Susannah Slatter is a champion of pre-loved fashion, leader of Tasmania’s frugal fashion movement and the founder of Hobart’s Overdressed Market.  Fiercely passionate about providing an affordable and ethical retail option for Tasmanian women, Susannah recognised a gap in the market (pun intended) and created Tasmania’s largest preloved fashion market. The popularity of shopping preloved fashion has increased substantially over the last five years with consumers more aware than ever of the conditions under which their clothing is made. Op-shopping is “trending” and thanks to programmes such as the ABC’s War On Waste, Tasmanian’s are becoming more aware of the impact that fast fashion is having on our environment. Overdressed Market has created a strong community of ethical shoppers and stallholders, encouraging them to breathe new life into their wardrobes by shopping second hand. With all of that said it’s now time for Susannah and Overdressed to embark on a new set of adventures in recycled fashion.

After five years of disrupting the fast fashion industry in Tasmania Susannah is excited to be taking on new challenges and broadening the scope of the Overdressed brand. As an avid second-hand shopper and lover of Overdressed (every “designer” item in my wardrobe is preloved and most likely shopped from an Overdressed market) I was disappointed to hear that Overdressed’s upcoming Fashion Extravaganza would be its last.

When I quizzed Susannah on her decision to pull back from the market scene her answer was candid, relatable and full of wisdom. “If we want to get very real, basically I’ve given myself permission to focus on what I love most about preloved fashion – shopping, modelling, promoting and assisting others to explore the possibilities within this space. As it turns out, I don’t need to run a market to do that anymore. I can aim higher, and I am.” she said.

And that, dear readers, is what it sounds like when a businesswoman backs herself.

“While on the one hand I’m saddened that the Overdressed Market is coming to an end, I’m also very proud of what I’ve achieved and now it’s time for a new (preloved!) challenge.” Susannah’s passion for recycled fashion is stronger than ever and she is looking forward to devoting more time to collaborating with key figures in the preloved fashion industry. With such a passionate disposition and an unwavering belief in herself, Susannah will undoubtedly continue to be a key voice of influence in the preloved fashion community.

Follow Susannah’s journey:

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While there has been some progress in achieving equality in the corporate world there are still ongoing concerns about the under-representation of women in leadership and good intentions are only achieving slow progress.

Iceland is not only an exciting holiday destination, it is also the best country for women to live and work, according to the World Economic Forum (WEF). The WEF report, Global Gender Gap 2017, tracks gender disparities among 144 countries and reveals that Iceland remains the world’s most gender-equal country, with New Zealand ninth and, disappointingly, Australia all the way down at 35th. The report also finds that gender parity has declined globally this year for the first time since tracking began in 2006. Despite qualified women coming out of education systems, many industries continue to fail to hire, retain and promote them. Klaus Schwab, Executive Chairman of WEF, stated, “As the world moves from capitalism into the era of talentism … the integration of women into the talent pool becomes a must. When women and girls are not integrated … the global community loses out on skills, ideas and perspectives.”

Chairman of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD), Elizabeth Proust, said: “The research is clear: gender diversity on boards is not just common sense, it is also good business sense.” It sure is, but what are they doing about it?

AICD’s goal is to increase the number of women on the boards of the top 200 companies on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX 200) to 30 percent by the end of 2018. Efforts to improve gender diversity within this male-dominated area are slowly working – the percentage of female directors is up from 8 percent in 2009 to 25 percent in 2017. “There are 64 boards that have only one female director – one female director does not equal gender diversity,” said Ms Proust. “Considering the business case for diversity, the fact there are still 11 ASX 200 boards with no women is astounding.”

Flight Centre Travel Group is one ASX 200 company with no women on its board, despite having a policy that “supports diversity in the workplace, in the composition of its Board and senior management and throughout the Flight Centre Group as a whole.”  Its board consists of five men. Another major company, Harvey Norman Holdings Ltd. has just one woman on its board (representing 11 percent). Westfield Corporation Ltd. has two female board members (15 percent).

A board should ideally be comprised of a group of people who are more different than they are the same. Corporations that recognise the value of diversity, actively choose board members who are diverse in terms of gender, age, skills, experience and culture.

The Workplace Gender Equality Agency’s (WGEA) report Gender Equality Scorecard November 2017 is a review of over four million Australian employees and 11,000 employers.

Director Libby Lyons said “Disappointingly, there has been little change … in the gender balance of Australia’s boardrooms. Men still dominate the faces around these top tables, and the data suggests boards are not engaging with gender equality issues. As the guardians of organisational strategy, boards must step up.”

