Since I was 10, I've had big dreams of becoming a singer/songwriter.

My biggest problem is that it all costs a lot of money! How can I work

toward my dream without being overwhelmed by it all? - Genevieve

I’m so glad you are asking this question now rather than spending the next

10 years of your life broke with a shattered dream. Here are some thoughts

to help you keep on a sound track and - if it’s meant to be - achieve those big

dreams too!

You need money to liveIn a country like Australia, you need money to live, right? It might seem obvious

but it’s a reality that we all have to remember as a starting point. Paying for

food, rent, car… the list goes on before we even get to the costs of singing and

song-writing… and it all becomes expensive.

Can you afford to live off your dream?It’s easy to get caught up in the frenzy of teenage pop stars who think the

answer is yes and can buy the New York mansion. The reality is that most

successful people take many years to build their dream to the point that it can

support their cost of living. If you are going to achieve your dream, be a real

success story and an example to others, avoid being an overnight sensation

singing your dreamsSOUNDTRACK TO SUCCESS

followed by an overnight flop. So don’t start out your life reliant on your dream

being your only source of income.

Be a go-getterIt wasn’t actually very long ago that football stars held down a full-time job

during the week and then travelled to play a game on the weekend. It was seen

as a privilege to get to a point where someone would pay them just to live their

dream. The same goes for the music industry too. Think of it as a privilege if you

can get to the point where you can spend all week on your number one passion.

So what do you do in the meantime?Well this is really important. You get on with building a job and career and you

fit your singing and song-writing around your studies and work. Yes, it will mean

you are busy, maybe writing songs late at night, but that’s a good thing. The time

will race past while you get closer to your dream.

Build life experienceThe other massive benefit of being a go-getter is that you gain life experience.

Knowing the pains of work, handling rejection and getting to meet people with

different personalities is all going to give you some great material for writing and

help you know how to connect with people through song.

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Some specifics for the singer/songwriter in you

Perfect your art firstMake your focus now all about perfecting and developing your singing and song-

writing. Develop your own unique style and identity. Don’t skimp on good tuition

if you can afford it. Be humble and learn as much as you can from others so you

can build it into your singing and song-writing.

Pick your timing for publishing your songsYou are entering an industry where first impressions count and if someone

watches a clip of yours that isn’t good, it may be a hard road back to get them

to watch again. These are people you want to buy your music, they are not your

guinea pigs! If the song or your performance isn’t ready, keep it under wraps

until it is. So perfect your art first and then develop a strategy for publicising

your songs.

Start smallStart with low profile gigs and ask those you can trust for honest feedback. At

this point don’t just throw away your income-producing job - you still need it so

you do not become desperate for money whilst building your dream. Talk to your

employer about any extra time you need to get to performances or recordings

and be prepared to fit them around your job and studies.

Make your image and style consistent with your music and values. Then, when

you are ready, look at developing your profile online and at venues.

It will be important to develop your own profile and have a small following

before approaching a record label or manager. When you do pick a label or

manager, make sure you have similar values and dreams for your music.

Popularity and profitabilityYou might think these two words go hand in hand for the music industry. The

lesson for many is that they don’t. Uploading a song on YouTube might give you

a lot of exposure and popularity but it may not give you any money.

Start now in developing a strategy for how you can combine your passion for

music with earning some money. This includes making sure you protect your

copyright in your songs and promote your music through a channel where you

will receive royalties when music is downloaded.

You should ensure your percentage of any income is fair if you sign with a record

label or manager. Also make your music accessible to the buying audience, such

as through your own website.

All the best with your dreams!

christy • PHOTO shut terstock.com 3

There are many relationships in life – some we choose,

others choose us. So often we take the special ones

for granted, but none more so than the bond we have

with our father. Often mothers take the lead role in

parenting, while dads take the back seat. Although

this might sound familiar, it doesn’t have to be the

case. Just ask 14-year-old Alyssa Azar, who will tell

you that the most influential person in her life is her

father, Glenn. While not all of us can say that, the

close bond she shares with her dad is something

which we can learn from, even if we don’t share the

same blessing in our lives.

During much of Alyssa’s childhood, she would hug

her father goodbye as he’d set off to conquer one

of the world’s largest mountains or toughest terrains.

He’s a professional adventurer and this might sound

glamorous, but there are plenty of risks involved.

However, it didn’t take long before Alyssa joined him.

At just 8 years old, Alyssa became the youngest

person ever to walk the Kokoda Track – a 96km trail

in Papua New Guinea that is famous for being the

location of a World War II battle. I’m much closer to

him than anyone in my family. I think it’s because of

that trip. I mean, you go to Kokoda and you spend

so much time together because you’re isolated in the

jungle, she said. We trust each other a lot more. I can

tell him anything and he can tell me anything, so I

guess there are no secrets between us.

