Come and Meet Nature at Naragebup

Naragebup, aka Rockingham Regional Environmental Centre, is a beautiful setting for engaging in natural learning about Rockingham’s local flora and fauna, and it’s built upon sustainable practices in the most organic way. It’s a place for all ages, where you can feed chickens, visit snakes, frogs and lizards, as well as view Australian native fossils and skeletons through the lens of their digital microscope.

Naragebup — a Gifted Nyoongar Name

Rockingham Regional Environmental Centre’s name is based on Nyoongar language and means, as explained by Janine (Naragebup’s Public Relations and Volunteer Coordinator) ‘NARA = cup, GEB = to drink, UP = meeting place’. When I asked how to pronounce it, she gave me the handy tip: rhyme it with ‘never give up’. Try it! It has a nice mouthfeel, doesn’t it?

This beautiful word was gifted by a Nyoongar man to founder Bob Goodale when he opened the centre. There’s some mystery about when the centre opened. Although Janine says Bob created Naragebup somewhere during the early nineties, ‘maybe 1992’, the centre’s About Us page states it was opened in 2000. Perhaps, like many projects that start and build organically, the exact moment of creation is hard to pinpoint.

Sustainably Built from Local and Organic Rockingham Materials

Naragebup has emerged from the ground up, built upon 1.7 hectares of land that’s leased from the Rockingham council. Initially, the centre started out as a simple caravan but, over time, it’s become the beautiful centre it is today, complete with meandering gardens featuring native plants, organic vegetable patches and a bush tucker trail.

‘Over time, he was able to acquire 4 train carriages, which are our rooms. They were all there, in situ, and somewhere over time they built the shed over the top of it. I believe it’s all recycled stuff.’

Janine Matthews — Public Relations & Volunteer Coordinator, Assemblage Artist/Sculptor/Jeweller

Some of the many sustainable features include: telegraph poles all around the verandah; a limestone amphitheatre; the Lakeview Room: a media/function room made from hay bales, and which uses solar passive design; composting toilets; a chicken tractor system; and worm farms. You can even buy worm wee for your garden!

It’s possible to hire the Lakeview room, the amphitheatre or even the whole venue, and prices are so reasonable. It’s also possible to hire cinema equipment for the amphitheatre.

Another feature is their recycling programs. Several items, things that you may not be able to recycle anywhere else, can be taken to the Rockingham Regional Environmental Centre. These include printer ink cartridges, mobile phones, and oral care products and packaging.

Run by Locals; Supporting Local Artists and Initiatives

Along with worm wee, there are also native seedlings by Native Plants WA to purchase, as well as seeds sourced from Naragebup’s own garden and a gift store full of wares from local artists. There’s a station with various cleaning products that can be poured into your own vessels, sometimes there’s pure beeswax, and you can even get a coffee made for you or buy a refreshing cold drink or ice-cream. Everything is low-cost and water is provided for free, in reusable cups. Budget-friendly and locally made: I know where I’ll be doing some of my gift shopping!

Janine, who channels Frida Kahlo with her signature floral crowns, is one of the artists whose creations — sweet offerings made entirely of recycled materials — are featured in the gift shop.

Since Naragebup doesn’t receive any funding (despite being an award-winning environmental centre and a registered charity), their ‘lifeblood is the people who regularly volunteer their time’. I have also noticed that there are students gaining hands-on experience there: which, I’m told, is a coveted and hard-to-come by position.

Although Naragebup isn’t a café, there’s plenty of seating available outside, and a small lounge area inside. Here, a coffee group meets every Friday from 10:30am to 12pm. “Everyone” is welcome, though the group is primarily populated by older women and, when I asked, I was told that it’s not a suitable place for young, active children. The fee for the group is simply the entry fee, or membership. Membership entitles you to free entry.

There’s plenty of space for the little ones outside though, as well as a pretty incredible turtle-themed slide, no doubt created by a local sculpturer (if you know the story, please contact me), a little play house, and chickens to feed.

A Rockingham Hub for Natural Learning & Learning About Nature

Bob’s vision was to have some ‘land by the lake’ (Lake Richmond), particularly because it’s heritage listed, on which to educate the public about sustainability. Today, there are many opportunities for learning.

I imagine many of Rockingham and Mandurah’s homeschooling and nature-loving families are regular visitors. And during the school holidays, the centre is regularly booked out by out-of-school-care groups, who bring in 60-90 children a day. These days are co-ordinated with half of the group listening to a reptile talk and the other half visiting the ‘dipping pond’. This is a pool full of aquatic macroinvertebrates: children scoop up water from the dipping pond outside then get to identify the wrigglers on the top, which are mosquitoes, larvae and dragonflies. Children identify this on a chart then look at it under a magnifying microscope connected to the computer.

But these activities are not just for OSC groups, they are accessible to all. Some activities are free and do have a cost attached. Inside, there are snakes, frogs and lizards in vivariums to visit, another pool full of fish, starfish, and I even saw a gorgeous stingray surface from the sand before settling back into invisibility. And in one of the train carriages, there’s a library with plush armchairs to sink into, if reading and research are your thing. It strikes me that this would also be a lovely hiding place for those of us who are very sensory-aware.

A Place of Peace

With so much going on, you could be forgiven for envisaging a busy and stimulating environment, however, it’s anything but (except for during their annual October festival where all manner of environmental and community groups, such as Sea Shepherd and Riding for the Disabled hold stalls, and local talent provide entertainment. This usually happens on a Saturday late in the month).

Naragebup is actually such a peaceful place to visit. Even when I visited last weekend, though there were more people than during the week, it was still quiet and serene. My recommendation? Go for a gentle stroll along the Anne Mueller Environmental Walk at Lake Richmond then bring a packed lunch and to enjoy at Naragebup afterwards.

Sensitivity and Inclusion in Copywriting, Content Creation and Editing

Sensitivity

There are many different interpretations of sensitivity, even within the same dictionary. For example, the Cambridge Dictionary defines sensitivity as ‘the fact of a situation, subject, etc. needing to be dealt with carefully in order to avoid upsetting people’, but also as ‘the quality of being easily influenced, changed, or damaged, esp. by a physical activity or effect’, and

‘…an ability to understand what other people need, and be helpful to them’.

Sensitivity, Cambridge Dictionary website, accessed 13 February 2024.

This last meaning is one that I resonate deeply with, and which I try to bring into my work as a writer and proofreader.

Inclusion

Another very important value to me on a personal and professional level. Honestly, I feel arrogant even writing that, because I am hyper-aware of my privilege as a non-disabled person born into a developed country, and I think inclusion should be the rule, not the exception. Unfortunately, this is not yet the reality of our society. But, I believe, we are getting there.

So, what is inclusion?

‘Inclusion means that people across varying identities are and feel valued, welcomed, respected, included, represented, and heard and that they fully belong, can be authentic, can contribute to the collective, and have a voice.’

Inclusion in the Workplace, National University website, accessed 13 February 2024.

I really like the above definition.

Writing and Proofreading for Sensitivity and Inclusion

Taking the above into account, writing and proofreading for sensitivity and inclusion is ensuring that the work represents groups of people in a way that doesn’t diminish their humanity by painting them in a stereotypical way, or making assumptions about them based on race, gender, sexual orientation, or any other single characteristic.

This doesn’t just apply to non-fiction, such as report writing and research papers, but also creative writing. Because whilst creative writing has no hard and fast rules, it also holds a lot of power to shape the way that readers view the world, and the way we perceive our environment does affect the way we walk within it.

To state the obvious, writing and proofreading for inclusion is about ensuring that language doesn’t exclude groups of people. For example, using ‘police officer’ instead of ‘policeman’, unless talking about a specific person, includes police officers of all genders in representations of this profession.

Why are Sensitivity and Inclusion important in Content Creation?

Just to be clear, what I mean by content creation is the writing, editing, and images that go into the copy and content you create for your business. This could be documents, books, e-books, website content, newsletters, and social media marketing content.

I think the first question to ask yourself, as a creative- or community-minded entrepreneur, or as a community organisation, is: why are sensitivity and inclusion important to me?

For Southern Harbour, the reason that sensitivity and inclusion are important is because I value equality and compassion, and I want to be a part of working toward a world where every being feels safe, respected, seen, and heard.

I’m actively educating myself; we are all learning together. I even re-wrote a part of this blog after proofreading it, because I used the term ‘able-bodied’ until I learned that the term ‘non-disabled’ is better. It makes sense: not all disabilities are physical.

What about you? If you’d like to continue this conversation by sharing your reasons with me, then head on over to my Facebook or Instagram page, give them a like and follow, and leave a comment.

And if you’d like some help in creating sensitive and inclusive content, then please email me at jodie@southernharbour.org to discuss your needs.

Ellie’s: Local, Fresh and Friendly

Dragonflies symbolise new beginnings, and though Ellie’s Café has been open for 10 years last August, their logo is perfect for the fresh energy flourishing there right now. After a hiatus due to illness, Kylie, owner and operator of Port Kennedy’s favourite local café, decided that they needed a new perspective. Timmy, her new front-of-house manager, and her staff are working alongside her to make this happen, with smiles on their faces and an attitude of ‘Yes!’.

Something that remains, however, is the emphasis on providing a family-friendly, eco-friendly, pet-friendly space.

“A lot of people think we’re not pet-friendly because we’re enclosed, but we give water bowls to dogs, we do dog treats, we’ve got dog biscuits at the counter, and we like having dogs here.”

(Kylie)

She says, “I actually don’t even mind if they’re with them when they’re ordering at the counter, because a lot of people I know, when they go out, don’t like to leave their pets at the table. I’ve got a red-heeler and a blue-heeler, and you can’t leave them at the table, the table will go with them”.*

Inclusivity and sustainability are very important to Ellie’s Café.

In regard to accessibility, there’s ACROD (Australian Council for Rehabilitation of Disabled) parking at the front, accessible toilets, and the team will also head outside to take the orders of people using gophers. It must be said, though, that the café is very mobility friendly, with wide doorways and automatic doors.

