Sunday, November 24, 2013

U3A sets mission for seniors to learn with pleasure



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A SNAPPY little acronym that has featured in the Redlands for a quarter of a century reflects a growing movement that has enriched the lives of many thousands of seniors. U3A stands for University of the Third Age, which is dedicated to providing "affordable education and the opportunity to study and learn in a relaxed environment". The term, "third age" is sometimes associated with the fantasy fiction by author JRR Tolkien but it's a reality when describing those in active retirement.
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A recent Public Notice announced the U3A Redlands' 15th annual general meeting at the Donald Simpson Community Centre on Monday, November 25, but the president, Julie Porteous, said the movement initally had operated in the Redlands as a branch of U3A Brisbane from 1988. Julie paid tribute to the inaugural president John Butters for "inspirational guidance" which she said had provided a solid foundation and when she had become vice-president in 2009 U3A Redlands had 1100 members.
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"Today we have 1600 members, 100 volunteers and over 50 subjects and classes on offer to our members." Julie said. "In 2011 I was elected as president," she said. "This was an exciting and new opportunity for me to work more closely within my own community and make something of my own 'third age'. " I am grateful and proud of the committee members who have worked together harmoniously with me to continue ensuring that U3A Redlands is held in high esteem and that we do contribute to the well-being of seniors in the Redlands."
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Learning with pleasure continued as the U3A mission, Julie said. The movement recognised the need to keep pace with the ever-increasing number of new members who were IT literate and with "the communication skills and expectations of tomorrow’s members". "Some of these new members will come from a diverse cultural background and have much to offer from their own life experiences," she said. "We will need to provide more sophisticated courses alongside the traditional ones to ensure we remain a progressive organisation." In June, U3A Redlands will host the annual U3A Queensland state conference. "We are excited at the prospect of welcoming delegates from around Queensland and also one or two from interstate," she said. "We are appreciative and wish to acknowledge the Redland City Council’s support for this event."
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U3A is among many community groups who use our Classifieds to announce their special events, making them a 'must read' to stay up to date with vibrant Redland City.

This column has appeared in The Redland Times.



Saturday, November 16, 2013

Blades are sharp and the 'army' is ready for battle

Image: Grass is honoured at Beki Cook's Cake Blog by these fabulous cupcakes.

THE blades are sharp and the sweet smell of fresh gear oil cuts through the fresh spring air. An army of hard workers are set to sweat. Yes – well, maybe – the drought is breaking after the 'scattered rainfall' this week, and the short-term out look for more showers and storms. But just as certain as another beautiful sunrise tomorrow over our fabulous Moreton Bay: the grass will grow. The lawns of Redland City are already showing a new tinge of green – and the many mowing services that rely on our Classifieds and Trade Services pages to spread their messages are itching for the action.
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MOWING must be one of the most competitive fields of endeavour in the marvellous community of classified advertising, with big and small firms all seeking clients. They can 'weather' the slow seasons with the knowledge there will always be a harvest – at some stage. The 2013-14 Queensland wet season will help many bayside families make ends meet. A new name has appeared in these pages in the past few weeks in the countdown to the mowing season. RJ's Reliable Mowing is the venture by a former energy company worker who decided that after 22 years in an office job it was time to "get outdoors and enjoy the weather".
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THE proud proprietor of the new enterprise is Rob, who grew up in the Redlands and now lives at Lota. He chose the business name carefully because he heard many complaints from householders. "Lawn mowing guys often don't turn up for the job and leave the customer in the lurch," he said. "I just want to do the right thing by the customers and be reliable. If the other guys don't want the work I'll gladly do it." After just five weeks of trading, Rob is looking for lawns in the bayside districts between Wynnum and Redland Bay.
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A BROWSE through the Gardening Services & Supplies column can show the importance of the business name or a catchy headline in a competitive environment. Readers will usually see that despite their many hours of sweat in the sun the mowing brigade seem to keep their sense of humour, as their expressions can be catchy and entertaining. The outlook from the weather bureau for south-east Queenaland coastal districts is scattered showers and storms until at least Sunday. For those who don't like the heat, the temperature forecasts are fairly mild, with maximums in the 20s but about 30 today.

Sunday, November 03, 2013

Caring Redlanders support courageous young woman


Images: Sarah Gillies, with fiance Tim Attwood; Sarah is hooked up for a session of stem cell treatment.

