Issue 19 - Sabona Magazine by Sabona Publishing Pty Ltd

THE MAG FOR SOUTHERN AFRICANS LIVING IN OZ

ISSUE 19

LIFESTYLE IMMIGRATION PEOPLE TRAVEL FOOD & HOME ENTERTAINMENT TECHNOLOGY CLUB NEWS & EVENTS BUSINESS SPORT

Tiana

CAN Dance!

encouraging investment

in South Africa

FOCUS ON SOCCER

in South Africa Issue 19 jun/jul 2010 aus: $3.95 inc gst www.sabona.com.au

2010 and beyond... Who’s on your team? To reach the World Cup, the best teams surround themselves with an entourage of professionals. They just won‘t make it without the best coach, manager, psychologist, doctor, physiotherapist, and masseur. Each plays a critical role when it counts.

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So, Who’s on your team?

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The property market has gained momentum - we can help you find the opportunities and reduce the risks. Your Ironfish contact: Zack Hassan is an ex-South African property investor, who now calls Australia home. After extensive research into the Australian property market, he realized the importance of an entourage to help him manage risk, and make the right strategic investment decisions. Zack now helps other migrants to build their investment portfolios on their way to financial freedom.

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SAbona ISSUE 19

contents cover stories 8 11 16 18 20

Tiana can dance! Focus on soccer in South Africa Getting to know Nicholis Louw

Getting to know Kurt Darren A split second that changed lives forever

LIFESTYLE

23 24 25

Be healthy Empower your child Pet priorities: 3 year vaccinations for dogs

IMMIGRATION

26 27 28 30

Only in Oz: What do you miss? Survive…and enjoy the ride: Being an expat Shipping vehicles from South Africa Downunder Diary

PEOPLE

31 36

Spotted… Encouraging investment in South Africa

FOOD & HOME

40 42 44 45

From the kitchen: Malay chicken curry Shopping around Cheers…from the cellar! Property page: Australians in deep debt

encouraging investment in south africa 36

TRAVEL

46 47

Places I’ve been Without one you are on your own

entertainment

48 50 51

The sounds of South Africa Shakaboom From Cheryl’s rocking chair

technology

A notebook or a desktop?

sport

Ready for ringball?

club news & events

SAbona Business Network

business

57 58 61 63

4 www.sabona.com.au

Be glad of life ATO increases investigation of African immigrants to Australia Injured sponsored workers and the law Business directory

lilac breasted roller

Coracias caudatus

, it perches Usually found alone or in pairs s, poles tree of tops the at y ousl conspicu where from ts poin age or other high vant pions, it can spot insects, lizards, scor moving snails, small birds and rodents about at ground level..

11 31

46 REGULARS 23 Be healthy 25 Pet priorities 27 Survive...and enjoy the ride! 26 Only in Oz 30 Downunder diary 44 Cheers...from the Cellar! 46 Places I’ve been 50 Shakaboom 51 From Cheryl’s rocking chair 63 Business directory

6 CADAC Kettle BBQ 17 Dinner with Nicholis Louw 18 Tickets to Kurt Darren 52 The Secret Elephants by Gareth Patterson SAbona ISSUE 19

who’s who

Magazine Chief Executive Officer Philip Scott 0413 996 173 philip@sabona.com.au Editor Cheryl Goodenough 0450 601 317 cheryl@sabona.com.au Design Leandi Newth 1300 848 718 leandi@sabona.com.au Website Developer Shane Leite 0438 255 223 shane@sabona.com.au Accounts and Administration Carolyn Cummings 1300 848 718 carolyn@sabona.com.au Advertising 1300 848 718 advertising@sabona.com.au www.sabona.com.au/advertising Head Office 3/9 Northward Rd Upper Coomera Queensland 4211 Phone 1300 848 718 Fax 1300 725 318

from the editor I’m writing this less than a day before I return to South Africa for the first time since arriving in Australia. Such trips are definitely one of the ‘firsts’ about which many immigrants talk. In this issue So you think you can dance choreographer Tiana Canterbury (see page 8) talks about going back to South Africa for the first time in 2008, more than 15 years after she arrived in Australia at the age of 10. It was an opportunity for her to share the country with her Australian-born daughter and she says that they both fell in love with South Africa, yet Tiana was also reminded about the opportunities that are available in Australia and returned motivated to be even more successful here.

“Tiana Canterbury talks about going back to South Africa for the first time in 2008, more than 15 years after she arrived in Australia at the age of 10. (page 8)”

Also in this issue South African High Commissioner to Australia Lenin Shope (see page 36) talks to SAbona about missing the vibe of South Africa when he is living overseas (as he has done for a large part of his life). The High Commissioner also encourages those South Africans living in Australia, who still want to acknowledge that there is something in us that is South African, to reach out more to South Africans of other races. “We need to be constructive and reach out to others. It’s up to all of us to try to reach out a little more, break those barriers a little more.”

The many people that we feature in SAbona magazine are different in so many ways and are from across the colour spectrum. Some left South Africa many years ago, others more recently, but there is an element of South African-ness in all of them. By helping Southern Africans to settle in Australia, SAbona magazine aims to showcase some of the successes that South Africans are achieving in Australia and to bring together some of that South African-ness.

Online www.sabona.com.au

In achieving our aims it is vitally important to us at SAbona that we’re publishing information that is useful and interesting for our readers. As a result we are conducting a survey to understand our readers better and to help us determine if there aspects of the magazine that we need to change and what aspects of the magazine our readers most enjoy.

Postal Address Sabona Magazine PO Box 307 Nerang Queensland 4211

Please fill in the survey, which is available at www.sabona.com.au/survey.ews. Just by helping us to improve the magazine you’ll receive a FREE six month subscription (or six month extension of your existing subscription) and will go into a random draw to win a $280 CADAC Kettle BBQ donated by CADAC Australia.

Disclaimer All views expressed in this magazine are those of the writers and not necessarily those of the publisher, editor, representatives or associates of this publication. The content presented in the pages of this magazine is for reader information and interest only. It is not a substitute for professional and/or legal advice in any way. Do not use this information to make financial or legal decisions as it is for reference only. All contents © 2010 Sabona Publishing Pty Ltd. Reproduction without permission is prohibited.

6 www.sabona.com.au

Mmmm, definitely something very South African about boerewors on the braai actually being eaten in Africa. Best I get packing! Until next time,

Cheryl Goodenough cheryl@sabona.com.au

Fill in the SAbona survey at .ews www.sabona.com.au/survey . BBQ tle Ket to win a CADAC

letters

Visit www.sabona.com.au to comment, email editor@sabona.com.au or send your letters to PO Box 307, Nerang, Queensland 4211

Safari Suits

Celebrating ANZAC Day

What is it with you all about Safari Suits? (To Afrikaans or NOT to Afrikaans, Issue 14) Long time since I’ve seen one, even in South Africa. Have I ever seen one in the last 30 years? Anyway, I would like to see someone with one again. Toe man! No, that will be one progressive person wearing it. Going retro, and probably a very good bloke! Leave the suits alone. No, I’ve never owned a safari suit! Hendrik Esterhuizen, web comment

I was very interested to learn of the existence of the South African Military Veterans Organisation of Australasia (SAVOA) (ANZAC Day and its meaning for Southern Africans, Issue 13). For the past 12 years I have attended the ANZAC Day ceremony in Auckland as a tribute to the sacrifice made by my father, Saul (Solly) Gordon, who as a Jew and a South African selflessly fought in World War II. Since his passing in 2006, I have worn his medals to the ceremony. It is because of ANZAC Day that my brothers said I was to have his medals and on this day I feel very close to him. My later father was the chief pharmacist at the Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital in Soweto for over 45 years. This is my very special and precious way of honouring the memory of my beloved Dad. Jennifer Gordon, web c omment

Australian Bush Cooking Thanks so much for the beautiful book Australian Bush Cooking by Cathy Savage that I have received. I’ll enter all competitions from now on! And thanks for a wonderful magazine – you make us feel less foreign. Lita Mathews, email

South Africa’s Snakeman I am not fond of reptiles, but Austin Stevens’ programs (South Africa’s Snakeman in Australia, Issue 18) have always been a hit with my kids. Magdalene Julius, web comment

Congratulations to Our Competition Winners: The Last Snake Man by Austin J. Stevens: Kerry Pitcher Mense van my Asem by Steve Hofmeyr: Riana Viljoen Vier Briewe vir Jan Ellis by Steve Hofmeyr: Shane Burnett Tickets to the Steve Hofmeyr performance: Marius Jewaskiewitz

Letter of the Month: Edna Schoeman Winner of $55 to spend with SAbona

Visiting in Brisbane

$400 worth of music and movies from Royal Hotel Records: Giulio di Somma Let the Dead Lie by Malla Nunn: Marie Mayne, Bonni Coetzer, Adrian Oosthuizen

We had visitors arrive from South Africa with a limited budget so we packed a basket of goodies for breakfast and drove to the lookout at the top of Mount Coot-tha and had our breakfast up there overlooking Brisbane. It was stunning and clear early in the morning. We then parked the car in a side street in Toowong and hopped on the City Cat at the Regatta terminal. Although not free, it was only around $8 for an adult and a child and we could travel as much as we wanted between 9am and 3.30pm. We travelled all the way down the river to where the City Cats turn around, then hopped off at Southbank, where we walked around and had lunch. Then we went to the Queensland Museum for free, hopped back on the City Cat and went to pick up our car again. It was a lovely day that did not cost much. Edna Schoeman, web comment

the name sabona The name SAbona is a play on words. Sawubona is a Zulu greeting so we say Sa(wu)bona to South Africans in Australia. In addition, Bona is a Setswana word meaning look or view. As such SAbona also provides a view of South Africa from Australia, and of Southern Africans living in Australia.

Our mission at Sabona::To provide a positive environment for ex-Southern Africans to build strong new relationships and help make Australia their home.

cover story tiana canterbury

Tiana

CAN Dance!

by Cheryl Goodenough

Reading through Tiana Canterbury’s résumé, it’s remarkable that this Capetonian is only just 29 years old. With more than 15 years of dancing experience, specialising in hip hop, dancehall, break, funk, salsa, afro and disco, Tiana has been a choreographer for all three seasons of So You Think You Can Dance Australia. She teaches dancing, has choreographed and performed at Parliament House in Canberra, and has been a back-up dancer for Guy Sebastian, Chingy USA, Nitty USA and Montell Jordan. The list goes on…she’s also the Face of Champion and was an extra in the movie Matrix. And she choreographed The Starlettes Motown Show that is currently touring Australia. In addition, there are very significant aspects to her life that aren’t in her résumé: Like the fact that she’s also mom to 10 year old Lexus and four year old Rome.

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Tiana moved with her family to Australia when she was almost 10 years old. Initially based in Melbourne, they relocated to Sydney when she was about 12. One of the things that stood out for her when she arrived in Australia was the difference in culture compared to South Africa where people were friends with their neighbours and would talk to one another in the street. “I have taken my kids back to South Africa and it is so different. There the kids are all playing outside in the streets, whereas here they are inside watching TV.” Going back to South Africa for the first time in 2008, Tiana says it was a great opportunity for her daughter to find out about their roots. “It was good for both of us. I hadn’t gone back before because I was scared as everyone talks about how dangerous it is. Also I had my family in Australia so I didn’t need to go back to see family. But then my daughter started to ask lots of questions about South Africa,” she says. “We both fell in love with South Africa: The culture, the humour, the way people chat to their neighbours. It just brought me back to basics. I also realised how easy we have it here in Australia. I saw cousins in South Africa who are the same age as me, and also single moms. I felt for them as they do not have the financial support and opportunities that we have here. Yet, they still have a smile on their faces. I love that. It really opened up my eyes and motivated me even more to be successful here in Australia.” During her visit to South Africa Tiana says that she realised that there are so many opportunities for young people in Australia, and that many people here, including migrants, are extremely motivated to get somewhere in life. “People my age in Australia are buying a house, getting a business up and running. They are motivated to do these kinds of things and there are opportunities enabling them to achieve these things.” Although never technically trained, Tiana has always had a passion for dance and performing. She put shows together at a number of schools while in high school and performed at Wonderland theme park. It was during this time, at the age of just 13, that she was spotted at a school night by the chart topping Dowlut Brothers of Australian R&B group Kaylan/Disco Montego. This resulted in introductions to international and national artists and other people in the entertainment industry.

I also realised “how easy we have it here in Australia... It really opened up my eyes and motivated me even more to be successful here in Australia.

”

SAbona ISSUE 19

cover story tiana canterbury

Tiana wasn’t able to pursue her passion full-time initially and just a week after finishing high school she started a job Westpac. “The job wasn’t for me at all. I was a single mom at the time so it was quite something for me to leave a nine-to-five job to follow my dreams and passions,” she says. However, Tiana started to get work, did back-up dancing for Guy Sebastian, performed at the MTV and Aria awards and got into teaching dance. Tiana works closely with her fiancé R&B/neo soul artist Mike Champion and choreographs most of his shows. Then came So You Think You Can Dance Australia. Tiana says that , as a result of her work at the Urban Dance Centre in Sydney, she was asked to meet the show producers because her style of dance is different and would be challenging for the contestants. Tiana says her lack of technical training during her early years has been compensated by being surrounded by trained professional dancers from whom she’s learned the discipline as well as techniques. “Compared to many other dancers I relied on my performance skill to capture the audience. Others rely on technique. I went the opposite way and then picked up the technique as I went along,” she says.

honest with yourself “andBeothers and know what you’re doing as far as techniques and styles go.

