The Blog

Mar 4, 2022

Inspirational Women That Shone Bright During The Global Pandemic

We’ve all been challenged and pulled in several different directions during the pandemic, and women have been no exception. Several studies have shown that many women have suffered at home, with their health and work, and more so, compared to their male counterparts. And a lot of this comes down to women carrying more of the burden in terms of domestic responsibilities. Despite this added pressure, many women have thrived and inspired others throughout the pandemic – acting as a pillar of hope during such a difficult period. International Women’s Day on the 8th of March (with a fitting theme of #BreakTheBias) is an excellent opportunity to recognise and highlight some of these successful and inspirational women. International Women’s Day this year is committed to highlighting gender equality and building on the considerable progress towards a non-discriminatory world made in the last 200 years. While the Forbes annual list of The World’s 100 Most Powerful Women is promising – featuring the most CEO’s since 2015 and 19 heads of state, unfortunately, like much in 2021, the state of female power globally has taken a hit in the last two years. This is why it’s perhaps more important than ever to #BreakTheBias and continue to highlight issues of gender inequality and celebrate women’s achievements. Not even a global pandemic can slow these women down! In no particular order, here are the women we believe are worthy of our applause this International Women’s Day. [caption id="attachment_8392359" align="alignnone" width="982"] Source: The Independent[/caption] 1.  SHEMARA WIKRAMANAYAKE Taking out a spot on both the Fortune Most Powerful Women of 2021 and Forbes 2021 Power Women list, Shemara is the first Asian woman to head an ASX200 listed company as CEO and Managing Director of one of the world’s foremost infrastructure management firms, Macquarie Group. Since taking the helm at Macquarie Group, she’s proven to be a vocal and engaged leader on climate change – working with The Global Commission on Adaption to provide insights and recommendations to inspire action among global leaders. 2.  GRACE TAME Australian of the Year Awards 2021 recipient Grace Tame is an unwavering activist and advocate for survivors of sexual assault. She’s used her voice to push for legal reform and raise public awareness around the impacts of sexual violence. As a result, former Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins went public with rape allegations linked to Parliament House – Grace Tame stood with Brittany Higgins, protesting against the Australian Parliament’s ongoing abuse and discrimination of women in Australia. 3.  JACINDA ARDERN Proving that gender isn’t a barrier, Jacinda Ardern rose to power as the youngest female leader in the world. She’s set new norms, becoming a mum while in power and sharing that her partner would be a stay-at-home dad. Jacinda has received global praise throughout the pandemic for her uniquely empathetic and open communication style, even being labelled a ‘masterclass COVID response’ and a ‘masterclass in crisis leadership’. Under her leadership, New Zealand has had a united COVID response, with high vaccination rates and low hospital and mortality rates. 4.  JULIA GILLARD Former Prime Minister (and the first female Prime Minister in Australia) Julia Gillard was in 2021 awarded a Doctor of Law honoris causa in recognition of her ongoing and tireless commitment to education, gender equality, and inclusion. Stemming from a fierce determination, Julia has delivered nation-changing policies and cast a spotlight on inequalities and misogyny in Parliament that many women have silently endured. [caption id="attachment_8392360" align="alignnone" width="850"] Source: LawyersWeekly[/caption] 5.  