kanganews may 2016

KangaNewsa great mate in Hong Kong

May 2016

1 KANGANEWS | MAY 2016

NEW MEMBERS | MAY 2016

LOOKING AHEAD | June 2016 These dates may be subject to change

Eric Barnes

Judianna Barnes

Gershon Dorfman

Lydia Dorfman

Karen Buckley

David Buckley

Yvonne McMahon

Paul McMahon

David Rial

Suzanne Liu

MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY SUNDAY

01 02 03

cooee coffee

04 05

06

mahjong

ladies social golf

mums and bubs

07

morning tennis

08

book club

club lunch

09

ladies social golf

10

cooee coffee

11 12

13

mahjong

ladies social golf

mums and bubs

14

morning tennis

SMB

15 16

ladies social golf

17

cooee coffee

18 19

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mahjong

ladies social golf

mums and bubs

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morning tennis

22 23

ladies social golf

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cooee coffee

25 26

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mahjong

ladies social golf

mums and bubs

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morning tennis

29 30

MAY 2016 | KANGANEWS 2

MAY 2016CONTENTSNew Members 1

Looking Ahead (June 2016) 2

Regular Events 3

Who’s Who 4

President’s Message 6

Thank you to our contributors 6

Charity News 7

From Your Consul-General 8

Association Announcements 9

Out & About 10

Book Club 11

Past Events: Cooe Coffee, Explore Hong Kong, SMB, The Club Lunch 12

Calendar: May 2016 19

Upcoming Events 19

Classifieds 24

Travel Tips 29

Beauty Tips 31

Gastronomic Discoveries 33

Expat Corner 35

Sports Report 37

Sports Report: Dragons 41

Dragon Boating 43

The Valley Vet 45

DEADLINE | JUNE 2016

Advertising Booking Deadline 15 June

Advertising Material Deadline

19 June

Newsletter Material Deadline

15 June

EDITOR Bruce Andrews E: [email protected]

DESIGN AND PRODUCTION Dean Williams E: [email protected]

PHOTOGRAPHY Simon Fuller E: [email protected]

Australian Association of Hong Kong Ltd.

11A, Shelley Court, 21 Shelley Street

Midlevels Escalator, Central, HKSAR

T: +852 2530 4461

F: +852 3020 0194

E: [email protected]

W: www.ozhongkong.com


BOOK CLUB First Wednesday of the month. If interested, please

Contact: Connie Albracht | [email protected]

CHARITY WORK The Society for the Relief of Disabled Children 12 Sandy Bay Road Pokfulam

Contact: Pommi Kaur | 2819 3050 | [email protected]

COOEE COFFEE Fridays 10:00

–11:30 am Oolaa Petite, Shop 2 Tower 2 Starcrest, 9 Star Street, Wan Chai, Hong Kong.

Contact: Nikki Wilson | [email protected]

DRAGON BOAT For all enquiries please email [email protected]

LADIES GOLF First Monday of the month at Kau Sai Chau. Mondays and Thursdays (handicap required) at Deepwater Bay. Contact Ella Van Westendorp | [email protected]

MAHJONG Mondays 10am

– 1pm Dynasty Court Function Room Mid-Levels $80 members $130 non-members Contact: Christine Scullion | [email protected]

NETBALL For all enquiries please email [email protected]

TENNIS Tuesdays 9 – 11 am Wong Nai Chung Tennis Centre $40 mem-bers $60 non-members

Contact: [email protected]

SMB LUNCH Second Tuesday of the month

Contact: Michael Madigan | [email protected]

SUNDOWNERS Contact: Adrian Ryan | [email protected]

MUMS & BUB's Monday mornings.

Contact: Julie Forte | [email protected]

THE CLUB Monthly lunch at a different private members club each month.Held second Wednesday of the Month

Contact: LJ Ferrara | [email protected]

REGULAR EVENTS | MAY 2016

Would you like to join the Australian Association?Members, have you renewed your membership?

Corporate family membership is now available for any corportate organisations in Hong Kong.

For more information, please contact:

Adrian Ryan | [email protected]


MAY 2016 | WHO'S WHO

GENERAL COMMITTEE PRESIDENT Gavin McDougall | [email protected]

VICE-PRESIDENT Ivy Wong Stephens | [email protected]

TREASURER John Rasheed | [email protected]

SECRETARY Eleanor Coleman | [email protected]

GENERAL COMMITTEE Roque Hammal Rochelle Howie Joan Leong Adrian Ryan Dean Williams Bruce Andrews Veronica Dang Fiona Healy

PAST PRESIDENT EX-OFFICIO Jennifer Ferris

SOCIAL COMMITTEE SOCIAL COMMITTEE CHAIR Millie Edwards | [email protected]

VICE CHAIR LJ Ferrara | [email protected]

TREASURER Michael Madigan | [email protected]

SECRETARY

Manuela Guthrie | [email protected]

SOCIAL COMMITTEE Dee Longe | [email protected]

Jess Mizzi | [email protected]

Nikki Wilson | [email protected]

AUSTRALIAN ASSOCIATION OFFICEUnit 11A, Shelley Court, 21, Shelley St, Midlevels, Hong Kong T: 2530 4461 | F: 2530 4497 | E: [email protected] www.ozhongkong.com | Office Hours: 9am-5pm (Mon, Wed, Fri)

Office: T: 2530 4461 | E: [email protected]

Membership Manager, Adrian Ryan: E: [email protected]

Marketing Manager, Adrian Ryan: E: [email protected]

KangaNews Editorial, Bruce Andrews: E: [email protected]

Advertising Manager, Adrian Ryan: E: [email protected]

The Australian Association office

is open Monday, Wednesday and

Friday. However, if no-one is there

please leave a message which will

be answered as soon as possible.

The views expressed in this news-

letter are not necessarily those of

the committee.

Images are the property of the

Association and may be used on

our website and for promotional

purposes. This includes images

of children from our events. If you

do not want your children to be

featured please contact the office.


https://www.eventbrite.hk/e/roast-at-the-residence-tickets-24450142033


MAY 2016 | PRESIDENT'S MESSAGEHello,

I don’t mean to harp on about the weather – I did that a couple of Kanga News editions ago. But I did read that Hong Kong has just emerged from its most humid April in at least 45 years. Anecdotally, it’s difficult to prove this but I’m more than willing to accept what the experts at the Hong Kong Observatory say. Certainly, I’ve had to step-up the anti-mould activities at home and that’s a sign that the air has certainly been a little damper than the usual pre-summer weather change.