A SPECIAL message came from afar this week as a young woman continued her battle with leukaemia, buoyed by the support of some caring Redlanders. Sarah Gillies, 27, is suffering a tough regimen of treatment in Sydney. Her mother, Chrissie Stephens, of Bayswater Drive, Victoria Point, says Sarah remains courageous and positive in her battle which began in 2010 with a diagnosis of acute myeloid leukaemia. "Doctors couldn’t give her five years to live," Chrissie says. "Fortunately, one of her sisters was a stem cell match and in November 2010 she had a transplant. "Sarah got on with life and met the love of her life but early this year she found a lump in her breast which had leukaemia cells. "Again, luck was on her side – there were three stem cell matches in Australia and she had a second transplant in July. "Even though she has had many problems and side-effects along the way, Sarah has stayed positive and never asked for anything. "Her main worry is that her $3000 savings have been spent on medication."
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CHRISSIE, her husband Phil, and many of their Bayswater Drive neighbours and friends had a garage sale, raising about $2500 for Sarah, who has asked her mum to thank everyone for their support. Hundreds visited the participating houses, some "just to make a donation, to share their stories or buy something knowing it was going to a very special woman," Chrissie says.
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THE spirit of caring touched her heart. She has "a special thank you" for a neighbour who donated a new air conditioner which sold for $950. "The children from one house came up at the end of the day and gave me the $40 they raised," Chrissie says. "A young mother with two babies made cupcakes which along with my banana cakes raised $78. "Strangers come to me and donated money – $100 and $40. Cancer survivors came to wish her the best and she is in their prayers. "My amazing daughter, Sarah,for all she has been through and still going through can still smile and say there is always someone worse off than she is."
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ANOTHER fundraiser for Sarah is scheduled for Saturday, November 23 – a "mini high tea" at Redland IndigiScapes Centre, Runnymead Road, Capalaba, with lucky door prizes, a raffle and live music. Inquiries to Chrissie on 0419 287 256.




This column has appeared in The Redland Times
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Insects create costs for bayside guides in ticklish upgrade

Image: The logo of the Girl Guides' Moreton region, which includes Victoria Point.

THE bayside lifestyle neighbouring one of the nation's premier marine parks does carry some costs – including insect repellent. Those who are particularly sensitive to sandfly and mosquito bites sometimes will turn their backs on the natural beauty and escape to the concrete jungles of inland suburbia. For many, there is no escape, and they must learn to brush off any insect phobia with a proverbial 'wave of the hand'.
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ISSUES and tensions arise in the battle of bayside humans with biting insects. An open screen door can start a row. Insect irritation can 'get in the way' and interfere with enjoyment of special occasions and life generally. For generations, girls and their mothers in Victoria Point have had to cope with insect-related issues. Local mother Nanette Clissold this week told how they plan to solve them. She is support group president for Victoria Point Girl Guides and trying to raise $7000 for insect protection on the century-old guide hut in Point O'Halloran Road. "It's a big job because the old-style windows open outwards and to have modern screens we must replace the windows," Nanette said. "The local heritage listing means we also have to pay for special permits. "Trying to get the windows done has been an ongoing issue for us in excess of five years. We would like to be able to open the windows to ventilate the building because it gets so hot."
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NANETTE said the guide unit still needed to raise about $3000 for the project and hoped its annual jumble sale would make a significant contribution. Each year the unit promotes its sales in our Classifieds, first seeking donations, then following up with another Garage Sale notice – a strategy that is popular with community organisations. This year the guides received donations of furniture and household items. Nanette said her daughter, Laura, 9, enjoyed her involvement with the guides.
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THE movement has three divisions: Brownies, aged 5-10; guides, 10-15; and rangers, 15 and over. Victoria Point had about 25 brownies and more than 60 members overall, Nanette said. Girl Guides Australia says it provides leadership and personal skills development to its 30,000 members, including 22,000 youth members. "We provide a non-formal educational program that is dynamic and flexible while offering values based training in life skills, decision making and leadership," GGA says. "Our mission is to enable girls and young women to grow into confident, self respecting, responsible community members." Nanette said the girls definitely benefited from the sense of belonging and mentoring in life skills, gaining confidence and self-esteem.
This column has appeared in The Redland Times
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Friday, November 01, 2013

Fit applicants race for job in fast-food wrapper 'explosion'

Image: The late Russ Hinze spreads the anti-litter message in a picture from the Keep Queensland Beautiful archives.