Things are looking a lot more hopeful in Tassie. The Tasmanian State Government has committed to achieving a 50 percent balance of men and women on government boards and committees by July 2020. Its Women on Boards Strategy 2015-20 has so far increased female numbers from 33 percent in 2015 to 40 percent in 2017. In its November 2017 report, Women in Leadership: Lessons from Australian Companies Leading the Way, McKinsey & Company found the effort to improve gender balance needs to go beyond recruitment. Women constitute 42 percent of all employees, yet only a quarter of executives and 10 percent of CEOs for large, for-profit companies.

WGEA Director, Libby Lyons, said: “In Australia today, men still out-earn women in every industry and across all occupations.” Full-time women are paid on average just 78% of men’s full-time salaries, leaving them $26,527 a year worse off (rising to $89,216 at the top level of management.)

To help men drive change on gender inequality, former Australian Sex Discrimination Commissioner, Elizabeth Broderick, has founded the Male Champions of Change Institute.“In most nations, men largely occupy the seats of power. Relying exclusively on women to lead change on gender equality is therefore illogical. We need decent, powerful men to step up beside women to create a more gender equal world.”

One Male Champion of Change puts it this way, “Let’s not pretend there aren’t already established norms that advantage men. Men invented the system. Men largely run the system. Men need to change the system.”

** stats and information current at date of article submission**

Further Information:

Women wanting to increase their ability to serve on boards and committees in can apply to the Government Board Diversity Scholarship Program for financial help completing AICD courses. There is also a database that interested candidates can join called the Tasmanian Women’s Register that is administered by the Department of Premier and Cabinet. For more information Click Here.

Written by Claire Burnet -A typical LOIS gal, Claire juggles many roles including mother, public relations consultant, trainer, writer, and permaculture teacher. In her spare time you’ll find her in a garden, up a mountain, or hiding in a corner with a good book.

www.147east.com.au

 

 

 

Written by Mindi Palm

From the euphoric highs to the crashing lows and the tumultuous in-betweens, substance abuse is no trivial matter for those who merely exist for the next hit. As Carissa Paglino, 34 from Newcastle puts it, “I didn’t want to die but I wasn’t keen on living either.”

For 20 years, Carissa, a former drug addict who battled every chemical drug under the sun including prescription medication, had meandered through life spending time in and out of hospital. From the age of 14, Carissa has had a long-standing history that started out with recreational use of marijuana and cigarettes but quickly became a life completely devoted to the heavy use of alcohol and amphetamines.

The use and misuse of licit and illicit drugs in Australia is undeniably a major public health concern with considerable social and economic costs that impose a heavy financial burden on the community. It was reported in a 2016 survey commissioned by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare that daily or weekly use of meth/amphetamines has more than doubled from 9.3% to 20% during 2010-16 and that use of ‘ice’ was even higher from 12.4% to 32%. Of the 24,000 people surveyed, 4 in 10 either smoked daily, drank alcohol in risky quantities or used an illicit drug in the past 12 months, all of which leading to premature disease and death.

One of the common effects of heavy drug use is the increased risk of injury due to violence and self-harm. “I had no self-respect or self-confidence and was regularly cutting myself from when I was 16,” says Carissa. “The last two years is when I really gave up on life”

“Addiction to illicit drugs can be very damaging to the abuser and their everyday life,” says Dr Ryan Harvey of House Call Doctor. “Most may find it impossible to continue in paid employment or work. The focus of their day becomes on ensuring they have consumed the illicit drug, often to simply prevent the withdrawal symptoms.”

“Relationships also suffer as the abuser’s priorities are on the drug rather than on fostering or maintaining a relationship. The toll on everyday relationships between the abuser and their partner or family is often heavy resulting in the breakdown of the relationships.”

Carissa worked in graphic design, events and administration at the same company for 12 years. Despite these powerful drugs disrupting her emotional and cognitive functioning, she continued to try and live a normal life. Eventually she quit her job and met her partner in 2015, where a series of events would quickly set her on a steep course of destruction.

“This guy was an ice dealer. I had an endless supply of ice, marijuana, ecstasy pills and anti-psychotic medication and soon developed a daily ice habit for over a year until we broke up and I had a mental breakdown.”

Ryan Hassan, former ice addict turned Co-Founder at the Melbourne Centre of Healing states that substance dependence isn’t always due to the chemical ‘hook’.

“These substances hijack the reward system in the brain, namely the neurotransmitter Dopamine. There is 10 times more Dopamine released than any other illicit drug. If the substance is helping people escape from their emotional pain, then that’s when addiction starts.”