Those easy-access doors are also very helpful for people pushing prams! Many mother’s groups and friends with kids meet there, and I know that the reason I discovered Ellie’s Café is because, when he was a toddler, I was searching for a place that both my son and I could enjoy. There’s a nice open space with couches and a play area with toys, and the kid’s meals come with a colouring-in pack and 3D glasses to keep little ones entertained, so that parents can have a moment to eat their meals.

Speaking of food…

It’s important to Ellie’s to take on feedback from customers and to Timmy to keep up with trends. There’s a new selection of keto and gluten-free cabinet options, lots of dietary requirements are catered for, and food is styled on healthy, home-cooked meals. This is to cater not just for people with allergies, but also picky eaters.

Research is important to Kylie. Yet another of our community’s young entrepreneurs, she opened Ellie’s café at the age of 24, but before she did, she made sure that the demographic of the area suited her vision and what she wanted to give. Kylie is a qualified chef, who also does some of the cooking…Timmy calls her Kylie Pie-Fingers, since she has her fingers in all of the pies, including renovating her café with her father.

Food packaging is eco-friendly, and the café tries to reduce plastics, reduce waste, and reuse and recycle as much as possible. Kylie personally takes the cans and bottles to Port Kennedy Containers for Change then donates the money to the various charities listed there at the time.

“That also translates into our stock as well; we have the Lydys, the reusable lids, all the bags are made from upcycled clothing.”

(Timmy)

A lovely addition to the ambience at Ellie’s is the showcasing of local artist’s and small business’s offerings, such as plants by Botany By the Bay, artwork and decals by Mandart Illustration (which Timmy describes as “May Gibbs meets pop-art”), and earrings by SHESCO Unique Creations. Their stock is regularly swapped out so that what’s on offer is fresh and new.

There’s a story behind the café’s name.

Kylie says she never knew why she’d called it Ellie’s until one day her granddad walked in and gave her a little glow-in-the-dark elephant. He told her it was Ellie the Elephant, but she didn’t know what he meant, until he told he that her subconscious had given her the name. Kylie was initially going to name the café Helen’s, after her grandmother who had recently passed away, as she’d taught her how to cook, but she says that it was a bit too close to home. “I didn’t want people asking about that,” she says, as it would have been too upsetting. Ellie’s was close without being too close…her grandfather also reminded her that she’d had a stuffed toy elephant as a child.

A question I always ask is: what’s your favourite local day out?

Kylie and her work family often head to Port Kennedy Tavern or Whistling Kite. They’re a close-knit team, who go out once a week together, and Kylie makes sure this happens on a different day, so that all of the team get a chance to spend time connecting with one another since they are open every day, and someone is always at work.

A new menu is due to drop this week, based on customer feedback to a survey that Kylie sent out. So, it’s the perfect time to drop in and say hello.

(I get the pleasure of reviewing a secret new recipe, so please keep a look out on my Instagram and Facebook accounts to find out if it’s to your taste, too!)

Ellie’s is open 7am to 2pm, Monday to Sunday and is located at 3/397 Warnbro Sound Ave, Port Kennedy. Catering is also available, just head on over to their pinned posts on Facebook and Instagram to get in touch.

*If you’re an astute reader, you may have noticed that my use of double quotation marks is new. Despite going against Australian English grammar rules, this is an intentional change to make my writing more accessible. You can read about my recent introduction to proofreading for sensitivity on a new blog post soon, and if you’d like your copy to be proofread for inclusivity, please get in touch here.

Creating Magic Memories at MagicBarn Fairy Garden

Did you know that the MagicBarn is the only faerie garden in all of Western Australia? This was something that surprised Annette Kent, one half of the business brains (and hearts) behind the MagicBarn Fairy Garden in Waroona. The other half, and Annette’s other half, is Brian Kent. They’ve been in business together for 35 years, with their first entrepreneurial adventure being the Noongar Arts Centre, in Walyalup (Fremantle). When I commented on how amazing that was and asked him what his secret to longevity and success in their partnership is, he said, ‘Always do things her way,’! That made me giggle. Brian told me this as he taught Jarrah, my four-year-old, how to be gentle when feeding the guinea pigs that live outside in their own little shelter, which he built himself. Actually, he built all of the structures, from the child-sized huts to the cement logs, and Annette painted them in bright, sweet colours.

MagicBarn Fairy Garden is Annette and Brian’s semi-retirement project. Perhaps that’s why it’s open for only half the week: Thursday to Sunday, 9am to 5pm. Which still makes it a very busy semi-retirement, in my books! MagicBarn Fairy Garden itself is a hot pink building, located at 124 South Western Highway, about an hour’s drive south of Rockingham. The drive is gorgeous, the landscape the straw-coloured grass, cows and bush typical of this region, with the hills in the distance.

There’s such a relaxed atmosphere about the place, and yet the simplicity is somewhat deceptive (guilelessly so): there’s just so much to see and do, inside and out!

‘Even though it’s for the children, we actually always had it in mind to build it for parents and grandparents and Aunties. It’s a place where parents can come and relax and drink their coffee while it’s hot because it’s all enclosed, and it’s a place where they can connect with their children,’ Annette told me, with a smile in her voice.

There’s a faerie shop, an old-school lolly cart with modern lollies, a bookshelf with books that are free to take (me as a child would have adored that particular aspect!), a playground, and a café with mini cupcakes topped with rainbow-swirl icing and sprinkles — gluten-free options available, and Annette makes them fresh every day.

Brian makes many of the wares himself: cement faerie doors and planters. He even builds gorgeous, intricate faerie treehouses and my favourite part about that is that they are made with 70-year-old jarrah wood that he sourced from the SAS soldier barracks in Swanbourne during renovations: he’s an ex-soldier.

You would think you could sink a lot of money in such a place, but actually, MagicBarn Fairy Garden is free to visit, and all of the prices are very reasonable. Coffee is generally $4.50 and a kid’s pack, which consists of a juice, cheese toastie, and a cupcake, is only $6. So even on your slow entrepreneurial months, you can still afford to visit.

My interview with Brian and Annette was completely spontaneous and yet they were both so generous with their time. Community is something important to the both of them and it shows. Even when I followed up with a phone call, Annette spoke of her family’s beautiful community connections.

‘Are you local?’, I asked her, and she told me that her family have been in the Shire of Murray since 1910, originally residing in Yarloop. When the area became prone to bushfires, the Kents moved to Furnissdale. Annette’s grandparent’s house in Waroona is now a community park, and the same giant Moreton Bay Fig tree they had in their yard is a part of the park.

Not only is the MagicBarn Fairy Garden beautiful to visit all on its own, there are also some very lovely things to do there.

On weekends, handmade fairy-door painting workshops are held, and children get to take home their own hand-painted fairy door. There’s a gorgeous room for fairy-themed birthday parties, and a MagicBarn Fairy Trail is in the process of being created.

Hand-painted faerie doors, some by local artist, Carmen, from Marina Dreaming, will be given free to local businesses. Customers from MagicBarn will have a map that they can tick off whilst they go on a faerie-door hunt, which will take them to the literal doors of local businesses, thus sharing the patronage that now comes into Waroona from as far as Albany, attracted to the town by the Fairy Garden. Annette and Brian want everyone to see how special a place Waroona is, with its history, nature, and creative population.

‘What’s your favourite local day out?’, I asked Annette. ‘Going up to the weir in Waroona. There’s a dam and a weir,’ she told me, ‘There’s trout and marron, a big grassy picnic area, people swim and water-ski, and hardly anyone from Perth knows about it. The more people that visit, the more the shire will put money into it.’ The facilities have recently been upgraded, she told me, now that more people are travelling to the Drakesbrook Weir.

So, please go visit MagicBarn Fairy Garden, and whilst you’re there, take a look around. Immerse yourself in nature, rest, and allow your imagination to take flight. Your inner child will thank you for it.

Why Do I Support You, Local Creatives and Communities?

Why I personally support local businesses and like to showcase creative- and community-minded entrepreneurs and community organisations.

Some of my deepest values are connection and sustainability, so supporting local entrepreneurs and building community are very important to me. If you’re here reading this, then my guess is that these values are important to you, too.

Community organisations were where I spent the first 16 years of embodying these values in my professional life. Then I had my son in 2019 and spent two years concentrating on motherhood solely, before creating my blog, Southern Harbour, to showcase creative- and community-minded entrepreneurs, and community organisations, in and around Rockingham.

What is community development? Why is it important?

‘Community development is a holistic approach grounded in principles of empowerment, human rights, inclusion, social justice, self-determination and collective action (Kenny & Connors, 2017).’

—      What is Community Development? (www.aifs.gov.au, sourced 15.11.2023)

I was a pretty lonely child. Definitely a creatively-minded introvert, I spent a vast amount of time reading, and if I wasn’t reading, I was running around barefoot with my brother, exploring the local beaches, shops, bushland, and parks. So, a sweet and good girl, but also a little explorer!

Our mother had an undiagnosed mental illness, so she was often battling her own demons, and back then in the 90s, there just wasn’t the awareness or the community support available to people with mental illness or their children that there is today. I went into foster care at age 12, and stayed there until I moved out of care at 16 and 9 months, which was the earliest I was legally able to. Now, as Marie Forleo says, I have learned to ‘adore my detour’, but I do think life could’ve been a little kinder to me, and I could’ve found my voice a lot earlier, had there been more of a focus on empowering and engaging communities to look after themselves and each other, back then.

Empowering others to have a voice, to do what they love, and to be authentic is the driving force behind my proofreading, editing, and content creation business. And the sense of connectedness I get to other creative- and community-minded entrepreneurs, and to community organisations, from providing them with my proofreading and content creation services and writing my blog , feeds and nourishes me. It’s a win-win cycle, all around.

Why is creativity important to our community?

Creativity is within art, but not just art. It is the well-spring where change and beauty originate from. It gives both to the creator in the process of making, but also to its viewers and receivers. Creativity in conjunction with action, and especially in collaboration with communities has the power to change the world, and in doing so, people change their own worlds, too. And we have some choice over where we allow this energy to flow. I say some because I acknowledge that there is a lot of privilege involved in the ability to make certain choices.