”

Tiana has found it challenging to find work in the dancing world as a person of a different nationality and colour. “There are not a lot of roles for us in theatre. It is fine doing back-up dancing, but there are not many roles in theatre, and that’s a challenging part of being a South African of colour in Australia. So You Think You Can Dance is a highlight in Tiana’s career, but she regards her own business and an initiative to teach healthy eating and fitness in schools as her biggest achievement so far. “There are four of us from different nationalities who do a show and workshop with children in primary schools. I feel that it’s so important for children to be able to express themselves.” In addition, Tiana does charity work and is involved in helping the South African community in Australia. She has organised performances and done stage work for the annual African Festival and the Aboriginal Education Council Festival, both of which are held in Sydney. Attributing her success to being passionate and committed, Tiana says that her advice to anyone who wants to dance professionally is to get as much training and knowledge of different styles of dance as possible. “Have a good rapport with everyone. It is a small industry and it can be bitchy. But be true to yourself. Be honest with yourself and others and know what you’re doing as far as techniques and styles go.” One of Tiana’s goals for the future is to continue spreading the word about the importance of dance for children in primary schools as a way to develop confidence and express themselves. In addition, she would like to work with children who have disabilities and autism and develop dance programs for them. On a personal level she says that she doesn’t really know how she juggles looking after two small children and her demanding career. “I have great support and family members who are always there to babysit at the drop of a hat. It is a highly challenging job to combine with having children, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. I feel lost when my kids aren’t with me and I’m at home. I don’t know how to sit and relax.” Like many mums though, her personal goal is figuring out how to juggle the demands of being mummy and a businesswoman. To comment: www.sabona.com.au/1903

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Other highlights in Tiana’s career • Choreographed and performed at VIP events including Australian Fashion Week Runway Show for the Infamous Tight Knickers and Wish fashion labels and the Australian Dancehall Queen Championships • Performed at launches for Elizabeth Arden (Roca, Britney Spears, Hilary Duff) • Was the Face of street brand Champion clothing • Worked alongside star of SBS’ Fat Pizza Anthony Salame as stage director of the sold out ‘Anthony Salame’s Christmas Special” • Toured Australia as lead dancer of the 2008 Smash Hits tour

FOCUS ON SOCCER

in South Africa by Richard Baldock

south africa After 16 years of isolation from FIFA World Cup Soccer, the South African soccer team re-entered international soccer in 1992 with their first game against Cameroon.

Four years later Bafana Bafana shot to fame as they claimed their maiden African Nations Cup, defeating Tunisia on home soil. The South Africa soccer team participated in the 1998 France Soccer World Cup, but were knocked out in the first round by the French. They forged ahead, and whilst the second round seemed in sight, it was not to be. Another blow came for the South African soccer team as they failed to qualify for the 2006 Germany World Cup. However this was somewhat alleviated by the announcement in 2004 that South Africa would be the

first African country to host a Soccer World Cup tournament. After their heroic performance at the FIFA Confederations Cup in June 2009, where they finished in fourth place, the South African soccer team has proven that it has the potential to be a serious contender for claiming the 2010 Soccer World Cup title, especially considering it is on home ground. With the world watching closely, the Rainbow Nation has prepared feverishly to deliver on what is probably the biggest sports-related project the country has ever undertaken.

SAbona ISSUE 19

cover story focus on soccer

The Champion Soccer World Cup Players Key to the Bafana Bafana team is Steven Pienaar, a talented midfielder. Pienaar has skilled himself into being an all-round player who displays immense confidence, positively impacting the team as a whole. Less prominent, yet equally essential to the success of the South Africa soccer team, are Tsepho Masilela and Siboniso Gaxa.

Bafana Bafana Leadership Born on February 27, 1943 in Rio de Janeiro, Carlos Parreira, has extensive international experience, yet has never actually played soccer in a professional capacity. He began his career as a fitness coach before leading a number of countries including Brazil, taking the team to victory at the 1994 United States Soccer World Cup, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Ghana. Parreira initially took the South African reins in 2007, but as the team began to improve, he was forced to resign due to his wife’s ill health. Eight months later, Parreira was brought back to once again lead the South African soccer team. With the World Cup 2010 around the corner, he has very little time left to remedy the pre-tournament difficulties Bafana Bafana has experienced. Whilst opinions regarding Parreira’s return are diverse, those that do support him believe he is the antidote necessary to lead the hosting team to a rewarding home performance at the 2010 Soccer World Cup.

South Africa FIFA Soccer World Cup Achievements • This is South Africa’s third appearance at the FIFA World Cup after qualification in 1998 and 2002. • Benni McCarthy scored South Africa’s first goal at the 1998 FIFA World Cup in a 1-1 draw against Denmark.

Bafana Bafana South Africa World Cup 2010 Fixtures

Date

Time

Fri June 11

15:00 UK South Africa v Mexico

Soccer City (Johannesburg)

Wed June 16

19:30 UK South Africa v Uruguay

Loftus Versfeld (Tshwane/Pretoria)

Tue June 22

15:00 UK France v South Africa

Free State (Mangaung/Bloemfontein)

12 www.sabona.com.au

Match

Venue

cover story focus on soccer

australia Australia entered the Soccer World Cup scene in 1974, but didn’t participate again until 32 years later at the 2006 Germany World Cup. Their initial tournament was disappointing for the Australian soccer team as they failed to score any goals. They made some progress, however, at the 2006 Germany FIFA World Cup where they reached the second round after a grueling defeat by the final champions, Italy. Australia, now under the Asian confederation and led by Pim Verbeek of the Netherlands, was one of the first world soccer qualifying countries for the 2010 World Cup. The now experienced Socceroos are considered a force to be reckoned with, and enter the South Africa World Cup tournament with demanding expectations to improve their previous results.

The Champion Soccer World Cup Players Tim Cahill, an attacking midfielder is undeniably one of the best Australian players, along with Harry Kewell, who is the Australian soccer team’s rock of inspiration. Brett Emerton, Jason Culina and Vince Grella are right up there as major contributors for the Socceroos’ third entry to Soccer World Cup. Thanks to central defender Lucas Neill and goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer (who has made the most appearances), the Australian soccer squad is recognised for robust defensive abilities.

Australian Soccer Leadership Pim Verbeek, born in Rotterdam, Netherlands on March 12, 1956, accepted the role of Australian soccer coach in December 2007, just before the start of the world soccer qualifiers for South Africa 2010. Prior to this appointment, Verbeek worked for many years as assistant for South Korea before receiving the wheel for the team.

socceroos South Africa World Cup 2010 Fixtures

Date

Time

Match

Venue

Sun June 13

19:30 UK Germany v Australia

Durban

Sat June 19

15:00 UK Ghana v Australia

Royal Bafokeng (Rustenburg)

Wed June 23

19:30 UK Australia v Serbia

Mbombela (Nelspruit)

Whilst Verbeek’s hardheaded approach has been the center of debate in Australian media, he is highly respected by his team and has infused a team spirit within the Australian soccer squad causing the team members to be extremely focused and motivated as they prepare for the South Africa World Cup 2010.

Australia FIFA Soccer World Cup Achievements • The Australian soccer team has only played in two Soccer World Cup showcases. • The team has improved at each event, achieving second round at 2006 Germany World Cup after a defeat by Italy deep into injury time. • South Africa World Cup 2010 is the Australian soccer side’s second consecutive Soccer World Cup tournament. • Top goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer achieved a national record as the team kept a ‘zero opponent goals’ record for seven uninterrupted FIFA World Cup qualifiers. • With four goals each, both Brett Emerton and Tim Cahill received honours for their goal scoring performances.

. Check out www.sabona.com ut abo n atio rm info au/events for es tch ma p Cu rld Wo where Soccer you if d An Oz. in ed will be screen eening run a venue that will be scr on link the on k the match clic s to www.sabona.com.au/event us. to ails submit your det

To comment: www.sabona.com.au/1931 Information courtesy of www.theworldcupsoccersite.com

SAbona ISSUE 19

cover story focus on soccer

STADIUMS FOR

THE SOCCER World Cup 2010

Soccer City, johannesburg

Ellis Park, johannesburg

The jewel in South Africa’s crown, Soccer City, which was built in 1987 with a capacity of 94,700 (excluding media and VIPs), is sure to offer a great atmosphere for the lucky few who have tickets. As the stadium to be used for the first game, it will provide an excellent springboard for a magnificent Soccer World Cup tournament. For 2010, the upper tier was been extended around the stadium, an encircling roof constructed, new changing room facilities developed and new floodlights installed.

Ellis Park was constructed in 1982 as a modern, integrated stadium offering outstanding sight lines from every seat. The stadium stands within a world class sporting precinct, barely 15 minutes’ walk from the Johannesburg city centre and offers outstanding office, security and medical features. For 2010, new upper tiers were constructed behind each goal at the north and south ends of the stadium. This will increase the net capacity by 10,149 seats to a total of 60,000. Ellis Park will host one of the quarter finals.

Cape Town

Durban

A new stadium has been built for the Soccer World Cup 2010 in the suburb of Green Point, just 500 metres from the Atlantic Ocean with Table Mountain as a majestic backdrop. The stadium will seat 70,000.

The new Moses Mabhida stadium was built alongside the site of the King’s Park stadium and was designed as a first-class multipurpose sporting facility with a seating capacity of 70,000.

Nelspruit

Rustenburg

The new Mbombela Stadium, which has a capacity of just over 40,000, was specifically constructed to ensure it meets all FIFA requirements and presents a compact and attractive venue for first and second round matches.

Minor renovations brought the Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace, which has a capacity of just over 40,000, into line with requirements for a stadium able to host first and second round matches at the Soccer World Cup 2010.

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cover story focus on soccer Information courtesy of www.theworldcupsoccersite.com

Pretoria

Pietersburg / Polokwane

Minimal upgrades were required for Loftus Versfeld stadium to qualify as a venue for first and second round matches. The stadium has a capacity of 50,000 for the Soccer World Cup.

The capacity of the Peter Mokaba Stadium was increased to 40,000, and first rate equipment added ahead of the World Cup.

Port Elizabeth

Bloemfontein

The Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium has a capacity of 49,500 and consists of a multi-purpose facility that will be launched at the World Cup.

A second tier was added to the main grandstand of the Free State Stadium for the Soccer World Cup. This increased the capacity to beyond the 40,000 mark required for venues to stage first and second round World Cup matches.

To comment: www.sabona.com.au/1904

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SAbona Sabona ISSUE 19 18

getting to know

nicholis louw Nicholis Louw will be performing in Australia in June. What can audiences in Australia expect from you? I’ve wanted to come to Australia for a very long time. I’m going to give my best performance and enjoy it to the fullest.

What do you miss from or about South Africa when you travel overseas? I miss my loved ones.

How would your best friend describe your personality? Energetic and a little bit crazy.

What is your favourite South African food? Melkkos with lots of cinnamon.

What do you serve when you’re entertaining? Pizza. I’m not much of a cook.

What music is currently playing in your car? Mr. Big’s Greatest Hits.

What’s your favourite overseas holiday destination? There are too many that I still want to see. I just can’t choose.

wanted to come “toI’ve Australia for a very long time. I’m going to give my best performance and enjoy it to the fullest.

”

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cover story nicholis louw

win!

What’s your favourite Southern African holiday destination? Vioolsdrift in the Northern Cape.

What things in life make you truly happy? Honesty and good values.

What did you want to be when you were growing up?

OUW

NICHOLIS L

I always wanted to be a performing artist.

ith for two w r e inn d a tc Win me Loans E SAbona, Ho otel Records, H and Royal Nicholis Louw, y b ant, attended ’s Restaur o t t e iv Ol at n June 22. Brisbane o rawn r will be d The winne lis Louw o at the Nich e in Brisbane c man perfor . 1 2 e on Jun ormance

To what do you attribute your success? It was what I was built for.

What do you hope to achieve in the next five years? I’d love to have some fun in the classical genre. To comment: www.sabona.com.au/1905

’s perf ts to Nicholis Buy your ticke 22. 91 ing 07 3359 now by phon

see nicholis! In Perth Where: Octagon Theatre, UWA, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley When: June 19 @ 8pm Tickets: $65 www.bocsticketing.com.au

In Brisbane Where: Kedron Wavell Services Club, 375 Hamilton Road, Chermside When: June 21 @ 8pm Tickets: $55 from the Club or phone 07 3359 9122

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Flight Centre Kenmore | Call 3878 4411 SAbona ISSUE 19 17 Shop 49, Kenmore Shopping Village, 9 Brookfield Rd, Kenmore QLD 4069 ▼

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getting to know

kurt darren Kurt Darren will be performing in Australia in July. What can audiences in Australia expect from you? Every show is energetic. It’s a sing-a-long type of show that always leads to people dancing on their chairs.

What do you miss from or about South Africa when you travel overseas? I miss the sunshine and a good steak!

say “I amI would a peoplefriendly person and I live life to the full.

”

How would your best friend describe your personality? Ask my best friend…I would say I am a people-friendly person and I live life to the full.

What is your favourite South African food? Oxtail or a lamb neck potjie.

What do you serve when you’re entertaining? Bunny-chow . I serve a lamb or mutton curry with a bit of a bite in a hollowed out half loaf.

What music is currently playing in your car? Robbie Williams’ new CD. Trying to get used to it!

What’s your favourite overseas holiday destination? It’s a toss-up between Venice, Paris and London. All three places have a different appeal to me.

What’s your favourite Southern African holiday destination? Kruger Park and my own game farm in Naboomspruit.