THE fast-food industry could have copped a veiled backhander when a recent notice in the Classifieds sought a "fit person" for an important job. The effect of fast food on the Redland community is a pet subject of the businessman who placed the notice to recruit a new worker for his busy team. Bill Tincknell, however, makes no comment about the spreading waistlines and the much-publicised effects of poor diet. Rather, he has another 'w'-word in mind – the waste that litters the roadsides. Bill and his wife, Gina, head two firms that have Redland City Council slashing contracts. He says he is disgusted with the "explosion" of litter from fast-food wrappers over the past decade.
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"IN my honest opinion, the fast-food industry has a lot to answer for," Bill says. "When we started with the council's contracts there were hardly any [wrappers] but now we take tonnes and tonnes of them to the Birkdale waste facility every week, and 80 per cent of it is from three big oulets." The Tincknells' firm, Bayside Slashing, employs two workers to pick up roadside garbage in front of its tractor-towed slashers. Bill's phone ran hot with 26 applications in a few hours after the paper came off the press with its fit-person call for one casual worker.
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THAT is a bit of a telecommunications traffic jam in the management of a fleet of tractors, but Bill was pleased that at least no callers accused him of discriminating against the unfit. Born in Papua-New Guinea, Bill says he followed his parents after they settled on Russell Island in 1972. While Gina taught at the island school, her husband skippered a southern bay water taxi for five years in the 1980s. Bill recalls how the boat work allowed him to start a business on the land. During the 'seven-days-on, seven-off' rosters, he operated the tractors of the late Ron Pointon, then one of the island's biggest landholders, and eventually bought Ron's two tractors. Bayside Slashing and Russell Island Slashing now run 30 tractors and have a staff of about 20.
This column has appeared in The Redland Times.




Iron-pumping image fades in new plan to get fit and happy

Image from John's website.

ANYONE who has seen a family member or a friend spend good money on exercise equipment that lies idle after the first week or so could easily dismiss their fitness quest as simply a fad. Indeed, as the fitness industry started its meteoric rise some years ago, some drinking, smoking and generally sedentary cynics curled their lips while others sweated and groaned their way to better lifestyles. One cynic, obviously clawing for self respect as alcohol, tobacco and cream buns fell from many shopping lists, would deliver a sharp one-liner to fitness-conscious associates: "If you need to lift all that weight and run 10km a day to be fit and feel good about yourself, I can see you don't do enough work."

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SUCH a statement does have a grounding in the human evolution as survival so often depends on the energy that the essentials of life demand. But most of us are far in time and place from the rigours of dragging animal carcasses long distances for a barbie outside the cave. Despite the cynical view, attention to fitness is important not only to individuals but also to society. The idle exercise gear simply shows how hard it is to stick with a routine while meeting all the other demands of life; the 10km a day runner shows a commitment that the cynics secretly envy. Behind the curled lips may be deep-seated insecurity and even fear.
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PERSONAL trainers John and Kerry Schuh, who have been based at Capalaba for the past seven years, are on a mission. They specialise in helping people who, as John puts it, "would never enter a gym". Some may believe they would be among iron-pumping gym junkies; others may be suffering illnesses, or be elderly and feel incapable of an exercise program. "For many years, I have looked for the best and safest ways to train the body," John says. "We get a lot of medical referrals, and it is good to help people get well and get fit again."
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JOHN and Kerry first opened their fitness centre, Schuhfit, on Redland Bay Road, and moved about four years ago to Bayside Shopping Village on Old Cleveland Road. Now their fitness mission is taking them to a new address in Gumdale, where John says the space allows more facilities and services, including pools, tennis courts and accommodation. He is appreciative and thankful for the turn-out of clients who helped the couple's move last weekend. "Our clients often become good friends," he says. On both days this weekend, the Schuhs will hold a garage sale to clear their village premises as they start a new era.
This column has appeared in The Redland Times.




