Dan Flynn is a young entrepreneur who at 19 years of age established ‘Thankyou Water’, after learning of the effects of the world wide water crisis and seeing an opportunity to direct revenue from the water industry back to people who needed it most. Thankyou water now funds water projects in 9 countries and has just sold its 6 millionth bottle of water.

Dan is a guest speaker at the Luminosity Youth Summit being held in Port Macquarie in July; the summit aims to inspire youth of our region to embrace their ideas and embrace their own strengths to become tomorrow’s generation of leaders.
Dan, where did you grow up and go to school?
I grew up and went to school in Melbourne.
During your school years, what were your ambitions for a career?
I was really keen to get into business one day; that was my goal. While at school, I picked up a few business subjects and for some reason I found it really fascinating, and that is where I was headed.
At the age of 19 you founded Thankyou Water … what inspired this initiative?
So, when I was 19, I was in my first year of uni and I came across the World Water Crisis – the fact was, that 900 million people don’t have access to clean drinking water. That for me was an overwhelming thought, and it wasn’t the big fact that got me; it was the individual stories of kids who would wake up and literally spend their whole day just collecting water.
So I was thinking about that from my perspective of going to uni and thinking about a career … but there were these kids just stuck collecting water in the Sahara in Africa and other parts of the world.
And then, the stories would get worse, because the water they brought home could end up killing their siblings or their family. So I thought about that in my situation; I have twin sisters who are younger than me – imagine that – I’m collecting water for them, they die, and they die from water I brought them! And there was just such an uncomfortable feeling I had – that this goes on in our world, and I am lucky not to be a part of it, but some kids are.
So the idea came: well, what if we could do something about it? The idea around bottled water came in that research, and we discovered that worldwide the bottled water industry is worth $50 billion and in Australia, we spend $600 million! I have always seen bottled water as silly – and I still do! I mean, we get good tap water for free! (Laughs.) But people buy it; I buy it! I mean … it’s hot day and you’re out and about; you don’t want to drink soft drinks, because you want to be healthy.
So you end up paying $2 or $3 for something because of health and wanting to be refreshed. So I am part of, along with the rest of Australia, this $600 million industry … the idea was let’s get in there and try and get as much of it as we can and give it to people who really need it.
It was big idea for you to take on. What were the first steps in launching the business?
It was a tough one. I mean, with most people when we sat down with them and told them our idea – particularly anyone who had any business background – they just shook their heads. Basically they would say, “Look guys, it’s a great ambition, but it is a flawed model. One: how would you get the money; you need investors.” To which I said, “Well, there won’t be any”– this has to exist all for the outcome. And in the typical business world, that kind of confused people a bit: the model where we wanted to run (a business) and give our profits quarterly so we could continually fund projects all the time.
People would say, “Well, you can’t do that; you need to retain your profits and retain your earnings for 3 – 5 years and then start giving. So I suppose, traditional business concepts just … well, we challenged those traditional views.
So who did get behind the project and believe in you?
A couple of people, and initially it was just a small group of friends who kicked it off together.
There were a few groups also who got behind us: a large bottling plant that actually ended up producing the product for us without any upfront costs. Also, Visy Packaging Group, who donated 30,000 bottles as a one off donation; and we did also have two business people who were pretty inspired and helped kick the project off and donated $20,000 as a one off. That really helped us get started and from there, we built on that.
It would have taken a lot of self confidence through the start up. How did you stay motivated, even when people didn’t think it would work?
I suppose there were a few things. I think being younger helped. Young people are often told that they are naive and that is looked on as a bad thing, but I think it is a great thing, and we were really naive ‘cause we didn’t know. It’s funny, when people tell you that you can’t do something, you almost want to do it! It makes you want to go a bit further; and the big thing with Thankyou Water was, “You know what? If we pull this off, which we think we can, we think this should exist … the cool thing is this is about helping thousands and millions of people”. So I suppose there were a lot of deep motives for pushing through and not throwing in the towel.
So fast forward to today; you must feel really proud.
Yeah, we are getting there. We have just sold our 6 millionth bottle to date.
So 6 million bottles of water and all profits go back into funding the water projects … what are some of the most recent accomplishments?
Well, we fund projects in 9 countries and have over 70 water projects, of which 50 of them are fully funded, and we’re working on 20 new ones at the moment. The projects range from water solutions for community, including water filters, to wells and pipelines and rain water tanks – some really innovative technology. So we fund our project partners, who carry out the work, and then our partners report and visit the site to make sure everything went well.
The big part of what we are doing is we really want to win the trust of the consumer, so we have just launched ‘track your impact’, where you can actually track where your bottles’ funds go.
What is the vision now?
The next step is that we have a really long way to go here in Australia; there needs to be more awareness and the product needs to be more available through the bigger retailers, and we are working on that at the moment. Hopefullly later this year we’ll be able to launch with a lot more retail partners, which will help us sell more water and help more people – so there is a lot of focus going into that.
You’re 24 now, and when you speak at the conference in July it will be to those your age. What words of wisdom do you have for them beforehand?
Come ready. I remember hearing stories when I was younger of young people going and doing extraordinary things that were a little bit out of the box. And it was hearing stories like that and reading books like that, that kind of plants the seed in your mind that maybe it is possible to do something extraordinary – not just ordinary.
Thanks Dan.

Hello Koalas is an exciting new local initiative that will bring national and international attention to our very own official Koala Sculpture Trail … we find out more about this signature cultural event  from Project Manager, Linda Hall.

Tell us about the background to this event …
Hello Koalas is a three year public art project, spanning 2013 to 2015. It is based on the creation of 50 large-scale fibreglass sculptures, painted and decorated by celebrity artists, professional artists and community groups.
The koala sculptures will be installed across the Port Macquarie-Hastings Council geographic boundary to form the Official Koala Sculpture Trail. As part of the project, 200,000 trail maps, supported by an online pdf version, will be circulated when the sculptures are revealed in situ in September 2014.
Where did the idea for this project originate?
Hello Koalas Project Director Margret Meagher is also Executive Director of locally based national organisation, Arts and Health Australia (AHA), which promotes health and wellbeing through creative expression and engagement. Margret’s extensive experience in cultural tourism and marketing was a catalyst in seeing the opportunity for staging a public art project in our region.
Public art projects, centred around animals, have been in evidence since the 1990s when Chicago established its ‘Cow Parade’, but the real inspiration for Hello Koalas came from the public sculpture project in the UK called ‘Larkin with Toads’ in 2010, which featured 40 decorated toad sculptures in the city of Hull. Over 120,000 people took part in the Toads Sculpture Trail in a 10-week period. One of Margret’s arts and health colleagues, Elaine Burke, was Toads Project Manager and has now joined us as international adviser to the Hello Koalas project.
Port Macquarie-Hastings Council is the principal sponsor – partnering with Arts and Health Australia to establish Hello Koalas as a signature cultural event for the region, complementing existing signature sporting and lifestyle events.
Linda, how did you become involved, and what do you love so much about the project?
I have been working in the tourism industry for over 20 years now. In my previous role as Tourism and Economic Development Manager at Port Macquarie-Hastings Council, one of my focus areas was attracting sporting, cultural and business events to the region that directly increased visitation from outside our LGA and provided a positive economic return for the wider community.
When Margret and I first met to discuss her event concept, I was instantly excited about the prospect of staging an event for the Port Macquarie-Hastings region that was essentially going to be like no other on our calendar. It delivers a signature cultural event for our area and has the potential to position Port Macquarie-Hastings as the arts and cultural capital of regional NSW.
I believe it will also stimulate economic development by portraying Port Macquarie Hastings as an area that has abundant natural attractions, is environmentally attuned and offers a vibrant and cosmopolitan lifestyle – a fun and interesting place to live, work, study and invest. From a tourism perspective, a key objective is to increase visitation (numbers, length of stay, expenditure) in the domestic, national and international markets by enhancing visitor destination appeal and showcasing the destination as having so much more to offer than just beautiful beaches.
Another major objective is to raise awareness of the importance of koala care and conservation and highlight the significant work of the Koala Hospital and Study Centre. The President of the Koala Preservation Society of NSW, Bob Sharpham, outstanding volunteers like Helen Meers, and the Koala Hospital’s Supervisor, Cheyne Flanagan, are incredibly passionate and committed individuals.
Our aim is to capture this knowledge and experience at the Koala Hospital and work collaboratively to develop a comprehensive education program. My background, prior to working in tourism, was high school teaching, so the education component of this Project for me personally is also very exciting.
Who else is part of the Hello Koalas team?
We have a small local team, which includes Gabriella Carroll and Mitch McKay, who have strong experience in events, heritage and community cultural development. AHA’s print and online design team – Drusilla Ross Jones, Emrys Hughes and Sally Ryan – have come on board too. And Elaine Burke and photographer Dave Lee are contributing from the UK. We also have a community advisory group to provide feedback from time to time.
Melbourne artist Ben Walsh is responsible for developing the digital design for the koala sculpture and has worked closely with Cheyne Flanagan, Supervisor at the Koala Hospital, to ensure that the sculptural image is a Port Macquarie Koala! One of the fascinating aspects of the project has been discovering how the appearance of koalas varies in different parts of Australia, due to environmental conditions.
How is the Hello Koalas project being funded?
Port Macquarie-Hastings Council is the principal sponsor. In addition, we have already met with over 20 businesses throughout the Port Macquarie-Hastings region, and the response has been overwhelmingly positive. As an official sponsor of this event, organisations are deemed a ‘Community Champion’.
Sponsors will be proud to support one of the hand-decorated artworks that reflect the individual philosophy of their organisation or supports a charity of their choice. As the project encompasses a 3-year period, and the structures are installed halfway through the project, the Hello Koalas team has structured a package of sponsorship benefits to maximise an organisation’s investment in this signature cultural event for the region.
If anyone is interested in becoming a sponsor, they can visit our website: www.hellokoalas.com – email Linda@hellokoalas.com or call me on 0428 975 650.
Tell us about the next stage of the project in the coming months?
From May to August 2013, a call for designs will be circulated to artists, photographers, designers and craftspeople through supporting partner Arts Mid North Coast (Regional Arts NSW) and other avenues to attract a variety of innovative designs inspired by the Port Macquarie-Hastings Region.
Beyond the launch of the sculptures Greater Port Macquarie in September 2014, where else do you see the Koala sculptures appearing?
When planning the event, Margret and I recognised the significant international tourism opportunity offered by Hello Koalas. We have been able to utilise Margret’s arts and health network internationally to plan the placement of koala sculptures and organisation of sculpture exhibitions in the UK, USA, China, Singapore and Hong Kong. Many overseas locations are children’s hospitals, so there is a lovely link with our own unique Koala Hospital.
Thanks Linda.