A dad she can trust has meant that Alyssa has

gone on some seriously dangerous adventures,

including hiking to Mt Everest’s Base Camp (5360m)

and climbing 10 of Australia’s highest peaks. That

mutual trust alone is significant for any teenager.

But the latest addition to her list of accomplishments

is the impressive Mt Kilimanjaro, (the highest

mountain in Africa at 5895m). That was my toughest

challenge, because of the preparation, she recalls.

While preparing for Mt Kilimanjaro, I had just started

year 10, so it was hard to do school work, have a

part-time job and train at the same time. What an

amazing girl! But her dad was there cheering her on

and encouraging her every step of the way.

Alyssa’s dad Glenn says, I have this idea that if you

prepare for the worst case scenario, anything better

than that is okay. But if you prepare for the best case

scenario, and something goes wrong, you’re not

really equipped to handle it. With all these adventures

and the goal-setting that we do, it’s really teaching

Alyssa some skills for life that will always be with her.

Clearly this dad is pretty proud of his little girl and

what she’s achieved, but Glenn says it hasn’t come

without some criticism. People thought it was me

pushing her to do it, but it was the opposite. When

she first wanted to go, she was only 6 and I was trying

to stop her. But I’ve learnt now rather than to resist

her, I’m better off to assist her with what she wants

TUREto do. These are Alyssa’s dreams, not mine, and she

has been attacked and bullied a lot because of them.

Girls accuse her of achieving them to show off but

she wants to set a good example and I’m so proud

of her for that.

What an awesome dad! And because he’s her trainer

and biggest fan, Glenn has also been able to spend

quality time with Alyssa, which is why he thinks

they’re so close.

The sad reality is, many of us don’t have a dad like

this. Research reveals that on average, a teenager

spends only 8 minutes per day with his or her father.

Maybe your dad doesn’t spend much time with

you either, but Glenn says whether it’s climbing

Mt Kilimanjaro or simply going on a picnic in the

park, quality time spent together is the key to

building a strong relationship between a dad and

daughter. Maybe you could invite your dad to go for

a hike with you, but don’t start with Kilimanjaro!

So what’s next for this amazing duo? We’re planning

a Mt Everest Summit for 2014, but I’ll be doing a few

trips before then to prepare, says Alyssa. This entails

two more Kokoda trips, another Mt Kilimanjaro climb

and a trek to Mt Everest Base Camp. However, the

8,848m two-month hike to the summit of Mt Everest

isn’t going to be easy for either of them. So far, only

around 3,000 people have made it to the top, while

in 2006 there were eleven deaths on the notorious

mountain. But in the inspiring words of Alyssa, No

challenge is too big or small that it can’t be tackled

together!

> TAKE A LOOK AT THEIR POSTER IN THE MIDDLE SPREAD OF THE MAG.

WITH MY DADADVEN S

>ON THE KOKODA TRACK

>AT THE TOP OF MT KILIMANJARO

You can follow Alyssa’s progress at facebook.com/AlyssaAdv or adventureprofessionals.com.au

SUMMER 20124

Asking a girl out for the first time should be done in person or at least by

phone. He may be shy, scared of rejection or just pressed for time, but his fear

or unwillingness to approach you directly says something about his character.

Set some clear guidelines from the start. You want important information to be

discussed in person. You don’t want any details about you or your relationship

posted online without your permission. Tread carefully. Don’t be too quick to

share any information you want to remain confidential. A god thing can turn bad

very quickly and, once posted, information is online forever. Paul Well who doesn’t like to be asked out, to be wanted! So when someone asks

you out it hits the place in our hearts that says “I want someone to love me,

value me, accept me.” Woot woo! But what sort of fella is he? Does he actually

value and respect you? Or is he just there for himself... no matter how smooth

he comes across? So before you date any guy, whether he asks you face to face

or through Fb, I’d be making sure he is a guy who shows you respect, not just

makes you feel like someone pays you attention. Adam

Asking you out via Facebook or SMS is not a great start to a potential relationship.

If he asks you out via social media, chances are he will also end the relationship

the same way. What else may he share via social media, with or without your

permission? Information about you, your friends, details of your relationship,

photos etc? Are you one of several people he is asking out online? Is he sincere?

