Kate, you’re riding from Laos to Cambodia later in the year. What on earth possessed you to do such a thing?

There are a few reasons that urged me to do the Laos Water Cycle challenge. Firstly, 2011 was a bad year for me … I lost my father-in-law to cancer in June and my job working 60+hours a week finished, as the company liquidated in October. I ended the year feeling really strung out and stressed. I needed to attract some good karma back into my life. I started my own company in December and found out about the Challenge through a client contact.

The second reason was that after having 2 children, I needed an amazing goal to strive towards to lose those last few baby kilos and get back in shape. Lastly, but definitely not least, I love charity work! I’ve done a charity challenge before in my early 20s, and it changed my life. I raised $12,000 for Fred Hollows Foundation and trekked through Nepal. I can help others and feel like I am making a difference in the world. This was the main reason for me to take on this challenge.

So obviously this is a fundraiser. Tell us about the charity you’re working with and why you chose them.

The Laos Water Cycle is co-ordinated by Inspired Adventures for the charity ChildFund Australia. Inspired Adventures co-ordinate charity challenges worldwide. Paris Marathons, Great Wall of China treks, South America treks and Cycling across Asia, all to raise much needed funds for charity.

I chose the charity ChildFund Australia and this particular challenge, as their main focus is on children. I love their philosophy that if we can educate the children and their communities, we can empower them to address the issues that affect their daily lives.

Australian supporters sponsor over 55,000 children through ChildFund Australia child sponsorship program. The ChildFund alliance worldwide helps over 16 million children. How fantastic is that!

Your aim is to raise $10,000 through your ride. What will the funds go towards?

The money that I raise goes to install water tanks with piping and flushing toilets in the homes of many Laos villages. There are approximately 20 Aussies doing this challenge, and as a group we will bring in over $100,000 for this project.

Basic necessities like running water and toilets are essential for a healthy life. Can you imagine what life would be like without them? This is reality for over 75% of the Laos population.

They use the jungle/bush for the toilets and in many cases, it’s the children’s job to fetch the water from the closest spring or water source. (This can sometimes be a 2 hour trek in the dry season – much longer than the average commute in Coffs!) When children are tasked with such important roles in their households, it means many of them are missing out on school or by the time they get to school, they are exhausted after all this hard work.

Another reason why it’s so important to set up these basic necessities is that Laos is the most heavily bombed country in the world. In the Vietnam War, the Americans dropped 260 million bombs in Laos. Seventy six million bombs remain undetonated even today. So going to the toilet in the jungle or going to collect water can be deadly.

I’ve raised $5,000 so far this year through raffles and an awesome movie night at Sawtell Cinema.

Tell us about the ride itself. How far is it, how long will it take, who’s going with you, etc …

On the ride will be the 20 participating fundraisers, an Inspired Adventure tour escort, a charity representative, a local tour guide and a support vehicle that follows us the whole way. The entire trip is about 16 days, including transit to and from Australia.

We ride approximately 464 km over 9 days visiting historical landmarks in Laos and meeting the ChildFund Laos team in Nonghet. We will see the work/projects they have already completed in some Laos communities, which I am really excited about. There is some transit in between Laos and Cambodia which is not accessible by road, so we will have to fly a portion of the trip from North to South Laos.  We end up in Siem Reap, Cambodia, in the last 2 days of the trip.

You must have to do a lot of training for this. What’s involved, and how is it coming along?

Yes! I started training before Christmas with a personal trainer at Genesis Fitness Club. My trainer, Colleen from Collateral Consultancy, is a force to be reckoned with; she is helping me to stay focused and motivated to succeed with my fitness goal. I do 2 x Personal Training (PT) sessions a week and weights, plus lots of riding to build up the muscles in my legs. It’s hard to find time to fit everything in, but I have a very supportive husband, mum and mum-in-law to help me with the girls.

I’m trying to work my way up to 3 x 1 hour rides and 1 x 2-3 hour ride per week in addition to my PT. I wish there were more hours in the day!

What fundraising events do you have coming up that people can attend to help support this cause?

I am holding a Charity Auction Night on Saturday 4 August at C.ex Coffs Harbour – joining with another local fundraiser Kylie Sykes, who represents Life and Hope Association, Cambodia. Tickets are $50, which includes dinner, live entertainment, silent and live auctions, lucky door prizes. Tickets can be purchased from Parry’s Jewellers in Coffs Harbour. If you buy a full table of 8 tickets ($400), you also go in the draw for additional prizes.

So far for auction items we have been donated local artwork, accommodation packages, outdoor furniture and statues. The Coffs community is so supportive, and they always get behind a worthy cause!

I’m hoping for over 200 to attend the event; you can see more details on the Facebook event page: http://www.facebook.com/events/179345088849789/

If you can’t make the auction night but still want to donate, we have the option of ‘Virtual Attendance’. This means that you donate an amount (anything over $20) and send in your photo and/or business card/logo which will be put onto a balloon at the event, so you will be there in spirit!

We need businesses to donate items that we can auction on the night, so don’t hesitate to contact Kate on 0402 100 208 or email to kate.mclennanbt@gmail.com if you can help out.

How can people find out more information and/or donate?

People can donate directly online for a tax deductible receipt: www.everydayhero.com.au/kate_mclennan or join my Facebook Page at                                                                         www.facebook.com/KatesLaosWaterCycleChallenge for updates and to contact me.
Thanks Kate.

This story was published in issue 20 of Coffs Coast Focus

What do you collect?

I collect models of the Australian cars made by the big three American Manufacturers: General Motors (Holden), Ford and Chrysler.

How many pieces do you have in your collection?

I collect the 1:43 and 1:18 scale models, of which I have 109 models. I used to have hundreds when I was a child. I had over 500 matchbox cars and a lot of 1:18 scale European vehicles but the collection was getting out of control, so I simplified it to the genre I collect now.

Do you remember the first car that started your collection?

I got my first Matchbox car, a Ford F100 Ambulance, when I was three years old – so you could say that was the one started it all.

Why model cars?

I have been a car fanatic all my life; I do not remember not being one. It has also followed me to my working career. I started out working weekends at a driveway service station when I was fourteen, and now I own and run the independent used car dealership, Coffs Harbour Motorworld, and the repair shop, Isles Park Motorworx.

Are the model cars hard to source?

Well, that’s a tricky question. If you buy them when the three big model manufacturers make them, you’re OK, but they become hard to get after that. And there are a lot in that genre that they haven’t made yet, so eventually the collection will 3 or 4 more times bigger than what it is.

How do you store or display your collection?

A lot people say you should keep the boxes, as it makes them more valuable, but I like them on display. Also, the value is of no importance to me – I will never sell them. I’ll leave that job to my two daughters when I’m gone.

Do you have one favourite piece in your collection?

My favourite pieces are the 1:18 scale models for their attention to detail, and they really are small replicas of the original. They are quite expensive too, so I only purchase the models I have a real love affair with – which is mainly the seventies and eighties models.

What makes YOUR collection so unique?

I do have three real collectable cars: a Ford Fairmont V8, Holden WB Caprice and a Triumph 2500TC.

I also have a complete collection of Wheels Magazines from 1985 to date, which is an in depth history of the Australian motoring scene in itself.

Are you a member of any collectors and/or enthusiasts clubs?

I currently belong to the Saab Car Club of Australia, as I race a 1989 Saab 900 Turbo in hillclimb events around the area.

Thanks James.

Are you a collector?

We want to know about you! Let us know what you collect and you might just be our next Collectors Corner guest!

e. kim@focusmag.com.au

ph. (02) 6650 9343

This story was published in issue 20 of Coffs Coast Focus

Ean, what inspired your love for all things aviation?