Doctor glides with eagles but keeps grounding in care

Image: Tranquillity in the skies. Courtesy of http://www.bunyipscenicrimresort.com.au/

PATIENTS and their families, stressed by illness and fearful of the consequences, may look to their doctors for a "magic bullet" solution. Many undoubtedly award the family doctor a godlike status and may tend to forget he or she is human too, suffering from ill health and stresses in their own lives and having to put all aside to get on with their job of helping others. The profession of general practitioner with the important role of managing conditions, minor and major, in the young and old must rate highly on the stress scale, so it was interesting to learn how one Redland GP unwinds after a heavy week dealing with others' problems.
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THE joy of peaceful relaxation reflects Dr John Tucker's voice as he talks about his glider flights over the Scenic Rim. "It's such an amazing experience – you can ascend to the cloud base and fly in circles with the eagles," he says. "It is very important to have downtime like that, and to have a quality of life." Victoria Point Surgery's patients would have noted the recent Public Notice announcing Dr Tucker's return, or heard the gentle British accent calling for his next patient. The London-trained GP is certainly pleased to be back on the bayside, where he and wife Lisa, a theatre nurse, brought their young family in 2003, looking for that quality of life.
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DR Tucker has had a long commitment to health care. Born in Mozambique as the son of a cashew factory manager and reared in the Channel Islands after the African political climate changed, he wanted to be a doctor from a young age. He says that after obtaining his degree at London Hospital and first looking to a surgical specialty, he was fortunate to work with Dr Peter Tait, who was prominent in changing medical thinking from and "old fashioned patrician-type approach" to one that was "patient sensitive". "That means involving the patient in their care, not just giving them a prescription and just saying, 'Take that and come back next week'," he says. Dr Tucker says Victoria Point Surgery is "very much focused on being a family practice" where the GPs know their patients and their families, and offer a continuity that some corporate practices may lack.
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JOHN Tucker has returned to the Redlands with renewed commitment, after the recent deaths of both his parents and the pressures of being a carer for a loved one with terminal illness. The glider pilot admits that experience has been a 'grounding' and an insight into the demanding, full-time job that carers must endure.
This column has appeared in The Redland Times.



Bayside in spring:Saturdays bring their beauty, joy

Image: Glorious Moreton Bay, courtesy of www.louisedenisenko.com/

A FRIEND who is losing his sight has gained comfort from a simple writing project that he says has lifted his spirits as the darkness descends. While still able to peck at his computer keyboard, he has described the 10 visions he will keep in his mind – images that the cruel condition cannot erase. The list touched my heart. It's a journey through his life, from the stunning beauty of a frosty winter morning in the Queensland inland, where he grew up, to the experiences and loved ones that enriched and shaped his life. Even his faithful old pooch gets a spot. My mate recommends such a 'top 10' project not only as a form of therapy for someone in crisis but also as a technique that anyone can use to honour their special memories.
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THE beauty of Moreton Bay as the sun rises on a Saturday in spring would be near the top of my list. That takes some beating. It's just so inspiring, especially after a tough week, with the building anticipation of finding a bargain at a garage sale. Many thousands of Redlanders share this sentiment, and at The Redland Times we are proud to contribute to those special Saturdays with the 'definitive guide' to the Redland bargain hunt. Tomorrow, not far from the bay, a hum of happy chatter will surround the Link Road, Victoria Point, office of a community group that has been busy preparing for its garage sale. Meals on Wheels Victoria Point and Redland Bay is also about to celebrate its 40th anniversary; the service started in March 1974.
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PRESIDENT Louise Denisenko says clients include pensioners, people recovering from accidents, surgery and illness or those with a disability. Although the meals are delivered on weekdays, frozen meals are available for weekends. "The cost is just $8 to receive a cooked nutritious meal, made fresh that morning, consisting of a soup, hot meal, dessert and juice delivered to the door with a friendly smile," she says. "Currently approximately 400 meals per week are delivered by volunteer drivers to Victoria Point, Redland Bay, Thornlands and the bay islands," she says.
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LOUISE says clients need neither paperwork nor medical referral. "It’s just simply a phone call to the office on 3207 7126 weekdays." The "energised and focused committee" includes vice-president Ros Stowers, secretary Jan Riggs and treasurer Judy Hull. "It’s inspirational to see the commitment of local volunteers, some of whom have been assisting here for many years," she says. The team will be 'on deck' tomorrow. The bureau forecasts a fine spring Saturday.
This column appeared in The Redland Times in September.




Farrier plies his trade as 'progress' claims equine turf

Image: Brett shapes a shoe.

