March 7, 2022 Australia’s first all-female distilling company, Clovendoe Distilling Co., reports success in the non-alcoholic beverages market with founder Catie Fry at the helm. Clovendoe Distilling Co. is Australia’s first mindful drinking beverage company, selling only low alcohol and non-alcohol spirits that are blended with over 20 Australian botanicals. Fry has overcome many challenges to make this launch happen. Not only do non-alcoholic beverages make up less than one per cent of the market, but the distilling industry is heavily male dominated. “In the early days, despite being a partner in Capricorn Distilling Co. and actively working, I was often considered only for the ‘more female’ appropriate tasks, rather than given an option to work alongside the men who were physically distilling,” Fry said. “So, I started making my non-alcoholics (Clovendoe Zero) in 2017 – however juggling motherhood and battling with self-confidence as a distiller, refrained from launching.” Fry is one of the few female distillers in Australia. She expresses how difficult the gender bias has been to overcome. “For me, it’s been a daunting and intimidating industry to be in, as a woman. I have worked extremely hard to deliver a profitable mindful drinking brand,” she said. “I believe I’ve had to work harder than my male colleagues to be taken seriously in the industry after often feeling a gender bias, in the way of condescending comments. “Funnily enough, it was through my experiences of gender bias that drove me to commercially launch Clovendoe; all the times I had been ignored and overlooked in the industry was what gave me the passion to launch my own company.” Clovendoe Distilling Co. is working towards offering female traineeships to help build the industry and make the profession of distilling as a female the norm. Since the launch of Clovendoe Distilling Co. in 2020, the non-alcoholic beverage market share has risen by 2.9 per cent in 2020, and IWSR is forecasting that the no- and low-alcohol volume in Australia will grow by 16 per cent by 2024. A recent study indicates that more Australians are giving up alcohol, stating that between 2016 and 2019 the proportion of people who were ex-drinkers increased from 7.6 per cent to 8.9 per cent – approximately 1.9 million people. The proportions of people drinking daily and weekly have been falling since 2004 and are now at the lowest point since 2001. Fry has also been surprised by the percentage of men purchasing Clovendoe. “Some of our most loyal and repeat customers are men, many of whom are not who I would have typically thought – I’m talking 30- and 50-year-old tradie types,” she said. Loyal fan, Keith Benson, said: “Since discovering Clovendoe Zero, I drink that throughout the week. I have cut my drinking down from six nights a week to one and have lost a tonne of weight.” To find out more, visit www.clovendoe.com.

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May 18, 2022 Australians have been known to be an inventive bunch. Some of our most iconic creations include Vegemite, the Hills Hoist, cask wine (a personal favourite), and let’s not forget every tradies preferred mode of travel – the ute. But did you know that this inventive streak continues into the snow industry? Here’s our list of 10 unique Aussie snow brands that need to be on your radar, shaking up the local and global industry as we know it. Le Bent, style and function top to bottom Founded in 2010, LeBent is the brainchild of two Aussie mates and long-time ski bootfitters, Simon and Anthony. The duo’s first product was a technical snow sock made from a natural blend of Merino wool and bamboo. Fast forward to today, and they’ve continued with their Signature Blend love affair, extending it across socks, baselayers, midlayers, and accessories with an aim to blur the lines between luxurious comfort, performance, and style. XTM Performance, outerwear for all the family If you were tuned into the Winter Olympics earlier this year, you may have seen our next brand flash up on your screen. Founded in 1999, XTM Performance has been the official supplier to the Aussie Winter Olympic Team for over 15 years. Makes sense since one of their founders, Pete Forras is an Australian Olympian himself. The team at XTM designs wallet-friendly snow apparel for the whole family and can essentially dress you from head to toe, all whilst being 100% Carbon Neutral. On top of this, they recently pledged Net-Zero Carbon Emissions by 2040, proving that affordability and sustainability don’t need to be mutually exclusive. Zone by Lydia Lassila, relaxed at the lodge Another Australian Olympian forging their own path in the retail world is Lydia Lassila. The 2010 Winter Olympics, gold-medal-winning, Aerial Skier. After retiring from elite sport, the loving Mum and quick-witted entrepreneur turned her