Since I was about 7 years of age, I was inspired by the efforts of the Air Force during WWII. My dad and oldest brother were members of the Air League until ‘Big Bro’ joined the RAAF and served with 458 squadron flying Wellington bombers throughout North Africa and Italy.

My dad was an officer with the League and also an instructor with the Air Training Corp (now Air Force Cadets), so I guess aeroplanes and flying were in my blood. I was building flying model aircraft from balsa sheets and plans when I was 7/8 years old and even used to make my own balsa glue.

How did you become involved with the Australian Air League?

I was in the League myself as a kid but spent many years in country Queensland, where there were no squadrons. However, I did get mixed up with the Royal Flying Doctor Service in Charleville, so my interest in aviation continued.  For many years I travelled from Cairns to Hobart, from Brisbane to Perth, in my position of Sales Manager, but not once did I ever came across any sign of an Air league squadron.

Then in 1996 I attended an air show in Coffs Harbour and was surprised to see some 20 or so cadets marching and wearing the Air League uniform. I have been involved with the local squadron ever since.

What is involved in being a cadet with the Coffs Harbour Squadron?

Becoming a cadet with the Coffs Harbour squadron or any other Australian Air League unit involves very little. If any 8 year old (or older) has an interest in aviation or any career path associated with flying or aviation in general, all he/she has to do is attend a squadron parade over a couple of weeks and sign the ‘Visitors Book’ so as to be covered by the AAL’s Public Liability insurance.

He/she can then observe the squadron activities from the side or join in activities if they wish, so that they can get the feel of belonging to a group. Then after the second week, if they feel the Air League is for them, they can join.

What are the major projects you’ve worked on, including the rebuild of an old plane?

The biggest project in which the cadets have been involved was the restoration of the old 1930 model ‘Longster’, which was originally built in Canberra in the mid ‘50s. This old plane was brought to Coffs Harbour by Tom Strickland and Newton Lawson as a training item for John Naughton’s ‘Junior Flying School’ attached to the Aero Club.

After the local aerodrome became an airport, the Longster could no longer be used for the intended purpose, so it was stored in a carport open to weather in Tom’s yard. When the Air League was formed in 1995, Newton Lawson thought of the Longster and in 1998 began to restore it, teaching the cadets how to apply fabric to the frame etc.

The project came to a halt when Newton passed away in 2000, and the cadets did not have access to the old plane. This was the case until Bellinger Instruments provided the squadron with its current building, and the restoration resumed against a lot of difficulties. It was finally completed in August 2011.

Currently the cadets are involved in a diorama of the Coffs Harbour airport and a diorama of the Korean conflict, depicting the involvement of the RAAF.

Seeing the progression of the cadets and club over the years, how does it make you feel?

Watching the cadets ‘grow’ as they continue with the League is a real buzz. The improvement in their demeanour, their discipline and their overall knowledge and their acceptance of other cadets makes up for all the hard work that goes into the squadron operation. When you see cadets or ex-cadets get their pilot wings, or learn that they are working as electronic technicians in industry, or they have gone into the Airforce, the Army or the Navy, it just seems to make it all worthwhile.

The squadron has a little ‘shrine’ to honour one Arthur Whitmarsh, who was a Lancaster bomber pilot with the famous 460 Squadron during WWII and later with Qantas. Arthur started his aviation career with the Australian Air League back in the 1930s. Many Qantas and other airline pilots of today started with the Air League, and this is something of which we, as a group, are very proud.

How can people find out more and become involved?

People can find out about the Air League through the League’s website by just Googling up the Australian Air League.com.au or by contacting the local squadron on 6658 2315, or coming along to a parade night on Wednesdays at 6.30pm at our building at 60 Aviation Drive, Coffs Harbour Airport, in the General Aviation Section.

We would like to see more kids get involved and also more adults. We could do a lot more with the cadets if we had more senior instructors or trainee instructors than we have at present. We have so many career paths for kids to follow that by the time they leave school, they could walk into almost any job they have a desire to do.

Thanks Ean.

This story was published in issue 20 of Coffs Coast Focus

What do you love the most about having your own restaurant on the Coffs Coast?

As I am the ‘Boss’, I get to go for a surf before work!

Tell our readers about the amazing menu you have at Fiasco.

Our menu changes with the seasons, and we always prepare our food with passion and care, taking time to find the best local produce and then using all of our knowledge to create a full and flavoursome dining experience.

Fiasco Ristorante + Bar caters for functions as well. What are the options that readers have when booking a function?

We cater for all occasions, both in the restaurant and offsite. We do birthday parties, weddings and private dinners. We always discuss what the client wants, and the options are open to all discussion until we agree on the special menu for the event.

What would you say is Fiasco’s point of difference?

I feel the difference is in our attention to the care and level of service offered to our customers. Both our kitchen and floor staff are passionate about what they do – we are always looking for improvement in the product and service that we offer to our customers.

What do you have in store for the restaurant over the next 6 months?

We are continuing our ‘Giro d’Italia’, where we are exploring the different regional foods of Italy – available on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday nights, it has proved very popular. Look out for the famous Fiasco Bar Pizza … we are updating the pizza menu … but the price of the Bar Pizza will stay the same … still only $10!

Thanks Stefano.

This story was published in issue 20 of Coffs Coast Focus

Tell us a bit about your background. When did you start to become interested in music? 

I started playing guitar when I was living in New Zealand at about the age of 10 or 11. I started learning at that young age a lot of Rock – Rage Against The Machine, Nirvana, old classics like Jimi Hendrix and stuff like that. So it all started with the guitar, and then I just started singing as time went on and writing some pretty bad songs in my teens – and still the odd bad one. Then I moved to Sydney and started getting involved with some bands in my teens.

I read that you studied politics in university. What career path were you hoping that would take you on? 

I was always socially conscious, and I wanted to get involved in policy research and really trying to make people in my position informed about decisions they make – and also human rights. I was thinking about joining up with the UN but music sort of just took over, so I’ve been following that. I’ve gone back and done journalism as well, which has given me a way to fund my zany music.

Do you find that those studies have also helped with your songwriting?

Definitely. It gives you a whole new form of issues and feelings to be inspired by. When you know things, you can write about them. If you sit at home every day and you don’t know anything, it’s sort of hard to write about something interesting.

You were formerly known as Paul Appelkamp. You toured the nation many times, winning multiple awards. Why did you decide to change your name to Lionheir?

I just felt it was time for a change. You’ve got to evolve with the times in music, and artistically as you get older … it’s a never ending process. You’re always evolving. I thought it was time for a change, so I went in a new direction. I’ve always loved Soul and Rock music. Before, I was playing more acoustic based stuff and there’s still elements of that in this, but this is more of a zany, artistic, out-there sort of project that I’ve always wanted to do.

That partially answers the next question… which is how has your music changed from your previous album as Paul Appelkamp to your current album as Lionheir? 

Well, it definitely has changed. When I moved up to the North Coast from Sydney, I really focused on songwriting. That was the major reason I moved up here … I wanted to get away from fast paced life and really concentrate on my songwriting. So I’ve just refined my craft. That, in turn, made the songs and my music in general a lot stronger. I could tap into the feelings that I wanted to get across much more easily.

I’ve incorporated a lot of the horns and brass feel from classic Soul, but there’s also more psychedelic Rock elements as well. It’s a bit like watching a Quentin Tarantino film with your ears. I just wanted to make a CD that I could put on with friends over or at a party and just let it roll from start to finish – you don’t notice it’s there, but it creates a really nice vibe … and if you want to listen to it, it can take you to really interesting places. So that was my goal.

