Geelong Coast Magazine Summer 2016 by Star News Group

ISSUE 19

TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS www.gcmagazine.com.au

THREE WOMEN. THREE VERY DIFFERENT BUSINESSES

MONGOL CONQUEST YOUNG TRIO CONQUERS EUROPE IN A BEAT-UP CITROEN

LOCAL LOVE LIAM AND CAITLIN GET HITCHED

HOME BODIES

Our partnership with some of Victoria’s leading builders is stronger than ever, and we’re happy to announce the opening of a brand new display village at Warralily. You’ll be able to see great new home designs, the latest trends in kitchens, living rooms, bathrooms, bedrooms and outdoor living. Come and visit the new Warralily display village and experience the Warralily Way of Life for yourself.

SALES OFFICES: OPEN 11AM–5PM, 7 DAYS 844 Barwon Heads Rd, Armstrong Creek 3217, 1300 661 719 | 5 Coastside Drive, Armstrong Creek 3217, 1300 458 193

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SAGE ADVICE ON SUSTAINABLE LIVING

INSPIRED DESIGNS

MEET GEELONG’S AUSTRALIAN DESIGNER OF THE YEAR

SUMMER 2016 AUS $5.50 (inc GST)

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contents

22-23

We love

Inspired fashions

What’s brewing

8-9

46-49

This season

Artist in residence

26-29 Myles of adventure

58-59 Green thumbs

32-35 Local love

10-13 In conversation

39-41 Summer trends

16-19 Taking care of business

62-65 Home bodies

Local Sounds

Calendar

Geelong Coast magazine is a Star News Group/Geelong Independent publication.

Geelong Coast Magazine is printed on environmentally friendly paper.

MANAGING EDITOR: Tony Galpin WRITERS: Elissa Friday, Luke Voogt PHOTOGRAPHY: Louisa Jones CREATIVE: Creative Services Manager: Chris Beale Graphic Designers: Mark Dinnie, Virginia Hester ADVERTISING: Advertising Manager: Steve Clark steve.clark@gcmagazine.com.au Sales Executive: Marianne Valitutti marianne.valitutti@gcmagazine.com.au

Printed using vegetable based inks on FSC ® certified paper under ISO14001. Environmental Management System framework. FSC ® Chain of Custody certification ensures traceability and verification of paper from well managed forests throughout the manufacturing process to the end user.

COVER PICTURE: Louisa Jones www.gcmagazine.com.au facebook.com/gcmaggeelongcoast

GEELONG COAST MAGAZINE Level 1, 78 Moorabool Street, Geelong 3220 (03) 5249 6700

@GeelongCoast ISSN: 2200-6605 ABN: 55 006 653 336 ACN: 06 653 336

All material appearing in Geelong Coast magazine is subject to copyright unless otherwise stated or it may rest with the provider of the supplied material. Geelong Coast magazine takes all care to ensure information is correct at the time of printing, but the publisher accepts no responsibility or liability for the accuracy of any information contained in the text or advertisements. Views expressed are not necessarily endorsed by the publisher or editor.

WORDS: ELISSA FRIDAY

watch THIS

face “AS A FEMALE and an actor it’s always very competitive,” says Geelong writer-director Miranda Nation. “There aren’t always many roles and I wanted to create strong roles for women. “I’d like to think that through my work and the way I cast my films there’s room to make some positive change as well, in terms of equality and diversity.” Miranda will have a chance to apply her film-making ethos to Undertow, which she begins shooting soon in Geelong and the Surf Coast, with a $2 million budget. A former student of Montpellier Primary School and Geelong College, Miranda grew up at Highton with her teacher mum and pharmacist dad before moving to Melbourne for university. “I originally studied medicine but dropped out to pursue acting, which some may say was a foolish choice but, you know, I always wanted to be a creative. “It took that courage to follow the path that I always dreamed of.” So in 2000 Miranda went to Paris to study acting at L’Ecole Internationale de Theatre Jaques Le Coque. “Geoffrey Rush actually studied there,” she says. Intent on making her own work, Miranda returned to Australia to write for film before going on to study directing in Sydney for a year. She won a best short movie award at 2013’s Sydney Film Festival and was nominated for an actor award in 2014. Undertow, to be filmed in 2017, will be the first full-length movie she has made. But the $2 million budget is “pretty tight” for an away-shoot from her Melbourne base, she says.

“The story is about a couple who lost a baby and struggle to deal with that grief and they meet a young woman who’s pregnant,” Miranda explains. “It’s about the way that they start trying to care for her, projecting their unresolved grief onto her and wanting to kind of protect her and her baby, so it’s a thriller but in a very understated and subtle way. “We’re in casting, were locationscouting, we’re raising private investments – the stuff that goes on behind the scenes that you have to do to get the film to the stage where you’re shooting.” Miranda’s writing is “performancedriven,” so she enjoys collaborating with her actors during rehearsals and shoots to “bring the characters to life,” she says.

“story

ULTIMATELY, I’m about wanting to tell a great

…

“Ultimately, I’m about wanting to tell a great story.” With a baby girl, Miranda has little time spare outside work but loves going to the cinema, even though it’s “still in the realm of work”. She also enjoys yoga, running, walking, getting out of Melbourne to swim in the ocean and being “connected to this part of the world”. 5

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ADAIRS: 1. Home Republic Dane Side Table (54cm; marble) $129.95; 2. Frosted pine table trees (2pk; 16cm; assorted) $12.95; 3. Frosted Pine table tree (23cm; assorted) $9.95; 4. Home Republic Metal ornament droplet (black) $5.95; BAGS ONLY: 5. Superman 19” trolley (blue) $99.95; C&T MOBILE: 6. iPhone 7 Plus case (ass.) $30; DYMOCKS: 7. Star Wars Year by Year – A Visual History $69.99; HOME SURPRISES: 8. 3D photo frame (10x10cm; white) $5.99; 9. Christmas cheer Christmas Wreath (green) $46.50; THE REJECT SHOP: 10. Superhero Prints (ass.) $10; TONIK: 11. Hurley Drainer Hat $39.99; 12. Ripcurl Tour Silicone (yellow) $99.99; 13. Ripcurl Tour Silicone (blue) $119.99; TYPO: 14. Punnet Container (snack hard) $14.99; 15. Bookends skateboard (red/black) $39.99; 16. Nice Cushy cushion (netﬂix and chill) $24.99; 17. Light Up Letters Large (alpha) $39.99; WILD CARDS & GIFTS: 18. Superman costume collector mug (multi) $14.99; 19. Superhero playing cards (ass.) $14.99

Cnr Colac & Pioneer Road Waurn Ponds Ph (03) 5244 2580 12330457-PB47-16

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ADAIRS: 1. Home Republic Dane Side Table (54cm; marble) $129.95; 2. Mercer+Reid Frosted pine table trees (2pk; 16cm; assorted) $12.95; 3. Mercer+Reid Frosted Pine table tree (23cm; assorted) $9.95; BAGS ONLY: 4. Serenade Happy Day Large Leather Wallet (red) $79.95; 5. Serenade Monroe Leather Travel Wallet (yellow) $39.00; 6. Ladies Evening Bag (black) $24.95; 7. Kardashian Kollection Let’s Dance passport wallet (black/white) $55.97; 8. Serenade Happy Day Classic Leather bag (red) $199.95; 9. Bazaar Croc Beauty Case (black) $34.90; 10. Serenade Beverly Hills Collection Cleopatra (black/white stripe) $199.95; FEMME CONNECTION: 11. Black fashion bag (black) $34.99; 12. Coloured bracelets (multi) $6; HAPPY TEL: 13. IPhone 7+ case (red) $55; HOME SURPRISES: 14. Christmas cheer Christmas Wreath (green) $46.50; KEVIN PAISLEY FASHION EYEWEAR: 15. Face a Face Ladies Frame – Boccasexy (red) $670; NOVO SHOES: 16. Neve (malibu blue) $79.95; 17. Tanya (blue) $49.95; 18. Sibilla (coral) $59.95 THE REJECT SHOP: 19. Battery operated LED lights (20pk) $4; THIS AN THAT: 20. Provincial Collection Frame (white) $29.99; TYPO: 21. Coloured wooden symbol (love heart) $4.95; 22. Mini Marquee Lights (Alpha; Grey) $9.99ea

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THIS SEASON YOU SHOULD Enjoy a Wine Bus tailored tour The Wine Bus Geelong visits some of the region’s best wineries. Clients can customise their itinerary with their own choice of destinations, including breweries, and even the type of vehicle, images of which are available at murrell.com.au A pick-up and drop-off service is available, while entry fees for tastings are covered in the tour cost. The operator, Geelong’s Murrell Group, also provides bottled water, snacks and knowledgeable guide. Bookings are available by phoning 5278 9456 or emailing murrellgroup@bigpond.com

Inspect a Seaview Gallery exhibition The nature-inspired art of Jane Flowers and Paul Evans features at Seaview Gallery until 22 December. Evans draws on the beauty of nature for inspiration, while Flowers has an affinity with the ocean and wider environment. Their interpretations translate into striking works sure to impress Seaview patrons. The gallery also hosts a Best Of Seaview exhibition from 24 December to 12 January, while Emma Hack’s unique body art on female models features from 14 to 29 January. Seaview Gallery is at 86 Hesse Street, Queenscliff.

Take a Segway ride Segway Geelong’s bringing its unique fun to the city’s waterfront this summer. Utilising the high-tech two-wheelers of the same name, the exciting attraction has been thrilling guests at Curlewis’s Leura Park winery with a variety of packages. Packages including riding the Segways only around the grounds of the winery or incorporating a Leura Park dining experience. Segway Geelong can also customise packages for parties and corporate functions. Bookings and more information are available online at segwaygeelong.com.au

Discover pirates’ horrible histories Geelong’s National Wool Museum is walking the plank this summer with its latest drawcard. Horrible Histories - Pirates: The Exhibition features author Terry Deary and illustrator Martin Brown presenting foul facts and gruesome games from the high seas. Children will learn everything they want to know about pirates, from commanding a sailing ship to speaking in character. Horrible Histories will be at the museum until 17 April. More information is available from geelongaustralia.com.au/nwm or by phoning the museum on 5272 4701.

Get a great new hairstyle Located on Geelong’s waterfront at Salon Jenaire, Hair by Evie offers everything from fresh, feminine cuts to colours, blow-waves and men’s styling. Hair by Evie’s premium, professional service offers styling, maintenance advice and custom prescriptions tailored to each client’s individual needs. Friendly and approachable, hairdresser Eve Rauber is setting a new standard in hairdressing. Customers can unwind with massage chairs at the basins along with a full range of herbal tea and coffee Appointments are available by phoning 0423 864 204.

