stargazer nov-dec 2012

Issue 18 Nov/Dec 2012

gazer

/starplexgawler1

Buddy’s Back9th November

Blue Light Disco16th November7th December

La De Da Market23rd November

Push Body Transformation Awards Ceremony5th December

STARplex School Holiday Programs17th December - 25th January

Australia Day Basketball Carnival25th - 28th January

STARS in my eyes .............. .....2In Loving Memory ofKen Patterson ..................... .....4Work Smarter not Harder ... .....5Are you Exercising Safely . .....5Surviving the Festive Season ................................. .....6Staff Profile ......................... .....7Starlight Pool Party Extravaganza ...................... .....7

Do you have a story about your experience at STARplex that you would like published in The STARgazer. By submitting a story you will go into the monthly draw to win a $100 STARstore voucher.

Stories can be sent to The STARgazer editors via contact details on page two of this edition. All stories will be subject to approval from The STARgazer editors.

PBT Success So Far

The Fitness Centre is buzzing with excitement, now that we are just past the half-way point of the PUSH Body Transformation Challenge for 2012. The results are already absolutely outstanding! I would like to take this opportunity to highlight some of the many success stories so far.

Bradley Serravalli has lost 15kg, and is well on his way to reaching his goal weight. After thinking she was never a runner, Shaedell Cowley has just cracked the 5km run for her first time ever! Andrew Martin is now confidently cycling on the roads, due to hard training during PBT and RPM classes. Kate Mitterer has already lost 9kg at the five week mark. Jye Watson, a teacher from Trinity College has already lost a huge 15.5cm and 14.4kg when approaching (Story continued on page 4)

2012 City to Bay/Starlight Fundraiser Event

On Sunday 16th September the STARplex/Starlight City to Bay Team participated in the 2012 Sunday Mail City to Bay event. A total of 138 STARplex participants ran or walked in the 12km, 6km or 3km events.

For their 40th year City to Bay organizers were hoping for a massive 40,000 participants to take part in the 2012 event. Just falling short of their target, the final number of registrants for the day reached a massive 39003. Many personal goals were achieved and despite the cold wet weather when reaching Glenelg a great time was had by everyone who attended.

Thank you to everyone who supported the Starlight Foundation. STARplex raised a total of $2,800 for our charity of choice. The Starlight Committee and STARplex thank all our volunteers, staff and participants who made this years event such a success. Turn to page 3 for some great photos of the day.Dawn Mettyear

Merry Christmas

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Issue 18 November / December 2012

EditorsCandice Butler, Dawn Mettyear & Jeff Guess

All enquiries regarding feedback or potential articles to The STARplex Journal to be sent to Dawn Mettyear at [email protected]

STARplex18-20 Alexander Ave, Evanston Park SA 5116Telephone (08) 8522 0622Facsimile (08) 8522 0684

Web www.starplex.com.au

/starplexgawler1

Hello Readers

STARS in my eyesThere’s an exquisite purple melaleuca (Melaleuca Nesophila) or the Showy Honey-Myrtle that blooms in December just in time for Christmas. It has always reminded me of Christmas in Australia and the often heat-soaked morning quite unlike our European counterparts. Whatever our religion, faith or personal feelings

are at this special time of the year, Christmas celebrates a time for giving: to family, friends and the wider world of other folk. May you visit many hearts this Christmas with the great gifts of love and life, and may yours be one of peace and joy. A small gift for you is a carol I wrote for the occasion.

Melaleuca Morninga Christmas carol

Come see the light break come watch the sun

Here on this new day Christmas begun

Start from the dark branch crown of a king

Flowers of purple blossom and cling.

Melaleuca morning mantle

Cascades from the heat and light

Bears upon its royal holly

Birth of peace and love and light.

Out of the old wood twisted and hard

Song of December silent unheard

Bursts like a promise onto the stem

Amidst the sharp leaves new life begun.

Melaleuca morning sunrise

From the years of drought and storm

From the hours of heat and darkness

The Lord of love and life is born.

Sun splash in forest from land and scrub

Parkland and city backstreets and drab

Late in the season flame from the earth

Trees that are bearing signs of his birth.

Melaleuca morning matins

Magpies carol from the lawn

All created earth is singing

The child of hope and light is born.

