The last couple of days have passed in a blur with media calls and photo shoots. Now I know how princess Mary feels!
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Finally the pictures
Here you go... for those of you who would like to see what we looked like on Saturday night... eat your hearts out.
The last couple of days have passed in a blur with media calls and photo shoots. Now I know how princess Mary feels!
The last couple of days have passed in a blur with media calls and photo shoots. Now I know how princess Mary feels!
Sunday, August 15, 2010
And the winner is...
Wow! Last night will stick in my memory for quite some time...
In front of a crowd of 320 amazingly inspirational people, I was awarded Sunshine Coast Small Businesswoman of the Year. How that happened, I am still not quite sure, and I will be on a high for days!
Pictures are on their way, but I wanted to share my speech with you...
When I was 13, my parents had what can only be called a ‘serious mid-life crisis’.
They took my brother and me out of school and we spent the next five years sailing around the world on a 32ft ketch.
My ‘boat –schooling’ experience taught me many things:
I learnt that risks are worth taking.
I learnt that with the support of family I can do just about anything.
I discovered there is a vast difference between schooling and education.
And I learnt to rely on my own abilities.
About 4 years ago I decided I would like to encourage other parents to explore the world around them with THEIR kids. (It doesn’t have to be quite so extreme). I wanted to write guidebooks for travelling families. The only drawback was that I really didn’t know how to write.
So I enrolled in my Master’s degree at the University of the Sunshine Coast, and started on the bottom rung at The Sunshine Coast Daily. On weekends and holidays I would hook up my camper trailer and my daughter (and chief expert) Amber and I would travel around Queensland writing reviews as we went.
In October last year, my first book Kids Welcome to Queensland, was published. It includes over 1000 reviews of activities, attractions, tours, places to eat and places to stay throughout our state. Amber and I are now busy writing our next book: Kids Welcome to NSW.
I could not have reached this milestone without the tremendous support of many people: my graphic artist, proof-reader, distribution team, colleagues and friends. Especially my best friend Terri who nominated me for this award. On behalf of all of us, I thank the SCBWN and sponsors for this amazing honour.
But there are two people who deserve my thanks more than any others: my parents.
My Dad died in January and my Mum now lives in a nursing home so they couldn’t be here tonight, but I hope I can be as inspirational a parent to Amber, as they have been to me.
In front of a crowd of 320 amazingly inspirational people, I was awarded Sunshine Coast Small Businesswoman of the Year. How that happened, I am still not quite sure, and I will be on a high for days!
Pictures are on their way, but I wanted to share my speech with you...
When I was 13, my parents had what can only be called a ‘serious mid-life crisis’.
They took my brother and me out of school and we spent the next five years sailing around the world on a 32ft ketch.
My ‘boat –schooling’ experience taught me many things:
I learnt that risks are worth taking.
I learnt that with the support of family I can do just about anything.
I discovered there is a vast difference between schooling and education.
And I learnt to rely on my own abilities.
About 4 years ago I decided I would like to encourage other parents to explore the world around them with THEIR kids. (It doesn’t have to be quite so extreme). I wanted to write guidebooks for travelling families. The only drawback was that I really didn’t know how to write.
So I enrolled in my Master’s degree at the University of the Sunshine Coast, and started on the bottom rung at The Sunshine Coast Daily. On weekends and holidays I would hook up my camper trailer and my daughter (and chief expert) Amber and I would travel around Queensland writing reviews as we went.
In October last year, my first book Kids Welcome to Queensland, was published. It includes over 1000 reviews of activities, attractions, tours, places to eat and places to stay throughout our state. Amber and I are now busy writing our next book: Kids Welcome to NSW.
I could not have reached this milestone without the tremendous support of many people: my graphic artist, proof-reader, distribution team, colleagues and friends. Especially my best friend Terri who nominated me for this award. On behalf of all of us, I thank the SCBWN and sponsors for this amazing honour.
But there are two people who deserve my thanks more than any others: my parents.
My Dad died in January and my Mum now lives in a nursing home so they couldn’t be here tonight, but I hope I can be as inspirational a parent to Amber, as they have been to me.
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
A room of inspirational women
Last night the who's who of Sunshine Coast business women gathered for a cocktail party at the Hyatt Coolum. Coined 'The Purple Room' this event is specifically for finalists in the annual business awards and I felt amazed a proud to be among them.
