sUsiE o'nEill - Bmag

ISSUE 251 05 FEBRUARY 2013 

www.bmag.com.au 

+ sUsiE o'nEill 

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pERFoRming ARts pREviEw - thE mAgiC Coming on stAgE in 2013

editor 

Heather McWhinnie 

Journalist 

Laura Brodnik 

Motoring Writer 

Chris Nixon 

Contributors 

Steve Haddan 

Kerry Heaney 

Chris Herden 

Spencer Howson 

Emily Jade 

Gary Johnson 

Jody Rigby 

Jeremy Ryland 

Laura Stead 

sales direCtor 

Philip Reid – 0418 752 700 

business developMent Manager 

Chris May – 0401 312 312 

agenCy aCCount Managers 

Matt Robertson – 0414 675 977 

Kellie Green – 0424 000 977 

autoMotive Manager 

Esala Roqica – 0448 648 699 

aCCount Managers 

Leanne Tate – 0401 350 915 

Melissa Batchelor – 0418 730 107 

Jennifer Harrison – 0437 558 784 

Shelley Maxwell – 0411 643 147 

Sharon de Pasquale – 0468 635 815 

Finn Cattanach – 0439 602 620 

adMinistration 

Deborah Ferguson 

Tarah McShea 

design & produCtion 

Rachelle Lockwood 

Kate Guy 

Svetlana Musson 

bulK distribution 

Aidan Rice 

print & direCt to HoMe distribution 

PMP Limited 

publisHers 

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Also bulk dropped to 1,000 outlets 

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IN EVERY ISSUE 

6. Upfront 

bmag turns the spotlight on… 

7. 5 of the best 

Valentine’s Day events 

8. Our town 

Where to go, what to do and 

what you need to know… 

40. Best Car Buys 

Mazda aims higher 

FEATURES 

10. Eating out of control 

Binge eating a hidden illness 

12. Airport cool in a crisis 

Emergency team put to the test 

COLUMNISTS 

13. Lord Mayor Graham Quirk 

Storm clean-up underway 

15. Premier Campbell Newman 

Grants for storm victims 

17. Deputy Prime Minister 

Wayne Swan 

Forces join for recovery 

18. Steve Haddan 

Quade Cooper interview 

20. Emily Jade 

The love languages that 

could save your marriage 

FASHION, BEAUTY 

& HEALTH 

19. Bolly-good fitness 

The new dance craze to 

get the heart pumping 

21. Rising stars 

A mentoring program 

helps emerging fashion 

designers 

HUGE 

SAVINGS 

aCROSS the 

entiRe metRiCOn 

Range! 

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22. Happy fit 

Bright exercise gear to 

get you moving 

24. Fashion files 

What’s new now 

25. Beauty bar 

Products for healthy skin 

31 SQUARES OF LUXURY 

THAT FITS PERFECTLY ON A 

10M WIDE BLOCK 

KnocK Down RebuilD Small lot coDe Sub-DiViSionS 

THE CEDAR now on display at 

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Contents 

22 30 

36 

27. Golden girls turn to new sport 

Swim stars find a new fitness fix 

28. The diet to get you glowing 

Beauty-full foods to eat everyday 

LIVING 

30. Behind the ‘barcode’ screen 

Innovative design hides a 

serene sanctuary 

TRAVEL 

33. Top 10 hotel spas 

Heavenly destinations to 

soothe body and mind 

Rochedale 

McDermott Pde 

(07) 3219 8436 

OPEN 7 DAYS 

ENTERTAINMENT 

35. bseen 

People at events about town 

36. Reinventing the classics 

Part 1 of our 2013 

performing arts preview 

FOOD 

38. Restaurant review 

Surveying a city laneway 

39. Recipe 

Bake a lover’s cake 

Displays 

Open Sat-Wed 

10am-5pm 

On the cover 

SUSIE O’NEILL 

See page 28 

Photography by Marc Grimwade 

To find out more visit metricon.com.au 

BMAG130127 QBSA License 40992. NSW License 36654C. Photograph depicts items not supplied by Metricon namely landscaping (including timber decking and timber fencing). ^’Love Extras’ offers are not valid with any other offer, only 

available on deposits from 01.01.13 for a limited time and are not redeemable for cash or credit at contract. Shopping spree offer amounts: 1) Allegra pay $999 and receive $6000 builders retail value; 2) Freedom pay $999 and receive $7,500 

builders retail value; 3) Designer pay $999 and receive $10,500 builders retail value. Exclusions apply. For full terms and conditions please visit www.metricon.com.au/terms. 

33 

Read Brisbane’s Best I bmag.com.au 05

EdItoR’s INBOX 

there’s no doubt we’re facing a health 

crisis. According to the Australian 

Bureau of statistics, 63 per cent of 

Australians are overweight or obese, 

making us one of the fattest nations in 

the developed world and, contradictory 

to the once popular belief that we were 

a sporting nation, almost 70 per cent of 

us perform little or no exercise. And that is 

one big, fat problem. obesity is now the 

biggest single threat to public health in this 

country, overtaking smoking as the leading 

cause of premature death and illness in 

the population and contributing to an 

exponential spike in diseases such 

as diabetes. 

But we all have good intentions and it 

appears the vast majority of us start each 

new year with goals to get healthier in 

some way or other...problem is by now 

– just one month down the track – most 

people have also already given up! 

so, in this issue we’ve turned our 

attention to healthy inspiration – from the 

sport that’s attracting swim stars such as 

cover girl susie o’Neill and tV host Hayley 

Lewis (on page 27), to the dance moves 

that will get your heart pumping (on page 

19) and, on a more sublime level, the top 

10 spa escapes that have earned rave 

reviews from travellers. their facilities are 

guaranteed to restore harmony to even the 

most world-weary mind, body and spirit 

(see page 33). the good news is that, with 

Valentine’s day in mind, you can do all this 

and more with a partner. 

so what’s stopping you? 

We welcome your feedback on the stories 

in bmag or about issues affecting your 

community. Send your letters to the editor to 

yoursay@bmag.com.au or post to The Editor, 

bmag, PO Box 600, Albion 4010. 

0205BMAGQP 

Get Outback! 

FLAT ROOF 

1300 145 145 

www.stratco.com.au 

06 bmag.com.au I Read Brisbane’s Best 

UPFRONTCompiled by Laura Brodnik 

bmag turns the spotlight on... 

Crackdown on fare evaders 

Fare evasion costs South East Queensland $25million a year in lost revenue 

which could be going back into services. Transport and Main Roads Minister 

Scott Emerson has ordered a crackdown on fare evaders at Brisbane train 

stations in the coming weeks and anyone caught not paying the correct 

fare risks an on-the-spot fine of $200. Security staff will be conducting the 

blitzes at train stations throughout Brisbane but past records show most 

fare evaders are caught at Roma Street, Park Road, Bowen Hills, Northgate, 

Fortitude Valley, Petrie, Altandi, Beenleigh, Strathpine and Central stations. 

Over the past three years more than 50,000 fines have been issued for fare 

evasion across South East Queensland. 

Graffiti must go 

Some people may see graffiti as street art but ‘tagging’ 

a property without permission is a curse for Brisbane 

City Council as it chews up budget funds that could be 

put to better use. Hot spots for tagging in 2012 were the 

West End/South Brisbane/ Highgate Hill area, Fortitude 

Valley, Paddington/Milton, Toowong and Ashgrove. This 

financial year more than $3million has been budgeted for 

the cleanup, three times the amount spent five years ago. 

Patrols and CCTV cameras will be used to monitor these 

and other suburbs to catch offenders, who can face up to 

seven years in jail, be ordered to fix any damage they cause 

and be responsible for removal costs. If you see someone 

doing graffiti, contact Queensland Police on 131 444. 

…and experience the best of outdoor living with the range of 

lifestyle solutions offered by the Stratco Outback ® Patio system. m. 

SUNROOF CURVED ROOF 

Ask us about getting 

your patio installed by an 

Authorised Outback Dealer! 

Move to the music 

Getting fit and healthy might be the 

new year’s most popular resolution 

but it’s estimated that almost 90 per 

cent of people fail to keep to their goal. 

Now international brain scientist and 

television presenter Dr Jack Lewis 

claims a scientific approach to your 

exercise playlist might be the key to 

kicking some of those fitness goals. 

For example, he claims listening to 

classical music can help burn more 

kilojoules than fast-tempo tracks. 

Dr Lewis says listening to upbeat 

music before you exercise can help you 

‘get in the zone’ just like an Olympic 

athlete; choosing energetic but not 

overly fast classical music can be ideal 

in the gym to increase speed, strength 

and endurance while reducing heart 

rate, blood pressure and perceived 

exertion. He also suggests choosing 

songs that mean something special 

to you – ones that remind you of 

something motivational or inspiring. 

Apparently women respond better 

CONTACT 

STRATCO 

TODAY! 

than men to pumping music like the 

kind played in aerobics classes or circuit 

training, which is perhaps why they tend 

to attract more women – but the jury is 

still out on why that is. To find out more 

see www.raramusic.wordpress.com. 

COOLDEK - INSULATED PATIO DECKING! 

Image: Image: dan dan Peled/AAP 

Peled/AAP

Help with storm recovery 

Premier Campbell Newman has launched a new flood appeal 

in conjunction with the Red Cross to help victims of the recent 

storms and he outlines grants available for people in hardship 

(see his column on page 15 for details). But there are other 

ways you can help. The Salvation Army has set up its own 

flood appeal to help service its support of evacuation centres 

from Brisbane to Bundaberg. Donations can be made to its 

Australian Disaster Relief Fund at salvos.org.au, by phone 

on 137 258 or in person at any Westpac branch, Woolworths 

or Big W stores. Volunteering Queensland is also calling for 

people to help with recovery work in the weeks and months 

ahead. See www.emergencyvolunteering.com.au to register 

your details and availability. 

The Salvation Army is supporting evac centres 

reminiscent of last year’s floods near Dalby 

Experts name worst diets 

The Dietitians Association of Australia (DAA) has named and 

shamed the Lemon Detox Diet, the Acid and Alkaline Diet 

and the Six Weeks OMG Diet as the diets to avoid in the new 

year push to get lean and healthy. Dietitians from around 

the country voted them the three worst diets in a survey of 

nine popular diets, singling them out because they cut out 

complete food groups from the diet and are not sustainable in 

the long-term. 

Low and no-carb diets also came in for a serve from the 

experts as carbohydrates are essential for effective brain 

function and without them you won’t perform at your best. 

The DAA says there are no quick fixes and balanced 

portions of vegetables (half the serve on your plate), 

carbohydrates (quarter serve) and proteins (quarter serve) are 

still the best guide for a healthy lunch and dinner. 

Image: Dan Peled/AAP 

OF THE 

BEST 

Ways to spEnd 

Compiled by Laura Brodnik 

Valenitine’s Day 

2 

Moon river 

Sail away with Riverlife’s Valentine’s Day 

Paddle and Dine event. Glide down the 

Brisbane River in fully-lit kayaks, with 

stunning views of the city and the Story 

Bridge. Lovebirds will then be treated 

to a selection of canapés and a bottle of 

sparkling wine, followed by dessert. Tickets 

from $89. For details and bookings 4see 

www.riverlife.com.au. 

seeing red 

Share the love 

with street 

performers 

and burlesque 

dancers at Drift 

Brookwater’s 50 

Shades of Red 

event, a night of 

theatrical glamour 

accompanied by a 

three-course meal. Tickets 

from $89 per person. To book 

see www.driftbrookwater.com.au 

or call 3814 6100. 

