Ruby Summer 2014

Summer 2015

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contents

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Ruby Tuesday

Ruby Business

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Ruby Psychology

Ruby Food

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Ruby Design

Ruby Competition

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Ruby Health

Ruby Kids

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Ruby Insight

Ruby Loves

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Ruby Spotlight

Ruby Book Club

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rubymagazine.com.au 04 Ruby Summer

ruby editor

What are you doing on the holidays?

The holidays are a golden time of the year, sparkling with possibilities, but after a very busy year I find myself dreaming of the simple things – sunny, lazy days spent doing not much at all.

Do you remember all those long days as kids, when the summer holidays seemed to stretch forever and every day was spent just hanging out? That’s what I want these holidays.

Thinking back on my childhood holidays brought up a host of childhood memories. There were the glorious months of hot sand, cool water and impossibly blue skies. And then there were the family holidays, with the car packed to the roof and setting off hours before dawn to avoid the traffic. The arewe-there-yets would start and at some point my brother and I would have a huge fight, Mum would blow her top and Dad would threaten to pull over the car. Of course, Dad was never going to pull over the car, except for the direst of emergency toilet breaks, and the backseat brawling would be settled with a pile of pillows and strict orders to look out our own windows – none of us could wait for those car rides to end.

At the other end of the trip would be a houseboat in Mildura, a motel in Swan Hill, a pub room in some small town somewhere inland, or the old favourite, the Erskine Falls cabins up the steep and windy road from Lorne. What was never at the end of those car trips was a beach or anywhere further than a day’s car ride, as planes and the beach joined heights at the top of Mum’s list of aversions and, as small business owners, holiday was too scarce to be spent travelling for days.

The trips that shine most brightly in the memory bank are those around the Murray. There was the group trip to the Murray, where our parents rather unwisely decided to hire a couple of houseboats. I say unwisely because a group of 30-something parents did what parents did on holidays and, as kids, we took full advantage of this. Now, I can appreciate that while down on deck our parents were suffering through excruciating hangovers we were inflicting unbearable additional pain by playing It’s a Knockout on the, metal, therefore very loud, upper deck around an obstacle course

made up of whatever we could find. At the time, we just knew they were in no shape to come and stop us, so we kept it up all day.

There was the Lampoon’s moments – the overflowing toilets that had us all standing on furniture until the maintenance man arrived by speedboat; getting stranded on a sandbank, being rescued, only to run aground on the next sandbank, and the memorable day when the dads fully intended to tie the houseboat to a tree, but got distracted by maneuvering an Esky to the riverbank while the wives and kids drifted gently out to stream. With the mums hitting their panic stride, it was the kids who got us back to the bank … at least, that’s how I remember it.

Then there were the elegant and magnificent paddleboats at Swan Hill, along with the now expected moments of weirdness, like ‘let’s take the kids to visit the pig abatoir’ that left none of us able to look at a pair of gumboots the same again.

I’ve since travelled with my own family, and while we have had our share of adventures – including being mobbed in Thailand by tourists fascinated by the pale skinned, red haired Australians – we have yet to tackle the driving holiday… besides, it’s been a big year, and there’s plenty of time to educate the kids about the joys of long haul road travel …

So, what am I doing on the holidays? If I get my way, it will involve a banana lounge in the backyard alongside a kiddie pool and a glass of wine, a freezer full of icy poles and the kids are tearing it up on the slip ‘n slide. There could be a sunset stroll along the beach with the family, a late lunch at a local winery or a barbecue with friends later. There will long days with the cricket on in the background and a blank to-do list. The phone will be off, the emails ignored and clocks to be ignored… I can’t imagine anything better.

What are you doing on the holidays?

words davina montgomery

05 Ruby Summer

ruby tuesday

06 Ruby Summer

ruby tuesday

The little old lady I want to become

There is a little old lady that I want to become someday. She is feisty and fabulous and says and does all the things that the cautions and responsibilities of middle life prevent me from saying and doing now.

I

see her every now and then, a flash here, a glimpse there; she drinks a mimosa with lunch, writes furiously about everything that annoys her and anything that makes her laugh, and she tells the truth – the hairy, warty, saggy, desperate and hilarious truth. She wears fabulous shoes that are wildly inappropriate for a woman of her age and she twinkles when she smiles. Her husband tells her she is hopelessly stubborn, which she is, but she knows he will forgive her anything when she totters into the bedroom wearing nothing but a pair of high heels.

She moves briskly but she never, ever, hurries … partly because of the shoes, but mostly because she spent so much of her life rushing around until the day she stomped her foot and decided she would move through the rest of her life at a pace she enjoyed. And so she click clacks her way here and there, overseas, around the

Incidentally, on a recent occasion when I couldn’t avoid taking the kids with me, I had just finished explaining that a quick shop was a good shop and that we were going in for a smash and grab, when my eight year-old, who must have been contemplating this, said in that curiously penetrating voice that young boys have just as we walked past a security guard, ‘So, that means we steal stuff and run, right Mum?’ I really have to pay more attention to what they’re watching on television …

So, there I was, on my kid-free smash and grab mission, having ticked off almost everything on the to-do list, when my phone rang. It was a girlfriend and mother of one of the birthday boys I had been shopping for. Sensing a longer than 30-second conversation – which everyone knows is the limit of acceptable

“This was a woman quite clearly giving the middle finger to old age and she was, while possibly not in possession of all her faculties, quite spectacularly fabulous nonetheless.” city, but always click clacking her way home, to her family and her garden and her books.

I see glimpses of her every now and then and encountered one just a few weeks ago. It was during a work deadline, so of course the kids had back-to-back birthday parties and a quick audit of their wardrobes revealed that, as suspected, neither of my little monsters had a pair of pants without holes in the knees, and a timely growth spurt meant they didn’t have an unstained or torn top that fit either. Normally I put off a shopping mission in the way other women put off pap smears – until it becomes more worrying not to go – and that moment had arrived. That’s how I found myself amongst the heavy press of preChristmas shoppers, practicing the fine art of smash and grab shopping.

phone conversations to have in a small store, I stopped outside to chat. It took a few moments for me to register the beeping and wondered why everyone was looking at me. Still talking, I turned to see a very small, very irate woman in what was the coolest mobility scooter I have ever seen. At first I was distracted by the wheels she was sporting. It looked like a narrow version of a Mercedes Smart Car, complete with curving roof and windshield wipers. But there was no escaping what had caught everyone’s attention but mine.

With her finger wagging and a look sour enough to curdle milk, she was both beeping and shouting at me to get out of her way instead of standing around talking on a phone.

Fair enough, she had a point and there was no way she wasn’t going to make it. Forget the fact that she could have

driven around me – and done so in style – I was demonstrably both in her way and ignoring her. I quickly stepped out of the way and in doing so caught the eye of another shopper who had been a bit quicker on the uptake and was flattened against the wall. I started laughing and couldn’t stop, and it quickly spread to those who had seen the whole incident unfold. I recovered enough to wipe away the tears and finish the shopping, more than a little impressed by the fearsome old duck who was charging through her latter years and didn’t give a, well, it rhymes with duck, what anyone thought of her.

Just as she scooted off, I caught a glimpse of my future self.

The angry-old-lady-in-the-scooter-of-thefuture incident reminded me of another feisty old lady I had encountered years ago, who was also grabbing old age by the scruff of the neck and giving it a bloody good shake.

Dearly beloved and I had been out for lunch (pre-kids, when it was such an easy thing to steal an hour for lunch together) and I was driving him back at work when it happened. Fortunately, we were talking so much we missed the lights turning green (another giveaway this was in the pre-kids days) because a flash of grey and red flew down the hill, through the red light, and became quite literally airborne right in front of us. It was a little old lady on a bright red scooter, with a safety flag flapping wildly behind her as she careened down the road. This was a woman quite clearly giving the middle finger to old age and she was, while possibly not in possession of all her faculties, quite spectacularly fabulous nonetheless.

When I think about my own grandmothers, and how they went so quietly into the long night, I see the old lady that I’d like to become more clearly than at any other time. She tilts her mimosa and smiles a twinkly smile. ‘Never worry about ageing, Tuesday honey,” she says, with a saucy wink. ‘Own it.’

words tuesday jones 07 Ruby RubySummer Spring

ruby insight

Eight types of friends everyone should have Pat Mesiti is a mindset specialist, author and Australian speaker in demand around the world – and has shared the speaking platform with the likes of Sir Richard Branson and Donald Trump - and Pat believes that your friends have a big influence on how successful you are in life. After working with thousands of people from young men in drug rehab to business executives, he has seen proof of this time and time again.

“The influence of others shouldn’t be underestimated,” says Pat. “I’ve seen it work both ways - both to the benefit and detriment of people, depending on who they surround themselves with. I’ve come to the conclusion that everyone needs certain types of friends to help them to succeed – all for different reasons. And in turn, everyone needs to be one of those type of helpful friends to others.”

These are the eight types of friends Pat thinks we should all have: Builder: These rare treasures are the kind of people who are really interested in your development and genuinely want to see you succeed. They will go the extra mile to help identify your strengths and how to make the most of them. These friends lead you to achieve more and be a better person.

Champion: This is the friend who tells everyone how great you are – even when you’re not there. You are really lucky if you have one of these. They can’t be found, they just show up; and often it’s their whispered words in someone’s ear that can open doors for you.

Companion: The loyal person who is

always there for you no matter what. They are the first person you call if things go wrong and often sense your thoughts and feelings before you say or do anything.

Connector: This is that friend who loves to hook you up with opportunities to meet others and widen your network. They’re the one that invites you to dinners and parties so you can make new contacts, for both business and personal reasons. If your connector knows you need a better accountant, they will arrange you to meet one they know. If they know you’re feeling lonely, they’ll invite you to come to a party to meet new people.

Energiser: It’s always wonderful to be around your energiser friends. They are the friends who you feel immediately relaxed around no matter what mood you’re in.

They have an amazing ability to figure out what makes you happy and can make a bad day good and a good day even better.

Mind Opener: We all get stuck in our ways but your mind opener friend will show you new experiences and get you to try things you’ve never considered before - be it food, clothes, places, books of hobbies.

words pat mesiti 08 Ruby Summer

Mind openers make our lives much more interesting.

Navigator: Sometimes we need guidance and help staying on the best path for us.

This is when you see your navigator friend.

They will always talk through the pros and cons and help you find and answer to problems without making you feel judged.

Collaborator: Shared interests are the basis of many a good friendship and we should all have friends with the same passions, joys and dreams as us. When you talk with a collaborator you are on common ground. Collaboration equals multiplication and together you can achieve amazing things.

If you have all eight of these, consider yourself very lucky, as they will help you to experience life to the fullest. If not, it might be time to do some weeding out of toxic friendships to make way for newer, more supportive ones.

Good friends will help you succeed and being a good friend will help others succeed. Make sure you appreciate those who help you and always look for ways to make others lives’ fuller.

this, that & more

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• Waxing (includes XXX) • Facial Bleaching and Tinting • Spray Tanning • Nail Services - Acrylic - Gel - Pedicures - Shellac + more

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to advertise your services or products in “this, that & more” please email abbey at abbey@adcellgroup.com.au 09 Ruby Summer

ruby psychology

I Am Not A

Shopaholic I AM HELPING THE ECONOMY

10 Ruby Summer

ruby psychology

Dare I say it – it’s nearly that time of year again when we have a tendency to develop our Rushing Woman’s Syndrome or the I know I’m going to overspend and be paying off the credit card for the next 10 months syndrome.

Yes, we’re nearing Christmas time again.

Some love it and some loathe it. Some say they loathe it but secretly love it and visa versa – are you a lover or a loather? You probably got excited about one month out. However, with everyone telling you Christmas is just around the corner, your stress levels have no doubt escalated accordingly. And besides, you haven’t bought a single present yet.

months for something, well anything really, from Tiffany’s.

That Santa Claus person has a lot to answer for. First off, you are expected to be good all year. I guess good depends on your definition. A quick Google search says that good is that which is morally righteous. Maybe a pause for reflection here, is it a yes or a no for you?

It’s just like when you were a kid but the hints took the form of a letter of request to the South Pole. It was a good system and worked well because it got you Barbie’s Country Camper one year.

And then you took a punt, remember, something about being too grown up?

And wasn’t that when you started getting clothes for Christmas? Not a good call really, but it seemed like a good idea at the time. With that said, and what we now know as grown-ups, I think it would be an appropriate time to ask Mr Claus to forward on his credit card details for payment of services rendered …

It’s a big ask to be good for 364 days, but it doesn’t mean you didn’t really, really try hard. Surely that counts for something.

Remember last New Year’s resolution – you promised to give up over-indulging in alcohol in 2014? And that in itself would have necessitated being good anyway, because you know very well what you’re

Well, back to the pressie shopping or lack of. You know the drill, traipsing around the over-crowded shopping centres, ducking and weaving around those irritating individuals lucky enough to have a carefree shopping life. Not so you. You only have one hour on the meter and desperately wishing you’d sought

“ Well, back to the pressie shopping or lack of. You know the drill, traipsing around the over-crowded shopping centres, ducking and weaving around those irritating individuals lucky enough to have a carefree shopping life.” like after a bottle of Veuve - you are positively unrighteous, and occasionally cross the line over to immoral. So, in essence, overlooking a few mishaps along the way, you have been pretty darn good throughout this year, I’d say.

If I’m wrong and Mr Claus deems that you haven’t been morally righteous, it looks like there’ll be zilch under the tree for you on the twenty-fifth. So how about a quick self-assessment, so at least you won’t get your hopes up. Please choose from one of the following: a) I’ve been good all year; b) ok, most of the year; c) well, some of the time; d) just forget it, I’ll buy my own pressie! Anyway, you know full well that you won’t have to buy your own present.

After all, you have dropped a multitude of not so subtle hints over the last eleven

help for your shopping centre car park phobia. Mental note to self: find nice non-judgemental psychologist next year to help with your phobia and all your other internalised stuff. Now, refocus and back to lining up to get the latest gadget. You have already checked out the competition at the other end of town for the best price.

Oh no, the super-duper fabulous take with you breakfast blender thingy that you were going to buy for each of your five very best friends (hoping they never compared notes) is sold out. You’re doomed; say goodbye to the perfect present and hello gift cards. Oh, the humanity!

Or you could do what you did last year but maybe with a better outcome: you could attempt to shop online and throw off your digital denial from that Christmas past.

With a bit of luck you could be done and dusted within an hour. You rather liked the idea last festive season. It was only the checkout process that messed you around. It certainly wasn’t your fault. But you are a trooper and didn’t give up. You had made a commitment to the online shopping movement. Besides, you were in too far to give up and were not about to abandon your shopping cart. Maybe you will do better at entering your billing information this time too without having to re-enter it six times. Well yes, if you knew what the issue was in the first place, then that could be possible. And don’t forget the all-important shipping information to consider because that was extremely stressful for you last time around.

Remember the long queue snaking out the door at the post office because you weren’t at home waiting to sign for your delivery. Was that five or six trips to the PO? I don’t think so, not this year!

