Newcastle and Lake Macquarie

TM

ROOFTOP KOTARAan early Christmas present!

T-REX TERROR ATNEWCASTLE MUSEUM

fun for the whole family

Taking on the World

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ISSUE #06 //NOVEMBER 2015WWW.INTOUCHMAGAZINE.COM.AU

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A lot has changed at Westfield Kotara since it was officially opened in 1965. Over the years the iconic shopping precinct has undergone several changes of ownership, a number of new names (remember shopping at Garden City, or even Kotara Fair?) and millions of dollars of refurbishment and redevelopment.

So what better way to celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2015 than by taking the Westfield Kotara experience to a whole new level? This month will see the launch of a $55 million dining and entertainment development, the likes of which has never been seen before in Newcastle.

Embracing the regions love for the great outdoors, Westfield Kotara is going alfresco transforming level three of the centre into a lifestyle precinct that invites shoppers to escape to the garden on The Rooftop.

But its more than just a marketing tagline. Every element in the design has been carefully selected to help create a truly welcoming area an embodiment of Newcastles laid back lifestyle fused with the beauty and serenity of the Hunters renowned vineyard region.

The minimalist concrete and glass favoured by the centres lower levels has been left behind for an abundance of lush green foliage and the warmth of more than 5km of handsome ironbark timber decking, sourced close to home in Taree.

Beautifully styled to make you feel right at home but luxurious enough to make you wish this was how your outdoor area actually looked, The Rooftop also incorporates more than 220 individual furniture and bespoke styling pieces and a series of elegant exposed brick chimneys scattered throughout the open-air dining precinct.

A landscaped garden and playground will help it feel like home for all ages, while a grassed area and permanent stage will ensure The Rooftop is a place to go to be entertained, not just to eat.

And there will certainly be plenty of entertainment on offer especially in the lead-up to Christmas, with a range of events, exciting activities, special guests and live music planned to make this a festive season you wont forget.

Of course the way it has been designed means the space will be a hive of activity year-round, with musical performances, kids entertainment and community activities providing ever-changing opportunities for residents and visitors alike to discover and enjoy.

Those who want to take their entertainment experience to the next level will also be well catered for when the centrepiece of The Rooftops entertainment precinct is unveiled next month - Event Cinemas best-in-class 8-screen complex.

A premium entertainment venue in every sense, it will boast one VMAX cinema, two Gold Glass cinemas and five General Admission cinemas, with state-of-the-art digital technology providing the ultimate big screen movie experience.

This will be all (choc) topped off with a jaw dropping candy bar, making your trip to Event Cinema Kotara an experience like no other. But while a bucket of popcorn from the candy bar may satisfy the film buffs, foodies looking for something more substantial will also be sure to find plenty of reasons to savour a visit to The Rooftop.

While the look of the open-air dining precinct will be distinctly Hunter-inspired, the tastes on offer come from much further afield with an array of international flavours on the menu including Greek, Asian, Mexican, Italian and Portuguese. Many of these will be looking to tempt the tastebuds of Novocastrians for the first time, never having operated in the region before, becoming a part of The Rooftops next level dining experience.

Among these is Crinitis, a family-owned restaurant that will bring its signature slice of Southern Italy to Newcastle for the first time. Boasting an indoor and outdoor seating area, the restaurant will be complete with Crinitis famous wood-fired pizza ovens, an in-house gelato bar and outside gelato cart and will include delicious Italian pastries, cakes and desserts from the in-house Pasticcercia. Dishes served will be an extension of the current award-winning menu created by head chef John Lanzafame and will include fresh pasta and Crinitis famous one, two and three-metre wood-fired pizzas. The interior will have Crinitis unique watercolour paintings of Italian icons and will include a sporting helmet signed by Italian motorcycle legend Valentino Rossi.

The international journey of flavours will also cross the Mediterranean to allow Novocastrians to eat like a Greek local at Zeus. Bringing wholesome Hellenic street food to Newcastle for the first time, Zeus gives Australians an innovative food experience that incorporates the founders passion for Hellenic food, culture and tradition. The restaurant interior will also capture the essence of a traditional Greek kitchen, with its iconic sleek, white-tiled walls, bronze fittings and wooden shelves. Sample Zeus famous gyros varieties including, the

Uncle Tzimmy Classic (a classic gyros as the name suggests) and the Papou Niko, a salty chargrilled pork wrapped in pita with Aegean slaw, onions, preserved lemon mayo and parsley.

And be sure to finish up your meal with Loukoumades, a traditional Greek dessert sure to satisfy any sweet tooth!

Another restaurant looking to conquer Novocastrians love of sweet dishes will be San Churro, with the Spanish chocolateria heading to the Hunter with their heavenly signature dish churros. Made to an authentic recipe and cooked fresh to order, they are dusted in sugar before being served with a dip-cup of pure melted couverture chocolate or Spanish caramel, in what is the traditional Spanish way to start a day or end the night. Now thats one traditional Im sure Novocastrians will be more than happy to adopt!

Like the sound of these three? Well there are plenty of other restaurants to sample for the first time, including Kinn Thai (traditional Thai with a twist) and Mad Mex (bringing the best Baja-style burritos to you). The Rooftop will also be home to a host of old favourites offering a new look and feel, such as Noodle Hut, Grilld and Lonestar Rib House.

Nandos will also be on hand to add some extra spice to Westfields next level dining experience with its famous butterfly-cut, flame-grilled peri peri chicken. The Nandos cockerel first landed on the shores of Western Australia in 1990 in Tuart Hill, Perth, and today is much loved by Australians across the country. Each one of the Nando restaurants has its own special design and earthy textures and colours inspired by the sunny Afro-Portuguese roots. The Kotara restaurant will feature Lutindzi Grass Baskets, which are currently being handwoven in Swaziland and will help bring the colours of Africa to life in Newcastle.

