Sanctuary Retreats’ Philanthropy – making a difference

Tourism is the world's largest industry, growing larger every year. Hand in hand with this has come an unprecedented level of interest in responsible travel and a rise in philanthropic programs and 'volun-tourism', with travellers increasingly seeking to give back to the communities they visit. This has, in turn, placed pressure on tourism suppliers to improve their social and environmental responsibility.

Boutique luxury travel operator Sanctuary Retreats is a company that has been committed to conservation and responsible tourism ever since opening its first camp in the Masai Mara in 1999. Says Michael McCall, Director of Sales Australia, NZ & Asia the company has always strived to build long lasting relationships with rural communities in the areas in which it operates, making a point of identifying and supporting long-term, viable and self-sustaining projects. "Our aim is to ensure that all projects are supported by our staff and guests and we work closely with communities to identify their needs so we can deliver projects that really have an impact."

Here are some of Sanctuary Retreats Philanthropy's success stories.

Ilboro School, Tanzania

Children in Tanzania with hearing impairments or mental or physical impairments are often left with limited opportunities to receive a formal education. A decade ago, in response Sanctuary Retreats Philanthropy (SRP) funded the construction of the first special needs primary school in Arusha, especially designed to meet the needs of deaf and disabled children. Unfortunately, once pupils graduated from the primary school, they were returned to regular mainstream education where teachers are not trained or equipped to deal with their unique learning needs, resulting in a high drop-out rate.

Recognizing the issue, SRP decided to further support these children by building a secondary school at Ilboru in partnership with Tanzania's Ministry of Education. The Ministry provides specially trained teachers to work at the two-story, five-classroom facility. In addition to standard academic courses, the school also teaches vocational skills such as sewing, which has significantly increased the chances of students securing employment upon graduating.

In 2016, in partnership with Worldreader, SRP also commenced an innovative literacy program at Ilboru's Primary School with the use of digital e-readers, which has given children access to a large library of textbooks and literature in both English and their local language of Swahili.

Approximately five kilometres from Sanctuary Retreats' Sussi & Chuma Lodge, the Nakatindi Village sits against the border fence of Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park. Sanctuary Sussi & Chuma has partnered with Nakatindi village on many projects, including education, conservation and the launch of a Bike Shop run by local women.

But one of its most successful programs has involved the rebuilding of a much-needed medical clinic within the Nakatindi Community. The clinic, which serves 50 people a day, has taken an active role in the prevention of the spread of HIV/AIDS, which is highly prevalent within community. More recently, SRP has helped build and equip an addition to the clinic to serve as a maternity ward. The new facility has significantly improved labor and delivery conditions for both mothers and infants, and helped to reduce the risk of HIV transmission from mother to child.

Bwindi Community Hospital, Uganda

Starting as nothing more than a clinic operating under a mango tree, Sanctuary Retreats has helped transform Bwindi Community Hospital into a 112-bed facility that is consistently ranked the best hospital in Uganda. Recognising that a national shortage of nurses was having a negative impact on the hospital, the Uganda Nursing School Bwindi was opened in 2013 and celebrated its first graduation this year.

Through donations, SRP has been able to provide scholarships to promising local students who might not otherwise be able to afford the course. In addition to this, the success of the first graduating class has led to Bwindi Community Hospital becoming a government-funded hospital, meaning all doctor and nursing salaries are now paid by the Ugandan government.

Rhino Relocation, Botswana

Concerned by increased poaching of critically endangered rhino in South Africa, several years SRP into a partnership with Rhino Conservation Botswana, among others, to translocate black and white rhino from South Africa to Botswana. This project has been hugely successful, with the company now employing two full time conservation officers to monitor rhino in the Moremi Game Reserve.

Indeed, one of the most exciting successes has been the birth of lots of new baby rhino following the reintroduction of their mothers to Botswana, with two progeny now ready to leave their mothers and set up their own territories.

Sin Kyun Village, Myanmar

Having partnered with Sin Kyun village following the launch of Sanctuary Ananda in Myanmar in 2014, SRP has worked closely with the village chief to identify areas where it can assist the community, with specific focus on improving the village school.

So far SRP has built accommodation for teachers, provided emergency assistance during severe flooding and in May 2017, completed the construction of a middle school at Sin Kyun. This means that children can now stay at Sin Kyun for school until they finish seventh grade. Previously the school only went up to fourth grade, following which students would have to cross the river to reach a neighbouring middle school – an often perilous journey during rainy season!

Are Millennials the key to influencing greater corporate social responsibility?

The Millennial 20/20 Australia Summit kicking off tomorrow in Sydney will see business leaders from TOMS and Nespresso discuss how the growing economic power of Millennials could have positive ethical ramifications that transcend consumer sectors from FMCG to fashion.

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is not a new phenomenon, approximately 76% of Millennials agree that businesses are having a positive impact on society and harness the power to incite real change, says a recent Deloitte Millennial Survey. Yet, 41% believe multinational businesses are still not realising their potential to alleviate some of society's biggest challenges.

At the summit, John Elliott, Managing Director, TOMS Australia and NZ, will discuss how Millennials are driving socially responsible business models, changing the traditional marketing model, and championing ethical investment into the economy.

"The Millennial consumer not only needs a great product, but is interested in what positive social outcomes business can provide," explains Mr Elliott.

TOMS began in footwear in 2006 with a One for One initiative, matching every pair of shoes sold with a pair of shoes for a person in need. As the organisation expanded globally, TOMS now assist with aid for providing vital amenities including eye care, safe drinking water, safe childbirth facilities and anti-bullying services.

"We are actively engaged in making sure we use our business to provide positive outcomes and we let the consumer know that without their participation we cannot achieve our mutual desire to make the world a better place," added Mr Elliott.

TOMS has collaborated with partners to begin movements such as One Day Without Shoes and World Sight Day – annual events to raise awareness for the global issues of poverty and avoidable blindness and visual impairment.

With the sheer amount of information available online, brands are now subject to more scrutiny than ever before. Transparency in marketing is key to gaining trust with these discerning younger audiences, and proving an ethical supply and production chain are vital to building brand loyalty.

Michael Brunt, CMO at The Economist, a partner of Millennial 20/20, recognises the media company has advocated for positive change through its editorial since its founding in 1843, but admits modern marketing needs to be meaningful and personalised to find traction, with the key to success being transparency of practices and intentions.

"We are excited to continue our recent activation campaign at Millennial 20/20 where we will be serving smoothies made from 'ugly' fruit and vegetables which would have been otherwise thrown out. With food wastage a topical ethical conundrum, especially in Australia, it provides a valuable opportunity to demonstrate our business values to the millennial market.

"It's about creating a two-way conversation that allows consumers to engage with our brand directly, making it memorable. Our audience, by nature, are curious, and so they think 'what on earth is going on here?' Ultimately leading to more meaningful connections to the product and brand," concluded Mr Brunt.

In addition, Loïc Réthoré, Head of Oceania, Nespresso, will present at Millennial 20/20 on how increased interest from consumers on ethically sourced and organically made produce is re-shaping the Food and Beverage industry.

Following successful summits in London, New York and Singapore, Australia's inaugural Millennial 20/20 Summit will take place in Sydney, 14-15 November 2017 at Carriageworks. The summit will delve into how the millennial mindset, including ethical expectations, is reshaping the future of commerce for consumer brands and retailers.

Register: millennial20-20.com/sydney2017
Summit Program: millennial20-20.com/sydney2017/agenda

 

Cairns Airport CEO joins TTNQ Board

North Queensland Airports Chief Executive Officer Norris Carter has been appointed a Director of the Tourism Tropical North Queensland Board at its meeting today in Cairns.

New General Directors Sam Ferguson and Craig Pocock were welcomed to the Board after their election at the Annual General Meeting on Friday (October 20).

Chair Max Shepherd stepped down at the end of his three-year term and the  Board confirmed the appointment of Director Wendy Morris as Chair. Cairns South Zone representative Ross Steele was re-elected Deputy Chair.

Ms Morris said Mr Carter's appointment would add a vital skillset to the Board through his extensive airline and airport industry experience with Qantas, Auckland Airport, Cairns and Mackay Airports.

"Aviation is the funnel for visitation to Tropical North Queensland and a key plank for economic success for the region," she said.

"If the TTNQ Board can understand the drivers and nuances of aviation, we can better align our destination marketing to ensure sustainable air routes."

Mr Carter said: "I'm looking forward to contributing to TTNQ as a Director to grow tourism into Tropical North Queensland."