THE ever-advancing urban sprawl across the once-tranquil mix of paddocks and bush on the bayside and in nearby districts gives opportunities to some. However, the cruel sting is that the population and building boom may smother Redland's colourful rural heritage and steal opportunities from those who continue in rural pursuits. It has been gratifying to see a master farrier plying his trade through the acreage belts where property owners are yet to sacrifice their horses to the demands of developers.
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BRETT Young has serviced Redland horses with hot and cold shoeing, trims and dentistry since he moved to South East Queensland from Taree, NSW, in the mid-1990s. He agrees the horse population in the SEQ peri-urban areas has been continually shrinking and he tells of driving past streets of houses where horses once ran on substantial properties. "There's been a massive reduction in the number of horse properties," Brett says. However, all is not lost, and he hopes to pick up some more clients through his modest classified advertising, which in a recent edition provided the only listing under the 'Horses' heading.
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ANYONE who has seen farriers at work must admire their ability to control the awesome power of equine muscles. A slip-up can mean serious injury but Brett has been bruise free in his decades as a farrier. "It can be dangerous but I have been very lucky so far and I guess you need to know what you are doing," he says. "I was brought up around horses; you have to be very wary of them." Brett started shoeing his own horses when he was just 14 years old and working on Manning district cattle properties around Taree. Since about 1990 he has been a full-time farrier. He has worked for thoroughbred studs including several near Beaudesert where he has helped prepare prospects for the Gold Coast's famous Magic Millions sales. It was interesting to see wikipedia.com's reference saying that historically the jobs of farrier and blacksmith were practically synonymous. Brett says hot shoeing, whereby red hot steel is shaped to suit the hoof, is less common than in past eras; the technique generally suits big horses requiring heavier steel – 10 millimetres thick and 2.5mm wide – that cannot be easily shaped when cold. Farriers have long used gas forges for the job.
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NOW back to the Redland rural character: The 2011 census put the number of residents engaged in agriculture, forestry and fishing at just 393 or 0.6 per cent of the city's workforce. This was a drop of 71 since 2006. Brett, however, would fall into the "professional, scientific and technical" category, which in the same period grew by 950 to 4271 people, representing 6.3pc of the workforce.

Cruel disability on rise as messagebank paralysis strikes

Image: Inventor of the telephone, Alexander Graham Bell, as honoured at www.thehistoryblog.com, where a recording of his voice is posted.

IT'S fascinating how the telephone – patented by Alexander Graham Bell a century and a half ago – shows no signs of age and in fact gets more active by the minute. Those of us who once relied on public pay phones can now fondly recall the highlights and lowlights of a world minus the beloved 'mobile'. Highlight: Finding a phone that vandals had not yet wrecked. Lowlight: Having to queuing outside a booth to make an urgent call – while a teenager laughed and giggled on the line with their latest love. There were other lowlights – such as those relating to cleanliness – but I don't want to ruin your day by dwelling on the grimy detail.
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REMEMBER the frustration of having to return to the booths time and again when the person you needed to contact failed to answer your calls. At least technology has helped to solve that one with the messagebank. The public phone is not yet extinct but its importance to society has gradually waned. In the dim past, it was not uncommon to queue behind a payphone user with the latest edition of their paper in one hand as they raced to get the bargain, or the job. Underpinning the culture of classified advertising is the hard reality of the early bird getting the worm. And that remains pretty much the same in the buying and selling sections. Browsing the classifieds I often wonder how the response rates have changed over the years because of technology and the growth of the 24/7 mindset. It's all so easy nowadays. However, a psychiatric condition has developed like a dark cloud during the sunny advance of telecommunications technology.
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'MESSAGEBANK phobia' is the hidden curse of the classifieds community, causing misery of lost sales and missed bargains. The cruel disability paralyses the vocal cords. Many must forever wonder about the person behind that mysterious silence before the welcome 'click' that ends the torture. Some may analyse the background noise to look for clues, call in a third party to confirm the clink of a glass or a roar of a starting motor, and check the caller ID list.
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ON the other side of the line, the phobia sufferer grapples with some deep issues, such as: Why didn't they answer their phone? Was it because they were in the toilet? Has the item already been sold? Obviously, technology cannot supply a 'one size fits all' solution. My advice to advertisers would be to answer your phone whenever possible and use the messagebank only as a last resort. If an item has been sold, it doesn't take much effort to answer the phone and thank someone for their interest. That's just good old fashioned courtesy that can ease the suffering.
This column has appeared in The Redland Times.





'Classified' info and leaks? They're all part of the service


Image: The murky world of a leak in the classifieds.

THE barrage of announcements this week that revealing classified information is apparently bad enough to incur enough life sentences to take the meow out of the family cat sent shudders through some human bones. Innocent eyes that gaze at me from behind a razor every day have feasted on classified information for decades. Even worse, the creature behind those bloodshot windows to the soul has been manning phones and keyboard with the noble motivation of 'the public's right to know', just like the defence in tribunals with authority to 'throw away the key'. The Law's apparent interest in the classifieds is puzzling indeed. And all the talk of leaks! Why don't they call a plumber?

