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ISSUE 223 OCTOBER 2013

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ISSUE 223 OCTOBER 2013

FEATURES 12. Booze Free Schoolies 16. Fraud 28. Succession Planning 31. New Business

CONTENTS 4. Editor 5. Bloke’s World 6. Coming Up...

7. Biz News 10. New Appointments 14. Comment 15. Funeral Planning 20. Governance 21. Education 22. Tax 23. Legal 26. Small Biz 30. Recruitment 32. Insurance 33. Legal 34. Tech Guy 36. Travel 39. Masters Games 40. Arts

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42. Community 46. After Hours 50. Stuff 51. Books

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EDITOR

It’s a tough time to be trying to sell stuff at the moment. Falling interest rates and rising property values haven’t had to the hoped for rebound in consumer confidence and spending. But why?

I

have read countless explanations around global economic uncertainty, the rise and fall of growth expectations in China, of mineral and resource sector short and mid-term outlooks and all manner of argument and counter-argument over fiscal policy settings. Even the election was widely held to be holding the economy back. There are some salient points amongst them all, but by and large they don’t explain the continuing struggle for sectors such as retail in our otherwise solid economy.

There have been countless commentators intoning: ‘We need to get Australian consumers spending again.’ Where have these guys been living? As I sit here, casting the occasional bemused glance at the steady flow of cash out of my bank account, I know I haven’t stopped spending, and I don’t know anyone else who has either. The idea that the lower-earning segments of the economy (i.e. most of us) will spend every cent available to them as soon as it is available is hiding the truth that there has been a genuine and lasting shift away from buy now pay later habits.

I just can’t see there being another tidal wave of mass consumerism such as we saw in the boom years of the early 2000s, at least not for a long time. That doesn’t mean that Australians have stopped spending, but with rising prices for just about everything, there is simply less money available for discretionary spending (something that Denis Napthine has overlooked in his traffic projections for East-West link).

Governments and businesses aren’t the only ones rationalizing their spending - the average Aussie household has as well. Whatever is left after paying the bills, going to the supermarket and putting fuel in the car is a precious resource.

We specialise in:

Some will be saved, some will be donated (Australians are a generous bunch and do support the causes we care about) and some will go towards the big things we want. Increasingly we are willing to forego the little things to reach our financial goals, and in the long term, that’s a good thing for all of us.

Take, for example, the solar salesman I encountered recently. It started with a cold call while I was trying to oil our newly built back deck.

After this inauspicious beginning came a series of calls as this unfailingly polite man tried to arrange a time to discuss what he was selling. In the end, he tapped on the door one afternoon to drop off a card. I really did feel for the poor bloke – trying to target growth areas across Melbourne and Geelong to sell a product that has seen a significant drop on sales is a tough gig.

Probably like many new build homeowners, we are looking at solar, and will continue to look at it, so he was hitting his target market. Why then didn’t he get the meeting – and the potential contract – that he was after? Firstly, with a busy job, young kids and new home that comes with a long list of jobs that need doing, I’m not an easy person to tie down to a meeting time. Secondly, it feels a little like every other day I’m being asked to pay for something, so I’ve had plenty of practice saying no to even the most persuasive of pitches.

This salesman was fighting against my unwillingness to give him my time, and against my unwillingness to spend our hard-earned before I’m ready to and without plenty of research to find the best value for my spend. If this is a typical suburban family attitude to spending – and I strongly suspect it is – then no amount of historically low interest rates and rising property values are going to urge the nation back into rampant consumerism.

Davina Montgomery

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The hard sell on spending

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BLOKE’S WORLD

A new retirement plan On the disappointments of retirement, masochistic fitness trainers and the pursuit of happiness…

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he start of this venture was the decision to retire at 58.

But the seeds began years ago, when a group of my fellow schoolmates had been hiding from the weekly sports sessions, we posed the question of what we would be doing at the turn of the millennium. At the time the millennium was 30 years away, so seemed impossibly far into the future. I can remember my prediction was that I had built my own aircraft, and my two co-conspirators had predicted that they would be working in Antarctica and be a principal in a high school.

As you would expect none of these came to be. Colin ended up working in the tropics and Peter unfortunately died quite young and never became a principal. Me? I got stuck in business and the dream of building an aircraft withered on the vine. Crikey, life goes so fast. It seems like yesterday that I started my first business and here I am, an old fart.

Obviously, the issue was my lack of fitness. In my 40 years of self-employment I have been very dedicated and had been preparing for the approaching famine. Instead of a six-pack belly I was more of the bean bag type. I am the guy that on average makes you look skinny. This meant that I had to make a commitment to getting fit. My advice is, don’t do it. These trainers might look nice, but they all have a mean streak a mile wide. (Notice that mean streaks have never gone metric and still have imperial measures). Masochistic bastards the lot; I guess they are intending to be good, but my problem is that exercise for no purpose is just downright boring. These young pups kept telling me that all the sweat and pain was for the better, but I can tell them that a long cool beer was better still and didn’t entail sweat or pain.

I was failing miserably at this retirement thing, and I hate failing at anything. That is, except for sports, and in this arena I enjoy a natural talent for absurd and abysmal performance. That is just something I was born with, so I am happy.

So, my next option that I took seriously was to get depressed and go visit my mates at the local pub.

Misery likes a few beers…

After we had solved the world’s major problems – which mainly relied on getting “I was failing miserably at this The retirement idea was good at the rid of all politicians, we are that good time, but when one of the parting gifts retirement thing, and I hate at solving problems - one of my mates was my first packet of Poise liners I failing at anything.” asked the pertinent question: “So, what should have got a clue. My plan was in the bloody hell do you want to do if to take up a hobby and get fit. I tried you don’t want to be retired?” I found that golf – in theory a good idea, but in people didn’t like to hear that retirement practice just a silly thing for me to do. was anything other than a grey nomadic With my eyesight problems I couldn’t even see the ball from a dream of transport fulfilment. But here was this well thought out few metres, and in my version of golf it is hit the ball and spend question that hit me right between the monobrow– what did I 30 minutes looking for it. I did think of training one of my dogs want to do? to be a spotter, but the best she would do is sit on the ground You see all my working life I had said to myself that my pay off and eat the brand new packet of balls. The real problem here would be the great dream lifestyle of retirement, but now that I was the smell and gurgles from her stomach for the next 4 was in the middle of it, I found that it was truly was my prison. days. Note to self: golf balls are not digestive aids.

The results were no more positive with tennis – big fail, as it is no fun when you can’t hit the balls back and stand on the lonely side of the court being a target for some show off that can actually hit at will.

What I was missing was the excitement of business. But if I was going to get back on the horse, it was going to be horse with a difference. So I started my dream business…

BUSINESS NEWS | 5

BIZ NEWS

Coming Up...

01 – 31 October Geelong Seniors Festival Regional Victoria’s largest community celebration for seniors. @ Locations across the region

17 – 20 October Royal Geelong Show The biggest four-day show in country Victoria. @ Geelong Show Grounds > www.royalgeelongshow.com.au

> www.geelongaustralia.com.au 05 – 12 October Australian Masters Games The biennial celebration of keeping active as we age. @ locations across Geelong > www.australianmastersgames.com 08 October BPW Geelong Dinner & Networking Powerful life skills with guest presenter, Fiona Skene, from Wise Self-Defence. @ Lyndon Grove, Torquay Road > www.trybooking.com/62416 11 October Geelong Chamber of Commerce – October AFTER 5 Hosted by Healthy Together Geelong, entry by invitation to Chamber members and their guests. @ Waterfront Kitchen, Deakin University Waterfront Campus > www.geelongchamber.com.au/events

18 October 2013 Children’s Week Launch Families are invited to enjoy free carousel rides, storytelling, face painting and more. @ The Carousel, Geelong Waterfront > www.geelongaustralia.com.au 20 October Vintage Market One-off themed day for the regular Belmont Sunday Market. @ Barwon Valley Activity Centre car park. > www.geelongaustralia.com.au 23 October Geelong Cup Will this race once again forecast the Melbourne Cup winner? @ Geelong Racing Club > www.grc.com.au 28 October HR Leadership Conference 2013 Innovative ideas for HR leaders, connecting world-class thinking to the local business environment. @ Geelong Conference Centre > http://www.ahri.com.au/ hrleadershipconference/geelong/home

02 November Walking Home Walk to raise awareness of homelessness in our region. @ Bellarine Rail Trail Queenscliff to Geelong Waterfront > www.walkinghome.org.au 02 – 03 November Toast to the Coast 2013 The 12th annual weekend-long celebration of Geelong’s wine industry. @ Wineries across the region > www.toasttothecoast.com.au 04 November The Jirrahlinga Cup Fabulous and fun fundraiser for Jirrahlinga’s Sensory Experience Centre for the disabled. @ The Pier > www.trybookings.com/DMVN Ending soon…

Closing 13 October Rumour Has It – Whispered Histories of Geelong and Surrounds Local legends, folklores and tall tales artfully presented. @ National Wool Museum > www.nwm.com.au

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BIZ NEWS

Big role for business on climate change It was a sobering day for climate skeptics of all shapes and political persuasions when the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report was launched on September 27.

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“The biggest challenge facing businesses in relation to their environmental impact will be waking up one morning, realising it’s all about making good business decisions and that a failure to act sooner has jeopardised your competitiveness,” Mr Shorten said.

Initial reviews of drafts of the report had some critics claiming the science showed global warming was halting, but Mr Posner warned that businesses taking any credence in these comments run the risk of putting themselves out of business.

“Businesses need to be very clear about this - there is he IPCC report is the first update in seven years nothing that says that human induced climate change is on the science of global any less of a risk then it was previously; warming, and whilst the indeed, the evidence suggests we are report is seen as critical for “This report should be seen by more certain. policy makers, many are business leaders as credible looking to the role that business “Any business leaders that put their evidence for why they need can take in understanding and heads in the sand and think this problem to understand how sustainability disseminating the information. has gone away are being irresponsible,

issues impact on their business”

With the Australian Sustainability Conference due to be held in Melbourne on October 9-10, the nation’s leading climate change business experts are urging corporate Australia to continue to mitigate climate risk and their environmental impact.

not just to the wider society, but also to their business.”

Mr Posner, Mr Shorten and The Hon. Tom Roper, Board Member of the Climate Institute, are all leading participants in the Australian Sustainability Conference.

“It is as important for business as it is for policy makers to separate the shrill and often inaccurate information that is being circulated regarding this report from the facts that are actually in there,” said Rupert Posner, CEO of Good Environmental Choice Australia.

“This report should be seen by business leaders as credible evidence for why they need to understand how sustainability issues impact on their business - that an uninformed business is a business with risk.”

Matthew Shorten, Managing Director for Balance Carbon, says providing businesses need accurate information around understanding their carbon footprint how reducing emissions is as much about reducing operating costs, as it is about positively influencing social and environmental outcomes.

  Need advice on your property transactions?                                     

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     

   BUSINESS NEWS | 7

BIZ NEWS

Planning for action in Central Geelong The Central Geelong Taskforce want an action plan for the centre of city developed by early 2014.

Chair of the Central Geelong Taskforce Cr Michelle Heagney said she expects the action plan to be developed by early 2014.

to discuss current issues and explore what actions or projects will make a difference to Central Geelong.”

Actions will be based around three principles: More people working, living, learning and playing in Central Geelong

“I’m really keen to keep things moving”, said Taskforce Chair, Cr Michelle Heagney. “There has been significant planning and consultation about Central Geelong over the past several years and now is the time to consolidate this work, assess where we are now and the best actions to create a more thriving city centre.”

Great infrastructure improving how the city looks, feels and functions

The Central Geelong Taskforce is inviting stakeholders and people with an interest and enthusiasm for Central Geelong to an action setting workshop on October 22 to develop a clear plan to a more prosperous city centre.

Presentation on priority actions

“Revitalising the city centre is not something Council can do alone. We need the private sector and community to join us and combine strengths to ensure the right actions are taken.

“We’re calling for people to come along to the workshop

Smart investment building on our strengths to pursue private investment Action setting workshop 9.30am – 4.30pm Tuesday 22 October

5.30 – 7.30pm Thurs 24 October Registrations are essential.

Please register online by 17 October at www. yoursaygeelong.com.au/ our-central-geelong or phone 5272 4879.

Can’t attend the workshops? An online forum will be available in coming weeks to gather ideas and suggestions www. yoursaygeelong.com.au/ourcentral-geelong

A new base for Diversitat Training Diversitat Training has moved into their brand new home, 7-9 Ryan Place, Geelong. Diversitat Training has outgrown its Centrepoint Arcade office, 132 Little Malop Street, Geelong and expanded to a new space, a contemporary designed warehouse building. Diversitat Training Hairdressing and Beauty and Children’s Services will remain at Centrepoint and some training rooms will continue to be utilised.

Diversitat Training was established as a RTO in 1999, and began in the Old Post Office at 83 Ryrie Street; mainly working with the youth education program offering CGEA. In February 2000, Diversitat started a small traineeship program with 40 funded positions; in 2001 they had over 150 traineeships. In 2002, they moved to Level 4, 199 Moorabool Street, as they outgrew the Old Post Office. However, it didn’t take long to outgrow that site and by 2006 they moved to 77 Yarra Street. Each year Diverstitat Training has continued to expand. In 2008, they merged with GATE and again started to outgrow the site and also wanted to consolidate the GATE sites with Yarra Street (Busport, Yarra Street and Moorabool Street), and moved to Centrepoint Arcade.

By 2009 Diversitat Training had four training sites, Centrepoint, The Pulse, the Old Post Office, and the Northern Community Hub, but no permanent central home. In 2012, Diversitat decided to give Training a central home and commenced the refurbishment of 7-9 Ryan Place. Diversitat Training moved into its new home during the last week of September, surrounded by the Pulse, the Old Post Office and Centrepoint Arcade training facilities in central Geelong.

Driving the development of Diversitat Training sites has been Diversitat CEO, Michael Martinez, and Diversitat Training General Manager - Education and Training, Judy Jamieson.

Bridgette Carey is also to be commended for her great work in project management of the refurbishment.

Diversitat Training

We’ve outgrown ourselves!

Diversitat Training, Geelong’s largest premier training provider... has moved.

Head Office and Reception is now located at 7-9 Ryan Place, Geelong.

Diversitat Training Hairdressing & Beauty Therapy and Children’s Services will continue to be located at Centrepoint Arcade, 132 Lt Malop Street, Geelong.

Contact us on 5224 www.diversitat.org.au/training 8 | BUSINESS NEWS

2329 Geelong Ethnic Communities Council Inc. trading as Diversitat, RTO 5819.

Training at Diversitat is delivered with Victorian and Commonwealth Government funding.

BIZ NEWS

Manufacturing performance on the up

indicators such as production, employment and exports, which continued to contract or were flat at best. The key question is whether these tentative pointers to future growth are confirmed by further gains in manufacturing performance over the next few months,” Mr Willox said.

It was the first tangible good news for the Australian Manufacturing sector in two years when the latest seasonally adjusted Australian Industry Group Australian Performance of Manufacturing Index (Australian PMI®) indicated expansion last month for the first time since June 2011. The index was up 5.3 points in September, to 51.7, which is just above the 50-point level separating expansion from contraction.

Key Findings for September:

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his mild expansion in manufacturing activity was driven by strong rises in the sub-indexes for new orders and supplier deliveries, both of which moved well above 50 points. Inventories were broadly stable at just over 50 points. Production and employment improved this month, but remained just below the 50 point level that separates expansion from contraction.

The Australian PMI® improved by 5.3 points in September, rising to 51.7.

The production sub-index in the Australian PMI® improved by 2.8 points to 49.9 points.

Most manufacturers remain unable to pass on their higher costs to customers with the selling price index recording 46.9 points, which is still falling, although at the slowest rate since February 2012.

Wages growth moderated in September in line with weak labour demand and the benign inflation environment.

The food, beverages and tobacco sub-sector, which has been expanding (readings above 50 points) since March this year reached 60.1 points in September.

Across the sub-sectors, expansion was strongest in the food, beverages and tobacco sub-sector, with mild expansion also evident in some of the smaller sub-sectors. The metal products and machinery and equipment sub-sectors continued to show severe contraction.