Awards are a funny thing... on one hand I know they are a fantastic way to get the word out about your business... and on the other, I am never quite sure if I deserve to be in such company.
The entire process of being nominated (by my wonderful friend Terri), compliling a submission and going through the interview process has been a really good way to look back on the past year and take stock of what's to come. It is a process I would recommend to ANY business person. It has clarified my thoughts for the coming year, and giving me the opportunity to meet a range of inspirational women.
Not only that, but it has given me a renewed vigor to face challenges. After all, Tony and Maureen Wheeler (from Lonely Planet) started self publishing their first book from their Melbourne garage... from little things, big things grow!
Unlike other awards I have entered in the past, the process for this one includes such evenings as last night where you actually get to meet your 'competitors' and learn from them. Not only that, but business leaders spoke of their experiences in the past and shared tips on how to dress, what to say and how to deal with media if you win. Thanks to all the wonderful mentors I felt I had in that room!
Now the wait begins... the winner will be announced on August 14, also at the Hyatt.
Awards are a funny thing... on one hand I know they are a fantastic way to get the word out about your business... and on the other, I am never quite sure if I deserve to be in such company.
The entire process of being nominated (by my wonderful friend Terri), compliling a submission and going through the interview process has been a really good way to look back on the past year and take stock of what's to come. It is a process I would recommend to ANY business person. It has clarified my thoughts for the coming year, and giving me the opportunity to meet a range of inspirational women.
Not only that, but it has given me a renewed vigor to face challenges. After all, Tony and Maureen Wheeler (from Lonely Planet) started self publishing their first book from their Melbourne garage... from little things, big things grow!
Unlike other awards I have entered in the past, the process for this one includes such evenings as last night where you actually get to meet your 'competitors' and learn from them. Not only that, but business leaders spoke of their experiences in the past and shared tips on how to dress, what to say and how to deal with media if you win. Thanks to all the wonderful mentors I felt I had in that room!
Now the wait begins... the winner will be announced on August 14, also at the Hyatt.
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Rainy day activities in SE Queensland with teens
Well, we've been back now a week... and the other day my friend asked me whatever she should do with her teenager during the school holiday. They had exhausted trips to the mall and were slowly going broke.
It's a problem many of you probably face: how to entertain your older kids without breaking the bank, and while keeping their online time down. (Yes, that's often the hard one!).
So, here are a few of my favourites in Southeast Queensand. Over the next few days I will expand on these and broaden the list to other geographic areas. Hopefully they will give you a few ideas outside of the normal range!
Sunshine Coast:
Peregian Originals is held every second Sunday at Peregian Beach just after the local market packs up shop. Kicking off around 1pm, bands travel from around the region for the priviledge of playing to this crowd. Music if varied, but always original and this is a place where families can take a picnic and spread out on the grass and teens will even be happy to be seen. Best of all it's free! Check out the website.
Gold Coast
Push teens physical boundaries at Thunderbird Park in the Gold Coast hinterland. The high ropes course here is challenging and a great way to bond with older kids. Spend around three hours
swinging and pulling yourselves along cables, sliding down flying foxes and balancing on high beams without touching foot on the ground.
Kayak tour
Departing from Southport, Kyle and Mark from Balunjali Interpretive Cultural Tours lead kayak tours which include a wildlife and cultural (indigenous) element. It is not necessary to have kayak experience and this tour is suitable for kids over eight.
Brisbane
Ron Mueck Exhibition
Before it departs on August 1, I highly recommend taking teens to see the Ron Mueck exhibition at the Gallery of Modern Art. These life-like sculptures seem to capture a moment which,if seen
in real life, we would be embarrased by. They are confronting, very moving and are guarenteed to start a healthy discussion in the car! Cost is around $10 per person.
More to follow!!
It's a problem many of you probably face: how to entertain your older kids without breaking the bank, and while keeping their online time down. (Yes, that's often the hard one!).
So, here are a few of my favourites in Southeast Queensand. Over the next few days I will expand on these and broaden the list to other geographic areas. Hopefully they will give you a few ideas outside of the normal range!
Sunshine Coast:
Peregian Originals is held every second Sunday at Peregian Beach just after the local market packs up shop. Kicking off around 1pm, bands travel from around the region for the priviledge of playing to this crowd. Music if varied, but always original and this is a place where families can take a picnic and spread out on the grass and teens will even be happy to be seen. Best of all it's free! Check out the website.
