IN Kids Cooking

Cooking is fun for the whole family and is an activity kids can easily take part in too over the summer.


The Mirmikidis children will probably remember their time in the kitchen as some of their fondest memories. At least their dad hopes so.


Dad Athan says the up-coming holidays are a perfect time to spend some time in the kitchen with your kids, teaching them basic recipes which they’ll always be able to cook.


The father of three has been cooking for as long as he can remember. His grandfather was a chef and his mum taught him to cook when he was little, something Athan started passing onto his own three from the moment they could put on an apron.


The first dish Athan learnt was a classic spaghetti bolognaise, a perfect one to use with summer beef. He says that beef offers plenty of easy recipes for parents to try with their kids including favourites in his house like gourmet burgers, chilli con carne, nachos and a Greek dish called keftethes, which are savoury meatballs made with mince, garlic, onion and parsley.


“Keftethes are perfect for kids to be able to mix and roll into balls. It’s like playing with play dough,” says Athan. “You can eat them as a meal or have them cold as a picking dish.”


Athan’s Greek heritage means that dishes like keftethes are staples amongst all his family but cultural exploration also plays a big part of life in the Mirmikidis home. What better way to do it than with food from around the world. It’s a perfect way to teach Jasper, 9, Amelie, 7 and three-year-old Rosie about different countries.


Athan is the managing director of catering company Heyder & Shears and says it’s a Saturday morning ritual to take his children to the commercial kitchen to watch others cooking as well as going to the butcher.


“They learn about cooking, get more familiar with a kitchen and get to know other people who know how to cook. Jasper can deliver a dinner for the family. Of course his first dish was spaghetti bolognaise. I think it’s all the kids’ favourite meal.


“The older ones already appreciate a good cut of beef which we’ll serve with some kind of relish rather than tomato sauce.”


Being able to help in the kitchen can do wonders for a child’s confidence, says Athan. That sense of accomplishment and pride as well as being a little creative is great for them.


“Kids will try and mimic their parents and I think learning to cook is a fantastic habit for them to have as well as a great pleasure.


“My kids have never eaten from a fast food outlet. They know that the food from home is healthy and developing good eating habits in them is important.


“When we’re in the kitchen together the kids ask why we do something and it forces us to get back to basics too and think about what we are doing step-by-step. We see it through new eyes because of that.”


For information on Heyder & Shears Catering, visit www.heydershears.com.au

IN Rent vs Buy

 
"Rent or Buy – that is the question"


We’re hearing of reports about increased first home buyer activity  in the market again due to a shift in market conditions.


The median house price has no doubt fallen and remained relatively flat for a protracted period, providing a window of opportunity for renters wanting to move to property ownership.


Recent statistical data suggests that currently  there is little difference between monthly mortgage repayments and rental payments providing that much-needed incentive for first home buyers.


The October RP Data Buy vs Rent report found it was cheaper to pay a mortgage than it was to rent in 388 suburbs across the country, with 44 of those in Western Australia.


These statistics can be exciting news for people who’ve been renting but aspire to own their own property, and up until now haven’t been able to afford it. Initial purchase and ongoing affordability is the key issue in this consideration.


However, before you jump into a mortgage of your own there are a few important aspects to take into account.


The first, and the most important is knowing what stage of your life you’re at and what style of life you’re after.


Owning a home is both an investment and a lifestyle choice and comes with a certain amount of responsibilities. Home buyers must take into account their own personal situation and assess each and every aspect of home ownership because both renting and buying property has its perks.


For those thinking of buying for the first time remember to consider other costs such as capital gains if you are an investor plus stamp duty, finance establishment costs, statutory  outgoings plus strata title fees for apartments and villas.


There are other costs of home ownership such as upkeep and maintenance which all add to the cost of buying - as opposed to renting, where none of these costs are a direct issue.


The suggestion that buying is cheaper than renting is somewhat true but in reality not everyone wants to own a property.


Renting has its fair share of benefits and these include its limitations. Increasingly people are choosing renting as a long-term option and approaching renting with a different attitude , for example taking long-term lease periods and set rent reviews to provide security and certainty.


Not being tied down to a mortgage for say 25 years can be what makes renting so attractive because it can facilitate more flexible lifestyle choices which is what many people are after.


Putting all the data and academic debate to one side, it  is a choice between the heart and the mind, and the right choice is what suits the individual depending on their aspirations and life stage. Notwithstanding seeking the advice of an informed property professional can assist in making the right choices.

IN Starling

She’s a nurse, a mum, a wife, an excellent cook and a businesswoman who is determined to bring nature back into all aspects of life.


Nadine Lee Morris is a perfect example of someone who walks their walk and talks it too.


Having things handmade inspires her, which is why she’d rather support an individual who has put love and substance into their products, hence the creation of her own range of bed, bath and home products called Starling.


“Starling is my stand against mass-produced, chemically-laden products,” says Nadine. Starling’s products are natural, organic, chemical free, have not been tested on animals and are handmade by the Perth mum.


Her Perth home is her warehouse, the kitchen her workspace and family her willing guinea pigs. Right out of her suburban kitchen Starling produces organic aromatherapy soy candles, massage oils, room/linen/body sprays, herbal teas, bath salts and body care for health and well-being.


While she trained as a nurse and once worked as a welder, Nadine has always dabbled creatively and been secretly jealous of artistic friends and family.


“I became interested in natural remedies when I learnt how regular products are laden with chemicals,” she explains. “I read an article recently that spoke about this issue and how everything we put on our skin can end up in our bloodstream. That’s scary! So to control this to a certain extent I bought some books on essential oils and aromatherapy and began to experiment. Not long after family and friends were getting plied with samples and being happy guinea pigs for my products.


“When my boys were born I also started thinking about all the chemicals I slathered on their skin when it came to things like creams,” Nadine says. “So I started experimenting with making my own body products.”


Starling was born and is gaining a dedicated following around Perth as Nadine sells her products at local markets and online through Etsy.


While her products may be all about being natural, this attitude also extends into her personal life. Nadine and her husband, musician and author Adam Morris are vegetarians, eat organic where they can and otherwise eat as unrefined as possible.


“We just got really conscious about where our food came from, what had been done to it and what we were doing to it. The boys, Finn who is five-and-half and two-year-old Atticus, have been brought up this way, which I think is important.”


Nadine says while the shift was easy because they wanted to do it, eating and living this way takes more preparation time. Equally though, it’s a lot of fun because she feels like she is always being creative and exploring new products or how to create new dishes.


The Morris family are now in the middle of planning a move to Albany, which will allow Nadine to extend her range thanks to the eventual construction of a larger kitchen in their next home.

IN Snow

Though he discovered the snow as an adult, Perth’s Matt Robinson is proving he’s a force to be reckoned with on a board.

It was less than a handful of years ago that Matt Robinson took his first steps in the snow. When he got on a snowboard he flat out fell in love.

It started an affair which he hopes will take him all the way to Russia and the Winter Paralympics in 2014.

Born and raised in the Perth suburb of Forrestfield but now living in Melbourne because it’s closer to the snow, Matt is a para-snowboarder with arthrogryposis. He has only been riding for a few years but has been tagged as one of the country’s up-and-coming adaptive snowboarders.

Arthrogryposis is a rare congenital disorder which is characterised by joint contractions and muscle weakness.

“I’ve always lived by not having a disability,” says the 27-year-old who also keeps himself fit by running and skating to work and going to the gym. “I grew up playing footy and I’m really good with my feet.

“I don’t know any different, I might take a little longer to do something or look a bit weird but I’ve always just adapted. When I first went snowboarding I couldn’t do up my boots but then I figured out how to do it – swap the straps.

Being in the snow is good for my soul. I’ve never felt so much freedom. Amongst the trees, it’s such a beautiful place and I get to ride on it. There’s something so unique about it. The first time I saw the snow it was the prettiest thing I had ever seen.