GINA RINEHART While she may be Australia’s richest citizen with an estimated $21.7 billion empire built on iron-ore, Gina also takes out a spot in Australia’s Top 25 Philanthropists, donating an estimated $10 million in 2020. In 2021, she was awarded an Order of Australia for the significant impact Hancock Prospecting has had both directly and indirectly on millions of Australians. From job creation, revenue to build schools, roads and hospitals, and economic opportunities through international trade, the vast and varied influences Gina Rinehart has had on Australia are undeniably dramatic. 6.  ROBYN FENTY, AKA RIHANNA Surprisingly, the wealthiest female musician on the planet has not built her wealth on music alone. In 2017, Rihanna launched Fenty Beauty – a cosmetic company founded on the principle of making “people everywhere [feel] included”. In 2021, Barbados officially declared Rihanna as a national hero, for above all else, her extraordinary commitment to the land of her birth. Born in Barbados, Rihanna has never let go of her Bajan accent and has remained connected to her Caribbean heritage through her music. She is proving that diversity is a powerful thing! [caption id="attachment_8392358" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Source: Billboard[/caption] 7.  ASH BARTY Young Australian of the Year Awards recipient Ash Barty is ranked the world’s number one singles tennis player by the Women’s Tennis Association but is perhaps the most down-to-earth pro-athlete out there. While the glitz and glam of a high-profile tennis champ lifestyle beckon, Ash has been applauded for being an athlete that simply wants to play like a superstar but not live like one. As a First Nations woman, Ash also serves as the National Indigenous Tennis Ambassador for Tennis Australia. 8.  ALL WOMEN IN MEDICINE Not just one individual, but all women in medicine deserve some serious praise this International Women’s Day. We need to celebrate our many nurses, doctors, scientists, and specialists who have worked tirelessly during the pandemic. Globally, women make up much of the health workforce (almost 60%). However, female health workers have traditionally been significantly underrepresented in senior positions. Interestingly, there has been a shift during the pandemic. The number of female presidents-elect and presidents leading medical colleges across Australia and New Zealand jumped significantly in 2021, which is inspiring for future graduates. With challenge comes opportunity Whether it’s a global pandemic or other adversity, these women all have one thing in common – they’ve risen to the challenges and in doing so, thrived and inspired others. For a look at some of our own inspirational young women (and men), keep an eye on the 7NEWS Young Achiever Awards. First National Real Estate is proud to sponsor the Leadership Award (in Tas, Vic, NSW/ACT and QLD), which acknowledges young people who set an example through their leadership and drive, paving the way for others to follow, as well as the Innovation Award (in WA and SA), which recognises young people that have demonstrated creative and innovative thinking. DISCLAIMER Everyone has their own path and forging this during a global pandemic can be incredibly challenging. If you’re struggling and need some support, reach out to friends or family, or contact Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636 or Lifeline on 13 11 14. In New Zealand, call Lifeline on 0800 LIFELINE or simply text HELP to 4357. The following advice is of a general nature only and intended as a broad guide. The advice should not be regarded as legal, financial or real estate advice. You should make your own inquiries and obtain independent professional advice tailored to your specific circumstances before making any legal, financial or real estate decisions. Click here for full Terms of Use.