sights on creating sustainable yoga accessories and apparel. Zone’s collection of activewear would not be out of place next to a crackling fireplace after a long day on the slopes. Made from a blend of hemp and organic cotton, the luxe activewear is self-described as “so comfy you won’t want to wear anything else” and to that, we say “challenge accepted”. Yuki Threads, urban mountain wear Just like LeBent, Yuki Threads was founded in 2010 by another Aussie duo. After spending back-to-back seasons between Mt Buller and Japan, Mitch and Lani saw an opportunity to create apparel that could bridge the gap between mountain and street style. Beginning with their iconic riding hoody, the collection now spans across outerwear and apparel. Yet another Aussie brand focusing on sustainability, the team at Yuki invests 1% for the planet, uses Fairtrade certified cotton, and partners with Eden Reforestation Projects. ROJO Outerwear, for women by women The oldest of all the brands on our list, ROJO has graced retail shelves since 1987. Realising there was a gap in the market for female-designed snow and surf-inspired clothing, Roe and Jo (get it…ROJO) took on the boys and ended up growing their simple passion for hand-crafted styles into a much-loved alpine lifestyle brand. Following their mantra “born in the mountains, lives by the ocean”, ROJO continues to deliver laid-back styles that are considered down to the finest detail so snow-loving girls and women can keep warm, dry, and comfortable on and off the mountain. Nobody’s Princess, the pants you need in your snow life Going from Aussie snow brand royalty to the new kid on the block, Nobody’s Princess is another Australian-owned snow brand made specifically for women. Sick of wearing ill-fitting ski and snowboard pants, founder Maria decided to take action into her own hands. Launching in 2020 with a crowd funder for design, production and manufacture, the much heralded (and needed) pants arrived earlier this year. Nobody’s Princess creates outerwear pants specifically made to fit more sizes, heights, and body shapes than any other on the market. With a size range up to AU 22, plus short and tall fit options, Maria’s mission is to instill confidence on the slopes for all women, starting with a good fit and plenty of comfort. SNOBODi, sustainable care Another new kid on the block, SNOBODi creator Hugh Wilcox wanted to design and create snow outerwear that could withstand the test of time. His goal – reduce the amount of clothing that ends up in landfill each year. Understanding that younger generations were fed up with the excessive consumption-driven behaviour of their older peers, the SNOWBODi collection aims at blending timeless design with durable performance features so you can wear it season, after season, after season. Snuph Wax, 100% philanthropy Taking a detour from apparel, next we have Snuph Wax. Snuph is all about making a difference. Whether that be the eco-ingredients of their iron-on, all-natural ski and snowboard wax that aims to stop harsh chemicals melting into our waterways. Or, their commitment to donating 100% of profits to help sick Aussie kids at Monash Children’s Hospital. Who would have thought one simple purchase of wax could make so much of a difference? Kyneee Snowboards, fun and functional Based out of Sydney, Kyneee is a small Australian-owned snowboard company whose goal is to make great products at good prices, without the unfounded marketing spin. The team at Kyneee was sick of seeing the big snowboard players pop up with the same tech under different names just so riders would upgrade their gear each year for no reason. So they took to making their own snowboards and haven’t looked back since. Rad Gloves, durable value Conceived in Victoria’s Falls Creek, Rad Gloves is all about making durable, stylish, fun snow gloves, that don’t cost an arm and a leg. With the notion that some of the harshest conditions can be found here at home, Rad Gloves’ design process includes plenty of on hill testing here in Aus. Presumably, this brand’s philosophy must be working with the team now successfully hitting US shores with their own NBA-inspired co-lab. Sontimer, eyewear for the snow Sparked from an idea to make quality goggles at an affordable price, Jindabyne local Stefan set to work on shaking up the Goggle industry, founding Sontimer in 2006. Tested in all types of snow conditions across Australia’s Snowy Mountains, Sontimer aims to prove that the all-important snow eyewear you buy can be stylish, functional, and durable without the exorbitant price tag. So that’s our list of 10 Aussie snow brands you need to know. After a tough two years, here’s hoping we can all get behind them this winter and show the world that Australian ingenuity is more than just vegemite and beachwear but a force to be reckoned with on the slopes.