Ms Morris thanked Mr Shepherd for his service to TTNQ which he had chosen to end during his 50th year of working in the tourism industry.

"Max has been a stalwart and mentor for many in tourism, myself included, with a canny ability to think business decisions through," she said.

"His steady hand on the wheel at world-class operations including Quicksilver and Skyrail has complemented brilliant marketing coups including President Bill Clinton's trip to the Great Barrier Reef and the Olympic torch's first swim underwater at Agincourt Reef.

"A humble man with a wry sense of humour, Max will be missed by every one of us, but we hope he continues to visit and make sure we're 'doing it right'."

A Tropical North Queensland resident of 1974 with a degree in marine biology, Ms Morris has previously served on the TTNQ Board as well as the Tourism Port Douglas and Daintree, Tourism and Events Queensland and Advance Cairns boards.

She founded Reef Biosearch in 1986, a marine biologist-guided snorkelling operation aboard Quicksilver that continues to operate today, and remains a passionate advocate for the Great Barrier Reef who is on the Board of Citizens of the Great Barrier Reef.

Ms Morris been involved in the management and marketing of a range of mostly family owned tourism enterprises in the region including the resorts now known as Rydges Reef Resort, QT Port Douglas, Ramada Port Douglas and Crystalbrook Lodge, as well as The Wildlife Habitat, Wetherby Outback Experience, Lady Douglas Paddlewheeler and luxury charter yachts.

Also serving on the TTNQ Board are Tropical Tablelands/Remote Zone Director Ghislaine Gallo, General Director Russell Boswell, Cairns North Zone representative Sheena Walshaw, General Director Todd Parker, General Director Peter Woodward and Southern Zone Director Mark Evans.

TRC and Swoogo unite to create ShowSimple - DIY badge printing in a box

In continuous pursuit of the most seamless and satisfying experiences for event planners, TRC and Swoogo - best-in-craft service providers to the events industry for more than 15 years - have launched 'ShowSimple'.  It's DIY badge printing in a box.

TRC, already trusted to deliver stellar onsite event support for brands including Walmart, Ford, Shell and L'Oreal, spotted a gap in the market for great value badging services for smaller size events. Greg Lazzaro, Founder and President of TRC said, "We recognize that every event is different, and sometimes smaller is better!  ShowSimple delivers all the great TRC magic, in a box to your door".

The real magic though, comes from the integration with Swoogo - the next-generation event registration company making waves in the industry with their mobile responsive, fully flexible platform loved by the likes of Inc., Fast Company and Schneider Group.  Customers of Swoogo need only enter a few details about the badges they want, within the Swoogo portal, and order directly for delivery onsite.

It's a partnership through and through, says Swoogo founder and CEO, Leonora Valvo, "Our customers asked for it, and TRC delivered it.  Our teams worked in concert to design the product and I'm delighted with the results".

ShowSimple includes two barcode scanning stations, a full color printer, the customer's choice of badges, lanyards and even self-contained router with internet access.  It's simple, but it's not hands-off - ShowSimple customers work with a specialist 'virtual badge advisor' and product manager to be confident of a quality experience.

TRC and Swoogo (along with their fellow best-in-craft event partners in The Event Tech Tribe) will be at IMEX Las Vegas 10-12th October to launch ShowSimple (booth G659) and are hosting their user conference/innovation forum "Unite" (open to non-Tribe customers) in San Francisco on 16th October.  

White Christmas in Estonia

Destination: Tallinn, Estonia

Why go: What better time to visit the home of the first Christmas tree? The medieval Old Town also takes on a magical quality with snow-covered rooftops.

What awaits: Mulled wine, traditional Estonian food, knitwear and Christmas trees galore at the famous Christmas Market in the Old Town Square. Skaters whizzing around the Old Town's outdoor ice rink as candles fill cobblestone lanes with their flickering glow. Try a genuine Estonian Christmas dinner of jellied meat, beetroot salad, herring, roast potatoes and pork, washed down with dark porter beer. Spend an active day at the Tallinn Song Festival Grounds, which offers snowtubing, iceskating and mountain skiing close to the city centre.

Getting there: It is a two-stop trip to Estonia from all major Australian cities.

Rachel's top tip: "Make a wish under the huge Christmas tree in Old Town Square. Spruce growers throughout Estonia compete each year to have their tree chosen as the Christmas tree of Tallinn."

 

Go stay in your own private treehouse

TULUM TREEHOUSE — Tulum, Mexico

Nestled among a swaying sea of lush emerald palms, Tulum Treehouse is a full-service private home located a stone's throw from the heart of Tulum—yet it is a fortuitous jungle setting near the Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve that sets this experience apart. Here, a sublime private house can be rented with only the three bedrooms, or as a five-bedroom accommodation. Created by local craftspeople in collaboration with an international design crew, the team collectively put sustainability above all. 

The Tulum-based, full-service architecture studio Co-Lab Design Office and interior designer and stylist Annabell Kutucu have taken the natural beauty of the Yucatán as primary inspiration, conscious not only to preserve and protect the biodynamically rich environment, but to also create a stay deeply connected to the natural world. Large common areas, several spacious wrap-around terraces, multiple spaces for indoor-outdoor living, and five bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms make up this exclusive, full-service jungle escape.

Excitement builds as Winx prepares to make Flemington debut on Seppelt Turnbull Stakes Day

With the AFL Grand Final signalling a close to the football season, sporting fans will now turn their focus trackside for Seppelt Turnbull Stakes Day at Flemington, where the World's Best Horse on Turf in Winx will make her debut at Australia's premier racetrack.

This Saturday, 7 October 2017, will see Winx shoot for her 21st consecutive victory in the $500,000 Group 1 Seppelt Turnbull Stakes (2000m), where Melburnians will get the opportunity to witness arguably the best horse since Black Caviar to race at Flemington.

Winx, who is stabled at trainer Chris Waller's Flemington facility while in Melbourne, will continue her build up towards the Seppelt Turnbull Stakes with her final gallop on Thursday. Media will be able to capture vision of the super mare on the Flemington course proper at 6.30am on Thursday 5 October before hearing from trainer Chris Waller and jockey Hugh Bowman at 7.00am.

The Victoria Racing Club (VRC) is preparing additional facilities at Flemington for all racegoers to enjoy Winx on Seppelt Turnbull Stakes Day, with the course being bolstered by additional screens, food and beverage outlets and Winx merchandise to ensure all racegoers can be in the moment with Winx.

All profits from merchandise will go to the National Jockeys Trust, as well as proceeds from the auction of signed saddlecloths from the Seppelt Turnbull Stakes, including Winx's saddlecloth.

Members can get up close and personal with the wonder mare from the Members' Lawn, or watch the action from a range of venues including The Forum, The Atrium and The Peak. General Admission areas will also be expanded, with the James Boag's Premium Celebration Deck featuring entertainment from the Emerson Duo and the James Boag's Premium Lawn Bar presenting the perfect space for racegoers to relax and revel in the action with a drink and live music by The Mad Hatters.

Children and their families can get into the spirit of Winx with Winx-themed hobby horse racing, silks and face painting. Other exciting free activities in the Kids' Zone include yard games such as giant chess, croquet, jenga, lawn bowls, bocce, mini-golf and pony rides.

General admission precinct Saintly Place will hold extra significance on Seppelt Turnbull Stakes Day, as it will be the first time the public can view the entire trophy collection bequeathed to the VRC by Cups King Bart Cummings.

The Bart Cummings Trophy Collection will be unveiled to media and special guests at 11am on Thursday 5 October, with 149 trophies to be on public display from Seppelt Turnbull Stakes Day onwards. Anthony Cummings, James Cummings and Les Carlyon AC will be among those to speak at the event as they recall their memories of the Cups King and reflect on the importance of the collection in Australian sporting history

Gates open at 11:20am on Seppelt Turnbull Stakes Day, with the first of nine races set to jump at 12:50pm. Other notable races include The Bart Cummings (2500m), a Group 3 event which offers the winner a ticket into the 2017 Emirates Melbourne Cup.

Metro trains will run special services to and from Flemington for Seppelt Turnbull Stakes Day, with trains departing Southern Cross Station between 10:59am and 1:39pm and return services departing Flemington between 4:55pm and 7:20pm.

Tickets to Seppelt Turnbull Stakes Day are available from Ticketek. Children under 16 are FREE when accompanied by an adult.

For more information head to Flemington.com.au.