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A TRADESMAN like Wellington Point's Malcolm Blyth can soon take care of any troublesome leaks. If he was in the US the government wouldn't need the infamous Guantanamo Bay prison. Nevertheless, Mal copped an 'enhanced interrogation' – minus any beatings and sleep and sensory deprivation, but with a much-feared torture technique, the interrogator's sense of humour – over his interest in leaks of the 'drip, drip, drip' kind. Let it go on the record now that, yes, Brisbane-born Mal has profited from leaks occurring in the Redlands for several decades but, no, he's not a terrorist, just a reliable, semi-retired tradie looking forward to some overseas travel now his son, Jack, has graduated from Sheldon College and settled in as a university student. Mal's wife Sally is an abstract artist who knows how to turn a leak into a good picture. She's just finished 14 paintings for a Noosa retirement village. They deserve their passports.
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Mal admits he had a brush with the mafia in Italy "way back" and came face to face with the black market when he tried to buy a cigar in Vietnam a few years ago. But the only 'spooks' in his life were those in the Tower of London where he worked early morning shifts on the heating system while studying at night for his plumbing certificates many years ago. Yes, the 'Speckled Hen' is at top of mind for Mal. But no, it's not the code name for a 'wiki' covert – just a tasty English brew that he enjoys at his beloved The Grand Hotel, where he might chat with his mates about his past travels including New Zealand and the Pacific islands, or the Socceroos' Asian Cup performance.
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Mal does admit he'd like to use a few 'compliance' techniques to get Jake back into the "world game" after a stellar career as a Redlands defender. But Mal's just another loving dad, like dozens of the other tradies who advertise in The Redland Times and Bayside Bulletin every week.
This column appeared in August in The Redland Times.



Club with 'folkus' strikes chord for Redland's culture

Image: From the Folk Redlands site at http://67.222.30.84/~folkredl/.

A NICE play on words in a catchy slogan underscores how a club for music lovers and musicians has enriched the Redland cultural scene for almost a decade. "The folkus is on bringing people and music together" in Folk Redlands, which this week is basking in the success of its three-day ukulele convention. The convention last weekend at the Cleveland artspace and cafe, The Artist Tree, and Redland City Council's Indigiscapes Centre has lifted spirits in the folk club as it prepares for its annual general meeting next month.
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CLUB vice-president Colin Nightingale says about 300 people attended the three sessions and club officials were keen to hold the convention annually. Folk Redlands has been a big part of Colin's life since he was founding president nine years ago. He not only serves on the executive but also promotes its message on a Bay-FM radio show, Acoustic Harvest, every second Thursday at 8pm. The show is promoted as "where you can enjoy music that main stream FM radio long since abandoned as not being commercial enough". Colin still finds time to develop his own musical skills, playing the whistle, concertina and of course the ukulele. He says Folk Redlands has blossomed in a "perfect partnership" with Indigiscapes, where the club holds concerts on the first and third Sundays each month – proudly supporting emerging talent.
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"WE have a very welcoming atmosphere at Indigiscapes," he says. "Budding musicians can feel very, very relaxed as they get exposure in front of an audience. "We also feature professional artists and they often comment on the enthusiasm and involvement of the audience." Folk Redlands, which started with just seven members, now involves a "pool" of about 200 people, many of whom perform, Colin says. Although emphasisis is on folk music, he says, "We are not so pedantic that we say 'That's not folk' so musicians with interests in other genres do perform for us.
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COLIN says the club regards its sound system, which it bought with the help of grants from the council and the Regional Arts Development Fund, as belonging to the community. "We supply the equipment and the service of a sound engineer to community events," he says. With a committee of seven, led by president Patrick Burke, Folk Redlands has used a public notice in The Redland Times to invite "all members and friends" to its AGM at The Artist Tree, Bloomfield Street, at 5.30pm on Tuesday, August 27.

This column appeared in July in The Redland Times.




