Auzion, a Sunshine Coast-based solar company, has taken out the Living Smart Solution Award for their AuziMax Energy Maximiser at the 2011 Living Smart Awards on Friday, 17 June.

The AuziMax Energy Maximiser, Auzion’s custom-designed energy management system was awarded the Living Smart Solution Award for its ability to encourage others in the community or businesses to uptake sustainable behaviour.

CEO Mark Leckenby said it was great for the Auzion team to be acknowledged for their commitment to the community and sustainability.

“We feel very honoured to have received the award, especially as the AuziMax just received Australian Standards approval and is about to enter commercial production,” Mark said.

The AuziMax is a revolutionary management system that enables customers to monitor energy in the home or business via an Internet portal and maximise their savings by potentially reducing their energy consumption by as much as 20%. The device allows the user to track their energy consumption, view a detailed breakdown of where and when energy is being used and set energy budgets and targets.

“We have big plans to continue creating new ways for our customers to become more sustainable and environmentally friendly,” Mark said.

Auzion’s philosophy and innovation extends from research and the development of clean, green renewable energy. Operated by a team of highly trained professionals, Auzion provides cost-effective, total energy management solutions for residential, educational, industrial and commercial sectors and holds accreditations with the Clean Energy Council and the Association of Building and Sustainability Assessors.

Also referred to as ‘The Glossies’, the awards are now in its 7^th consecutive year and acknowledge and celebrate the sustainability achievements and contributions of Sunshine Coast residents, businesses and community groups. This year, eight awards were presented with each winner receiving the coveted ‘Glossies feather’ trophy.

For more information about Auzion or to book a site visit, please call 1300 35 45 75 or visit www.auzion.com

The Sunshine Coast Literary Association is hosting a workshop – Writing and Illustrating Picture Books for Children – on Saturday, 16 July for aspiring children’s book authors.

President of the SCLA, Bryan Ward said the workshop would provide participants with the opportunity to learn the steps involved in creating a children’s book from one of the Sunshine Coast’s most prominent children’s book authors, Peter Carnavas.

“The workshop is for all those eager to delve into the exciting world of writing and illustrating children’s books, but are unsure of where to start,” Bryan said.

“We feel very privileged that Peter has agreed to join us once again,” Bryan said.

“Peter is a talented author and teacher and we always receive positive feedback from all the SCLA workshops he presents,” Bryan said.

The workshop will focus on the ‘three acts’ of writing the perfect children’s picture book as well as creating well-rounded characters, depicting the meaning through illustrations and many more important components involved in creating a dynamic and engaging book for children.

Local children’s author and illustrator, Peter Carnavas, has written and illustrated five children’s books, with his last book launching only weeks ago. His first book, Jessica’s Box, was shortlisted for three awards and has won the hearts of children the world-over.  Among his other talents, Peter is also a gifted presenter, hosting a number of children’s writing and illustration workshops along the east coast of Australia.

“Writing children’s books is not just a job but a passion of mine,” Peter said.

“Once you know the basics and what is involved in building a strong story foundation, it becomes much easier to get your thoughts down on paper and, before you know it, everything just comes together,” Peter said.

The Sunshine Coast Literary Association was formed in 2005 to encourage the Sunshine Coast’s aspiring writers and enthusiasts to explore their interest and develop skills. The association offers regular literary workshops, seminars and events, award programs and monthly Front Write Up literary performance evenings that provide an opportunity to showcase the talents of members.

The workshop will be held at the Buderim Mountain State School Conference Room on Saturday, 16 July from 9:30 to 12:30pm. Tickets are $40 for SCLA members or $50 for non-members and positions are limited, so make sure you book your seat today.

For more information about the workshop, biography of Peter Carnavas or to book your seat for the workshop, please visit the ‘What’s on’ section of the SCLA website, www.scliterary.org or call 07 5450 2691.

