Business & Finance 14

mackayandwhitsundaylife.com The Art of Struggling ListeningTo Get Skilled Workers?

Judy Porter, Leadership and Workplace Culture Specialist at Shiift

Are you willing to have your mind changed? If only we listened with the intent to just listen. Unfortunately, we have been hard-wired with the intent to reply – which doesn’t make us that effective at listening at all. Neuroscience tells us we speak at an average of 125 words per minute, listen at 400 words per minute and think at 900 words per minute. If so, how do we master the art of quietening our mind to truly listen to someone? True listening starts with the willingness to have our mind changed – not to be ‘right’

or perceived as the smartest in the room. When we open up our mindset and invite others’ opinions, perceptions and experiences we are truly creating a learning What worked three years ago won’t work for us today - small business and the workplace has environment for us and those around us, whilst simultaneously demonstrating empathy and respect. undergone massive changes in the past Surely the world would benefit from more three years with the latest stats telling us learning environments and less opinour people want three things: ion-based environments. Fairness – to have a right to vaccinate or So let’s all demonstrate empathy, respect not vaccinate, to be treated equally along- and promote learning environments by side other team-members; to be seen as a learning the art of really listening. human first, and a worker second. Contributed with thanks to Shiift Flexibility – in hours, wages, conditions. Our introverts are thriving in the home office and want the flexibility to do 2-3 days a week at home where they have proven they are more productive. Teams are opting for 4-day weeks (and employers are discovering their teams are just as productive on reduced hours). Wellness – emotional, physical and psychological health; everything that is encapsulated by ‘wellness’. Your people no longer park their emotions at the door and

Judy Porter, Leadership and Workplace Culture Specialist at Shiift forget their family’s needs whilst at work. What are you doing to promote wellness in your workplace? Headlines scream we are in the era of “the great resignation”. People are opting out of careers and high wages, and choosing more family time, leisure time. They are no longer living to work – they are working to live. If everyone is vying for the same pool of skilled workers make sure you have the edge over your competitors. Emphasise fairness, flexibility and wellness in your workplace. Provide a workplace culture where people have a voice, have the ability to negotiate the conditions which work best for both the business and the worker, and create a wellness program which enhances social connections, and physical health. By Judy Porter from Shiift

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Ask A Financial Planner When will prices stop rising? Ask A Financial Planner What Happens To My Super If Russia Invades Ukraine?

We’re all feeling the pain in the back pocket over the last 12 months. After many years of steady or even declining prices suddenly the cost of goods and services have started rising. For much of the last 10 years the price of goods and services have stayed stable. With the world’s manufacturers globalizing their supply chains and sourcing components from the cheapest country to produce them, we even saw major price reductions in many manufactured goods. TV’s, electronics and tech items and even basic manufactured goods prices benefitted as suppliers scoured the globe to find the cheapest countries to manufacture different items. In the last 12 months this trend has reversed with prices starting to rise. With geopolitical tensions rising, manufacturers are starting to question the stability of their supply chains. The world currently buys three quarters of its semiconductor chips that go into everything from fridges to phones to computers to cars to airplanes from Taiwan, what happens if China invades Taiwan, and we can’t get those chips? Governments are subsidizing smaller producers in Europe and America to increase supply. If we pay a little more to these new suppliers, then so be it as it’s better to have a stable supply than risk having none. Another big input is energy costs. In Europe they had gradually increased their dependance on Russian energy for decades. Suddenly we realize Russia aren’t our friendly neighbors and Europe is scrambling to source oil and gas from other countries pushing prices up right

around the world. Higher energy and fuel History tells us that wars generally lead to a swift fall in share costs mean it costs more to run factories and transport goods around the world, so prices rise. markets driven by emotion. These price rises are inflation and the This is typically followed by a world’s central banks have increased insharp rally as investors come terest rates swiftly to try and nip it in the to the realisation that it won’t bud. Increased repayments on home and have that big an effect on how business loans means less to spend on disthe world lives. Share markets cretionary items. The rate rises will really replicate human life. Com- start to bite next year as people who fixed panies only get bigger when their interest rates a couple of years ago they are producing goods or have their loans mature and they feel the services consumers want. If pain of higher repayments like the variable consumers want to buy some- rate borrowers already are. thing, business will find a way to get it to them. 2023 should start to see governments get inflation back under control as people Wars in wealthier European reduce their spending. This should see nations get more press but prices stabilize as well as interest rates stop since WWII there’s really only increasing. been the Bosnian war in the 1990’s and the last Ukrainian war in 2014. Russia has been preparing for this for years, If you’d like an obligation free review of your situation, to review your super structures, call us for an appointment today. bolstering its internal reserves of important goods, selling down it’s holdings in US government debt, cozying up to China and waiting until Biden’s popularity is weak and US midterm elections are on. The biggest question for investment markets is how a war will affect supply chains and economies. Russia is well known as a major supplier of oil and gas to Europe but what’s less know is that the Russian Federation also supply over half the world’s Ammonium Nitrate, used to make fertiliser. If this supply chain stops, companies like Australia’s Orica as one of the largest individual producers of Ammonium Nitrate in the world may well benefit. We are a country rich in oil and gas reserves and LNG export facilities like Gladstone will be working overtime to supply Europe if Putin turns off his pipeline. Unfortunately, wars are inevitable and Managing Director of Eclipse Financial Services Justin Butler who is happy to answer any financial questions you have in his monthly column

