Youth Leaders - Cassandra Wilson

with CASSANDRA WILSON

FROM BECOMING U PROJECT

Hello Jenna! So great to see

I am a 16-year-old proud Indigenous woman, currently studying year 11 at Bishop Druitt College. I am excited to be one of the service captains for 2022-23 and have already started bringing school and community events to life as part of my new role.

I live in a very full house with 3 younger siblings, one who is only a few weeks old. I adore being a big sister and it has cemented my passion and personal value for helping others.

Volunteering is also a big part of my life and I am really enjoying being part of the One Under the Sun project and have my own radio show – The Milky Teas with One Mob Radio.

Most recently I helped lead both the RUOK day and Wear It Purple day for our school community. It was important for me to be involved to help build awareness of having a conversation with our friends and family, it gave me opportunities to share my experiences and journey and be an approachable role model.

So good and a little nerve racking as I was on the panel with my principal! It was part of the event educating business leaders on how to remain relevant, engage generations and communicate effectively. I felt honoured to be part of this as I was not only able to proudly deliver an Acknowledgment of Country but also be part of conversation where I could share my experience as a female, Indigenous Gen Z young person and give others advice on how to have great working relationships with younger generations.

For the last 6 months my friend and I have started our own radio show called The Milky Teas. Supported by Lachie Skinner and the One Mob Radio team, we play music and have some great conversations about all different types of things. We are on every Tuesday for an hour at 6pm! Being part of this has helped with my public speaking, leadership, confidence and learning how I want to express myself.

I feel like I have always been a leader. I am strong headed and determined but also very open minded to try new things and grow. I love to help others and be a positive role model in their lives. I enjoy encouraging and mentoring them and I think this has become a strong value and purpose of mine and the main reason why I am going to explore social science or social work as a career after school.

I have learnt a lot about myself over the past three years as I have discovered more about my family history. I feel more connected and supported than I ever had before. I love that I am drawn to sources of positive energy like my family, friends, dance and my culture.

Take every opportunity you can, try everything and trust that it will get you somewhere, or help you meet someone. Find good and wise people who want to support you.

SUPPORTING LIFELINE ACROSS NSW SUPPORTING LIFELINE ACROSS NSW

Chandler Macleod’s Coffs Harbour office is proud to partner with Lifeline North Coast CEO Miko, and the Lifeline North Coast team. Lifeline North Coast offer various community support programs Chandler Macleod’s Coffs Harbour office is proud to partner with Lifeline North Coast CEO Miko, and the Lifeline North Coast team. Lifeline North Coast along with the national 13 11 14 phone offer various community support programs service. Chandler Macleod have been assisting along with the national 13 11 14 phone Lifeline with specialised staffing and volunteer service. Chandler Macleod have been assisting appointments across their organisation. Lifeline with specialised staffing and volunteer As a volunteer-led, service delivery charity based appointments across their organisation. in Coffs Harbour, Lifeline North Coast supports As a volunteer led, service delivery charity based the national Lifeline 13 11 14 telephone services, in Coffs Harbour, Lifeline North Coast supports manages five retail outlets and a warehouse, the national Lifeline 13 11 14 telephone services, offers regional training and development manages five retail outlets and a warehouse, support for workplaces and community, provides offers regional training and development community engagement and awareness support for workplaces and community, provides campaigns and delivers a harm reduction community engagement and awareness counselling program, GambleAware. As a charity campaigns and delivers a harm reduction we rely on kind donations and volunteers to counselling program, GambleAware. As a charity coordinate our events, answer our phones and we rely on kind donations and volunteers to coordinate our events, answer our phones and sort our donations across our organisation. Chandler Macleod is honoured to be supporting Lifeline to successfully meet their varied recruiting needs, especially in the current tight labour market. With positions ranging from clinicians, financial counsellors, volunteer coordinators and project staff Chandler Macleod have taken the recruiting pressure away from the busy charity to enable them to support their clients and help-seekers. Chandler Macleod is a recruitment services

sort our donations across our organisation. Chandler Macleod is honoured to be supporting organisation helping to place people in the Lifeline to successfully meet their varied perfect roles for them, as well as finding recruiting needs, especially in the current tight organisations the right people. Chandler labour market. With positions ranging from Macleod is known to ‘get people’ by more than 123 words overclinicians, financial counsellors, volunteer coordinators and project staff Chandler Macleod just hiring, they aim to understand what makes people tick, and how to bring out the best in have taken the recruiting pressure away from everyone they encounter. Chandler Macleod is the busy charity to enable them to support their extremely happy to be able to support such an clients and help-seekers. important project, helping to find counsellors that will go on to make a huge impact in “Kristy and the Chandler Macleod team have been amazing to work with. They have changing people’s lives. met all of our varied demands for our recent “Kristy and the Chandler Macleod team have appointments which resulted in some amazing been amazing to work with. They have met all of additions to our Lifeline North Coast family. our varied demands for our recent appointments