Personalise your home with Zaharah Zaharah Interiors focuses on home wares and soft furnishings for style-conscious consumer. With unique, eclectic and affordable home accents and gifts, Zaharah can inspire and educate customers on how to express themselves with a personalised home environment. The store’s open 9am to 5.30pm Monday to Friday and 9am to 4pm Saturdays, with extended Christmas trading hours in December. Zaharah Interiors is at 15 Ormond Road, East Geelong. For more information, phone 5298 1591, email zaharahinteriors@hotmail.com or visit zaharahinteriors.com

Enjoy lunch with views at Clyde Park Clyde Park winery will be open seven days a week for lunch this summer from mid-December. Around the same time the venue will also open a new outdoor covered terrace for dining and a cellar door with a personalised tasting room. The new features will be completed with recycled timbers, giving each a rustic, artisan theme. Clyde Park also offers live music every Sunday. Clyde Park Vineyard and Bistro is at 2490 Midland Highway, Bannockburn, phone 5281 7274.

Savour the flavour of Kazbah coffee Birregurra’s Kazbah Coffee Roasters sources the highest quality green beans from a local distributor. Kazbah ships online wholesale orders on the day of roasting to provide the freshest product for customers’ in-house brews. Collection points at Birregurra and Winchelsea are also available. Kazbah’s online shop also wholesales chai, deluxe drinking chocolate and brewing equipment. More information and orders are available at kazbahcoffeeroasters.com, by emailing info@kasbahcoffeeroasters.com or sales@ kasbahcoffeeroasters.com, or by phoning Joe on 0457 809 322.

… Body Conquest Body Conquest’s Mental Makeover can deliver a new mindset for a better you. The program works on elevating self-esteem, confidence and overall fitness by addessing the factors holding back women’s progress. Body Conquest also offers End Emotional Eating, which helps clients achieve appropriate dietary habits in five steps. Results can be fast-tracked with a Body Conquest personal trainer. Phone Body Conquest on 0424 180 093, email contact@ bodyconquest.com.au or visit 2 Plantation Road, Corio.

… Voice on Pako Pakington Street’s very own newspaper is always engaging reading. Published monthly, Voice on Pako has everything shoppers, diners and cafe patrons need to know about Geelong’s cosmopolitan shopping strip. Readers can find Voice on Pako at various venues along the street, in either the Geelong West or Newtown ends. Advertising inquiries should go to Emily Robinson on 5349 6723.

… Geelong and Surf Coast Limousines Live it up with reliable, luxury transport for an affordable price. With hire options from classic Fords to limousines, Geelong Surf Coast Limousines can help clients making a grand entrance at any event. The team specialises in chauffeured limousines for all occasions but can also conduct tours and funeral transport. Bookings and quotes are available by phoning 5277 3393, 0477 663 314 or emailing geelongandsurfcoastlimousines @gmail.com

Keep up with Voice on Pako on Facebook and Instagram.

… Tilia fashions free monthly

December 2016

Tilia’s name comes from the Linden tree, whose leaf is used as a herbal medicine for women. The store’s casual range features lots of colour, accessories and a variety of styles.

PLENTY IN STORE FOR CHRISTMAS

SUPPORT S AND COMMUNITY GIFTS, DECORATION G WEST’S NEWEST TRADER FROM GEELON SEE PAGE 7

21 West Fyans St,

Tilia stocks labels including New London, Loobies Story, Vassalli, Philosophy, Joseph Ribkoff, Alquema, Tani, Taos shoes, Cadelle leather bags and jewellery from many Israeli designers. Orders and inquiries are available by phoning 5258 2912, emailing tiliaqueenscliff@ hotmail.com or visiting the store at 42 Hesse Street, Queenscliff.

[social] network

Committee for Geelongâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Decade of Leadership 1

1. CHRIS NIVEN, MEL PEARCE AND TIM SECOMBE. 2. CLINTON FRASER AND FLEUR MANSFIELD. 3. DAN SIMMONDS AND JEAN PAUL. 4. PETER DORLING AND TERRY BARROW. 5. ALAN SHUREY, WES SELF AND SIMON WHITE. 6. CHELSEA MCCONVILLE-COOMBS, RUTH PAYNE, KATE MILBURN AND SARAH AULD. 7. NANDI YOUNG, URSULA IRWIN, LYNNE FOREMAN, LUCINDA TUCKER AND PAM LYNCH. 8. FRANK COSTA, PETER SERRA AND KATHY ALEXANDER. 9. GREG HAYNES AND STUART CHRISTIE. 10. JULIET WILLIAMS, INGRID HINDELL AND STEPHEN FERNANDES. 11. RICHARD LYLE, AMANDA SINCLAIR AND KELLY CLIFFORD. 12. ROBERT HUNTER, DARREN SAUNDERS AND JULIE HUNTER. 13. UNNI MENON AND BRIAN COOK.

[in] conversation

Dan Babicâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Hollywood face.

c i b a B n a D His Hollywood online TV after-show has 20 million downloads a week in 150 countries. He has 37,000 Instagram followers. And he grew up in Hamlyn Heights. ELISSA FRIDAY chats with Dan Babic, Geelong’s celebrity stalker of the red carpet.

I’m constantly inspired by those rare individuals in society who go against the grain and

FIGHT FOR WHAT’S RIGHT…

“I DIDN’T WAKE UP TO BE MEDIOCRE” – WHAT DID YOU MEAN WHEN YOU SAID THAT?

WHERE IN GEELONG DID YOU GROW UP? DO YOU MIND IF I ASK YOUR AGE?

I’m such a believer that as humans we’re all incredibly strong and unique and have been put on this earth to fulfil a specific plan and purpose. It’s really about accessing this strength, knowing our worth and that we are all here to do great things.

I grew up in Hamlyn Heights. As for my age, that’s one secret I’ll never tell, ha-ha-ha!

I’m constantly inspired by those rare individuals in society who go against the grain and fight for what’s right. Every day I wake up I remind myself of Rosa Parks’ story and how she refused to sit at the back of the bus, changing history in the process. I aspire to be like that.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR FAMILY, DO YOU HAVE BROTHERS AND SISTERS? My family’s incredible. If Oprah and Kris Jenner had a baby that would be my mum, and my dad is exactly like Bruce Jenner pre-transition, minus the genderidentity problem. I also have a twin sister who’s the exact opposite of me and a younger sister who’s the exact duplicate of my mother. 13

>>>

As a fellow Geelongian she gave me hope that I, too, could pave a successful career in Hollywood. HAVE YOU ALWAYS WANTED TO WORK IN THE MEDIA? As long as I can remember. Believe it or not, I didn’t have a lot of self confidence growing up but always knew without a doubt I would work and be a success in the entertainment industry. WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR ANYONE WANTING TO GET INTO WHAT YOU’RE DOING? First of all, get into it for the right reasons, not just to be famous or to feed your ego. Get into it because you’re passionate and truly believe in the deepest part of your self that it’s exactly what you are meant to do.

Dan with AfterBuzz co-hosts and, second from left, US singer Christina Milian.

Grow a thick skin, work ridiculously hard, follow your intuition and when you get knocked down get straight back up. DO YOU GET OPPORTUNITIES TO MINGLE WITH HOLLYWOOD CELEBRITIES?

WHAT WERE YOU STUDYING AT DEAKIN UNIVERSITY WHEN WE MET? Public relations and journalism. I still technically have a few units to complete – I really must get around to finishing it. WHY DID YOU MOVE TO LA? As long as I can remember I’ve always wanted to move to Los Angeles because it seemed that’s where dreams come true. I moved there in 2014 to pursue a career as a television host/ media personality. HAD YOU BEEN TO AMERICA BEFORE? I had. A year before I made the official move I went for a brief period of time to really scope it out and see if it was something I should do. WHAT’S LIFE LIKE IN LA? Crazy. It really is as insane as it looks. That’s why I’m so grateful to have grown up in Geelong – it gave me a really good foundation and grounding to tackle the madness that is Hollywood. 14

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN LIVING IN AMERICA? Two years now – times goes by fast! TELL US ABOUT YOUR CAREER AS A TELEVISION HOST AND MEDIA PERSONALITY? I work for AfterBuzz TV and alongside Maria Menounous covering all the hottest red carpets in Hollywood. I also host the official after-show for Project Runway and have just wrapped filming a spin off of Project Runway called Design Genius, where I host, judge and mentor the contestants along the way.

I do but at the end of the day people are just people. While they live fascinating lives, they’re no different to me and you and it’s just their job that makes them famous, that’s it. IF YOU COULD HAVE DINNER WITH A FAMOUS PERSON OR PERSONS WHO WOULD YOU CHOOSE? If you had asked me several months ago I would’ve said hands down Oprah but now I’m going to say Hillary Clinton. DO YOU HAVE ANY GUILTY PLEASURES? French Fries and chocolate of course!

WHAT HIGHLIGHTS HAVE YOU EXPERIENCED IN YOUR JOB?

WHAT DO YOU ENJOY DOING IN YOUR SPARE TIME?

Getting to meet and interview Sally Field. She’s been one of the greatest inspirations in my life so it really was a surreal experience.

I honestly live for my work because it’s constantly connecting me with people and new experiences. Ideally, in my down-time I’d just like to spend it with my family but that’s obviously very difficult because they live in Australia.

Any moment I also get to see and talk to Ellen DeGeneres or Portia De Rossi is also a highlight for me. I grew up longing to be Ellen and wouldn’t have ever moved to LA if it wasn’t for Portia De Rossi’s story.

I tend to fill my down-time in the US hiking, spending it with friends and going on new adventures.

WHAT WOULD SURPRISE PEOPLE MOST TO KNOW ABOUT YOU? I might appear very glamorous on the outside – I never leave the house without a shirt and blazer – but when I’m home I look like a complete homeless person. It’s mismatching pyjamas and bed hair all the way. HAVE YOU ADOPTED AN AMERICAN ACCENT? No and I don’t think I ever will. I talk to my family every day and consciously make sure my Australian accent stays part of who I am and where I came from.

GROW A THICK SKIN, work ridiculously hard, follow your intuition and when you get knocked down get straight back up…

Dan prepares for the cameras.

