Tasmanian paramedic Bron Robertson has overcome all odds to be crowned the 2009 Weight Watchers Healthy Life Awards Slimmer of the Year, after a frightening experience left her questioning her health and her capacity to perform her life-saving job.

At her heaviest, Bron weighed 90 kilograms, suffering low-self esteem and in a vicious cycle of self-medicating through food. However it was during a routine bush rescue, Bron realised her own life was at risk when she was struggling to perform her duties as a paramedic.

With a 32 kilogram weight loss and total life transformation, the 29-year-old Launceston resident beat hundreds of Australians across the country to receive the prestigious title.

Bron was presented the national award at a gala event on November 18, by Healthy Life Awards Ambassadors Channel Seven’s Tom Williams, and former Olympian and Weight Watchers member Melinda Gainsford-Taylor.

“I used to think it would be impossible to feel good about myself again, looking back at what I went through to be here, I feel tremendously proud of my achievements.  Each of the Healthy Life Awards finalists has an amazing story to tell, so to be singled out among such an inspiring group of people is incredible,” Bron said.   

The 2009 Healthy Life Awards saw Australian entrants lose a remarkable combined total of over 10 tonnes.

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If a special event means a bad hair nightmare then wake up to the dreamy new brand, Jilbere de Paris.

Aside from the fact they tick the boxes for elegant colour palette and sleek European design, the proof is in the primping with their latest range of hair dryers, straighteners and curling tongs. They create everything from soft tousled waves, to wild manes of feminine curls, shaggy bobs and ultra-feminine side sweeps so you can channel your favourite French screen goddess at the drop of a hat.

I love the Euro 4500 Compact AC Motor Dryer ($149.95). Unlike other run-of-the-mill hair dryers, this one is of professional standard so it is extra powerful and, even better, it has Ionic Conditioning technology so your hair won’t frizz out like you just stuck your hand in the toaster. The Euro 3500 Ceramic Ionic Straightener is also about to put your ‘trusty’ old straightener to shame. It seals the hair cuticle and leaves your hair silky, shiny and hair-flick ready!

Your hair’s new best friend is ready and waiting for you at Shaver Shop, but you better get in fast, before I wipe them out myself!

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Forget Fed-Ex, being stranded on a tropical island and naming your volleyball, the ‘Castaway’ of 2009 is the cream-of-the-crop of summer fashion. One of two new collections from Sportsgirl this November, ‘Castaway’ is full of your favourite warm-weather staples like mini skirts in denim and ra-ra styles, maxi dresses, comfy shift dresses, and gorgeous, cinched-waist frocks in bright florals and abstract prints.

Jumpsuits have never been so cute and, believe it or not, tie-dye is back with a vengeance and you’ll find it on frocks and tees to get you through the long, sun-drenched days. Injections of edgy, one-shoulder designs and loose, embellished jackets also make an appearance and wedges, hats and oversized bags all remain favourite accessories this season.

‘Metropolis’ is all about urban sexiness. For city-chic, Sportsgirl has you covered with bold, block colours and sophisticated black and white. If you’re not afraid to flaunt your curves figure-hugging is the way to go this season, with a big emphasis on shoulder detail such as jewelled embellishment or shoulder pads, as well as exposed zippers. And don’t forget cropped. With jackets 3/4 length to get you ready for those balmy nights on the town, and of course the 7/8 pant is back in full force for the effortless cool urbanite look.

Designed for the fashion-forward, outgoing, Australian girl, Sportsgirl’s new ranges have your name written all over them.

NB: This season, try and experiment with tradional rule that you should never mix prints. Don’t be afraid to put a floral dress with a printed bag or shoes – used well clashing can be cool this summer.

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If you’re like me you get those moments of looking around your home, dreaming up flamboyant, reno-rescue-style ways to make it look and feel more like your dream house. If the mansion with the infinity pool overlooking the ocean isn’t cooperating with your current budget, however, why not turn to new homewares and accessories to update your nest instead. It’s the perfect way to revamp your abode without breaking the (piggy) bank.

Enter Ladelle and their new Summer Collection, full of vibrant, warm and welcoming home accessories. A favourite of mine in the homewares stakes, Ladelle’s range this season is full of punchy, seasonal hues such as vibrant tangerine and fresh lime, and features fun prints to lighten up your living area. With everything from kitchen and dining, there is something to suit absolutely every interior and budget, and even better, Ladelle is designed right here in Australia.

If their Summer collection isn’t motivation enough to get you in the kitchen, whipping up a roast lamb or three-tier cake Martha Stewart-style, at least your kitchen looks good and thank goodness appearances can be deceiving!

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Bouncy, bubbly babies will soon be putting their best little foot forward as shoe brand Skeanie releases its limited edition Love Me shoes. Pink and silver, without robbing you of your gold, the adorable little slippers will retail for $29.95, with $1.50 from each pair being donated towards the McGrath Foundation.

The fashionable shoes are podiatry-approved with 100% leather, so tiny tootsies can breathe and grow naturally, while the suede soul provides grip for crawlers and walkers alike (I wonder if they make my size?).

These adorable pint-sized wardrobe additions are also helping to support the legacy left by the late Jane McGrath. Her inspirational vision was to support McGrath Breast Care Nurses around Australia and educate young women on breast awareness.