Mar 4, 2022

Overseas Travel in 2022 – Everything You Need to Know

Two years into the pandemic and it’s little wonder some of us are getting seriously itchy feet. Whether you’re consumed by wanderlust or desperate to reconnect with friends or family overseas, it’s felt like a long time between stamps in the passport and like the light at the tunnel keeps getting further and further away. However, as the world learns to live with the pandemic, we’ve seen borders reopen and restrictions ease, and more and more countries begin to welcome visitors with open arms (albeit with some restrictions). Unsurprisingly, we’re feeling a little wary about hopping on a plane – it still feels complicated, confusing, and risky. So, is it worth it? And what do you need to know before you go? Travel. It’s in our DNA Australians and Kiwis are an intrepid bunch; in fact, it’s something we’re known for worldwide. Pre-pandemic, it wasn’t unusual for more than 10 million overseas trips to be made by Australians annually. Whether it was quitting a job to live overseas, heading to Indonesia on a surfing trip, hitting Hawaii for some serious shopping or hiking in Nepal, the motivation to leave our shores searching for something new is ingrained in our culture. While spontaneous trips may still be off the cards for a while, as border restrictions ease – with Australia fully reopening the borders and the New Zealand Government put a 5-step plan in place and reopened borders from 27 February – it’s entirely possible to reignite your passion for travel and start planning to board a plane destined for an overseas port. Here’s what you need to know… Doing your research is more important than ever Gone are the days of whipping out your Lonely Planet guide and planning your trip on the fly; the new era of COVID travel requires in-depth research about restrictions in the country you’re heading to, what would happen if you contracted COVID-19 while overseas, and requirements for returning home. Smarttraveller has plenty of helpful advice for Australian travellers, and Safetravel assists New Zealanders. Ensure all your bookings are flexible While you’ll be crossing your fingers, you won’t need it; it’s crucial to read the fine print and get across the cancellation policies for everything you’re booking ahead. From flights to accommodation to rental cars and tours, check what penalties you may face for cancellation and whether you would receive a credit or refund. If there is any room for interpretation, it pays to check in with the service provider and have in writing what will happen in the event of a last-minute COVID-related cancellation. Overseas holidays are expensive – and painfully so if a pandemic wreaks havoc with your plans. Insurance is no longer a ‘nice to have’ Travel insurance is essential, but not just any insurance policy will do. The pandemic has changed the risk involved with travel significantly – not just in terms of health but also in relation to the costs of cancelled flights. As a result, insurers have tightened up their policies, so it pays to comb the fine print. For example, many insurers will cover costs if your trip is cancelled or cut short due to you getting COVID-19. Still, many policies won’t cover you for travel changes due to large-scale, government-mandated restrictions or lockdowns. And don’t forget to check that COVID-19 medical treatment and hospital cover is included in your policy; hopefully you won’t need it, but better to be on the safe side. Check all the entry requirement boxes Make sure you’re aware of all the requirements in place at your destination to avoid costly disappointment. Vaccination status is essential in many countries to avoid quarantine; however, proof of a negative PCR test is acceptable in some destinations. Is your passport up to date? It’s been a while…don’t forget to check the validity of your passport! And remember, while it’s officially valid until it expires, many countries require your passport to have 3-6 months of validity remaining on entry. Get excited and make a plan After two years in the making, you want this to be a trip to remember! Planning a trip and sitting down to work on an itinerary is fun and exciting, and believe it or not, research has shown that planning a trip makes you happier than actually taking it. Planning acts like a mini-mental holiday – every time we sit down to think about it and visualise what’s to come, our anticipation and excitement builds. Perhaps more importantly, putting together a plan will help you get the most out of this much-needed trip. And be sure to leave a copy of your itinerary with your loved ones to help ease any travel nerves. Ready to go, but where can you go? While we’ve become accustomed to searching and booking online, with all the red tape and various restrictions in place, the wisdom and experience that a local travel agent provides can be valuable for some much-needed reassurance. If you’re looking for holiday inspiration, destinations closer to home such as our Pacific Island neighbours (Fiji is currently welcoming fully vaccinated Australians, and the Cook Islands is welcoming vaccinated New Zealand travellers – quarantine free) both offer blissful island holidays and some desperately needed support to nations that rely heavily on the tourism industry. If you’re interested in heading further afield, Finder has a comprehensive and regularly updated list of destinations Australians can travel to. Remember to keep an eye on the requirements for returning home on Smarttraveller (Australia) or Safetravel (New Zealand). 5 quick tips to help you stay safe out there 1.  Stock up on sanitiser and soap – look for sanitiser with at least 60% alcohol content and pack bars of soap for thorough handwashing (which is often more effective than sanitising). 2.  Keep your distance – putting distance between yourself and potential infection is one of the most effective barriers. 3.  Mask up – face masks are an everyday essential, so make sure you stock up on both reusable and disposable masks for flights, and higher risk settings. 4.  Glasses provide an extra level of protection – whether you’ve got perfect vision or a prescription, glasses can provide an additional barrier against the droplets of COVID-19. Wearing a pair of glasses in close-contact settings such as flights will provide you with extra protection. 5.  Stay hydrated – hydration helps our immune system stay strong, so pack a reusable water bottle. A bottle with a straw can be handy for taking a sip without completely removing your mask. Stay safe and make the most of the memories Overseas travel right now isn’t the type of carefree adventure that some of us may be accustomed to, but with some careful planning and some safety precautions, it’s a great time to start thinking about your next journey. Happy travels! DISCLAIMER Please note that the information provided here is general and should not constitute professional advice. You should always check and follow the latest state and government health advice. The following advice is of a general nature only and intended as a broad guide. The advice should not be regarded as legal, financial or real estate advice. You should make your own inquiries and obtain independent professional advice tailored to your specific circumstances before making any legal, financial or real estate decisions. Click here for full Terms of Use.