What things in life make you truly happy? Smiling faces. I can’t stand negative people. And when I’m on stage and I look at the crowd in front of me and they know all the words to my songs.

What did you want to be when you were growing up? I wanted to become a vet or game ranger.

see Kurt! Performing with Arno Jordaan

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win!

To what do you attribute your success? I think I can read my listenership well. I give them what they want. People want to forget about the stress and have fun.

What do you hope to achieve in the next five years? I would like to firmly establish my own record label and get involved in building developments. To comment: www.sabona.com.au/1906

18 www.sabona.com.au

KURT DARR

Kurt SAbona and o Jordaan n Darren/Ar way double a are giving two adults r o f s ticket bane to the Bris e and double c performan two adults r tickets fo th show. r e P to the show the Brisbane the tickets to Enter to win 29. ona.com.au/C0 here www.sab the Perth show the tickets to Enter to win 30. ona.com.au/C0 here www.sab

cover story kurt darren

cover story peters family

A SPLIT SECOND THAT

changed lives

forever

by Karen Peters e were in South Africa visiting my husband Denzel’s family for Christmas and it was the day before we were due to leave. Our holiday was almost over. It was January 3. Denzel had gone over to his friend’s house to say goodbye and Nicholas (who is aged three) was with him. They were having a barbeque. Two year old Grace and I stayed at Denzel’s parent’s house. They’d been gone for quite a while and I started to get a bad feeling; that something had happened. Maybe a car crash, I thought, some sort of accident. The feeling didn’t go away. In fact, it got worse until the phone call came. Denzel’s aunt Aggie answered her phone and the look on her face said it all. It was Denzel, he’d hurt his neck in the pool and he couldn’t feel his legs. We sped to the hospital, only to find that he wasn’t there yet. Time is ticking away and I’m wondering where he is lying, how he is feeling, how Nicholas is feeling. More family and friends arrive at the hospital, not yet in tears because they don’t know what has happened. But I know. I know about spinal cord injury. I was a physiotherapist. I know what it means and I know what the results are. But at the moment I’m just grateful that he’s alive. Eventually the ambulance arrives. I rush to the door. I see him lying there flat on his back on a stretcher with a neck collar on. I can see he’s been crying and is scared. I tell him I’m here and everything will be okay, although I don’t believe that myself. They rush him into the emergency room and into a brightly lit cubicle with all the equipment and machines and nursing staff coming in and out. They are concerned about his breathing so put oxygen on him and the doctor does his examination. “Can you feel this? Can you feel this? Can you feel this?” “No, no, no.”

I know about spinal cord injury. “I was a physiotherapist. I know what it means and I know what the results are. But at the moment I’m just grateful that he’s alive.

”

The doctor goes out of the room and I rush to follow him. Doctor, can you tell me what level it is? He replies: “He’s got nothing below C5 at this stage.” We’ll need to send him for an MRI and CT scan to know more. Next thing we know they are putting Denzel back in the ambulance to take him across the road to a private radiology practice. We get inside with all the big machines all around. I’m told by the radiographer that they cannot do the MRI or CT scan until we pay for it, that they don’t accept payments from our travel insurer and it is going to cost the equivalent of about $1,000. I started to panic. We don’t have that money immediately available. We are at the end of our holiday and the credit card is maxed out. Where are we going to get the money? How can this be a money issue now?

20 www.sabona.com.au

Denzel and Karen Peters met in South Africa in 1995 when Karen was working as a physiotherapist at Baragwanath Hospital in Soweto. They shared a house together for two years until Karen decided to return to Australia to undertake further postgraduate study to obtain her Masters in Public Health. Denzel subsequently came to Australia in 2005 after waiting almost three years to get an Australian visa. They were married in 2006 in Karen’s home town of Dubbo, New South Wales and had Nicholas and Grace in quick succession in 2007 and 2008. They currently live in Sydney.

Somewhere I found a moment to make a reverse charges call to our travel insurer and advise what had happened. There began at least an hour of to-ing and fro-ing between the insurer and the radiographer about how to arrange payment. In the end I was surprised that they come to an agreement, but they did and the scans were done. This need to ‘get authorisation’ from the insurer for every little thing continued for the whole time we were there, causing delays and considerable angst each time. Denzel spent that night in ICU in Kimberley and was transferred by road ambulance to Bloemfontein the next day, a two hour trip. The kids and I followed behind in our rental car. We were given about an hour’s notice that they were transferring him and we had to grab what we could by way of clothes and so on. We didn’t know how long we’d be gone. As it turned out we never went back to Kimberley and were in Bloemfontein for almost two months. As soon as we got there they put him in ICU. He was seen by Dr Pun Louw, a lovely man, who is a spinal surgeon. Denzel had fractures to his neck and Dr Louw needed to operate the next day. He pulled me aside and said to me that there was a risk that the operation could make things worse and that it could affect his breathing. There was no choice though because the bones in the neck had to be stabilised. He had a burst fracture of the C5 vertebral body, totally smashed, with fractures of the lamina from C3 to C7 and a massive contusion of the spinal cord from C4 to C6. Dr Louw asked me there and then on the spot, with no notice, no time to think, what I would want him to do if during the operation things got worse, in which case Denzel would need to be put on a life support system and he may or may not be able to come off it. Immediately and without hesitation I said: “Do everything that you can to save him. We’ll worry about the rest later.” And so there it was. By the grace of God, Denzel had no problems during the two operations. After spending almost three months in South Africa we arrived back in Australia on February 26. Denzel stayed at Royal North Shore for a week and was then transferred to the Royal Rehabilitation Centre Sydney, which is in Ryde. This is where he is currently and will be until sometime in July.

And so what have we learned?

1 2

Never ever go anywhere without travel insurance.

Live in the present. Live each day to the full because you never know what can happen. Unfortunately, we hear this all the time and it sort of washes over us without having a real impact, until something like this happens. Now life has been stripped back to the basics, of washing, of dressing, of eating… things that we all take for granted are now major events for Denzel and not possible without the help of others.

continued overleaf

SAbona ISSUE 19

cover story peters family

Don’t let something like this happen before you prioritise what is important in your life, and if you don’t like something about your life, then change it, don’t wait for someone else or circumstances to do it for you.

4 5

Slow down! Spend more time with family and friends.

Look after your body. It is a vessel, but more fragile and transient than we think. It gets sick, it gets injured, it gets old, it dies. Don’t give it a disproportionate amount of attention. Look after the mind, the soul, the human spirit. This is eternal.

Look at what you have; not what you don’t have. We have Denzel; he is still with us. He is the same old character and still has the same annoying ways. We’ll need to do things a bit differently and with a bit more notice and planning than we once did.

For everything this “disease has taken away, it has given something of far greater value in return.

”

Denzel’s attitude through all this has been amazing. He has always had a positive outlook on life and that is exactly the type of personality that you need when dealing with an injury such as this. Since the injury occurred I have not once heard him say anything negative or feeling sorry for himself. He’s not that type of person.

In closing... We know this change in our lives will be a challenge, but we are also looking at it as an opportunity. We do believe that there is a God up there who is watching out for us, guiding us, supporting us and who will not give us any more than we can bear. Not long after the accident I was sitting waiting outside the ICU in the hospital in Bloemfontein and reading a magazine produced by the private hospital. It had an article in it on Michael J Fox, who people would know has Parkinson’s Disease, a different condition, but life altering none the less. He said: “For everything this disease has taken away, it has given something of far greater value in return.” This quote resonated with me at that time and has stuck with me ever since.

How Can You Help? The Peters family is facing some very significant challenges, immediately and also into the future, particularly relating to Denzel’s needs when he is able to return home. Assistance of any kind is most welcome and greatly appreciated by Denzel, his family and his friends. There are a number of ways you can help Denzel and his immediate family. For more information and details of the account into which you can make donations, see: www.helppetersfamily.com. You can also show your support by joining Denzel’s Facebook group ‘Peters Family In Need Of Big Hearts’.

To comment: www.sabona.com.au/1907

SAbona reader Errol Gouws is set to run the Gold Coast Marathon in July to raise funds for Denzel Peters. Errol started the ball rolling by donating $100 to the Peters family and hopes that other readers will support him by sponsoring any amount, which will be handed over in total to the Peters family after the marathon. Company sponsors will be recognised in the August/September issue of SAbona magazine. It will be Errol’s fourth Gold Coast Marathon, but his first as a 60 year old, and he only started running less than four years ago.

22 www.sabona.com.au

Errol says that he suffered one of the biggest shocks of his life earlier this year when he fell off a ladder, but was lucky to be unhurt. “Then I read about Denzel, who is half my age and fell into water. I fell two metres and escaped quadriplegia. It really motivated me to do something.” If you are able to sponsor Errol, contact him directly at errolgouws@hotmail.com.

expert opinion

lifestyle

Five things that can improve happiness Being grateful: People who were asked to write letters of gratitude to people who had helped them in some way reported a lasting increase in happiness – over weeks and even months – after implementing the habit. Even when people wrote letters, but never delivered them to the addressee, they still reported feeling better afterwards. 1

All about fevers by Simone Sleep

Paracetamol is one of the most commonly used medicines in the western world. Parents give it to their infants to reduce fever and as an effective pain reliever. So how effective is paracetamol in reducing fever? It has been shown that the mean antipyretic effect of this medicine is only 0.24˚C, which is insignificant compared to an infant’s overall temperature. This has lead to some questions being raised regarding the efficacy of paracetamol. Fevers can actually speed up recovery, but high temperatures do need to be closely monitored, particularly in children. The use of over the counter medicine should be employed only when fevers exceed 39˚C in children and 40˚C in adults. An analysis of more than 200,000 children aged six and seven years from 31 countries found that the use of paracetamol in the first year of life and in later childhood is associated with increased risk of developing asthma, rhinoconjunctivitis and eczema.

Being optimistic: People were asked to visualise an ideal future and describe the image in a journal entry. After doing this for a few weeks, these people too reported increased feelings of well-being. 2

Counting your blessings: People who practice writing down three good things that have happened to them every week show significant boosts in happiness. The act of focusing on the positive helps people remember reasons to be glad. 3

4 Using your strengths: Another study asked people to identify their greatest strengths, and then to try to use these strengths in new ways. This habit, too, seems to heighten happiness. 5 Committing acts of kindness: Helping others also helps ourselves. People who donate time or money to charity, or who altruistically assist people in need, report improvements in their own happiness.

Prolonged use of paracetamol may reduce antibody -mediated antimicrobial responses and actually prolong infections.

Autism and the vaccination program The numbers of people with autism continue to grow. This is a medical disaster of monumental proportions. The link to the vaccine program is scientifically and logically compelling, but the medical elitists refuse to listen. Like smoking and lung cancer, we have enough proof today to call a halt to the present excessive vaccine program and ban any level of mercury in vaccines. To comment: www.sabona.com.au/1908 Simone Sleep, the director of the Gold Coast AntiAgeing and Wellbeing Centre, is a specialist in blood chemistry analysis and has a scientific approach to healing people’s health challenges.

In 1983, before the autism epidemic began, children received 10 vaccinations before attending school and the autism incidence was one in 10,000. Today they are receiving 24 vaccines before one year and 36 by the time they attend school and the autism rate is now one in 150 births.

SAbona ISSUE 19

lifestyle

expert opinion

empower your child by Helena Pretorius

Most of us immigrate for our children’s’ sake, to give our children a better chance and to keep them safe. If, after a while, we find our children do not adapt to their new life so easily and especially if they fall victim to bullying, we wonder if it was the right thing to take them from their familiar surroundings to a place where they do not have support and security. South African children are very popular in Australian schools because they are normally more mature and responsible and more disciplined than their Australian counterparts. They are also favoured if they have musical talents and, the most sought after trait, good sportsmanship. Generally speaking, most South African children easily assimilate into their new schools and lives. Although the Australian life seems to be so similar to that in South Africa, with time new arrivals may, unfortunately, experience subtle differences and find that they remain the outsider. It may be the accent, misinterpretation of the Australian slang or unfamiliarity with the culture of classmates. My own little ‘boerseun’ had problems adapting to his new school here. He said he could speak English, but not the language the Australians speak. And, as happens with many, he had to spell his name every time he said it. We never imagined a simple thing like a common name may become an issue here because of the difficulty the Australians have to get their tongue around double vowels. If you realise your child is unhappy it is crucial that he or she receives extra support and encouragement. Children who are facing such difficulties need a positive tool to help them negotiate life more easily and with joy and enthusiasm. They need constructive steps to guide them to stand up for themselves and to reinforce the belief that they can be successful and happy. If children learn to be assertive and change their thoughts from those full of fear and negativity, to thoughts that are encouraging and empowering, they will be able to handle most life situations with ease and become a real Ozzie in no time.

To comment: www.sabona.com.au/1909 Helena is a remedial teacher and the founder of Empowering Lives, a home business that aims to assist children to be the best they can be through self-development and bully prevention programs.

