Lifestyle

New year, new leaf

I don’t think too many people these days make New Year’s resolutions as such, but I do think we all take the time to reflect on our year and how we could have done things better. It’s a natural human reaction in all of us.

As part of this, our diet usually gets a spring clean.

Our climate at this time of year is helpful as it provides us with magnificent fresh produce. Summer salads, grilled vegetables, meat and vibrant vitamin filled fruits are great for helping you to trim up after all the over-indulgence.

My one suggestion for this year is to steer away from the usual plain diets, and try instead switching on the reactors in your body that encourage regrowth.

We all know the saying “what doesn’t hurt you makes you stronger” and this is true for food as well. Strong tasting foods such as pickled vegetables, hot mustard, chilli sauces, and bitter leaves like rocket and radicchio, not only give an interesting flavour boost to our diet, but they also helps to aggravate our digestive systems just enough to shake things up a bit.

I like to make sure I eat 21 different foods a day, trying to get as many different elements/colours and textures as I can. It’s like a game for me. Stone fruit, cherries, pineapple and citrus have huge amounts of enzymes to boost your immune system. Rocket and stronger tasting green leafy vegetables like cavalo nero, witlof and cabbage have great fibre content and are also high in vitamins and minerals. Fermented foods like yoghurts, kefir, sauerkraut and pickled vegetables are great for gut health.

Can I suggest that you find a new salad that that will not only help you get more from your diet, but will also help you to keep on track for the year.

Start by picking out new and different ingredients, and look at the way you prepare them. So many vegetables can be eaten raw, but this sounds weird right? The easiest way is to grate and then add them to your usual salad.

When I cater for a client, the foods I get most feedback about are asparagus, fennel, cabbage, radish and onion. If these foods are somewhat intimidating, try the dilution method before adding

Fennel & Grapefruit Salad

• 2 small fennel bulbs • 2 ruby grapefruit • 1 Spanish onion • 1 ripe avocado • 1 bunch mint, leaves picked • ½ cup Greek full fat yoghurt • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil • 1 handful roasted walnuts • 1 teaspoon of Orange blossom water (optional) Put yoghurt and half of the roughly chopped mint leaves into a bowl, add olive oil and orange blossom water (if using). Season with sea salt and chill in the fridge to let the flavours meld together. Segment or slice the avocado, then the peeled grapefruit over a bowl to catch excess juices. Keeping the avocado together with the grapefruit will stop it from going brown. Into the bowl of excess juice, shave or grate the fennel and Spanish onion, mix well to cover the vegetables with the juice and add the remaining mint leaves. Lay out over a large flat platter. Dollop the chilled mint yoghurt over the fennel and onion, then arrange the grapefruit and sliced avocado over the yoghurt and sprinkle the roasted walnuts over the top. Perfect with a poached fish dish, roasted chicken or barbecued lamb. A chilled chardonnay would be nice as well!

them in a subtle way.

For example, asparagus is fantastic grilled on the barbecue and served with fish, dressed with olive oil and finished with lemon juice.

Grated or finely sliced fennel makes a great addition to coleslaw, or a crisp green salad. The same goes for radish and cabbage.

If onion is too strong for you, try finely slicing it before rinsing it in cold water for about 30 minutes to take out the strong flavours. Add it to your salad dressing to soak up the dressing and it becomes more delicious to eat.

How about ruby grapefruit as a sweet change to orange? And finely grated ginger added to a melon salad adds interest and is a fantastic cancerfighting ingredient that helps in a myriad of ways.

So remember to shake it up a little on your plates this year.

Take the challenge and try for 21 different foods a day. See how you go - I bet you’ll feel a difference in no time!

Bern the Chef is a local caterer who has been in the Lane Cove area for over 15 years. She has worked in many corporate catering positions as well as operating as a small business. Bern loves catering and the freedom that clients give her to do what she does best. Cooking is her forte and Bern loves the classics as well as keeping up to date with the latest food trends.

www.bernthechef.com.au

Suck it up

Mmm. That phrase might sound like something from the mouth of a disrespectful teenager, but alas no.

At a recent dinner, a group of travel colleagues from around the city were sharing client-related stories and this was what one very mature owner-manager reported fresh from the mouth of a loyal client in his 60s. He and his wife had committed to a very in-depth itinerary personally created for them with a lot of love and care – and accordingly many, many hours of research and confirmations. When it came time to start paying, they decided not to go and were horrified that my friend had the audacity to charge a fee for her professional services. “No I won’t pay” he said. “Suck it up!”