The Buderim Foundation will host a breakfast fundraiser not to be missed on Monday, 11 July with special guest, 2011 Australian of the Year, Simon McKeon.

The breakfast will be held at the Buderim Tavern and aims to raise money for the Buderim Foundation trust fund, so that it can continue to support worthy local organisations and projects.

Chairman of The Buderim Foundation, Paul Clark said everyone at the Foundation was really looking forward to the event.

“We feel very honoured to have Simon joining us and to my knowledge this is the first time the current Australian of The Year has visited Buderim,” Paul said.

Simon McKeon is not only the 2011 Australian of the Year but also a prominent investment banker and well-known supporter of multiple Australian and international charities.  In 1994, Simon decided he wanted to spend more time with the community sector and switched to a part-time role as Executive Chairman of Macquarie Group’s Melbourne office.

This enabled him to join the board of World Vision Australia in which he continues to be involved with the Global Poverty Project and Red Dust Role Models, which works with remote Indigenous communities.

Currently, Simon is the Chairman of the CSIRO and Business for Millennium Development, which focuses on encouraging businesses to pursue opportunities in the developing world. Simon is also a social entrepreneur and has held the World Speed Sailing Record for the past two decades.

“Simon is an inspiration to Australians, demonstrating how business and philanthropy should and can work well together,” Paul said.

The Buderim Foundation aims to enrich and enhance the quality of life for Buderim and its residents, past and future. Every year the Foundation holds a grants program that funds worthwhile community initiatives and Buderim not-for-profit organisations. Applications for the 2011 Grant Program have just opened.

The breakfast will begin at 6:45am for a 7am start. Tickets for the event are $40 per person and include breakfast with tea/coffee. There will also be a raffle held on the day, giving guests the chance to win one of two Buderim Tavern vouchers worth $100 each.

Table bookings of 10 are encouraged. Book early to secure a place by contacting Sally Caddy on 5456 1757, Simon Whittle on 54771452 or call into the Old Buderim Post Office.

For more information about the Buderim Foundation or the grant program, please visit www.buderimfoundation.org.au.

The Sunshine Coast’s Innovation Centre’s strong affiliation with the University of the Sunshine Coast is proving to be an asset for its client companies, fuelling business growth, research and product development.

CEO of the Innovation Centre, Colin Graham said having a strong link to the University allowed its client companies to take advantage of the benefits that the location brought, including access to student talent and training, state-of-the-art facilities and networking opportunities with industry experts and academics.

“Our connection with the University of the Sunshine Coast enables the companies to benefit from the University’s dynamic and creative campus environment. The campus location also makes it easy for businesses to tap into talent via student internships and graduate recruitment,” Mr Graham said.

“One of our client companies, Auzion, is making full use of the unique opportunities offered here at the centre, working with USC on a number of projects,” Mr Graham said.

CEO of Auzion, Mark Leckenby said the very model by which Auzion operates was developed through association and with the support and guidance of  USC.

“The collaborative environment and the collocation of other complementary businesses within the centre means we have also developed some strong business alliances,” he said.

In 2010, Auzion teamed up with the USC Sustainability Research Centre to conduct a scoping and pilot study of their product innovation, the AuziMax Energy Maximiser and later in 2010, a research project that allowed them to identify the motivators and preferences of people purchasing and taking up sustainability technology.

The AuziMax is Auzion’s own revolutionary management system that enables customers to monitor energy in the home or business via an Internet portal and maximise their savings by potentially reducing their energy consumption by as much as 20%. Receiving Australian Standards approval just a few months ago, the AuziMax is in its final stages before it goes into commercial production.

“The University’s research study played an integral role in the development of the AuziMax,” Mark said.

Colin Graham said the University encourages sustainability and regional engagement, and welcomes the opportunity to work with companies, like Auzion.

The Innovation Centre, a University of the Sunshine Coast company, is dedicated to the economic development of the Sunshine Coast region and specialises in assisting businesses in the information and communication technology (ICT), clean technologies, health technologies and creative industry sectors.