Jeff Guess / Writer in Residence / Trinity College

Over the last four weeks there has been a real buzz in the air at STARplex. The spring weather has kicked in and activity levels are on the increase. Many of us are looking forward to end of year events, Christmas time and summer holidays.

Anticipating good times involves visualising ourselves enjoying these moments. For the 175 who have committed to the Push Body Transformation 10 week challenge most will visualise how they will look and feel when catching up with friends and family over summer. They might see themselves in new clothes, walking more confidently into venues or simply playing with the kids and not running out of puff.

Four weeks into the challenge and already many participants are saying how much fitter and healthier they feel and how delighted they are at their progress towards their weight loss or body shape goals. I notice a positive attitude and growing confidence as they begin to experience success. I also notice greater confidence and a determination to resist inappropriate food, train when tired, cope with sore muscles and get through more in a day. I notice positive changes rub off on those around them. Spouses and partners are pleased and trainers get a great deal of satisfaction from helping their client’s achieve positive physical and psychological changes.

It is a great privilege for STARplex to be able to contribute to positive changes in people’s lives. On behalf of all STARplex staff I would like to wish you a very Happy Christmas and New Year and a festive season where the positive buzz you bring to STARplex rubs off on those you share with this Christmas.

Yours in Health & FitnessDale Martin

The STARgazer editors value your feedback. Please tell us what you think about the STARplex Journal

either by talking to one of us personally, writing to us c/- the above

address or email [email protected]

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pictured left to right: Steve Brown, Samantha Craig, Natalie Luca, Christine Luca, Louise Skelton, Stephanie Lange, Diane Mackerill, Darren Skelton

pictured front: Norman Lange

pictured centre: Louise Skelton

pictured front left to right: James Skelton, Tegan Underwood, Kate Mitterer, back left to right: Cecelia Emery, Linda Hood and Nathan Hood

pictured above: Louise Skelton and Samantha Craig

pictured left to right: Thomas, Emily, Maddison, Dean and Kylie Richards

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In Loving Memory of Ken PattersonOn 18th October 2012, STARplex, and the much wider community lost a bright, happy, loving individual. Kenneth Patterson, known as Ken, 76, lost his tough battle with cancer. Loved and loving husband of Betty, Loved and adored father & father-in-law of Kathy, Tricia & Rodney, Carol & Robert, and fun loving Poppy of Kimberly, Stefanie, Patrick, Madeleine & Eleanore.

Ken was a ray of sunshine every time he walked through the STARplex doors to attend his regular Strength For Life sessions. Ken started attending Strength For Life in 2006, but had always been very active and passionate about keeping fit. Ken had run in several marathons, with his first being run when he was 49

years of age.

Ken was also very passionate about giving back to the community. Ken used to ride to work when he was working at the RAAF Base, but decided there were not enough trees to provide him with the shade he required on his bike journey. Ken then decided he would solve this problem by planting trees around the local area and on a particular reserve in Hillbank. The few trees then turned into hundreds and thousands of trees, with the last count of trees planted by Ken being around 50,000. After Ken’s amazing effort, he had the “Ken Patterson Reserve” named after him, situated on Blacktop Road in Hillbank. Not only was this reserve named after him, but the Mayor at the time nominated Ken for an OAM (Order of Australia), based on his community work.

Ken also had the privilege of carrying the Olympic torch before the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, which shows his passion for the fitness and sporting communities.

Ken was a real family man and had a great relationship with his grandchildren. Ken always knew how to have fun, and would always be chatting away or telling great stories during his Strength For Life sessions with his peers. Ken would always succeed at putting a smile on your face, and that’s a great gift to have. STARplex and the community send their sincere condolences to Ken’s family and friends.

Rest In Peace Ken.

Candice Butler

PBT Success So Far(Story continued from page 1)

PBT week six. Julie Haynes is down 9kg with six weeks still to go, and Wayne Heintze, at the bright age of 61, can now touch his toes while standing, a great achievement for him. Ange Donsellar has not only lost weight, but has also taken a huge step forward by now having eliminated her high dosage and very frequent prescription pain medication, to now only taking general pain killers when needed.

Along with the other 175 PBT contestants for 2012, these individuals made the decision they wanted to change their lives. They have all shown an immense amount of commitment, emotional and physical endurance, dedication, will power and determination, and this hard work is already paying off. If you see these hard working faces around, feel free to stop and congratulate them on their achievements so far, and offer your support and encouragement for the last few weeks of PBT 2012.