Mar 4, 2022

Home Styling Podcasts - Our Top 8 Listens for 2022

Podcasts. Thanks to our insatiable appetite to multitask, this booming entertainment trend is pegged for further growth in 2022. And while we reckon more podcasts are a good thing, with such a phenomenal breadth of content at our fingertips (or earbuds), it makes it tricky to mine for podcast gold. Have no fear; we’ve compiled the hottest home styling podcasts – so you can stay abreast of the hottest interior trends for 2022. But first, let’s briefly delve into the world of podcasts. Why do we love them so much? While relatively new to the entertainment scene (formerly known as the less sexy ‘audio blogs’ of the 1980s), the proliferation of smartphones and our seemingly endless access to data has driven podcast consumption to insane levels. With over 2 million podcasts available (equating to over 48 million individual episodes), our appetite for these aural companions is enormous. In 2020 alone, an estimated 100 million people listened to a podcast each month, and this number is expected to reach 125 million in 2022. So, what is it that we love so much? They’re a multi-taskers dream – As we slide back into our busy routines, the podcast format integrates seamlessly into our lives. Whether it’s during your morning dog walk, while you’re stuck commuting or whipping up dinner, podcasts provide bite-sized chunks of audio content that are easy to consume and easy to control. According to a recent study, 49% of podcast listening happens at home, 22% while driving, 11% at work and 8% while exercising. There truly is something for everyone – From true crime to comedy, news, opinion, and pop culture, pretty much everything can be found in podcast format. And with content regularly updated (typically weekly, sometimes daily), you’ll never be caught without something to keep you informed or entertained. Simply swipe and listen – Podcasts are so simple to consume. If you have a smartphone, tablet, or computer, it takes next to no effort to get listening. And best of all, most podcasts are free through your browser or an app (unless using a premium listening app like Spotify). What are we listening to in ’22? According to Statista, comedy takes out the top spot for the most listened to genre (and The Podcast Charts by Spotify tell a similar story). Hardly surprising while the world shoulders a global pandemic! And while there’s plenty to make you giggle, we’re here to talk home styling. So, let’s zero in on our top 8 podcasts that will help you transform your home into a much-needed haven in 2022: 1. Home Style with Shaynna Blaze – Award-winning interior designer Shaynna Blaze is well known for her TV roles on Selling Houses Australia and The Block (amongst others), meaning she has plenty of real-world tips, behind the scenes anecdotes and interesting insights to share. 2. The Daily Home Edit – Helmed by the Home Beautiful team, The Daily Home Edit podcast delivers a daily dose of big and small topics, tips and tricks, styling hacks alongside renovation and design advice, all designed to help you live beautifully. 3. Style Rules – Another Home Beautiful (HB) creation, Style Rules, involves HB editor Sarah Burman and style editor Fiona Michelon sitting down to debrief our favourite reno show, Home Rules. They also discuss style in general and what’s trending in the interior design world as it happens. 4. House of Style – Previous rivals in the magazine styling world, interior designer Jono Fleming and interior stylist Kerri-Ann Jones, eventually struck up a friendship that led to them producing this fantastic podcast. They chat to some of Australia’s leading designers, makers, and industry personalities to discover what made them so iconic. 5. Reno Radio – With 117 renovations under her belt, Naomi Findlay has plenty to share across renovating, design and styling. Whether you are in it to make money, have fun or create your dream home, she reveals valuable tips and insider secrets to help you nail it. 6. Decorate Like a Design Boss – In this podcast, professional Interior Designer Kimberly Grigg shares weekly secrets for creating beautiful and functional spaces within your home. She covers everything from helping listeners identify their unique style, sharing design crimes through to bringing life back into dated spaces. 7. Building with BuildHer – Not strictly interior styling, but we think this one deserves a mention for its incredible depth of content. The BuildHer Collective was created to help women with building and renovating, and this podcast shares the gems they’ve learnt along the way. 8. Decorating Tips and Tricks – As the name suggests, this one is full of bite-sized advice, acting as your own personal decorator. With a back catalogue of over 500 episodes, it’s easy to get consumed by this one! What is the 2022 home styling outlook? During the pandemic, we all learnt a little about the uplifting effects of nature. This is having a significant impact on interior trends for 2022, as natural light, an emphasis on glass, nature-inspired colour palettes such as tones of green, ochre and clay browns come to the fore. Natural surfaces like stoneware, timber, terracotta, and marble feature heavily in everything from backsplashes to bathtubs – bringing the calming effects of the outdoors in. To find out how to bring these key trends to life in your home, all you need to do is embrace your inner multi-tasker and get listening! DISCLAIMER The following advice is of a general nature only and intended as a broad guide. The advice should not be regarded as legal, financial or real estate advice. You should make your own inquiries and obtain independent professional advice tailored to your specific circumstances before making any legal, financial or real estate decisions. Click here for full Terms of Use.

