Visit inner universe and paradise planet called Art

THE feeling of timelessness makes browsing artworks one of the most relaxing pastimes. Stepping into a public or private gallery seems to free up pathways in the mind.
On the other side of the art equation, the creation also can be a marvellously meditative experience and an escape from the humdrum of everyday existence to a special place where there are no pressures other than those you want to accept.
An invitation to this paradise has been posted on the Classifieds' Find Us First page, where renowned Birkdale sculptor Georgette Schwantes, trading as Georgette's Art, has promised "therapeutic and relaxing" art classes.

GEORGETTE is one of Redland's most accomplished artists, with her stunning creations featuring at times in our news pages.
One of her commissions, a life-size fibreglass sculpture of Jesus, for Sacred Heart School, Sandgate, appeared on The Redland Times front page in 2009, and last year crosses that she created for Carmel College featured in the Bayside Bulletin.
Georgette has had much experience in teaching, both privately and at TAFE level. She was born in Egypt but grew up in England, where she obtained a degree in fine arts.
She has practised in the Redlands for about three decades. Georgette has an intriguing answer to that age-old question, What is art?

"I STRONGLY believe that art is an experience, and it has to be experienced," she says. "Ever since I can remember, I have always enjoyed creating art.
"The pleasure ... is not from finishing a piece, but rather the journey in creating it.
"I am always reluctant to sign a piece off, as that is acknowledging that it is finished. Then sadness comes over me, similar to the sadness at the end of a love affair.
"For me, there is no better way to express myself, my feelings, dealing with a three-dimensional form, one I can feel, not only with my hands but with my very soul.
"When I am working with my clay, I lose myself in it, time stands still, five hours can fly by and it can feel like five minutes.
"I am no longer in control of it, it has a soul all of its own, the presence of pure energy is running through me. I can feel it directing my hands. Oh, what joy, what ecstasy; I am flying; I am out of this world."

GETTING her feet back on the ground Georgette is also developing a specialty in sculptural restorations and has completed several major projects on sculptures that have been damaged in transport from overseas.

Thanks for joining me to meet the people in the marvellous community of classified advertising. This column has appeared in The Redland Times. Image courtesy http://www.georgettesart.com/

Retail stouch brings out hammers, saws

GUNS and bombs are the standard weapons of war but hammers and saws can be handy when the retail giants battle for supremacy.
The retail power game, which has been one of the nation's most discussed subjects in recent years, is erupting into outright commercial warfare, as Woolworths advances toward the opening of its first home improvement stores.
Woolies is recruiting staff for a Tingalpa store, which is under construction. Positions that the group has listed on the new Fairfax Media network, Jobs.com.au, include department managers and assistants, receiving associate and training coordinator.

A WOOLIES spokeswoman in Sydney yesterday confirmed the store was scheduled to open in the second half of 2011. She understood about 120 staff would be needed.
The job notice lists the departments as gardening/outdoor living; paint, flooring and home décor; kitchens and appliances; building supplies and trade sales; plumbing, electrical and tools; stockroom; and administration.
The criteria include ability to work across the seven days of the week, evenings, late nights and some public holidays; retail management experience; experience in one of the categories; a strong customer focus; liking for a fast-paced team environment; communication and interpersonal skills; an eye for detail and a sense of urgency; ability to drive sales; and a passion for home improvement.

THE details are likely to be well read by generals of the opposing 'army', the Wesfarmers group, which operates the Bunnings chain. They have had to chew their nails while Woolies has plotted its hardware campaign, which retail watchers dubbed as "top secret".
The Sydney Morning Herald last month reported Woolworth would spend about $400 million on the first 12 stores in its joint venture with US partner Lowe's as they targeted the $6 billion a year Bunnings business.
Bunnings reportedly has lodged a development application to build a store at Wynnum West, about one minute's drive from the Woolies site.
The name of the new chain is still a whisper in the Woolworths corridors but retail analysts expect an announcement soon.
The spokeswoman would not reveal whether the company planned any hardware stores in Redland City.

Thanks for joining me in the marvellous community of classified advertising. This column appeared in The Redland Times in April. Image courtesy www.clker.com

Colourful language of politics and business

Image: Tearout of this column from The Redland Times.


AUSTRALIA can probably thank a prime minister for legitimising the word "boxhead", which has found a new life promoting a Redland business.
Labor's Paul Keating has his place in history as a verbal artist who turned the nation's political debate into a fabulous collection of comic-book one-liners, and his reference to Liberal MP Wilson Tuckey as a “boxhead” is still celebrated as classic Keating-speak.
“Boxhead” apparently started as a reference to German soldiers during or after the two world wars because of the shape of their helmets; at least, that's the view on www.en.wikipedia.org

VARIOUS online dictionaries say the slang term later came to mean “a stupid person”, the Oxford, claiming to produce “the world's most trusted dictionaries”, still doesn't recognise Keating's authority in using it and seems to consider it unworthy of a definition.
All this was of no concern to Bayside Removals' Steve Rae when he wrote his Trade Services notice, saying: “Don't be a boxhead. Call Bayside Removals instead. We'll do it all for you.”
The artwork with a photograph of a couple wearing cartons over their heads backs up the theme.
Steve didn't need to consult Paul Keating or any dictionary when choosing the wording to get his message across and promise “no gimmicks – just the best rate and quality service”.