Art meets science in sophistication 'by the boardwalk'

Image: Art of the Redlands

THE freedom of art met scientific precision on Sunday when bayside painters showed their creativity in the Raby Bay restaurant precinct. The three-hour exhibition and demonstration has been among events in the first Ignite Redlands Light Arts Festival, a new community-based move to celebrate the arts in "beautiful Redlands".
The painters in a happy band with a simple but telling name, Art Lovers, are developing their skills with the guidance of a valued member of this newspaper's classified advertising community.
MANY readers know Stephen Holliday as the razor-witted properietor of Bayside Mobile Sharpening, a regular advertiser in The Redland Times and Bayside Bulletin trade services pages. Stephen has also taught art for more than 20 years and has run his school and associated art supply service in the bayside suburbs while he has kept busy sharpening for a wide range of clients "from restaurants, hairdressers, pet groomers and veterinary surgeries to hospitals, retirement villages and of course tradies of all descriptions". Perhaps more than most art teachers, Stephen knows the importance of a sharp pencil. That's where art meets science.
BORN and reared in the industrial city of Newcastle, Stephen practised his art from a young age then qualified in the highly disciplined field of pattern making with the then NSW State Dockyard. Along the way he picked up many awards for painting in community exhibitions including the Hunter region's Mattara festival. Before Stephen and his wife, Carmel, moved to Ormiston in 1990 he worked for many years as a travelling consultant with a hand tool company. The couple now live in Cleveland.
"BAYSIDE Mobile Sharpening was to initially run between the Logan River and Brisbane River and out to the highway," he says. "Sometimes I feel we should call it Brisbane Mobile Sharpening, due to the fact that there aren’t many mobile sharpeners around and I am getting calls from all over. "I have sharpened tools and machinery blades since my apprenticeship days in 1969, and I am able to sharpen pretty much anything with an edge, with the equipment I have, including specialised machinery to tackle the more difficult jobs. "Some clients post items from out west or arrange a drop-off point at our home. I have slogans like, 'Best prices at your convenience' and 'The perfect result gives you the edge'.”
IT is no surprise that Stephen's art is in the realist category with his group focusing mainly on landscapes and seascapes. He says last Sunday's successful event has been a preview for Art by the Boardwalk, which aims to draw visitors from afar to the the Redlands' beloved Raby Bay on the first Sunday each month.
This column has appeared in The Redland Times.



Sunday, August 04, 2013

Stars in sci-fi plot of job hunt face battle with 'robots'

Image: Enlarged section from the Blogger template thumbnails.

THE image of a robot wielding power over people's lives would have fitted nicely in a sci-fi plot just a few decades ago. That most famous spaceship commander of the 1960s, Captain Kirk, could have asked a robot to pick his crew, and millions of jaws around the world would have missed a bite or two over TV dinners. However, the 'gee whiz' is now just an echo in the airwaves of time as computer programs provide management tools that society accepts with a shrug.
ONE program even finds errors and inconsistencies in a tax return – ha, ha – and millions of Australians are itching to download the latest version of e-tax from the ATO. Computer technology offers 'yes/no' options for users of so many applications it makes some old sci-fi writers look a tad short of imagination. The scenarios may be scary. Take, for example, the case of a job applicant who spends many hours sweating over the documenting of his/her working life, only to have a computer in effect trash the resume before it even goes under human eyes.
THAT seems to be fairly common as employers and recruitment specialists often use programs to identify key words and phrases in job applications to decide the best candidates. An operator defines the criteria for the program to comb the carefully crafted text, and if it fails to pass the test the writer may as well reach for a Newstart form and see how they go with that robot. But don't give up hope. Some highly experienced writers are available to help applicants jump such a 'techno-hurdle'. Antony Leibbrandt, of Thornlands, has run a resume service in Redland City for more than a decade. IN the mid-1990s, he and his wife Lauren brought their family from Johannesburg, South Africa, where they ran retail franchises. The couple soon opened a children's specialty shop, Only Kids, at Capalaba, and now own a company, Trellidor Queensland, marketing a wide range of security-related products. Antony makes the time to help jobseekers create professional resumes and advertises his firm, A Superior Resume, in our Classifieds, also offering selection criteria counselling, interview coaching and advice on the 'hidden job market'.
ANTONY acknowledges the development of computers in application screening for qualities such as "reliability", "enthusiasm", "ambition" and a host of other desirables but he says the perfectly tailored resume goes a lot deeper. "The key words and phrases may come down to a technical level and applicants can benefit from assistance in identifying them," he says. Antony says two golden rules apply in any job hunt – always be honest and remember that first impressions are important, so practise with a family or friend before an interview and dress well on the day.
This column has appeared in The Redland Times.