@FlemingtonVRC   #TurnbullStakes   #GoWinx

Workplace engagement the key to beating leave liability

Corporate Traveller General Manager Jess Anscombe

Australian employers are racking up significant risk to their balance sheets by not taking proactive measures against annual leave hoarding.

Statistics from Roy Morgan Research show Australians have accrued nearly 134 million days among the nation's 8.5 million-strong paid workforce with more than one third holding in excess of four weeks annual leave.

The disproportionately high percentage of workers holding that amount poses an especially high financial risk to employers, particularly in the SME sector.

Recent news of a Northern Territory public servant accumulating more than two years of annual leave, an estimated liability of almost $400,000, highlighted the financial risk of unchecked hoarding.

Corporate Traveller General Manager Jess Anscombe said the key to counteracting hoarding was increasing workplace engagement for taking leave and promoting the health and well-being benefits.

"Many of our customers have worked with us to parlay the business travel partnership into a parallel leisure solution that helps minimise leave balances," she said.

"Utilising the existing relationship helps keep the issue top of mind around the office and reduces the barrier for employees to make bookings by increasing the convenience factor."

Ms Anscombe said this leveraging approach had fast become a more popular option for businesses with Corporate Traveller's integrated leisure travel service, Travel Club, experiencing increases of 44 per cent in enquiry and 27 per cent in sales in the last financial year.

Many employers are also using incentive and rewards tactics to boost employee motivation to take leave.

"Professional travel managers can be used as a resource for annual leave enticements like travel vouchers, gift cards or holiday discounts," Ms Anscombe said.

"They can also assist in setting up a regular flow of alerts to employees for special industry deals or exclusive workplace promotions around Christmas, Easter and school holidays."


About Corporate Traveller

Corporate Traveller has been a leading supplier of business travel solutions for more than 20 years and services more than 6,500 clients throughout Australia.  As part of the Flight Centre Travel Group (FCTG), Corporate Traveller is backed by the global network of one of the world's largest travel agencies.

2017 Minister's Student Achiever Award Winners

The State's next generation of world-class tourism professionals were honoured today in a special ceremony at NSW Parliament House to mark the 2017 Minister's Student Achiever Awards.

Minister for Tourism and Major Events and Assistant Minister for Skills Adam Marshall congratulated 14 students on their academic achievements in tourism and hospitality studies.

"The students honoured today represent the future of tourism and hospitality, and embody the commitment to excellence that is critical to the continued success of our industry," Mr Marshall said.

"The NSW Government is committed to growing the NSW visitor economy to ensure we remain the number one State for tourism and major events in Australia. This means the creation of more jobs across the industry and more opportunities for future generations of tourism industry professionals."

Mr Marshall also congratulated the tertiary institutions on their continued support of tourism and hospitality related studies.

"It is encouraging to see the wide cross-section of institutions represented by these students and I thank them for their continued commitment to fostering our future industry leaders."

Since 1990, the NSW Government has acknowledged academically high achieving tourism and hospitality students at an annual Minister's Student Achievers Awards ceremony.

Students from NSW education institutions offering degrees, diplomas and certificate courses in tourism and hospitality studies can be nominated for the Awards.

To be eligible, students must have completed one year of their studies and be a resident of NSW.


2017 Award recipients

Melissa Allcroft
Bachelor of Management (Tourism)
University of Technology Sydney

Yani Dawe
Bachelor of Business (Tourism and Hospitality Management)
Southern Cross University, Lismore Campus

Kye Dewberry
Cerfiticate III in Tourism
TAFE NSW, Bega Campus

David Hickson
Diploma of Hospitality Management
TAFE NSW, Ultimo

Dominic May
Bachelor of Business/Bachelor of Innovation & Entrepreneurship (Tourism Management)
University of Newcastle

Chelsea McKay
Bachelor of Hospitality
International College of Management, Manly

Harry Mitchell
Bachelor of Business (Hotel Management)
The Hotel School, Sydney

Michael Santo Monteleone
Bachelor of Business (International Hotel and Resort Management)
Blue Mountains International Hotel Management School at Torrens University Australia

Titania Oberg
Bachelor of Tourism Management
Western Sydney University

Janelle Rooney
Diploma of Travel and Tourism Management
TAFE NSW, Ourimbah

Jenny Scoufis
Certificate IV in Patisserie
TAFE NSW, Loftus

Rebekah Sharpe
Bachelor of Business (Tourism Management)
William Blue College of Hospitality Management

Cindy Sneddon
Diploma of Hospitality Management
Barrington Training Services, Clubs NSW, Riverina

Jordan Stanford
Advanced Diploma of Event Management
TAFE NSW, Northern Beaches

FCM launches next generation technology suite, FCM Connect

A streamlined travel program to provide a better and more efficient business travel experience has been launched by FCM Travel Solutions to ensure that travellers, bookers and managers have greater connectivity.

FCM Connect is an integrated global technology platform which gives clients access to multiple tools that deliver on their travel program.

"We believe technology should move our customers forward, and the next generation release of our technology offering, FCM Connect, is designed to do just that," said Marcus Eklund, Global Brand Leader, FCM Travel Solutions.

"We're excited to launch FCM Connect to existing and new customers. Our improved solution has been designed for the modern Traveller, Booker and Program Manager and addresses their desire to be more connected to the entire booking, travel and management journey. Being better connected helps travellers and bookers feel in control and gives our program managers the visibility they need to elevate their travel programs," Mr Eklund said.

At the core of the solution is the FCM Connect HUB; a single-sign-on platform that gives customers one simple connection point to all of FCM's leading technology tools including Analytics, Approve, Booking, Secure, Expense and Mobile. HUB is easily customisable for each company in both configuration of tools used and interface design.


Image: The FCM Connect Hub connects users to FCM's full technology suite

"Through extensive customer consultation and product development, we've refined a world-class, end-to-end solution that ensures all of our customer's travel needs are organised – from pre-trip approval to booking, to traveller tracking and reporting that provides complete visibility of spend," Mr Eklund said.

FCM Connect was previewed to clients and industry earlier in the year at the London Business Travel Show and Global Business Travel Association Conference in Sydney, Australia. It is being progressively rolled out and will be available to customers from early next year.

FCM Connect will support organisations across a full range of travel program deliverables including:

• Global, regional or national fulfilment
  
• Cost reduction strategies
  
• Data compliance
  
• Duty of care responsibilities.

For more information on FCM Connect visit www.fcmtravel.com.au
 

Mission Berlin: Iron Curtain Dash

Orders came through from London as unexpectedly as ever. The ‘firm’ solicits my availability as a matter of protocol, but the implication is unspoken and my instructions cryptic and brief.

PROCEED BERLIN IMMEDIATELY -STOP- COLLECT PACKAGE PROCEED COPENHAGEN ASAP -STOP- AVOID DETECTION AT ALL COSTS

I deploy to Berlin as inconspicuously as possible. This is often achieved by simply travelling in plain sight and I book a business class fare to the brand new Berlin Tegel airport undercover as a portly travel journalist on a mundane assignment to write about luxury cars and hotels. Perfectly plausible.

My contact in chauffeur uniform meets me under the ‘Ankunft’ sign, his tablet bearing the name of a random travel writer plucked from a Google search.

“Welcome sir, I trust you won’t be uncomfortable travelling under this name? It seemed unusual enough to be convincing.”

We chat innocuously, chiefly about our mutual lament for the recent passing of the historic Templehof airport where, during the famous Berlin Airlift of 1949, flights landed every few minutes with supplies for the city, besieged by the Soviets for a full month as a show of Cold War obstinance.

My driver, who only identifies himself as Manfred, discreetly slips me an unmarked envelope.

The weather is bright and inviting as we arrive at Sammlung Boros, a WWII, above ground air raid bunker that now houses the impressive art collection of Christian Boros behind its two-metre thick concrete-reinforced walls. During a tour I mingle with art experts inspecting works by Ai Weiwei, Thea Djordjadze, Klara Liden, Wolfgang Tillmans and Cerith Wyn Evans. While the group is transfixed by rubber car tyre in a slowly self-disintegrating kinetic installation by Michael Sailstorfer, I open the envelope.

Identify ‘Alfie’ with ‘I bet that’s not a Michelin’

Feeling a little self-conscious, I do as instructed and from the wall of staring, incredulous faces emerges a petite young woman with a fetching boy cut and piercing eyes. Her natural smile and impeccable complexion is of the type Americans pay thousands for.

