Buderim writer Bryan Ward has been elected President of the Sunshine Coast Literary Association (SCLA) at the recent Special General Meeting.

He is joined by Nambour author Andrew Thelander as Vice President, Graham Paterson from Bli Bli as Treasurer and Michelle Smytheman from Buderim as Promotions Officer, who is continuing in her role.

“The SCLA is an invaluable resource to the Sunshine Coast and we are pleased to continue our work in assisting local writers to develop their talent,” said President Bryan Ward.

“The SCLA offers people the opportunity to meet like-minded individuals and assist one another in developing their skills and abilities.”

Bryan encourages current members to renew their memberships, while new members are invited to join.

“If anyone would like to come on board and be part of the SCLA management committee, there are still a couple of committee member vacancies –  secretary or membership officer. However the committee has enough resources to continue its work in supporting the Sunshine Coast’s aspiring writers and enthusiasts.”

The SCLA has a number of exciting plans and upcoming events on the calendar for the coming year.

“SCLA promises to bring a number of exciting events and writing workshops to develop the skills of Sunshine Coast writers, with members receiving discounts to all event and programs,” said Bryan.

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, an annual Writers Competition and monthly Front Write Up literary performance evenings that provide an opportunity to showcase the talents of members. The SCLA also promotes state and national writing competitions that offer successful applicants great prizes and recognition.

For more information on beginning your journey as a writer and becoming a member of the SCLA please email info@scliterary.org or visit www.scliterary.org .

Auzion, the solar energy experts, is celebrating its achievements and successful journey so far with the opening of their new offices in the Innovation Centre’s Accelerator on Wednesday, 22^nd of September.

Launching just two years ago, entrepreneur and founder of Auzion, Mark Leckenby, said the lunch was a chance to reflect on the journey so far and to thank the businesses that have helped us become a leader is sustainable solar energy solutions.

Auzion is an environmentally friendly solar company that advocates sustainable living. 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.

With more than 25 years experience as an electrical engineer, Mark Leckenby started Auzion in 2008. In just two years the business has grown to now employs more than 25 people and holds accreditations with the Clean Energy Council and the Association of Building and Sustainability Assessors.

“We are truly grateful for all the assistance we have received over the years, especially from the Innovation Centre and Westpac.”

“It is astounding to see just how far we have come and we have big plans to continue our work making solar power work for our customers so they can reduce their impact on the environment and save money, without impacting their lifestyle,” Mark said.

“Our success so far can be attributed to our consistent focus on improvement and research. In this industry especially, it is vital to stay up to date with the latest technology and innovations,” Mark said.

“Our work to develop the Auzimax – an energy maximiser that allows customers to monitor their solar systems via the internet and maximise their savings – has really paid off, with the pilot project reaching its final stages ready for commericalisation in early 2011.

The celebration will be held at the Innovation Centre Foyer on Wednesday, 22^nd of September. Beginning at 12pm, the event will include a light lunch, refreshments and a short presentation where Auzion will renew its commitment to supporting to Compassion Australia, an international charity that helps children living in poverty.

Already Auzion has donated more than $40,000 to the charity and has committed to sponsoring an upcoming trip to Africa.

“It has always been part of my philosophy both in business and personally that we need to give back to the world in which we live.  At Auzion we are doing this through our commitment to help people reduce their impact on the environment, while also doing something to help those in the world less fortunate than us, through our commitment to Compassion Australia.

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

Bloomhill Cancer Help is launching its major fundraising campaign, Target 300 in Noosa on the 22^nd of September at Noosa Surf Club. Target 300 aims to raise $300,000 to fund a desperately needed extension to the Bloomhill Centre in Buderim to enable it to help more people with cancer and their families on the Sunshine Coast.

Target 300 was originally launched on Friday, 13^th August in Buderim and on that day alone, $30,000 was pledged to the cause, a tremendous start for the charity. To reach the $300,000 target, Bloomhill is requesting the support of 300 Sunshine Coast businesses, clubs, organisations or individuals to donate $1,000 each.  Smaller donations will of course also be accepted – every little bit will help this local charity support the local community.

Bloomhill Vice President and Target 300 Coordinator, Brett Graham, said that almost one out of ten of Bloomhill’s clients come from the region from Coolum to Noosa.

“Bloomhill has needed an extension for more than a year so it can offer more services and cater for its constantly growing number of members,” Brett said.

