Author Archives: Emily Facoory

Jessica Watson made her worldwide debut back in 2010 for being the youngest person to sail solo and unassisted around the world. At just 16 years old the Queensland native completed her circumnavigation and became a worldwide sensation. While still sailing the now 24 year old has been busy completing her studies and has now just recently debuted her first young adult novel, Indigo Blue.

Is there any similarities between you and Alex besides your love of sailing?

Alex is her own character but I can’t deny that there’s a bit of me and many of the people around me in her. Besides her obvious love of sailing I suppose another thing that we share is a belief that fairy tales can be real, but that we’re responsible for creating them.

How long did it take for you to write Indigo Blue?

It wasn’t a quick process! For as long as I can remember I’ve always known that I wanted to write stories. Since the voyage around the world I’ve found myself spending a lot of time telling other people that they should pursue their own dreams so when I had a few quieter weeks during uni holidays back in 2014 I decided I’d better listen to my own advice and make a start. Then once I’d started, and although I was also busy with a lot of other things, I couldn’t stand the idea of not finishing something so it became a matter of working out what I needed to do to finish it. I enrolled myself in writing courses, took on relevant uni subjects, and sortout as many opportunities to write as possible. Taking on assignments with publications like Australian Geographic were fantastic as their editors really pushed me. Then began the process of making it a publishable book with my amazing editors, there were so many ‘oh I get it now’ moments as they showed me where I was going wrong with the stories structure.

What did you find was the hardest part of the writing process?

Getting the first rough draft out on paper was the part that I found most challenging. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed the redrafting and restructuring process.

What advice would you give to your 17 year old self?

I certainly wasn’t doing everything right at the time, but I’m not sure that my 17-year-old self would have really benefited from any advice that I could give now. Any of the silly things I did at the time made me who I am now. Perhaps I would tell myself to start being obsessive about sun protection asap!

What inspired you to write Indigo Blue?

I couldn’t understand why the story hadn’t already been written, it seemed obvious to me. And I suppose that I audaciously thought that my love of sailing and adventure would do it justice.

Why did you choose to write a young adult novel specifically?

When I started writing I wasn’t sure exactly what ago I was writing for although I suspected that it would sit about where it does.

Have you always been a big reader?

Absolutely, being dyslexic I got off to a slow start but my amazing Mum and my best friend read to me in the early days and gave me a love for stories. It was books that inspired my around the world voyage and I read a lot during the voyage itself. For a while at uni I found it hard to justify spending time reading novels but now that I’m writing myself I prioritise it and make time.

What’s your all time favourite novel?

There’s so many, how difficult to name just one! But I’m not sure that I can think of a story I love more than Enid Blyton’s The Secret Island.

What are you reading now?

I’m currently listening to Thinking Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman. My MBA gave me an appetite for books like that.

What are you up to nowadays and how often do you get to sail?

Now that I’ve finished studying I have my weekends back and love heading to down to the local yacht club as much as possible. It’s been amazing to sneak in a bit of twilight sailing over summer. I love sailing more than ever but it’s a hobby for now.

Published on February 22, 2018 on She Society

With the start of the school year comes the influx of school shoes and the excruciating decision parents have to make when choosing the right pair. Lasting through 365 days of wear and tear, rain and shine, school shoes are the most important pair of shoes your child will have. She Society had a chat to Sophie McLellan, a podiatrist who founded Skobi Shoes after seeing the lack of options that school children have for good quality school shoes. The name Skobi itself comes from the Danish word sko for shoe and bi comes from the biomechanical aspect of podiatry.

After stocking ranges of kids shoes in their podiatry clinic, Sophie and her husband realised that the quality was becoming underwhelming, brown school shoes were becoming less and less and there were fewer options for good European brands.

“We decided we had a few good contacts in the industry and so we decided to work with one of our suppliers in Europe and create our own range.” Sophie said.

“There are quite a number of schools that have brown school shoes, and we found over the years that a lot of parents were coming up to us and asking specifically for brown and only a few places carried them. So with Skobi we made a big point of our styles coming in brown and carrying a lot of brown in our warehousing.”

“We have year round stock unlike other brands who only have the one drop per year in January and when they run out they run out. For us the focus is always the school shoes because children generally spend the greater portion of their week in school shoes, about 80% of their time,” Sophie said.

As an entrepreneur Sophie said that it has given her two really great perspectives because she can look at things from that podiatry angle as well as a parent.

“It gives us a more of a wholesome approach because we can look at it from both angles and obviously really identify what the kids needs are, what the parents needs are and what we really like as podiatrists as well. Parents and children don’t often see eye to eye and oftentimes the footwear thats getting chosen is not appropriate for the child’s activity level. So it’s really important that you choose a shoe that meets the needs of the child.”

