Don’t Shoot the Messenger

Updated by Belinda on Jul 3, 2014 in Blog Post, Personal Posts | 83 comments

Don’t Shoot the Messenger, please…

It seems so easy to make reactive comments and blame ‘the messenger’ without fully understanding the big picture. It’s even easier since the advent of Social Media platforms and the anonymity you have, hiding behind a computer screen.

My husband, Gary Fettke, is copping flak on several fronts by people who don’t know the full story.

While a brave man may stand up for what he believes in, it takes a courageous man to then speak out about his beliefs and expose controversial findings, knowing full well he may be ridiculed, harassed and even bullied by those who either don’t understand, won’t take the time to listen, or those who feel confronted by concepts that go against everything they have thought to be right.

Gary Fettke truly is the most courageous man I know …

I guess it is hard to explain courage, but to me;
Courage is mortal.
Courage is facing ‘a bullet’ knowing you can get hurt.
Courage is making a leap of faith and sharing that journey of faith with others.
Courage is refusing to take the easy way out!

As I write this article, I am thinking of my courageous husband, who has just had surgery to have his hip replaced. A lifetime of pushing himself physically has deteriorated Gary’s hip over time.

But pain doesn’t stop this man.

He lives with physical pain every day.

It is what drives him to be the best that he can be as both a medical practitioner and a surgeon. He has an empathy that only someone who has experienced ‘real’ pain can understand.

Cancer does that to you …

When you lose your Mum to cancer at the age of 16, it turns your world upside down. It makes you grow up in ways your peers will never have to know, thank God.

And then, when you experience cancer ‘first hand’, the world as you know it, implodes.

As with the book Gary wrote in 2007; Inversion, One Man’s Answer for Peace and Global Health, http://www.onemansanswer.com  his Nutritional Model of Modern Disease http://www.nofructose.com/introduction/nutritional-model-of-modern-disease-2/published in 2014, is about ‘the message’, not ‘the messenger’…

Inversion – One Man’s Answer to World Peace and Global Health

‘The Message’ in both is to encourage everyone to look at everything from a different perspective…

Sometimes though, it is useful to get to know the messenger so you can gain an understanding of the motives that drive their thoughts and an appreciation for the extensive experience and research they have done. Insights into outcomes that throw light on related topics and ascertain the incredible resources they have drawn information from.

In Gary’s case, in particular, hearing some of the background and a glimpse of his story, provides an opportunity to understand the reasons why he is so keen to fully understand health and nutrition. In a sound bite, his thoughts and recommendations may seem superfluous to some people who aren’t happy with him giving dietary advice, considering the specialty he has trained in.

Considering he is an Orthopaedic Surgeon?

So, I looked up the meaning of Orthopaedics and while it is defined as; surgery concerned with conditions involving the musculoskeletal system, the definition goes on to describe Orthopaedic Surgeons as doctors who use both surgical and nonsurgical means to treat the musculoskeletal system including trauma, sports injuries, degenerative diseases, infections, tumours, congenital disorders and complications of Diabetes Type 1 and Type 2.

Gary believes it is his duty of care, as an orthopaedic surgeon, to discuss realistic patient outcomes with all patients regardless of their need for surgery. In fact, how much better to help people avoid surgery if at all possible, by educating them on the preventative measures for their condition, including nutritional advice and the use of specialised exercise programmes.

Gary has continued to provide a holistic approach to healthcare for the last 20 years, which is at the forefront of prevention rather than just surgery.
Since starting his Social Media presence, Gary has a medical disclaimer across all platforms about the ‘ín principal’ generalisations he makes and the importance of talking to your GP if you are considering making major changes to your diet or lifestyle. The majority of his writing is about trying to put complex material into lay terms and he states that all the information he shares is HIS interpretation as a doctor, a patient and an observer. What he recommends may not suit everyone, but it works for him and so many other people are seeing the benefits of the low carb/healthy fat diet he is recommending.