I had just related my own story about one of my consultants being berated because a previously offered riverboat suite was no longer available, one week after the offer. Gosh, someone else (not our client) had dared to book the room! Worse still, the whole cruise was now full. If only he had indicated an interest, instead of ignoring the email she had sent suggesting she make a booking if he were interested...

Customers. You’ve got to love them. And I say that from a position that recognises that we, as travel agents, are far from perfect either. As the leader in my company, I’ve had to eat humble pie on more occasions than I would like, but my guiding philosophy extended to staff is that each shortcoming must be a lesson for the better moving forward. Upsets happen and most are avoidable with more care and diligence. We are a community and we need to rebuild relationships for our common good.

So it is when we travel. Many of us resile from group touring in any form. “You won’t get me in the confines of a ship”, “the thought of a coach tour appals me” and “no, that is definitely not for me”. in the interests of the group overall.

Later this year I have another client taking his first cruise holiday, on a gulet in Croatia. It’s a small step and he swears he’ll still never go on a “big ship”, but I do feel as if his negating mindset has been slightly chiselled away. I’m hopeful that he’ll have a positive experience and be open to larger group experiences, not for my company’s financial benefit but so that his horizons are expanded and his relationships become more meaningful. Perhaps he will then become more tolerant, less rude, and altogether nicer!

In 2017 I hope we can all move outside our comfort zone, learn to appreciate our fellow man and woman better and actively enjoy the company of others more. Group travel seeks to foster this kinship and I heartily endorse it in a personal and professional sense. “Suck it up” is not a phrase that I like, given it is used in a disparaging way. Rather, I suggest you “suck it and see”. You might just surprise yourself!

However, strangely enough, the human being is made for togetherness and relishes communication. No man is an island and all that stuff. Thrown into a random group situation, most of us can cope for a bit. However when engineered to join a group we perceive to be more akin to our own comfort zone, there can be a much greater good. I recently had a client return from a tour he joined only because his friend was so persuasive. He had thought it would be an endurance event, however the sum total – the experience, the inclusions, the other passengers – was considerably better than he expected.

I know this fellow pretty well and know him to be very conservative and considerate. And polite. I know that one reason he enjoyed himself so much was his open attitude and accepting that plans might not always be as he personally preferred, but

YOU’RE INVITED TO LEARN MORE.

Register now for Crystal Cruises, Yachts & River Cruises (02 Feb 2017) and/or Oceania Cruises 16 Feb 2017).Email

info@trendsettertravel.

com.au. Numbers are strictly limited.

TRAVEL Adrienne Witteman Managing Director, Trendsetter Travel & Cruise Centre.

Avoiding Heat Stress in Dogs

In hot summer weather, dogs are particularly prone to heat stress (hyperthermia/heat exhaustion). Unlike humans, they can’t sweat and the main way they reduce their body temperature is through panting. Sometimes this is not enough.

WHAT IS HEAT STRESS?

Hyperthermia is indicated by a temperature of over 41⁰C. Affected dogs are in distress and can have breathing difficulties (often panting rapidly) and a high heart rate. In serious cases, heat stress can cause collapse, vomiting and diarrhoea, blindness, seizures, low blood pressure, a loss of consciousness and may even be fatal if the temperature is not quickly brought down.

A dangerously high body temperature can cause vital cells in the body to die, leading to multiple organ failure (especially kidneys) and the low blood pressure leads to shock. Sometimes the dog can be in a coma and already have brain damage by the time they reach the vet - unfortunately the damage is not always reversible.

WHAT ARE THE MAIN CAUSES OF HEAT STRESS?

● Exercising in hot weather ● Overheating in a car or another enclosed space with poor ventilation ● Dehydration eg. running out of water or knocking the water bowl over on a hot day ● Placing a tight muzzle on the dog for longer than five minutes

ARE CERTAIN DOGS MORE PRONE TO HEAT STRESS?

Dogs that tend to get very overexcited are prone to heat stress, as their enthusiasm for exercise overrides their sense of preservation.

Dogs with flat squashed faces (brachycephalic breeds) are also more prone because their airways are less efficient. Pugs, Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, English Bulldogs, Pekingese, Boston Terriers and French Bulldogs are less able to thermo- regulate and effectively reduce their body temperature through panting due to their squashed, narrower airways.

