CHRISTMAS CATCH-UPS
CHRISTMAS CATCH-UPS
Q&A with some of Cairns’ favourite personalities
Ty Williams
Head of Football/Intrust Super Cup Coach
Kenfrost Homes Northern Pride
Describe your 2021? In the role that I play at the Northern Pride it’s always a rollercoaster of emotion, but I’m very excited about what the future looks like with our club.
What was the best thing you learnt in 2021? Don’t waste energy on things that I can’t control and embrace change.
What does Christmas Day involve for you? I have two boys so it’s up early with the wife. Kids to open the presents then head to family for a big lunch then relax after that.
What is your favourite part about the festive season? Spending quality time with the family and friends.
Are you a last minute shopper or do you plan ahead? 100% a last minute shopper
What gifts can we buy from your business? A 2022 membership from the Northern Pride. We cover from the die-hard supporter who wants to attend all games or the person who just wants to attend a few, we also cater for the supporters from outside the region who can’t attend the games.
Do you have a New Year’s resolution for 2022? Not at the moment.
Where would you like to travel to in 2022 and why? I haven’t really pinpointed a solo place I would like to travel but I think the freedom to start picking and choosing again is going to be great.
Where is your favourite place to dine in Cairns? I don’t dine out that much but my favourite take away is 3 Black Bears Pizza.
For a staycation in FNQ where do you go? When I’m not at football and have a spare moment, I love taking the family away to Port Douglas. It’s a good chance to get away and chill and reset for all of us.
Bella Sinopoli
Bella Boutique Hire
Est. November 2020; Cairns City
Describe your 2021? 2021 was an unexpected blessing! I am aware not everyone can say this given the state of the world at the moment but I am truly grateful for 2021. I launched my online site, saw my business flourish, we sold our home and for the first time in my life I have been able to live with the idea of not being totally planned out and in control.
What was the best thing you learnt in 2021? You can’t move forward if you stand still and some of the greatest risks you take in life will become your greatest blessings.
What does Christmas Day involve for you? Church, because it’s Jesus’s birthday. Food, glorious food.. but seriously an all day Italian feast & lots of friends, family and presents.
What is your favourite part about the festive season? I LOVE the spontaneous catch ups with friends and family that you don’t always see because it’s the season to travel! The seasonal fruit and the gift giving! I loveeee buying presents! Especially for my daughter, nieces and nephews!
Are you a last minute shopper or do you plan ahead? I’m a bit of an online shopper now that I have a toddler (Mums know how hard it is to take their kids into a busy shopping centre.. avoid at all costs) haha so I’d say I plan ahead.. because you know.. mum life haha.
What gifts can we buy from your business? You can buy a gift voucher or treat yourself by hiring a luxury designer outfit over the festive season.
Do you have a New Year’s resolution for 2022? I don’t love the idea of New Year’s resolutions.. haha I feel like they’re a little tricky to sustain. I prefer to set short term goals for my business and personally. In 2022 I’d love to see my business grow to a point where 50% of my orders are online and the other 50% are local. Right now my business is 70% local clientele.
Where would you like to travel to in 2022 and why? If 2021 taught me anything it’s that you can’t really put a price on spending time with your family and your health. For me I really look forward to our Gold Coast family holiday every year with my extended family, it’s a special time where we all get to connect and enjoy each other without the stress of everyday normal life. I’m quite happy to stay in Queensland next year and work towards some overseas travel when the world is back to some sort of normal and Gracie is a bit older (my three-year-old daughter).
Where is your favourite place to dine in Cairns? My all time favourite favourite meal is from Dundee’s on the Waterfront — the prawn & scallop pappardelle to be exact haha can’t go wrong if you love seafood & pasta! I also love to have tapas and cocktails at Rocco by Crystalbrook on the Esplanade. The ‘Pucker Up’ & ‘Rukkus on the Rooftop’ are the ultimate cocktails in my opinion.
For a staycation in FNQ where do you go? Hands down 110% Riley by Crystalbrook. I will forever and always adore our Cairns Esplanade. They also have the most outstanding pool, amazing food and rooms are luxury and comfortable. My other favourite place to stay would be Mount Mulligan Lodge. This is just outside of Dimbulah and was hands down the most exquisite, romantic and adventurous getaway I have ever been on, adults only also!