TAKING

business

From barrels of oil to relationships and labelling â&#x20AC;&#x201C; ELISSA FRIDAY meets three female success stories operating diverse Geelong businesses 16

DELIVERING, loading and unloading 200-litre oil drums was just the start for M&R Distributors owner and director Monique HolmesRichardson. “It was only me back then,” Monique says of her experience as a teenage entrepreneur. “I used to rep and deliver everything myself in the truck. “I had to learn how to move the 200-litre drums – they had to make me a tool so I could lift it on its side and roll it.” Just learning to physically move the drums took nearly 18 months, Monique remembers. “When I started there weren’t any female oil reps or even females within the industry, so that was pretty tough. “Men were not so nice to me when I was 18 and started out, so you have to overcome those obstacles.” Now on top of running M&R Distributors, Monique’s also a Highton “taxi” mum of three children and has volunteered with local charity Our Women Our Children for 11 years. She had just finished studying at Geelong College when she started distributing oil and synthetic lubricants in 1992 “by default” after the death of her father.

“I was heading off to uni and dad’s cancer spread rapidly, so I stayed behind to help mum because I had two younger sisters. “Dad’s business was oil distribution and we had service stations, so I’d worked in those before on school holidays. “Dad died during the recession, so it was pretty tough and the economic state of Geelong was shocking. “I was 18 at the time and had never seen anything so depressing – people were, grown men, were so depressed about working, or had no work or money. Everyone was in debt. “It wasn’t a nice time at all to start my life in business but we just grew and saw some opportunities and the main company that I was dealing with was growing rapidly, too.”

“But I’m dealing with really good people and good support. We’re predominantly looking at the trucking industry, farms and automotive garages but we now deal with all market segments”. During the brand rebuilding phase Monique identified an opportunity to become a “one-stop shop” for her existing clientele. She expanded her range with items such as cleaning products, helping customers purchase all their essentials with the one order.

Men were not so nice to me when I was 18 and started out… With a staff of five, the North Geelong-based company now services everything from trucking and farming businesses through to hotels.

Four years ago Monique changed oil companies for the first time in 19 years, sending M&R Distributors through “a complete 360”, she says.

“Our products are not the cheapest – we don’t want to be the cheapest,” Monique says.

“I had to reinvent myself, my business. I feel like I started all over again building Hi-Tech’s brand, which had never been in Geelong before.

With truck-driver clients who “rave out” M&R’s products, the company now also exports to Malaysia and Thailand.

“Has it been hard? Yes, I don’t think I’d want to do that kind of change again.”

“We just want a quality product that compares to the price.”

“Most of my clients I’ve had for 24 years, so I know their feedback is going to be honest,” Monique laughs. Monique-Holmes Richardson is the centre of attention for her staff at M&R Distributors. PICTURE: SARA TAYLOR PHOTOGRAPHY

>>>

For myself as a woman, I know I face different challenges… “I loved learning,” she declares. “My husband calls me a sponge.” Now mum to Emir, 3, and one-year-old Mazen, her children’s names were the inspiration for her kid’s clothing label, Emaze Me. After six months working on product development, Samantha launched her online brand just over a year ago. She creates the Emaze Me designs herself, incorporating her psychology studies to keep all the wording on the kids’ T-shirts “cute an innocent”, she explains. ‘Oh My, Dear Me’ and ‘Future CEO’ have hit a chord as two of her best-sellers, Samantha says. She particularly enjoys developing ideas as a key aspect of her businesses. “It’s like you never work,” she says, “But the journey to get there is a different thing. Sometimes you have to do those things you don’t want to do in order to get to that space where you’re enjoying what you do every day. Samantha Krajina, at home in the office or online. PICTURE: TRAVIS LONGMORE

With multiple business interests, Geelong’s Samantha Krajina “was always very entrepreneurial”. “But I loved accounting. When I sat my CA (chartered accountancy exams) I got 98 in tax – what a nerd,” Samantha giggles. Before she was an accountant Samantha started out as a child model until a “very bad experience with an agency” inspired her to start her own. Samantha used her “great relationships” with brands from her modelling experiences to create a nationwide agency with models in every state. Samantha grew up in Geelong, attending Catholic Regional and Clonard colleges before finishing her university degree in two years. 18

“I’ve definitely endured that journey.” Samantha’s interest in psychology also inspired her to write a blog and establish a relationships business with husband-of-15years Emir. They have based the business on their studies of neuro-linguistic programming and multiple brain integration techniques. “They’re kind of the study of the brain and behaviours, the study of psychology more than psychology itself,” she explains. The couple established E&S Relationship Specialists, their first business together, five years ago. Emir covers the personal side, working with couples, singles, families and schools to improve inter-personal relationships. Samantha deals with medium to large corporate clients on issues such as personal and professional development, leadership and customer service.

Like Emaze Me, E&S Relationship Specialists has a strong digital presence, including an active website and The Dating Wingman app, which won the praise of judges at the 2014 iDate Awards. “We came runner-up in front of Tinder for ours but it’s not a pick-up app, it’s just to help users with their dating. “That (the app) is part of how I tried to get our name out there when we started.” Samantha is also the brains behind Geelong Women In Business, which she launched in April after developing an appreciation for the value of networking groups while working in Melbourne. “It really took off,” Samantha says. “People often ask, ’Why is it just women, why not men?’ The true answer is, ’Because women face different challenges to men, not lesser or more or greater or worse, they’re just different’. “For myself as a woman, I know I face different challenges; having two children, working as an accountant in a male-dominated industry. It’s character-building and provides life lessons that build who you are. “We’re definitely not a feminist or sexist group, we just support the different challenges women face. “There are so many smart, wonderful, incredible women in Geelong who are popping up these innovative and clever businesses.” Samantha also describes herself as a “venture capitalist”, working behind the scenes in four other businesses. She spends time coaching and utilising her “vast network” to help ambitious young entrepreneurs get their businesses up and running. When she’s not working, Samantha enjoys spending time “at the You Yangs every other day” with her kids. “They’re the coolest little dudes you’ll ever meet,” she says.

Stuck On You’s Carrie Felton describes herself as “the CEO who isn’t fond of titles”.

She received back 463 orders, some with one child’s name and others up to four.

“We have to have a title for the organisational chart but I believe everyone in our business should and does have a voice, so mine shouldn’t be loudest,” she says.

“I realised that this was a product needed or wanted,” Carrie says.

The Ceres resident began her global business in a spare room, which later became the bedroom of her middle child, Harry.

I think I’m good at following my gut instinct – it’s stood me in good stead along the way… She hit on the idea for Stuck On You when she wanted to label eldest son Charlie’s school gear with “something better than a Band-Aid and black marker”. She approached a printer for labels in “three different colours with black text”. “I asked the printer to put an aeroplane on it and I liked them, so I got a graphic designer to make some up for me.” Utilising her network of friends and the “bush telegraph” of social media, Carrie then sent order forms with sticker samples to 487 contacts.

“I think I’m good at following my gut instinct – it’s stood me in good stead along the way.” Stuck On You has branched out over its 21 years to now also offer other kids’ products including various accessories, stationery products and clothing. Twelve years ago Carrie expanded the business with the acquisition of Penny Scallan Designs, which now sells a range of products ranging from children’s luggage and lunchboxes through to back-packs, drink bottles, rainwear and bedroom accessories. With distributors in Asia, Europe and America, Carrie’s business interests now ship orders to 127 countries. Stuck On You, based at Breakwater, employs 50 permanent staff and up to 90 during peak periods. About 15 people work in various offices overseas. “We also have warehousing in America, Poland, China and Australia,” Carrie says.

She credits her “creative and nimble team” of “forward-thinking people” with helping make Stuck On You an international success. “I’m very busy. There’s not a lot of down-time for me at this stage in business – it’s growing exponentially overseas.” The business also supplies 900 retailers in Australia, including David Jones, which Carrie puts down to an emphasis on “quality and design”. She counts her business goals as “making life easier for mums” with “good-quality products”, especially the labelling items. “They help mums spend less time looking for lost property”. Carrie’s husband was a pilot but retired from flying to become more active in her business. “He works closely with our CFO (chief financial officer) and the rest of our accounts team, mainly managing foreign currency exchange,” she says. Away from work, Carrie loves cooking at home to socialise with friends and family. “We have a large social life, we live in the country and entertain a lot.”

Stuck On You’s Carrie Felton takes a rare moment to relax.

[social] network

Lighting up Geelong’s Floating Christmas Tree 1

1. ALISTAIR AND GRACIE KEDDIE. 2. JENNIFER, LIAM, HANNAH AND JEREMY ELLIOTT. 3. KAYDEN, TARRYN, PAUL AND ZAVIER DEMPSEY. 4. SIRI, ANDI AND CHLOE CARTY. 5. ISABELLE NEELLY. 6. KYLIE BAKES AND CHRIS WEST. 7. ANTHONY AND LUCA PATTI. 8. PINEY TREE AND LILY LOLLIE ELF. 9. CAITLYN GRATTON AND JASON ROBERTSON. 10. SOPHIA KATOS AND IMOGEN BROUGH. PICTURES: REG RYAN

Find out at

National Wool Museum, Geelong 19 November 2016 to 17 April 2017

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IN ASSOCIATION WITH

Horrible Histories® is a registered trademark of Scholastic Inc and is used under authorization. All rights reserved. Based on the bestselling books written by Terry Deary and illustrated by Martin Brown. Illustration © Martin Brown.

26 Moorabool Street, Geelong T 03 5272 4701 www.nwm.vic.gov.au

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The home of Australia’s favourite retailers.

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Alana Carter models a striking Ali Rauf design. PICTURE: LOUISA JONES

inspiring

fashions

Ethnic cultures inspire the striking creations of Ali Rauf. ELISSA FRIDAY discovers the international background and artistic philosophy of Geelong’s 2016 Australian Designer of the Year. MUSIC, fine arts and especially the ethnic clothing of other cultures inspire award-winning fashion designer Ali Rauf. He finds them all “anywhere, anytime” in Geelong, where he has lived at Bell Park for the past seven and a half years.

I LOVE GEELONG… “I love Geelong,” Ali declares. Ali was born in Saudi Arabia but his family moved to Pakistan where his father served in the army, with international postings every two years. During his family travels Ali learnt about various cultures, building inspirations for his striking designs.

Left: Ali Rauf cuts a stylish figure himself.