“You clearly have no idea about art, do you?” she observes bluntly, showing little sympathy for my predicament as I try unsuccessfully to dissolve back into the small group.

Alfie shows considerable restraint and continues to engage me in prescribed conversation that expands her cover as a premium lifestyle editor from Southeast Asia. Her English and diction is immaculate and her deportment flawless. Clearly, she has infiltrated her network very successfully and I dare not speculate on what necessitated her rapid extrication from Berlin.

Posing as wealthy tourists, we’re shuttled by plush minivan to the exclusive Design Hotels collection property, Das Stue, in Berlin’s leafy Tiergarten district. Pre-war, this palatial manor housed the Royal Danish Embassy and the new owners, with acclaimed Spanish architect and designer Patricia Urquiola, have restored the structure in a glorious homage reflecting the grandeur and pomp that once typified this exclusive diplomatic neighbourhood.

The rooms are really over-sized suites of 70m² with five metre high ceilings. A gleaming brass bathtub sits imperiously as a centrepiece in the ample room. Just as I’m thinking I could become accustomed to this ‘travel writer’ ruse, another envelope slides almost silently under my door. I peer through the spy hole, but the mysterious messenger is long gone.

Accept J’s invitation for dinner in ‘Cinco’, Michelin-starred Catalan chef Paco Pérez’s restaurant downstairs at 8pm sharp.

J, aka Julia the firm’s London station chief, hosts us in amazing style demonstrating her prowess for creating a seamless cover. Just as I’m finishing my Fruchte cocktail, another note has appeared under my napkin. I slide it surreptitiously into my jacket for later inspection.

08:30 engage St James red Bentley Continental GT Speed Coupe with package to Schloss Ludwigslust via E26. Contact Hildegarde.

After breakfast, there is no mistaking this supreme English automobile parked in full view at the entrance of Das Stue. Bentley’s superb Continental GT (or ‘Contie’ for short) is powered by the mammoth six litre W12 twin turbo engine in ‘Speed’ configuration and linked to an 8-speed close-ratio transmission and an advanced All-Wheel-Drive (AWD) system. The powerplant one might expect to find in a Spitfire or Hurricane fighter plane. We’ll be limited to a modest 130kmh so as not to attract undue attention, but should the necessity arise, we could propel ourselves beyond double that speed in a matter of seconds.

I go to leap into the driver’s seat, upholstered in pure, delightfully aromatic hide and trimmed with walnut when my enthusiasm is interrupted.

“Do you mind?”

Alfie, as diminutive as she may be, has confidently installed herself at the helm. Those eyes, framed by eyebrows that could have been etched by Da Vinci himself, clearly indicate my station.

Without a minute to lose, we’re away into the Berlin traffic, the red beast murmuring ominously at traffic lights and growling with intimidation as Alfie applies the throttle with her calf skin boots.

We blast down the expressway on the verge of legal limit, effortlessly dispatching lumbering lorries and rising to the challenge against lesser contenders. The GT can reach 100kmh from a standing start in a smidgen over four seconds, so there’s no hanging around.

We arrive at the imposing 220 year old Schloss Ludwiglust, our massive 21-inch alloy wheels noisily crushing the ornamental gravel as we park in courtyard. Once home to the Mecklenburg-Schwerin family who resided here until evicted by the Soviets in 1945, the palace now houses the State Museum of Schwerin/Ludwigslust/Güstrow, with paintings by Jean-Baptiste Oudry and busts by Jean Antoine Houdon forming the collection.

Hildegard greets us curtly in German. Having spent her entire life in what was East Germany, she never learned English and never needed to. I go to take the envelope she discreetly holds under a brochure but Alfie snatches it, saunters nonchalantly off past a gallery of Prussian dukes and promptly resumes her position behind the hand-stitched Mulliner steering wheel.

“Get in, we’re late.” Yes, ma’am.

With an overnight at the funky East Hotel (separate rooms, thank you) in Hamburg and a lavish dinner at Clouds, 105 metres above the red-lit Reeperbahn at the top of Tanzende Türme (tower), our cover seems to be holding remarkably well. Alfie politely keeps the conversation to topics to which she thinks I might have some insight, like power output and torque. (The W12 has, by the way, 472kW and 840Nm respectively)

We keep up appearances with coffee and cake at Schlosskeller Glucksburg before the final run into Copenhagen via Nybord. Julia has transported herself ahead of time and, with much aplomb, is there to offer us champagne in Balthazar at our ultimate destination, Copenhagen’s historic Hotel d’Angleterre. Visibly relieved at our successful avoidance of inquisitive border guards and overzealous Bundespolizei, both Julia and Alfie indulge in flutes of sparkling Bollinger laced with jokes at my expense.

Now that my ‘package’ has safely delivered herself from whatever bedevilled her in Berlin, all that remains is for me to complete my undercover assignment and find some way to convincingly relate this most incredible journey. Not sure where to start really.

ShowGizmo welcomes new CEO, David Chaulk

A specialist in leading hyper-growth in early stage companies, Canadian-born David Chaulk has worked throughout Australasia, North America, and the UK in industry sectors from SaaS Software to FMCG to Utility in leadership positions including CEO, COO, Group GM and Director of Sales and Marketing.

David's career highlights include launching an international music publishing business, leading sales growth of more than 300% (in 4 years) for Australasia's largest direct response television company while building an international profile for the business and turning around one of NZ's largest office products companies from loss to profit, then successfully leading a merger with the company's main competitor.

"Since completing my last project, I've been looking for a New Zealand-based opportunity with world class potential. The events industry is one of the fastest growing verticals out there and ShowGizmo is an amazing product. I genuinely believe we can grow this business internationally and become one of the great New Zealand success stories." said David.

ShowGizmo was founded more than seven years ago and David replaces founding CEO Marie-Claire Andrews who remains on the company's board. The ShowGizmo event app has been the market leader in Australasia since launching mid-2010.

"We were pioneers in the event app space back in the days when the few people who actually had a smartphone — often a Blackberry — had no idea what an app was. It's very different in today's highly competitive environment and it's great to have someone of David's calibre in play to take us to the next level," says Chair and Co-founder Frances Manwaring.

David is no stranger to events, having been one of New Zealand's leading trombonists for many years, performing with iconic musical ensembles including the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra and the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra.

www.showgizmo.com

Global Tourism Economy Forum

The Global Tourism Economy Forum (GTEF) is hosted by the Secretariat for Social Affairs and Culture of the Macao SAR Government, co-organized by the China Chamber of Tourism under the authorization of All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce (ACFIC), and coordinated by GTERC in collaboration with UNWTO. GTEF's supporting units include the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Macao SAR, Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China in the Macao SAR, China National Tourism Administration (CNTA), World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), World Tourism Cities Federation (WTCF), European Travel Commission (ETC) and Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO).
 

Since its inception in 2012, GTEF has successfully established itself as an influential high-level cooperation platform to promote sustainable development in the global tourism industry with a focus on China. To date, GTEF had received more than 7,000 participants from 63 countries and regions, including delegations from 54 provinces and cities of Mainland China; and more than 300 internationally renowned speakers.


 

Photo 1.  (From left) Mr. Bailey Sin, Marketing Director of Sociedade De Jogos De Macau, S.A., Mr. Bernard Yiu, Senior Consultant – Marketing of Sociedade De Jogos De Macau, S.A., Ms. Cindy Yang, Account Director of Resort Sales of MGM, Mr. Jason Wang, Chief Operating Officer of GTEF, Mr. Ravi Bhattari, Consul General of Consulate General of Nepal, Guangzhou, Mr. Qijie Mei, Deputy Chairman of Tourism Administration of Guangdong Province, Mr. Su Changde, General Manager in Southern China, Tibet Tourism Development (Guangdong) Co. Ltd, Ms. Aileen Lu, Regional Assistant Sales Manager – South China Sales of Galaxy Entertainment Group, Mr. Jacky Chan, Associate Director of Sales of Venetian Macau Limited and Ms. Winnie Pau, Supervisor – Supervisory Board of Global Tourism Economy Research Center, joined the Global Tourism Economy Forum Roadshow Luncheon in Guangzhou.

 

Photo 2. Mr. Qijie Mei, Deputy Chairman of Tourism Administration of Guangdong Province, gave a speech at the Global Tourism Economy Forum Roadshow Luncheon in Guangzhou.

 

Photo 3. Mr. Jason Wang, Chief Operating Officer of GTEF introduced GTEF 2017's programme and events.