Andrew Thomas
Dixon Homes Cairns
Est. 1959 ; 172-174 Mulgrave Road Westcourt
Describe your 2021? A very trying year for a builder, enormous success with the building boost followed by many challenges the likes of which we have never seen. Shortages of the most common materials due to increased global demand as well as domestic influences including bushfires and flooding.
What was the best thing you learnt in 2021? Patience is a virtue and perseverance pays off. The whole team are working very hard for our customers to keep the jobs flowing as best we can.
What does Christmas Day involve for you? Preparing a fresh seafood feast for the whole family to enjoy.
What is your favourite part about the festive season? Spending time with loved ones and enjoying some time away from the office.
Are you a last minute shopper or do you plan ahead? A bit of both, there are always last minute things to buy but I like to be prepared.
What gifts can we buy from your business? Houses, everybody needs a house.
Do you have a New Year’s resolution for 2022? After spending nearly two years of not travelling I would certainly like to enjoy exploring different countries and cities again.
Where would you like to travel to in 2022 and why? Europe, we had a big trip planned in 2020 that was cancelled due to COVID-19 restrictions so we would like to be able to do that next year.
Where is your favourite place to dine in Cairns? There are too many to mention, there are so many great restaurants in Cairns to single out a few.
For a staycation in FNQ where do you go? We love weekends in Palm Cove, so many restaurants within walking distance, the beach and the ocean. It’s like being on holiday but in our backyard — it takes a lot less preparation and the dogs can come too.
Sally Mlikota
CBC Staff Selection
Est. 1988; Cairns and Townsville
Describe your 2021? 2021 has been a very different year, we all started the year hoping that the COVID impact was going to be a distant memory, unfortunately for the tourism and closely related sectors, COVID has dealt too many blows. We’ve seen an even greater divide in the economies of Cairns and the Far North – most sectors that are unrelated to tourism and reliance on international and domestic visitors have gone from strength to strength.
What was the best thing you learnt in 2021? People crave kindness, be kind – it’s a free commodity and works wonders.
What does Christmas Day involve for you? Christmas day is all about connecting with family, our wider network of family are all descending to our house this year, to celebrating with far too much food.
What is your favourite part about the festive season? My favourite part of Christmas is that my kids come home for an extended period, and in between our partying and socialising, we make time to hang out, just the four of us – to reconnect.
Are you a last minute shopper or do you plan ahead? In about October, I always promise myself that ‘this year I will be more organised’ and by mid December, I do the usual running around like a headless chicken cursing my lack of planning…. So I am certain that this year will be no different – but presents are not the focus of our Christmas time, my kids are now young adults, so the gift buying is less of the emphasis.
Do you have a New Year’s Resolution for 2022? Since I turned 40, I have made a promise to stretch myself out of my comfort zone each year – goals have been to climb Kilimanjaro TICK, cycle the Cardiac Challenge TICK, swim the iron man leg in the triathlon TICK, embrace public speaking TICK, …. My SMART goal for 2022 will incorporate focus on self, and focus on a more balanced work/life balance….. optimistic I know!!!
Where would you like to travel to in 2022 and why? Back to the UK to visit my parents, one of my brothers and my friends (COVID has been cruel for family connections) and I also have a brother in Madagascar – and I am keen to plan a trip to visit him.
Where is your favourite place to dine in Cairns? Difficult questions, there are too many to choose from, but I do love C’est Bon!!
For a Staycation in FNQ where do you go? Always, Palm Cove – you cannot beat the location, the dining options, the beach and the chillax factor.
Amanda Paron
Norlift
Est. 2000; Far North Queensland,
Cooktown & Weipa
Describe your 2021? What 2021? Haha, busy, eventful and a year spent focusing on what’s important in my life.
What was the best thing you learnt in 2021? How to deal with people’s feelings, wants and needs in this new world we are living in.
What does Christmas Day involve for you? Reliving my childhood memories through my daughter, the excitement of waking up on Christmas morning to all the presents and spending the day with family.
What is your favourite part about the festive season? Christmas parties, spending quality time with family and friends and taking time out to relax and reset for the New Year.
Are you a last minute shopper or do you plan ahead? I always plan ahead.
What gifts can we buy from your business? (Greg could be a gift if you paid enough haha) can we remove this Q?
Do you have a New Year’s Resolution for 2022? No.
Where would you like to travel to in 2022 and why? Too many to choose from where do I start?
Where is your favourite place to dine in Cairns? Dundee’s at the Aquarium.
For a Staycation in FNQ where do you go? Palm Cove.