>>>

With a keen interest in manipulating textiles and embroidery, Ali appreciates the “exceptional” crafts of the Middle East. “The spirit of making everything by hand” in rural areas was particularly intriguing, he says. Ali’s inspirations depend on a “trigger that can happen at any time”. “I work in a way where I’ll be really obsessed with a piece, where every detail has to be done in my head,” he explains. After completing high-school he moved to the United States for study before securing a scholarship from Deakin University in Geelong. He eventually graduated with a Bachelor of Design (Architecture). “I always wanted to be in a field that was creative, like, always,” Ali says. “The degree helped a lot with graphic design and photography, like learning skills to manipulate textiles and things like that. It helped with the fashion design aspect.” Ali began taking his fashion design creations seriously as a brand only two and half years ago, launching Bird Skin. He entered his first Fashion Awards Australia in 2015, finishing with a second and third in the streetwear category. Enjoying the challenge, he entered again in 2016 to set himself a “deadline” for new designs. He won two categories, a most-elegant hat award and the overall title, Australian Designer of the Year.

IT HAS TO COMPLEMENT

THE FEMALE BODY… Flattering, interesting but not overwhelming…

“Major brands do have an influence of what’s in and out. I don’t necessarily look at that but it’s always about the unique perspective that gets me”. Ali notably incorporates feathers in his designs for clothes and accessories, including fascinators, clutch bags and jewellery. He sources the feathers online from an “amazing woman” whose son owns a bird farm. “They look like they’re spraypainted or something like that. They’re absolutely amazing and very rare as well. “I know when the birds match and when they shed feathers, so I contact her at that time and she just sends them through. “It’s a huge blessing that I got to meet her. Ali’s winning designs involve close attention to tailoring and “a very different or unique perspective to the concept”. “I think it starts with the silhouettes,” he contends. “You can have kind of edgy cutting or tailoring but it has to complement the female body; flattering, interesting but not overwhelming. “The embellishments and the embroidery aspect have to be there and I like styling it with complementary accessories.” Ali hopes to further his design career to the opening of a shop that includes its own production processes, ranging from embroidery and stitching to patternmaking and more. He envisages a venue that becomes a popular destination for anyone interested in fashion. “I’d definitely love to own a shop – it’s kind of a dream,” he says.

“It was pretty much very new, I didn’t know what to expect. I was very surprised,” Ali admits.

Ali enjoys the interest in his hand-made design, considering the demand for mass-produced fashions from elsewhere “sad”.

“They do a judging session a week before the actual event. Each model is taken into the room – it’s all anonymous.

“It would be nice to encourage that hand-making kind of culture again”.

“They check everything – the stitching skills, construction, lines, finish, everything – so, it’s incredibly hard.”

Ali is interested in evening wear but also creates outfits for festivals, which he describes as day-wear “with bling”.

Entering 16 designs on five models was “incredibly chaotic”, Ali says.

He’s also keen to enter more design awards and see his creations on new runways as a means of influencing Australian fashions.

He and his team were kept busy changing model looks, with little time in between each of the categories.

“Considering we come first in the time zones, we should be setting trends”, he laughs.

PICTURE: LOUISA JONES

myles OF

adventure

After thousands of kilometres, closed borders and nasty bouts of food poisoning Myles Benham has conquered the great continental adventure: the Mongol Rally. Luke Voogt takes a look back at the Barwon Heads localâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s amazing journey.

IF MYLES Benham learnt anything from his 10,000km-plus adventure in an old Citreon, it’s that generosity exists in unexpected places. “We have met countless people who have shown us the most incredible hospitality,” he says. “But Iran has easily set the bar for generosity and kindness.” Myles and his German friends David and Maja drove through the “Axis of Evil” country in their quest to complete the Mongol Rally. They joined hundreds of people in the rally, driving busted up old cars from Europe to Ulan Bator each year. Maja, David an d

Myles stop alo ng

In Iran the trio stopped in Hamadan – one of the world’s oldest cities – and asked a young man for wi-fi.

the way for a stick selfie.

The Iranian invited them to stay, took them to the world’s largest underground lake and threw a party – just to show them a good time. He even phoned his cousins in Tehran and Esfahan to show the trio around when they got there. “All from one question on the street,” Myles exclaims. “So many Iranian people helped us with directions, invited us for lunch or dinner and were generally interested in ensuring we enjoyed our time.” The Geelong Indy first spoke to Myles in September as he and “Team Pineapple” reached Turkey, after travelling through Austria, Slovenia and the Balkans. “My friends and I just wanted to do something different,” Myles said. “The opportunity of going to places like Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Mongolia and Kyrgyzstan, which are not normal travel destinations, was something that we found very exciting.” Myles had jumped 24m from Stari Most Bridge in Bosnia and Herzegovina a few weeks before.

Myles looks upon the “Door to Hell” at Darvaza Crater.

The 16th Century Ottoman bridge was reconstructed after being destroyed during the CroatBosniak War.

>>>

1. Ushguli, Georgia, one of the highest towns in Europe. 2. The trio stops for blackberries in Serbia. 3. Virje Waterfall, Slovenia. 4. Tara valley in Montenegro. 5. Myles plunges into the Black Sea near the border of Turkey and Georgia. 6. Ali Qapu Palace, Isfahan, Iran. 7. Myles jumps off a reconstructed 16th Century bridge in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

8. Hot air ballooning over Goreme, Turkey, at sunrise.

“Making the plunge into the icy water below was absolutely insane,” Myles said. The trio launched their quest from Germany in an old Citreon, which had been gathering dust in Maja’s parents’ garage.

“After some convincing and pleading to her parents we were allowed to drive it to Mongolia.” The trio camped and paraglided in the Iranian desert and rode borrowed horses to cross a river in Georgia. They flew over the Turkish city of Goreme in a hot air balloon at sunrise, drove on winding European roads through the mountains and ate with Kyrgyzstan nomads.

Their 20-country-plus journey even brought them to the “Gates of Hell”. Myles was amazed by the flame-ridden Darvaza Crater, known locally as the “Door to Hell”, a five-hour drive from the Turkmenistan capital Ashgabat. “The crater is the result of soviet exploration in the ’70s I think and it’s emitting natural gas, which is what is burning,” he says. But the trip had its challenges.

The aptly-named Team Pineapple hit a roadblock in Montenegro due to a small landslide in the mountains, and closed borders in Kyrgyzstan and Turkmenistan. “The greatest challenge was trying to leave Uzbekistan,” Myles says. “We planned to be in Uzbekistan for their Independence Day and after visiting the Silk Road cities of Bukhara and Samarkand we wanted to leave for Tajikistan. “What we didn’t know when planning the trip was that Uzbekistan celebrates Independence Day for five days and during that time almost all the borders are closed down.” The trio also ran short of money in Iran. “Iran has no international ATMs and therefore you need to take all the cash you need into the country,” Myles says. “We vastly underestimated how much we would need for two weeks and got stuck with no money, not enough petrol to get to the border and a bill at our hostel.” Luckily a nearby high-end hotel had a service which the German Embassy organised for them to use.

“We paid our bills, drove through the night on chocolate, energy drinks and loud music and were able to leave without any more problems.”

The three friends suffered food poisoning at the worst time possible – when they needed to cover a long distance due to visa issues. “So instead of lying in bed close to the bathroom we have all been forced at different times to endure long hours cramped in the car and many stops in less than ideal places to relieve ourselves.” And despite it being the Mongol Rally Myles never entered the country.

“I had some trouble with my visa so I couldn’t enter Mongolia but instead entered Russia from Kazakhstan and took the train into Siberia.” “The train back to Moscow was 86 hours with the typical drunk Russians which was an interesting stereotypical experience.” Myles was amazed by the generosity of locals everywhere the trio went. “A Turkish family hosted us for two nights in Bursa and showed us around, which was a great

experience for all of us,” Myles says. An elderly Montenegrin couple allowed the group to camp in their spare paddock, overlooking the mountains, while a Herzegovinian invited them to a secret garden party on an island near his village. “We also stopped at some random blackberry bushes in Serbia for a photo,” Myles says. “The lady there was so welcoming – despite not speaking English. She showed us which ones to pick and wouldn’t let us leave without taking a huge basket of them.” After the “blur” of the rally Myles is settling back into the daily grind after moving to New Zealand. “It’s been a little tough getting back into the real world and setting the alarm every morning, but my mum is happy that I’m back in countries she has heard of and knows are safe.” The car made it back to Germany but it was in serious need of a good service. “I think it’s currently for sale in Germany although there are not too many takers considering its recent journey.”

My friends and I just wanted to do something

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enjoy fully self-contained apartments with items including toasters, kettles, fridges, TVs, electric blankets and more. A fully self-contained house is also available for reservations. It caters for up to 10 guests, so group bookings are welcome. Parkwood motel offers a 24/7 friendly customer service, free wi-fi and Foxtel in the rooms plus free guest-laundry use. Easy parking is available free outside each unit. Ample space is also available for large vehicles, trailers and vans. Parkwood Motel and Apartments achieved a AAA rating in the 2016 Gold List of Australian Accommodation and a Trip Advisor Certificate of Excellence this year as well. Accommodation costs start at budget price, with great pricing for families, couples, groups and clubs.

summer READING NOEL MURPHY reviews some page-turners for holiday downtime.

CAREER OF EVIL

GHOST EMPIRE

HAMILTON HUME

By Robert Galbraith

By Richard Fidler

By Robert Macklin

She’s back again, JK Rowling as her fictional author Galbraith, along with his fictional amputee gumshoe hero o Cormoran Strike. This time round, Strike’s PA has been sent a box d lleg iinside, id th i with a woman’s severed throwing the pair of them into a tither.

And you thought the Roman Empire all came to a close when the Visigoths sacked Rome in 410?

How Hume ever found his way to Geelong with h Hovell navigating – he’d already sunk one ship and run another aground – is a testament to the explorer’s bush skills. t li th But as a native-born Australian, the B Britit hierarchy was reluctant to credit him ahead of Hovell.

Strike has four fiends in mind, at least one of them way too close to his personal life. As more parts appear, it becomes clear the killer, an especially nasty piece of work, is targetting Strike’s PA, Robin. The pair’s awkward relationship, they like one another better than their partners, is front and centre throughout but the chase is as slippery and surprising as anything Rowling’s created. Ripper read.

Thing is, the empire had been ruled from both Rome and Constantinople for years – the latter was the actual capital from 330. True, Latin gave way to Greek, but the Roman Empire survived, as the Byzantine Empire, for another millennium after Emperor Romulus’s abdication in 476. And Constantinople was the richest, most magnificent, city in the world for the entirety of that time. But war, turmoil, intrigues and staggering brutality were bywords for the empire, and the times. Mighty effort by author Fidler to synthesise this staggering tale into just 453 pages.