Australian Industry Group Chief Executive, Innes Willox said, “The lift in manufacturing performance in September is very welcome news from a sector that has been under intense pressures from the strong dollar, high energy costs, uncompetitive unit labour costs and fragile demand in domestic and international markets. While businesses reported only weak improvements, and while there are risks in drawing conclusions from a single month’s data, there were encouraging indications from businesses that the easing in the dollar, low interest rates and the clear outcome of the federal election were lifting business sentiment.

“The lift in the sector’s performance in September was more evident in forward-pointing indicators such as supplier deliveries and new orders rather than in current-period

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BUSINESS NEWS | 9

NEW APPOINTMENTS Training AGB Group welcomes Russell Gardner to their team as Account Manager, specializing in business and hospitality training packages. Russell has a vast knowledge, understanding and educational background in the OH&S sector. He has worked in training, hospitality, manufacturing, transport, OH&S and mediation/conflict resolution. Russell comes with a broad network of contacts in the Geelong region.

Recruitment

10 | BUSINESS NEWS

Real Estate Liz Tobolov is the smiling new face in administration at West End Real Estate.

Also a freelance graphic designer with her own business, Elizaveta Designs, Liz specialises in print based design and has created portfolios for a number of local companies, ranging from real estate to floristry.

General Insurance

With 3 years in the recruitment space, Chris Warren has worked throughout Queensland and Victoria.

Having also worked as a truck driver, Chris has set himself up with strong networks throughout the transport and logistics industry and has many strong relationships within the Victorian hospitality industry through events management.

Chris Russell has joined the Crowe Horwath (formerly WHK) General Insurance Team, bringing over 5 years experience in Business, Commercial Property, Plant & Equipment, -Professional Indemnity, Public Liability, Marine Cargo, Caravan & Boat, Travel, Vehicle, -House & Contents, Landlords and Hard to Place Risk.

Human Resources

Lending Broking

Pauline Fagg has recently joined AGB Human Resources Department as a Business Development Consultant, having recently closed Cheryl Pearson Florist. With 35 years of industry experience, her passion has always been around and caring for people.

Pauline has a strong work ethic, proven strengths in developing and maintaining strong business relationships.

Rodney Bed has joined Crowe Horwath (formerly WHK) having worked within the finance sector for 35 years in particular with CBA as Executive Manager Corporate Financial Services. where he supported business clients in Geelong, Ballarat, Western District and Surf Coast region. He has gained vast commercial experience in varied economic conditions.

NEW APPOINTMENTS Personal Concierge Anything is possible for Barbara’s Angels. A first for Geelong and its region, Barbara D’Angelo has created a concierge service to cater for time poor and busy people.

From shopping for groceries, to picking up the kids from school, to cooking the evening meal – anything is possible for Barbara’s Angels.

Business Advisory After 12 years as CEO at Davidsons Peter Rankin has passed the baton. Davidsons is thrilled that Peter will continue with Davidsons as Director Business Advisory. Peter has extensive experience working with business owners.He is very motivated & passionate about assisting clients to grow value in their business & to eliminate Business Value Gap on sale or transition.

ACCOUNTING Davidsons is pleased to announced Gordon Jenkins as its new CEO. Gordon has almost 20 years experience in professional services including wealth management, family business, inter-generational advice and accounting. With strong family ties to the Geelong area Gordon is looking forward to reacquainting himself with the community and providing exceptional client first service.

Accounting SJ Canny would like to welcome Katie Rosani to their team.

Katie has come on board in the newly established position of Marketing Coordinator.

With an Advanced Diploma Business (Public Relations) and a background in the media industry, we look forward to developing the role with Katie, while she establishes new opportunities to grow our firm.

CONSTRUCTION Hamlan and Geelong Homes have recently appointed Andrew Carroll as its new General Manager. With 18 years in the industry, Andrew has worked in a range of residential companies, starting in estimating through to varying roles in construction. Andrews mantra throughout the business is professionalism, accountability and customer service.

Employment Services Encompass Employment Services welcomes John Crawford as an Employment Consultant. John has extensive experience in the community services sector. He has a strong belief in Encompass’ vision and will do whatever it takes to assist our job seekers within our Disability Employment Services to achieve their goals.

TM

Visit our new website from your smartphone Online applications Online quoting portal Live question portal Morris Finance TV

Call 1300 4 MORRIS

www.morrisfinance.com.au BUSINESS NEWS | 11

FEATURE

a t a t b

“ a a l

T w p a s t a a

Booze-free Schoolies

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Alcohol-free Schoolies: it seems like an oxymoron, doesn’t it? But apparently it’s a thing, and a surprisingly popular one. One Australian travel company has spotted a gap in the market created by a new generation of responsible young travellers.

or three weeks across November and December, hoards of school leavers descend on the country’s top beach holiday destinations in celebration of the end of high school. It’s a right of passage that can farewell childhood and pave the way to adulthood, or it can be a week-long bender that leaves locals shuddering in the aftermath.

Not all school leavers, however, are looking for the now notorious typical Schoolies experience. Two 20-something Sydney siders recognized this and founded Unleashed Travel, offering group Schoolies trips to Fiji. The company continued to expand and made both the 2011 and 2012 BRW Fast Starter lists, with 40 per cent year on year growth. The introduction of alcohol-free Schoolies for 2013 has pushed that growth into triple digits.

For co-founder and CEO of Unleashed Travel, Jot Lynas, it all started with spotting a new gap in a well-established market.

“We saw the demand from school leavers to want to go overseas and do something a little bit different – to get away from the standard Gold Coast and Byron trips,” he said.

“We had a talk with some travel agents and we had a talk with some kids and we came to the conclusion that [school leavers] wanted to really get away. They were telling us that they wanted a 7-night package where they would only have to unpack their bag once, and be in the sun, on the beach, with their friends.”

On that first trip, Lynas and business partner and company cofounder, Steve Pirie, chartered Beachcomber Island in Fiji for three weeks in 2008, taking just under 400 kids away. Those 400 came home and told their friends what a good time they had and the word started to spread.

This year, the company is offering four different island resort packages, both in Fiji, and the sober Schoolies on Hideaway Island, Vanuatu, as well as volunteering projects in Thailand and Cambodia.

The strong uptake of alcohol-free Schoolies trips and volunteering projects in developing nations speaks against much of the common rhetoric about kids today.

“We know for a fact that our kids drive the demand, it’s not parents.

12 | BUSINESS NEWS

I remember when I was a kid, if my Mum suggested that I go and do something then I probably would have done the opposite.

The kids drive the demand and take it to their parents for their approval. This happens across the board with all of our trips.”

Jot said he and the team at Unleashed Travel had become increasingly aware that there are many young people who just aren’t that concerned with drinking.

“It’s not a huge deal for them. When we talk to kids, drinking alcohol rates lower down the list of experiences behind hanging out with friends, relaxing on the beach, partying and dancing with their friends.

“Today’s Schoolies preferences have evolved from the out-onthe-streets pub crawls to a more luxurious, exclusive celebration shared with only the close friends of their school years. In fact, when we offered this same island package last year, as an experience which allowed alcohol, we sold less than half the bookings we have this time around.”

Jot says this insight into the wants and priorities of his market provided the inspiration for booze-free Schoolies trips.

“We had this island that was a good size, it wasn’t too big, it was a nice small intimate island in Vanuatu and we thought we’d have a crack and see if we can sell a few trips.

“We were blown away by the response. The island sold out within two months. I think a lot of that came from really positive word of mouth from the kids and from the parents as well.”

Volunteering projects are another new product for this Aussie start up. Launched last year, the company offered two volunteering projects, both based in northern Thailand. One was working in an elephant conservation project, where kids worked with the elephants, providing basic care for a couple of weeks. The second was building housing for communities in need of safe and secure housing.

This year, a third volunteering project, working with kids in Cambodia has been offered.

“It’s working in orphanages and primary schools, spending time with kids and teaching kids. That project is all about giving

T o i

“ s g t J c fi t m o p p

“ w t r m t o

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FEATURE assistance somewhere that they really need help. Our Cambodia trip is all about getting up there and helping out, but also getting a chance to enjoy what Cambodia has to offer – so there’s lots of time off to go and experience the place. Work is usually scheduled between 9am and 3.30-4pm, so it’s not complete full days.

“A lot of the volunteering projects available are quite hard core and really more geared to adults, whereas we wanted to give this a lighter mix more suited to a 17 year-old or 18 year-old school leaver.”

These trips are a far cry from the Lorne after-school trip (Schoolies wasn’t really a thing then) with four girls and four bulging suitcases packed into my tiny Ford Laser I went on many years ago. We left armed with what little cash we could scrape together and winning smiles to compensate for the lack of the photo ID as our way into the local pubs and bars. It was cheap and cheerful… but no comment on “It’s a new concept any booze-free element!

These trips are an altogether other kind of holiday, with school leavers staying in luxury in beautiful tropical locations.

on anti-social behaviours, and we send people home every year for this. It’s only one or two, but there’s always a couple of kids that come for the wrong reasons and they soon get sent home.”

It was all sounding very highly structured, but Jot pointed out that within some admittedly strict parameters, how kids spent their time on the trips was really up to them. From lazy days on the beach to day trips to neighbouring islands and plenty of water sports, and with a stock of DJs flown in from Australia and themed party nights when the sun goes down, I could see the attraction.

These trips are a big operation, with 60 staff covering the trips, which all work on a ratio of one adult to every seven school-leavers.

Unleashed Travel also fly over Red Frog volunteers for additional support.

The Red Frogs is a volunteer organisation that does a lot of work on the Gold Coast and around Australia and the concept of over Schoolies and advocates positive life choices and safety your kids going overseas can be scary, but once they find out that we’re escorted, messages around drugs and alcohol to teens and young adults. that we charter the whole island,

and that we have bag searches, controls “The enjoyment for me is seeing these on alcohol or alcohol free, most parents “Initially, when kids come home and kids have a great time and to not want say, ‘I want to go to Fiji,’ or ‘I want to to leave. Seeing them hugging the see it as safer than going up to the go to Vanuatu for Schoolies,’ I’m sure local Fijian staff and crying because Gold Coast in our own country.” they meet with a bit of resistance,” they don’t want to go, the true feeling Jot said. “It’s a new concept and the of that amazing,” Jot said. concept of your kids going overseas can be scary, but once they “The whole year for us builds up to the end of the year, and when find out that we’re escorted, that we charter the whole island, and you see these guys have a really great time, and they’re not that we have bag searches, controls on alcohol or alcohol free, endangering themselves and just having good clean fun, that’s most parents see it as safer than going up to the Gold Coast in our what gives us the satisfaction.” own country. We have a lot of staff and a lot of security. We have a police presence and doctors and nurses and we have a no drugs And the market for good clean fun amongst young adults is a policy as well. strong one. Jot said that while the growth in the company has been amazing, it hasn’t come as a surprise.

“The drug culture amongst youth is actually quite rampant, so we’re lucky that we are overseas and they have to get through “I think we were all very confident that we could grow quite rapidly. two sets of customs, as well as our bag searches. They also don’t We knew that we had a really good product and that over the years really get to spend any major amount of time by themselves on the we could make it even better. I see that growth continuing over the mainland – it’s pretty much straight off the plane, on to the bus, on next five to ten years,” he said. to the boat and on to the island. So we’ve never had any instances of drugs and we intend to keep it that way.

“We also have a zero tolerance policy on bullying, on fighting and

DAVINA MONTGOMERY

BUSINESS NEWS | 13

COMMENT

Photo by Pam Hutchinson, Pam Hutchinson Photography. www.pamhutchinsonphotography.com.au

Transforming Geelong one shed at a time Transforming Geelong begins with looking at our venues differently. It is time to tap into the potential of the buildings around the city.

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he Committee for Geelong took this approach when planning its recent annual dinner and Leaders for Geelong graduation event.

As the new Executive Director of the Committee for Geelong, I have constantly challenged the team to consider doing things in a different way. Why continue to do things just because we always have? It is too easy to slip into mediocrity.

When I first announced the Wharf Shed as our dinner venue, many people raised their eyebrows. Would the bustling waterfront café really be able to put on the kind of ‘night of nights’ event the occasion called for?

I had no doubts about the chosen venue’s ability to host a large formal function, but not everyone was convinced. However, everyone who attended found that the venue transformed seamlessly from a vibrant café by day to an elegant function space by night. We had over 200 people attend, and whilst it was very cosy, it showed what the venue was capable of. Geelong needs to look at its assets in a different way, which is consistent with the path to transformation.

In fact, a glimpse through the pages of history tells the story of how Wharf Shed building has had many transformations and different uses.

The Wharf Shed originally stood on the old Moorabool Street Pier where it was built in the mid 30’s to be used a cargo terminal. The Moorabool

Street Pier was then dismantled during the 40’s so the Cunningham Pier could be expanded.

The Geelong Harbour Trust decided to sell off the sheds. The west shed was sold to a freezing works and no longer exists, and the east shed was relocated in four pieces to its current position on Eastern Beach road using a floating crane.

A 1500-gallon petrol tank was installed along with a petrol bowser and it was then used by the Shell Oil Company as a re-fuelling station.

After that use, for a long time the shed was abandoned until Jean-Paul and Lorraine Temple secured the rights to develop the building and turn it into a restaurant/café.

The building had no windows, no electricity, no plumbing and no first floor. Working in conjunction with the Council, and the Department of Natural Resources and Environment (now the Department of Primary Industries and Environment) the building took two years to convert to a restaurant at a cost of over $2.5 million.

Peter Temple, the General Manager of the Wharfshed Complex commented to me that, since its original incarnation, the building has been part of a passenger terminal, a cargo terminal, a petrol station, a completely abandoned big green eyesore, and finally a restaurant complex capable of delivering everything from a morning coffee to a black tie event.

If such a transformation can occur to one shed, the possibilities for the rest of Geelong are endless.

REBECCA CASSON Executive Director, Committee for Geelong

14 | BUSINESS NEWS

FUNERAL PLANNING

Funeral Planning – Know Your Options A large number of Geelong residents are taking out so-called ‘funeral insurance’ policies every year.

There are some circumstances in which this small amount of life insurance is appropriate to a person’s needs but if death is not expected within 1 to 7 years of commencing coverage the consumer is likely to end up paying more in premiums than the actual cost of their funeral.

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any consumers find themselves trapped with escalating premiums that must be paid continuously until their death, which may be many decades in the future. In 2011, the ABS measured an increase in female life expectancy to 84.2 years. A Rice Warner report conducted in 2010 found that a person who takes up funeral insurance at age 60 for a $6,000 funeral will pay: •

Over $7,000 in total by age 70

•

Over $14,000 by age 75

•

Over $28,000 by age 80

•

Over $85,000 by age 90

Source: Rice Warner Actuaries, September 2010 Kings Funerals offer a range of options to plan for your funeral and reduce the financial pressure on your family. Two popular options are: Fixed Price Funeral Plans – pay at today’s prices and guarantee the agreed funeral service will be provided without additional cost. All funds are invested with Foresters Friendly Society and the investment is capital guaranteed.

Funeral Bonds by Instalment – pay small amounts regularly.

All funds invested will contribute towards the cost of your funeral and earn an annual bonus.

In addition to Fixed Price Funeral Plans and Funeral Bonds by Instalment, you can now have access via an arrangement Kings Funerals has with Foresters Friendly Society to a new product.

Ezicover Funeral Advantage •

Is available to people aged between 35 and 70

•

Provides coverage between $5,000 and $15,000

•

Cover is for accidental death in the first 12 months

•

Once cover begins, premiums do not increase with age

•

Once your premiums paid reaches the benefit amount, you pay NO more

•

The funeral director can be nominated as a beneficiary of the funeral benefit which can reduce claim paperwork for your family or executor and the cover will be used to contribute to the cost of your funeral

The monthly premium for a 60 year old non-smoking woman with $6,000 of cover is $25.25 and no interview or medical is required.

Call Helen Trigg, our Funeral Planning Specialist, on (03) 5248 3444 to arrange an obligation-free appointment to discuss fixed price funeral plan or funeral bonds or for information on how to apply for Ezicover Funeral Advantage.