Here is something for you to take on board as you contemplate your seasonal gift giving. We have always been told that money can’t buy happiness but, secretly, you have always disagreed with this ludicrous statement – and you were right. A recent 2014 US study tells us that (keep in mind there is always a recent US study telling us something) that receiving/ giving things that we can engage with such as books, music, video games, etcetera will boost our happiness levels.

But we are least satisfied with material things such as jewellery and clothing. Oh really? I may be way out of line here, but I beg to differ! When has a Louis Vuitton handbag failed to bring immeasurable joy and delight to the recipient? However, and on a serious note, it was also shown that giving in the form of donations and charity tends to make us feel happier and more contented… But you already knew that. Isn’t that what Christmas is all about anyway?

Wishing each of you, dear readers, all the multiple diversities of happiness imaginable at Christmas and into 2015.

words charmaine morse, psychologist, charmainemorse.com.au words author’s name 11 Ruby Summer

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Become one of the Ruby ladies today!

ruby cuteness Over 600 babies are cared for each year in the nursery and the current ward can no longer meet the demands of the community.

L

ittle patients of the Special Care Nursery at Geelong Hospital are once again starring in this year’s Geelong Hospital Appeal Christmas cards series.

Twins are a big theme on this year’s Christmas cards with two sets of twins featuring on the cards. Little IVF miracles Elijah and Joshua surprised parents Luke and Melissa when they decided they were ready for the real world nearly seven weeks early and were delivered via emergency caesarean.

After spending three weeks in the Special Care Nursery, both boys were ready to come home.

Luke and Melissa were full of praise for all the staff members in the Special Care Nursery, thanking them for their hard work and dedication. “They truly did their best to get our boys strong and ready to come home,” they said.

Elijah and Joshua are joined by fellow twins Eimear and Cian as well as baby Mileeah and Alannah.

All proceeds from the purchase of the Christmas cards are donated to the Special Care Nursery redevelopment at University Hospital Geelong.

Over 500 babies are cared for each year in the nursery and the current ward can no longer meet the demands of the community. The redevelopment will provide a more spacious, modern state-of-the-art facility for the babies, their parents and clinicians.

Thank you to Elisha Lindsay of EL Photography who donated her time to take these beautiful shots for our Christmas cards.

Christmas cards are available from the Barwon Health Foundation, Barwon Health sites and the Combined Charities Card Shop (Wesley Church) in the lead-up to Christmas.

For any queries please contact the Barwon Health Foundation on (03) 4215 8902 or go to www.geelonghospitalappeal.org.au

13 Ruby Summer

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Funky, Fabulous & Fun

Flying Brick Cider Co . . . from little things big things grow

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fficially opening its doors for 7 day per week trading on Friday December 5, if you haven’t visited already, this retro-inspired landmark venue is definitely calling.

Think innovate space, a tasting paddle of ciders, amazing food without the ‘fancy’, the best Bellarine wines around, a solid selection of beer, Friday night live music which traces the roots of rock, soul, rhythm and blues and you’ll get an inkling of what to expect – fabulous, funky, fun!

The Flying Brick story is a good one.

The brain child of David and Lyndsay Sharp of Bellarine wineries Leura Park Estate and Jack Rabbit Vineyard, three years ago this quirky new brand was launched onto the local market.

Crafted onsite at Leura Park Estate by winemaker Nyall Condon, the name came from the Yellow Tailed Black Cockatoo whose local nickname is Flying Brick. Known for their spunk, these birds are loved by most for their happy, playful and seemingly naughty appearance and disposition. Local legend also has it that if a flock of black cockatoos flies overhead, you are blessed with good luck.

The overriding mantra for the cider development was that it be made from 100% fresh fruit, be traditionally crafted and - unlike many of the mainstream

ciders on the Australian market - contain no sugars, colours, flavourings or concentrates.

Today, Flying Brick Cider is one of the fastest growing boutique ciders in Australia with distribution moving across Victoria, Queensland and South Australia. The Sharps have taken a leap of faith in the brand with the design and construction of the Flying Brick Cider House, located on the Bellarine Highway, Wallington.

The Flying Brick Cider House also incorporates an accredited Visitor Information Centre (9am – 5pm, 7 days), which a hub for tourists and locals alike to be informed about the many attractions and activities on The Bellarine.

Cider House General Manager, Ross Ebbels, is a stellar hospitality and wine industry professional and Executive Chef, Dwayne Bourke, whose career has included hatted restaurants such as Sunnybrae, Pettavel, The Mansion at Werribee, The Argo, and Denny’s Kitchen in Geelong. Together they have designed a food and entertainment offering unlike anything else in town.

Patrons definitely won’t go thirsty or be addled about beverage choice at Flying Brick. In addition to the ciders, a variety

win one of three summer celebration packs a slab of Flying Brick Cider valued at $78 & a $100 voucher to the Flying Brick Cider House to enter, jump on facebook @magazineruby or email abbey@adcellgroup.com.au & tell us who you’d throw a brick at if they said no to sharing a cider with you!

of popular beers will be on offer, as will an extensive wine list showcasing of more than 20 wines all grown and crafted on The Bellarine. And also on off is divine Free trade coffee.

In addition to the three highly awarded Flying Brick Cider offerings – Original, Pear and Draught - the onsite cidery will be crafting boutique seasonal batches from fresh, seasonal fruit.

Flying Brick Cider Co is open 7 days for lunch and guided tastings. Dinner Friday and Saturday nights. Friday Night ROOTS live music – every Friday night.

Flying Brick Cider Co | 1251 Bellarine Highway, Wallington. Phone 5250 6077.

Email info@flyingbrickciderco.com.au | www.flyingbrickciderco.com.au Twitter @flying_cider | Facebook Flying Brick Cider Co 15 Ruby Summer

ruby design

Mary and Grant Featherston

A lifetime of innovative

design Local designers Mary and Grant Featherston have had a long history of creative success. Both independently and as a team, they’ve produced some of the most pioneering furniture, exhibitions and graphics that have left a famously creative stamp in the Australian design world. Mary’s late husband, Grant, left a legacy behind that has helped shape Mary’s new creative outlet, designing learning projects for children and young people.

G

rant was born in Highton, Geelong in 1922 where he developed a reputation as a great industrial designer. “As a child he always enjoyed inventing and making things with his hands,” Mary says. Grant then moved to Melbourne when he was 15 to work creatively in the glass industry, designing lighting and glass panels. After serving in Darwin from 1940-1944 during WWII, he came back to Melbourne to produce his first set of plywood shell Contour chairs in 1951.

her own history in design. She arrived to Australia from England in 1953 and studied interior design at RMIT. Upon graduating in the early 1960’s she approached designer Grant, aspiring to join his design studio. “This was to be the beginning of our thirty-year partnership in life and design, which continued until his death in 1995,” Mary says. She adds that their similar passions in architecture, culture, politics and the natural environment helped fuel their design innovations together.

“Australia immediately after the war was full of hope for a brighter future and this included new ideas in architecture and design,” Mary says. “Grant found an enthusiastic market for his glass jewellery, which in turn funded his early production of radical furniture designs.”

Over their working lives together, Mary and Grant designed in a variety of different fields. Grant had a focus on furniture projects and creating sculptural forms, whereas Mary led the design for learning projects. Mary explains how Grant’s passion for nature and natural structures led a lot of the couple’s recreational activities. “We spent much of our spare time in the natural environment and Grant often referred to favourite times in his childhood when he biked around the beautiful Barrabool Hills and finished in the Barwon River.

We were also inspired by the elegance and simplicity of Japanese and Scandinavian architecture and design.”

The Featherston Contract Interiors furniture showroom then opened in 1956 and the following year Grant became a consultant to Aristoc Industries, holding this role for 13 years. “Many of these designs received Good Design Awards and some sold in hundreds and thousands,” Mary says.

“I have been fortunate to spend a lifetime as a designer – initially in furniture and then designing environments for children and young people,” Mary explains, reflecting on

16 Ruby Summer

Mary’s long career in design and collaborating with Grant has shaped what she believes is most fundamental to creating a chair. The combination of

both desirability and rationality is how the famous Featherston Chair came about. “The design of a chair is shaped by many considerations – both practical and aesthetic,” Mary says. “The chair must support the curves and movement of the seated body and it must take into account the manufacturer’s preferred materials and manufacturing techniques.”

The first commissions the couple designed together were for the interior fit-out for the new National Gallery of Victoria and “Talking chair” for Australia’s pavilion in the World Fair in Canada. They then designed furniture ranges using plastics moulding technologies. “We were both committed to design for mass production rather than one-off pieces because this enabled a detailed process of research and design and the supply of affordable products,” Mary says.

“My life-long interest has been in design for children and young people – especially their learning environments in children’s centres and schools.” This passion was explored more when Mary became a mother. “As a new parent I watched children at play and became intrigued by their total absorption in exploration and discovery – their endless curiosity and imagination. I saw that they could be intensely engaged for

ruby design

long periods of time and they asked the most profound questions.”

Mary was given a research grant in the mid-seventies that allowed her to study the relationship between child development and design of the physical environment. She then established children’s centres with other passionate parents called Community Child Care, which was followed with a parent-run co-operative school.

In the 1980’s Mary worked hard at lobbying the Arts Ministry and the Museum of Victoria and contributed to the production of the first Children’s Museum in Melbourne. “The experience of talking with children of all ages about what they would like to see in these exhibitions was most enjoyable and memorable, and drew me into the design of schools,” Mary says.

Since Grant’s passing, Mary passion for developing play and learning environments in childhood education has only expanded. She has thoroughly investigated the relationship between young people, how they learn and where the design of supportive physical environments fits in. “For the past twenty years I have specialised in this area and collaborated with some remarkable educators and school communities to re-conceptualise

schooling and design of supportive environments – including early childhood centres, primary and secondary schools.”

Geelong Grammar School (Toorak campus), Dandenong High School, Princess Hill Primary School and Camberwell High School.

Mary has helped transform education with the help of her innovative eye for design, working with Australian educators, architects, schools and policy makers. These relationships have

“Creating schools that are more democratic, dynamic and creative is very challenging, and design of the physical environment is vital to the process of transformation. All our children deserve to have wonderful schools and schooling – not just for their future – but for their present.”

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c u r e v es o f t h e b o dy allowed Mary to develop theoretical design process and innovative interiors that have won her several awards. Some of her major works include a modular furniture system for Bialik College Early Leaning Centre, along with work at Wooranna Park Primary School,

A number of Grant’s designs, along with a few that Mary and Grant worked on together, have been on display at the National Gallery of Victoria’s ‘MidCentury Australian Furniture’ exhibition.

In 1996 Grant and Mary were also included into the Design Institute of Australia Hall of Fame, and Mary is a Fellow of the Design Institute of Australia and a Senior Fellow of the University of Melbourne.

Mary’s focus on childhood learning and development, and how design fits into the sector, has helped shape how schools teach and direct children.

Grant’s famous furniture creations and sculptural designs have allowed the Featherston name to continue to influence the design world not only in Australia, but also worldwide.

words ally mcmanus 17 Ruby Summer

Words by Cal Stewart

How spoilt are we for choices when it comes to decorating our homes these days? And now this even extends to our outdoor living spaces.

As a nation we have embraced the concept of outdoor living - gone are the days when the backyard contained the Hills Hoist, complete with concrete path and maybe a lemon tree - with many homes now being built with dedicated ‘alfresco’ areas ranging from modest to lavish, depending on your own personal style and how you like to entertain. Yes, it is all about you and your lifestyle.

Our homes should rightly be our sanctuary - a space to escape from the pressures of life - or to entertain with family and friends. We each have different preferences on how we like to use our space and the opportunity to decorate them to suit our individual personalities.

When it comes to my outdoor space, I like it to be an extension of my home - so I’ve used similar colours in an attempt to give a more cohesive feel to the space. I then brighten it up with splashes of colours in my accessories such as planter pots, cushions and towels.

Speaking of cushions, this season has seen some fantastic cushions and outdoor fabrics on the market in high quality fabrics that are very affordable such as the Bondi Outdoor Collection from Warwick fabrics.

For our summer campaign, we were on location in a local home that simply oozed with style. Lots of thought and planning had gone into ensuring the entire outdoor area could be fully utilized and catered for the needs of the whole family including the grandchildren. I think the pictures really speak for themselves in showing off their outdoor space.

When designing or decorating your own space these are my Top 3 things you should consider 1. Sun protection /shade - at different times of the day - will an umbrella give you the protection you need or would a retractable awning work better?

2. Easy to clean fabrics and surfaces - something you can simply hose down.

3. Try to choose a style and stick with it - very few people can pull off the mismatched look and make it actually look good.

And if you are investing in bigger ticket items such as outdoor lounges or external awnings, remember to keep the colours neutral so that you don’t grow tired of them or they don’t date. You can then easily update your look with a few colourful accessories.

Bring on the sunshine, get outdoors and enjoy!

Original wallpaper for original people...*

* Matching your creativity with high resolution technology for images as sharp as you are.

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P: 5229 2022 | E: info@eaglecreative.com.au | eaglecreative.com.au

ruby musings A rather young Anna-Marie with Father Christmas.

It’s Christmas and I’m Crying The climate is changing and the forecast for the next few weeks is for eyes to be moist, hair to be damp, and chin to be wobbly... anyone would think it was Christmas.

Y

ep, ’tis Christmas… ’Tis summer too. Put them together and ’tis the season to be decidedly damp. Let me count the ways…

Summer is usually damp and hot, or damp and cool, be it from flooding rains, annoying humidity, dry, crackling heat, or just half-hearted drizzle. It’s a time of crazy weather, where one day we can be hosing down the sides of houses and determinedly implementing bushfire safety plans; and the next weekend (or day or even hour), we can be crying with laughter, trying to appease the feigned outrage of our elderly uncles who’ve travelled from Manchester UK to experience a ‘hot Australian Christmas’, but who instead are huddled in front of our open fire, looking at the hail that is making this Christmas look decidedly white. If only we’d had chestnuts!

Our hot Christmases are so jam-packed with memories of long-gone loved ones and sweet, precious occasions that will spring to mind at the barest hint of a recollection, that I never leave home without some tissues stuffed in my bra to discreetly dab at my eyes, pretending to cough so that I don’t prove once and for all that I’m a ‘belootherer’.

But I am. A belootherer. Never heard

of a ‘belootherer’? That is a Northern English/Hughes family word for someone who ‘beloothers’: cries loudly and wetly.

It’s quite different from ‘skryking’ (loud shrieking and wailing) or ‘groodling’ (my sister’s word for persistent whiny whimpering from a younger sister) or being ‘a big soft sawney’ (as above).

I phoned my sister to tell her I was ‘beloothering’ after listening to a recording of our Mum and her glorious soprano voice pealing out ‘O Holy Night’ at St Patrick’s Cathedral in 1968, a performance she repeated in Geelong’s St Mary’s Basilica at midnight mass over several years in the 1960s and ’70s.

I was beloothering to my sister – as was she – as we recalled our Mum being magnificent.

Even when I was little, 8 years-old or so, I knew I was witnessing something special and I’d sit up there in prime position, on my best behaviour, in the majestic Choir Gallery just underneath that glorious Rose Window that faces out into Yarra Street, and I’d watch the heads of the packed Midnight Mass congregation, all facing forward. The organ would begin the familiar ‘da, da, da-da-da-da’ introduction and then Mum would start to sing. The

heads would turn and they’d want to catch a glimpse of the Voice! But she would be well hidden at the side behind the organ.