Fran’s personal and artistic journeys are intertwined. Life experiences have affected the way she creates her stunning works, and she’s now found new enthusiasm for her art at a deeper level. The natural environment continues to be a major inspiration for this talented artist …

Hi Fran. It’s been over two years since Focus last caught up with you. What’s changed since the last time we spoke?
My paintings have changed. They were colourful, slightly surreal and quirky paintings about animals, surfing, intense moments. I did a series on Harry and the bush turkeys at Shelly Beach, and I was in the middle of a series on koalas at the Port Macquarie Koala Hospital when I had a bit of trauma in my life and stopped painting completely. I did ½ dozen sketches, and that was it for many months, and I was really, really uncomfortable about that.
Finally, a wise person suggested that I stop trying to create a piece of work and just play with my art. So I got a pencil and some paper and started doodling. I did reams and reams of doodles, then I started painting small abstracts, the canvases got larger, I introduced a colour or two, and now I’m painting large abstract pieces.
I use black a lot, with a limited palette. Some of my paintings are pure emotion with no plan to them. Some I have an idea in mind, and I’ll use symbolic images of my environment. Sometimes I’ll turn the painting upside down and finish it off that way. My rabbit, Ruben, has started turning up in some of them in an abstract way. I’m really enjoying painting. And I’m enjoying not knowing where I’m going with it.
Just to refresh our memories, you started to create art over 20 years ago, and you actually commenced with sculpture, moving on to oils as a medium. Do you still use oils?
I love the large full forms and the curves that I used to create with clay sculpture. I’d like it when those forms would feel full to bursting. One of my last sculptures was a big meditating female koala which I love, but I was drawn to painting so I could tell a story. Steve, my husband, knows how to tell a story with his sculptures. He does great sculptures – really humorous and expressive.
I use oils because of how they slide into each other, and I can create those shaded forms so reminiscent of sculpture … though lately, I’ve been painting with acrylic on masonite, because I’m planning on going to the new Artists’ Market at Cassegrain and paint while I’m there; my materials have to be weather hardy, as I won’t be using a marquee.
Steve and I used to do the Artists’ Market at Westport, which we really enjoyed. I’m not sure yet whether I can actually do a painting in public. Never ever done that before, so it just may not happen. I’m so used to being tucked up tight within my nest before I create. If you go to the Art Market and see someone sweating in front of a blank canvas, it’ll be me!
How do you use your paintings to express yourself creatively?
It’s funny, because after this trauma I thought I needed to paint about the event as part of the healing process. But a handful of sketches was all I could do. Maybe I’ll paint them one day, but for now I focus on doing work that’s enjoyable.
And if I keep that in mind, then I relax, and then the work is authentic, and I’m doing what I feel driven to do – not what I think I ‘should’ do according to some conscious or unconscious voice inside my head. And the thing I really like, and what I liked about sculpture, is that fullness and feeling of energy in an object, but also in the space around an object.
I particularly like the energy in the negative space (the space between objects) and I think that’s why I enjoyed the black on white abstracts. They’re simple, object and space, but both full of energy. In my paintings, the negative spaces often have as much depth as the objects they surround.
The colours in your earlier work are so vibrant. What do colours mean to you now?
Previously I never used black, and now I love the drama and strength of black … its intensity. In my former paintings, I loved the vibrancy of all the colours. Now something has shifted. I just don’t feel in touch with that riot of colour, but I do feel the need to be intense with black and darker colours and then maybe a blast of brightness.
Describe the gallery you work from – Little Frogwood Gallery. How many artworks would you estimate you have on display, and where did the unusual name come from?
Steve and I live in a little green renovated cottage. The previous owner planted a number of large trees and we added many natives, so we basically live in a little forest. Koalas visit the gums and there are heaps of birds, a possum or two, and frogs. Right by the front gate is a pond full of frogs, and you wouldn’t believe the racket they make on a summer’s night. Hence Little Frogwood.
Next to our cottage is our gallery; coloured glass, sunny, French doors opening onto a small deck which looks into some of our dodo inhabited bush. There’s plenty of artwork around. Big and small oils, acrylics and prints plus Steve’s sculptures, his ponds, birdbaths, lamps and of course, his dodos.
We’ve just been given Council approval to open our gallery, although we have been running it casually for a while. It is a work in progress. We open once a month on the 2nd Sunday of the month from 10am to 4pm, and at other times if anyone would like to ring first. We really enjoy the day. If nothing else, it’s a great time for our neighbours to drop in and have a cuppa! Please feel free to call in and have a look at our work.
What do you find is the biggest source of inspiration for your work?
My natural environment: trees, animals, the ocean, and my emotions.
And I’m really inspired by that unseen weightiness in the space around me. I like that mystery. It’s not all spelt out. There’s stuff going on that I don’t know about.
Apart from your gallery, where else can people see your work?
I have some pieces in the Organic Belly in Murray St. At the moment, there are two of my koalas and some of my small black and whites.
And at some stage I’ll be at the Artists’ Market in the Vines at Cassegrain Vineyard, which is a great new market for artists in a wonderful setting. It’s on the 4th Sunday of the month from 9am to 3pm.
How do people go about contacting you?
Little Frogwood Gallery, 5 Cross St, PMQ open 10 – 4, 2nd Sunday of the month, or other times by appointment.
Phone 6584 9497
Website www.franbarratt.com
Email franbarratt@westnet.com.au
Thanks Fran.
Interview by Jo Atkins.

Please provide a little bit of background about your directing experience, including how long you’ve been involved with the theatre …

I trained as a dancer and actor but have been concentrating on directing dance and theatre for the past 8 years.

I was always a hyperactive child and was involved in all sorts of sport and gymnastics until I discovered dance. Once I graduated from VCA (Bachelor of Dance), I decided I wanted to create a career in the performing arts and not long afterwards, founded KAGE (with Co-Creative Director Gerard Van Dyck). I have directed comedy (Frank Woodley’s solo show Possessed) as well as over 15 productions for KAGE.

Where did the concept for Sundowner stem from?

I was becoming more aware of the cycle of life, having young children while my own parents were getting older. I met a wonderful group of people (through Alzheimer’s Australia) who were each caring for a loved one with dementia. Hearing their stories inspired me to create a performance which would do justice to their experience. My brother, David (who wrote Sundowner) and I then began to explore ways in which to do this. Sundowner is very much a collaboration between all the cast and creative team. We developed the work over an 18 month period in partnership with our community advisory group and Alzheimer’s Australia.

In your own words, give us a brief synopsis of the production …

Sundowner is the story of a woman struggling to come to terms with being recently diagnosed with younger onset dementia. She decides to write a letter to her children, and through this process she revisits and relives memories from her past, considers her legacy to her family and thinks about how she would like to be remembered.What are some of the prominent themes and/or motifs used?

Much of the physical choreography was aimed at trying to capture Peggy’s memories, as well as depicting her conflicting emotional states. Each scene has been directly informed by stories we learned from our Community Advisory Group.

What type of feedback have you been receiving from audiences?