Supporting and showcasing local entrepreneurs and community organisations is how I direct my creative energy into positive change, celebrating the richness of where we live and the people who are part of that, and moving towards a regenerative way of doing business.

What is regenerative business?

Regenerative business is a term that I first heard when listening to the ‘Slowing and Settling Down’ episode of the Raising Wildlings podcast with Meg Berryman.

There are many interpretations of regenerative business, but I think the essence of it is that it can mean what you personally need it to mean. After all, when I Google search ‘regenerative business’, definitions that centralise sustainability — another core value of Southern Harbour proofreading and content creation — abound. The World Economic Forum defines it as such: ‘Regenerative business means promoting the restoration and regeneration of natural resources and social systems.’

So, the definition that resonates with me is that my business restores and nourishes my energy, my sense of fulfilment, my relationships, my finances, it is one within which I can feel ease and relaxation, and contribute in a way that feels natural and exciting. It doesn’t mean that I am never tired. But it does mean that instead of scraping from the bottom of the barrel, I can contribute in a way that fills my cup, as well as yours.

Imagine a business where meditation is a part of your workday, e.g., listening to the incredible Bye Bye, Limiting Beliefs meditations by life and business coach, Amelia Anderson. (Which I am literally just about to do!) Imagine being able to sit around a table, discussing projects that you feel passionate about with like-minded people. (Which I have literally just done, as part of the newly-minted Golden Bay Town Teams Committee.) And imagine being able to quickly answer a potentially-profitable email whilst playing in the park with your child. Imagine being able to log these as your business hours! It’s possible and it’s meaningful and authentic.

And what does it have to do with supporting local creative- and community-minded entrepreneurs and community organisations? For me, it’s about becoming a part of creating this new (but also ancient; think community tribal living) and wonderful way of working. And I invite you to become a part of it, too.

What does Proofreading have to do with Slow Living and Mindset?

Imagine this.

You’ve poured your heart and soul into your copy. It could be a new course you’ve created, a grant application for an initiative that could truly change people’s lives or make a positive impact to the planet. You have been working for hours to fine-tune your creation into something you love, and your mind is so tired, you want to meet the deadline, and all you want to do is get it out there. So, you hit ‘send’ or ‘publish’ ….

The next morning you excitedly log on and open your work up, just to see, and it’s glaring you in the face: the typos you’ve made even though you know exactly how to spell that word and use punctuation properly. The paragraph that’s left out a crucial statistic or story that would speak to funders, or the exact call to action that would help clients connect with you. Why? Because you didn’t slow down and leave any breathing room between writing and publishing or sending.

It's not your fault. We have been taught that things need to be done right now. Often, when we are also emotionally connected to our work, it’s hard not to feel a level of anxiety about the quality of our writing or what we hope to achieve with our creation. How we hope it will be perceived. How it will speak to our audience.

Anxiety…our inner worrier/warrior…picks up that bow and arrow and shoots cortisol into our bloodstream, creating a sense of urgency and increasing stress levels even more. And if you are working for a not-for-profit or on your own small business, the mental load you’re carrying is often doubled. During my decades of working within community organisations, when funding wasn’t granted to continue a role, aspects of these roles carried over to the workload of employees whose contracts were continuing. As a creative — first as a burlesque dancer and now as an entrepreneur — a lot of the time it’s the excitement that makes it hard to go slow.

In his article, ‘Cortisol and Cognition: The Effects of Stress on the Brain’, 2022, Aaron Tribby, MS, says that high cortisol and chronic stress can show up in changes in cognition such as attentional challenges, slower processing, and muddled thinking. Not the best set up to give a great proofread.

I think now may be a good time to give a clear definition of what proofreading is. Did you know that it actually occurs after editing? It’s not simply about correcting spelling mistakes and grammar missteps. It’s the final polish of a text before it’s published or sent wherever it needs to go. An editing and proofreading package ensures that your narrative, values, characters, structure, and content are consistent and organised as a beautiful whole, and that spelling, grammar, punctuation, capitalisation, and formatting are all correct. It also ensures that copy and referencing are aligned with the writer’s specified guides. For example, I use the Australian Style Guide for my own personal copywriting.

Louise Harnby, fiction editor and proofreader, talks about how important mindset is in proofreading. She talks about how hard it was to go from her previously fast-paced role in marketing to ‘following a brief, pedantic punctuating and a careful, methodical, almost plodding attention to detail’. She discusses how she had to learn to slow down, take a systematic approach, and put her work away for a while before looking at it again. (‘Why should you bother with professional proofreading training?’, 2014.)

And here is where slow living can help you. ‘Slow living is a lifestyle that emphasizes taking a slower, more mindful approach to all aspects of everyday life.’ This is a quote from one of my favourite online newsletters, The Good Trade. (‘What is Slow Living?’, Natale Gale, 2022.) Many of us entrepreneurs started our own businesses because we wanted to embrace slow living and spend time with people and on projects that light us up, and regenerate, not deplete us.

So, whilst a ‘plodding’ pace may not sound so appealing, when proofreading is combined with the mindset of slow living, it can actually be far more productive, long-term, than getting in and getting it done.

Here is my invitation to you. When you’ve finished your work, set your laptop on sleep, or even shut it down for the evening, go and take a walk around the neighbourhood. Play with your child for fifteen minutes. Make yourself a cup of tea. Take a shower. Then come back, take a few deep breaths, think about what you’d intended to say, and re-read your copy.

Too busy? Not your idea of a good time? Then outsource. There are many copywriters, proofreaders and editors who’d love to ease your mental load. I am one of them, so please feel free to contact me with any questions. I’d love to help.

One quick note on using AI for proofreading. If you’re confident with it and all you want is a spelling and grammar check, go for it. I’ll be writing an article soon that will help you to use it effectively.

But if you are deeply attached to your work, use a human being. I know that a lot of technology is marketed as “intuitive”. But text predict is not the same as attunement. A human being is someone you can connect with, and the right proofreader will use their intuition as well as their intellect. And if you choose someone whose values align with yours, they will care about the things you do and go that extra mile to help you. And who knows who else they may be able to connect you with? AI can’t do that.

Studio By The Bay

I’m writing this post whilst watching the reflection of the leaves from the trees in my backyard create dappled shadows on the windows of my sunroom and it’s just so soothing. Taking a moment to embrace slow living is important to me, and it’s important to Simone, who created and runs her own small, local business, Studio by the Bay, in Falcon.

‘Studio By The Bay speaks of home, a place to simply be present & allow life to slow down. A holistic space/ experience, indulging your senses.’

Perhaps the need for this is why her workshops get booked out so quickly. Yet, despite the busy-ness of running a small business, she has ways of remaining calm and grounded.

‘Since I love being on my own & am such a homebody, I feel that’s where I find my calm amongst the busyness of mum & work life. When feeling overwhelmed, I make sure there are breathing spaces between workshops and gaps in the week to recharge, do the things that bring me joy. 

I also know that you can’t do it all. The seasons of motherhood are always changing, so being flexible & kind to myself is really important. There are weeks I am super productive and other weeks, nothing gets done and that’s ok.’

Personally, I think it’s also quite wonderful that Studio by the Bay is so family-orientated. Not only are there opportunities for parents and children to do workshops together, her inspiration and processes integrate her family life, too.

I saw your post about its origin story: is there anything else you'd like to say about how you started? Where did the passion for it come from?

‘I’ve been a primary arts specialist for over 15 years, so working in the education system taught me a lot about the importance & deep need Art has for every individual.  I have always loved sharing the joy of the arts. The connection, belonging and confidence it brings in student’s  lives made me think about the possibly of extending this experience for not just children, but adults too.  The creative practice is so easily lost as we grow older. 

‘When we started a family & moved to Falcon, the business organically happened through my drive to stay creative whilst navigating motherhood. 

I always loved the idea of working in a little art studio, where I could work around my children, choose my own hours, creating a life that encourages as much balance as possible.’ 

I’m really inspired by Simone, and I asked: What’s one lesson you’ve learned about running your own business that would’ve been valuable for you to know when you started out?

She replied: ‘So many things! I’m constantly learning about running a small biz everyday. One of the biggest lessons is knowing it’s ok to say no. I discovered when I tried to take on too many projects/workshops something was compromised~ either the quality of my work, family life...The ‘hustle culture’ just doesn’t interest me. I’ve learnt time is my most valuable currency, so I choose what works and serves my family best.’

And lastly, a question I ask all of my interviewees: What’s your favourite local day out? 

‘A little stroll into town, grabbing a coffee & baked goods from Mataya and Wood & Stone, then finishing the day with a bike ride to our local beach~ Falcon Bay.’

If you’re interested in learning more about Studio by the Bay and Simone’s workshops, head to her website, Facebook page, or soak up her gorgeously curated images on Instagram.

Capturing Moments of Motherhood - Taylor Maree Photography

Taylor’s personal connection to her work can be felt through the intimacy of the photos that she shares on her Instagram page, TaylorMareePhotography. Though her work is polished and there’s definitely holistic harmony to her page, there’s also a deep authenticity. It fits then, that, ‘warm, authentic and wholesome’ are the words that she uses to describe her aesthetic. To me, ‘nostalgic’ is another word that springs to mind.

‘Capturing my children, the innocence, the connection and the wonder of their lives! Moments in time that are kept with families for generations to come.’

These things are Taylor’s inspiration for her photos. Like many of us, it was motherhood that led her to her current vocation.

‘When I was pregnant with my second child, we started doing some brand rep work on Instagram. I wanted to capture some quality photos of my daughter for personal use and also for our Instagram. I loved teaching myself photography and experimenting with what I liked. After my son was born I had a few people tell me I should make a business out of it and I had no other plans while staying at home raising my kids, so I decided to dive straight in and give it a go! I have been in business now for 4 years.’

Celebrating femininity, pregnancy, and motherhood are themes that stream through Taylor’s photography. Can you tell me about your connection to these themes, and what made you decide to make these themes your focus? 