You wrote most of the songs from your upcoming album in Byron Bay ‘up, behind the hills’. What was it about this location that inspired you to write? 

It was the surrounding hinterland. It’s such a naturally beautiful part of the world. I know that’s a bit cliché, but out of all my travels as a solo artist around Australia, this place and Tasmania were probably the two most beautiful places. I just felt really grounded here. You just get up here and you almost feel at home, even though it’s not your home … that’s why I made it my home! There’s a lot of waterfalls and hidden treasures that you wouldn’t know are here, but you can explore … and I’m still exploring. I’ve been here for 2 years, and it’s a constant inspiration. There’s a lot of wildlife … we had a snake living in our roof … just weird natural treasures. And having that constant flow of inspiration helps you with your songwriting.

Who has inspired you throughout your music career? 

I’d have to say a lot of the classic artists. Definitely Bob Dylan, because my dad was playing his records from before I was born! So definitely that warm sort of songwriting has impacted upon me personally. The other major artists would be Jimi Hendrix, Bob Marley and The Wailers. All the timeless artists, I suppose.

Anthony Lycenko is an award winning producer. What was it like working with him on your album? 

It was really mind opening, because he works purely off the vibe. He’s technically a really experienced engineer; he spent a lot of time in the UK and has worked with some pretty big artists. He’s been in the game for over 20 years now, so he just knows so much about vibe. As I was saying before, I wanted a CD I could put on and just create a nice atmosphere while there are people over, and that’s what we’ve managed to do.

It’s been invaluable really; I’ve learnt a lot, and we really got along well together. It’s not often you work with someone who is on exactly the same level. He’s a bit older than me but we were just on exactly the same level, so the project really came to life.

You’re about to go on tour … what do you look forward to the most before stepping on stage? 

That’s a tough one. What I hope for is that I’ll play the songs to the pinnacle of my ability and that people will not leave (laughs)! I hope that people will enjoy the show and feel what I’m trying to get across.

If that happens, then the vibe just lifts and by the end of the set, hopefully we’re in a higher and much better place.

What do you feel has been the biggest accomplishment of your career to date?

Managing to stay in the music game has been my biggest accomplishment, seriously. I’ve been through many ups and downs, not just financially, but artistically. It’s like getting writers’ block … as a musician, when that inspiration dies, it’s really hard to switch back on, and I’m just afraid that if that goes off again … you never know what’s going to happen. At the moment it’s on, and I’m feeling really, really good.

Now that you have completed your album, what is next for you? Have you got any plans for the future? 

We’re going to release a single on this tour, then we’ll release another single and we’ll smash out the album. Then we’ll do a much bigger tour. Hopefully in about another 2 – 3 years, I’d like to have another album out, if all goes to plan, and I want to refine my sound even more and my songwriting even more. That’s just what I’m working towards at the moment.

Lionheir will be performing at The Hoey Moey on Sunday 20 May.

For more information on the show, visit www.hoeymoey.com.au

This story was published in issue 20 of Coffs Coast Focus

When was Killer Queen first established? 

Killer Queen was established in 2006. Before this, for a short time, it was part of a show called the ‘King & Queen Show’, which featured Elvis and then a set of Queen, all in full costume. We realised the popularity of the music of Queen was strong enough for its own show, so set about the challenge of creating an accurate tribute to this iconic band.

Introduce your band members …

Firstly, Johnny Blunt as Freddie Mercury. Johnny comes from an acting background and had already performed as Freddie at Movieworld, both here and internationally.

He has been featured in Woman’s Day and recently appeared on a French TV program featuring lookalikes from all over Europe. Johnny was picked over several Freddie Mercury impersonators to perform in the show, and was flown from Australia for the event. The show was televised to millions of viewers around the UK and Europe. His closeness in looks to Freddie Mercury is now legendary!

Next is Anthony Smith, as Brian May. He has to imitate the soaring guitar solos of the legendary guitarist, and having the exact replica of Brian May’s guitar is a must and the exact amplifiers. And of course, he plays with an English sixpence for a plectrum as Brian does, to create the instantly recognisable sound of Queen. Many times people have come up after a gig to ask if he is the real Brian May!

Wayne Vitale, as John Deacon on bass, complete with accurate costumes, instruments and a virtuosity that matches this key part of Queen perfectly. Kevin Shilling as Roger Taylor, our newest member, creates the thundering drums and high vocals that make a live Queen show an exhilarating experience. The fifth member of Queen was a man named Spike Edney, and we have Ben Crossman who plays piano and all the synthesizer parts that made Queen move perfectly with the times to be in the charts for 40 years.

Queen’s original guitarist, Brain May, has even commended Killer Queen as being ‘astonishing’. How amazing was that for you to get such a good review from him?

Yes, we are on the official website as a tribute show, and to have accolades from one of the people you are tributing is a wonderful compliment.

What have been your career highlights?

Certainly performing in Norway last year with Foreigner and Journey at the Skanevik Blues Festival was an incredible experience; firstly, being on the same bill as these legendary bands, but to be the first tribute to perform at the festival was an honour.

Killer Queen featured on Australia’s Got Talent. How has that helped launch you into the spotlight?

What has had much more impact than the 3 minutes performing on the show (cut down to 90 seconds!) has been the hundreds of thousands of hits the clip has had on Youtube. This has definitely put us out into cyberspace and has given us the overseas opportunities that would have never come about if we were just performing in our local clubs and advertising locally.

You’re coming to Coffs Harbour in May to perform your latest show. What can we expect from it?

Firstly, you will see a full production show complete with laser lighting, accurate looks and costumes and the energy of a live Queen concert – all live, no backing tracks or miming! Great dance music, great ballads and unforgettable melodies, with lots of opportunities to sing along with Freddie!

Our aim is for people to walk out of the show either: thinking that they have just seen Queen; reminiscing about a Queen concert they saw when they were younger; never got to see Queen and are happy they got a glimpse by coming to see our show. And finally, it’s just a great night out for all ages!
This story was published in issue 20 of Coffs Coast Focus

George Negus is an iconic Australian journalist and one of our best known media personalities. George has had an illustrious career and has travelled the world reporting on major political and international issues. He’s a man who’s not afraid to tell it like it is and despite his career in the spotlight, he still manages to stay grounded. George talks about his life in the media, Australian politics and why he calls this area home …

You have a property up here in Bellingen, don’t you?

It’s not a property; it’s home. It’s our real home. We have lived in The Promised Land, outside of Bellingen, for 16-17 years. We come up as often as we can, which is never often enough!

What do you love about the area?

Pretty much everything. We bought the house around 23 years ago and, while we retained our place in Sydney when we left, we chose to live in The Promised Land. We always fantasised about having the kids grow up in the country. Our theory was you could live in the country and go to the city, but people who live in the city have never really had any serious time in the country. So it was almost a philosophical decision. We were tree-changers before the term was even invented!

Let’s talk about your career for a second … last month I had the pleasure of interviewing Peter FitzSimons, the Australian writer, whom I’m sure you know. He told me that the reason he got into journalism is because he loves to tell stories. What influenced you to become a journalist?

Asking questions. I discovered that they pay you money to ask questions in journalism and, in my mid – late twenties, I started asking some questions about life, love and the pursuit of political happiness. I found myself in journalism as a result. I went from school teaching to print journalism, and then from print journalism to television … and the rest is history. But it was my own inquisitiveness about what made the world tick, or not tick. I haven’t stopped asking those sort of questions ever since.

Is it true that when you were first starting out, you were one of only a few journalists who were actually qualified?

I’m one of the rare tertiary qualified journalists of my generation, and I was treated with a high degree of suspicion. The attitude then was that you didn’t need a university qualification to be a journalist. So, I was regarded as this suspicious character who had been to university. It’s pretty rare these days of course; university qualified journalists are a dime a dozen.