I hope the audience will be able to see the human side of a much publicised topic and realise that although there is nothing inspiring about Alzheimer’s itself, the way in which people deal with the disease is incredibly inspiring. Alzheimer’s disease does not mean the loss of a person, but rather a change in a person. We have been overwhelmed by positive feedback and audience members saying how much the work resonates with them.

Actor Helen Morse

You’re very well known for roles in both television and theatre, but how did you become involved with the Sundowner production?

I was approached by Kate Denborough to see if I was interested in working with KAGE Physical Theatre Company on the production of Sundowner. I was very interested, as although I have had several decades of experience working in theatre, including music theatre, I had not worked with a dance company such as KAGE. I had seen their work – Headlock and Appetite and thought it was brilliant, and I also had a personal connection with the subject, as my mother had Alzheimer’s. I also had a keen interest in being part of creating the work from the ground up. During a fairly emotional meeting with Kate, I was impressed by the fact that KAGE was collaborating with Alzheimer’s Association and was holding forums with families and carers dealing with the realities of dementia.

Describe the character you play … 

Peggy, the character I play, is a mother and grandmother to be – in some ways a kind of Everywoman – but also a writer with a love of poetry and music. Her grandson describes her as “funny and kind” and we see these qualities, her wit and love for her family and her courage as the story unfolds. Every family’s experience dealing with dementia is unique and personal, but we have tried to reflect some of the situations and challenging behaviour that are commonly faced through Peggy and her family.

Without giving too much away about how Sundowner ends, or the plot, how does your character develop throughout the production?

Without giving too much away – Peggy’s journey through the piece is to find the means to communicate what she considers important to those she loves and to face the change in herself. We see her struggle against huge odds to achieve her goal and we are taken into her mind – her memories and imaginings through the text, music and especially through movement and dance.

What have your experiences been like working on the production with the other cast, crew and the Tivoli dancers?

Working with the cast, crew and Tivoli Lovelies has been inspiring. They are all extremely talented and dedicated to their work, and it is lovely to be part of what I think of as my ‘stage family’ – complete with three or four generations!!

The young dancers and production and stage managers, my middle-aged self, the six to seven year old boys engaged in every regional centre who play my grandson, and of course, The Tivoli’s who lead by example – ‘use it or lose it’ – wise and beautiful elders of the theatre tribe.

What do you hope audiences will experience by watching the production?

We hope audiences will be moved, will laugh – there is a lot of humour in the piece – will go on the journey with Peggy and her family and be uplifted by their capacity for life and love. There is, as well, much sheer theatrical magic to enjoy.

We have learned a lot through creating Sundowner in collaboration with groups, families, sufferers and carers and hope the audiences will leave with a deeper understanding.

Thanks Kate & Helen. Interview by Jo Atkins.

See Sundowner at the Glasshouse on April 11 at 8pm. 

Tickets: $49.50 adult, $45 conc, $41.50 under 21/student.

Visit www.glasshouse.org.au
or call 6581 8888.

This article can be found in issue 89 of Greater Port Macquarie Focus

Can you tell us a bit about the Mobile Library Literacy Van Project?

The Club’s vision is to make a significant contribution to the quality of community life. As reading is the foundation tool for all learning, we have a strong belief that investing in programs that can develop the proficiency and fluency of reading will assist children to succeed in their school years and beyond.

Hence, since 2009 The Westport Club has focused much of its community support in providing these tools to help local schools and community groups improve literacy amongst the youth in our region.  We have developed the Westport Dymocks Literacy Foundation which, through the library regeneration program run in conjunction with Dymocks Childrens Charities, has donated over 1,650 books to schools and community preschools throughout the Port Macquarie-Hastings.

In addition, 11 local schools have been provided with Wynn technology software, which provides a learning support for teachers and enables students with learning difficulties such as dyslexia to greatly improve their reading and writing capabilities.

The technology automatically converts text into speech, enabling students to listen to their books, assignments and tests; and as each word is spoken, it is also highlighted on screen so students can follow along, improving both their reading and listening skills.

How did the project for the Library Literacy Van come about?

The Mobile Library Literacy Van is a joint initiative between The Westport Club and Port Macquarie-Hastings Council.

In November 2011 following contact with Port Macquarie-Hastings Council, it became evident that many children and young people living in the outlying communities in the Port Macquarie-Hastings area have little or no access to public library services.

In addition, some of these communities have no public transport facilities and are over one hour in distance from their nearest public library. The purpose of the mobile Library project is to provide these young people with access to books at least two days a week.

In 2011, The Club provided an initial commitment of $70,000 to purchase, outfit, skin and stock the van. The Van was launched in February, and Council will staff and operate the van.

Tell us about the van; I believe it has over 1,000 books? What schools will it visit?

The Library Literacy Van will operate for a minimum of 2 days per week during school term. Each school in the program is allocated a day and time for a one hour visit, which includes time for the children to borrow books and to share a story together.

The van gives students a direct personal link with library staff and provides a consistency and reliable service which complements each school’s foundation literacy programs.

Schools who receive visits from the Van include the public schools of Comboyne, Kendall, Telegraph Point, Long Flat, Rollands Plains, Beechwood, Herons Creek and Huntington.

The van holds a minimum of 1,000 books, of which a minimum of 50% of the books purchased must be stocked in the van at all times, and the remainder is rotated through the existing library system. This will help ensure schools have a wide variety of books available.

The van will also participate in relevant broader community activities such as Book Week, Youth Week, school holiday program and the Hastings Festival of Stories.

What has been the feedback from schools so far?

The response has been overwhelmingly positive.  As our target is mainly Kinder to Year 6, we felt that this age group would be excited by the prospect of a regular visit from the van and more likely to engage in the program. This has definitely been the case.  The students keenly await the van’s arrival and know that they must have their library ID card if they wish to borrow books.

What’s the next step in the Club’s literacy story?

The Westport Club is committed to providing a level of funding over the next few years to ensure the longevity of the Mobile Library Literacy Van. And this month the Club will donate to Camden Haven Public School the Wynn’s Technology software, to help support their students with learning difficulties. After that, well next chapter in our story is currently being written – watch this space!

Thanks Jenny.

This article can be found in issue 89 of Greater Port Macquarie Focus

Salsa Footprints will celebrate their 10th anniversary with a party at Abundance Lifestyle and Garden, and you are invited! Chrissy Jones spoke with organiser Galina about her love of Salsa.

Galina, tell us about your passion and profession … Salsa dancing.

Salsa is originally from Cuba and is now danced all over the world from Europe to Indonesia and in every city in Australia. I travelled around Australia in 2009 and danced at Salsa venues in Coffs Harbour, Byron Bay, Brisbane, Cairns, Darwin, Kununurra, Adelaide, Fremantle, Perth and Melbourne.

Now, Port Macquarie, Forster and Taree have Salsa because a teacher came all the way from London, UK in 2003 to start the Salsa scene here… and 10 years later, I’m still teaching.

Do you have a dance background?

Yes, I started dancing in London when I was 4 years old. My mother has always been a dancer and taught me Russian Folk Dancing in my very early years and then put me into competitions. When I was 7 years old, I started Ballet, Contemporary and Tap at the Islington Arts Factory, London, and continued until 11 years old, when I moved to Wales to live with my grandparents for a year.

When I moved back to London, I started East European Folk Dancing, including Hungarian, Bulgarian, Macedonian, Romanian, Greek, Albanian and Armenian. I performed within dance demonstration teams regularly, including on popular TV programmes like the Larry Grayson Show. At 23, I was awarded a scholarship to Bulgaria for 3 months, based in Plovdiv, where I danced at a teachers training school from 8.30am to 1.30pm every day.

At 24 I started Belly Dancing at a prestigious school in London, called the Suraya Hilal School of Dance. I trained to become a teacher and taught and performed Belly Dance aka Egyptian Raqs Sharqi, in London. Then at 30, I discovered couple’s social dancing … CeRoc (like Rock ‘n’ Roll) which I danced for a year, and then finally Salsa.

I loved Salsa so much, I never stopped. I performed with Salsa Fusion in London and taught and performed in Spain, El Salvador, and Bulgaria. When I came to Australia in 2003, I specialised in teaching Salsa and Belly Dancing, starting my business: Salsa Footprints.

This April I will be celebrating 10 years of teaching and performing on the Mid North Coast with my first student and now business colleague, Lyndal Holdsworth.

To celebrate, I have organised a party on Saturday 13 April at Abundance Lifestyle and Garden commencing at 7pm. We’ll have dance performances, prizes, games and Latin Dancing all night. Money raised will go to the October Hurricane Sandy victims in Cuba, where 11 people died, and 1,000s lost their homes completely, or suffered major damage.

The very exuberant and talented Sandro Trunz from Switzerland will be at the party. He’ll also be teaching 4 workshop days on 6 April in Forster and in Port Macquarie on the 13 and 14, and he’ll be helping me at my regular classes.