1 

text flirting 

The Exchange Hotel in the city will host its first SMS 

Flirt on 14 February. Guests will be given a number 

on arrival which they put on themselves along with 

a phone number which links to a large screen in the 

room. Then it’s Message On to others in the room 

and the texts will appear on the screen. Doors open 

8pm. Free entry. See www.theexchange.com.au. 

3 

Romantic retreat 

Escape the city and 

head to Mercure Clear 

Mountain Lodge, Spa and 

Vineyard where a lovers’ 

package includes overnight 

accommodation, a four-course set menu 

dinner at Mandy’s on the Mountain restaurant, a 

375ml bottle of Moet Rose and a confectionery buffet for $399. For bookings 

call 3298 5100, or email enquiry@clearmountainlodge.com.au. 

smile if you’re single 

If you’re single you can laugh 

all the way to the Sit Down 

Comedy Club at The Paddo 

Tavern this Valentine’s Day. 

Only unattached men and 

women are invited to this 

event, with comedian Justin 

Hamilton headlining the 

festivities. A past singles 

night led to a wedding, so 

organisers have high hopes for 

this year’s event. Tickets from 

$27.50. Doors open 7pm. To book 

see www.standup.com.au. 

5 


Diamonds are a girl’s best 

friend and the Valentine who 

opens this sparkling package 

will be charmed for sure. City-based 

Xennox Diamonds are experts in 

the field and have won more than 

10 design awards for their work, 

including the prestigious Australian 

Jewellers Supreme Design Award. 

To celebrate Valentine’s Day 

bmag and Xennox Diamonds have 

a pair of sparkling diamond studs 

to give away. The stud earrings are 

Russian cut diamonds with a weight 

of 0.40ct, and very high levels of 

colour (F) and clarity (S1), set in 

an 18ct white gold claw setting. 

But you’ll have to be quick to enter. 

Competition closes 5pm Sunday 10 

February. 

Xennox Diamonds is at Level 2, 

130 Queen Street Mall, city. See 

www.xennoxdiamonds.com.au. 

Prize value $1800 

WIN 

DazzLing 

DiamonDs 

How to enter 

For your chance to win simply enter online at 

www.bmag.com.au or send your name, address 

and daytime telephone details on the back of 

an envelope to Xennox Diamond earrings, at 

bmag, PO Box 477, Albion 4010. Entries close 

5pm Sunday 10 February 2013. Entrants agree to 

receive future promotional offers from bmag. 


binformed 

Our Town Compiled by Laura Brodnik 

where to go, what to do and what you need to know… 

p Calling for Scouts 

Boys and girls aged 6 to 14 can take part in a 

host of activities from camping and canoeing 

to abseiling and bushwalking with their local 

Scouts troop. Brisbane Central Scouting group 

will have a sign-on day on Saturday 9 February 

from 10am to 1pm at New Farm Park near the 

playground. Or contact group leader Elizabeth 

West on 3355 2826 or email her your interest 

at brisbanecentralscouts@gmail.com. For 

information about other Scout groups around 

Brisbane and their sign-on days call the 

Queensland Scout Centre on 3870 7000. 

Love in the air 

South Bank is celebrating Valentine’s Day for the 

whole month of February and there are great 

prizes to be won including a grand prize of a VIP 

ride on The Wheel of Brisbane, a QPAC show and 

a three-course feast at Cove Bar + Dining. More 

prizes will include dinner and drinks for two at 

local dining hot spots such as Next Door Kitchen 

& Bar, South Bank Surf Club, Fifth Element and 

The Jetty South Bank. There are prizes to be won 

daily. See www.visitsouthbank.com.au/love for 

entry details or visit South Bank on Facebook. 

Have a ball 

Queensland-born international baseball star 

Dave Nilsson will be honoured at a legend’s 

dinner at the Summit Events Centre, Iceworks, 

Paddington on 16 February. Nilsson is the only 

Australian ever selected as a Major League 

All Star in the US and he was the captain of 

Australia’s baseball team at the 2000 Olympic 

Games. Tickets from $150. To book or for 

enquiries call Chris Rose on 0429 212463 or Brett 

McCall on 0413 397 555. 

Beaut ukes 

Following sold-out concerts in New York, London 

and Sydney, the Ukulele Orchestra of Great 

Britain will bring its plucky toe-tapping tunes to 

Brisbane on 18 February. Their new show is a mix 

of covers of artists including Lady Gaga, Adele, 

Black Sabbath and Michael Jackson, as well as 

classical music and some more quirky pieces. 

Tickets from $70.90. For information call 136 246 

or see www.qpac.com.au. 

Get arty 

The Kids’ APT7 exhibition at the Queensland 

Art Gallery and Gallery of Modern Art 

(GOMA) has engaging projects and artworks 

for children on show until 14 April. This free 

exhibition offers families an insight into 

contemporary art from across the Asia Pacific 

region and includes interactive projects 

where children can create their own books, 

make a mask or paint a picture. For more 

information see www.qagoma.qld.gov.au. 

p Ride Brissie to the Bay 

Thousands of riders will take part in the annual 

Brissie to the Bay bike ride on Sunday 23 June 

to raise funds for people living with multiple 

sclerosis (MS). Register before Friday 15 March 

for early bird adult entry fees from $35. For more 

information see www.brissietothebay.com.au.

Back to the drawing board 

Models styled in fashions from the 1920s, 

1950s and the Victorian era will be the 

subjects of an art class hosted by the Delta 

of Venus Life Drawing Club at Southside Tea 

Room, 693 Wynnum Road, Morningside. 

Opening club night on Thursday 14 February 

from 7pm to 9pm, then every second Thursday 

night. Artists of all levels can attend, tickets 

from $15. Bookings essential. For more 

information see www.southsidetearoom.com. 

Applications away 

The second round of applications is 

now open for the Redland City Council 

Community Grants Program and Regional Arts 

Development Fund. Grants can be used to fund 

sport and recreation, community development, 

arts and cultural heritage, festivals and events, 

enterprise development and environmental 

projects. Applications open until 1 March 2013. 

Call 3829 8911 for enquiries. For information 

see www.redland.qld.gov.au. 

t Hide and seek 

Children aged 3 to 6 are invited to story time 

at the Brisbane Botanic Gardens, Mt Coot-tha 

Tuesday 19 February. They also can explore 

the self-guided Hide 'n' Seek children's trail 

which takes approximately 20 minutes to 

walk. Story time starts at 9.30am and finishes 

at 10.15am. For more information call Mt 

Coot-tha Library on 3403 2550. 

p Asian extravaganza 

Celebrate Brisbane’s Asian culture with food 

and fun at the inaugural BrisAsia Festival from 

8 February to 23 February. It will feature a range 

of traditional and contemporary Asian arts, 

cultural events and programs across the city. 

Highlights include the Big Aussie-Asian BBQ 

with celebrity chef Poh Ling Yeow, Asian world 

music at Brisbane Botanic Gardens, Mt Coot-tha 

and a special edition Games Night, featuring a 

giant version of Chinese favourite, Mah Jong. For 

a full program see www.brisbane.qld.gov.au. 

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+ training 

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There’s no excuse not to make 

time for fitness when you can 

go to a Snap Fitness centre 

24/7 in suburbs across Brisbane. 

Each centre has state-of-the-art 

equipment and access to training 

staff at certain periods. To kick start 

your fitness program we have 3 

gym packages to give away, valued 

at more than $600 each, which 

include an introduction to the fun 

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functional training. Find out more 

by calling 0427 996 583 or email 

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Each lucky winner will receive: 

• 1 month Kosama Fitness classes at 

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• 3 months membership at a Snap 

Fitness Centre 

• 1 personal training session 

• 1 Snap training pack (bag, towel, 

water bottle) 

Total prize value $630 each 

How to enter 

Simply enter at www.bmag.com.au or send your 

name, address and daytime telephone details on 

the back of an envelope to Snap Membership, at 

bmag, PO Box 477, Albion 4010. Entries close 5pm 

Friday 15 February 2013. Conditions apply. See 

bmag website. Entrants agree to receive future 

promotional offers from bmag. 


binformed 

Eating out of control 

Many thousands are battling the shame of binge eating 

behind closed doors, writes Laura Brodnik 

Karla Cameron knows only too well the 

isolating shame that comes with an 

eating disorder. Already the victim 

of an abusive childhood, Cameron began 

dieting when she was just 15 and by 16 she 

was battling anorexia, by 17 she was bulimic – 

and that was just the beginning of her struggle 

with eating disorders. At 21 she started binge 

eating, and a seven-year stretch that would 

take Cameron to her darkest hours. 

“I used to think of my binge eating as like 

a huge vulture descending on me without any 

warning, cloaking me in darkness, taking over 

my mind and directing me to run to the fridge 

and eat now,” Cameron tells bmag. 

“There was an urgent, out-of-control need to 

shovel in food. I’ve been in some pretty low and 

shameful places with my eating. I have eaten 

food out of the rubbish bin, burnt food, frozen 

food and even food my dog wouldn’t eat.” 

As a result Cameron suffered crazy mood 

swings, headaches and body aches, and in 

between the binge eating she would go on a 

cycle of desperate dieting. “I wanted to climb 

out of my own skin, I was so uncomfortable,” 

she says as she recalls the experience. But 

even after years of following strict diets and 

weight loss programs Cameron found she was 

still 10-15kg overweight. 

“Every time an overwhelming feeling 

rose up, and they were pretty much all 

overwhelming, I would turn to food as the 

answer,” she says. 

Cameron finally woke up from her binge 

eating nightmare when she gave birth to her 

first child at 28 and found a new respect for 

the body that had delivered a healthy baby 

(and her second just a year later). It was 

enough to make Cameron re-examine her 

relationship with food and give up dieting 

and calorie counting for good. 

Cameron decided to set her own goals and 

meal plans, undertook spiritual healing and 

started meditation. She also started to write 

about her experience in newsletters for the 

Eating Disorders Association (Qld) and felt it 

was the first time she was really being heard. 

It helped turn her life around. Cameron, now 

45, has been running her own business for 

six years – a counselling service for women 

suffering from eating disorders, called Life 

After Diets. 

“I draw upon both my past personal life 

and my professional experiences to help 

people through what I went through.” 

While binge eating has long been known 

as the forgotten disorder, overshadowed 

by the more prominent profiles of bulimia 

and anorexia, a recent study has shown that 

it is the most prevalent eating disorder in 

Australia. A report released by the Butterfly 

Foundation late last year found about 

914,000 people in Australia suffer from eating 

disorders. Binge Eating Disorder accounts 

for the lion’s share at 47 per cent of that 

number, bulimia 12 per cent and anorexia 3 

per cent while other disorders account for the 

remaining 38 per cent. 

According to the report, the socioeconomic 

cost of eating disorders to this 

country last year alone was $69.7billion. 

According to the Butterfly Foundation 

Binge Eating Disorder is a serious mental 

illness, and it’s one that is affecting more 

people every day. It affects people of all 

ages and genders, across all socio-economic 

groups and cultural backgrounds. People with 

the disorder feel a loss of control and sense of 

shame about their compulsion. 