Feb 15, 2022

CoreLogic Market Update - Brisbane February 2022

Jan 5, 2022

State's tightest rental market cuts construction fees

Goondiwindi Regional Council (GRC) is introducing a year-long rebate for all Council fees and charges associated with constructing new multi-dwelling buildings such as units, townhouses, duplexes and granny flats. Real Estate Institute of Queensland (REIQ) COO Dean Milton said the move, welcomed by the real estate peak body today, was an exemplary way Council’s could help incentivise much-needed new housing supply. “With the Goondiwindi region hovering barely above the ‘no vacancy’ line at just 0.1 per cent for the past two quarters, it’s welcome news to see Council acting to remove financial barriers to new housing supply,” Mr Milton said. “The REIQ has been advocating for innovative ways to incentivise investors to bring more housing supply to market, both in the short and long term. “In this vein, we recently welcomed the State Government opening up renting granny flats to a separate household and similarly, its pleasing to see GRC trying a carrot (rather than a stick) approach to maximise new housing opportunity in a targeted way.” Meanwhile, Logan City Council will introduce new secondary dwelling infrastructure charges from February 2023, to match the charges for auxiliary units in Logan. “Logan’s vacancy rate is 0.7 per cent which is still a far cry from what we consider ‘healthy’ at 2.6 – 3.5 per cent,” Mr Milton said. “Our view is that introducing new fees acts as a deterrent for property owners to bring secondary dwellings to the rental market, and is contrary to the intension of the amended regulations for granny flats. “Private investors are playing a really vital role, housing a significant proportion of the community, and there’s opportunity for government to do more to encourage and incentivise that.”

Dec 15, 2021

Commercial Market Update - Brisbane Cityscope November 2021

The latest research from Brisbane Cityscope shows in the last three months sales figures have significantly increased. The last three months to the beginning of November 2021 recorded 14 sales for a total of $301.4 million, with $287.5 million for commercial, $8 million for commercial strata, $1.6 for retail and $4.3 million for retail strata. In comparison, the last three months to the beginning of August 2021 recorded 23 sales for a total of $730.5 million, with $690.4 million for commercial, $7.7 million for commercial strata, $1.6 for retail, $4.3 million for retail strata and $100,000 for other . The 12 months leading up to the beginning of November 2021 recorded 54 sales for a total of over $1.366 billion, more than $169.1 million lower than the recorded figure for the same time period the year before. The table below shows sales recorded for the past eight updates of Brisbane Cityscope: The most significant sales recorded this quarter were: Following an expressions of interest campaign which closed November 3, 2020, the State Law Building on Ann Street in Brisbane has been sold for $205 million to HAPP 50 Ann Property Pty Ltd on behalf of Hines Asia Property Partners. The sale represented an initial yield of 7.75% on passing income of $15,887,770. The State Law Building was built in 1976 and is known as the ‘Gotham Building’ locally. It is fully leased The State of Queensland (Represented by the Department of Public Works) and a café. Properties currently listed for sale include: Unit 2, Solace Financial House, 97 Creek Street. An 82 sqm unit on the ground floor Unit 3, Oaks Casino Towers, 151 George Street. A 92 sqm retail unit on the ground floor to George Street. Unit 301, Waterside, 471 Adelaide Street. A 134 sqm ground floor unit fronting Adelaide Street. For sale with a reduced asking price of $1,225,000; agent, First National Commercial (George Koukides). The unit was advertised with a net income of $80,400 pa. Properties currently under contract (conditional or unconditional) include: 100 Creek Street, a 20,223 sqm, 25-storey office building with ground floor retail space. Under contract to Cromwell Direct Property Fund with settlement expected in November 2021; 307 Queen Street, a 19,670 sqm, 102m office building with ground floor retail space. Under contract for around $214,000,000 to interests associated with PGIM Real Estate and Fortius Funds Management; The Brisbane Club Tower, a 21-storey, 10,836 sqm office building. The leasehold is under conditional contract to CHAB Office Trust for $31.5 million and the freehold interest is under conditional contract to CHAB Office Trust for $32 million, subject to a lease back of up to five years plus options. The transactions are expected to settle simultaneously during 2021.