What is Salsa?

Well, apart from a tasty tomato/onion sauce … it’s a couple dance originating from Cuba and is danced all over Latin America, but principally in Cuba, Columbia and Puerto Rico.

Cuba has always had a strong culture of dance and music, which started with the Spanish Conquistadors and the black slaves they brought with them from Africa. It’s also danced in a large circle of partners known as Rueda Casino, in which the ladies are passed around the circle.

What kind of people dance Salsa – any particular age group?

There is no age limit or physical requirements. It attracts doctors, dentists, solicitors, builders, shoemakers, counsellors, masseurs, real estate agents, students – an eclectic range of people. I teach children, teenagers, adults, retirees, and it’s great to see this complete range of ages and cultures, socialising and having fun together.

You’ve been to Cuba recently, furthering your dance experience. Tell us about your visit.

It’s a fantastic country to visit for music and dance. I started my professional development month’s visit in Havana, then travelled to the very tip of the island, Santiago de Cuba, through the hills to Baracoa, then overland to Trinidad, south then to Sancti Spiritus and Cienfuegos, and eventually back to Havana.

We stayed in private accommodation, people’s homes with home cooked meals, and had dance lessons at the Casa de la Musica, Casa de la Trova, and in people’s homes.

We danced in clubs, parks, on the streets, always to live music, with bands varying from 3 musicians playing bongo drums, double bass and guitar, to full bands of 14 musicians or more, playing keyboard, congas and bongos, drum kit with timbales, cowbell, and clave, which plays the base rhythm on which Salsa music rests, guiro, maracas, base guitar, trumpets and trombones.

Do you cater for new people at your classes, and what level do you take your dancers to?

Yes, Salsa Footprints runs 6 week discovery courses, taking people through the basics of Cuban Salsa. These classes are held on Mondays and Wednesdays at the Rotary Community Centre. Then they can join the Improver level classes at the same venue. If they wish to continue, they can join Intermediate classes held at our own studio, Casa de la Salsa.

I also teach privately, wedding couples, corporate functions and regularly invite guest teachers to Port Macquarie and Forster.

How can people contact you for information about classes and parties?

Apart from our regular classes, we have parties on the 1st and 3rd Sunday of every month at Zebu Bar & Grill, Rydges, and every LAST Sunday of the month at QuayLime Café on the marina. We also organise themed parties e.g. Salsa Cruises on the River Princess (next one is Friday 10 May 5.30pm), Christmas and Easter parties. For info, you can call me on 0422 751 021 or www.salsafootprints.com.au or join our Facebook site: Salsa Footprints Cuban Dancing.

This article can be found in issue 89 of Greater Port Macquarie Focus

What was the journey to the Australian Title like?

The journey I had for the Australian Titles was a bit rough at first. A couple of months ago I wasn’t ready, and my trainers told me that. About a month before, it just clicked; it’s either go hard now and get to that level, or just don’t go at all, really. So a month before, something clicked. I was training hard and getting better and better, and I’m really wrapped with how it went. There was a time there where I was thinking these girls have got more experience, but I have the heart, and that’s what I put into it.

How did you feel in the final?

I got up there really nervous, knowing it was an Australian Title. But as soon as those first couple of punches flew, I knew I was comfortable and I was where I wanted to be. That’s what I wanted, and nothing was going to stop me. The result was 13-7. I won on points.

Why boxing?

I don’t know. I have just always loved it. A couple of my friends wanted to do it for fitness, so I came down with them. Being young, you only do what your friends do. I thought, “This is fun”. But they left, and I continued. It’s just something that’s in your blood forever.

What sort of training do you do?

I train 5 days a week. I do actual boxing on Monday, Wednesday and Friday afternoon. I run every day, and on Tuesday and Thursday I train with the Travers family, and I do sparring. A typical training session starts off with a couple of rounds of skipping and then straight into sparring. Four rounds of sparring, and then four rounds of pads. And then I do weight work, more skipping, and warm up and warm downs are always important.

Who are your trainers?

I have four (trainers): Kev Raymond, Dean Groth, Paul Grant and Richie, and also John Travis sometimes as well.

Do you spar with boys?

I do spar with boys and I do get intimidated, but I think if I can train with the boys, then no girl is ever going to faze me – so it’s actually an advantage to me. When I spar with Kev, one of my trainers, it’s always great, because he fights a lot like me. So, it’s really good. We punch each other a lot, but sometimes I think I give it to him a bit more than he gives it to me.

When you’re in there and you’re getting hit, you can’t shy away; you have to step up and take it to them as much as they are giving it to you. There are always times where you get one or two that sting a bit, and I can’t lie – I’ve had a tear in my eye when they get through. But those punches make me want to go harder and get them back for what they did to you.

Where does your motivation come from?

My motivation comes from deep inside. I just think I always want to be number one. I think boxing is a great sport for that. It’s just you in the ring. Just you, so you’re going to be number one if you want it that much.

Will there be more pressure on you in the future now that you have the title?

Being the Australian champ, I think there would be an expectation to be the best in the country. So there will be a bit on me to live up to that. But if I keep going the way I am, nothing can stop me, I think.

Who has supported you to get to the title?

A big help to me have been all my trainers and my friends; they have all been really supportive. I would like to really thank Kev, Dean, Paul and Richie and especially John Travers and their family, because I train with them on a weekly basis.

Where to next?

In a few weeks’ time there is a selection camp coming up. There are going to be a fair few girls down there, but of the girls who are going, they will be selecting three to go away to Europe in April. So that’s my short term goal: to go overseas, train and fight there. And then the long term goal, hopefully make it to the Commonwealth Games. To get to the Commonwealth Games you have to have international experience, so this opportunity is everything to me.

Thanks Jessica.

This article can be found in issue 89 of Greater Port Macquarie Focus

Where are you from originally?

I was born and raised in Sydney.

When did you first come to the Port Macquarie-Hastings region? What were your first impressions?

My parents built a holiday house at The Beam, off Clifton Drive when I was 8, and I began coming up during school holidays. Vivid early memories include the lush rainforest at Sea Acres and the great beaches. As a kid I was entranced by Fantasy Glades – I wish it was still around! As an adult, I continued to enjoy Port, but also had holidays at North Haven and Comboyne.

How long have you been here, and what made you decide to relocate?

I’ve been here for a few weeks now. When the opportunity came up to coach tennis at Westport, I just went for it!

How were you introduced to tennis, and who inspired you?

I started playing at a tennis camp one school holidays. I really loved it and have just kept playing and learning the game under great coaches like Vic Edwards, the man who guided Yvonne Goolagong-Cawley.

I joined the Hornsby-Kuringai Tennis Club in northern Sydney and played through the age divisions, winning a number of club singles and doubles titles, as well as local junior tournaments and district championships. Later I played a couple of satellite circuit events, which are a stepping stone to professional tournaments. My tennis heroes were Bjorn Borg and John McEnroe.

How did you get into tennis coaching?

While I was completing a degree in leisure management at University of Technology, Sydney, I undertook the Tennis Australia Coaching Accreditation Course. I coached at Sydney University and also lectured and tutored trainee PE teachers there on how to play and coach tennis, so they had at least the basics to teach their students. For the last 17 years, I’ve been the coach at Waitara Tennis Centre at Hornsby.

What are some of the ideas you’re planning to introduce at Westport Tennis Club?

I want to make tennis more accessible to people of all ages – residents and visitors alike. I’ll be introducing Hot Shots, Tennis Australia’s national program for children aged 5 – 12, and pre-school classes for kids 4 – 5. The kids hit bigger, lighter balls over smaller nets and it’s easier to rally, because the balls stay in the air longer. Everyone’s playing – there’s no waiting in line for a turn! For high school students aged 12 – 18, there’ll be squads and matches, and I’ll be running all-ages kids’ tennis camps during the school holidays.

For adults, there will be a Ladies Group, and we’ll work on technique and doubles strategy. I’m also starting a Beginner Adult program, which includes a six-week introductory course, including social matches. No prior experience is needed – you just show up with a pair of joggers. I’ll even supply a racquet, if one’s needed. The program will be open to people of all ages, and they will learn the basic of serving, volleying, and ground strokes, as well as basic singles and doubles play.

The program will give first-time players the skills and confidence to join in the social doubles competitions, which run at the club’s 10 courts on Wood Street from 7.30am ’til mid-morning, 7 days a week. The social comp comprises a big network of people from their 40s upwards, and they’re a very welcoming bunch. You’ll quickly be matched up with people at your skill level and be able to play as many matches as you wish each day for $4 for members or $6 for non-members. Visitors are welcome to come along, too. Annual membership is $50.

What is about the Westport Tennis Club that makes it stand out?