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Australian families continue to be financially stretched by the rising cost of living with early childhood education and care (ECEC) a significant additional cost amongst the increases in fuel, groceries and more. Nurch Childcare Loyalty Rewards is helping to try and ease the strain by assisting enrolled families with points that can be put toward everyday spending. “As the ECEC sector’s only loyalty rewards program, our mission to support children, their families and the teams that own and operate ECEC centres is one which is unique.” Kara Smyth, General Manager and Cofounder of Nurch Childcare Loyalty Rewards said. “Nurch is currently available across a network of 39 centres and the positive feedback it is receiving emboldens us to continue forward towards our goals.” “By participating in our program families are able to reduce their household spending while centres are able to offer a value-added differentiator to their competitors that can help attract and retain enrollments, which in turn helps keep the centre running well, educators in employment and creates a consistent learning environment for the children” Nurch received well at partner centres A parent of a partner centre says that while her family expenses are considerable, the most important aspect of ECEC is that her children are happy and in the right learning environment. “I have three children attending an AMAZE Education service,” said a parent from Gaven. “We recently moved and despite having a centre fifteen minutes from our house we choose to drive 45 minutes each way so they can stay at AMAZE.” “The educators are like our extended family”, the Gaven parent said, “My husband and I earn full-time wages but daycare is considerable expense, and while the CCS changes have helped, Nurch is a big help that will help to cover a portion of the $450 we spend in groceries each week or the never-ending clothes costs that come with having young boys”. “By allowing families to earn a minimum of one point per dollar spent on childcare gap fees, Nurch allocates points that are then redeemable at over 100 Australian retailers,” Ms Kara McCarthy, Centre Director at Amaze Education Gaven said. “Simply put, while families are paying out of pocket expenses on childcare, they’re receiving money to spend on everyday items. We are deeply humbled how we can help families navigate this difficult period.” Using Nurch points to reduce overall household spending a big plus for families According to the ABS, inflation is now annualising at around 5.1 per cent, the highest rate of increase since 2009 with particular moves in transport, housing and education costs. In a recent survey of Nurch members, 80 percent of respondents said that they see value in the loyalty rewards program, with 49 per cent confirming they use the loyalty rewards program to reduce their household and children related spending. Lucy Cook, General Manager and Cofounder at AMAZE Education said “Our number one priority is the welfare of our children and families.” “Nurch has given us the perfect opportunity to give back to families for a bill they have to pay. We are even able to include bonus points for public holidays. The fact that the program is automatically reinvesting part of our marketing spend to benefit enrolled families first is a smart business model and no-brainer for us.” This view was echoed by Nadine Ross, General Manager at Imagine Childcare who noted that they had seen the dual benefit of supporting families with costs but also an increase in overall enrolment as families elect to choose a centre with Nurch as part of their offer. “We currently have 26 centres that offer Nurch and more to launch soon. The feedback from families and centre directors has been overwhelmingly positive,” Ms Ross said. “We have seen an overall increase throughout these centres, even through COVID. Our occupancy increased by three percent, compared to 2019, and I attribute this success to our educators, sales team and the Nurch program. It’s the winning combination. Families love that they can choose how they spend their points with the trend at the moment being that they like to use the points to buy groceries.” To learn more about the Nurch rewards program please visit the website, here.

Men are notorious for being difficult to buy gifts for, so Vicky Brown decided to create the best possible gift for men when she launched her unique gift hamper business, Crate Day. According to research from the Australian Retailers Association (ARA) in conjunction with Roy Morgan (2021), Australians were estimated to spend $800 million on Father's Day presents, with the average gift costing $93. In a separate survey conducted by Brown, many women found buying gifts for men difficult. She also surveyed over 200 Australian men to find out what they want in a gift, with the results indicating that they wanted something practical and of high quality. "Seventy per cent of women whom I asked if they found buying gifts for men difficult said, yes - something I have felt for a very long time," she says. "I felt as though I needed to come up with a concept that men would love receiving - an eco-friendly box [crate] of everything men love - and a fun memorable experience women want to give." The handmade wooden crates are filled with high quality products (95 per cent Australian) based on the research into men's gifting, while offering a fun and memorable experience as they are completely sealed and can only be opened with the supplied pry bar. In the same survey, it was revealed that 57 per cent of participants are interested in beer related products and 45 per cent like to receive barbeque products. "The findings from my research into men's gifts was really interesting. The most important factor to receiving a gift for men is to be of high quality and something they could use; when I asked women the same question, they said they look for gifts that are memorable and of high quality," Brown adds. During the July 2021 launch, the increasingly popular crates were a go-to gift for over 250 gift-givers last Father's Day including Daniel Mantzakos who says, "I got a crate delivered for my dad on Father's Day, he loved it, he's even keeping the crate for storage," while another Crate Day fan says "the novelty of the crate is perfect, my dad absolutely loved his Father's Day crate". Delivered anywhere in Australia, there is an option to handpick products to 'build your own' or choose the 'done for you' crates.