Congratulations to everyone who sought the challenge and good luck for the coming weeks!

‘It’s never too late to become what you might have been.’ -George Elliot Candice Butler

pictured above: Andrew Martin pictured above: Jye Watson pictured above: Bradley Serravalli pictured above: Shaedell Cowley and Paul Pearce

pictured above: Kenneth Patterson / STARplex Strength For Life participant

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pictured above: Paul Pearce

Work Smarter not Harder!This is a valuable lesson that I have learnt thanks to my personal trainer assessing my technique and doing some postural exercises with me over the past couple of months.

I found myself doing the same routine each week and as I am prone to use exercise to relieve stress, I can during stressful situations turn it up a notch or two, this has the tendency to overload the same muscles, which have become stronger and are over compensating for my weaker muscles. I find that I also like to push my body and get a great sense of accomplishment out of a hard workout that pushes me to my limits. Being a little obsessive in this regard I also tend to not factor in the necessary recovery time for healing.

It wasn’t until I started personal training one on one with Paul Pearce and he designed a program to fire up my weaker muscles, that I realised how dominant my right side was. By incorporating some unstable exercises on the Bosu and Fit Ball to work on my body

alignment and by working the left side and right side of my body separately I have found that my core is becoming stronger and I have better technique. Paul also gave me some stretches to do in between my sessions with him to stretch out my hip flexors and quad muscles which were taking a lot of the load, due to the heavy demands of my running.

I have to say that I am very surprised at how painful such a small movement can be when executed correctly and by just using my body weight. With some small changes to my routine and incorporating some simple homework exercises I am seeing some huge results. I am also finding that I have a greater awareness of my body now and am more focused during group fitness classes, which enables me to correct my technique.

My motto now is to keep it simple, train smarter not harder and use the support of my trainer to keep me focused and guide me through, so that I can obtain my goals.

Dawn Mettyear

• Upgrade your current gym program and integrate more challenging exercises. This will recruit more muscle fibres and your body will respond by increasing lean muscle.

• Have a Personal Trainer check your form when you are working out. Poor alignment can not only lead to injury but prevent you from achieving your fitness goals.

• If you are trying a group fitness class for the first time use the low options and as you begin to feel more comfortable increase the intensity and try the more challenging moves. Let the instructor know before class begins and they can make you aware of how to get the most out of exercises even though you are new.

Paul Pearce / STARplex Fitness Centre Manager

Are you exercising safely?With the days getting longer and weather improving, many of us are keen to increase our activity levels. If your body is not accustomed to moderate-intense exercise, training in the heat can increase your risk of dehydration and nausea.

We can all be guilty of over doing it at times however a safe and more effective approach is as easy as following these simple tips:

• Gradually increase intensity by slowly increasing duration (time exercising) each visit. For example, increase treadmill running from 15 minutes to 20 minutes each session in week one then increase an additional five minutes in successive weeks.

• Use interval training to burn more calories. Intervals of 30 seconds faster running (jogging if you are just beginning) with 30 seconds walking (or resting) will improve your cardio vascular fitness in a manageable way.

pictured above: Dawn Mettyear on Bosu Equipment

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Surviving the Festive SeasonI know it seems impossible, but with Christmas only around the corner and this being the final edition of STARgazer for 2012, I thought I’d share a few tips to surviving the festive season.

MEALS...

Stick to regular meal times – going long periods without food may trigger over-eating.

Start each morning with a healthy, satisfying breakfast, such as wholemeal toast topped with baked beans or poached egg, wholegrain cereal with low-fat milk and fresh fruit.

Continue to fill in your food diary every day, this will encourage you to stay on track and will help you to resist overdoing the festive temptations.

Christmas can be stressful, are you really hungry or are you eating that box of shortbread for comfort reasons?

The average traditional Christmas dinner has approximately 12,500kJ! With Christmas occurring in our Summer, it is an ideal time to swap stodgy food for fresh low-fat options, such as salads, grilled vegetables, lean meats & seafood. Skip the gravy & sauces, or make low fat options.

SNACKS & NIBBLES...

Avoid foods that are fried or pastry covered, instead go for:-

Sushi, seafoods, fish, lean meats such as light ham, Fruit

platters, low fat dairy, vegetable sticks & low fat dips, wraps with lean meats & salad, Grilled skewers (i.e. lean meats, vegie)

DRINKS & ALCOHOL...