So, an insight into the messenger …

Gary was in year 12 when his Mum died and thoughts of mining engineering took a back step as studying medicine became his priority. He watched his Mum suffer when her cancer was found ‘too late’ to do anything. Her knee pain had earlier been dismissed without further investigation by her GP at the time, until finally she was admitted to hospital and then she never came home …

As a result, Gary won’t let a complaint of bone pain be ignored, not ever, without investigating to dismiss anything sinister going on. He simply can’t!

His first visit to an intensive care unit as a patient was at the age of 37. Whilst operating, he became aware of his vision deteriorating and he underwent urgent neurosurgery to remove a tumour from the base of his brain. As a grown man with a family of his own, hearing those three words “You Have Cancer” was devastating to my husband. Not only did he have to deal with the ramifications of the diagnosis on a very personal level, but Gary also had to deal with the grief it caused to those close to him. Grief that reveals a vulnerability you just can’t explain. Looking into our young children’s faces and seeing his pain and fragility mirrored in their eyes, made him determined to fight for more time.

Life experiences change you …

Gary always checks and takes down a plaster if someone complains of pain. He watched me lose a 1/3rd of my right index finger to gangrene under a plaster when I was 18 and he was a 2nd year medical student. Neither of us understood at the time that betadine was iodine based and that my claim of an iodine allergy had been somehow ignored in theatre. Too young and too trusting of the Resident Doctor who insisted all was OK, when questioned about the yellow dye on my arm soon after I came out of theatre. Insecure and vulnerable after being told I was over-reacting to the pain I felt under the plaster, when others around me had endured more major surgery … till they took the plaster down; then it was too late to save my finger.

Our first born daughter, Kate, had a congenital hip dysplasia and wore a brace for eleven months. The worst case of hip dysplasia Gary had ever felt.
And our youngest daughter Megan, suffered from a tear in the Ligament of Teres, at the head of her femur when she was in Grade 6. She required 3 operations in Melbourne to repair and finally remove the ligament, leaving her on crutches for over 3.5 years! As a result of long term anti-inflammatories and pain relief, she ended up with a lot of gastrointestinal issues which sent her on an endless medical chase of medication and diet to try and heal the lining of her stomach wall. Finally, it was (reluctantly to start with) giving up Fructose that cured her stomach problems.

Going back to 2000, when Gary was first diagnosed with a benign Pituitary Tumour and following on from his initial surgery, he had weeks of intensive radiation therapy and still requires intermittent periods of chemotherapy. You can’t keep a good man down and further surgery in 2004 didn’t stop his determination to return to work.

Gary truly understands what it is like to be a patient, learning how to endure daily stereotactic radiotherapy with our young son accompanying him to these sessions. William would be doing set homework in the waiting room, busting for Gary to emerge from treatment to see what the days’ adventure would hold. Gary and William were in Sydney for 10 weeks. I flew back and forth pulled between Kate who had just started high school, Megan on my hip at 3 years and the boys in Sydney. It was a difficult time, but we learnt resilience and our family grew stronger and stronger.

This journey left Gary with an even greater desire to teach the things he has learnt to manage his pain and control symptoms of his disease. Researching cancer management extensively for 14 years has given him the tools to help him develop his Nutritional Model of Modern Disease.

Right from the beginning of his medical career, Gary always assessed patient symptoms from every angle and thought outside the square.

He was the first Orthopaedic Surgeon in Australia to use straight arm casting for forearm fractures in children after researching the benefits from studies in China and the successes they were having with their patients.

Gary also developed a new technique for women’s incontinence surgery many years ago, which has since become the basis of most pelvic floor reconstructive surgery, worldwide.

His lateral thinking approaches are well utilised on the trips to Vanuatu as a volunteer surgeon with a team from the Launceston General Hospital. Limited facilities and funds necessitate imagination, including the traction and pulley system he set up last year with bits and pieces from a marine supplier. Just one of the many challenges the team come across in a third world country being confronted with diabetes and diabetic complications since the introduction of polyunsaturated oils and fructose into their diet

More recently his concern about post-operative complications and vascular compromise in severely obese people (BMI over 35) and diabetic patients has led to his study into diet and nutrition.