Sarah Dakhili is a social worker with the 

Eating Disorders Association (Qld) and has 

also walked the rocky road to recovery after 

struggling with eating disorders from the age 

of 16. The association provides information, 

referral and support group services for people 

affected by eating disorders. “We do have a 

lot of people coming to us for help with Binge 

Eating Disorder, they can be reluctant to seek 

help if it’s quite new. There is a tendency for 

people to think ‘I’m the only one who goes 

through this’ but that’s not true. 

“When I hit rock bottom with my own 

binge eating I got no sense of joy from 

anything. I couldn’t understand how people 

could smile and laugh. Then I picked up the 

phone one day and called around until I found 

somebody who referred me to a therapist who 

had gone through a similar experience. I was 

encouraged to attend support groups and 

be a part of a community where people have 

similar challenges. So that’s my advice, get out 

of your own head and ask for help.” 

For help contact the Eating Disorders Association 

(Qld), on 1300 550 236 or call the Butterfly 

Foundation support line on 1800 334 673.


informed 

Airport cool in a crisis 

More frequent natural disasters around the world continue to test 

Brisbane Airport’s emergency team, as Leonie Briggs discovers 

The Australia Day weekend 2013 will long be 

remembered for the floods and storms that 

wreaked havoc throughout the state and 

beyond, but such natural disasters are all in a day’s 

work for Rick Huriwai in his role as emergency and 

contingency planning manager at Brisbane Airport. 

Huriwai and his team learned a lot from the 2011 

floods and the experience helped them snap into 

action to help co-ordinate emergency transport 

for the evacuation of victims, particularly from 

Bundaberg, and minimise the impact for travellers 

as flights to and from the airport were affected. 

But it’s not just local disasters that impact 

operations at Brisbane Airport, as Huriwai has 

discovered in the three years he has been there. Not 

long after the floods in Brisbane in 2011 Huriwai 

and his team were co-ordinating the safe return of 

Australian citizens from Christchurch, which had 

been devastated by an earthquake and, months 

later, he was on alert again to help co-ordinate 

efforts to bring home Aussies stranded around the 

world as a result of the Chilean Ash crisis. 


Although natural disasters appear to be 

happening more frequently and are more regularly 

part of the airport’s emergency activity, they are 

not the only major incidents the airport prepares 

for. Later this month Huriwai will welcome a new 

‘member’ to his team, a SWAT-team-like vehicle 

equipped with computer consoles, heat-sensing 

cameras for night work and room inside for at least 

half a dozen specialist personnel. 

While it would not be out of place in a police 

drama or action movie, the vehicle’s capability 

to access and report back from all areas of the 

2700-hectare airport precinct will enable it to 

provide on-the-spot support and relay vital 

information to emergency co-ordinators at the 

Airport Village command centre. 

The $180,000 vehicle will be on 24/7 standby 

and will be available to a range of airport and 

government agencies such as Customs and Air 

Transport Safety Bureau officers as well as being 

used for regular security patrols of the precinct’s 

60km road network. The vehicle will also add 

to the airport’s capabilities when international 

leaders arrive in Brisbane for the G20 Summit 

next year. 

Not surprisingly, handling and preparing for 

such diverse events involves a lot of co-ordination 

and planning which has to cover multiple 

scenarios, whether occurring at the terminal, 

airside, or on the road network. 

Regular meetings and workshops built around 

hypothetical scenarios and involving emergency 

services personnel as well as police, ambulance, 

fire fighters and aviation regulators are part of 

the planning process. Strategies and plans that 

emerge from these sessions are tested in regular 

exercises. One exercise last year simulated a crash 

on the main runway involving a 200-seater jet 

and involved more than 60 police and emergency 

service vehicles. Aviation students and airport 

ambassadors also were called in to play the roles 

of bandaged and bloodied passengers with a 

range of injuries. 

The exercise proved its worth only a few 

months later when landing gear on a freight plane 

failed, forcing it into an emergency belly landing 

in the early hours of the morning. 

“We had exercised this activity on a regular 

basis but this was the first real-time event like this 

that we had actually done. It was a confirmation 

of the all the training we had been doing so far 

and that everything we had been researching 

and evaluating so often, and that we were now 

applying to the task at hand, works.” Although 

the main runway was closed during the incident, 

everything was cleared just ahead of the morning 

peak of a busy weekday with minimum disruption 

to airport operations. 

Meanwhile simulation exercises continue, 

both on desktop and on the ground, while 

technical upgrades of things like CCTV and IT 

systems allow for faster and more comprehensive 

communication of information as events progress. 

Huriwai and his team also meet with their 

counterparts from other capital city airports every 

three months to exchange information.

Storm clean-up underway 

Lessons from 2011 helped us prepare for the recent storm but 

the clean-up is still massive, writes Lord Mayor Graham Quirk 

In the last fortnight we have all received a 

timely reminder of why it’s so important to 

be prepared for storms and flooding. As Lord 

Mayor of Brisbane it has been heartbreaking for 

me watching the residents of this city having to 

relive the possibility that their homes may be 

flooded again. 

It didn’t matter that we all knew it was 

unlikely to be anywhere near as big and 

damaging as January 2011, it’s still a raw wound 

for many and it was always going to be tough for 

people to stop those devastating images creeping 

back into their minds. 

However, we’re also a strong bunch of people 

up here and I cannot thank everybody enough 

for the way in which you followed our requests to 

stay calm and put preparations in place. 

The universe works in strange ways and it’s 

almost uncanny how, in my last bmag column, 

I wrote extensively about the lessons learnt 

from the January 2011 flood and ensuring we all 

remained vigilant on its two-year anniversary. 

I admit I certainly didn’t expect to be putting 

it into action just a few days later. However, 

thanks to the many improvements we’ve made 

since then, we were prepared early and made 

the critical decision to release maps and lists 

of streets for areas that flood-modelling and 

weather forecasts predicted would be affected. 

Along with the traditional media, who did a 

fantastic job in helping us ensure residents were 

best prepared, social media played a big part, 

with more than 16 million views of council’s 

Twitter and Facebook pages. 

We also immediately put sandbag operations 

into overdrive in the days leading up to the 

storm and flooding to ensure those who needed 

to prepare could and we handed out close to 

160,000 of them to residents and businesses 

around the city. 

Another big thank you is in order, this time 

for the council staff who worked tirelessly 

throughout the days and nights to ensure 

residents had access to sandbags, as well as those 

members of the community who generously 

volunteered their public holiday to help us 

increase production as required. 

Interestingly, despite the concern associated 

with the flood risk, it was the preceding wild 

winds and heavy rains which provided the 

biggest hit to Brisbane. Again, we worked hard 

to give residents as much time as possible to 

prepare as best they could, and it was pleasing 

that the majority of people heeded our warnings 

to stay indoors, secure loose furniture and keep 

off slippery roads. 

However, like any major storm, there has been 

a major clean-up effort required, with council 

officers responding to more than 1850 trees down, 

our contact centre taking more than 20,000 calls, 

and the SES called to more than 1200 jobs. 

We also understand residents are doing their 

own clean-ups of leaf litter and smaller broken 

branches and trees strewn across their backyards, 

footpaths and gutters, which is why I’ve put on 

a one-off green waste kerbside collection for the 

GRAHAM 

QUIRK 

Lord Mayor 

of Brisbane 

whole city. It started on Monday and hopefully 

everybody’s already put any green waste they 

have out on the footpath, but if they haven’t been 

around yet and you still haven’t put your stuff 

out, now’s your chance. We simply ask residents 

to be patient as it will probably take a few weeks 

to make our way around every street in the city. 

Also, if you have left-over sandbags, there is 

no need to return them, but please dispose of 

them thoughtfully by spreading the sand across 

your lawn or filling up the kids’ sandpit – don’t 

dump them in waterways. 

Finally, if you haven’t already, please sign up 

to council’s Early Warning Alert system to receive 

storm warnings by text-message, email or on 

your home phone. If there’s anything the last 

week or so has reinforced, it’s that it’s better to be 

safe than sorry. 

Got a problem in your suburb that 

needs fixing? Email me at 

lordmayor@bmag.com.au. 


informed 

Grants to ease hardship 

The flood recovery is well underway, again, and there is 

help for those in need, writes Premier Campbell Newman 

We may have had a rough start to 2013 

with flooding throughout the state, 

but the Queensland spirit has shone 

through what has been a pretty dark time for 

some. 

While the recent floods were not as extensive 

as those of 2011, they have still affected thousands 

of homes and businesses throughout South 

East Queensland. As the waters recede, we must 

remember that people will need ongoing support 

to help them recover from their loss and hardship. 

We have a great team working to do 

everything possible to help in the days, weeks 

and months ahead and there is help out there 

for residents affected by the floods. Disaster 

relief arrangements are in place for residents 

of Brisbane and Ipswich City Council areas, 

including a range of grants. Those grants include: 

• Personal Hardship Assistance Scheme 

grants of up to $180 per person to a 

maximum of $900 for a family of five or 

more, to cover immediate basic costs of 

essential items such as food, clothing and 

accommodation. 

• Essential Household Contents Grants 

may be available to low-income families to 

help replace or repair uninsured, essential 

household contents which have been lost, 

damaged or destroyed. 

• Structural Assistance Grants of up to 

$14,685 for owners of houses that have 

sustained structural damage and who are 

not insured. 

• Essential Services Safety Reconnection 

Grants to help people who are uninsured, 

or unable to claim insurance, to reconnect 

essential services damaged in the 

floods. There are two parts to this grant: 

Inspection – up to $200 towards a safety 

inspection for each essential service 

needing reconnection (electricity, gas, 

water and sewerage or septic system), 

and Repair – up to $4200 towards repair 

work to enable essential services to be 

reconnected (for example, electrical 

rewiring). 

People who are experiencing personal 

hardship due to the storms and floods should 

contact the Department of Communities on 

1800 173 349 for support. 

We should also spare a thought for those 

in regional areas such as Bundaberg, Gympie, 

Laidley, Mundubbera, Rockhampton and other 

centres which have been hit hard. I travelled 

to several of these communities as the flood 

disaster unfolded and have seen first-hand the 

mess left behind. Government ministers have 

also been working tirelessly to support families, 

businesses and communities throughout the 

state. We all know it will take some time to 

rebuild, but rebuild we will. 

One way you can contribute to the 

rebuilding of Queensland is to make a donation 

to the Flood Appeal 2013. If you haven’t been 

directly affected by the floods, please consider 

giving to the appeal, which is a partnership 

Campbell 

NeWmaN 

Premier of 

Queensland 

between the Queensland government and the 

Red Cross. Every dollar raised will be spent 

helping people around the state who have been 

affected by the floods and all funds raised will 

be administered by the Red Cross. 

To donate, see the Red Cross website at 

www.redcross.org.au or call 1800 811 700. 

Already we have had an overwhelming 

response to the Flood Appeal and I thank 

everyone who has already donated. 

Finally, a word on our emergency service 

personnel, council workers, members of the 

SES and other volunteers who have worked so 

tirelessly to protect Queenslanders in need. 

They have saved many lives and, in many 

cases, put themselves in harm’s way. On behalf 

of the state, I send heartfelt thanks for their 

dedication and bravery. 

Have you got something to say 

about issues affecting Brisbane? 

