Merise - July/August 2016

في هذه القضية

If Variety is the spice of life, this Winter Issue of Merise provides you with more than a fair share of interest.

Tess Fraser-Grant spotlights sharks, highlighting current research into understanding these ancient creatures. The development of shark repelling devices is on the world forefront and hopefully a device will soon be in place to deter sharks from mistaking humans as a food source.

We are ‘super proud’ of South African born Tamsin Cook who has been selected for the Australian Swimming Team competing at the Rio Olympics. Thank you Merise reader Christina Bartels for sharing Tamsin’s journey. We wish Tamsin the best of luck. Australia and South Africa will be with you all the way!

Are you one of those travellers guilty of over-debiting your credit card and arriving at the check-in counter with heaps of excess baggage? Rebekah Garret shares her advice on how to avoid being penalised by planning ahead.

Fancy a good idea? Take a trip to the picturesque village of Boddington, 120 kilometres south-east of Perth to a beautiful area in the heart of the Peel region of Western Australia. On Sunday 25th September Boddington Arts Council is holding its 15th Annual Field of Quilts. There are many displays to browse including vintage cars, numerous stalls and ‘Devonshire’, or rather Boddington tea. We hope to see you there!

Take care, until next time.

Merise Magazine Description:

Merise is a digital family magazine initiated in 2011 to encourage and assist others, as well as to offer advice in facing the challenges of settling and integrating into our new community together. We talk openly about the different aspects of our lives that are under strain through the migration process – from helping our kids adjust to their new school environments, to leaving our parents behind and to changes in the dynamics of our personal relationships.

We provide valuable information about financial and visa requirements, encouraging specialists in various fields to submit articles on topics which we feel may be beneficial to our readers. Merise captures the beauty of our new countries by featuring different geographical areas in Australia and New Zealand, thereby giving would-be migrants or readers who are planning holidays or an interstate move, a better understanding of what to expect in their new domain.

Merise will become a friend to you and your family.

The ascending aircraft in the Logo is symbolic of our desire to reach for the stars. Even the name itself has meaning. By dividing the word ‘Merise e’ in two, it becomes ‘Me rise ’, accentuating our aspiration for life improvement. Merise embodies support and friendship and is such an essence in our lives that we feel inclined to personify the magazine. Merise is who we are.

It is important for Merise to support ‘her’ friends, not merely those who have recently arrived, but all expats in Australia and New Zealand who have left their home countries to find new direction ‘Down Under’.

Merise lends a hand in almost every way. Like anyone who has been through the immigration process and experienced it first hand, Merise is thoroughly aware of difficulties that may arise for both newcomers as well as experienced expats and knows how to help overcome, or should we say “survive”, these difficulties.

Merise explores different avenues and is vivacious and enthusiastic, living life to the full and is always on the lookout for new challenges and encounters. Merise's experiences and pleasures are shared with her friends, always encouraging and inspiring them.

Merise is fully bilingual and has English- as well as Afrikaans-speaking readers with whom time and information is equally shared.

It’s not that easy to find a friend as special as Merise . . .

Both versions of the English and Afrikaans editions of Merise are available on www.merisemag.com.