Ever walk into a venue and really just ogle the space? Yep, us too. And is it just us or does it seem new venues across the Gold Coast have really stepped up their fit-out game recently? A few venues spring to mind when it comes to ones that deserve a feature on the ‘gram; of which include the new Surfers Pavilion, and the reinvigoration of The Star Gold Coast’s Atrium Bar. Both of which were projects of Brisbane & Gold Coast company, Zero 9 Constructions. We were fortunate enough to get to know the founders of Zero 9, Karley & Ryan McAlpin, to talk all things Commercial & Residential construction and boy do they have some big projects in the pipeline! Watch this space!

How long have you been Gold Coast locals?
Karley: All my life, I was born and bred on the GC. (Except for a few overseas adventures!)
Ryan: All my life. Born and bred in Tweed (I’ll claim that as the Gold Coast) haha

Tell us about how Zero 9 Constructions came about?
Ryan: The burning desire to do what I was doing, but better! Shopfitting had this almost ‘unspoken rule’ that you did big hours, nights, never saw your family, and quality was never valued as the space would get re-fit in 3-7 years… Why? Why can’t quality of finish, and quality of life exist in this sector? This is where we focus our values as a company, on quality, detail and professionalism. We’re not about getting a job done purely to get the job done, our values lie in providing our clients with an experience that is seamless, detailed and exceeds their expectations. That is our passion and where the business started and continues to grow.

Can you tell us the meaning behind “Zero 9”?
Ryan: People often assume it is the year we started the company, but there is a bit more of a love story behind it. 2009 was the year Karley and I met, in Canada, on a snow mountain. Even though we both lived on the Gold Coast, it took us both being in Canada, at the right time for us to find each other. When toying with the idea of starting the business, the name just felt so right, a year that was sentimental to us. And with that, this is where the name Zero 9 came about.

What do you love the most about being in the construction industry on the Gold Coast?
Ryan: Being part of such a dynamic, ever-evolving part of the Gold Coast. Having the ability to create new opportunities and be a part of the community growth is really special to us. Not to mention the people we work with and places we work, we’re currently working on the old Pizza Hut site at Kirra and you couldn’t find a more beautiful part of the world (not to mention how sentimental it is with all the birthday parties I had there). It truly is special to be involved in the future of the Gold Coast and shaping it for the generations to come.

What are your areas of expertise?
Ryan: Our brand started in the Commercial Construction industry with the development of restaurants, cafes, bars, clubs, gyms, office spaces; practically we bring any space to life. Finding recent demand for our level of quality and detail in the Residential industry, the Zero 9 team has expanded into architectural home builds, renovations and extensions. Our team work collectively through the design and construction of these spaces to add value to our clients lives.

Whilst it may be hard to pick, have you got a particular favourite project of Zero 9 Constructions?
Ryan: Tough one… If I had to narrow it down to two, I would say Surfers Pavilion and Burleigh Brewing HQ. Both absolute monster projects with unique challenges and great clients!

What can we expect from Zero 9 Constructions in the next 12 months?
Ryan: Massive things!! Epic rooftop spaces, iconic GC venues, and some of the most beautiful homes the GC and Northern NSW has ever seen.

What are your Gold Coast favourites…
Café: Here Coffee at Zero 9’s Burleigh HQ (obviously), but also VERY hard to go past Tarte in Burleigh.
Coffee spot: Here Coffee at Zero 9’s Burleigh HQ (obviously)
Restaurant: Lucky Bao in Mermaid. Absolute pocket-rocket of a place that is our absolute go to!
Bar or pub for a drink: As we have four young kids, our drinking is usually done at home with a Burleigh Brewing Big Head, or a pack of Hard Fizz. If we are lucky enough to have a night off, it’s hard to beat Burleigh Pavilion for the location and atmosphere.

How do you choose to spend your weekends? 
Ryan: As mentioned above, four young ones keep us VERY occupied. (Thank goodness for the backyard pool, incredible Gold Coast weather, as well as family and friends close by!). During the glimmers of silence, you will normally find us in front of a laptop or Netflix. Basically just sitting in silence…

Where: 1/14 Rothcote Court, Burleigh Heads
Phone: 0481 279 984

STORY SPONSORED BY ZERO 9 CONSTRUCTIONS

Did you know that opal is the official gemstone of October? And as we enter the tenth month of the year, we got to know the man behind Australian Outback Opals, located on Tamborine Mountain. Darren Jack, who has a wealth of knowledge in opals, gave us a bit of an insight into the history of his involvement in the industry and even the process of mining the stunning gem. Read on to find out more!

How long have you been a Gold Coast local?
We moved up from Sydney in January 2013.