Summer, of course, is the time to look forward to some unique Hong Kong activi-ties and we’ll be listing those that we have on offer in Kanga News and on our website.

Don’t forget also to check out our Facebook page. Which brings me to the moment I always feel a little sad about – but in this instance I am also quite pleased for the person involved.

Liz Walsh is one of our trusty volunteers and has been one of the key drivers of our Facebook presence. If you’ve enjoyed seeing those Flashback Friday images of old Hong Kong, or appreciated getting those timeline reminders about upcoming events, it’s very much thanks to the effort of people like Liz. Liz has also been a terrific contributor to our Social Committee. While we’re sad to see Liz leave both roles, we’re also exceptionally happy for Liz and her husband who are expecting twins. No doubt this will be a sharp bump to our Mums & Bubs group! We’d like to express our thanks to Liz and wish her all the best as she embarks on the most important role she’ll ever take on – mum!

A big thanks also goes to our hardworking, fun loving Social Committee chair. Dee Longe has been a fixture within the Australian Association for many years but will step down from her role on a high, at our Roast at the Residence event on 6 May. I can never express enough thanks to the people who give up significant parts of their private time to help the Association to run its events and help network with our members. Dee’s contribution has been very much appreciated and we also wish her all the best.

The good news is that we welcome Millie Edwards to the team. Millie has also been a regular at Association events for many years (between postings to different parts of Asia) and it’s a pleasure to welcome her to our team of volunteers. Millie will now chair the Social Committee and become a key contributor to our manage-ment committee.

Gavin McDougall

Thank you to our contributorsThere is a team of diligent members and friends who prepare the regular articles in Kanga News. We would like to acknowledge them (in alphabetical order):

Warrick Stephens Gastronomic Discoveries | Greg Bax Sports Report | Karen Buckley Expat Corner |

Sam Agars Sports Report: Dragons | Dr Lloyd Kenda The Valley Vet | Dee Longe Out & About |

Gavin McDougall Australian Consul General |

Members of the General and Social Committees for the photos and event updates.

https://www.eventbrite.hk/e/roast-at-the-residence-tickets-24450142033


SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT | THE FRED HOLLOWS FOUNDATION


MAY 2016 | AUSTRALIAN CONSUL GENERALHello,

It is always a worry when we hear news of major natural disasters like the recent earthquakes in Japan and Ecuador. It is also a reminder that the devastating earthquake in Nepal was only a year ago. Apart from the impact on local communities, it is a concern for us because we are very aware of the extent to which Australians travel. This is especially so for Australians living and working in Hong Kong who travel extensively in the region for work and on regular vacations.

Destructive natural phenomena like earthquakes can happen without notice, catching travellers off guard. Even in Hong Kong with its advanced typhoon warn-ing systems, it can be easy to become complacent about the potential harm to human life that Mother Nature can dish-out.

It is why we remain vigilant and vocal about encour-aging Australians to register with us when they are overseas, whether they are living in a foreign country long-term or just taking a short break. Registering goes a long way to helping us to help you and your families should the unexpected happen.

Registering is free and it is easy through our Smartraveller.gov.au website. We can only access the information you provide in very specific circum-stances, including should a natural disaster strike in the region you are travelling in. Along with ensuring that you have adequate travel insurance, it is a small effort for peace of mind.

Thank you to those of you who came to the Anzac Day commemoration in Hong Kong. Australians con-tinue to show national pride in turning out to show respect for those who’ve served our country. It was pleasing to again see so many young people in the crowd. It would seem that the flame of remembrance for our fallen heroes is being passed into good hands.

Finally, I hope you have managed to secure a ticket to the Roast at the Residence event at our home on 6 May. It is a pleasure to be able to turn over use of this little piece of Australia in Hong Kong to com-munity groups like the Australian Association to help engage with their members. Diane and I look forward to seeing you there.

Paul Tighe.

Paul Tighe, Consul-General

Australian Consulate-General23rd Floor, Harbour Centre25 Harbour Road, WanchaiTel: 2827 8881Fax: 2585 4457Email: [email protected]

Consular & Passports OfficeMon to Fri: 9am – 4pm to lodge, until 5pm for passport collection.Tel: 2827 8881Email: [email protected] www.passports.gov.au

Notarial Acts Wed only: 9am – 1pmCertified copies, witnessing signatures, document authentication. Fees apply, check the website.

Visas & CitizenshipAustralian Visa Application CentreUnit 10-11, Floor 27, Prosperity Millennia Plaza663 King’s Road, Quarry BayEmail: [email protected]: +852 2185 6326www.vfsglobal.com/Australia/HongKong/

Austrade24th Floor, Harbour CentreMon to Fri: 8:45am – 5pmTel: 2588 5300 Fax: 2827 4145Email: [email protected]

Education SectionEmail: [email protected]

Travel Advicewww.smartraveller.gov.au

Don’t forget:

- Check our website for the list of services available for Australians

- Also available from our website are:

- Passport, Australian visa and documentation authentication fees

- Details of when passport officers will visit Macau

- Public holidays observed by Consulate staff

- Remember, passports take 15 working days to process

- Australians living in or visiting Hong Kong and Macau are encouraged to register at www.smartraveller.gov.au. The information is used only in cases of emergency.


ASSOCIATION ANNOUNCEMENTS | MAY 2016

Member Benefits

Make the most of your Aussie Association membership. Check out the Member Benefits listings on the Australian Association website.

You can save hundreds, or even thousands, of dollars on discounted goods and services such as travel services, dentist bills, beauty care, home decorations, hotels and restaurants,

and much, much more. Take advantage of the great savings … all just by carrying your Australian Association membership card.

Please click here to see the latest benefits available for our members.

http://www.ozhongkong.com/member_benefits


Hello all,

We have had a busy year here in Hong Kong with so many festivities and a few changes taking place.

I am stepping down as Chair of the Social Committee. In my

place, we welcome the vivacious Millie Edwards who will lead a wonderful team of volunteers who are always coming up with great ideas for fun events for our members.

LJ Ferrara has taken on Vice Chair, Manuela Guthrie will continue on as Secretary and our lovely Mr Madigan will stay as Treasurer.

The rains have finally stopped, I hope, and the humidity has begun ... this can only mean sum-mer is here!

Bringing with it are more festivities and fun stuff ...

Hope you all bought your tickets for “Roast at the Residence” on Friday 6 May, with free flow, bubbles (generously sponsored by Cellermaster Wines), Coopers beers, and pigs and lamb on a spit ... it should be a great night to mingle and enjoy the views from the terrace. Alfresco dinning at its best!