The club has 10 modern synthetic grass courts, which can be hired from as little as $5 per player per hour. The complex is perfect for large-scale tournaments, which I intend to promote, but it’s also ideal for a fun hit-up for families or friends. There’s loads of parking, and the fully equipped clubhouse has a kitchen, toilets, change rooms, and showers. And, there’s also a large covered outdoor area, so the club is also ideal as an indoor or outdoor venue for groups.

I think it would be great for corporate get togethers, where companies can meet for some team-building fun on the courts – with or without coaching – and off. The courts and recreational areas are fully fenced, which makes the club great for mums and dads with small kids.

You’re a keen advocate for leading a healthy lifestyle. Do you also like to pass this on to your students?

As you can imagine, coaching and playing tennis keeps you pretty fit. I believe you get more out of your sport if you maintain good physical fitness. The great thing about tennis is that it’s not as hard on the knee joints as some sports, yet it provides a sustained cardio workout. It’s safe for all ages, and you can play it well into your twilight years. That’s the reason we have players at Westport who are still playing well into their 60s, 70s and 80s. They say it keeps them young by maintaining their health, fitness, strength and agility!

Besides maintaining fitness, what are the benefits or advantages of tennis for individuals?

You can play tennis as a serious sport, or for fun and fitness. In addition to the health benefits, tennis also provides lots of social and mental health benefits. You mingle with the other players between matches, so you get to meet lots of very happy people. It’s especially good if you’re new to town or want to widen your circle of friends. Many long friendships have been forged on the court.

Where can people go to find out more information about the club, social or competition tennis, or coaching?

We’ll be holding a free open day on Saturday, April 20 from 10am – 2pm, where people can come and say hello, have a free social game or a hit on the ball machine. All ages are welcome and being the school holidays, I’m hoping we get a good crop of local kids.

Our website: http://www.tennis.com.au/westporttennis/ has information, and people can also learn about coaching and court hire by calling me on 0412 834 336. Most days you’ll usually find me on the court or in the pro shop. They can also get details of social and competition tennis from club secretary, Ruth Dickinson (0405 238 804) or they can call the clubhouse on (02) 6583 3053.

Thanks Mark.

Interview by Jo Atkins.

This article can be found in issue 89 of Greater Port Macquarie Focus

What led you to discover your talent and love for art?

I have known all my life that I have a talent for art. As a child, I was always creating, whether that was by drawing, painting or sewing. I did art all through high school and then went to art school after the HSC, but was enrolled in a commercial art course and wasn’t enjoying it.

I remember the school offered to swap me into a fine arts course, but I was worried about ending up being a poor artist unable to support myself, so I took the safe route and studied education instead. During my twenties and early thirties, I was too busy working and raising little children to have any energy to put into art, but always knew that one day I would get back into it again.

Where do you generally create – do you have an indoor studio, or do you prefer to paint en plein air? 

I have a studio in my home where I do most of my work; however, when I am working on my reclaimed timber assemblages, I work on the driveway and in the garage. I do tend to take over a lot of the house at times!

You’re a mixed media artist. What medium do you most like to work with, and what techniques do you prefer to use?

My art practise encompasses drawing, painting, printmaking and reclaimed timber assemblages. I like to work across mediums, as it challenges me to fully explore the medium and the concepts that I am investigating and assists in developing the work in ways I might not have envisaged.

For me, it’s in the doing that work develops. I usually start a new body of work by drawing extensively. After I have done lots of drawing, I will then progress into another medium, probably painting onto paper, or otherwise painting directly onto board or canvas. After I have done a reasonable sized body of work in this medium I might then start developing some timber assemblages thinking about the ideas and concepts that I have been exploring in drawing and painting. I find that what I have learnt in one medium feeds into the work that I do in the next.

The medium I like working with most?  Each medium provides a different set of experiences; however, I would have to say that I absolutely love the physical act of painting. Being totally immersed in the experience and having several paintings on the go at once… just you and the paint! That is extremely satisfying, and that is when the best work develops. I also love getting back to the basics and looking at an object or a group of objects and just drawing them!

Where and when did you receive the majority of your art training? 

My formal art training came more recently – I have just completed a Diploma in Fine Art at North Coast TAFE. This was extremely beneficial, as it helped me to refine and consolidate all the skills and knowledge that I had developed over the years, as well as developing an understanding of the broader artistic community and where my art practise fits into that.

What is one colour in your collection of paints/supplies you simply could not do without – and why?

I would probably have to say black Conte. Conte is a drawing medium, in between charcoal and graphite. It has a lovely feel to it when you draw with it, and it produces rich, dark tones when you wash it with water. I find I use it all the time for drawing now.

Why are you drawn to still life works … what is it about the relationship between objects and their environment that appeals to you?

We are surrounded by still life objects in our everyday lives, and for me, these objects provide a constant source of visual input. When I look at a table with objects on it, it isn’t the realistic representation of those objects that I want to depict, but the relationship between the objects and their colours, the spaces between the objects, the colours within the shadows, and the light that is falling onto the objects. There is a sense of stillness and order that I like about still life as well.

Please explain how you use reclaimed timber pieces in your work …

My work focuses on the fundamental elements of what I see in the built environment around me, and it is the relationship between colour and form, the subtleties of an edge, the use of space, the build-up of layers to create surface and the subtle glimpse of one colour underneath another colour that I aim to express in my work.

In 2010 I started painting on small square wooden boards and was assembling those to create larger works. I was thinking about building up layers of paint and how I could create different surfaces by rubbing the paint back, but then I came across some old wooden boards and thought, “Why try and create something when those layers and textures can be found naturally in old weathered boards!” A friend suggested I have a look in his shed … I came home with a bundle of old bits of wood, and the first assemblage piece was created!

You’ll be holding an exhibition of your work in early May. What’s the exhibition called, and when and where will it be held?

The exhibition is called the studio within and is being held at the Macleay Valley Community Gallery in Gladstone from 2 – 12 May 2013. Opening night is Saturday 4 May at 6.30pm. There will be live music, wine and nibbles, and I invite everyone to attend!

How many artworks will you have on display, and how varied are the pieces?

I have the whole gallery space, so there will be a lot of work on display. There will be still life paintings and framed works on paper, a selection of my reclaimed timber works and three large relief prints.

Will there be any costs associated with attending the exhibition?

No. The exhibition is free to attend. The gallery is open Thursdays – Sundays, 10.30 – 4pm.

Where can people contact you if they’re interested in your work, or find out more information about the exhibition?

People can contact me by email on kerrykranitis@gmail.com People can view my work on flickr at www.flickr.com/photos/93146097@N05/, on Facebook, or in For Good At Home in Port Macquarie.

Thanks Kerry. Interview by Jo Atkins.

This article can be found in issue 89 of Greater Port Macquarie Focus

Up and coming singer/songwriter/guitarist KITA describes her sound as Folk/Alternative.KITA’s just released her first EP, Lion Hat … but this talented local also has dreams of hitting the festival circuit

You were originally from the Gold Coast. What brought you to Port Macquarie? 

Yeah, I was. It was family which brought me here and to live a healthier life. The Goldy is just pumping all the time, and I suppose my mother didn’t want me to grow up in a rowdy city. At first I wasn’t too happy to move, but it has grown on me and I love this place now.

Who taught you to play guitar, and how old were you when you learned?

I first picked up a guitar when I was 9, just a year before I started being classically trained as a singer. It was my sister’s influence that got me into it. She’s a great guitarist, and I have always looked up to her. She’s taught me quite a lot and was always there to help me with it whilst taking lessons for 6 years. I only truly found my passion for it a couple of years ago.

You describe your music as Folk/Alternative. Why did you lean towards these styles of music – what is it about them that inspires you? 

Well, being classically trained for 9 years and being involved in the national choir, I kind of got my fair share of choral music. I felt I was being trained out of my own style (although I’m so glad I’d been so thoroughly trained growing up, because it taught me a great deal).

I think I got to a stage where I’d had enough of lessons and wanted to form my own path/style. I always knew what I loved listening to, so I started playing covers of these tunes: like Fleetwood mac, Julia Stone, Laura Marling and Ben Howard, until I started to write my own stuff. Their music is so beautiful and inspirational. All the artists I love have empowering lyrics that actually mean so much and move people and connect with me in such an amazing way. Sorry … that got really deep ha ha!

You’ve just released your first EP, Lion Hat. How many songs are on the EP – did you write them all?

I did! Such an awesome feeling to have finally finished the beast. There are 6 songs on there, and yup, I wrote every single one of them.

What’s the song Lion Hat about – it has an unusual name!

It is a tad unusual; that’s why I like it so much. I also like art … lots of it. Pictures always inspire my songs. My room is filled with paintings, pictures from magazines and photographs. There’s this one drawing of a girl holding a big lion hat on her head just above my desk, where I write the majority of my songs. One day I just couldn’t write … I saw this picture and kind of daydreamed for a while and came up with a story in my head about a girl who’s too shy to be herself, so she hides behind all these facades and dreams a lot to get by in life. But she needn’t hide; she’s awesome, because she wears a lion on her head.

