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Meet ANZA Cycling’s Youngest Member!

Abbey Lewis hits the road for ANZA Cycling!

We love how popular cycling has become in the community this year – particularly with kids and teens. Abbey Lewis, who is just 11.5 years old, was excited to receive her very own ANZA Cycling Club Kit so she could accompany her parents out on some rides and really represent the club. She’s been racking up the kilometres but is enjoying the post-ride drinks as well!

“I really enjoy cycling with my dad,” says Abbey. “I feel so proud wearing my ANZA Kit. The best part is the yummy berry smoothie at the end of our ride at one of the cafes.”
We’re looking forward to seeing more younger ANZA Cyclists out with their Mums and Dads, and maybe a few will catch the racing bug that is building across the club at the moment.

Abbey waiting for her post ride berry smoothie!
Empty roads during Circuit Breaker!

 

https://newt.anza.org.sg/sports/cycling/

How to Finance Property in Australia

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As an expat, understanding what’s happening in Australia with respect to obtaining finance can be challenging. You may have seen headlines about Australia’s Financial Services Royal Commission (which concluded in February 2019) and read articles about borrowers in hardship who did not understand the terms of the large loans they signed up to. In response, and taking into consideration COVID-19, lenders are taking their obligations far more seriously and the bar to obtaining finance is considerably higher than it was a few years ago.

When assessing a loan application, lenders consider the following key questions:
1. Does the loan fit lender policy?
2. What is the Loan to Value Ratio (LVR)?
3. Can you service the loan?

1. Lender Policy
Policies differ between lenders and not all of them have an expat policy. It’s worthwhile engaging a finance broker who is familiar with expat lending. Lenders who do provide finance to expats have their own requirements in terms of permitted LVR (see 2 below), percentage of income shading (foreign income is ‘shaded’ or rather, reduced, to allow for exchange rate fluctuations), and most lenders only permit PAYG applicants (no self-employed applicants) and principal and interest repayments (very few lenders permit interest only repayments), among other requirements.

2. Loan to Value Ratio (LVR)
The LVR describes the size of the loan you take out, compared to the value of the property being secured, expressed as a percentage. A lower LVR is seen as a lower risk to the lender. The calculation is: Loan Amount ÷ Valuation x 100 = LVR.
For example, if the property you wish to purchase (or refinance) is valued by the lender at $1,000,000 and you wish to borrow $800,000, the LVR will be 80%. The majority of lenders require a LVR of 80% or below, however they may consider a LVR above 80% with Lender’s Mortgage Insurance (LMI). LMI is payable by the borrower at the time of property settlement and serves to protect the lender if a borrower is unable to meet their mortgage repayments and the property has to be sold. For expats, most lenders now require an LVR of 70% or below, and LMI is generally not available should you wish to exceed the maximum LVR specified by a lender.

3. Can you service the loan?
After determining the LVR, the lender will assess whether you can afford the loan repayments. They will scrutinise your financial circumstances in detail, looking at your income, living expenses, assets, liabilities (other loans) and credit card limits. Each lender uses their own calculator to determine serviceability. What may service with one lender, may not service with another.
Lenders ‘shade’ foreign income quite considerably which, unfortunately, can make servicing for expats quite challenging, even with a substantial income. The majority of lenders shade income by 20% to take into account exchange rate fluctuations.

An increased focus on living expenses Since the Financial Services Royal Commission, lenders have significantly improved their processes to ensure that they meet their responsible lending obligations – which requires lenders to show that they have taken into account a borrower’s circumstances and ability to repay a loan. These improvements have led to greater scrutiny of living expenses. Your finance broker or chosen lender will ask you to fill out a detailed questionnaire with 13 expense categories (such as childcare, personal care, groceries, insurance etc).

The living expense information will be verified by your finance broker or lender against your bank statements and credit card statements (you will be required to provide up to six months of your most recent bank statements and credit card statements among other documentation as part of your application). If you are considering taking out a loan, understanding your household living expenses will improve your chances of getting a loan application approved efficiently and expediently.