Carissa’s toxic drug habit had spiraled quickly out of control, causing depression, anxiety and agoraphobia. After smoking one of the most powerful psychedelic narcotics called DMT, also known as Dimethyltryptamine, Carissa found herself in the Mater Hospital –  Mental Health and Substance Abuse Unit due to vomiting, kidney failure and drug psychosis preceding brain damage.

“It was actually the best Christmas I had in years as it was the first one I spent sober,” Carissa cheerfully states. “My beautiful mother was very supportive, visiting me regularly and bringing me a Christmas hamper.”

Following recovery, Carissa still had a long road of fighting her demons ahead. Mixing with the wrong crowd would lead to a relapse that involved bingeing on ice and abusing prescription medication. The final call that saw her on death’s door at her local ICU was when she had taken so much ice, cocaine and pills she suffered a major asthma attack.

“The last thing I remember was the ambulance arriving and then waking up in hospital with tubes coming out everywhere. My CO₂ levels were so toxic, I was put into an induced coma.”

Carissa’s family were urged to say goodbye while her body continued to deteriorate. Her Mum made the decision to shut off the life support but a doctor intervened, offering a heart and lung bypass machine. Carissa was given a 45% chance of survival. As her family huddled and prayed in that hospital, Carissa miraculously woke up after four days.

Carissa adds, “The doctors were so amazed by my fast recovery they called me the ‘miracle child’!”

The following few weeks in hospital saw Carissa learning how to walk, talk and eat again through intense physiotherapy and speech therapy. Being fiercely independent and determined, Carissa was self-sufficient in no time. Finding her physical strength once more, it was then her emotional healing that needed to come into focus.

Still feeling isolated, lonely and moody, Carissa took to adopting a cat named Miss Meowgi and an old friend Tiger, who was her ex-boyfriend’s dog. Her strong bond with her pets was an outlet to show love and be loved. As Carissa says, “They just needed love, like me.”

Today, if you took one look at Carissa, you wouldn’t recognise her from the girl she was a few years ago. Carissa’s life has completely turned around and she attests it all to her faith, a supportive community of friends and family and spending time in meditation and prayer. What’s more, Carissa has gone back to her passion, once again pursuing art, craft and graphic design.

“My strong faith in God and determination saved me. Now I wake up every morning happy about the day ahead. I work out every day, eat super healthy and regularly see my drug and alcohol counsellor. I am healing and learning to love myself, love others and love life.”

Dr Harvey suggests that drug addicts have the best chance in treatment by engaging in the health system such as programs designed to help with addiction.

“Often your General Practitioner is a good first point of call. From there, you can access the many programs and counselling services necessary to try and kick the addiction. The programs combine the use of replacement medication and psychological counselling and support, as well as social welfare support.”

The journey to recovery didn’t play out easily for Carissa. With faith, strength and an unshakeable willingness to never give up, she has gone on to live a meaningful and fulfilling life. For the thousands of Australians who are battling substance abuse and addiction, Carissa has shown us that all things are possible if you are committed to change and ready to make that 180° turn. If not for you, then for your loved ones. You will not regret it one bit.

Help and Resources

Lifeline 13 11 14 | www.lifeline.org.au

Alcohol and Drug Foundation 1300 85 85 84 | www.adf.org.au

Counselling Online 1800 888 236 | www.counsellingonline.org.au

Alcoholics Anonymous 1300 222 222 | www.aa.org.au

Health Direct www.healthdirect.gov.au/drug-and-alcohol-rehabilitation

Mindi Palm is the founder of BLOGS X BANTER, as well as a professional writer for online media specialising in creating content that clicks. Her straight-up, comical approach to modern motherhood, wellness and mental health inspires women of all body shapes, backgrounds and beliefs to love and embrace the inner fruitcake within.

WEB www.mindipalm.com | EMAIL hello@mindipalm.com

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IMAGE CREDIT – Photo by Xavier Sotomayor on Unsplash

As well connected, modern and intelligent women (and men) we are not blind to the horrors that occur in this world. It is so easy be moved by an article or documentary only to forget about it hours later.  A group of Tasmanian women were shocked to discover how prolific the world human trafficking trade was, and they pledged to actually to do something about it. And so, in September 2009 Be Hers was born. Be Hers is a social enterprise organisation dedicated to spreading awareness about the men, women and children who are trapped in the horrific cycle of trafficking, whether it be sex slavery, debt bondage or forced labour. Their goal is to empower women to make a difference.

Unbelievably, there are more people enslaved today than ever before. That’s 27 million people in captivity right now, with the average age of human slaves being only 12 years old. The number of slaves who are actually rescued is minuscule, as is the quotient of the traffickers themselves being caught and convicted. They are truly harrowing statistics.