The Chandler Macleod team supported our team to get the best results for our roles. I love the professionalism and the way that we were supported along the journey”, says Miko Smith CEO Lifeline North Coast. If you are interested in volunteering or know someone who is, please visit the Lifeline North Coast website and show your interest as a volunteer. Volunteer roles are available in the events team, retail shops, warehouse, on the phones and in the office. Even if you could add value in a professional services capacity, it would undoubtedly add value. Your volunteering will have a huge local impact and will help a wonderful charity help our community.

At the north end of town, on a leafy road that leads to Charlesworth Bay, there is an unassuming building where something truly amazing is happening. It’s the National Marine Science Centre (NMSC), a research and teaching facility of Southern Cross University.

The research taking place inside is significant locally but also internationally. One of the scientists working at the NMSC is Dr Daniel Harrison. His ‘cloud brightening’ technology offers innovative and promising potential for an environmental treasure under threat. On clear days, when the sky is that unique Australian blue and the ocean is glass, Daniel reckons there is no better place in the world than being at the controls of his fourseater Piper Warrior light aircraft. Following a flight plan that traces the Coffs Coast and then takes him out to sea, Daniel views from up high what is happening in the sea below.

There was a time when he had ambitions to be a career pilot, which seems in contrast to what he does now as an oceanographer, engineer, researcher and Senior Lecturer at the NMSC. However, consider the projects that he is either leading or in which he is closely involved, and the separation of sky and sea is not so marked.

At the heart of everything is a unifying purpose – protection of Australia's Great Barrier Reef – where the concept of Transforming Tomorrow is imbued with massive energy and urgency.

A major player in this mission is the $150m Reef Restoration and Adaptation Program (RRAP), a collaboration between several Australian universities – including Southern Cross University – as well as the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS), CSIRO, Great Barrier Reef Foundation and the Federal Government. Daniel’s scientific team is investigating cooling and shading options for the Reef, including the use of cloud brightening technology, floating reflective surface films, and creating sea fog.

“When it comes to the Great Barrier Reef, we have a window of opportunity that is rapidly closing,” says Daniel. “But if some of these ideas work as well as we hope, our modelling suggests it might be enough to alter the trajectory of the Reef and help it transition through this difficult period. There’s such a large amount of warming that’s already locked into the climate system that we need to see really strong action now.”

Cloud brightening is the strong action earning greatest attention. It involves the pumping of atomised sea water into the air above the Reef. As each tiny droplet evaporates, just three per cent – give or take – is crystallised salt. Each salt crystal then has a chance to become the nucleus for a cloud droplet.

“We’re not actually creating clouds,” explains Daniel. “When the cloud forms, there’s a given amount of water content and each droplet needs a nucleus to condense around. If we provide more of these cloud condensation nuclei, the same cloud reflects more sunlight, thereby deflecting solar energy away from reef waters when heat stress is at its maximum.”

It was off the coast of Townsville in 2020 that Daniel led the world’s first outdoor trial of cloud brightening technology to combat coral bleaching.

“At the time, the Great Barrier Reef had gone through three mass bleaching events in just five years,” says Daniel. “Corals were bleaching all around us while we conducted our tests. It really emphasised the extent of the problem and how little time we have. Reef bleaching has occurred again during 2022 and we were one of the first groups to raise the alarm with the Great Barrier Reef Marine Protection Authority.” Along with Daniel and the NMSC, researchers from the Sydney Institute of Marine Science, the University of Sydney and Queensland University of Technology were involved in testing prototype equipment developed in partnership with Italian company EmiControls. “Using drone technology linked to a sampling vessel, it showed how we can successfully create hundreds of trillions of these sea salt crystals per second and which then float up into the atmosphere to bolster the reflectivity of existing clouds,” says Daniel.