Email me at premier@bmag.com.au 


16 bmag.com.au I Read Brisbane’s Best

informed 

Forces join for recovery 

From special services to the Mud Army, the focus is on helping 

those in need after the storm, writes Deputy Prime Minister Wayne Swan 

The extreme weather events of the 

Australia Day long weekend again 

tested the resolve of Brisbane and 

South East Queensland. While these events 

were thankfully nowhere near as bad as 

those of 2011, they still managed to inflict 

much pain and heartache on many people, 

businesses and communities right across 

Queensland. 

It’s simply heartbreaking to see people 

who lost everything only a couple of years ago 

go through the same thing again. Bundaberg 

and surrounding regions were hit particularly 

hard, with more than 1000 people having to 

be evacuated, including the Bundaberg Base 

Hospital. 

Quite a number of other regions were also 

hit hard, including the Lockyer Valley and 

communities right down the Queensland coast. 

During all of these events, wherever they 

occurred across Queensland, the federal 

government has been there every step of the 

way, working with the state government to 

support the recovery efforts. 

The full resources of our Defence Force 

were on standby to assist where needed. Four 

Black Hawk choppers were deployed to assist 

with evacuations in Bundaberg along with 

a further two Hercules aircraft to evacuate 

the Bundaberg Base Hospital. A further 100 

Defence Force Personnel were assigned to 

assist Bundaberg’s recovery. 

But, as we saw two years ago, 

Queenslanders came together to help out their 

mates. We were all in this together and that’s 

one of the reasons I think we were so well 

prepared for these latest events. 

Last Monday I was out in Goodna where 

I met a group who called themselves the 

Western Mud Army. They were going up and 

down Enid Street, knocking on doors and 

asking if anyone needed a ute or a hand. They 

were helping people like Barry Rissman, 93, 

who told me this was the fourth time he’s had 

to evacuate his home since 1957. 

For people who didn’t escape these latest 

natural disasters it’s people like the Western 

Mud Army who will be there to again lend a 

hand. Importantly, the state government and 

the federal government have joined together 

to provide further disaster assistance to those 

in most need, not just in the emergency phase 

but also the recovery phase. 

For information on assistance available 

please contact the Queensland Department 

of Communities on 1800 173 349. 

Centenary of Anzac 

From 2014 to 2018 Australia will 

commemorate the Centenary of Anzac. The 

Anzac Centenary is one of the most significant 

commemorations in our nation’s history. 

It will mark 100 years since the Gallipoli 

landings and major Western Front battles. It 

will also recognise other significant military 

anniversaries throughout the last century. 

Wayne 

SWan 

Deputy Prime 

Minister, Treasurer, 

Member for Lilley 

The federal government wants to make 

sure every Australian can take part in events 

right across our country and at historic 

battlegrounds around the world. Just as 

the first Anzacs helped define our national 

character, the Anzac Centenary will be an 

important time to honour and reflect upon the 

service and sacrifice made by members of our 

Defence Force, past and present. 

The Gillard government is putting in place 

a suite of community-based initiatives to 

help mark the Anzac Centenary, including a 

local grants program to assist communities 

carry out their own Anzac Centenary 

commemoration projects. For further 

information about the program and upcoming 

events, see www.anzaccentenary.gov.au. 

Have you got a question about 

issues affecting Brisbane? Email 

me at swanny@bmag.com.au 


informed 

Sport + Fitness 

A fighting Red 

Steve Haddan talks to Wallaby fly-half Quade Cooper 

ahead of his professional boxing debut 

It’s the legs I’m interested in. By all means, 

make of that what you will but having spent 

a morning on YouTube reacquainting 

myself with Quade Cooper’s talents, by the time 

I get to “Shaggy” King’s Corporate Box gym on 

Lutwyche Road, it’s the legs I want to see. 

It’s Cooper’s legs which propel him, give the 

Red’s maestro his incredible dash and flexibility, 

that pace and step which so effortlessly sweeps 

him past opposition defenders before they have 

time to say “wasn’t that your man?” 

His legs are the reason he’s fighting Barry 

Dunnett in a four round cruiserweight contest 

at Boondall on Friday night (8 February), more 

specifically the right knee he shattered at the 

end of the 2011 World Cup which kept him out 

of action for much of last season. But a recovery 

that began with a regime of sit-down boxing 

seems to have gotten way out of hand. 

“I had no choice. I had to move.” He tells 

me as he bandages his hands. Bitten by the bug 

and what the sweet science might bring to his 


game Cooper was on 

his way. “Boxing’s all 

about footwork. It gave 

me a chance to get 

the leg back. Mentally 

it offered plenty of 

positives too.” 

Key to what 

places Cooper at the 

very top of his craft 

is confidence. “It’s 

all about having a 

presence about you. Boxing gives me that. As a 

playmaker you can’t just tell people what to do. 

You need to lead by example.” 

His trainer’s confidence is building too. 

“When he first started he was terrible,” says King, 

himself training for a tilt at the Australian junior 

middleweight crown on 28 February. “But what 

I noticed is he gives 110 per cent to anything 

he does. When we’d finish our sessions he’d 

stay behind and work on his own until he had 

Image: Dan Peled/AAP 

absolutely nothing left. 

“Dunnett thinks 

he’s going to win, 

and experience-wise 

he should. But what 

Quade has is power. If 

he hits this bloke flush 

it’ll be lights out,” 

says King. 

“This is a whole 

new sport. I’m trying 

to better myself,” says 

Cooper. “Whatever I do I want to see how good I 

can get.” 

There’s a fire, too, burning inside Cooper 

which will serve him well when he steps inside 

the squared circle, a fighting competitiveness he 

admits is rooted in a tough upbringing in a small 

town on New Zealand’s North Island. “There were 

plenty of kids with talent but many never got a 

shot. You had to work for everything. My mum 

and dad (David and Ruhia) worked two jobs each 

STEVE 

HADDAN 

Sports writer and 

public speaker 

to give our family a chance to be what we wanted 

to be.” 

Exposed, troubled, often judged and always 

under intense public pressure, Cooper has 

trimmed down to a super-fit 88kg, got his injured 

leg back in working order and has his playing 

future assured at state and national level. As a 

new year unfolds, it’s good being Quade Cooper. 

“I enjoy it. You can’t pick who you are so you 

may as well enjoy it. When I was younger I felt I 

had to please everyone. Everyone has an opinion. 

I am working out the best way to achieve what I 

want, what’s right for me.” 

Friday’s fight is on the undercard of Sonny Bill 

Williams’ heavyweight stoush with South African 

heavyweight Francois Botha. On 16 February 

the Reds open their Super Rugby campaign in 

Canberra. 

Got a sports story idea? Email me 

at steveh@bmag.com.au

Bolly-good fitness 

The new dance craze taking 

over Brisbane is not in nightclubs. 

Laura Brodnik reports 

They say a change is as good as a holiday 

and that’s why mixing up your exercise 

routine has the power to kick your 

floundering fitness levels back into overdrive. 

So, whether you’re already losing motivation 

to exercise or you just want to get started 

why not look to India and, more specifically, 

Bollywood for inspiration. Brisbane’s fun new 

way to get fit is 

Bollycise, which 

combines cheesy 

dance moves with 

a heart-pounding 

workout. 

Bollycise 

classes are 

popping up all 

over the city, 

attracting men 

and women of 

all ages who are 

learning fastpaced, 

energetic 

routines from 

Bollywood 

movies that 

keep heart rates 

pumping. 

According to 

Bollycise teacher and Star Rae Productions 

owner Racheal Leigh, the classes are a workout 

for body and mind. “Dance is a great form of 

fitness because it gets your heart rate up which 

will burn the calories. It also strengthens 

hand-eye co-ordination because you have to 

concentrate on the steps in the routine and 

that’s how it’s different to a traditional exercise 

class. 

“Bollycise will also increase your 

musicality, because you learn how to listen 

to the music and use it to follow the routines. 

The elements of performance are what make 

it different to other classes where you just 

perform the same sequence of moves over and 

over again.” 

Leigh first attended Bollywood dance 

classes to prepare for a stage role and her 

teacher was so impressed with her natural 

talent she urged Leigh to train as an instructor. 

That was four years ago and since then Leigh 

has seen the interest in Bollywood fitness 

grow. “In my classes there are mostly adults at 

different fitness levels and I’ve had people who 

have never danced before. I had one lady who 

was stiff as a board and had never danced in 

her life and then she noticed she was starting 

to loosen up and have fun. It’s changed the 

way she feels about herself. 

“I also taught a guy who was in an accident 

and nearly became a paraplegic. During his 

recovery he had a hard time walking let alone 

dancing, but he took my classes as part of his 

rehabilitation.” 

One of the elements of Bollycise that keeps 

the dancers coming back is the theatrical fun 

loving thread that weaves its way through the 

routines. After all, who doesn’t love to exercise 

to moves called 

‘put your 

earrings on’, ‘pick 

the flowers’ or 

‘stir the pot’? 

“It’s a musical 

theatre style 

of dance, but 

it’s also very 

cheesy and 

very colourful. 

Using songs 

and dances 

from Bollywood 

movies makes it 

a lot of fun and 

the music is just 

contagious,” 

Image: Image: Image: Julian Julian Julian Smith/AAP 

Smith/AAP 

Smith/AAP 

Leigh says. 

“You can start 

anytime and 

attend as many classes as you like because you 

are not locked into a contract. We demonstrate 

the moves so new people can pick up the 

dance even if we are halfway through learning 

a routine. I also email students videos of the 

dances so they can practise at home.” 

The highs and lows of the dance routines 

make Bollywood dancing similar in pace to 

interval training, capable of burning between 

1200 to 1700 kilojoules in an hour-long class, 

according to Leigh. 

Christina Dean jumped on the Bollywood 

dance wagon more than a year ago and said the 

creativity of the classes coupled with the health 

benefits are what keep her coming back. “It’s 

interesting and fun and it really does help with 

fitness. Just in my first few weeks of coming to 

the classes I noticed I’d lost weight,” she tells 

bmag after a class. 

“It’s more fun than just going to the gym or 

going for a run, learning a full dance routine 

over a couple of classes makes you feel like 

you’ve really accomplished something. You 

know you’re working towards a goal.” 

Rachael Leigh runs beginners Bollywood Dance/ 

Bollycise classes on Monday and Thursday nights at 

Woolloongabba and Stafford. Classes start at $10 per 

person. For information call Racheal Leigh on 0419 

835 855. Dance Masala also holds Bollywood dance 

classes on Wednesdays and Saturdays, for information 

see www.bollywoodbrisbane.com.au. 


informed 

Relationships 

The love languages that 

could save your marriage 

According to a study by Oxford University, 

Australian men make the worst 

husbands in the world. Why? Apparently 

they loathe helping out with the housework. 

As the proprietor of a pretty decent Aussie 

Husband, I want to defend our men and suggest 

that this study was asking the wrong questions, 

because cleaning the house is not the only 

reason to love a man. 

I’m going to pop on my marriage celebrant 

hat here and recommend a book I instruct all 

my clients to read to ensure the marriage lasts 

longer than the best man’s speech. It’s a New 

York Times bestseller and I was given it when I 

was getting married the first time more than 12 

years ago, but I didn’t read it. I made sure I did 

the second time. 

The 5 Love Languages is written by an 

American Christian marriage counsellor and if 

love makes the world go round then this book 

quite possibly could save the world. 

The theory is simple. The book’s author, Gary 

Chapman, believes there are five love languages 

and the key to a happy marriage is to work out 

which one your partner responds to and act on 

that love language. The languages are Quality 

Time, Words of Affirmation, Gifts, Acts of Service 

and Physical Touch. Working out your partner’s 

love language is simple; just watch and listen. 