24 www.sabona.com.au

As a result of the need to empower our children, there are programs that support children in embarking on a self-discovery journey that will help them to understand their emotions and interactions better. Such a journey also reinforces the idea that they can fulfill their dreams, function effectively and achieve personal, social and academic success. You are not on your own here in a new country. There are resources available and it is sensible to find an individual or organisation, offering understanding and support, to assist you. You can change the course of your life and your children’s lives for the better by empowering your child.

ps They need constructive ste to guide them to stand up orce for themselves and to reinf n be ca ey th the belief that successful and happy.

expert opinion

Pet Priorities

lifestyle

by Dr Kevin Cruickshank

3 year vaccinations

for d gs Is your dog being over-vaccinated? For a number of years pet owners and veterinary researchers have questioned if dogs truly need a full five-in-one vaccination (C5) every year, or if the protection perhaps lasts longer? The concern is that vaccinating more than is necessary may over-stimulate the immune system and may be involved in the development of certain immune-mediated diseases. Of course, the converse is true too: If we don’t provide adequate vaccination then our pets will not be protected against several serious and life threatening diseases to which they may then succumb. Australian and international research over the last few years has shown that with newer technology in vaccine production, certain brands of vaccines are able to offer protection that will last up to three years against the key core diseases against which to vaccinate dogs – parvovirus, distemper and infectious canine hepatitis. The Australian Veterinary Association has reviewed this information and released guidelines. The primary consideration is to reduce the risk of adverse reactions and to avoid giving vaccine doses that are not necessary. A popular spin-off of this, which has been highly publicised in the media, is the reduced overall cost to pet owners, an important step in keeping pet health care as affordable as possible. However, only certain brands of vaccines have been shown to provide three years of protection (triennial vaccines) and dogs still need a vaccination each year against parainfluenza and bordetella. Also the annual vaccination visit to your vet is the time when your pet has its comprehensive annual health check and possibly an annual heartworm injection. Remember, a year to a dog is like seven years to us, and so an annual health check for them is like us only seeing a doctor once every seven years!

available, there With the two types of vaccines now to what booster as n usio conf for ce chan ter grea is a your dog’s keep to t rtan impo It’s s. your dog need , especially date to up and safe vaccination records at another clinic. should you move and have boosters ination frequency Whilst we’d also wish to reduce vacc e vaccines felin the of in cats, unfortunately none ide protection for prov to en prov been have able avail now, cats still need a more than 12 months, and so for . year full vaccination each

So it’s still important to see your vet at least once a year, and together you can decide which vaccines are appropriate for your circumstances. Although annual C5 vaccinations are still widely used in Australia, progressive local veterinary clinics are now offering the triennial vaccinations and some have even adopted these as standard. It’s important to be aware of these products and to ask your vet if he or she offers triennial vaccinations: They provide quicker protection, are safer for your dog and cost you less over the three year cycle. There is, of course, still a place for annual vaccinations, such as for older dogs that may not be expected to live another three years, or in particularly high risk areas where one may need higher than average vaccine protection by boosting every year. So when your dog’s booster is due, do the best for your friend and ask your vet for a triennial vaccination and reduce the chance of your dog’s immune system being over-stimulated.

To comment: www.sabona.com.au/1910 Dr Kevin Cruickshank is a South African trained and qualified vet living and practicing at the Gold Coast Vet Surgery in Queensland.

SAbona ISSUE 19

immigration

expert opinion

A column about little things that are deceptively similar, yet decisively different. Read and be prepared. by Dr Dave Robinson

The best thing about surfing is the sheer joy of being out in the ocean with friends. You don’t have to say much when you’re bobbing up and down in the sea waiting for waves. There’s a sort of unspoken set of nuances among you and your friends. But when you’ve ridden that last great wave of the session and you get back to the beach, that’s when the stories really begin. The phrases we use are familiar only to surfers. That’s what makes surf stories so special. One tends to regard the phrases as a common language among surfers, but alas, they are not. The South African surf lingo is unique in many ways. I was recently reminded of this when my wife bought back a book called Surfing South Africa, which was put together by Steve Pike from Cape Town, in which he concludes with a glossary of terms. Terms like ‘howzit’ (hi), ‘slap’ (weak), ‘kiff’ (good), ‘kussed’ (exhausted), ‘stukkend’ (finished), ‘porsie’ (home), ‘mal’ (crazy), ‘lank’ (very), to mention a few.

dawn to dusk – for weeks at a time – and became well-practiced in the language of the sub-culture. Nowadays, while every Tom, Dick and Harry walks around in Billabong, Quiksilver and Rip Curl clothing, the only thing that can tell a real surfer from the rest might well be the lingo. Just last week I was in the water and decided to do the right thing and greet the other surfer in the line up – a ‘grom’ who was styling big time and he tuned me ‘howzit’ without checking me ‘skeef’, so I knew right then we had something in common and I said: “Lekka, man, where you from?” He ‘skiemed’ the waves here were ‘slap’ compared to Crayfish Factory in Cape Town, but it was ‘kiff’ anyway and at least the mob weren’t aggro like Snake Park in Durbs. “Stru, bru”, I agreed. He pulled into a sick barrel that got me ‘amped’ for one too and when I waxed it he hooted. Two hours later he said he was ‘kussed’ and paddled in. I was feeling ‘stukkend’ too.

Growing up in Port Elizabeth, my friends and I spent most school holidays camping in Jeffreys Bay. We surfed from

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We needed to chow, but both our ‘porsies’ were too far so we just sat there gazing out to sea, sort of semi-zonked. Inevitably our thoughts turned to our home breaks. He began ‘doening it’: “Last time I surfed Supers it was all-time mal, man. The place was going off its head, ekse. We were just full-on cranking and getting insanely slotted.” The passion in his voice reminded me of home. “Nooit, I don’t miss much about South Africa,” I said lamely. Actually, it was an understatement, which incidentally is also a feature of surf lingo. The next day I made a trip to the local South African shop and realised there are actually a few things I miss. That weekend I invoked Facebook to find some ballies – long-lost surf buddies – just so I could tune them: “Howzit ous, Oz is lekka, but I do miss J-Bay at times”. To comment: www.sabona.com. au/1911 Dr Dave Robinson is Professor of Management Studies at Imagine College and Central Queensland University, an entrepreneur, surfer and amateur musician.

expert opinion

Survive...

and enjoy the ride! What does it mean to you to be an expat? Discussing this question with a group of South Africans I was given a variety of responses, as well as some words of advice for others either recently arrived in Australia or those planning to make the jump soon. Coming from the Latin â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;exâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, meaning â&#x20AC;&#x153;out ofâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; and â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;patriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; or fatherland, an expat is variously defined as â&#x20AC;&#x153;a person who lives outside his or her own countryâ&#x20AC;? and â&#x20AC;&#x153;a person who is voluntarily absent from home or countryâ&#x20AC;?. All expats meet the first definition, but I wonder how many of

have to â&#x20AC;&#x153;beYou prepared to kiss a lot of frogs, but one day your prince (or princess) will come!

â&#x20AC;?

us fall into the second. How many of us are really voluntarily absent from home or country and how many of us have chosen to come here simply because staying at home is no longer a viable option? In other words, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re here because we have to be, maybe because we canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t live

immigration

by Patti McCarthy

Being an

expat

in fear any longer, because we hate what our country is turning into, because we donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t see our home country as offering us much in the way of opportunities â&#x20AC;&#x201C; perhaps just because we think life must be able to offer us more. Inevitably, there is an element of compromise in our being here, and this is what most expats who have been here for a few years have come to realise. For most of us, Australia is not perfect, but overall it is a big improvement on what we left behind. One woman described being an expat as: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s like getting married. You take on all the things you love about your husband â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and a few things that you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t.â&#x20AC;? Another agreed: â&#x20AC;&#x153;It is like leaving singlehood for marriage â&#x20AC;&#x201C; you leave a little bit of yourself behind, but you must be prepared to accept thatâ&#x20AC;?. Someone else lamented that she felt like a guest here adding: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m okay with that, but I feel sad not to have a sense of shared history and sometimes it seems I will never fit in.â&#x20AC;? I feel much the same. After 17 years here Australia is my home, but some cultural values still grate and I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t think I will ever be â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;an Australianâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. Of course, others see it all as an adventure and a chance for a new life. Their advice includes: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Be positive, look forward and remember all the reasons why you came here.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Push harder, work smarter, and donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t look back, then Australia really will be the land of opportunity for you.â&#x20AC;? Everyone recommended getting involved with as many different groups as possible, and whatever you do donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t ever lament

Suggestions on how to make it easier on yourself when you first arrive: â&#x20AC;˘ Pay a little more for rent so the inevitable â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;relocation bluesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; are not compounded by living somewhere really depressing. â&#x20AC;˘ Try to live close to your work so you can avoid too much commuting. â&#x20AC;˘ Avoid moving with teenagers if you can possibly avoid it. about â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;how we used to do it back homeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. Cast your net wide and maximise your chances of making new friends. Step outside your comfort zone and try something new or push yourself forward. You have to be prepared to kiss a lot of frogs, but one day your prince (or princess) will come!

To comment: www.sabona.com.au/1912 Patti McCarthy is an expatriate coach who helps take the pain out of relocating.

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SAbona ISSUE 19

immigration

expert opinion

shipping vehicles

by Christine Chehade

From South Africa I recently had the privilege of sending a beautifully restored Jaguar to the United Kingdom. The man who had lovingly restored the car watched my staff gently push the vehicle into the shipping container and begin to secure it. As the container doors closed I saw a brief wave of anxiety flash over his face, as this beautiful vehicle passed into the care of the shipping line and out of our control. There is a strange bond that develops between a man (usually, but not always, a man) and a vehicle. After many years in the international moving industry I have come to respect this bond and have developed a little formula that I use when providing advice on sending vehicles overseas. There are also particular considerations to and from South Africa.

The three key considerations are 1

Import regulations

Financial viability

Emotional attachment

The Jag was a no brainer. The regulations were well researched and these aspects mostly organised before it came into our care, it was a very valuable vehicle, and the owner was in love. If you let the third consideration take over the first two, it can be an expensive bureaucratic nightmare, and you will rue the day that you ever embarked upon the exercise. Following is my wisdom, for what it is worth, on sending vehicles between Australia and South Africa.

Importing Vehicles into Australia

Regulations Before you send a vehicle into Australia you must have a vehicle import approval. Do not let the vehicle leave South Africa without this unless you have large piles of money that you want to give to a bond store operator like myself. If you do not get an import permit the best case scenario is that you will have to pay some storage before it comes through, the worst case is that they can order your vehicle for re-export or destruction; yes, destruction. Either way it will cost you thousands in storage fees while you work out your permits.

Financial Viability The magic formula for costing your vehicle move is: shipping costs + duties and taxes + relative loss. 1. Shipping costs vary greatly so these are just ballpark kind of figures. The most economical is if you are already sending your household effects in a 20ft container and you can upgrade to a 40 ft container and include the vehicle. It may add another $3,000 to $4,000 to the shipping costs. In a sole use container it can be about $7,000 to $8,000. It is cheaper to send a vehicle as non-containerised roll on roll off (RO RO), but it is not recommended by many international movers. South African ports, in particular, are known to be careless with vehicles in their care. 2. Duties and Taxes: Every country has their hand out when vehicles enter, and Australia is no exception. Many of my clients find it worthwhile to import vehicles. However, the taxes can make importing vehicles prohibitive, especially vehicles that attract luxury car tax. 3. Relative Loss: You need to research what the car sells for in South Africa and what it will cost in Australia to buy a suitable vehicle for your requirements.

Emotional Attachment If you have worked through the first two factors, then and only then, consider that it may be a comfort for you to have your vehicle with you in a strange new land. These things can really matter in adjusting, but not that much if you are broke and stressed. Your money and sanity may be more of a comfort.

28 www.sabona.com.au

expert opinion

immigration

Quarantine If you have done all the sums and sought a quotation on the shipping and advice on duty, and have decided to send your vehicle, the last thing you should do is clean it like it has been contaminated by invisible radioactive material. They say no man is an island, but Australia is, and consequently has spared itself of a lot of the diseases that are in the rest of the world, particularly in relation to the cattle industry.

Before I sign off it is important to add a word on insurance. A lot of companies, like my own, sell insurance for vehicles moving internationally. It is important to read the product disclosure statement before making a decision on insurance. There are a few things for which to keep an eye out. Some insurance policies will not cover vehicles unless they are in closed containers, so roll on roll off is excluded. People often want to know if they can put things in the vehicle. The general rule is no, but some carriers will allow things like bedding and soft objects that will not act as a missile in the vehicle or be themselves damaged due to insufficient packaging, so don’t forget to raise these issues with your shipper. Make sure you sign off on the condition report before it goes in the container and don’t forget you can usually also insure for the shipping costs as well.

ing tail on export For more de South Africa, vehicles from ulations and useful lc including ca well as information s a , th resources hicles to Sou ve g in rt o p on im : e full article Africa, see th om.au/1913 .c www.sabona

To comment: www.sabona.com.au/1913 Christine Chehade, who holds a first class honours degree from Griffith University, is director of Ocean Sky International and a specialist in international moving and logistics.

Home is where the heart is...

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SAbona ISSUE 19

immigration

Downunder

Diary

by Migrant Saffa

Bianca was tempted to join another gym – making it a world record for the most number of fitness establishments that one person has ever signed up for – but she sensibly opted for ‘book club’ instead. Knowing some of the other club members I wouldn’t be surprised if books like Best wines for under $10 and How to kill your husband in three easy steps are among the selection. Some of these members and their better halves attended my good mate Greg’s 40th birthday party, which had us all auditioning for So You Think You Can Dance. Amazing how Abba and the Village People always sound good after a few. Australia must be the only place in the world where you can still play Kylie Minogue at full volume without being made fun of. My youngest and I attended the annual school camp on the sports field where the teachers mistook the outing for a boot camp. After an afternoon of exhausting drills and games we enjoyed a dinner carefully selected by Keal. It included sweets for starter, kebabs, sweets for dessert, chocolate milk and midnight sweets. The next morning we packed up camp and took some friends out to Peel Island on our boat to enjoy another spectacular day.