Important information: Ezicover Funeral Advantage is issued by Zurich Australia Limited ABN 92 000 010 195, AFSL 232510. Kings Funerals has an arrangement with Foresters Friendly Society under which Kings Funerals receives an annual marketing allowance. Foresters Friendly Society will receive a referral commission of 20% (plus GST) of each premium paid on your Zurich policy. This is paid by the insurer and is at no additional cost to you.

Advertorial

BUSINESS NEWS | 15

COVER STORY

A cautionary tale James* runs an online finance company, assisting direct customers and brokers to process online applications. When he received an application from an online mortgage broker for Michelle Johnston*, director of an import/export company, to borrow $575,000 for stock purchases with her home in the Melbourne suburb of Kew as guarantee, all seemed in order.

James asked for the usual documents, such as a rates notice and Certificate of Title for the Kew property, a copy of the purchase order for the stock, trust deeds from Michelle’s company and the company’s certificate from ASIC. The documents checked out and James emailed bank account details for Michelle to pay the upfront broker fee of $1800.00. Michelle paid by cash into the allocated account and, on completion of the 100 point check, the letter of offer for $575,000 was provided. All James needed to finalise the loan and have the money transferred into Michelle’s account was her signature and that of her broker.

The process took about two or three days and James’ business continued as normal. However, as he processed an application from New South Wales for $190,000 to purchase a factory for a new business, he could hardly believe what he was reading. The applicant stated he worked full-time for the exact same company Michelle Johnston was director of, and her Kew property was to be used as a guarantee for the loan.

Caution was always James’ top priority when dealing with other people’s finances and he took action at once, calling in Detective Services, a Melbourne-based private detective agency and requesting help in establishing the facts and the security of his business and his other clients.

Once on the case, Detective Services located the real Michelle Johnston and learnt she was the owner of the Kew home, but not a director at the import/export business and that she hadn’t applied for a loan of $575,000 or any type of credit.

Michelle Johnston learnt she was the victim of identity fraud.

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nfortunately, James and Michelle’s story is becoming increasingly common. Australians lost $1.4 billion to personal fraud, according to the 2010-2011 ABS Personal Fraud Survey, and an estimated 1.2 million Australians aged 15 and over were the victim of at least one incident of identity fraud in the 12 months prior to the survey, an increase of five per cent since 2007. If you’ve lost or had stolen important documents such as your passport or driver’s licence, expected mail from your bank that hasn’t arrived (or you’re receiving no mail at all), have thrown letters and envelopes containing personal information into your bin or posted information online such as your name, address and birth date without using appropriate privacy settings, you too may become a victim of identity fraud.

“Identity fraud is the world’s fastest growing crime,” says Mark Grover, Director of Detective Services, which has been involved in solving cases of identity fraud since 1990. “In an age where information moves at high speed, an identity can be shared with unscrupulous thieves around the world as fast as data can travel.

“Private information such as your date of birth, your mother’s maiden name and passwords are as valuable as money. This is enough information for a fraudster to open bank accounts

16 | BUSINESS NEWS

and apply for credit cards and loans. We have particularly seen the rise of paper-based identity fraud as people have relaxed their security, falsely believing themselves to be protected by the online security of their bank or business partner. In doing this, they have left themselves open to the most basic theft by not locking their mailbox, not securing their documents and not shredding sensitive information that opportunistic thieves can then use for financial gain and the victims’ ruin.”

As James’ involvement in our cautionary tale shows, business is not immune to the rise in identity fraud. While individuals face financial loss and ongoing problems with credit ratings and proving their identity, business victims of identity fraud are at risk of prosecution under the Privacy Act for failing to secure information resulting in a breach of client confidentiality. With new federal laws coming into effect, businesses not only face fines of up to $1.1 million, but may also be barred from holding company positions. The potential damage to credit ratings can also cause ongoing operating issues.

“As an SME, your business credentials with your suppliers and customers will be called into question, your good reputation will be sullied, business and individuals will be reluctant to do business with you, and potential business

COVER STORY partners will shy away from investing in your business,” Grover says. “Many business victims are forced into the uncomfortable position of having to pay large accounts COD with their suppliers until the lengthy process of clearing their good name is complete.”

• Ensure all documents with personal details, including the envelopes, are shredded.

When contacted by a victim of identity fraud, the first step for Grover and his licensed inquiry agents is to secure the victim’s identity and prevent any further losses by securing all incoming and outgoing information, both paper and electronic, then report the theft to police.

• Organise Australia Post mail redirection for any street addressed mail during office closures such as over Christmas.

• Change all bills to online billing where practical, with secure passwords changed every month.

• Most importantly, keep not only business data, but any data you hold about customers secured and data encrypted.

As Grover says, “Identity fraud can ruin your credit rating, stopidfraud.com.au also has these tips for businesses to stop your business in its tracks and wreak havoc on your reduce the risk of identity fraud: personal and professional life,” but, incredibly, he still sees repeat offences against individual victims because of the • Always check the identity of your customers, both lack of care they’ve taken to secure their data after the first businesses and consumers to ensure they are real people occasion, often believing it to be a and are who they say they are. Credit random and single event and leaving reference agencies can help you with James says almost giving themselves open to a series of attacks. this.

someone’s life savings away

As a private investigator, Grover • Have a well-formulated document to fraudsters was a frightening finds identity fraud cases some of disposal policy in place and ensure and sobering experience. the most challenging. “The crime has all staff are aware of the policy and He now takes extra measures taken place and the most productive adhere to it. Businesses have a duty efforts we make are to put together of care to protect their customers’ and above what is required by all the data in a meaningful way, so employees’ information and a legal law to protect his clients. as to present a clear case when it’s obligation under the Data Protection handed over to the police to pursue as Act. Shredding information is the a criminal matter. Our best method to help our clients is in best way to dispose of documents securely and to ensure educating them about preventing identity fraud and how to that criminals cannot fraudulently gain access to sensitive protect themselves from falling victim in the first place.” company details. Confetti cut shredders provide greater security by cutting paper into small confetti-like particles James and Michelle contacted the police and made and also reduce bulk waste. Powerful office shredders can statements on the two fraudulent applications, together destroy large quantities of paper as well as CDs. with the report compiled by the licensed inquiry agent on behalf of Detective Services. A police investigation led to the • Lock away sensitive documents in a safe place and limit arrest of two men from New South Wales and Victoria who access to staff who really need it to reduce the risk of had stolen Michelle’s mail months prior to the fraud taking information falling into the wrong hands. place, including her rates notices, bank statements and other • Inform staff about the risks of corporate identity fraud mail containing personal details. With the vital information and caution them about the risk of giving out company obtained, the men easily acquired the remaining documents information online or over the phone without first checking to needed to commit the fraud online. whom they are giving the information.

James says almost giving someone’s life savings away to • Reduce the risk of electronic hacking by installing firewall fraudsters was a frightening and sobering experience. He and anti-virus software and keeping it up to date. now takes extra measures above what is required by law to protect his clients, his employees and his finance company, • Check your business’ registered details (Directors, including establishing a system of personal contact with Company Secretary and company address) with ASIC to every applicant. All addressed mail, regardless of how make sure they are correct and have not been fraudulently harmless it appears, is shredded. changed. However, don’t rely on ASIC records alone when determining whether to lend goods or service on credit.

Coming so close to losing her home had a profound effect on ASIC is a public record and not a crime prevention service Michelle and the way she views her personal and property or credit reference agency. Always satisfy yourself that your security. She now has a secure and locked home letterbox, customer is legitimate through additional means. which she empties every day, shreds all documents with personal details, including the envelopes, receives her bills On the subject of secure passwords, Grover says one of online where practical and has her mail redirected whenever the ways people can become unintentionally careless with she goes away. personal information is by using obvious online passwords and PINs to avoid “password overload”, a common modern “Identity fraud has the potential to affect everyone,” Grover affliction, particularly for those who shop at multiple online warns. “Individuals and small businesses are especially stores. vulnerable, as their security measures are weaker than those of large corporations who invest time and resources into “The top priority is to keep your banking passwords unique – protecting their assets. This by no means diminishes the different from any social media or computer passwords – and impact of identity fraud on individuals and small business, always use a combination of letters and numbers,” Grover with the ABS figures from 2011 documenting over $1 million advises. in Australian cases, with 95% of victims reporting credit card fraud.”

“To avoid password overload, try a variation on a theme, such as your password combined with an identifier for each He recommends SMEs and small businesses take similar different site. For example, ‘Coffee89’ with the addition of steps as Michelle: a unique identifier that you associate with that site such as colour, number or location to come up with ‘Cofee89blue’.

• Use a secure and locked letterbox, or a Post Office box Multiple words with unique identifiers are more secure and where possible, and empty the letterbox every day.

BUSINESS NEWS | 17

COVER STORY

Don’t get caught by scammers

simpler to remember than a number of different passwords and safer than using the same password for multiple sites.”

If you’re the victim of identity theft, the first thing you should do is secure all documentation containing personal information, change all your online and banking passwords and PINs and immediately inform the police.

Then report the theft or loss to every financial institution and government body you have a relationship with and advise them you’ve been a victim of identity fraud.

“Even if no fraud is evident it doesn’t mean the thieves don’t have access to the information and may plan to use it in the future,” Grover points out. “Once the damage has been done, it’s a long road back to a good credit rating and reputation, even though there are specialist agencies that can assist small businesses and individuals repair their credit ratings.

At this damaged stage, ironically, we find people are willing to spend more money and have learnt to protect their data the hard way.”

“Your identity and your business data are the most valuable assets you own and are worth protecting,” says Grover. “All it takes is a moment of complacency for a fraudster to snap up your identity and it can take a lifetime to get it back again.” *Names have been changed

To help protect your business from fraud, the Business News has a Fellowes® shredder to give away to one lucky reader. For your chance to win, simply send your name, business and contact information to davina@ adcellgroup.com.au.

Competition closes 31 October 2013.

A

s if identity theft is not enough to worry about, fraud also comes in the form of scams targeting businesses, and the latest one to watch out for, according to SCAMwatch (scamwatch.gov.au) and the ATO, are tax refund phishing scams.

An email claiming to be from the ATO is currently circulating that tells recipients they’re entitled to a tax refund. All they have to do is click on an embedded link and complete an online form. Unfortunately, both form and link are fake, and are designed to steal personal information or infect the victim’s computer with malware.

The scammer’s site and forms look like the real deal and may in fact be mirror images of the ATO’s official site, with scam forms designed to be quick and easy to fill out. There may even be a web button that appears to link to the recipient’s bank or financial institution, when in fact it will redirect to another scam site asking for log-in details or personal information.

Keep in mind that the ATO will never email asking you to confirm, update or disclose confidential details like your tax file number, passwords or credit card details. If you want to update your tax details online, visit the ATO’s official website at www.ato. gov.au.

As with all email scams, there are ways to protect yourself: • If you receive an email from out of the blue from someone claiming that you are entitled to a refund – just press ‘delete’.

• If you’re not sure whether an email is a scam, verify who the sender is by using their official contact details to call them directly. Never use contact details provided in the email – find them through an independent source such as a phone book or online search.

Judy Baulch 18 | BUSINESS NEWS

• Watch out for tell-tale signs – while the sender may claim to be from an official source, their email may contain spelling mistakes or use poor grammar.

• Never click on links or open attachments in an email from an unverified sender – they may contain a malicious virus.

• Keep your computer secure – always update your firewall, anti-virus and anti-spyware software, and only buy from a verified source.

If it’s possible you’ve provided your tax file number to a scammer, contact the ATO immediately.

If you think you have received a scam claiming to be from the ATO or about tax, report it to the ATO by emailing ReportEmailFraud@ ato. gov.au, or call 13 28 61 (individuals) or 13 28 66 (businesses). You can also stay one step ahead of scammers: follow @ SCAMwatch_gov on Twitter or visit http://twitter.com/ SCAMwatch_gov.

Identity theft and fraud are in the spotlight this month, with National Identity Fraud Awareness Week (NIDFAW) running from October 13 – 19. An initiative of security products company Fellowes®, and supported by Detective Services, NIDFAW is Australia and New Zealand’s only nationwide awareness campaign designed to help businesses and individuals protect themselves from identity fraud. For more information about protecting you and your business against identity fraud, visit www. stopidfraud.com.au and take the Rate your Risk quiz to find out how susceptible you may be to identity fraud. You can also download the Protecting your Identity – What Everyone Needs to Know booklet, published by the Attorney-General’s Department at www.afp.gov.au/policing/fraud/ identity-crime.aspx.

First across the line.

Official Design & Print Partners of the Australian Masters Games

GOVERNANCE

Governance: what is it and why is it important?

It is not uncommon, when a conversation about governance is initiated, that one of the first questions is: what does governance actually mean? If you Google the words “corporate governance”, you will be advised that there are 98,400,000 references to these words in the stratosphere, however in this article I will try to provide a simple definition and then explain why it is so important that organisations, both in the public and private sectors, incorporate good governance principles and practises into their daily business activities.

W

hat does Governance mean?

Governance can be defined as: “ The system by which entities are directed and controlled. It is concerned with structure and processes for decision-making, accountability, control and behaviour at the top of an entity. Governance influences how an organisation’s objectives are set and achieved, how risk is monitored and addressed and how performance is optimised.”

Governance is a system and process, not a single activity therefore successful implementation of a good governance strategy requires a systematic approach that incorporates strategic planning, risk management and performance management. Like culture, it is a core component of the unique characteristics of a successful organisation.

Why is good governance important?

The fundamental reasons why organisations should adopt good governance practises include: To preserve and strengthen stakeholder confidence – nothing distracts an organisation more than having to deal with a disgruntled stakeholder group caused by a lack of confidence in the governing body. And on the positive side, a supportive stakeholder base can generate benefits for the organisation though social and emotional support, which are intangible, but very valuable, attributes that all organisations should strive to achieve and sustain.

To provide the foundation for a high-performing organisation – the achievement of goals and sustainable success requires input and support from all levels of an organisation. The Board, through good governance practices, provides the framework for planning, implementation and monitoring of performance.

Without a foundation to build high performance upon, the

20 | BUSINESS NEWS

achievement of this goal becomes problematic.

Achievement of the best performance and results possible, within existing capacity and capability, should be an organisation’s ongoing goal. Good governance should support management and staff to be the best they can be.

To ensure the organisation is well placed to respond to a changing external environment – business today operates in an environment of constant change. Technology has created an information age that has transformed our world, and for business to both survive and remain profitable, to enable it to fulfil its mission and achieve its vision, a system has to be in place to assist an organisation to identify changes in both the external environment and emerging trends.

This process of understanding our changing world does not happen by chance, it requires leadership, commitment and resources from the governing body to establish and maintain such a system within the organisation. Change generally does not happen over night, it is there for all to see if they have in place a system for looking. Governing bodies, as the ultimate leaders of an organisation, should take prime responsibility for this activity.

Governance encompasses the processes by which organisations are directed, controlled and held to account. It includes the authority, accountability, leadership, direction and control exercised in an organisation. Greatness can be achieved when good governance principles and practises are applied throughout the whole organisation and that’s why governance is important.

Mark C Schultz For further information, go to www.governancetoday.com

EDUCATION

Inspired to learn

Advertorial

The Geelong College Junior School – Inspired

by Reggio Emilia

M

r Chris Dinneen, Head of the Junior School believes children must be active contributors to their own learning. “When children’s interests are recognised and opportunities are created to embrace the 100 Languages of Learning, they will be fully engaged and develop a deeper understanding,” he explains.

Within The Geelong College program children are considered competent and capable and learn with teachers, other children, parents and members of the wider community.

“Family is central to the Reggio Emilia philosophy. Parents are the ‘first teacher!’ We welcome our community and greatly value the knowledge, skills and a broader sense of the world they bring with them. Parents, grandparents, experts, older students and others regularly visit our Junior School to learn alongside the children in specific activities” he continued.

The teachers too, learn alongside the children, and plan activities based on the developmental stages, children’s interests, questions and social concerns.

“Our long-term commitment is to enhance the child’s understanding of the world and liberate their curiosity” Mr Dinneen stated. “We do this by asking questions, actively engaging in the activities with the child and enjoying the unexpected discoveries they make.”