On 11 May, our very popular Club Lunch will be held and this time we are going to the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club where we can enjoy a great lunch with good company ... please come and join us. There’s a limited number of seats and it is first in, first served, so be quick!

We will be on an adventure to Wong Tai Sing Temple on 17 May, which offers a facinating insight on the customs and beliefes of our coun-try’s hosts ... it’s an auspicious occasion, and if you’re heading for the ponies, this is the best time to have your winning numbers revealed through old Chinese methods and soothsayers’ advice.

We farewell our friend Warrick Stephens, who was here on a short soujourn but made a huge impact. He ran the Tennis, and was a regular at all our events. Hong Kong will never be the same!

Therefore, we have a vacancy to fill. We’re look-ing for an enthusiastic person to run Tennis on Tuesday mornings ... if interested, please contact Adrian Ryan at [email protected].

The Book Club is going well, and it is open to both men and women to join. Please contact

Connie Albracht at [email protected] for more details.

Mahjong is also going strong and we’re always looking for new members to learn and play. So if you have want to learn and join in, please contact Christine Scullion at [email protected].

Our Facebook is performing well with nearly 800 likes. Please encourage friends and family to “like us”. We also farewell our team member Liz Walsh, who has worked tirelessly to bring us “Flashback Fridays” and other interesting stuff, who is leav-ing us but not Hong Kong ... we are happy to announce not one but two little gweilos are on their way. Congratulations to Liz and Ashley!

From me, a huge “thank you” to the Social Committee for their support and hard work throughout the year; to Di & Paul Tighe for their generosity in opening up their home to us for fabulous events; and the General Committee for your support.

Dee Longe

Chair, Social Committee

MAY 2016 | OUT & ABOUT


Connect, Strive, FlourishAISHK is an R-12 school dedicated to providing a world-class learning environment, enabling each student to develop their academic, cultural, physical

The only school in Hong Kong to follow the Australian school year and

As part of AISHK's commitment to offering broad academic choices of study, students in Years 11 and 12 can opt to undertake either the NSW Higher School

[email protected] | www.aishk.edu.hk | 3A Norfolk Road, Kowloon Tong, Hong KongC

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Connect, Strive, FlourishAISHK is an R-12 school dedicated to providing a world-class learning environment, enabling each student to develop their academic, cultural, physical

The only school in Hong Kong to follow the Australian school year and

As part of AISHK's commitment to offering broad academic choices of study, students in Years 11 and 12 can opt to undertake either the NSW Higher School

[email protected] | www.aishk.edu.hk | 3A Norfolk Road, Kowloon Tong, Hong KongC

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for further deta i ls please go towww.ozhongkong.com


PAST EVENTS | ANZAC DAY


ANZAC DAY | PAST EVENTS


PAST EVENTS | RACE NIGHT


RACE NIGHT | PAST EVENTS


PAST EVENTS | TRVIA NIGHT


SMB | PAST EVENTS


CALENDAR | MAY 2016

Mahjong Mondays

Did you know that a winning hand in mahjong actually contains 14

(or 17) tiles? And that the goal is to make four or five melds (also

depending on the variation) and one pair, or “head”? It may sound

complicated, but it isn’t and we will have you playing like a pro in no

time. Beginners are welcome. Come and join in the fun.Time: 10 am – 1 pmWhere: Dynasty Court Function Room, 23 Old Peak Road, Mid-levels Cost: Members: $80 / Non-Members: $130Contact: Christine Scullion | [email protected]

Ladies GolfMondays

Ladies (and gents) can play every Monday and Thursday (handicap required) at Deepwater Bay. *unless public holiday or tournament on* Please contact Ella van Westendorp | [email protected] for more information

UPCOMING EVENTS | MAY 2016

MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY SUNDAY

30

mahjong

ladies social golf

mums and bubs

31 01

02

mahjong

ladies social golf

mums and bubs

03

morning tennis

04

book club

05

ladies social golf

06

cooee coffee

Roast at The Residence

07 08

09

mahjong

ladies social golf

mums and bubs

10

morning tennis

SMB

11

The Club Lunch @ The Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club

12

ladies social golf

Sundowners @ Hidden Garden

13

cooee coffee

14 15

16

mahjong

ladies social golf

mums and bubs

17

morning tennis

Explore Hong Kong

18 19

ladies social golf

Ladies Night @ Indigo Skybar

20

cooee coffee

21 22

23

mahjong

ladies social golf

mums and bubs

24

morning tennis

25 26

ladies social golf

27

cooee coffee

28

Beef & Burgundy Night

29

CLUBLUNCH

HONG KONG YACHT CLUBBISTRO

https://www.eventbrite.hk/e/the-club-lunch-the-royal-hong-kong-yacht-club-registration-24800907181


CLUBLUNCH

HONG KONG YACHT CLUBBISTRO

https://www.eventbrite.hk/e/the-club-lunch-the-royal-hong-kong-yacht-club-registration-24800907181


Mums and BubsMondays

The Mums and Bubs group is an informal catch up for parents and their children of all ages, allowing kids to stretch their legs and parents to socialise. From MAY 2016, the Mums and Bubs group will meet at Baumhaus in Wan Chai. Cost: $40Venue: “Baumhaus,”1/F, 36 Queens Road East, Wanchai (near Star Street, just oppo-

site the entrance to Pacific Place 3).Please note: Socks are required for all adults and non-slip socks are advisable for children

over the age of four years.

For all class bookings and enquiries, please email: [email protected]

Morning TennisTuesdays

Come for a hit and giggle or if you want a “work out” we can do

that too. We are looking for anyone that can hit a ball, preferably

over the net. You need to be available on Tuesday mornings

from 9am until 11am. We are the tennis group for you if you:

• don’t want to commit to competition but want a hit of tennis• enjoy a little chat. We have two courts booked every week. If this interests you, please come along to the tennis.When: 9am–11amCost: Members: $40 / Non-members: $60Contact: [email protected]: Please contact the HK Tennis Centre on 2574 9122 if the weather is doubtful.Rachel has stepped down as the coordinator of Morning Tennis and so we are looking for a replace-ment. Please contact Adrian | [email protected] if you would like to help.

Book Club1st Wednesday of May

Time: 10:00am to 1:00pmVenue: Oolaa Petite, Shop 12 & 14, Regal Court, Star St., Wan ChaiCost: Pay for food and drinks on the dayBooking: Not required, just show up

For any questions email Connie Albracht | [email protected]

Cooee CoffeeFridays

Cooee Coffee is our casual coffee morning get together, perfect for both newcomers to Hong Kong and also to catch up with old friends. No need to book, just turn up and enjoy some great coffee, maybe a treat and a chat. Each session is hosted by a member of the Social Committee so there will be someone to meet and greet you and introduce you to others if it’s your first visit. If you have particular questions about life in Hong Kong, we’ll be able to help answer them or at least point you in the right direction.