Low interest rates and floor rates
While meeting the loan servicing test can be more challenging for expat borrowers, the flip side is that we are in a low interest rate environment and in mid-2019, a number of lenders announced changes to their loan serviceability assessment rates. Interest rate floors were reduced to around 5.5% (from over 7%), increasing the borrowing capacity for many home loan applicants. The concept of an interest rate floor was introduced in 2014 so that when assessing loan applications, lenders use a higher rate of around 5.5% (despite interest rates being as low as 2.29%) in order to ensure that should interest rates rise, the borrower can make loan repayments.

Why use a finance broker?
Given the complexities involved in obtaining finance these days, it is worthwhile building a relationship with a finance broker that you can trust, and who understands the various lender expat policies. Finance brokers now write approximately 60% of all home loans in Australia and can help you save time and money as they assist you with finding the most appropriate loan for your circumstances.

Amy Auden, Director of Yarra South Finance

Amy Auden, Director of Yarra South Finance, is accredited with over 20 lenders, of which 15 lend to expats. She’s familiar with expat life, having lived in Hong Kong, Singapore and the US. Amy now lives in Melbourne, Australia. Contact her on aauden@yarrasouth.com.au or +61 437 346 278. yarrasouth.com.au

**This article provides general information and doesn’t take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. Consider whether it is appropriate for your circumstances and your full financial needs and requirements will need to be assessed prior to any offer or acceptance of a loan product. It does not constitute legal, tax or financial advice and you should always seek professional advice in relation to your individual circumstances. Subject to lenders terms and conditions, fees and charges and eligibility criteria apply.

ANZA Action: Singapore Cancer Society

Race against cancer – virtually!

Join the Race Against Cancer
The annual Singtel-Singapore Cancer Society Race Against Cancer (RAC) will be conducted virtually this year. The race will feature 5km and 10km categories, with special 21km and 42km half-marathon and full-marathon categories. Participants must fundraise or donate an amount to complete a certain distance. They can rally their friends and family to support them and win prizes like the Most Creative Route, Best Dressed, Loyal RAC Participant, Best Fundraiser, and Longest Distance.
Participants can run their race distance at their own convenience, within the nine-day race period (19-27 September). Track the distance anywhere in Singapore by using a GPS-enabled app (STRAVA is the preferred app).
Funds raised will help drive SCS’s programmes and services such as the SCS Cancer Care Fund, SCS Cancer Rehabilitation Centre, SCS Cancer Treatment Fund, SCS Help the Children and Youth Programme, and the SCS Welfare Aid.
“No one should fight cancer alone – this event invites people from all walks of life to join in the fight and run alongside those who are impacted by cancer,” says Mr Ching.
To register go to raceagainstcancer.org.sg

Volunteering Opportunities
SCS’s volunteers give their time and talents to help minimise the impact of cancer in Singapore. “They participate in a range of activities that address real needs at every stage of the cancer journey,” says Mr Ching. “At the same time, by volunteering, they gain the opportunity to learn and develop a variety of skills, bond with members of their family or community, and make a lasting impact in the lives of others.”
There is a wide variety of volunteer positions at SCS including:

Free Transport Services for Cancer Patients
Patients receiving chemotherapy may not be physically able to take public transport. Although SCS provides home-hospital transportation for patients, when the need increases, volunteers with their own vehicles are called upon to ferry patients undergoing chemotherapy to and from the various public hospitals in Singapore.
Distributing Supplies
Patients from low- or middle-income households may experience financial difficulties as treatment costs mount. Besides providing financial assistance, SCS also distributes daily necessities, which are purchased, packed, and delivered by volunteers to beneficiaries’ homes.
Sprucing Up Homes
During this period, those impacted by cancer may require assistance in managing their daily chores and errands. Volunteers lend a helping hand by visiting and sprucing up patients’ homes to help them maintain a hygienic and attractive living environment.
Knitting Hats
Hats can come in handy when patients lose their hair after chemotherapy. Volunteers learn how to knit hats, which are then distributed to cancer patients in various hospitals across Singapore as a sign of solidarity and support. ANZA Knitters are involved with this programme anza.org.sg/groups/knit-for-love
For volunteering opportunities visit singaporecancersociety.org.sg/get-involved/volunteer

