Western Australia’s first Hamam opens in Denmark, Western Australia

From Morocco and Spain, to Turkey and Tunisia, and now Denmark, Western Australia.

Western Australia’s first Hamam (Turkish bath) has just opened at Denmark’s exclusive boutique lodge Chimes Spa Retreat.

According to Michelle Randle of Chimes Spa Retreat, there has already been an overwhelmingly positive response from South Coast residents to this new day spa service, and it is sure to be popular with visitors to the region.

Hamam is an Arabic word meaning 'spreader of warmth'.

“The universal appeal of the authentic luxurious treatment of the Hamam is the sense of community, social networking, friendship and relaxation that it creates – and the fact you can enjoy the three baths - the cold plunge, the warm bath and the hot spa,” Mrs Randle said.

Throughout history ancient civilizations have praised the virtues of daily bathing, not only for the therapeutic and wellness benefits associated with it, but also for its cultural and social aspects.

“After identifying the Hamam as an emerging day spa trend in the United States, we decided to take advantage of the fact our two Balinese therapists had experience in working in a Turkish Hamam,” Mrs Randle said.

“So we built Australia's second Hamam - the other one is in Sydney, and I believe Chimes has the only two trained Hamam therapists in Australia.”

A large communal treatment room has been created at Chimes Day Spa, which provides services in its own right, and also creates a place for clients between treatments.

Mrs Randle said the Hamam was a fantastic addition to Chimes Day Spa’s already extensive list of treatments.

Chimes Day Spa currently have an introductory offer until the end of May. Book a Hamam session ($25) and bring a friend for free. Chimes will also tailor the Hamam treatment into three parts so clients can buy a Hamam Session and just chill out without adding the scrub and massage.

The Hamam will be officially opened on May 30. For bookings phone +61 (0)8 9848 2255; open 7 days 8am-6.30pm. Visit www.chimes.com.au or email stay@chimes.com.au

Your future in safe hands with AU Finance

There has never been a better time to consider your financial future, according to Vicki Taylor of AU Finance in Albany in the Great Southern of Western Australia.

“Now is the right time to find the right professional advice to help you and your business reach your financial goals sooner,” Ms Taylor said.

Ms Taylor recently consolidated her expertise under the new business name of AU Finance which caters for business and personal financial requirements including tax, accounting, auditing and financial planning requirements, and has experience with all business structures including partnerships, trusts, companies and Self Managed Super Funds (SMSF).

Albany born and bred, Ms Taylor is an experienced professional with a Master of Commerce and a Diploma of Financial Services. She is a registered Tax Agent, an accredited financial planner and Fellow of the Institute of Public Accountants.

AU Finance clients can benefit from Ms Taylor’s local knowledge and extensive professional experience which includes working in government departments, small businesses, not-for-profit organisations and her own business.

“AU Finance takes pride in the high standards we maintain and wealth of knowledge and experience you, our client, can expect to receive,” she said.

“To ensure we deliver our clients quality advice, we keep up-to-date with legislation changes and with the latest business issues relating to accounting, taxation, financial services and other similar topics.

“For our commercial clients, AU Finance is committed to ensuring the success of your business. We will work with you and provide the professional advice to assist you in achieving your goals.

“When you come to AU Finance you can be assured you are talking to someone who will listen to your needs and who is able to cut through the technical jargon.”

On a personal level, Ms Taylor has long given back to the community through sponsorship of local horse and pony clubs, and has been the auditor and treasurer of many groups over the years.

For integrity in business contact Vicki Taylor at AU Finance on (08) 9841 5110 or email aufinance@omninet.net.au.

Australia’s latest digital women’s magazine ready to launch on March 8

Expect the extraordinary with Golden Pen magazine

The publishers of Australia’s latest digital women’s magazine say readers can expect something extraordinary when it is launched on International Women’s Day, March 8.

“We have invited experts in their fields to contribute and we know that this magazine will offer something a little different,” according to publishing editor Hayley Solich.

Golden Pen Magazine™ is a women's magazine focused around the principles of sustainability, empowerment, innovation and creativity, embracing knew technology by integrating multi-media.

“We live in a world that is rapidly changing and where we are faced daily with challenges. Golden Pen Magazine™ seeks to capture the wisdom for many aspects of life, so that we can pass it on that more people may experience true abundance,” Mrs Solich said.

"Our intention is to empower our readers in whatever way that we can.  We also want to challenge people to think. It is particularly fitting we should launch the magazine on International Women’s Day, as we will be featuring so many extraordinary women and their wisdom in this issue.”

So what can you expect in this inaugural issue? Paralympian and motivational speaker Jessica Smith, shares her body image video and story; Frances Carrington, owner/designer of label Eternal Creations reveals how she is changing the landscape for Tibetan refugees and Comedian and Campaigner, Julie Gale, talks children, sex and the need for tighter regulation of advertising.

There will also be clues on how to find your flare in your home as shared by Interior Stylist, Karen Creith or discovering what your relationship with money is like as shared by Financial Educator, Christine Camp.