 

Three months after Cyclone Debbie, Red Cross continues to support struggling NSW communities

 
Three months after the massive category four Cyclone Debbie struck, Red Cross continues to reach out to people in the Northern Rivers still struggling to pick up the pieces.

The severe weather event following Cyclone Debbie caused widespread damage and flooding in the Northern Rivers where six people died, schools and roads were closed, Lismore and Murwillumbah CBDs were inundated and many other towns and villages were isolated.

Red Cross has helped thousands of residents and visitors throughout the region. More than 140 Red Cross personnel have been on hand at Evacuation Centres, Recovery Centres, via outreach and in community work.

"We provide psychosocial support: we're there with a listening ear, a friendly face, information and connection, to help people reduce distress and cope with the situation. We do this at the height of the emergency and for years afterwards supporting the community on the long, difficult and complex path to recovery," Red Cross regional manager Janelle Cazaubon said.

"Disasters like these can be extremely distressing. We're here for the long haul, embedded into these communities to most effectively support local responses to recovery," she said.

"There are many difficulties and obstacles for people to rebuild their lives.  Many flood-affected individuals, households and businesses still don't know what lies ahead due to unresolved insurance issues, despair over rebuilding, and increased lack of control and confidence.

"We're also seeing social isolation and displacement from routine life.  Many people are not back in their homes and are disconnected from their community, family and in many instances their workplace.

"Since the flood there has been ongoing repeat heavy rain and wet weather, which has seen recurring road closures and isolation for many living in rural parts. The continuing rain has also impacted on peoples' wellbeing, with many people practicing hypervigilance, and there's increased evidence of anxiety and exhaustion."

Red Cross has begun Recovery Information Sessions to front-line community workers, giving insight into the normal reactions to an abnormal situation and is running Psychological First Aid (PFA) and recovery training in Lismore and Murwillumbah.

Red Cross is also working closely in the community with Community Neighbourhood and Community Centres, Community Associations, Schools, Local Government and Community Service providers.  Red Cross is supporting upcoming community events in villages and towns to ensure moral support to devastated communities and to help build social connectedness.

"Whether this means supporting community barbeques and other events, door-knocking to check in on folks, or advocating for community outcomes, we're staying right where we're needed."

If you or someone you know has been affected by this - or any - emergency, Red Cross has resources to help you recover at redcross.org.au/emergencyresources. To help Red Cross provide valuable disaster assistance in times of emergency, you can donate to our emergency response and recovery work across Australia at redcross.org.au or by calling 1800 811 700.

                           

 

  

 

 

The oldest rainforest on earth is under threat

The Daintree Rainforest is the oldest surviving tropical rainforest on earth and contains some of the most biologically diverse flora and fauna. Containing 80% of the world's fern family, 40% of Australia's bird species and 35% of Australia's mammals, it is vital to keep this ecosystem thriving. Rainforests like the Daintree are increasingly threatened by climate change and development and need protection.

Within the Daintree rainforest there are 122 animal and plant species listed as threatened. The Daintree rainforest contains many breeds that are not found anywhere else in the world which rely on the rainforest habitat for food, and which certain tree species within the Daintree rely on for survival.

Australia has already lost 75% of its rainforests and nearly 50% of all forests in just over 200 years, and as a result has had a high rate of species extinctions. The Foundation for National Parks & Wildlife (FNPW) is currently appealing to the public in a bid to raise funds to protect Australia's national parks including Australia's oldest and most well-known national park, the Daintree. Ian Darbyshire, CEO of FNPW states that through public donations the not-for-profit organisation has been able to secure and protect sections of the rainforest that were under threat, but there is still much to be done.

For more information visit www.fnpw.org.au.

 


 

 

Gorilla Trekking in Uganda

For a truly sublime wilderness escape, it is hard to surpass Uganda, the undiscovered pearl of Africa. A lush landscape of deep lakes, glacial alpine mountains, wide-open savannah and dense rainforests, the country boasts wildlife not found anywhere else, making a safari here an unforgettable one.

But Uganda is perhaps best known for its concentration of primates, including its most celebrated residents – half the world's remaining mountain gorilla population. And one of the best places to see them is Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp located in the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the country's southwest.

Tucked away on a on a flat ridge deep within the Forest, this exclusive luxury camp comprises just eight tents, and is one of the most remote and atmospheric in Africa. Frequently visited by gorilla families due to its unique location, it is the perfect base for a once in a lifetime encounter with mountain gorillas.

Of course Uganda is one of several countries where it is still possible to observe gorillas in the wild. But the recent move by Rwandan authorities to implement a significant price hike for compulsory gorilla trekking permits from US$750 to US $1,500 per person for all visitors earlier this year has added significantly to it's appeal, with Ugandan permits considerably more affordable at just US$600 per person.

Prof Helen Herrman Recognised on Queen's Birthday Honours List

Distinguished Global Mental Health Advocate Recognised in Queen's Birthday Honours List

Professor Helen Herrman, Head of Vulnerable and Disengaged Youth Research at Orygen, The National Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health and President-Elect of the World Psychiatric Association has today been recognised with the Order of Australia in the 2017 Queen's Birthday Honours list.

Professor Herrman, also Professor of Psychiatry at the Centre for Youth Mental Health, The University of Melbourne and Director of the WHO Collaborating Centre was awarded the Order of Australia for her distinguished and outstanding lifetime contribution to psychiatry, public health, and community mental health service reform with her endeavours leading to major advances in scholarship, academic development and clinical practice locally, nationally and internationally.

Professor Herrman has achieved numerous local, national and international awards and recognition, most recently President-Elect of the World Psychiatric Association and is due to take up her Presidency in 2017, the first Australian to achieve this significant international role. She received the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists' College Citation in 2010 for contributions to national and international psychiatry and International Distinguished Fellowship of the American Psychiatric Association in 2009. She was inducted to the Victorian Honour Roll of Women in 2013.

Mr Peter Smedley, Chairman of Orygen says, "Today, many thousands of people across the globe with mental illness are receiving improved mental health care because of Prof Herrman's tireless championing of reform and progress in mental health treatment, care and services. This is a well-deserved honour, I am delighted that both professionally and personally Helen's contribution is being recognised in this way."

Prof Herrman plays a lead role in a wide range of research projects that focus on a variety of social contexts, including violence, gender and mental health; assessment of outcomes and quality of life for people with disabilities; depression in primary health care; mental health promotion in children through family day carers; improving mental health outcomes for young people in out of home care; and youth, technology and wellbeing.

At Orygen she leads our research into the needs of vulnerable and disengaged young people designed to improve the mental health of young people in out of home care.

Professor Patrick McGorry AO, Executive Director of Orygen is delighted to see that Professor Herrman's outstanding and ground-breaking work in mental health is being recognised today in the Queen's Birthday Honours list. The esteem in which she is held is clearly demonstrated by her numerous appointments to leading health and mental health organisations in Australian and around the world. This is well-deserved recognition, Professor Herrman brings enormous passion and dedication to everything that she does", he says.

City Beach working with Microsoft partner Sable37

City Beach is announcing the digital transformation they have undergone to enhance their customer experience, and become the agile company they need to be to thrive in the retail sector in the digital age.

City Beach's legacy infrastructure limited its ability to store customer data, which made it difficult to maintain relevance among its customer-base. In partnership with Microsoft Partner Sable37, City Beach has now been able to collect rich insights about their customers and refine its communications to be more customer focused through the implementation of Microsoft Azure and Dynamics 365.




City Beach transforms information systems with Dynamics 365 to deliver exceptional customer experience

Fashion retailer City Beach has no illusions about the disruption facing the retail sector: fashion conscious customers and fast-moving trends, its young frontline staff, and emerging online competitors are constant reminders of the sector's flux.

Established in 1985 – long before online retail and the internet were mainstream, the iconic brand now operates 62 physical sites, an ecommerce outlet, and manages 60,000 products – adding 300-400 new lines each week to ensure it remains relevant and fresh.

Chief operating officer Anita Dorwald has a clear view of the challenges ahead. "Our vision is a blend of continued growth and survival, and while the latter may come as a surprise we have seen the demise of many brands around us in recent years. We cannot afford to rest on our laurels or past successes. To trade on brand equity we need to maintain relevance now and in the future."

Dorwald notes as a privately held business City Beach is spared the bureaucracy and red tape that slows some rivals, and is able to be agile and responsive to rapidly shifting conditions.