‘Being a mother myself and having experienced that same journey, I think that’s what I was drawn to when it came to expressing my creativity with photography. Connecting with first-time mothers and getting to relive those feelings I had in that time. And also getting to be there for such special times in families lives, really is something of value for me. I know myself, that time is so fleeting and valuable and I feel so grateful I’m able to provide other mothers those moments in time to hold onto forever. The human body is such a magical thing in what it’s able to accomplish with pregnancy and childbirth and I think it is such an amazing process to capture and celebrate with the world.’

Taylor is a Pinjarra local and the bush is precious to her, and more often than not it provides the backdrop to her photos.

‘I’ve always preferred the country and the bush. From as early as I can remember I’ve loved horses and the idea of farm life and I always wanted that for myself. I love the landscapes of the country and the bush. All the rolling hills, the rivers, there is so much beauty in nature. My favourite thing living on a farm and surrounded by nature is stepping outside, hearing the birds in the trees, the smell of the rain, wind in the trees and sun on my face, looking around at all my wonderful animals enjoying it with me. I can be out there for hours and feel so at peace.’

Creative Co. is another complementary product to her photography business. I noticed that you also have some products under the umbrella of Creative Co. What are these products and where can we get them? 

‘Yes! I have created a beautiful and functional a3 desk pad calendar. I use mine on the fridge for the whole family to see and it seriously is so handy being able to see a whole month spread. I also have created an a4 notepad, with more things coming in the future!! They can be found on my Instagram, @_creativeco__.

If you’d like to make a booking enquiry, you can email Taylor at taylormareeephotography@gmail.com .

A Taylor Maree Photography website will be coming soon.

Artificial Intelligence, or Natural and Human? Challenge post two.

Have you read Challenge post one yet? Not sure what I’m talking about? A few weeks ago I posted on my socials about a challenge that my business coach, Pippa, had set for me. Pippa suggested that I post two articles on a subject I’m passionate about: one written by me, and one written by Chat GPT.

Curious to dive in and try to spot the difference? Read below, and ask yourself: was this written by a bot or an actual person? Then read the first post here and ask yourself the same question.

Not the What, but the Why and the How

In our fast-paced world, where information is readily available at our fingertips and choices abound, it's easy to get caught up in the "what" of things. What should we do next? What should we buy? What goals should we set? However, it's becoming increasingly clear that it's not the "what" that truly matters, but rather the "why" and the "how" behind our actions and decisions.

The Power of Why

Simon Sinek, in his famous TED Talk and subsequent book, "Start with Why," introduced the concept that the most successful individuals and organizations don't start with "what" they do but instead with "why" they do it. The "why" represents our purpose, our cause, or our belief - the driving force behind everything we undertake.

Consider the likes of Apple, a company that doesn't merely sell computers and smartphones; they sell innovation and a challenge to the status quo. Or think of individuals like Martin Luther King Jr., who didn't just have a dream; he had a vision for a more just and equal society. When we understand and communicate our "why," we can connect on a deeper level with our audience, whether it's customers, colleagues, or friends.

The Importance of How

While the "why" provides the motivation, the "how" serves as the roadmap. It's the strategy and the execution that bring our "why" to life. Without a clear "how," our "why" remains an abstract idea, and our actions lack direction.

For instance, if your "why" is to make the world a healthier place, the "how" might involve educating people about nutrition, creating accessible fitness programs, or developing sustainable food products. The "how" transforms your purpose into tangible steps and decisions.

Aligning Your Why, Who, and How

The true magic happens when you align your "why" with your "who" (your audience or target market) and your "how" (your strategy and actions). This alignment creates a powerful synergy that drives meaningful connections, whether in business, personal relationships, or personal growth.

To achieve this alignment, it's crucial to be intentional about understanding your "why," knowing your audience, and developing a clear plan of action. It's about connecting the dots between your core values, your target audience's needs, and the practical steps required to make your vision a reality.

The Succinct List: Your Roadmap to Alignment

If you'd like a super simple map to write copy that aligns with your why, who, and how, email jodie@southernharbour.org for a copy of The Succinct List. Pin it to your Task Bar, and let it serve as a daily reminder to stay focused on what truly matters - not the "what," but the "why" and the "how."

In conclusion, in a world filled with endless possibilities and distractions, remember that success and fulfilment come not from chasing the "what," but from understanding your "why" and having a clear plan for the "how." When you align your purpose with your actions and connect with your audience, you'll find yourself on a path to true impact and meaning.

Which one was written by me, and which was written by Chat GPT?

Truth be told, I think it’s very easy to tell. Still, I learned a lot through this exercise. What do you think the main differences are? I’d love for you to head over to my my Instagram, Facebook or LinkedIn page, and let me know in the comments.

Artificial Intelligence, or Natural and Human? Challenge post one.

A few weeks ago I posted on my socials about a challenge that my business coach, Pippa, had set for me. Pippa suggested that I post two articles on a subject I’m passionate about: one written by me, and one written by Chat GPT.

Since I am dedicated to living a values driven life, and to setting up a business that feels regenerative rather than depleting, both articles are titled Not the What, but the Why and the How. If you are here from my Instagram, Facebook or LinkedIn pages, thank you for taking the time. And if you have come here looking for a blog that showcases local creative- and community-minded entrepreneurs and community organisations, and landed on this seemingly random post, please rest assured that you are supporting one: me! So why not stay and play a while?

Curious to dive in and try to spot the difference? Without further ado, here is post 1.

Not the What, but the Why and the How

Something that has been on my mind lately, gently filtering into all areas of my life, is letting go of so much focus on what I’m doing and placing more focus on my reasons for why, as well as how, I’m approaching things.

When your to-do list is never-ending and you are achievement orientated, like me — and like many of us brought up in a school system where we are taught that passing the test and gaining the grade is the most important thing of all, though ‘enjoy the process’ and ‘it’s about the journey, not the destination’ are two phrases also given out as “sage” advice…confusing, huh? — it’s so easy to get caught up in the end result.

In my very early twenties, I experienced a sudden breakdown, followed by almost debilitating depression and anxiety that seemed to wipe my sense of self, even affecting my memory and my vision. Through a combination of psychotherapy and sheer, brutal will, I climbed out of that deep, dark well of despair. And one of the touchpoints that got me through, like the rungs of a ladder up the side of that well, was writing out, and ticking off, my to-do list. It feels great, right? I wasn’t at a space where I had the resources to focus on the how, beyond the sheer survival of getting there any way I could, and the why, again, was about survival.

This isn’t everybody’s experience — thankfully. But the elements that I think might resonate are that, with the ingrained predisposition to hustle, it’s pretty bloody hard to slow down enough to be intentional with our why for what we are doing, and even harder to address healing our own inner shit, at times, to change the how to be more aligned with how we want to show up in the world.

If you are in a season where you just can’t do this: I see you, I validate your experience. It’s OK, honey, and you are going to be OK.

If you do have a moment today, though, even if it’s before you do just one thing, even if it’s a mundane thing, why not ask yourself:

Why am I doing this? Which passion or intention is driving my actions here?

And how would the best version of me approach this thing I’m about to do? How are my values showing up in this moment? How am I relating to myself and others as I do this thing?

If you’d like a super simple map to write copy that aligns with your why, who, and how, email me for copy of The Succinct List. Then pin it to your task bar for easy access anytime you need it. You don’t need to add remembering these questions to your mental load: I’ve got you.

Dogs Go Woof Productions

The story behind Dogs Go Woof Productions is long, but is well worth reading.

Permaculture and video production are not the sort of thing people usually pair up. But Craig Clitheroe, the owner and creative entrepreneur behind Dogs Go Woof, was inspired by the values of one when founding the other.

‘The three core values I live and work by are Care of the Earth, Care of People and Fair Share. These values are really derived from an Australian sustainable design system called Permaculture. Permaculture is about designing our homes and lives to be as sustainable as possible. The three ethics from Permaculture were derived from indigenous cultures, a commonality of how they were able to live for so long with the land. 

'I’d describe Dogs Go Woof Productions as a sustainable video production company that is passionate about telling stories to inspire and empower people to have a positive impact on the world. I believe that stories have the power to inspire and change the world, and empower people to make a difference.’

So, in a nut-shell, Dogs Go Woof Productions tells stories by making films and videos while aiming to be as sustainable as possible. And, that is making sure I am looking after the land I am on and the people whose stories I tell. And I do that by how I make films and how I tell their stories.’

There’s something very Australian about Craig’s videos, and they have an ease which kind of embodies a slow-living quality. You can tell that he’s really listening.

‘I usually try focussing on the human story. So, someone who has been affected or lived through the experience, to really get an understanding of how people can overcome that. For me, that’s the inspiring message that connects us. Overcoming adversity with hope. To me, this is the most powerful message. And, it’s these stories that have been told throughout time that all share the same messages, and hold a deeper meaning. So, I try to, I guess, act as a modern day storyteller and entwine a meaning into the story to hopefully give people a new perspective of hope and inspiration.

It’s hard to put into words, but everyone does have a story to tell, they might not think it’s that interesting, but it’s my job to craft it, so that people connect [with] and find meaning in it.’

Since Dogs Go Woof is an independent film company, I asked him about his selection process for choosing subjects.

‘I make real-life, story-driven films and documentaries about stories that empower and inspire people.

There are essentially two avenues I work within when I create films. I either am independently seeking funding to create a film I am passionate about, or I am hired to make a film / video to tell a story to help an organisation or business to share their story.

If it’s something I am passionate about, usually it’s around my core values and something intrigues me to want to tell that story. It does take a large amount of dedication and energy to pursue an independent film. So, when something comes up it has to pass a few stages before I commit to it. 

It usually starts with my own feeling about the subject: is it something I am passionate about or that I want to learn more about? It can be positive or a negative, but it’s usually something that I want to craft a positive narrative about. That is what usually sparks me to want to want to tell that story.