For any questions email Nikki Wilson | [email protected]



Roast At The ResidenceFriday, 6 May

Hosted at the stunning Australian Residence by our favourite Consul-General of Australia, we invite you to join us for an exclusive Pork & Lamb Spit Roast while you enjoy the beautiful views over Deep Water Bay.

Date and Time: Friday 6th May 6:30pm - 9:30pmVenue: Consul-General's Official Australian Residence (Address will be confirmed 12hrs before the event)

Cost: Members Price $750 Non Members Price $850Booking: Not required, just show up Dress Code: Smart CasualPLEASE REGISTER by 5pm 5 May to assist in the final count for catering. All enquires, please contact [email protected]. All Welcome!As it's typhoon season in HK and there is every chance of bad weather (tropical typhoon signal 8 and higher). If it happens, we reserve the right to reschedule the event to another day.

Secret Men’s Business LunchTuesday, 10 May

May’s lunch will be on Tuesday, 10 May. Whether you are a regular or have never been to one of our lunches before, come and enjoy the company in a relaxed setting. This month we are again at Devil’s Advocate in Wanchai.

Date and Time: 12:15pm to whenever you need to leaveVenue: Devil’s Advocate, 48 Lockhart Road, WanchaiCost: Pay for food and drinks on the dayBooking: Not required, just show up For more information on SMB events, contact Michael Madigan at [email protected].

Club Lunch

Wednesday, 11 May 2016Hong Kong has many private clubs that only members can enjoy. This month we are going to the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club. Situated overlooking the beautiful harbour, the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club is an exclusive private members’ club which offers a cozy and homely atmosphere for their members to get away from the hustle and bustle of Hong Kong and enjoy it’s prime harbourside position.

The Club's Bistro has a relaxed feeling allowing you to enjoy the outdoors and fabulous views of the harbour and a mix of western or Asian dishes on the menu. There is also a lunch buffet for $155 per person plus drinks.

The lunch will still go ahead in the event of rain in the wonderful Bistro room. However, as we are hopeful of a beautiful day outdoors, bring your sunglasses!

Time: 12:30am - 2.30pmVenue: Kellett Island, Causeway Bay

Cost: Members: Registration is free. Non-members: $50 Note: Attendees pay on the day for food and drinks, so please remember to bring

smaller notes; e.g., $100's, $20's and some $10's.Booking: Go to www.ozhongkong.com and click on the event link or via the calendar. For any questions, contact LJ Ferrara at [email protected].


https://www.eventbrite.hk/e/explore-hong-kong-may-tickets-24833217823


https://www.eventbrite.hk/e/explore-hong-kong-may-tickets-24833217823


SundownersThursday, 12 May 2016

Cheap beer, wine, sausage sizzle and pizzas by the slice! For more information contact [email protected].

Date: Thursday, 12 May 2016Time: From 6:00pmVenue: Hidden Garden, G/F, Shop D, 23 Mosque Street, Mid LevelsCost: TBA

Explore Hong KongTuesday, 17 May 2016

Hong Kong is an amazing place to live, so every couple of months we will explore the ares where most of us don’t normally venture!

This month we are looking at Hong Kong's contrasting religious traditions by visiting the elaborate Wong Tai Sin Temple followed by the peaceful Chi Lin Nunnery and Nan Lian Gardens.

Date: Tuesday, 17 May 2016Time: 10:30am - 12.30pmMeeting point: Entrance to Wong Tai Sin Temple, Exit B Wong Tai Sin MTR Finishing point: Nan Lian Gardens, Diamond Hill MTRCost: Members Price Free Non-members Price $50 and will be collected on the day.

Ladies NightThursday, 19 May 2016

Calling all ladies (and the not so ladylike).

Date: Thursday, 19 May 2016Time: From 5:00pmVenue: Skybar Indigo Hotel, 246 Queens Road East, Wan ChaiCost: Free

Beef & Burgundy Saturday, 28 May 2016

It's not everyday that we have the luxury of a chef prepare us dinner. Come join us for a casual but delicous feast of quality beef cooked to perfection with tasty side dishes, desserts and lots of wine.

Date: Saturday, 28 May 2016Time: 7:00pm - 11:00pmVenue: Bamboo Grove Clubhouse, Level 7, 74-86 Kennedy Road Wan Chai Cost: Members Price $650 Non-members Price $850



CLASSIFIEDS | MAY 2016

Want to advertise your business in our Classifieds area? Not only will your classified feature in the 12 month subscription of Kanga News, it

will be listed on our Classified Page on our website.

For more information regarding the advertising opportunities and costs please contact Adrian at [email protected]

WWW.OZHONGKONG.COM

C H E F S T A B L E

BURGUNDYBEEF

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L E V E L 7 , 7 4 - 8 6 K E N N E D Y R O A D W A N C H A I

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$650 (MEMBERS) (NON MEMBERS) $850

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C H E F S T A B L E

BURGUNDYBEEF

S a t u r d a y 2 8 t h M a y 2 0 1 67 : 0 0 p m - 1 1 : 0 0 P M

It is not everyday that we have the luxury of

a chef prepare us d inner .

Come jo in us for a casual but de l ic ious feast

of qual i ty beef cooked to perfect ion with

tasty s ide d ishes , desserts and lots of wine

F O R M O R E I N F O R M A T I O N A N D T O R E G I S T E R

B A M B O O G R O V E C L U B H O U S E

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$650 (MEMBERS) (NON MEMBERS) $850


Travelling with Children – A Solo Traveller’s Perspective – Part OneI have thinking about this for a while, and a

Pandora’s Box may open wide here, but I believe

this is something we could consider to ensure we

can all travel harmoniously. Just before I decided

to either write about this, I found this quote:

“Perhaps travel cannot prevent bigotry, but by

demonstrating that all peoples cry, laugh, eat,

worry, and die, it can introduce the idea that if

we try and understand each other, we may even

become friends.” Maya Angelou.

Yes, it was a sign. So here goes.

Some travellers without children, when they see a

pram being packaged away or families with young

children invited to board first will have a sinking

feeling. Some may even have a “flightmare” and

frantically double-check whether they packed their

noise-cancelling earphones.

Yes, I’ve been one of those people. But then I had

a reality check.