So now anywhere you go, whenever you see a set of tiny pink feet you know that not only is bub comfy, but she is helping her mum, other mums and women everywhere.

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If you haven’t already welled up at this image of an orphaned, too-cute-for-words baby orangutan, then you might on learning that orangutans just like this are facing injury, disease and death as their habitat in Borneo is destroyed by the ever expanding palm oil industry. There is a silver lining, though, because you can help!

Pop into The Body Shop, where for 3 weeks their in-store campaign called ‘Miracle Treatment’ offers customers the chance to achieve amazing results. Teaming up with the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA), the ‘Miracle Treatment’ campaign aims to diminish the enormous animal welfare issues that are caused as a direct result of human activity, such as the orphaning of baby orangutans like Inka (pictured).

There are a number of ways for you to get involved and make this miracle happen for other Bornean orangutans: Donate to the Borneo Orangutan Sanctuary, hold an event to raise funds, wear cute orangutan merchandise, and spread the word by telling all of your friends how they can help.

For further information visit your The Body Shop store or log on to www.wspa.org.au/miracles

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Despite knowing the damage being done we love the sun. We love when the feel of it on our skin and the healthy glow we get from a subtle tan. But then there’s the ageing, freckles, sun spots and cancerous nasties!

By now we all know how harmful the sun is for our skin.  And Clarins’ new Sun Care Body range is designed specifically to help protect our body’s largest organ from those damaging UV rays that make us happy when they turn us tanned and angry when they give us freckles, sun-spots and other nasties!

With four new products ranging from 15 to 30 SPF, Clarins’ new range is supported by home-grown Naomi Watts and supermodel Cindy Crawford. And, really, all you’ve got to do is check out recent photos of those gals and you know they’re onto a good thing.

What I love about these new products is there’s no greasy or sticky residue like your typical sunscreen, they’ve been specially reformulated to easily absorb into your skin and you don’t even notice you are wearing anything, let alone fighting off sun damage and skin cancer.

Good news for kids too, gone are the days of being the only one at the pool-party donning a fluorescent rashie. Clarins’ Sun Care Cream for children has extremely high and long-lasting protection against UVA and UVB rays, water, sand, and embarrassment!

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 What would you say if I told you that in the time it takes to read this article, you could have totally erased your crows feet and frown lines? Well, Freezeframe is a revolutionary product that removes the appearance of wrinkles within minutes of application. No seriously.

Completely new to the market, and to my list of must-have beauty buys, freezeframe has been developed in Australia but is causing ripples around the cosmetic world. An anti-ageing first, it has been clinically proven that the results of the ‘frozen wrinkles’ last up to eight hours, and if used regularly, freezeframe can reduce wrinkle depth by 63% in 28 days.

Retailing for just $89 exclusively at MYER, why would you jump on the Botox®  bandwagon when you can invest in a long-term wrinkle-relaxing treatment that can be used at home along with your eye-cream and moisturizer? Just think about how many pairs of shoes you could buy with all that money you’ll be saving…

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  If, like me, you loved Viktor & Rolf’s deliciously tempting ‘Flowerbomb’, then your summer just got a little bit brighter. Look out, or sniff out, their brand new summer limited edition version ‘La Vie En Rose’. This fragrance can be described in one word: yum. Seriously, these guys know how to create a smell. There are glamorous bottom notes of pink berries, tangerine and bergamot, and at the top; sparkling citrus scents.

Retailing for $125 for a 50ml bottle of eau de toilette, the Flowerbomb Summer experience is fresh and symbolic and perfect for that time of year that promises fun, sun and more opportunities to meet ‘the one’!

Viktor & Rolf La Vie en Rose Summer Fragrance Limited Edition Flowerbomb is available at selected Myer and David Jones stores.

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 Have you ever noticed how a man suddenly becomes more attractive if he smells good? Well this John Varvatos knows, because his new men’s fragrance is deeeeelicious.

Hitting our stores this summer, John Varvatos Rock Volume One is the first of a limited edition series inspired by music. Cool concept, cool bottle and to-die-for scent, it could be the perfect pressie for your partner, or, if you’re really generous and he doesn’t annoy you, your bro.

Inspired by the creative spirit and deeply original style of talented musicians, this new, sensual smell has a definite rock’n roll vibe. As Varvatos says, “Like a great song, the right scent can also trigger a secret memory”.

JOHN VARVATOS ROCK VOLUME ONE launches 2 November
125ml Eau de Toilette spray    $110

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Isn’t it time that men stop pretending that they don’t care about their appearance? That they don’t have to do more than just roll out of bed and into their jeans? I think so, and so does the team behind Every Man Jack, the latest ‘beauty’ (for lack of a more masculine word) range for men.

With products for everything from hair to body to face, including shaving-care, Every Man Jack caters to our husbands, brothers and fathers, and just like that Birthdays and Christmas just got that little bit easier!

The hair products range from scalp-healthy shampoos and conditioners to shaping gels, pomades and thickening creams for the more ‘Fonz’ - like types.

The body bars and wash are made from high-quality formulas and natural ingredients and won’t cost you a fortune.

Every Man Jack encourages guys everywhere to start looking after their skin with cleansers, moisturizers and protectors that are no-fuss and easily fit into a daily regimen. There’s also a bunch of products to bring gents “one step closer to shaving perfection”, with washes that prep the skin, and creams and gels to heal and protect.

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