I believe Gary’s cynics feel threatened by the information he is uncovering. They should make time to listen to the whole story with an open mind and then make an informed decision about their next step. There is a wave of opinion from the highest levels and a change is occurring.

Just look at Britain and their latest ban on smoking for people who have been born from the year 2000 … In forty years, smoking will be illegal there. My husband was at the forefront of declaring smoking a danger to our health.

Gary’s refusal, more than twenty years ago, to perform ELECTIVE surgery on smokers without a six week interim break, caused a lot of flak and ridicule at the time. But he had researched the post-operative risks associated with circulation compromises in patients who smoked and believed it to be his duty of care to reduce the postoperative risks. He wanted his patients to have the best possible outcomes from their surgery and refused to defer to others opinions when they felt he was being fanatical. The peripheral vascular complications of smoking are now well understood and the risks involved during both the surgery and post operatively are widely documented and by law, now written on every cigarette box sold.

How can you criticize a man who reads widely and wants to know the latest scientific thoughts and questions the validity of Associations that have funding from Big Sugar and Big Business? Gary may specialise in orthopaedics, but he also researches and delves further into other areas that may impact on the overall health and wellbeing of his patients, allowing him to practise holistic medicine. The holistic approach can take away a need for surgery, reduce complications and improve patient outcomes.

The idea of our health education being compromised by an industry or group that has vested interests is just plain wrong! People are getting sicker and the system we currently have in place advocates cure more than prevention. Like the food pyramid, it is time it was turned upside down and looked at from a different perspective. Take major sponsorship and big industry out of the equation. Invert our thoughts and ideas.

There is scientific proof that Fructose is a major contributor to modern disease and is consumed in our society in levels way beyond the World Health Organisation 2014 recommended 5 teaspoons per day. Recent studies show that saturated fats don’t make us fat and are necessary for our bodies to absorb the fat soluble vitamins (A,D,E and K) we need to function healthily, whereas polyunsaturated fats are now found to be toxic.

With his latest research Gary has been focusing on health and nutrition. Studying scientific papers, analysing results and collating independent data about cancer metabolism, risk factors of infection and complications from surgery with a high fructose loads.

His cancer eats sugar. It uses glucose to metabolise. So do most cancers…

I have had lots of time to think while sitting beside Gary during this latest hospitalization and want to do my best to stand up for him. To give his critics some insight into the man that he is. I want to share some of the things that have shaped him and made him a respected surgeon.

I can assure you, he isn’t a fanatic, but rather he is a man who is both intelligent and passionate; about life, health care and related medical issues. He has never been one to accept everything he is told to be true and correct. Even when we were back at high school, he has always wanted to understand ‘why’ and validate information; prove to himself that something was valuable and worthy.

Gary first became aware of the arthritis in his hips in 2002, when he experienced pain and stiffness confirmed on x-rays. He has pushed on for 12 years as he recommends to his own patients. He has lost 25kilograms in weight to ease the load on his hip and help make the joint last longer.

He waited to have his hip replaced till the pain was felt in every step and it started to disturb his sleep. When there was a marked fixed flexion deformity he sought advice from a colleague. Gary has rarely complained and mostly when he has, it is an involuntary groan when his hip has ‘çaught’. There is not much you can do about an arthritic hip except take medication to ease the pain and have it replaced when it all becomes too much. But, there is a clear indication for maintaining a healthy weight to take the load off the affected area and improve post-operative results. A low carb/healthy fat diet decreases inflammation and assists wound healing. Especially important when Gary wants to walk his daughter down the aisle without a limp in October …

And here he is; 3 days post hip replacement at home with me, walking with one crutch, able to walk up and down stairs with 2 crutches and only taking aspirin and Panadol for pain… He is AMAZING!! Photograph taken of our family by Alan Moyle Photobat.

