News - Cruising into the new millennium

Sydney Harbour is a major international cruise destination. Sydney is the only port in Australia with two dedicated cruise passenger terminals -- The Overseas Passenger Terminal, Circular Quay and Wharf 8 Darling Harbour Passenger Terminal, both located in the heart of the city and close to major tourist attractions. In the 2002/2003 season Sydney Ports received 88 cruise vessel calls.

In 2002 Sydney was awarded for the third consecutive year the "Best Port Welcome", by the international publication DreamWorld Destinations in the ‘Rest of the World’ category. International tourists perceive Sydney as a safe and exciting destination and the domestic cruise market is also very strong. Sydney’s commitment to the cruise industry was demonstrated by the $44 million overhaul of the Overseas Passenger Terminal and the provision of first class amenities for passengers visiting Sydney. The 2003/2004 season will begin memorably with the arrival of the biggest ship to visit Sydney – P&O Cruises’ Star Princess. The 109 000 ton vessel will arrive on 26 November 2003.

Please visit the website www.sydneyports.com.au for more information.



RetireLaw

Faced with shrinking investments? Complex financial plans? Are you unsure where to go for help? Look no further! RetireLaw, a new legal firm in Sydney’s northern beaches, is committed to assisting those who are retired or planning their retirement. They make sure your retirement strategies are legally sound as well as effective. The staff at RetireLaw are committed to and genuinely interested in helping people, and provide quality, specialist advice in an accessible environment. They also educate their clients by keeping them up to date via emails, newsletters and seminars. One of the excellent services they offer is a free community resource called the Retirement Information Centre that supplies simple summaries, practical plain language guides, specialised technical resources and direct internet access to government and legal websites. The Centre can assist people to obtain relevant and helpful information in the areas of superannuation, retirement, pension entitlements, wills and other areas.

For more information please phone (02) 9970 0800, email info@retirelaw.com.au or visit their website www.retirelaw.com.au

Boland Funerals

Boland Funerals moves westward. New mergers with two the oldest independent funeral businesses in the area have brought the Boland Funerals name into Sydney’s inner west. Parramatta based Timmins Family Funerals and North Strathfield based William Lee & Sons Funerals have each become institutions in their respective areas since being established in the 1960s.

The company has appointed Timmins funeral director Angela Carter as Manager overseeing the two offices. She says the deal puts everyone in a win-win situation. “Timmins and William Lee have each established strong ties with their local communities, and these mergers give us the chance to further strengthen those ties,” she says.

In recognition of the sizeable Asian community in the area, the company has taken on Chinese-speaking Debbie Ma. Ms Carter says this is an important step. “When you’re doing business with the Chinese community, your word is your bond. Reputation is a big issue—you have to back whatever it is you’re selling one hundred per cent.”

In keeping with such a promise, Boland has instituted a ‘best price guaranteed’ policy, by which the company guarantees to match any competitor’s price on an identical funeral. “That means our customers get best of all worlds—the quality service on which Boland, Timmins and William Lee have all built their reputations over the best of half a century, at unbeatable prices,” says Ms Carter.

For more information please contact Boland Funerals:

2 Fennell Street Parramatta. Phone 9630 6444

100 Concord Road North Strathfield. Phone 9746 966

Or contact Angela Carter directly by phone on 9746 9666 and 0414 254 831.


Death: the last taboo

A fascinating new exhibition called death: the last taboo, looking at death through the ages, opened in May at the Australian Museum. The result of two years’ hard work by museum staff, the exhibit will remain in Sydney until 2nd November after which it will travel to various locations around the country. Visit www.amonline.net.au or turn to page 31




Jeans for Genes Day

This year marks the 10th Jeans for Genes day. Wear your jeans on Friday August 1st and support a great tradition. Jeans for Genes day is a popular fundraising event for the Children’s Medical Research Institute, an independent body committed to understanding the causes of diseases and disorders. Instrumental in many medical innovations and breakthroughs, the CMRI needs our support to continue the outstanding work they have been doing since 1958 including the pioneering of microsurgery and the discovery of various genes involved in cancer. The CMRI is committed not only to children’s health but to medical research in general. Please turn to page 51 for more information.

War graves

Robyn Hawes of Killara Flower Shop is the president of the ‘Friends of Rookwood Cemetery’. The society aims to raise funds for restoration projects within the cemetery and conducts themed historical tours on the first Sunday of every month. One tour is called ‘Our Anzac Heritage’. Many people have recorded the names of WWI soldiers on their family monuments in the cemetery. Robyn was inspired to journey overseas on a ‘Battlefields Tour’ this year, organised by the Australian War Memorial. She visited cemeteries in Turkey, France and Belgium armed with a list of names from the monuments at Rookwood. She found many graves and also the names of our soldiers on walls. Robyn placed little sprigs of wattle on as many graves as she could and was proud to be able to visit the final resting place of our brave soldiers and give them a little bit of Australia. For more information please contact Robyn Hawes on (02) 9499 2415.

Wotif.com

Wotif.com provides online booking facilities for last minute hotel and holiday packages for a growing list of destinations throughout Australia, NZ, Asia, Europe and the USA. Customer and Hotel Service Centres are located in Brisbane and in Oxfordshire in the UK. Since pioneering the online hotel room market in March 2000 in Australia, wotif.com has been widely recognised as the last minute accommodation specialist providing an online market for unsold hotel rooms and holiday packages. Hotel and holiday suppliers update their rates and allotments online to appeal to the late booking, value conscious traveller. Bookings are confirmed online and sent electronically to the supplier within seconds of the credit card approval. The wotif.com Customer Service Team is available 24 hrs/day, 7 days a weekon 1300 88 7979, by email at info@wotif.com or online at www.wotif.com.au

Macquarie Park Cemetery

An architectural illustration of the crematorium and chapels that will integrate wonderfully into the beautiful landscape of Macquarie Park Cemetery at the corner of Delhi and Plassey Roads, Macquarie Park.

A state of the art crematorium is scheduled to open early 2004 in Sydney’s north. Macquarie Park Cemetery will commence construction this year of three chapels and a crematorium that will be the most modern facility of its kind. The chapels will have high-pitched ceilings and exposed beams and are designed to accommodate all denominations, cultures and beliefs. They will be available for burial as well as cremation services. Important elements of the breakthrough design include easy level access for wheelchairs, disabled persons, the frail and the elderly. Other features are a large porte cochere capable of accommodating hundreds of people and protecting them from rain or harsh sun, a children’s enclosed recreational area, direct access to the function areas and after-service catering.