Tell us a bit about Australian Outback Opals.
Australian Outback Opals is located in the rainforest area on Tamborine Mountain, near Curtis Falls waterfall. I have been cutting opal since 1979 and got the opal bug so have been collecting since then. I travelled to the opal fields at Lightning Ridge as soon as I got my Drivers Licence and would spend most of my holidays there. I am really passionate about opals and I believe that they have the most beautiful colours of all the gemstones. My wife and I opened Australian Outback Opals in July 2016. We have a large range of opals in store, from rough opal, cut stones, and opals set in beautiful jewellery. We also see many old opal jewellery pieces coming into the store that have been handed down the generations, that need a little TLC. We can repolish and reshape the opals in store as needed. We are next door to a great little café and a gelato shop called Lemon Lovers Gelato who make all their gelato, ice cream and sorbets in-store.

What makes opals such an icon of Australia?
Opals are Australia’s National Gemstone, and they say that “Opal is believed to bring Love, Luck and Happiness to both the one who gives and the one who receives”

What is the process of mining an opal?
Opal is found at shallow depths in sedimentary rocks where there has been considerable silica seepage into the cavities and other elements like shells, sea creatures and plants, which become opalised fossils. Gradual loss of water from the silica gel resulted in the hardening of the material and the formation of Opal.

How long does it take (on average) for an opal to be mined through to being ready for sale?
That depends on many things, and every stone is different. Some stones may take a day to turn around, others take a lot longer due to the complexity of the colour patterns. Once an Opal claim has been established with mine shafts etc, successful excavation of opal can take days, months or even years to uncover the hidden gems. Some opal mining claims may not contain any commercial-grade opal and other mining claims might produce millions of dollars in opal.

As a gemstone, what does an opal symbolise?
Opals are an iconic National Gemstone. In mystical circles, opal is considered a stone representing hope, innocence and purity. It has strong connotations of happiness, faithfulness, loyalty and confidence. For those who believe in the healing power of stones, opal may be good for eye infections and diseases, as well as the enhancement of other healing processes.

What is the most popular piece of opal jewellery you sell?
I’d say the most popular piece of jewellery would be rings, both for men and ladies, followed by pendants. We also have a large range of souvenir jewellery which are also very popular. If we don’t have the exact piece in store, we can custom make any piece of opal jewellery, like engagement and wedding rings.

What is your favourite type of opal and why?
Really I love them all, but I would say my favourite would have to be Black Opal from Lightning Ridge, especially Red on Black.

What are your Gold Coast favourites…
Café: Silipo Café, Southport
Coffee spot: Crema Lovers Cafe, Tamborine Mountain
Restaurant: Belvedere Italian Restaurant, Tamborine Mountain
Bar or pub for a drink: Fortitude Brewery, Tamborine Mountain
Hotel: Q1, Surfers Paradise

How do you choose to spend your weekends?
I work most weekends in the shop, as it is the busiest time on the Mountain, and we try to sneak some time off during the week.

In the 21st Century, mental health has become as important as physical health – and rightly so! Taking care of not only our own mental health but checking in on others can sometime’s make a world of difference. It’s organisations like LIVIN, a Gold Coast-based and non-profit mental health organisation, that are helping to destigmatise mental health and promoting the message that #itaintweaktospeak.  We were fortunate enough to ask a few questions to founders Sam Webb & Casey Lyons about their mission and how we can all improve our own and other’s mental health through early intervention and prevention initiatives.

How long have you been Gold Coast locals?
S: I was born in Sydney and grew up on the Gold Coast in Burleigh Heads. I relocated to Sydney, Bondi Beach in 2014 and have since moved to LA – where I now live.
C: 32 years, which is my whole life.

What do you both love the most about the Gold Coast?
S: I miss the beaches on the Gold Coast. Growing up on the Gold Coast I use to surf 3 times a day and looking back now, that is definitely something I took a little for granted.
C: I think it is a great mix of everything; the beach, work, great food and weather, and the hinterland isn’t too far away at all.

Tell us about how LIVIN came about.
S: LIVIN started in 2013 after we lost a good friend Dwayne Lally to suicide. Dwayne’s death was a wake-up moment for me at a time of my life when I was also at my lowest point. Dwayne’s death was felt by an unquantifiable amount of people, from so many walks of life, and we soon realized that there was a lot of people who struggled in silence with their mental health similar to Dwayne. For Dwayne’s wake, we created and sold t-shirts with Dwayne’s’ portrait on it along with one of his favorite lyrics from a song. Our intentions were to sell the t-shirts to raise some money to give to Dwayne’s family to support some of the financial burden around funeral costs. Dwayne’s mum and dad told us to keep the money and do something great with it. So, we did. And that is where LIVIN started. From very humble beginnings in my kitchen in Burleigh, to a spare room at my next home to then Casey’s garage, LIVIN started growing quicker than we expected all thanks to the support we garnered from so many young people who could relate with Dwayne’s story and breaking the stigma around mental health.