‘…When I became aware of climate change, that was a big turning point for me. After watching Al Gore’s An Inconvenient Truth and countless environmental documentaries, I was left feeling hopeless, angry and discouraged. All the solutions seemed tokenistic and unachievable. As a filmmaker, I realised I could create the films I wanted to see. That would be positive and empowering. So I started to create films about real-life inspiring stories and documentary films that did just that.’

Craig grew up locally, evolved into a filmmaker locally, and now he uses Dogs Go Woof Productions to showcase locals.

‘I grew up in Byford and moved to Safety Bay when I was 9. I moved north of the city for 4 years, before returning and buying our forever home here in Golden Bay*. I just really love the coast and the slower pace here.

The whole film thing started when I was a kid. My mum, being an artist, surrounded us with art and she'd draw us outlines of things to colour in when we were nagging her with our boredom. Watching her draw something from nothing and ‘bring it to life', I think that was the first time I was like, 'Oh, if you get good at this, you can create anything'. And so, I got into drawing cartoons and comic strips. Although I loved being able to create anything with a drawing, the only thing was, in order to tell a story I had to draw multiple frames and I found it lacked something.

Fast-forward some years and I happened to come across the dusty home video camera and started playing around with video. Being able to manipulate sound and images, I realised this was what was missing from drawing. I could tell a story. So, I started making stop animation films with Lego and playing around with VHS tapes and editing to make short films for fun.’

When I finished school, my brothers, friends and I were all into surfing or skateboarding. So, I decided to create a surfing film all about our after-hours adventures. I spent the next year filming everything and piled up the footage, saved up for the best computer I could afford, and I made my first 40min film called After Hours. We organised a grand premiere at the local TAB pub in Rockingham and over 200 people turn up for the launch. People cheered and laughed. It was exhilarating to have such a reaction and that was the moment I was truly hooked and wanted to make films seriously. Since then, I’ve metamorphosed from music videos and corporate videos, into documentary films. 

‘Supporting locals only recently really started appealing to me within the last couple of years. I think from Covid, there was this huge disconnection with community and I had a realisation of how much of the stuff we were relying on is from a global economy that really is very vulnerable and unsustainable. I guess that was a blessing in disguise through Covid. It wasn't so evident before then.

So, supporting local is about changing that with positive change. I can see the more local businesses, crafts and artists, are supported, the greater the community will become. And as a result, we’re not trucking and shipping our goods thousands of kilometres from all across the globe, which is has a huge impact on looking after the earth for future generations. So I say, long live local!’

* Craig and his partner, Regina’s, series Home Grow’n is next on my binge-list because it’s all about how they are turning their 1970s Golden Bay property into a self-sustainable haven using permaculture!

How does sustainability feature in your business?

‘I guess, as I’ve already mentioned, the three ethics Earth Care, People Care, Fair Share encompass the way I approach living sustainably, but they also help in how I make decisions to make sure I am being sustainable in the business, too.

So for instance, I choose to work from home as much as I can and prefer to work locally as much as I can, because it ticks all those boxes.

By working from home, I am not needing to drive, which reduces my need to use fossil fuels. When I seek work, I preferably work with local businesses and organisations as much as I can, so I can stay local and strengthen that connection with community, which is also about helping other locals too.

My partner and I grow all our own vegetables, capture our rainwater for drinking, and have planted over 50 edible trees around our home. Which are just starting to flower for the first time, so in the not too distant future we will be fruit-sufficient too, which is exciting! And, we even have some hens who eat all our scraps and turn them into delicious free-range eggs.

We also have put solar panels on our roof, which runs the editing suite and camera gear, so the films are all made with 100% renewable energy, which is great.

The only thing now, is if I could find computers and cameras that were made ethically, that’d be icing on the cake. For now, I try and purchase used or repair as much as I can, and not update things so frequently. So, yeah. I try to use those ethics, and think about those things when I make a decision to make sure it is sustainable.’

Final Question: What’s your favourite local day out?

‘Hmm… This is a tricky one. There are some really nice things locally that I enjoy, but things have changed a lot from what I used to enjoy to what I do now. I used to really enjoy going out and socialising at the local coffee shops, bars and festivals.

‘But for me now, it’s getting out in nature, walking on the beach, exploring the forests and being curious about the things I discover. Asking the question, “What do you do?”, when I see something I don’t understand. It’s amazing the things I’ve learned by doing that. I try to slow down and just watch the connections between things.’

As an example, lots of people dislike the humble ant. Especially in ant season, which is the Noongar season Djeran (March/ April). Just before the rains come, all the ants pop out everywhere. They climb up through pavers and start frantically farming aphids on trees and are frantically gathering food for winter. At first, they seem like a plague and seeing their mounds popping up all over, we tend to have vengeance to kill them before they take over. But, despite their frantic behaviour, they play an important role. If the ants aren’t killed, come spring, hundreds of lady bugs arrive and lay their eggs on the leaves of trees where aphids live. Their young will eat these aphids when they hatch. And when those lady bugs grow up and become adults, they attract the jumping spider, who loves to eat ants. So, that’s how to stop an ant problem. By letting ants be.

Big tangent, sorry, Jodie. But, what I am getting to is, curiosity.

Curiosity is what led me to discover that, and so I love exploring what nature has to offer in a beautiful part of the world, and it’s why I feel so compelled to make sure we look after the piece of country we step on and why it is my top local day out.’

Natural Soapy Suds

Is there anything more luxurious than slipping into a deliciously warm bath on a cold day, and lathering up with a luxe soap or enjoying the fizz of a bath bomb releasing creamy bath milk, and perhaps even rose petals into the water? And how much fun for the little ones, and for us watching our little ones, as they delight in the bath water changing colour, or enjoying the natural-learning science experiment of watching a bath bomb explode?

Rockingham soap maker, Christine, of Natural Soapy Suds, has been bringing this kind of deliciousness to our local community for the last 3 years. Her business organically bubbled up out of a desire to gift her ‘Zumba girls’ a thank you present, and her students a birthday gift…her generosity started getting expensive, so she decided to maker her own soap. ‘I watched one video on YouTube and that was it. I was totally hooked. I then made so much soap I thought I might try and sell it at the Rockingham markets. Six months later, Rockingham Centre called me and asked if I would do a pop-up shop. After a year of popping in and out, I was asked if I would like to become permanent.
That was 2 years ago.’

Sustainability is an innate part of her products, which include moisturisers, body scrubs and even shaving cream, as well as soaps and bath bombs. ‘My products are all handmade, vegan, friendly and all-natural…I believe in sustainability and all natural products. I also believe in products being biodegradable.’

A personal approach is important to Christine, who delights in connected communication with her customers. ‘I never started my business to sell online. I love the one-on-one contact with my customers. I can recommend how to use my products and explain the ingredients. They get to smell and touch which you can’t do online. I’ve explained to all my customers that they can contact me directly to place an order. Then I can custom their order to suit. Sometimes they ask me to make a product in their favourite fragrance.’

I like people to touch and smell my products. I like to have that interaction and to be able to explain how to use my products. I like to know that my customers are happy. I love feedback. That is how I grow, and I get such joy when I have children having fun with my products. I’m after bath time being fun and enjoyable, even if they have sensitive skin.

Whilst at the Rockingham Shopping Centre, Christine held children’s workshops. ‘The centre allowed me to run fairy dust workshops in the school holidays. It was so much fun. I think it would be fun to do something like that at a child’s birthday party too. If anyone is interested, they can call me directly on 0423 762 944 to enquire about workshops.’

Natural Soapy Suds is now moving towards a more regenerative way of doing business. Christine has moved away from being at the Rockingham Centre on a permanent basis.

‘I’ve loved having some time with my family. That is one of the reasons I decided to go back to being a pop up. Family is so important and I’m missing my grand-children and my children growing up.

Because I make all my products, it can be very tiring trying to sell and make at the same time. Unfortunately, my sales didn’t cover the wages and rent and the cost of the ingredients. I loved having my own shop and my customers are lovely. I’ve made some great friends.

Rockingham centre has been very supportive. I can’t thank them enough. I popped back in for the school holidays and it was great to be back.' Natural Soapy Suds will also be popping up at the Stockland Baldivis Shopping Centre next week. ‘We have grown so much in just 3 years. It’s amazing. My dream is to have a shop with a door. I have no idea where my business is going but I’m really enjoying the journey.’

Christine encourages other Creative Entrepreneurs. ‘Funny, my advice to other entrepreneurs is to never give up. Keep pushing through the tiredness and accept help if it is offered. I’ve had so much support throughout from such wonderful people.
Believe in yourself.’

She’s a Rockingham original, and lives a life she loves, locally.

‘I am a Rockingham Local. I have lived here for 43 years. I grew up here. Went to school here and had my family here. I have watched Rockingham grow in the years. I think we live in a wonderful place. We have such beautiful beaches. Lots of nature and wildlife. We are so lucky.’

It was such a lovely experience to meet Christine. Natural Soapy Suds is also on Instagram. I really love to showcase and support local creative- and community-minded entrepreneurs, so if you identify as one, or know someone who does, please contact me: let’s talk!

Courageous Solutions: Purpose, passion, and learning.

From the moment Phil began telling me about his tutoring and disability support service, Courageous Solutions, which is especially for children and young people that are struggling, I could sense the passion and purpose he feels for his service, underpinned by a serious steadfastness.

Courageous Solutions also works with Sprout Space on their micro-business services.

It has been great to work with young people and an organisation called Sprout Space to walk alongside people that are looking to get themselves established. Our biggest project to date was a 15 year old entrepreneur with a history of trauma that really flourished with a stable relationship from a mentor as he explored and grew his business. It began with cars, giving the inside a vacuum and extended to house window cleaning and car wash. He has a business name, and still appreciates working alongside his Support Workers.

The History

‘The genesis of the idea came from before I was born. My maternal grandfather was a youth worker with handicapped (as they used to be called) after he lost a leg in a motorcycle accident. I remember him driving a station wagon with a hand-throttle in the 1970's. My mum joined him on youth camps and I learned from her, and stories about him, that all people are capable.

Courageous Solutions has been operating since the start of 2023 after I rebranded my tutoring business to reflect the breadth of activities I am involved in. I have been tutoring for over ten years and I returned to disability services in the past three years, finding out about the NDIS and determining what services I could offer.