About seven years ago, I was flying back from

London to Singapore. A mum and her friend were

travelling with two young children, about three

and five years old. It was an overnight flight, but

these kids were not sleeping despite being feed

and entertained. They were fiddling with anything

and everything, whinging and definitely testing

the tolerance and patience of their mother and

those around them. Then came the angels: aka

the Singapore Airlines cabin crew. They brought

fresh meals for the mother and her friend, kid-

napped the kids for 45 minutes (I have NO idea

where they took them - perhaps a spare suite in

first class …) and just simply gave amazing ser-

TRAVEL TIPS | MAY 2016


vice and much-needed time out for both the adults

and passengers around them.

Then my guilt set in. No parent deserves to have

their fellow passengers rolling their eyes in their

direction or for the children to be glared at with

the sub-conscious message of “don’t you dare

misbehave”.

When I was lucky enough to have an exit row, I

was sitting at the bulkhead, which also accom-

modated bassinettes, sometimes up to two for a

long haul. I double-check with those I’m sharing

the row with, but I’m happy for the kid to play/crawl

and wriggle in that space in front of us. It keeps

the kids busy and hopefully the parents happy, or

vice versa.

Babies usually cry because of a change in routine,

timing, unfamiliar surroundings or pressure on

their little ears. Some may not chew on a dummy

to help ease the pressure so the parent is left to

find an alternative means of comfort besides their

usual method.

If you see me travelling and I have a “look” on my

face when there are babies on board, you’re wel-

come to give me a reality check. Because I was

once a child too.

Safe travels and here’s to harmony in the skies.

Grace Ghattas

[email protected]

MAY 2016 | TRAVEL TIPS


Frizz Frustration! Hong Kong humidity and frizzy hair go hand in

hand. If you are new to Hong Kong, this will soon

be a reality you will discover. But don’t let the

humidity-induced frizz and unmanagable hair get

you down.

There are several factors that cause frizzy hair and

some easy ways to avoid making the frizz worse

and some great at home and in-salon solutions.

What is frizz? In very simple terms, it is dry hair

that is reaching out into the atmosphere trying to

grab moisture out of the air. This is the primary

reason why the frizzy effect is more noticeable as

the humidity begins to set in during spring.

Let’s start in the shower. Some hair frizz is caused

by a lack of natural moisture in the hair. Lack of

natural moisture in the hair is usually caused by

shampooing too frequently, or by using a shampoo

that is too harsh or is designed to “strip” the hair.

Some shampoos are just cheap and nasty chemi-

cal compounds and simply upgrading to a better

quality mild shampoo will make all the difference. A

range we have had success with at the salon and

I highly recommed is Davines – Love Smoothing

shampoo; it is ideal for frizzy or unruly hair and

designed for a smooth look. It is soft and creamy

and will gently cleanse frizzy hair – plus it was the

winner of Allure magazine’s 2014 Best of Beauty

Natural Wonders.

On the other hand, some shampoos are designed

to strip out the dirty and sticky silicon that has

accumulated on your hair and absolutely have

their place in your shower stall. These types of

BEAUTY TIPS | MAY 2016


MAY 2016 | BEAUTY TIPS

shampoos are a great place to start to get beauti-

ful, clean and porpous hair, to whch you can add a

lovely deep conditioning hair masque. At Glow, we

recommed the bhave Deep Intense Conditioning

Masque. Try to use your clarifying shampoo just a

couple of times a month and alternate with with a

shampoo more suited to your hair type.

Blow drying your hair on super high heats, plac-

ing the dryer too close to the hair and continuing

to add heat with a blow dryer to already dry hair

also increases the risk of drying hair out, damag-

ing and creating split ends. If you have time, let

your hair air dry to 60-70%, then blow dry on a

low dryer setting. Try to keep the dryer about 10-12

centimetres above your hair and blow dry from the

crown to the ends with a round brush to achieve

the smoothest look. Once you have dried your hair,

you may like to add a little argan oil to your palms

and smooth through your hair for a sleek glossy

look. Remember, less is more with oil - start at the

ends and avoid the crown area.

If your hair is chemically processed or over

bleached, your hair will become dry and brittle.

This, coupled with exposure to ultraviolet rays of

the sun, break down the proteins in hair making

it dull and fragile. As summer sets in, we are all

heading to the pool and the beach, and your hair

is at risk of added damage caused by pool chemi-

cals, wind, and salty seawater. These elements

will continue to dry out the hair and compound the

frizz situation! A cheap and very easy soloution

is to buy a realtively inexpensive shampoo, and

before you head into the pool or sea, damp your

hair with fresh water from your water bottle and

smooth through a squirt of conditioner before you

head into the water. The conditioner will soak into

your damp hair and minimise the risk of further

dryness.

Other factors to consider: if you are rough on your

hair after your shower, with a dry rough towel and

excessive rubbing, twising and tangeling, it will

increase the chance of breakage and split ends.

Try to use a soft cloth to pat and squeeze your

hair dry.

In addition, ferocious use of a comb or brush on

wet hair to rip and pull out tangles causes further

damage. Go gentle, and I highly recommend you

use a Tangle Teaser.

Another very simple solution is to go for a trim

every eight weeks to avoid split ends. Because

your frizzy hair has a low ability to absorb moisture,

it becomes dry sooner. Having a regular trim stop

the splits moving up the hairshaft, which ensures

your hair is healthier for longer.

If you need the big guns to put a lid on the frizz,

then you may like to consider an in-salon treat-

ment. There are many available. Some are better

than others, but what most people do not realise is

that the skill of the styist/technician is as important

as the treatment itself.

Most in-salon treatments have some form of kera-

tin aspect. A correctly applied keratin treatment will

smooth your hair and deliver a shiny and frizz-free

natural look. If you have curly hair, you may find

the curl drops; wavy hair will appear more straight.

A good treatment will allow you style volume and

body into your hair. At Glow, we use and recom-

mend Goldwells Kerasilk and bhave Smooth Plus

– both are fantastic and deliver great results, but we

especially love that bhave is an Australian-owned,

Melbourne-based company and we love to sup-

port fabulous Aussie products in the salon.

Sioban Guilfoyle

Owner, Glow Spa Hong Kong

[email protected]

www.glowspa.hk


Paradise Dynasty or just another Paradise Lost?

Paradise Dynasty is absolutely fabulous from the

moment you walk through the door. It has the

most amazing décor that is guaranteed to get your

juices flowing in preparation for a gastro-orgasmic

eating experience.