“In our program children learn to solve problems with peers, think creatively, to explore ideas with an open, curious and questioning mind” Mr Dinneen said. “When it is time to transition from the Junior School, the children have a strong base in the core skills of literacy and numeracy and a deepening appreciation of science, music, drama, sport, art, history, geography and the world around them.

They relish challenges, strive for quality and are able to deal with complex ideas and uncertainty. Most importantly they are social, aware, inspired and engaged in their learning.”

The Geelong College Junior School is the first step on a rewarding learning journey that is rich in opportunity and prepares every student for their own bright future. Come and experience learning with us at our Open Morning on Wednesday 23 October from 9.30am, hear from our Principal, meet our students and staff and take tours of Senior, Middle and Junior Schools.

Limited places in Prep and Year 1 are available for 2014 and enrolments are being taken for 2015 and beyond. For more information or to book a tour at a time that suits your family, phone Deb Fanning on 5226 3190.

What is Reggio Emilia?

Reggio Emilia is a city in northern Italy internationally renowned for its educational approaches in the primary years. Reggio Emilia learning was developed by teacher Loris Magaluzzi and the parents of the surrounding villages after World War II and aims to develop children as individuals in the early years through exploration and discovery in a supportive and enriching environment based on the interests of the children through a self-guided curriculum.

Principles of the Reggio Emilia approach: • Children are recognised as having rich potential • Children are listened to and respected • Children’s work is authentic and meaningful to them • Children’s deeper level thinking is encouraged and celebrated

• Children and teachers are both learners • Children inspire and respect each other • Children use many forms of expression to communicate their ideas • Children, parents and teachers are our community of learners

BUSINESS NEWS | 21

TAX

To survive you must innovate... and soon There is a new buzzword with accountants, bookkeepers and business owners – Xero.

L

ike Internet banking, Hotmail, Dropbox and other webbased services, bookkeeping and accounting are now online. And it will only be a matter of a few years for the software versions to be discontinued. So it’s not if, it’s when…. you move your business online.

Being web-based, you access your financial information in the cloud. The program has direct bank feeds for any number of bank accounts, credit cards and PayPal, and has over 200 addons for specific industry needs. What this means for business is significantly less processing time, access from iPhone, iPad, PC at work, at home or on holidays; real time information, and no more expensive IT hardware investment.

Xero is leading the charge, with cloud accounting having been in this space for over 7 years. Their subscription-based packages can service any size of business, from micro to large, with up to 500 hundred employees.

Xero has bank level security, is backed up daily, provides a full audit trail and access rights are tailored to your needs, i.e. an owner may have full access rights, a line manager may only have ‘read only’ access to certain reports, a bookkeeper may only have access to payroll.

Unlimited SKUs, warehouses, customers and multiple price tiers are all seamlessly integrated with Xero. It can cope with multiple locations with up to 50 registers, bar scanner support, up to 50,000 customers with loyalty program and 50,000 products and inventory management.

Xero comes with online job management software for trade based businesses; can transfer invoices, retentions, purchases and contacts seamlessly with Xero; offers mobile device support; automated line-by-line data extraction from accounts payable bills seamlessly sent to Xero; and includes inventory systems and a cloud-based filing cabinet And if none of these options suit your needs, there are third party providers endorsed by Xero to tailor something for you.

Gone are the days of buying software off the shelf, installing it on to a PC and backing up to a disc to give to your accountant.

If set up through your accountant, your accountant can see what you see; so if entries are wrong, information is not reconciled, or debtors are blowing out, your accountant can contact you and assist to monitor your financial position, run reports, and send you reminders. So, no more visits to your accountant with a shoebox of receipts, a disk or USB with a copy of your financial information which already is historical and not current.

Gone are the days of buying software off the shelf, installing it on to a PC and backing up to a disc to give to your accountant.

Small business owners get excited by the fact that they can now be on holidays and still able to pay their bills, employees and invoices on their phone or iPad. Now owners and advisors can work together in real time to maintain cash flow, run projections and reports to maintain greater control and make informed business decisions.

For a free Xero demonstration or a free trial subscription, please contact Crowe Horwath on 5224 7700.

The payroll function in Xero is slick. It has an employee portal, which allows individual employees to log on, enter time sheets, apply for leave, and print pay slips, all in a secure environment.

The timesheets are then integrated for your approval in your business pay cycle.

Since the inception of GST, advisors were forced to become compliance providers. Xero reduces compliance time so advisors can focus on doing what they love, helping clients improve and grow their business. We would much prefer to see your accounting dollar be spent on business advice rather than mere compliance. With Xero this happens.

Xero add-ons extend the functionality of the base Xero product to meet your business requirements. For example: inventory / stock; point of sale (POS); job tracking; time scheduling; CRM; bills & expenses; powerful inventory module for wholesale and B2B businesses requiring inventory management.

22 | BUSINESS NEWS

Helen Butteriss Principal, Accounting & Business Advisory, Geelong & Ocean Grove This article provides general information only, current at the time of production.

Any advice in it has been prepared without taking into account your personal circumstances. You should seek professional advice before acting on any material.

Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards Legislation (other than for the acts or omissions of financial services licensees) in each State or Territory other than Tasmania.

TAX

The risks and benefits of caveats Caveats can be a simple and effective way of protecting business cashflow, particularly where services are provided prior to the receipt of income. However, it is important to know that there are pluses and minuses for anyone who chooses to go down that path.

T

he operation of a caveat is enshrined in section 89(1) of the Transfer of Land Act 1958 (Vic) (TLA). Simply, a caveat allows any person who has an interest in land to lodge a caveat with the Office of Titles forbidding the registration of any instrument affecting the land or interest emanating from it.

Unfortunately, much confusion arises from the operation of caveats. It is important to acknowledge that a caveat does not provide security over real property, nor does it provide a secured interest over the land, which has ranking priority in a bankruptcy or liquidation. As the statutory definition provides, caveats merely provide “notice� to the Caveator in respect to a dealing which runs contrary to the estate or interest alleged in the caveat application.

contains the charging clause.

Any contest over the interest alleged in the caveat application, or monies owing by the debtor in a bankruptcy proceeding or liquidation, will have to be fought in the Supreme Court of Victoria.

It is important to remember that, in a bankruptcy or liquidation proceeding, and similarly, a mortgagee power of sale, a caveat that is recorded after a registered mortgage will lapse and no notice will be given to the Caveator unless the unsecured charge is intended to bind the registered mortgagee.

In most cases, caveats caught in the cross fire of a mortgagee sale will not survive the onslaught of the proceeding.

The above situation, however, can be avoided in a trust situation. It is critical to be aware of section 118 of the TLA, which imposes harsh sanctions and penalties on those who intend to record caveats without reasonable cause.

Ordinarily, a caveat will not support an alleged interest affecting a debt. There are, however, ways this impasse can be overcome by inserting a charging clause in an agreement between the trade creditor and debtor.

Specifically, the charging clause must authorise the creditor to record a caveat over any real property registered in the proprietorship of the debtor. In doing so, the caveat is then able to support a caveatable interest, in the form of either a fixed or floating charge over real property. In other words, the caveat can now attach itself to the land that has been used as security for the loan by the debtor in a loan agreement that

JOHN DANG Lawyer, Property & Development

Help fight hunger in Geelong How you can help Donate Safely online at www.feedgeelong.org.au or cheques made out to Give Where You Live, 18 Myers Street Geelong Brown Paper Bag Day Wednesday, 16 October

Attend an event GMHBA Community Lunch @ Christ Church Thursday, 24 October

Seeing Is Believing Tour Thursday, 10 October

For further information visit www.feedgeelong.org.au or call 5229 4364 Proudly brought to you by

Proudly supported by

BUSINESS NEWS | 23

Notice the difference a NOT-FOR-PROFIT financial service provider can make to the public sector, their families and friends.

The Australian Public Service Benevolent Society (APS Benefits) is a not for profit organisation

that provides a wide range of financial services to all government department employees and contractors, their families and friends. Having been in existence for over 100 years, the APS Benefits family has earned the trust of over 27,000 members and clients now offering the following financial and personal services listed below:

APS Tax & Accounting

Richard Ferraro at APS Tax, Accounting and Business Services is an experienced CPA taxation accountant. Whether it is setting up a business, managing your superannuation fund or just obtaining quality service, Richard can help you.

APS Financial Planning

Timothy Foster provides access to advice and information on the important financial decisions we all face, whether it be superannuation, investments, pre and post retirement planning, life insurance, gearing, disability and trauma insurance, managed funds or savings plans.

APS Mortgage Broking

Sam Athans treats every mortgage as if it were his own. He has access to 20 mortgage lenders and has over 40 years experience in banking. Let us do the leg work for you.

APS Insurance (General Insurance Broking)

Danielle Rowe heads up our insurance broking team and is a salaried employee of APS Benefits.

With over 15 years experience in the industry, Danielle has access to products that include home and contents, motor vehicle, boat/caravan, landlord, public liability, income protection, life, disability & trauma insurance. The next time you receive your insurance renewal notice or want insurance for the first time, call Danielle on 1300 131 809.

APS Personal Loans

The APS Benefits personal loans team can assist members to obtain an unsecured loan, or they can apply online at www.apsbs.com.au. Either way, loans can be approved within 24 hours.

APS Funeral Cover. Adult & Child Cover Available.

APS Benefits Membership Coordinator Jesse Clarke can assist members to gain immediate funeral cover up to $15,000 for adults and $7,000 for dependent children (aged 2 to 15 next birthday). Do you have cover in the greatest time of need? Call us on 1300 131 809.

APS Savings

APS Savings Ltd is a wholly owned subsidiary of APS Benefits and offers a Fixed Term Investment product. Ask Sam Athans about the interest rate on offer and you will be pleasantly suprised. The term can be 6 months, 12 months or 24 months. Call us on 1300 131 809.

APS Wills & Estates

Phil Lambourne from APS Wills & Estates has over 25 years experience as a lawyer. Phil can help you with wills, powers of attorney, probate and estate administration. Is your will up-to-date?

Have you reviewed your will recently? It affects more than just you!

Further to this, APS is owned by its members, so any profits are channelled back to members.

Help spread the word by introducing new members and APS will send you, your nominated charity or your staff social club $50 for each new member you nominate. For more information call us on 1300 131 809 or visit www.apsbs.com.au.

PROUDL Y NOT FOR PROFIT Australian Public Service Benevolent Society Ltd Level 1, 16-20 Howard Street (PO Box 326) North Melbourne VIC 3051 Toll Free 1300 131 809 Phone (03) 9322 2000 Fax (03) 8327 8200 info@apsbs.com.au ABN 64 077 846 809

AFSL No. 244115

www.apsbs.com.au

Tax & Accounting Setting up a business or managing your superannuation fund Individual, company & trust income tax returns Business Activity Statements (BAS)

www.apstax.com.au

Personal Loans Need an unsecured personal loan?

Donʼt pay credit card interest rates again.

Need cash for a car, holiday or school fees?

Apply online and have approval within 24 hours.

www.apsbs.com.au

Funeral Cover Instant cover up to $15,000 Guaranteed acceptance Only $2.60 per week Childrenʼs funeral cover only $39 per year for $7,000 of cover

www.apsbs.com.au

Wills & Estates

General Insurance Broking Home & Contents, Motor Vehicle, Boat or Caravan Landlord, Public Liability, Professional Indemnity & Business Packs

www.apsbs.com.au

Fixed Term Investments 6, 12 or 24 month fixed term investment Compound your interest Provide a regular income stream Interest Rate Card available upon application

www.apssavings.com.au

Mortgage Broking We find the best lender to suit your needs Let APS do all the paperwork Benefit from over 40 yearsʼ experience Re-finance options available

www.apsbs.com.au

Financial Planning

Wills & Powers of Attorney tration Estate Planning & Estate Adminis Do you have a will?

.a www.apswills.com

ly?

Have you reviewed your will recent

u

www.apsfinplan.c

om.au

Superannuation & In vestments Pre & Post Retiremen t Planning Life Insurance, Incom e Protection Disability & Trauma Insurance

1300 131 809 Level 1, 16-20 Howard Street, North Melbourne, Victoria 3051

Membership of APS Benefits automatically entitles you to a funeral benefit issued by APS Benefits. You should consider the Combined Product Disclosure Statement & Financial Services Guide (available from APS Benefits or our web site on www.apsbs.com.au) before making a decision to become a member of APS Benefits or buy any products offered by APS Benefits. Financial services provided by Australian Public Service Benevolent Society Ltd are provided under its AFSL No. 244115. APS Financial Planning Pty Ltd is a Corporate Authorised Representative No. 305923 of Futuro Financial Services Pty Ltd (‘Futuro’). Financial services provided by APS Financial Planning Pty Ltd are provided under Futuro’s AFSL No. 238478. APS Savings Disclaimer: This is not a bank product, it is an unlisted APS Note. No independent assessment has been made about the risk to investors losing any of their principal investment. Applications for APS Notes can only be made on the Investment Application Form which accompanies the prospectus issued by APS Savings Ltd. Please read the prospectus carefully before deciding whether to make an investment. APS Wills & Estates: Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards Legislation.

Australian Public Service Benevolent Society Ltd

SMALL BIZ

Craft versus cost: the dream of an artful business It all started with a lovely jumper. It was made from hand spun wool, knitted by hand, and had wonderful patterns truly a work of art.

J

ohn knew that I had an eye for a great product and my interest was peaked when he said that his wife was interested in starting her own business but wanted to seek some advice.

I really get a kick out of people their early stages of business, as their motivation and enthusiasm is tangible, but a potential downside is when they have their dreams punctured by some dude like me. So careful, careful in the nascent phase.

I asked, “What does your wife expect to charge for this jumper?”

“She takes about 100 hours, by the time that she spins the wool and then does the grading and…”

The second problem was John’s idea of a fair price. He was looking at the business as if it was a salaried position. I wasn’t clear what John’s wife’s former employment was, but I suspect that she was professional and a well-respected employee; but when it came to knitting, she was a beginning -albeit a very talented - craftsperson. The point is that from John’s conversation I gathered that she was slow. Why should a customer be charged for her low productivity? Sure, the idea of the expectation of a fair income comes up, but when someone is in the learning phase where they may be making mistakes and need to rework sections, when they spend time talking to their mentors and don’t know the reasonable short cuts and efficiency boosts, should those costs be covered by the customer? I don’t think so.

Thirdly: John had done some Internet browsing and seen that some wellpositioned craft shops in Sydney were presenting their selection of hand-made sweaters for $1,800 or so. You could hear the cha ching happening. When I spoke to him about why he determined that they could get $1,500 (not even raising the issue of the $3,000) he admitted that they had left some money for the retailer to earn; a generous $300. He didn’t understand that the part of the retail chain that has the control of the transaction and takes the most risk usually expects the highest earning.

“Price is not determined by the internal factors of a business, but costs are. Price is a customer issue and is largely a matter of perception.”

After about three chapters of her life story I got the picture that it was a painstaking labour of love, but I was still waiting for the dollar bomb to drop.

“She used to get $40 per hour in her last job, but we thought that she would accept $30 so we should get $1,500 per item,” John said. I am thinking to myself that the maths doesn’t work, because if the jumper took 100 hours, shouldn’t the end price be $3,000 if we follow his logic?

When I raised this to John he said that I was being silly, because nobody would pay that amount of money! Without going in to the long convoluted details that we covered in the next hour, I will spell out the essential difficulties that most small business have about pricing.

Firstly: price is not determined by the internal factors of a business, but costs are. Price is a customer issue and is largely a matter of perception. If a customer perceives the product or service to be

26 | BUSINESS NEWS

of greater value than the price they are being charged, they have a need, want or desire for the item and they have the ability to pay, then a sale is on the cards. Notice the three dimensions: value, desire and ability. None of these factors are in direct control of the business and, at best, the business owner can influence them to some degree.

John would do well to learn the major principle of pricing, which is that there is no relationship between the price and cost. The price is an external factor that depends on the needs and desires of your target market. The cost is an internal factor that is a reflection of your ability to manufacture or deliver efficiently, buy the raw materials and operate your business in general. In simple terms, price is with the customer and cost concerns you.

Clint Jennings Thinker on big ideas for small business

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You’ll be impressed!”