Was it hard for you then, if you were treated that way?

It was an attitude, really; it wasn’t that I was treated that badly. It was more like, “You did WHAT? A Diploma of Journalism at university? What’s that all about?” It was more curiosity, but it was my way of getting in. I didn’t start in journalism until I was 29, and I think that also meant that I was treated with a bit of suspicion, because I’d actually grown up by the time I got into journalism. I knew what I thought about things before I started.

As you said, things have changed a bit now. Everyone seems to be qualified and battling for the same big stories. Do you have any advice for young journalists?

I think the most non gratuitous advice I’d give is know yourself; and that means knowing what you think about  and believe about things, because you can’t start telling other people about what’s going on in the world if you haven’t worked out what you think. I think the problem with the younger generations (without sounding like a dinosaur) is that there are a lot of young people coming out of tertiary institutions with qualifications in Communications and Media and Journalism, which is terrific, but you can’t learn experience and perspectives.

So the advice I would give is crawl before you can walk, and walk before you can run. If you think that the tertiary education you’ve got is enough, I doubt that you’ll make it. And that means being a bit humble occasionally and not pretending that you know things that you don’t know.

I enjoy working with young journalists who ask a lot of questions of an old bugger like me, and I can bounce off the enthusiasm of youth. So it’s a good thing – the older and experienced and the younger and enthusiastic is what we need. But I’ve never lost my enthusiasm, or I wouldn’t have stayed in the media as long as I have.

You’re predominantly a political and international journalist. What do you think are some of the major political issues we’re facing in Australia at the moment, and how do we tackle them?

Politics is crap in this country at the moment … absolute nonsense! We have managed to de-ball politics. We talk about the Labor Party leadership crisis – we have a leadership crisis full stop! I’m an ideologist by the way; there’s only one way to understand politics – and that’s to understand why these parties even exist. The Labor Party doesn’t know why it exists, and the Liberal Party isn’t even the Liberal Party. If they told us what they really believed, they’d scare the sh*t out of people!

So, we are caught between a rock and a rock politically. Nobody really knows what they’re voting for; hence, a not so well hung parliament. It is extremely ordinary, because people no longer know what the parties stand for. And while they don’t know what the parties are about ideologically, how do they work out the vote, or why do we bother having one?

You’ve travelled the world in your career … what have been some of the highlights of where your career has taken you so far?

The world has been my oyster. If I told you the highlights, I’d get off the phone and think of 10 more! Everywhere that I’ve been, everything that I’ve done and every person I’ve interviewed has been significant for one reason or another. Psychologically, I’ve always approached everything I’ve done at the time as the most important thing I’ve done. Or, the situation I’ve found myself in internationally or nationally is the most important thing that needed explanation for people. I’ve never really thought: “This is the greatest or most important thing I’ve ever done”. It’s actually an impossible question to answer.

That’s a good attitude to have though, because everything IS significant. 

Yes, it is. Some things are significant because they’re economically or politically important, and sometimes it’s significant because it’s just funny and you meet a really interesting and worthwhile human being occasionally. I’ve also been lucky enough to travel the world at other people’s expense, which is nice!

I wanted to ask you about social media. I remember you at Bellingen Readers & Writers Festival last year referring to Facebook as ‘In-Your-Facebook’ …

(Laughs). Well, I think it’s potentially very dangerous. We’re seeing instances day after day of the pitfalls of the social media. When you’ve got a technological development like IT, and you’ve got someone sitting at the computer saying something not because they want to help mankind, but because they want to make a lot of dough … that’s as crude as it gets. When people’s motivation is at odds with the really useful aspect of something like social media, then that’s where we get into trouble. And, I think one day it will cause havoc in one way or another.

People say that World War III will be started by water, but I think somebody is going to make a gigantic mistake on the internet or on social media, and who knows what it could lead to! It’s already been seen to have some beneficial effects, but we see far more things like bullying, sexual harassment and people whose reputations are being slandered on the social media, without any recourse.

Yes, you certainly have to be very cautious of what is said.

Oh yeah. It has got enormous usefulness, but boy oh boy, the dangers and pitfalls have to be watched very carefully as well. We somehow managed to live without it before. It’s just changing the way we interact with each other. Developments always have plusses and minuses, but what I find difficult, as a person who is paid to analyse, criticise, dissect and evaluate … if you do that in the wrong way at the wrong time with the social media and IT generally, then you’re written off as some sort of dinosaur – a mindless old fogie who hasn’t moved with the times.

Well, that’s rubbish! What is it about social media and the internet that means someone like myself, who is a professional skeptic, is not allowed to say anything critical without appearing to be out of date? Well, that’s crap!

I think one day we’re going to wake up and find all of our mobile phones surgically attached to our ears! They’ll all be nuclear powered, so the battery won’t run out …

You know what … it might not be too far away!

Maybe that should happen at birth – stick a chip in the kids’ ears at birth, and they won’t ever have to think about anything. They won’t have to go to school, and you can just Google somebody’s brain.

Don’t put ideas in people’s heads, George!

(Laughs). I’m joking … but I’m not. That’s the nature of the beast. You stick your tongue in your cheek and say something absolutely outrageous, but you’re actually saying something that you think is very serious!

So, what projects are you working on at the moment?

I’m actually deliberately in a transition period. It’s a case of how do you take advantage of the experience you’ve had, rather than keep repeating it. I’ve tried to slow down, and I’m not having much success, but when your brain keeps operating – your body is going to follow!

I’ve had a very fortunate life, and I’ve got no complaints about how things have happened. But when you’re a parent of twenty-somethings … maybe my role in life is to mentor my son’s generation – as long as they don’t get bored sh*tless of the ‘dad jokes’!

Thanks George.

Interview by Kim Gould.

Listen to George.

George Negus will be speaking at the next Business Leaders Luncheon, presented by ETC and WHK on Wednesday 23 May, 2pm – 4pm at C.ex Coffs. $40 and can be purchased by visiting

www.etcltd.com.au

phone.6648 5400.

This story was published in issue 20 of Coffs Coast Focus

How young were you when you started messing around with cars?

My father is a mechanic, and he specialised in Volkswagens. I was very young, probably only crawling from what I have been told, and I would follow him around everywhere – up ladders, under cars; so I guess it started from there.

You were born into it then?

I remember making up excuses to get out of school to go with Dad in his truck and collect people’s cars. Getting myself as dirty as possible on a Sunday morning, so that I wouldn’t have to go to church. Then the day I was legally old enough, I left school and went to work with him. I couldn’t have been happier.

Vintage Volkswagens, especially older model split screen Kombis, have become very popular over the last few years. Why do you think this is?

I think a lot of people had them when they were younger, or would have liked to. These people now have the money to buy one and have it restored. A lot of people I know garage them through the week and then drive around in them on the weekend.

Many will own modern versions and drive these during the week or use them for their work.

What sort of investment would you be looking at to have a split screen Kombi sitting in your garage?

It is the same as buying a new car, and the price is reflection of this. If, as most people, you want something different or specialised, then that amount increases dramatically. Over the last few years more parts have been re-made for the Kombis, in places like Columbia. They are producing most of the parts that are needed for an entire restoration. Also, Volkswagen in Germany recently began to offer restoration services, and they too are beginning to re-make parts … though, the days of finding an ‘old’ Kombi laying in someone’s backyard are sadly gone.

Tell us a bit about your Kombi …

It’s a 1967 Double Cab Utility Kombi that I found lying in a paddock in Bathurst, where it had been sitting for 15 years.

How long did it take to restore?