Gold Coast
Push teens physical boundaries at Thunderbird Park in the Gold Coast hinterland. The high ropes course here is challenging and a great way to bond with older kids. Spend around three hours
swinging and pulling yourselves along cables, sliding down flying foxes and balancing on high beams without touching foot on the ground.Kayak tour
Departing from Southport, Kyle and Mark from Balunjali Interpretive Cultural Tours lead kayak tours which include a wildlife and cultural (indigenous) element. It is not necessary to have kayak experience and this tour is suitable for kids over eight.
Brisbane
Ron Mueck Exhibition
Before it departs on August 1, I highly recommend taking teens to see the Ron Mueck exhibition at the Gallery of Modern Art. These life-like sculptures seem to capture a moment which,if seen
in real life, we would be embarrased by. They are confronting, very moving and are guarenteed to start a healthy discussion in the car! Cost is around $10 per person.More to follow!!
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Back to Sydney
July 1
We hit a tennis ball around on the court this morning, delaying our exit, but by 9.30am we were on the road heading back to Sydney. First stop was the Snowy Mountain Hydro Scheme information centre in Cooma which was absolutely fascinating. I had no idea how many tunnels were running below the national park carrying water. Generators deep within the hills created sustainable and environmentally friendly electricity and the scheme lets the water go as determined by the government: into the Snowy River or the Murray.
The information centre was free to visit and included so much for kids that we spent over an hour: generating electricity on an exercise bike, pushing buttons to highlight tunnels on the 3D map, learning about seeding snow (which is done by shooting iodine into the atmosphere). We even came away with a pack of information suitable for an entire unit of education, including a DVD on the project. This is a “don’t miss” if you are passing this way.
Another place worth a stop is the Big Marino in Goulburn. Australia is good at creating BIG things and this is one to tick off the list. It is bigger than most and it is possible to walk up inside and learn a bit about the wool industry. Displays are static, however, and not particularly kid-friendly. The surrounding choice of restaurants make this a great lunch stop on the way to and from the snow: choose from major fast food restaurants, kebabs, a lovely award winning bakery and snacks at the fuel station. The shop which accompanies the Big Marino is a lovely one for souvenirs of the region too.
By midafternoon we were back in Sydney, navigating the one-way streets and looking forward to a Thai dinner…
We hit a tennis ball around on the court this morning, delaying our exit, but by 9.30am we were on the road heading back to Sydney. First stop was the Snowy Mountain Hydro Scheme information centre in Cooma which was absolutely fascinating. I had no idea how many tunnels were running below the national park carrying water. Generators deep within the hills created sustainable and environmentally friendly electricity and the scheme lets the water go as determined by the government: into the Snowy River or the Murray.
The information centre was free to visit and included so much for kids that we spent over an hour: generating electricity on an exercise bike, pushing buttons to highlight tunnels on the 3D map, learning about seeding snow (which is done by shooting iodine into the atmosphere). We even came away with a pack of information suitable for an entire unit of education, including a DVD on the project. This is a “don’t miss” if you are passing this way.
Another place worth a stop is the Big Marino in Goulburn. Australia is good at creating BIG things and this is one to tick off the list. It is bigger than most and it is possible to walk up inside and learn a bit about the wool industry. Displays are static, however, and not particularly kid-friendly. The surrounding choice of restaurants make this a great lunch stop on the way to and from the snow: choose from major fast food restaurants, kebabs, a lovely award winning bakery and snacks at the fuel station. The shop which accompanies the Big Marino is a lovely one for souvenirs of the region too.
By midafternoon we were back in Sydney, navigating the one-way streets and looking forward to a Thai dinner…
Last day breakthrough
June 30
Boy did I sleep well. The annoying aches I had expected didn’t eventuate and I had the handle on the electric blanket. Amber didn’t even stir until after 7am! I boiled the kettle to throw on the frosted windscreen (I am finally getting the hang of this!).
We would have been at the snow by 10am but I forgot to get fuel in Adaminaby and we needed to go on a bit further to Cabramurra, the highest village in Australia, to fuel up. We made it for our 11.30am lesson, but the booking had been lost. Turned out in our favour I think because we ended up with Pete as our teacher. Three runs with him and I was snaking around with ease and enjoying it enough that I didn’t want to leave the snow. We even graduated to the big slope and an even bigger chair lift with a scary exit!