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FEATURE

Have you thought ahead?

Will your assets go where you want them to?

Kylie McEwan

No one likes thinking about either their Will or the impact of their death even, though death and taxes are said to be the two certain things in life. Succession, retirement and estate planning are critical issues for any individual and, in particular, for many SME businesses as baby boomer parents transition to retirement.

E kyliem@davidsons.com.au

There are no set rules for family succession, retirement and estate T 03 52446835 planning. However, taking a proactive approach and communicating your www.davidsons.com.au succession and retirement plans to all family members whilst you are in control of the situation (i.e. prior to your death) will help ensure your family wealth ends up where you want it to.

Difficulties can arise in family discussions when it comes to the future plans of the family business, particularly where there are a number of siblings involved. Unfortunately, through poor or no planning, the future of the business can be placed at risk, as can be shown in the following case study.

A few years ago Frank and Joan passed away and did not discuss the contents of their will. The Will provided for each of their 4 children to share equally in the business ownership upon their death. Due to a recent relationship breakdown within the family, a large part of the business had to be sold, leaving an uncertain future for Frank and Joan’s business.

28 | BUSINESS NEWS

Experience has shown us that resolving family succession matters before death, and working with all family members to do so, not only reduces family conflict but also provides clarity for the intended business successor. In providing this clarity, the business successor is in a better position to help transition the business and ensuring minimal disruption to the business operations.

Planning is the key to any good estate and business succession strategy and it is never too late to start thinking about your situation.

Questions you should consider in assessing your own estate planning situation include: • Will there be sufficient assets in your estate to provide for your family?

• Will sufficient funds be available to sustain your business should you die or you are unable to complete normal duties?

• Will your share of the business go where you want it to?

• Do you have a valid Will and an enduring power of attorney?

At Davidsons, we have extensive experience in helping our clients build their estate and business succession strategies and every day we focus on helping our clients create, protect and transition their wealth. We believe a good estate planning and business succession strategy will allow your assets to pass to the people you want to receive them; the way you intend them to; as quickly and as simply as possible; and with minimum taxation consequences.

We also believe that the value to you and your family discussing your estate planning and business succession matters is as much in the process itself as it is in the solution. To find out how we can add value to you in this process, please contact Kylie McEwan on 03 52446835 or at kyliem@davidsons.com.au.

?

FEATURE

Justine Finlay Managing Director T 5226 4120 www.wightons.com.au

It seems that life is becoming more complex by the minute, particularly for those of you who own and run your own business. The day to day slog of getting ahead takes up so much of your time that it’s very easy to forget to look ahead and plan for a future when you may be no longer able to do all of the things you do now and to make sure that your family is protected.

It’s easy to overlook, or even avoid, estate planning - thinking about and planning for your departure from this world can be a morbid topic and one that a lot of people would prefer to ignore. But it happens to everyone, so isn’t it better to be prepared?

So many small business owners operate their business through a family discretionary trust or even a unit trust, with or without a corporate trustee. You may operate as a partnership or as a joint venture.

Some of you hold investment assets in separate trusts. Many of you have set up Self Managed Superannuation Funds to hold many of your assets. You may have considered the taxation implications and asset protection of holding assets in these trusts, but what happens to the assets held in these different trusts when you die? Who can control the business, the trust or the SMSF if you become incapable because of an accident or illness?

Have you got your own SMSF? If so, you should appoint an enduring Power of Attorney, however be very careful about who you choose!

Geoff Brethouwer E: Geoff@sjcanny.com.au

T 03 5278 9500 www.sjcanny.com.au

Many Australians now run their own Self Managed Super Fund (SMSF), which is a great achievement, however it comes with significant responsibility. A SMSF is special form of trust. The trustees of the trust are either the individual members of the SMSF (maximum of four) or a corporate trustee with the members of the fund (maximum of four) acting as directors of the company.

A SMSF is a complex structure and it has ongoing legal and administrative requirements. Consequently, as all members of the SMSF are required to be individual trustees or directors of the corporate trustee, each member needs to make sure that if illness or injury prevents them from fulfilling their duties that they have made adequate provision for someone to step in on their behalf.

This involves appointing a personal representative via an Enduring Power of Attorney (EPOA) and it is vitally important

Proper, considered, and detailed advice from a lawyer who specializes in the areas of wills and estate planning and who also has a detailed understanding of business structures is very important to ensure that your wishes are carried out, control of your business and assets are passed to the people that you choose and your loved ones are looked after as you want them to be.

A specialist in these areas will also prepare for you current and relevant powers of attorney, for not only your personal affairs but to ensure continuing control of your business and other assets.

You need to make sure that you have made provision for the control of what is yours to be passed to those you trust if you are unable to continue to operate for whatever reason.

Justine Finlay is the Managing Director of Wightons Lawyers, and is an accredited Wills and Estates and a Business Law Specialist, as well as a Notary Public. Justine, and the team at Wightons Lawyers, is able to provide you with the necessary specialized advice required for all business owners so that you can rest easy knowing that you have done everything you can to protect your family and to preserve what you have worked so hard for.

There are so many events in business and in life that we can’t control. Estate planning is one way of having control over your future, so why not take the time to get it done right.

Contact Justine Finlay at Wightons Lawyers on 5226 4120 for an appointment to discuss your estate planning needs.

to do this correctly, as many Australians hold positions of considerable power in relation to their SMSF, which is the entity that usually holds the bulk of your retirement assets.

What can my personal representative (attorney) do if I lose capacity?

If a trustee or director loses capacity, the person appointed as attorney under an EPOA can step-in and be appointed trustee of the SMSF or director of the corporate trustee of the SMSF. Once appointed, the attorney carries out his or her functions in relation to the fund and can make decisions to buy or sell assets, pay pensions and lump sums including death benefits.

Therefore, the choice of attorney should be made with great care because your attorney may end up controlling the SMSF. Even to the point where they may also receive benefits from the fund like any other member. The reason for this is that the law allows them to act in a personal capacity as if they were a member of the SMSF and not as the attorney under an EPOA. So clearly, when you appoint a person to be your attorney under an Enduring Power of Attorney, a lot can be at stake. We recommend you seek professional advice so that you are fully aware of all possible outcomes and potential issues.

For more information about setting up or running a SMSF, or to discuss how appointing an attorney may affect you, please call S J Canny Pty Ltd on 03 5278 9500.

BUSINESS NEWS | 29

RECRUITMENT

The Top-3 Social Media Sites For Career Development

professional. Facebook’s informality brings its own benefits.

Like people, companies are usually a little more relaxed here.

This means that you can often get a better feel for the culture and working life at the company but don’t see this as a way to bypass the application process.

Social media is a fast-moving and fluid world, with new sites and channels emerging all the time. But there are three key sites you need to utilise if your career is to benefit, says recruiting experts Hays.

You can easily connect and communicate with opinion formers and thought leaders on Twitter, and be part of the debate on the hot topics for your industry. You can also research companies in depth. But be sure to keep your own output professional and respectable.

W

hile some sites and channels are particularly helpful in your career planning, others are not, says Nick Deligiannis, Managing Director of Hays in Australia & New Zealand.

“LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter are powerful career planning tools. LinkedIn is a valuable resource for anyone who takes their career seriously, while Facebook can have a huge impact on your professional life. Twitter is a powerful way to extend your network and get up-to-thesecond insights from the people and companies you follow.

“Beyond these three, there could be other sites relevant to your sector, such as Google+ for IT professionals. Candidates need to do their research, talk to a recruiting expert, and get it right in order to look your best online,” he said.

Here is Hays’ advice for using the top-3 sites for career development: LinkedIn An up-to-date profile, far-reaching network and clear interest in your industry will massively boost your appeal in a recruiter’s eyes. Rest assured, they will be looking – and you can help them find you with a detailed, well-written profile that includes sector-specific keywords. LinkedIn is a mine of information for you too. Use it to stay informed, research companies ahead of an interview and connect with important people in your sector.

Facebook

Twitter

3 reasons an office support career makes sense Looking for a job that will never be outsourced; gives you access to the leading business minds; and allows you to work in either successful multinationals or thriving SMEs? Then consider an office support career.

“Office support professionals enjoy long and exciting careers,” says Lisa Morris, Senior Regional Director of Hays Office Support. “Rather than collecting dry cleaning or making coffee, a career in office support keeps you front and centre in our fast-paced business world.

“Depending on who you support, no two days are the same.

You might plan meetings in different countries and time zones, organise the logistics of transporting equipment or product samples for a conference, ensure an event runs smoothly, take minutes, manage diaries, data entry, take ownership of occupational health and safety or load content onto intranet and internet sites. The only certainty is that the role is varied.

“Typically you start out as an office junior and, as you gain experience, prove yourself and your skills base grows, you move up into more demanding support roles.”

But it’s not only the variety that makes office support an attractive role. According to Hays Office Support there are three other factors worth considering: it’s not easy to outsource; you can work alongside leading business minds; and you can work inside successful multinationals or thriving SMEs.

Keep an eye on your privacy settings and remember how easy it is to search. Be aware of your digital footprint and make sure any publicly available information on Facebook about you is

Experience

the difference...

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30 | BUSINESS NEWS

club

NEW BUSINESS

New Business

K

aren Ryrie is a Certified Financial Planner with over 10 years experience in partnering with clients to help them create financial security.

Karen owns and operates her own practice in Geelong and is licensed and supported by Australian Unity.

Karen specialises in developing strategic financial plans for clients who are: •

About to retire

•

Self Managed Super Trustees

•

Facing redundancy

•

Business owners

•

In retirement

•

Investing a lump sum

•

Accumulating wealth

BLUE SKIES ARE CALLING AT WARRALILY

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Karen Ryrie, Wealth Planning Solutions 13 Mercer Street, Geelong P: 3224 9601 E: kryrie@australianunity.com.au •

Wishing to minimise tax

•

Requiring Life insurance or Income Protection.

Karen’s clients value her as a well-credentialed, trusted adviser who has an ongoing commitment to her clients financial and lifestyle wellbeing.

T

his new business is on a mission to provide quality and customised Essential Safety Measures services to Commercial Property Managers and Property Owners, the service ensures the safety elements in commercial buildings are maintained to protect occupants and reduces exposure to financial risk for commercial property owners.

For the past 9 years Louise has worked as a Commercial Property Manager, so she fully understands the challenges faced by today’s Property Managers in managing ESM compliance of their property portfolio. It’s a combination

arralily beckons you to discover the natural surrounds, wonderful park, walkways and Armstrong Creek that our residents are now enjoying! More than 1000 people have now made Warralily their home, come and see for yourself why it’s the perfect place to live.

Just 10 mins from Victoria’s Barwon Heads, Torquay and famous Surf Coast beaches.

82 hectares of open space including playgrounds, sports grounds, 30km of hike and bike trails and 4.5km of waterways.

Kate Hall, RPM Real Estate P: 0487 888 280 E: kateh@rpmrealestate.com.au

Community facilities close by including primary and secondary schools.

Proposed schools and shops within Warralily.

Marshall Train Station less than 5 mins away you can be in Melbourne in under 1 hour.

Recycled water and NBN. Land now selling from $145,000*

(*price current 16.9.13 and subject to availability)

The 2 Blind Girls

S

Louise Doedée, Essential Property Solutions P: 0407 312 188 E: louise@essentialpropertysolutions.com.au W: essentialpropertysolutions.com.au

of her experience, specialised skills and knowledge that sets her apart from other providers in the market place.

Louise offers a 45 minute no obligation initial meeting and can also speak to your group about Essential Safety Measures.

ue Kos and Sophie Williams are the clever business women behind The 2 Blind Girls, Geelong’s newest specialists in window treatments. They’ve combined their significant know-how in property styling and window furnishings to offer a complete and personalised mobile service. This cheeky pair makes choosing the right window treatments more fun than you can imagine. The 2 Blind Girls range is vast, covering all tastes and budgets.

You won’t believe the samples that Sue and Sophie shoehorn

Sue Kos & Sophie Williams, The 2 Blind Girls P: 0411 824 888 E: info@2blindgirls.com.au W: the2blindgirls.com.au

into their car to bring to you!

Whether you need blinds, curtains, awnings or shutters, these ladies are on a mission: to leave no window in the greater Geelong region naked; and to create high quality, stylish window furnishings your neighbours will envy.

BUSINESS NEWS | 31

INSURANCE

Sporting clubs – are you exposed?

When it comes to sporting club insurance, there are some not-so-well-known risks that lurk in the shadows of national and state insurance schemes.

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ost sporting clubs and organisations purchase their insurance through either state or national insurance programs, forming part of their club’s affiliation fees. The benefits of this method of obtaining insurance are very clear, the largest being that the difficult task of procuring accurate and affordable insurance is already done, and with insurance being arranged at a state or national level, it provides the managing broker clout to negotiate better levels of cover at a cheaper price - covers and rates not able to be achieved, usually, at an individual club level. So, at face value, it’s a win-win.

The club administrators, all being voluntary, forwarded the official letter to their Public Liability insurer and their workcover insurer - thinking they would be insured for this under both or either policies. The public liability insurer denied the claim quickly, pointing out that the policy did not cover official inquiries by workcover authorities - that it only covered claims for compensation by third parties resulting from injury or property damage, and because this was merely an investigation, not a claim, the public liability policy would not respond. The workcover insurer said it would manage the injury claim to the employee and cover the employee’s costs, but was not obligated to provide legal defence or representation costs that would be necessary to defend an official inquiry by WorkSafe, when such investigation was against the employer regarding compliance and management of workplace safety.

So, the end result was the club had to engage their own lawyers at their own cost to represent them in the inquiry, which subsequently resulted in an alleged breach of relevant workplace safety laws and the club being fined.

However, what we often see as a consequence of obtaining insurance through affiliation fees are three common things that are often overlooked by the responsible managers of the club at grass roots level, and understandably so:

This event is a real circumstance, and not an unlikely exposure for the vast majority of sporting clubs, yet provides an example of all three aforementioned consequences of relying heavily on state or national insurance programs.

1. A clear understanding of the insurance coverage, and importantly, what is not covered by such insurance;

Fortunately the Associations Incorporations Reform Act 2012, which is now in place, makes it a requirement for committee members to be indemnified by the club they act on behalf of.

This does not mean the club is indemnified as an entity under the Reform Act, which is why it is important that responsible managers of sporting clubs consider whether they need to engage an experienced insurance advisor, independent of their state or national insurance arrangements, to consider where their club operations might be exposed to risk.

2. A level of complacency to risk mitigation and management of uninsured exposures; and 3. A restricted ability to tailor the insurance coverage according to the risk profile of the club and all of its operations.

Some years ago, we knew of a sporting club that had employed an experienced person as the regular grounds keeper at their venue, and during his time there he sustained a severe injury while working at the club.

The regulatory body immediately undertook a workplace safety investigation and the club secretary was notified of this official investigation.

BRAD TRESIDDER Brad Tresidder is Managing Director for Tresidder Insurance Group, specialists in general insurance and risk management for businesses and sporting organisations. He is President of Geelong Lawn Tennis Club, and a board member of the Barwon Sports Academy.

Corporate Authorised Representative of Roderick Insurance Brokers Pty Ltd. AFS Licence No. 246613 Car No. 366697

Tresidder Insurance Group Pty Ltd 116 Yarra Street Geelong Vic 3220 P: (03) 5226 5999 E: info@tresidders.com.au

www.tresidders.com.au

32 | BUSINESS NEWS

Members of

LEGAL Policies, procedures and practices should be updated in light of the amendments and, for the majority of organisations, be published online.

Get ahead on privacy reforms In late 2012, the Privacy Amendment (Enhancing Private Protection) Act 2012 was passed, marking the start of a period of significant reform to privacy law in Australia.

The legislation amends the Privacy Act 1988 by providing more ways in which individuals’ personal and creditrelated information may be collected, used and disclosed.

To counterbalance this, individuals are provided with increased avenues of protection and the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner has been given greater enforcement powers.