On our recent visit, we started out with some of

the most beautiful dim sum where you can choose

from 10 different flavours. Their signature is xiao

long bao, which is a small steamed pork dump-

ling that has a beautiful soup inside. Ideally, you

should pick it up gently to avoid breaking the fine

pastry and hold it in your spoon (to catch any

leaks). Let it cool a little before you stuff the whole

lot in your mouth and let the juices and flavour of

the meat explode.

Go hard and order 10 of the original dim sum and

10 of the Szechuan (spicy): they are oohhh so

yummy.

Next on the dim sum list were the pork and

chive dumplings with a light pastry and just the

right amount of chives to make these absolutely

fabulous.

Then we had the sautéed prawns. This is where

things started to go a little pear shaped. Don't get

me wrong, the food was great but having been to

Paradise Dynasty many times it was very obvious

that the meals had shrunk; and by a significant

margin.

Back to the prawns. They were beautifully cooked,

sweet, fresh and unfortunately very moreish. The

Chinese kale was fresh, juicy and cooked to abso-

lute perfection and while the serving wasn't huge

it was adequate for our group. Next up, was the

chilli Chicken; an amazing cold dish with the most

beautiful moist and tender chicken combined with

a special spicy sauce. Wow this is good! But get

GASTRONOMIC DISCOVERIES | MAY 2016


in quick or it is gone not just because

it's tasty but it has also suffered from

a downsizing (easily fixed by getting

two servings).

Then on to the Szechuan fr ied

chicken, which is a little like popcorn

chicken on a plate of dry chilli. Very

yummy but not my favourite dish. To

finish off, we went for the ultra-orgas-

mic pork knuckle. Wow, I don't even

particularly like pork but this is amaz-

ing; so tender and so much flavour it

was just an absolute tragedy that it was so small.

Paradise Dynasty has been one of my absolute

favourite dim sum restaurants in Hong Kong. While

the dishes appear to have shrunk, it is still great

value and one of the most beautiful restaurants

in Hong Kong, with dinner costing around $250

per person and lunch around $150pp with a little

drinky.

Paradise Dynasty, Level 6, Lee Theatre, 99 Percival

Street, Causeway Bay. Ph: 2177 0903.

Warrick Stephens

Scribe

Got a favourite restaurant, providore or wet market hero? We would like to hear from you.

Gastronomic Discoveries is a column

that gives you the opportunity to tell your

fellow Australian Association members

about a

special food experience you’ve found in

Hong Kong.

To contribute, contact the editor of

Kanga News, Bruce Andrews, at editor@

ozhongkong.com. A column should be

between 300-500 words, and accompa-

nying photos are welcome.

Deadlines for submission are the 15th of

the month for the following month’s issue.

MAY 2016 | GASTRONOMIC DISCOVERIES


Communicating with RespectI recently attended a course in Hong Kong.

The course was based around communica-

tion and the desired outcome was to give me

some tools I could use to be more in tune with

my clients and develop a depth of understand-

ing through not only their words but also their

body language.

I had touched on some of the processes years

ago in a university course and was keen to

learn more as I thought it would be a valuable

addition to my Coaching toolbox.

The first day I arrived 10 minutes late to the

class. I got the bus (which I never do in Hong

Kong) and ended up getting off two stops

earlier than I should, meaning I had a mad

two-kilometre dash instead of a 300-metre

stroll to the office where the course was being

held.

At exactly 9.30am on the dot (the time the

course is supposed to start), I got a phone

call from the instructor. He was very curt and

wanted to know why I wasn’t there. I apolo-

gised, explained briefly what had happened

and he hung up without another word. Not a

good start!

Upon arrival at the office, the first thing the

instructor did was to give us all a five-minute

lecture about why we shouldn’t be late and

how irresponsible it was. He stressed we

had a huge amount of content to get through

in a week, and being late would hinder our

progress. This became a constant theme

EXPAT CORNER | MAY 2016


throughout the seven days, leading me to

wonder why on earth he was trying to cram so

much valuable information into a short space

of time! I felt unnecessarily chastised and a

bit humiliated in front of the rest of my class-

mates who I hadn’t even met yet.

I huddled down into my seat and the class

began. After two hours of work we were

allowed a 10-minute coffee break. One of

the other participants made the mistake of

asking the office girl if she would go out and

get him a coffee. He was worried if he went

himself he would come back late (and no one

wanted that!!). He had asked the girl earlier

if that would be okay, and she had readily

agreed. When our instructor found out about

this, he gave the poor man a dressing down

that would have had me in tears. He was rude,

blunt and completely out of line in the way he

spoke. The rest of us cringed and tried to look

anywhere but at our colleague and instructor.

The rest of the course followed in much the

same fashion. By the end of day two, I was

feeling like a child who had stepped back into

primary school, not an adult who had paid

good money to study a subject that really

interested me. By the end of day three, I was

too scared to answer a question in case I got

it wrong, as I knew I would be on the receiving

end of a cutting remark. I can tell you, it was a

long seven days!

I love learning but for that to happen, a nurtur-

ing, safe environment is essential. To teach

with criticism, sarcastic remarks and belittling

comments doesn’t work.

There is a saying, “criticise in private and

praise in public”, and I really understand the

merit in that. There is no doubt my learning

was inhibited as I didn’t feel comfortable and

lost confidence as the week went along. The

irony is that the course we were doing was all

about effective communication!

I do believe that every experience is a learn-

ing one, whether it is good or bad and I’m

sharing this story with you to highlight what I

took away from the week.

Firstly, how you interact with fr iends, col-

leagues or family has a huge bearing on

how they respond to you. If you want to build

relationships, then think about the words you

choose, the tone you speak them in and the

body language your use. If you need to criti-

cize, do it in private and try to frame what you

have to say as a positive learning rather than

a negative put down. If you want to get the

best out of people treat them with respect

and as equals. Remember everyone has

their own story and you have no idea what is

really going in their lives. If you are unhappy

with someone, give them time to explain first

before flying off the handle, and finally, treat

people as you would like to be treated.

The importance of words and communica-

tion was really driven home to me during the

course. A few ill chosen words can affect how

a person feels and make them doubt them-

selves. Typically, I am an optimistic, open

person but I will now be even more mindful

about how I interact with people, and will use

positive, affirmative language as much as

possible. Hopefully by sharing this story, you

will also be more mindful of your words and

the effect they can have.

Karen Buckley

Strive Lifestyle Coaching

Certified Life Coach/Fitness Consultant

[email protected]

www.strivelifestylecoaching.com

MAY 2016 | EXPAT CORNER


Aussies in Action

AFLThe season has commenced in earnest with some

of the best football seen in many years. There has

been some very close games with five matches

decided by less than one kick. Mention must be

made of the game where North Melbourne pre-

vailed over Melbourne game 136 – 130. You would

think if you score more than 100 points you would

win; in fact, that only has occurred four other times

this year with all the losing teams only just making

the century mark.