Why is mental health so important?
S: I believe that without good mental health, the rest suffers in some way. Our life goals, ambitions, passions, hobbies, relationships you name it, begins and ends with mental health. I am not saying that if you have poor mental health today you won’t achieve your desires, but I do believe that staying mentally healthy and prioritizing your mental health needs will serve you extremely well in your life both personally and professionally.
C: While we don’t all have mental ill-health, we ALL have mental health. Mental health is relevant to absolutely everyone! I can’t think of a more compelling reason to shine a spotlight on any topic.

How is LIVIN helping to change the stigma surrounding Mental Health?
S: LIVIN’s vision is to break the stigma around mental health through early intervention and prevention. We do this through our 3 core pillars.
1) LIVINWell- We deliver our LIVINWell in School program to students all around the country free of charge. Our program has been specifically designed to educate students on a range of issues related to mental health, with an emphasis on breaking the stigma of mental health, enhancing self-efficacy (both helping themselves and helping others) and encouraging help-seeking behaviour. It is delivered by experienced, highly relatable and carefully selected Facilitators that have a blend of lived experience and mental health training.L
2) LIVINWear- We sell streetwear and apparel. Think of this as a walking billboard spreading positive messages through collections to create conversations and raise awareness around mental health. Wearing a t-shirt, hoodie or hat can create on average 20 conversations around mental health that could be life-changing.
3) LIVINLife- Through our online social media community, fundraising and events, we are creating a cohesive, connected ecosystem that engages with the lifestyle of LIVIN which is why LIVIN has been the success it has been. Without our community, none of this would be possible. So thank you to everyone who’s helped in some kind of way.

What are some ways we can take care of our own mental health?
S: Practicing self-care. Focus on the things that you enjoy doing. That may be exercise, drawing, painting or journaling. Do them often and set time aside for them. Speaking about how you are feeling and educating others that may not be aware of what you may be going through can be beneficial. Remember, people are not mind readers. Above all, It Ain’t Weak to Speak. Reach out if you need some help and treat yourself like a good friend.
C: Self-care is my number one tip. Self-care is certainly not selfish and it doesn’t need to be something extravagant, 10-15 minutes each day is a great starting point. What does self-care look like? Well, that is completely up to the individual but typically it is doing what makes you happy; things that help you to relax, unwind, de-stress. Exercise is great for me and exercise doesn’t need to be strenuous either, it needs to be something that you can sustain.

What are some signs of depression people should look out for?
C: There are many different signs we can look for – noticeable changes in appearance, no longer enjoying things you used to enjoy, low energy and motivation, feeling like everything is too hard. However, the one I like to share is, any change in what would be typical behaviour for yourself or someone you know that has lasted for longer than two weeks is a good indication to explore what is going on.

How can we start the conversation with someone we may see is having a difficult time?
C: This is generally the part that people find the hardest to do, I understand this but it doesn’t need to be. People think that by starting a conversation it could encourage the person to do something terrible or make them worse. This is not the case, there is research that suggests that it is very hard to say the wrong thing if our intention is pure. I like to start the conversation by asking the person how they are going. I am usually met with the throw-away “yeah, good thanks”. I then say “no, how are you really going”? It can be helpful to communicate some of the things you’ve noticed that have prompted some concern. E.g., I have noticed x y z lately and you don’t seem yourself, is there anything I can help you with? After you have kick-started a conversation the best thing you can do to help someone is to listen and listen without harsh or critical judgment.

What are your Gold Coast favourites…
Café:
S: Commune Cafe
C: Espresso Moto Palm Beach
Coffee spot:
S: Didn’t drink coffee until 32 years of age and that was in LA
C: Flying Bean Beechmont
Restaurant:
S: Bonita Bonita
C: Labart, Burgster, Wahoos, Harry’s or Ginger Indian – it really depends on the mood.
Bar or pub for a drink:
S: Ze Pickle
C: Lockwood

How do you both choose to spend your weekends?
S: Spending time with my Fiancé Nadia, friends, something outdoors like running or hiking for sure and then plenty of movies. I love a good film with some popcorn! It’s the perfect way to relax.
C: With the family down at Talle Creek, eating food at one of the above restaurants, mowing my lawns, or if I’m lucky, a bit of golf.