W

hile the reforms will not come into effect until 12 March 2014, it is imperative that organisations start preparing now by amending their policies, procedures and documentation. However, any updated materials should not be utilised until the reforms officially commence on 12 March 2014. Until that time, the use of existing materials should continue. Those organisations that will be subject to the reforms and, therefore, must take such action, are Federal Government agencies, as well as private sector organisations that:

Unsolicited personal information that is already in the possession of the entity must be destroyed or ‘de-identified’ if it cannot be proven that that information could have been collected by the organisation itself.

One of the most significant changes to the new privacy regime is the increased requirements for using or disclosing personal information for direct marketing.

For the benefit of their privacy, individuals have the right to request the source of their information; opt out of receiving direct marketing communications from the organisation; and opt out of disclosure of their personal information for the purpose of third party marketing.

The amendments also introduce greater responsibility for organisations that disclose personal information to overseas recipients. APP 8 deems an organisation to be liable where they have provided personal information to an overseas organisation which has then breached the Privacy Act. With the introduction of these amendments, it is integral for organisations to ensure that their policies, procedures and processes are in line with these new amendments, and for individuals to be aware of how their information is dealt with and what rights they are entitled to regarding this.

The upcoming months will see the Commissioner develop and publish explanatory materials, which will further clarify the application and effect of the reforms.

- have an annual turnover of more than $3 million; - are health service providers (regardless of turnover); - receive payment for collecting or disclosing personal information (regardless of turnover); or - provide contractual services to the Commonwealth, including all Federal Government contractors (regardless of turnover).

Australian Privacy Principals

Joanne D’Andrea

One of the most important reforms is the introduction of 13 Australian Privacy Principles (APPs) to replace the National Privacy Principles and Information Privacy Principles, covering everything from establishing and updating policies to using or disclosing personal information for direct marketing.

Confused by Workplace Laws?

Business Law Principal

Beth Malouf Graduate Lawyer

Get specialist advice you can rely on.

• Advice on ever changing workplace laws • Assistance with redundancy and termination issues • Preparation of workplace / employment agreements • Protect your business from former employees • Assistance with OH&S prosecutions • Help to avoid and defend discrimination claims • Advice on workplace law compliance regime • Assistance with workplace investigations

Sonia McCabe, Lawyer Jim Rutherford, Accredited Specialist in Workplace Relations Law

70 Gheringhap Street Geelong t. 5225 5225

Monique Hutchinson, Lawyer

Rohan Kux, Associate

www.harwoodandrews.com.au BUSINESS NEWS | 33

THE TECH GUY

The Tech Guy

Every month, our Tech Guy, Jon Mamonski, brings us the wildest, most mind-blowing gadgets he can find...

is now capable of detecting the unique ridges in your fingertips, allowing you to bypass the passcode completely, as well as purchasing apps and iTunes content directly.

It can store up to five individual fingerprints.

The A7 processor should punch out twice the CPU and GPU speeds as its predecessor, the A6.

For a dash of colour, check out the all new iPhone 5c.

Apple of your eye

Once a year, at about this time, there’s a big worldwide Apple event held to celebrate the launch of a new iPhone - or in this case, iPhones.

The 5s is the new flagship iPhone, with 32 and 64GB, and it’s available in three colours: space grey (which has black highlights on top and bottom), white and for the first time, gold.

New to the 5S is a dual LED flash and the new home button that doubles as a touch ID fingerprint sensor. The device

ASUS has announced the new N Series multimedia notebooks with fine-treated aluminium surfaces throughout.

With a quad-speaker array with ASUS SonicMaster Premium, co-developed by Bang & Olufsen ICEpower to deliver rich surround audio, capable of cinematic-quality surround sound with an external SonicMaster subwoofer, to enhance immersion in movies, games and entertainment.

Thin is in and the N Series notebooks now ship with 4th generation Intel Core processors and feature NVIDIA GeForce graphics for outstanding visual performance.

Non-reflective screens are available throughout the range, while IPS displays and capacitive multi-touch are optionally available for vibrant images with wide viewing angles and responsive fingertip control with Windows 8.

For vibrant and detailed visuals, the N550 uses a 15.6-inch IPS display with 178-degree viewing angles. It offers Full HD 1080p, so photos, movies and games always look their best.

34 | BUSINESS NEWS

It’s slightly thicker, taller and wider than the iPhone 5 and 5s, at 124.4 x 59.2 x 8.97mm and at 132g.

The edges have been rounded off, making the 5c more comfortable to hold and the front of the iPhone 5c is glass with a better 1.2MP camera.

The Retina display is the same panel that’s used on the iPhone 5 and 5s, and on the back, it’s the same 8-megapixel camera.

The 5c looks great and feels wonderful to hold, and with the all new iOS 7, is an outstanding redesign. There’s an unprecedented level of synergy between hardware and software and you’ll need to test one yourself to appreciate that.

The N750 has a 17.3-inch Enhanced Wide Viewing (EWV) Full HD 1080p screen with 150-degree wide viewing angles.

ASUS offers optional touchscreens on N550 Series notebooks, giving customers the choice of making the most of Windows 8 touch-based input.

The ASUS N Series multimedia notebooks are available from PCD Computers in Mercer St Geelong with pricing for the N550 from $1599 and $2299 for the N750.

ASUS N Series

THE TECH GUY

Thin film speakers that work Happy 50th – Audio Cassette!

Forget the iPod, the real pioneer of the portable audio revolution is the compact cassette, which just turned 50… how old does that make you feel?

Philips formally launched the audio cassette in 1963, which meant that you and I could create mixed music to our own tastes for the first time so tell your kids that their mp3

mixes are nothing new.

In its day, it was truly a revelation. I remember my first professional audio cassette deck was a Nakamichi that cost nearly $2,000 (I still have it) and good quality audio cassettes still sound great and won’t accidentally disappear off the hard drive either, so there.

The thinner our TVs and other devices become, the less room there is for speakers and other thicker components. Kyocera has just released a new Smart Sonic Sound device that uses a piezoelectric speaker that vibrates against a film to generate as much volume as a regular speaker in a far thinner (under 1.5mm thick) design. The new speaker

could even sound better than its traditional rivals.

It delivers full sound in a 180-degree listening arc, and it’s responsive enough to recreate very subtle tones.

Smart Sonic Sound is already shipping in LG’s 55-inch curved OLED TV and Kyocera expects it to reach laptops, tablets and other devices soon.

Heart signature

Acer 4K Phone Acer has taken its time to enter the super-sized phone market, introducing its second generation 6-inch Liquid S2 with 4K recording capability, a full HD IPS display and a Snapdragon 800 processor model.

Acer says it’s the first phone to offer this 4K functionality, although Samsung’s next Galaxy Note will have the same feature.

The device sports a

13-megapixel rear camera with LED ring flash along with a 2MP front camera capable of 1080p video. There’s also several software enhancements on the camera side with a ‘quick first shot’ feature that lets you snap a picture right from the phone’s unlock screen and you can adjust focus and exposure separately. There’s also a ‘favourite mode’, which lets you create up to five profiles with customized settings and effects.

Wireless Phone Charging

Cota is a technology that aims to power your mobile device completely wirelessly with no physical contact.

The magic is a magnetic charge over the same 2.4GHz spectrum that WiFi and Bluetooth already use. Line

of sight isn’t necessary and the claim is that one station can power multiple devices at once, just like a WiFi hotspot, which is around 10 metres.

We’ll keep an eye on this one as it progresses through crowd funding.

Unlike faces and fingerprints, a heart’s electrical activity is difficult to copy. It is unique and potentially the ideal security tool. Bionym is taking advantage of this with its upcoming Nymi bracelet. The wristwear authenticates through a combination of electrocardiograms and Bluetooth proximity detection.

If Nymi recognises your heart rhythm, it

automatically logs you into nearby devices. The bracelet also recognises gesture commands and a future developer kit should extend the security bracelet’s usefulness beyond PCs and smartphones. It could unlock doors or make retail payments, for example.

Nymi won’t ship until midnext year, but it’s already available for pre-order at a $79.

Sony iPhone lens

Sony’s unique lens cameras work with smartphones and tablets and you can link your Android or iOS handset or slate with the camera via WiFi, and use that device to adjust settings and frame each shot by launching the PlayMemories Mobile app. You can also zoom and capture images using a toggle and shutter

release on each camera, so they can be operated independently.

The DSC-QX10 is the high-zoom model, with a relatively compact 10x optic and 18.2-megapixels, which should sell for around $299. The top end QX100 features a 20.2-megapixel sensor and 3.6x f/1.8-4.9 lens and will sell for about $599.

BUSINESS NEWS | 35

TRAVEL

Africa. Africa! It’s a small word, but few other words carry such an enormous weight of associations. Unfortunately, at any given moment, most people can only connect a small number of ideas or pictures with a single word, and in Africa’s case they’re often negative.

AFRICA …

36 | BUSINESS NEWS

The Last Frontier

TRAVEL

W

hat do we think of when we hear the word: Africa? There’s bound to be wildlife (I’d bet on lions and elephants), probably violence (I’d bet on child soldiers and Johannesburg crime), perhaps a famine or two (I’d bet on Ethiopia or Somalia)… And that might just about cover it.

For Australians with limited time, South Africa is the easiest option. One important advantage is that South Africa shares Australia’s seasons; Cape Town is on much the same latitude as Sydney. If you’re restricted to a vacation during Australia’s summer and you don’t fancy the tropics or a European winter, South Africa is a good bet.

All in all, Africa sounds more than a little scary and - because you can see animals in a zoo – the argument for visiting can struggle to get traction. That is until you speak to someone you know about their African trip. First there’ll be a silence and a faraway look as they try to process the extraordinary experiences they have had, then they’ll smile, and then they’ll start raving.

The South African national parks are among the greatest in the world and there are few better places to see Africa’s wildlife. It’s a contentious debate, but most experts argue the South African parks are the equal to those further to the north in Tanzania and Kenya.

The reality of Africa has always been a great deal more complex than a few simple prejudices and, fortunately, some of the old, negative stories are changing for the better.

For a start, the continent is enormous and there is a correspondingly wide geographical and cultural diversity.

Africa is at least as diverse as Europe – and it is three times larger.

There are vast differences between the French-influenced north and west (countries like Senegal, Mali and Chad) and the English-influenced south and east (countries like Kenya, Tanzania and South Africa). And that’s before you consider the impact of the Arabs, Portuguese, Belgians, Dutch and Germans, who were all into the lucrative business of exploiting slaves and running empires.

Africa is finally beginning to transcend the inter-generational damage unleashed by hundreds of years of slavery and colonialism. Over the last 20 years, the economies in the majority of African countries have begun to grow at significant rates. There are exceptions, but all but a few of the continent’s 1 billion people now vote in regular national polls. That is something that 1.5 billion Asians, for all their impressive economic performance, cannot do.

Over one third of Africans now live in cities, and there is a growing middle class. And in a world where natural resources are becoming increasingly valuable, Africa has 60% of the world’s uncultivated arable land and 30% of the world’s mineral resources. Many say the 21st century will be the Asian century, but Africa will definitely write itself into the story.

In many ways Africa is the world’s last great frontier – and that makes it a fascinating place to visit. It’s a frontier that is attracting fortune seekers from around the world, where millions of people are striving to escape poverty, where towns and cities are mushrooming.

It’s a frontier where diverse and amazing cultures are rubbing up against each other. The sparks resulting from this friction can be destructive and can be creative, can be frightening and invigorating.

And, of course, it’s a frontier that you can quickly leave behind to find yourself under a vast African sky on a breathtaking savannah with the creatures of your dreams (maybe even your nightmares) running wild around you.

Unless you’re a backpacker with a year or so to spare, you’ll need to quickly narrow your focus. You can’t cover Cairo to Cape Town in a normal vacation.

As a bonus, South Africa’s beaches are amongst the best and least crowded in the world. There are vast open spaces, dramatic mountain ranges, tropical lowlands, deserts, and magnificent valleys with 300 year-old vineyards.

Few countries have a more dramatic or bloody history.

The collision between the Dutch, the San, the English, the Xhosa and the Zulu is an amazing story. The fact that this rolling conflict ultimately resolved itself in a democracy is miraculous, but also a clear a testimony to all these tribes and their modern leaders.

The ongoing issues with violence remain a terrible blight on the country, but from a visitor’s point of view crime is extremely unlikely to have any impact. In an ironic throwback to apartheid, there are simply some parts of the country (and most cities) that you cannot visit – which can, of course, be said of many countries and cities.

South Africa’s infrastructure, by African standards, is extremely good – the transport and communications systems all work. On the whole, the hotels and restaurants are not particularly sophisticated, but you can always find somewhere decent, clean and safe to eat and sleep. There is a growing list of exceptions to this mediocrity, particularly in the Cape Province with its beautiful wineries and rich culinary traditions (a melting pot of African, Dutch, English, Indian, and Indo/ Malay).

South Africa’s two great national parks are the Kruger (bordering Mozambique) and the lesser-known Kalahari Gemsbok (bordering Botswana and Namibia), but there are also some sensational privately owned game parks (a number of which border the Kruger).

In all these parks you are guaranteed of seeing Africa’s iconic wildlife. In the sub-tropical Kruger you stand a very good chance of seeing lions, elephants, giraffes, hippopotamus, zebra, and a myriad of antelopes and gazelles. In the Kalahari Gemsbok, which is a desert environment, you stand a very good chance of seeing lions, leopards, antelopes and gazelles.

The national parks have excellent roads that link key waterholes. In a private vehicle you can, if you wish, explore independently. You’re perfectly safe and the animals are sufficiently habituated to the presence of vehicles that they largely ignore you. The expertise of a guide is essential if you want to explore on foot, but if you have your own vehicle you can move at your own pace and enjoy the experience in your own way.

It’s hard to explain how mind-blowing this experience is.

There is a vast difference between being in the animals’

BUSINESS NEWS | 37

TRAVEL

natural environment, where the cycle of life unfolds before your eyes – and being in a human environment, where the animals are more-or-less controlled. When you’re in the animals’ environment it as if ancestral memories locked in your genes are unleashed. The animals are most definitely not under anyone’s control, and a blast of adrenaline is likely to remind you if you momentarily forget.

This is just one of the pictures locked in my mind: I am sitting alone in my car on the side of a dirt track in the Kalahari Gemsbok National Park. I’m watching a herd of around 100 delicate springbok antelopes pick for food in a dry riverbed. I can see they are alert, which is often a signal that a predator is nearby.

I scan the waist high dried grass in front of me, but suddenly sense movement over my right shoulder. I look around straight into the face of a young lioness standing about five metres away. She looks briefly at me – and through me - as if I have no more significance than a bug. The irises in her golden eyes are wide and black and empty. Her gaze shifts and she glides past me, head low, her shoulders relaxed. I lose sight

38 | BUSINESS NEWS

AFRICA The Last Frontier… of her in the grass. The springboks suddenly explode into flight – more like a flock of birds than gravity-bound animals.

I cannot see the lioness, but I sit there a long time. Shaking.

Richard Everist

Richard Everist started work with Lonely Planet in its early days, and spent his last five years with the company as Global Publisher. He has co-authored guidebooks to Nepal, South Africa, Papua New Guinea, Pakistan, Iran, Turkey, Malta and Britain.

He was the CEO of Peregrine Adventures, before moving to Geelong. These days, he runs Around the Sun travel with his wife, Lucrezia Migliore, organising trips to the couple’s favourite corners of the world.

MASTERS GAMES

Australian Masters Games - proof that life gets better with age A walking billboard for the increasingly popular mature aged sport, the Australian Masters Games is a weeklong festival of sport and entertainment, all for the over 30’s.

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p to 8000 participants of all abilities, competing across over 50 sports will converge on Geelong from the 5-12 October to relive their sporting glory days and celebrate with a week-long social program, headlined by Mental as Anything, James Reyne and Pseudo Echo.

Proving that life gets better with age, the sport and social activity is served up with a healthy dose of can-do attitude, and inspiration. Here are just a few examples: Tracey Zakazakaarcher – Is this the world’s busiest woman?

Zakazakaarcher, 36, is entered in athletics at the Games, and is currently raising 8 children between the ages 2 and 12, participating in and coaching soccer and athletics, all whilst studying medicine.

Pat Galvin – Galvin, 80, is a current World Record holder for the 100m and 200m breaststroke in the 80-84 year age group.

He joined Masters Swimming to keep fit and be social in his later years, and has had a lot of success, including national and world records. He hopes to add to this record tally in Geelong.