STEVE was relaxing on a houseboat on the Gold Coast yesterday during a welcome break from his demanding occupation as Bayside Removals manager.
He has left the management of the firm's fleet of five trucks in the capable hands of sales manager Craig Iselin.
Craig said the exceptional work by three Bayside Removals staff members during the January floods had been a talking point.
The trio had used their semi-trailer to get through the flood at Sherwood and Graceville to evacuate residents and save some property.
A metropolitan newspaper had reported how they had rescued an elderly man who had been swept into the fast-moving current and had clung to a post to save himself from drowning.

CRAIG said the efforts of the three, identified just as Andrew, Wazza and Justin, would be long remembered in the company history.
Bayside Removals not only services the greater Brisbane region but also operates interstate and to other parts of Queensland.

Thanks for joining me to meet the people in the marvellous community of classified advertising.

Loss of furniture after flood breaks heart

Image: that's your humble scribe trying to restore an old silky old robe.

THE heartbreak of the January floods was plainly evident to Redland furniture expert Gavin Hodges as he watched the massive clean-up. Gavin says he was close to tears as solid old furniture was trashed. “A lot of it could have been restored,” he says. “After the 1974 floods the good items could be salvaged but this time it was all crushed by heavy machinery. “It was terrible; a whole era of quality furniture has been lost forever.”

GAVIN has a keen eye for quality furniture, thanks to a lifelong passion and a lot of training. The son of Laidley small crop and flower growers, Les and Betty Hodges, Gavin moved to Wellington Point with his family when he was six years old. He did an apprenticeship in french polishing at a Capalaba workshop specialising in pianos and antiques, and opened his own business, Bayside Quality Furniture Restorations, about 30 years ago.

THE firm, which Gavin operates in partnership with his wife Noela, has a showroom in Shore Street, Cleveland, just two doors from its workshop, and employs about 10 staff Gavin is delighted his son Mitchell, 22, shares the family's interest in furniture. Mitchell has completed an apprenticeship in french polishing, antiques and restoration. Bayside Quality Furniture Restorations found great benefit from the opening of the showroom about 10 years ago, putting some grand pieces on exhibition in air-conditioned premises, Gavin says. He has focused on developing not only a complete restoration service, including upholstery, but also on custom building of all types of furniture. Clients have commisioned the firm for special cabinet and lounge designs. They can choose the upholstery material from a wide range on display in the showroom.

THE firm's major projects in recent years have included the restoration of furniture in the historic colonial residence Whepstead Manor. The project demanded a fine eye for detail because, as Redland Tourism notes, the building of Whepstead was initiated by Gilbert Burnett, manager for Captain Louis Hope, who was the father of Queensland’s sugar industry. Whepstead, originally known as Fernbourne, was completed in 1889 and has a floor area covering 150 square metres over two levels with an attic. No story about old furniture would complete without a reference to that fabulous timber species, the silky oak, which seems to be getting rarer. Gavin says the silky oak is one of the main timbers in his restoration projects, along with other Queensland timbers such as maple and red cedar.

Thanks for joining me to meet the great people in the marvellous community of classified advertising. This column has appeared in The Redland Times.

From UK mainframes to Redland pcs

Image from www.ctredlands.com.au

THE prospect of a new life in sunny Queensland looked good when computer programmer Carl Harbinson and his architect wife Sangeeta tired of the pressures of London. Six years later, Carl says they yearned for quality of life and they found it in Redland City. Carl and Sangeeta are also building a business, Computer Troubleshooters Redland, with a service centre in Shore Street West, Cleveland. The firm marks a new era of independence for Carl, who started his computing career in the corporate mainframe environment, programming the batteries that backed up the power supply.

AFTER much experience with telecommunications companies in the UK, he worked with several in Australia before setting up his own business about three years ago. Sangeeta, having a break from her profession, has a management/administrative role which Carl describes in computing jargon as the "back end". Computer Troubleshooters' notice asks a question that hits the spot for most home computer users and undoubtedly a lot of businesses. "Tearing your hair out with frustration?" Readers may wonder if a toupe features in the picture that accompanies this column because computing failures of various types are not like lightning: they may strike in the same place, time and again.

THE gut-churning terror of a crash has again turned my writing schedule upside down, and I only have myself to blame for not backing up a lot of important files. Luckily I have clawed my way back into operation but appear to have lost the contacts I have made through Classie Corner over the years. Anyone who has featured in the column - particularly business operators -is invited to send me an update on their activities. That way, I'll rebuild my address book and can use the information in future columns to keep the readership in touch. The address is fourjays@bigpond.com

BACK to Carl: He has been busy upgrading the computers of many home users. "There has been a lot of uncertainty about the future and many people are trying to eke out the life of their computers as long a possible, upgrading the memory and the CPU, rather than buying new computers," he says. Carl says he recently completed a major project for a business, overcoming server issues with MYOB to save the client substantially on user costs. But, away from the keyboards, screens and workbench, he says his great satisfaction in life is finding the right environment to bring up their children, Kieran, 11, and Jasmine, 6.

Thanks for joining me to meet the great people in the marvellous community of classified advertising. This column has appeared in The Redland Times.

'Monster' freeway sweeper heads for Redland base

EXCITEMENT is building at the Redland base of a company that has been helping to replace the plain old-fashioned broom with a set of high-tech cleaning machines. The small team at Sweepers Pty Ltd's Enterprise Street, Cleveland, headquarters is gearing up for the impending launch of two new products that managing director Mark Scull describes as breakthroughs for the cleaning industry. Mark and his wife Roz set up Sweepers at Lytton about 12 years ago and moved the operation to Cleveland about four years later.