Is this for a bet, a dare, a bit of fun? BruceCall me old fashioned, but I think if a guy wants to date you he should front up

and ask! I guess that takes a fair bit of courage, but wouldn’t you appreciate it

more that way? I guess times are changing so I’ll try not to read too much into

things, but I still think the most important conversations should be done face to

face. Steve

family guys

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the family guys

Is there anything wrong with dating a guy who asks me out on fb or by text?

JUST A FEW DADS WITH SOME ANSWERS TO BIG QUESTIONS

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We girls have often looked to Hollywood for examples of what we

should be looking for in a guy, so Bella thinks it’s about time Hollywood

started to look at some good-value guys instead of selfish fellas! We

went looking for some real-life, impacting, sacrificial guys who make a

difference with their lives. Here are some real men – Spielberg, take note!

Rick NewnhamMeet 26-year-old Rick Newnham, the founder of Australia’s first independent

organisation dedicated to embracing the ideas of young minds. In just three years

Rick has managed to expand ‘Left Right Think-Tank’ into five Australian cities and

build a team of more than seventy young and dedicated staff. His mission is to

get teens involved in politics. When Rick started the group, he said,

“We do get criticised for not being more ‘youthy’ – presumably because we

don’t go to skate parks and eat pizza. When I go to meetings I wear a suit.”

Whatever you make of his approach, Rick is being noticed – he was recognised

as the Young Western Australian Citizen of the Year 2011, named by Triple J as

one of Australia’s ‘25 Under 25 & Smashin It’ amazing young Aussies, and he

has even met the Queen! He chatted with her about the cultural relevance of

the Commonwealth and found the experience ‘pretty surreal’!

Glen VollebregtGlen Vollebregt is a man who means business! This 27-year-old entrepreneur

is not only the owner of two successful real estate businesses, but he’s also the

director of an organisation called ‘Brightest Young Minds’.

Through this initiative, Glen aims to inspire young people who, like many

of you, are eager to put an end to the problems confronting society, using

innovative solutions, such as better financial literacy training, connecting

migrants and refugees with mainstream society and creating a political party

for a youth voice.

His dedication and passion for achieving these goals is inspiring and led to him

being awarded runner-up in the 2012 South Australian Young Entrepreneur

of the Year.

Dan SercombeWe’re proud to call our next hero one of our very own. He’s a Bella contributor,

successful TV journalist / documentary filmmaker, and one of the nicest guys

you’ll ever meet. You may recognise Daniel Sercombe from Toowoomba’s WIN

News station, where he’s worked for almost five years.

jasmine quarman • PHOTO javarman/shut terstock.com

world changersWHAT DOES A REAL MAN LOOK LIKE? TURN ON THE TV AND CHANCES ARE YOU’LL

BE INTRODUCED TO A ‘MAN BOY’ WITH LITTLE HOPE OR DIRECTION IN HIS LIFE AND A WHOLE LOT OF BAD ATTITUDE AND HABITS. NOT MY IDEAL MAN!

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“Media production is a big interest of mine. I’ve wanted to work in TV since

I was 14. I love the challenge of creative production and my passion is to

produce quality documentaries and films for TV in Australia. There’s so much

trash on TV these days, and I want to try and change that.”

While Dan has just returned from shooting a documentary in Egypt, Turkey and

Israel, it’s the 2010-2011 Queensland flood disaster that has undoubtedly been

his most challenging opportunity.

“It was a full-on time for me to be up close and personal with the devastation

of that disaster. It was very confronting spending time with people who had

lost loved ones, homes and possessions.”

Dan’s dedication to altering lives occurs off-screen as well – volunteering his

time each year to help teens.“I love being involved in these because I have the

opportunity to invest in the lives of young people and be an encouragement,

because this world is a pretty full-on place to navigate.”

Hugh EvansOur final hero is well-known. Hugh Evans is co-founder of two remarkable

charity organisations. This 29-year-old became concerned about world poverty

when he participated in World Vision’s 40 Hour Famine as a child. As a

teenager, Hugh visited the Philippines and India where he was inspired further

by his encounters with poverty and devastation.

A pivotal moment came not in India, but on his return, when he noticed how

desperate Australians are to get the latest mobile phone, and contrasted it with

“walking through the market of India and seeing a man with no legs, simply

a piece of rubber tied to his waist to stop the skin on his pelvis from scraping

away, begging for the equivalent of 20 cents”.

After several more trips Hugh graduated from uni with a law and science

degree, while remaining dedicated to bringing about social change. In 2003

he established the Oaktree Foundation, an organisation aimed at helping

countries in need across Africa and the Asia Pacific. Five years later he helped

set up The Global Poverty Project, aimed at fighting extreme poverty. These

initiatives have earned Hugh many accolades such as Young Australian of the

Year 2004, Outstanding Young Person of the World 2004, and being named by

Who magazine as one of the Most Beautiful People of 2009.