“If the technology proves successful and could be expanded and applied over the Great Barrier Reef – a massive upscaling from the proof of concept type processes-based research the group is now undertaking – it could reduce the severity of coral bleaching during marine heatwaves by cooling and shading the corals below.”

Southern Cross University’s National Marine Science Centre is located on the shores of the Solitary Islands Marine Park where both tropical and temperate currents meet, a unique environment for the study of marine science. It has state-ofthe-art laboratory and field facilities, including Daniel says the benefits of cloud a flow-through seawater brightening are environmental and economic. supply system, As well as protecting against coral bleaching aquaculture farm and in a relatively cost-effective way, it also just hatchery. might buy enough time for longer-term climate change mitigation to lower ecosystem stress. “The coral used to have such vibrancy, such colour. It’s such a treasure and we run the risk of losing it. “Even if cloud brightening works, it can still only buy us time. Unless the world shifts from its current path and prioritises green energy and carbon dioxide removal of some of our pollution already in the atmosphere, then the long-term future of the Reef looks bleak. “It will take a marathon effort to save it. Blue sky thinking for a blue water environment. But is there a choice? I don't believe so.”

If the prices for a room in residential care have caused you alarm and led to concerns about how to find such large lump sums, you are not alone.

Ihave seen many clients and their families facing the same stressful situation and have helped them to navigate through to an affordable solution.

Aged care room prices are quoted as a lump sum, with prices ranging up to $2 million for a room. On average, you might expect to be quoted around $300,000 - $900,000. This might cause you to panic if you don’t have that much money sitting in a bank account or you don’t want to sell assets.

The good news is that you have choices on how to pay. You might choose to pay a lump sum, but you could also choose to pay a daily fee and effectively “rent” the room instead. With a bit of research and good advice, you can choose the option that works best for you.

The bad news however, is that with interest rates going up, the daily “rental” price – called a daily accommodation payment (DAP) – is getting more expensive.

For example, assume Mary is looking at an aged care room with a price of $500,000. If Mary moves in before 1 October 2022, at the current interest rate of 5% per annum this converts to $68.49 per day ($25,000 per year). If she moves into care from 1 October when the rate increases to 6.31%, the same $500,000 room would cost $86.44 per day, an extra $6,550 per year.

The Government reviews and resets the interest rate each quarter, and it is on the way up. October’s increase will set this rate at its highest point since 2015 and it is likely to continue increasing if cash rates keep rising. Although once you enter care, the rate becomes fixed so that you have some certainty with your planning. Only if you move rooms or move to a new provider will the rate change.

We would expect that this increasing interest rate may see more people make the choice to sell assets and pay the lump sum, but every family is different, so it does require full analysis of your cash flow and estate planning objectives.

If you would like to arrange a meeting to find out how I might help yours or a loved ones’ own position, call me on 0431 414 799 or email jason@burleyagedcareadvice.com.au

This advice is general in nature and everyone’s circumstances are different. So it’s important to speak to someone like myself who is a licenced financial adviser (I am an Authorised Representative of Count Financial Limited AFSL 227232). As an Accredited Aged Care Professional™ I have helped many clients to make this choice. I help to find a choice that is affordable, as well as works best for the family and protects the value of the estate.

P 0431 414 799 E jason@burleyagedcareadvice.com.au W www.burleyagedcareadvice.com.au

ACCOUNTANTS

It is hard to believe how quickly this year is going. We have seen a change in Government and delivery of another budget. With tax season upon us, we want to make sure that we get the best tax return possible.

The tax office focus this year is on work related expense claims. You need to ensure that the following 3 things have been considered when claiming your deductions: 1. INCURRED – The expense must have been incurred in earning your income 2. NEXUS – There must be a direct nexus to your current employment & 3. RECORD KEEPING – You must have a receipt or other evidence that you have paid the expense. You cannot claim the expense if the amount has been reimbursed by your employer.

We recommend you check out the ATO app – it’s free and captures all your receipts via a photo image.

Small businesses should ensure that their financial information is up to date, so that important decisions can be made. If you are looking for new finance arrangements, it is a good idea to have your accounts finalised so that the bank has up to date information.

On the interest rate front, we have seen a couple of rate rises this year with potentially more to come, due to the high inflation rate. It is now a good time to consider fixed rates to have some certainty for future loan repayments and to help balance the household budget.