Gary Fettke is not a fanatical man, but a man who is passionate about health. Something that happens when life is so close to being taken away from you and then you get a second chance to live…

Pooches, Perfumes and a Proposal … The Way to a Girls’ Heart _ BPhotography

Updated by Belinda on Jun 27, 2014 in Blog Post, Engagement | 0 comments

Chatting to Chris and Claire about their life together and what it was like settling into their first home with Ace & Kiara, their two Border Collies, got me thinking. As we continued our initial discussions about their wedding plans, it became even clearer in my mind as to how we should go about their engagement photoshoot …

I admit it! I love romance, and this proposal was seriously romantic.

Chris brought back perfumes as gifts for Claire from business trips. He kept giving her perfumes till one day there was an extra surprise when she opened the perfume box. It contained an engagement ring. As she sat there comprehending what it all meant, Chris read his handwritten, heartfelt poem to her. I am certain that her smile just grew wider and wider and of course, Claire said yes!

I suggested telling their engagement story ‘visually’ by incorporating the poem Chris wrote and the perfume bottles in their engagement photoshoot. Kiara and Ace joined in as well, how could they not?

Chris and Claire love nature and outdoor spaces with Quamby Bluff holding a special place in their hearts. So we set off on an adventure. A photoshoot ‘crawl’ that took us from their front doorstep one Saturday afternoon, to stands of poplars, romantic sweeping driveways, the roadside at Hadspen and onto a quiet country road with the most perfect view of Quamby Bluff, just as the sun was setting low on the horizon. We used fishing line to tie the final perfume bottle to the barbed wire fence and placed the other perfumes amongst the grasses, with pieces of the poem on small bits of paper strung along the fence. It was beautiful and romantic and I can’t wait to see the album they are having made from this very special photo shoot.

I can’t wait for their wedding!!

Thank you so much for asking me to be a part of your day and to capture the essence of you both and your deep love for each other. I am honoured xx

Autumn Colours were the Backdrop for Milly’s Portrait Shoot _ BPhotography

Updated by Belinda on Jun 20, 2014 in Blog Post | 0 comments

Leanne and Rodney Bird asked me to photograph their daughter Milly before her St Patrick’s College Ball, Launceston, Tasmania on the 17th May 2014. A lovely portrait photo shoot at the Punchbowl Reserve, Launceston, Tasmania in Autumn just as the leaves were turning. 

Her partner, Jarrod, wore a matching coloured tie with a dark classic suit to compliment the aqua blue long gown that Milly wore. Such a lovely young couple! I photographed them at the Punchbowl Reserve to reduce the risk of wind and to provide some shelter from the rain that had threatened all day. I popped Milly into a pair of red gum boots when we went off exploring to save her diamante shoes with incredibly high heels.

Photos of Milly & Jarrod, detail shots and ones of their family’s. Photos with the car against the backdrop of autumn leaves of reds and yellows. Special memories. Thank you for asking me!!  

Profile Picture Perfection _ 7. Does Your Profile Picture ‘Connect You to Your Vewer’? _ BPhotography

Updated by Belinda on Jun 13, 2014 in Blog Post | 0 comments

I offer the following 9 tips for ‘profile picture perfection’. http://bphotography.net.au/?p=3453  These tips are not intended to offend anyone, but rather to encourage you to sit back and ‘take a look at yourself’ objectively. To see yourself as others may see you and make sure it is exactly what you want.

This article discusses my 7th ‘Tip to Profile Picture Perfection’ :-

7.  Is Your Profile Picture Connected to the Viewer?

When you make eye contact, conversation follows in reality, why not apply that same theory to the virtual world. 

The customs and significance of eye contact may vary widely between cultures, but it is a key non-verbal communication in the Western World.

Eye contact lets someone know you are ‘interested’ with the briefest of glances, even across a crowded room. On a platform with thousands and thousands of profile images, that ‘brief glance’ can make someone stop and pay attention.