SWEEPERS sells and hires out commercial and industrial cleaning equipment, such as vacuums, scrubbers and sweepers to clients throughout Australia. The firm also runs a contracting division, Wombat Sweepers. Mark expects the new products to find a national market. "One is designed to pick up debris from freeways, travelling at 80 kilometres per hour," he says. "It will pick up a 20-litre drum or a tyre. The removal of this sort of debris freeways has been a problem. I searched for this type of machine for about 10 years and finally found a guy who was developing one in the United States."

THE other product is a new type of cleaning device for rough surfaces. Mark says traditional practice has been to use one scrubber to remove the rubble and another high-pressure water cleaner to complete the job. However, his new US-made device will complete both tasks and recycle the water, minimising waste.

A POSITIONS Vacant notice gave an indication of increasing activity at Sweepers. Mark and Roz advertised for a "computer geek ... experienced in building and maintaining websites". Mark says the websites (sweepers.com.au and wombatsweepers.com.au) have a vital role in keeping Sweepers on the industry's cutting edge, so the geek position is important. About a dozen computer experts applied over two days. Mark says the couple has employed a highly experienced website expert with briefs including search engine optimisation.

WHILE the new products warrant some heavy promotion, Sweepers has a long list of products in 15 categories, ranging from small single-disc scrubbers and leaf and litter vacuums to ride-on scrubbers, road sweepers and garbage compactors. Cleanaway's Townsville branch supervisor Allan Mott has praised Sweepers for its support of his branch's four sweepers and another the company operates at Mount Isa Mines. "The heavy industrial sweeping we contracted to do around the Port of Townsville is EPA monitored and has to be of a high standard with low dust emissions," Allan says. "The ability of the sweeper to sweep and contain the fine metal dust particles such as copper dust, zinc and lead is a job that is required to be constantly done whilst ships are loading."

Thanks for joining me to meet the people in the marvellous community of classified advertising. This column has appeared in The Redland Times.

Ageing and the jigsaw of life

THE right to privacy dictates that the subjects of today's Classie Corner are not identified; this Redland family is in the grip of one of modern society's cruellest health problems. The authorities say 1.5 million Australians have dementia but the knowledge “you are not alone” doesn't make life any easier for those who cope with an illness that steals the personality of their loved ones. Sue, of Ormiston, noticed early symptoms in her mother, we'll call her “Louise”, about three years ago.

THEN aged in her early eighties, enjoying her painting and crafts, and living happily with her husband of almost six decades in their Cleveland retirement unit, Louise had memory lapses. “She would be unable to find things and would put things where nobody else could find them,” Sue recalls. “Gradually she lost her sense of time and place, and her ability to manage everyday life. She would get mixed up on the time of day and be unable to tell whether she would have breakfast, lunch or dinner. Her forgetfulness led to dangers and we had to take away appliances that could cause problems.”

ABOUT one year ago, a gerontologist diagnosed Alzheimer's disease but Sue says her mum could keep living in the unit, with support from community agency PresCare and the day respite centre Killara Place. Sue says her parents both caught pneumonia last month and it became clear that they could no longer live independently. Louise is now a patient at Redland Residential Care, Weippin St, Cleveland; Sue and her husband are rearranging their house to accommodate her dad. The aged care facility is part of the Redland Hospital complex. The caring attitudes of the staff have impressed Sue, who visits her mum almost every day.

SUE found that her mum, who kept busy with art and crafts for many years, has developed a liking for jigsaw puzzles. "She started with a 40-piece puzzle and I think she could handle up to 100 pieces but not the big 500-piece puzzles," Sue says. Sue has trouble sourcing suitable puzzles, so placed a “wanted” notice seeking those designed for children aged four to six; she specified "no missing pieces".

MOST puzzles in the category feature children's or cartoon themes; simple puzzles showing landscapes or other scenes suitable for a senior are rare, Sue says. After Louise has solved the jigsaws, they join the centre's collection so other dementia patients can also enjoy them. It seems donations of jigaw puzzles to aged care facilities such as Redland Residential Care would meet a need.

Thanks for joining me to meet the people in the marvellous community of classified advertising. This column has appeared in The Redland Times. Image from office.microsoft.com

Property success grows on Fruit trees

Image from www.fruitproperty.com

BRIGHT green and orange corporate colours grabbed attention in the Positions Vacant pages this month when Fruit Property Redland City advertised for sales staff. The recruitment drive has heralded a milestone at the Middle Street, Cleveland, agency that business partners Craig Yarrow and Sharon Saul set up five years ago. May 15 will be the fifth anniversary at the office, which began as part of the Raine and Horne group but became a Fruit franchise in September 2009. Sharon says the business had a staff of just four when it began but now has 10, working on sales, administration and property management.

THE Fruit group, using the slogan "Property with passion", started in Victoria, aiming to demonstrate "a fresh look at real estate". Such a theme, using the image of fresh produce seems to be a natural for the Redlands because of its heritage in horticulture. However, Sharon says the modern approach that Fruit founder Craig Bellgrove expounded, with emphasis on care for all clients, vendors and buyers, impressed the Redland partners. A simple gesture in providing apples in promotional packs at property inspections underscores the group's principles but the ethos does go deeper.

THE founder says the group has built "a culture of authenticity and contribution, with a real 'walk the talk' flavour and identified a shared values base that supports a terrific experience for our clients". "I believe an organisation should have a heart and a reason for existing beyond just the financial equations," Craig says. He urges Fruit representatives to actively listen and accurately hear and sense another's thoughts and feelings. The Redland agency invited applicants to "bring a great attitude and a passion to succeed" and promised a comprehensive support system for sales people to pursue a career path in property.