Long-haired breeds are also more prone, as they get much hotter than dogs with short-hair. Imagine wearing a fur coat in the middle of summer!

Overweight dogs have a layer of fat insulating their bodies, so in hot weather they tend to warm up faster than dogs in a healthy weight range.

Finally dogs that have pre-existing heart disease are more prone as they have poor circulation, so their bodies are less able to regulate their core body temperature properly.

HOW IS HEAT STRESS TREATED?

Heat stress is a genuine emergency and needs to be treated urgently. Your vet will need to check your dog’s temperature and heart rate and run a blood test to see whether there is any evidence of organ damage.

If your dog is still conscious and alert, offer your dog some water and wet them with water-soaked towels to prevent their temperature rising further before transporting them to your vet or emergency centre.

At the vet hospital, a fast rate of intravenous fluids will be started to rehydrate your dog and help to cool him or her down quickly. The aim is to get the temperature down to 39⁰C within an hour. It is also important to ensure that the dog is producing urine and is not in acute kidney failure, so sometimes a urinary catheter is placed into the bladder.

In cases where the heart rate is extremely high, an ECG (electrocardiogram) machine can be attached to your dog to ensure there are no abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias).

Oxygen may need to be given if the dog is not breathing normally.

Dr Gretta Howard. Veterinarian Twitter: @ DrGrettaVet

HOW DO I AVOID HEAT STRESS?

Exercise your dog in the

early morning or late afternoon, not in the middle of the day

Take a portable water

bowl with you when walking your dog in summer.

Ensure there are at least two water sources

available for your dog in case one is knocked over or the dog is particularly thirsty.

Clip long-haired dogs

very short in spring/ summer.

Keep your dog indoors

during really hot weather. If this is not possible, ensure there is adequate shelter in the backyard.

If your dog needs to

wear a muzzle, then make sure it is a basket muzzle and that it is the correct size to allow them to pant effectively.

Finally, NEVER leave your dog alone in

the car, even for five minutes. Research has shown that parked cars can get dangerously hot, even on cooler days with the windows open. For example, on a 24⁰C day, within just 10 minutes, a parked car can reach 39⁰C.

Try something different with LCNSCS!

Lane Cove & North Side Community Services invites you to join us as we celebrate Seniors Festival throughout March in our new premises. We’re now located at Lane Cove Community Hub, 1 Pottery Lane (opposite the pool). We’ve planned some fun events that reflect this year’s Festival theme “try something different!”

LIST OF EVENTS

Try a taste of the Silk Road – from the Far East to the Middle East

● Mahjong - try your hand at this ancient tile game, with its beautiful Chinese characters and symbols, based on draw and discard card games. Watch a game in play by an experienced Lane Cove Mahjong group and/or try yourself. Players will be on hand to give a brief overview. When: Wednesday 22 March, 12.30 – 2.00pm ● Silk Road sweets - enjoy a taste of traditional sweets throughout our Silk Road afternoon. When: Wednesday 22 March, 12.30 – 2.00pm ● Indian dance display and Henna hands - try a little Bollywood-style fun, following a dance display by members of Indian dance group, Hunar e Punjab (Talent of Punjab). You can also have your hand painted with a traditional Indian design by an experienced Henna artist. When: Wednesday 22 March - Henna Hands: 1.30-3.30pm. Dance Display: 2.00-2.30pm Cost: FREE

Try the calming effect of Mindfulness

Come and experience deep relaxation and stress relief with meditation, led by experienced Mindfulness and Yoga teacher, Emily Wilks. Morning tea will be provided. When: Wednesday 8 March, 10:00am – 11:00am Thursday 23 March, 10:00am – 11:00am Cost: FREE

Try drumming - connect with your inner rhythm and soul!

Join performance group ‘Soul Drummer’ for an interactive, drumming playshop experience. You will be guided on a rhythmic journey with African drums for everyone! Refreshments will be provided. When: Monday 13 March, 2:00pm– 3:00pm Cost: FREE

And now... try something completely different - Shuffleboard!

Come and meet rugby league legend and Australian Shuffleboard founder, Steve Mortimer, for an introduction to the fastest growing, indoor sport that everyone can play! Morning tea provided. When: Thursday 30 March, 10:00am – 11:30am Cost: Free

Finally, help us celebrate the end of Seniors Festival with some delicious noodle boxes prepared by the creative members of the Lane Cove Men’s Cooking Group. From 12.30pm after Shuffleboard.