Dec 13, 2021

Our 10 Best Christmas Gift Ideas!

With Christmas decorations all around, we can quickly become overwhelmed with stress as we try to dream up a sleigh-full of perfect gifts to show our nearest and dearest how much they’re loved. While getting it right is a great feeling – what you may not know is, gift giving causes the pleasure and reward centres in your brain to light up as though you were actually the one receiving the gift – sometimes the pressures involved in finding the perfect gift can really take the shine off. That’s why this Christmas, we’ve collated the 10 best gifts ideas, so you can tick of your gift list and focus on enjoying all the spoils this festive season. Food glorious food This is a gift that is always appreciated and can be as tailored or generic as you want. Big box retailers like Myer and David Jones always have a selection of delectable hampers available, but there are advantages in curating your own perfect box for that special someone. From selecting all their favourite foods, to international cuisines or a dedicated chocolate hamper, you can hand pick glorious gourmet goodies full of your loved one’s favourite things. Best of all, there’s no chance of this one ending up in the unwanted pile (or even worse, heading straight to landfill) – as summer entertainment ramps up, so do the occasions to eat and devour delicious foods. They’ll never lose their essentials again! The new Apple AirTag is an affordable gift that everyone needs in their life. Easily added to a keychain, wallet, bag, remote control (or all the above), the Apple AirTag links to your iPhone or tablet making losing things a thing of the past. By simply opening the factory installed ‘Find My’ app, Siri will point you in the direction of your lost item. Home baked with love Put those lockdown-learnt baking skills to good use and whip up a batch of Christmas cookies for family, friends, neighbours, or colleagues. Home-baked gifts not only save you money, but they’re planet friendly, and are often more meaningful than something picked up online or at the shops. Best of all, if you’ve got kids, they’ll love getting involved and any imperfections can be explained away! Need some inspiration? Here are 5 of the best Christmas cookie recipes. Give a bit of balance through books Gifting an old-fashioned, physical book is a great way to bring a bit of balance back into our lives – it demands an escape from multi-tasking and calls for a stint stretched out on a beach towel or lounger for some serious relaxation. The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck by Mark Manson is our favourite pandemic antidote read, but whether you have a fiction lover, cookbook collector or teen to consider, the Barnes & Noble Best Books of the Year has you covered. Make their mug smarter Who hasn’t received a novelty mug for Christmas? Well, this one’s a little different, a little more useful and a whole lot less novelty. The new Ember Mug from Apple lets you keep your coffee, tea or hot chocolate at the precise temperature you set it to, so you’ll never be faced with a neglected, lukewarm beverage ever again! Controlled via an app on your iPhone, you can track your consumption, customise the LED colour and save pre-sets for your favourite drinks. The battery life allows the Ember to maintain your chosen temperature for just under two hours or pop it on its dock for a cup of coffee that will last you all day. The one gift they didn’t know they needed! COVID has us sanitising and washing our hands countless times a day, but most of us have forgotten about our smartphones. When did you last clean yours? With the average person touching their phone over 2,600 times per day according to this study, and research pointing to your phone being dirtier than a toilet seat, this is a big part of our lives that could do with a regular clean. UV phone sanitisers get rid of 99% of all the nasty bacteria and can also be used on other germ-infested contenders like keys, credit cards and more. Harvey Norman stocks a limited range and Amazon stock plenty of options. This is one gift they didn’t know they needed but will be grateful to receive. A present for your pooch Admit it, you purchased a pandemic pet. Here’s the perfect gift for your new pooch – particularly if you’re heading back to the office and they’re enduring a little more alone time. Launched through crowdfunding platform Kickstarter, the Wickedbone is touted as the world’s first smart and interactive dog toy. USB charged and controllable from your mobile phone (if you don’t want to use the Autoplay mode), this bone-shaped toy puts a whole new spin on the phrase ‘gaming device.’ Fur parents will love how easy it is to use, and fur babies will love how it reacts to their play and entices them to keep playing by moving around on its own. Source: Mr Gadget A gift that keeps on giving A lot of green thumbs were found in 2021, with plenty of us spending more time in the garden and developing an appreciation for the simplicity of homegrown produce. Indulge your recipient’s zest for the homegrown by gifting a fruit tree that will keep on giving for years to come. From Avocado Tree Starter Kits to vitamin C boosting potted citrus trees, there’s something suitable for every space –apartment balconies to big old fashioned backyards. The at-home mixologist When options were limited, our appreciation for the skills of the bartender at our local watering hole soared, and many of us brushed up on our own skills. Support your gift recipient’s newfound skill so that they can mix you a drink in style with an at home, happy-hour cocktail kit. If you know their favourite tipple you can purchase a bespoke kit, or leave the options open with a cocktail shaker set to suit all budgets. Face masks, the new socks Socks as gifts are so pre-2019 and according to Google Trends, the worldwide search for face masks is still very much yet to reach its peak. It looks like we’ll be wearing them for a while yet, so why not replace their disposable old surgical blue with something a little more enviro friendly and fashionable. Whether you go for the reliable comfort of Bonds, take the high fashion road with Marc Jacobs or opt for homegrown favourites Culture Kings or Christian Kimber. Perhaps even a festively themed mask from The Mask Life, there’s something to suit every style! Source: Christian Kimber Now relax and spread the Christmas cheer Whether you plan to hit the shops or buy online, we hope you’re one step closer to having your gifts sorted and now have a little more time to relax and revel in the Christmas cheer. Remember, for the impossible to buy for, there’s always gift cards! We hope these gift ideas allow you to relax and enjoy this festive season, from all the team at First National Real Estate we wish you a Merry Christmas and a Safe and Happy New Year. While we hope you find this information helpful, please note that it is general in nature. While we may mention goods or services provided by others, we are not specifically endorsing them and can’t accept responsibility for them. For these reasons, we are unable to accept responsibility for any loss that may be sustained from acting on this information (subject to applicable consumer guarantees).