Bloomhill offers support to those affected by cancer and their families throughout the Sunshine Coast region. Operated by a dedicated team of staff and hundreds of volunteers, Bloomhill provides a range of services and complimentary therapies including respite care, transport to appointments and counselling.

“Bloomhill doesn’t receive any ongoing government funding so we rely on the money received through our several Op Shops, donations, grants and fundraising activities, like Target 300, in order to continue providing our valuable services” Brett said.

“At the moment, the Bloomhill Centre is at maximum capacity with our treatment rooms booked for more than a month in advance.

“We now have over 800 members, a great deal more than last year, which is why we desperately need this extension,” Brett said.

“So far the funds raised is slowly creeping up with more than $40,000 in the kitty and I am sure that the businesses and community of Noosa will get behind the campaign and help us to raise the remaining $260,000 that we need to reach our $300,000 target,” Brett said.

If you would like to support this worthy cause and make a donation, simply visit www.target300.com.au and click on the link provided. All donations over $2 are tax deductible and are greatly appreciated.

To keep track of the Target 300 tally, visit www.target300.com.au or keep an eye on the local media for progress updates. Large Target 300 signs will also display the rising tally and can be found in all Bloomhill Op Shops and sponsoring businesses throughout the Sunshine Coast.

As part of the University of the Sunshine Coast, the Innovation Centre is working to turn its ‘mini-­city’ of 30 plus dynamic businesses into a huge student-­learning laboratory.

Sippy Downs has been tagged as ‘Australia’s no-­worries-­answer to Silicon Valley’ by CNBC, a leading European business magazine, and is increasingly becoming recognised as Australia’s first dedicated university town. The University of the Sunshine Coast’s Innovation
Centre is home to more than 30 entrepreneurial businesses from a range of knowledge based industries that not only boosts the local economy, but provides a ‘living learning laboratory’ of real experience across digital, cleantech, creative and health related industries for USC students.

Innovation Centre CEO, Colin Graham said the learning opportunities allowed students to tap into the talents of some of
professionals with worldwide experience running businesses from the Innovation Centre.

Mr Graham said working with the University, the Innovation Centre is developing a strategic plan to enhance the academic environment by providing students with work integrated learning and networking opportunities as well as specialised training for aspiring entrepreneurs.

He said inspiration for this leading?edge approach was sparked by  visit he made to the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute’s Incubation Program in the New York State, USA, where he immediately identified some of the practices to work with the on?campus businesses to enrich the learning environment could also work well in Australia.

The Australasian Survey of Student Engagement in 2009 highlighted that students’ experience in work-­integrated forms of learning is seen as an important part of university studies and ensuring students are ready for the workforce. This has long been the case in areas such as medicine and veterinary science and is now seen as important for virtually all disciplines. In this 2009 survey, 69% of teaching staff said ‘Work Integrated Learning’ was very important in developing communication skills relevant to the discipline, and 56% said is was very important for improving knowledge and skills for employability.

“The Innovation Centre’s Learning Lab concept gives students the opportunities to access leading entrepreneurs in real life businesses including the exposure to opportunities and challenges that
can’t be easily mimicked in the classroom,” Colin said.

According to Australia’s 2008 Higher Education report, both private and public providers have indicated the lack of students who are graduating ‘job-?ready’ leading to arguments for an integrated higher education learning program that provides students with real?life experience and qualifications.

“Most industries are now demanding job applicants to possess both educational qualifications and ‘on the job’ experience. Having a degree is not longer enough, employers want the whole package,” Colin said.

The Learning Lab concept enables students to engage with dynamic businesses through work experience, student projects, internships, business events and guest lectures, providing students with the opportunity to access and network with the Innovation Centre’s 30+ resident companies and its impressive network of over 8,000 professional contacts.

We also offer an entrepreneurship program, which assists students to develop their own business ideas. The entrepreneurship program was developed with assistance from the Centre for Entrepreneurial Learning at the University of Cambridge in 2007, we also ran a student survey in 2009 that showed that 20 per cent of USC students were aspiring entrepreneurs wanting to open their own businesses.

“Recognising a need to cater for this niche group, USC’s Faculty of Business worked with the Innovation Centre, to develop a new course focusing on entrepreneurship that gives students the chance to interact with industry experts, benefit from one to one mentoring and even includes a mock-up version of televisions ‘Dragon’s Den’ where students present their innovative ideas before a panel of experienced entrepreneurs and expert advisors.

