Author: media

Lord Mayor Graham Quirk is searching for the next crop of Brisbane’s most talented and innovative technology start-up companies.

Applications will open on March 1 for round two of the Lord Mayor’s Budding Entrepreneurs Program, part of Brisbane Marketing’s Digital Brisbane Strategy, designed to provide practical support to young entrepreneurs to encourage more start-up success stories across Brisbane.

“The Budding Entrepreneurs Program is one of Digital Brisbane’s most successful initiatives, with the first round attracting hundreds of applications and introducing us to some talented young technology start-up pioneers,” Cr Quirk said.

“My expectations were vastly exceeded by the original ideas and talent of all who applied in the last round and I would encourage any budding entrepreneurs, even those who missed out in the first round, to get their applications in now.

“The 12 successful applicants, who shared in $25,000, were businesses that impressed us by tackling global markets or solving problems through technology.

“These are young technology start-up pioneers, often teaching themselves the skills they need to develop and launch innovative businesses.”

Round two of the Budding Entrepreneurs Program will again offer $25,000, and entrepreneurs can apply for grants of up to $5000 for activities such as attending a start-up event or conference, obtaining professional advice, membership of a start-up support program, entry into education programs or funding for trade missions.

Past grant recipients said their funding went a long way towards helping their start-up businesses.

Mat Chen, who developed buding.com.au, an interactive website for Chinese students, strongly recommended that other budding entrepreneurs apply.

“This Budding Entrepreneurs Program encourages entrepreneurs to introduce their hard word to the public, expand their network and get more opportunities and supporting funds,” he said.

Alex Ghiculescu who launched Tanda, a fully integrated cloud-based rostering, time, attendance and reporting system for small businesses, said the Lord Mayor’s Budding Entrepreneurs Program grants were a great way to give your business a kick-start.

“I would definitely suggest applying to anyone who’s ready to get their hands dirty in building a business,” he said.

“Sometimes the hardest thing is getting started, and the grant is a great way to give you a kick in the backside and encourage you to take the next step – whether that’s building a product, building a team, or just getting more serious about what you’re doing, as it was in our case.”

Cr Quirk said start-up companies with the potential to grow quickly, just like Tanda and buding.com.au, were important to the future of Brisbane’s economy.

“Start-up companies, which have relatively low entry costs, have the potential to reach global markets and bring hundreds of millions of dollars into the Brisbane economy,” he said.

“Why wouldn’t we want to encourage as many of them as possible?”

The next funding round of the Lord Mayor’s Budding Entrepreneurs Program will open for applications on March 1 and close on March 31.

Sunshine Coast firm Sola Mia is flogging a line of leather aprons for cafes and restaraunts on the basis that the savings on laundry bills soon pay for the cost of an apron. Starting at $80 for the little lap numbers and heading north from there. The latest line is now available in navy, hunter green, turquoise, red, terracotta, bone, camel, tan and dark tan.

“These aprons will save anywhere from $208 – $364 per staff member each year in laundering fees. They’re stylish, hardwearing and don’t shows the signs of use cotton and denim aprons do,” Solo Mia Designs Director, Ms Sanam Arthur said.

Solo Mia Designs has now also added a side loop on their aprons to hold cloths and tea towels.

The aprons can be cleaned with a damp cloth and can be occasionally conditioned with leather conditioner, which is readily available in supermarkets.

Logo embossing is also available for cafes, restaurants, bars, hotels and the like. Australia Post delivers all aprons and depending on location will arrive between two – three business-working designs. (Bespoke and logo embossing aprons will take longer depending on order.)

Sola Mia owner Ms Sanam Arthur said, “having been the owner of a busy gourmet café for many years, I was inspired to create a product that would service the hospitality industry by providing a unique new line of aprons that would be practical, comfortable, look stylish and only need minimum maintenance.”

Solo mia designs’ business goal is to help empower women, and as such we are committed to supporting Hand in Hand, a charitable trust based in Tamil Nadu, India which has a focus on child labour elimination, education and the empowerment of women through micro business. If you would like to find out more about Hand in Hand, check out our Facebook page.

Today is the first day of the Brisbane Comedy Festival . Thats right! There’s nothing between you and a month of shameless, snorty laughter.