Who were some of the other local creative people involved with producing your EP?

I have so many friends who have such creative souls that have helped me along the way … to name them all would be as crazy as, but they know who they are and know how appreciative I am of them.

But the main creative man behind the production of my EP was Jordan Millar, a Sydney local who is also a musician. He played on, produced and mastered my EP, along with many of his own. He was so rad to work with, such an enthusiastic guy and genuinely eager to help me out. I’m so happy with the end product. I can’t wait to work with him again. He also just released an album titled Cold Lights On Curious Minds, so you should all go have a listen!

If you were given an iTunes or music voucher as a gift, which artists’ tracks would you most likely decide to download (and why)? 

Oh man, it’s not my ideal present being given vouchers for things; I’m honestly the worst decision maker you’d ever meet. I’d prefer someone give me an album or CD; I love stumbling across new artists. But if I did receive one, I’d probably hold onto it until Adam Gnade’s new album was released. He’s a poet who speaks over music; it is so, so dreamy, you could just dissolve into another world.

Where are some of your regular gigs locally?

I play quite a bit around town. Every second Saturday you’ll find me at the Beach House and everywhere else in between. I keep my Facebook page up to date with where I’m playing so if you want to know, go there!

What’s next on the agenda for you musically – what are your goals? 

Well, my band and I just played at a private festival in Forster with Jack River, Lisa Mitchell and Georgia Fair, which was wicked. I’m also going to be playing at an event in Sydney mid April to help save the Kimberleys, which will be rad. My goal is definitely to play at as many festivals as I can, build up a fan base and meet and help as many creative souls as I can.

Where can people go to download your music or contact you?

You can download a couple of free songs on Triple J Unearthed online; just search for KITA. You can also buy my album on iTunes and stay in touch/contact with me on my Facebook page: www.facebook.com/kitamusic

I also have a little competition going for everyone who reads this article. To win one of ten CDs, like my Facebook page, then share my album cover picture. The winners will be announced on my Facebook page on 20 April. Good Luck !

Thanks KITA.

Interview by Jo Atkins.

To watch KITA’s new video clip

visit youtube.com Search: Kita Lion

Or use a QR code reader

to visit the video on your Smartphone or iPad.

This article can be found in issue 89 of Greater Port Macquarie Focus

How long have you been a resident of Port Macquarie?

I have been in Port Macquarie of over 25 years now, originally from Greenacre – a suburb of western Sydney.

You are a Charter Member of Rotary Club Sunrise. What does that mean specifically?

The Charter of the Rotary Club of Port Macquarie Sunrise was granted by Rotary International on March 11, 1998. To be a Charter Member means I have been in the club since that time. I attended the first meeting (prior to the Charter being granted)  in November 1997.

Why Rotary? What drew you to the organisation personally?

A close friend at the time, Lesley Cleaver, asked me to attend. She was passionate about Rotary and excited that a breakfast club was to be started. They needed 20 people and I went along to make up numbers – I did not really know what Rotary was about, and at that time I had no intention of staying once they reached the number required.

Tell us a little about Rotary Sunrise Club. What activities do you undertake, and who are the current notable role holders?

Notable role holders – the President for this Rotary Year is the dynamic Peter Grob. I would say that each President and board over our club’s 16 years, have been notable. They have all worked hard, initiated great projects and financially supported many organisations. We have quite a mix of quirky, inquisitive, passionate, serious, funny, hard-working  and dedicated professional people in our club, and I am unable to single out any one member.

I firmly believe that within our club we pool our unique strengths and work together as a collective to achieve positive change at a community, national and international level.

One project you have been working on for a while is the restoration of the Lighthouse. Tell us about what is happening there?

This is a huge project, being driven by one of our members – Neil Black. He and his committee are doing a truly wonderful, back breaking job on-site as we speak!

Volunteers – especially those with a shovel or with morning tea, coffee and cake are most welcome!

The Project started in 2010. In 2011 we obtained a grant of $40,000 from the NSW Government to undertake Stage 1 – restoration and maintenance of the Lighthouse building. This work is largely completed, and the Lighthouse once again ‘looks a picture’ standing on the magnificent Tacking Point headland.

During 2011 a Master Plan was produced, with significant community input, for the purpose of guiding the restoration and enhancement of the Lighthouse headland. The Plan was adopted by Council in March 2012.

In 2012/2013, a Community Action Grant of $19,770 was achieved through the Australian Governments Caring for our Country program. This grant was obtained for Stage 2 and after an extensive planning process, work commenced on Monday 11 March 2013 (our club’s 16th anniversary!) This work is being managed by Sunrise Rotary and entails the construction of a new set of stairs from the roadway/carpark to the Lighthouse, restoration and stabilisation of the eroded banks, including the construction of 60 metres of block retaining walls. Sub-contractors are being employed as required, but a large component of the construction work is being undertaken by volunteer labour. Sunrise Rotary members are providing most of this labour, with other community representatives also contributing.

It is expected that, weather permitting, Stage 2 construction work will be completed by mid-April 2013. PMH Council will then manage the planting of the banks adjacent to the construction works with endemic plant species.

Sunrise Rotary has also submitted an application to the State Government for a Community Building Partnership Program grant to undertake the next stage of implementation of the Master Plan. The outcome of this application is expected to be known by early April 2013 and if successful, work will be undertaken in conjunction with Wesley Uniting Employment to construct a timber viewing platform around the eastern side of the roundabout.

You have The Big Dig event coming up; how can locals get involved?

The Big Dig is on May 4 and is a family fun day on Town Beach. The Big Dig is an opportunity for children and families to dig for tokens, which are then turned into ’treasure’.  Many community businesses are getting behind us and supporting this fun day, so we need local families and visitors to come down to Town Beach with the intention of joining in, having some fun and providing support for local businesses and Rotary.

For you personally now, what does it mean to be a Rotarian?

I am proud to be in Rotary and particularly honoured to be part of Port Macquarie Sunrise. I have a fundamental belief in the purpose of Rotary and what can be achieved by people for people. This may sound a bit silly, but I really like the 4 way test (motto, would be the way to describe this) which underpins what we do, and I use it regularly when faced with a tough decision.

Work can be very busy and consuming, and it is through Rotary I am able to connect back to the community. I genuinely like and respect all the members of our club. I have been able to meet some wonderful people both here and overseas and know we share a common belief in lending a hand, building community capacity and making things better for those who may be struggling.

Thanks Kerrie.

This article can be found in issue 89 of Greater Port Macquarie Focus

Forty years is a long time to be involved with the entertainment industry. What do you think has kept your music alive and popular for such an extended period of time?

It’s a willingness to not get stuck in a rut, in a way. Australia has a population of not much more than 20 million, and I think people could get very tired of you if you keep doing the same thing over and over. In a way, too, I think it was having a bit of faith in myself … because when the recording all finished and there was nothing much happening, I decided to pursue one of my other entertainment loves – which is radio. I was lucky enough to work on radio in Newcastle for about 4 years, and it was great – I really enjoyed it. It kind of took me away from my normal life for a while …

And of course, I’ve been very lucky. There’s no doubting that at all!  I was very lucky indeed that Strictly Ballroom came along and that Baz Luhrmann wanted to use Love is in the Air. That kicked it all off again for me. It’s undeniable that you need talent to get there, but it’s also undeniable that you need luck – and plenty of it − to survive in the entertainment industry.

Are you travelling with your full band on this tour? Who are some of the members, as you have quite a few colleagues that have been with you for a long time …

Yes, we are. It’s a 2-hour show, and we kind of take it a little but easy in the first half, but in the second half we bring out all of the hits from the ’70s.

Warren Morgan – affectionately known as ‘the Pig’ − has had a very long career with both me and the late Billy Thorpe. Pig and Ronnie Peel (who some people would know as Rockwell T. James, from the Countdown days) have both been with me since about 1975. That’s 38 years!

The other boys have been with me since the mid ‘80s, so I’m very grateful that I’ve been able to hang on to the regulars for so long. We don’t work all the time, and sometimes we may not see each other for months, but it’s a lovely feeling when we do get back together again. It’s only a matter of half an hour, and we’re back to where we were!

You mentioned Countdown in your last answer. Take me back to those days, for a bit … a lot of our readers would remember growing up with that show!

Luckily for me, I’d known Molly [Meldrum] for some years before. It was a more relaxed atmosphere for me, as I knew Molly quite well. They were very adventurous on Countdown – they were adventurous enough to let people like me, Daryl Braithwaite or Glenn Shorrock host the show every now and again, which was very generous and gave us a bit of TV background in facing the cameras …

It was a loose kind of a show … but the kids loved it! It’s very hard to think back and remember what the world was like then, but if you think really hard about it, I suppose it was a black and white world, and Countdown was there when colour TV came. There wasn’t a lot of youth-oriented stuff on the TV … Countdown came along, and I think it was a bit of a saviour for the youth.