If your partner often complains that “we don’t 

spend any time together” they are more than 

likely needing Quality Time. You may feel you do 

spend plenty of time together, but it may not be 

enough for the partner who feels truly loved only 

when you are joined at the hip. 

“You never help around the house” might 

not be just the voice of a nagging wife; your wife 

most probably needs Acts of Service. You may 

buy her flowers, tell her she looks pretty or want 

to cuddle her 10 times a day, but if all she wants 

is the washing hung up and to be made a cup of 

tea, you are not speaking her language. 

When your partner opens another gift 

you bought that she doesn’t like and looks 

disheartened she (or he) could be Gifts. Gifts 

aren’t about being materialistic; they can be 

small, large or even picked out of your nextdoor 

neighbour’s garden because it’s about the 

thought behind the gift. It says you were thinking 

of me, you know me and bought me the perfect 

gift which means you love me. 

If your partner is a touchy feely type person 

and doesn’t shy away from public displays of 

affection (think the Premier’s wife, Lisa Newman, 

oh and me) then chances are Physical Touch is 

their language. 

Finally Words of Affirmation, that’s a personal 

one for me. I’ve discovered that’s my husband’s 

language. When we fought, if I said something 

hurtful, he would take it to heart and carry those 

EMILY 

JADE 

New mum and 

media personality 

Emily Jade learns true love is learning to speak the right language 


words for days, actually sometimes years! But 

when I tell him how wonderful he is he beams 

for days. 

So gentlemen, listen up! It may take a few 

more cuddles than usual, a thoughtful gift, an 

onslaught of compliments or a surprise long 

lunch date to prove you are the best husband 

in the world. And if your wife has been giving 

signals her language is Acts of Service, then 

simply picking up that vacuum cleaner and 

Hoovering away happily is a small 

price to pay for love. 

The 5 Love Languages by Gary Chapman 

is available online or find out more at 

www.5lovelanguages.com. 

Do you have a question, topic 

or story to share? Email me at 

emilyjade@bmag.com.au

gorgeous 

Fashion + Beauty + heaLth 

rising stars 

a “fashion incubator” program helps emerging fashion 

designers on way to top, writes Laura stead 

Brisbane has produced some of 

Australia’s most innovative designers, 

from Easton Pearson to Gail Reid, 

and there is a program to ensure that we 

continue to nurture more in the field. The 

QUT Creative Enterprise Australia Fashion 

Incubator is now in its third year of selecting 

a handful of emerging designers and helping 

them take their talent to the next level 

through business and design mentoring and 

access to high quality technical services. 

It’s not a program for designers just 

starting out. Candidates should have 

produced a collection for at least one 

season and, ideally, have secured stockists 

in place for a chance to join the program 

– and even then there is still a price to pay 

in monthly fees to ensure only the most 

committed apply. 

Program mentors include former Jean 

Brown fashion buyer Joshua Jones and 

Melanie Finger, co-creator of Bindi Irwin’s 

international fashion line, who both offer 

invaluable guidance on overseas markets, 

trends and an insight to the perspective of 

fashion buyers. 

Fashion Incubator manager Cynthia 

MacNee says tackling common business 

hurdles helps the budding designers avoid 

some of the pitfalls. “Fashion designers have 

to learn ‘the business’ of the business very 

quickly,” she says. “It’s an inside track 

on how to proceed without making 

a lot of mistakes others have made. 

We’re not working with students, 

we’re working with designers who 

are ready to take their business to the 

next level.” 

About six to eight designers are 

selected and they have daily access to the 

Stitch Lab, a commercial equipment set-up 

at the Kelvin Grove campus, as well as to 

regular workshops on topics from cash flow 

advice, budgeting and costing to technical 

production skills. 

Program alumni include brothers Sam 

and Jono Cottee, whose Vanguard label 

is now stocked by international retail 

heavyweights Asos and Bloomingdales, 

and Ana Diaz, whose label was picked to 

be part of Sportsgirl’s inaugural Graduates 

Collection in 2011. 

Sharka Bosakova, 38, completed the 

program last year and since then her now 

three-year-old label has been picked up by 

edgy new James Street boutique Sans Peur 

Workshop. 

“The main thing I wanted to learn was 

the commercial side of fashion and that 

was very beneficial. Being around other 

designers and working with one another 

was also great but learning about the inside 

of the fashion industry was the most 

important thing to me,” she says. 

The Sharka label is also on show 

until mid-February at the Logan Art 

Gallery, which highlights the long-term 

collaboration between Bosakova and 

photographer Renata Buziak, whose 

prints form many of the Sharka textiles. A 

separate exhibition of their work is on at 

Artisan, Fortitude Valley, until mid-March. 

Collaboration is a major focus for QUT 

Creative Enterprise Australia which is 

already finding great success. Last year’s 

Akin project teamed five indigenous artists 

with final year QUT fashion students to 

create a fashion line using the artists’ 

prints as textiles. 

The Akin label is now in production and 

being shopped to fashion agents interstate 

after receiving investment offers from two 

philanthropists. 

“We hope it will become a template for 

other collaborations,” says MacNee. 

Designer Sharka 

Bosakova, top left, and 

two of her designs 


gorgeous 

Fashion 


Brooke sports bra $65.99, 

Action sleeveless jacket 

$89.99, Refresh running 

short $65.99. 

Eva sports bra $65.99, 

Tropics 7 

8 tights $89.99. 

Eva sports bra 

$65.99, Anna run 

tank $56.99, Swift 

7 

8 

tights $89.99.

Lorna Jane Clarkson hasn’t just created a 

successful fitness and retail brand, she has 

inspired a generation of women to be 

disciples of the healthy lifestyle philosophy 

she embraced more than 20 years ago. 

Clarkson’s personal philosophy, anchored in the three 

pillars of “Move”, “Nourish” and “Believe”, has become 

the mantra for women around the world who share her 

holistic approach to being active and nourishing body 

and soul through healthy living and a positive outlook. 

That’s why you’ll find recipes and motivational words of 

wisdom, not just an online shop, on the Lorna Jane website. 

Evette tank bra combo $85.99, Flo ¾ 

Bootleg $89.99, Inspirational bracelet 

$19.99, Good Energy yoga mat $49.99. 

Comfort sports bra 

$65.99, Be Fearless tank 

$34.99, Run short $55.99. 

All fitness fashion by Lorna Jane. For stockists 

see www.lornajane.com.au or call 13 89 90. 

Grand Slam tennis dress 

$99.99, Sport Short tights 

$62.99, Ventilation visor $22.99. 


Be a Teese 

Nobody does seduction like 

Dita Von Teese (above) and the 

burlesque star shares her style 

secrets for Valentine’s Day. The 

new range of lingerie pieces 

to hit Target in the Von Follies 

by Dita Von Teese collection 

include lace bras and bustiers, 

high cut briefs, satin bikinis 

and suspenders in shades of 

red, black, pink and bronze. 

Prices from RRP$19 to $79, in 

sizes 10A to 14DD. Available at 

Target stores or shop online at 

shop.target.com.au. 


bgorgeous 

Fashion and beauty 

FASHION FILES 

Compiled by Laura Brodnik 

Vintage appeal 

Necklaces are the fashion accessory 

of the moment and boho queen 

Nicole Richie is on target with 

her latest collection of statement 

pieces. Inspired by ancient Aztec 

and Egyptian styles, jewel-studded 

heavy metal is a defining feature. 

Available at Princess Polly stores 

or call (03) 9528 7300 for stockists. 

Prices from RRP$59. 

All the trimmings 

Black is back for the new season at Wittner and the style 

is all in the detail of boots and shoes – buckles and straps, 

laces, mesh, studs and crystal embellishments – designed 

with a femme fatale in mind. Prices from RRP$89.95, for 

store locations see www.wittner.com.au. 

In the dark 

Designer Masayo 

Yasuki has created her 

new season Dogstar 

collection to invoke a 

sense of mysticism with a 

slight androgynous edge 

for the wearer. Injections 

of crimson and slices of 

gunmetal grey add to 

the drama. Prices from 

RRP$129, at Dogstar 

stores in Paddington, 

Fortitude Valley and city. 

See www.dogstar.com.au 

for details. 

Leather luxe 

Sisters Bonnie Davis and Whitney Gilmore split their time between 

their Aussie homeland and New York so they know the value of a good 

bag that has the perfect balance of function and classic style. Under 

the label Dylan Kain, the girls’ debut collection focuses on five bags 

that will take a smart urban woman anywhere, and a classic belt. Bags 

from RRP$340, buy online at www.dylankain.com.

BEAUTY BAR 

Compiled by Heather McWhinnie 

p Power couple 

Clinique goes one step further than its 

Pore Refining Solutions Correcting Serum 

to minimise the look of pores with Instant 

Perfecting Makeup. A heavy foundation is 

not the answer. Instead Clinique’s solution 

is lightweight and incorporates the same 

resurfacing complex as the serum to help 

create a visibly smooth skin. RRP$50; 

serum RRP$68 at Clinique counters. 

Eco-smart lips u 

Grown Alchemist uses eco-certified ingredients 

in a range of skin care products for face, body 

and scalp. Purified watermelon extract helps 

hydrate lips while antioxidants in shea butter 

and jojoba oil, and essential fatty acids in sweet 

almond oil and rosehip, improve texture for 

smooth lips. Watermelon and Vanilla Lip Balm, 

RRP$19.95 at David Jones, Myer and selected 

pharmacies and beauty spas. 

t A+ 

Vitamin A has 

become a powerful ingredient 

in skin repair and it’s the key 

to Beauté Pacifique correction products, including 

Crème Métamorphique, a highly concentrated 

formulation to reduce the appearance of wrinkles 

and assist the repair of sun damaged skin. Also 

contains a sunscreen. RRP$87, available online at 

www.beautepacifique.com.au. 

Out damn spot u 

Sun spots are a common side effect of sun exposure but they can be 

made lighter with the help of Spotner, a targeted treatment that uses 

botanical extracts, alpha-hydroxy acids, salicylic acids and lactic acid 

to fade spots with continued use. The pen-tip applicator 

puts the treatment just were it’s needed. 

RRP$29.95 available at pharmacies or online at 

www.spotner.com.au. 

t Created by doctors 

Physicians Formula skin care has been 

designed to address two of the most common 

skin issues faced by women – ageing and 

moisture balance – in two colour-coded 

product ranges. Key ingredients to counter 

the effects of ageing include Laminaria 

Algae Complex to help skin recover from 

environmental damage. Find it in Firming and 

Lifting Booster, a serum which also contains 

PF Visilift to improve the appearance of facial 

contours. RRP$29.99 at Priceline. 

Quick clean 

A well-cleansed skin helps active ingredients in 

products penetrate skin for best results and there are 

no excuses when Guinot offers a quick and easy salon 

treatment for $45. Step 1 uses a Thermocleam electrode 

to heat the skin’s surface, then massage boosts 

microcirculation to help deliver the cleansing serum in 

a 30-minute treatment for a clearer, more radiant skin. 

Guinot Hydraclean suits all skin types. Call 1300 300 

954 or see www.guinot.com.au to find a salon. 

u In the 

pink 

Not all skin care needs to be 

clinical. Prada provides a sweet 

treat for skin in its new Candy 

Body Scrub, a creamy exfoliating 

foam to refine and soften skin 

with a subtle scent. RRP$90. 