Mum didn’t want any ‘fuss’.

But Christmas and fuss go hand-in-hand.

It’s a given. So does Christmas and giving; Christmas and hope; Christmas and summer; summer and heat and bushfires; bushfires and tears; bushfires and personal bushfire safety plans.

‘O Holy Night’ was written in 1847 by Adolphe-Charles Adam and became the world’s favourite Christmas carol, and I like it more than anybody else in the whole world, so there. In fact, I consider myself to be such an expert that I think I should give out ‘O Holy Night’ licences so that only worthy people can perform it in public. Every singer seems to have a crack at it, and our Christmases can be made special by someone’s great or grim performance of it. Yes, Jonathan Antoine, Luciano Pavarotti, and the Geelong Harmony Chorus, you may sing it in public.

Sorry, but no, Jessica Simpson, Justin Beiber, Tiny Tim, and several soapie-starwannabe-divas, you are not allowed to sing it ever again. If you do, I might just start skryking, and believe me, you don’t want to hear that at Christmas!

words anna-marie hughes 21 Ruby Summer

ruby health

Cosmetic Tourism is not just a holiday The death of a British woman following cosmetic surgery in Thailand in October 2014 made headlines around the world, and Australian plastic surgeons were amongst those spelling out the dangers of travelling overseas for surgery.

Joy Williams was just 23 when she travelled to Bangkok to undergo buttock augmentation surgery. She died during a secondary surgery after developing a postoperative infection. The shocking case prompted the Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) to again warn people of the risks of cosmetic tourism.

ASPS President, Dr Tony Kane, said it is extremely concerning that some people perceive cosmetic surgery as less serious than other surgery. “Most people would never consider combining any other type of surgery with an overseas holiday,” he said. “The reality is that cosmetic surgery is invasive and carries the same risk as any other surgery and must be taken seriously.”

Dr Kane said that while cosmetic tourism packages may appear cheaper than the same procedure in Australia, and are often sweetened by the addition of a beach holiday, many patients suffer complications

22 Ruby Summer

requiring corrective surgery when they return to Australia. This means patients will end up paying more than if they had, upfront, chosen a qualified Specialist Plastic Surgeon in Australia.

“If, despite all the possible risks, the choice is to go overseas for a procedure, all patients should check that the staff, equipment and continuum of care is at least equal to what you would receive in Australia and that the medical practitioner has an internationally recognised and accredited surgical qualification, Dr Kane said.

“At the very least, you must insist on at least one face-to-face consultation with the practitioner before the surgery so you can ask all your questions about the procedure, the surgeon’s qualifications and training and that of the anaesthetist and other medical staff involved. Also, be fully satisfied that any devices and products

used in the procedure meet Australian standards. You also need the details of all follow up care and management of complications,” he said.

Dr Kane said there have been cases of patients going overseas and having multiple procedures done in a short space of time and then almost immediately returning to Australia on a long flight, which is extremely risky.

The Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons has a comprehensive cosmetic tourism checklist, “Buyer Beware: Cosmetic Tourism” on its website, which provides consumer-friendly advice and outlines questions to consider ahead of a cosmetic procedure overseas.

Visit: www.plasticsurgery.org.au/ protecting-patient-safety/current-issues/ buyer-beware-cosmetic-tourism

ruby fashion

Shades of Summer It’s not officially summer until you’ve got a shiny new pair of sunglasses on your head.

A fabulous pair of sunnies can upgrade your look from simple to superstylish in an instant. From seventies-inspired aviators to modern bright frames, this season there are countless styles to choose from. Vintage style frames are bang on-trend at the moment – and can quickly transport you back in time to your favourite movie or decade.

And who doesn’t love trying on new sunnies? It’s dress-up for grown ups.

As my search for a new great pair of shades begins, I look for inspiration to the movie stars who wore them best – just a few that come to mind are: Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Jodie Foster in Taxi Driver, Madonna in Desperately Seeking Susan, Susan Sarandon in Thelma & Louise. All of the above are soooo much cooler than this old girl, but somehow, when you put on a pair of shades, you transcend into the screen siren stratosphere – at least for a moment or two.

I don’t know about you, but I feel my uber-coolest when I’m sitting in my car stopped at the lights with my sunnies on. You might have experienced this before, it goes something like: Look-at-me-behind-these-cool-shadesI’m-looking-at-you-but-I’ll-pretend-that-I’m-not-looking-at-you-becauseI’m-way-too-cool-and-you-should-be-looking-at-me-and-my-coolness!

Forget about the fact that they also protect your eyes from harmful UV rays—sunglasses hide your expressions and real feelings. They project detachment, mystery and glamour.

Visit Eyewear on Pako and decorate your eyes with your favourite frames this summer. You’ll love them so much you’ll be wearing your sunglasses at night! Get it? ... Sunglasses at night? … The song? … Corey Hart? … 1984? ... Please tell me you remember the song … somebody … anybody…?

words tanya carroll

Find us on facebook Find us on facebook @eyewearonpako @eyewearonpako

23 Ruby Summer

ruby health

Bringing Sexy Back Everyone talks about the hot flashes, the mood swings and the weight gain, but one of the most disempowering, the most life changing elements of menopause can be the death of your sex life … or at least an enjoyable sex life.

While Hormone Replacement Therapy, or HRT – described to me recently and hilariously as ‘the same old pregnant mare’s urine stuff that’s been around for decades’ – works for some women, it isn’t effective for all and is not an option for women with a history of or high risk of developing breast cancer.

Fractional CO2 laser treatment is a nonsurgical drug-free treatment using the same laser technology that has been used for over a decade to treat acne and scarring and revitalise ageing skin, and is now giving post-menopausal women, and their husbands, their sex lives back. While it’s not available in Geelong yet, local surgeons Ian Holten and Rafael Acosta will be making the technology – rather charmingly called MonaLisa Touch therapy - available to patients at Australian Skin Face Body from early in 2015.

After speaking to one patient who was currently undergoing the treatment, and raving about the results, I was fascinated and wanted to know more, which led to Dr Fariba BehniaWillison, a pioneering specialist using the technology to treat the vaginal 24 Ruby Summer

symptoms of menopause in Australia.

I asked Dr Willison what had led her to the MonaLisa Touch treatment.

“Vulvo-vaginal atrophy has always been an area where it is difficult for medical practitioners to provide patients with consistent and effective treatment, so I am always looking for new possibilities and treatment options to help my patients,” she said.

Vulvo-vaginal atrophy is the medical term for a condition that affects more than four in ten menopausal and post-menopausal women. The drop in hormone levels that occurs during menopause can result in a thinning and loss of elasticity of the vaginal walls, the blood supply is reduced and the vaginal walls loses much of their natural lubrication.

The language alone that describes the condition is depressing – there is a lot of ‘loss of’ and ‘reduced’. For women who find the condition yet another unwelcome symptom of menopause, the reality is that sex becomes nonstimulating, uncomfortable and, for some, unbearably painful.

“I first saw MonaLisa Touch in 2012 at an international conference focusing on urogynaecology. Initially I was sceptical, but once I read the research and understood what was involved and how it worked I knew it was something I needed to look into.

“I have been offering MonaLisa Touch in my practice in Adelaide since early 2013 and I have performed more than 2000 treatments. However, it is only recently that more gynaecologists are introducing the treatment into their practices. So I expect over the next few months it will become available in more medical practices across Australia.”

MonaLisa Touch is suitable for women of all ages experiencing symptoms related to vulvo-vaginal atrophy, including vaginal dryness or itching, urinary urgency and incontinence, burning sensations and irritations of the vagina, fissuring of the vaginal opening, vaginal laxity, pain during intercourse.

While the symptoms of vulvo-vaginal atrophy are most commonly associated with menopause, younger women can also experience some or all of the symptoms due to prolonged use of the Pill, breast cancer, breast-feeding or scarring resulting from childbirth requiring severe perineal repair.

For women who have or who have had breast cancer, the rate of vaginal atrophy is high – around 60 per cent.

And for these women, Hormone Replacement Therapy, or HRT, that has been one of few options to treat symptoms simply isn’t an option.

Alternatives to HRT that have been available tend towards non-scented

ruby health barrier cream and a LOT of lubricant, and there is not a lot about that that is sexy.

routine, although it is recommended to avoid sexual actively for around three days after the procedure.

“MonaLisa Touch is certainly suitable for patients who have previously had cervical cancer and breast cancer. In fact they are very often ideal candidates for the procedure because it is not recommend that they use HRT and their cancer treatment has often caused early onset of vulvo-vaginal atrophy,” Dr Willison said.

“MonaLisa Touch has exceeded my expectations. It is a low-risk procedure that is simple to perform and very well tolerated by patients. And the level of patient satisfaction is very high. If I have diagnosed the patient to be suitable for a MonaLisa Touch treatment, it is highly unusual for them not to notice a significant improvement in their symptoms.

“Typically the procedure takes around five minutes and for most patients it is

Patients will typically have three

it is a low-risk procedure that is easy to perform and very welltolerated by patients... if I have diagnosed the patient to be suitable for a monalisa touch treatment, it is highly unusual for them not to notice a significant improvements in their symptoms.

painless. No anaesthesia is required. It is a walk-in walkout procedure that is mostly done in the private practice of gynaecologists.

“A probe is inserted into the vagina and then slowly withdrawn. As it is withdrawn the doctor stops every five millimetres and the fractional laser energy is delivered to the vaginal tissue.

For most patients the only sensation is a slight vibration. Following procedure patients can return to the normal daily

treatments, four to six weeks apart. Dr Willison also recommends a follow up treatment every year or so to maintain the improvements experienced from the initial course of treatments.She said that while no treatment is without risk, the likelihood of complications following a MonaLisa Touch treatment is very low.

“My experience of no serious or lasting side-effects is similar to that of medical practitioners from around the world and what is reported in the published research. Tens of thousands of

MonaLisa Touch treatments have been performed around the world and I am not aware of any serious side effects of any kind. At most patients describe some very mild irritation or warmth after the treatment that typically lasts only a few hours, and even then these cases are quite rare.”

“While I have found MonaLisa Touch to be extremely effective for the treatment of many of the symptoms of vulvo-vaginal atrophy, and this is backed up by the published studies, it is important that before having the MonaLisa Touch procedure that patients have a gynaecological examination to ensure there are no underlying pathologies or other problems that should be addressed prior to having the treatment.”

“It’s relieved so many of my symptoms, I just can’t believe the difference,” a patient of Dr Willison’s told me.

“And it’s not just me. There is a wall covered in cards in her office, which I thought were from her female patients, but we both laughed when she said they were from the husbands. One of them was the biggest thank you card I’ve ever seen – he must have been one happy man!” And would she recommend it to other women?

“Hell yes!”

For more information contact Australian Skin Face Body or visit www.monalisatouch.com.au

words davina montgomery

• Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery • Hand Surgery • Laser Hair Removal • Dermal Fillers & Injectables • InFInI Skin Tightening & non-Surgical Face Lift Options • Skin Cancer & Mole Checks (no Referral necessary)

• Vascular Laser Treatments

Australian Skin Face Body Plastic Surgery, Skin & Laser Clinic ‘The Skin Spot’ 50 Western Beach Road, Geelong Telephone 5221 2238 www.asfb.com.au AusSkinFaceBody

We also offer treatments for: facial pigmentation, fine lines & wrinkles, acne, rosacea, scarring and specialised skin conditions.

25 Ruby Summer

ruby spotlight

Let’s talk about breasts

When Angelina Jolie announced in May 2013 that she had undergone a bilateral mastectomy after discovering she had an 87 per cent chance of developing breast cancer and a 50 per cent risk of ovarian cancer, she sparked public discussion about a very private decision that many women in Australia, and right here in Geelong, face. Like so many other stories that women share, each woman takes her own path through the decision to have gene testing and the resulting changes in their lives. Here is one woman’s story.

In June this year, at the age of 33, Geelong critical care nurse Lilly Breach underwent surgery to remove both her breasts after testing positive for the BRCA1 gene. It was a decision made almost twelve months earlier, the culmination of watching her mother fight, and win, against breast cancer, only to lose her subsequent battle with ovarian cancer in October 2012.

“We had no other family history of cancer in the family and Mum’s

parents had died young of unrelated causes,” Lilly says. “It’s very uncommon to have both breast and ovarian cancer so Mum spoke to her oncologist who referred her for genetic testing. One week before she passed away she was told she carried the BRCA1 gene fault.”

markers are the only tests available, but once ovarian cancer is picked up on a blood test or an ultrasound it can already be at a stage where it has spread and is difficult to treat. The other options were surgical – riskreducing removal of the breast tissue, ovaries and fallopian tubes.

BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes fall into the category of genes known as cancer suppressors. Under normal circumstances, they act to suppress uncontrolled cell growth and the development of tumours, but when they’re faulty they fail to deliver this function, causing a greatly increased risk of hereditary breast and ovarian cancer, as well as the risk of other cancers.

Two months later, Lilly was given the news that she had tested positive for the BRCA1 gene. Although she had thought endlessly about what she would do if the news was bad, she had always hoped the results would be negative. After an “initial meltdown” (her words) Lilly chose to have a risk-reducing mastectomy. When she is closer to 40, she will also have her ovaries and fallopian tubes removed, as the risk of ovarian cancer rises significantly after the age of 40.

With her mother’s encouragement and hope that her children could do something to prevent developing cancer themselves, Lilly and her sister underwent gene testing after being referred to a genetic counsellor who informed them their risk of carrying the gene fault was 50 per cent. None of the options available if they tested positive were attractive. Surveillance involved regular breast MRIs, mammograms and ultrasounds and six-monthly appointments with a breast surgeon for breast exams.

There are no early detection methods for ovarian cancer. Pelvic ultrasounds and blood tests that look for cancer words author’s name 26 Ruby Summer

Lilly waited over a year for her surgery, deciding to go to a private hospital so she could choose her surgeons. She used the twelve months to increase her private health cover, saved her money, sick leave and annual leave and underwent a breast MRI, mammogram and ultrasound. She discovered a lump in her breast, which was biopsied and found to be benign.

After the surgery was finally completed she says she felt relieved that her risk of breast cancer is now “much lower than even the general population”.

But still… “I wished I didn’t have to make that decision, it felt like life was unfair,” Lilly reflects. “I would have

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rather spent my money and annual leave on holidays than having a bilateral mastectomy and recovering from surgery. I wished my Mum was still around to help me. [But] I have to consider myself lucky in a way. I know my risk and I can do something about it. My mother and many other women didn’t get that chance.

“I know many women who are in the high risk category who choose to wait until they have had their children and then have their mastectomy.

There is a massive push for women to breast feed their babies and many women don’t want to miss out on that experience. I chose not to have children even before finding out I had this gene, so thankfully this made the decision a bit easier for me.”

Recovering from the surgery was far from easy, as Lilly developed an infection that required a further operation.

“I felt like my recovery was frustratingly slow. I was in hospital about nine days in total, then off work for six weeks.