About 12 months. I replaced and restored everything on the vehicle. I had assistance from a lot of talented friends and sourced parts from all over Australia, USA and Europe. It was a lot of work, but every time I start it up and drive it, I know it was worth it … puts a smile on my face.

You are one of the organisers of the Volkswagen Spectacular car show. Tell us a bit about that?

The Volkswagen Spectacular is a 4-day event held bi-annually at Valla Park. It attracts over 400 cars from all over Australia. People travel from as far away as Perth in the west and Tasmania in the south. I think it’s the biggest Volkswagen car show in Australia and maybe the Southern Hemisphere. This year the event is held from 2 – 6 August.

Further information:
www.volkswagenspectacular.com

Volkswagen Spectacular

The 19th Volkswagen Spectacular will take place this year on 2 – 6 August at the Valla Beach Tourist Park.

If you love Volkswagens

or are just looking for an enjoyable weekend, head to the beautiful Nambucca Valley and check out the action. The event draws Volkswagen enthusiasts from all over the country to the Nambucca Valley.

They arrive, driving all makes and models of Volkswagens, including split window Kombis, Karman Ghias, Notch Backs, Fast Backs, Station Wagons, T4s, Kubel Wagens, Manx Buggies and of course, the original car of the people – the Beetle. This makes it possible to observe every incarnation of Volkswagen imaginable over the event’s duration – and then some.

Many of the V Dubbers begin to arrive on Wednesday and stay in the 2448 postcode until the following Monday.

Thursday is the start of the racing at Raleigh Raceway. Several of the drivers endeavour to put on a show for the punters, slipping and sliding all over the track. Grab a picnic basket, the family and ‘get your backside – trackside’.

During the evening, participants enjoy a casual welcome dinner and cruise around the Nambucca Township.

Friday is the second day of racing at Raleigh Raceway. Late arrivals and those who posted less than impressive lap times have a chance to impress. Then it’s back to Valla Beach Tourist Park for a bistro and event registration.

Saturday morning is the spectacle of the Spectacular, with all of the participating vehicles joining in a parade into the local township of Nambucca Heads. The convoy travels along the Pacific Highway under escort of the local police and arrives in the main street. It is one of the only events in NSW where the police stop traffic on the highway for such a convoy.

If you have the chance, it’s worth grabbing yourself a decent vantage point to view the parade as it rolls into town. The sight of 400 odd cars snaking their way up the hill is a memorable one.

Upon arrival, the cars are all parked in the main street, that is blocked off to traffic during the Saturday morning. During these hours, the public and fellow enthusiasts have the chance to check out the amazing collection of VWs.

If all this Volkswagen fever gets you inspired to join the ranks of the motley crew of enthusiasts, then head out to the Valla Beach Tourist Park.

At the resort through the duration of the weekend, you will find a collection of everything you need at the swap meet to become a bona fide V Dubber – from chrome plated wheel nuts, to underwear with strategically placed beetles. There will also be local markets and a great array of food available on Saturday, so bring the kids and make a day of it.

A charity auction is held on Saturday night, with all proceeds being donated to local charities and support groups i.e. Local VRA, Nambucca Lions Club, Nambucca Rotary. In past years, these auctions have raised upwards of $30,000.

Saturday evening, a fancy dress/costume themed dance and dinner are scheduled. This is for registered participants of the weekend and not for the general public, unfortunately.

Sunday will see the cars on display at the Valla Beach Tourist Park, for the judging of the trophy categories for the weekend.

The judging and presentation gives the public and participants an opportunity to check out the best of the best.

Sunday afternoon things begin to wind down, and everyone begins to think about packing up and heading home. There will be a fireworks display at Valla Beach Tourist Park on Sunday night to signal the end of the weekend’s events.

Mark it on your calendar and be sure not to miss the 19th Volkswagen Spectacular, 2 – 6 August 2012.

For more info
www.volkswagenspectacular.com

This story was published in issue 20 of Coffs Coast Focus

This May, Matt will be racing the World Championships of Ocean Ski Racing in Hawaii – a huge paddle of 32 miles (52 km) from the island of Molokai, across the Kaiwi channel to the island of Oahu. Matt shares his inspirational story, and hectic training schedule, with FOCUS …

The Molokai Challenge, recognised as the World Surf Ski and OC1 Championship, is the title watermen covet most. The race begins near the west end of the island of Molokai, crosses the volatile Kaiwi Channel – considered one of the roughest ocean channels in the world – and finishes at Hawaii Kai on Oahu. The distance is around 30 nautical miles.

Win the greatest ocean race in the world, and you’re in select company. Over the past 25 years, only six men have won the surf ski division: Grant Kenny, the famed Aussie Ocean Ironman and Olympic Bronze medalist, won his first of five titles in 1979. In 1983, a 20 year old South African named Oscar Chalupsky defeated Kenny, to win the first of his seven consecutive titles.

When Chalupsky was barred from international competition for five years due to apartheid, Australia’s Dean Gardiner stepped in as the Molo man to beat, winning his first title in 1993. A former commercial fisherman from Perth, Gardiner holds the course record of 3:21:26, set in 1997.

I currently try and balance 11 – 13 training sessions a week, a full-time job, 2 amazing children, family and a new part-time coaching business! Following is an example of my typical day. Enjoy!
Weekdays…
5.05am: My trusty iPhone alarm sounds, and up I get. A quick check of weather apps on my phone, and I am in the car and off to training. Luckily, it’s only a 3 – 5 minute drive.

I am on the water for around 60 – 90 minutes, with a very deliberate and specific training plan.  I work on a 4-week cycle broken down into microcycles, with taper variations incorporated for upcoming races.

7.15am: Finish training and tear home to spend 15 – 30 minutes with the family and kids.  Grab some breakfast, pack for the mid-day and afternoon session and off to work.

7.45 – 8am: Arrive at NSW Real Estate and complete a full day’s work until 5pm.  I am licensed real estate agent and auctioneer. Working in property management, my day includes property inspections, meetings, phone calls, client interaction, tradesmen contact etc etc etc …

12midday: Lunchtime gym session at Power house gym. I do 2 – 3 gym sessions a week, to try and maintain my strength. Getting old and taking on the young guns requires every bit of strength, endurance, surf skill and technique I can possibly muster!

1pm: Back to finish the afternoon at NSW Real Estate.

5pm: Finish work and travel down to training.
My afternoon sessions are at least 90 minutes in duration and where possible, will be in open water. If the wind is up, I will try and mimic the Molokai Championship and do a downwind run.

7.30pm: Finally make it home, just in time to stretch and see the wife and kids. Harrison (8) and Isabel (5) help with my nightly session of pushups (100), sit ups (100) and planking (2 x 2 min sets).  Issy counts and Harry will usually join in, as he is almost as driven as me!

8.30pm Try and snuggle the kids, quick chat with Ginny and get ready for the next day, before passing out at around 9pm, ready to do it all again.
My weekly sessions include:
8 paddling sessions
3 gym sessions
2 running sessions
Of a weekend, I try and do a long paddle of at least 25 – 30 km. This will increase to between 30 and 50 km in the coming weeks, to ensure that my body can cope with the rigours of a 52 km race without breaking down.

The Molokai World Championships and in turn, the Kawai channel is an unforgiving place. Conditions can and have varied from a dead flat ocean, adding at least an hour to the race, to a full on downwind race with 30+ knot winds and 5 metre seas. The race record stands at 3hr 21 min.

I raced the channel in 2010 in a 6 man outrigger. It was a changes race, and I represented Australia in its first attempt at sending a national crew. To give you an idea of the extremes of this race, one paddler died on the start line, another was run over by his support boat (swells so big you can’t even see a 30 foot sports cruiser), 3 support boats broke down and one sank completely.