Even so, when the company decided to overhaul its information systems it took a measured and careful approach. It wanted to deliver an exceptional customer experience instore and online, and to pave the way for a back office overhaul that would inject efficiency, boost productivity, and establish a robust and reliable infrastructure able to deliver the sort of agility needed by successful retailers in the digital age.

Dorwald explains key to success lies in the sort of business intelligence that allows City Beach to dynamically optimise its cost base and effectively curate the retail offering.

"For us the customer needed to be front and centre," which, she says, explains City Beach's decision to focus initially on a point of sale (POS) and customer relationship management (CRM) overhaul ahead of a back office core system revamp.

"We want to understand the customer journey and achieve a single view of the customer, to be able to interface with more agility around promotions and have an opportunity around loyalty programmes. That was what drove the decision to go front-to-back rather than back-to-front," she explains. It's a decision that is paying off in terms of business impact.

Leveraging Microsoft Azure and Microsoft Dynamics 365 for Operations has delivered flexibility and scalability. For the present City Beach is operating a hybrid cloud and on-premise environment, but as it refreshes the back office legacy platform Dorwald says the company will take a cloud-first approach.

"Long term we see everything in the cloud," she adds.

Working with Microsoft partner and Dynamics 365 specialist Sable37, City Beach undertook a lengthy needs analysis and prototyping project to ensure the customer experience was right. "Central to our success is working with a partner that shared City Beach's vision, and from the get go Sable37 were on the same page as us. The focus was all on our success, and that provided a high level of trust and security at our end that Sable37 had our best interests at heart. For us both this is a long-term investment and I'm confident we're forging a partnership that will see us work together for many years to come."

Microsoft Dynamics 365 for Operations has now been rolled out with full integration of the systems scheduled for early 2017, after the Christmas and New Year retail rush. One of the immediate signs the solution was right came from the retailers' own staff – most of whom come from the same youth demographic as City Beach customers.

"Dynamics' user interface was so intuitive and responsive to changing conditions that there was barely any change management required – staff just started to use the system," Dorwald explains.

"This represented the single greatest investment in technology in the last ten years – so there was a high level of nervousness," says Dorwald.  "The reality was the teams in store logged on and largely found their own way around – that ease of adoption bodes well for other changes we're looking to make."

Meanwhile Dynamics 365 is collecting rich insights about customers, what they were buying, how they shop and their interaction preferences, that can then be used to curate the City Beach collection and shape the retailer's roadmap for the future.

According to Dorwald; "I think our CRM allows us to validate what was a gut science. Dynamics allows us to gather data in a practical sense and really target our communications – EDMs and social interactions – and map out our website in 2017 to be more customer focused with that new insight."

Once the POS is fully integrated City Beach will offer a seamless retail experience and achieve a single view of the customer to enhance the shopping experience both instore and online.

With the front facing systems now operational and effective Dorwald is focussing her attention on the back office in order to streamline workflow and inject efficiencies. Instead of purely manual and labour intensive stock management and inventory checks, City Beach will deploy hand held scanners and a range of Microsoft technologies to streamline workflow and automate communications and information gathering.

Of technology transformation in general Dorwald says; "The key is that you have to have absolute clarity about what you are trying to achieve and your priority – that needs to guide your journey. You need to understand your capacity for change and the core objectives you want to achieve. That should drive the order of transformation – in terms of business outcome you achieve a far better result."

Funny truth of Fijian Indians

  You know you are a Fiji INDIAN if...........
   
  1. You take roti parcel/ on the plane (and a few chilis)
   
  2. Your parents stock up on 2 litre bottles of cream soda,
  And brag about how good it tastes, and called it 'red la
  juice'
   
  3. You know what 'grog' or 'naquona' is.
   
  4. Every Fiji person you know... is somehow related to you.
   
  5. You know what and where Fijian Traders is.
   
  6. You know who is 'Mamu' a.k.a 'blood'.
   
  7. You always get re-fills @ McDonalds...
   
  8. Your parents talk soo damn loud on the phone...but yet
  they don't realize it
   
  9. Your dad has a lot of pride for soccer.
   
  10. You know someone with their name either on their belt
  buckle or their chain.
   
  11. You get 95% on a test....your parents ask
  you...'what happened to the other 5%'
   
  12. You know what 'Fiji Time' is.
   
  13. You go out somewhere with your cousins... for
  example....a restaurant or bowling alley...you argue with
  them who pays the bill.
   
  14. You have some sort of Fiji poster or a Fiji painting
  scenery picture
   
  15.. You been to a lovo in someone's backyard.
   
  16. You know or heard about the card game Thanee, 7 Hand,
  500 etc.
   
  17. You talk for an hour at the front door when leaving
  someone's house.
   
  18. after a hall party... You go back to the house of the
  person whose throwing the party and party some more and pack
  up the left over's to take home and eat the next day.
   
  19. You use your cell phone after 5 pm
   
  20. Your mom is a neat freak
   
  21. You like seafood, or you go crazy when you can purchase
  it for cheap
   
  22. Your kid's/siblings names have some kinda pattern
  to it
   
  23. You invest tons of money in remodeling your house
  rather then just buying new one
   
  24. If you're female ...you are obsessed with
  straightening your hair.
   
  25. You work out... but then you go home and load up on the
  rice, meat and beer
   
  26. You have played that cram board game ever in your life
  time
   
  27. If you have a dinner party all the children and women
  eat first and then the men eat after a couple of drinks.
   
  28. You boil dalo or cassera
   
  29. You hardly reach a relatives pooja.....but when they
  host a party...your 100% down.
   
  30. You have a pooja area designated to a closet in your
  house
   
  31. You eat New Zealand lamb at least once a month
   
  32. If males get together on weekends.  .they have
  'chaisa' with their drinks
   
  33. When you're at a party..... It is perfectly normal
  to eat (dinner) @midnight
   
  34. When you or your parents cook..... u don't use
  exact amount of ingredients.....u just 'throw in
  whatever u think is good'
   
  35. Your aunt tells you... don't drink milk when you
  are eating fish. [You know the consequences if you
  do....right???]
   
  36. You need English subtitles when you are watching Indian
  movies.
   
  37. You change into your home clothes soon as you come home
  from school/work
   
  38. You have a wall unit in the dining room filled with
  'good dishes'
   
  39. No matter where you live.. you find a place to get
  fresh 'khassi' or 'junglee murgee'.
   
  40. You are guaranteed to find some1 who is fijian...just
  by the way they are talking...at Wal Mart, Home Depot,
  Movies, Grocery Stores etc...
   
  41. Your parents don't realize phone connections to
  foreign countries have improved in the last two decades, but
  they still scream at the top of their lungs when making long
  distance calls.
   
  42. You walk out of customs with your trolley at the
  Airport and you see all twenty-five members of your family
  who have come to pick you up.
   
  43. At one point in your life your parents tried to get you
  into places half-price saying you were 12 ...when you were
  really 16.
   
  44. When guests come over to your house....you serve
  cookies, chaa and bhooja
   
  45. When you go to a wedding ...the men will bring daaru
  And keep it intheir car and every so often u find them
  missing from the function.
   
  46. You see someone you know more than 10 feet away, rather
  than just waving, or nodding, you yell 'OYE!' at the
  top of your lungs.
   
  47. When the music is playing at a party...every one makes
  sure you'reon da dance floor and if u sit down
  they'll grab U and make u dance wid everyone else on da
  dance floor
   
  48. Whether you board a plane or get off, your luggage will
  consist of at least one big cardboard box with masking tape
  around it, an possibly tied with 'rassi'.
   
  49. Ur at a fiji soccer party and your hanging with your
  younger cousins and fam friends, than ur hear a bottle break
  and turn around and notice your Dad and uncles and friends
  are
  fighting with each other! It's all about Soccer! Than
  when they finally break it up they make death threats to one
  another, only to hear a week later their drinking and
  playing thanee in someone's basement all together!
  'Bahoot dhaaru peeliya,' was their excuse!!!
   
  50. You arrive one or two hours late to a party and think
  it's normal.
   
  51. You go back to Fiji and people there treat you like a
  member of the royal family.
   
  52. You have never met half of your extended family.
   
  53. You bring a 'chatai' when you go to the
  beach/park with your family.
   
  54. You dip your bread/toast/bun/roti in your  tea or
  coffee.
   
  55. Some random Fijian person walks up to you somewhere and
  says...'you rememba me'....then proceeds to name
  names until you finally know one(usually the 14th name),
  then traces back the exact time, date and place of when they
  met and how you're all related.
   