The authentic taste of a Texas barbecue is now available in Christchurch. The succulent flavours and meats are within easy reach via food truck, ready to be booked for all of your events. Truck Norris Texas BBQ is the first South Island food truck bringing classic American flavours to Christchurch cuisine. Juicy meats such as beef brisket, pork belly, St Louis ribs, and more are all smoked and prepared with perfection through in-built gravity-fed smokers in the Truck Norris truck. Simply pick your meat and sides and serve up a storm at your next function. Amongst tricky times, Truck Norris is the stress-free caterer you need. Providing the food, wait staff, tableware, clean up, and even flexible dates for cancellations, you will be given the freedom to join your guests without worry. Matt, the owner of Truck Norris, says the best part about his food truck is “just having the freedom to be able to do what I enjoy” and with great passion comes great food. The qualified chef has worked with food his whole life, cooking at top restaurants, festivals and for many celebrities before pursuing his meat-smoking dream. Head online to book your next meat feast, or browse their range of sauces and products for those at-home barbecue get-togethers. www.trucknorrisbbq.co.nz

But it took four years for her concerns to be taken seriously, and for doctors to find what was making her little girl so sick she told her mum she 'didn't want to be here anymore'. As Amalos told 9Honey, Sienna had become so ill she stopped growing dropping from the 75th percentile to the fifth, and that within one six-month period she contracted glandular fever, Influenza A and whooping cough, passing all of these on to her younger sister, Mya. The mum, then living in regional Victoria, first noticed Sienna would come down with viruses after starting kindergarten, which left her with high fevers, mouth ulcers and stomach pains. READ MORE: Mum blasted for letting vegetarian child eat meat at party At first she put these down to bad luck, but when the same symptoms kept repeating every four-six weeks, Amalos suspected more was going on. "It started to seem odd to me that she was getting the same virus every four-six weeks. She'd get high fevers, up to 42°C at times and I'd be carrying her into the doctors completely out of it and slumped over in my arms," Amalos said. I would be really alarmed, but it would be the same thing every time. They'd say, 'There's nothing wrong, there's no infection, we can't see anything happening it must just be a virus'." READ MORE: A letter to parents facing their first Christmas without a child Amalos was also concerned about Sienna's size. While all her classmates had shot up, her daughter had stayed the same size. The pain of her mouth ulcers also made it difficult for her to eat, and she was concerned she was underweight. Although doctors took blood tests, they could never find any cause for her symptoms. Estimating the family paid 'thousands' in private doctor's fees to try to find answers, Amalos said no one could tell them what was wrong. "It was just a constant, not being heard. We were in and out of emergency because her temps were so high and she was getting dehydrated and they'd send her home," Amalos said. After three years, when Sienna was 'sleeping all the time' and had started to lose weight, Amalos drove her to the Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne, three hours from their home. "I sick of everyone ignoring me and sending me home. I thought she's going to die and no one's going to have done anything. I can't sit around and watch her be this sick and do nothing," she said. READ MORE: Brisbane mum dies a year after cancer diagnosis on day she gave birth "The doctor who saw her felt her stomach and said, 'She's really sick, she needs to be admitted'. They discovered her spleen and her liver were severely enlarged." Doctors immediately started testing for things such as leukemia, which thankfully came back negative. Once these had been ruled out, they looked to Periodic Fever, Aphthous Stomatitis, Pharyngitis, Adenitis Syndrome (PFAPA), a rare condition that can occur in childhood, usually between the ages of two and five. Although she'd not heard of it before, Amalos said it explained all the symptoms. But their long road to answers took its toll on Sienna. "She'd just lie there crying, saying, 'I don't want to be here anymore. What's the point of living if it feels like this all the time?'" The family had also lost a lot of friends, as the fevers would hit suddenly and they'd have to cancel parties and playdates on short notice. Eventually, the invites stopped. Not to mention the 'huge amounts' of school she'd missed out in. Not long after being diagnosed, Sienna underwent a tonsillectomy , which can reduce symptoms in some patients. While her fevers have subsided, she continues to experience 'feverless flares'. The family has also relocated to Queensland, hoping the warmer weather will help her. Amalos says it's hoped Sienna, now 10, may grow out of the condition, as can sometimes happen, though as it's such a rare condition it's not known what the future holds. One thing Amalos is sure of is that her 'mum instinct' helped her push back against the constant dismissals. Something she urges other parents to follow. "The biggest message for other mums going through this is to just keep going, even if you're constantly being pushed back. I knew something was going on, I had to keep fighting it and fighting it and it was so lonely, for so long. But it was worth it in the end," she shared. "If you think something is wrong, you know your kid better than anyone, don't let anyone tell you differently. Just don't stop." For a daily dose of 9Honey, subscribe to our newsletter here.