Managing Director of Eclipse Financial Services Justin Butler who is happy to answer any financial questions you have in his monthly column thankfully they usually only affect a small percentage of the world’s population. There are always businesses making money out of war and it’s not just the arms dealers. The key with your super is to ensure that, particularly if you are drawing down in pension phase, you have a strategy to deal with short market downturns like we had in 2020 due to COVid and a war in Ukraine may deliver. Selling out to a more defensive fund isn’t a strategy, it’s a gamble on timing that most lose on. If you think you could benefit from a discussion with a Financial Planner, give us a call. There’s no obligation and all fees are spelled out clearly in advance. If you’re not sure, try our Financial Fitness Survey on our website at www.eclipsefs.com as it’s a simple free tool to help assess your financial strength.

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GET THE EQUIPMENT YOU NEED BEFORE YOU NEED IT New Community Grant Program Backs Bowen

One of Bowen’s biggest employers has launched a new community support program, providing funding to not-for-profit organisations and community groups through purchases of small assets to “make a big difference.”

Bowen Rail Company (BRC) commenced the first round of its Community Partnership Program in November, making “positive financial contributions” to communities where the company’s employees live and work.

Each year, the Program intends on offering two rounds of funding for community groups and not-for-profit initiatives, projects, and programs with a maximum of $2,000 per applicant granted per round. The program’s inaugural grant went to Bowen State High School, assisting them in sending 27 budding engineers, mathematicians, and roboticists to Brisbane to compete in the F1 In Schools Challenge. Students acted as car manufacturers as part of a team-based state-level competition, designing and building cars from balsa wood in the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) school program. Bowen Rail Company’s Community Partnership Program was integral in helping the students build their car and make the trip to race it in Brisbane, according to the local school as well as the company itself. BRC General Manager Brendan Lane said the students’ experience was an example of the community outcomes the business wanted to deliver.

“This is something the BRC team has been wanting to do for a while, and now that we’ve moved into operations, we’re really excited to be able to give back to our community in a new way,” Mr Lane said. “The program is purposefully designed to help with the purchase of the small assets that can make a big contribution to what makes Bowen such a great place to live and work in.

“Tangible things like a new oven for the P&C tuckshop, kickboards for swimming training, or new football jerseys to help players get on the field and make new friends are what we’re looking to support.” Mr Lane said the Company - which planted its tracks in the Far North town in late 2020 and forms part of the Carmichael Mine resource chain – will run the program annually, awarding it on a bi-annual basis in May and November with applications for the first round open now.

Bowen Rail Company (BRC) launched their new Community Partnership Program with the inaugural grant heading to Bowen State High School to support the school’s F1 In Schools Challenge

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Local Dancers Bringing The Nutcracker To Life

Adore Dance will perform ‘The Nutcracker’ ballet at the Bowen Summergarden Cinema next week

Alocal Whitsunday professional dance school is taking its students to the stage for a classic Christmas performance next weekend. Adore Dance will perform ‘The Nutcracker’ at the Bowen Summergarden Cinema on Saturday, December 3, telling the story of one girl's journey to a magical land on Christmas Eve.

Following Clara, a girl gifted with a Nutcracker doll by her Uncle Drosselmyer, a magical toy maker, the Nutcracker “brings Christmas to life”.

When Clara falls asleep that evening, she awakes to a new world, one filled with the sounds of battle as the Mouse Queen fights against the Nutcracker Prince for control of the kingdom. Clara and her new toy, The Nutcracker, then visit the land of the snowflakes, flowers, and sweets where Clara can't believe her eyes. Soon, the tale comes to a climactic finale, and it is time for everyone to bid Clara and the Nutcracker Prince farewell. The tale of adventure is one of ballet’s most famous and impressive performances, and the Whitsunday-based studio is up for the task.