If you are self-employed, an accountant is an essential part of your team.

Or if you have had a capital gains event you should seek the advice of a professional to steer you through this complex area.

At Barry Hockey Accountants, we not only specialise in taxation, but we have extensive background skills in finance and banking.

Her Majesty The Queen touched the lives of generations of Australians. Her death has saddened Australians and many around the world. I attended the Proclamation of the Accession of King Charles III by the Governor-General in the forecourt of Parliament House, where Karen and I laid flowers to pay our respect. The Queen was a great friend of Australia, and the North Coast visiting Evans Head, Lismore and Casino in 1954. May the memories of our Queen inspire the very best in us. We offer heartfelt condolences to the Royal Family and to the people of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth.

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Three Generations of Builders - Levi, Neil & Rick

COFFS HARBOUR

Moonee Beach Display Home Resilient, reliable, honest and dedicated. These are the four words the whole team at G.J. Gardner Homes Coffs Harbour live by as they navigate the constantlychanging climate of the current building industry. The team is busier than ever, working to deliver high-quality homes right across the region. Owners Rick and Susan Fischer love everything about living in Coffs Harbour and are extremely passionate about helping locals build their dream home, whether it’s a custom design or off-the-plan.

Since COVID-19 and the building boom business has basically tripled for us. We feel privileged to be chosen to build brand new homes for so many deserving locals but it is no secret it has not been an easy year for the industry. For us, relationships have been the key to our success during these strenuous moments.

We have really prioritised being upfront and honest with our customers so they know exactly what is happening with their project and when. We keep in touch weekly, which is not dissimilar to what we did previously, and we do not apply extra pressure to sign a contract before we get upfront prices. We understand building a home is a significant life milestone for all of our customers, so we are dedicated to making sure they feel excited and reassured throughout their journey with us.

As a fifth generation builder, I also understand the importance of establishing long lasting relationships with trades and suppliers. I have been a part of the G.J. Gardner brand since 2006 and more specifically Coffs Harbour since 2013, so the connection I have built within the community definitely helped us get through the difficult times. It is hard enough as it is when you are not busy if you do not have these relationships, let alone when your business skyrockets in a matter of months.

Another benefit of being part of the G.J. Gardner brand is the support and collaboration between offices. We are backed

We work with by a company that has our customers built more than 36,000 to create a home that customised homes and is meets their budget known for reliability. We and takes into account their land work with our customers to create a home that meets their budget and size and orientation, takes into account their and customisation land size and orientation, isn’t just supported and customisation isn’t but encouraged. just supported but encouraged. Between trade shortages and price increases, there has definitely been a lot more pressure on not just builders but everyone involved in the construction process. This has impacted the mental health of many people close to us, so this is an area we are going to focus on in the year ahead. We are currently looking into initiatives and challenges in a bid to raise money and support mental health charities within the industry. >>>

COFFS HARBOUR

Multi Award Winning Home - Bellingen

My love for building stemmed from the passion of the generations before me. I am proud to be a 5th generation builder, and I learnt so much from my family, in particular my father, Neil. No matter how many homes we hand over, I get the same feeling of accomplishment when I see the happiness on our customers’ faces.

The exciting part is we also have a potential 6th generation builder in the works…

Something I have been mindful of is not pushing my 14 year old son Levi to go down the same path if that is not what he wanted, but recently he came to us showing interest in the industry. He has just started doing a work experience program through his high school where he does one day a week with one of our carpenters!

He is absolutely loving it and is looking at doing two days a week next year so he will finish year 10 as a second year apprentice. I am extremely proud of him and look forward to seeing where this career takes him.

Moonee Beach Display Home

Located in Moonee Beach, the Parkview 302 is perfect for growing families. It has been carefully designed so there is enough room to entertain and spend time with loved ones, while also ensuring everyone has their own space and privacy. Both the exterior and interior of the home encapsulate the sought after coastal vibe the Coffs Coast is known for.

At the front of the house you will find the central hub of the home. The stunning high specification kitchen features a large butler’s pantry and innovative window servery that opens to the alfresco. The dining room and two living areas are right near the kitchen, making it the perfect area for indoor/outdoor entertainment.