SHARON says the agency's weekly fruit bill has been growing with a marked increase in buyer activity in the market and more attending open-house inspections. She is unsure of the reasons behind the activity but confidence seems to be returning to what is still a 'buyer's market'. The trend points to an upbeat celebration to mark the May anniversary.

This column has appeared in The Redland Times.

Friend departs, chilly relatives arrive

Image from www.redfest.com.au

THE changing of the guard in nature's march toward the winter always makes me sad. While the door's open during a warm farewell to the great friend called Summer, some chilly old relatives, Aunty Autumn and Uncle Winter, sneak past and unpack their suitcases for an extended stay. The promise of springtime glory may be the only way to handle the suffering of the months ahead. I am not alone in already thinking about spring 2011 in Redland City; it creates some top-of-mind issues for the band of volunteers who now start the countdown to the city's annual spring festival. Their excitement will build quickly after the annual general meeting of Redland Spring Festival Inc at Cleveland Showgrounds at 6.30pm on Tuesday, March 15.

JOANNE Millard, in her second year as festival manager, is confident this year's festival will be the best in the event's 53-year history. Now also carrying the modernised tag as "Redfest", the spring festival started as the Redlands Strawberry Festival. Joanne says 18,000 people enjoyed the festival program over its two and half days last spring. The size and diversity of the festival, including art, music, a multitude of displays, a wide range of food and an acclaimed children's carnival, creates a lot of work for an army of about 300 volunteers. At the head of the structure is a committee, which will be up for election at the AGM. Joanne says the committee has 10 to 12 members, who typically reflect sectors of community involvement such as arts, entertainment. She says president Bruce Smith has nominated for another term; one of Bruce's achievements was to enlist Olympians to feature at the 2010 festival, and more such VIP guests are on the cards for 2011.

"THE reason for the festival is to benefit the community and it is a constant challenge to raise the funds to hold it," Joanne says. "We get support from sponsors and grants because the gate takings do not cover the costs. "At some stage in the past the council ran the festival, and many people believe this is still the case, but it has long been independently run." Joanne, a stained glass artist, has lived in Redland for the past 10 years after she migrated from New Zealand in 1979 and lived in Western Australia and New South Wales on her way to Queensland. She says she festival is a great showpiece for the wonderful city that is now her home. Mark your calendar: The festival dates are September 9-11. Anyone wanting to contribute is welcome at the AGM. Readers can check at www.redfest.com.au for updates.

Thanks for joining me to meet the great people in the marvellous community of classified advertising. This column has appeared in The Redland Times.

If a king can do it why can't I

Image from www.toastmasters.org.au

THE United Nations chiefs who apparently have the mandate to declare "international year of ..." status have backed a treble for 2011: chemistry; forests; and people of African descent.
However, they could have landed a quadrella if they had read some movie reviews. The King's Speech, which tells how a down-to-earth Aussie helped George VI deal with a stammer, seems to have everybody talking.
It's international, promoted with the words of an insightful critic as "a film to make your spirits soar" and charging toward multiple-Oscar glory in '2011 – the Year of Beating Speaking Difficulties'.
If a king can suffer so terribly from such communication seizures and overcome them through empathetic support, anyone can.

THE story's base in actual history gives extra weight of inspiration for those who suffer speech problems of any classification and those who work either professionally or voluntarily to help them.
Redland Toastmasters' recent Classified notice invited readers to "face your fear"; it promoted a special eight-week program.
Toastmasters International describes itself as a not-for-profit training organisation that focuses on communication and leadership development. The movement was founded in the US in 1924, coincidentally during the reign of old George.
It aims to help men and women "learn the arts of speaking, listening and thinking; vital skills that promote self-actualisation, enhance leadership potential, foster human understanding, and contribute to the betterment of mankind".

SIXTEEN years ago, a Mackay teacher on a break from the classroom joined Toastmasters. She was good at addressing her pupils but was going into a business and wanted to improve her speechcraft and gain some "intellectual satisfaction" in a club-type interest away from the sport and drinking scenes.
Jill Nixon, now of Cleveland, says she has seen many heart-warming and amazing successes as members have blossomed from tongue-tied, foot-shuffling mumblers with shaking knees and sweating palms to confident speakers who inform and entertain with clarity.
"There's usually a trigger of some sort: a daughter getting married and the father needs to make a speech; maybe a job interview," she says.
She recalls a tradesman who, when put 'on the spot', struggled to even say his name and discuss his pet interest of soccer, but he left Toastmasters as a good public speaker: loud, clear and with the ability to think on his feet and say what he needed to.

THE group is based on peer support and constructive criticism. Members even count the 'ums and ahs' for each other to work on bad habits.
Jill has already seen The King's Speech twice and probably will return before the season ends.
Thanks for joining me to meet the great people in the marvellous community of classified advertising.

This column has appeared in The Redland Times.

Tale of special cat and the value of love and prayer

A DEEP sadness gripped Judy Gross, of Mount Cotton, while many thousands celebrated Australia Day. It was the sixth day since her cat, Sonny, went missing.
The eight-year-old desexed male escaped from his run on Friday, apparently into the house, past Judy's husband, John, and out an open door.
Sonny has been an important member of the family for almost eight years. Judy bought him in 2002 for her son, Craigie, who had depression.