While we communicate information verbally and non-verbally ‘in person’, your tone of voice, your gestures and your body language have no impact on your target audience on a business profile platform. The only non verbal communication you can establish with the viewer from an image, is eye contact. Until profile pictures become 3D and ‘interactive’ we have to grab a viewers attention with all the tools we can.  Have an industry appropriate image that appears professional, motivated and establishes eye contact to engage your audience and make it meaningful.

For this reason, please don’t wear sunglasses.

I have to say a very special thank you to Grant Collins, owner of Cachet Florist Launceston, Tasmania for kindly allowing me to – in his words “exploit him”, but I promised to be kind!

Eye contact establishes an immediate connection and develops trust. While I can’t see Grant’s eyes in his profile picture on LinkedIn, I happen to know this amazing man and I trust him and his skill with floral artistry soooo much, that I have booked him to provide all the flowers for my daughter’s upcoming wedding in October!

When you walk into his boutique business, you walk into a wonderland. Huge bouquets of seasonal flowers, vases overflowing with the most spectacular array of greenery, your senses are enveloped with subtle floral perfumes and you don’t want to leave … An oasis tucked down a laneway, away from the frenzied shopping mall. A place I love to visit.

I first came across Grant through my wedding photography. His work stood out to me. Not only was it exquisitely designed, but the freshness of the flowers lasted all day, no matter what the temperature. I have recommended him as a preferred supplier to my brides, because I knew they can trust him. I know the bouquets will be of the highest quality and that the floral artistry would be second to none!

Grant has won the Interflora Florist of the Year for Vic/Tas in the last two years and placed in both the Australia Cup and the World Cup Interflora competitions many times. He demonstrates and runs workshops around Australia in the off-wedding season. Just so clever …

Despite Grant’s current LinkedIn profile picture looking a little like a time warp from the seventies and his eyes covered by sunglasses, I assure you you can trust this man! I do and now I am hoping he might trust me to provide him with a profile picture that is industry appropriate and still grabs attention; a profile picture that appears professional and establishes eye contact to engage his audience and create even more opportunities for Grant and his amazing business, Cachet Florist.

Profile Picture Perfection _ 6. Is Your Profile Picture ‘Just You’? _ BPhotography

Updated by Belinda on Jun 13, 2014 in Blog Post | 0 comments

I offer the following 9 tips for ‘profile picture perfection’. http://bphotography.net.au/?p=3453  These tips are not intended to offend anyone, but rather to encourage you to sit back and ‘take a look at yourself’ objectively. To see yourself as others may see you and make sure it is exactly what you want.

This article discusses my 6th ‘Tip to Profile Picture Perfection’ :-

6.  Is Your Profile Picture ‘Just You’?

I just have to clarify this point again …”just you”!!

No husbands, no babies, no pets! Seriously, don’t do it.

Don’t be judged on your home-life, especially as a young woman holding a baby. The first thought that comes to mind is; ‘this woman may not be ready to leave her child, she looks way too comfortable in her mothering role’. That isn’t to say women aren’t incredibly capable of closing the door gently on family to take on a business position and work equally as hard and deliver as well as any man. But, if you have a business profile picture with a child on your hip and family included, it isn’t ‘just you’ that is viewed in those brief few moments. It is your entire family and homelife …

As an employee you could be a liability; sick days with kids … I understand, I am a Mum, too! Don’t be judged by that first glance at your profile picture. Prove you are capable of the job and can leave your family life where it belongs. At home!

Fill your private Facebook page with all your extra’s and if anyone stalks you they will see that you have a million friends,  are happily married, are a great Mum or Dad and love your cat <3

Just look at Ari Powell.

Not only is she a great mum, wife and homemaker, but she is a successful business woman on many fronts. Polish Your Sparkle is a business she began in 2011, helping people to achieve more and feel happier in both their work life and home life. She teaches secondary students English in a Virtual Learning Environment and on top of that; has just launched the Tasmanian Branch of the Empowered Mum’s Business Network in Launceston. Ari is passionate about helping people, especially women, to empower themselves. The weekly meetings have a focus on successful, inspirational guest speakers and workshop training and are run every Tuesday morning during school term. They also offer exciting networking and marketing opportunities. You don’t have to be a mum, you don’t even have to be a woman but they do offer a unique appreciation of the needs of business mums and there is childminding on the premises.