These four men are real heroes who have achieved so much in their lives and

have inspired those around them to be better people. But there are many

teenagers out there who feel just as passionate about making a change, and

are every bit as capable – so what are you waiting for?

Daniel Sercombe Rick NewnhamGlen Vollebregt

Hugh Evans

Autumn 2013 7

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mali & laura geitz • PHOTOs supplied

laura geitzA CAPTAIN, A CHAMPION AND A LOVER OF CAKE

Netball star Laura Geitz, 25, is our latest Bella ambassador. She has come

a long way since growing up in Allora on the Darling Downs to captain

Queensland’s Firebirds and win a gold medal with the Australian team at

the World Championships.

Bella: What does beauty mean to you, Laura?Laura: I think a girl looks beautiful when she is really happy within herself and

confident with who she is. Beauty is when a girl looks attractive and appealing –

but it is both on the inside and on the outside.

What advice do you give to a girl who wants to make a difference?I think if she believes that what she’s doing is right then she’ll make it happen. It

might not necessarily be in sport; it might just be something they’re one hundred

percent passionate about.

Growing up, I was bullied a lot, and it’s funny, a lot of the girls on the Firebirds

team say the same thing – that they were pulled down for being a little bit

different from most of the other school kids. As you get older, and get a bit more

tough-skinned, don’t let people pulling you down affect what you’ve got to do

or what you believe in.

Tell us about one person who has impacted your life.I don’t even need to think about this answer – it’s my Dad. Both Mum and Dad

played a massive role in my life as a young athlete from the country, trying to

cope with travelling and mixing it with the girls from the city. That was pretty

challenging, driving to Brisbane every weekend while I was doing school, but

they did it. Without them I wouldn’t have achieved half the things that I did.

As well, Dad is someone who is always extremely positive about any situation

and finds good in everything. Even though there’ve been some tough times, he

knows what he wants, works hard, and gets on with the job, ending up with a

smile on his face. That is a pretty simple quality, but something that’s very special.

So what would you say to girls who don’t actually have a father figure in their lives?I’m not saying that everyone’s dad has to be their shining light, but surely there is

someone you can look up to. Think of who you want to be like, whose footsteps

you would like to walk in. Choose anyone who’s done the right thing by you in

your life – who’s shown you love and support and who you are automatically

drawn to and admire.

What was it like growing up in a country town?I absolutely loved it. It was a childhood that I wouldn’t swap for anything else.

Now I’m older I’ve realised just how special it was to grow up in the country. I

was always surrounded by animals and wide open spaces which I loved as a kid

because I was always so active and didn’t really like classrooms and that sort of

thing. It was a country lifestyle where my older sister and I grew up with strong

family values. Dinner time was telly off and everyone would sit around the table,

discussing what you did that day. There were some challenges, such as the extra

travelling and having to leave home younger – I really struggled because I didn’t

have those city experiences that other kids had. Now I just love coming home.

It’s so nice – it’s a feeling you can’t describe.

What would you say is the biggest success you’ve ever had?2011 was amazing, winning a premiership with the Firebirds and then winning

the World Championship. That’s the first time that my hard work has actually

been fully rewarded. Winning a Championship with girls who are really close

to you is an indescribable feeling. And since then, I got married and we bought

our first house.

So getting married was important to you, Laura?I’m extremely lucky that I’ve found the person who I can spend the rest of my life

with (Mark Gilbride, rugby player and businessman). Not everyone experiences

that, but knowing you’re going to be with someone forever is a really comforting,

nice feeling. He is my best friend, and I remember when Mum used to say,

“When you find someone you want to marry, he’s got to be your best friend”. I

used to wonder how this could be, but Mark is everything I could imagine. We

were engaged for two years, and our wedding was an amazing day.

Do you like your body?Yes. I train hard but there are still times when I envy someone else. I look at

girls in magazines and think they look beautiful. But then I think, “Well, I’m an

athlete. If I didn’t look the way I do then I wouldn’t be able to play my position

and be a presence on court.“ In professional sport there are a lot of body issues

amongst girls, which probably surprises readers.

Favourite dinner?Steak and vegies.

Favourite ‘bad’ thing?I’m a bit of a sucker for cake, and eating it is just like heaven!

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GRAB YOUR BEST FR IEND WITH SOME PACKED SANDWICHES, PEACH TEA AND A GOOD PA IR OF

SHOES AND SHOW HER THE BR IGHT L IGHTS IN THE C ITY.

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