I was relatively fit before the surgery, so when even the simplest tasks left me short of breath and tired even four weeks after surgery I became anxious because I felt like I should be better by now. My surgeons, GP and Pink Hope sisters [the other women in a charity for women with high risk of breast and ovarian cancer] all told me to be kind to myself, that I had been through a lot and my body needed time to heal. I needed this reminder a lot. My husband was my saviour, always helpful and kind. My friends and work colleges were fantastic and very supportive.”

Despite her long recovery, Lilly says she would absolutely make the same decision again. “I’m very comfortable now that my breasts are gone. I feel free to get on with my life without the

over

my

head.

threat of breast cancer over my head.

If I had chosen surveillance, I think I’d really be waiting until I got cancer, but hoping I had picked it up early enough before it had spread, and then I would have had to have a mastectomy anyway, except then I would need chemo and radiation on top of it all.

I’ve seen how chemotherapy just destroys the body and how sick people are while they’re on it. Why not try and avoid it all? Why not do it earlier when you are fit and young and the surgery is a bit easier to get through? Not that it was easy at all. It was hard … very hard.”

To others she says, “Know your risk.

Look at your family tree: is there a lot of breast, ovarian, pancreatic or prostate cancer in your family? If you are concerned, speak to your GP and they can make a referral to a genetic counsellor in your area. There are a lot of wonderful support groups and web pages out there.”

One of those support groups is Pink Hope, the charity founded by Krystal Barter in 2009 as she recovered from a bilateral mastectomy at the age of 25. “When I first found out I had the BRCA1 gene fault, I wanted to speak to other women in the same position as me,” Lilly says. “That’s when I found Pink Hope on the internet. They empower high risk families to take control of their risk through prevention, education and support and they now have an online genetic counsellor to help people navigate the tricky business of genetic cancer. They also have online support groups through Facebook, where the group shares information and resources and support each other. I call them my Pink Hope sisters.”

While the past few years have been traumatic for Lilly and her husband of four years, there have been positives as well and the experience has

changed forever the way she lives her life.

“My outlook on the future changed when my mother found out she had terminal cancer. She worked hard her whole life working two jobs, always trying to better her education so she could earn more, all to set herself up for retirement, and unfortunately she never made it. I was planning to do the same, work as hard as I could, get investment properties and pay off my mortgage as fast as I could.

“But now I work my set hours, not doing two jobs and killing myself. I spend time with my friends and family as much as I can, because we all really have no idea how long we have on this earth. I go on holidays; I don’t try to pay my mortgage off at a rate where I can’t enjoy my life. I try not to worry about the little things and I feel my relationships with my husband and family are stronger. My love for my husband has deepened; he has shown such amazing strength in helping me through this. He just wants his wife to be around with him for as long as is possible.”

For more information about Pink Hope, visit www.pinkhope.org.au Images: (clockwise from left) Lilly and her mum, Lilly post surgery,Lilly and her husband.

words judy baulch 27 Ruby Summer

ruby insight

The Strength of Vulnerability In November I graduated from a year-long leadership course with 37 other people who work across Victoria in business, the public sector and community organisations. One of the themes that emerged from the speakers and topics we studied was the value of authenticity and of letting one’s armour down in order to develop trust and gain support.

Allowing ourselves to show our vulnerabilities is something we are heavily socialised against, particularly in business, as it is traditionally believed to demonstrate weakness and introduce questions as to whether we will be able to fulfil our commitments.

Consequently, many of us bottle up our concerns and put on a brave face to our colleagues, families and friends. The risk of concealing our doubts is that we may make poorer decisions, or stick with unproductive pathways for longer than necessary. We also deny others the chance to help us to find solutions together.

When we try to be strong for others, we are unconsciously modelling to them that lack of strength is always bad. When we look after others’ needs before our own, we are not letting them

grow and are setting them up for greater discomfort when a time comes that we are not able to be present to fix things for them.

We need to trust others to accept our vulnerability and to respond with compassion rather than criticism. We need to return this favour to others who choose to show us their vulnerability.

While expressing emotions openly is frequently described as a female trait, one of the most powerful examples of vulnerability we have seen recently are Michael Clarke’s public statements following the death of his friend, Phil Hughes. We knew he was strong because he showed us how sad he was and because he continued to express his thoughts and emotions at such a desperately awful time. His open words beth king, bking@kingsfunerals.com.au

28 Ruby Summer

distress was heartbreaking to observe and has led to a heightened respect for his character and resilience.

My colleagues and I are privileged to work with people at the most vulnerable times in their lives and the ways in which they respond to this adversity are varied. There are no ‘right’ ways to grieve and no way to know how we will react when we encounter tragedy in our own lives. At these moments, many of us show our authentic, vulnerable selves and the connections that are formed and strengthened between friends and strangers can be profound.

My goal for 2015 is to learn to express my vulnerabilities, despite my fears that this will cause others to think less of me. How will you allow yourself to be vulnerable?

ruby events

Save the

Date!

International Women’s Day Ladies Night Out @ Royal Geelong Yacht Club Friday 27 February 5.30pm – 10.30p.m .What is it all about? The Women in Community Life Advisory

Committee (a.k.a WiCLAC) is an advisory committee to Council on gender equality and celebrating the role of women in the wider community. The dedicated group of volunteers has a firm commitment to promoting the role of women in all aspects of the Geelong community, but believe that all women also deserve a fun night out, which is what they have in store.

•

A delicious selection of cocktail food including fork and talk that will keep the tummy rumbles firmly at bay.

•

Complementary bevie on arrival.

•

A silent auction packed with bargains, with all money raised going to on the ground women’s programs right here in Geelong.

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The ever-popular lolly bar – because it’s a party.

•

Live accoustic music

•

Special guest speaker: the riotous Catherine Deveny writer, columnist, television commentator, comedian, maverick, vigilante and non-f**k giver.

GET READY FOR THE SUN IN OUR LATEST RANGE OF SUMMER STAPLES IN-STORE NOW

The Women In Community Life Award, with the winner announced at the IWD event, aims to highlight the achievements of women in the Geelong region during the celebration of International Women’s Day. Many women contribute incredible amounts of time and energy into their local communities; we would like to recognise and celebrate their passion and commitment. Nominees will have been working or be active in the Geelong region in a way which promotes equality, inclusion and respect for women.

Nominees may be mentors, community leaders, industry leaders, activists, volunteers, teachers, or tireless workers! Is it the local playgroup leader? Is it the woman who supports girls in local sports? Is it the woman campaigning for refugee rights? You tell us! For a nomination form email: jdevonport@ womenshealthbsw.org.au.

Tickets will go on sale in the New Year, with full details to be posted on Facebook @womenincommunitylife, on the Ruby Facebook page @MagazineRuby and on the City of Greater Geelong events page at www.geelongaustralia.com.au/events

29 Ruby Summer

ruby fashion

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B.

e d i u G ft Gi

C.

3.

9.

10.

7.

A. TYPO B. ADAIRS c. TYPO 1. Cotton On Body Colour and Skulls PRINT $19.95 2.

Cotton On Body Body Satin Tie Boxer $19.95 3. Cotton On Body Swim Up 2 BIKINI TOP $24.95 and Bikini BOTTOM $19.95 4. Cotton On Like a Diamond Canvas Bag $24.95 5. Dymocks The New EASY by Donna Hay $29.99 6. Katies Earrings (peacock) $14.95 7. Bags Only Franco Bonini RFID Protected Coin Purse (blue/green) $19.95 8. This An That Crystal Flower (assorted) $29.99 30 Ruby Summer

g n i h et S om r e H for

14.

5.

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13.

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2.

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8.

9. OPSM Ralph ladies frame (367834003; crs/tqs) $229 10. Wild Cards & Gifts Dedaco Willowtree Thankyou Figurine $31.99 11. Tonik Rusty Flippin metallic thong (green) $22.99 12. Priceline Sweet Luxury Baking Jar Fizz Marshmallow (pink) $7 13. Prouds Silver Three Bezel CZ Fancy Dress Ring $49 15. Michael Hill Sterling silver bracelet $109 31 Ruby Summer

7.

g i B s e d u D

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8.

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5.

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e l tt i L s e d Du

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BIG DUDES: 1. Tonik Hurley Phantom slides $79.99 2. Man to Man Cufflinks (assorted) $39.95 3. Man to Man MXK basic cino shorts (assorted) $29.95 4.

Ozwide Locksmiths Parker Urban pen (silver) $34.95 5. Ghanda Mens Spaniel Isoline hat (black) $14.95 6. Tonik Nixon 48-20 Chrono Leather (bwn/gator) $499.99 7. Robin’s Kitchen Ladelle oven mits (assorted) $8.95 8. Dymocks Captains Diary by Michael Clarke $29.99 9. TSG Man Cave sign $11.95 10. Kevin Paisley Fashion Eyewear Oakley Two Face Mens Sunglasses $199.95 11. Wild Cards & Gifts Name bottle openers $9.99 12. Dick Smith Kaiser Baas HD Media Player $67.98 13. Hairhouse Warehouse Wahl Home Cut Combo Clipper $44.95 14.

Ghanda Giant Aztec towel (multi) $44.95 15. Bags Only Superman 19� trolley case (blue) $99.95 16. Typo Dartboard $24.95

9.

6.

ruby fashion

12.

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3.

2.

1.

26.

17.

20.

22.

24.

LITTLE DUDES: 17. Cotton On Kids PLay Tent $39.95 18. Cotton On Kids Spike Tee $16.95 19. Tonik Quiksilver Fruit Bat Boardshort $49.99 20. Tonik Almost/Globe Mullen - Superman Skateboard (blue); Globe Complete Skateboard (assorted) from $129 21. Tonik Quiksilver Boardies KD hat $17.99 22. Spendless Shoes 8Mile Jedd boys sandal (black/navy/red) $19.99 23. C&T Mobile Accessories Leather iPad case; assorted $49 24. Bags Only Batman kids backpack (navy) $24.95 25. Dick Smith Apple iPod 16GB (grey) $249 26. OPSM Ray Ban Junior kids sunglasses (356390; blue) $59.95 27. This An That Kids super hero moneyboxes (assorted) $14.99 28. Dymocks Invasion of the Overworld by Mark Cheverton $12.99

25.

33 Ruby Summer

Little Miss

ruby fashion 5.

6.

4.

A.

9.

1.

8.

B.

3.

7.

2.

C. A. TYPO B. COTTON oN KIDS C. TYPO 1. Dymocks Frozen Essential Collection

by DK $22.99 2. Robin’s Kitchen Ambrosia drinking jar (assorted) $6.99ea. 3.

Cotton On Kids Animal Torch $4.95 4. Typo Typo Turn It Up Headphones $19.95 5. Ghanda Girls bucket hat (pink) $19.95 6. Prouds Silver Blue & Pink Crystal Butterfly Studs $15 7. Tonik Roxy Bahamas girls flip flop (aqua/mint) $15.99 8. Tonik Roxy Katia 1pce girls bathers (aqua/peach) $49.99 9. Tonik Roxy Sunny Circle girls tee (WBB) $25.99 34 Ruby Summer

Miss y Me!

10.

ruby fashion

13.

14.

16.

19.

11.

17.

15.

12.

20.

18.

10. Cotton On Body Eye Mask $4.95 11. Cotton On Body Luxe Plush Gown $29.95 12. Cotton On Body Sportluxe One Piece $39.95 13. Goldmark Ladies Guess Rose tone watch $249 14. Michael Hill Diamond set, 10ct rose gold & sterling silver filigree charm $219 15. Kevin Paisley Fashion Eyewear Prada 1705 womens sunglasses $370 16. Bags Only Bazaar handbag (beige) $59.95 17. Dymocks It Started With Paris by Cathy Kelly $19.95 18. Priceline Natio Nurture Skin Pack (orange) $24.95 19. Hairhouse Warehouse GHD Deluxe Dryer & iron (rose gold) $370 20. Novo Future heel (tropicana) $59.95 35 Ruby Summer

ruby fitness

FIVE TIPS FOR A FAULTLESS SUMMER WORKOUT Last year Australians spent over 80 million dollars on gym memberships, with nearly three quarters of these individuals signing up in preparation for summer.

I

f you’re one of the many people working out for the warmer months, it’s important to make sure you are getting the most out of your workout. The amount, timing, and content of what you eat before and after exercising plays a huge factor in the effectiveness of your training, and predicts both your energy levels during the session, and how quickly your body is able to recover afterwards.

According to Sheila Zhou, USANA Scientist, a leading producer of high quality supplements, “Often people don’t realise that what they do before and after their workout is just as important as their training regimen. However, to achieve a flawless workout, you don’t need to make huge changes. For example, just by consuming sparkling mineral water before a training session you are helping your body maintain fluid balance, and perform at its best.”

Here are five training tips that will help you get the most out of your entire workout process: 1. Turn up the tunes If the Rocky movies taught us anything about exercise it’s that music is a great

36 Ruby Summer

motivator. ‘Eye of the Tiger’ might not be your personal cup of tea, but working out to music can actually improve your performance and endurance by up to 15 per cent. Listening to our favorite tunes effectively disassociates our brain from the physical activity we are participating in.

Rather than focusing on how much farther we have to run or how steep the upcoming hill is, our mind is focused on the music we are listening to.

2. Become an early bird They say that the early bird gets the worm and, in this case, the worm is a supercharged workout. Exercising early in the morning kick starts your metabolism and gets you energised for the day ahead.

‘I’m not a morning person’ isn’t any excuse either, grab a coffee, drink some water and get you up and going.

3. Don’t fight the chocolate cravings Chocoholics rejoice. You can now justify your dark chocolate cravings in the name of improving your workouts! If this seems too good to be true, it isn’t. Flavonol epicatechin, a key ingredient in dark chocolate, sends a signal to your arteries

telling them to relax, thus improving circulation.

4. Change the way you stretch The importance of stretching has been drilled into our brains since we began taking PE classes at school, and it is, but not in the way you might have originally been told. Pre-workout stretching helps loosen up the muscle and prevent injury.

But the most effective way that stretching can help your workout is to maintain a regular regimen throughout the week, even if this doesn’t coincide with your exercise schedule.

5. Massage the pain away Don’t forget that exercise is way more of a mental game than you might think.

Massages can help muscle soreness and injuries, but they can also have great psychological and emotional benefits. A massage is good for winding your mind down and putting you in the right head space to start again tomorrow. If you can’t justify splurging on constant massages, using a foam roller to roll out any kinks does the trick as well.

ruby spotlight

WOMEN IN Uniform

This year marks the centenary of the First World War, in which the central role of women in the conflict was to “ keep the home fires burning” - those who went to the battlefields went as army nurses, the only military role available to them. There were many conflicts that Australian soldiers would take part in, and Australian women fought their own battles for the right to serve in the armed forces. It has been a slow process, hindered by sexism and sex scandals, but that hasn’t deterred the thousands of women who have made a successful career in the ADF and paved the way for those to come.