That is until he met girlfriend Gecel, who has proved to be a tower of strength alongside a hugely supportive family and group of friends.

Coach Peter Higgins met Matt at a talent identification camp a few years ago and says he immediately stood out as a talented prospect. When the announcement came through that the Russian city of Sochi would be including the sport of snowboard cross (SBX) as part of the 2014 games, Matt was up the top of the list of prospective athletes. Matt and a couple of other athletes have been instrumental in helping pioneer Australia’s first SBX program.

“Matt has the mental prowess to understand what needs to be achieved and the drive within him to persevere until he succeeds,” Peter says. “These traits combined with a natural ability to ride a snowboard have and will take him far within the sport. He dedicated his full time and attention to training over this past winter and the effort he put in resulted in an exceptional rate of development. We look forward to the years ahead of Matt leading the charge toward SBX competition glory.”

Unlike himself, many of the athletes Matt has now come in contact with weren’t born with their disabilities and he says it has been eye-opening and rewarding to work with these athletes. Working and training with them has taught Matt to embrace his own disability that little more completely.

“For the first 25 years I didn’t want to have anything to do with disability stuff because it felt like it was labelling me. In the past year-and-a-half I have come to the realisation that I have a responsibility to be a bit of an ambassador for people with physical disabilities. I used to shut up about it, now I realise I have the character and the personality to be able to help.
"I talk quite a lot to other athletes, some of whom only inherited their disability a year ago. I know I’ve been given an amazing opportunity so I want to use that to inspire people. I figure if they look at me and think ‘if this bloke can do it, why can’t I’? then that’s good."

Matt works for the City of Melbourne as an information management officer and as there’s no government funding or subsidy for this alpine sport, he’s also been busy raising money and securing sponsorships to get overseas to compete in the pre-Olympic trials.

Disabled WinterSport Australia is the country’s peak body which promotes and fosters the advancement of participation by people with a disability in winter sport both in Australia and overseas.

To sponsor Matt or make a donation, go to the DWA website at www.disabledwintersport.org.au

IN Perth Property Market

 
Destination unknown – or is it?

There’s a lot of talk at the moment about the direction of Perth’s property prices. Forget the noise (and there’s a lot of it) and look at the signs. They’re there for all to see and they’re pretty clear.

The ingredients are ripening for a positive shift.

Figures released recently show over the past five years Perth property prices have stabilised, rising by less than three or four percent in most Perth suburbs. In fact, some areas have experienced negative median price corrections. Another important indicator is a sharp drop in the amount of for sale stock available on the market.

This indicates relative affordability has improved in the metropolitan area and Perth is on the threshold of a resurgence in buyer activity once a buying trigger is introduced.

That trigger could be a number of things – I anticipate it will be further cuts to the interest rate.

Economists are predicting it could fall by up to 2.5% by next March, with the Reserve Bank warning at its October board meeting that the outlook for growth in Australia has weakened as the mining sector had slowed down sharply. A great example of that locally is Fortescue Metals Group with FMG announcing it was pulling back on expansion plans and cutting hundreds of jobs. Balanced however by the recent reports that the WA economy is the strongest wealth generator State in Australia.

So what does all of this mean for you?

Three words: surf the curve.

When the property market moves, it can happen very quickly so being ahead of the curve and riding with it can be a potential game changer for you.

As I’ve said before, money will always follow value. Regardless of your budget, you must always look for an advantage – in other words, an area offering positive amenities such as transport, good schools and lifestyle. These features bring security and growth.

If you’re looking to benefit financially from anticipated improvements in property values, I would avoid any area which tends to be a bit bland in character or appeal as they will probably always be sluggish in the market. And, be wary of anything that has experienced rapid price gains in recent times. When investment buying stay close to the median price point in the market.

The signs are definitely indicating a swell in activity  ahead of the next property price wave so to avoid being left behind in the wash up, astute property investors will be preparing now to dive back into the Perth market.

IN Good Dharma

Shop well and feel good about it? It’s a dream come true, thanks to a newly opened store in High Wycombe.

If Carol Wittenbaker isn’t careful, her house will be filled with furniture and homewares which should be in her new store. She just loves it all that much.

Separation anxiety aside, Carol figured that the beautiful objects she couldn’t resist would be things other people couldn’t go past either.

But here’s the rub. When you buy something from Good Dharma approximately 50% of profits from all purchases go directly to carefully selected local and international charities.

“The Good Dharma brand blends my desire for sharing good fortune with others and my love of all things stylish and unique,” Carol Wittenbaker explains. “It’s a little out of the box but the end result is me being able to run a business and help others at the same time.”

With an eye for detail, like an intriguing free-standing basin crafted from million-year-old petrified wood or arresting sculptural lighting, products have been sourced from all over the world including India, Belgium, the UK and Indonesia. Carol is also committed to supporting local artists and offering them a platform to showcase their work.

Homewares with heart, this unique feature for a store of this type is Carol’s desire to provide an ongoing source of funding for charity and keep her social conscience connected. Ensuring every dollar spent in store will give something back in a positive and meaningful way, charities which will benefit from the proceeds include Cystic Fibrosis WA.

I’ve sourced some beautiful cushion covers from India made by women who are trying to rebuild their lives and each one comes with a story. I love that and it’s something which really switches a light on for me. I hope it does for other people too.

Carol and her husband of 27 years, Ray, have run a successful specialist welding business for years but this is her first foray into retail.

Three years in the making, which started with building the High Wycombe premises, the store owner sees this as a perfect opportunity to give something back.

Every day the name Good Dharma, which is based on the word that means natural law in Indian religion and philosophy, resonates with Carol as a way to restore balance to the world in some small way.

“Ray and I are just happy to be able to do what we can to play a small part in the bigger picture,” Carol says. “There are so many worthwhile causes in the world I want to help where I can.

“I’ve always admired people who make their living doing something they are passionate about. Finally I’m going to be one of those people. I’ll also be able to do something useful and powerful. Maybe it will inspire others to do things a little differently too.”

Good Dharma is located at 1/1124 Abernethy Road, High Wycombe. The store is open Monday to Friday from 9am – 4pm and for private viewing by appointment. www.gooddharma.com.au

IN Good Health

Feeling sluggish after the winter and want to make sure you enjoy summer? We’ve got some tips which will have you bouncing into the rest of the year.


The sun is out, the weather is starting to warm up and the weekends are glorious enough that you just want to get out and move about. But what if you’ve let yourself go a little and are finding it hard to kick that sluggishness which winter can bring on?


Adam Hansen believes that health is our greatest asset and as such we should make it a priority in our lives. The naturopath, personal trainer and masseur says without good health so many other things in our life will be much harder to achieve and enjoy – including an active summer.


“So many people forget that our bodies function optimally when we give them the best ingredients,” Adam says. “Fresh, nutritious food, water and exercise, as well as non-toxic relationships are all important foundations for making sure the body is in great shape.


“During winter, when the weather is bad, it’s easy to ease up or forget exercise altogether and spend plenty of time on the couch. Cooler temperatures also mean we tend to go for lots of starchy and carbohydrate-heavy foods which, without adequate exercise, can stack on the kilos.”


If you’re keen to put some enthusiasm back into your step and get your health back on track after winter’s hibernation, Adam suggests these six tips:
Get out in the sun:


Get out in the sun: Your body needs a minimum of 15 minutes of sun exposure on your face and arms three times a week to produce adequate levels of Vitamin D. This little vitamin also acts as a hormone which plays a vital role in shedding those winter kilos. Don’t forget to be sun smart though.


Detox your liver: During the winter months we tend to consume more comfort foods which tend to be higher in fat and sugar, all of which make the liver work harder. To give your liver a helping hand and fire your metabolism, eat plenty of broccoli, carrots and freshly squeezed lemon juice. Your liver will love you for it.