We spent the Easter holidays in a place so off the beaten track that not even the Easter bunny found us. Sandon River is about four hours south from Brisbane along the picturesque New South Wales coast. Parts of the area reminded us of the Wild Coast and the Yuraygir National Park area is very unspoilt. We set up camp under a Norfolk Island pine tree with the sea out the front and the river outside our back door. Plover Island, which is accessible at low tide, forms the headland between the river and a beautiful bay of crystal clear blue water that had perfect waves peeling into the beach. We spent the first few hours of each morning swimming, snorkelling, boogie boarding, paddle skiing and canoeing before eating a hearty bacon and egg brekkie. The rest of each day was spent pumping prawns, locally known as yabbies, and catching enough fish, including whiting, bream and tailor (shad) to support three dinners. We also explored the nearby settlement of Brooms Head and it’s general store for the forgotten essentials and ice for the esky. Our good mates, the Swanepoel’s, with their two boys, join us halfway through the holidays. The strong south easterly forced us to ski and fish up river for a couple of days and a massive rain storm tested our tents on the last night. The boys are at an age now where they head off for the day and only return to camp from time to time to fill their tummies. The natural setting along with the dolphins riding waves and the turtles swimming around the rocks just makes for a perfect holiday spot. We returned home to a zillion calories of dark chocolate wrapped in colourful tinfoil to round off a great weekend. To comment: www.sabona.com.au/1914

check out

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for online exclusives… The School

Dilemma

h on the SAbona website A recent blog by Cheryl Goodenoug how parents go about resulted in much discussion about n when moving to Australia. choosing a school for their childre l_goodenough.ews www.sabona.com.au/blog_chery

Erik Vosloo recently Radio show hosts Abrama Ahlers and son George was born with interviewed Jacqui Devine, whose broadcast on 94.7 cerebral palsy. Their radio show is ry Wednesday at 6pm. the life story of a The Pulse eve family www.sabona.com.au/1901

on air... courageous

turning your

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30 www.sabona.com.au

you need to take if Colin Mackie outlines the steps that meets the criteria of a you believe your existing business franchisable concept. www.sabona.com.au/1902

people

spotted...

When Schalk Burger and his Stormers travelled to Brisbane, everyone was surprised when they lost against the Queensland Reds, but SAbona has the inside scoop on why they lost!

on the gold coast, Queensland 1

During the week prior to the game, the Stormers were treated to dinner at the recently opened Ribs and Rumps restaurant at Marina Mirage on the Gold Coast. Schalk didn’t expect a battle on the night, but it came from SAbona’s chief executive officer Philip Scott. In an awesome display of power Philip beat Schalk at arm wrestling. This clearly crushed Schalk’s confidence and as a result the Stormers lost against the Queensland Reds (well, that’s Philip’s version). Spotted! 1 (Left to right) Schalk Burger and Philip Scott

2 Schalk Bruger eating ribs 3 (Left to right) Sireli Naqelevuki and Peter Grant 4 (Left to right) Sarah Leite, Bryan Habana, Tiffanie Beasley 5 (Left to right) Frikkie Welsh, Ribs and Rumps Customer Relations Manager Jeff Rahme, Bryan Habana 6 (Left to right) Deon Fourie, Philip Scott, Jacque Fourie

7 (Left to right) Debi Scott, Jacque Fourie, Tiffanie Beasley

8 Duane Vermeulen 9 (Left to right) Finn Scott, Bryan Habana

SAbona ISSUE 19

Advertorial

ribs and rumps Now On The Gold Coast Ribs and Rumps restaurant recently opened at Marina Mirage on the Gold Coast. Chief executive officer Bradley Michael and most of the senior executive team at Ribs and Rumps are ex-South Africans. They have brought to Australia an uncompromising commitment to superior quality and exceptional service.

Olympic Park, Campbelltown, North Ryde and McGraths Hill.

fact, members of staff wear shorts in the summer months!

Ribs and Rumps is part of the Foodfund group of companies, which also owns the Meat and Wine Company (with restaurants in Monte Casino and Clearwater Mall, Johannesburg) and Bardelli. On that point…Meat and Wine Company is coming to Brisbane with a restaurant currently under construction at the HQ building in Fortitude Valley and due to open in July.

Although the menu is mainly meat driven, there are almost 70 dishes to choose from so there’s guaranteed to be something for everyone. Ribs and Rumps Marina Mirage is in Sea World Drive and is open daily for lunch and dinner. For bookings call (07) 5591 1677 and ask for Katelyn or go to www.ribsandrumps.com.

After a highly successful visit by the Stormers recently, Kevin Waite from Ribs and Rumps Marine Mirage says that rugby teams will be invited regularly to dine at Ribs and Rumps as this offers a great opportunity for fans to meet their rugby heroes.

And remember those mammoth lipsmacking ribs that you used to get back in South Africa? Well you can find them at Ribs and Rumps. As the previous owner of the Black Steer restaurant chain in South Africa, it’s clear that Bradley has brought those legendary ribs, plus the best steaks money can buy with him to Oz.

Ribs and Rumps is a beautifully decorated restaurant, with friendly staff and a great atmosphere.

Ribs and Rumps Marina Mirage is the sixth restaurant in the chain to open in Australia, with the other five being in Manly, Sydney

Being a family oriented steakhouse Ribs and Rumps has a great menu for the kids and the dress code is super casual. In

spotted... In Perth, Western Australia 1

The Palmyra Reformed Evangelical Church recently held its first Family and Food Fair or Basaar at the Perry Lakes reserve near Perth It was an opportunity for families and friends to enjoy traditional Afrikaans food and to relax under the trees. About 3,000 people attended the event. There was plenty to eat and games for the younger people – there was even a mechanical bull for the very brave!

The variety of traditional South African food and the festive atmosphere made this an event to remember! The congregation will host this event annually, so if you missed out on this one, make sure that you do not miss out on the next South African Family and Food Fair in Autumn 2011.

34 www.sabona.com.au

people

spotted... Pictured during a fundraiser for a team of volunteers who are assisting orphans and vulnerable children in South Africa are (from left) Helga Burns (2010 volunteer), the initiator of the initiative Charmaine Wheatley dressed as Mary Poppins, 81 year old Kate Brownrigg (who went to South Africa last year as a volunteer) and Rhonda Guy (2010 volunteer).

SAbona ISSUE 19

people

sa high commissioner

encouraging investment

in South Africa by Cheryl Goodenough

There is currently more United States investment in South Africa, than South African investment in the United States. This is as most people would expect. However, there is more South African investment in Australia, than there is Australian investment in South Africa. As a result South Africa’s High Commissioner to Australia Lenin Shope believes that there is the potential for a significant amount of increased investment in South Africa by Australia. “It is a complete anomaly that there is more South African investment here than Australian investment in South Africa, especially as the Australian economy is three times the size of the South African economy.” However, a lot is being done to promote trade and investment opportunities in South and Southern Africa and, in particular, to encourage joint venture partnerships. There is already a fair amount of interest in doing business in Southern Africa, and this is largely evident in the minerals sector. However, there’s also mutual ignorance, says the High Commissioner. “Most Australians don’t really know what’s going on in Southern Africa, and people in Southern Africa don’t really know what’s going on here.”

There is also a significant amount of interest in South Africa in bringing such investment into South Africa or neighbouring countries. As a result there has been high level attendance from South Africa at conferences. This includes attendance by VVIPs, as people who are more important than VIPs are known, ministers and representatives of development finance institutions and private banks. The High Commission also wants to bring institutions such as Transnet and Eskom to trade and investments seminars. “We encourage joint venture partnerships into various Southern African countries, whether it is in South Africa or neighbouring countries. We’re happy with either.”

y Most Australians don’t reall know what’s going on le in Southern Africa, and peop ally know in Southern Africa don’t re what’s going on here. In this way South Africa is doing a lot for the sub-region, but the High Commissioner acknowledges that a key challenge is that South Africa’s neighbourhood is a very poor one. “A key area of South Africa’s interaction in the sub-region is conflict management such as in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan, Zimbabwe and Ivory Coast. However, the relations are paying off and Australia is working with South Africa in a number of areas. These include exchanging experiences of peacekeeping, working together in the G20, and being co-chairs of the panel on the reform of the International Monetary Fund. The High Commissioner has four areas that he has prioritised during his time in Australia. The first is to achieve one South African diaspora in Australia. “What we want to achieve is a sense of South African-ness amongst our people living in Australia.” The High Commissioner says that South Africans in Australia have a unique opportunity to help establish links between South African and Australian companies. Encouraging South Africans in Australia to reach out more to South Africans of other races, the High Commissioner says that he has found that many South Africans in Australia still live in silos. “South Africa was very compartmentalised and people left South Africa with that political baggage that meant we

36 www.sabona.com.au

sa high commissioner had to either sit with other Africans, or coloureds, or whites, as the case may be. We cannot be trying to kill apartheid in South Africa, but here we are still living in the silos that apartheid put us into in those days. We need to be constructive and reach out to others. It’s up to all of us to try to reach out a little more, break those barriers a little more.” The High Commissioner talks about several events that he’s attended that have been supported largely by people of one race. “I have spoken to the business network in Sydney, whose members are mainly white. I attended the Buffers football event in Perth last year that was attended by about 600 people. With the exception of about 40, they were mostly coloureds. In Brisbane a group of South Africans involved with the sciences asked to see me and they were all Indian.” Recognising that there are some people who have disassociated themselves from South Africa, the High Commissioner says that at some point we need to develop a South African diaspora for those of us who are still wanting to acknowledge that there is still something in us that is South African. The High Commissioner’s second area of focus relates to trade and investment, and the third is on training. “If there is any place that the apartheid system really hit us, it was in the deprivation of education and training opportunities to the majority of the population,” he says. “As a result, we have a high number of people who are unemployable and the effect of that will be felt for a long time.” As a result, the South African High Commission in Australia is developing relationships between South African and Australian academic institutions, especially the so-called bush colleges such as Fort Hare University. “We are working hard to establish and entrench those relations,” says the High Commissioner. There is also a focus on the relationship between Australia and South Africa on a political level. Several high profile members

people

of government have been here, and President Jacob Zuma has been issued with a standing invitation to visit Australia. The High Commissioner has lived and travelled overseas since he was growing up, but he still misses ‘the vibe’ when he’s living away from home. “I enjoy South Africa. It is a country that has gone through so much trauma, and has maybe not had enough post traumatic stress counselling, but I really enjoy the vibe

We cannot be trying to kill t here apartheid in South Africa, bu os we are still living in the sil that apartheid put us into... and We need to be constructive reach out to others. of South Africa. I am taking my children home for the last two weeks of the Soccer World Cup. We try to go back home from time to time. I really miss it when I’m away.” However, the High Commissioner has enjoyed living in Australia, which is the biggest country in which he has ever lived. Although he spends a lot of time travelling, he tries to keep in touch with his compatriots. “There is a community of South Africans in Canberra that talk about everything South African from A to Z: Whether we’re missing home, what we’re doing for the World Cup, and so on. So I spend a fair amount of my free time being fraternal with my countrymen.” To comment: www.sabona.com.au/1915

High Commissioner Lenin Shope • Was appointed South African High Commissioner to Australia in February 2009. •

Lived in a number of countries, including the former Czechoslovakia, Tanzania, Zambia and Cuba, while growing up as his parents were in political exile.

•

Returned to South Africa in 1991 and, after a stint in the corporate world with South African Airways and Engen Petroleum, joined the Department of Foreign Affairs in 1995.

• He has served as Ambassador in Cuba and later in Italy. • He is married to Nositembele Nontobeko Mapisa-Shope, and they have three children – Oliver (18), Mark (13) and Asante (10).

SAbona ISSUE 19

38 www.sabona.com.au

SAbona ISSUE 19

food & home

from the kitchen:

MALAY CHICKEN CURRY by Matilda Scarfe

Apple Sambal 3 large Granny Smith apples 5ml salt 1 green chilli, finely chopped 15ml lemon juice or vinegar 10ml sugar, or to taste Peel, core and grate apples coarsely, sprinkle with salt and allow to draw for 15 minutes. Squeeze out the moisture (the apple should be fairly dry). Add remaining ingredients and mix well.

Roasted Masala

This recipe was cooked by the delightful Zainie during a Gourmet Cooking Safari to South Africa. She cooked us this lovely curry when we visited her restaurant The Noon Gun, which is so called as it is right next to the gun on Signal Hill that goes off every day at noon.

150g coriander seeds 125g cumin seeds 50g dried red chillies 25g black peppercorns 2 cinnamon sticks, broken into small pieces 5g whole cloves 15g cardamom pods, lightly crushed 15g star anise 20g fennel seeds

You will need: 1.5 kg chicken thighs Salt and cracked pepper Vegetable oil 2 large onions, roughly sliced 1 tsp dried chilli flakes 2 sticks cassia or cinnamon 2 tbsp crushed garlic 2 tbsp crushed ginger

1 tbsp turmeric 3 – 4 large tomatoes, blanched, skinned and chopped 500ml warm chicken stock 3 large potatoes, peeled and quartered Curry leaves Fresh coriander

3 tbsp roasted masala Season the chicken with salt and pepper. Heat a little oil in a large saucepan and fry the onion until golden.

35g turmeric 35g ground ginger Place the coriander, cumin, chillies, peppercorns, cinnamon sticks, cloves, cardamom pods, star anise and fennel seeds into a deep frying pan and roast, tossing lightly until the mixture is aromatic. Remove from the heat and mix with the turmeric and ginger. Allow to cool and grind fairly finely with a pestle and mortar or coffee grinder. Store in a screw-topped jar in a dark place or in the freezer.