While the top four are the usual suspects,

the situation for the cellar dwellers is

anything but; Collingwood and Fremantle

yet to have a win. Essendon are being

competitive after four rounds, which was

unexpected. St Kilda is also playing well

above their perceived rating.

The Richmond Tigers are again providing

hope to their long suffering fans who are

always anticipating the one player who

will catapult them to a pre-

miership again. The last flag

came in 1980 but they have

since failed to progress in any

of their finals appearances

since 2001. Present indica-

tions are good to make the

finals this season but unfortu-

nately they do not look to be

in the same class as the top

tier teams.

The AFL Commission has

decided to change the Grand

Final to allow extra time in the

event of a draw, which is in

line with other finals games.

It’s a good change as draws seem are a letdown

and the replay matches historically have rarely been

good matches.

NRL Last years grand finalists, the Broncos and

Cowboys, are not suffering any hangover with con-

sistent wins over the past month, and they head

the ladder from the surprising Sharks and Eels.

The Parramatta side is in trouble, though, with huge

salary cap rorting issues. While the players may

SPORTS REPORT | MAY 2016


not be guilty, the club may well incur penalty point

deductions in line with Melbourne’s punishment a

few years back.

Melbourne have been uncharacteristicly scrappy

since the loss for the season of Billy Slater and their

stars Smith and Cronk seemingly out of form. Of

note is the Roosters, the powerhouse of previous

years, who languish at the bottom of the table hav-

ing only won one game in seven rounds.

As May proceeds, talk inevitably turns to the

State of Origin. As mentioned above, while

Melbourne’s stars are out of form or injured,

it is good that the Cowboys and Broncos

- who traditionally make up the majority of

the Maroons teams - are in fantastic form.

Paul Gallen, the incumbent Blues captain,

is talking up the their chances given the two

of the three Origin games are in Sydney this

year.

While the AFL has gone for extra time, the

NRL is also looking at changing the format

of golden point wins, maybe to allow for

the right of the opposition a right of reply

(maybe a set of six) if the other team has

scored a field goal, but they would still allow

for a golden try win.

A LeagueThe finals are upon us with the final four being

Adelaide, Melbourne FC, Brisbane Roar and

Western Sydney proving what an Australia-wide

competition it really is. The small number of

matches shown have already displayed an impres-

sive skill level and this bodes well for yet another

run in the World Cup.

Sydney FC has topped its group in the Asian

Champions League with one match to go. They will

now progress to the final 16.

CricketThe World T20 wound up with the West Indies win-

ning both the men's and women's competitions. The

men beat England with having to score 19 in the

last over, with the usually reliable Ben Stokes bowl-

ing the last over conceding four sixes in the first four

balls in surely the most dramatic final over in the

competition’s short history. The Australian women

were playing their fourth consecutive final (they won

the previous three) but were clearly outclassed in

this final. The Aussies batted first and scored a

competitive 148/5 just to have the Windies reach

the score of 149/2 in the last over.

The test in Brisbane this year against Pakistan will

be played under lights while the South Africans still

have not agreed to the day night format for their

test in Adelaide; Cricket Australia is hopeful though.

It is a perennial issue that the Duke ball swings in

England and more than the Kookaburra used in

Australia. To combat this advantage to the English,

it has been decided the last half of the Sheffield

Shield season will be played with the Duke ball; but

considering the test players are not usually playing

MAY 2016 | SPORTS REPORT


Shield cricket at this time perhaps it may not

be such a winning move.

In the continual battle to get the right deci-

sion, there has been developed a sensor that

attaches to the bat to detect the vibrations of

a nick; combined with Snicko and Hot Spot,

this should resolve some of the closer calls.

RugbyThe Super Rugby is going great guns with

the Brumbies and Rebels (having a good

season at last) in the top two positions. New

Zealand’s teams are the ones to beat with

the Chiefs and Crusaders looking particularly

strong. This does not bode well for the Bledisloe

Cup this year. Unfortunately, I have not seen the

two new teams from Japan and Argentina; however,

their results have not yet shown them to be chal-

lenges as yet but it is still early days.

Australia was thrashed by eventual winners Fiji

in the semi-final of the Hong Kong Sevens. Fiji

beat New Zealand 21 – 7 in an entertaining final.

Considering the Sevens is now an Olympic event,

Fiji may be in line for its first Olympic medal of any

colour.

GolfAnother Masters has come and gone without an

Australian to add to Adam Scott’s solitary green

jacket. Danny Willett, the first European to win this

century and the first Englishman since Nick Faldo,

was victorious. Perhaps there is some symmetry

with Greg Norman’s meltdown giving Faldo the win

in 1996 and Jordan Speith similarly chocking for

Willett’s success.

Adam Scott has said that he will not be available to

play for Australia in the Olympics citing his playing

schedule and inability to commit to it 100%. At least

the early notification allows for a considered judg-

ment of the partner for Jason Day.

SwimmingThe Australian team for the Olympics was chosen

at the end of the selection trials held in Adelaide

during April. Of the 34 selected, 21 are debutantes.

Grant Hackett’s attempted comeback fell short but

he is still posting competitive times; perhaps it is

time for the old guard to realise masters competi-

tions are more for them and leave an opening for

the newer stars (also allowing them some clear air

so they can get their fifteen minutes of fame they so

rightly deserve).

Quotes of the month“AFL is the most exciting football code … it's

where the big men fly.” Malcolm Turnbull in

announcing the playing of a match in China next

year. Yes Minister’s Sir Humphrey may have said

this was a courageous call.

“Short of brains.” Mark Nicholls on the West Indies

cricket team in the preview of the T20 Tournament.

“I unreservedly apologise.” Written by Nicholls

after the Windies won.

Greg Bax

Scribe

SPORTS REPORT | MAY 2016


AUGUST 2015 | HEALTHY HABITS


AFL is coming to ChinaAfter two years of working closely with the South China AFL and the Hong Kong Dragons, the Port Adelaide Football Club announced recently their intentions to play an AFL match for premiership points in Shanghai in 2017.

It was by far the biggest announcement of the Power’s slowly unfolding China strategy and it has the potential to have a huge impact on the future of the game both here and in Australia.

Dragons president Mark Mastores believes the announcement is due recognition for the pioneering work under-taken over recent years to improve the profile of AFL in Hong Kong and Greater China.