Guest speakers have included;

Johanna Baker-Dowdell; Storyteller: Author, Journalist, PR Consultant, Blogger, PhD Candidate

Christine Hepburn; Customer experience strategist, Corporate Trainer, Professional Facilitator, Consultant, Professional Speaker

Jo Palmer; Southern Cross Nightly Newsreader, Journalist, Former Miss Tasmania and in 1993 she was awarded Miss Australia

Belinda Fettke; Photographer, Social Media Marketer, Profile Picture Perfection

If you would like to attend one of the upcoming meetings to hear Ari Powell speak on motivation and moving your business forward, Celine Egan on effective business networking and more in the next few weeks, please book through Eventbrite http://www.eventbrite.com.au/o/empowered-mums-business-network-launceston-6326128071

Your profile picture significantly enhances your on-line business presence. Make sure it is all about you!

“COURAGE as Resistance to Fear, Mastery of Fear, but not Absence of Fear” _ BPhotography

Updated by Belinda on Jun 12, 2014 in Blog Post | 0 comments

What makes someone a “Superhero”?

I am reading a novel at the moment by an Australian author, Craig Silvey called ‘Jasper Jones’. It is a very powerful story set at the tail end of 1965, when racism and treating minority groups inhumanly was still very much a part of our Australian culture.

As the story unravels, the main character; a 13 year old Charles Bucktin, is confronted by injustice, hypocrisy and rascism in a small town and a web of deception is woven as he is asked to keep a secret that he holds ‘like a brick in his belly’.

His best friend is a young Asian boy, Jeffrey Lu and the two discuss all manner of topics and one ‘in particular’ has really stuck in my mind and made me think about it, for days. Jeffrey and Charlie have a verbal fight about who they believe is the greatest ‘superhero’. Jeffrey says “it has to be Superman because he steps in front of bullets and doesn’t consider risk! He delves into danger without a moment of thought.” But Charlie questions him and asks “Is that really courage? If a bullet can’t possibly hurt you how can it be brave to stand in front of one?” Therefore, justifies Charlie, it is Batman who is the ultimate Superhero because he is mortal. He has the same fears as you and I and the same vulnerabilities, but he puts those aside to fight on regardless. The more you have to lose, the braver you are.” Craig Silvey describes “COURAGE as resistance to fear, mastery of fear, but not absence of fear” …

How many people do you know that you could honestly call a superhero?

I know 2 very brave men whom I consider to be Superheroes.

I have been touched by their stories.  first one is my husband, but it is a very long story and I will come back to it at another time

Cameron Bean is the Superhero I would like to tell you about today.

Please know that this doesn’t mean that I am not in awe of Jess and the will and fight to carry on a ‘normal life’ she strives for every day. I am humbled by her humility and despite the illness she deals with every day she continues to fight for a better life for others less fortunate than herself and passionately supports the charity HIAM Health in East Timor.

Cameron is a Superhero in my eyes…

He met Jess at school, but it took a little while for love to blossom. I photographed both of them over time, working as the ‘school photographer’ and watched as they grew from kids to young adults with a passion and a commitment beyond their years.  Please read their blog LivingLovingGrace if you would like to find out moreabout their work with HIAM Health in East Timor.

‘The more you have to lose, the braver you are.’ which means that courage is humble and human: ‘Courage as resistance to fear, mastery of fear, but not absence of fear’ …

Jess has Cystic Fibrosis and in the last couple of years she has required regular ‘tune ups’ which take 2-4 weeks at a time to administer.