Work yourself into giggle-frenzy with brand-spanking new shows from Wil Anderson, Stephen K Amos, and Hannah Gadsby. Go off like a prawn in a hot sock with Sam Simmons, poke fun at Campbell Newman doppelgänger Tom Gleeson, and hear how Nick Cody survived a ferocious bear attack. The gags continue with funsters Rhys Nicholson, Glenn Wool, Alex Williamson and more.

The Festival opens today with Frank Woodsley’s Fools Gold, Jack Druce in Adventure Peach and Dave O’Neil with Back in My Day. At least another three shows round out the opening offerings.

Hannah Gadsby’s The Exhibitionsist will run from 11th March until 16th. In 2013, Hannah performed comedy art lectures in London, New York and Far North Queensland. She also discovered she had convict ancestry.

The Gruen Transfer’s Wil Anderson is back with a brand-new show running from 18th March until the 23rd.

The Sun Herald  described him as “a masterclass in comedy… he may be one of our biggest comedy exports, with a national profile on radio and television, but flying solo on stage is where Anderson truly shines… the man is on fire.”

With a line-up of over 50 comedians in the building and at the bar, we say… go forth and photo-bomb! #BrisComedyFest

Monday February 24, 2014 – Melbourne, Australia — At approximately 1936 AEDT yesterday, the Japanese whaling fleet launched an unprovoked six-hour night attack on the Sea Shepherd conservation ship, The Bob Barker. The harpoon ships, Yushin Maru and Yushin Maru No. 3, crossed the bow of The Bob Barker a total of thirty-three times at close range during the assault, dragging 250-metre and 150-metre steel cable, respectively, across the bow of The Bob Barker in an attempt to disable the conservation ship’s propellers and rudders.

The Bob Barker was sailing six nautical miles behind the factory vessel, Nisshin Maru at 73° 08’ S 175° 33’ E when the attack commenced. The assault was an attempt to deter The Bob Barker from blocking the slipway of the Nisshin Maru, where it was preventing the whalers’ ability to load whales poached from the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary.

The Nisshin Maru was located early on Sunday morning for the third time this season by The Steve Irwin’s helicopter. However, the whaling vessels delayed an attack on The Bob Barker until Sunday night, launching their onslaught on the conservation vessel under the cover of darkness.

Captain Peter Hammarstedt of The Bob Barker reports: “I radioed the harpoon ships to let them know that our operations are completely lawful and that any aggressive action on their part would be reported to the Australian government and New Zealand Search and Rescue, and that Australian Environment Minister Greg Hunt had been contacted. I have nine Australians and one New Zealander on board as part of my brave crew who have endured this ruthless assault. We maintain unwavering dedication in the face of an increasingly vicious onslaught from the poachers, the last line of defence standing between these criminals and the protected whales they are targeting to kill.”

The harpoon ships crossed the bow of The Bob Barker fifteen times from port to starboard during the attack in violation of the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGS)

The whaling fleet’s crew threw ice at the crew of The Bob Barker small boats, which were launched to defend the conservation ship from the onslaught. The whalers also blinded The Bob Barker Bridge with powerful searchlights, impairing vision and endangering navigation. At 0100 AEDT, the Nisshin Maru was lost from The Bob Barker’s radar.

The Bob Barker is currently within close range of the Yushin Maru and the Yushin Maru No. 3, and can confirm that the two harpoon vessels are unable to whale. Since locating the Nisshin Maru early Sunday morning, the Sea Shepherd Fleet was able to chase the factory vessel out of the Ross Sea. The Steve Irwin and The Sam Simon are trail-free and shadowing the Nisshin Maru.

It is the second time this month that The Bob Barker has been attacked by the Japanese whaling fleet without provocation. On February 2, the conservation ship was struck by the Yushin Maru No. 3 in a nine-hour attack on the Sea Shepherd ships, during which the harpoon ships crossed the bows of the Sea Shepherd ships a total of 86 times.

In December last year, the Australian government committed to sending an aircraft to monitor this year’s whaling operations. Earlier this month, New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs, Murray McCully, indicated the possibility of “relationship consequences” between New Zealand and Japan as the result of an incursion by the Shonan Maru No. 2, the Japanese whaling fleet’s security vessel, into New Zealand waters.