“We will continue to refine and develop new designs all throughout the year and to bring out designs that the kids want and need. For now our focus is very much Australia and going forward New Zealand in the immediate future.”

Published on February 19, 2018 on She Society

These 5 health trends have become staples in the health community, promoting all sorts of benefits including a better gut, improved energy and brain function. While some have been around for quite a while, they have all been constantly talked about or seen on insta stories and posts from our favourite health and wellness advocates.

Turmeric

Turmeric has become a worldwide phenomenon and if you haven’t heard of the endless benefits of this bright spice then you’re a bit behind. Claiming to help fight Alzheimer’s and cancer, the super spice contains curcumin, a strong antioxidant which helps slow the signs of ageing and the cellular damage seen in most cancers. With anti-inflammatory properties turmeric has replaced cinnamon as the beloved spice of the moment, especially when it comes to teas and coffees, as turmeric lattes has become a common favourite for the health conscious. To make the strong flavour more palatable its best to add small amounts first into your meals, such as adding it over roasted vegetables, in smoothies and adding it in scrambled eggs.

Bone Broth

Bone Broth is starting to make its appearance in our mainstream markets and has been praised by the health community. It claims to boost your immune system, improve joint health and reduce inflammation in the body. Rich in protein, bone broths are extremely easy to prepare and are quite inexpensive to make. So if you’re looking for that extra boost of goodness and you want to feel great, then definitely give bone broth a try.

Kombucha

With a vinegary taste comes a fermented bottle of nutrients and good bacteria that aids in detoxification, joint care and gut health. While not a magical cure all, Kombucha is extraordinarily antioxidant rich and claims to boost energy levels. This probiotic beverage was originally consumed in China more than 2000 years ago and has now found its way into the mainstream cafes and supermarkets of our cities. If you can get past the quirky taste then you’ll be one step closer to wellness.

Tahini

Tahini has become a great alternative for heavy calorie laden dressings such as mayonnaise. Made from ground sesame seeds, the paste adds a nutty taste that can complement a range of dishes. It’s perfect for salads, on top of grilled meat and falafels and contains more protein than milk. Along with B vitamins that boosts brain function, it also has vitamin E which helps protect against strokes and heart disease.

Maca Root

Considered to be another superfood in powder form, maca root is starting to make a name for itself. A type of cruciferous vegetable that’s native to Peru, its high in antioxidants and is said to improve female sexual health and boosts male fertility. It has a slight nutty flavour with a butterscotch undertone, so it’s perfect to add to smoothies and even mixed in with your morning bowl of oatmeal.

Published on February 8, 2018 on She Society

Regardless of whether you’re a novice dancer or a professional, the Supercell Festival in Brisbane is the perfect way to immerse yourself in everything contemporary dance.

Kate Usher, who is one of the creators behind the festival said that, “there’s a variety of performances, and a variety of styles within the main stage offerings so if you don’t like one thing or one particular performance, there’s so many other things you can try or taste out to experience contemporary dance.”

“We have performances that are lyrical and highly visceral all the way through to quite avant-garde, very conceptual pieces from Norway and Scandinavian artists.”

“The other exciting thing for us is the participate program, which offers dance classes, workshops and conversations for the dance lover, all the way through to the professional artist.”

Having had their inaugural festival last year, Kate said it was an amazing experience with over 5000 attendees.

“We cover artistically a very broad wide range of movement styles but thematically we are looking at the hot topics, the cultural zeitgeist that is happening today, that is situating us in our world. We look at things from identity to gender to the first nation experience and heritage all the way to mental illness and health and wellbeing and we gather all of these topics together.”

Kate herself was originally a contemporary dancer who trained through the Queensland University of Technology, but ended up retraining in business and put all of her love for the arts together and spent the last ten years producing and managing events and has now started to move into curation.

“Curation can often take many different pathways in being able to pull together a program, for me it always starts with a conversation with an artist, about their work and the respect for the ideas they are exploring and what their contribution is to the narrative of our day, of our life and who we are.”

Supercell Festival started when Kate and her friend and colleague Glyn Roberts were in Korea on a young curator’s program. “We had the most amazing experience meeting with other people all over the world. Robyn Archer is one of the key advocates and leaders in this space and one evening over kimchi she just went to Glenn and I and said, ‘what are you doing, what are you going to contribute back to Brisbane, back to Australia out of this?’ “

“After that, we came back to Brisbane and decided that we wanted to step up, we wanted to make something happen and there wasn’t at that time much aggregation or championing of dance in Queensland,” Kate said.