Currently home to more than 30 entrepreneurial businesses from a range of knowledge based industries, the Innovation Centre has supported the start-up and growth of over 78 businesses and created around 350 jobs.

“Being a resident of the Innovation Centre, provides us with the rare opportunity to build strong links with academic and business professionals and easy access to the University’s state-of-the-art research and development test lab,” Mark said.

“Our alliance with the University has also allowed us to network our research and development team with industry specialists in the field of Sustainable Energy Solutions,” Mark said.

Bloomhill Cancer Help celebrated another successful fundraising event on Wednesday, 1 June with the ‘Gastronomic Wander’ raising much-needed funds for the charity.

The event saw 70 guests dine at three of Mooloolaba’s finest restaurants, 4^th Floor, Via Italia and Hot Pipis in progressive-dinner style and raised more than $2,400 for the local charity.

Bloomhill President, Jenny Carroll said it was a fantastic night with great people and fabulous food.

“I am very pleased with the results and all the money raised will go towards the refurbishment of our new extension at the Bloomhill Centre in Buderim,” Jenny said.

Jenny Carroll also made a very special announcement at the event, sharing that Bloomhill had been selected to receive a $500,000 sponsorship grant from the government.

“We are so excited about the grant because it means that our extension will hopefully be started by the end of this year,” Jenny said.

Bloomhill Cancer Centre is a Buderim based charity that provides support and assistance to those living with cancer. Operated by a team of dedicated staff and volunteers, Bloomhill offers counselling, transport to appointments, respite care and a range of other complementary therapies.

The event was organised by three Public Relations students from the University of the Sunshine Coast alongside mentor Michelle Smytheman, University Lecturer and Co-owner of public relations firm, Reflected Image PRoductions.

Michelle said the evening was not only a huge success for the charity but also provided invaluable experience for the students.

“It’s was a great way to put their degrees into motion through real life experiences,” Michelle said.

Students Johanna Staffas, Elodie Obkircher-Vela and Liberty Moore planned the event as a part of their ‘Event Planning’ course, which provides public relations students the opportunity to draw on their studies and apply their skills in a real-life environment.

“The event was a great way to test our skills and work in a team environment,” Elodie said.

“It was a very rewarding experience and a lot of fun,” Elodie said.

Photo: Student organisers and University of the Sunshine Coast PR students, Elodie Obkircher-Vela (left), Johanna Staffas (middle) and Liberty Moore (right)

The Buderim Foundation is once again on the hunt for quality local organisations and projects to support through their 2011 Grant Program, launching on Friday, 3 June.

Chair of The Buderim Foundation, Paul Clark will be launching the 2011 program at the Buderim Foundation Happy Hour this Friday starting from 5.30pm, offering the opportunity for worthwhile community initiatives that benefit Buderim and its residents to receive funding.

Applications for this year’s grant program open on June 13 and close on 29 July. Those eligible include any local non-profit organisation that is able to provide services to the Buderim community.

Last year the foundation made available a record total of $17,500 for its grants Program. Recipients of the 2010 Grants were Fusion Community Care, 4 Paws Animal Rescue, Buderim Craft Cottage Assoc., Martins Creek Headwaters Action Group, Sunshine Coast Bushwalkers and Sunshine FM Radio Assoc. Inc.

“Every year as our grant total amount reaches record highs, more people become aware of the Foundation and our role within the community,” Paul said.

The Buderim Foundation aims to enrich and enhance the quality of life for Buderim and its residents, past and future. Since starting its Grants Program in 2008, sixteen local organisations have received grants totaling more than $44,000.

“As a not-for-profit public company, the foundation relies on the generous contributions of local businesses and citizens in order to continue providing grants to quality local community projects and groups,” Paul said.

Application forms and grant guidelines can be found on the Buderim Foundation website. Successful applicants will be announced at the annual 2011 Good News Night on 16 September, with more details available closer to the date.