By now it was snowing hard and our woolly hats were frosted just like the trees. The viz was down to a few metres and we felt like intrepid explorers. What a wonderful feeling to learn a new skill… I am so glad Amber wanted to snow board! Four times we traversed the big slope and would have done more if our legs weren’t dropping off. So, around 3.30pm we called it a day and took the small lift back to the lodge. We couldn’t resist one more slide down the bunny slope and did so with such ease our heads swelled.
A few obligatory
souveniers in the shop and thankful goodbyes and we handed in our media passes and rental gear. The parking lot was white where once it was black and we carefully made our way back to San Michelle, dropping off the rented snow chains on the way. I was sorry we didn’t have another week because I feel we would be really proficient (if not dead!).
For the fourth night in a row we chatted to other guests over dinner and warmed our bones in front of the fire before stumbling back to our room in exhaustion. What a fantastic day… one I wouldn’t want to have missed for the world. Tomorrow we depart and head back to Sydney…
Boy did I sleep well. The annoying aches I had expected didn’t eventuate and I had the handle on the electric blanket. Amber didn’t even stir until after 7am! I boiled the kettle to throw on the frosted windscreen (I am finally getting the hang of this!).
We would have been at the snow by 10am but I forgot to get fuel in Adaminaby and we needed to go on a bit further to Cabramurra, the highest village in Australia, to fuel up. We made it for our 11.30am lesson, but the booking had been lost. Turned out in our favour I think because we ended up with Pete as our teacher. Three runs with him and I was snaking around with ease and enjoying it enough that I didn’t want to leave the snow. We even graduated to the big slope and an even bigger chair lift with a scary exit!By now it was snowing hard and our woolly hats were frosted just like the trees. The viz was down to a few metres and we felt like intrepid explorers. What a wonderful feeling to learn a new skill… I am so glad Amber wanted to snow board! Four times we traversed the big slope and would have done more if our legs weren’t dropping off. So, around 3.30pm we called it a day and took the small lift back to the lodge. We couldn’t resist one more slide down the bunny slope and did so with such ease our heads swelled.
A few obligatory
souveniers in the shop and thankful goodbyes and we handed in our media passes and rental gear. The parking lot was white where once it was black and we carefully made our way back to San Michelle, dropping off the rented snow chains on the way. I was sorry we didn’t have another week because I feel we would be really proficient (if not dead!).For the fourth night in a row we chatted to other guests over dinner and warmed our bones in front of the fire before stumbling back to our room in exhaustion. What a fantastic day… one I wouldn’t want to have missed for the world. Tomorrow we depart and head back to Sydney…
Sore on the snow
June 29
Day two on the snow and I was wondering how my body would fare this morning when I awoke. By 9am we were on the road heading towards the snow fields for a 10am lesson. It took longer to get there than the day before and our instructor, Tanya, was waiting for us as we rushed across the parking lot and to the school waiting area.
Today our lesson was together since I had caught up enough to Amber to warrant this. Rather than the “falling leaf” we had learnt the day before, we now progressed on to “S” turns which were far more frightening because you had to go quickly downhill at one stage in the turn. Pivoting your hips in the direction you were going and pointing the way helped and after a few ups and downs (vertical on the lift AND on our bottoms) we got the hang of it. We high-fived Tanya and continued on our own after an hour learning.
Up and down we went, sliding off the ski lift, falling and getting up again. Before too long my legs were as sore as they are after an hour of rowing. The staff was kind enough to let us use their staff room to boil a kettle and cook our noodles and before too long our insides were warm and our legs rested enough to go out and do it again.
Day two on the snow and I was wondering how my body would fare this morning when I awoke. By 9am we were on the road heading towards the snow fields for a 10am lesson. It took longer to get there than the day before and our instructor, Tanya, was waiting for us as we rushed across the parking lot and to the school waiting area.
Today our lesson was together since I had caught up enough to Amber to warrant this. Rather than the “falling leaf” we had learnt the day before, we now progressed on to “S” turns which were far more frightening because you had to go quickly downhill at one stage in the turn. Pivoting your hips in the direction you were going and pointing the way helped and after a few ups and downs (vertical on the lift AND on our bottoms) we got the hang of it. We high-fived Tanya and continued on our own after an hour learning. Up and down we went, sliding off the ski lift, falling and getting up again. Before too long my legs were as sore as they are after an hour of rowing. The staff was kind enough to let us use their staff room to boil a kettle and cook our noodles and before too long our insides were warm and our legs rested enough to go out and do it again.
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