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Breast Cancer Awareness Month
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, an annual campaign to increase awareness of the disease around the world. The chance of surviving breast cancer increases with early detection, yet only 2 in 5 women are up to date on their mammograms. From the age of 40-49 mammograms are recommended once a year. From 50, mammograms are recommended every two years. Self-exams are also key – with SCS recommending women should look for changes in their breasts from the age of 20, at least once a month.

Changes include:
– A lump that may be felt or seen
– Nipple discharge
– Change in appearance or direction of nipple
– Change in skin texture (i.e puckering or dimpling)
– Rash or crusting

From 1 Oct to 31 Dec 2020, SCS will be providing a $25 funding assistance for eligible women to undergo mammogram screening at participating breast screening centres island-wide. “We encourage everyone to participate and hope that this will empower women to take charge of their health,” says Mr Ching. For more info go to singaporecancersociety.org.sg

Migrant Worker Donation Drive

ANZA Action answers the call for tolietries for migrant workers

“On 6 August ItsRainingRaincoats posted an article to their Facebook page detailing how the migrant workforce were struggling with isolation and uncertainty for their future, their livelihoods and the wellbeing of their families,” says ANZA Member Kris Parkinson. “Due to quarantine many have been unable to leave their dorms and purchase personal items such as toiletries.”

ANZA Action answered the call for help and within a matter of days volunteers opened their hearts, their wallets, and their homes. “A network of hubs was set up across Singapore to enable people to donate personal toiletries to a central location in their area,” says Kris. “This donation drive has seen over six thousand individual items including shampoo, razors, shaving foam, body wash, soap, toothpaste/brushes, deodorant and nail clippers donated from across the city. Four individual construction site dorms will be supported by these donations.”

Kris (far left) organising collection of supplies
Dental care kits ready to be sent to sites

Additionally, an urgent call came in from IRR asking if anyone had hair clippers/trimmers as six men were in desperate need of a trim. ANZA Action came to the rescue. “Within hours ANZA Action managed to find six sets of brand-new hair trimmers,” says Kris. “Simple things, such as being able to keep their hair trimmed and take pride in their appearance, makes an enormous difference to the workers wellbeing and mental health.”

New hair clippers/trimmers, snacks, masks and toothbrushes

Tens of thousands of Singapore’s migrant worker have been impacted by COVID-19, highlighting their contribution to the city. “They work incredibly long hours in the construction industry, rain or shine, to build our condos, MRT stations, office buildings, concert venues, schools and HDB’s,” says Kris. “They keep Singapore’s world-famous gardens beautifully groomed and blossoming, maintain our streets, provide security, and so much more. They are loving fathers, husbands, sons, grandsons, brothers and nephews and each one has a personal story to tell as to why those chose to leave their cities, villages and homes to come to Singapore chasing the hopes and dreams of a better life for their family.”

For any more information on IRR or to enquire about becoming involved or volunteer please contact IRR via their Facebook page.

Interested in joining ANZA Action? Our Community Affairs arm has one off, short and long-term volunteering opportunities in many areas of the community. Contact them here or follow their Facebook page

Meet the Team: ANZA Executive Treasurer, Tristan Perry

Current role: Head of Tax, Australia at Select Investors Australia

Years in Singapore: 4

Why did you want to join the ANZA Exec? To give back to an awesome community, which has given so much to me.