As a new initiative to help potential grant applicants with the grants process, a series of clinics will be held for applicants to discuss their applications with a member of the Grants Committee. There will be three different clinic sessions held at the Old Post Office on Thursday, 30 June from 2pm to 4pm; Tuesday, 5 July from 10am to 12noon and Wednesday, 13 July from 5:30pm to 7:30pm. To make a clinic appointment, please contact Sally Caddy on (07) 5456 1757.

For more information on the Buderim Foundation or the 2011 grants program, please visit, www.buderimfoundation.org.au.

Online marketing firm, Traffika has formed a digital partnership with the Asia-Pacific Centre for Franchising Excellence, to help build and support Australia’s growing franchise sector through social media.

The partnership follows Traffika’s own franchising success, launching Traffika Asia in India earlier this year.

Traffika’s Managing Director, Matt Forman said online marketing and in particular, social media, was transforming the franchise sector, providing a greater reach to consumers and prospective franchisees for a fraction of the traditional costs.

“In April 2011 alone, there were 453,000 searches on Google Australia for franchisee opportunities,” Matt said.

“Social media has become a popular medium for franchise development and consumer marketing, allowing businesses to make instant meaningful connections, extend their reach and tap into new markets,” Matt said.

“Networks like Facebook and LinkedIn offer various franchisee recruitment opportunities and can give businesses a serious ‘competitive edge’,” Matt said.

The Asia-Pacific Centre for Franchising Excellence, an extension of the Griffith Business Faculty, works together with industry, government and professional associations to offer research, education and training to further the franchise sector, within Australia and Internationally, and inform policy.

As part of the partnership, Traffika’s Director Matt Forman will be sharing his franchise expertise at the 2011 Franchise Forum – ‘Rebuilding franchise Profits Program’ held on Friday, 27 May at the Griffith University’s South Bank Campus. Beginning at 2:15pm to 3pm, the session will focus on using social media to help find potential franchisees.

“Social media has become a forum for consumers to discuss brands and find local deals,” Matt said.

“For businesses, this means that there is a real time opportunity to engage directly with their customers, fix potential issues and offer time and location sensitive deals,” Matt said.

Traffika specialises in helping franchise grow through social media, search engines, online advertising and web analytics. Since it’s launch in Queensland, Traffika Australia has grown to be considered one of the top digital marketing agencies in the nation, attracting large clients including Bond University, Lorna Jane, Alibaba.com and Sunsuper.

For more information about Traffika or how to use social media to help find potential franchisees, check out Matt’s blog at http://www.franchise.edu.au/matt-forman-s-blog.html.

The Sunshine Coast Literary Association is hosting its annual awards presentation night on Thursday 23 June, to announce the lucky winners of the 2011 WARM Writers Competition.

The dinner will be held at The Fourth Floor Restaurant on the Mooloolaba Esplanade at 6:00pm for a 6:30pm start.

President of the SCLA, Bryan Ward said the competition has received a record number of entries this year, with more than 170 submissions across the six categories.

“The calibre of entries this year is astounding, our panel of judges is certainly going to have a tough time deciding the winners,” Bryan said.

The Sunshine Coast Literary Association is a not-for-profit association dedicated to nurturing, showcasing and celebrating literary talent throughout the Sunshine Coast region.

“Now in its third consecutive year, the WARM Writing Competition is becoming a key part of the Association’s calendar,” Bryan said.

“The competition is designed to provide an outlet for writers to showcase their work and have it reviewed by professional and accomplished writers,” he said.

“The Awards Dinner is always a fantastic night and a great opportunity to celebrate the talents of literary artists on the Sunshine Coast,” Bryan said.

Winners of each category will take home $200, with $50 for second place and certificates for highly commended.

Tickets to the event are $50 per person and include a three-course meal.

Numbers are limited and the event sold out last year, so book early to secure your place. For more information or to make a booking, please visit www.scliterary.org or call 07 5450 2691.