The wonderful women behind Be Hers know that fighting human trafficking is a huge undertaking and can’t be eradicated over a weekend. Through their event Be Her Freedom, they have brought thousands of regular women together and empowered them to DO something. Held around Australia, the event allows women to dress up, gather their best-friends for an evening of “Instagrammable” (and yummy!) food, performers, dancing and guest speakers. Women can also ‘shop for change’, purchasing necklaces, rings and bracelets all year round in addition to attending the event. One hundred percent of profits go towards Be Her Freedom’s grant partners, including A21 and The She Rescue Home.

While pretty jewellery and dressing up for a fun night out is all well and good, education about the realities of trafficking is also a key part of all Be Hers events. If one woman walks away inspired to make a difference, it will be all worth it.

In the lead up to Be Her Freedom Hobart 2017 we will be releasing a series of blogs introducing some of the key women behind this wonderful movement. We want you to be inspired by their passion, their truth and desire to make a change in the world.

Starting with Aeshlie Wheeler: Aeshlie (pictured below) is the Operations Manager of Tasmania Talent Agency and became involved with Be Hers five years ago.

How did you get involved in the Be Her Freedom movement?

Five years ago I was asked to supply models for a fashion parade for a woman’s fundraiser…backstage I spent most of my time not knowing really why I had agreed to yet ‘another’ fundraiser….the second year I sat at a table as well as committing again to providing the same service.  I had never heard of trafficking or been educated on how huge an issue it was globally before this moment.  I couldn’t fight back the tears as I imagined my own children, their innocence and how I would give everything to fight for their freedom.  It was just that moment that I knew I couldn’t look back and stood in as production manager for Be Hers Hobart.  Over the years I have grown closer and closer to feeling a personal responsibility for the fight for those without a voice and I could never look back.  I now oversee Be Hers Ltd. production Nationally as well as sit on the board of Directors; this movement is now a big part of my life that I will always see as purposeful and ever-growing.

What do you love the most about, or what is the most fulfilling aspect of Be Her Freedom?

I love how organically the support has grown each year.  From 100people at the first event in Hobart to now 900+, not to mention the three other locations across Australia with woman working tirelessly and all for the ‘one’.  They all see the same vision and for different reasons.  They are all touched by the message and use what is in their hand to support and desire no credit to their efforts other than knowing that they are contributing to a cause fighting for those who cannot fight for themselves.  It is the people….the people that join the movement year in year out with no expectations…they just want to help somehow…

If you could change one thing in the world what would it be?

The value that people place on themselves.  I would love to see a movement of cultures and recognition of great value, purpose and future direction for every person!

What do you think is the most pressing issue is for women right now ?  

Pressing for women….speaking from personal experience; I would say our most pressing issue is knowing and maintaining our own value and self-worth.  As we recognise our own worth, I believe we do not accept those who do not see us for who we really are; those who take ownership of us and those who do wrong by us.  We have the power to take back our dignity and live our lives full of Value, Purpose and Future direction.  We so often lift our friends and our children up, but so often forget to place that same value on ourselves.  I believe that if all woman were to value themselves as much as much as they value you their most precious child, possession or memory then they will truly feel the meaning of freedom.  I have never felt so much joy than when I knew that ‘my decision was mine’ and ‘when I dressed for ME and not that boy I was heading out to dinner with….’ *the most boring dinner on this earth I might add!  I have felt more value in standing up for what I believe in than I ever have putting a new dress on.

What are you most looking forward to at this years Hobart Be Her Freedom event?  Seeing new faces and seeing the efforts of so many shining a light on the darkness of trafficking.  We can all do something!

**Tickets have now sold out for Be Her Freedom Hobart however you can still support this great cause by purchasing a Shop For Change item from the Be Hers website HERE.**

Written & Interviewed by Frances Darcey – LOIS. Magazine

LISA Gormley is really quite the ‘Jill’ of all trades.

When she’s not performing onstage, the former Home & Away star can be found instructing a yoga class in the Huon Valley or teaching mindfulness to children in schools.

Growing up in the wilderness of Southern Tasmania, Lisa says she feels at peace when she’s back in the natural calm of the Apple Isle.

LOIS. writer Emma Graham caught up with Lisa recently to chat about how she finds balance in this crazy, fast-paced world.

Emma: I’ve heard you on a number of occasions speak so lovingly of Tassie. It must be such a contrast coming back here after the fast-paced world of Sydney?

Lisa: Growing up in touch with the wild really helps put things in perspective. The natural world has a calming effect on the nervous system. It has a natural ebb and flow. It takes a lot of work to calm the body and mind amongst the speed and noise of Sydney. It’s exhausting. As I have gotten older I have begun to really prioritise where I want to spend time.