Managing Director of Sea Shepherd Australia, Jeff Hansen, said, “The Bob Barker is in the Southern Ocean to defend the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary from the illegal Japanese whalers. Both Australia and New Zealand are parties to the Sanctuary. Both the Australian and New Zealand governments have legally challenged the Japanese whaling operations at the International Court of Justice. So were are these governments now, when their citizens and the Sanctuary are under attack from these poachers?”

In just one month’s time, Australia’s annual Meat Free Week will return bigger and better from 24-30 March. The national week is dedicated to raising awareness of the amount of meat Australians eat and the impact it has on human health, the environment and the welfare of animals.

Australians eat twice the recommended dietary guidelines of meat (a whopping average consumption of 113kg per person per annum)[1] and almost three times as much as the world average[2]. This consumption compromises our health, and with global meat production predicted to double within six years, it also raises serious concerns about long-term sustainability and animal welfare.

Participants of Meat Free Week are sponsored to go without meat, including seafood, for seven days in order to raise funds for one of three leading charities – Bowel Cancer Australia (health), The Australian Conservation Foundation (environment) and Voiceless, the animal protection institute (animal welfare).

The 2014 campaign will be supported by a raft of famous faces including musician Ben Lee and actor Krew Boylan, as well as respected experts in the areas of health, the environment and animal welfare. Leading chefs Simon Bryant, Belinda Jeffery and Bill Granger are among many who have provided a range of delicious meat-free recipes, which can all be found on the website – www.meatfreeweek.org – along with information on how to take part.

Meat Free Week was launched in 2013 to raise awareness of excessive meat consumption and the animals harmed by factory farming. Through their research and discussions with a wide range of experts, founders Melissa Dixon and Lainie Bracher realised the negative impact the large amount of meat we consume has on our health and the environment.

“Meat Free Week quickly became a hot topic, creating debate in both traditional and social media,” says Bracher. “Ultimately, our goal is to get Australians thinking and talking about the amount of meat they eat and how it’s produced. When it comes to our eating habits, a small change can make a huge difference.”

During the 2013 campaign, Greens NSW MP Dr John Kaye introduced a motion to the NSW Legislative Council congratulating Meat Free Week and calling on all members of the Upper House to support this important initiative. Dr Kaye adds: “Excessive meat consumption in Australia is contributing to poor health outcomes, environmental degradation and unacceptable rates of animal mistreatment. The 2014 Meat Free Week campaign is great opportunity to raise awareness of these issues.”

For further information, visit www.meatfreeweek.org

Bowel Cancer Australia

Bowel Cancer Australia is a national charity with a mission to decrease the impact of bowel cancer in our community through advocacy, awareness, education, support and research. www.bowelcanceraustralia.org

Bowel Cancer Australia’s Community Engagement Manager Claire Annear said that the charity was excited to be involved as the health partner for Meat Free Week: “Following on from the wonderful success of last year’s campaign it is lovely to see Meat Free Week expand its supported causes to include health concerns, and Bowel Cancer Australia was thrilled to be selected as the Meat Free Week health charity”

“It is estimated that changes to diet and physical activity could reduce the incidence of bowel cancer by up to 75 per cent [1],” Ms Annear said. “There is convincing evidence that consumption of red meat and processed meat are causes for bowel cancer, so Bowel Cancer Australia is very happy to be involved in raising awareness and funds through Meat Free Week [1].”

[1] Bowel Cancer Australia 2013. Reducing Bowel Cancer Risk: Diet and Lifestyle.

The Australian Conservation Foundation

The Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF) stands for ecological sustainability. We get to the heart of environmental problems by tackling the underlying social and economic causes. We work across society to influence urgent, transformative action to deliver lasting change on the scale required to secure a sustainable environment. We bring people together to champion the true value of our environment and its critical role in sustaining all other systems and in achieving human wellbeing. www.acfonline.org.au

“The Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF) is proud to be the environment partner of Meat Free Week 2014,” said ACF Fundraising Manager Jonathan Storey. “To ease the pressure on our environment, including reducing our water usage and pollution, we support consuming less meat. When you do buy meat, choose pasture or grass-fed over grain-fed ones. And be sure to support hardworking families in your community by buying from local farmers (with the added benefit of reducing your ‘food miles’).”