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Hume, however, had plenty of friends in high places and Hovell was stunned to find he couldn’t bluster his way out of his lacklustre performance in the great trailblazing 1824-25 overland trip from Sydney to Port Phillip. Hume’s place in early Australian, long overlooked, is at long last redressed in this rivetting account.

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[local] love

Liam and

Caitlin

A campfire proposal leads to marriage vows for long-time locals Caitlin Ciangura and Liam Bainbridge. 32

WHERE THEY GREW UP

THE PLANNING

Caitlin Ciangura was raised at Lara and Liam Bainbridge had been living in Geelong from his teens. They’ve now resided happily together at Bell Park for the past two years.

Caitlin and Liam married last autumn within a year of their engagement.

HOW THEY MET “We met through my brother – Liam was friends with my brother,” Caitlin says. “We’d known each other for a while, Caitlin and Liam went on their first date three years ago. “We went out for lunch, then to Avalon Beach to check out the boat ramp.” THE PROPOSAL The couple went camping in the Otways where Liam proposed by a campfire. “Liam lit the fire then got down on one knee with the ring in a box and with a bottle of red wine,” Caitlin says. WORDS: ELISSA FRIDAY PICTURES: LOUISA JONES

“I was taken by surprise. There were tears of joy and I said, ’Yes’.”

“We had a fairly big wedding at Barwon Park Mansion in Winchelsea, with about 130 guests and we had a sit down dinner,” Caitlin says. Family and friends helped with the planning but the couple handled most of it themselves. HENS AND BUCKS “No, Liam did and I didn’t,” Caitlin laughs. “He played golf in Geelong and went out for dinner and some drinks.” THE DRESS Caitlin already had a dress in mind after seeing her ideal dress in bridal magazines. “I had an Anna Campbell dress. I didn’t want anything too big at the bottom of the dress. 33

>>>

“I also had a white and green bouquet.”

“I was pretty nervous,” Caitlin admits.

THE CAKE

BRIDESMAIDS & GROOMSMEN

“I walked down the aisle to the song Ave Maria by Beyonce.

“I say a cheese cake but it was actually wheels of cheese,” Caitlin says.

“It was a lovely ceremony.”

The couple’s three-tier cake featured wheels of pecorino, maasdam, edam and brie.

Caitlin had five flower girls and three bridesmaids. Liam had three groomsmen. “My flowergirls were all our nieces,” Caitlin says. “One bridesmaid was my sister and two were my sisters-in-law. “Woodland Weaver made my bouquet and bridesmaids’ flowers.” Caitlin chose the navy blue of her bridesmaids’ dresses but they chose the design. “Liam’s three groomsmen were his brother and two of his best mates,” Caitlin says. FLOWERS The couple put together their own flowers, which were small arrangements on each table. “They were white and green, fairly simple,” Caitlin says. “We got all the flowers two days before the wedding and Liam, me and the family spent the morning the day before the wedding, putting them together.”

Liam and Ciatlin walked out to Stand By Me. PHOTOGRAPHY

Cheese platters and dessert platters were served at the end of the night.

The couple had professional photos taken by Louisa Jones Photography.

“That was my idea,” Caitlin says.

“One photo we had taken in my dad’s garden at home was one of my favourites,” Caitlin says. Other settings were Avalon Beach and the grounds of Barwon Park Mansion. ENGAGEMENT Liam chose Caitlin’s engagement ring “all on his own”. “We had a personal engagement with all our family at mum and dad’s house and had a sit down lunch,” Caitlin says. RECEPTION Caitlin went for a “simple set-up that was more rustic”.

THE CEREMONY

“Dad made timber planter boxes that we filled with succulents around the outside of the room,” she says.

The couple married at Manifold Heights’ Holy Spirit Church.

The couple decorated the room with green and white.

“We enjoy cheese and wine and wanted to incorporate that.”

FIRST DANCE “We danced to a John Legend song, Stay With You, for our first dance. “I was pretty nervous, it was nice,” Caitlin says. The flower girls joined in at the end of the song. “It was good fun and they loved it.” THE FAVOURS “My dad made them for us and Liam and I helped,” Caitlin says. “They were mini cheese boards and we had our initials, L&C, with est 2016 branded onto the timber.” The couple also gave guests a cheese knife with a thank-you card attached. THE HONEYMOON The newlyweds went to New Zealand for 10 days. “It was something we had been talking about. Liam wanted to go outside of snow season and I’d never been before,” Caitlin says. They travelled to the south island, from Christchurch to Queenstown. “It was great,” Caitlin says. “It’s a beautiful place and the scenery was great. We did some jet boating, which was lots of fun.”

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The faceting process underway at Charles Rose jewellers.

A CUT

above REST THE

Charles Rose diamonds are a girl’s best friend.

DIAMONDS are gifts from nature but they need help to bring out their best. This is achieved by an expert who polishes the diamond on a spinning polishing disc. Only diamond can cut diamond, so the disc is saturated with oil and diamond dust. If this is done well the diamond will be covered in tiny polished facets to reveal its inner beauty and sparkle

The Peonia cut features 88 facets, creating a more intense pattern, a starburst of light with improved scintillation. Each diamond is carefully matched to a setting, whether a ring, pendant or earrings. Where diamonds are set together, all gems are very carefully matched in size and appearance.

DIAMONDS

ARE GIFTS FROM NATURE BUT THEY NEED HELP TO BRING OUT THEIR BEST…

For nearly 50 years the best configuration was believed to be 57 facets arranged in a particular way that was originally determined, mathematically, by Marcel Tolkowski and known as the Tolkowski Ideal Cut. However, over time it was discovered that what this mathematical formula did not take into consideration was how the human mind perceives beauty.

The jewellery produced with these diamonds is always made by hand and the jewellers at Charles Rose are experts at this. Charles Rose is also the exclusive distributor of these gorgeous diamonds in Australia.

Quite recently a new cut of diamond has been developed to maximise diamond beauty, the Peonia diamond.

Diamonds are best bought from specialists who can explain the differences between them and guarantee the quality and value of your purchase. Also important is aftersales service – cleaning, polishing, checking, repairs and up to date valuations for insurance.

This new approach enhances the display within the gem to produce the brightest and most pleasing pattern of facets – it’s the ultimate eye candy.

The Charles Rose Peonia diamond can be viewed at Charles Rose Geelong store, 98 Moorabool Street, phone 5229 9088. 37

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1. OLIVE ET JULIE TOP AND SKIRT. 2. SEVEN SISTERS’ NEW SUMMER STYLES. 3. OLIVE ET JULIE TOP AND PANT. 4. CADELLE LEATHER BELTS 5. NEW LONDON JEANS BY MELBOURNE’S CLAIRE ALEXANDER. 6. LEATHER SHOES IN FROSTED COLOURS FROM BRAZIL. 7. BRACELET DESIGNED AND MADE IN ISRAEL. 8. RINGS DESIGNED AND MADE IN ISRAEL.

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HAIR CARE

eve

ALL ABOUT

Ge Geelong hairdresser Eve Rauber ha all the styles and products has for a hot summer hairdo.

1. GOLDWELL KERASILK SHAMPOO AND CONDITIONER. 2. EVE RAUBER STYLES ANOTHER CUSTOMER. 3. A FASHION COLOUR BY EVE. 4. PRECISION CUTS FOR MEN. 5. A SPECIAL-OCCASION HAIR-UP. 6. ANOTHER STYLE FOR A SPECIAL OCCASSION. 7. MUK HAIR WAX. 8. THE GOODNIGHT CO, SILK MASK AND PILLOWCASE SOLD SEPARATELY.

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Eve Rauber (former Pako Hairdresser) has moved to Salon Jenaire on the Waterfront

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[local] sounds

sweet

FELICIA

MUSIC is Sweet Felicia’s salvation. “I would be dead without it,” she says. “Well, without that, my two fur children and some excellent therapy.” The veteran Geelong songstress has survived sexual assault, financial trouble and a troubled childhood. “I’ve been abused until I almost died,” she says candidly. “You feel like you’re the victim and it’s your fault.”

I WOULD BE DEAD WITHOUT IT…

The 59-year-old, her siblings and her World War II veteran father suffered at the hands of her mother as a child. “There was absolutely no help for that sort of thing when I was growing up in the ’70s.” “My mother tried to kill him so many times in front of us. She was so insane he was constantly protecting us from her.” But in her darkest times her music and her two little dogs Bessie and Harlem have kept her going.

Felicia belts out a song under the spotlight.

“It’s basically saved me from degenerating into a drugaddict loser – as what happens to so many who go through that.”

Sweet Felicia has always been in love with music. But it became her calling when her brother’s band mate invited her to play his bass. “Once I played it I knew it was what I had to do.” For three decades Felicia has travelled the country playing her “jump swing” blues, while working as a systems analysts, shoe salesperson and everything in between. Her up-tempo music and smoky voice saw her win the Melbourne Blues Challenge in 2011 and represent Victoria in Memphis the next year, where she made the semi-finals. “It was absolutely amazing,” she says. “It was the first time in my life I had been out of Australia.” But nothing tops playing with the late Blues legend B.B. King in Brisbane during the late ’90s. “He was such a gracious and kind man, and it was an honour to meet him,” she says. Felicia moved to Geelong seven years ago. “I was working on the (Bellarine) Blues Train and Melbourne just got a bit too expensive to live in,” she says. When she’s not playing at Pistol Pete’s or a festival gig, she’s mentoring Geelong’s young blues artists. “I just want to help them navigate the industry,” she says. “It can be very tough out there, especially for women.” She runs song-writing workshops for mental health networks – using music to help others, as it helped her. “It makes a big difference in their lives – it’s basically musical therapy I guess.” Catch Felicia perform next at Bluestone Blues Festival in Murgheboluc.