Susie O’Neill still swims three to four times a week 


bhealthy 

Golden girls turn to new sport 

They are swimming legends but there’s a new sport 

turning them on, writes Darrell Giles 

They are instantly recognisable...two of 

our biggest sporting stars ever. They 

won golds galore at Olympic and 

Commonwealth Games, World, Pan Pacific 

and National swimming championships. 

While the two didn’t go head to head in 

the pool, soon they could be facing off 

against each other in a different 

competition. 

Susie O’Neill, 39, and 

Hayley Lewis, who will 

turn 39 next month, 

have put stellar 

swimming careers 

behind them and 

turned to the world of 

triathlon. Susie did her 

first Olympic distance 

tri (1.5km swim, 40km 

cycle, 10km run) at the 

iconic Noosa event in 2010 

and recorded an amazing 2hrs 

29mins, only about 30 minutes behind the 

elite female winning time. 

She has focused on team tri events since, 

including Noosa and the Cairns Half Ironman 

(1.9km swim, 90km cycle, 21.1km run) last 

June, in which she did the first and third legs. 

But 2013 is a big year for Susie – she turns 

40 in August – and wants to mark it with 

another impressive sporting performance. 

First up, later this month she will launch a 

major healthy living initiative in conjunction 

with food industry leaders. Susie will be the 

ambassador for a campaign which aims to 

educate families on the benefits of matching 

what you eat with the amount of activities you 

do. 

“Basically, people are eating too much and 

not exercising enough. There is an energy 

imbalance which is leading to children and 

adults becoming overweight and suffering 

from obesity,” the Brisbane mother-of-two 

tells bmag ahead of the campaign launch. 

From her own experience, Susie knows 

the benefits of a balanced diet for her 

children. She uses the “outside the aisles” 

adage to shop for fresh food, but doesn’t 

stop her children from eating particular 

foods, including sweet treats...“everything in 

moderation”, she says. 

“I know when I was younger and 

swimming there were certain foods I couldn’t 

eat, but that just made you want to eat them. 

We eat lots of breads and cereals, meat and 

fish, fruit and vegetables. Everyone is a lot 

happier with healthier food.” 

Training for Tri 

Susie has an active lifestyle with her children 

but still fits in swimming and cycling each 

week. Swimming is still an important part of 

Susie’s fitness regime and she has a Fastlane 

Swimming Machine in her backyard. It’s a 

pool with a hydraulic propeller that creates a 

current to swim against. “It’s like swimming

against a river current. I use it three to four 

times a week and it’s really good. The speed 

can go as fast as 55 seconds per 100m pace – 

the world record pace for girls is 52. 

She’s looking ahead to more team tri 

events and maybe another solo crack at 

Noosa this year. Her interest was piqued 

when she heard Hayley Lewis had signed up 

for the 3 November event. “That would be 

crazy if we both did it. But we might be in 

different age groups!” 

Susie’s 2:29.27 finish time at Noosa 

was highly respectable, but for a former 

Olympic champion, even in her late 30s, it 

was not good enough. She was second in her 

category but finished 821 out of about 4000 

competitors. “I really enjoy being around an 

event (triathlon). But I must admit I struggle 

coming so far down the list of placegetters.” 

Triathletes are at their peak between age 

30 to 50, so it’s the perfect sport for two fit 

young mums like Susie and Hayley. 

The Biggest Loser host is excited 

about her first Olympic distance 

triathlon at Noosa. She has hit 

the running trails of Brisbane, 

covering between 50 to 70km a 

week, but admits she’s not enjoying 

swimming these days. Nevertheless 

her long-distance swimming 

experience is likely to be an 

advantage in the Noosa canal. 

Hayley, also a mother-of-two, 

has been busy filming the latest 

series of Network Ten’s reality 

television show in Sydney and fits her 

own keep-fit routine around it. She has 

been a champion of healthy living in her 

role with The Biggest Loser and practises 

what she preaches as she tries to shed kilos 

ahead of her triathlon debut. 

Hayley Lewis has swapped swimming 

for running up to 70km a week 

Give Tri a Try 

Up to 35,000 Queenslanders do a triathlon – from the 

30-minute mini to the 17-hour ironman variety – every year. It 

is the fastest growing Olympic sport and mass participation 

sport in Australia. There are 54 affiliated triathlons clubs in the 

sunshine state with about 3000 people signed up to Triathlon 

Queensland membership. 

The sport of triathlon has grown significantly since its 

formation in Queensland in 1984 with the help of elite athletes 

such as Emma Snowsill (Olympic and Commonwealth Games 

gold medallist), Emma Moffat (2009 and 2010 ITU Series world 

champion), Emma Jackson (Under 23 world champion) and 

Brad Kahlefeldt (Commonwealth Games gold medallist). But 

a Triathlon Queensland spokesman says it’s not just a sport 

for elite athletes. “It’s a sport for all ages and stages with a 

multitude of distances catering for all levels of ability,” he says. 

The two leading triathlon clubs in Brisbane are Tri Alliance 

Queensland and Red Dog and each have coaching 

programs for beginners and experienced athletes of all ages 

in the different disciplines for triathlon and ironman over a 

range of distances. But the head coaches of both clubs say 

it’s not just a sport, it’s a lifestyle, and there’s a “social” side to 

the training as well. 

Red Dog founder and head coach Trent Patten says the 

squad provides a great social environment with regular 

Wednesday night dinners proving very popular. 

“Whether you are just starting out in the sport, or are 

looking to take it to the next level, we can help you to achieve 

your goals.” 

To find out how to get started see www.triathlonqld.com.au. 


healthy 

Eat yourself beautiful 

Nutritionists reveal the best foods to get skin glowing. Story by Lisa Haynes 

As the old adage goes, true beauty comes 

from within – and a good place to start is 

with the contents of your fridge. Glossy hair, 

glowing skin and healthy nails are all things you can 

glean from cuisine. Pack your diet with vitamin and 

mineral-rich goodness to reap the beauty benefits. 

“There’s a growing body of evidence that shows 

the look and feel of our skin may be influenced 

by what we eat,” says nutritionist Amanda Ursell. 

“Specific nutrients found in your diet have a major 

part to play in ensuring clear skin, bright eyes and 

glossy hair.” 

Sadly, there’s no quick-fix – it can take at least 

three weeks of steady healthy eating before you 

notice any subtle improvements. Here’s what the 

experts recommend for a beauty-full diet. 

Breakfast 

Kickstart your day with a cup of green tea to rev 

up your metabolism and get your skin glowing. 

“Drinking green tea has many beauty benefits,” 

says nutritionist Fiona Hunter. 

“A natural antioxidant, green tea comes from the 

same plant as other teas but it is not fermented, so 


retains more nutrients and has been shown to have 

twice as much antioxidant power as vitamin E. 

“Green tea can help when it comes to skincare, 

protecting it from external environmental 

influences and therefore helping fight signs of 

premature ageing.” 

Eggs are the breakfast food to indulge in for 

gorgeous, glossy locks. They work wonders for hair 

inside and out; rich in biotin, which is essential for 

cell growth, and vitamin B-12 for strengthening 

locks and maintaining a healthy scalp. 

Finish with a glass of fresh 

orange juice. It’s packed with 

vitamin C which is crucial for 

producing collagen – the 

protein that helps keep 

skin looking fresh and 

youthful. 

Lunch 

Whip up a skinfriendly 

super-salad 

for your midday meal. 

Ingredients rich in lutein 

are particularly good if you have overindulged in 

sun exposure this summer. 

“Lutein belongs to the carotenoid family of 

antioxidants and has been linked to reducing suninduced 

skin damage and improving the elasticity 

of the skin,” says Amanda Ursell. Spinach (12mg in 

100g) and red peppers (7mg in 100g) are both good 

sources. Add some hearty chunks of sweet potato for 

an extra fix of vitamin E. 

Forget ice cream and try a small scoop of coconut 

oil for dessert. Jennifer Aniston was spotted toting 

the ingredient in her shopping basket. The plant oil 

promotes supple, deeply hydrated skin, especially 

when applied to the skin as well. 

Dinner 

You can’t beat oily fish for enviable 

skin and hair. The fatty acids 

found in salmon, mackerel 

and sardines can help 

give you a post-faciallike 

glow, keeping 

your skin plump 

and moisturised. 

And turkey isn’t just for Christmas, it’s a healthy 

dinner alternative all year. “A 100g serving contains 

nearly 75 per cent of an adult’s Recommend Daily 

Allowance (RDA) of protein. It’s also low in fat and 

rich in zinc and selenium – an antioxidant that 

benefits the skin and immune system,” says Hunter. 

She also says carrots are hard to beat as a side 

dish. “They are rich in alpha-carotene and betacarotene, 

which convert to vitamin A, which is 

essential for the manufacture of new skin cells.” 

Snacks 

Nibbling on nuts will help conquer hunger pangs 

between meals – and top-up your beauty regime 

too. Almonds are rich in vitamin E and chewing a 

few a day can help improve skin texture and lessen 

after-meal surges in blood sugar levels. Hazelnuts 

are another good source. 

Fruit also makes great beautifying snacks. 

Tangerines are a good source of lutein, while 

blueberries, strawberries and kiwi fruit are packed 

with vitamin C to aid collagen production and keep 

capillaries healthy. And munching a few dried 

apricots, high in iron, will help improve skin tone.


living 

Home 

Behind the barcode screen 

This spacious holiday house has been designed to provide serene 

sanctuary for its occupants, writes Laura Stead 


It’s affectionately called the “Barcode 

House” by the neighbours but it’s also 

known as kinka@karboora, derived from 

aboriginal words “kinka” meaning “happiness” 

or “smiling” and “karboora”, the name for 

the pristine freshwater Blue Lake, a sacred 

site nearby that’s popular with sightseers. 

Perched high on a hill at Point Lookout on 

North Stradbroke Island, the holiday house is 

undoubtedly eye-catching from the outside 

and, from the inside, the view out across the 

Coral Sea is enough to take your breath away. 

Although idyllic for holidays, the 

environment can take its toll on buildings 

so local knowledge was crucial to the 

construction. Justin O’Neill, principal of 

O’Neill Architecture, has a house on Straddie 

and understood completely the challenges 

of the site, from the steep block to the harsh 

environmental conditions, and worked with 

local builder Craig Frampton, who has lived on 

the island for 20 years, to find a solution with 

the owner that also would be unique. 

From the outset the house would have a 

special meaning for the owners – a getaway 

from city life that would provide many happy 

memories for their children in the same way 

that holidays on the island had given them 

many years before. 

“I was going there when I was young and 

then I went overseas and hadn’t been for many 

years,” says the owner. “When I went back and 

rediscovered the place I was quite surprised 

how little Straddie had changed, given how 

South East Queensland had boomed. 

“As I had a family of my own I was keen to 

give my children the same kind of childhood 

I’d had, particularly for kids growing up in an 

age where there’s so much distraction and 

technology. 

“I see the house as being very much a legacy 

for us and our three children that will allow 

them to keep going back with their children in 

the future.”

The view from the main bedroom The sunken lounge 

Behind the “barcode” slats 

The house is unusual in its outward façade 

but it is spacious to accommodate extended 

family and friends and has been designed for 

low-maintenance relaxation. It is divided into 

two wings: the main building includes the 

gourmet kitchen and large family dining area, 

a sunken lounge with built-in seating (which 

converts to extra beds for guests if needed) 

and a lofty main bedroom with enviable views 

of bushland in one direction and ocean in the 

other; and a separate single level annexe has 

more bedrooms and an additional large living 

space. 