Drink more water: Being locked away indoors all winter, we tend not to be as thirsty but our bodies still require plenty of water. Consume 6 – 8 glasses a day and an extra litre for every hour of exercise. Once you’re hydrated, many common ailments like headaches, constipation, muscle stiffness and fatigue will disappear.


Get a massage: If you’ve just started exercising to get in shape for summer or suffer stress, having a massage can be a life saver. Massage calms the mind, reduces physical and emotional stress, removes those stubborn knots, boosts immunity and increases joint mobility.


Move more: If you’re not a great exerciser, start with regular daily walks. Thirty minutes will do but consistency is the key. The more often you go, the faster you’ll get and the further you’ll walk. Plus those chestnuts like parking your car a little further from the office or the shops easily put more movement into your life.


Up for a challenge: Want a real boost for your health and well-being? Give up processed sugar for a month and see what happens. It can be a miracle if you’re tired, fatigued, overweight and always sick. The items you’ll need to lock away are cakes, chocolate, most types of bread, lollies, ice cream, pastries, soft drinks, cordials, alcohol and most other processed, sweetened foods. If you need sweeteners, experiment with Stevia or agave syrup, snack on fresh dates and make your own sorbet for a sweet treat. There are plenty of sugar-free treat recipes and ideas on the net.

IN Awards

When we started Realmark, winning awards was the last thing on our mind...


When it happens, it’s always a very humbling experienced. So we’re thrilled to be able to share with you that Realmark has been recognized as the leading residential agency in Western Australia at the Real Estate Institute of Western Australia Awards.


We also scooped the pool in the property management section; Realmark’s Christine Smith won Best Commercial Property Manager for the second year running while Sara Young was recognized as Best Residential Property Manager. Gemma Timmins was given the special accolade of Best Property Manager, voted by the public.


We know that what we do at Realmark is different, so to have our industry peers recognize this in such a powerful way is really rewarding for us. It’s  a massive endorsement of the unique and innovative approach we bring to real estate. We’re incredibly proud to be recognized in this way and so thrilled that our hard working team has been honoured.


Our team works very hard to deliver the best possible service in an industry, which is fast-paced and rapidly changing. Our approach is driven by innovation and we strive to deliver fresh and exciting methods of selling and managing for our clients. We do it because we know it is critical to getting the best results for you.


At the end of the day, the reason we do this is so that our clients get the best result, every time. We wouldn’t be where we are today if it wasn’t for you, so thank you.

IN Citrus

 
Citrus plants seem to generate more questions than any other when it comes to home gardening. So Sabrina Hahn squeezes every last little bit of information into a new book to help.

“People take gardening a bit too seriously,” says Sabrina Hahn, a woman who has made it her life. “It’s really a lot of experimenting, having a go at stuff and learning as you go. If you’re too serious you don’t experiment. So this book gives people access to the knowledge to help them do that.”

The book she is talking about is Sabrina’s Juicy Little Book of Citrus, a pocket-sized but zesty bible for anyone who wants to grow healthy citrus in the garden. Packed with information it covers everything from propagation, pruning and care to pests and diseases. The book is handy enough to put in your pocket and take along next time you’re thinking of buying a citrus tree thanks to the section describing the different kinds of citrus for the home gardener, including a section on Australian bush tucker and native limes.

“I think there’s a good balance of technical information, fun facts about gardening and some of that mother’s wisdom.” The obsessive gardener doesn’t forget a dash of humour either, vital when you’re dealing with citrus.

Sabrina – who you’ve probably heard talking gardening on ABC Radio – says the only thing which should be overwhelming in your garden is its beauty. Equally, she considers them a constant work in progress as you learn, plant and prune. She says you don’t need to be the best gardener, just passionate about it.

Lime and lemon trees, in pots and in the ground, are a big feature of this Perth gardener’s own backyard alongside a decent vegetable garden. Sabrina is part of a wider movement of people choosing to grow more of their own produce and eat with the seasons.

“Seasonal cooking has been popular in Europe for a long time, particularly in France and we have the opportunity to do that here with excellent-tasting produce.

“I think it’s a combination of people wanting to be more self-sufficient as well as being concerned about food’s freshness and what’s being sprayed on it. They’re also more aware of the flavours of fresh food and looking at things and saying ‘I should be able to grow that in my own garden’.”

If it’s citrus, you’ve got a perfect guide in Sabrina’s book.

“We lost the last generation of gardeners and many small veg shops with the rise of the big supermarkets. With that we lost a lot of knowledge of how to grow your own food. My grandmother and mother were avid gardeners and I grew up with two generations growing their own food. Now it’s coming back around again and people are planting everything from small edible gardens and growing a citrus tree or two to full-blown fruit, veg and herb gardens.”

Sabrina’s Juicy Little Book of Citrus ($19.99) is published in October through Fremantle Press and available at all good bookstores.

IN Derby

They’re fast, sexy and hell on wheels. Meet the women of the Perth Roller Derby League.

The women of the Perth Roller Derby League like to skate fast and make every lap count. But it seems that what they like to do even more is have fun.

While popular in the 1940’s roller derby began a modern revival in the early 2000’s as a women’s amateur event. There are now more than 1200 amateur leagues around the world and the roller sport is now under consideration for the 2020 Olympics.

Roller derby gals race on quad roller skates and Perth’s two home teams are The Bloody Sundaes and Mistresses of Mayhem. In keeping with the aesthetic of the sport, skaters choose names and outfits which are an eclectic and colourful mix of punk, rockabilly, third-wave feminism and usually take their skater names from word play, sexual puns or allusions to pop culture. They can range from Princess Lay-Ya Flat to Drag’n SlayHer, Night of the Rolling Dead and Perth’s own Bronte Sore Ass.

Flat track women’s roller derby is run on an oval track with two teams of 14, five of whom are on the track at any one time. Four are blockers and one is a jammer. It’s the jammer’s job to score the points by lapping the other team, while the blockers keep the other team away from her while continuously moving around the track. This means you’re playing offense and defence at the same time while trying to support your jammer to score a point and preventing the opposing jammer from scoring.

The women of Perth Roller Derby (PRD) range in age from 18 to 45 and are everything from teachers, scientists and tattoo artists to journalists, tertiary students and mums. PRD is a not-for-profit organisation which runs the derby bouts and co-ordinates travelling teams to play in other states.

They started in 2008 after a group of local women saw the documentary Hell on Wheels about the evolution of roller derby and wanted to start their own local league.

Lisel “Babeonic Plague” Avey is a lawyer and has been involved in Perth Roller Derby for the last three years. Never having been involved in organised group sport before, she couldn’t even skate when she started.

“It was a unique sport and looked like so much fun,” says Lisel, 26. “It took me about six months to become a confident skater and then I started adding in more of the contact stuff.”

Roller Derby isn’t a free for all when it comes to pushing and shoving. There are numerous rules about how you can connect to another skater but equally enough ways – like a hip or shoulder check – to get them out of the way.

The game is very fast-paced with a lot of stuff happening at one time. A lot of the game is about being able to take a hit, pick yourself up and push through when it gets tough. That determination is a really big thing, plus it’s meant to be fun as well.

Lisel says one of the attractions of the sport is playing something which is fast, highly athletic, allows for physical contact as well as the high fun quotient. The strategic and mental aspect of the game also appeals to her as the play is always changing and you have to think fast on your feet, at speed.

“You have to strategise and the team work is important. You play against your friends on the other team but you come up against them in a fun atmosphere.”

If you prefer your athletes on wheels than on a footy field, Perth’s two teams face off for the 2012 Grand Final on September 29 at the Herb Graham Recreation Centre on Chesterfield Road in Mirrabooka from 7pm.

For more information and ticketing, go to  www.perthrollerderby.com.au

IN San Francisco

 Words from the cutting edge.