In her words -“So whenever I need it, for the entire 2 to 4 weeks, Cameron becomes my nurse, doctor, pharmacist, physiotherapist, dietician, cook and cleaner. From holding my hand while they insert my PICC line (they won’t let him do that one – surprisingly!) to holding it again while they take it out, he does both the early and late shifts and everything in-between. He measures noxious smelling drugs with precision and primes countless IV lines. He lovingly washes my hair over the sink and chauffeures me to and from the hospital for blood tests, lung function tests and appointments. He makes sure I take every one of my 30 – 40 daily pills and 6 – 10 insulin shots and cleans my nebulisers for each of my 4 – 8 inhalations. Who needs sleep anyway?

The most amazing thing of all however, isn’t that he does all of this now and then for a few weeks. It is that he chooses this life even though he knows there will be many more weeks like this to come. Although periods of IV’s are a bit more challenging than usual, this is part and parcel of being fiancé to a CF’er. Even on the good days there are pill boxes to make up, injections to remember and physio treatments to do. There are weekly appointments to attend and bad days to get through. While many of our friends are graduating and building their careers or travelling the world, Cameron is by my side doing the things that aren’t always fun and that he will have to do all over again tomorrow, but mean there will be as many tomorrows as possible. To have someone who stands by and takes all that on board, I have to say makes him nothing short of incredible. Some might say it isn’t a real job, but Cameron assures me it is the most important job in the world.”

Jess and Cameron Bean

I am humbled to be able to share their love story with images that have touched so many peoples hearts and lives.

xx

Profile Picture Perfection _ 5. Is Your Profile Picture ‘Just You’? _ BPhotography

Updated by Belinda on Jun 12, 2014 in Blog Post | 0 comments

I offer the following 9 tips for ‘profile picture perfection’. http://bphotography.net.au/?p=3453  These tips are not intended to offend anyone, but rather to encourage you to sit back and ‘take a look at yourself’ objectively. To see yourself as others may see you and make sure it is exactly what you want.

This article discusses my 5th ‘Tip to Profile Picture Perfection’ :-

5.  Is Your Profile Picture ‘Just You’?

No matter how tempting it is, you can’t cut yourself out of group photos.

It just looks bad, especially if part of the other person is still in the picture; some stray hair off to the left, half an arm or a cheek close to yours, but the other person is missing? … and often these sorts of photos are taken at parties, so your attire may not be entirely appropriate either for a business profile picture.

I couldn’t help but use this photo of me to demonstrate the 5th Tip from my article for two reasons … The first is I really like it of me (best reason to use any image as a profile picture I think!!) and the second is to show how distracting and unprofessional it looks; to see a bit of cheek on the left. Surely anyone searching me on LinkedIn would wonder who I had cut out?

This photo of Gary and I was taken by a dear friend and photographer, Alan Moyle, Photobat. This shoot was to capture the end of an era for our family. Our son was getting ready to head off to university in Queensland and we were in the process of selling our home. We used the photoshoot to record memories of our young teenage and adult children and also the home they had grown up in. The amazing garden Gary had designed and put so much work into … a very special place in our hearts.

This image was then used by the Australian Medical Association to highlight an article on Gary (who also happens to be an orthopaedic surgeon in Launceston) after he wrote the book Inversion – One Man’s Answer for World Peace and Global Health. A soundbite that challenges the ideologies of life, science, politics, religion and global health and was just a prelude to bigger and even more challenging projects to come!

Gary launched his website www.NoFructose.com last year and followed it up with his Facebook page Gary Fettke NoFructose shortly after.  He believes polyunsaturated oils are a major contributor to most of the common western diseases and the high fructose intake in our diet via sugar. The high portions of carbohydrates consumed, together with low fat in our diet adds to this problem.

Therefore cutting down on polyunsaturated oils, carbs and sugar in our diet and increasing fat, will influence health outcomes. 

He has theorised and written the Nutritional Model of Modern Disease and is currently campaigning to improve the menus in public hospitals.

He has taken his fight to the local politicians because the CEO of the Launceston General Hospital refuses to meet with him to discus his concerns.