GIG GUIDE 20 January British India Australian indie rockers British India always puts on a great show, with its upcoming Geelong gig sure to be no exception. Established in a Melbourne high school playground in 2004, the band has produced a series of hit albums as well as countless explosive live shows. The Wool Exchange Geelong

The Amity Affliction

15 December

At the spearhead of the Australian hard-core/metal scene, four-piece band The Amity Affliction certainly knows how to rock hard. All the way from Gympie, where the group was founded in 2003, the band will play some of its alterantive hits as well as songs from latest albums. Geelong Arena North Geelong

Glades Alternative pop group Glades will launch its new EP, featuring the work of multi-instrumentalist members Cameron Robertson and Joseph Wenceslao alongside vocalist Karina Wykes. The trio’s music features atmospheric synthscapes, guitars and electro-pop beats. The Workers Club Geelong

3 February

2 February Human Nature The harmonies of Human Nature are on the way back as part of the group’s The Ultimate Jukebox Tour. Backed with a seven-piece band and dancers, the group’s show pays tribute to the legends of pop, Mowtown, soul and classic while also presenting some of Human Nature’s own chart-toppers. The Arena North Geelong

5 February Rufus

19 January The Jezabels Sydney indie rock band The Jezabels has built a strong following since forming in 2007 thanks to the talents of Nik Kaloper, Sam Lockwood, Hayley Mary and Heather Shannon. Now they’re returning to Geelong to play some of their crowd favourites and newer discoinfluenced tracks. The Wool Exchange Geelong

Rufus will visit Geelong as part of its Full Bloom Regional Tour around regional Australia. The tour celebrates the one-year anniversary of number-one, goldaccredited album Bloom as the last chance for fans to catch the band before it sets to work on the next album. Geelong Arena North Geelong

Unique garden sculptures

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WHAT’S

brewing Birregurra’s Kazbah Coffee Roasters’ step by step guide to the full roasting process. 1. Green Beans 1

At the beginning of each batch, raw green coffee is loaded into the roaster. Once the roaster reaches temperature the batch is dropped into a spinning, hot drum to begin the roasting process.

2. Process Each coffee has a precise final temperature and time of roasting, both developed through a mixture of intuition and experimentation.

3. Mixer The green beans have turned to brown during the roasting time and are then cooled in the cooling tray ready for packaging.

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[artist] in residence

Sculpting is a thing that became quite therapeutic,

LASTING MEMORY: Noel Read next to Leon’s Super Hero.

IT WAS A RELEASE FOR ME…

Noel’s

grief in relief

For nearly a decade, Connewarre sculptor Noel Read has found solace in his scavenging metal for his quirky pieces. Cartier Finniss takes a look at Noel’s unique artistic journey. NOEL Read bears many scars of loss. The youngest of four children, he was 13 when his father died. Twenty-four years later he lost his mother. But neither loss came close to the death of 18-year-old son Leon after a three-month battle with bowel cancer in 2007.

Longtime friend Peter Kelly describes Noel’s knack for crafting art from “what others would consider junk” as unique. Noel, known affectionately as the ‘Scrounger’, sources a massive array of recycled materials to create his unique sculptures, says Peter.

With Noel’s self-confessed quirkiness and an almost everpresent smile beaming above his goatee, many would find it hard to imagine his grief.

“I’m always blown away by his creativity and ability to visualise a particular piece or theme,” Peter adds.

For him metal sculpting is more than a pastime or a career – it’s a healing process. “Sculpting is a thing that became quite therapeutic, it was a release for me,” Noel says. Fellow sculptor, Cinnamon Stephens, says Noel’s loss “hit home” when she first visited his sculpture-filled garden. “Memories of Leon are everywhere,” she says, “I quickly understood the level of grief and loss he and his family have had to endure.”

Proudly wandering through the family’s five-acre Connewarre property, Noel rambles off the names of each sculpture in their garden home. There’s ‘Jack the dog’, based on Noel’s dog Cisco; ‘the Kraken’, which morphs into its surroundings as it hangs from the trees, and ‘the Reeds’, which sway in the wind, to name a few. Noel has cleverly constructed them all from railway parts, spanners, bed frames and almost anything from local metal yards.

>>>

“I collect junk, and in junk I see good things,” Noel explains. But none are as eye-catching as an eight-foot superhero standing tall and proud as a lasting memory of Leon. The sculpture is an amalgamation of Leon’s childhood heroes like Batman, Superman and Power Rangers, among others. “That [sculpture] was the most serious [one] I did because Leon helped me get the timber for the body,” Noel recalls. While crafting the sculpture Noel knew something was wrong when the normally “full of effort” Leon started to struggle. “It was only shortly after that that we found out how unwell he was.” Noel has no arts training – he learnt from “winging it”, with occasional guidance from friends. He had always made things for his kids when they were little and sculpting was his casual, quirky hobby.

“

But that changed in 2007 when Noel, who was working for Vision Australia, partnered with Geelong Sculptors to create a tactile exhibition for the vision-impaired. Then Geelong Sculptors vicepresident Steve Singline saw Noel’s work and told him he had to join. The invitation came at “an appropriate time as Leon had recently passed away,” says Noel.

I COLLECT JUNK, and in junk I see good things…

Fast forward nine years and Noel is now the group’s president. Noel’s work has appeared throughout Geelong since he joined the group – at events like Geelong After Dark, Pako Festa and the Geelong Beer Festival. Local connoisseurs sought after Noel’s quirky work even before he became known in the artistic community. “[My wife] and I have acquired some of Noel’s early pieces because his quirky sense of humour extends to his artwork and is very appealing,” says Geelong Sculptors founder Geo Francis.

Despite Noel’s distinct abilities, his friends praise him most for his personality. “Right from the word go, I was drawn to his open, honest and friendly nature,” says Peter. “He has experienced tremendous loss and grief in his life. Despite this, he has always been selfless and present for his family and other people around him. I see him as a very generous man – displayed through his support, love, and friendship to all.”

Clockwise from left: Jack (the dog). Saw Flower. The Kraken. Bakark. PICTURES: LOUISA JONES

AR iSTS T on exhibitions for

QUEENSCLIFF

summer

QUEENSCLIFF’S Seaview Gallery is presenting an array of stunning, varied exhibitions this summer.

“It’s pretty exciting over summer, there’s always lots happening and the gallery is continually changing throughout summer,” says owner and director Colleen Kenwood. The gallery’s Jane Flowers and Paul Evans exhibition until 22 December features two artists with contrasting styles. Colleen describes Evans as an internationally acclaimed Queensland artist who draws on the power and beauty of nature for inspiration.

It’s pretty exciting over summer, there’s always lots happening… “He portrays nature quite faithfully and creates a composition that’s visually dynamic,” Colleen says. Flowers is an award winning local artist who has a deep affinity with nature, the ocean and the wider environment. “This allows her to translate her interpretations into unique and striking artworks,” Colleen says. The gallery will host a Best of Seaview exhibition from 50

24 December to 12 January, featuring a selection of traditional and contemporary pieces “to suit all tastes”. Emma Hack will have a solo exhibition at Seaview from 14 to 29 January.

“Emma’s work continues to excite with her unique body art that utilises female models that she blends in with their surroundings,” Colleen explains. “The effect is a beautiful, vibrant, living, three-dimensional piece of art. “Emma is an internationally acclaimed artist and has just held successful solo shows at the Savina Museum of Contemporary Art in Seoul, South Korea, and The Cat Street Gallery, Hong Kong.” Hack will attend the gallery on 14 January for drinks with patrons and again on 15 January for a champagne breakfast artist talk. The gallery also has a range of unique handmade gifts to suit all budgets for Christmas shopping, including quirky ceramics, sculptures, jewellery, glass and more. More information is available by phoning the Seaview Gallery, 86 Hesse Street, Queenscliff, on 5258 3645.

Seaview Gallery

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A UNIQUE Geelong business is expressing Aboriginal culture through surprising mediums. Based at North Geelong, Wathaurong Glass and Arts has developed a reputation for products that add a special element to private and commercial premises. The staff use techniques including kiln-forming, sandblasting and other processes as deemed necessary to produce high-quality glass products reflecting local Indigenous culture. Formed in 1998, the business takes great pride in producing unique Aboriginal artwork with a functional edge.

THE COMPANY IS STRUCTURED SO THE WATHAURONG AND BROADER COMMUNITY ARE BENEFICIARIES OF ANY PROFIT.

The products include window and door glass made to Australian standards, kitchen and bathroom splashbacks, artistic platters, bowls, corporate gifts, awards, trophies and much more. Wathaurong Glass and Art also produces the AFL’s annual ‘Dreamtime at the G’ medal for the best player in the Richmond-versus-Essendon match at the MCG. The company’s artistic products have also been presented as gifts to the Dalai Lama, South African statesman Nelson Mandela and supermodel Naomi Campbell.

All the staff at Wathaurong Glass and Arts are Aboriginal, working in a not-for-profit business under the auspices of the local Wathaurong co-operative. The company is structured so the Wathaurong and broader community are beneficiaries of any profit. The Wathaurong, or wathawurrung or wada warrung, is a recognised tribe comprising 25 groups, or clans. The Wathaurong’s boundaries stretch from Geelong, north to the Werribee River, north-west to Bacchus Marsh, south-west to Cressy, south-east to Colac, east to Lorne and encompassing the Bellarine Peninsula.

Wathaurong Glass and Art’s Mark Edwards with one of the business’s unique products.

More information about Wathaurong Glass and Art, including its products and online sales, is available at wathaurongglass.com.au or by visiting its premises at Rodney Road. 53

[history] repeated

Gaol HOUSE

rocks

Murderous inmates, executions and daring escapes are all part of the 138-year-old historic tapestry of Geelong Gaol. LUKE VOOGT and local historian Deb Robinson take a look at the prisonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s dark past. 54

Geelong Gaol’s 138-year-old history is shrouded in darkness. Left (from top): Frederick Clarke Christopher Farrell Percy Ramage

TODAY’S prisons are luxurious compared to Geelong Gaol, says local historian Deb Robinson. “Even when the gaol closed in 1991 and they went to Barwon Prison, it would have been like going to a five-star resort,” she says.

Deb Robinson wearing a ball and chain linked to the 1889 escape of Frederick Clarke and Christopher Farrell.

When the gaol opened in 1853 Geelong was a fraction of its size today and Victoria had declared independence from NSW just two years before. Local prisoners rotted in four small huts in South Geelong or in hulks on Corio Bay. NSW Clerk of Works Henry Ginn designed the gaol with 101-cells based on the Pentonville system, to keep prisoners in solitary confinement. On the rare occasions guards let them out, they would wear “silence masks”: white hoods with the eyes cut out. The ghostly masks prevented the inmates from talking and learning who they were locked up with. “You would lose your identity,” Deb says. “It sent a lot of them quite insane.” John Gunn and John Roberts were the first Geelong prisoners executed at Gallows Flats, about 200 metres from the gaol, as 2000 people watched in 1854. Gunn was convicted of stabbing a man in Warrnambool, while Roberts poured arsenic into a fellow servant’s cup. “Laws at the time required executions to be public, as a deterrent,” Deb says. When the laws changed James Ross was the first to be executed behind the walls for the murder of Elizabeth Sayer, on 22 April 1856. “Although up to 70 witnesses were allowed in to ensure justice was done,” Deb says. Authorities would execute four more men, ending with the execution of Thomas Menard or “Yankee Tom” in 1865. His remains still lie buried at the gaol. Three wings of the gaol became a school in the 1860s, where “Matron Inch” taught 183 “street” girls, aged three to 16, sewing, cooking and cleaning.