Prior to teaching I completed an Occupational Therapy degree in 1987 and worked as an OT for 20 years with experience in rehabilitation, aged care and mental health.’

The Why, and the Who For

‘I am driven to help boys and young men to succeed. I help girls and young women as well, but my passion is to show boys and young men what is possible — in study, and in life. There is a lot of hurt out there.’

Whilst Courageous Solutions isn’t a registered NDIS provider, they can work with NDIS Participants who are plan- or self-managed. Tutoring services are currently being provided for learners all the way from year 4 to TAFE. If you are interested, the best way to get in touch is by Facebook or Instagram.

I asked Phil about being locals, and his favourite local day out…

‘We have lived in Mandurah for the past 10 years after spending 20 years in Kalgoorlie, My first visit to Mandurah was in 1989. I have lots of customers in Baldivis and other parts of Rockingham.

I love cycling and kayaking, I now am more deliberate about making time for both after working hard to get the business established and stable. I love the rivers and estuary in Mandurah and getting on the water. A shorter, easier paddle is a loop in the Mandurah Canals and I love the Serpentine River. I also spend time on the bike path beside the freeway, riding from Mandurah to Paganoni Rd or Baldivis.’

There is never any shame in asking for help and support, and there are so many people and organisations out there who truly want to contribute. If you or your child need some support, local services such as Courageous Solutions are just a message away.

Bilya Maali and The Laser Shark

The story of the inception of the Bilya Maali Collection from The Laser Shark, an Indigenous small business in Baldivis, is as family-centred as the rest of the Laser Shark story, with a beautiful back drop of connecting with country and culture. The Laser Shark shop creates wall art, signage, homewares, children’s and educational items, and also creates custom pieces, and sustainability features heavily in their process.

Matt and Shannon, its founders and owners, took a moment to share their story with Southern Harbour during this busy, special time that is NAIDOC Week 2023, a season of the year when we get the lovely opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture, history and achievements.

How would you describe The Laser Shark as a business, and what is its inception story?
Shannon wanted a CO2 laser to add to her growing list of hobbies, and it was an expensive bit of equipment.  Matt made the comment that if she could sell some things on the marketplace to recoup the cost of the laser then that would be ideal. Because he's a stay at home parent, she listed a few things on his Facebook marketplace. Three weeks later we had paid off the laser and The Laser Shark Shop was born.

Matt had spent years as a chef, but when Covid hit, Shannon was heavily pregnant. Hospitality and Covid were not good matches so he quit his job as a FIFO chef and transitioned to a stay at home parent. The Laser Shark Shop became the perfect solution.

What is the Bilya Maali Collective?
For NAIDOC week 2022, Shannon designed an Acknowledgement of Country plaque for the sole purpose of acknowledging the week on our social media accounts, it was never intended to be a product we sold. Once we pressed post, the messages came rolling in with businesses, schools and daycares all over Australia wanting our plaques. Understanding her cultural responsibility and seeing the opportunity to normalise her culture in the classroom, she decided to launch an entire range of Indigenous items.  We launched The Bilya Maali Collective as a way of showcasing her art, inspired by her Torres Strait Islander and Wujal Wujal heritage, and influenced by her travels through remote Indigenous communities across Australia. We felt our Indigenous range deserved its own platform.  We stock so many products, we didn't want that range getting lost on The Laser Shark Shop.

Which language is the Bilya Maali name from? Do you have a specific connection to that language?
We named our business The Bilya Maali Collective after our two daughters, Bilya and Maali - meaning River and Black Swan respectively in the Noongar language.  We never set out to name our children Noongar words, but after a heated discussion about naming our first born, River, Matt found the name Bilya - meaning River. We both fell in love with it and thought it was a beautiful tribute to the Whadjuk Noongar Boodja in which she was born and the land in which we were raised.  Similarly in naming Maali - as soon as we found the name it just felt right. And we decided to name the business after them in hopes that one day it will be their art showcased on our products.  Art is such a raw way to be connected to culture and such an important one in our family and hopefully through art we can raise our children strong in culture.

Where are your mob from? How long have you been in Baldivis?
Shannon's mob is from Erub (Darnley Island) in the Torres Strait Island and with a lot of research and digging she's also traced her heritage to Wujal Wujal in Bloomfield, in Far North Queensland.

Her family moved from Far North Queensland to Perth when she was very young so the Noongar Boodja has always felt like home. In 2017 we bought our family home in Baldivis to be closer to where Shannon works as we planned to start our family.

How do eco-friendliness and sustainability relate to your business?
The Laser Shark Shop and its subsidiaries prioritise sourcing materials and products from sustainable and environmentally responsible suppliers. This involves using recycled or upcycled materials for our products and partnering with suppliers who follow sustainable manufacturing practices. Our shop also focuses on reducing energy consumption by using energy-efficient lighting systems, equipment, and appliances. Additionally, we have fitted out our workshop with renewable energy sources. Our shop is completely powered by solar panels to power our operations alongside a fume extraction air purifying equipment to ensure our emissions are as low as practicable.

We have implemented waste reduction strategies, such as minimizing packaging materials, promoting reusable or recyclable packaging options, and encouraging customers to bring their own bags. We prioritse recycling as most of our off cut wood and acrylic is turned into other products. We adopt eco-friendly production methods where possible, this involves using non-toxic and biodegradable materials, minimising water usage with our closed loop chiller system, and ensuring proper waste management in the manufacturing process.

We believe in sustainable and environmentally conscious suppliers and packaging. It is our belief that businesses must play a central role in solving the global climate crisis, especially as rising sea levels have a direct impact on the Torres Strait Islands, and as a result we have programs in place to offset our carbon footprint.

What’s the one piece of advice you’d give to a new business owner?
Set boundaries for your work / life balance. Its great to put in 100% effort but it shouldn't come at the cost of your home life! Small Business ownership can consume your life if you let it!

How would you describe a perfect local day out?

Our girls love the outdoors and going bush and we are lucky enough in Baldivis to have the Baldivis Children's Forest at our fingertips.  We love to go exploring through there, spotting birds and connecting to the land. On hot days having Point Peron and the Rockingham Foreshore a stone throw away is also a winner in our books!

Vanilla Sprinkles: Cupcakes, Coffee and Community

A warm mug in your hand as you look out to a grey, stormy sea on a Makuru day; the soft, sweet squish of a freshly baked cupcake filling your mouth; breathing fresh, salty, sea air; and the warmth of belonging to your local community: this is what Vanilla Sprinkles Cupcakes and Coffee offers you.

Vanilla Sprinkles Cupcakes and Coffee is a local coffee van business in Point Peron created by Lauren, a professional and pretty impressive Rockingham local; Lauren created her business before even finishing high-school! Vanilla Sprinkles is run from Taylor, a 1953 King Caravan sourced from Bunbury and restored after laying dormant in a shed for the 30 years prior.

Apart from breathing new life into a vintage caravan, other nods to taking care of nature that I love is that Lauren offers to loan a mug to anyone who forgets their keep-cup, provides free water in reusable cups, and provides water for the canine friends of her customers.

Read all about Vanilla Sprinkles Cupcakes and Coffee in Lauren’s own words:

1. How would you describe Vanilla Sprinkles’ vibe as a business?

The Vanilla Sprinkles vibe was very important when I started my business, as it is my love, my home and my passion! I wanted to make sure I passed that along to all who come to Vanilla Sprinkles. Everyone who comes to my little van has become part of my community, my family, and I love learning and sharing my world with them! Vanilla Sprinkles is my happy place, and wanted to pass that on to my audience, with them finding happiness in my cupcakes and coffee.

2. Was there a particular memory or moment that made you want to sell cupcakes and coffee? If not, where did your inspiration come from? 

My inspiration for the business came from my passion of baking from a very young age. I have been making my own birthday cake since I was 10! When I was about 15, I found a YouTuber named Cupcake Jemma, she is one of my idols, a true inspiration to me as well. She was founded by Jamie Oliver, and has built her own cupcake empire in UK called Crumbs and Doilies! I dream to have something like this, one day.

3. What gave you the confidence to launch a business so young?

My confidence comes from my mature and old soul personality! Along with the past 5 hospitality jobs I had, and the fact that I’d run a small craft business at 15 too! I come from a family of owning their own businesses: my dad had a sound music business for while back in the UK. 

4. What is it like to be a young creative business owner? 

Being a young creative business owner definitely has its perks, but also it incredibly hard! I spent the first 2 years of business working non stop, building up an audience, building an income, whilst still working another part time job and managing highschool.  Even after I managed to quit my part time job, I still worked more and harder to get my business where it is today.

Sadly I lost a lot of time to make friends, to go on holidays, and just overall fun stuff a 20 year old does. But now, 3 years later, I can step back a bit, I can have a holiday, I can go out again, and my business will still be there when I get back! The perks of running my own show are starting to show through all the hard work, I just had to be persistent! 

Vanilla Sprinkles is located at Point Peron Wednesday to Sunday 6:30am to 12pm, and cupcakes can be ordered online 24/7. Check Facebook for daily updates.

Lauren pays it forward by using coffee beans from local Baldivis café, Brother of Mine.

Rockingham Visual Arts Society

Rockingham contains a wealth of creative women, and the Rockingham Visual Arts Society is one of the OG collectives. Established in 1976 by a Rockingham Senior High School teacher, the club meets regularly in a heritage listed building to create all different types of art, from watercolours to mixed media, sharing skills and socialising. It’s the longest running Arts & Crafts club in Rockingham. Costs to attend are extremely low and the club is always welcoming to new members (who are not just women).

 Judy, who has been the president of Rockingham Visual Arts Society for the last three years, took the time to tell me more. She described the club’s energy as ‘friendly, the club is about the members and what we can do for them, we pride ourselves on keeping our costs down, and we aren’t cliquey.’

Members are naturally creative and share their knowledge, with leadership being an organic and fluid process.