Cant wait to sink your teeth into one (or all) of these dining delights? The Rooftop dining precinct will be officially launched on Thursday, November 26th, while the cinema launch will follow in mid-December.

Not a bad way for Kotara to celebrate its 50th birthday and the best thing is, were the ones getting the gift!

The Rooftop Facts: Over 150 people were employed to work on the project. 730 tonne of structural steel was used in the construction Over 70% of trades are local to the Hunter region. The timber decking was milled in Taree and is iron bark timber.

Almost 5km of timber decking has been laid to create the outside dining area.

9000 holes were drilled in the car park slab to strengthen the area to take the 8-cinema complex.

1080m3 of concrete was poured into the new development. Over 11000m2 of metal roof and wall sheeting has been used more than enough to cover the playing surface of Hunter Stadium.

The restaurant precinct will have over 220 individual furniture and bespoke styling pieces scattered throughout along with 113 individual pot plants.

WHATS ON NOVEMBER

Rooftop...an early Christmas Gift to Novocastrians!

ABOVE: SAN CHURRO (SPANISH CHOCOLATERIA). TOP RIGHT: ZEUS (WHOLESOME GREEK FOOD). RIGHT: CRINITI'S (ITALIAN FOOD).

WORDS: Michelle Meehan

4 | www.intouchmagazine.com.au

Features3 Rooftop - An Early Christmas Present to Novocastrians6 Our Fabulous Baker Boys14 Going Bush with Jonesy16 Making Music in the Hunter - November Concerts18 Special Feature - intouch with Education and Training21 Summer Wardrobe Must Haves26 Embrace Greece32 The Complete Wine & Food Experience RidgeView35 A Gradual Journey to the Hunter Valley Ken & Gwen Sloan37 Share a Story for a Lifelong Love of Learning 39 Tyrannosaurs Meet the Family 41 Investing in Good Quality Teak Furniture 42 In Glowing Terms A Newcastle Success Story 43 The Vintage Lifestyle

Regulars5 Top Five on Five10 Whats on Guide21 Fashion, Health & Beauty26 Travel28 Eat//Sip//Savour37 Family & Community40 Home & Property 43 Property & Finance

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From the Editors... As we jump on the downhill slide to Christmas, this issue brings with it a touch of the festive season with the arrival

of Mr Claus to the Civic Theatre stage (check out our giveaway) and to his very special throne at Charlestown

Square. Looks like Santas in for a busy time!

As one World Cup comes to an end, theres another team ramping up its efforts to bring home the crown the Australian Baking Team! While their story might not

have hit the headlines, this awesome foursome is hoping to secure a prize no Australian team has ever secured

before. We also talk to local music publicist and all-round legend Paula Jones (aka Jonesy) about what life is like promoting some of Australias biggest artists yet still

finding time to mentor our indigenous talent.

If youre looking to 2016 with some career or academic goals in mind, then youll enjoy our focus on Education

+ Training this month. From beauty therapy to childcare, electrical engineering to fashion design or simply

giving your kids the best start in life, this feature has a whole host of practical study options.

Also a treat this month is the mega-launch of Tyrannosaurs Meet the Family. Dont get too much of a shock when you arrive at the T-Rex Terror shots on page 39 this didnt actually happen but imagine if

it did! And finally, with interest rates at an all-time low we get out the calculator and look at whether

now might be the right time to refinance your home loan when we talk to our newest Aussie broker

none other than Joel Griffiths.

Enjoy!

Stay intouch at getintouch@intouchmagazine.com.au Quentin and Di von Essen | Publishers

On the CoverPhoto Credit: Shane Williams

Australians love a World Cup campaign and the members of these teams are usually household names. However, there is a squad of elite Australian representatives flying under the radar, quietly toiling away in a bid to qualify for their own tilt at World Cup glory They are the Australian Baking Team. (Page 6)

ContributorsCarla Elkin Michelle Meehan Kath Teagle Chris Williams Megan O'Sullivan Jess Codrington Deborah Bartlett Mel Murray Di von Essen Jessica Shuwalow Jason Bradley Quentin von EssenShane Williams Andre Hoffman Lisa Simmonds-WebbClaire Edwards Jess Black Joel GriffithsTherese Ferry

Contents// ISSUE #06 NOVEMBER 2015

Got a great story to tell? Know someone who does? Budding writer or sensational photographer? We love contributions, so drop us a line at getintouch@intouchmagazine.com.au

ContactsPublisher & Editors Two Tribes Media Quentin von Essen: quentin@intouchmagazine.com.au Di von Essen: di@intouchmagazine.com.au

Phone (02) 4943 0888 Address Suite 4, 2 Smith Street, Charlestown NSW 2290 Web www.intouchmagazine.com.au Email getintouch@intouchmagazine.com.au Advertising Sales Quentin von Essen & Dan Hawkins

Marketing & Account Management Di von Essen & Carla Elkin Graphic Design Jess Codrington Copyright 2015 Two Tribes Media. Published monthly by Two Tribes Media. All rights reserved. Permission to reprint or quote excerpt granted by written request only. While every attempt has been made, Two Tribes Media cannot guarantee the legality, completeness or accuracy of the information presented and accepts no warranty or responsibility for such.

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WIN! PAGE 10

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INSIDE INTOUCH

There are so many untapped brilliant indigenous musicians

in this country and each year the professionalism at BUSH BANDS

is lifted considerably.