Bowen Summergarden Cinema owner Ben De Luca said the performance is a perfect way to ring in the Whitsunday’s Christmas season. v

WHAT: The Nutcracker

WHEN: 7.00pm to 9.00pm on Saturday, December 3

WHERE: Bowen Summergarden Cinema

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Swimming Pools, Bra Fittings, Music, And More…

WITH 150 YEARS COMBINED EXPERIENCE

What does it mean to own a pool? To some it can mean a place to cool off; somewhere to relax throughout the day. It can be a place for exercise. For family. To Sue Martin, having a pool has been an entire life aspiration. For her, water was “peace, calm, and tranquillity.” And a place for her husband David Dalzell and son Cam to cool off after a long day. David and Sue purchased the business from Tony and Tracey Bazzo, then known as ‘Bowen Pools and Pumps’, and have rebranded it to Bowen Pools and More – a business offering opportunity to help others maintain what, in North Queensland, is an oft-prized possession. David and Sue have a strong community passion. A community thrives and grows when a community works together and plays together. Where they can they use local trades and suppliers. And that rings true in their products: The pool salt they use comes from Bowen. If an item or skill can’t be sourced locally, then they look for Australian made and owned. “We have anything anyone could need relating to a pool or spa if it’s not in stock we can get it in. We do repairs, maintenance, water testing, pumps, and cleaners. We do it all.”

For Sue and her husband, the business is also an opportunity to capitalise on Sue’s other passions, which is where the ‘and More’ comes in.

“It’s a lot of my passions mixed into one business. I’ve taught musical instruments over the years, and that’s part of the business, I also have bra fittings and wardrobe curations as part of the business!” Sue said. “People can take out of the ‘More’ whatever they would like: If it’s spas, water filtration systems, bras, music, it doesn’t matter. The More is that someone will walk in the door and ask if we stock something, and if there’s enough interest, we will.” Bowen Pools and More is a new, family-owned business open now at 14 Herbert Street, Bowen.

Owners of Bowen Pools and More, Sue Martin David Dalzell and Son Cam outside their family’s new store front on Herbert Street

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As temperatures in the Whitsundays rise, reaching their often uncomfortably high levels, pets are likely to struggle with the heat as much as people do – if not more, according to local experts. Greater Whitsunday Vet Services veterinarian Doctor Jason Mansfield warns of the impactful North Queensland heat’s effect on all pets, even one that might seem to revel in the heat.

“Even for snakes or lizards, this time of year can be extremely challenging for them. Which is certainly saying something, considering their cold-blooded nature,” Dr Mansfield said. “But in particular, we need to be mindful the most of our furry, warm-blooded friends who have trouble self-regulating heat like humans do.”

In the Whitsundays’ far northern extremity, there is a high chance that your pet can experience, at its worst, heatstroke, which, according to scientific reports conducted in the United States, sees over 50 per cent of dogs taken to the vet with severe heatstroke die.

“That’s why it’s so important to follow some basic rules and thought processes during the summer months in the Whitsundays,” Dr Mansfield said. The basic rules Dr Mansfield highlighted were for dogs and cats. “With your dogs, if they’re being left outside during the day, you need shaded areas. Some people tie their dogs up during the day, and I do not recommend that at all – it can cause stress, which exacerbates the symptoms of the heat,” Mr Mansfield said.

“We are wanting to not overstress any animal as that will have issues with overheating them. We need them to have plenty of water and in some cases even electrolyte solutions, which can be purchased explicitly for dogs. You then need to keep that water out of the sun.

“The general rule of thumb is: If you’re hot, your animal is very likely hot, too. Think of the lollipop lady. She’s out in the weather all day with shade provided by her clothing, extra water, electrolytes. We can’t give animals clothing, so we need to remedy that in other ways.” Although it may seem minor, heat-stress and heat-related illness is almost the opposite, according to Mr Mansfield. It is an important consideration for any pet owner, particularly as part of their duty of care to another living creature. “There are a great number of ways pets can overheat – The obvious being the weather, but it’s also coming into the silly season and they may get a bit of Christmas ham, which can cause inflammation which can then cause vomiting, diarrhea, causing dehydration, which exacerbates heat issues. Sometimes it’s the things we don’t think about,” Dr Mansfield said. “The best thing we can do is get them out of the heat. Shelter, water, and reduce stress if your pet is anxious. Dr Mansfield said Greater Whitsunday Vet Services was available for heat-related illnesses in any domestic animal, and had many more tips for keeping your pets safe in the hottest part of the year.

Greater Whitsunday Vet Services veterinarian Doctor Jason Mansfield said this time of year was the time to be most vigilant regarding our animals overheating as a pet owner