E: And you are restoring an off-the-grid eco cabin here in the South?

L: I am slowly building myself a little eco cabin. It’s been a long-term art project but hopefully after this summer I will have a little place to call home. Since finishing up on Home & Away I have based myself back here in Tassie. Sometimes it’s only for short times between work on the mainland and sometimes I get longer. It’s good for the soul.

E: Since Home & Away you have spent some time working in theatre – can you tell me about your experience with the scene here in Tasmania?

L: I recently did a production of SHIT by Patricia Cornelius with Loud Mouth Theatre Company. It was definitely an absolute highlight in my career. The script was explosive and the cast and creative crew were dedicated and a blast to work with. It was the first time I’ve been on stage in Tasmania since Rosny College in 2003! I’d love to do more down here … the audience is very supportive.

E: You also returned to Home & Away recently for the spin-off series with the River Boys. What was it like to return to the role of Bianca after a couple of years away?

L: Kind of like riding a bike. After so long Heath and Bianca are very much part of my life and I love them dearly, so it’s easy to slip back into that role. The best bit is getting to walk back on set and see the faces of the crew that I love so dearly. They are the most hard working well humoured group of people I’ve ever met.

E: You are now a qualified yoga instructor … how long have you been teaching? Has yoga and meditation always played a big role in your life?

L: Yoga and mindful living came into my life out of pure necessity. It wasn’t working for me; this fast-paced, supercharged way of living life. I didn’t need more things or more success to make me happy so why was I running at this unsustainable pace? Trying so hard to live up to impossibly high standards I had set for myself based on an image of success and worthiness. I was broken and the only way was up and I needed tools to help me. I grew up in the natural world exposed to alternative ways of thinking and natural healing techniques; Reki, kinesiology, tarot, massage and aromatherapy. I found my way back to this way of thinking through Yoga and finding a connection to self that I had forgotten. I hadn’t listened to myself in a long time. I have been practicing for about 8 years and teaching for the last 3. It’s been an amazing experience.

E: I understand you’re also teaching mindfulness to children in schools … how are they finding the experience, considering their world is full of hyper-stimulation with technology?

L: I think this kind of work should be a standard in our education system. Slowing them down and teaching them how their brain works. It’s wonderful to see the effect a few minutes of deep breathing can affect the nature of children. And when young they are so open to learning and have no stigma attached to mindfulness. I’ve been teaching for 10 years now, it’s the most satisfying work I have ever done.

E: You juggle so many hats – drama teacher, yoga instructor, actor – is it important for you to have this variety in your life?

L: I think it’s important as an artist to have a collection of professions that you love doing to keep yourself challenged and fed! I am very lucky to get to do the work I do. It’s not always easy in the quiet times but I have learned not to worry too much, the universe tends to supply in one way or another!

E: You were recently announced as the Tasmanian Ambassador for Bravehearts. You mentioned in a recent interview that kids are growing up in a world filled with mixed messages. What advice would you give a child growing up in today’s world?

L: Be careful what you expose yourself to. Most advertising is designed to make you feel less than you should. Individualism is beautiful.
Take the pressure off yourself, you don’t have to have it all figured out yet.

E: I’m very excited to hear about the comedy you are currently shooting a pilot for – Early Retirement – here in Tassie. What can you tell me about the show? Is acting in a comedy a new experience for you?

L: It’s one of the best scripts I have read in a long time, hilarious concept. The ultimate clash of modern culture with old-fashioned values. Marni [Little] and Kate [Fox] have done a terrific job writing it. I really hope it gets picked up! I’m really excited for what is being created here in Tasmania. We have such a wealth of talent.

E: On Instagram you often talk about issues such as letting go of social expectations and walking away from what is ‘normal’. Can you explain this time in your life and what made you decide to let go of society’s expectations and embrace your true self?

L: I think it’s an ongoing exploration of what I truly value and what makes day to day living more manageable and enjoyable. I decided to let go because it wasn’t making me feel like a good person. I enjoy simple things and I was being made to feel like I should be striving for more. It’s not a journey anyone ever completes, we are constantly growing and evolving. So the idea of a true self for me is not attainable. But I can continue to learn and explore who I am and how I interact with the world and those around me. Sometimes it’s really not pretty but it’s good to remember that, ‘This too will pass’.

Written by Emma Graham

Our extended interview with Tina Arena from LOIS. issue 3.