As part of this initiative, the Innovation Centre has just opened a ‘Start-Up Studio’ for entrepreneurial USC students to use on a hot desk basis, to develop their business ideas and tap into business networks and events.

“The Learning Lab idea is about promoting mutually beneficial relationships. Not only do the students gain real world experience but it also creates an opportunity for businesses to work with talented students to boost their business growth,” Colin said.

Just two of the business providing learning opportunities for USC students are iApps – an Apple Software Developer, which specialises in creating applications for the new iPad – and online marketing experts, Traffika.

“Working with students allows us to make the best use of our resources by reducing costs and increasing productivity and we help students to develop practical and valuable skills in new ‘in demand’ areas like programming for iPads,” iApps Managing Director, Rick Hoy said.

The Innovation Centre also connects and communicates with students via Facebook and LinkedIn and two successive students have acted as its ‘Student ambassador’, to directly link students with opportunities with companies based in the Innovation Centre.

For the latter half of 2009, the Student Ambassador found learning and work experience opportunities for 64 students with Innovation Centre businesses – around half of these were part time employment roles or formal internships and the other half involved students working in small project teams as part of their course on areas such as marketing research, advertising campaigns and strategy reviews.

The Innovation Centre Sunshine Coast is fuelling a clean technologies revolution on the Sunshine Coast, presenting the first annual Clean Futures Conference bringing together the best experts in the field.

The two-day practical Clean Futures conference will be held at the University of the Sunshine Coast on Thursday 21^st and Friday 22^nd October, offering business entrepreneurs the opportunity to hear from experts and accelerate their Clean Tech business’ growth.

Clean Futures will showcase the experience and expertise of Australia’s leading Cleantech entrepreneurs, experts and advisors: including John O’Brien, Australian Cleantech, Bob and Christine Cameron, Rockcote, Gayne Emblin, Ritek, David Lumb, Clearmake and Mark Leckenby, Auzion.

The two-day conference begins with a Cleantech Site Tour on Thursday 21 October offering an exclusive group the opportunity to visit three leading Sunshine Coast Cleantech business sites. Thursday evening the Innovation Centre will host Green Drinks; trade display and networking event in partnership with the Cleantech Industries Sunshine Coast and with the support of industry sponsor local power inverters manufacturer Latronics.

On Friday 22 October, the Cleantech Dream Team of more than 12 industry professionals, experts and entrepreneurs will share their experiences and provide practical insights into growing a successful Cleantech business.

“The Sunshine Coast is positioned to become one of Australia’s Cleantech hotspots and this conference will provide a practical forum for anyone looking at advancing their business in the emerging Cleantech sector,” Innovation Centre CEO Colin Graham said.

Registration for the Study Tour, Green Drinks and Workshop is $350 (plus GST) per person, or $245 (plus GST) for the Workshop, $95 (plus GST) for the Study Tour and $40 (plus GST) for the Green Drinks. Student rates are available – for details and eligibility contact Hayley Passmore on 07 5450 2600.

To secure your place at the Clean Future conference phone Event Coordinator Hayley Passmore on 07 5450 2609 or go online to www.innovationcentre.com.au/cleanfutures.

The Clean Futures 2010 Conference is proudly sponsored by the Sunshine Coast Regional Council.

Spring is already here and, like most, you may be feeling a bit ‘sluggish’ after sipping too many hot chocolates and spending your time inside during those cold weather months, but never fear because low-fat cookbook Queen, Annette Sym, has some great tips for whipping you back into shape this spring.

International award-winning author Annette Sym of the best selling Symply Too Good To be True low-fat cookbook series, Annette Sym, including the new Book 6, said spring was the best time of year to start an ‘inside-to-out makeover’.

“There are such a variety of great fresh fruits and vegetables coming into season that will not only help you to shed those extra kilos that have crept up over winter but that also have some extraordinary health benefits too,” Annette said.

Annette who struggled with her weight for years knows all too well how difficult it can be to break bad habits but managed to lose 35kgs in 20 months and maintain a healthy lifestyle for 18 years.

“In our hectic lives, it is easy to put our wellbeing on the backburner and before we know it, summer has arrived and we are panicking about putting on our swimsuit,” Annette said.