This is my Everest, and I can’t and won’t attempt it ‘just to participate’. As you can see, my day is packed to the brim, but what it doesn’t show is the sacrifice and support needed by those around me in order to make this a reality. Time with my family, financial burden with racing, travel, accommodation, etc all adds up.

I am lucky enough to be supported by some amazing sponsors … Simmocean watersports, Stellar Skis, Paddle2Fitness Coaching, Meek Paddles, as well as a wave of support from secondary sponsors who help out with advice, product and support.

The entry fee alone for this race is US$350, with a total cost to race of around $US5,000. This, combined with racing as much as I can locally (usually 2 – 3 times a month), is an enormous expense.

BUT …

I count myself extremely lucky that I am fit and healthy and get the opportunity to paddle in the ocean and see the sunrise and set over the water pretty much every day.

A week wouldn’t go by without seeing a dolphin beside me, a turtle pop its head up, or a stingray leap out of the water (regularly in the harbour). Flying fish are my favourite though!  They buzz past you at an amazing speed and regularly travel 50 – 100 m out of the water – a common sight out around Split Solitary Island.

I train a lot on my own and it can get a bit hairy out there, as I am often 1 – 2 km out to sea in big swells. I carry a mobile in a waterproof cover, wear a lifejacket and leg rope and rely on state of the art equipment to ensure that I am well covered if things go a bit pear shaped!

Ocean ski paddling is one of the fastest growing ocean sports and is a great way of getting fit in an amazing setting. I run regular coaching clinics – if you’re interested, give me a call on 0423 790 525 or shoot me an email at matt@p2fcoffscoast.com.au

Ocean ski racing is a great platform for fitness.  The most inexperienced paddlers can line up with Olympians, world champions and elite athletes and enjoy the water and racing just as much. I am very humbled and thankful that I can get the opportunity to race, train and live on the Coffs Coast.

Thanks Matt.

Peter, you have a strong background in military history, don’t you?

Yes, I have a background of writing a lot of military books, and I have great respect for ANZAC Day. The major military books that I’ve done started with the biography of Nancy Wake (The White Mouse) – the most decorated hero of the second World War.

I also wrote about Kokoda and Tobruk, and in my biographies of Kingsford-Smith and Les Darcy there’s a fair quotient of the first World War. So, I’ve done a lot of books with military themes, and I also get on very well with Diggers generally.

I am on the ANZAC Centenary Advisory Board, which is advising the Government on how we can properly commemorate major events of Australian involvement in World War I.

What fascinates you so much about the military?

Both of my parents were returned service people. Dad fought in the Battle of El Alamein and in New Guinea. Mum was an Army physiotherapist, helping to rehabilitate those who were injured and wounded. Mum and Dad were both early to mid-forties when I was born – my friends’ grandparents were the same age as my parents, so I grew up around people of the Second World War in many ways.

Basically, I have great respect for those people who have served our country.

You mentioned you wrote a book about Kokoda. Did you actually get a chance to do the Kokoda Track yourself?

I did, and it nearly killed me … it was the hardest thing I’ve ever done! It was the most arduous thing I’ve ever done. I walked it in 2003 at an absurd pace – we did it in 5 and a half days, and we walked from Owers Corner to Kokoda. For most of that journey, I was writing the book, which has now sold about 270,000 copies.

You also write a lot of biographies. What is it about sharing other people’s stories that you enjoy?

Somerset Maugham, the great English writer, once said: “I don’t like to boast, but I don’t think I can spend half an hour in the company of somebody without getting seven ideas for a short story”.

I think that everybody has their own story to tell, and many of them are interesting. I’m not a short story writer, but I love stories. Ever since I was a little boy, I’ve always loved stories, so writing biographies fitted with that.

At the moment, I’m writing about the Eureka Stockade, and I can’t wait to get stuck into it again today, because it’s such a good story. I find the actual process of researching and then writing a story wonderful. I have a great passion for it.

You were a professional Rugby player prior to this, so how did you actually get into writing?

In the mid-80s I was playing Rugby in France … I’d played Rugby for a year in Italy and then four years in France. And when I was back in Australia, a friend of mine mentioned she had submitted an article to the Sydney Morning Herald, and it was going to be published the next Thursday.

We had a very competitive relationship and I wanted to beat her and show that I could be published, so I wrote a story about playing Rugby in Italy.

It took me 2 days and 2 nights, and they published it at the top of the back page! I’d never felt such professional satisfaction in my life in anything I’d ever done. Once I did that, I thought: “Who’s been keeping this a secret?!” When I went back to France, I started writing stories of life in the village in France, and then I wrote a lot of Rubgy stuff, sport stuff and travel stuff. So I just kept writing.

I did a couple of books, which were collected works of stuff I’d written in the Sydney Morning Herald, but my first real book was after the Wallabies won the World Cup in ‘91. In ‘93, I wrote a book on Nick Farr-Jones, which sold just under 50,000 copies, and that sort of launched me into writing books.

And these days you get to speak about your experiences too!

I do, and I love that too. I love telling stories, one way or another.

Well, we’re really looking forward to having you here in Coffs for ANZAC Day, Peter. Thanks for your time.

Scully shows no signs of relaxing or retiring from aerobics and has started training for a mixed doubles partnership with Andrew Ikin, who delivered a stellar performance in the first series of So You Think You Can Dance.

We caught up with her in between teaching classes at her Sapphire studio and her busy personal training schedule, to see what she has planned for this year.
How old were you when you started training?

I was 9 years old when I was selected to go to a specialist gymnastic sports school in Sydney. I trained 36 hours a week until Year 7 when I went to an aerobics competition. I fell in love with the sport, and I have been doing it ever since.

Was having a background in gymnastics an advantage?

I think that most aerobics athletes need or at least benefit from a background in gymnastics, and it helps when learning the necessary skills.
The training schedule seems very rigorous for someone so young. Did you find you were already conditioned from the time you had spent doing gymnastics?

Yes, because of my background in gymnastics I was used to getting up early and pushing my body to the limit. The advantage with aerobics for me was that I could get into it, train hard, and get it done.

I wasn’t involved in a club or a group and my training was based on quality over quantity, which is the same training schedule I follow when coaching my athletes.
Pushing yourself to the limit usually comes at a price. Have you acquired many injuries?

I have been very lucky with injuries. I always try to train on a good surface, and that has protected my joints. The floor I train on at home is the same as what they use for the world championships. It’s a sprung floor, with foam under the wooden surface.
Parents who send their children to you for tuition must feel at ease knowing their kids are training on a decent surface. Is it punishing for your body landing on a floor that is not set up this way?

I have coached around Australia at different clubs, and sometimes it feels like you’re walking into a warzone … students walking around with elbows and knees strapped. It shows you really have to train on the right surface.

Hardly any of the kids who come to me get injuries, and we have a great facility for training here.
Whom do you teach aerobics to?

I have coached people from 5 years old to 50 in aerobics. I also do personal training for all ages, levels and personal goals.
What are the advantages for children who take up aerobics?

Fun, strength, fitness and flexibility are the main things. Also though, they learn how to organise their time better. Being an elite gymnast as a child didn’t allow much social or study time, which taught me how to prioritise quick smart – I was always organised and so were most of the other gymnasts. We would always have our schoolwork done; it’s a life skill that you learn.
You mentioned you are available for personal training as well?

I love my personal training, whether someone’s goal is to lose a bit of weight or to better their fitness, or to maintain their strength and fitness as a lifestyle. I enjoy going on that journey with them, and to see them get the result they are hoping for is an awesome feeling.