“There are times I need to work when 

I’m over there so we wanted to make sure 

there were quiet spaces,” says the owner. The 

master bedroom has a built-in desk perfectly 

positioned to make the most of the views and 

provide a serene setting for work, although it 

seems rather too tempting for daydreaming to 

a less-seasoned visitor. 

But while there are plenty of independent 

spaces for separation when needed, there is no 

shortage of spots for the family to come together 

and relax, indoors and out. The kitchen and 

dining area are open plan and take advantage of 

local breezes, well-screened from neighbours; 

the lounge areas are designed for comfy casual 

seating and can be opened out to each other 

across a common courtyard if desired, with easy 

access to an outdoor dining deck. There’s also 

a firepit flanked by timber bench seating for 

moonlight get-togethers in the yard. 

Designed to age gracefully 

The home is regarded as one of Queensland’s 

most innovative for its architectural 

solutions to the unique local climate. O’Neill 

Architecture received a commendation for its 

design in the residential architecture category 

at the Australian Institute of Architects 

Queensland State Architecture Awards last 

year and was a finalist in Houses magazine’s 

national awards for new homes over 200sqm. 

O’Neill and Frampton have worked 

together on several projects on the island 

and developed a palette of materials suitable 

to the island life and conditions. To achieve 

the best results Frampton has carried out his 

own research and testing of materials and 

construction methods over many years to see 

how they hold up to the gruelling saltwater 

environment. Even a new type of nail has been 

used in the construction, which is longer and 

thicker and chosen for its long-term strength 

to withstand the wear and tear of the climate. 

The barcode-like exterior is not just a 

quirky design feature, it has a practical 

purpose. Alternating slats of CFC (compressed 

fibro cement) and ironbark help diffuse light 

from the western sun on the living spaces and 

provide a sense of enclosure. 

Exposed external timbers will age 

gracefully. The cover strips over the joints of 

the wall cladding are Australian beech which 

will go grey as they weather over time and the 

Photography Photography Photography by by by Andrew Andrew Andrew Brake Brake Brake 

Red Ironbark used for external walls has been 

treated with a penetrating preservative that 

seeps in to the timber and requires minimal 

maintenance. 

Inside, polished concrete floors and 

plantation forest timbers are naturally warm 

while providing a neutral palette that is also 

complementary to the outdoor surrounds. 

“We relied on our builder to be quite a 

craftsman,” O’Neill says. “Unlike building on 

the mainland, we weren’t there to inspect what 

he was doing all the time, so it was important 

to have someone we could trust.” 

And for the owner the result lives up to the 

home’s indigenous moniker. “I just know every 

time we arrive and walk into the house the 

off-shore breeze comes in and I think ‘I’m on 

holiday’,” says the owner, and you can sense the 

smile in his voice. 

The house kinka@karboora is available for holiday 

rental at www.DiscoverStradbroke.com.au or call 

3415 3949. 

Read Brisbane’s Best I bmag.com.au 31 

Photography by Scott Burrows


travel 

Top 10 hotel spas 

A new survey shows healthy holidays are top of mind 

this year and these are the places you’ll want to go… 

Four Seasons Resort Bora Bora 

A 

survey of more than 1500 Aussie 

travellers by TripAdvisor found 

that nearly a third planned to make 

a trip dedicated to rejuvenating their 

body, mind or spirit early this year, so it’s 

timely that the specialist website recently 

released its list of Top 10 Hotel Spas in 

the South Pacific. And, for everyone 

with Valentine’s Day in mind, all offer 

treatments ‘a deux’. 

Four Seasons Resort Bora Bora 

topped the list. As if the surrounds were 

not enough to bring you peace, the Kahaia 

Haven Ritual can be taken in a special 

over-water suite where a Tahitian black 

pearl powder body scrub, volcanic hot 

stone massage and de-stressing facial will 

rebalance your inner equilibrium. 

Hayman Great Barrier Reef was voted 

second, and it too has earned a reputation 

for its romantic setting amidst tranquil 

waters. An outdoor cabana makes a 

massage all the more exotic. A visit to 

the Couple’s Aromatic Cocoon might just 

tempt singles to get engaged, and those 

who do take that plunge at the resort in 

February will be offered an opportunity 

to enjoy a complimentary wedding at 

the island, complete with $1000 gift 

certificate towards a Vera Wang designer 

bridal gown. Hayman’s Month of Love 

has accommodation packages for 3 nights 

from $1455 per person, twin share. 

Fiji resorts took three places on the list, 

led by Intercontinental Fiji Resort and 

Spa, which boasts a ‘wai zone’ where water 

in all its forms – showers, steam and even 

ice – seduces guests with treatments to 

boost circulation and endorphins, reduce 

inflammation, soothe aches and accelerate 

healing. Signature treats include massage 

with bamboo sticks, clay or seaweed wraps, 

and lifting, softening and detoxifying rituals. 

Outrigger on the Lagoon, also at Sigatoka, 

Fiji, made the list too but Likuliku Lagoon 

Resort has since been closed for repairs 

following Cyclone Evan in December and is 

expected to re-open in April. 

The Day Spa at The Langham, Sydney, 

has retained the ‘starlit’ indoor heated pool 

that has been the serene centrepiece of the 

city hotel’s health and fitness facilities since 

it was the Observatory. Just a lie down on a 

poolside lounge is enough to make you feel 

like you’re on a different planet. With a gym 

and full menu of spa treatments in-house 

this is the place for a fitness makeover 

without leaving the city. 

Park Hyatt Melbourne made the grade 

with its Park Club Health & Day Spa where 

‘peace’, ‘purity’ and ‘pampering’ are on 

the menu. Or find ‘perfection’ in under 

four hours, including spa cuisine, while 

‘pleasure’ throws in a Turkish salt scrub as 

part of the treat. 

Want your wellness in a hurry? 

Lavendar Dreaming releases toxins and 

balances senses in just 90 minutes. Or the 

more seriously sports-minded can take 

swimming lessons or tennis coaching at 

the facilities. There are plenty of options in 

the 13-page wellness menu. 

Rounding out the Top 10 are the Hotel 

Pullman Auckland with a Turkish bath; 

the simply spectacular Isika sky-high day 

spa at Melbourne’s Crown Metropol; and 

The Langham Auckland where the Chuan 

Spa is designed to reflect the principles of 

feng shui and features traditional Chinese 

medicine and marine-based French 

therapies. 

Find your spA heAven 

Chuan Spa, The Langham Auckland 

Four Seasons Resort Bora Bora, see www.fourseasons.com/borabora 

Hayman Island, see www.hayman.com.au 

Intercontinental Fiji Golf Resort & Spa, see fiji.intercontinental.com/spa 

Outrigger on the Lagoon Fiji, see www.outrigger.com/bebe-spa 

Likuliku Lagoon Resort, Fiji, see www.likulikulagoon.com 

The Langham Sydney, see sydney.langhamhotels.com.au/fitness 

Park Hyatt Melbourne, see www.melbourne.park.hyatt.com 

Hotel Pullman Auckland, see www.pullmanhotels.com 

Crown Metropol, see www.crownmetropolmelbourne.com.au 

The Langham Auckland, see auckland.langhamhotels.co.nz 



seen 

B105’s 

Stav & Abby 

Jessica Skarratt, Great South East 

& Jillian Whiting, 7 News 

Rhiannon Fish, Home and Away 

& Erik Thomson, Packed To The Rafters 

Karen Hanna & Martin Bowerman 

Kimberley Busteed 

Peter Evans, My Kitchen Rules & Lana Sciasci 

Sofie Formica, host Great South East 

Ray Maegher, Home and Away 

& 4BC’s Loretta Ryan 

Brett Climo, A Place Called Home 

& Josie Fielding 

MAGIC 

Stars from around the country 

flew into Brisbane for Channel 7’s 

2013 program launch at QPAC 

where guests also were treated to 

a performance by The Illusionists 

Elle & Jake Harrison, 

My Kitchen Rules 


entertained 

Reinventing the classics 

New artistic directors, and some new artistic directions, promise 

an exciting season ahead for performing arts. Chris Herden reports 

Two new artistic directors will unveil debut 

seasons for their respective performance 

companies this year, a third company will 

christen its new home, while another will present 

its first fully professional production. All this 

means an exciting season ahead for audiences of 

live perfomance in Brisbane. Here’s part one of 

our preview of what’s on offer in 2013. 

Queensland Ballet 

Li Cunxin is a remarkable man with a remarkable 

story. His best-selling autobiography (and 

subsequent Bruce Beresford-directed film) Mao’s 

Last Dancer is an astonishing account of one 

man’s determination, courage and sheer hard 

work to succeed in the world of ballet. Li was 

appointed artistic director of Queensland Ballet 

last year and says he feels privileged to lead the 

52-year-old company into the next era. 

“I have chosen works that not only will inspire 

a love of ballet in everyone who experiences 

them, but will showcase our exceptionally 


talented ensemble of dancers,” says Li, who 

admits he chose a personal favourite, Cinderella 

(from 5 April), for the season’s opening 

production. “It had to be Cinderella. When I first 

went to America, one of the first ballets I saw was 

Cinderella and it brought tears to my eyes. It’s 

such a well-loved story. It’s magical.” 

Two more timeless classics will follow: 

Giselle (from 21 June) and The Nutcracker 

(from 6 December) which Li wants to stage 

every Christmas. Elegance (from 2 August), is a 

dynamic program of works from four exciting, 

internationally-renowned choreographers 

including Brisbane’s Gareth Belling. 

Opera Queensland 

A very different interpretation of the enchanting 

fairytale Cinderella will be a showpiece for Opera 

Queensland, opening from 6 July. New artistic 

director Lindy Hume is working on a cheeky 

new English translation of Rossini’s opera. “I’m 

super-excited and eager to get into the rehearsal 

room,” says Hume. “It’s bursting out of my head 

already and I can’t wait to bring this crazy, dark 

and magical fairytale to life. It will be quirky 

and eccentric, set in Dickensian London, with 

gorgeous costumes and a cast of brilliant singers 

who are also terrific actors, led by the beautiful 

Fiona Campbell.” 

Hume opens her first season at Opera 

Queensland with Bach’s St Matthew Passion 

(from 21 March) which she created for the 

2005 Perth International Arts Festival and, to 

celebrate the bicentenary of the great composer 

Guiseppe Verdi, she will stage an international 

co-production of Otello (from 24 October) for the 

season finale, featuring Opera Australia soprano 

Cheryl Baker and Lithuanian tenor Kristian 

Benedikt. 

Queensland Symphony 

Orchestra 

Celebrating the move to its new home at South 

Bank, the Queensland Symphony Orchestra 

(QSO) adds an extra string to its bow by venturing 

into the world of music from popular video 

games. Video Games Unplugged – Symphony 

of Legends (23 November) will feature music 

from some of the greatest games ever made, 

including The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, Uncharted 

3, Assassins Creed ll and Final Fantasy Vll. A 

massive screen will show specially edited visual 

excerpts from the games at each performance. 