It’s a great reminder of how brutal the early system was… Deb, a mother herself, says the idea of children going to school in a prison gives her the chills.

the “Prison of the ill”, while inmates dubbed it the “Seaside Resort”.

“In the newspaper of the day there was a lot of outrage from the community.”

“Any prisoners in the state who were old, sick, debilitated or about to die – they would be sent to Geelong,” Deb says

The school closed in 1873 after a Royal Commission in 1872 and amalgamated with a nearby industrial school. Geelong Gaol became a hospital prison in 1877, housing some of the state’s craziest and craftiest old criminals. In 1889 elderly inmates Christopher Farrell and Frederick Clarke escaped using a skeleton key and were on the run for two weeks before police caught them in Ballarat. Henry Cutmore, the “Fire King”, was imprisoned for 12 months in May 1901 for begging and disorderly conduct. “If you used to piss him off he would set fire to your haystack,” Deb says. In November 1901, he jumped 6.7m from the top level and bounced off a crossbeam – leaving a dent which remains today. He died shortly after. Local newspapers called the gaol

“We had a higher death rate than any prison in Victoria: one in 20 prisoners would die in the gaol.” In the 1920s the gaol was home to some of Squizzy Taylor’s most violent “Bourke Street Rats”. Bank robber Angus Murray escaped the gaol in 1923, possibly with the help of the Rats, but would later hang in Melbourne Gaol. Geelong “Street Rat” Percy Ramage tried to throw a warden off the third level of the gaol. The short-tempered Ramage was in for larceny and assault, and served time in prisons and lunatic asylums across the state due to his violent outbursts. When the gaol closed in 1991 it was Victoria’s oldest continuously-running prison and it remains an important chapter in the state’s history, Deb says. “It’s a great reminder of how brutal the early system was.”

workin ' at

THE CARWASH,

YEAH!

“THE CarWash prides itself on providing a top-notch service at a reasonable price and doing things a little bit differently,” says manager Greg Parker. Based at 11 Douro Street, North Geelong, The CarWash is celebrating 12 months in operation. “The company prides itself on being a source of employment to the local community,” says Greg, a life-long resident of Geelong. “Things are getting busier and busier as the weather improves and I invite everyone in Geelong to come and give us a try.” Greg, who describes himself as a “child of the ’70s”, has jazzed up The CarWash with plenty of character. The CarWash promotes itself with colourful signage, ’70s-style uniforms and a sprayIt’s hard to miss The CarWash and its groovy promotional bus.

painted love bus, designed by local artists and regularly seen parked around North Geelong. The CarWash package includes carwashing by hand using lamb’s wool pads, a chamois dry, interior vacuuming, tyre shining, mag cleaning, door sill, trim and dashboard wipes, and air-freshener. Prices start at just $25. A shuttle service is available or customers can wait in the courtyard or inside with coffee and drinks while their vehicles are washed. Customers are also offered a loyalty reward card, giving them the opportunity to have a 10th wash for free. Bookings are available by phoning 5278 9699 or visiting The CarWash, open 9am to 4pm Monday to Friday.

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[green] thumbs

classical

gas

Queenscliff’s former gasworks site has become a leafy haven for a couple who lost a property in the Black Saturday disaster. LUKE VOOGT admires their handiwork.

works DALE and Neil Trezise’s move to their Queenscliff home was more than timely – it was life saving.

They moved to their newlyfinished house in February 2009 as a Black Saturday bushfire tore through their eight-hectare property near Kinglake. “This place saved our lives,” Dale says. “We’d have died like the neighbours did.” The couple found the property – the former site of Queenscliff’s gasworks – in their 2006 quest to build a beach house. The gasworks were Queenscliff’s only industrial site and supplied the town with gas from 1884 to 1960 – when the government tore it down. “I found this little piece of land being sold by the State Government,” Dale says. “It was vacant land, north-facing, with amazing views of Swan Bay.” The couple bought two of the four blocks available and took them two and a half years to build their home, which mimics architecture of the original gasworks. “It’s a modern architect’s interpretation of the buildings that were there,” Dale says. 58

WORDS: LUKE VOOGT

PICTURES: LOUISA JONES

Dale and Neil love their eightbedroom house, which they designed as a coastal getaway for their children and 10 grandchildren.

“It gets busy but you don’t really notice because if necessary you can press the two kitchens into work,” Dale says. But her pride and joy are her “pocket gardens”. “The garden’s tiny but it produces a huge amount of produce,” she says. While some might see its size as a limitation Dale says the lack of space was a perk. It took her mere weeks to get it growing. “Some of the builders gave me some plants and popped them in,” she says. “It wasn’t a great hassle. It’s a moveable feast and it’s manageable for old people. I can keep changing it rather than doing acres and acres like I did in St Andrew’s (the couple’s previous property).” The 71-year-old loves moving through the garden collecting herbs for cooking. She’s got all the “usual” herbs like thyme and parsley, and more “unusual” varieties like Vietnamese mints and cardamom.

“It’s a Zen experience, it’s so restful,” she says. Dale grows a wild array of citrus and other fruits, which she uses in baking and to season local fish. With onions, lettuce and avocados growing in Dale’s handmade compost, and her other garden in Ocean Grove’s industrial estate, she rarely has to buy produce. One of the garden’s more unique fruits is a Japanese yuzu tree – believed to be a hybrid of sour mandarin and Ichang papeda. “The taste is a cross between a tart mandarin, a lemon and an orange,” Dale says. Dale’s favourite non-edible plants include her colourful wisterias and six special jacarandas. The trees are a living memorial to all she and Neil lost at St Andrews – from their neighbours to the trees on their property. “They were just tiny burnt sticks so we brought them down and planted them,” she says. “They are very beautiful jacarandas. They were worth saving.” Dale says people often mistake her house for a restaurant. “People walk into the courtyard all the time – they just wander in to have a look.” But the couple are happy to open their garden to the public officially, as they did one sunny morning last year to help the Uniting Church fund-raise for the homeless. “We had 500 people go through,” Dale says. “My husband’s an organist so we had a music recital as well.” The couple plan to spend the rest of their lives in Queenscliff.

Dale and Neil Trezise share a break from gardening.

“It’s a brilliant place to live,” Dale says. “From were we live you can walk to the shops, the restaurants, the marina, and, dare I say it, the pub. And of course I can admire everybody else’s gardens.” 59

ALFRESCO BALMY evenings, a cool sea breeze and a barbecue – if there’s one thing Australians love it’s relaxing with family and friends. As outdoor entertaining gets fancier and entertainers upgrade from the good old snag to full-on roasts, so too do alfresco areas. Now so much more than just a barbeque and an outdoor setting, the alfresco area is an extension of the home.

When planning, think about how you will use the space and what’s important to you… The outdoor kitchen creates a ‘transterior’, bringing the outside into the home and the inside out in a seamless integration They are now a high priority on new-home buyers’ and renovators checklists and the key to a great alfresco area is in the planning. Newgrove owners Sean Blood advises to plan before going out and purchase a barbecue. “We see too many people rushing out and purchasing an inappropriate barbecue and then find it doesn’t suit the area or there are better options for a seamless transition from benchtop to barbecue,” Sean said. “When planning, think about how you will use the space and what’s important to you. “Will you still use your main kitchen for food preparation and then cook outside or do you want to be able to do everything outside? This will determine your choice of appliances, whether you need a sink, is there access plumbed water or natural gas and how much bench space you will need. 60

Beverage centres, including under-counter bar fridges, bottle cooling and ice storage, can be incorporated into alfresco areas, Sean said. He advises that alfresco area benchtops and cabinetry must be durable to withstand harsh sunlight and torrential storms. Sean recommends DuPont Corian as an all-weather material. “It’s a hi-tech solid surface that’s perfect for the outdoors. Colours and patterns run through the entire thickness of the material and cannot wear away. Newgrove’s Sean Blood can provide expert advice on designing an alfresco area with a range of contemporary features.

“Corian is easy to clean and maintain and it does not stain. Grease and fat simply wipe away with hot, soapy water.” Corian is available in a range of UV stable colours. Dark colours are not recommended for external applications. More information about Newgrove and its products is available at newgrovebenchtops.com.au. Newgrove’s showroom, featuring an alfresco area display, is open 6.30am to 4.30pm, Monday to Friday.

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[home] bodies

and sustainability

From pharmaceuticals to farming, Chris Balazs has negotiated an eco-friendly life change to a charming Bannockburn property. ELISSA FRIDAY put on her gumboots to visit him at home on Sage Choice Farm.

Chris Balazs with pet sheep Furphy at Sage Choice Farm. Below: Chris in the butchery with his business award, master butcher Tim Woller and store manager Kerrie Giles.

“I JOKINGLY call myself a chief executive farmer – it’s an oxymoron play on my corporate background,” laughs Bannockburn’s Chris Balazs. It’s also a reasonable title for the affable owner of Sage Choice Farms given his background. Previously a scientist in corporate pharmaceuticals for 20 years and with a management background, Chris began his career transition 15 years ago when he bought the farm, overlooking the picturesque Moorabool River valley. “I’m a first generation farmer,” he declares. “I grew up a city boy who lived in Geelong West and moved to the country knowing very little about farming at the time.” Since taking over the farm Chris has implemented his interest in sustainability, turning the property and it’s family home into a showcase of environmentally friendly farming. “I used my science and corporate background to do farming a bit differently,” Chris says.