Gore Bay Newsletter Issue 7

Dear community members,

Happy New Year and welcome to our latest community newsletter! The intent of our newsletters is to provide an overview of what has been happening over the last six months at Gore Bay Terminal.

Regrettably, we finished the year with a marine fuel oil leak on Friday 30 December 2016 during barge loading operations. I am proud of our operational record and of course, I am very disappointed that this incident occurred. We are undertaking a full investigation to ensure we do everything we can to prevent such an incident from occurring again.

In other Terminal news, last year, we commenced the replacement of the electrical substations. In addition to our regular maintenance program, we also continued with a range of initiatives including a review of the cladding on a fuel oil tank that has been impacted by local bird life.

Being mindful of the community, we have continued our efforts to minimise any impacts from noise and odours. I have previously talked about our unique ship vetting process for vessels that berth at Gore Bay. For a number of years now, we have also required that the vessels that berth at Gore Bay use fuel with a lower sulphur content.

Our last Community Information Evening for our nearest neighbours was held at the Greenwich Sailing Club on November 11. An area of interest from the community was whether the marine fuel barge could use shore power. Once we have completed our electrical substation works we will then be able to continue our barge shore power investigations. The next Community Information Evening will be held in March.

As part of our national community investment program Jigsaw, I was honoured to take part in awarding a number of Role Model Community Grants to a variety of community organisations and we also supported the Greenwich Village Games held in December 2016.

In other news, Viva Energy signed an agreement with Shell to purchase its aviation business in Australia. Viva Energy is already the exclusive supplier of jet fuel to Shell Aviation Australia so, if the purchase proceeds, there will be no change to our operations at Gore Bay Terminal.

I am always keen to receive your feedback so please refer to our How to Contact Us section if you’d like to speak with us. You can also find out more on our website at www.vivaenergy.com.au/ operations/gore-bay.

Marine Fuel Oil Leak

We asked James Crowden a few questions about the marine fuel oil leak that occurred on 30 December 2016 to help the community understand what happened, our response to contain the leak and clean up activities:

How did the marine fuel oil leak happen?

The leak happened during barge loading operations from an onshore pipe. We are conducting a full investigation to determine the cause of the incident and identify if there are any actions that can be taken to minimise the risk of this occurring in the future.

What was the scale of the leak?

The majority of the leak was contained on land within the terminal facility, however a quantity of marine fuel entered the water. It is difficult to determine exactly how much marine fuel oil entered the water, but it is estimated to be a few hundred litres.

What kind of Emergency Response was enacted and how was the community protected?

Terminal staff responded immediately and the leak was fully contained within protective booms so that no fuel escaped beyond the boomed area and into the harbour. The relevant authorities were notified of the incident and continue to monitor Viva Energy’s response and clean-up efforts.

How was the clean-up managed?

The majority of the marine fuel oil was quickly recovered from the water, and then our clean-up efforts focused on residual material on the shore and terminal structures under the guidance of the EPA. There was particular care placed on other sensitive areas during the clean-up. A protective boom was used to facilitate the cleaning process.

What is marine fuel oil?

Marine Fuel Oil is used to fuel marine vessels such as cruise ships, cargo vessels including fuel tankers, to name a few. Marine fuel oil is stored at Gore Bay Terminal and is not a flammable fuel.

Improved Reliability at Gore Bay

Viva Energy has invested over $10M in works to replace the electrical substations at Gore Bay. The works are well advanced with most of the construction and electrical cabling completed. The final phase of works are internal to the substations.

The works aim to improve operational reliability of the site into the future and is a key investement into the Terminal.

A new substation installed at Gore Bay with most of its construction completed.

Continued Maintenance Program

We conduct regular maintenance works to ensure we operate a reliable and safe fuel import Terminal. Over the last few years we have spent around $25M and also made a number of operational improvements to the Gore Bay facility.

We progressed with our pipelines inspection, maintenance and painting program. As mentioned, we also commenced a review of the cladding on one of the fuel oil tanks. These tanks are insulated to keep the fuel oil warm and the local bird population pecks at the insulation which may give the impression that the tanks are in poor condition. Any replacement of the cladding will improve the tank’s appearance.

Our maintenance program focuses on ensuring the integrity of our equipment however, we also have a rolling painting schedule for the Terminal to improve aesthetics.