You seem to be moving towards becoming a full-time coach, now that you’re not competing as much?

I do all my personal training and coaching here in the local area. I am also asked to travel to Sydney, Melbourne and the Gold Coast to undertake coaching there. I even coach via email; students send me footage from all over Australia and the world, and I coach this way as well.
Even though you have stopped competing in singles aerobics, you are now taking up mixed doubles. Tell us a bit about that?

I have gone into mixed pairs this year. It’s something I have never done before; I have always been an individual. It’s an awesome change for me; I am having so much fun with it. Of course, I am a very competitive person, so when I get on stage I am going to do my absolute best.

My partner is Anthony Ikin, who is an awesome guy, and I think it’s going to be a great year. He was on So You Think You Can Dance, the first season, and he did great there. He is an awesome aerobics athlete and reached third in the world at one stage.
What differences do you see?

I think having him warming up with me backstage and performing onstage I won’t be as nervous as usual. When you’re out there as a single, it’s all on you. We will see … I will still have the pressure of not wanting to let my partner down.
What has been the biggest highlight of your competitive career?

Last year I achieved my best world ranking, which was 2nd in the world by 0.1. It was very close – I did 3 awesome performances, and it was a personal best. It was at the Gold Coast, so it was great to achieve this in front of a home crowd. It’s a great memory.
Have you have been involved in the world championships for a long time?

I had 1 year off 4 years ago, to rest the body. My whole life I have been an elite gymnast and then all the crazy training for aerobics, so it was good to have a year off. But, apart from that, I have been doing them for years.

I am lucky that my sport has shown me the world; I have been able to travel and have seen many places I would have never seen otherwise.
For more info on aerobics classes or personal training with Cassie Scully:
www.cassiescully.com

For this reason, it’s important that every now and then you get the team together and do something fun, not only as a reward for hard work, but also to restore morale and reopen those lines of communication. And we have found the perfect team building solution, right here on the Coffs Coast!

Time Out Xperiences recently launched their exciting new business in Coffs Harbour, and they offer a very unique range of fun and exciting group and leisure activities.

Director, Jason Moran, and his crew are all about fun and adventure.

“Life is short, and we can so easily become consumed with the busyness and stresses of life that we become tired, lethargic and unmotivated. Well, we want to change all that by putting some fun and adventure back into your life!” says Jason of his new business venture.

“There is no better medicine than laughter and no greater relaxant than fun, and we guarantee that if you take Time Out and join us on one of our Xperiences, you will be relaxed, energised and motivated.”

So that’s exactly what the FOCUS crew did. Our sales and design teams got together recently for a fun and rewarding day of activities, which saw us working together as a team, being competitive, but still really enjoying ourselves.

In fact, it’s not just corporate team building that this great business model is built for. TimeOut Xperiences also offers the perfect party with a twist! Their programs and activities are great if you’re looking for something different to do for a birthday party, a buck’s night, corporate function, or even just some fun in the school holidays!

Here’s an example of just some of the activities that we got a taste of:

Segway Lympics

Riding a Segway feels like nothing you’ve experienced – because there’s never been anything like it. It gently moves you and keeps you balanced – almost like an extension of you, as it intuitively moves in response to where you want to go. Segways are natural, safe and instinctive; just step on, shift your weight forward, backward, left or right, and you are sent gliding in the precise direction you want to go, at exactly the speed you want to move. It is fun, exhilarating and thrilling, all wrapped up in one amazing Xperience.

Jason and his team gave us initial lessons in riding the Segways – it was quite amusing to watch, as each of us overcame our initial fear of falling off or letting the Segway get away from us. Once we got the hang of it, which was only a couple of minutes, we were off… and you couldn’t stop us! What a fun and exhilarating piece of equipment!

The best part was the SegLympics … a segway race between teams around an obstacle course. The members of each team were required to ride the Segway around the slalom course, while simultaneously mastering other activities (e.g. balancing a large egg on a spoon, throwing balls into a bucket, scoring a goal with a 1 m high soccer ball etc.) and racing the other teams to the finish line.

It was particularly exciting when we got to throw balls at our team mates, who were wearing these brightly coloured yellow velcro suits! Our adrenalin was pumping, we were screeching words of encouragement to our team mates and shouting out directions to one another.

While it may sound like fast paced havoc, the key to winning was in team communication and playing on the strengths of each individual team member. You choose your leaders, devise a plan of attack BEFORE the race, figure out who is best for each task (e.g. who’s the fastest to make up lost ground at the end, who’s the most experienced to lead by example, who’s the smallest and can be carried, etc.). Using such strategies ensured success on the course – just like it would in the corporate world. And it was so much more fun than being stuck in an office all day!

Human Foosball

What an exciting way to spend the afternoon – Giant Foosball! It is suitable for all group sizes and is a great addition to any party or work function as well.

This Xperience has all the fun and challenge of the popular table game foosball, as it has now been made into a life-size, inflatable, fun experience. This game is very interactive, hilarious to watch and play and requires minimal skill to have fun. Each participant puts on a waist harness and is connected to a rope, enabling them to only move from side to side. The teams have to overcome their restrictions by synchronising their movements. Teamwork and communication are essential to pass the ball between the team members in an attempt to score a goal.

Just like the SegLympics, this was a game of strategy, communication and teamwork – especially when there were two balls in play at the one time! Boy, did we need to work together then and when we scored a goal despite being strapped in and restricted, there was such excitement!

Laser Clay

Laser Clay is a sport which can be enjoyed by anyone. Players use a modified shotgun to train their trigger finger to fire an infra-red beam at clay targets that are launched into the air. A module scoreboard generates the shotgun ‘bang’ whenever the trigger is pulled and when a player hits the target, it reproduces the sound of breaking clay over the speakers.

In each round of Laser-Clay, up to 5 people can shoot at the same targets launched from a number of different positions at various speeds and angles. There are four really cool games you play, such as Skillshoot and Rapidfire, and at the end of the competition the players who have scored the most points are the winners.

Laser Clay is the only shooting sport you can enjoy, knowing that there is absolutely no harm to the environment. Laser Clay guns fire a harmless infrared beam at reusable clays – and even the sound is totally controllable. Best of all, you can play it on land or water and in day time or night time.

In this game, it was obvious who needed glasses and who the crack shots were! But it was great for a laugh!

We had a great time on our Time Out Xperience, and we guarantee that you will too! Additional activities such as Survivor, Amazing Race, Construct It and Casino Royale are just a few of the other activities they have on offer. Jason says: “We are only limited by our imaginations” and he loves to tailor an experience that is “just right for the client”.

So if you’re planning a party, special function, corporate event or team building session, check out their website for more details at www.timeoutxperiences.com.au and give them a call on 1300 090 767.

We had the best time and will definitely be using them again. We had so much fun! Thanks guys!

What inspired you to make photography your profession?

I like to think that I took the scenic route to my nature photography career. I have always been an outdoors person, always been enveloped by nature and inspired to explore my natural surrounds. I eventually settled on nature photography for my creative outlet, as it combines my passions for the natural world, discovery, innovation, excitement and inner peace.

You shoot a variety of subjects, but what’s  your favourite thing to photograph?

Mother Nature.

What sort of equipment do you use?

Canon 5D Mark II, with a variety of Canon L series lenses, carbon fibre tripod, neutral density filters and other bits and pieces. I’m definitely a wide-angle shooter; 80% – 90% of my images are taken at the wide end.

Aside from the ability to instantly see your photos, what do you see as some of the major benefits of digital photography over film cameras? 

The ability to shoot hundreds of photos without the expensive need for film, preview buttons to be sure the desired shot was taken, and no need to spend hours processing film, scanning, or printing in a darkroom.