Dec 13, 2021

2021 Highlights – The Year That Was!

With most of us thrilled at the prospect of waving a pandemic peppered 2021 goodbye and pinning our hopes on a new year and a fresh start, when we reflect our NY goals, we may find the year might not quite have delivered as expected. But before we get too hard on ourselves for not ticking off an ambitious list of goals, it’s important to focus on what we did achieve this year – our resilience and ability to live with uncertainty is at an all-time high, and many of us uncovered a level of grit we never knew existed within ourselves. Aside from these personal achievements, there’s been a lot going on here at home and around the world – so let’s look back on some of the biggest moments of 2021. From most liveable to most locked down city With a huge 276 days spent in lockdown, Melbourne has endured its fair share of arduous stay at home orders. While Josh Frydenberg claimed that Melbourne had “endured the longest lockdown in the world”, fortunately this is one title we’re happy to pass on to another nation. There’s no doubt it’s been long and tedious, but according to this article, Chile and Manila have experienced longer periods in lockdown, and with vaccine rates hitting the required milestones, Melburnians are thankfully experiencing greater freedoms just in time for summer. Our athletes shine on the global stage Scooping up forty-six medals at the Olympics and a huge eighty medals at the Paralympics in Tokyo this year, our athletes sparkled despite the lack of crowds. Our very own queen of the pool Emma McKeon bought home a whopping seven medals, making her not only the equal most-awarded female Olympian ever from a single Games, but the only Australian to win eleven medals across two consecutive Games. American gymnast Simone Biles shone for a different reason As one of the most anticipated athletes ahead of the games, Simone Biles put mental health in the spotlight after withdrawing from most events in the Games. After a series of mishaps in the qualifications, she withdrew citing mental health issues. Her outspokenness about the importance of her own mental health amongst the demands of high-level competitive sport drew support from around the world and from her sporting colleagues. The world got vaccinated From a virus first identified in December 2019 to the first vaccine being approved for emergency use in December 2020, the global vaccination rollout has been swift. With over 7 billion vaccine doses administered to date, there has never been a global effort to fight a common enemy quite like this. Melbourne gets the shakes On the 22nd of September (while the city was deep in COVID-19 related lockdowns), Melbourne was rocked by a magnitude 5.8 earthquake. With an earthquake of this size not experienced in Melbourne for decades, this quake rattled central city areas damaging several buildings. Fortunately, no one was injured in the earthquake. A president is banned from social media In a strange first, former American President Donald Trump had his Facebook, Instagram and Twitter account suspended. While a large portion of his social media activity as president was questionable, it was his use of the platforms to condone rather than condemn the deadly riots at the U.S Capitol on January 6th that led to his suspension. While his accounts remain active, he’s unable to post on them for at least two years – at which time his social media risk to public safety will re-evaluated. We can spread our wings…a little After shutting our borders for nearly 600 days, the Australian government has announced plans to allow fully vaccinated Australians to travel overseas, and to welcome home more Australians that are currently stuck overseas. Fully vaccinated travellers