By Emma Graham

Reflecting on the last 40 years in music, Australian songstress Tina Arena is transported back to the release of her 1994 album, Don’t Ask.
“I remember that time as being quite surreal – the work load was crazy and exciting and time moved very quickly,” she recalled.
This was the career changing album that transformed the singer from 10-year-old ‘Tiny Tina’ on Young Talent Time, to an icon in the Australian and European music scenes.

Tina caught up with LOIS. to talk about those ground-breaking years ahead of her upcoming Australian tour, From Innocence to Understanding.

Emma: You recently released Tina Arena (Greatest Hits & Interpretations) which features a collection of your most popular tracks and interpretations of your hits by fellow Australian artists. Dannii Minogue’s remake of Sorrento Moon is vastly different to the original song. How did it feel stepping back into the studio and reworking this track?

Tina: It felt great. I love the new version of the song – it’s been a very important song in my career and it’s 22 years old. It was time to revisit it. We wanted to keep its heart but make it sound like a 2017 version. Dannii’s signature sound is dance, and this is her contribution to the new album (of Interpretations), so it needed to be in the dance/electro lane. We worked with a great Sydney production duo called Moza Beats and I’m really happy with the results. It was very a special process, and long-overdue working with Dannii – it only took us 35 years after leaving Young Talent Time! We remained friends and I think she’s an incredible lady – smart and strong. It’s good that she’s doing music again.

E: What was the process behind reworking these songs – did you work closely with the artists or allow them creative freedom?

T: My only involvement was choosing artists that I thought were interesting and then handing over the keys to them.
I had nothing to do with the creative process – they’re interpretations, so it’s important to give the artists freedom to interpret the songs as they envisage them. I’m not about to tell Jimmy Barnes or Kate Miller-Heidke how to re-work these songs. They’ve done stellar versions. The only songs I was creatively involved in were Chains (with Jessica Mauboy and The Veronicas) as we performed it at the ARIAs together and that was such an incredible moment we shared, and Sorrento Moon with Dannii – as I do vocals on that song with her. I love all the various genres that are on the album. Clare Bowen (who plays Scarlette in the hit US TV series Nashville) has done a stunning country rendition of Still Running, and Morgan Evans version of If I Didn’t Love You is also very country and I love it.

Katie Noonan and Alex Hope are more ethereal and so gorgeous. David Thibault did I Need Your Body as a swing version which I love (English is his second language and he wasn’t even born when that song came out) – so it was great to get a very different perspective on that song.

E: Looking back over the last 40 years, how do you feel you’ve progressed as both an artist and a woman working in the music industry?

T: That’s a big question. There’s been enormous growth and that is something that still continues today. I’m 50 this year and I feel really good with where I am and the journey I’ve had. There is still a lot to do and I’m sure a lot to learn. I guess with age, like most people, I’ve become stronger and more self-assured – less worried about trying to please everybody – as that’s an impossibility.

E: During your ARIA Hall of Fame speech in 2015 you spoke about the issues relating to ageism towards women in the Australian music industry. You’ve mentioned that you received such positive feedback from the speech, but in reality, the issues still remain.
What needs to be done to change this?

T: Honestly I don’t know. I think first and foremost … As a country we need to support our own artists on radio more, and I think perhaps the radio content quotas for Australian music should be higher. I wish we had a few more radio formats – some in the middle that play all types of music – old and new, emerging artists and established artists all on the one station. The formats are so segmented: stations that just play “classic hits” and stations that just play “top 40 pop singles” – I don’t think the listener thinks about the age or sex of the artist – they just want good music. More variety would be good.

E: When you relocated to France in the late 90’s, were there any challenges involved in transitioning from the Australian ‘music market’ to the European market?

T: Huge changes, huge cultural differences, but it was amazing and it was something I had to do. Singing in other languages has been one of the best and most rewarding things I’ve ever done.

E: You seem to have quite a healthy balance within the world of social media. A lot of new artists are being discovered via their YouTube channels and various social media platforms. How do you think this has affected the upcoming pool of talent?

T: I think like all technology it’s been good and bad. It certainly can help talent get their music out to the world more easily.

It’s good as music is more readily available, you can buy it from home in 2 seconds… which is fantastic. You can listen to music from all over the world – it’s all at your fingertips.

More music and accessible music are both good things.

With that immediacy though it means less people are making trips to the record store (I mean HMV, Brashes, Virgin – almost all the music stores are gone!). So it’s convenient and easy and accessible – but I think that also makes it a bit more disposable.

People don’t have the experience of holding an album and listening to a full album as a body of work – people just pick and choose the singles they like.

Technology has also made piracy and stealing music very easy which is the downside – as not only the artists suffer, the record labels, the songwriters, the song producers, artist managers, the graphic designers, the photographers, the retailers…. It has an exponential effect.