When Captain Jennifer Wittwer joined the Navy straight out of high school in 1981 (an unusual decision at that time and she can’t recall any other girl from her graduating class choosing the same career path), “hats, gloves and stockings were the order of the day, and

a handbag was the closest thing to a weapon.” Participation rates within the Navy for women were about five per cent and the roles available to female officers were limited to administration, logistics or communications. Women joined what was then known as the

Women’s Royal Australian Naval Service (WRANS), a separate service to that of the men, which was in place until 1985. Although at that time women were only able to join on short service commissions, Jennifer anticipated a long-term career. She chose logistics, viewing it as non-gendered career path within the ADF environment, even though women could not serve at sea.

“I knew little about the Army, Navy or Air Force, and as silly as it sounds, my choice of Navy was influenced by the employment categories available, and the uniform, which, although still heavily reflective of the nature of the women’s service at that time, appeared more military than the others.”

Photos with kind permission of the Department of Defence. wordsreproduced author’s name 37 Ruby Summer

ruby spotlight

Not long after Jennifer joined, the Navy underwent major changes, mirroring the revolution already taking place in civilian society, and building on a slow process that began in the 1960s (until 1968, women were compelled to leave the service when they married) and continued into the 70s, when women gained equal pay with their male counterparts. The WRANS was dissolved in 1985 and all currently serving women were transferred to the Royal Australian Navy.

While it didn’t have an immediate impact, several large-scale reforms occurred over the following years designed to address gender inequality in terms of access to all roles and positions, promotion and training. In the late 1980s, the women’s ranks were disestablished and most employment categories, with the exception of combat related roles such as mine warfare and clearance diving, were opened to women. In the early 1990s, the Navy began sending women to sea in ships and, by 2000, submarines. In 2011, the Government lifted the restrictions on women in all combat roles across the ADF, phasing in the introduction so that this year combat roles became open to women currently serving in the armed forces. From January 2016, combat roles will be open to direct entry.

“The implementation of the removal of gender restrictions was phased over five years to ensure that the right organisational and functional structures were in place to support the first women to go through training,” Jennifer

38 Ruby Summer

explains. “In Navy, for example, two senior women were posted to the Diving School to assist and mentor any female trainees and ensure the environment and leadership was positive. Entry to such training was open to in-service transferees from January this year, as it was anticipated that their previous service experience would lessen the difficulty (if any) around completing the often arduous and physically demanding training requirements.”

armed forces are equal in all respects, but as they comprise approximately 14.9 per cent of the ADF, and are represented largely in the low to middle ranks, they fail to create the critical mass needed within the senior leadership to more fully embrace gender equality. However, the ongoing work of the Broderick Review into the treatment of women in the ADF seeks to rectify this, as does the gender diversity work that Jennifer has been involved in throughout her career.

Navy women have essentially been on the front line in a maritime context since the 1990s, when all roles at sea were opened to them, although, according to Jennifer, the 90s were fraught with the difficulties of logistically accommodating women on ships, and some individuals found it difficult to work with women in areas traditionally held by men, particularly in technical or sea-faring roles. As a logistics officer it was less so, because women had always worked in those roles ashore. “Still, in the mid1990s, when I served on a ship as one of two females in a crew of 212, there were some moments that reflected those attitudes,” Jennifer says.

As the inaugural women’s strategic advisor to Chief of Navy from 20102012 and working with NATO through its Committee on Gender Perspective, Jennifer has helped develop the policy and tools for implementation of the resolutions on women, peace and security (WPS) principles into NATO armed forces and NATO-led operations, such as Afghanistan. Over the past few years, she has also taken a greater role in global gender equality through international and regional engagements with other military and non-government agencies.

Today, Jennifer points out, women in the

“I’ve always been passionate about gender equality, about workplace behaviour, respecting each other,

“ W h e n C a p t a i n J e n n i f e r W i ttw e r j o i n e d t h e N a v y s t r a i g h t o u t o f h i g h s c h o o l i n 1 9 8 1 , h at s , g l o v e s a n d s t o c k i n g s w e r e t h e o r d e r o f t h e d ay , a n d a h a n d b ag wa s t h e c lo s es t t h i n g to a w e a p o n .”

ruby spotlight

“I

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being professional,” she says. “In my experience, this has not always been the case – when I joined, women were marginalised - and I’ve taken a vocal and practical role in addressing these issues over the years.

“I’m passionate about this because I have two daughters and want for them what I did not have when I first joined the workforce – the opportunity to pursue whatever career I felt inclined to undertake. I want them to have an employer that offers them every opportunity, where merit is applied regardless of gender, and where they do not alone bear the impact of lifestyle choices on their ability to progress and succeed.”

Now the Director of the National Action Plan for Women, Peace and Security, Jennifer last year served in Afghanistan as the first ADF Gender Advisor to the NATO joint command and is leading the Defence implementation of the Australian Government National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security 2012-2018.

As ADF Gender Advisor to the NATO joint command for seven months in Kabul last year, Jennifer provided strategic guidance to commanders

in

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on the implementation of the WPS resolutions, particularly at operational and tactical levels, to enable a more comprehensive approach to operations and to ensure that military responses adequately addressed the needs and concerns of men and women. The role gave her unique opportunities to engage with Afghan women, particularly those serving in the national police and army organisations, and to see firsthand how NATO’s support for the Afghan government’s own gender equality and women’s empowerment policies were being played out.

“Women are indeed an integral part of security sector reform post-conflict, and the increasing role of women in public positions like this reinforces the intent of the WPS resolutions,” she says.

“Given the cultural sensitivities around men and women in Afghanistan, special and separate attention had to be given to the recruitment and development of women, such as the type of roles they could undertake, their working hours, gendered uniforms, gendered training and access to health care. It could not be a case of ‘one size fits all’ as it applies to first world modern militaries.

“I had one meeting in the Kabul City

Police Centre with about 20 female police officers of varying ranks, some of whom had been in the force for 30 years, some who had travelled from outside Kabul to attend,” she says.

“I was privileged to meet and talk to them; their stories reflected many of the concerns of our own working mothers – lack of childcare, lack of access to training and promotion opportunities, constraints on types of employment. But they struck me as resilient, forthright, assertive and absolutely passionate about contributing to the growth and development of a post-conflict Afghanistan. And their senior leadership believes in them and is supporting the government’s policies by promoting women on merit to very senior positions.

This sends a great message about their role in public life, their contributions to the workforce and the importance of their participation in reconstruction. This is the UN resolutions in practice.”

After more than 30 years in the ADF, Jennifer is still proud to be serving her country in a role that allows her to fulfil her passion for gender equality, particularly in peace keeping operations and working with women affected by conflict. Despite life in the Navy or the other services not always being easy for women, or men - “it’s a lifestyle, not just a job” she says - she would still encourage her daughters to seek a career in the ADF, even though she is, of course, a little disappointed that they’re leaning towards the Air Force, not Navy!

words judy baulch 39 Ruby Summer

You can do it!

Exercise is good for us… and in our modern lives it is something that does not always happen naturally in our daily routines, especially if we tend to work at a desk and use a car to get around. To gain the benefits of exercise and fitness, we need to deliberately make time for it in our busy lives.

Exercise and keeping fit is good for our heart and blood vessel system, it is good to prevent diabetes and maintain a healthy weight, it is good for mental health and helps to reduce anxiety, depression and memory loss, it is good for our bones, our muscles, our joints, our balance and our strength. Our bodies are machines that need to be used, looked after and maintained, and given the right fuel.

The success of local gyms, pools and fitness centres and the number of people out and about on the roads, footpaths and parks - walking, riding and running - are all telling the story of our commitment to fitness and maintaining health. It is a credit to our community!

So, how do we build exercise into our lives and find a form of exercise that we enjoy and look forward to? Group exercise and meeting friends to exercise is a great motivator to keep you committed, both to the exercise, the investment and the group. Consider different forms of exercise, for example, yoga, Tai Chi, dance, gardening, rock climbing, bush walking, roller blading, boot camp… the list is endless. Meeting friends for an activity can be a substitute for sitting in a café or restaurant. Going for a walk at lunchtime with work colleagues may work for you. Some people are having walking meetings at work.

www.kardiniahealth.com.au 40 Ruby Summer

ruby health Another important aspect of exercise is avoiding injury. It is a natural tendency when one starts to exercise to go hard and feel as if “more is better” and that there is “no gain without pain”. Wrong! The key to introducing exercise, or new exercise - particularly as you get older (that is over 30, sorry) – is to be patient, slow, gentle and gradual.

This gives time for muscles, tendons and bones to strengthen as you change the activity. Warm up, cool down and stretch to help prevent injury.

An example is a program I was given by a podiatrist to help me reintroduce running. I had not run in the 20 years since having children, big beautiful babies with the inevitable pelvic floor weakness – so, after some time with a women’s health physiotherapist to work on building up pelvic floor and core strength – I tried to get into running again. First try, my Achilles tendinitis played up, the following year I tried again and developed some hip pain, tensor fascia latae (TFL), the next year I started to develop heel pain and luckily the physiotherapist and the podiatrist gave me a program which was far more gentle than I ever would have expected, and recommended getting fitted out with really good runners. It worked! My goal was to do a 10km, run which I was able to do, and then completed a 10km trail run at Forrest, which was a lot of fun on the single track bike trails.

“The key to introducing exercise, or new exercise is to be patient, slow, gentle and gradual. This gives time for muscles, tendons and bones to strengthen as you change the activity. Warm up, cool down and stretch to help prevent injury.”

Same Day Appointments New Patients Welcome On Site Pharmacy & Pathology Bulk Billing Available

This is the program, and is run (or walked to begin with) over 15 weeks: • Walk for 20 minutes every 2nd day for 2 weeks (you can skip this if you are already doing this) • Walk/run for 20 minutes every 2nd day for 2 weeks

• Run easy for 20 minutes 2 days consecutive, 1 day rest for 2 weeks

• Run easy for 30 minutes 5 days per week for 4 weeks

•

Massage is a great way to deal with minor aches and pains that may come up as you change activity. Often muscles in one group get tight and put more stress on the opposing muscle group, which can be relieved by loosening the tight muscle group. And Yoga is a fantastic activity that stretches muscles and joints in a graceful and flowing routine, whilst also increasing strength, fitness and general health and improving balance.

AV

BLE

• Run easy for 30 minutes 2 days consecutive, 1 day rest for 3 weeks

GENERAL PRACTITIONERS PHYSIOTHERAPISTS CLINICAL PILATES PODIATRY EXERCISE PHYSIOLOGY REMEDIAL MASSAGE DIETITIAN DIABETES EDUCATOR PSYCHOLOGY ENDOCRINOLOGIST AUDIOLOGY

S

LA AI

• Run easy for 20 minutes every 2nd day for 2 weeks

• SERVICE

To improve your health, fitness and happiness; make the time for an exercise routine that suits you and that you can look forward to. Take it gently, seek professional direction and remember the rest days are the days when your muscles and bones get stronger. Enjoy!

words by dr lou sanderson 41 Ruby Summer

ruby real estate

Managing the holidays It’s hard to believe summer is here once more.

The mad flurry of people organising holidays, preparing for Christmas, hunting for presents, arranging the Festive lunch and attending end of year functions all adds to the general stress that comes with the holiday season.

contact details. Whilst most tenancies run smoothly during this period, there is always the chance that something may go wrong.

With all these preparations underway, landlords and tenants need to remember a few things.

Keep in mind that if an urgent matter needs attention, then the Residential Tenancies Act requires the maintenance to be attended to.

Landlords: If you are planning to go away, please notify your real estate agency.

Ensure you leave instructions with your property manager regarding repairs and

Tenants: If you are planning a vacation, it is also wise to notify your landlord or property manager. Leave emergency contact details in the event that the words gina tobolov, westendrealestate.com.au

42 Ruby Summer

property needs to be accessed during your absence.

Take a common sense approach when taking a leave of absence from your home. Have someone check your home regularly, including the collection of mail.

You might think about setting automatic lights and sprinkler systems throughout your time away, or consider a house sitter while you are absent.

Enjoy the summer months, have a safe holiday, a great Christmas and a Happy New Year.

ruby business

as a team throughout the year. However, employers need to consider the potential hazards that may arise from end-of-year events and the various legal obligations associated with holding a work function.

An employer may be held liable for any injury that occurs at an event, as well as injuries of employees travelling to and from the venue.

Holiday Survival Guide The holiday season has almost arrived, and it is always a stressful time for anyone who runs a business. Here are a number of tips for making it through the holiday season successfully:

W

atch your cash flow - The holiday season is usually either the busiest or the slowest time of year. This means cash management is critical. If this is a high-income time, put money in a reserve account. If this is a lean time, reduce expenses as much as possible and when your income increases, start a reserve account to get you through next year’s holidays.

Holiday specials - Create gift packages by ‘bundling’ a number of products or services together. Bundles increase total sales amounts for you and provide your customers with excellent value for money.

Gift certificates and gift cards - Gift cards have become extremely popular with consumers. It doesn’t really matter

what kind of business you are in, almost everyone can benefit from selling gift certificates at Christmas.

Hosting functions - Parties are a good way to connect with customers and referral sources. They can also be a good way to get people to come to a place of business if you have a store or office.

Keep your priorities straight - Remember the things that are really important: family, friends, and community. Spend time with those you truly care for and give to those who are less fortunate.

And speaking of celebrating …

End-of-year celebrations are an important way for employers and staff to reflect on the progress they have made

Employers can also face issues arising from any form of sexual or emotional harassment that an employee is subject to at a company event. Areas such as drug and alcohol use, conduct, confidentiality and breach of company policies or procedures need to be given special caution, as these are common issues associated with end-of-year celebrations.

Alcohol should be served responsibly and by qualified personnel, as required by the responsible service of alcohol regulations. It is a good idea for employers to organise safe travel arrangements for their employees, such a handing out cab charges or hiring a mini bus. If employees choose to continue partying and the after party is not arranged by your company, ensure that this is made clear. Start and finish times should be clearly set out prior to the event. Employers should also be aware that actions such as placing a tab behind a bar at an after party could give rise to liability for behaviour into the early hours of the morning.

DISCLAIMER: This article is for guidance only, and professional advice should be obtained before acting on any information contained herein. Neither the writer, publishers nor the distributors can accept any responsibility for loss occasioned to any person as a result of action taken or refrained from in consequence of the contents of this article. Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards Legislation

words renée jovic, owner & managing accountant, jovic accounting pty ltd

Specialised Services

Renée Jovic

• Property Investment • Accounting • Taxation • Business Solutions

80 Pakington Street, Geelong West E: admin@jovicaccounting.com.au P: 03 5222 6962

“Providing Solutions to Businesses, Individuals and Property Investors.

With a Personal Approach”

Web: www.jovicaccounting.com.au and www.bantacs.com.au

43 Ruby Summer

ruby wine

THE RIGHT WHITE The sun is shining, warm winds are gently blowing and it’s the time when we finally catch up with all those people we’ve been meaning to see all year. The entertaining season is upon us, and when it comes to serving up a white wine, we want it to be the right white.

The sun is shining, warm winds are gently blowing and it’s the time when we finally catch up with all those people we’ve been meaning to see all year. The entertaining season is upon us, and when it comes to serving up a white wine, we want it to be the right white.

In the same way that chardonnay was out-cooled by sauvignon blanc, now the prevailing sauv blancs are being outtrended in the it-wine stakes by pinot grigio, or is that pinot gris – well, either way, it’s fast becoming the new it wine, or is that wines?