from New Zealand with negative pre-departure COVID tests can now enter Australia without quarantine (in some states, not all), and it looks likely that vaccinated travellers from several countries will be visiting again soon. The Taliban takes hold of Afghanistan once again We watched in despair as the Taliban took back control of the country, causing foreigners to evacuate and Afghani nationals to try and escape. Following several years of positive progress surrounding rights to education and equality for women and children, it’s feared that under Taliban rule all progress will be lost. Electric cars go mainstream While Norwegians may be ahead of the pack (with the highest per capita EV ownership in the world), sales of EVs across Australia and New Zealand have soared to record levels in 2021. A mix of state incentives and greater price parity has attributed to the growth in both countries, with the Australian government further bolstering this with the Future Fuels Fund announced as part of the 2020-21 budget. This $71.9 million initiative aims to remove barriers to uptake of EVs with Round 1 focussing on charging networks across Australia. We lost an Aussie TV legend This year, we sadly lost iconic TV and radio broadcaster Bert Newton. A mentor to many other Australian media stars and a stable fixture on the screen in many homes over the years, Bert was eighty-three years old and had a media career spanning six decades. Best known for his nineteen Logies hosting appearances – with nineteen different dazzling dinner suits – Bert breezed through the three hours of live hosting year after year. Aussie TV won’t be the same without him. We no longer need to keep up with the Kardashians Love them or hate them, after fourteen years, twenty seasons and hundreds of episodes, Keeping Up with the Kardashians finally came to an end on the 20th June this year. Over the years, we’ve seen Kris Jenner turn into the ultimate momager, Bruce Jenner transform into Caitlyn, and the Kardashian clan build an empire based purely on celebrity influence. It wasn’t long before fans could dry their tears however, with the Kardashians announcing they’d signed a multi-year content deal with Disney’s Hulu to produce “new global content”. The Great Resignation 2021 has seen a flood of worker resignations take place across the US and around the world, now coined by economists as The Great Resignation. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 4 million Americans quit their jobs in July 2021 which is being attributed to pandemic-related factors. The pandemic has given people all kinds of reasons to change lanes with their employment – from searching for more money, to more flexibility and in many cases, more happiness. The trend is predicted to make its way to Australian and New Zealand shores, with plenty of people ‘holding on’ to jobs as we weather the COVID storm, but pondering new opportunities for the future. Let’s see out 2021 in style and welcome 2022! With 2022 signifying the Year of the Tiger – pegged for strength and braveness, and vaccine roll outs reaching new heights, life as we know it is looking like it will return to some level of normalcy. As we welcome greater freedoms alongside the festive season and sunshine filled days, life is looking a whole lot brighter. To all our readers, First National Real Estate wish you a freedom and frivolity filled Christmas and prosperous 2022! DISCLAIMER The following advice is of a general nature only and intended as a broad guide. The advice should not be regarded as legal, financial or real estate advice. You should make your own inquiries and obtain independent professional advice tailored to your specific circumstances before making any legal, financial or real estate decisions.