Realmark’s Residential Agency Director Gayle Adams has just returned from San Francisco where she was representing Realmark, one of just two agencies from Australia to attend the acclaimed Inman Conference: Real Estate Connect.

This biannual conference is at the forefront of real estate marketing and technology and brings together the world’s top thinkers and leaders in this area.

So, we asked Gayle to list her main takeaways from the experience of mixing with the world’s best thought leaders, geeks and marketers in real estate today:

1.The power of the relationship with the consumer is KEY
2.We must earn trust through building a professional relationship and not one based on kinship or false rapport
3.Nurture trust by assisting consumers to be well informed on market activity
4.To initiate relationships online with consumers, however it’s most important to develop the relationship by taking it into the offline world as well
5.Print media still has a very important role to play in real estate awareness and marketing
6.The power of social media is important. There is much that can be achieved building or initiating relationships through facebook, twitter, Linked In and blogging
7.BUT … it’s not just conversation for the sake of it. It needs to be targeted, specific and tailored
8.The emergence of mobile mediums for accessing technology: cue the mobile video house inspection

It was both invigorating and fascinating to mix with and listen to the global thought leaders in real estate marketing and technology in San Francisco recently, Gayle told us.

“It’s exciting to hear of the possibilities of constantly evolving technology and social media and marketing tools and at the same time realise, that we here at Realmark in Perth are really keeping pace with these developments.”

All of this evolution places the real estate consumer in an advantageous position provided they utilise a real estate agency that is fully engaged in these evolving mediums of marketing and communication.

No longer are the sellers or investors best interests going to be served by the local corner shop agency or the local personality realtor, otherwise they risk underselling or under renting their property.

At Realmark, we place a great deal of emphasis and energy on a multi-medium- multi-layered marketing approach that provides property sellers, buyers and lessors with a huge advantage in the very competitive and busy marketplace.

IN Ice Hockey

They’ve only played one full season but Perth’s first Australian Ice Hockey League team, Perth Thunder, made plenty of noise over the winter season.


They’re one of Perth’s best kept sporting secrets, but Perth Thunder – our first national ice hockey team – have had a phenomenal season in the world’s fastest team sport.


Twenty-four-year-old defensive player Riccardo Del Basso, known as Ric in the No 12 jersey on the ice, is the co-owner of Perth Thunder alongside head coach Stan Scott.


Perth Thunder are a not for profit, semi-professional team which is part of the Australian Ice Hockey League. Though established in 2010, this is the first year of the team’s full inaugural licence. Ric says the team have done extraordinarily well on the ice by already battling for the playoff position this season. They’re also garnering the interest of bigger sponsors, which is what supports the team’s travel and home series logistics.


The team train two nights a week on the ice, do their own fitness work and fly east regularly to compete against the other national teams or host local games at their home ground, the Perth Ice Arena. As they don’t get paid, every player has a fulltime job, including the imported talent.


The Australian season, which is played across our winter, also allows players to head to the northern hemisphere for their winter season to compete while still being able to play in the off-season.


Of the 26 players on the team, most of them were born in Perth with a handful of Canadians and another handful born in the US, New Zealand and England. They range in age from late teens to early 40s, though the majority are in their mid-20s.


Ric fell in love with the ice in his early teens and eventually spent a year in Canada skating everyday, which only reinforced his love for the sport. When he returned home he realised there were not many opportunities to compete in the sport and eventually set about creating one.


“I didn’t really want to leave Perth and go anywhere else,” says Ric, who is also an accountant. But he wanted to keep playing ice hockey at a high level, so he co-founded Perth Thunder in 2010 and after jumping through the regulatory league hoops, the team have been actively competing in their first inaugural season.


Living here is about a lifestyle, which is why the overseas players come here too. They want to play ice hockey and see Australia.


Across the winter season – which runs from April to September – Perth Thunder will have played 24 games, 12 of which were played in Perth. Ric says local support for the team continues to grow and it seems that fans are coming from all age groups.


“It’s a sport which welcomes everyone,” Ric says. “We’re already starting to see some strong development players coming up, which I think has something to do with them seeing there’s a place they can play and seeing the team be successful is great for young players."


For more information, check out www.perththunder.com
The Perth Ice Arena is located at 708 Marshall Road, Malaga.

In Auctions

If you’re ready to sell your property, consider an auction rather than doing what everyone else does.


Around 97% of all properties in Western Australia are sold the same way – with a for sale sign on the verge. With sellers looking for ways to differentiate themselves, auctions are now gaining popularity around Perth, but they still have a way to go.


Phil Hayes is an auctioneer and associate director of Realmark Coastal who says the days of feeling that an auction is a combative way to sell your home is long gone. These days an auction equals communication and is a much more personal affair during the four week campaign where the seller is kept totally in the loop.


“When working an auction you virtually speak to the vendor everyday to update them on any changes,” Phil says. “It’s an intense campaign which is designed to climax with multiple offers at the auction at the end.


“The more available a property is the better, because we can bring more people through which creates more buyer engagement plus a buyer favourable time to consider the property and hopefully fall in love with it."


Realmark’s managing director John Percudani says if you’re going to auction your home, it’s imperative your agent understands how to run an effective marketing campaign.


“It requires a great amount of communication between the agent and the client and it’s imperative the client is given lots of the right amount of information,” John says. “When it’s done by the right person it gets a great result because the client is really getting information in real time about the market and understands their position in order to make a good decision.”


In the past a hesitation by agents in general to be confident in the process is why we don’t see as many auctions in Perth compared to cities like Melbourne, but that’s changing.


For a buyer, having the date of an auction gives you a known timeframe to decide that you want to bid on the house, ready your finances and do any associated homework. It also allows you to view the house numerous times as well.


“For the purchaser, the process is a lot more transparent,” Phil says. “Rather than making multiple offers you are able to compete as you know what the last bid was. Also, the time of the actual sale is compressed into the time it takes to complete the auction.”


Don’t be put off by the number of people who turn up at an auction either. Some of them are simply there to watch and others to take in what can be a rather entertaining and compelling 20 minutes.


“A good auction is quite exciting and entertaining. That’s why it gets a crowd, because it’s an event and people like the sport of it. If you have an engaging auctioneer, it’s even  more entertaining."

IN Full Swing

The upswing is in full swing.


In recent months, we’ve been seeing increasing signs that the residential property market is arising from its slumber and for those who’ve been standing on the sidelines; it really is time to take note of what opportunities are being offered up.


There are green shoots appearing in several sectors of the market. First home buyers are more active as are the so-called upgrade buyers. Investors are responding to higher rental yields and even the top end is showing modest but positive signs again.


Here at Realmark, we’ve been seeing some intense pressure on prices in the $400,000 - $600,000 band and that pressure is beginning to start spreading upwards of the $600,000 mark.


Investors are particularly focussed on properties below $600,000 and the apartment market is noticeably attracting their interest.


Realmark has also experienced a marked increase in properties being referred to its property management division from many renewed or new investors in both the residential and commercial markets.


Even Australia’s top banker – the Governor of the Reserve Bank – last month said that house prices weren’t unreasonably high and affordability is in fact much better than it has been in the past decade or so.


Whilst there are statistics upon statistics, when the person at the helm of all interest rate decisions in this country says house prices have declined to where they were in 2002 and that housing is now more affordable than it was four or five years ago then it’s truly time to sit up and listen.


And that’s when we go back to fundamentals that we now see: construction is down, interest rates are down, supply of houses is tight, rental vacancies are very tight and unemployment is historically low.


At the same time, savings and household income are on the rise, rental returns are strong and rising and buyer enquiries are up.


Add to that the estimated 1,000 or so people flocking into Western Australia each week for the work and the strong economy we have here, and it’s no surprise that the property market is heating up. And right now the market is transitioning from a buyers’ market to a sellers’ market.