THE handsome Birman fretted after Craigie's death in 2007. Judy and John took Sonny to their relatives in Canberra, but the grief-stricken cat rejected human attention, ate barely enough to keep himself alive and upset his carers with a nasty new habit of spraying in the house. He stopped purring.
"We saw him in Canberra last April and were shocked; he was a very unhappy, sad and angry cat and he was a bag of bones," Judy said.
"In June the relatives rang to say, after two years and 10 months, they couldn’t do any more for him and were going to give him to RSPCA Canberra, but John insisted he come home to us."
The couple picked up Sonny at Brisbane Airport. Judy immediately felt the cat was giving back to her a part of the great loss she suffered from Craigie's death as her son and his pet were inseparable for five years.

EVEN so, the cat growled and snarled at the couple and refused to eat for four days.
With veterinary advice, the couple put Sonny on antidepressants for two months and gave him "24-hour attention and love".
"It took four months before we heard him give a little purr and he even put on half a kilogram," Judy said. "I also felt more settled so we did each other good. He never wandered and spent his days in the shed or garage watching my husband fix stuff.
"He was much too contented to walk away. We find it bizarre that he has just vanished."
Last Friday Judy walked from 4pm to 10pm, calling his name until sobbing and exhaustion forced her to give up.

JUDY spent much of Australia Day visiting an elderly aunt in a nursing home. But her fears for Sonny haunted her; she wondered where he was and blamed herself for leaving the laundry door open. She prayed for a miracle.
That evening, the phone rang. Sonny had been found at Macgregor and traced through his microchip. Judy shed tears of happiness as she set off to pick him up.

Thanks for joining meet to meet the great people in the marvellous community of classified advertising. This column has appeared in The Redland Times,

Rotarians launch 'flood fightback'

The summer of 2010-11 will leave many scars on the flood and cyclone-ravaged Queensland community.

THE scenes of devastation after the Queensland floods will haunt us for life, whether we simply viewed the televised images or witnessed them first-hand – as volunteers or victims – during the clean-up.
The emotional weight that landed on the army of clean-up volunteers reflects in the latest edition of Capalaba Rotary Club's weekly bulletin, Possum Post.
It was like a lull before the storm when the club featured recently in the Classifieds, posting the names of its Christmas Trailer Art Union winners.
The festive cheer, however, had already departed early last week and the club was developing a program to help regional flood victims when the South East Queensland emergency developed. As club president Terry Ryan said: "What a difference a space of a few hours can make."

WITH Toowoomba and Grantham devastated and Ipswich and Brisbane about to be swamped, the Redland Rotarians first organised support to staff and equip a proposed Capalaba evacuation centre, and were on standby for this task until Thursday, when it was decided they should instead register with Volunteers Queensland.
"Club members had rallied to the call and we were able to turn out late Friday morning with seven Rotarians and three Cadet Officers from 136 Cadet Unit," Terry said.
On Friday, the unit went to West End. "The sight of the grey river mud and silt that covered the roads, footpaths, furniture, houses and anything that had been in the path of the water was eerie," Terry said.
"It was a surreal experience overall, something like a war zone, with Blackhawks and media helicopters flying low and hovering, people walking dazed among what used to be their homes and neighbourhoods, the noise of gen sets and pressure cleaners and the smell from the silt and mud already starting to develop."

ON Saturday the Redlanders returned to West End, then joined the clean-up at Rocklea. By Sunday, the group had swelled to 30 and again worked at Rocklea.
"There have been tales of heartbreak and sadness, we have met many people who have lost everything except what they were wearing and I felt much thanks that I could come back each night to my home, finding it intact, having power, a hot meal and a bed to sleep in," Terry said.
The Capalaba, Cleveland, Redland Sunrise, Redlands Bayside and Wellington Point Rotary Clubs – in tandem with the Bayside Bulletin – have combined to hold the Monster Flood Fightback Garage Sale in Nelson Road, Wellington Point on Saturday, February 5 and 12.
They have called for donation of quality, saleable items: "Fellow Redlanders ... we need your help!!!"

This column appeared in The Redland Times.

Think of real meaning but dont burn the snags

This was Classie Corner's Christmas message in The Redland Times in December before a seasonal recess. During most of the festive seasons during my 40-year-long career in journalism I have soldiered on but in 2010-11, I joined the revellers and holiday makers:

TODAY, a break from tradition and an early Christmas message as the tension builds in the homes and shopping precincts of Redland City:
Jaws dropped at a family barbecue when a teenager asked, during the annual countdown to the birth of the most important person for a major chunk of humankind, "Did Jesus die of old age?"
Outrage and wonder at such apparent ignorance showed in the adults' rapid chewing to clear their mouths and attack: "How come you don't you know that Jesus died on the cross?"
The teenager's response, however, soon humbled the indignant elders: "Yes, I know Jesus died on the cross but he came back to life , so did he then live a normal life, or whatever?"

THE adults who had been very quick to judge the youngster before hearing the context of the question were now extremely slow in reply. They simply didn't know the answer.
This curly one required some expert solving. David Busch, of Capalaba Uniting Church, came to the rescue: “Actually, the resurrection isn’t just a dead body coming back to life.
"It’s a new kind of life – body and spirit. Some of Jesus’ friends didn’t recognise him after the resurrection.
"He appeared to them in ways that a mortal body couldn’t. And after 40 days of these appearances, he was taken into heaven.
“The resurrection was God’s way of defeating death. So Jesus didn’t die of old age – he showed us life beyond death which is God’s gift available to all of us because of Jesus’ death and resurrection.”
The eyes of some started to glaze over, as they were thinking about an interest-free deal for their Christmas shopping list.