What skills or experience do you bring to the committee? I act as the Assistant Treasurer to the amazing Zenaida and I also support Ellie, the superstar ANZA Accountant. I love meeting members and chatting about life in Singapore. You can also usually find me helping with the money counting at ANZA’s bigger events.

Tristan is a regular contributor to ANZA’s financial pages. You can read his latest article here.

For more info on ANZA’s Executive Comittee roles go to anza.org.sg/executive-committee-positions.

 

Interview: Salted & Hung’s Drew Nocente

Salted & Hung Chef and Owner Drew Nocente

Growing up on his family’s farm near Brisbane, Salted & Hung Chef and Owner Drew Nocente was surrounded by the wonders of fresh produce and seasonal cooking. Drew’s modern Australian restaurant Salted & Hung serves a menu that revolves around the concept of sustainable eating and minimal waste. He talks to ANZA about respecting ingredients, his Italian heritage and the humbling experience of surviving COVID-19.

What does your current role involve? I take care of everything, from the kitchen to the front of house. I train my young chefs and do R&D (research and development) on upcoming new dishes, make sure the service team is trained, and give our guests the Salted & Hung experience, where they feel relaxed and taken care of.

How long have you lived in Singapore? Eight years. Prior to that I was working for Unlisted Collection in Shanghai and wanted a change. I had the opportunity to move to Singapore where hotelier and restauranteur Mr Loh Lik Peng, founder of Unlisted Collection, is based. We had always discussed the prospect of opening a new restaurant in Singapore, so we teamed up to open Salted & Hung a couple of years after I arrived.

What are your cooking philosophies? My cooking philosophy is based on minimal waste. Simply put, we have next to zero food waste at Salted & Hung, so that means every part of the produce is used, whether it’s protein or vegetables. We also support local farmers as much as we can.

What do you bring to your cooking from your Italian heritage? From my background growing up on a family farm and Italian heritage, I bring a knowledge of meat curing I learned from my dad. On our delivery menu, you’ll find many Italian comfort foods, which I personally love, like porchetta, lasagne and tiramisu.

What did you learn growing up on a farm? Growing up on the farm helped me to learn to respect ingredients, which became the starting point of my cooking philosophy of minimal wastage. I understood from a young age how laborious it was to produce ingredients and I wanted to show my utmost respect to the produce by using as much of it as possible, and not wasting anything in the process of cooking.

What are your thoughts on food sustainability? I strongly believe every chef should be looking to make their kitchens more sustainable – from the sourcing of ingredients to how we use them. There’s also a need to train and educate younger chefs on the importance of sustainable cooking…passing it on to the next generation.

Interior: Salted & Hung

How did Salted & Hung change during COVID-19? During the Circuit Breaker, we moved from relaxed fine dining to pivoting our focus to serving comfort food at home. We are currently running both dine in and delivery models. We’ve also designed a range of deli retail products now available on our delivery platform.

What have you learnt personally? It was a very humbling experience for me, and I received so much support from the community and industry. My team did an amazing job of turning to a more casual concept for delivery with new items on the menu. Now, we want to give as much back as we can, whether it’s working with Food Bank Singapore or just striving to provide a memorable dining experience for all our guests.

What do you most value in life and work? In life and work, I value family. Every staff member is part of my team and I make sure they grow and live up to their fullest potential. My favourite off days are spent chilling with my wife, bike riding, shopping or just having a nice meal together. These are the times I value most.

Who or what inspires you to create delicious food? Inspiration comes in many forms, it could be a conversation, a memory, or sometimes just observing what is around me in the kitchen. Sometimes I look at what is wasted and ask myself ‘okay, what can I do with this?’.

What can diners expect when they dine at Salted & Hung? An honest and relaxed fine dining experience where we use the best produce and surprise you with a couple of twists on the menu.

saltedandhung.com.sg

Chef’s favourites

Cheap eat? Ah Lim Jln Tua Kong Bak Chor Mee, 62 Joo Chiat Place

Fine diner? Labyrinth, 8 Raffles Avenue #02-23

Late night bar? IBHQ, 774A North Bridge Road

Secret spot? Bincho (yakitori), 78 Moh Guan Terrace, #01-19

Sweet treat? Baristart cream puff, 65 Tras St

Grocer? Meidi-ya, Great World City

Introducing ANZA Tour Bites!