For example, one member teaches how to make junk journals on Wednesdays, another will be teaching encaustic art and charcoal portraits, whilst another might teach creating art with paint pouring.

You don’t need to be able to teach, however, and when you attend, members are always willing to help. Plus, every member gets a say on what kind of art they’d like to learn about next. It sounds like a true democracy! New members are encouraged to come for three meetings on a casual basis before deciding if they would like to join. Whilst bringing young children is OK, Judy says they must be supervised as they can be disruptive.*

The cost to attend is only $3 for your first class, then $1 for the next two. They welcome people to just turn up on one of the days they are open (you can check their Facebook page for these times) and are located at the Baldivis Reserve, corner Fifty and Baldivis Roads, opposite McDonalds. As mentioned, the building is one of the beautiful heritage-listed buildings here in Rockingham, but it was almost condemned. It was actually the members who rallied against this, and the heritage status was granted in 2013.

The Rockingham Visual Arts club is a not-for-profit and often raises funds for charities, such as at the Mystery Wrap Auction for the Cancer Council’s Biggest Morning Tea, which was held at their recent member’s Morning Meeting, held on the last Monday of the month. What’s a Mystery Wrap auction? Simply, members collect random objects from their home, wrap them in newspaper, and these are auctioned off. A little eccentric and a lot of fun! The club then rounds the proceeds up to the nearest hundred dollars before donating. Quite generous since they receive no funding at all.

I love their stance on sustainability, too. Judy says, ‘We try not to put too big a footprint out there.’ Much of the art is created using recycled materials, even recycled canvases! And there’s a library of donated art books, such as those on watercolours.

The Rockingham Visual Arts Society is not just about art, though. It’s also a community who support one another and socialise together. As well as holding book swaps and clothing swaps, they also gather together for outings, such as an Insight tour with bubbles, non-alcoholic drinks and refreshments at the Rockingham Arts Centre, or lunch.

To get involved, just visit their Facebook page.

*Just as an aside, this view on young children is not shared by Southern Harbour. Southern Harbour feels strongly about welcoming people of all ages, babies and children included, and their mothers and caregivers, into our community spaces. We recognise that it is not always possible nor desirable for mothers and babies to be separated, and creating social spaces within our community where they can be together is vital in easing the social isolation that many mothers of babies and young children often experience in those first few years. And that babies and children bring much value to our community.

Cycling Without Age (for all abilities)

One of the things that I cherish about Rockingham, and what made me decide to live and raise a child here, is the gentle community- and family-vibe I felt when walking along, or driving by, Rockingham foreshore. Another thing was the sense of health and vitality I felt from the people that I passed. And though there are many toned, strong and youthful bodies about, I don’t believe this health and vitality belongs solely to the young and fully abled. Neither does Cycling Without Age, Rockingham.

A few weeks ago, as my son and I were walking up to Churchill Park after visiting Jaffelato, we saw a pair of smiling men lounging back on two beach chairs, in front of 2 three-wheeled bicycles — trishaws. They called out to us and asked if we would like a ride. ‘Maybe!’, I said, intrigued. They explained to me that they were offering free rides, and they said that anyone could access them, but their signage also explained that these were for seniors and people living with disability. These men were a part of the 25 ‘pilots’, as the volunteer cyclists are called.

In fact, all people involved with helping to run Cycling Without Age are volunteers. Along with the 25 pilots, there are 6 committee members; some of these volunteers are doing both roles.

One such volunteer is Diane Webb, their Volunteer and Events Coordinator, who generously took some time out to talk with me on Easter Sunday evening. Actually, given that Diane has volunteered with different organisations for the last 16 years, including Meals on Wheels and the Rockingham Connect bus, I’d say that she is a generous person overall. When the Rockingham Connect bus stopped during the Covid pandemic 2 and a half, maybe 3 years ago, she saw a post on Facebook requesting more volunteers, and signed up. Then 18 months ago, Diane Wall came on board as the Community Captain. Diane and Deb are the ones to contact to book a ride.

Rides are available Mondays and Fridays, 9:30am to 11:30am, from Churchill Park, at the end of Railway Terrace (the grassy spot near the big anchor), open to anyone, no booking necessary. But the trishaws are also available for bookings — contact Diane or Deb via their Facebook page — on the days in between, and are often booked by nursing homes or support workers for their clients. All rides are freely given. As the global website states:

‘The bike rides are free of charge. Our mission is to build bridges between generations and help prevent loneliness: we provide the elderly people an opportunity to avoid social isolation and remain active in their community by taking them out on bike rides and allow them to feel the wind in their hair!’

And whilst the website mentions elderly people particularly, the Rockingham chapter actually raised the funds last year, via sponsorship and grants, to buy a purpose-built trishaw designed to take wheelchairs! There are 4 trishaws in total now: 2 other trishaws fundraised for last year, and the original trishaw they started with, in 2019. A special mention to John Chatfield who founded Cycling Without Age, Rockingham, and Gemma Heaney, who Diana describes as a ‘…Rockingham businesswoman who put together a sponsorship’ to buy the first bike.

“The human heart is too grand to be wasted in the gutter of cultural exclusivity.”

—      Abhijit Naskar (Neuroscientist and poet)

I don’t know about you, but I am passionate about being involved in creating a world where accessibility is the norm. And obviously, Cycling Without Age is, too.

You can read more about the history of Cycling Without Age and watch the TED talk by its founder, Ole Kassow, here.

Sustainable playroom design

Setting up a beautiful playroom sustainably is easier and more cost-effective than you’d think.

I’m doing something differently today and sharing with you a little bit about my life, along with some, hopefully, helpful hints on how to design a play space with child development, the environment, and your budget in mind.

1.       Bring in natural materials, and if possible, natural light.

I don’t think I am breaking any news by suggesting that natural materials create a soothing, relaxing atmosphere, not just for your child(ren) but also for you; being in a beautiful, naturally lit space definitely helps me to be more present when I am playing with my son.

Child-friendly natural materials in the playroom could be wooden furniture — which can be new or second-hand — felt toys, wooden toys, rattan baskets, woven baskets, wooden boxes for storage…you are only limited by your imagination. Even a few items from nature, such as sticks, shells and leaves, can be beautiful additions and inspire children’s imaginations!

One of my son’s favourite things to play with at the moment is a small, incidentally-gathered, collection of rocks.

Natural light enhances happiness, improves focus, and helps us connect to our circadian rhythms. Instead of turning on the bright light in our playroom (and the rest of our home) when night starts to fall, I like to only turn on the amount of light we need and allow our circadian rhythms to gently move us towards sleep. That’s the plan, anyway, and it usually does work (now that he’s almost 4, I will add).

2.       Reimagine household items.

I really love the idea of play silks – as long as they are cruelty free, of course, like the EarthSylk collection, sold by one of my favourite local child-friendly companies, Little Big Learning. They are beautiful to look at, and a gorgeous sensory experience. Sensory play promotes ‘exploration, curiosity, problem-solving and creativity’ (Only About Children), as well as much more.

Play silks are a perfect example of an open-ended toy, which is a toy that doesn’t have a prescribed use. Your little one(s) can take some control and use their imaginations to turn it into anything that they want to be. Play silks are just one example of a sensory and open-ended play-thing.

However, they can also be a little bit expensive, depending on your budget. So, whilst they are absolutely still on my wish-list, in the meantime, I’m using some old scarves, stored in a very pretty, used T2 cardboard box that was the packaging of a birthday gift. My son loves to play not just with the scarves but also with the box.

I also simply use a slightly-too-frayed-to-wear, vintage, black, box-shaped handbag for his ‘doctor’s bag’, along with some second-hand wooden and cloth toy doctor’s accessories, given to my son by his Grandma. He loves it, and doesn’t appear to care that they weren’t brand new when he got them.

3.       Buy second-hand, swap or borrow.

I don’t always buy second-hand…I do have a penchant for beautiful, Montessori-inspired toys, and for birthdays, I often like to splurge a little on my son. But I do buy second-hand a lot, and I think it’s great not only for my budget but also to not pass on any class stigma around second-hand items to my child.

I’d love to see a world where gifting second-hand items (even if they aren’t vintage-quality) doesn’t lessen the perceived value of the gift. (I am at a point where I don’t feel this way when someone gives me a gift, but I do if I give them a second-hand gift; it’s something that I’m working on.) But I digress.

Buying second-hand is also a wonderful way to model ‘reducing and reusing’ and as such is great for the environment. Op shops often employ people living with disability, and I love supporting this. (I think all industries need to be inclusive.)

Buying from places like op shops and Facebook Marketplace and Gumtree can reduce your carbon footprint and connect you with your local community. And there are also ways to enjoy free toys, such as joining ‘buy nothing’ groups on Facebook, using initiatives such as Freecycle, borrowing toys from the Rockingham Toy Library, or swapping with friends. (Which I am sure you are already all over!)

4.       Embrace loose parts play.

Loose parts play is exactly what it sounds like – providing children with a collection of loose parts, that can be either manmade or natural, that are portable and that do not need to be related to each other in any way. This is another example of open-ended play, and I was very interested to learn that it was an architect, Sam Nicholson, who came up with the term ‘loose parts’ — this article on the Aussie Childcare Network page has some excellent background on this. Put simply, loose parts play helps children to connect to their environment, their bodies, and nurture their creativity and cognitive development, amongst other benefits.

A few months’ back, my Mum was sorting through her collection of jewellery. She’s a maximalist and had a LOT to sort through. She asked me if I wanted any of her earrings and I said yes, not for me, but for her grandson. Mum wore a lot of clip-on earrings at one stage, and she really likes the big, colourful ones, so I thought that he may like them for loose parts play, and he does! They now live in a blue cardboard tube that once held kid’s Grin biodegradable dental flosses, and are regularly brought out to be ‘dinosaur food’.

5.       Don’t throw it just because it’s broke.

In her podcast, one of my favourite parenting mentors, Rachel Rainbolt, interviewed Teacher Tom (Tom Hobson) who ‘After nearly 20 years as a teacher at the Woodland Park Cooperative School teaching children from 2-5, he has stepped into a new role as Head of Education for Weekdays where he helps teachers, daycare providers, and parents to start their own play-based neighborhood preschools and daycares’.