DAVID sensed he was getting 'a bit preachy' and jumped back into action to save the sausages from cremation, as the conversation turned to the cricket ashes.
Capalaba Uniting Church's use of the Classifieds to promote its activities shows how the Christian community and its values are still prominent despite the commercial focus in the modern world.
The Capalaba church and others are always working away in the background and honouring not only the life of Jesus but offering his spirit of compassion and care.
That's really nice to know as we shop till we drop and cross off the days until, December 25. The messages: Be tolerant; don't jump to conclusions if something or someone pushes your reaction button; enjoy the summer cricket; and don't burn the snags.
As for me: I have taken care of my Christmas and Easter columns in one go. Thanks for joining me in the marvellous community of classified advertising.

Alexandra Hills takes garage sale title

The 'post, post' catch-up continues as I work through the backlog of stories that I should have posted sooner (image courtesy microsoft):

THE calendar page is about to turn. The last of the spring garage sales will bring out young and old for their weekend treasure hunts across our bayside city. The Garage Sales column has been busy this spring, maybe because of some underlying social causes or simply 'wash-outs' that the rain postponed.
Once a year, Classie Corner awards the coveted title of Redland City Garage Sale Capital to the suburb clocking up the most sales in a certain timeframe: Congratulations to the 2010 winner Alexandra Hills, which had 20 advertised sales in the past two editions – two more than the runner-up, Capalaba, with 18. Then came: Thornlands 16; Redland Bay 14; Victoria Point 12; Birkdale 13; Wellington Point 9; Cleveland and Ormiston 7; Thorneside 2; Sheldon and Raby Bay 1.

US author Mark Twain believed "there are lies, damned lies and statistics" but such a simple collection of figures will always reflect some truths, if only basic influences such as population size and demographic factors.
Nowadays, with vendors presenting a pitch to catch the keen eyes of the garage sale early birds, the listings certainly make interesting reading.
During the past few weeks, the instinctive spring clean-out has been prominent, and the traditional deceased-estate
and moving-house listing have featured.
However, hearts surely reached out to the Redland Bay women who proclaimed: "Husband busted – everything must go."
The obvious emotion in such a public statement of angst would undoubtedly prompt some sideways glances from nervous buyers. Would anyone be game to ask whether "busted" meant he was in trouble with the law, bankrupt or both?
Perhaps that story will become available when time takes the heat out of the situation.

THE garage sale columns in your local paper seem to have evolved into a 'real-life soapie'. At one end of the sale scale, there are the obviously desperate and at the other, people who desperately want to help.
As the Redland Bay woman told the world about a crisis in her family, Capalaba Uniting Church was advertising a carboot sale.
The Ney Road church can put its earnings to good use. It describes itself as "a friendly church with a desire to worship and serve Christ, and with a big heart for our community".
A craft group, a Crossroads group for people with disabilities, home groups, market days, prayer groups, and an annual camp are just some of its activities.
The church says its morning tea after Sunday worship is a relaxed time of friendship – and maybe it also offers some tranquillity after Saturday's garage sale chaos.
Looking ahead to the weekend: the bureau has forecast a shower or two tomorrow, so be prepared.
Let me know if you come across any interesting stories on your expeditions into our marvellous community of garage sales. Email: fourjays@bigpond.com.

This column has appeared in The Redland Times.

Santa arrives by boat

It's catch-up time as I post an accumulation of columns from recent months (image courtesy microsoft:):

EVERY year, as the tailenders in the Melbourne Cup thunder past the post, Australian society starts its crawl toward the annual Christmas shutdown.
That's why it was not surprising in the Classifieds this week when Santa Claus signed a Boats & Marine for-sale notice offering a 4.6-metre Horizon aluminium dinghy with centre console, a 50hp Evinrude motor and "all the bells and whistles".
One of Santa's helpers has been taking the calls. "If you lose your sense of humour you may as well be dead," Doug Jackwitz, 78, said, adding that he had received visits by three "lookers" but the boat was still in the shed.
He estimated the motor would "be lucky to have done a hundred hours" and he wanted only about about half the price he paid five years ago, or $12,000 negotiable.

HIS ad not only indicated the boat condition as excellent with very little use but extended to that of Santa and said, "old age has caught up".
Doug said he needed his sense of humour right now. His wife, Jean, was battling a serious illness and he had been using a wheelchair for about a year since breaking his hip in a fall, so he was unable to take out the boat.
His son, Bill, had also left the vessel idle, so Doug decided it was time to sell.
Bill and his sister, Christine, were of primary school age when the family moved from the Lockyer Valley to a Cleveland property in 1966.
The family grew "strawberries, tomatoes, cucumbers and so forth" for several years until the State Government resumed the property for Cleveland High School, Doug said.
He then bought land at Victoria Point for flower production. Doug said he was still kicking himself for selling the property in the mid 1970s because it later became the site of Koala Park shopping centre.

DOUG said he and Jean hunted for a plot with the right sort of red dirt for flowers and thought they found it at Alstonville in northern NSW. "But the ground was hopeless, so I went into the water drilling business."
The couple returned to the Redlands about 14 years ago and have enjoyed living close to the younger generations of their family.
Doug is delighted both his son-in-law, Simon Walker, and Bill both work for the chicken producer, Golden Cockerel, which has the status of an institution of Redland primary production. Simon's father, the late Harold Walker, had been well-known as the operator of the Cleveland-Dunwich ferry, Doug said.
Santa Claus looks forward to especially enjoying Christmas Day with the Jackwitz family this year.

Thanks for joining me to meet the people in the marvellous community of classified advertising. This column has appeared in The Redland Times.