Limit your liquid kilojoule intake - don’t quench your thirst with alcohol, that’s what water is for! Alcohol is high in energy (kJ) so try to stick to low alcohol options.

AVOID liquors, sweet wines, sugary mixed drinks, creamy cocktails and sugar laden fruit punches.

TRY light wines & beers; sparkling wines diluted with ice, soda water or small amount fruit juice.

ALTERNATE every glass of alcoholic drink with a glass of water.

NON-ALCOHOLIC & SOFTDRINK ALTERNATIVES

Include lime & soda (sugarless), fruit or cranberry juice mixed with mineral water.

DON’T FORGET TO EXERCISE!

Don’t make the Silly Season an excuse to drop your exercise routine.

Exercise first thing in the morning if you can - it’s a great way to start the day and there’s no time to procrastinate!

Organise family gatherings around exercise - a game of cricket, tennis, bike riding with the kids, a pool party with a game of volleyball.

If you are lucky enough to be holidaying at the beach, make a walk on the sand part of each day.

Heath Commane/Exercise Physiologist - Dietician

IF YOU LOVE... TRY THIS INSTEAD...

Potato chips, corn chips Rice crackers, water crackers

Chocolate A few squares of dark chocolate

Ice Cream Low-fat ice-cream/yoghurt/custard

Mince pies Small quantity of dried fruit & nuts

Christmas pudding with custard/cream Control portions with mini puddings

Christmas Cake Choose low fat options when possible

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Trish StirlingSTARplex Creche

Candice Butler STARplex Fitness Centre

Toni McCann & Arlene Goff STARplex Swim Centre

Aimee Hentschke STARplex Reception

Congratulations to the above STARplex staff on delivering outstanding service to our customers!

Starlight Pool Party ExtravaganzaOn Sunday 14th October STARplex hosted 40 sick children and their families for a couple of hours fun in the pool . The children were chosen by the Starlight Children’s Foundation, STARplex’s charity of choice for the past two years.

These children and their families get the chance to forget about their illness for a while and have fun away from the clinical environment of hospitals, doctors and or medical procedures. Most of the Starlight staff including Captain Starlight don’t know the children’s illnesses, it’s just time to act ‘normal’ forget their worries and see them smile for a while.

Fourteen STARplex staff volunteered their time to organise the event (special mention to Tash Phillips who coordinated this event for STARplex). The day was a great success - the children enjoyed a pool inflatable, pool toys, colouring in station, goody bags,

Captain Starlight visiting and a BBQ. Everyone had huge smiles on their faces and a wish to come back next year to do it again.

Thank you to our BBQ sponsors Gawler South Bakery and Crestline Meats.

Maria Lavender

“Which Hat Should I Wear Today?” Sharon Barreau is one of our fantastic Lifestyle Consultants here at STARplex. Shaz as she is affectionately known around STARplex is married to Andrew, with two children, Rachel 20 and Marcus, 15, who have both attended Trinity

College North Campus.

Sharon and her family originally moved from Seacliff to Shea Oak Log in 2004. After moving, Sharon quickly became a member of STARplex, and four years later joined the STARplex team as a Lifestyle Consultant. Sharon’s work consists of customer service and making sure our members are happy with their time spent at STARplex. Sharon has a background in Human Recourses and Personnel, which is what makes her such an approachable, caring person, and is extremely passionate about what she does and helps anyone she can. The things Sharon loves most about her job is “helping others to find the best outcomes possible, whilst supporting people to find a health and fitness routine that works for them, and of course being a good role model”, says Sharon.

Sharon has always been a member of the local gym wherever she lived, as she sees this as a very important part of her

lifestyle. “As I have always enjoyed exercise, my goal is to continue focusing on a positive, active lifestyle and keep my mind and body fit and strong, as this is really important to me” says Sharon. Sharon was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis in October last year, which was a shock to her. However, due to having always kept her body fit and healthy, her specialist is amazed at the level of exercise and movement Sharon is capable of, considering the level of the test results. “Exercising all my life has enabled me to minimise the medication intake for the Rheumatoid Arthritis. If I hadn’t been active all my life, I would be suffering a lot more”, says Sharon.