“We have three amazing contemporary dance companies here which no other state has, but there is very little opportunity for them to interact with each other and interact with our community and our audiences. That was kind of a driving force, it took us 18 months to get to the first festival and now we are rolling on annually as best we can.”

Picking her favourite performance in the festival was a tough choice for Kate. “It’s like having children, you love them all equally, but my festival pick would be to take a risk on Everything Remains. Which is the piece that we brought out from Norway, Denmark and Sweden and it’s a great collaboration with the Baltic dance houses.”

“It’s a very meditative, stripped back, sculptural piece that looks at the experience of the trans body. We have this artist Juli Apponen who is a trans artist and she talks and explains what her journey is and how much the pain and the toll her self-identity has physically taken on her. The lighting is stunning, and the performer is actually naked for the entire piece, but they are never put in a situation where they are vulnerable, or they are not in control, it’s exquisite and beautiful to watch.”

The workshops that are available throughout the festival include, everything from a basic introduction to what is contemporary dance, to taking a master class where you can learn a bit of the choreography from some of the performances you might have seen. All the way through to the Common People Dance Project run by Neridah Waters, a local artist here in Brisbane. Kate said that it’s, “literally all about cracking out your favourite hot tunes and not worrying about what you look like, it’s about having fun and coming together, and to actually just share a moment of joy through dance.”

The Supercell Festival runs from February 10 to 18 with the main stage being at the Brisbane Powerhouse but other performances can also be seen at the Judith Wright Centre in Fortitude Valley. Click here for more information.

Published on February 7, 2018 on She Society

These simple yet genius and invaluable websites will help you sort out your everyday problems, you’ll realise just how much you actually need them after a while.

1. The age old question that still haunts us to this day…do I need a jacket? When going out to places there’s always the uncertainty of what the weather will be like, and if a jacket was actually needed or if it would just ruin our perfectly put together outfit. Well those days of pressured decision-making when you’re just about to head out the door are over because we have found the solution. The website is called Do I Need A Jacket and all you have to do is enter your town or city and results will pop up whether you need a jacket, detailing the temperature and whether you’ll need a jacket in 2, 4 or 8 hours.

2. My Fridge Food is the answer to all of your cooking woes. Ever found yourself with an array of odd ingredients and you just can’t seem to think of anything to make out of them? We’ve all been there! My Fridge Food takes that anguish away and instead helps you create meals with the ingredients you already possess. Just by you clicking on the ingredients that are in their list, they will then collate a variety of recipes, proving that you do actually have something to eat.

3. Stuck on what book to read next? Then this website will introduce you to a range of books and authors based off of your previous reads, favourite books or authors. What Should I Read Next allows readers to type in a title or author’s name and they will then provide a list of similar recommendations, perfect if you’re in a reading rut and feeling like taking a chance.

4. Drinkify is perfect when you’re listening to a certain artist and can’t decide what to drink. Maybe you’re at a bar or a concert and feel as if you need the perfect drink to complement the night and the atmosphere. Just by typing in an artist’s name, you can get a drink suggestion that will aim to be the ideal accompaniment.

5. Ever been at the movies and you desperately need to pee? But you’re scared of missing a vital part so you hold on until you can’t anymore and run out the door, and yet you still end up missing a crucial point in the movie. Well now there’s no need to fret that you’re going to burst anytime soon with this invaluable idea. RunPee has a list of all major movies showing at the cinemas, they proceed to give you the best time to run out and go to the bathroom, giving you the exact minute in the movie where not much happens. They also summarise the missing parts and allow you to see if there is anything after the credits start to roll.

Published on February 1, 2018 on She Society

We all know how hard it can be to give up our guilty pleasures, white bread and creamy pasta anyone? But seeing as it’s a new year, its the perfect time to revamp your pantry and fridge and substitute those highly processed items with healthier alternatives. After a few weeks you won’t even know the difference and better yet a new habit will have stuck.

Bread

Everyone loves a good avo on toast, but your bread choice may be letting you down. If your choosing to buy white bread then we advise you to seriously reconsider. Not only does it have little nutritional value, removing fibre and protein but white bread also increases your chance of type-2 diabetes and can cause weight gain. The best choice is undoubtedly whole grain as it contains a range of minerals and vitamins, lowering your risk of heart disease and obesity. One such example is Herman Brot’s low carb bread, containing low GI and low carbohydrates, it’s perfect for health conscious people, type 2 Diabetics, Vegans and Vegetarians. Drawing on six generations of bakers and made in Queensland, it’s a local treasure.