Stay alert - stay alive, drivers told

Image from http://www.redlandsdrivingschool.com.au/

VEHICLES require essential maintenance, as any motorist knows, but driving instructor Richard Sparks did not get any letters from "the mechanics" when his own body needed a major service. Instead, Richard suffered the rapid onset of symptoms including numbness in his fingers and excruciating pain in an elbow. "I have a good GP; he ordered a CT scan and found discs in my neck were misaligned and were pinching a nerve," Richard said.

THE proprietor of Redlands Driving School has been recuperating at his Victoria Point home after surgery at the Princess Alexandra Hospital, where the surgeon took bone from a hip to rebuild two discs. Richard says the cause of the misalignment is a mystery but he played a lot of soccer and squash when he was younger. His neck, however, must have had considerable work during his time at the dual controls of the Holden Viva sedan he uses for the business that he set up in 2006 after two decades as a driving instructor in the Brisbane region.

THE need for observation is the golden rule that Richard impresses on his students. Richard is not the type of instructor whose passion for driving leads to an addiction to motor sport. He says he simply enjoys working with people and helping them get ready for the challenge of the practical driving test that will decide whether they can obtain a licence. He shares the much-reported belief that higher standards of testing hold the key to reducing the road toll.

"THERE will always be people who do the wrong thing but road safety does come down to attitudes," he says. "If it is is easy to get a licence the person may be less likely to value the process as much. The examiners do a good job but can only work with the guidelines they are given. I do believe that the test should be tougher." Richard says recent changes to the test have not been as comprehensive as he had hoped. He believes the emphasis on observation, for instance when changing lanes, is not strong enough. He says an observant driver can see a risk, take action and save lives.

RICHARD's students, the ages of whom have ranged from 17 to the early 80s, are unlikely to forget this message. He says he has instructed people with many disabilities – including quadriplegics and paraplegics – with modified vehicles, and the deaf, but not the blind. Now, back to Richard's own temporary disability: he expects to be back in action in a few weeks, again teaching Redlanders to stay alert, stay alive and, it is hoped, save other lives through observation.

Thanks for joining me to meet the people in the marvellous community of classified advertising. This column has appeared in The Redland Times.

13: lucky number for ducks

Image courtesy The Redland Times.

SHE's a country girl at heart after growing up on a Redland strawberry farm but Birkdale mother Diana Trenerry admits her surprise at the appearance of 13 ducklings in her poultry pen. Spike and Speckles – a pair of bantam ducks that Diana says the family bought at a Lismore market as "pets with an egg bonus" – delivered a baker's dozen of the cutest creatures outside the frames of a Disney movie.

THE new parents made sure the Trenerrys shared their delight over the hatching.
“Our drake usually makes noise in the morning before we feed them but on this morning both the ducks were really quacking away," Diana says. "We went out to see what the racket was about to find them proudly parading their new brood for us. We knew our ducks were broody and the mother duck was sitting on her nest but we had no idea her first batch would produce so many birds. After a few days the reality of having so many sunk in. As we have hens as well the pen was going to get very full. "We were so impressed with these tiny yellow birds that we decided others should also have the opportunity to enjoy them."

DIANA advertised a giveaway in the Classifieds and found homes for all the ducklings within days. "About half went to families whose children wanted them as pets and the others to people on acreage with dams; two were even taken to a new home west of Maryborough," she says. Ducks are "undemanding creatures, less susceptible than hens to some poultry diseases", Diana says. "Some duck breeds will outlay hens, and the duck eggs are bigger. A duck will continue laying for a longer period than a hen; ducks do eat more and tend to be messier than hens, but they are also more efficient scavengers and, if they have access to a pond as well as grazing, will find a lot of their own food. Ducks are less destructive than hens which will scratch up every vestige of plant growth if allowed. Ducks will investigate plants for insects and slugs, but will not usually cause damage in a herbaceous border or on a lawn. They do though absolutely love young lettuces, peas and brassicas."

THE pen is enclosed with wire to protect the birds from predators. "Foxes have been sighted and taken chooks from neighboring properties," she says. "I had a muscovy duck taken about 20 months ago by a fox. The two Silver Appleyard Bantam Ducks I have now were to replace her. I expect to have more ducklings from my two ducks in the future. This was just the first batch. I am unsure of how many times a year they will breed." Readers should watch the Classifieds for Diana's next duckling bulletin.

Thanks for joining me to meet the people and other creatures in the marvellous community of classified advertising. This column has appeared in The Redland Times.

Mowers sing symphony of season

Image by Carl Wozniak

A DISCORDANT symphony has celebrated an unusual season as a chorus of small engines has echoed across the Redland suburbs. Householders and professional mowers, taking advantage of every break in the spring rain, pulled cords, pressed buttons and fired up their machines in a race against the clouds. We are lucky to live in a culture where it's 'not uncool' to talk about the weather; the unseasonal deluge this spring has had everybody talking about 'millimetres overnight' and wondering when the washing will dry.

WE are also lucky to have free access to a damful of information from the Bureau of Meteorology. If the bureau charged for clicks on its website, the consolidated revenue would go a long way to paying back the billions in the government's controversial economic stimulus packages – especially during a season like this. The weather records make absorbing reading. They can soak up a lot of time – and that is just to find the page you need, but patient browsers are rewarded with all the facts and figures they could possibly want.