Even wine, it seems, can have an identity crisis these days.

When it comes to pinot gris and pinot grigio, it can be hard to tell what you are buying, which is why we gave Steve Paul, resident wine buff at Oakdene, a call to give us the inside line on the Pinot Gs. You may have heard or been told that the only difference between the two is that gris is French and grigio is Italian; and that’s sort of true, but really misses the story of the Pinot G wines.

What is the same about the gris and the grigio is the grape. The greyish-red grape is a mutation of the noble pinot noir grape (or pinot nero grape, as it is called in Italy), and both ‘gris’ and ‘grigio’ are translations of grey in reference

to the colour. On another translation note, the name ‘pinot’ is a reference to pine, because pinot grapes grow in a tight cluster that vaguely resembles a pinecone.

Pinot grigio is a style of wine traditionally produced in northern Italy, around Mogliano and Alto Adige. An earlier harvest with higher acidity and lower alcohol, it tends towards crunchy fruit characters like Nashi pear flavours. The lower alcohol comes from the early harvest, as the grapes haven’t developed the high sugar levels of later harvests.

These wines are made to drink young and are a lovely light style for summer drinking.

Pinot gris is traditionally produced in northern France, around Alsace, close to the German border. The cooler region means grapes are picked later to allow them to ripen, making for a lower acidity, fuller bodied, rich white wines that tend to be higher in alcohol. Traditional pinot gris make good food wines, matching well with the German-influenced food of its native region like spicy sausages and sauerkraut. The higher alcohol content tends not to be as much of an issue in a culture where a small – and we do mean small – single glass of wine with dinner is the usual consumption limit.

“In Australia, we do either, or both,” OakdeneVineyards

44 Ruby Summer

@Oakdenewines

Steve said, adding that there has been a tendency in Australia to label the wine as gris or grigio based on a nationality preference – or just the sound of the name – rather than the style being produced, which has added to the general confusion when it comes to the Pinot Gs. But the truth is, with our warm climate, Australian Pinot Gs tend to be true to neither of the gris or grigio styles, but will fall somewhere across a very broad spectrum in between.

Here in Geelong, pinot gris (or grigio) is now the fourth most planted grape after pinot noir, chardonnay and shiraz.

“Local wine makers are investing in the variety because we have one of the most suited climates for planting it, which you can see from our success with pinot noir,” Steve said. “Here at Oakdene we do both a grigio and a gris style of wine, with the grigio a lovely, crisp drinking style while the gris is a fuller style that is better with food. We have one vineyard of 5 acres of pinot gris and 80 per cent of all of our fruit goes to the fruit-driven style pinot grigio.

“But, like all wines, the best way to choose the right wine, or in this case the right white, is to try it and see what you like.”

ruby wine

<< 2 014 OAKDENE PINOT GRIGIO

<< 2013 OAKDENE ‘LY LY’ PINOT GRIS

Appearance

Appearance

Pale straw with a hint of bronze

Straw with a green tinge

Bouquet

Bouquet

An intense nose of nashi pear, apple blossom and honeysuckle

Lifted bouquet of spiced apple, guava and tropical fruits, with mineral overtones rounded out with barrel ferment characters.

Palate

The palate offers generous fruit weight, and mid palate richness, supported by firm acidity and a mineral backbone, and a long dry finish.

Conclusion

Palate

Full and complex with tropical fruits, vanilla and a mineral edge, leading to a auvory, dry finish, lively acidity and a long lingering after taste.

Harvested early to retain natural acidity, producing a dry, fruit driven wine, best consumed over the next few years.

Conclusion

Alcohol 13.0% v/v

Alcohol 13.7% v/v

Vineyard Location

Vineyard Location

Wallington, Bellarine Peninsula, Geelong, Victoria, Australia

Wallington, Bellarine Peninsula, Geelong, Victoria, Australia

Enjoy now, or cellar for the next 2 to 4 years, to gain mid palate weight and complexity.

oakdene.com.au

cellar - restaurant - café - accommodation cellardoor door - restaurant - accommodation Oakdene Cellar Door: Open 7 days, 10am to 4pm | Oakdene Restaurant: Open Lunch Wed - Sun, Dinner Wed - Sat 255 Grubb Road, Wallington, Victoria 3222 | P 5256 3886 | E info@oakdene.com.au | www.oakdene.com.au

45 Ruby Summer

ruby beauty

Summer beauty swaps Your wardrobe isn’t the only thing that should be swapped around as the hot weather hits. The change in season also calls for a change in beauty products, so that while everyone else is a sweaty mess, you’ll still look smokin’ hot.

Lipstick > Lip Stains

Foundation > BB cream

Blush > Bronzer

For longer-lasting colour that will stay put through cocktails and pool parties, swap your lipstick for a lip stain. There will be no need for re-application and your lips will be kept hydrated and smooth.

Nobody wants to be the girl at the beach wearing too much make-up, so exchange your foundation for a lightweight BB cream instead.

It will cover any imperfections and flawlessly adhere to your skin so that it won’t flake in the heat.

Embrace the natural colour the sun is giving you, don’t cover it up. Swap your pink blush for a shimmery bronzer and sweep it across your cheeks, nose, temples and colour bone for that healthy ‘just back from holiday’ complexion.

Products: Revlon ColorBurst™ Balm Stain ($17.95) and Max Factor Lipfinity Lip Tint ($19.95)

TOP TIP: Use a BB cream with SPF for added sun protection.

Products: Australis Jumbo Mineral Bronzer ($19.95) and ModelCo BRONZE ($22.00)

Products: Chi Chi Super BB Cream SPF 30 ($19.95, 50g) and Rimmel London BB Cream ($12.95)

Hairspray > Sea salt spray

Moisturiser > Gradual tanner

Let’s be real, straightened hair isn’t going to last through swimming and serious heat. So instead, embrace your natural waves with a little help from sea salt. Simply spray and scrunch for breezy beach hair that will thrive in the humidity.

With more limbs on show, you’ll want your skin to glow. These days, gradual tanners are just as hydrating and nourishing for the skin as moisturiser, the only difference being they simultaneously give your skin a sun-kissed colour. Win!

Products: ELEVEN Australia Sea Salt Texture Spray ($21.95, 200mL) and Taft Full On Sea Salt Spray ($6.99, 200mL)

Products: pureTan Pure Bronze Gradual Everyday Body Tanning Moisturiser SPF 15 ($17.95, 200mL) and Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula Natural Bronze Body Lotion ($12.99, 400mL)

words mcmeekin wordssamantha author’s name Want more inside tips and tricks? Check out the blog at www.beautyheaven.com.au 46 Ruby Summer

ruby food

There is nothing better on these cool, crisp Spring days than sitting with a delicious feast, something delightful in a glass and heart warming company. Bring some life to your dining table at home with these fabulous recipes from Darius.

photos biancawhitephotography.com.au

Cunningham Pier (03) 5222 6377 | baveras.com.au reservations@baveras.com.au Visit our website for open hours baveras

BaverasBrasserie

47 Ruby Summer

ruby food

Caramelised Pork Belly with a crispy noodle salad and peanut Nahm Jim Pork Belly

Crispy noodle salad

1 Tbsp vegetable oil

1 packet (200 grams) noodles

500g Pork Belly cut into 2.5 cm cubes

2 Tbsp oil

1 bunch coriander roots, finely chopped

salt to taste

1 garlic bulb, crushed

oil for deep-frying

2 shallots, peeled and sliced

1 packet bean sprouts

70g palm sugar, grated

Asian herbs

55ml fish sauce

1 red chilli deseeded and finely sliced

1 ¼ Tbs soy sauce 60 ml water Pinch of ground white pepper Heat a large heavy based pot or saucepan and add the vegetable oil, add a couple of pieces of the fattiest pieces of pork belly and cook for about 4-5 minutes or until some of the fat has rendered out of it. Add the coriander roots and garlic and cook for 2 minutes or until the garlic is golden. Add the remaining pork belly and stir to ensure that the pork doesn’t stick to the bottom of the pot. Once you have a little bit of heat in the pork belly add the shallots, palm sugar, soy sauce, white pepper and 60 ml of water.

Bring pot to boil and cook, stirring occasionally for around 40 minutes or until the pork is nice and tender. Reduce the heat to a low – medium heat and half cover the pot, cook for a further 40 minutes stirring occasionally. If the mixture starts to darken too much then you can add a little water to ensure that you don’t burn the caramel. Remove from pot and set aside for when you are ready.

Peanut Nahm Jim 50g roasted peanuts 50g brown sugar 1 clove of garlic peeled 1 large green chilli, deseeded and roughly chopped 2 large red chillies, deseeded and roughly chopped 1 coriander root 1 ginger, grated 75 ml lime juice 25 ml fish sauce Combine roasted peanuts, sugar, garlic, chillies, coriander root and ginger in a food processor and buzz together until combined.

Add the fish sauce and lime juice and buzz a little longer until you get a nice smooth paste.

48 Ruby Summer

Boil 4 cups of water and add 2 tablespoons of oil. Add the noodles while stirring occasionally and cook until they are parboiled. Drain well. Spread the noodles on a clean piece of cloth and allow them to dry for at least 2 to 3 hours. Heat plenty of oil in a wok or frying pan over a medium heat. Fry small quantities of noodles at a time in the hot oil until golden brown. Remove the noodles from the oil and drain on absorbent paper. Repeat with the remaining noodles.

To finish the dish, spread some peanut Nahm Jim on the base of you plate, scatter some crispy noodles over the top, spoon some pork belly on top of your noodles and finish by scattering some bean sprout, chilli and herbs over the top.

ruby food

Roasted whole fish with yellow bean dressing and a cucumber and mint salad Roasted Fish

Yellow bean dressing

Cucumber and mint salad

4-6 small plate size whole fish (for this recipe I used red mullet)

3 cloves garlic, peeled

1 clove garlic

3 large red chillies, deseeded

1 large red chilli, deseeded and chopped

Yellow bean dressing (enough to coat all of your fish)

2cm piece ginger, peeled and chopped

2 Tbsp lime juice

125 ml sweet soy sauce

1 Tbsp fish sauce

125 ml rice wine vinegar

Pinch of palm sugar

125 yellow bean paste (available at your local Asian grocer)

2 cucumbers, thinly shaved or sliced lengthways

125g palm sugar

2 shallots, finely sliced

Preheat you oven to 200Ë&#x161;c. Line a baking tray with some grease proof paper and lightly coat with oil (spray oil is fine to use).

Marinate your fish for at least 1 hour in the yellow bean dressing and then place neatly on the greased oven tray. Bake the fish for around 10-15 minutes and then turn your oven up to 230Ë&#x161;c and continue to bake for a further 10 min or until the fish is cooked through and is nice and glazed.

2 large handfuls mint, leaves lightly torn Place the garlic, ginger, chillies and palm sugar in a food processor and buzz until all ingredients are finely chopped and well combined. Add the sweet soy, rice wine vinegar and yellow bean paste and buzz for a few more minutes or until you have a nice smooth dressing. Place dressing a pot, bring to the boil and then turn it down to a gently simmer. Allow mixture to simmer for 5 minutes then remove from stove top.

Allow dressing to cool before you use it.

To make the dressing, place the garlic and chilli in a mortar and pestle and pound until you have a coarse paste, then add your lime juice, fish sauce and palm sugar and mix until well combined. Place the cucumber, shallots and mint in a bowl and lightly coat with dressing.

words darius sarkis, baveras 49 Ruby Summer

ruby spotlight

A SHARED MOMENT WITH A TRULY E X TRAORDINARY WOMAN Have you ever a moment when everything stops, the silence is deafening and there is a collective consciousness that you are sharing a special moment with the other people occupying the room? For the 220 guests who attended the Zonta Club dinner with Rosie Batty, that moment came when Rosie looked up to a picture of smiling Luke that was projected out to the room and said, “People ask me how I go on… you have no choice.”

M

ost of us in the room tried to absorb what Rosie said, admitting to each other afterwards that we doubted our own ability to be able to go on in the same circumstances.

Luke Batty was only 11 years old when he was murdered by his father. Although Rosie has spoken many times about the day her son was taken from her, she had never previously addressed a crowd where the gathering had been just about giving her a voice. The dinner took place on the evening of November 5th at the Mercure Hotel in Geelong, as one of the many events taking place in the “Barwon Month of Action to eliminate violence against women.” The Mercure had ensured that the room was decked out in yellow (Luke’s favourite colour) and the Zonta women were all wearing yellow tops, which was appreciated by Rosie.

Rosie spoke about the relationship that she has begun to develop with Victoria Police, and applauded Police Commissioner Ken Lay on the work he is doing, asserting, “culture change starts from the top”. Rosie went on to state that the domestic violence and police sectors have for so long been “under-resourced, under-valued and under-appreciated” for the support they offer people experiencing family violence.

Rosie acknowledged that her awareness of family violence had been lacking when she was a younger woman. Born in a small town overseas, Rosie had not realised that family violence was an issue for so many people. She admitted to being naïve about the impact that being in a controlling relationship could create, but said that all the changed when she met Greg Anderson.

Like most mothers, when Rosie found out that she was pregnant with Luke she describes it as “the greatest joy”. In her own words, Rosie told the crowd, “Having a child is the best gift you will ever have in your life.”

“Luke was beautiful. He would have been a good man,” she said, and spoke about Luke being a sensitive boy, which was one of the many things Rosie loved about her only child.

Of Greg Anderson, Luke’s father, Rosie stated that she knew quite early in her pregnancy that Greg’s behaviour was “off”. Because of the change in Greg’s behaviour, the relationship between he and Rosie did not continue. Rosie made a point of ensuring that the crowd understood a few things about family violence and the complexity of it. For those who think that a woman would be safe if she was to just leave the home because of violence, Rosie’s message

photos by elisha lindsay, el photography 50 Ruby Summer

was clear: just because you leave, it doesn’t mean you are safe.

Rosie and Greg were not living together, however she was not safe and required an intervention order to prevent Greg from seeing her. Regarding intervention orders, Rosie’s second message hit home with many in the room: an intervention order is only effective if the perpetrator respects it. Clearly, Greg Anderson did not have respect for the order, and had previously shown his disregard for the role of law enforcers.

Rosie spoke about the slow comprehension of the fact that Greg had murdered his son to hurt her. The realisation that Greg had demonstration premeditation in his actions in February this year is something that will no doubt haunt Rosie for years to come. Greg had never previously harmed Luke. Rosie had no reason to think that he ever would. And yet Rosie will never get to see her son turn into the good man she knows he could have become.

The crowd that joined Rosie for the dinner felt privileged to have had the opportunity to hear from such and amazing woman who is committed to continuing her work with law enforcers so that no other parent needs to live her experience.

ruby spotlight

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

elphotography.com.au

words by renee fiolet renee fiolet is a nursing and midwifery lecturer at deakin and a board member of zonta club of geelong

51 Ruby Summer

ruby spotlight

Changing lives one child at a time

H

ere’s your challenge: you have to reach out to schools and convince the Principals to let you come in with an incursion for 5 and 6 year-olds that focuses on preventing childhood sexual assault.