One of the things that really stuck with me was when they talked about his time at the co-op school, and how so many of the donated toys were broken yet the kids still loved to play with them! I remember not being too surprised, since children are wonderful at accepting things as they find them and using their imaginations, but wondering if the kids would like the broken version of the toys as much as they would new ones.

Well. Although it does give me a bit of an eye-twitch, haha, to buy plastic toys, when I saw a grabber with a dinosaur head at the Port Kennedy pharmacy, I knew my son would love it. By grabber, I mean, it (was) a long stick with a handle at one end that he squeezed, making the dinosaur’s mouth open and shut at the other end. He played with it every single day. He also smashed it onto things regularly and eventually the handle broke, so I sticky-taped it back together and he then played with it until the jaw broke.

He also has toy cars that are broken, and a pram that has a pretty squeaky wheel (I really need to WD40 it), and he still plays with them. My child can be very physical with his toys, so having some broken ones is a natural consequence.  Alongside that, working to fix them together can be a beautiful natural learning opportunity, and keeping toys that are a little broken counteracts our culture of quick disposability and consumerism.

This is my final tip, though I am sure there are many more ways to design a child-development-led, environmentally-friendly, and economical play space. Maybe there are some things you could teach me?

Whilst not all of these tips may not lend themselves to a playroom or space that serves as click-bait on Pinterest, they will serve your child’s development, and your budget and conscience, and aren’t those things more important, anyway?

Non-toxic paint, from local sources

It’s mid-January, we are well and truly in the Nyoongar season of Birak (hot and dry), and headed towards Bunuru (hot, with easterly winds). We can almost feel the UV rays permeating the air, and the humidity is palpable.

Some of us are still working through our warm-weather home and garden edit, and perhaps painting and/or wood staining is on your list of things to do. And whilst there is a soporific kind of comfort in the warm night-air, especially on those balmy eves at the beach or in the backyard, we would much prefer to be breathing in the smell of sea and salt, than breathing in the toxic fumes coming off a freshly painted wall, or freshly stained garden gate.

As I mentioned in my article on the Paintback program, most commercial paint contains a high level of volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, which have the potential to cause serious damage to our health and the health of our environment. These can range from dizziness and nausea to cancer and even acid rain. Furthermore, VOCs can actually continue to be released into the air in our homes for literally years after first application.

My personal experience: currently (as in right now! I am writing this whilst I wait for the paint to dry) I am rejuvenating my garden gate, and I’ve needed to buy paint that contains VOCs; I’ve also bought completely non-toxic paint. I needed a metallic spray paint that would work on the metal frame of my gate, so I bought Dulux’s Duramax Bright Finish in Bright Copper Rose. I’ve sprayed one light coat, in the open air of my garden, which took me about 10 minutes to do — and I have noticed that my chest feels tight, and it’s harder for me to breathe. Comparatively, I spent a whole evening, a few months ago, painting a kitchen hutch in Fusion Mineral Paint’s Coal Black, coating it twice. I did this in my dining room, and I felt perfectly fine. So, it’s not just a scare tactic — VOCs genuinely do have an effect on us.

Many bigger companies (such as Dulux) are now creating more eco-friendly products, such as Dulux UltraAir. This is wonderful…in my humble opinion, anything that moves us closer to a greener way of living is a positive development. It’s even an Australian company, which I think is really cool.

But if you are keen on using a paint or stain with absolutely no toxins, and supporting small and local businesses in the meantime, here are a few other options.

Something Painted

Something Painted Chalky Finish Furniture Paint is a small WA business created to provide everyday people with an eco-friendly paint that has a chalky, matt finish and absolutely no toxins. The website promises that the paint will dry in 30 minutes, so if you are very busy (perhaps you are an entrepreneur?) but have a penchant for refinishing furniture, then a) I relate and b) this is a great selling point.

Only water is needed for clean up; it sticks to wood, paint, metal and brick; and no sanding or priming is necessary. Price-wise, it ranges from $16 to $54, depending on the size that you need.

I don’t yet have any personal experience with using Something Painted but I am going to give it a go when I upcycle two dining chairs that I purchased from the Salvos in Port Kennedy, for $10 each, so I will write a review then.

Fusion Mineral Paint (and stains, and gels…)

Whilst not an Australian company, Fusion Mineral Paint is still a family company stocked at a family company and that family company is very local. In fact, the same family company — The Upcycled Barn — stocks both this paint brand as well as Something Painted. (The Upcycled Barn also stocks a few more local paint brands that aren’t listed here: I strongly encourage you to head down to Bakewell Drive and check them out for yourselves.) Also, Fusion Mineral Paint manufactures their paint in their own home town, and provides a directory of stockists local to you.

Back to the paint, though…it comes as mineral paint, metallic paint or milk paint in the most delicious and prolific array of colours, a set of paints specifically for children, there’s a stain and finishing oil (SFO) that comes in 5 different shades, furniture wax that comes in 8 shades as well as 2 aromatherapy options, and 4 different specialty finishes — all of which are non-toxic, none of which need a primer or top coat (though they have that as well, for extra durability) and most of which are water-based clean up…

It’s interesting that the zero VOC products I’ve listed so far are all able to be washed up with water. I think it goes to show just how clean they are (no pun intended). But also, how simple to use, and how they contribute to simple living, too.

Fusion Mineral Paint has a massive array of other, complementary products. Prices are mid-range. For example, a 500ml pot of mineral paint cost me $44.

Ecolour

When my son was born, almost 4 years ago now, I wanted to find a paint for his cot (this was before I discovered the magic that is, for us, co-sleeping) but I was worried about the toxins in the paint. Ecolour was the answer that I found.

An Australian brand, albeit from over east, Ecolour’s paints contain zero VOCs and — how cool is this — they can be tinted to match almost any other manufacturer’s colours. Although I painted a cot with this colour, these paints are actually mainly a wonderful option for painting houses, as their range includes wall paint, wet area paint, paint for doors and trims, and a weatherproof exterior paint. Finishes include a low sheen satin and a Tuscan Flat. There’s a urethane for indoor timber floors, which comes in 7 tints, and a sealer for use on concrete and masonry surfaces.

Prices range from around $40 to around $250.

These are just a few of the options available, but as you can see, if you look beyond the obvious, there are so many eco-friendly, healthier options available.

I love to be educated, and I love to showcase local businesses. Can you please tell me: is there a locally made, environmentally conscious paint range that you would have liked me to list here? What about a local painting business that keeps sustainability in mind?

I hope this has been somewhat helpful, and has inspired you to choose a zero VOC product for your next painting project.

Paintback — A Simple and Free Way to Keep Our Planet Clean

We live on a beautiful yet fragile planet, and I believe that if you are reading this you are just as passionate about supporting the health of our environment as I am. But we are also all human, with societal, physical, and financial limitations that impact the resources available to us, at any given moment.

So, whilst our heart’s desire might be to use 100% toxin free products, there are times we may find ourselves in a bind, and one of those times is when we are painting our homes. Or if you are a professional painter, it might not be your call as to which product you use — this might be up to your employer or your client.

You are probably already aware that most housing paint contains volatile organic compounds (VOCs) which can cause harm both to your health (a serious concern for anyone but especially for children, elderly and people living with an illness) and to the environment. But did you know that VOCs can be released into the air from the fumes of your paint for years after the original application? VOCs may cause nausea, dizziness, memory loss, impaired vision, and even cancer.

Air pollutants from VOCs can damage our animals and plants, and cause acid rain, which can kill our aquatic life —something so dear to us in our coastal community.  

Whilst it is ideal to use a zero VOC product, there are only a few, not very-well-known options available, though more eco-conscious products are entering the market. I’ll write about these options soon. For now, what can we do when we have to use, or have unwittingly used, a paint that contains VOCs, to minimise their impact? Well, to protect human bodies we can open up the windows and doors, wear a face mask, and make sure that those who are more vulnerable aren’t present. To protect the environment, something that we can do is to dispose of this paint thoughtfully.

Paintback is an Australian not-for-profit initiative that was started by some of the most well-known paint traders in 2016. The simple idea is to take leftover paint products — both the paint and the packaging — to a recycling facility linked to Paintback, where these products will be collected from and then recycled. And the two closest locations to Rockingham are Cleanaway in Kwinana and Millar Road Landfill Facility in West Baldivis.

You can drop off up to 100 litres at a time, in 20 litre containers, at no charge to you. And it’s not just paint that can be recycled! Wood coatings, varnishes, shellac, primers, and packaging are some of the other products that can be recycled too. There’s a list on the Paintback website, or you can have a look at my Instagram, where I’ve posted a photo of the list.

Right now, Paintback’s process is to separate the paint from the containers, recycle those containers that haven’t been contaminated, and use the paint as an alternative energy source. (How cool is that?!) So far more than 38 million kilos of paint and packaging have been collected since the initiative began.

But Paintback’s bigger aim is to reduce the waste of the paint industry by 90%, using a circular economy model — where products are not simply created, consumed, and discarded, but care is taken from birth to death then rebirth of the product, if you will — and research is being conducted on diverse uses for recycled paint such as making geopolymer concrete, ‘a type of concrete that is made of industrial waste and processed at room temperature. This would significantly reduce the greenhouse gas emissions associated with the production of other cements, which is processed at temperatures over 1400 degrees Celsius’; recycling the plastic from paint buckets to make new paint buckets; and using old paint as an ingredient in road construction materials.

It might take a little extra time to dispose of your paint in this way (and please don’t think I am claiming to be perfect at this!) but if all of us took a little extra time to dispose of our household waste thoughtfully, we may just buy a little extra time for our future loved ones on this planet. Not to mention having a cleaner home to live in today.

Do you know about other eco-conscious community initiatives in and around the Rockingham area? Or even an individual person making a conscious decision that positively impacts our community? Please send me an email at jodie@southernharbour.org or a message on Instagram and let me know, as I am always looking to connect with and showcase local creatives and community-minded entrepreneurs.