Stir in the chilli, cassia or cinnamon, garlic, ginger, masala and turmeric. Sizzle for about 30 seconds (don’t burn!). Add the tomatoes and chicken stock. Add the chicken to the pot, cover and simmer very gently for about 45 to 50 minutes or until cooked. Add the potatoes and curry leaves halfway through the cooking process. Check and adjust the flavour if necessary. Place the curry in a large serving dish, garnish with coriander leaves. Serve with rice, sambals and chutney.

Matilda produces the Gourmet Afrika range of products which includes mango, pawpaw and ginger chutney and blatjang chutney, which go well with this curry, while her masala spice mix can be substituted for the roasted masala.

Note: Malay curries are traditionally eaten with your hands. It’s quite an experience – try it!

To comment: www.sabona.com.au/1916

40 www.sabona.com.au

Ev ap e co a ry an m rtm de o e e ck bs s w nt er it va h tio n N O W

SE LL IN G

,0 00 *

A an pa ho d rtm $2 mesterra ents 90 fro ce m

Alderley Square is a village-style, mixeduse community featuring 241 apartments and terrace homes, above two-levels of retail and commercial anchored by a Coles supermarket, with 20 specialty stores and a podium recreation level with a pool, gym and theatrette. Only 7km to the Brisbane CBD, and with public transport on the doorstep, Alderley Square offers a whole new level of living. Experience the exceptional quality of Alderley Square first hand when you visit the sales office, and walk through the full size apartment now on display. Settlement early 2013.

Visit alderleysquare.com.au or Call 1300 133 726 SAbona Sabona ISSUE 17 19

*Price is correct at 13.05.10. Images and artist impressions are indicative only and subject to change. Sustainability declaration is available on request.

food & home

shoppingAround Amongst the African-related products, including an extensive range of Southern African foods, you’ll find Kenyan masks, woven baskets, African painted vases and hand-painted eggs, at Kumusha Store. Also available are Africa-inspired paintings by Yvonne Hatfield. The Kumusha store is run by African students who are happy to talk about the food and origins of the craft items. For more information: www.kumushastore.com.au

These elephant salad servers and the bobbly salad bowl are created by Peretti and manufactured by hand from recycled aluminium in South Africa. They are available in Australia from Attenta, a company that donates a percentage of profits from the sale of their products shelters for abused women in Australia. For more information: www.attenta.com.au

Rather than dumping recycled beer and wine bottles, see them transformed into unique drinking glasses and works of art by GlassAware. The bottles are sourced, selected, cleaned, carefully cut, sanded and finally completed with an etched motif. The process is mostly done by hand. Current etched motifs are various African animals. For more information: www.glassaware.com.au

See Your Products Here! Does your business sell products that are food-related or for people’s homes? We’d like to include them in our Shopping Around feature. Send pictures and text to editor@sabona.com.au for our consideration. To comment: www.sabona.com.au/1917

Geoff Swanepoel is a qualified financial adviser and a valuable member of our South East Qld Wealth Management team.

Are you in control of your super?

If you have recently arrived in Australia, or even if you have been living here a while, self funding your retirement will be an important part of your future. The Australian retirement savings system is based upon superannuation and you will benefit from having an appreciation of the system and the comfort of knowing if a Self Managed Superannuation Fund (SMSF) is suitable for you. Please contact us for a no obligation consultation if you are interested in finding out more about super, how it works and what it can do for you.

Adviser - Financial Planning

Phone (07) 5574 0922 Direct (07) 5577 7120 Email infogc@hlbqld.com.au

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SAbona ISSUE 19

food & home by Jean Wethmar

Must Do, Must See, Must Taste… While in the Helderberg Early travellers to the Helderberg were glad of the landmark – a stone peak rising above the low cloud and valley mist. They called the place ‘clear mountain’ or Helderberg. Today the Helderberg is both a destination and a starting point.

from the Cellar!

Wine estates in the Helderberg Region Vergelegen, meaning ‘situated far away’, was granted to the Governor of the Cape in 1700 and the property has had a long and fascinating history since that time. Willem Adriaan van der Stel was a man of divergent interests who transformed the uncultivated land into a veritable paradise. He planted vines, camphor trees and oaks, laid out fruit orchards and orange groves, and introduced cattle and sheep. Lourensford, which was founded in 1700, has a proud history together with a dynamic new vision to create a giant among South African wine producers. Utilising unique technology and reaping the benefits of global expertise, the wines of Lourensford are becoming wellrecognised icons of true style and sophistication. Morgenster Estate is a popular Somerset West wine farm in the Helderberg region. The farm produces lovely Bordeaux-style wines as well as award-winning extra virgin olive oil. Morgenster’s extra virgin olive oil has been the recipient of the L’Orciolo d’Oro prize in Italy for seven consecutive years since 1999 and was voted by Olive Business in Sydney, Australia as the best olive oil in the southern hemisphere. Alto is situated high on the slopes of the Helderberg mountain in the Stellenbosch wine of origin district. It’s trellised vineyards cling to the high granite slopes that rise from 100 to 500 metres above sea level and are ideal for the cultivation of red grape varietals. Unsurprisingly, Alto is, and always has been, red wine country. Alto produces the Alto Rouge every year.

Overnight Various options for accommodation in Somerset West are available: Parrington Manor, the Lord Charles Hotel and the Erinvale Estate Hotel are recommendations.

Get To Know Your Reds Cabernet Sauvignon Big, full-bodied red wines with flavours of blackcurrants, cassis, cedar wood and tobacco. Can have minty/eucalyptus characteristics especially in Australia. Small berries means bigger tannins than other grape varieties.

Pinotage Most popular at the moment is the ‘chocolate or coffee’ style – lots of toasted oak with chocolate, coffee and hazelnut notes. Other cooler-climate wines might have elegant black cherries, dark plums and licorice. Bad examples taste of bitter bananas, but thankfully these are getting less and less!

Merlot Fat black fruit flavours of plums and damsons often give way to chocolate, mint and hints of coffee. Much fleshier berry than either of the cabernets and often used in blends to provide fruit and to counteract Cabernet’s stronger tannins.

Shiraz Dark, brooding, full-bodied red wines with spice, pepper (both white and black kinds) and sometimes cloves. Black berries with some strawberry notes and sometimes meaty, funky, earthy aromas as well. Lourensford Vineyards To comment: www.sabona.com.au/1918

44 www.sabona.com.au

property page

expert opinion

food & home

Australians in deep debt: survey

by Sandra Crossland

A recent online survey conducted by Loan Market found more than 40% of Australians spend around half their monthly income repaying debts. In fact, 44% of respondents said they spent more than 40% of their income repaying mortgages, credit cards or personal loans.

What to do if you are experiencing mortgage stress • If you find yourself experiencing mortgage stress, or believe you will soon have trouble making your home loan repayments, you should talk to your mortgage broker straight away. • Your mortgage broker can present your case to your lender for consideration. It’s important to remember your lender will only sell your home as a last resort – financially it is better for them for you to keep your house too! • Some options that you may have available to you to help manage your situation when you are experiencing mortgage stress include: -- Applying for a hardship variation to extend your loan term, take a repayment holiday, or both -- Consolidating debt

These survey results show how vulnerable many Australians are to interest rate fluctuations. Almost 30% of respondents to the survey said they spent more than half of their income on debt repayments, which is quite a staggering statistic. Of almost 400 respondents, only a quarter of those surveyed spent 20% or less of their income on debt repayment. The Reserve Bank of Australia certainly has a delicate task in responding to the economic recovery through its movements with the official cash rate. This is why it’s important for new borrowers to always factor in at least a 2% increase in interest rates when applying for home finance. If you’re a mortgage holder who is currently struggling with the interest rate hikes, it’s a good idea to consult with an expert now, to prevent your finances potentially getting out of hand down the track. A good mortgage broker will able to assist with debt consolidation, refinancing or realigning your budget. Many economists are predicting the official cash rate to hit between 4.75% and 5.25% by the end of 2010; consider this when next conducting a health check on your mortgage.

-- Refinancing your home loan -- Switching to an interest only repayment option -- Applying for assistance – some state governments assist borrowers to meet payments that have resulted from temporary shortfalls It’s important to note that not all options will be available. In many cases it will depend not just on your situation, but also your lender. There are also likely to be some fees involved, particularly if you are looking at refinancing.

To comment: www.sabona.com.au/1919 Sandra Crossland is an independent mortgage broker with the Loan Market Group and a member of the Mortgage & Finance Association of Australia.

SAbona ISSUE 19

by Jenna Armand

Easter on Lake Kariba Starting out from Harare at 5am on Easter Friday, we were all eager to get to the Andora Harbour launch at Kariba and onto our houseboat, Tahilla. After a five hour trip our feet were itching to get on the water so we loaded the boat in the stifling Kariba heat and set sail. Our destination was Elephant Point, which is about four hours from Andora Harbour. As the name suggests it is renowned for its plentiful game, especially elephant, as well as prime fishing. We arrived, the men with their fishing gear at the ready and me with my camera ready to snap away, transferred into the little boats and took off for the rest of the afternoon. The bream were on the bite and we slaughtered them that day, each catching around 50 fish, setting a definite precedent for the rest of the trip. The fish eagles hovered above our boat, waiting for us to throw a tasty titbit. The hippo kept a close eye on us, making sure we didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t overstay our welcome. The next morning, after a sweltering night where not a breath of air licked us, we set out early to try a new fishing spot. The following days on the lake were much the same: Rising early, catching and eating lots of fish, seeing elephant galore and experiencing plenty of exciting photographic opportunities! On one occasion we were charged by an angry elephant bull that was tired of seeing our boat every day. It was definitely an Easter worth remembering and even included an egg hunt on the houseboat on Sunday morning...after fishing, of course. The sunsets over the lake were spectacular and every evening we enjoyed a cold drink and enjoyed the view painted for us. The trip last only three days, but it took us away long enough to remember why we love Zimbabwe, and also why it is important to take time out to appreciate our surroundings. To comment: www.sabona.com.au/1920

46 www.sabona.com.au

expert opinion

travel

without one you are on your own by Cathryn Bardwell

I’ve sat back and reflected on the happenings around Europe in mid-April as a result of the volcano in Iceland, and after all the chaos and confusion and waiting, I have a smile on my face. The smile is not one of cruelness, but one of contentment, knowing that I was able to step up and help out in my own special way. The slogan ‘without one, you are on your own’ means exactly that. Many people consider the internet to be the next best thing. I am guilty of searching online to compare costs just so that I can save an extra dollar here or there. And when someone goes on holiday, a few hundred dollars goes a long way! Except when Mother Nature decides otherwise. In fact, not only Mother Nature, but any factor that could contribute to the demise of your holiday. The volcano that spread ash all over Europe in April, came as a shock to the entire travel and tourism industry. Who ever would have thought that ash could cause such chaos?

Millions of people around the globe were stranded for at least six days. I had two businessmen clients in London when the flights were cancelled. They had luck on their side that day. The reason is because they had booked through an agent, and not online.

be able to grab seats for them on their respective airlines the same day the airspace opened, and get them home. A simple call and follow up email allowed me to let them know that they had been rebooked and needed to make their way to the airport.

Many of those travellers who had booked online were stranded with nobody to contact but the airlines, which put answering services on phones with messages stating there were two hour waiting times or more for the calls to be answered. Queues at counters got longer and longer for those people trying desperately to get home. People may have tried trains and cars to get to other stations in Europe, only to be turned back again. Complete panic! To make matters worse, cheap online insurance sometimes does not cover ‘Acts of God’ or natural disasters. Suddenly the internet doesn’t seem to be the best option.

This article is not intended to discourage anyone from using the internet. It certainly does a job well done. But next time, compare costs and weigh up whether when things do turn bad, you would rather have to find out yourself what to do next, or have someone sort it out for you. Never underestimate the power of a human voice: Instead of a recording or electronic message that does not understand, being able to talk to someone who does; someone who can help.

My gentlemen on the other hand, simply knew they could call me at anytime of the day or night for an update. After hours of searching I was lucky enough to

To comment: www.sabona.com.au/1921 Cathryn Bardwell has been in the travel industry since 1997, having worked for airlines and in the retail and corporate travel environments in South Africa. She operates her own travel company through Travel Managers.

SAbona ISSUE 19

The sounds of

South African Carnival Band

africa

The Brisbane-based South African Australian Multicultural Association’s Carnival Band recently recorded a South African medley that has been included in a CD called Songs of Hope.

south

The CD project was a partnership with the Beenleigh Neighbourhood Centre and Ethnic Broadcasting Association of Queensland (4EB FM).