All animals should be

FREE RANGE, should be outside, kept in natural herd structures and be treated as animals and not commodities… “We have a highly-diversified concept of farming”. Sage, actually an acronym for sustainable agricultural grass-fed enterprise, specialises in beef and lamb products. The farm emphasises ethical practices with animals. “We have a concept called being a conscious carnivore, which is understanding that you can love an animal and eat an animal,” Chris says. “Our ethos with regards to the animals is, ‘Awesome life, one bad day’. 63

>>>

SUSTAINABLE farming is all about soil management, everything is almost most like a by-product of that… “By that we mean the animals are treated with respect and are kept in a stress-free environment with more than sufficient food and are all grass fed. “Our animals are what we call ethical meat.” “We have a cattle truck to transport the cattle to the registered abattoir outside the farm and we do the transport ourselves. Then from the abattoir the animals whole body comes back to us and we do the tip-to-toe butchery. “Most cattle have six stress points in their lives: being born, weened, transported, held in feedlots, going to the saleyard and then to the abattoir. Our cattle never go to a feedlot or saleyard. “All animals should be free-range, should be outside, kept in natural herd structures and be treated as animals and not commodities”. Chris says each animal at Sage has a purpose of generating food but also an active role in land management. Even the farm’s chickens play their part, “scratching up all the soil” in the wake of the cattle, he explains. “Sustainable farming is all about soil management, everything is almost like a by-product of that. “The soil is everything to a farm.” Chris extends Sage’s ethical emphasis to his management of its crops and paddocks. “We don’t use any chemical fertilsation, only compost. Rarely do they spray weeds because they also have a purpose in their natural cycle to replenish the farm.” The farm has extended its soil management to a partnership with Geelong Compost, Chris says. 64

“It’s a good one for the sustainability. They collect green waste from the Bellarine region but one of the biggest challenges they have is where to put all the waste to mature into high-grade compost. “They have an elegant system where they lease land from farmers and put down long rows of compost, turn it, mature it and they end up with high-grade compost that they sell to farmers to put onto their fields.” The farm’s sustainability emphasis extends to the family home, which includes 10,000 watts of solar power and around 300,000 litres of water-capture storage. The solar provides about 70 per cent of the home’s electricity and also contributes to the butchery, which Chris describes as a “huge power-consumer”. Reducing energy consumption is a prime focus of the farm, Chris says. “The definition of sustainable is different for every single person. For the house, it means that it’s a low-impact house.

“The ash that comes out of the fire goes into our compost, our compost grows our vegetables, our vegetables feed us, the waste of the vegetables goes to the chickens, the chickens produce the eggs and we eat the eggs”. Recycling is also apparent around the farm, from the fencing to the butchery’s use of a former shipping container and old corrugated iron.

“The house has been designed to generate most of its heating and the cooling.

“When people discard things we’ll collect and store them on the farm and make use of them for various purposes – that’s our definition of sustainable.”

“We have a wood-based firebox here for the heat. We produce the wood on the farm, we grow the trees, cut the trees down and use the wood for heat.

Chris plans to expand the farm’s business activities into further production and even tourism with separate lodgings on the property for visitors.

Chris with his cattle and a stunning Moorabool River valley panorama.

“We’ve gone through stages of selling direct to customers through farmers markets, then we built the butchery here so we have control over everything. “Now we’re about to expand the butchery and do more agritourism on the farm so people come out to the farm and we can have conversations with them about farming practices.” Chris was rewarded for his efforts when Sage won the sustainability category at the 2016 Geelong Business Awards. He’s proud to be part of a growing trend toward ethical farming. “There’s a growing group of small-scale regenerative farmers that look to put back more into the land each year than what they take.” 65

summer WINE Clyde Park Estate presents some of its favourite wines for this summer, whether at the beach, barbecue or dining table.

Sauvignon Blanc 2016

Pinot Gris 2016

Rose 2016

Pinot Noir 2015

This wine presents lovely, bright fresh fruit flavours with varietal tropicals and grassy elements.

A tidy and pristine nose with citrus and floral characters.

On the nose, this rosĂŠ presents delicate aromas hinting at musk stick confectionary.

Quite generous on the nose, this pinot has aromas reminiscent of red fruits including raspberries, mulberries and cherry-plums, with hints of dried herb, forest floor complexity, spice and charcuterie.

The palate is refreshing with lightweight fruit flavours and is very-well balanced. An ideal wine for accompanying summer seafood banquets as well as chicken and pork dishes. Cellar now until 2018.

The oak frames the fruit rather than giving wood flavour, bringing interest and subtle complexity. The palate is tight and restrained but with an underlying core of fruit for drive and persistence. The flavours are citrus dominated, with riper, stonefruitlike notes and creamy, textural characters on the finish. Cellar now until 2018.

The palate has plenty of weight and fruit power with cherry, raspberry and red delicious apple fruit characters. This wine is very well-balanced with a bright long finish.

The palate is well-structured and flavoursome with plenty of complexity and interest.

Great with typical summer dishes from home-made pizza to cream-style cheeses and plates of fresh fruit and vegetables.

Nice, cleansing tannin and well-integrated oak give a long finish. Cellar now until 2024-plus.

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GREAT

outdoors Grovedale’s The Outdoor Furniture Specialists presents some of its favourite ideas for stylish backyards this summer.

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Come in and discover our wide range of stylish and durable lifestyle furniture that is exclusive truly designed for outdoor living.

DANSKE

Manufactured from a variety of materials aterials terials l including incl inclu i * rich timbers, handwoven all-weather her er TIMBER wicker k er and a IMBER & WICKER rust-free aluminium, our urniture ranges ra r OCCASIONAL $ $2,499 $2exclusive ,499 furniture will look good and feel great for a long time!

Grovedale 174-178 Torquay Rd 5244 1720 tofs.com.au

I Image ffor ill illustrative t ti purposes only. l A Accessories i nott iincluded. l d d May M not be avaialbe at all stores. Delivery within 7 business days from purchase within 20km radius of store. Easy delivery for Christmas subject to cutoff date. See instore for full details

Inspirational outdoor living 12330550-KC47-16

Paul Loughnan outside his European Affair workshop.

euroPASSION PAUL’S

OWNING a European car is like having a European affair – ask any owner.

And the owner of Geelong’s European Affair, Paul Loughnan, has been having his for more than 20 years. The long-time mechanic and former builder of World Rally Championship cars for Subaru and Mitsubishi knows a great piece of engineering when he sees one.

“It’s my life, my passion,” Paul declares. That’s why the European Affair team cares about clients’ vehicles and understands the importance of making servicing and maintenance an easy and enjoyable experience. 68

European Affair specialises in vehicle servicing and maintenance for all European vehicles, including Alfa Romeo, Audi, BMW, Citroen, Fiat, Mercedes Benz, Peugeot, Renault, Saab, Skoda, Volvo and Volkswagen.

European Affair handles all minor and major servicing, new-vehicle servicing, brakes, fuel injection and electronic ignition work, suspensions, transmission servicing, air-conditioning servicing and re-gassing, transmission and engine overhauls and rebuilds. European Affair keeps cars performing at their peak with precision technology, passion and 20 years of servicing experience.

The workshop’s professionally trained mechanics use the latest automotive computer equipment for all electronic repairs and maintenance of engine management.

European Affair is the dealer alternative to provide new vehicle servicing, maintenance and handbook servicing without affecting your warranty. All work is carried out in a professional workshop and is fully guaranteed. It’s the European Affair reputation that keeps customers coming back year after year. Phone European Affair on 5224 1225 or visit the workshop at 34 Autumn St, Geelong West.

European Vehicle Specialists

We love... LONG DRIVES to the beach.

Have you had a EUROPEAN AFFAIR? Our passion is servicing your European Car

Brakes, Suspension & More

Pre Purchase Inspection

Vehicle Detailing

Air-Con Servicing

Vehicle Servicing

AUDI I ALFA I BMW I SKODA I VOLKSWAGEN I JAGUAR MERCEDES I MG I RENAULT I VOLVO I CITROEN PORSCHE I PEUGEOT I FIAT I SAAB

5224 1225

34 Autumn Street, GEELONG WEST

www.europeanaffair.com.au

12320537-38-16

Fault Codes

CALENDAR of EVENTS 24 December

26 January Children’s Free Fun Day and Entertainment Families will celebrate Australia Day with plenty of free activities and displays on Geelong’s western waterfront. Entertainers will perform on stage, while give-aways, rides and other attractions will keep patrons amused for hours on end. Rippleside Park Geelong

Geelong Carols by Candlelight This year’s Geelong Carols by Candlelight features a traditional program with some of Geelong’s best artists, choirs and a concert band. Families are invited to sing along with the performers at the city’s time-honoured celebration of the festive season. Johnstone Park Geelong

14 January to 14 May Geelong by Nature Photography Exhibition

27-29 January Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race

Celebrating 40 years of BBC’s Antiques Roadshow, Hilary Kay, Paul Atterbury and Ronnie Archer-Morgan will tell their stories from behind the scenes of the popular series. Previously unseen footage and lots of tales about how the award-winning show was created will intrigue the audience. Geelong Performing Arts Centre Geelong

The most exciting aircraft in the world feature at Australia’s premier airshow, staged every two years. The event begins with industry trade days before the gates open to the public for static and flying demonstrations featuring everything from super-sonic jet fighters to attack helicopters, vintage aircraft, stunt performers and experimental planes, ending in an explosive Night Alight finale. Avalon Airport Geelong

Until 2 April My Geelong-Our Gallery This unique exhibition presents a range of works from diverse artists in the Geelong community. With a focus on community engagement, the 20 artists represented will vie for a people’s choice award during the course of the exhibition. Geelong Gallery Geelong

27 Jan to 11 Feb Footlight Productions’ Wicked

Tales from the Antiques Roadshow

Australian International Airshow

Australia’s ultimate weekend of cycling returns to Geelong and the Surf Coast. Racing fans will line the route to watch some of the sport’s biggest names go head to head for the region’s premier cycling event. Various points Geelong to Great Ocean Road

Wildlife lovers can marvel at stunning images from some of the world’s best nature photographers with this annual exhibition. Now in its 52nd year, the exhibition includes a Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition to ensure the highest standard of photography. National Wool Museum Geelong

15 January

28 Feb to 5 March

Stephen Schwartz’s script precedes L Frank Baum’s classic Wizard of Oz with the untold story of the witches. Two young women became rivals and then the closest of friends as the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good. Geelong Performing Arts Centre Geelong

because we owe them Though they may now be old and frail, let us not forget that it was they who built our nation with hands of hope. And fought for our freedom with hearts of courage. And though they may now need our care, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not care that defines them but love, togetherness, freedom and choice. Happiness. A d this thi hi is i why h we created t d Freedom F d A d Care. C And Aged Because we owe them.

Freedom Aged Care Call 1800 984 840 or visit freedomagedcare.com.au

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