Ken Pedlow – The 55 year-old will make his Australia Masters Games debut in table tennis, thanks to the most generous of acts by his brother. After four years on dialysis awaiting a kidney transplant, Pedlow received a breakthrough in 2005, when his brother selflessly donated his own kidney to rid the 55 year-old of the constraints of being hooked up to a machine. Since then, he has vowed to make the most of his newfound freedom and opportunity.

Tessa Libreri – The multi talented 49 year-old mother of five will open the Games by singing the national anthem at the Opening Ceremony, before competing in the equestrian. Making her Games debut, Libreri is more nervous about competing in the dressage, show jumping and combined training events than singing in front of a live audience, because despite haven ridden since she was four years-old, she has never competed in an equestrian event.

Catherine Ortlieb - At 60 years of age, Ortleib is hoping to recover from a full knee replacement in time to get in front of the goals as the keeper for her Bendigo hockey team. Her team has aspirations to repeat their gold medal performance from the 2009 edition of the Games in Geelong.

Andrea Wanke – 50 year-old Wanke will take to the softball field with three of her sisters in Geelong. As one of six sisters, Wanke said their mother gave them a choice when they were young. “She told us there was no way she was travelling all over the country side to get us to six different sports, so we had to choose one sport that we’d all play,” said Wanke. Softball was the chosen sport, and for four of the sisters, they haven’t stopped playing since. Having made their way up to statelevel, the sisters started playing Masters as soon as they were eligible, and have competed in every Australian Masters Games since, taking a medal home each time - although a gold medal still eludes them.

Geoff Hawkins – Hawkins, from Callala Bay in New South Wales, has survived three bouts of cancer and a number of nasty falls, none of which will keep the resilient 84 year-old off his bike in Geelong.

Linley Frame – Olympian Linley Frame retired from swimming at the age of 25 in 1996 after being struck down by chronic fatigue syndrome, but has hit the pool again in recent years.

The 41 year-old mother of two will participate in the swimming competition in Geelong, along with her mum Margaret. Dad, Sandy, is officiating the swimming at the Games, rounding out the family affair.

For further information on the Games visit www.AustralianMastersGames.com.

BUSINESS NEWS | 39

ARTS

ARTS Under the Floorboards 2 – 20 October Everyone’s journey is different, A red carpet is rolled out for some.

Whilst others trod under the floorboards, Away from the lights and the sun...

For this unique collaborative project, renowned Western District artists, including Grace Bailey, Kat Barrand and Anne Langdon, have created works based on their experiences during residencies at the diverse programs provided by UnitingCare Ballarat.

UnitingCare Ballarat has a unique connection with many parts of the local community and the Under the Floorboards project offers an insight into its operations and an understanding of the individuals and communities, as well as the many services it provides and the people it assists. The disciplines of the twelve artists involved are as diverse as the programs they have worked to capture.

The project began in July and culminates in three parts: an exhibition at the Art Gallery of Ballarat, a public performance of the commissioned play House at the End of the Line, based on Reid’s Guest House, and a black tie dinner and auction of selected artworks at the Ballarat Mining Exchange on 16 November with special guests Sigrid Thornton and Derek Guille. Artworks presented at the Art Gallery of Ballarat exhibition are for sale to raise funds in support of UnitingCare Ballarat’s work.

Art Gallery of Ballarat www.artgalleryofballarat.com.au www.unitingcareballarat.com.au

Racing heritage—early Melbourne and Geelong trophies Until November 17 Coinciding with the staging of the 2013 Geelong Cup and Melbourne Cup, Geelong Gallery brings together two elaborate and rare trophies from the late 19th century: The 1888 Melbourne cup from the National Gallery of Australia’s Elaine and Jim Wolfensohn Gift, and the Geelong gold cup of 1890 by local artisan Edward Fischer from the Geelong Gallery collection.

First run in 1861, the 1888 Melbourne Cup was particularly significant as it coincided with commemorations of the 100th anniversary of British settlement in Australia. For this reason, The 1888 Melbourne cup (also known as ‘The Centennial cup’) was a particularly grand trophy, featuring three horses cast in silver on a silver-plated base made by Elkington & Co. in London.

Under the Floorboards, Left: Grace Bailey Right: Kat Barrand

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The winner of the 1888 race was ‘Mentor’, who ran home with a comfortable lead ahead of a field of 27 horses. Bred at Donald S Wallace’s stud ‘Ballark’ between Ballarat and Geelong, ‘Mentor’ was trained

by Walter Hickenbotham and ridden to victory by jockey Michael O’Brien.

ARTS The 1890 Geelong gold cup displays the superb craftsmanship of Edward Fischer, Geelong’s preeminent silversmith of the second half of the 19th century. Fischer was commissioned to manufacture the first Geelong Cup awarded in 1873 (after the running of the first of these races in the previous year) and made numerous other trophies in subsequent years, which can be seen in the cabinet photographs also on display.

After the submission of several designs, the 1890 Geelong gold cup that Fischer ultimately crafted has a cup-shaped bowl standing on a beaded and engraved central column.

The lid is surmounted by a cast horse and jockey finial standing on a small circle of turf—the mounted horse is likely to have been conceived after sketches by Frederick Woodhouse (who, coincidentally, painted numerous Melbourne Cup winners).

This was the last gold racing cup produced by Edward Fischer and the last in a series to be offered by the Geelong Racing Club to the winner of the Geelong Cup. It was won by ‘Britannia’, trained by CJ Nicholls and ridden by E Power.

Geelong Gallery www.geelonggallery.org.au

Tjala Arts with Tjanpi Desert Weavers 5 – 19 October

work with Tjanpi. The women come together, collect grass, sing and dance and keep their culture strong while creating unique, woven baskets.

A conversation in the key of…2013: Dave Graney & Genghis Can’t Swim

Paintings by Tjala artists from the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Lands are rich in artistic and cultural values and relate to each artist’s unique interpretation of their environment, culture and Tjukurpa or Creation Time stories.

October 13

Artists from Tjanpi Desert Weavers and Tjala Arts are represented in both public and private collections within Australia and internationally.

Metropolis Gallery is proud to present an exhibition of energetic, vibrant paintings and beautiful, large woven baskets in association with Tjala Arts and Tjanpi Desert Weavers.

Works can be previewed at www.metropolisgallery.com.au

This is the final in the 2013 series of Sunday afternoon sessions at the Courthouse, bringing young and emerging artists onto the same stage as established names and giving them the chance to create an intimate experience combining music, stories and improvisation.

Hosted by Tim Neal, the October 13 session will be the first time a full band has been in conversation with an artist, with Dave Graney, the godfather of smooth sounds in this country and a 2014 artist in residence at Courthouse ARTS, meeting on stage with Genghis Can’t Swim, headline act for the 2013 Battle of the Bands. Tim Neal will have his hands full with this wild conversation.

Vintage clothing stallholders needed for Belmont Market

Courthouse ARTS

October 20

The Phantom of the Opera

The Belmont Market will be transformed into a vintage clothing Mecca on Sunday, 20 October and City of Greater Geelong is looking for interested stallholders.

The Vintage and Pre-loved Clothing market will be the first of a number of upcoming theme days as part of an overall revamp of the Sunday market.

Tjala Arts and Tjanpi Desert Weavers, from the heart of Australia, in the Central Western Desert region of far north-west South Australia, are dynamic and innovative Aboriginal-owned art centres that play a vital economic role in the sustainability, community health and wellbeing of their small communities, ensuring the wealth of talent and economic returns stay in the community for the benefit of artists and their families.

Organisers are seeking expressions of interest from potential stallholders who have vintage, designer and high quality second hand clothing to sell.

Tjanpi Desert Weavers, established in 1995 by the Ngaanyatjarra Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Women’s Council, provides an income source for more than 400 Aboriginal women artists from 28 remote desert communities who

More themed days will be announced in coming months.

The Belmont Market is on every Sunday from 8.00am – 1.00pm. Regular markets feature a variety of stalls, including fresh fruit and vegetables, clothing and underwear, confectionary, watches, plants, flowers, home wares, sunglasses, jewellery, material, pet supplies and crafts.

courthouse.org.au

4 – 12 October The Geelong Lyric Theatre Society presents the premiere of one of the world’s greatest musicals - Andrew Lloyd Weber’s The Phantom of the Opera, directed by Craig Irons and starring a standout cast of local performers.

Based on the French novel Le Fantôme de l’Opéra by Gaston Leroux, The Phantom of the Opera is considered by many to be the most successful musical of all time. It’s also the longest running show in Broadway history, opening there in 1988, two years after its West End debut. The Olivier and Tony Award winning musical will be presented in GPAC’s Playhouse Theatre for eight performances only.

Geelong Lyric Theatre Society/GPAC www.gpac.org.au

www.geelongaustralia.com.au or to book a site email bvac@geelongcity.vic. gov.au

Works from Tjala Arts with Tjanpi Desert Weavers Exhibition

BUSINESS NEWS | 41

COMMUNITY

Celebrity Chef inspires students to cook up a storm After a hard fought final Lela Abdalla and Seline Imbrogno took out first prize in the BacLinks ‘Y’ Chef Cooking Challenge. The two year 11 VET hospitality students from Kardinia International College and representing The Gordon were thrilled with their win.

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uided by their mentor, Leonie Mills of Jack and Jill restaurant, the girls worked as a team against the clock, along with 12 other students working in pairs, to prepare a three-course meal. The set menu consisted of a Caprese Tart for entree, Chicken Saltimbocco for main and for dessert a Vanilla Panna Cotta with Rhubarb and Almond Biscotti.

“This has been a most amazing experience,” Lela said. “If I want to get a job in hospitality, this will look amazing on my resume.”

Celebrity chef and owner of MoVida, Frank Camorra, was one of four independently renowned food writers and industry experts who judged the cooking skills of the secondary school students in the challenge final. Other judges included Hayden Miller, of Bay FM, food writer Gail Thomas, and Tony Le Deux of Torquay Farm Foods.

“Both could have what it takes to make a career in cooking and I am thrilled to be involved in an event that encourages and nurtures the younger generation about being a chef,” Frank Camorra said. “The ‘Y’ Chef Cooking Challenge is all about the students and developing their passion for cooking: giving them an insight into the culinary industry.”

The Challenge followed two months of preparation by 41 students from The Gordon, Northern Bay Secondary College, St Ignatius College, Bellarine Secondary College, Kardinia International College, Geelong High School, Belmont High School, St Joseph’s College, Clonard College and Sacred Heart College, each of whom were mentored in the art of cooking by prominent local chefs Leonie Mills of Jack and Jill Restaurant, Daniel Brehaut of Black Bull Tapas Bar and Restaurant, Jan Solovic of the Empire Grill and Cory Hyde of the Telegraph Hotel.

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Since the launch of the ‘Y’ Chef Cooking Challenge in June, students within each school’s hospitality program have been encouraged and trained by their school’s mentoring chef in how to prepare and present restaurant quality meals with the best 14 students progressing to the final.

The winners, Lela Abdalla and Seline Imbrogno, take away the perpetual trophy and the honour of spending the day in the shadow of award winning chef, Matt Dempsey, at his restaurant, Gladioli, with the prize provided by GRVEC, Geelong Regional Vocational Education Council. Runners up in the challenge were Gemma Everett, of Clonard and Cassidy Medwell, of Sacred Heart.

All of the student finalists were presented with an autographed hard copy of one of Frank Camorra’s cookbooks, ‘MoVida Rustica’ or ‘Movida Cocina’ donated by Murdock Books, featuring Spanish flavoured recipes from his award winning restaurants.

The competition was sponsored by The Gordon and Adroit Insurance Group and was co-ordinated by Karingal’s initiative, BacLinks.

BacLinks specialise in linking relationships between the business and community sectors for mutual benefit. Find out more about how you can contribute to community in a meaningful way by contacting the BacLinks team on 5249 8989 or visit www.baclinks.org.au.

COMMUNITY

Bringing mental health training to work beyondblue plans to provide male-dominated workplaces with free or heavily-subsidised training sessions to improve the mental health of workers across Australia, help reduce male suicide rates and increase businesses’ understanding of the importance of having a mentally healthy workplace.

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nder an extension of the existing National Workplace Program (NWP) initiative announced in September on World Suicide Prevention Day, small to medium enterprises, not-for-profit organisations, unions and businesses in construction, mining, manufacturing and transport are eligible for free or heavilysubsidised workshops.

The announcement followed the release of new ABS figures revealing 76 per cent of deaths by suicide were men and 56 per cent of these were men of working age, making the workplace an important setting for early intervention and support. beyondblue CEO, Kate Carnell AO, said depression, anxiety and other mental health problems had a huge impact on productivity in the workplace.

“It’s estimated that depression alone causes six million lost working days and 12 million days of reduced productivity each year, and also costs Australian businesses $12 billion annually in lost productivity and staff turnover. Having a mentally healthy workplace boosts productivity, because staff take fewer sick days, are more engaged and stay in their jobs longer.”

Untreated depression is a major risk factor for suicide and research shows that men are less likely than women to seek support if they have a mental health problem.

“Male-dominated businesses can take advantage of beyondblue’s subsidised NWP sessions to put in place policies that promote good mental health in the workplace and support employees with mental health problems in the same way those with physical health problems are supported,” Ms Carnell said.

“We can help employers and employees to recognise the early signs of anxiety and depression in their work colleagues, take action to assist them to get the treatment they need and reduce discriminatory attitudes.”

Mentally healthy workplaces can not only play an important role in helping people recover from mental illness, but can also benefit people’s families and the broader community.

“By creating mentally healthy workplaces across the country and educating people so stigma and discrimination are reduced, we hope to give everyone with mental health problems a fair go,” Ms Carnell said.

According to beyondblue, the NWP training sessions have been highly successful, delivering a range of strategies to help establish mentally healthy workplaces and assist employers and employees to recognise the signs of mental health difficulties in their colleagues and take appropriate action to support them. Since 2004, more than 81,000 people

have completed 3,050 NWP sessions at 1,050 workplaces across Australia, with 98 per cent of participants saying they would recommend the program to others.

“The NWP workshops for male-dominated workplaces and industries workshops will build managers’ skills and confidence to approach a colleague to have a conversation.

We’re not expecting people to diagnose their colleagues, but to understand that depression and anxiety could be the drivers of certain behaviours,” Ms Carnell said.

The NWP workshops for male-dominated workplaces and industries workshops are being funded by the Department of Health and Ageing’s Taking Action to Tackle Suicide strategy, as part of a national strategy to reduce the high rate of male suicides. There are five different workshops for people in different roles and at different organisational levels.

The briefings for senior executives incorporate a business case for tackling the most common mental health problems in the workplace and leadership strategies to address them.

The sessions range between one and four hours, and are conducted by a NWP facilitator in the workplace or at a location of choice, so there is minimal disruption.

All sessions must be delivered by June 30, 2014 and any interested organisation should contact the beyondblue NWP licensee, Davidson Trahaire Corpsych on 1300 134 644 or mentalwellbeing@davcorp.com.au or visit www.beyondblue. org.au/nwp for more information.

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COMMUNITY “It’s a fantastic day, because we do the lunch in exactly the same way that Christ Church operates every day. You come in and get a number. You find a seat wherever there is one available and wait for your number to be called. As the meals come out, people grab them and start eating before they get cold. All the food is donated, as it normally is, and it is just a fantastic insight into what it’s like there every day for people who don’t know where their next meal is coming from... It’s one of those events that I would recommend to anyone to get along to.”

Seeing is Believing Tour: Thursday 10 October

Feed Geelong Geelong’s food crisis is everyone’s business and everyone can help

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n 2012, more than 20,000 people in the Geelong region ran out of food at one point, 252,389 meals were provided

by Geelong Food Relief Centre and the Christ Church Community Meals Program is currently serving on average 600 meals per week. And, according to a recent media release by COGG, Geelong’s emergency food relief centres are experiencing increasing demand for food parcels, with one centre near central Geelong turning away at least 50 people every day.

Operating throughout October, Feed Geelong raises awareness of Geelong’s food crisis and raises valuable funds, which will be distributed by a Give Where You Live grants panel to help the organisations that feed those struggling in our region every day.