So what does that mean for you? As an investment buyer, you need to focus on the quality of the asset, the yield on investment, security, facts rather than emotion and the options to exit.


As a seller, you must be very cautious not to “under sell” in the current environment.


Both buyers and sellers must work with an agent who takes the time to understand their individual needs and goals and then provides them with a selection of selling and marketing options.


In this time of transition, it’s never been more important to seek out an agent that uses the customised solution most suited to YOU.


At Realmark, we call this, My Agent, My Advantage – and it’s what we provide for YOU.

IN Spring Lamb

by Ara Jansen

We’re not quite in spring yet, but it’s time to start thinking about lighter cuts of meat to celebrate the turn in seasons.

When the weather does finally start to warm a little, it’s going to be the perfect time to consider the lighter cuts of meat to grace your table.

Karl Osterberg is a butcher and co-owner of Ryan’s Quality Meats alongside Greg Ryan, whose father started the Jandakot business in the mid-1960’s. For the last two years the retail and wholesale butcher, in conjunction with beef producers A. O’Meehan & Co and V & V Walsh (meat processors and exporters) have been the exclusive Australian stockists and suppliers of premium Amelia Park Beef. This partnership brings together some two centuries of experience in supplying premium beef and lamb to West Australians.

Karl says when it comes to meat winter is the perfect time for warming dishes made of braised beef cheeks, lamb shanks and roasts. A married father with two kids and a wife who is studying means the
Osterberg family love a tasty casserole for their winter meals as a hearty, healthy and time-smart option.

West Australians don’t need much excuse to fire up the barbecue once there are some blue skies and a touch of heat in the air. Karl says that’s the perfect time to get into spring lamb, swapping over to lamb koftas, grilled lamb French cutlets or souvlaki butterflied lamb legs.

"I think we naturally just want to eat heavier food in winter and then somehow in spring we want to lighten up in preparation for summer, when it’s always about the barbecue," Karl says.

Shows like MasterChef and the popularity of celebrity chefs have made people a lot more adventurous and willing to try dishes and cuts of meat they may not have dared experiment with before. Of course it also helps to have someone knowledgeable behind the counter to make suggestions when you want to try something new.

“You can always tell when someone like Jamie Oliver has been on television because people come in with the same recipe that they all want to try. They’ll ask about what cuts of meat to use and I’ll suggest what I think would be best or what won’t suit the dish.

“I certainly get some good ideas from MasterChef.”

The butcher says because the company cuts and packages all their own meat, rather than just removing it from a pre-packed carton, they know the best of what’s around and through their relationship with Amelia Park and other local suppliers are able source quality produce.

www.ryansqualitymeats.com.au

IN Nutcracker

by Ara Jansen

The Imperial Ice Stars have spearheaded a form of theatre which mixes sport and dance to bring timeless stories to life. They return to Perth next month with The Nutcracker on Ice.

When Tony Mercer saw the famous skating pair Torvill and Dean he was thoroughly charmed by them, but felt like he missed so much given the rink was large and he was so far away.

“They were beautiful on the ice,” remembers Tony. “But I couldn’t see enough of what they were doing. When they were three to four metres away it was great but when they skated away I lost that magical feeling.”

So when he set about establishing The Imperial Ice Stars in 1991 he made sure that the skaters worked in a smaller space and were much closer to the audience. Since then the group has made a name for itself performing classics like Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake and Cinderella on ice. Their latest show is The Nutcracker on Ice, which will be in Perth next month.

Tony is the company’s artistic director and says when you really look at it, competition skaters tend to only use a small part of an ice rink and utilise the rest to gather speed for a jump. That’s why he says the Imperial Ice Stars can do everything a competition skater does and more. Not surprising though, given the cast of the Imperial Ice Stars are all former competition skaters, who both follow the rule book and throw it out to constantly wow audiences.

“People think that because of the space it’s going to be different. In a competition the magic happens in about four to six metres,” says Tony. “Ours is 15 by 15 like most theatre companies, but most use less space than that. As a choreographer I can fill that space and the skaters can still hit 25 – 30 kilometres an hour.”

Tony says this style of theatre has also seen significant changes in audience make-up and has recast how people see this sports-meets-arts entertainment. It started as mums and daughters coming to see classic stories staged on ice with dads and boyfriends dragged along. He believes the mix of sport and theatre, which the troupe spearheaded, is what keeps all ages coming back.

“We’ve changed the way people look at skating. It has become a dance genre in its own right. Early on people were staging a lot of ice shows and putting everyone in big costumes. I decided to take inspiration from sport and using the beauty of ice dance gave the characters layers to tell a story for the audience to take the journey with them.

“As with a phenomenon like Cirque du Soleil, we’ve cast something people know about in a new light. We’ve also been thrilled to see some of our moves making their way back into the sport of skating.”

The Nutcracker on Ice is at His Majesty’s Theatre from August 2 – 12. Tickets from BOCS.

IN Print

Print media still crucial to property marketing.

In recent weeks we have heard a lot about the changing face of media in Australia and the subsequent large changes going on at companies such as Fairfax and News Ltd.

We’ve been hearing about the death of print and newspapers as we know it, driven the proponents say, by falling advertising revenue and readership.

As one of Australia’s leading real estate agencies in marketing and communications (we recently took out the Real Estate Institute of Australia’s national award for Excellence in Communication) we wanted to inject our point of view into the mix relative to property marketing.

We see it as crucial in the current market to utilise multiple forms of media to deliver messages plus alert and inform tenants, buyers and sellers in the property market. And for us, print advertising and editorial is still a very necessary part of that.

Indeed, by comparison to most mass real estate portal advertising sites, print media is a important format to differentiate your property in the marketplace and make it stand out to ensure buyer-tenant engagement.

Relying solely on a single pier of marketing such as the internet will not ensure the best outcome. For property sellers and lessors, confident results will only be attained when your agent utilises the correct media mix that reaches widely and deeply into the marketplace.

That’s why at Realmark we offer our clients a strategic mix of print advertising and editorial, online advertising, including our own customised dedicated micro sites showcasing your property, and premium property magazines, such as Realmark’s IN Property, which is available in both soft and hard copy versions.

At Realmark, we believe in providing the “complete”  marketing solution. We specialise in understanding your needs and developing an integrated marketing campaign that maximises reach, frequency and layering to attract the maximum number of buyers or tenants  to your property; which is essential to ensure you do not under-sell or under-rent your property.

Print media isn’t dead; it just has a lot of new cousins.

IN Music

Fremantle loves music and music loves Fremantle. So it’s time to warm your hands and hearts during Hidden Treasures, two weekends of music in the port city.

Western Australia has a great musical history and Fremantle has long been called home by some of our finest established and emerging musicians. Names like Bon Scott, Kim Salmon, John Butler, Lee Sappho, Lucky Oceans and Eskimo Joe through to hot young power pop quartet San Cisco are inextricably linked to Fremantle. Numerous venues of course provide inspiration to music loving audiences who can take their pick of styles.

This makes Fremantle the perfect place to celebrate a winter music series. In its second year, Hidden Treasures runs across two weekends and brings together musicians and audiences of all generations to celebrate the contemporary and more well-known parts of Fremantle’s music culture.

Last year’s festival was based in the city’s West End and this year the four shows will be held in the East End at the heritage-listed 19th century old Fremantle Boys’ School building, now known as the Film and Television Institute (FTI).

Each night’s four band line-up will feature a collection of well-known musicians and up-and-comers but they all share Fremantle in common as either a home or a place where they played or continue to perform regularly.

Bruna Chiovitti is the festivals officer at the City of Fremantle but is also a long-time music lover and local music supporter and reminds us that there has always been an active music scene in Fremantle.

“The city has always been known for its music and has always produced great artists,” Bruna says. “From rock and pop to folk and blues, the music here has always been from all genres. Even though it’s a real port city, there’s always been music here and places people can play. We’re really proud it has such a good reputation for producing great music.”