There was always that eternal argument on a Sunday as to whether Dad wanted to watch the news or you were allowed to watch Countdown!

I distinctly remember that argument myself! And of course, one of the other facets of entertainment you’ve been involved with is stage musicals. You had a huge run with Jesus Christ Superstar … Have you been involved with any stage productions recently?

I have – I just finished one. It was a much smaller production called Van Park. I suppose you guys living up in that area would know quite a bit about caravanning and camping … this show is very left of centre, with lots of swearing, and it’s a bit rough around the edges. It’s very entertaining – a comedy – and the music was lovely. I fell in love with the music! It stars me and Steve Kilbey from The Church.

I play a washed up Rock and Roller, my wife is an ex-Burlesque dancer, and we run the caravan park … Steve plays a hippy in the caravan park; he used to be a Folk guitarist, and he’s kind of my nemesis … it was a lot of fun.

Of the songs you’re asked to play regularly, is there one in particular that’s special to you?

Yeah, Pasadena, my first one, means a lot to me. Again – here’s the luck factor! I was working with my band, Elm Tree, back in the late ‘60s. In the early ‘70s, there was another band we used to work with called Pyramid, and they used to sing Pasadena on stage. I loved the song, and I could never understand why they hadn’t recorded it.

And blow me down, if not some months later, Simon Napier Bell − who was responsible for The Yardbirds and Dusty Springfield etc − was out here on holidays and was the given the task of finding a singer for that song. He went and asked my very good friend, Andy, if he wanted to sing it, but Andy had just joined a new band and didn’t want to do it. Andy sent him to me, and Simon had never even heard me sing. I nearly fainted when he sat behind the piano and started playing the song – I couldn’t believe it, but it was going to me recording the song. It was like a dream come true!

What else would you like to share with us about the show you’re presenting in Port Macquarie?

It’s a little bit of a travelogue from throughout my career, and I do lean heavily on the fact that George Young and Harry Vanda are the ones who made my career as successful as it is; we do a tribute to them – the hit they had in the ‘70s, Down Among the Dead Men (about the sinking of the Titanic). It’s a real tribute to them both, and I’m the vehicle …  and I’m also just very grateful for the time I’ve had.

Thanks John. Interview by Jo Atkins.

the plug 

See John Paul Young at Port Panthers on April 19 at 8pm. 

Tickets: Members $32; non members $35.

Contact the Club on 6580 2300 for tickets and details.

This article can be found in issue 89 of Greater Port Macquarie Focus

Please share a little about your background … 

I grew up in a small town of about 20,000 people near Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. The main industries are cattle ranches and farms, and my first career plan was to be a veterinarian. I completed a Diploma in Veterinary Technology immediately after high school, while at the same time joining our local fire brigade as a volunteer firefighter.

Our fire department often supported the paramedics at serious events, and it was working with them that made me want to be a paramedic. I returned to tertiary studies, and within a few years I was working as a paramedic in the community that I grew up in.

Being a paramedic would be regarded by many as being both a rewarding and challenging career, so what was it that led you to decide this was the right career choice for you?

I have been a paramedic for over 20 years, and I have always felt privileged to be able to serve my community. Paramedics are often called to assist people experiencing the worst day of their life; it is both challenging and rewarding to be able to help patients and their families through very difficult times.

We also have the opportunity to participate in some really fun things like teaching first aid to kids, or standing by at festivals and sporting events. There is even the rare, but great moment when you are present at the birth of a child. I have never had a second thought about my decision to be a paramedic, and I can’t imagine doing anything else.

How did your career in healthcare progress? 

I started in the emergency services as a firefighter and rescue technician. We would respond to major emergencies with the paramedics, and it was during these calls that I knew I wanted to learn more about being a health professional. When I graduated as a paramedic, I worked in ambulances in large cities, rural and regional centres and in Aboriginal communities. I upgraded my skills to critical care and then became a flight paramedic on helicopters for about ten years. Doing helicopter retrievals was especially challenging and exciting.

Our flight team consisted of a paramedic, nurse and emergency physician; I learned a lot working with this amazing multi-disciplinary team, and I believe I bring a unique perspective and complex understanding of the importance of interprofessional collaboration in health care to my teaching and research at Charles Sturt University.

When did you move to Australia permanently? 

I completed a Masters thesis that investigated Leadership in Paramedic Services. My thesis was read by a Professor at Charles Sturt University, who contacted me in Canada and asked me to provide some advice about the development of a new course. We started working together to build a curriculum for a graduate certificate in Paramedic Leadership. I enjoyed the opportunity to work in the academic world and applied for the next lecturer position that became available. My wife and I moved to Bathurst in 2010 and then had the opportunity to relocate to Port Macquarie last October.

Having had over 22 years’ experience in the paramedic field, what are some of the major changes you’ve seen over this time? 

Paramedic practice has changed dramatically over the past two decades. Paramedic education, scope of practice, and level of responsibilities have increased to help fulfill gaps in the health system. Twenty years ago, paramedics responded to emergencies, provided basic treatments on scene and transported most patients to hospitals. Today, paramedics are bringing the emergency department to the patient’s home. Paramedics are administering ‘clot-busting’ drugs to heart attack patients, they are suturing and dressing wounds, and they are referring some patients to nurse practitioners, GPs, and other services to avoid taking every patient to an emergency department. These innovations and advances are benefiting patients and also reducing some of the stress on our health systems.

How do paramedic practices in Australia compare to other countries you’ve worked in around the world?

Australia has some of the largest and most famous ambulance services in the world. The Ambulance Service of NSW is one of the world’s largest and responds to over 1 million calls per year; Victoria Ambulance is highly regarded for training MICA paramedics in the 1990s; Queensland Ambulance Service is respected for pioneering innovative services to rural and remote communities; and South Australia Ambulance Service are leaders in using extended care paramedics to treat more patients in the home and provide a higher level of primary health care.

Australia is one of the few countries in the world where paramedics must have undergraduate degrees to enter practice. There are many paramedic educators coming to Australia from Canada, the United States, Ireland and the UK to work at universities and the help advance paramedic education.

What are your academic qualifications?

I have an Honors Diploma in paramedicine, a Masters of Arts in Leadership from Royal Roads University in Canada, a Graduate Certificate in University Learning and Teaching, and I am a Doctor of Health Science candidate at Charles Sturt University.

Why do you and other university staff feel the timing is right now to introduce the study of paramedics at the Port Macquarie campus? Paramedics have been recognised as being the ‘most trusted profession in Australia’ by Reader’s Digest Magazine for the last seven years, and the employment market for paramedics with degrees is very strong. These factors and others have created a substantial interest in university paramedic education. The Charles Sturt University paramedic program was the first degree in Australia and started in 1994.

The course has seen substantial growth and now has first year enrolments of almost 200 students. As a regional university, CSU looks for opportunities for students living in regional locations to attend regional universities and hopefully return to work in those regional areas. No paramedic course has been offered on the Central or North Coast, and it made sense for the Port Macquarie Campus to be home to a new paramedic course.

As Paramedic Program Leader and Senior Lecturer at CSU, what will the new course/s at the Port Macquarie campus convey to new students?

The paramedic courses in Bathurst and Port Macquarie are accredited by the Council of Ambulance Authorities and have an identical curriculum. In fact, we use interactive video teaching technology to connect classrooms in Bathurst to Port Macquarie, where students can collaborate and learn together.

Our vision is to have a ‘one school’ philosophy, so that the student experience will be the same regardless of which campus the student is attending. The students in Port Macquarie do have an advantage in that they have a much smaller group as compared to Bathurst and will benefit from a smaller student teacher ratio …

Why would you encourage people to consider paramedics as a career?

Paramedics get to care for their community, help people when they most need it, use cutting edge technologies, work in a variety of environments, and meet people of all ages, cultures, and backgrounds. It is an exciting, fulfilling, and challenging career and one that I have loved from the first time I rode in the back of an ambulance!

Thanks Joe.

This article can be found in issue 89 of Greater Port Macquarie Focus

Not only is the 2013 Red Hot Summer Tour bringing a bigger line-up of five huge Australian legendary rock artists, but it is also spreading its wings further afield by incorporating these special tour dates throughout New South Wales and Queensland. Add to this the fact that tickets start from just $79.90 (+BF) and the 2013 The Red Summer Tour Aussie Rock Extravaganza is the perfect family festival event.

Jimmy Barnes needs no introduction to Aussie audiences. As a legend both from his time fronting Cold Chisel and his top charting solo career, Barnes has toured the breadth of Australia. With 16 solo albums under his belt, he has an enviable back catalogue that makes for incredible live performances, with songs like Working Class Man, When Your Love Is Gone and No Second Prize, to name a few. Jimmy Barnes has headlined The Red Hot Summer Tour in previous years and is back by popular demand for the 2013 massive Aussie Rock Extravaganza. Following on from his busy year touring back with Cold Chisel, The Red Hot Summer Tour concerts are a chance for Rock fans to see Jimmy Barnes at his best and enjoy an extensive catalogue which has made him an icon in the Australian music scene.