  56. You go on a picnic the main food item is
  ' palau ' with tomato chutney and coca cola/pepsi to
  drink.
   
  57. You know Nadi is pronounced 'Nandi'.
   
  58. You know the words to 'Phulari Beena Chutney Kaise
  Bhani'
   
  59. Half your family is 10X darker than you.
   
  60. Your favorite quote is....SAAAA NAI SAKEH!
   
  61. You have to take a rest after every meal.
   
  62. You can out drink all of your gora friends!
   
  63. You hate telemarketers
   
  64. Your family says lolli instead of candy
   
  65. You call the hospital 'aspatal'
   
  66. You have tin mutton and tin mutcharee in your cupboards
   
  67. You are unpacking your baggage at the airport because
  We take more than were allowed
   
  68. You have a few BULA shirts with Hibiscus
  Flower patterns
   
  69. Almost every Fiji bhajan begins with
  aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
   
  70. Before you are eating 'thaarcaarii', you better
  roll up your sleeve or else you will get a daagg
   
  71. Your idea of salad is sliced up onion, lemon juice, chili and cucumber

Going overseas for dental procedures

Dental Departures Reveals the Top Dental Destinations in Asia for 2017

The rapid growth of dental tourism in Asia over the past 3 decades has resulted in an abundance of state-of-the-art dental facilities springing up right throughout the continent, each of which offers outstanding dental treatments at a fraction of the prices being charged by Australian dentists. The sheer volume of clinics is mind-boggling, and choosing a reputable dental healthcare provider in a locale that's right for you can seem like an intimidating prospect. Read on to discover more about the top dental destinations in Asia, as well as finding out a little more about some of the world-class facilities that are waiting to exceed your expectations.

Bangkok, Thailand

Not surprisingly, Thailand's capital city is a veritable goldmine for modern, cutting-edge dental facilities. Dentists in Bangkok are amongst the finest in the world, with many having studied and trained abroad at some of the most prestigious educational institutes in countries such as Australia, the United States and Europe.

Their award-winning facilities include the Bangkok International Dental Center (BIDC), which became the first Joint Commission International (JCI) Accredited dental center in the whole of Thailand. This impressive 7-storey building is equipped with the very latest dental technologies and has its own on-site dental laboratories where they fabricate all their prosthetics, such as dental implants, porcelain veneers and bridges, using advanced  CAD/CAM (computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacture) equipment and precision milling machines.

The state-of-the-art complex is dedicated to providing its international clients with the ultimate one-stop dental experience. There are a range of essential non-dental services available to make life as easy and stress-free as possible. Visitors have access to on-site banking facilities, not to mention a restaurant and various coffee shops that provide quality refreshments. The complex even has its own 30-room boutique hotel, the first of its kind in Bangkok, to make the visit as comfortable as possible for their overseas patients.

Phuket, Thailand

If the hustle and bustle of the capital city is not your scene, then maybe the island life is more your cup of tea. Phuket is one of Thailand's largest islands and is a mixture of lively, party-'til-you-drop beach resorts and rainforested, mountainous landscapes. Tourists have been migrating here annually for many years now to enjoy the many restaurants, spas and high-end seaside resorts that proliferate the western shores of the island.

For those seeking a more traditional Thai experience, Phuket City offers a blend of old shophouses and busy street markets, or there are all-inclusive tours available to explore Phuket and the surrounding islands such as Phang-nga bay, Khai island and Coral island.

If you're looking for some of the best dentists in Phuket, then Sea Smile Dental Clinic comes highly recommended. They offer a comprehensive variety of dental treatments, ranging from simple cosmetic services such as teeth whitening, to major surgical procedures that include root canal treatments or dental implants.

Their commitment to catering for the specific needs of overseas patients is illustrated in their additional services that include exclusive discounts and rates at variety of partnered hotels, and a complimentary pick-up service to transport you to and from the clinic.

Bali, Indonesia

Continuing with the island theme, Bali is an island province of Indonesia and has earned the nickname of "the Island of the Gods", mainly due to its unique blend of volcanic mountainous landscapes, rugged sandy beachfronts, impressive stepped rice terraces and ancient Hindu temples.

Bali is, quite literally, an island paradise and has been mesmerizing tourists for many years with its spectacular coral reefs that support over 5,000 different varieties of biodiverse marine species. For those of an active persuasion, there are a whole host of watersports activities to get involved in, such as canoeing, rafting, fishing, yachting and, for the more adventurous, freediving!

For those looking for more sedate pastimes, the island has a uniquely rich, artistic heritage that provides an eclectic blend of different cultures, including Chinese, Indian, Dutch and Portuguese influences.

Today, however, the quality of dentists in Bali is attracting a different type of visitor. Not only are people flocking to the island to enjoy the many wonders that can be experienced here, more and more tourists are making the trip to take advantage of the superior dental services that are readily available at state-of-the-art dental facilities such as the ARC Dental Clinic. ARC offers a complete range of cosmetic treatments and dental health services at affordable prices, whilst still maintaining the highest standards of excellence in patient care, hygiene and technology.

In Conclusion

Both Thailand and Indonesia, as well as other popular tourist destinations in the region, such as Vietnam and Malaysia, are all geared towards providing outstanding dental healthcare. Facilities and surgeon expertise are as good here as anywhere else on the planet, and treatments are readily available for a fraction of the prices being charged by your domestic dentists back home. So why not take advantage of the exceptional value for money that dental tourism in Asia can offer you today?

W: https://www.dentaldepartures.com/

Children and death in classic nursery rhymns

Everydayness is an inherently subjective experience. In considering the concept of everdayness in children’s literature, the reflexivity involved must be acknowledged. Literature often written for or about children is done so by adult authors with assumptions and biases stemming from personal experiences and cultural ideals. The poems ‘Ding, Dong, Bell’ (Anon), ‘Jabberwocky’ (Carroll), ‘Little Red Riding Hood’ (Dahl) and ‘Death of a Snowman’ (Scannell) straddle the boundary of the everyday experience between adulthood and childhood. Their respective authors explore themes of death, the role of the child, notions of time and the function of animals and the fantastical, transforming traditional narratives and subverting readers’ expectations.

Ding, dong, bell. Pussy's in the well.

‘Ding, Dong, Bell’ is a poem that incorporates a range of literary techniques in order to portray a scene of near death. The rhythm of the poem builds gradually as the story progresses, creating the feel of a schoolyard chant. When the reader is informed that Johnny Green attempted to drown a cat, the horror of the situation as a potentially normal childhood pasttime is realised. Rhetorical questions serve to draw the reader further into the world of the poem by addressing them directly, with the generic naming of the characters simultaneously making this story specific to the boys, yet generalised of all children.

Whilst also drawing on ideas of death, ‘Jabberwocky’ presents as a very different poem to ‘Ding, Dong, Bell’. The slaughter of the Jabberwocky monster by the child protagonist is hailed as a victory by the adults of the poem, even more so in response to the ominous atmosphere created by Carroll’s use of nonsensical descriptive language: “The jaws that bit, the claws that catch!/Beware the Jubjub bird, and shum/The frumious Bandersnatch!”. The description of the monster is preceded by language that relays a warning with its lilting rhythm, onomatopoeia and portmanteau: “Twas brillig, and the slithy toves/Did gyre and gimble in the wabe”. These techniques work in conjunction with one another to allow the reader to feel relief when the monster is slain, as opposed to shock in response to the events of ‘Ding, Dong, Bell’.

‘Little Red Riding Hood’ is intended as a humourous poem despite containing imagery of death and violence. A consistent AABBCC rhyme scheme is made use of by Dahl to create a sense of eccentricity and silliness, and similar to ‘Jabberwocky’, the reader passes through the death of Red Riding Hood’s grandmother and her murder of the wolf without distress, in this case as if they were reading the traditional fairytale.

Scannell’s interpretation of death in ‘Death of a Snowman’ is subtly veiled as being appropriate enough for children yet an adult reader might infer a more morbid message. The writer’s use of simple language and rhyme clearly paints the implied reader as a child, a point that is reinforced by subject matter (a snowman) that has been culturally associated with children. The concluding line (“But by tea-time I was dead.”) is brief and unemotional, conveying the message to an adult reader that death is part of life and unavoidable, whilst to a child reader this message may be that death is not appropriate to be concerned about at a young age.