Gary’s latest blogpost:

“Hospital food guidelines recommend 2 desserts per day!” is the headline in our local Examiner newspaper today and gets the blanket response from the CEO on hospital food.

‘The LGH follows national guidelines … modelled on the nutritional standards for adult patients in New South Wales hospitals. The LGH offers broad menu choices for patients including LOW-FAT healthy heart options.’

Herein lays the problem. Those guidelines recommend 2 servings of dessert per day for patients. I am not joking! This is the problem that I am facing.

This is an across the board recommendation and there is no reference to dietary options for diabetic patients.

Those dessert and sugar laden options are then displayed on the menu and most patients just start ticking away for a variety of reasons – free food, try this and get extra in case they don’t like a portion of the food. It happens every single day.

I cannot find any reason for any person to have 2 desserts per day, let alone in Diabetic patients.

The 2 dessert recommendation is only one of many flaws in the NSW guidelines. Sugary snacks, biscuits, flavoured milks, fruit juices and margarine are all on the daily recommended list as well as significant carbohydrate loads.

I understand that changing the whole system will take a long time but I should be able to request options for patients that are not sugar and carbohydrate laden, and particularly for diabetic patients.

Who do these bureaucrats think they are? The ability to make medicaI decisions has been taken away from clinicians and this is restrictive and obstructive. Ultimately this is causing patient harm.

I am responsible for determining operation choices, surgical implants, medication and overall care. The inability to recommend food options based on current literature and World Health Organisation recommendations remains inexcusable.

For that reason alone this awareness needs to continue.

PS. Still no reply to my request for a meeting!”

What a clever and passionate man I am married to! Why on earth would I crop him out of my photo?

 Your profile picture significantly enhances your on-line business presence. Make sure it is Just You and the best it can be.

And Violet Makes Three … _ BPhotography

Updated by Belinda on Jun 12, 2014 in Blog Post | 0 comments

What a fun photoshoot with this gorgeous young family! Violet was only 10 days old and so tiny and new. Her big sister, Ruby, took on the role of carer and mothering came naturally to her. Jasper, on the other hand, was very busy and needed a little more cajoling to join his sisters for a photo!

Thank you to Tim and Shelly for asking me to capture your precious new babe and your growing family. It was my pleasure.
 

A Sneak Peek into Daisy’s World _ BPhotography

Updated by Belinda on Jun 10, 2014 in Blog Post | 0 comments

Daisy was only 3 months old when I photographed her last month, snuggled closely to her Mum and Dad; Victoria and Chris.

Such a happy baby, surrounded by love.

The photoshoot was at their new home which Chris had built in St Leonards. The high ceiling rooms were flooded in natural light and the warmth from the fire was just what we needed on the wintery day in May. A couple of changes of outfits, a feed and a sleepy contended baby meant lots of lovely photo opportunities. We even ventured out into the drizzling rain with Daisy all rugged up at the end.

Thank you for asking me to photograph your beautiful daughter, Victoria. It was an honour xx

LCHF – Gary Fettke, Christine Cronau & Gary Martin – BPhotography

Updated by Belinda on Jun 10, 2014 in Blog Post | 0 comments

We had special guests around for dinner last Friday night! Gary Martin (Naturopath, International Speaker and Co-Founder of Living Valley Springs Retreat) and Christine Cronau (Nutritionist, Best Selling Author & Speaker) were in Launceston to present “The Fat Revolution” at the Tailrace; Sunday 8th June from 2pm – 6pm. April, who has worked for Gary for 11 years and currently studying naturopathy and Gary’s daughter Giselle, who manages Living Valley Springs Retreat, joined us as well.
Gary Fettke was in his element discussing his research with such passionate like-minded Thought Leaders on the Low Carb/High Fat concept. The dinner conversation was captivating and informative.
Wishing Gary Martin and Christine Cronau all the best for their public speaking event tour around Australia and very much looking forward to catching up again in August, when Gary Fettke No Fructose will be joining Christine in Hobart.