With a mix of old faces and new voices, Hidden Treasures will feature sets from Kim Salmon supported by three young gun bands for Back to Cool, Rooster Police and Amani Consort are on the Freo House Party line-up and Jill Birt and Richard Lane join others on Teachers Favourites night. The New School Sirens will feature Kate Kelly showing off her new band The Trophy Wives and Spank reform for the night.

“We found last year that a lot of people who have lived in Fremantle all their lives had never been into the venues where we had the bands. If you’ve never been inside FTI, we’re encouraging locals to come to this festival too, which will bring a whole new audience to the space.”

Fireplaces will keep FTI’s outdoor courtyard warm and a collection of public instruments will be available for anyone wanting to have a jam.

Clancy’s Fish Pub – long-time local music supporters – is hosting a series of acoustic acts to enjoy over dinner before the bands start next door.

Hidden Treasures takes place on July 19 & 20 and July 26 & 27. Entry is $10 and the venues are licensed. Programs are available around Perth and Fremantle or downloaded one from www.fremantle.wa.gov.au.

Glass Half Full

For months I’ve been arguing that the overly cautious and often negative sentiment surrounding the property market has been unwarranted and not backed by the fundamentals.

I am delighted that the country’s top banker – Reserve Bank Governor Glenn Stevens – last week reinforced this view in his “Glass Half Full” speech.

Speaking after the latest interest rate cut, Mr Stevens called for the right kind of confidence to be installed, rather than negative sentiment that continues to call for interest rate cuts to stimulate consumer confidence and boost the property market.

The benchmark interest rate set by the Reserve Bank is now at a low 3.5 percent. And whilst the commercial banks will lend over this rate (that’s their business model), the time for sitting on the sidelines of the property cycle and waiting for it to fall even further are over.

The message is this: things are good, the economy is strong and waiting around to see whether the bank will further stimulate borrowing levels by dropping interest rates is unwise.

In my opinion, now is the time to look through the cycle and for considered investor participation and smart upgrade buying.

The Reserve Bank has been cutting the rate since November in moves designed to make consumers feel more confident but at the same time, wanting to avoid creating the expectation that property prices would start rising, Mr Stevens told an audience in Adelaide last week.

Instead of creating a situation which could lead people to taking on too much debt, the cuts are designed to create “the right kind of confidence” and stimulate sustainable investment.

Mr Stevens noted that consumers are standing on the sidelines in a kind of “irrational unexuberance” – a backlash to the years where “irrational exuberance” led to concerning personal debt levels.

And whilst Mr Stevens warned that among the structural shifts we are experiencing in our economy is that fact that the period of rapidly rising asset and house prices is over, that’s actually a very good thing for investors.

Property is still a great investment especially in WA where the economic growth is the best in Australia, rental growth is solid, property prices have stabilised, there’s increasingly attractive finance rates, housing demand growth and other favourable conditions.

The Reserve Bank’s Stevens also noted that observations that the economy really isn’t doing that well aside from mining were also incorrect. We’re actually spending MORE the data shows; it’s just that we’re not spending it on the same things. We’re spending on travel, health and education. But we’re also saving a bit more and using our credit cards a bit less. Two behaviours that bode well for the future strength of our economy and hence, the property market.

As Mr Stevens so appropriately put it; the glass really is (at the very least) half full, particularly in WA, so it’s time to make a considered choice in the property market.

IN Food

If you love your food and wine, there are two festivals you definitely want to be at in July.


We all know West Australians love their food. We’re also spoilt to be able to enjoy some of the finest produce on land and from the ocean.


So what better way to enjoy it than match it with some of the country’s best chefs, cooks, wine makers, sommeliers, patissiers and cheese makers? As fresh produce and the finest purveyors of how to turn it into something delicious come together in one place, it will be nothing short of heavenly.


First up, the Good Food & Wine Festival is three days of food and wine indulgence perfect for gourmets and interested amateurs to weekend barbecue fanatics and those who just love tasty food.


WA’s favourite butcher, Vince Gareffa returns to demonstrate how to choose, cut and cook the best local meat while you’ll learn plenty from the sommeliers at the Riedel Decanter Bar.


One of this year’s highlights is sure to be the new Private Dining Room which offers an exclusive and sophisticated dining experience for 16 people per session. Meet some of your favourite celebrity chefs who will prepare a beautiful three-course meal, followed by an insightful Q&A session.


Guaranteed to be mouth-watering is Andrew Fielke’s Tuckeroo Cooking School where you’ll smell, taste and learn about some of Australia’s finest home-grown ingredients. Also new this year are cheese master classes from Lyndey Milan, which are situated in the brand new Cheese Alley pavilion. Whether you want to assemble a mouth-watering cheese platter or create cheese harmony on your palette, these sessions are the answer to your cheese-loving prayers.


The celebrity theatre is the place to see live demonstrations of gourmet recipes and discover industry tips and tricks from well-known faces and names. Among others, you’ll see Manu Feildel, George Calombaris, visiting British chef Ainsley Harriott and patissier Adriano Zumbo.


Adriano dreams up, experiments and creates all the sweet stuff his five Sydney outlets sell. Credited with restoring the croquembouche to fashionable, Adriano says he gains inspiration from just about anywhere. One of the most obvious is his cake 'Marry Me, Ed' which is named after a good-looking friend who is always being asked out.


This was the kid who ran amok in his parents’ supermarket, gobbling all the sugar and sweets he could find. Adriano says that’s what gave him his sweet tooth and the desire to eventually become a patissier who used his love for mixing interesting ingredients to create amazing desserts rather than making cream buns and lamingtons forever.


“I started my apprenticeship at 15 in a bakery and really liked it,” says 30-year-old Adriano. “I realised I really liked putting different flavours together, experimenting and being creative. I pushed myself to create and realised that I really wanted to do something different.


“When I started there wasn’t a lot of interest in pastry but now it has a big following and people are trying all sorts of things.”


Later in July, the Mundaring Truffle Festival will feature truffle-themed dishes, exhibitions and master classes to inspire and tantalize the taste buds. The two-day festival features the Perth Hills Wine Show, truffle master classes, how to match truffles with the right wine, a long table lunch, food stalls and demonstrations.



The Good Food & Wine Show is at the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre from July 13 – 15.
Tickets from Ticketek. The Mundaring Truffle Festival is on July 28 & 29 with tickets through BOCS.

My Agent My Advantage

Welcome to our new tagline: my agent, my advantage.


In recent months, we put our collective heads together and stripped back the layers of our brand to discover what it is that makes Realmark different.


But after much introspection and contemplation we decided rather than just attempting to tell you what our point of difference is, we should ask you what you think makes Realmark different.


So we decided to open the doors and ask for your opinion - in the form of an open survey with some of our proposed new taglines and an area to make your own suggestions.


This was a very uplifting experience as we were overwhelmed and encouraged by your participation and positivity. We were also enthralled to receive so many of your own suggestions, of which here are just a few:

Realmark, Your Real Advantage
 
Realmark, My Choice
 
Keeping an eye on the market
 
Your Agent, Your Advantage

Realmarkable

Realmark are the best!


Another pleasant surprise from the survey was the number of people who indicated they were ‘a fan of Realmark’ when asked about their association with the company (i.e. Buyer, Seller, Landlord, Tenant or Employee). This small gesture reaffirms what we aim to do at Realmark; to build meaningful relationships that thrive on trust and understanding your needs.


But in the end we were still faced with the prospect of choosing a new tagline and ultimately we chose ‘my agent, my advantage’ because not only did it receive the most number of votes, but we also felt it encompasses the essence of being a Realmark fan.


The emotion of being a fan is personal; my reason for being a fan will be different to yours but they all carry the same conviction. Similarly, ‘my agent, my advantage’ is a personal motto that will have inherently different meanings to each of you.