A focus on the role of the child is a defining feature of children’s literature. Throughout the Western canon the role of the child has been manipulated to suit the author’s chosen image. ‘Ding, Dong, Bell’ is a particularly interesting work as it presents two contrasting child characters. Johnny Green is chastised as being the “naughty boy” who tried to drown the cat, whilst Tommy Stout saved the animal. Here the author suggests that children can be both malicious and merciful, and by using playful rhyme to deliver this message implies that is this an unremarkable part of the everyday. Another consideration may be that the anonymous writer intended to reveal how children do not quite grasp that their actions may have significant consequences.

‘Jabberwocky’ subverts the traditional ideal of the child as innocent and naïve by writing the protagonist as powerful. Defying his father’s warnings, the protagonist seeks out the Jabberwocky with his “vorpal sword”, defeating him effortlessly with a “snicker-snack”. Carroll allows dialogue only for the father of the child, which pointedly serves to draw attention to the protagonist’s hero status: “And, hast though slain the Jabberwosk?/ Come to my arms,  my beamish boy!”. Here the poem plays with the folklore genre, with imagery of quests and the pursuit of evil, yet disrupts this with a child praised despite his disobedience.

In ‘Little Red Riding Hood’, Dahl challenges Charles Perrault’s original writing of the narrative by allowing the protagonist power and agency. In a destabilisation of the original, the poem concludes with Red Riding Hood shooting the wolf and turning his fur into a coat. Notably, the grandmother is not saved and there is no adult intervention (say by a woodcutter, as in the Perrault original) on Red Riding Hood’s behalf. Dahl allows Red Riding Hood to receive all the credit from not only implied narrator of the poem, but the reader as well.

Notions of time are touched on in ‘Ding, Dong, Bell’ with the anonymous writer’s use of tense. The use of implied dialogue within the poem suggests that the narrator is discussing an event that has already passed. By reiterating that the cat was an innocent victim at the end of the poem, the narrator leaves the reader with the moral revelation that innocents are not to be harmed, with potential implications for child readers of the poem.

Jabberwocky (source)

Time and linearity are explored in  ‘Jabberwocky’ with Carroll’s use of repetition and rhyme. The final stanza is a repeat of the first, asking the reader to consider whether all has returned to normal, or if further trials are yet to come considering that the menacing and threatening language is maintained.

Dahl uses narration to jump through the plot of ‘Little Red Riding Hood’, with the result an unconventional timeline compared to the traditional fairytale. The conclusion of the story fast-forwards to “A few weeks later”, where it is revealed that Red Riding Hood has made a coat out of the wolf. Here time is manipulated in a way that allows the reader to experience both the past and present.

The passing of time is the driving force behind the story in ‘Death of a Snowman’, with time itself defined by the snowman’s passing. As the poem moves through night, morning and noon the snowman goes from “Strong and firm and white” to melting (“My nose began to run”), to expired (“There was no funeral bell,/But by tea-time I was dead.”). Here the life span of the snowman and the universal experience of time passing are intertwined.

Animals and fictional creatures are often made use of by authors of children’s literature. Incorporating these characters enhances the reading experience for children by playing on their penchant for imagination and fantasy. The cat in ‘Ding, Dong, Bell’, whilst essential to the development of the poem, is more of a vessel than a challenger such as in ‘Jabberwocky’ and ‘Little Red Riding Hood’.

In Carroll’s ‘Jabberwocky’, the monster is well known to the characters in the poem, which in turn leaves the reader to accept this notoriety. It is described with typical monster features (“jaws”, “claws”, “eyes of flame”) and plays on the cultural ideal of good overcoming evil as part of the quest narrative. The reader as an observer is able to learn that boy protagonist has earned his success through the vanquishing of the monster. Alison Halliday (1996) suggests that the nonsensical language in the poem may be used to establish two implied readers, with the poem possibly being read or explained to a child by an adult and hence there is the opportunity for the adult to impart their own beliefs about good versus evil.

Little Red Riding Hood

In opposition to the original text, the wolf in ‘Little Red Riding Hood’ is painted as comical, clumsy and easily overcome. He is referred to as “Wolfie”, maintaining the humour of the poem. This characterisation is in contrast to the traditional fairytale where fear and anxiety gradually builds, particularly when Red Riding Hood points out the wolf’s features (ie. “What big eyes you have!”). In Dahl’s poem, the wolf corrects Red Riding Hood when she forgets to ask him about his teeth (“Have you forgot/To tell me what BIG TEETH I’ve got?”), informing the reader that the poem is aware of its own intertextuality.

The animate object that is the central character in ‘Death of a Snowman’ is transformed into a conscious being in the reader’s eyes as we are allowed insight into his thoughts. Scannell’s use of first person and past tense create a comical paradox where the Snowman himself is relaying to the reader his story, despite having already died. This technique is used by the author to appeal to the child’s value of the fantastical within the everyday.

The everyday experiences of a child may contrast significantly to that of an adult. Adult authors, however, often presume to appeal to the child or write from their perspective despite inherent biases and assumptions. In the poems ‘Ding, Dong, Bell’, ‘Jabberwocky’, ‘Little Red Riding Hood’ and ‘Death of a Snowman’ everydayness is explored in light of notions of death, the role of the child, the passage of time and the incorporation of animals or fantastical creatures. Readers of all ages and contexts are led to question what is involved in the everyday and have their expectations for children’s literature subverted. 


References

• Carroll, Lewis. "Jabberwocky" in Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass and What Alice Found There, Carroll, Lewis; Green, Roger Lancelyn; Tenniel, John, 1998, 134-136
• Dahl, Roald. "Little Red Riding Hood and the Wolf" in Roald Dahl's Revolting Rhymes, Dahl, Roald; Blake, Quentin, 1982
• Halliday, Alison. "Parallel ideologies: An exploration of the ideologies of childhood and poetry" Papers: Explorations into Children's Literature, 6:1, 1996, 20-30
• Scannell, Vernon. "Death of a snowman" in Puffin Book of Classic Verse, Wilson, Raymond; Wallis, Diz, 1997, 339
• Oxenbury, Helen. "Ding, dong, bell" in Nursery Rhyme Book, Alderson, Brian; Oxenbury, Helen, 1986, 14

- Shalia Eime 2014

NSW bakery cafe installs the state's first solar air conditioning

Specialist bakery and café Brioche, is committed to changing the face of Sydney – and with more than just its baking. Already a city-wide favourite due to its gluten and preservative free treats, Brioche is now leading the way ecologically by installing the state's first solar air conditioner.

Using half the electricity of a traditional air-conditioning unit, Brioche's new system saves power, reduces the business' carbon footprint and is as easy to use for staff as a regular unit. Brioche owner Fiona Wilkinson says that the café's commitment to reducing its impact on the environment is an ongoing one.




"The unit uses the sun's energy in a heat exchange, which means the solar panels are not creating electricity, but capturing heat. It is an innovative method of cooling, perfectly suited to Australia."

Brioche is the first business in NSW to use the new technology, joining other homes and businesses across Brisbane, Central Queensland and Tasmania, but innovation is not new to Brioche. The café was founded to create food as organic and pure as possible due to Fiona's own food allergies and intolerances, plus Brioche bakes all of its organic breads and pastries on-site, eliminating the need for transport. The business also uses only recyclable plastic carry bags, and the entire bakery is geared towards low energy use, utilising natural gas ovens and refrigeration.

Brioche Organic Bakery and Café, 349 Darling Street, Balmain

www.brioche.net.au

Beat the flu: Best tips to avoid flu this season

It's brilliant
To avoid it...
Eat right!
Make sure you get your daily dose of fruit and veggies.


Take your vitamins and bump up your vitamin C.

Get plenty of exercise because it builds your immune system.

Walk for at least an hour a day, go for a swim,

take the stairs instead of the lift, etc.

Wash your hands often.
If you can't, keep a bottle of antibacterial stuff around.

Get lots of fresh air.
Open doors & windows whenever possible.


Try to eliminate as much stress from your life as you can.


Get plenty of rest.
OR
Take the doctor's approach.
Think about it...
When you go for a flu jab, what do they do first?
They clean your arm with alcohol...
Why?

Because Alcohol KILLS GERMS.
So...

I walk to the pub. (exercise)

I put lime in my vodka...(fruit)

Celery in my Bloody Mary (veggies)

Drink outdoors on the patio..(fresh air)

Tell jokes and laugh....(eliminate stress)

Then I pass out. (rest)

The way I see it...

If you keep your alcohol levels up,
flu germs can't get you!

REMEMBER: 'A shot in the glass is better than one in the ass!'