“Not only the PAFC, but also the Hong Kong Dragons and the wider South China AFL community, should be proud of the progress made in a short period of time,” he said.

Port has also signed a new multi-million dollar sponsorship deal with the Chinese company Shanghai Cred and struck a deal with CCTV to have two of their games telecast in China this season.

The Dragons are hopeful the increased exposure will help the club continue to grow the game here in Hong Kong.

“These initiatives from PAFC, following on from their sponsorship of Team China and the SCAFL competition for the past two seasons, will result in further investment in both local and junior development, and getting more people playing and watching our great game,” Mark said.

“It would be amazing if we see the Dragons, Team China and the Auskickers front and centre at the ground next

year when PAFC play for premiership points in this momentous occasion.”

May madnessIt is time to look forward for the Dragons after the hugely successful Anzac Day SCAFL round on 23 April.

One of the biggest events ever hosted by the Dragons, the day saw a strong crowd turn out to witness plenty of top footy action.

Looming large is the Manila Cup on 28 May, with the Dragons ramping up preparations as they aim to get their hands back on the Cup.

The Dragons have a proud history at the tournament and, prior to last year’s semi-final loss, had won it five times in seven years. Keen to add the Manila Cup to the trophy cabinet that includes last year’s Asian Champs cup, the Dragons will be playing against the likes of the Singapore Wombats, the Philippine Eagles and the Malaysian Warriors.

Round four of the SCAFL, to be held in Hong Kong at Diamond Hill on 14 May, is also on the horizon and everyone is welcome to come out for a kick and a laugh. Those interested should contact Mark at [email protected], who will allocate new players to one of the four Hong Kong teams - HK Typhoons, Sai Kung Stingrays, Kowloon Cobras or Lantau Lizards.

For updates, head to www.hk-dragons.com and subscribe to our weekly mailer.

SPORTS REPORT | DRAGONS

http://www.hk-dragons.com


DRAGON BOATING | MAY 2016

Training Heats UpWith breaks for Easter and the Hong Kong Sevens,

training resumed in earnest in April as the Aussie

Diggers prepared for our first race of the 2016 sea-

son. While the weather slowly heated up during

the month, in contrast the intensity of our train-

ing was rapidly ramped up with sessions routinely

starting with a solid paddle from Stanley Main

Beach to Red Hill.

Coach Jack “Sparrow” Lam worked on our starting

pieces, which in previous years has been some-

what of an Achilles heel for the Diggers; many of

our races in the past were won by mowing down

rivals with our strong “chug” through the middle

and latter stages after only making adequate starts.

Coach Jack set the bar high to make our starts

a strength by encouraging us to “paddle angry”

and get the boat moving out of the blocks quickly

(which resulted in a snapped paddle during one of

the start drills).

Along with working on our endurance and starts,

we still managed to spend time to refining tech-

niques and showing new paddlers the finer points

of this unique style. While some had experience

in kayaking and canoes, dragon boating requires

a different set of skills and use of muscles. It’s not

just a matter of sitting in the opposite direction!

The Aussie Diggers have always been proud to

introduce this sport to first-time paddlers, and we

are keeping up that tradition this season under

Coach Jack and teammate Kath’s watchful eyes.

Looking ahead, the Warm-up Races at Stanley

will be held on Saturday, 14 May, which will help

us refine our racing tactics before the big carnival

that is on Thursday, 9 June. Even if you are not a

paddler, come join the fun and support our team

on both our race days at the Stanley Main Beach.

Bruce Andrews

Team co-captain


MAY 2016 | VET


VET | MAY 2016

Beware the Dog & the Barbeque The weather is warming up and the evenings

are very pleasant now. And there is the smell of

barbecuing!

It is all too tempting to scrape the barbeque plate

and give the begging dog the “leftovers”. After

all “Rover” has just watched everyone else sitting

outside tucking into sausages, steaks and onions.

Drooling as people chew at bones! However,

beware: barbecues are fraught with dangers for

your dog.

Few dog and cat owners realise that feeding onions

to their pets can cause serious illness. A compo-

nent in onions, either raw or cooked, has the ability

to damage the outer membrane of the red blood

cells in dogs and cats. These damaged red blood

cells are pulled out of active circulation by the

spleen. If there are significant numbers of damaged

red blood cells at once, the pet can become anae-

mic. Anaemia, or insufficient numbers of red blood

cells, results in less oxygen-carrying capacity of the

blood. This can become life threatening if enough

onions are consumed.

Giving Rover the barbecued chop bone or T-bone

as a treat, despite his enthusiasm for the leftovers,

can potentially result in severe gastrointestinal prob-

lems for him. Bones are certainly natural for dogs

to eat, but cooked bones are definitely not natural!

Cooking changes the composition of the bone

resulting in it becoming hard, splintery and more

difficult to digest. Chewing a hard splintery bone


can cause direct damage to the mouth and the

teeth. Large pieces of bones swallowed may not

be able to move from the stomach into the small

intestine. They are resistant to the acidic digestive

juices of the stomach and can then cause the dog

to vomit. If the cooked bone does move through the

digestive system, the sharp bone fibres can cause

irritation and lacerations of the inside wall of the

gut. Finally, at the other end, cooked bone fibers in

the colon can result in impaction and constipation.

Remember, raw meaty bones are good and natural

for dogs to eat, easily digested and help to keep the

teeth clean. Cooked bones are a no no!

Unfortunately, Rover cannot tell the difference

between a small bone and a wooden satay/kebab

stick that has previously been covered by cooked

meat. It sure smells like meat and must be tasty! It

is not an uncommon surgical procedure to have to

remove a satay stick that has been swallowed and

then caused a perforated intestinal wall. Never let

the dog eat the meat directly off a wooden satay

stick, and be very conscious that none of these

have been left on the ground or mysteriously thrown

into the garden for Rover to find later!

Corn on the cob also smells delicious and is often

swallowed whole by a scavenging dog. This causes

an obstruction in the intestines and usually requires

surgical intervention.

Be careful at barbecues when your dog is around.

Those who don’t own dogs may not understand and

may succumb to the begging and the “starvation

staring” by Rover at the barbecue. For your pet’s

sake, ask your guests not to feed the dog at the

barbecue, and remember yourself that the leftover

onions, bones and satay sticks are NFD … Not For

Dogs!

Dr Lloyd Kenda

BSc(Psych) BSc(VetBiol) BVMS(Hons) MRCVS

MACVSc(SASurgery)

Valley Veterinary Centre

www.valleyvetcentre.com.hk

[email protected]

MAY 2016 | VET

kanganews may 2016

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