For some, it may be ‘my agent, my rental advantage’, for others it could be ‘my agent, my commercial property management advantage’, and for others still it could be ‘my agent, my career advantage’.


The communication opportunities for this new tagline are as wide and far flung as what Realmark means to you personally, so in closing; Realmark really is your brand - ready for you to make the most of what it means to you.


Thank you.

IN Pink

Eternally bubbly, musical theatre star Lucy Durack is back in Perth for a series of shows before putting on her best shade of pink for the musical Legally Blonde.

Busy and grateful might not be words which belong in the same sentence, but Lucy Durack is both in equal measure.

Scoring a lead role for four years in the hugely successful musical Wicked, the former WAAPA student’s stocks have just kept rising. She has met the Queen and lunched with Prince William but later this year will transform into Elle Woods for the stage adaptation of Legally Blonde.

Luckily for us, Lucy has been able to return home to Perth for a few months for a series of more intimate shows before Legally Blonde steals her away.

“I’ve been so fortunate to be able to do what I love,” says the effervescent singer, actress and dancer. “I have to pinch myself because I feel like I am constantly learning. I wonder if I’ll ever feel like I have arrived when there is so much to learn. I keep learning things about my characters right until the last show, so I never get bored. There’s always something to try and that’s what inspires me.”

In Perth Lucy is starring in Opening Doors as part of the much-loved Cabaret Soiree season DownStairs at The Maj. She teams up with composer, lyricist and good friend Matthew Robinson, who has recently returned from New York, in a musical journey through his songs as well as a couple of Lucy’s favourites.

“Through these songs we speak about our personal experiences, our lives and what we have been up to so far. We’re performing musical theatre repertoire and I’ll do songs from Wicked and Carousel too.”

While Lucy has loved her time on the stage in a big musical, she also missed smaller intimate venues and the chance to write some of her own material.

“It has been really great to have a chance to sink my teeth into this kind of show and have a bit more of a creative hand in writing as well. You don’t have much of that when you do a pre-packaged musical. Learning a whole new collection of songs and doing only a handful of performances really keeps you on your toes. That makes those nights really special.”

While here, Lucy has found time to work on some of her own songs for possible recording, something she has had more chance to do as her schedule isn’t so hectic.

“I think in this industry you have to end up becoming so many things – doing concerts, film or television – so there’s more chance of being employed. At the same time it’s really fun and I’m never bored with nothing to do.”

Lucy’s relaxed pace won’t stay that way for long because after her Perth engagements, she heads back to Sydney to start rehearsals for Legally Blonde. That will include spending time bonding with her on-stage Chihuahua, who’ll play the cute Bruiser.

“The music in this production is really clever and they have done a great job. It sounds catchy, contemporary, fun and smart.

“I’ve seen the movie a gazillion times before I ever knew about the musical. It has always been a favourite. It has froth and bubble but there’s also a smart story about a girl who stays true to herself. I’ve always loved that; it can’t be any more feel-good.”

Lucy will swap her bedazzled Wicked clothes for plenty of pink when she steps into Elle Woods. Luckily pink is her favourite colour.

Lucy Durack appears in Opening Doors DownStairs at The Maj from June 20 – 23 and Musicals in Concert with Lucy Durack and Friends at the Concert Hall in two shows on June 10. Legally Blonde opens in Sydney on October 4. Tickets for all shows are now on sale.

Cabaret Soiree:  Image by Blueprint Studios

IN Masters

If you’re not a regular visitor to the Art Gallery of Western Australia, it’s time to change your habits. A collection of art’s modern masterpieces are spending the rest of the year in our city.

When was the last time you visited the art gallery? Reckon there’s nothing there for you?

Well, think again – especially when an exhibition of 20th century masters from New York’s Museum of Modern Art goes up on the walls.

The exhibition, called Picasso to Warhol: Fourteen Modern Masters, will feature more than 100 modern masterpieces by 14 of the most iconic artists of the last century. Ranging from Pablo Picasso to Andy Warhol the exhibition will also include celebrated works by Henri Matisse, Constantin Brancusi, Piet Mondrian, Fernand Léger, Marcel Duchamp, Giorgio De Chirico, Joan Miró, Alexander Calder, Louise Bourgeois, Jasper Johns, Jackson Pollock and Romare Bearden.

“These exhibitions are about making people feel comfortable in this space,” effuses Dr Stefano Carboni, the director of the Art Gallery of Western Australia. “Art is not for the elite. It’s not about not knowing anything but just being able to look at things. It’s about your personal feelings and reactions to a work of art.

“Whether you think it’s good or bad, any kind of reaction already means that you are in tune with it. You don’t necessarily need the help of experts to enjoy it because art is for everybody.”

Opening next month, the exhibition is a collaboration between the Art Gallery of Western Australia and The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) and is the first of six exclusive exhibitions from New York to be seen in Perth over the next three years. They will include a landscapes and still life show, iconic photography of New York, contemporary art through digital media, a design collection devoted to kitchenware featuring a complete kitchen, and post-impressionist masterpieces.

“The initial idea behind the collection is that instead of having a major show or an important international show every few years we would try to engage with a single institution once a year. In this case the public of WA could expect two such shows a year,” Stefano says.

Consisting of around 130 pieces, the exhibition starts in the 1900’s and ends with the work of the only living artist of the collection, 81-year-old Jasper Johns. Picasso will be represented by about nine oil paintings and six etchings while we’ll get to see three major works by De Chirico. Andy Warhol’s 32 legendary soup cans will be on display as will a self portrait and his Brillo Boxes.

The exhibition will be supported by a strong program of talks and activities. Stefano hopes this exhibition and indeed the whole series, will appeal also to tertiary students and the 18 – 35 age demographic alongside the dedicated and long-time lovers of the gallery. Because of the exclusive nature of the shows he also expects plenty of visitors from the eastern states.

Picasso to Warhol: Fourteen Modern Masters is at the Art Gallery of Western Australia from June 16 to December 3. Entry fees apply.

Image: Andy Warhol (American, 1928-1987) Self-Portrait, 1966 Silkscreen ink on synthetic polymer paint on nine canvases Each canvas 22 1/2 x 22 1/2" (57.2 x 57.2 cm), overall 67 5/8 x 67 5/8" (171.7 x 171.7 cm) The Museum of Modern Art, New York Gift of Philip Johnson © 2012 Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York

Perth's "tight" rental market

Unless you’ve had your head in the sand lately, you will have been hearing a lot about Perth’s “tight” rental market.

Like all property commentary, I think it’s important to take note of the statistics and then to ask ourselves why this might be so, as well as what does it mean for you; the buyers, sellers and investors.

My first point is that I believe that this isn’t a short-term phenomenon just brought about by Western Australia’s rapidly growing population and current market conditions.

Rather, I think it reflects a structural change in the residential market here and represents new investment opportunities for all participants in the property market.

Factors such as housing affordability, the more transient nature of work, the desire to live in urban centres with their associated urban village  culture and  services, and the experimentation with different lifestyle options ahead of making firm, future decisions are all, I believe, driving the surge in demand for rentals.

As such, we can see this spike in rental demand and low vacancy rates as being an indication of a structural change in the residential property market and one that market participants should recognise and jump on, to maximise investment returns.

In essence, it’s a positive time to consider developing  and purchasing properties for the rental market because I don’t see this so-called “rental squeeze” coming to an end anytime soon.

We’ve changed. Perth has changed, and there’s a lot going on. Not only that, there is a growing proportion of our population ready and willing to rent, and stay renting.

“We’ve changed. Perth has changed, and there’s a lot going on. Not only that, there is a growing proportion of our population ready and willing to rent, and stay renting.”

Demand for rental property is exceeding supply and doesn’t look set to be satisfied anytime soon.