Cladding that will be replaced on a marine fuel oil tank.

Supporting Local Role Models – Viva Energy awards grants to community organisations

As part of Viva Energy’s national Community Investement Program - Jigsaw - each year we invite not-for-profit organisations to apply for grants of up to $5,000 as part of our Role Model Grants program. Congratulations to the successful applicants who were awarded role model grants for 2016. The successful applicants from NSW were:

Grow

Grow is a community based program that was established in Sydney in 1957 that has helped thousands of Australians recover from mental illness through their unique programs of support.

Viva Energy’s grant will go towards providing training to up skill volunteers in effective support sessions across NSW.

For more information about the Grow program and locations in NSW, please visit their website at https://www.grow.org.au/grow-program/

Representatives from Grow and Viva Energy

Representatives from Yfoundations and Viva Energy Representatives from Yfoundations and Viva Energy

The community participating in the Greenwich Village Games held Dec 2 – 4 2016

Yfoundations

Yfoundations is an organisation that has been working with the community since its founding as “Youth Refuge Action Group” in 1979. The programs aim to represent the concerns of vulnerable young people who need support and are at risk of homelessness.

Viva Energy’s grant will contribute towards a Youth Advocacy and Research Group aimed at identifying young people who may not have access to existing support services. Youth off the streets is a community organisation that supports disadvantaged young people who may become homeless, drug dependant and/or are recovering from abuse. Since its formation in 1991, Youth Off the Streets has grown to a major youth specific agency delivering 35 different services.

Viva Energy’s grant will contribute towards the education and drug and alcohol rehabilitation services offered by Youth Off the Streets. For more information about Youth Off the Streets, please visit their website https://youthoffthestreets.com.au/

We wish all of our successful applicants every success in implementing their programs. Applications for 2017 are open from July and will close in September. Applications need to be made on-line. You can find out more about Viva Energy’s community Program Jigsaw at www.vivaenergy.com.au/community .

Viva Energy continues its support of the 2016 Greenwich Village Games

We congratulate the organisers for holding another successful event that was held over the weekend of December 2 – 4 at Bob Campbell Oval.

With over 1,700 registered participants, this represents around one third of the entire Greenwich community! The ages of participants ranged from under five to 60+ years.

Viva Energy was one of the pround sponsors of the Greenwich Village Games. The event is organised and run by the local community for the local community, as a non-profit community event.

WHAT’S THAT SOUND?

The Gore Bay Terminal alarm is tested every Tuesday at 8.30am.

This alarm is part of the Terminal’s safety system and it is intended for on-site personnel only. There is no need for the community to take action if the alarm is sounded. In the unlikely event that an incident occurs and actions need to be taken, Emergency Services will direct the community. If you have a concern regarding our day to day operations please call 8437 1238 immediately so that concerns can be investigated and appropriate action taken (if required).

Further Information

Website: www.vivaenergy.com.au/operations/gore-bay

Email: Communityrelations@vivaenergy.com.au

Postal: External Communications PO BOX 872 Melbourne 3001

Lane Cove creates stars to end violence

Over 10,000 stars crafted by members of the Lane Cove community (and beyond) will feature in a special exhibition at Gallery Lane Cove this February.

Part of an international weaving project by Australian artist, Maryann Talia Pau, One Million Stars to End Violence aims to end violence by bringing people together across the world to weave one million stars for a grand display.

These woven stars are symbols of light, courage and solidarity to end all forms of violence, including violence against women and have been made by local residents and groups in Lane Cove.

These stars will then form part of one million stars at the Commonwealth Games in 2018.

Don’t miss this amazing installation by local residents at Gallery Lane Cove.

Yarn-Bombing the Plaza

Local artist Cee Egan will be decorating one of Lane Cove’s icons 'the Lloyd Rees Bandstand' in crochet and pom-poms in February.

Make sure you drop by the Plaza to see her incredible work from Monday 6 February to Tuesday 28 February. Join us for a series of free interactive pom-pom making workshops in the Plaza. Your pompom will be added to the bandstand, creating a collaborative artwork for the whole community to enjoy throughout February. POM-POM MAKING WORKSHOPS:

● Saturday 4 February, 10.00am – 1.00pm ● Friday 10 February, 3.30pm – 6.30pm ● Saturday 11 February, 10.00am – 1.00pm ● Friday 17 February, 3.30pm – 6.30pm

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