It seems like most people love to hate Valentine’s Day. Celebrated on February 14, there’s something about the stuffed teddy bears, set restaurant menus, and flower deliveries that seem to get on our nerves more so than whatever is being peddled around Christmas or Easter. But relationship expert Dee Tozer says that in her experience, love it or hate it, embracing the day as a couple might be the key to a happy relationship, or even saving a marriage. “It is my responsibility, and personal investment, to check in with my couples at 12 months and 2 years, post working with me. Ninety-four per cent (non-infidelity), 96 per cent, after infidelity — report they are doing well and haven’t looked back,” says Dr Tozer. There may be plenty of readers who don’t agree with this, however in her 35 years of repairing relationships and marriages, Dr Tozer has identified a direct correlation between not celebrating Valentine’s Day and being in an unhappy marriage. In fact, she claims of the 5,000+ couples she’s worked with, there has been an almost non-existent interest in even acknowledging the day. “Over my 30 years in the profession — of the 5,000 unhappy couples that I have helped to repair and revitalise their relationships, there is one standout; almost 100 per cent did not acknowledge — let alone celebrate — Valentine’s day,” Dr Tozer says. But first, if you plan on celebrating Valentine’s Day, here are 10 practical gifts you can purchase for your partner. Story continues below. Australia’s leading couples therapist — Dee Tozer Here are the most common reasons Dr Tozer has heard as to why couples in crisis don’t celebrate Valentine’s Day. 1. Couples that feel the day is over-commercialised and resist acknowledging it. When asked by Dr Tozer why the couples she works with don’t want to celebrate Valentine’s Day, they list off Hallmark cards, flowers etc. with distaste. But couldn’t the same be said of Christmas or Easter? Many believe the holiday was created by Hallmark to attract sales in the 80s, much like Mother’s Day. But you might be surprised to know that the history of the day dates back to 5th century Romans, however, it has been widely celebrated as a day of romance since about the 14th century. While the origin of the tradition is mostly religious, so too is Christmas, Easter and even Father’s Day — all of which are celebrated with greeting cards and the giving of gifts. The difference? It’s a rare thing to not celebrate those. 2. Couples who lose sight of their foundations forget that Valentine’s Day helps them rekindle the spark. The endless need to compromise; the overwhelming stresses of work and kids can definitely contribute to ‘killing the vibe’. “I sometimes compare a relationship to a merry-go-round, it’s fun but loses its excitement with each lap. It’s easy to lose sight of why they got on the ride in the first place,” says Dr Tozer. “The priority to dedicate time to indulge in each other’s love is diluted to the point where not celebrating that love becomes the norm.” Dee Tozer talking to one of her couples. Image: Supplied. 3. Parent couples who focus too much attention on their children. A crucial part of some marriages is the ability to balance parenting. Now, this in itself is a task to master — a parenting balance that allows each person to feel revitalised, and in turn, free their mindset and redirect their attention to each other. Unfortunately, a common reality for couples is that one or both parents are exhausted or feel undervalued, possibly even resentful. Focusing on children is unavoidable but as an aside, they often also don’t celebrate wedding anniversaries, birthdays, Valentine’s Day, only celebrating kid’s births, kid’s birthdays, kid’s achievements. 4. Misconceptions, envy and couples that are on different wavelengths. As old-fashioned as it seems, there is a general consensus among lovers that Valentine’s Day is about husbands pursuing wives. “I have heard from hundreds of women, on or around Valentine’s Day, how hurt they were to see work colleagues receiving flowers, gifts sent to the office on Valentine’s Day but they didn’t get anything,” Dr Tozer reflects. “However, in the same retrospect, I’ve heard from a lot of men (perhaps 100 — not hundreds) that they sent flowers and were not even thanked for them, or put to the interpretation from their wives that they ‘just want sex’.” Whether this is true or not, isn’t that the idea of Valentine’s Day — to express your love for your other half? So, why you should celebrate Valentine’s Day From Dr Tozer’s experience, it’s easy for couples to develop resentment and focus on each other’s negatives — flaws, faults and deficiencies with criticism dominating their relationship. The mindset shift to positively celebrate their affection for each other is major. How to shift out of the negative sentiment around celebrating their love is not the easiest to do without the right help or guidance; To honour the couple’s bond and loving togetherness, maintain emotional warmth and enhance or reignite their romantic spark — keeping love alive is the overall goal. “A key part of what I do with couples in crisis is guide them in how to honour each other — what that means, and how to overcome their blockages to this after years of toxic interactions. I am fully pro celebrating Valentine’s Day, and you should be, too.” Dee Tozer is one of the world’s most successful qualified, experienced couples psychologists of almost 35 years, and an up to 96 per cent success of building stronger relationships. She is a published author and master coach for couples in crisis because of infidelity, compulsive behaviours and substance overuse or abuse.