You’ve pretty much mastered the art of still photography, but do you ever dabble in videography?

I feel life is moving too quickly as is, so I think I’ll stay still for now.

Describe your typical day.

Check emails, check website, check blog, check stock images, wait for the light, chase the light and hopefully come home with something worthwhile.

What inspires you?

Art has always been a large part of my life, and I can confidently say that in addition to the countless hours I have spent outdoors, my photographic style has been largely influenced by my experience in travelling Australia from an early age, my sensitivity to nature and my love for discovering new untouched locations.

Outside of photography, what are your hobbies and passions?

Everything I do I usually have my camera with me, so it’s not really ‘outside’ of my photography. Definitely camping though, being outdoors and exploring new locations.

How long have you lived on the Coffs Coast, and what do you love about the area?

Roughly 12 years. I think it’s the slower pace and the diversity of the area that give me the best of all worlds. The pristine beaches through to the lush rainforests do it for me.

What products do you offer from your website?

I offer a diverse range of fine art prints on various mediums and sizes. Gift cards are in the making, and I have just started my own stock image brief for anyone interested in having a specific image for their project.

Where can we find your work?

Web: www.drewhopperphotography.com

Blog: www.drewhopperphotography.com/blog

Facebook: Drew Hopper Photography

And a few other photo online communities I’m sure you can find if you search my name.

Finally, 3 most important pieces of advice you would like to give budding landscape photographers? 

• Accept constructive criticism from the professionals who know best.

• Be ruthlessly self-critical. If something isn’t good, don’t fool yourself into believing that it is. Go back and shoot it over again and again, until you get it right.

• Study the work of other photographers, not just landscape shooters, but all genres of photography.

• Practice makes perfect. The more you shoot, the quicker you’ll learn.

Thanks Drew.

Scouting is basically a personal development program for young people. What activities are involved that help kids grow?

We give them the opportunity to do all kinds of outdoor activities, like camping, canoeing and abseiling, and part of the program is developing organisational skills.

The kids can design their menus and buy their food for camping trips, and when they get into the older sections, they actually program the activities themselves. There is a badging system for the different activities.

There are set badges that the kids have to do, like First Aid, but they can also choose what other ones they want to do, depending on what they’re interested in. There’s also an awards scheme that looks at trying to create a holistic approach to developing the different areas of Scouting.

Explain the ranking system in Scouts.

Basically, it’s based on age groups. You’ve got Joey Scouts (6 – 8 yrs), Cub Scouts (7.5 – 11 yrs), Scouts (10.5 – 15), Venturer Scouts (14.5 -18 ), Rovers (17.5 – 25) and there are also adult volunteers.

Scouts is very male dominated, so what has it been like for you, as a female, coming through the ranks?

It’s been unbelievable. I’ve had so many opportunities given to me and have learnt so much in my time here.

I think that there is a perception that Scouts is for boys, and Guides is for girls, but that’s not the case at all. When I was a kid, I did a year in Guides while my brother was a Cub Scout.

He was going on all these camps, and I got sick of the inactivity of Guides, so I transferred over to Scouts.

I started as a Cub Scout when I was 7 and have come up through the ranks. I’m now a Rover and a Group Leader, so I’m here to advise the kids and give them guidance as to how they can go about the different tasks.

How do you find that Scouts has helped you become more employable?

Well, as a Venturer I had to do employment skills, such as mock interviews, which was really handy. Scouts has also helped me learn to interact with other people and develop strong leadership skills.

On top of that, they’ve recently changed the system, so that we’re getting nationally accredited qualifications as well. When you’re in Venturers, you can get a Cert II in Outdoor Recreation, and as a Leader you can get a Cert III in Outdoor Recreation, and I’m also doing my Cert III in Frontline Management. So having those qualifications is opening up so many more doors for us.

You’re a member of the Sawtell Scout Group. What’s happening with the local club?

Over the last 2 – 3 years we’ve been doing upgrades, to get the hall up to regulation. A huge amount of work has been done here, and we’re into our final stage now. But it’s a long process of fundraising.

So a major goal for this year is to get that all completed, and once we’ve got it all up to standard, we can start renting out the hall. THAT will be a great help for our fundraising too.

How can people find out more (or join)?

Contact Sawtell Scout Group’s leader, Ryszard Herzig, on 6658 3916.

Thanks Beki.

Tell us a bit about your life as a born and bred local.

I grew up on a farm in Bonville with my parents, my 2 sisters, Jean and Nancy and my brother, Bob. We all attended Bonville Primary School, including my dad, and it’s great to see the school is still going strong after so many years. It wasn’t a very big school, and it was a 4 mile walk every day from our property.

We weren’t the richest family but we got by, and we had a really great childhood.
When I turned 15, I went off to become a nurse. Back in those days I didn’t have a car, so I stayed in the nurses’ quarters. I met my husband Paul, and we got married after a few years together. In those days once you were married, you left work.
After I was married, we moved to a house in Karangi and lived on a farm. Then as the kids grew up, we moved into town, which hasn’t really changed a great deal building wise.

Years after, Paul and I parted, so I went back to work as a nurse. That was only going to be for a little bit, but 18 years on I am still going!
You have raised a pretty big family, haven’t you?

I have 2 boys, Paul and Dean and 2 girls, Lisa and Toni. My children and my grandchildren are my life; I enjoy the time I spend with them.

The girls live in Brisbane. Lisa has 2 children; Toni has a one and a half year old. The boys still live here. Dean is married with 5 kids, and Paul has 6 kids.
I have 14 grandchildren – the oldest is Nicci, who is 27 and Mark, the youngest, is one and a half. Jaimee, the third oldest, is almost 9 months pregnant, so I am almost a great grandmother too!
You have been heavily involved in a variety of different local sporting groups …

My kids were juniors for Coffs Harbour Surf Life Saving Club; they were very good at it. Both boys played soccer, but they were more involved in Rugby League. Paul and Dean both played for NSW during high school.

Paul was actually signed for the Magpies, but injured his knee close to the start of the season. Both the boys played for Coffs Comets and Orara Valley. I still love going to the games … it brings back so many exciting memories. Both of my girls played netball, and Lisa actually represented the North Coast.
You’re a nurse at Legacy Nursing Home. What has your career been like so far?

I have been a nurse for 53 years. I started at St Augustine’s and the Coffs Hospital, and I have been at Legacy Nursing Home for 18 years now. It is a wonderful place to work, and I have made many great friends working there. I would be lost without it … it’s probably the reason I am yet to retire.
You were diagnosed with and conquered lung cancer a few years ago. How did that impact your life?

I was at work, and I felt a sharp pain my chest. The boss sent me to the doctor and did an ECG, thinking it was the heart. They sent me to hospital for some tests and found the cancer.

Three days before my 60th birthday, I was sent to Brisbane for an operation, then came home and had chemo. I’ve never smoked a cigarette or had a drop of alcohol in my life, so it was a bit of a shock.

But I was never scared … I thought, “I can get through this”. I guess if you just think positive, then you are more inclined to get positive results. The doctor in Brisbane told me I would never work again, but I was back at work 3 months later.

It was picked up just early enough, and they tell me the pain I felt in my chest had nothing to do with it, so I think it was the universe’s way of telling me to go to the doctors.
You’re a bit of green thumb. What do you enjoy about your garden?

I love to potter around in the garden. My garden is fairly big and since moving to Boambee, the garden has changed several times. And I do it all myself.

Roses are my thing, but I’ve also had pansies, poppies and sweet peas – I love colour. I also have a lot of hedges and some fruit trees and vegetables.

I  have always had a well maintained garden. Gardening is the love of my life. It always has been.
Thanks Kay.