Rainbow Kids Chorus The Rainbow Kids Chorus was established in Sydney recently to celebrate cultural diversity through music. Under the direction of founder and artistic director Beryl Segers and musical director Rick Bowers, the choir is building a vibrant choral repertoire and aims to fill a void in performing cultural music from the African continent. The choir started with seven members, but has grown to 17 and recently debuted at a celebration of South Africa’s Freedom Day in Sydney. The choir currently consists of 14 girls and three boys, who sing a range of Australian and South African folk, gospel and contemporary songs. Through this repertoire the choir will introduce audiences to a distinctive African choral sound. Beryl says that 90% of the current choir members are of South African heritage, but all were born in Australia. “None of them were familiar with any of the South African music. They learned it from scratch and had lots of challenges getting their tongues around unfamiliar words and pronunciations!” Rainbow Kids Chorus is Beryl’s long-held dream to celebrate her cultural heritage through music. “My dream is to develop an active choir that will keep children in touch with the music from their heritage. Songs usually tell a story and in teaching the children the lyrics we can teach them about their background. I find that children at a certain age are very conscious and proud of their roots. The ultimate dream would be to record a CD and continue growing the choir to include African and Australian children.” Beryl says that they plan to make the choir different to other local choirs by adding an African feel to the arrangements. “We are working towards getting the rights to publicly perform a range of music from the African continent, particularly South Africa.” Beryl, who is originally from Cape Town and moved to Australia in 1987, has worked on a number of high profile events including the medal ceremonies for the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, the athlete’s welcoming ceremonies for the Sydney 2000 Paralympic Games, the 2002 Sydney Gay Games Cultural Festival and the Melbourne 2005 Deaf Olympics Cultural Festival. She has her own company that produces South African comedy and music events and last year set up Beryl Segers Presents and produced her first piece of musical theatre.

48 www.sabona.com.au

The Carnival Band’s contribution consisted of a South African medley that reflects a diverse and multicultural South Africa. It includes traditional Cape Town minstrel songs, which have a rich cultural history stemming back to the 1800’s. These songs were sung by slaves and their descendants from Africa, East Indies, America and Asia annually on January 2 in a carnival of joy, freedom and unity. This is a tradition that continues today. The medley also includes Shosholosa, which was a lament sung by Africans, sometimes when far away from home, while doing hard labour. It has become one of South Africa’s most popular songs, especially as an anthem at sporting events. Another component of the medley was the gumboot dance, which arose out of the oppression of labourers in Johannesburg’s gold mines. The labourers initially communicated by tapping their gumboots, and this eventually became a world renowned dance. Managed and co-ordinated by the Multicultural Association, the Carnival Band and the gumboot dancers have participated in various community festivals and events and were invited to participate in the CD project after performing at the Beenleigh Neighbourhood Christmas party in 2009.

Rick commenced his passionate musical journey as a nine year old boy learning the piano in Cape Town. He commenced organ studies when he was 14 and subsequently studied through the Cape Town Conservatorium of Music. He moved to Australia in 1979 and since then has worked with various choirs, orchestras, other groups and bands for more than 25 years. Beryl and Rick would love as many kids as possible to become part of the choir. “We don’t hold singing auditions as such and do not want to exclude children so we welcome anyone who loves to sing and would like to learn to sing,” says Beryl. “Rick is a singing and piano teacher and has an amazing ability to work with children. He is extremely passionate about music and also does all the arrangements. We are very fortunate to have someone like Rick sharing his talent, passion and commitment.” The choir is open to children between the ages of seven and 16. The singers should be old enough to read and have the ability to memorise songs. For more information see www.rainbowkidschorus.com.au. To comment: www.sabona.com.au/1923

entertainment

Confidential Assignments Clive Cooke BAcc (Wits) MBA (QLD) CA trading as

M: 0412 049 340 P: 07 3711 5571 E: ozbiz@bigpond.net.au

The Association focuses on South African culture and arts and was born during an international soccer tournament hosted by the Queensland Buffers in 2008. The Association’s president Brenda Desplace says that the scars of apartheid still linger and it is hoped that the performance of music from diverse South African cultures will encourage healing and, more importantly, become a true celebration and representation of South African music and dance. “Many people are aware of South Africa because of the country’s strong representation in sport or because of the negative history. However, we hope that within multicultural Australia, artists can work together to present a true reflection of diverse South Africa, which can be demonstrated through performances that include Afrikaans, English and Zulu songs.” Anyone who is interested in music, dancing and singing is welcome to participate, says Brenda. “Although we focus on retaining as much authenticity as possible, we have modified the music style and song selections to reflect the diversity of the band. We would love to increase the size of the band and welcome anyone who is interested in joining.” In particular, they are seeking brass players (trumpet and sax), ukulele or banjo players along with keyboard or accordion players, guitarists and percussionists.

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In addition to a focus on recruiting more members, the band’s plans for 2010 include a regular performance at a Gold Coast restaurant, as well as performances at community events and Christmas activities. Looking ahead Brenda says her dream is for the choir to attract talented adult and children singers, who will perform a broad selection of South African music. “In this way the band will contribute to the enhancement and understanding of South Africa’s diversity not just through it’s history, but through an appreciation of it’s diverse culture.” For more information contact Brenda on khoszy@bigpond.com. To comment: www.sabona.com.au/1922

SAbona ISSUE 19

shakaboom

entertainment

Review: Mayday EP by Tinashe by Taku Taneka

Brenda Fassie, Hugh Masekela, Oliver Mtukudzi: What’s the common denominator? They’re all high profile names in the African music industry. In time, we’ll add 25 year old Zimbabweanborn, English resident, Tinashe, to the list. Why? Because he’s set to do what none of the aforementioned acts ever could: That is, to conquer the contemporary pop music scene. Ordinarily scathing critics had nothing but good words to say about Tinashe, whilst fans and fellow artists alike have been blown away by his obvious talent. As such, he was labelled ‘the next big thing’ before a single record unit was sold. This viewpoint, which was previously all hype, has now become hard-hitting fact following the release of his four-track debut EP, Mayday. Tinashe delivers his lyrics with an amazing personal touch, making it easy for listeners to resonate with the discussed content. The opening track and lead single which shares the EP’s namesake, highlights the sorrow involved when a treasured

relationship begins to deteriorate. Alongside a catchy remix from rising Norwegian dance duo So Shifty, this is a single sure to receive appreciation on both club and pop charts. ‘Miss You’ is a heartfelt song inspired by the lonely feeling of spending time away from beloved family members. Admittedly, it’s a sad song, but its desired affect is achieved – to tug at the heart strings of listeners. You’d have to think Tinashe used the feeling of isolation, which he undoubtedly experienced when his mother initially moved to the United Kingdom on her own, to fuel the writing process for this scintillating track. The only downside to Tinashe’s debut is the collaboration with Kissy Selly Out, ‘Come On Over’. To put it briefly – this track should have been a free MySpace download, not an official release. Oh well, turns out Tinashe, whose voice has been described as angelic, is human after all. With that one criticism put aside, I am confident this is the beginning of what will ultimately be remembered as an impressive, award-winning career. To comment: www.sabona.com.au/1924

Tinashe

Amongst the latest

music releases Laurika Rauch’s Tweeduisenden-Tien was released in March. With over 35 years in the music business Laurika full deserves her ‘legend’ status. The new recordings confirm Laurika’s status as one of the leading singers and composers on the Afrikaans music scene.

Du Preez Stoltz’s Hy leef in my is a 2010 release. Du Preez is included in South Africa’s Own Three Tenors and is regarded as a brilliant classical tenor with a big repertoire.

Gerhard Steyn’s Breekbaar went gold and platinum in South Africa and his smash hit ‘Baby Tjoklits’ was one of the biggest songs of the year in South Africa in 2009. The most recently released album Als begin eers nou includes the songs ‘Pantoffels en Pajamas’ and ‘Diamante vir jou’.

The albums are distributed in Australia by Royal Hotel Records. See www.royalhotelrecords.com

50 www.sabona.com.au

entertainment

From Cheryl’s Rocking Chair

by Cheryl Goodenough

Inspired by the Knysna Elephants The Knysna elephants are featured in Gareth Patterson’s latest book The Secret Elephants, as well as in a documentary inspired by the uplifting story of these animals. Gareth calls them the ‘secret’ elephants because “mysteriously and unseen and unaided by humans they have almost magically survived”. The Secret Elephants describes Gareth’s findings from research into these animals, which were thought in 1999 to be a ‘functionally extinct population’, with just one old female elephant remaining. “The reality, I discovered, was that a small breeding population exists. These elephants have brought themselves back from the brink,” says Gareth. The most significant discovery made during Gareth’s research, he says, was learning that we have a viable, although also very vulnerable, population of elephants in Knysna. “Also of significance was that the elephants were not confined to forced permanence within the forest, but range freely in the mountain fynbos areas. The discoveries on the elephants diet was also significant, illustrating that, unlike previously thought, they have a diverse and varied diet. This includes their eating on a routine basis a medicinal mushroom never before known to be eaten by elephants. This suggests that the elephants might even be self-medicating to maintain their health. The actual science of animal self-medication, zoophamacognosy, (fantastic word!) is barely a decade old, and is a very exciting field.”

The Knysna elephants have always been well loved, eir true but the positive news of th status has delighted people. The discoveries about the diet of the elephants have astounded lay people and scientists alike, according to Gareth. “The Knysna elephants have always been well loved, but the positive news of their true status has delighted people. People have been inspired generally, as well as personally, by the elephant’s story as told in the book and seen in the documentary, The Search for the Knysna Elephants.” Gareth worked for almost 25 years with lions and says that when he first started to work with lions it was thought that about 250,000 lions existed, while now there are likely to be less than 12,000. “Loss of habitat, fragmentation of populations, poisoning, poaching and the trophy hunting are the main cause of this drastic decline. I wrote eight books on my life with lions, including, Last of the Free, and With My Soul Amongst Lions, which tell how after the murder of my friend George Adamson of Born Free fame, I rescued George’s last lion cub orphans and returned then to the wilds in Botswana,” he says. Gareth’s current work also includes a pilot project that intended to focus on leopards and to utilise remote cameras in a non-invasive way to monitor animals. Positioned just outside the southern boundary of the newly proclaimed Garden Route National Park, the cameras soon captured images of other animals, including some – like honey badgers - that are seldom seen. As a result, Gareth has broadened the project into a mammal diversity project.

Gareth Patterson What is Gareth’s hope for the Knysna elephants? “My biggest hope is that the Knysna elephants thrive and increase in numbers. Unlike other areas in South Africa, here there is ample habitat to sustain a much larger population. Also these are the only truly unfenced elephant population in the whole country. So if all goes well, hopefully these amazing elephants can look forward to a good future.”

SAbona ISSUE 19

entertainment

Exhilarating Moments “Finding the little footprints of a six month old Knysna elephant calf just three months after starting the project (2001) was a very exhilarating moment. This proved that a breeding population existed in the forests and mountain fynbos of Knysna. Another exhilarating moment early on in the project was tracking an elephant as it walked up a mountain and out of the forest. Suddenly I found myself on top of the mountain with the elephant’s tracks in front of me. I could see for miles around me, the forest below and, in the distance, the Indian Ocean. This moment was important also as it was an early indication that the elephants were not (as wrongly thought in the past) confined like refugees to the forest.”

Wi nown!

SAbona/The Secret Elephants Promotion: SAbona/Penguin publishers have two copies of The Secret Elephants by Gareth Patterson to give away. Enter here: www.sabona.com.au/CO31

The Secret Elephant’s Forest Experience Since the launch of the book, Gareth has started The Secret Elephant’s Forest Experience during which he leads small groups of people (no more than eight) into the forest four times a month. “It is a holistic experience looking into all facets of that wild world. Early on I noticed how the forest has a spiritual effect on the participants. People love it. It is almost like a mini eco-pilgrimage through the forest,” says Gareth.

The Gareth Patterson Wildlife Foundation “The Foundation has broad aims. They are to undertake wildlife research and wildlife protection (I believe that research should not be purely for research sake, but a strong component of advocacy should be part of the research) and the promotion of indigenous Africa environmentalism, as well as to promote the concept of wildlife corridors, to link protected wildlife areas.”

All the Details The Secret Elephants book has been released in Australia by Penguin Australia. If copies are not available in your local bookshop, you can order. The Search for the Knysna Elephants documentary is available in a boxed DVD set from geta@nhuafrica.com. For information on The Secret Elephants Forest Experience email rozannesavory@ telkomsa.net. More information on Gareth is available on www.garethpatterson.com.

To comment: www.sabona.com.au/1925

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expert opinion

technology

What ‘engine’ best suits your needs?

a notebook Or A Desktop? by Alexandra Marot

The processor is the number one feature to consider when buying a personal computer. It’s best described as the ‘engine’ of your machine. Intel Core processors are a popular option. Intel have set the bar in speed, better graphics, thinness and next gen wireless. There are three options: The Core i3, which is Intel’s latest budget processor, has received outstanding reviews. For people who use a computer purely for tasks such as word processing, email, surfing the web. The solid, affordable choice for the majority of people.

CORE i3

The Core i5, which is a mid-range processor, gives you a noticeable difference in speed. For people who use their computers frequently and often multi-task. It is more than adequate for video editing and gaming, plus all the other basics.

CORE i5

Personal computers, cell phones, fax machines, email and the internet have become an integral part of our very culture, and play an essential role in our day to day activities. But coupled with that comes all the stress of what to look for when choosing a personal computer. There are times when a notebook is definitely the way to go, but for many people a desktop computer could be better for their needs. So how does one choose between a notebook and a desktop system? What questions should you ask yourself? Here are a few guidelines to assist you when making that decision.

The Core i7 processor, which is currently top of the line, is the most expensive, the latest and the fastest! For most users the i7 is far from necessary.

CORE i7

your choice “depends on your needs and your budget.