So lots of good and a downside too.

E: Will you be playing any of your French hits during your upcoming tour?

T: There are a lot of English songs to cover.
Some fans are already frustrated that all my singles are not included on the new Greatest Hits – and the reason for that is we could only fit 76 minutes worth of music on the disc and over 40 years there has been more than 76 minutes worth of music – believe me. I’d say the tour will be all English material so we can include as many audience favourites as possible – we’ll rework a lot of them, I’m very excited about this tour, 40 years is something to celebrate!

Tina Arena will perform at Hobart’s Theatre Royal on September 27 as part of her From Innocence to Understanding tour.

Sometimes, living in Tasmania feels like getting cropped out of a photo. We’re that friend who is perpetually never ready for the flash. We’re the state Sunrise forgets when discussing economics and the rise and fall of house prices. Just a heads up, Kochie – you can buy a house for under $150k in Australia. Sure, it’s shit, but it’s a house and it’s in Australia. Sort of.

Despite being the last kid picked for the sports team, tourists are en route to Tassie in droves right now, as the whole of Hobart is transforming into a literal red light district for the MoFo of all festivals that kicks off this week.

We see your Earthcore, Victoria and raise / out-weird you our Dark Mofo. Basically, it’s like Baz Luhrmann’s Romeo + Juliet throws up all over Princes Wharf 1, add in a bunch of epic eats and booze, light shit on fire and dance around it while exploring links between ancient and contemporary mythology and Solstice rituals from many winters ago.

I’m not doing the best job of selling it here, so Hobart’s resident Dark MoFo expert Simon is going to take the reins after everything has commenced and do a full run-down on the weird, wonderful and wacky goings on throughout the festival with much wit, hilarity and heinous hangovers, as he has bought tickets to just about every event, and I only have tickets to the free things. He even has the balls to do the Nude Solstice Swim at the end of the festival. And I know he does, we all saw them in high definition on WIN News when he stripped off for it last year.

I asked him to give me a little spiel on how his experience and love of the festival makes him the perfect unofficial spokesperson, and he said, “Can I do it when I get home? I’m eating noodles at the laundromat.”

Not wanting to come between a man and his noods, I said sure, but, now that he’s home, I’ll let his self-marketing skills shine:

“Despite my best attempts to get on the MONA payroll, once again I take up my role as official unofficial Dark Mofo ambassador. 2017 promises to be as big, as dark, as fun, and as naked as every other year; this year however, I’ll be sharing the craziness with you, dear reader, on Kate’s blog. So join me as I share the experience of the best time of the year to be in Hobart – and help me justify what will be an accumulated credit card debt that’s sure to rival the GDP of a small nation. Perhaps, if I do well, David Walsh will bail me out…”

I have friends visiting over the coming weeks because as our Lord Mayor old mate Hickey says, “Dark MoFo has reached “unmissable” status for visitors and locals alike, with people returning year after year for a mid-winter experience that is unlike anything else in the country.” Two of the visiting friends have experienced Dark MoFo before – last time, we planted ourselves outside the stall serving Hot Toddys and drank until thermal clothing was no longer necessary. Speaking of, anyone know how we got home that night?

So, dress warm, strap in and strip off, and hopefully we will catch many of you along the short walk from Dark Park to the Winter Feast, stopping to sip a hot gin in our Tassie Tuxedos. Over to you, Simon. Send noods.

Written by Kate Fox

About Kate: After over a decade trudging the corridors of magazine publishing companies in very high heels as a writer, sub-editor and editor, Kate relocated from Sydney to Hobart with dreams of reading books, drinking wine and chilling out in ballet flats. When that didn’t quite work out financially, she started working as a producer of local television commercials, and with the short eight-minute commute, realised she had enough time in her day to write a Tasmanian-inspired blog about how much her little island home saved her from the rat race.

Click the link below to read more from Kate.

http://k8safox.blogspot.com.au/

Three years ago, I was a tightly wound, anxious ball of stress, living week to week in a shoe box apartment on the Northern Beaches of Sydney. I worked to live, but lived to work. I loved my job, a job outsiders would tell me they would kill for. But on the inside, it was killing me. My life was full of drama. So, instead of continuing to bitch, moan, drink, fall off my high heels and cry, I quit, and made the move to tiny ol’ Tassie – my place of birth, my place of worth and my place of family and old friends.

It was a huge adjustment. I started working part-time, three days per week. I started at 9am and finished at 4pm. What even is that? I hardly call that working … It was a shock to my system. As was wearing nine layers of clothing, two pairs of gloves and thick bed socks with boots, because I am so smart, I timed my move with the mother of all fucking Hobart winters.