Rice

There are a variety of untapped options to choose from when selecting the right type of rice. For a start brown rice is much more healthier than plain old white, containing more nutrients and fibre. There’s also the choice of quinoa, filled with protein and with even more nutrients than brown rice. Cauliflower rice is another alternative perfect for increasing your veggie intake and helps to prevent cancer and removes toxins. Coles has it’s affordable range of quinoa that won’t break the bank.

Coconut Oil

I’m sure you’ve heard all about coconut oil, it’s become a staple in so many people’s lives, and while there have been some debates over its health benefits, it’s still worth it over vegetable oil. Where as vegetable oil contains unsaturated fats that can lead to inflammation in the body contributing to heart disease and diabetes. Coconut oil on the other hand is easy to digest and is known as a energy booster, helping your metabolism and promoting weight loss as well as lowering the risk of heart disease. One such good example is Dr Bronner’s Organic Virgin Coconut Oil, which is fresh pressed and has a rich and nutty flavour.

Salt

Believed to be the purest salt on earth, pink Himalayan salt is known for its many health benefits compared to normal table salt. Such benefits include electrolyte balance, thyroid function and detoxification just to name a few. Where as normal table salt can lead to high blood pressure, stroke and cardiovascular disease. You can find pink Himalayan salt in most supermarkets or health food stores, one such recommended brand being Mckenzie’s Himalayan Rock Salt.

Chocolate

While you may scoff at the suggestion of substituting your beloved chocolate, we have searched far and wide and found some healthy alternatives that are just as good. Cacao powder is perfect when your craving hot chocolates or smoothies, and instead of adding sugary chocolate powder or chocolate ice cream, you can add cacao powder instead. Packed with antioxidants and magnesium, its great for a healthy heart and brain. Another option is cacao nibs, which are crunchy and taste like unsweetened chocolate, they are perfect to spread over yoghurt, smoothies or to add in baking. But don’t go searching down your normal confectionary aisle, you’ll often find them in the health food section in supermarkets or in health food stores. One such example is Loving Earth Cacao Nibs, originating from the Peruvian Amazon and jam-packed with antioxidants.

Published on January 25, 2018 on She Society

Want to give back to charity or just in the mood to set a challenge for the New Year, then how about you take part in a Fun Run. As much as you might scoff at the idea of running actually being fun, here us out. There are some great causes to get behind and you can smash out a 2018 goal while you’re at it.

RACQ International Women’s Day Fun Run

On March 4, the Cultural Forecourt at South Bank will be shrouded in pink for the 28th annual RACQ International Women’s Day Fun Run, supporting the Mater Chicks in Pink. Considered to be one of the largest and longest running female fitness events in Australia, it attracts an enormous amount of men and women each year. Runners and walkers will travel across a 5km loop through South Bank and Brisbane’s CBD to help celebrate and honour the women in their lives who have fought breast cancer. Join here.

Twilight Running Festival

The Twilight Running Festival is the first major half marathon and 10km event in Queensland for the year. With over 6000 participants, it’s sure to be a great evening, featuring the 5km Run/Walk and the largest Under 12 Kids event in Australia – the 1km Active Kids Run. Join runners on April 22 at St Lucia, find out more information here.

Fun Run Pink Sunshine Coast and Triathlon Pink

Another worthwhile run is the Fun Run Pink Sunshine Coast, at the University of the Sunshine Coast on April 29. Associated with Triathlon Pink Event, an Australian sporting community event for women that includes a range of distances. So regardless of whether you’re a casual runner or a keen triathlon participant, there are a selection of events for everyone and it all goes towards raising funds for breast cancer research. Check out the link here to sign up.

Mother’s Day Classic

Such a great way to celebrate Mother’s Day and to raise funds for breast cancer research. Located at the Cultural Forecourt in South Bank, the fun run involves a 4.5km and a 8km walk and run along the Brisbane River, South Bank and West End. Put May 13 into your calendars and register here.

Pine Rivers Charity Fun Run

Covering four distances including 21.1km, 10km, 5km and 2km around Bray Park and Lawnton, everyone can get involved. Raising funds for the Rotary Club of Pine Rivers Daybreak, the event is located at the Genesis Christian College on May 20. Check out this link for more information.

Published on January 16, 2018 on She Society

Need some new inspiration for your foodie adventures, then try these hotspots around Brisbane. We promise you’ll be drooling by the end!

Opened just last month in Fortitude Valley, DoughLord is the place you’ve been dreaming off. Specialising in edible cookie dough which can be served cooled or warmed up, their range of flavours include choc-chip, honeycomb, peanut butter brownie, hazelnut crunch and a vast selection of toppings.