Other acts include the Baby Animals, who burst onto the Australian scene in the 1990s with a solid Rock force and a sassy lead singer. Suze Demarchi proved that girls could Rock just as hard as guys, and the Baby Animals soon kicked some impressive Rock butt with hits such as Rush You, Early Warning and One Word. The band recently reformed, and their inclusion on the Red Hot Summer Tour line-up is a rare chance for music fans to see an original Rock at its best.

Another legendary member of Cold Chisel joins the 2013 Red Hot Summer Tour to showcase his own versatile music career. Ian Moss is without doubt one of the country’s most prolific guitarists. His own solo career has seen him release hits such as Telephone Booth and Tucker’s Daughter, as well as traverse the Blues Rock genre with releases that have seen him become a festival favourite.

When it comes to iconic bands, Dragon has a long history with Aussie music fans. Moving from New Zealand to Australia in the 1970s, the Kiwi-come-Aussie band made an indelible mark, and their music captured the hearts of a generation.

For music lovers looking for a special bit of concert showmanship, then they’re in for a real treat, as Chocolate Starfish take to the stage. Fronted by the enigmatic Adam Thompson, the band is known for their high energy live performances.

Before the big Show in Coffs Harbour, FOCUS managed to catch up with headline act Jimmy Barnes for a quick chat.

Where were you born, and when did you migrate to Australia? Why Australia?

Born in Glasgow, Scotland, I weighed 14 pounds and was born fighting. We left Scotland because the people were too quiet and reserved.

Have you spent much time  on the Coffs Coast throughout your career? What do you like about Coffs Harbour? I have been run out of Coffs many times. It’s a great town, and I’ve played many wild gigs there.

Tell us all about the exciting new show, The Red Hot Summer Tour? 

This tour is the kind of tour that just seems to get better every show. I think that the quality of bands make each band work harder and demand more from themselves.

The Red Hot Summer Tour is the biggest regional show to come to Coffs Harbour in a long time; this really is a once in a life time opportunity to see so many acts under the one umbrella …

Get yourself to the show and if you don’t like it, you’ve gone to the wrong show. We work off an audience, so come on and give us a push.

What are the most important things you’ve learnt in your epic career?

If you don’t feel that you are completely drained by the end of the show, you didn’t give enough.

What is there left for you that you’d like to achieve, but haven’t accomplished yet?

Maybe if I play my cards right, I could become a decent human.

What is the song Flame Trees about?

Going back to where you grew up and not feeling that you belong there, or maybe anywhere.

Who is your favourite ever collaboration? With my daughter, Mahalia. She scares me sometimes, when I think about how fast she gets better and better.

Where are you currently living? Do you have any pets?

153 Bankstown Road … Oh sorry, that’s some other singer. I live in Sydney; I have two dogs and a hedgehog.

What book are you currently reading?

The Road Less Travelled. I started reading it about 30 years ago.

If you could pick three people to have a beer with, who would they be and why?

Me, my wife, and some jerk we could lose quickly and be alone.

Last meal would be? A degustation meal from a really good but awfully slow restaurant.

Why should we come to your show?

We play real music for real people.

Any final words?

Big Banana!

Thanks Jimmy.

The Red Hot Summer Tour 2013 Aussie Rock Extravaganza tickets are on sale now. Tickets start from $79.90 (+BF). This tour will sell-out, don’t miss your chance to see this incredible line-up of Australian music legends all in the one huge show.

Tickets are avalable from

Ticketmaster on 136100 or visit www.ticketmaster.com.au

Or at www.oztix.com.au

This article can be found in issue 89 of Greater Port Macquarie Focus

Travel location: The very tip of Australia – Port Macquarie to Cape York and back in one month. Myself, my wife and our two children, aged 6 and 8, with our friends, Bindi and Barno Packer.

Flights with: Toyota Hilux Airlines – we completed the trip in our ‘99 model Toyota Hilux, all decked out for camping, towing a camper trailer behind.

We chose Cape York because … Travelling to Cape York was always a dream of mine. We evaluated the costs of a family overseas holiday vs the Cape trip. Although an overseas holiday could have been achieved for less cost, we decided the adventure and experience of Cape York would be an amazing opportunity for our family. We looked forward to the adventure and challenge of 4wding to the top and back. And there were challenges!

We wanted to see some of our great and vast country. Australia is an amazing place. I remember camping at Noahs Beach in the Daintree Forest, where the rainforest meets the ocean. The next day we were north in Cooktown, about to head west into the arid plains of Lakefield National park. In one month we saw more variety in our great landscape than I have seen in my lifetime. Our children learned more about Australia in that time then they could ever learn from books or TV. A truly remarkable experience.

We stayed at … We towed a simple but comfortable camper trailer, which we bought a few years earlier for just over $5,000. Our Hilux was fitted with a homemade kitchenette and 40 L Engel fridge on 12v. Our camper also had a small kitchen on the tailgate. We could set up camp in 20 minutes for our overnight stays in various places or if we were staying for more than one night, it would take around 1.5 hours to set up camp completely.

I remember one night on the way home, we had been driving all day after leaving Cairns and heading west over the Atherton Tablelands on our way to Charters Towers. The day was coming to an end, and we still had nowhere to camp. We were forced to set up camp on the side of the highway! Road Trains would fly by at night and shake our trailer! But that night was one of the most spectacular nights.

In the absolute middle of nowhere, we sat in our camp chairs and stared at the stars for hours. I think we saw something like 9 shooting stars. The stars were the brightest I’d ever seen, and we never got bored of staring into the night sky. I had never seen such an active, bright, night sky in all my life.

Another amazing campsite was Elliot Falls/Twin Falls in the Jardine National Park. This place is an oasis after travelling many kilometres along the corrugated dusty Development Road! Pristine, fresh water and sandy river bottoms made this place our kids’ highlight! They loved swimming and jumping through waterfalls … Life was beautiful and simple – the way it should be!

The most amazing experience on my trip was … Reaching the very tip is a fairly surreal feeling; you have an amazing sense of achievement and satisfaction. The whole experience was amazing, and it is very hard to highlight just one. Our claim to fame for the trip was reopening the Bloomfield Track. This is a clay/gravel road which leads from the Daintree towards Cooktown. It is popular for 4wders and tourists groups etc – a very beautiful and fun to drive track. We heard through the local people that the track was closed as it was too slippery and trees had fallen across the track. This devastated us, as we were desperately wanting to travel on the much appreciated and loved Bloomfield track. We decided to have a go, despite local warnings (which of course, we would never advise that you do).

The river crossings were certainly a challenge, and the road was very wet and slippery. We got to the trees fallen over the track and it certainly was impassable, with cars lined up either side of the trees trying to figure out what to do. Well, we decided to do something. We pulled out our winch cables on the 4wds and dug out our axes and winched and chopped until we removed the trees. As more 4wds arrived, more people jumped out to help. We were applauded, and we cleared the Bloomfield Track!

Another highlight was successfully completing travelling up the Old Telegraph Track. With many river crossings, the first river crossing did not go well! We got stuck exiting the river; fortunately, there was a 4wd in front of us who winched us out. It cost me a few cans of Tooheys New, but was worth it! However, after that I then had to pull out our friends travelling with us!

The food was … We cooked all our meals over gas stoves or open fires. We ate exceptionally well. With good planning and good experience, you really do not miss out on eating good food. The camp oven roast was our absolute favourite! Slow cooked lamb with the veggies thrown into the camp oven as well provided an easy and very tasty roast dinner!

While at the tip, we went deep sea fishing. It was great watching my 8 year old daughter pulling in big Snapper, or the Snapper pulling her in … so we ate a lot of fish while at the tip! It’s a stunning way of life!

A big surprise on our holiday was … We camped at a place called ‘Hanush’. This was a little campsite in the Lake Field National Park – an absolutely stunning place. We arrived late in the afternoon, and by the time we set up camp, cooked our meals and cleaned up, it was too dark to explore. The next day we began walking around the river that we camped beside. As we were walking around the river, much to our concern and surprise we met a 1.5m – 2m Salty Croc less than 100m from our camp. We watched him from a distance – simply amazing creatures to watch when left alone in the wild. We did stay another two nights at Hanush – too good a spot to leave!

Oh, and also blowing a rear wheel bearing near Archer River and needing to be towed into Weipa was an unfortunate and expensive surprise! But, it added to the great experience!

If I could give one tip to anyone travelling to Cape York it would be … DO IT! Probably the best advice I could give would be take more time. One month was a great trip, but 2 months would definitely do it more justice. Oh, and make sure you do your research and are prepared!

Thanks Todd.

This article can be found in issue 89 of Greater Port Macquarie Focus