In all there will be 88 pages of ‘pure wisdom’ for you enjoy at your leisure from your laptop, desktop, ipad or mobile phone. Golden Pen Magazine will be portable and easy to navigate, presented in a magazine flip page reader for your convenience, with the options to print should you so desire,” Mrs Solich said.

“Subscriptions are now available. Once the magazine is launched, you will receive an email notifying you that your copy is ready for viewing. If you subscribe for 12 months you will join the exclusive Golden Pen Subscriber’s receiving extra information about our featured guests, special offers from our sponsors, and details of all our competitions, discount vouchers and prize giveaways.”

All advertising enquiries should be directed to Andrew Crawford on 0413 452 452.

 For more information and further comments contact Hayley Solich on 0401 040 008 or go to http://www.goldenpen.com.au

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By Denise Smithson

Torontoist summed it up right when they wrote: “There is something undeniably joyous about a massive red ball. One that eases itself into unexpected public places is rather impossible to resist.”

And so it has been appearing around Albany, Western Australia, this weekend as part of the Great Southern program of the Perth International Arts Festival (PIAF).

The irresistible RedBall snuck into the Albany Town Hall where it attracted lots of attention. People photographed it, touched it and tried to bounce against its slick, soft surface.

This award-winning project from New York artist Kurt Perschke certainly has a way of transforming cities into an unexpected canvas of possibilities.

The RedBall is just one example of why I love PIAF – you just never know what you might experience!

Now in its tenth year, the Great Southern Festival offers world-class arts events in a region renowned for breathtaking landscapes and award-winning food and wine.

I remember when Great Southern festival director Rod Vervest first revealed that PIAF was supporting a regional festival – as the then Albany Advertiser arts journalist and  later the newspaper’s editor, I got right behind this fantastic opportunity to bring arts, of all shapes and forms, to the forefront of public debate.

Today, according to the current artistic director Jonathan Halloway, almost 50 per cent of the population engage with the Great Southern festival – that’s an impressive statistic.

But even amid such success, we must not become complacent - the more we make it our festival through sponsorship and support, the more we show ourselves to be culturally sophisticated and switched on to contemporary society.

It’s great to hear people discuss what they have seen; whether a play was challenging or fun, or their impressions of an exhibition – what is important is that we have that dialogue going on where we discuss and listen to other’s opinions.

The arts is big business and a vital part of a healthy community.

The region has an incredible pool of talented artistic people; it would be great that they continue to call the Great Southern home while still enjoying a professionally satisfying career with lots of opportunities like those the festival offers.

We need to continue to foster and nurture all that is creative in our community – wherever that may be - because the benefits are many and far-reaching.

Enjoy the festival! http://www.perthfestival.com.au/en/

Interior stylist has the wow factor

Parkes-based businesswoman Karen Creith has gone from furniture retailer to creating a whole new career as an interior stylist and columnist, as well as editor-in-chief of her own magazine, Style Your Home With Karen Creith - all in a matter of months.
Karen created an innovative business concept that has made her business brand stand out from the crowd and she wants to share her insights to help others find success.
As part of a second-generation family furniture business, Karen knew they had to do something different to survive tough economic times. And thanks to Karen the business has gone from surviving to thriving.
“Our family business, Furniture One, has been around for 46 years and has a great following in Parkes, NSW, but I knew we needed to do something different to create more opportunities and expand our market share,” she said.
“I love decorating and having a furniture business gives us a unique point of difference. So I approached the local paper to see if I could write a column giving home decorating advice and tips – I also secured a spot on the local radio. The result of which brought a whole new group of clients through our doors.
“Similarly, we had built a lovely new home that had been styled within an inch of its life by me so I approached a regional magazine to have it featured, and then because it came up so well, I secured coverage in a national magazine.”
Before she knew it, Karen was writing regular columns on home styling for two national magazines - Modern Home and Home Ideas. Karen’s engaging content and cheeky titles like, The Art of Faking It and The Importance of Having a Good Shag, have proved a hit with the public and quickly led to the icing on the cake – her own magazine.
Style Your Home With Karen Creith magazine is an instructional guide to styling and is on sale nationally.
“My philosophy is that everyone deserves a beautiful home regardless of their budget. I absolutely love helping people to make their dreams become a reality and give them a home that they will love to come home to,” she said.
“What started out as an idea to create greater exposure for our business has erupted into opportunities I never dreamed possible – and the key was to just ask.
“My business messages are about being confident, fully utilising your skills and making the most of opportunities when they present themselves.”
Karen’s services range from complete design layouts that result in a furnished and completely styled and decorated home or advice on colours, kitchen and bathroom designs and renovations.
“It’s endless the possibilities of how I can structure my service but at the end of the day I can give your home the wow factor it needs,” she said.
Along with a new website, Karen has just launched her online store which is stocked with lots of items to create an overall styled look. Visit the website at http://karencreith.com.au/