Thursday, August 01, 2013

Community theatre sends out SOS: 'Support our songs'

Image of George Bernard Shaw courtesy of
The Daily Grime.

HE is lauded as one of the deepest 'thinkers' in world literature but even the great George Bernard Shaw might think again if he could experience the joy of some musical achievements in Redland City. The acerbic Shaw is credited with one of the sharpest barbs for aspiring musicians. He put it bluntly: "Hell is full of musical amateurs."

SHAW clearly didn't know up from down because music is always a heaven for someone, whether performer or listener. Just ask the many millions who express themselves in amateur theatre and the millions more who thoroughly enjoy hearing and watching. The applause says it all. Eat ya words, George. Amid this enormous groundswell of art from the heart you'll find people like Stephen Kay, not trying to mimic the famous achievers but studying the technicalities, creating original works and fostering others who are prepared to have a go. It's all about community, something an embittered old playwright like Shaw apparently didn't really understand.

STEPHEN is celebrating his 60th year in the Redlands. The son of a British airman turned Capalaba poultry farmer, Stephen had his first taste of the Australian rural lifestyle at Morayfield after his family migrated in 1948, via the US. His involvement in community theatre with music stems from his RAAF service as a young man in Victoria. He later worked as a company credit manager and teacher, and studied music theory to help him compose. Now 73, Stephen wrote the first of his four musicals when aged 21. Under the pseudonym of Oliver Thomas, he has also written two books of poetry, two short stories and a novel. His latest project has been to create a musical in the style of Rodgers and Hammerstein and establish a special 'repertory' group to perform it.

THE production of Mister Sunshine, including an impressive total of 18 original songs and a cast of 15, opened last weekend at the Cleveland CWA Hall. The plot centres on a retirement home where the arrival of a "special angel messenger" ends the boredom and gives a recipe for enjoying life. Now with first night jitters settled, Stephen's SOS Theatre Group is ready for two more shows, at Manly/Lota RSL Hall, Melville Terrace, Manly, at 7.30 tonight and 1.30pm tomorrow. Stephen says the acronym stands for Seniors on Stage and reflects his wish to "give seniors something to do, keep moving, keep their brains working and stave off the problems of ageing".

This column appeared in The Redland Times on May 31.

Sunday, May 26, 2013

Painter laments trend to white but it's still tops in cricket

Image: Courtesy of fellow bloggers at Hue Color Consulting.

HOLD your breath and steady yourself for the coming announcement but the lid's not being lifted on anything here. In fact, the lid is going back on the can. One of Redland City's most experienced painters, Barry Short, has revealed his retirement plans. Barry is a longtime advertiser in our Trade Services section where he describes himself as "your friendly, reliable local painter". He's proud that he has been able to conduct his business totally within the Redland boundaries for the past 20 years.
A TRUE 'gentleman painter', Barry estimates he has worked on thousands of houses in the district since he moved from Sydney with his wife Linda and their sons Bradley and Mathew. His grounding in his trade came from a painting and decorating apprenticeship with the Waltham Forest Borough Council in north-east London before he and Linda married in 1967.
"We were married in March and came to Australia in June – two young people looking for adventure," he says.
WHEN the Shorts tired of the urban pressures of Bondi, they headed straight for the then Redland Shire, rented a unit then bought an Alexandra Hills home where they still live.
Although Mathew opted for a career as a chef, Bradley has followed his dad's footprints and the pair happily work together. Barry says he has seen a lot of change in his trade: "When I started it was all with oil-based enamels but now the modern acrylic paints make it so much easier and people can have fun with colours."  He still prefers what he terms 'solid' colours despite a trend to lighten shades by addition of big percentages of white.
IN FACT, he says white is so much in fashion that one manufacturer's latest colour cards display 135 different 'whites'. However, cricket whites happen to be a favourite for Barry, who played with the Alexandra Hills club some years ago and now looks forward to his former countrymen holding the Ashes in the coming series against Australia.
WHEN discussing his retirement plan and reflecting on his life, "Barry" Short has revealed his driver's licence bears a different spelling of his Christian name – it is "Bari". "My father served in the Royal Horse Artillery in World War II and after he was wounded he was taken to the Red Cross in Bari, Italy," he says. "That's why he named me 'Bari'." A painter needs to get on with the job without wasting time talking, so the solution has been to 'Australianise' his name, and all those happy clients will remember him as "Barry".

This column has appeared in The Redland Times.