On this basis investors can see a new investment with strong, stable returns and a good future, provided they make informed choices and engage a solid property management service to care for both their tenant and their property.

There’s definitely no longer an argument to stand on the sidelines in the Perth residential property market. Opportunity awaits.

IN Rainforests

A home in the middle of the Queensland rainforest was the perfect base for a stunning new nature photography book.

The pupa which hatched on Stanley Breeden’s desk is typical of how close to nature he is. Raising the butterfly from a tiny caterpillar has made it one of the stars of a beautiful new nature photography book.

Alongside his wife Kaisa, all they have to do is open the front door to be right in the middle of the Queensland rainforest. The pair have walked for hours, covering vast tracts of their Queensland property, which they have called home for more than two decades and the neighbouring national park.

Never without cameras on these walks, the couple have brought the images of their backyard together in a recently published book called Rainforest Country: An Intimate Portrait of Australia’s Tropical Rainforest. Combined with elegant and informative writings, the photos take you right to the heart of the rainforest. All that’s missing are the sounds and smells, but they’re easy to imagine when accompanied by page-sized photos.

For Stanley, digital photography opened up a whole new world of colour after a lifetime of shooting film. Never hugely satisfied with the colour spectrum of film photography he almost gave it away until his wife convinced him that using digital would change things.

It did and the results are evident in the book, as the photographs vibrate with life and texture. Whether it’s the perfect camouflage of a frog, the hard blue nuts which litter the canopy floor or the detail in the scales of a lizard, the colour is vibrant and arresting.

“Depending on the subject, it could take half an hour or we might have to come back over many weeks,” Kaisa says. “Sometimes, the subject might just get up and run away. Other times we have to wait for the right season, or just wait until we find something, which is why we worked on this book for about two years.”

The area Stanley and Kaisa photographed in northern Queensland is one of two international biodiversity hotspots in Australia, which are the richest and most threatened reservoirs of plant and animal life on earth. The other is in the south-west of WA where the Breeden’s did their last book.

“The patterns of nature and the sheer variety is something we are really captivated by,” says Kaisa. “For example a lot of flowers are like things from the ocean. We love getting up close to that. We are trying to encourage a renewed vision of nature and a view of it people have never considered before.

“Looking up close, like our photos, is something you can do anywhere, whether it’s a moth, a cricket or a blade of grass. Change your view, have some curiosity and have a close-up look.”

Rainforest Country ($75 RRP) is published by Fremantle Press and available at all good bookstores.

IN Mother's Day

Start Mother’s Day differently this year by tying up your sneakers and walking or running around Langley Park.

From toddlers to grandmothers, thousands of Perth people will be participating in the Women in Super Mother’s Day Classic next month.

“It’s a great way for people to start Mother’s Day,” says Kate Simpson, chair of the Perth event. “My whole family come down for the event and it has become a tradition for us and families we know.”

Happening around Langley Park on May 13, the Women in Super Mother’s Day Classic is Australia’s largest charity walk and run. Last year more than 120,000 people across the country participated and funds raised from the event go to the National Breast Cancer Foundation for research. Since its inception the event has raised $10.8 million and last year Western Australia boasted the highest fundraising team.

“Everyone has been touched by breast cancer in some way, whether it be through a friend or a family member. I lost an aunt to breast cancer so when the opportunity arose to be part of this event, I knew the event and the money it raises makes a big difference.”

Now in its fifth year in Perth and celebrating 15 years nationally, the course is 8kms or 4kms and you can walk or run either distance. The action starts at 7am and after your walk or run there will be plenty of entertainment on Langley Park featuring everything from a fashion parade to activities for the kids.
While it’s a family event, Kate says it attracts plenty of teams of all sizes and individuals. There are already a number of teams registered for this year’s event with more than 150 members. Realmark will once again be fielding a team.

Around 130 people also work as volunteers on the day and details to help can be found on the website.
“There’s a sea of pink on the day and it always looks fantastic. People can dedicate their walk to a specific person. There’s a tribute wall at Langley Park where people can post their dedications and it truly takes your breath away to read some of them.”

For more details and to register, go to www.mothersdayclassic.com.au.

To donate, go to https://register.eventarc.com/sponsor/view/82570

Your best advantage

At Realmark, our marketing expertise is your best advantage.

Admittedly, the right property in front of the right buyer or tenant will eventually sell itself.

However, an agent's job is not to merely sell your property but rather to market your property – quite simply we help you uncover the right competing buyer(s)* at the right time to accomplish a premium result for the sale of your property. The actual sale is just the transactional component at the end of a well targeted advertising and marketing programme that has been tailored to suit your property, showcasing its unique features and benefits.

Realmark’s multi-medium, multi-layered marketing approach is perfect for creating a distinct advantage in the very competitive real estate market.

There are many components to an effective marketing campaign and this often involves more than just using a ‘for sale’ sign and advertising online.

Yes it’s true, a strong online presence and the integration of all advertising materials are important, however what is more critical is a proper understanding of the market place and the principles that will guide the decisions of how your property is marketed to engage buyers or tenants for a premium result. This is how you avoid underselling your property.

At Realmark we have dedicated our efforts to understanding your needs and our multiple marketing awards show we have proven ability.

Our emphasis is on effective marketing. We specialise in attracting the right people to your property. We help sellers and investors achieve an oustanding, result. We delight buyers and tenants by helping them find their new home. And we win excellence awards for what we enjoy doing best – marketing your property for a premium outcome.

A happy outcome for all.

*Please take note of the plural – that’s an important advantage of selling your property with Realmark. If you would like to know more, feel free to ask about Realmark’s selling methods and our Buyer Engagement process which give you the advantage.

IN 80s

David Campbell dug out a pastel T-shirt, rolled up his jeans and channelled his enthusiasm for the 80s into an album of covers from the decade which brought us bands like Wham, Wang Chung and Spandau Ballet.

Don’t for one minute think David Campbell is having you on. The awarded singer and entertainer’s latest album might be a collection of 80’s covers but he’s delivered them with such style there’s nothing cheesy about it.

The recently released Let’s Go romps through a dozen 80s classics with gusto and makes for a perfect party for those who remember the originals and anyone else who enjoys fizzy pop with an injection of fun.

“The songs from this period were really great compared to many songs from the 90s which were cynical, ironic and often bitter,” David says. “There was a sense of hope about these songs, as well as a party. We’re all angry about something at the moment and I wanted to make something people could have a good time to.”

While supporting Tom Jones, the Australian performer says he and his band were playing the song Let’s Go on stage, which led to a discussion about doing an album of favourite 80’s songs.

“There’s usually a song which acts as a gateway for a project or an idea,” he says. “I remember loving Let’s Go as a kid. I hope people don’t think we just cracked out the keyboards and went for it. We really wanted to look at the songs as if they had today’s technology then. It sounds energetic because we had a lot of fun playing all these songs.”

The album includes songs like Wham’s I’m Your Man, Style Council’s Shout It To The Top, Hall & Oats' You Make My Dreams, Adam Ant’s Goody Two Shoes and crisp horns on Come on Eileen from Dexys Midnight Runners. Instead of Dance Hall Days by Wang Chung, David opted for Let’s Go plus The Human League’s mournful Don’t You Want Me also gets a sassy remake.

“I always want to try and keep it interesting and not make the songs too obvious. I wanted to change things up and make sure you could dance to it too. If we couldn’t find a way through the song to make it feel and sound like that, then we started with another song. With a song like Come On Eileen, we brought some swing to it and it’s a monster version which still keeps the feel and has a lot of fun.

“Let’s forget about our problems for 12 tracks and let this be the antidote.”

Let’s Go is out now. David Campbell performs at Mandurah Performing Arts Centre on May 16, Geraldton’s Queens Park Theatre on May 17, May 18 at Perth Concert Hall and May 19 at Bunbury Regional Entertainment Centre.