THE bureau's observations on our city come from Redlands Horticultural Research Station, with records dating from 1953 and featuring in more tables than you'll find in the typical club dining room. The data for the first 18 days of October made a tasty snack, showing that Redland received 224mm for the period. This was almost 280 percent of mean rainfall for the entire month (81mm). Redland had its wettest October in 1973, with 371mm. Back then, the fields grew mainly fruit, veges and pasture but now the suburban lawns have taken over.

SOME lawn specialists who feature in the Gardening Services column have been too busy to talk during the breaks in the rain, but Brad Denham took a short breather between jobs at Capalaba and his home suburb of Redland Bay. Brad, a former real estate agency licensee, said he set up Redlands Mowing about two years ago because the type of work allowed him to be a "Mr Mum", while his wife, Mara, practised as an accountant. Mowing gave him time for household duties. "I was a bouncer for few years but I was doing lot of night work and I got sick of the [troubles with] young ones and the drunks, and I can't handle the doof doof," he said.For the benefit of elder readers: 'Doof doof' means the 'techno' dance music that is popular in night clubs. It's quite different to the harmony Brad enjoys from his Honda self-mulching mower.

Thanks for joining me to meet the people in the marvellous community of classified advertising. This column has appeared in The Redland Times.

Designer looks upward for living space

THE past two years have been busy for a young man who has devoted his life to building a better Redland, or at least, ensuring optimal use of space in our rapidly growing city. John-Paul Hartill grew up at Capalaba West, attended St Anthony's Primary School and Villa Nova College, then knuckled down to a career in residential housing design and drafting. The career choice came easy. John-Paul is the son of John and Loretta Hartill, who were the proprietors of Classic Constructions, not only building new homes but also specialising in making better use of existing homes through second storey additions.

JOHN-Paul was in-house designer for the family company for 12 years before his parents retired about two years ago. While mum and dad were still packing for their move to a relaxing lifestyle on Bribie Island, the son set up Urbane Residential Design, which he operates from his Wellington Point home. He has continued the second storey specialty, while also providing 3D design and drafting for other extension projects and new residential construction. John-Paul estimates he has completed 350 to 400 such design projects with both firms over the years, so he certainly would have a special 'feel' for the requirements.

"THE good things about adding a second storey are that you are not using any more of your site, you can live in the house during the construction work and you don't have costs like conveyancing and real estate commissions that apply when you move to a new or different home," he says. "On a typical three-to-four-bedroom home you can usually add three to four bedrooms upstairs." He says the cost of a second storey of that size would range from $2000 to $3000 a square metre, including all standard finishings except floor covering.

AS the flow of international students to South East Queensland institutions has increased, John-Paul has found a market with home owners setting up student accommodation. Such usage generally has involved the addition of three bedrooms and three-way bathroom, with separate shower, powder room with vanity unit and toilet. John-Paul says about half his work has been in bayside districts and he works closely with local builders.

URBANE Residential Design, which has featured on the Classifieds 'Find Us First page, will have its second anniversary in January, but the champagne corks have already popped for another important celebration – the first wedding anniversary for John-Paul and his wife, the former Helen Fletcher, who grew up at Alexandra Hills and is now a nurse at Brisbane Dental Hospital. John-Paul thanks his sister, Sarah, for introducing him to 'the love of his life'. Sarah and Helen studied nursing together and became good friends. John-Paul and Helen married at Guardian Angels Church, Manly, on November 14, 2009.

Thanks for joining me to meet the people in the marvellous community of classified advertising. This column has appeared in The Redland Times. (Image from Microsoft)

Red light race gains pace

Image from Microsoft.

THE Redland City population boom reflects in the heavy traffic on our roads – formerly quick and easy trips have turned into stop-start crawls through queues at intersections. The traffic snarls seem to worsen, week by week, and impatient drivers are keen to make up for lost time – undoubtedly taking more risks. The dangers weigh heavily on the mind of retired factory executive Glynne Butler as he counts the cost of an accident, just a few kilometres from his Alexandra Hills home.

GLYNNE was driving the Ford Focus CL sedan he bought in 2005 to serve he and wife Maureen through their senior years. Maureen was the passenger. At Finucane Road and Cambridge Drive, the Butlers' car was involved in a collision. Glynne says his traffic stream had a green light. "I saw the other car coming and braked hard," he says. "We could have been killed but luckily we weren't injured; neither was the other driver. But the insurance assessor has said our car's a write-off and the insured value won't cover a replacement of the same standard. We have no car at the moment. I want to warn people about the hazards: since the accident we have seen cars going against red lights and others racing to get through the orange."

THE September 10 accident was the first for the Butlers since they migrated from England in the late 1990s. The move followed Glynne's retirement as a director and manager of a packaging company in Marlow, Buckinghamshire. Eight weeks after they arrived in Queensland, the couple bought their Gerbera Street home, where Glynne says they could not be happier, living near Maureen's two daughters and son, along with "many grandchildren". "My wife is about to celebrate the birth of her first great-grandchild," Gynne says.

THE couple placed a notice in the Classifieds to thank everyone who helped them after the accident – police, fire and rescue and ambulance crews, witnesses who stopped to help and others who called the emergency services. Glynne has a message for all drivers: "The road rules are there to protect everybody and must be obeyed – please think about what you do and be responsible."

SINCE 1991, the State Government has installed cameras at intersections to catch red-light offenders. The Transport and Main Roads Department and the police jointly manage the program.Program officials say crashes caused by motorists running red lights are usually serious and result in high costs to the community. They base their placement of cameras mainly on crash data, installing them at intersections with a history of crashes.

Thanks for joining me to meet the people in the marvellous community of classified advertising. This column has appeared in The Redland Times.