The intrepid ANZA Tour Bites team will head out once a week in small groups of five to explore new neighbourhoods, taste local delights, discover new skills, and meet interesting locals. All proceeds from the mini tours go towards the sponsorship of Riding for the Disabled therapy horse, Kodie.

Riding for the Disabled therapy horse, Kodie

Normally we would raise money to sponsor Kodie at our annual ANZA Melbourne Cup Race Day event in November, however this year we are finding new ways to continue our support for the Australian former show pony. “While we can’t celebrate the Melbourne Cup this year, we can still make a difference and support our #1 horse, Kodie,” says ANZA Tours Organiser Kristen Hobby. “ANZA Tour Bites activities are led by the knowledgeable members of the ANZA Tours Committee. Join us as we offer a range of short, fun activities across the island to raise money which pays for Kodie’s yearly up-keep, food, health (medical and dental) and other costs. Sponsoring a horse or pony costs S$12,000 per year, and we hope to help ANZA reach that target!”

Explore neighbourhoods like Kampong Glam with Tour Bites!
Sign up to discover the rich heritage of Joo Chiat

** ANZA Tour Bites activities are limited to the first four people who register and the mini tours cost $20 per person – all proceeds to go to support Kodie. If something sparks your interest, jump on and book. We’d love to see you!

anza.org.sg/tours

 

Introducing Bausele: The Swiss made, Australian Watch company.

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After moving to Australia with his Australian wife, French national and Swiss watch industry veteran Christophe Hoppé fell in love with his new home. It had everything he thought life needed, except for a premium Australian watch brand.  In 2011 Hoppé realised a lifelong ambition to create his own brand. He gave up his corporate job and combined his two passions; designing watches and the Australian lifestyle he loved so much. He created Bausele, Australia’s first premium Swiss watch brand – blending Australian strength and design with Swiss precision. Bausele watches take into account Australian’s love for the outdoors and adventure. The way Aussies take life, (but not themselves), seriously, and have fun along the way. As a nod to the land down under, Christophe even puts distinctive red earth from Central Australia, or sand from one of Australia’s famous beaches, on display in the hollow crown. So, every watch he sends out into the world, he sends a little piece of Australia.

Vintage 2.0

The Vintage 2.0 is an activity tracking smart watch that looks like an analog dress watch. It’s designed to give you peace from constant notifications and screen time, but keep you connected to what matters most. Want to focus on something but are waiting on an important call? Just set your phone on silent, and let the watch screen your calls. The watch will know to vibrate only when that important call comes in. Need to be across different time zones? With the push of a button the Vintage 2.0’s dual time-zone feature tells you what time it is back in Australia (or London, New York, Tokyo…whichever city you set it to). You control all the options to personalise it to your specific needs.

 

Oceanmoon

Love to surf, dive, sail or wakeboard? The Oceanmoon is an extremely tough tidal watch that encourages you to get out on the ocean. The nano ceramic glass is 30% stronger than the sapphire crystal usually used in watch manufacturing. It’s waterproof to 200m and comes with a five-year warranty.

 

Bausele is proud to offer the best of Australia to the world and have recently launched in Singapore. Read more on their website here

Learn more about their latest release, the Vintage 2.0 hybrid smartwatch:

 

 

Alfresco Rooftop Dining at Stellar at 1-Altitude

Stellar at 1-Altitude 1 Raffles Place
048616, stellarrestaurant.sg

Stellar at 1-Altitude claims to have the world’s highest roof-top alfresco dining. Perched atop level 62 at 1 Raffles Place it offers patrons dazzling 360-degree views of Singapore’s cityscape. We visited on a clear evening and were treated to spectacular panoramic sights of the rolling hills and high rises of Johor Bahru on one side, across to the shores of the isle of Batam on the other.