Having ample time on my hands, I did not use it wisely. I cooked and obsessively cleaned, and drank a hell of a lot more wine than I even did back in Sydney when I needed to be filled to the eyeballs with piss rather than stress. I had very little responsibility and nobody to answer to, which was extremely confronting and it made me anxious AF.

But, with the help of friends, family and being heavily medicated, I got used to it and slipped quietly back into a life with less drama than an episode of Playschool. Side note: I lived with my cousin, her husband and their now four-year-old when I first moved back to Hobart, so don’t even start with me re: my crush on present day Alex Papps.

I realised pretty early into my move back that I had taken Tassie for granted. Round one of growing up in Hobart, I was born here, and then at age three, moved interstate. Round two, we moved back when I was seven, until age 13. And round three, I was 29. I’m now 32, and I don’t plan on moving anytime soon. But when I was younger, I HATED being from Tasmania. We were the nothing state. The little engine that couldn’t even stay attached to its homeland 25 million years ago (Citation needed, I am not a land scientist or whatever). Hearing, “Oh, do you have a scar on your neck from where you had your second head removed?” or “Did you marry your cousin?” and the always popular, “Are your mum and dad cousins?” Haha, very funny, DICKHEAD. Anyway …

When I was in Grade 8, our class was given the task to write a poem about Tasmania. I found it the other day, in a box among letters from friends about who had a crush on which teacher that week. Every single other classmate wrote about how wonderful it was – the flora, the fauna, the waterfalls, the convict stories, the strict gun control. I, on the other hand, wrote this:

In this hole of Tassie, there’s nothing much to see.
A few trolleys, a burnt-out Holden ute, rarely dolphins in the sea.
I sometimes sit and wonder why the hell I’m here, sitting at home watching David Foster advertising beer.
I hate to be so negative, but what I say is true.
The educations up the creek – I’m surprised the cows say moo.
The population is decreasing at an alarming rate,
It’s every man for himself in this disadvantaged state.
We’re proud to say our bargain store is known as Chickenfeed.
Glad we’re paying less for crap, but where’s our football team?
Tasmania: The Holiday Isle it says on our number plates,
But what they really meant to write was, Tasmania: Don’t Come To This State.

Needless to say, I was sent home from school with a note.

I would just like to say a huge SORRY to Tasmania. Grade 8 Kate was a Grade A jerk to you, and I apologise. Tassie is the greatest. The people, the food, the wine – OMG, the wine. I am so privileged to live here, and it becomes even more evident when my friends from “the mainland” visit, and we drink all the wine. I even preempt and own the second head joke when meeting new people who aren’t from here. Yep, there’s the scar, and you can touch it if you like.

When you live somewhere amazing, you take it for granted, so I’m setting myself – and my friends – a challenge, to try one new Tassie thing each week, and share our experiences with those of you who haven’t experienced Tassie yet. And those who have and want to experience it more. It’s not all seafood, wine and cheese – there are PLENTY of bogans named La-a [pron: Ladasha], Nivek (Kevin backwards), and Lakota-Che, but the pros far outweigh the cons. Well, at least I think they do, there are also plenty of ex-cons, I mean, Chopper lived here for a while.

PS: Pack warm for this journey. I’m sitting here with a heater on under the desk, one above my desk, thermal pants and a large oversized jumper, and I’m still cold. But don’t let that put you off! The wine will warm you up.

Written by Kate Fox

About Kate: After over a decade trudging the corridors of magazine publishing companies in very high heels as a writer, sub-editor and editor, Kate relocated from Sydney to Hobart with dreams of reading books, drinking wine and chilling out in ballet flats. When that didn’t quite work out financially, she started working as a producer of local television commercials, and with the short eight-minute commute, realised she had enough time in her day to write a Tasmanian-inspired blog about how much her little island home saved her from the rat race.

Click the link below to read more from Kate.

http://k8safox.blogspot.com.au/

 

What you will not see mentioned in these grandiose claims are words that are very unsexy. These words are hard work, patience, failure (this is completely unavoidable), loss, resilience and humility. All bundled up like that our lives may as well be void of anything that resembles fun. But don’t lose heart. Running a biz, blog, brand, NFP, enterprise or even ministry comes with both the good and bad – just like anything in life. The difference is how we handle the bad times and whether we allow it to make us sink or sail.

If you have any questions or comments please feel free to write below or contact me and I’d be happy to help in exchange of $100,000 per hour. Just kidding. $200,000 p/h.

Amanda Palm | Founder + Writer

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