Give Where You Live CEO, Bill Mithen, said the Feed Geelong campaign was already receiving extraordinary support, with 45 different organisations requesting a total of 1300 bags for Brown Paper Bag Day on World Food Day before the campaign began on October 1.

“All of those bags will hold a donation put in by staff who put in what they would normally spend on buying lunch.”

Brown Paper Bag Day plays on the humble paper bag that school lunches used to get packed into – before the cool plastic lunch boxes.

Join Feed Geelong as they visit Geelong Food Network Centres to see first-hand the crisis many in our region are facing. Tickets are available for $10, with all proceeds going to the Feed Geelong Appeal. Book now at http://www.givewhereyoulive.com. au/events/event/feed-geelong-2013-seeing-is-believing-tour/ as places are limited.

Brown Paper Bag Day: Wednesday 16 October To celebrate World Food Day, Feed Geelong presents Brown Paper Bag Day. Put your lunch money where your mouth is by putting what you would normally spend on lunch into a Brown Paper Bag and donating it to Feed Geelong. To register your organisation, school, community organisation or church to ensure you have received your Brown Paper Bags please contact Give Where You Live prior to Friday 11 October at feedgeelong@givewhereyoulive. com.auor phone 5229 4364.

GMHBA Community Lunch @ Christ Church: Thursday 24 October Every year the Christ Church community meals program serves up to 30,000 meals to those most in need in Geelong. To some of their guests this is their main meal of the day, to others it is their only meal. Join us as we experience a Christ Church community lunch. Tickets are available for $50, with all proceeds going to the Feed Geelong appeal. Email feedgeelong@ givewhereyoulive.com.auor phone 5229 4364 to book your place.

Donate food

“World Food Day is held around the world as an advocacy day highlighting that there are many people every day who go without food,” Bill said.

You can donate non-perishable food items during October to the Feed Geelong donation boxes located at Give Where You Live (18 Myers Street), The Geelong Advertiser (191/195 Ryrie Street) or City of Greater Geelong Customer Service Centres.

The World Health Organisation tells us that there are three key components of food insecurity: food access, food availability and food use. Food insecurity exists “whenever the availability of nutritionally adequate and safe foods or the ability to acquire acceptable food in socially acceptable ways is limited or uncertain”.

The City of Greater Geelong is also calling on backyard fruit and vegie growers to donate excess produce to Geelong’s food relief centres. Acting Mayor Cr Bruce Harwood said many people who grow their own fruit and vegetables often have an oversupply that goes to waste.

The Victorian Public Health Survey has shown that food insecurity is a growing issue, with the Victorian rate increasing from 4.6% in 2005 to 5.6% in 2008.

Businesses and organisations across Geelong can take part in Brown Paper Bag Day by contacting Give Where You Live and requesting the specially marked paper donation bags to be dropped at their workplace. Staff are asked to donate the price of a bought lunch, with funds raised going towards organisations across the region who provide food for people who would otherwise go hungry.

One of the highlights of the Feed Geelong campaign is the community lunch, held this year on October 24.

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“If you have a bumper crop of vegies, or an overloaded fruit tree, why not consider sharing your bounty with others in the community who are struggling to put food on the table?

“Fresh, home grown food is full of nutrition and would be gratefully received by many families who just need an extra helping hand.”

To find out where you can donate your produce, contact Amanda at the City of Greater Geelong at astirrat@geelongcity.vic.gov. au or call 5272 4059. You can also contact Uniting Care on 4210 112 or the Geelong Food Relief Centre on 5278 6588. For a list of all emergency food relief centres in Greater Geelong go to www. geelongaustralia.com.au and search ‘food access’.

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COMMUNITY

The move is on for DisabilityCareAustralia staff

Counting the cost of domestic violence

Geelong delegates visited Canberra last month to assist DisabilityCareAustralia employees relocating to our city by the bay.

Businesses of all sizes and industries need to understand that people in their organisation make their organisation.

If you have one person in your workforce that is experiencing a situation at home that creates trauma and uncertainty, it has an impact and effect on others in the workplace.

DisabilityCareAustralia has begun the recruitment process for permanent national office staff, with the national office beginning to relocate from Canberra to Geelong from January next year.

Some DisabilityCareAustralia employees will move with the Agency, which worked with the Committee for Geelong, City of Greater Geelong and the TAC on the visit to Canberra.

The visit follows the lead of similar sessions held when the TAC was relocating, according to Acting Mayor, Bruce Harwood.

“Those sessions [highlighting the benefits of living and working in Geelong] helped employees determine whether to apply for roles and ensured that skilled workers were attracted to live [here].”

TAC CEO, Janet Dore, said the Commission was pleased to share its experiences of relocating to Geelong. “Our transition was successful due in large part to the support we received from the Committee of Geelong and the City of Greater Geelong,” she said. “It’s great to see them offering the same support to DisabilityCareAustralia.”

DisabilityCareAustralia will initially employ around 100 staff, with numbers expected to grow to as many as 300 by 2016.

The National Council To Reduce Violence Against Women And Their Children estimates the economic cost of domestic violence in Australia at around $13.6 billion. In 2002-03, Access Economic reported that the annual cost of lost productivity due to domestic violence for Australian businesses was $484 million.

While the group that bears the largest cost in relation to family violence are the victims, at 52 per cent (National Council to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children, 2009), employers have to bear 3 per cent of the overall cost of family violence.

Providing time off certainly is a cost to employers, but is a lesser cost than replacing staff. In the case of family violence, absenteeism could occur due to injury, emotional issues, court related business or many other situations.

But of course, the true costs of domestic violence go far beyond anything that can be put into dollar terms.

In Australia:

Local kinder leads the way

• Close to half of all women (40%) have experienced violence since the age of 15.

Leopold Kindergarten is the first Victorian kinder to achieve recognition as a Healthy Early Childhood Service as part of the Victorian Health Promotion Achievement Program.

• Just under one third of women (29%) have experienced physical assault.

The kinder has received accreditation in the Sun Protection category, with Leopold Kinder kids supplied with their very own kinder hats (colour coded for each kinder group and spunkily named), and the kinder ensures all children and staff have SPF 30+ broad spectrum, water resistant sunscreen for all children and staff and a variety of shade areas around the large kinder play areas and gardens. Sun Protection is one of eight benchmarks that kindergartens around the region are aiming to achieve through the statewide health program. The eight benchmarks include healthy eating and oral health, physical activity, sun protection, tobacco control, mental health and wellbeing, safe environments, alcohol and other drug use, sexual health and wellbeing.

Healthy Together Geelong, a state and federal-funded initiative managed by the City of Greater Geelong, have been working closely with kindergartens to help them understand and achieve these benchmarks.

Invites you to a “Cost of Domestic Violence on your Organisation” dinner Guest Speaker - John O’Brien, Head of Industrial Relations NAB. Hear why and how the NAB recently introduced a Domestic Violence Support Policy

• Nearly one in five women (17%) have experienced sexual assault.

• Nearly one in six women (16%) have experienced violence by a current or previous partner in their lifetime.

• Since the age of 15, one third of women (33%) have experienced inappropriate comments about their body or sex life, one quarter (25%) have experienced unwanted sexual touching, and one in five (19%) have been stalked (ABS 2006).

The Zonta Club of Geelong Inc will hold a dinner on Wednesday 6th November 2013 for Geelong business and industry leaders to highlight the cost of domestic violence to employers and the community, to provide leadership in developing workplace policies and procedures that support the impact of domestic violence and highlight the Zonta International project: “Zonta Says NO”.

Tickets are available from: www.trybooking.com/DQZQ

Wednesday 6th November 2013 6:00pm refreshments 6.30 2 course dinner served (Drinks at bar prices) Dromoland House, 285 Pakington Street, Geelong West Cost $50 or Tables of 8 $350 Ticket purchases and payment through www.trybooking.com/DQZQ

BUSINESS NEWS | 45

Liz Grant, Cal Stewart, Bronwen Charleson

The ladies

mean business Photos by Elisha Lindsay - EL Photography

It was a ladies event with a difference at the 2013 Women in Business Series September event. This interactive networking event, facilitated by Tara Iacovella from Brand Bureau asked the question: Are your customers sticky?

Helen Thomas, Isabel Tiago, Beth King

Gina Tobolov. Karen Ryrie, Di Nelson

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Exploring the importance of understanding the value of your existing customers, learning how to retain customers and developing

Rebecca Armstrong, Cath Leen

an action plan to grow your customer base, the session brought together women across a wide range of business and industry in Geelong.

Presented by Davidsons Accountants and Business Consultants, the Women in Business Series September event was held at the Geelong Business Centre.

Commercial Photography Staff portraits Product shots Marketing shots Sophie Bady, Sue Kos, Karin Vanner

Philippa Bakes, Deb Fanning

Events & Functions Weddings & Portraits

Fida Chahda, Claudine Rodgers, Kylie McEwan, Sarah Olsson

“In the air, on the ground, in the studio.”

Studio - 162 Bellerine St, Geelong elisha@elphotography.com.au 0439 353 958 elphotography.com.au

BUSINESS NEWS | 47

A chilling end

to GPAC season

Photos by Ferne Millen Photography

As GPAC’s 2013 Deakin Theatre Season drew to a close, special guests and VIPs sought respite from the menacing psychological drama on stage in the Green Room.

Having gripped the house with a looming sense of unease and dread throughout the performance of Reg Cribb’s Australian gothic horror tale, The Haunting of Daniel Gartrell, the natural

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exuberance of actors Max Gillies, Samuel Johnson and Michala Banas effortlessly won over the room at the after party.

And while it was cold outside, the atmosphere was warm and welcoming, as theatrelovers gathered to celebrate an outstanding season of Australian and international stage production at the Geelong Performing Arts Centre.

Book your complete conference package in October to save up to $480*

Voted #1 Best Regional Venue in Victoria

Voted by readers of Spice News.

Conferences & seminars Product launches Private functions Cocktail parties Major events Exhibitions

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Cunningham Pier, 10 Western Beach Foreshore Rd, Geelong (03) 5222 6444 enquiries@thepiergeelong.com.au www.thepiergeelong.com.au

The Pier Geelong

*Valid for bookings until June 30th 2014, Mon – Fri. Booking must be made before October 31. Conditions apply, please contact The Pier Events Team for more information.

BAVERAS & CITY QUARTER'S GEELONG CUP DAY PACKAGE A LA CARTE CHAMPAGNE BREAKFAST WITH SPARKLING ON ARRIVAL AT BAVERAS BRASSERIE FROM 9.00–11.00AM, PLUS BUS TO RACE COURSE THEN RETURN BUS TO CITY QUARTER $29

— WEDNESDAY 23 OCTOBER — Arrive at Baveras Brasserie for a champagne breakfast with delicious a la carte options and a glass of sparkling on arrival.

A return bus will take you to the race course to enjoy the races and back to City Quarter at 5:00pm to enjoy 50% off the menu.

Cunningham Pier | (03) 5222 6377 baveras.com.au | reservations@baveras.com.au

Baveras

@BaverasThePier

AFTER-PARTY KICKS OFF FROM 5:00PM 50% OFF THE MENU DRINK SPECIALS — THREE DECKS LIVE ENTERTAINMENT BEST VIEWS 250M OUT OVER THE BAY Level One, Cunningham Pier, 10 Western Beach Foreshore Rd manager@thecityquarter.com.au | (03) 5222 6233 | thecityquarter.com.au City Quarter

@CityQuarterBar

STUFF Ammo Lunch Box $19.95

Tetris Light $69.95

Bathketball $17.95

Man Up – Rubber Band Gun $12.95

s i t Tha SO COOL . . .

USB Hub Man $19.95

Thirsty Bird $37.95

Hover Soccer $ 26.95 Pickmaster Plectrum Cutter $34.95 Towellin Tardis $109.95

Jedi Training Ball $36.95

Basketball App Mug $22.95

From cool stuff to man up your workspace, to old school gadgets that take you back to childhood to just plain awesomeness, there is so much to like about CoolThings.com.au.

Zombie Family Decals $12.95

For Tasmanian duo, Peter & Anne-Maree Harback, it all began with a tiny micro remote controlled car. It was 2004 on a trip to Sydney that the couple came across a stall selling these tiny racers. They thought they were cool, and began looking into the best quality, coolest models available. When they found them, they began selling them, and CoolThings.com.au was born.

Here’s some of our favourite cool stuff – jump online to see more.

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BOOKS

Breaking News Sex, lies and the Murdoch succession Paul Barry First it was Alan Bond, and then Kerry Packer, now ABC journalist Paul Barry has turned the spotlight on what many see as the twilight of the Murdoch empire. Who will take over when Rupert dies? That question lies at the heart of this fascinating tale of power, hubris and outrageous fortune. The News Limited media empire is unique in the history of the Englishspeaking world, with its international dominance spread across television, film and newspapers, books and the electronic media. Ultimately all power in this mighty empire is in the hands of the man who started it—Rupert Murdoch, the Sun King who has reigned for 60 years. But as his star fades, there are many around him eyeing his crown.

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I Am Pilgrim Terry Hayes Fact-paced thrills abound in I Am Pilgrim.

Pilgrim is the codename for a man who doesn’t exist. The adopted son of a wealthy American family, he once headed up a secret espionage unit for US intelligence.

Before he disappeared into anonymous retirement, he wrote the definitive book on forensic criminal investigation. But that book will come back to haunt him. It will help NYPD detective Ben Bradley track him down. And it will take him to a rundown New York hotel room where the body of a woman is found facedown in a bath of acid, her features erased, her teeth missing, her fingerprints gone. It is a textbook murder – and Pilgrim wrote the book. This book has it all – ambitious plot, a constant stream of thrills and spills, a gritty lead and the threat of imminent disaster.

Solo: A James Bond Novel William Boyd If you are looking for just a bloody good read, then this is it. It is 1969 and James Bond is about to go solo. A seasoned veteran of the service, 007 is sent to single-handedly stop a civil war in the small West African nation of Zanzarim. What he witness there compels him to ignore M’s orders in pursuit of his own brand of justice. Fast, gripping, exuberant, cinematic in its scope and so very satisfying in the characterization, Boyd has delivered a Bond read every bit as good as the greats, and it’s a Bond beyond the action sequences and back to the troubled, conflicted super spy that made this character a legend. Love it!

This Is How You Lose Her Junot Diaz Junot Diaz writes of life as a loser – of stupid decisions and the losses they bring. It sounds like it would be depressing and frustrating, but it isn’t. This Is How You Lose Her is vulgar, it’s intense, it’s exuberant and every page is a joy to read. Each short story in this collection takes you deeper into the sights, the sounds and the street language of working-class Latino life. This is Diaz at his visceral, dirty, raw and emotional best. I love that I know his characters after reading one paragraph about them. I love that I can feel the heat rising from the streets, see the sidelong stares and I love that I feel compelled to come back to reading this over and over again.

Odysseus: The Oath Valerio Massimo Manfredi There are very good reasons why Valerio Massimo Manfredi is one of the most highly respected writers in the world today. His ability to capture to the power of cultural myths and heroes and translate them into modern fiction is extraordinary, and Odysseus: The Oath is no exception.

As a young boy in Ithaca, Odysseus listens in wonder to his grandfather Autolykos, a man feared by many across the land as a ruthless fighter. He learns of his heritage and a lifelong passion is sparked: to become an adventurer and warrior. So begins the epic story of Odysseus, the first of two volumes: an adventure of love, war, courage and heroism, and the mighty fall of Troy.

The Narrow Road to the Deep North Richard Flanagan In 1943, surrounded by the despair of a Japanese POW camp on the Thai-Burma death railway, Australian surgeon Dorrigo Evans is haunted by his love affair with his uncle’s young wife two years earlier. Struggling to save the men under his command from starvation, from cholera, from beatings, he receives a letter that will change his life forever.

This is a complex and remarkable novel that explores the uncomfortable justifications that are found so often at the heart of hero myths. Richard Flannigan’s depiction of Dorrigo Evans as a man grappling with those justifications is fascinating, haunting and deeply compelling. The rawness of his prose brings the horrors of the death railway into tangible focus. The Narrow Road to the Deep North is a terrific Australian read and destined to be a classic.

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