle. Quin loves the wet areas of Port Macquarie, where it hugs the streams, swamps and estuary banks. See it at Kooloonbung and the Googik Track. The genus name, Melaleuca, means black and white, from the white bark that gets blackened by a passing bushfire. The species name alludes to its five-veined leaves: quinque means “five” and nervis means “nerved”. The leaves are quite broad at 3 cm. In its natural habitat, this tree may grow with koala food trees Swamp Mahogany and Forest Red Gum, with Swamp Oak (casuarina), and with Lomandras or Gahnias at its feet. Creamy white or greenish flowers that look like bottlebrushes cover Broadleaved Paperbarks over a period of months. From February to June, Quin can have a 10 to 20 day flush of flowers, every three or four weeks. The flowers have lots of high quality pollen, as well as nectar. Bees love to collect and store these gifts. Flying-foxes (fruit bats) also feed on the flowers, whose perfume permeates the bushland where they forage. For critters that can reach it, Quin is a very valuable source of food in cooler months. However, rain and high humidity at this

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time of year sometimes wash the nectar and pollen away. Such an important plant should be preserved. But the loss of Quin forests to agricultural and urban development is a big threat to the future of our wildlife - as well as to honey production. In the past, the pink timber was sometimes used for house stumps and fenceposts, as it is durable in water. However, the wood contains so much silica, that it quickly blunts saws. Melaleucas were valued by Aboriginal people for food (nectar), medicine, and bark used to make things like shelters and bandages. Quin oil has antiseptic and antibacterial properties. By the way, Quin’s relative Melaleuca alternifolia is cultivated for “tea tree oil” on the north coast. That oil has a reputation for being antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antifungal and fatal to headlice! You can have a Mighty Quin in your garden, as it will probably grow to about 12 metres. (It’s quite adaptable outside its east coast home, but it needs at least 500 mm of rain.) In Florida USA it’s naturalised and seen as a pest: an example of a non-native plant “escaping” gardens and becoming a weed. That often happens here. If you have a weedy non-native in your garden, you can get a free replacement at Landcare’s next Weed Swap, on National Tree Day. The target weeds list is on our website at www.landcareportmac.com.au Why the name? The Mighty Quinn was a rock song written by Bob Dylan, popular with Baby Boomers like me.

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Australia The ability to experience the bad and turn it into something positive is a skill LOCAL HSC STUDENT NICOLA DI BONA HAS IN SPADES … THIS YOUNG WOMAN WITH THE CARING HEART HAS CREATED AN ORGANISATION CALLED CHAYAH AUSTRALIA, with the aim of assisting all those who have experienced sexual assault or domestic violence …

ell us a little about yourself and your background in the Port Macquarie area. Hi everyone - I’m Nicola! I’ve lived in Port Macquarie my whole life, and I’m currently an HSC student at MacKillop College. In my free time, I love studying history, playing music, reading, and volunteering in the community. You've been working on an initiative to assist survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence for a little while now. What are your plans? I am really excited to officially launch this initiative, called Chayah Australia, as well as a petition to the NSW Legislative Assembly proposing mandatory sexual assault education in schools. Chayah has been created for survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence and has three main aspects: awareness, information, and services. Many people lack understanding of the issue, and the only way to combat the frightening upwards trend of assault in society is to raise awareness and spread knowledge. Life after assault, for so many victims, is incredibly overwhelming. Without resources, lasting trauma repeatedly victimises survivors an unnecessary burden on top of the experience of assault. This neglect of victims must change. Why is this issue important to you? Throughout my life, I have seen the impact of sexual assault, domestic violence, and common attitudes towards these issues. I know firsthand about the isolation, fear, confusion, trauma, and dissociation that follows assault. To feel completely alone, and too ashamed to confide in anyone, is terrifying. To feel that there is nowhere you can go for support, and to be constantly plagued by last experiences, is to suffer and spiral into further pain. To feel like you have lost control of your body, what happens to you, and the very essence of yourself is horrifying, and cannot be 110 Greater Port Macquarie focus