Such a brave departure from purely classical 

music is not new for QSO which won accolades 

last year for its perfomance of the entire film 

score of The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of 

the Ring, alongside a simultaneous screening 

of the movie, and already there is a wait list for 

tickets for this year’s follow-up The Lord of the 

Rings: The Two Towers, coming in October. 

It’s demanding on the artists as principal 

trombonist Jason Redman knows all too well 

from The Fellowship of the Ring concert last year, 

a performance he calls a “chop killer”. “There 

were three pages of music for the fight scene

inside the mountain that just kept getting higher 

and louder, and we had to play it four times in 

two days. My head was spinning from the sheer 

volume of air I was pumping out, and at the end 

of it all my lips felt like blistered and charred 

snags left on the barbecue for too long. This year, 

The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers starts with 

the same music – bring it on!” 

For QSO’s director of artistic planning, 

Richard Wenn, a personal highlight this year will 

be the return of piano virtuoso and Brisbane 

Festival 2012 favourite Nikolai Demidenko who 

will perform with QSO as part of the prestigious 

Maestro Series (which begins from 16 February). 

“This is one concert I am looking forward to,” 

says Wenn. “He is undoubtedly one of the top 

handful of pianists on this planet today and is 

unparalleled when performing Rachmaninov’s 

Second Piano Concerto. Demidenko’s control, 

passion and articulation makes him the perfect 

pianist to bring this concerto to the highest level.” 

The In Studio Series begins 8 March with 

Cinderella two ways: performed 

by Opera Queensland (top) and 

Queensland Ballet (bottom) 

Photography by Alexia Sinclair 

works from leading Australian and international 

composers; the Music On Sundays Series starts 

from 24 March and compere Guy Noble’s witty 

and entertaining insights make these concerts a 

family-friendly introduction to classical music. 

As a proud media supporter of Queensland Theatre 

Company bmag will feature an interview with the 

company’s artistic director Wesley Enoch and a preview 

of its program in the next issue, delivered from 19 February. 

Where to find more 

program information 

Queensland Ballet 

See www.queenslandballet.com.au 

Opera Queensland 

See www.operaq.com.au 

Queensland Symphony Orchestra 

See qso.com.au 


delicious 

Restaurant review 

The Survey Co, city 

Jeremy Ryland finds a treat 

hiding in a city alley 

I 

have a theory that the harder a 

restaurant is to find, the better it is! 

The quality of food is often inversely 

proportional to its height above 

ground. Flashy restaurants on the top of 

buildings or with magnificent waterfront 

views are sometimes disappointing, 

whilst there are many gems hidden 

away down lanes and behind other 

buildings. The Survey Co is one such 

gem. Burnett lane once was a back-alley 

providing access for delivery vans but is 

changing under a Brisbane City Council 

revitalization program. 

Enter The Survey Co from the 

laneway, opposite the back entrance 

to Chifley Lennons Hotel. The décor is 

modern with timber floors, cork walls, 

leather benches and exposed steel 

complementing the original brickwork. 

A relatively large bar area looks out onto 

the laneway. The central kitchen is on 


display behind glass. The dining area 

includes a long laneway, a small main 

room and an open courtyard. 

Like many new places, and its 

sister venues (Piaf, Sardine Tin), The 

Survey Co is all about sharing. James 

Guldberg, ex-Piaf, has designed a 

range of tapas-style entrées including 

Ponzu mushrooms ($9) – delicate Asian 

mushrooms, sautéed in a tart citrus 

Ponzu sauce and served with tofu cubes 

in a small pan – soft and very moreish. 

Duck fat potatoes ($15) are crisp and 

hot, served with crispy chicken skin 

and a truffle salsa. The edamame (soy 

beans, $6) come steamed and salted 

with a sweet but intense horseradish 

mayonnaise. 

We also shared the mains – lightly 

battered corn beef fritters ($28/$44) 

served with the horseradish mayonnaise 

as well as small steamed carrots and 

peas, and the fish of the day ($30) – 

crispy skin cod with chorizo. For larger 

appetites, there is also a whole duck to 

share ($85). 

Desserts are equally novel. Salted 

caramel popcorn ($7) is topped with 

crispy bacon strips. Slices of mango 

with lime and chilli sherbert ($8) and 

spectacular Golden Rough ice cream 

cones ($12) – four small chocolate 

cones dusted with gold leaf supported 

by a chocolate and coconut base which 

you dip into. 

There is a good wine list with more 

than half the wine selection available 

by the glass, as well as beers and some 

excellent cocktails. The service is 

smooth, efficient and knowledgeable. 

The Survey Co is worth venturing into 

the back lanes to discover. 

NEED 

To 

KNoW 

full in for 

CHEF: 

PRICES: 

James Guldberg 

Entrees $6 to $24; mains $22 

paid are 

ADDRESS: 

to $85 (shared) 

32 Burnett Lane, Brisbane oPEN TIMES: 

meals all 

TELEPHoNE: 

Monday to Saturday 12noon 

3012 8725 

to late evening (bar menu 

and 

only 3pm-5pm) 

oNLINE: 

www.surveyco.com.au 

PARKING: 

undisclosed 

LICENSED/byo: 

King George Square Car Park 

are 

Fully licensed 

SCoRE: 

Professor Jeremy Ryland is a Master of 

1 5 /20 

visits 

Gastronomy and food scientist All

Lovers’ almond 

and fruit cake 

Gary Johnson’s flourless cake makes a 

sweet treat for Valentine’s Day 

INGREDIENTS 

Cooking oil spray 

2 oranges (about 240g), unpeeled 

6 eggs 

1¼ 3 cups caster sugar 

250g almond meal 

1 tspn baking powder 

¼ 3 cup orange marmalade for glazing 

1 punnet raspberries 

200g cherries (pitted) 

Toasted flaked almonds 

Double cream, to serve 

Note: you will need a 22-24cm heart-shaped 

cake mould 

METHOD 

Preheat oven to 170°C. Spray heart-shaped cake 

mould with cooking oil and line the base and 

sides with baking paper. (Tip: draw around the 

shape of the mould with a pencil, leaving an 

extra 5-6cm room for the paper to go up the 

sides, and cut out the shape with scissors.) 

Put oranges in a large saucepan and cover 

with water. Bring to the boil, then reduce heat 

and simmer, covered, for 1 hour, ensuring 

oranges remain covered with water – weigh 

down with a heatproof plate if necessary. 

Transfer oranges to a plate and set aside to 

cool for 30 minutes or until they reach room 

temperature. Cut oranges into quarters and 

remove seeds. Put in a food processor and 

pulse until smooth. 

Put eggs in the bowl of an electric mixer. 

Beat, using the whisk attachment, for 2-3 

minutes or until fluffy and foamy. Add caster 

sugar and whisk on high for 5 minutes or until 

thick and glossy. 

Add orange puree, almond meal and baking 

powder, and mix until well combined. Pour 

mixture into prepared cake mould. 

Bake for 1 hour, turning to evenly cook if 

required. Set cake aside in the mould to cool 

then turn out on the serving plate and chill 

overnight to cool completely. 

GaRy 

jOHNSON 

bmag’s guest 

chef 

To serve: heat marmalade in microwave with 

a teaspoon of water then strain to a smooth 

paste. Using a pastry brush, gently brush the 

top of the cake with the paste then arrange the 

raspberries and pitted cherries on top. Heat the 

marmalade again if necessary and gently brush 

the fruit to glaze and refrigerate again for 20 

minutes or until required. Remove from fridge, 

sprinkle with almond flakes, cut into slices and 

serve with a generous dollop of double cream. 

BOOKS 

Be inspired to maintain a 

healthy diet with the help 

of these new books 

Blood Sugar 

The Family 

Diabetes is Australia's 

fastest growing chronic 

disease so it's no surprise 

that Michael Moore's 

book of diabetic-friendly 

recipes, Blood Sugar, was 

a sell-out success. The chef and 

restaurateur is also a diabetic and has learnt to 

manage his condition over more than a decade. 

This month his follow-up book, Blood Sugar: The 

Family, is released and includes more than 70 

recipes covering all meal times from breakfast and 

quick snacks to pudding. Moore also includes tips 

for parents to guide them through supermarket 

shopping and eating out to help them put their 

family's health on the right track. RRP$45, New 

Holland. 

The Busy Mum’s 

Vegetarian 

Cookbook 

This collection of failsafe 

vegetarian recipes have 

all been tried, tested and 

family-approved. Author 

Mary Gwynne also provides shopping 

tips and short cuts to take the stress out of family 

meal times. There are ideas for everyday eating 

and packed lunches as well as for celebrations and 

summer barbecues. RRP$29.99, Simon & Schuster. 

Green Smoothie Joy 

Make a green and healthy 

start to the year by adding 

one smoothie a day to your 

diet. Cressida Elias provides 

the inspiration with her tips 

on how to make the best 

smoothies as well 

as recipes. RRP$17.95, Wiley. 


Mazda aims higher 

Mazda’s new improved mid-level car 

comes with luxury specs, writes Chris Nixon 

Mazda has a new offering for buyers 

wanting a medium-size quality car. 

Its Mazda6, a popular staple of the 

make in this country in various forms since 

the 626, arrived in showrooms in an all-new 

third-generation model to take on others 

in its segment such as the Honda Accord, 

Subaru Liberty, Kia Optima, Ford Mondeo and 

Volkswagen Passat. 

After a year in which the smaller Mazda3 

was Australia’s most popular new vehicle, the 

Mazda6 aims to do its bit for the company’s 

fortunes with a thoroughly modern sedan and 

station wagon. 

The new model is more powerful, more 


economical, lighter, stronger, safer, better 

equipped and is said to be roomier inside. 

It comes with a 2.5 litre petrol engine or 

2.2 diesel, both with six-speed automatic 

transmissions using fingertip-paddle shifters. 

The 138 kiloWatt petrol is available with four 

trim and equipment grades called Sport, 

Touring, GT and Atenza. The 129kW diesel 

comes only in the top three grades. 

But along with all the improvements also 

come higher prices. The cheapest Mazda6, the 

petrol sedan, goes from $31,450 to $33,460, plus 

on-road costs. Entry price for diesel power is 

$40,350 for the Touring sedan variant. Choosing 

the wagon adds $1300 across the range. 

The Mazda6 is a handsome vehicle, but the real 

advances are under the shapely skin. The engines 

feature Mazda’s so-called SKYACTIV fuel-saving 

technology, in this case including idle-stop and 

re-start and brake energy re-generation of the 

electrical system. In other words, the engine 

switches itself off when idling in traffic and energy 

captured from the brakes during braking is fed 

back into the electrical system. 

Occupant safety is improved with a better 

body structure incorporating more side-impact 

protection. Those outside the car, such as 

pedestrians and cyclists, benefit from more 

cushioned bonnet and front bumper designs. 

There’s a host of intelligent safety features 

More in Mazda6 

available, depending on the model chosen. 

Representing a specification as good as many 

luxury cars are radar cruise control, “smart” 

braking that monitors the speed of vehicles 

in front, lane-departure warning, emergencyflashing 

indicators, automatic high-low 

headlight switching, cornering headlamps 

and hill-start automatic braking. 

The interior offers a choice in upperlevel 

models of black or off-white leather, 

an 11-speaker Bose audio system, eight-way 

driver’s seat electric adjustment and a colour 

touch-screen on the dash that displays text, 

MMS messages and emails from Bluetoothconnected 

smart phones. 

Prices quoted do not include statutory and dealer on-road charges unless otherwise stated




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