For Bravehearts Geelong Education Team, Mandy Berry, Meryl Friend and Chris Schultz, this was their challenge when they first began the Ditto Education Program in Geelong. But all three women are primary school teachers, and they all knew how important this program is, knew the horrifying truth that one in five children will suffer some form of sexual assault before the age of 18, so they went out and sold that message. That was three years ago. Today, they have presented the Bravehearts Education Program to over 21,000 children in Geelong, and that was just another cause for celebration at the Bravehearts Geelong 3rd Birthday Soiree, held at Lyndon Grove in October 2014.

The subject matter that Bravehearts deals with may seem confronting, and as

adults who understand the horrendous impact childhood sexual assault has, it is confronting. But the program itself isn’t confronting, at all. It’s a happy, fun, interactive show with singing and dancing and along the way a room full of kids help a big purple-clad lion cub, who is just a little bit shy and unsure, trust his new friends enough to let them help him.

The Ditto show is all about prevention and uses very simple language. Simple messages like speaking up if you feel unsafe or unsure about anyone are messages that children naturally respond to. And the program and mascot are called Ditto because the personal safety messages are repeated over and over.

“We are all about empowering kids to speak up and giving them the skills to keep safe,” Mandy said.

“When people see it they say, ‘Oh, I get it now. That’s okay.’ But initially there were a lot of what ifs,” she said. “We started with the schools, but now we’ve got so many kinders on board as well, it’s really great.” words davina montgomery

52 Ruby Summer

Catriona Rowntree with Ditto

The Bravehearts Education Program has been presented at 62 schools and over 67 kindergartens across Geelong, with only a handful of schools that haven’t accessed the program across the Greater Geelong region.

Currently, in Geelong, these three women make up the Bravehearts education team for the greater Geelong region.

The Geelong base, housed in a cosy office at the back of Noble Street Uniting Church Hall, is the Victorian head office of Bravehearts. The wider community and many businesses and business people donated both considerable time and money to ensuring that Bravehearts came to Geelong from its base in Queensland. And, perhaps the organisation’s founder, Hetty Johnson, having originally come from Geelong might have helped as well.

“We have many inquiries from Melbourne and across the state,” Meryl said. “But we only deliver the program in Geelong at this stage.”

The Bravehearts program receives no

Peter & Sue Newland with Bryan Schultz

Mandy Berry

state government funding, and while the team would love to be able to provide the program for free, without additional funding support schools and kindergartens do have to pay to host the program. Mandy said she is sure that every child in the region would have access to the program if there was no fee.

For an education team to be up and running, the community needs to have raised $300,000. In Geelong, that process started when Hetty Johnson came and spoke at a business function.

Local businessman, Ross Synot, drove the fundraising effort with an incredibly dedicated group of volunteers who made it all happen.

“We believe that money raised in Geelong stays in Geelong,” Mandy said.

“That’s important to us. Colac were so impressed with the program that the Colac Rotary Club and the Colac Mareeba Club got together and raised their own funding for us to come and deliver the program in every school and

kindergarten in Colac, and that’s been great.”

There is a volunteer group in Melbourne who have started fundraising to fund a Melbourne office and Bravehearts Education Program and Ballarat is also interested in bringing Bravehearts to their city.

Personally, I know this program works.

I’ve sat and watched and sang and learned. I’ve had the conversations afterwards, and was thankful that I had when answering some surprisingly insightful questions.

As a parent, I can’t begin to describe the value of that, of how grateful I am that my boys are growing up with these sorts of personal safety messages, messages that are empowering our kids to say no and to tell an adult they trust if someone – anyone – is doing something to them they don’t like or makes them feel unsafe or unsure. But I also can’t help thinking of all the lives that could have been changed, or saved, simply by hearing this message before the damage was done.

20,000th child, Joel Russell at Bellevue Pre School

If you would like to support the local Bravehearts office or help support the work of Bravehearts in Geelong, you can contact Mandy Berry on 0401 500 612.

For more information visit www.bravehearts.org.au Bravehearts Information & Support Line: 1800 272 831 For sexual assault referral or counselling, contact the Barwon Centre Against Sexual Assault (CASA) on 03 5222 4318 or visit www.casa.org.au/barwon CASA Crisis Line (24 hours): 1800 806 292 Kids Helpline: 1800 55 1800

53 Ruby Summer

ruby competition

54 Ruby Summer

ruby competition

Victoria’s biggest theme park is just down the road – and you can win a summer of unlimited fun!

Adventure Park in Wallington, with its 50 acres of parkland, has your family day out covered. Raft along the Lazy River, or turn up the speed dial on the Aqua Racer. The shallow and safe Tiny Tots Splashzone will have younger children grinning, splashing and squealing with excitement, while Bonito’s Bay is the perfect place to play pirates. Race down the heart-stopping Gold Rush Rapids or take the two-seater ride down the Wild West Canyon.

And there is so much more to do. When you need a break from the water, there is the beautifully restored antique Grand Carousel, and kids love the Little Buggy SpeedWay. Take a ride on the Kids Train, soar up high in the Wave Swinger, take a quiet pedal boat ride around the lake, or head to the Go Karts for some racing action.

Be Robin Hood for a day at the Archery zone, have a family game of Mini Golf or let the kids burn off some extra energy on the phenomenal 15 metre shaded Giant Bouncing Pillow.

With arcade games and interactive entertainment in Galactic World Games, relax on a sunlounge, or enjoy the day in style with a VIP Cabana, bring your own picnic, hire a barbecue or enjoy the range of grab a snack or a meal at one of the park’s eight food outlets.

Whatever you choose, it’s easy to have the Best Day Ever at Adventure Park.

Win one of two family membership passes with unlimited entry valued at $299.80 for endless summer fun!

To enter, jump on facebook @magazineruby or email abbey@adcellgroup.com.au & tell us who your favourite Victorian theme park is!

55 Ruby Summer

ruby spotlight

For more information on or help with autism spectrum disorders contact: • Amaze (Autism Victoria): www.amaze.org.au phone: 1300 308 699

For emergency help: • Lifeline: 13 11 14 • Parentline: 13 22 89 • Kids Helpline: 1800 55 1800 • Sane: 1800 187 263 56 Ruby Summer

ruby spotlight

Living with Autism I write this blurry eyed after being up all night with our 7 year-old who was scared – but he wasn’t sure what of, or what he had been dreaming about, sadly it’s because his mind doesn’t switch off. Even after a sleepless night, our day begins at 5am with him literally jumping off the walls and the benchtops and whatever or whoever else gets in his way. Even though he doesn’t eat it, he screams for breakfast with the toast having to be cut in the correct shape or it will get thrown across the room. No, he won’t sit quietly and watch TV, he won’t be happy to sit and eat his breakfast quietly; he is loud, very loud, angry and irritable and has woken his three siblings with his screams. This all happens whilst most households are still sound asleep. Our gorgeous little man has autism, ADHD and OCD.

I need to be a mind reader to know what his obsessions are for that day – as what he loved in his lunchbox yesterday could now become something that he will never eat again. His daily rituals are predictable though, some of these include his need to clean between each of his toes, lining up objects, spinning, not being able to sit next to someone eating certain foods and always having a certain handkerchief that he loves the feel of. He needs to have his back massaged, be twisted up in his sheets at night, he needs to drive a matchbox car back and forward hundreds of times, to carry around his treasures or to close his eyes when on a swing and falling asleep – this can also happen in the bath.

He can’t sit still and has to hop, run, jump, skip or spin instead of walking.

It could be a smell, the texture of food, a noise or someone simply looking at him that sets him off, or his socks being on the wrong feet – yes, who knew there were left and right socks! His clothes annoying him, his shoelaces needing tying EXACTLY the same way (this could take hours) or something as normal as a sibling walking past him – which then starts another battle of him getting so angry that he lashes out and hurts them. I often wonder what the neighbours must think with the constant screams that echo the street.

Like a lot of children on the spectrum they can hold it all in ... to a point. My boy waits until he reaches the car from the daily school pick up, me being on edge, as I know what is coming. He has waited until he feels in a safe environment and then has to let it all out. Will it be tears because he has hurt himself during the day and thinks his body is broken and his world is ending?

Or will it be anger, which means the family cops it all? His siblings may move a certain

way or even breathe loudly and he will be hitting out at them, screaming louder than we thought was even possible.

The most heartbreaking times, which happen daily, are when he screams uncontrollably because in his little mind he ‘is sad, useless and no good at anything’.

Or when he is crying and twisting his fingers to almost breaking point, being so irritable but not knowing why... maybe the day has just been too much for him.

Once, on the drive home from kinder, he asked me to take him to hospital ‘because my brain doesn’t work, it won’t do what I want it to do.’ It’s moments like this that would make even the toughest person cry.

I worry daily, has he fallen over at school, as he doesn’t cope with pain, blood or illness. What if he gets lost and can’t find any friends, which will then lead to an anxiety attack and the school ringing saying he can’t breathe? Or having a different teacher and being too scared to ask to go to the toilet? Will he leave an item behind or not understand the teacher’s instructions and stress all day about it until his anxiety becomes so high he can’t function? Will someone laugh at him needing to take his ‘security toy’ to school or will he panic about something so small that most people wouldn’t think twice about?

When I leave him at a party and come back early, I know I will find him crying and ready to come home because he has had enough, it’s all too loud, too sensory, even when it’s his own party. I will be the mum at school camp with him and the one always up at the school as something has happened. I will be the first at school pick up, as where I have parked once I need to park every time, I couldn’t even

imagine being late. At sporting events I will be the crazy woman waving at him just so he can relax knowing we are close by if he needs. I am the one rubbing his hand so he doesn’t break it with anxiety or reminding him to look people in the eye when they speak to him. I’m the friend who declines dinner offers and cancels catch ups as I haven’t slept in days, have hours of paperwork and appointments to attend or am in tears myself watching my little man in either a rage or rolled up in a ball of sadness.

There are two sides to our precious boy, the hyper, angry boy who doesn’t care if he upsets me, who tells me daily that he hates me and I can see in his eyes that he really wants to hit and hurt me, and sometimes he does. But this then brings about our new goal, for him to learn to care. That means many more therapist appointments, recording behaviours, paperwork and putting plans into action.

Then there is the boy with the most beautiful smile who is everyone’s friend at school, who has a funny personality and who makes us laugh daily with his wit. He is very clever and amazes us with all sorts of facts. He doesn’t like hugs but if in the mood will tolerate them when he knows I need one from him.

I hope this short story gives some insight to the daily struggles of living with autism, and with our daughter now also diagnosed as being on the spectrum I will be fighting for her as well and raising as much awareness as I can.

People are very quick to judge or give their opinions, but please remember, there is often a battle going on behind closed doors and it is an exhausting and often heartbreaking one.

words lynda mcdonald 57 Ruby Summer

ruby kids

Healthy tummies

happy mummies

N

one of us really knows where life is going to take us. For one busy local mother of three, a child’s illness challenged everything she thought she knew about health and nutrition.

Through trial and error and a lot of research, Nicole Beardsley found a new pathway to health for her daughter, and a happier life for her whole family. And by shariing what she has leanned through The Happy Parent Project, hundreds of other families are happier too.

Q: Why The Happy Parent Project?

How was the business born and why is it called The Happy Parent Project?

The Happy Parent Project is about inspiring and motivating other busy parents to find happiness and balance to live the family life that they dream of living. We live in a world these days that is fast, disconnected and competitive, and the happiness of our families is suffering. My mission is to give parents

with Western medicine. I delved deep into the causes of her illnesses and realised that it was processed food, prescription medicine and chemicals that were causing her symptoms. I threw myself into researching the causes and discovered that the lifestyle we were living was wreaking havoc with the health and happiness of the whole family.

Q: Once you started changing her diet, what differences were you seeing?

It was quite beautiful to see our happy and vibrant daughter returned to us.

Her skin cleared up and didn’t itch, she didn’t require steroids for her asthma and antibiotics became a thing of the past.

All of her symptoms cleared up - this is incredibly empowering as a parent to know that you can control the health of your child to a certain degree. We were able to heal her gut enough that she can now consume her trigger foods.

“Nobody can remember who said cereal had to be for breakfast and meat was for dinner, so mix it up. Granola and yoghurt is a perfectly acceptable meal at 7pm and, likewise, there is nothing w r o n g w i t h v e g e t a b l e s o u p f o r b r e a k fa s t .”

the tools to bring balance back to their day - balance with their food, health and thoughts. It’s called ‘The Happy Parent Project’ because there is a direct correlation between the happiness of parents and the happiness of our children. The Happy Parent Project was really born 5 years ago when I was unable to heal my (then toddler) daughter

Q: What does a typical day and diet look for you a your family now?

Breakfast: Egg rolls with avocado and spinach or a green smoothie for the kids. Black beans with eggs, homemade almond bread and kimchi for my hungry hubby who is a builder.

School lunches: Can of chickpeas or words judy baulch

58 Ruby Summer

tuna, homemade yoghurt, boiled eggs (from our chickens), green pizza’s (spelt flatbread with basil and kale pesto and cheese), kimchi (I’m not kidding, my kids take it to school!)

Dinner: Slow cooked lamb shanks in homemade bone broth with fresh vegetables from the garden Everything we eat is designed to heal the gut to prevent further health issues.

This is why our meals include gut-healing foods such as kimchi, bone broth and our own organic eggs.

Q: Busy mums are constantly being bombarded with messages about health and nutrition for their children and for themselves, so much so that they often switch off; it’s all too hard.

What is it about your program that other mums have connected with?

I run a programme called ‘12 Steps to a Healthy Family’ designed specifically for busy Mums. The beauty of it is that it gives you the tools to get organised (such as meal planning and creating a morning routine), so that you can fit in time to live a healthy life. I’ve coached hundreds of Mums and been through the trials and tribulations myself and I’ve found that the only way to truly live a healthy lifestyle in today’s busy world is by being organised. That’s why the programme works. I’ve had Mums write to me and say, “Seriously, that meal plan, I think it’s saved my marriage!” - and they’re not kidding!

Q: Some of us have the fun of raising very fussy eaters, what advice would you give to the mums of small (and not so small) food refusers?

I have 1 very fussy eater in my house too, so I know what it’s like! I’ve written a book called ‘10 ways to get your kids

CHOC BERRY FROZEN TREATS ICECREAM 1 cup frozen berries 1/2 banana chopped and frozen 1/4 avocado chopped and frozen 1/2 tsp honey 3/4 cup milk of your choice Blend everything together then pour into icy pole moulds and freeze for several hours

to eat healthy food’ that anyone can download from my website for free. In the book I focus on taking it slowly, role modelling, and educating your children in a way they understand. There are some great tips in that book!

Q: The Happy Parent Project isn’t all about diet and healthy eating, what are some of the most valuable tips you’ve learnt along the way about taking care of yourself as a parent?

Don’t feel guilty about locking the bathroom door! Self-care is my number one tip for busy parents. We spend so much time feeling guilty that we’re not being the best mother/father wife/ husband daughter/son sister/brother or school volunteer that we forget to be happy. Slow down, breathe and take care of yourself. .

Q: While most parents want to be healthy and encourage their kids to be healthy too, we can tend to let it slide when life gets busy. What are some of the best ways to work towards a

Chocolate 1/2 cup coconut oil 1/4 cup cacao Pinch of salt 2 Tb honey For the toppings: Your choice of crushed nuts, coconut or sprinkles.