Craving carbs? Then head on over to Salt Meats Cheese Gasworks in Newstead, where you will find Italian dishes with a modern Australian twist. From their Flaming Cheese Wheel Pasta to their 10 Cheese Pizza, it’s a cheese lover’s paradise.

In the mood for a poke, then try out the Cheeky Poke Bar. Full of healthy and clean options that will leave you more than satisfied. Mixing together Japanese and Hawaiian cuisine, these poke bowls are bursting with colour and flavour. They have a range of seafood, meat and vegan options including Tuna, Salmon, Prawn, Chicken and Tofu.

Naked Foods has recently opened its new stores in Chermside and Indooroopilly Shopping Centres. Their range of Health Foods are 100% Organic Certified and sourced from across the globe. Along with a range of powders, nuts, seeds and spices, Naked Foods also has a vast selection of sweet treats including cacao covered fruit such as bananas, strawberries and cranberries. You will not be disappointed!

Remember the cronut, the delectable treat that was a mix between the lovable doughnut and the croissant, well The Chocolate Komberry has created an extra twist to the dessert, making it into a cone shape and adding soft serve ice cream on top. The Chocolate Komberry can be found at Brisbane’s Eat Street Markets.

While not technically located in Brisbane, we thought Taco Bell just had to be included in the list as everyone is salivating over the introduction of the American food chain. Their menu includes The California Burrito, Stacked Nachos Supreme and the Double Tacos Supreme.

Published on January 15, 2018 on She Society

The Absurdity of Human Behaviour Inspires Dark Comedy

The Dead Devils of Cockle Creek is set to be a dark comedy exploring our environment and the ways we treat it and its creatures. SheBrisbane had the opportunity to chat to the play’s writer and one of its actors before its world premiere on February 10 at La Boite Theatre.

Kathryn Marquet started writing The Dead Devils of Cockle Creek in November 2016, creating the play after feeling alienated from the world. “I felt that the world was quite absurd to me, in the way of human behaviour towards the environment, towards its creatures and towards each other. I found it strange and bewildering so that inspired me to write this play.”

Described as McDonagh meets Tarantino in a biting new comedy about leading the charge for change, The Dead Devils of Cockle Creek surrounds the isolated wilds of south western Tasmania. Where an environmental scientist named George is trying to save the world one Tassie Devil at a time. Since she was a small girl George had dreamt of halting the advance of climate change, but saving a species in the middle of nowhere would have to do, for now.

Kathryn hopes that audiences laugh and enjoy themselves. “We live in quite strange and uncomfortable times, with nuclear war hanging over our heads and the climate crisis and so we need entertainment, there’s a reason why musicals are having a ressurance because people want to escape.”

“I’d also love for them to take away the deeper message and to think about their relationship with the planet, with each other and even with facts, what’s true and what’s not true.

Describing the play in three words Kathryn said it was funny, challenging and thought-provoking.

Kathryn’s belief in creating change for greater issues such as the environment is that she believes that conversation and the arts help majorly.

“As a an artist, our job is to shine a light on these issues and to ask questions without necessarily giving answers. I don’t necessarily have answers for all of our problems but I do think we can do better, that we can be more compassionate, that we can take responsibility for ourselves and that we can try to educate ourselves with the facts rather than believing everything we read on the internet.”

In the broader messages for the play Kathryn’s less interested in messages and more interested in questions. Such as how do we make change, how do we form ethical and moral judgements and how can we lay that foundation in our lives.

“I’ve always been interested in Tasmania as a kind of last fronitor in Australia for our wildlife, that there are places in Tasmania where humans rarely go.”

“The Tasmanian Tiger is an interest of mine and how we just destroyed that animal in 100 years without a second thought. The Tasmanian Devil is going the same way because of cancer and also loss of habitat. It’s just a very interesting ecosystem down there and the isolation and wilds of Tasmania definitely gives that to the play.”

Kimie Tsukakoshi plays Destinee Lee in The Dead Devils of Cockle Creek, a girl guide in Tasmania who has gotten lost in the wilderness. After getting lost she comes across the other quirky characters in the play.

Kimie’s process into her character was said be very natural, “the great thing about the play is that Destinee is a very strong, well written character so it was very much all on the page. I just read through the play a couple times and thought about how Destinee would have come to view the world the way she does. Reading the words out loud with everyone at the workshop actually really informed the way she spoke and the way she thought too.”

Kimie hopes that audience members really laugh but that they also walk away feeling challenged by the play and its message, that they walk away wanting to reassess their own life and views and how they treat the planet.

Published on January 23, 2018 on She Society