The evening started with a sampling from the in-house mixologist’s new alcoholic Bubble Tea menu. I tried the Tea-Gasm; Vodka, fresh grapefruit juice, yuzu juice and black tea topped with grapefruit jelly and pearls. One of Singapore’s most beloved drinks redefined with a fresh twist.

It was time to move on to the food. Executive Chef Chris Millar, who has worked in award winning iconic restaurants in London, Melbourne and Sydney, explained the cuisine. “Stellar serves progressive Australian cuisine. What is Australian cuisine?  It’s a melting pot of different cooking styles, simple, with good quality ingredients, which allows the flavours to come through,” said Chris.

Seared scallops

 

We began with a couple of exquisite appetisers. The first dish was beautifully presented seared scallops over sweet potatoes, topped with delicate slices of avocado and fresh endives, dressed with ground herbs and pine nuts ($32++). This was followed by German smoked eel served over skillfully charred US asparagus, sprinkled with Greek feta cheese, chives and edible flower petals ($28++) This was expertly paired with a vibrant Frankland Estate Poison Hill Riesling.

German smoked eel and asparagus

Next up was succulent, grilled Argentinean angus beef tongue, dressed with a delicate vegetable vinaigrette and topped with sourdough croutons ($29++), paired with the Illuminati Riparosso Montepulciano D’Abruzzo. I’m not a daring meat eater and would never order tongue by choice but Chef Chris asked us to be adventurous and so I obliged. I wasn’t disappointed.

Sustainable red snapper

Tasmanian ocean trout and sustainable Red snapper soon followed. The Poached Tasmanian Petuna Ocean trout with Cambodian Kampot pepper corns was accompanied by fine slices of charred zucchini and romaine lettuce, a puree of sauerkraut-style pickled red cabbage and topped with a chive butter sauce ($48++)

The sustainable red snapper was a delicate fish presented with allium (onion puree), grilled leeks and dressed with an incredible anchovy shallot dressing and blended with hazelnuts. It is worth mentioning the Serrats anchovies from the Spanish Basque region are arguably some of the best in the world ($38++) This was matched with an outstanding La Tunella’s Pinot Grigio.

Sanchoku F1 Australian Waygu

For the last savoury dish, we were presented with a mouth-watering Sanchoku F1 Australian Waygu OP rib (about 1kg), grilled to perfection on Stellar’s Josper wood fire grill. This buttery beef was served with made-on-the-spot crunchy hand-cut potato crisps, lightly pickled baby carrots, and charred Kale. This monumental dish serves 2-3 hungry diners ($220++). Stellar at 1-Altitude is proud to be the first restaurant in Singapore to rear its own Wagyu cattle at Australia’s premium Wagyu farm located in the Riverina region of New South Wales.

Our pavlova

The end of the meal was no less spectacular, featuring a tableau of four delightfully presented desserts: ‘Our Pavlova’, a light crispy meringue filled with a lemon verbena and vanilla ice cream, passion fruit coulis, strawberry vanilla and basil ($18++),  ‘Inside a Terrarium’, an eye-catching creation of Weiss Li Chu 64% chocolate parfait, a “soil” of chocolate and nuts, torn parsley, mint flavored sponge, and fresh Cape gooseberry; the whole dessert is then smoked under a glass dome ($18++) and finally, ‘Rolling in Flowers’, a floral lime and rose infused marshmallow, kafir lime-infused mousse ‘curd’, burnt butter, and coconut flavored sable pastry wheels ($18++) and ’50 shades of Orange’, mango apricot sorbet, orange carrots, fresh tomatoes, and passionfruit, paired with Misha’s The Cadenza Late Harvest Gewürztraminer. What a meal!

Verdict: Spectacular modern Australian cuisine, paired with breathtaking Singapore views.