Annette believes weightloss is about learning what triggers youdesire  for unhealthy foods, allowing you to break bad habits and reprogram your thinking. Here are some quick tips:

1)    Write a food diary to keep on track

2)    Drink 8 glasses of water each day, being hydrated can keep hunger pangs at bay

3)    Spring weather makes it much easier to exercise so get your joggers on and go for a 30 minute walk

4)    Everything in moderation is the key to weightloss success. Stop the bad habits you may have created over winter NOW.

5)    Start eating more vegetables and salads to help keep you feeling full

“I also recommend visiting your local farmers market regularly. The vegetables sold at these types of markets seem to be fresher, more colourful and cheaper, especially if you are buying what’s season,” Annette said.

“Try incorporating more spinach into your diet, it really is a wonder food with loads of Vitamin C, A, folate, some fibre, magnesium, calcium, iron and potassium too.

“By simply reviewing eating plans and making an effort to be more active this spring, by the time summer approaches the extra effort will have paid off,” Annette said.

Here are Annette’s 4 TIPS FOR MAKING VEGGIES MORE INTERESTING:

1. Try chopping up some carrots, broccoli, onion and crushed garlic and cook in a wok, add some spices or fresh herbs that you like such as Moroccan or Cajun seasoning and serve this as a side dish, certainly more interesting than boiled vegetables.
2. Top your veggies with a low-fat white sauce then sprinkle a little light grated cheese over top and place under the grill until browned. YUM!
3. Don’t always boil veggies, boring. Instead bake, stir fry, make veggie patties, pasties, casseroles or soups.
4. The more vegetables you eat the healthier and less hungry you will feel so “veg up” and reap the benefits.

“It is so easy to take advantage of the wonderful fresh produce we have in Australia and I’m sure you will see and feel the difference,” said Annette.

Annette’s latest book, Book 6, includes a selection of Annette’s newest and most delicious recipes, a step-by-step weightloss MASTERCLASS complete with DVD, a 28-day meal plan and a number of motivational testimonials from people who have lost weight “the Annette way”.

Selling more than 3 million copies due to their undeniable ability to help people lose weight, Annette Sym’s series, Symply Too Good To Be True are available at all leading news agencies nation-wide. Books 1,2,3,4 and 5 are $13.95 and the bumper-sized Book 6 is $28.

Visit the Symply Too Good website, www.symplytoogood.com.au, for more great low-fat cooking tips and to see Annette cooking a new recipe each month.

Congratulations to the Scratch and Patch book launch CMN243 team for their successful event pitch to their client, Angela Bueti last week.

Australia’s Crochet Queen and Sunshine Coast local, Jenny King, celebrated the grand opening of her new shop at Marcoola, last Friday (3rd September).

A self-confessed crochet addict, Jenny said she had always wanted to bring the shop home to the beach – the home of the string bikini.

Jenny and Leah Hyndman, who have recently formed a partnership and new company together, both believe that Crochet is now the new black.

Jenny said they were both really excited about making a fresh start together in their new shop.

“The new store is located on David Low Way at Marcoola, next to Bendigo Bank and opposite the Surf Air Resort and is situated on a bus route, making it very easy to get to.”

“It is also a great resource for crafty holiday makers looking for a project to fill their free time,” Jenny said.

Jenny, who has been crocheting since being taught two simple stitches when she was just 10, has been passing on her love of crochet since the 1990s and is the author of 13 crochet books and countless other patterns that cover everything from intricate beaded bags and jewellery to footy rugs in your favourite team colours and the classic (and back in fashion) crochet bikini.  Jenny has also taught crochet around Australia and internationally including the US and operates classes from her Sunshine Coast shop, which is also an Aladdin’s Cave of luscious designer yarn also accessible via her online store.

Jenny also specialises in creating crochet designs, which can be thrown into the washing machine to create a felt like finish – a process called fulling.

“My love for fulling started with a hat design and now I have created patterns for bags, slippers, and accessories as well as my great nature dolls,” Jenny said.

Jenny’s interest in crochet started early and with the help of her aunt who taught her chain stitch and her cousin who taught her treble, she soon started creating her own designs.

“I just loved the idea that you could create something useful so quickly and simply,’’ she said.

“Then as I got older I wanted to share my passion with other people so that everyone can see how easy it is and so the skills we learnt from our ancestors are not lost with the passage of time.”

For more about crochet classes, please call Jenny on 07 5450 7077.

Caption: Jenny and her daughters, Phoebe (left) and Anthea.