Heat all chocolate ingredients in a saucepan over a low heat until melted.

sustainably healthy lifestyle? Is it all about baby steps?

Absolutely. Work on one thing at a time and master that before adding the next thing. Unless you have a significant health issue, don’t try to ditch sugar, alcohol and caffeine whilst exercising 5 times per week and mediating for an hour a day you’ll go mad! If you start today with one small change, like cutting down from 3 coffees per day to 2, and do that for a year you’ll be amazed where you end up.

Q: What are some of the things that you know now that you wished you had known when you had your first child that you know now?

Preservative 220 is everywhere and exacerbates asthma - dried fruit is therefore not a good snack option.

Locking your child on the other side of the toilet door does NOT cause anxiety or separation issues in later life. If the ONLY place you can find peace is by locking yourself in the toilet or walk in robe, then by all means make that your sanctuary.

Stir well to combine. Line a tray or plate with grease proof paper.

Put your topping choices into 3 separate bowls or on plates.

Once the icy poles are frozen, remove from moulds.

Dip into the chocolate and coat well then dip into toppings and place on the lined plate.

Eat straight away.

Feed your children before attending a birthday party - their stomachs can only fit in so much.

There WILL be one other person’s child at that party that can’t eat the junk either befriend that person!

Every single one of your children will have a different healthy baking preference; so don’t be offended when they say ‘this is disgusting’. It’s Murphy’s Law that one of the other children will like it.

Nobody can remember who said cereal had to be for breakfast and meat was for dinner, so mix it up. Granola and yoghurt is a perfectly acceptable meal at 7pm and, likewise, there is nothing wrong with vegetable soup for breakfast.

The state of your child’s gut is a big contributor to illness. If you or your child is suffering from recurring infection, illness, emotional disturbance or any health issue, please talk to your doctor or natural health practitioner about having your gut tested.

www.thehappyparentproject.com https://www.facebook.com/thehappyparentproject 59 Ruby Summer

ruby arts

GlobE TO GEELONG Shakespeare’s Globe are on a world tour that will take in literally every country on the globe, and here in Australia the only performances of Globe to Globe – Hamlet, will be right here in Geelong in May 2015.

Throughout 2015, an outstanding array of productions from renowned Australian and international companies hold all the promise of a truly memorable season of theatre. GPAC General Manager, Jill Smith, said that while some dates were tightly squeezed into the calendar, the productions were simply too good to refuse. “How could we decline an opportunity to be the only venue in Australia to present the iconic Shakespeare’s Globe with Hamlet; to present the only Victorian performances of Storm Boy; and bring the New Zealand Dance Company to Geelong for the first time with Rotunda?”

The 2015 season will open in February with bread&circuses presenting a true story about love, art, history and fish balls in the production Wot? No Fish!!, written and performed by Danny Braverman. Queensland Theatre Company will fly in with the fast-moving, action-packed story Kelly. In May, GPAC will host the first fulllength work by The New Zealand Dance Company, Rotunda, a moving story about community, featuring the Geelong West Brass Band; followed by the only Victorian shows of iconic Australian story Storm Boy, presented by Sydney Theatre Company and Barking Gecko Theatre Company. In the same week, Shakespeare’s Globe will be in Geelong for the only Australian performances of Globe to Globe - Hamlet.

The second half of the year will see the return of Red Stitch Actors Theatre with Love, Love, Love by Mark Bartlett - a look at the baby boomer generation that never grew up. Then, If Theatre will present Mother, a one-woman play written by Daniel Keene for award winning Australian actor Noni Hazlehurst. Queensland Theatre Company will return with Country Song by Reg Cribb, celebrating the life and music of indigenous icon Jimmy Little. The season will finish on a high note with Left Bauer Productions presenting Master Class by Terence McNally, an insightful look into the life and art of opera‘s most beloved and controversial diva, Maria Callas.

Season ticket packages of five or more shows offering significant discounts are available at www.gpac.org.au or contact Box Office.

60 Ruby Summer

YOUTH PROGRAMS

ruby kids HOLIDAY STUFF! From 3 years to teens, there are programs and activities to get you over the holiday hump days. Here’s just some of what’s on offer.

Ocean Adventures (Ages 3+) BOOK NOW FOR OUR RANGE OF FUN-FILLED HOLIDAY ACTIVITIES! Bannockburn: Tuesday 13 January 10.30-11.30am ALL ACTIVITIES SUITABLE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE AGED 12+

Belmont: Tuesday 20 January 10.30-11.30am Chilwell: Tuesday 20 January 10.30-11.30am Corio: Thursday 15 January 10.30-11.30am OCEAN GROVE Drysdale: Thursday 22 January 10.30-11.30am Geelong: Wednesday 14 January 10.30-11.30am Geelong West: Wednesday 14 January 10.30-11.30am DIGILICIOUS Highton: Friday 16 January 10.30-11.30am BOOK 15 NOW FOR10.30-11.30am OUR RANGE OF FUN-FILLED HOL Tuesday January 2.30-4.00pm Newcomb:13Thursday January Ocean Grove: Wednesday 21 January 10.30-11.30am Torquay: Monday 19 January 10.30-11.30am

ALL ABOUT KIDS!

BANNOCKBURN

CHILWELL

Animal Adventures (Ages 3+) OCEAN13 ADVENTURES TORQUAY Belmont: Tuesday January 10.30-11.30amOCEAN ADVENTURES Tuesday 13 January 10.30-11.30am 20 January 10.30-11.30am Lara: Wednesday 14 January 10.30-11.30amTuesday Ages 3+ Ages 3+ Waurn Ponds: Wednesday 21 January 10.30-11.30am

SELFIES ART ADVENTURE MINECRAFT ADVENTURES Space Adventures (Ages 3+) 20 January 6.00-8.00pm Thursday 15Tuesday January 2.30-4.00pm

Ages 8+January 10.30-11.30am Highton: Friday 23

CORIO

MOVIE MANIA MOVIE MANIA Art Adventure Monday 12 January 2.30-4.00pm Thursday 22 January 2.30-4.00pm Lara: Thursday 22 January 2.30-3.30pm Ages 8+ In partnership with Golden Plains Ocean Grove:Shire Wednesday 14 January 2.30-3.30pm WAURN PONDS Youth Development Team OCEAN ADVENTURES Waurn Ponds:Ages Monday 19 January 10.30-11.30pm 8+

Thursday 15 January 10.30-11.30am Ages 3+

Minecraft SELFIES ARTAdventures ADVENTURE (Ages 8+) Bannockburn: Tuesday 20 January 6.00-8.00pm SHOE BOX DIORAMA Thursday 22 January 2.30-4.00pm Tuesday 20 January 2.30-3.30pm

I’M BORED...

CORIO

SELFIES ART ADVENTURE Tuesday January 2.30-4.00pm Ah, it13must be school holidays. When the joys of

your heart are doing their best to drive you up the wall, take a breath, grab your phone/tablet/laptop and check BANNOCKBURN out the fabulous program of events running at our libraries throughout January.

DIGILICIOUS Friday 16 January 2.30-3.30pm

Movie Mania (Ages 8+) Ages 8+ Bannockburn: Thursday 22 January 2.30-4.00pm ADVENTURE ZINES Corio: Monday 12 January 2.30-4.00pm Newcomb: Wednesday 21 January 2.30-4.00pm DRYSDALE Friday 16 January 2.30-4.00pm Ocean Grove: Tuesday 13 January 6.00-7.30pm OCEAN ADVENTURES Ocean Grove: Tuesday 20 January 6.00-7.30pm Thursday 22 January 10.30-11.30am Waurn Ponds: Wednesday 14 January 2.30-4.00pm Ages 3+ Waurn Ponds: Wednesday 21 January 2.30-4.00pm Shoe Box Diorama (Ages 8+) GEELONG Barwon Heads: Tuesday 20 January 2.30-4.00pm OCEAN ADVENTURES BARWON HEADS 10.30-11.30am Belmont: Thursday 15 January Wednesday 14 January 10.30-11.30am Corio: Tuesday 20BOX January 2.30-4.00pm SHOE DIORAMA Ages 3+ Tuesday 2020 January 2.30-3.30pm Newcomb: Tuesday January 2.30-4.00pm Ages 8+

I’m Bored (Ages 8+) GEELONG WEST Belmont: Wednesday 7 January 10.30-11.30am BELMONT

OCEAN ADVENTURES

Create Your Own Book AdventureWednesday (Ages 14 8+) January 10.30-11.30am I’M BORED Ages 3+ Belmont: Thursday 22 January 10.30-11.30am Wednesday 7 January21 10.30-11.30am Geelong West: Wednesday January 10.30-11.30am

CREATE YOUR OWN BOOK ADVENTURE

Ages 8+

NEWCOMB SELFIES ART ADVENTURE Tuesday 13 January 2.30-4.00pm

BOOK NOW

Bookings: Online www.grlc.vic.gov.au/events In person at any branch Phone 5272 6010

Wednesday 21 January 10.30-11.30am Lego Adventures (Ages 8+) ANIMAL ADVENTURES Ages 8+ Ocean Grove:Tuesday Friday 23 January 2.30-4.00pm 13 January 10.30-11.30am Torquay: Friday Ages16 3+ January 2.30-4.00pm BOX DIORAMA (Ages 8+) MinecraftSHOE Adventures Thursday 15 January 10.30-11.30am Tuesday 20 January 6.00-8.00pm Ages 8+

Movie Mania (Ages 8+) OCEAN ADVENTURES Thursday 22 January 2.30-4.00pm Tuesday 20 January 10.30-11.30am (In partnership with Ages 3+ Golden Plains Shire Youth Development Team) CREATE YOUR OWN BOOK ADVENTURE Sea, Sand & Stories Thursday 22 January 10.30-11.30am Marine and Freshwater Discovery Centre Ages 8+ Thursday 15 January 10.30-11.30am

Seriously? Seriously!

And it’s so totally not all for little kids. Youth programs for ages 12+ include Selfies Art Adventure, Digilicious and Adventure Zines.

BOOK NOW

Bookings: Online www.grlc.vic.gov.au/events In person at any branch Phone 5272 6010

61 Ruby Summer

ruby loves 3.

2.

4.

1.

CUSHION comforts 5.

Run, donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t walk, to these local retailers with amazingly beautiful - and comfortable - cushions.

7.

8.

6.

1. House Warming (www.house-warming.com.au) - Wonder Luna $85 size 60 x 60cm includes insert 2. House Warming -Wonder Infinity $79 size 40 x 60cm includes insert 3. Macier 3 (www.macier3.com) -New Bloom; from The First Collection, 45 x 45cm square, Cotton twill cover (with zipper), 100% eco friendly insert, Machine washable, Original photography 4-7. Eclectica (www.eclectica.com.au) Variety of Cushions 8. Macier 3 (www.macier3.com) - Blues Boat; from The Barwon Heads Collection, 45 x 45cm square, Cotton twill cover (with zipper), 100% eco friendly insert, Machine washable, Original photography.

62 Ruby Summer

ruby book club

SUMMER READS

JACQUELINE BOUVIER KENNEDY ONASSIS THE UNTOLD STORY

Horst: Photographer of Style

Arkie’s Pilgrimage to the Next Big Thing

Susanna Brown

Lisa Walker

Elizabeth Renzetti

Barbara Leaming

Sheer elegance and undeniable style, the photographic career of Horst P. Horst is celebrated in this extraordinarily beautiful book.

One of Vogue’s most prolific and creative contributors, Horst ranks as one of the great masters of twentiethcentury photography. He worked in Paris and New York, photographing fashions by leading designers, collaborating with arbiters of style such as Elsa Schiaparelli and Coco Chanel. But it is perhaps the images he captured of the century’s stars – of Noel Coward in a candid moment, of Vivien Leigh in striking contemporary fashion and Ginger Rogers, amongst others. He was inspired

by Hellenic motifs and the work of surrealists such as Salvadore Dali. His littleknown travel photographs reveal his fascination with ancient cultures, landscapes and architecture and.

His work epitomizes the interconnections between art, fashion and high society.

‘I watch the highway go by and ponder my situation.

I am on the run from my husband’s divorce lawyer, my mojo is still missing in action and my demon ex-lover is lurking . . . But, all things considered, my pilgrimage is going well . . .’ At the heart of this delightfully funny novel is Arkie, who used to run a successful business advising companies on ‘the next big thing’, until she loses her marriage, and her mojo. Her eccentric new friend Haruko suggests a pilgrimage in Japan. But funds are tight, so instead Arkie’s going on a very Australian trip, to all the ‘Big Things’. With Haruko as her guide, magic is everywhere.

A Buddha appears next to the Big Redback, the Big Macadamia rises from the jungle like a lost temple and inside the Big Shell she can hear a tinkling voice. As her improbable adventure unfolds a new realisation dawns - has she been missing what’s right in front of her?

The Devil Wears Prada meets Absolutely Fabulous and Bridget Jones’s Diary in an addictive, hilarious and wildly entertaining novel about having it all, losing it all - and fighting back. ‘I threw in a coin and I closed my eyes and I thought, I hope I’ve got enough Valium to see me through the week. One of the other mums chucked her coin in, and turned to me.

She said, ‘Do you think there will ever come a day when we’ll make a wish that’s about ourselves, and not about our kids?’ A celebrity who’s more notorious for her excesses than her famous roles; her former lover, who’s threatening to reveal the truth behind her bestselling autobiography; her long-lost son, who’s escaped from the train wreck of his mother’s life and doesn’t want to be found… a fun and fabulous beach read, this is a delicious and addictive novel about a washed-out soap opera diva, her lifetime of secrets, and the innocent young journalist who gets caught in her wake.

For almost six decades, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis has fascinated people worldwide. The subject of numerous books and articles, her life has probably been documented in millions of words. And yet, there has always remained something mysterious, something private about this very public woman. With great sensitivity, Barbara Leaming explores the seemingly magical world of Jackie’s youth, her fairy-tale marriage to a wealthy and handsome Senator and Presidential candidate and her astonishing transformation into a deft political wife and unique First Lady. But the trauma of her husband’s murder, which left her literally soaked in blood and brains, would damage her far more than has been known. This is the first book to document Jackie’s brutal, lonely and valiant thirty-one-year struggle with post-traumatic stress disorder and tells the untold story of the Jackie O that we didn’t see in photos.

Based On A True Story

63 Ruby Summer

Royal Geelong Yacht Club LADIES, LETâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S GO SAILING! Fo inf r mo re or ple mati on ase 03 ema 5229 call , il m 370 5 rgy ember or c.c s om hip@ .au

Image supplied by Denise Smeaton

Sailing is a great way to relax, make new friends, increase fitness and even compete individually or as part of a team.

Royal Geelong Yacht Club offers lots of options for women to try sailing, both socially and competitively.

Twilight Sailing, (Wednesdays), Women in Sailing (Thursday Evenings, Monthly), Keelboat Racing (Wednesday and Saturdays)

Give it a go and see for yourself!

Royal Geelong Yacht Club 25 Eastern Beach Road, Geelong www.rgyc.com.au