”

• One of the biggest criteria is mobility. The choice is easy to make if you know that you need to use the system on the road. However, most people find that they end up using a notebook at a desk in the home or office and rarely use it on the road. • The upgradability of many desktop computers is one key feature that many shoppers overlook. You can easily upgrade components like the hard drive, RAM and possibly even the CPU as needed. There is no way to add more powerful graphics to a notebook should you find after you purchase it that you need more power than your notebook offers. Desktop computers are often significantly more powerful than the notebook rivals of the same price range. • Desktops take up more space than a notebook, so if you have space restraints this is something to note. • Desktops are harder to steal which can be important in an office where there is foot traffic. The small 15-inch notebook sitting on an unattended desk takes mere seconds to walk out the door. However, suspicion would be raised if a thief started walking out the door with a desktop system under his arm. Ultimately, your choice depends on your needs and your budget. To comment: www.sabona.com.au/1926 Alexandra Marot is a partner in 9spheres Technologies, a Queensland company that designs, implements and supports IT solutions for companies.

SAbona ISSUE 19

sport

Ready for

Ringball The traditional South African sport of ringball, which was originally known as korfball, is soon to be introduced in Australia. Teams from Ringball South Africa will arrive in Perth on June 20th as part of the organisation’s development plan. These teams will play exhibition matches in Perth to introduce and promote ringball to Australians. Ringball is a traditional South African family sport that has been played since 1907. It was adapted from basketball to accommodate women and was played under the South African Basketball Union from 1907 to 1916. Korfball was the official school sport at traditional Afrikaans schools until the early 1980’s when netball was introduced into schools. The name change from korfball to ringball was done in 2007 to enable the sport to develop internationally. Ringball

54 www.sabona.com.au

South Africa members hope the sport will enjoy international recognition and that an international controlling body will be established in the near future. The sport is now also promoted in the Netherlands, Namibia, New Zealand, Botswana and other African countries. In South Africa the sport has grown and there are 270 clubs in 18 unions registered with Ringball South Africa. Players of all ages participate in annual South African championships and South African schools championships. It is a game mostly played separately by men and women, or socially by mixed teams in the action version of ringball. The Perth tour comprises two SA senior men’s and two SA senior women’s teams and two SA U/23 women’s action teams, together with managers and referees. For more information see www.ringballsa.co.za. To comment: www.sabona.com.au/1927

• The game can be played on all weather, grass or indoor courts. • The court measures 27m x 18m and is divided into three equal thirds, with three players per team playing only in their own third. • The team consists of three goal shooters, three defenders and three centre players. • With minor adjustments a netball court can be used with play ringball.

sbn

club news & events

sabona business network Sbn featured Host: Doug Horak Hosting the SAbona Business Network (SBN) Western Australia over the last two years have been a really been an interesting experience. When I first got involved I thought the SBN was mainly about getting together to network at a business level, but with time I have realised that it is somewhat different. We all talk about how important relationships are when doing business, but many of us don’t put in the time and effort that is required to take the relationship to the ‘business level’. A business relationship is a personal relationship, it takes time and effort, and it needs to be nurtured, grown and developed. How we do this is what will make us successful or not. Each person has a unique approach, which is why in our SBN group we can accommodate six financial advisers in the same room and at some point they will all

do business as a result of the group. This is because we all connect differently and what appeals to one person won’t work for another. In Western Australia we try to be as inclusive as possible. We believe in collaboration and I believe that is what makes the group work as well as it does. There is a more subtle connecting process that goes on at every meeting, and it is this that I have found to be the most profound. It is not at a business level, but at a human level. There are many common links that pull people together – be it the ‘expat factor’, the meeting of like minds, the natural law of human gravitation or a story shared. The result is the same – new friendships. Over a very short space of time these new friendships reach the depth, breadth and status of old relationships. These relationships are the glue, they are what makes it all worthwhile – business will come and go, jobs will change, but these

The SBN currently meets in the following areas: Queensland Gold Coast Central meets at Café Capri, Isle of Capri on the first Thursday of the month. Sunshine Coast meets at Karma Waters Restaurant, Mooloolaba on the first Friday of the month. Brisbane West/Central meets at Coffee Club Toowong on the second Wednesday of the month. Brisbane South meets at Emeal’s Café in Westfield Garden City on the second Friday of the month. Brisbane North meets at BB’s Café in Westfield Shopping Centre, North Lakes on the third Friday of the month. Gold Coast North meets at The Coffee Club at Helensvale Home World Centre on the second last Friday of the month. Brisbane East meets at SA Café in Cleveland on the fourth Friday of the month. New South Wales Sydney North meets at Northshore Corporate Centre in Gordon on the second Friday of the month. Sydney South meets at The Coffee Club at Westfield Shopping Centre in Hurstville on the second Saturday of the month. Victoria Melbourne meets at the Carousel in Albert Park Lake on the first Friday of the month.

relationships are the constant that will carry us through it all. About Doug Doug runs his own business, a specialised marketing consultancy, focused largely on building strategic relationships. The biggest of the few clients with which he works is The Beijing Axis, which is a Beijing-based company that acts as a business bridge between China and the rest of the globe. He is assisting them with their business development in the Australian market. Doug is on the executive board of the Australia Africa Business Council (AABC) of Western Australia. The AABC promotes and drives bilateral business relations between the Africa and Australia. In Western Australia this is largely mining and resources, but the AABC is becoming more involved in other areas, including education. For more information see www. sabona.com.au/business.sbnperth

SBN The SAbona Business Network aims to develop and nurture a culture of sincere and selfless business cooperation and support amongst expatriate Southern African business people in Australia, thereby assisting in their success within the competitive Australian business environment. For more details about a SBN event in your area, visit www.sabona.com.au/business

Proactively facilitating business • Marketing Consulting - strategy • Business Consulting - strategy • Strategic Alliances • Connecting people • Facilitating bi-lateral relations between Australia and Africa - at a business/ gov. level

Western Australia Perth meets at Kailis Bros Fish Market and Café in Leederville on the first Friday of the month. For more details about a SBN event in your area or if you are interested in setting up a group in your area, visit www.sabona.com.au/business

5TH LEVEL CONSULTING

Contact Doug Horak M 044 765 1732 ESAbona douglas.horak@bigpond.com ISSUE 19 55

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expert opinion

business

be glad of life by Catherine Palin-Brinkworth

Be glad of life...because it gives you the chance to love and to work and to play and to look up at the stars; to be satisfied with your possessions; to despise nothing in the world except falsehood and meanness, and to fear nothing except cowardice; to be governed by your admirations rather than by your disgusts; to covet nothing that is your neighbours except his kindness of heart and gentleness of manners; to think seldom of your enemies, often of your friends… and to spend as much time as you can with body and with spirit. These are little guideposts on the footpath to peace.

These words come from Henry van Dyke. I have had them on my fridge for a few years and they continue to inspire me. I think we live two lives, at the same time. And if we don’t, we need to, to develop gladness and peace. I don’t mean being inauthentic, deceptive, delusional or even bigamous! I mean something much bigger and more important. Something that will make our time on earth a time of value to others, where maybe we also can get to leave a legacy that helps others to find guideposts, even in our time.

I don’t mean being “inauthentic, deceptive, delusional or even bigamous! I mean something much bigger and more important!

”

In every significant business, there is a board of directors that develops the strategy to fulfil the business goals and objectives and serve the shareholders. Then there is the operational structure, management and employees who execute this strategy to achieve the goals and objectives. One of my great passions is that we all, even in one person businesses, need to understand that this two tiered leadership distinction is crucial to our success. Even though I might be the managing director, the salesperson, the production line, and

the filing clerk, I still need to get outside of my business frequently and review whether or not my activities are on track, implementing the strategy my board of directors (me, myself and I) has determined will get us where we want to go. I reckon our own lives are just the same. We actually live operationally, day to day, fulfilling our chosen path to our goals and objectives, whatever they are. And what we also need, for a totally healthy life, is to have the ability to ‘get outside of ourselves’ and look objectively at where we are going. We need an operational self, working away on our schedules and systems. We need a strategic self, able to separate out of the humdrum, and look wisely at where we are headed. If we’re in a partnership of any kind, we need our strategic selves to get together for that partnership, to consider whether or not the strategy is still valid, or whether we want to revise our goals and move in a different direction. I’m so grateful to Professor Van Dyke, for reminding me, because these values, and vision of peace, mean so much to me, I needed to re-introduce a strategy that would support them. So I could become glad of life again. To comment: www.sabona.com.au/1928 Catherine Palin-Brinkworth is a business consultant, professional speaker, trainer and mentor, who builds leadership at all levels.

SAbona ISSUE 19

business

expert opinion

ATO increases investigation of African immigrants

to Australia by Craig Coetzee

The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) recently ramped up investigations of individuals and businesses emigrating from Africa to Australia. With the ATO and the South African Revenue Service (SARS) now sharing sensitive information, the ATO has commenced its investigations of South African immigrants. In a report, the ATO described recent trends it had identified, and the actions it is implementing in response to these trends. The ATO’s main objective for conducting reviews is to ensure disclosure of any worldwide income and assets. Australia has double tax agreements with most countries around the world which generally means that the tax payable in Australia on any worldwide income is not substantial. Foreign tax paid on worldwide income is generally allowed as a credit in Australia. Due to recent legislation changes any foreign losses incurred may also be deductible and offset any Australian sourced income.

How is the ATO targeting South Africans? The ATO is successfully tracking the flow of funds from South Africa to Australia and is also using information provided by SARS to identify wealth being held offshore by South African immigrants. Once offshore wealth is identified, the ATO is launching audits and investigations with the view to applying Australia’s Attributable Income Regimes to tax immigrants on their accumulated offshore wealth. Broadly speaking, these regimes require that the profits of offshore entities as well as the accumulation of wealth controlled by Australian tax residents (and related parties, including trusts and companies controlled by family members) be taxed in Australia, even if no cash is received. New legislation is proposed to broaden the ATO’s taxing powers in relation to offshore wealth. It is therefore important that you review your position and seek advice now in relation to any offshore entities and accumulated wealth.

Take action to prepare yourself today! Based on the recent occurrences, we strongly recommend you act now and: • Talk with your Australian specialist taxation advisor; • Collate evidence of your former and current South African wealth; and • Organise a tax position paper to defend your position. Call your adviser today to ensure you are prepared for the ATO’s scrutiny of your assets and wealth. A tax position paper defends the reasons why your former South African offshore wealth should not be taxable in Australia. Our experience is that the ATO may not challenge taxpayers with a well considered and documented tax position paper prepared by a recognised Australian specialist taxation advisor. And if they do, penalties are generally remitted.

The full ATO report is available at: http://www.ato.gov.au/print.asp?doc=/Content/46908.htm Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards Legislation other than for the acts or omissions of financial services licensees. WHK is a registered trading name of WHK Pty Ltd 84 006 466 351.

58 www.sabona.com.au

Craig Coetzee, a business services principal with WHK, specialises in small business accounting and specialised reporting. He is originally from Zimbabwe and moved to Australia in 1997. To comment: www.sabona.com.au/1929

SAbona ISSUE 19

60 www.sabona.com.au

expert opinion

Injured sponsored workers and the law

business

by Costa Brehas

Several SAbona readers, who have migrated to Australia on a subclass 457 visa, have recently expressed concerns about losing their jobs because they have been off work because of an illness or injury. There are a number of protections that Australian law offers employees in these circumstances.

Adverse action If an employer takes any prejudicial action against an employee or threatens to do so based on the employee’s injury or illness (such as dismissing the employee or altering the employee’s position to his or her prejudice) the employee may make a General Protections Court Application. This application can include orders to prevent an employer from dismissing the employee (known as injunctive relief ). Alternatively, if the employee has been dismissed, the employee may seek to be reinstated.

Discrimination claim There are both state and federal laws that prohibit discriminating against an employee on the basis of illness or injury. Where an employer dismisses an employee or treats that employee differently because of this the employee can lodge a complaint either through the relevant state or a federal discrimination tribunal to seek compensation for this treatment. This process is relatively cheap and informal.

Costa Brehas (B.Proc – University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa) practiced as an attorney and conveyancer in South Africa and is currently engaged as a senior associate in the Employment and Workplace Relations Department of Hunt & Hunt.

Unfair dismissal claim Where it is difficult for an employee to establish that the reasons for the dismissal relate to his or her illness or injury the employee may proceed with an unfair dismissal claim and seek reinstatement and/or compensation. This is also a relatively cheap and quick option.

OH&S complaint Each state or territory currently has its own occupational health and safety (OH&S) laws that protect injured or ill employees from dismissal for a minimum period of time where the injury is work-related. Where the employer fails to comply with its OH&S obligations towards an injured or ill employee a complaint can be made to the relevant state OH&S authority. During the period of the employee’s absence because of a work-related injury, the employee will be entitled to receive compensation based on a percentage of the employee’s pre-injury income. If the employee is able to return to work on light or modified duties the employer has obligations to accommodate this and establish a return to work plan until the employee is able to resume normal duties. To comment: www.sabona.com.au/1930 Disclaimer The information contained in this article is not legal advice and should not be relied upon as legal advice.

Other options In addition, there are further options available to employees in these circumstances depending on the facts of each case. Because employees on a subclass 457 visa are dependent on their jobs in order to remain in Australia, it would be prudent to include express clauses in the employment agreement at the time that its terms and conditions are negotiated that extend the time period within which an employee may be dismissed – particularly where they are unable to work because of an illness or injury. In cases where the employee is at a senior level, it is also common to include clauses whereby the employer pays for additional insurance to fully compensate the employee for lost wages in these circumstances. Because of the serious consequences for subclass 457 visa employees losing their job in circumstances where they cannot work because of an illness or injury, it is advisable to seek professional advice in order to ensure that this is addressed before entering into an employment contract.

Hunt & Hunt employment lawyers kick goals Contact Costa Brehas T 03 8602 9200

SAbona ISSUE 19

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