replicated. Many of my closest friends have experienced assault, and I have seen their struggles as they grapple with what has THE CHAYAH SUPPORT happened. There is GROUP, FOR ANYONE nowhere they can turn for WHO HAS BEEN A advice, comfort, support, VICTIM OF ASSAULT OR and information. DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, I want to turn my WILL HAVE STRICT own hurt, and the hurt PRIVACY STANDARDS unique forums, as well of so many victims, into FOR THE BENEFIT OF an anonymous question something that will ALL MEMBERS. service. Anyone affected help others and make can connect with others meaningful, much needed who understand their change. struggle, air their problems and gain help and By banding together, survivors can support take part in regularly scheduled survivor support each other, strengthen themselves and truly groups. transform their lives. Everyone deserves to be As studies have confirmed, nothing is more empowered and have access to the help they important than solidarity and support, as this need. In the words of Alex Elle, “You’re not a removes the stigma and isolation that so often victim for sharing your story. You are a survivor plagues victims. In a monitored, supportive, setting the world on fire with your truth. And encouraging sphere, survivors can move forward you never know who needs your light, your and blossom in the wake of trauma. warmth, and raging courage”. What are you hoping to achieve once you Because of my own personal connection have your charity up and running? to this issue, having seen its ability to destroy I want every person who has been a victim of victims, I feel compelled to spark the change assault or domestic violence to be able to access that needs to happen. Chayah, with the knowledge that they will be What progress have you currently made in a safe and supportive environment. I know with your plans? from experience, and from speaking to survivors, The online services will probably be very what they need. Chayah isn’t here to reinvent close to launching at the time this interview is the wheel and was specifically created based on published! The Facebook page should be up, the needs which are not currently being met. as will the online support group. The Chayah As Chayah progresses, I hope victims will support group, for anyone who has been a learn they should not aim to simply survive, but victim of assault or domestic violence, will to thrive - to truly live life to the fullest, as they have strict privacy standards for the benefit of deserve. all members and careful vetting standards, to How can the community/FOCUS readers ensure the group remains a safe, constructive support or assist you? space that caters to the previously neglected Genuinely, any help or support, no matter needs of victims. how small, would mean so much. An official Taking any action or even looking into getting launch event will be held on the evening of June support can be difficult, which is why the group 29 at the Glasshouse, for which tickets should will be private and have several specialised and

soon be on sale on the Glasshouse website. This event will be to formally launch and publicise the purpose, services and mission of Chayah and establish its work on strong foundations. This charity is for the community and has been shaped by the needs of the community; the launch event will reflect this, and anyone is welcome to attend. While Chayah is for everyone, those who have experience with assault are really encouraged to keep in the loop by following Chayah online, to see any updates and access services. Where can we find out further info? Email chayahaustralia@gmail.com Instagram @chayahaustralia or @nicchava Facebook Chayah Australia or @nicolachava19 Twitter @chayahaustralia or @Nicki_AD Check the Glasshouse website for tickets to the Chayah Launch. Anyone who has any questions, please feel free to get in touch - I would love to hear from you! If you see the petition, any signatures would be wonderful. Final say … I want to thank everyone who has supported Chayah so far - from my parents and friends and even strangers. The outpouring of love and unity has been phenomenal. Chayah has made a beautiful impact so far, and I can’t wait to see both Chayah and those it helps blossom throughout time. Thanks Nicola. Interview: Jo Robinson.

DESIGN OUR SOLD STICKER COMPETITION.

HEM Property are asking all you budding artists out there to design our new range of SOLD stickers. This year the theme is all about Australiana and Aussie Icons, celebrating all that is great about our nation. With prizes bigger than ever, it’s time to start getting creative!

Who can enter?

How to enter:

There are 2 categories - Primary school & High school.

You can pick up an entry form

What should the winning entry look like?

from our office, at open houses,

Be as creative as you like by painting, drawing or photographing something you feel is iconic of Australia. From famous landmarks, to places, people or even well known brands such as “TimTams”. It’s up to you.

You can also download a copy

or by emailing ashley@hemproperty.com.au.

Exciting prize packages to be won! Lucky winners will each receive a MASSIVE voucher bundle to use at these fantastic local businesses below. PLUS – as a bonus, each winners’ school will receive a $250 contribution

from our facebook page facebook.

to their art departments. Winning entries will also have their

com/hemproperty. Entries close

designs printed and displayed on our signboards across

June 28th.

Port Macquarie. So keep a lookout for them!

3/90 Horton Street, Port Macquarie 02 6583 2324 | hemproperty.com.au 105 Greater Port Macquarie focus

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