Sharon has a lot of different ‘hats’ she wears throughout her week. Along with running a household, organising her children’s sporting commitments, working at STARplex as a Lifestyle Consultant, fitting in her own gym time at STARplex, (with specific favourites being Body Pump, CXWORX, Body Vive, RPM and Personal Training with her ‘beautiful, wonderful Personal Trainer, Kylie)’, it doesn’t end there for Sharon. Sharon also commits to the family’s small olive oil business, and coaches, umpires and manageress’ Trinity Netball. “I love coaching and helping the development of the Trinity netballers, and also love the opportunity to go away with the netball teams to compete, it is very rewarding”, says Sharon. Sharon often wakes up of a morning and thinks, ‘which hat am I wearing today?’ More often than not, Sharon has to put three or four different hats on per day. However, with her dedication, enthusiasm and passion for each role she plays, Sharon does a fantastic job at everything she puts her mind to.

Candice Butler

pictured above: Sharon Barreau

pictured above: Captain Starlight

Mae Jelinek STARstore

o

www.starplex.com.au

Phone 08 8522 062218-20 Alexander Avenue Evanston Park SA 5116

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Issue 16 July / August 2012

FRIDAY 9TH NOVEMBER

Buddy’s BackTime: 7.30pm for 8.00pmDinner & Show Tickets, SOLD OUTShow only Tickets, Adults $25, Concession $20 - on sale now

Presented by Scot Robin and STARplex..back by popular demand! During this two hour show Scot Robin who played the lead role in the smash hit musical ‘Buddy, will perform over thirty of Buddy Holly’s hit songs including: That’ll Be The Day, Peggy Sue, Raining In My Heart, Rave On and of course Oh Boy!

BUDDY’S BACK will and still continues to excite audiences both visually and musically with its high energy performance and brilliant costumes and brilliant muscicianship.

FRIDAY 16TH NOVEMBERFRIDAY 7TH DECEMBER

Blue Light DiscoTime: 7.00pm-10.00pm (lock-in)All Tickets: $6 (on sale from STARplex Reception the week leading up to Blue Light Disco, or at the door)

FRIDAY 23RD NOVEMBER

La De Da MarketTime: 3.30pm - 8.30pmCost: Gold Coin Donation to Destiny Rescue.Over 50 new and well known stalls, FREE parking, FREE face painting, jumping castle. Cash only please.100 FREE Goodie Bags - first in, first served.To find out more, or to enquire about booking a stall at the next La De Da Market, contact Mandy or Noelle at [email protected] and download the application form.

STACEY SWEET WHO RECEIVED HER PRIzE FOR BEING THE 1000TH STARPLEX FACEBOOK

PAGE LIKER!

WEDNESDAY 5TH DECEMBER

PUSH BODY TRANSFORMATION AWARDS CEREMONYTime: 7.00pmVenue: STARplex Fitness Centre Group Fitness Studio 1 Come and support and help celebrate contestants achievements.

MONDAY 17TH DECEMBER - FRIDAY 25TH JANUARY

STARplex School HolidayProgramsCheck out the STARplex Holiday Program Booklet, out soon, for some great programs to keep the children occupied for the Christmas school holidays. Programs include STARfun Holiday Program, Dance Programs, Basketball Clinics, Sammy Survivor and much more.

FRIDAY 25TH JANUARY - MONDAY 28TH JANUARY

Australia Day Basketball CarnivalIf you like Basketball this the place to be”Ages: U10 to SeniorsEntries close 14th December

REGINALD SWANSBOROUGH CELEBRATING HIS 90TH BIRTHDAY WITH FELLOW STARPLEX

STRENGTH FOR LIFE PARTICIPANTS.

STARgazer editors and STARplex staff wish all our readers and

customers a very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Safe New Year!Please check the STARplex website for opening hours over the Christmas period as restricted opening times

apply!

Captain Tempo, Emma, Tash and Sam, We all had an AWESOME time yesterday at STARplex. Tash and Sam your staff there are absolute STARS

and your facilities are fantastic!!! It was an amazing day for our Starlight families here in SA thanks to you guys!!My son Marcus brought his friend “Leo” home from school for the weekend and had to write about what he

did with “Leo”. I’ve attached the photo he drew (Captain Tempo I think you made an impression)!

The little boy on the right in the picture is Marcus and he’s wearing his red “hockey” hoodie. Thank you all so much for making yesterday so amazing!!!!!

Melissa WestgatePartnerships Executive, SA

Starlight Children’s Foundation

stargazer nov-dec 2012

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