Voiceless

Voiceless is a not-for-profit think tank that drives reform and helps build the animal protection movement by offering grants and prizes, creating influential networks, promoting informed debate and conducting research to expose legalised cruelty. After the tremendous success of Meat Free Week 2013, Voiceless, the animal protection institute is delighted to be supporting this wonderful initiative again for 2014 through the Voiceless Grants Program. www.voiceless.org.au

“Australians all over the country have shown their willingness to embrace the Meat Free Week message of compassionate consumerism: a trend both retailers and industry are noticing,” said Elise Burgess, Voiceless Head of Communications. “Australians are now seeing the truth behind factory farming. Factory farming causes the most suffering to the largest number of animals in Australia – more than 500 million every year. They have no voice, cannot defend themselves and are legally classified as ‘property’. Instead of being acknowledged as sentient beings, they are treated like commodities in a production line and their pain and distress is disregarded in the pursuit of profit.”

[1] Australian Dietary Guidelines, 2013
[2] Australian Institute of Health and Welfare report, 2012

Two families in the same neighbourhood go off to work each day with similar incomes and similar expenses. They each have two kids in the local primary school and the kids go to school together. They invite each other for barbecues and get to know each other pretty well.

Gradually though, one family begins to accumulate more wealth. They buy a new car, have overseas holidays and eventually an investment property. The two families drift apart.

What happened?

The answer will be different in every case, but in many cases it is as simple as having a financial plan.

We all know that if we make a budget we can save. We all know that our house and then our superannuation are our major assets. But if someone asked you whether or not you should sacrifice some of your salary to build up your superannuation, or what the impact in fifteen years would be if you paid your mortgage fortnightly instead of monthly, what would you say?

Many people avoid thinking about their long term finances, thinking they will do that when they have a family, or pay of the house.

Even people who have a structured approach to saving do not understand the advantages and disadvantages of the various investment and salary packaging options they are presented with.

To really build wealth, you need a solid financial plan and the best time to make a financial plan is before you make a long term commitment such as buying a new car or house, or when you have the opportunity to restructure your finances such as when you get a new job or unexpectedly get some money.

Finding a financial planner who will work with you rather than simply try to sell you a product, is the tricky part of the process.

Here is a quick checklist of things you need in a financial planner:

·         Does not represent a particular lending company, insurance firm or bank

·         Explains to you how they make their money, so that you understand what you are paying them for and what motivations they have for providing you with advice

·         Listens to you and maps out your plan before trying to guide your thinking

·         Gives you the time to think through what you are doing and seek a second opinion

Westender is sponsored by a couple of local financial advisers who offer independent, fearless advice. While we encourage you to do your own research and see who else is in the market, we also encourage you to support the organisations that support the magazine you know and love.

Suzy Butterworth of Yellow Brick Road has been a long time supporter of Westender, advertising in the days when we were a tabloid newspaper and a fortnightly magazine. She has brought her extensive local experience and hard work ethic to Yellow Brick Road because of the range of services it offers.

Founded by Mark Bouris, best known to many people as the Australian host of Celebrity Apprentice, Mark’s mission is to provide ordinary Australians with access to good financial advice. This is the business model that made Merril Lynch one of the world’s leading stock brokers. Take a service that has traditionally been a preserve of the wealthy and provide access to ordinary people.

You can find out more about the company online.

This month, Suzy is offering a free financial advice package to any Westender reader who organises their home loan through Yellow Brick Road. Worth $1,650, the free package is limited to advice on income, super and mortgages, if you own a vineyard, a beef farm and mining shares, you are going to have to pay for your advice like everyone else.

When you call Yellow Brick Road mention the WestEnder and take along a copy of Suzy’s advertisement with you for the initial interview. That’s all there is to it. And Lakshmi’s blessings on building your wealth. You deserve it.

<caption>Lakshmi is the Hindu Goddess of wealth, fortune and prosperity – oh and beauty as well.