Towards the back of the home you will find

Moonee Beach Display Home

MBA Awards - Rick & Susan

MBA Awards - Tara Rhoades (Women in Building Award)

the dedicated private family zone, with four bedrooms and an activity area. The stunning master bedroom includes his and her wardrobes, and has an open ensuite with floor to ceiling tiles. The quality of this home was evident in the recent 2022 HIA Awards presentation. It won in the Kitchen in a Display Home category and was a finalist in the Bathroom in a Display Home category which we are super proud of.

Monday-Sunday: 9am-4pm 49 Moonee Creek Drive Moonee Beach NSW 2450

We have definitely been busy behind-thescenes and we have a few other award wins to show for it.

Our hard-working Construction Manager Tara Rhoades won the below award: • 2021 Winner in MBA for Women in Building Award

Tara is a female leader within the industry and is passionate about advocating for women in construction. Her overall dedication and development towards the growth of our business and the industry as a whole is inspiring.

And our stunning Montville Design built for a customer in Bellingen recently also gathered a lot of attention: • 2021 Winner in MBA Awards for Contract Home $550,000-$650,000 • 2021 Winner in HIA Awards for Northern NSW Country Home • 2021 Winner in HIA Awards for Northern

NSW Project Home over $450,000 • 2021 Winner in HIA Awards for Northern

NSW Project Home of the Year • 2021 Finalist in HIA Awards for Northern

NSW Home of the Year

We personally believe Coffs Harbour is one of the best places to live in Australia due to the opportunities and climate on offer and it turns out we are not the only ones! With more people working from home, we have definitely noticed an increasing emphasis on people wanting a dedicated office in new builds rather than a study nook. It is also because of this we have noticed a trend in a lot of people leaving the city and moving north to Coffs. If they are in a situation where they can work from home, why wouldn’t they want to be more comfortable and do it in a place like here where we have a beautiful coastal lifestyle without lacking access to big city amenities?

Dave Brighton Floorsanding

For over 30 years, I have been operating my familyowned business covering the Mid North Coast (based in Valla) and in the last 4 years, a van on the Gold Coast too.

As a 4th generation floor sander, I commenced with my dad Kevin Brighton in the early 1990’s. He was a floor sander with his own father back in 1970’s who commenced back in the 1950’s to 1960’s and operated throughout the area as Brighton n Sons on the Mid North Coast. They were also timber merchants and timber floor installers. I commenced with my father in my 20’s and I have been floor sanding and installing ever since he pushed me to go out on my own in 1996. As a local business I believe supporting local businesses and trades are paramount for the area to keep growing. I started off with myself and one offsider, now we are 5 vans in the Mid North Coast and one in the Gold Coast. I have a team of 8 employees, and the majority of them have been working with me for over 20 years. My son Daniel and my stepson Tom also run vans here in the area and on the Gold Coast. At Dave Brighton Floorsanding we believe in delivering a quality job every time, no job is too big or too small. We are a member of ATFA (Australasian Timber Flooring Association) and I won the prestigious award of “Contractor of the Year 2022’’ for Australia and New Zealand. We are also a member of the HIA (Housing Industry of Australia) and I also hold a QBCC licence. With these licences and memberships it allows me to work in all States throughout Australia and I have been involved in many disaster events, such as the Bundaberg floods (twice), Brisbane floods, Lismore floods, Coffs Harbour hail storm and various events that have occurred in the last 15 years. As a 4th generation family owned and operated business, our NSW office services from Macleay Valley, Nambucca Valley, Bellingen Valley and the Coffs Coast through to the Northern Rivers including Yamba, Lismore and Grafton areas through to the

I started off with myself and one offsider, now we are 5 vans in the Mid North northern side of the Coast and one in the Gold Coast. Gold Coast. I have a We offer many services, team of 8 employees, being sanding and and the majority of polishing new or them have been existing timber floors, working with me for supply and install new over 20 years. hardwood and prefinished engineered timber floors, decks, and stairs. We use the latest trend in polyurethane, hard wax oil, waterbased and oil-modified coatings with sheens to match your décor, with modern systems in place to make every project run as smoothly as possible. We have a mix of clients from your home owner, builders, insurance companies and Councils. Check out our website davebrightonfloorsanding.com.au and our Instagram pages, Facebook pages for NSW and Qld or send us a quick email at dave@ davebrightonfloorsanding.com.au with any questions or call me directly on