Jocelyn Magazine

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Coastal living, travel and creativity from Queensland's Fraser Coast and beyond. www.jocelynmagazine.com
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04/11/2026

# # # 📖 TWENTY-ONE: A MEMOIR OF LOVE, LOSS AND GROWING UP

What began as a shared love of memoir writing in Paris three years ago has blossomed into lasting friendships, and now another published book.

I recently travelled to Sydney for the launch of *Twenty-One*, a moving and candid memoir by my friend and fellow CWIP Publishing author, Penelope Jools.

From childhood adventures across three continents to the challenges of growing up, Penny's story explores family, love, loss and the experiences that shape who we become.

But there's a particularly poignant meaning behind the book's title; one that adds another layer of emotion to her story.

I've just published my review on **Jocelyn Magazine**, reflecting on the book, the woman behind it and a wonderful afternoon celebrating its launch at Gleebooks.

📚 **Read my full review on Jocelyn Magazine — link in the comments.**

📸 Pictured below at the launch: Penelope Jools (right) in conversation with her niece, Westerly, discussing the stories and experiences behind Twenty-One at Gleebooks, Sydney.

30/10/2026

🎨 Art with a Wild Side: Last Chance to See This Sydney Exhibition

Attention, art lovers visiting Sydney this weekend! There's a fabulous exhibition at the Royal Botanic Garden that's sure to intrigue you, but you'll need to be quick.

During my recent Sydney visit, I discovered Artisans in the Gardens 2026, a wonderful collection of Australian art and craftsmanship, from spectacular outdoor sculptures to beautiful ceramics, glasswork and other handcrafted treasures.

I particularly loved the humour of those cheeky ceramic chickens, the delicacy of the tree sculpture and the sheer drama of the metal eagle. The creativity was impressive, and I loved how so many of the artworks seemed perfectly at home among the garden greenery.

In fact, I was sorely tempted to bring home a giant cockatoo, an eagle or perhaps a butterfly or two. Unfortunately, Jetstar might have had a tizzy over my luggage allowance. 😂 And where on earth would I put them in a townhouse?

Nevertheless, what a delight to wander among such imaginative creations!

The exhibition finishes tomorrow, Sunday 1 November, so don't dilly-dally if you're in Sydney.

And if you miss it, the Royal Botanic Garden is well worth exploring in its own right. Wander through the beautiful Palm Grove, enjoy the seasonal colours along Spring Walk, and take in those glorious Sydney Harbour views, including the Opera House and Harbour Bridge.

A wonderful way to spend a few hours, whether you're an art lover, garden enthusiast or simply enjoy a good wander.

If you know anyone in Sydney who may love this exhibition and the gardens, please share this post.

🌿 Discover more about the exhibition and its talented artisans:

https://www.botanicgardens.org.au/whats-on/artisans-gardens-2026

Artworks by participating artists in Artisans in the Gardens 2026, Royal Botanic Garden Sydney. Details of the participating artists are available via the exhibition website. Photographs and collage © 2026 Jocelyn Watts.

21/10/2026

**🏡Real Estate Photography: When Did Presentation Become Deception?**

We've long accepted beautifully styled homes, carefully arranged furniture and flattering camera angles in real estate advertising.

But what happens when we add that furniture digitally instead?

Is virtual staging really so different from hiring furniture for a photo shoot? And where should we draw the line between showcasing a property's potential and misleading buyers?

In my latest *Jocelyn Magazine* InFocus article, I explore the differences between physical and virtual staging, what Australian consumer law says, and why transparency matters more than the technology itself.

I'd love to hear your thoughts. Would you prefer to see both the original and virtually staged photographs when looking at a property?

👉 To read the article, follow the link in the comments.

19/10/2026

** 🌿 A Little Tropical Escape Close to Home**

Before this week's showers rolled in, I enjoyed a lovely wander through Bamboo Land at Torbanlea.

What a beautiful place to slow down and soak up a little tropical tranquillity. Towering bamboo, colourful tropical flowers, quirky garden sculptures and winding pathways make it a photographer's delight.

Set beside the Burrum River, the parklands are perfect for a leisurely stroll, gathering a little garden inspiration, or simply relaxing with a coffee surrounded by greenery.

And the best part? Entry is free!

If you haven't visited for a while, it's well worth putting on your list. A link to their website is in the comments. 🌺

16/10/2026

A MORNING OF STORIES, FAMILY DRAMA & EVERDAY KINDNESS 📚

How had I never heard of Monica McInerney?

The Australian-born, Dublin-based bestselling novelist has had her books published worldwide in more than a dozen languages, yet she was a new discovery for me at this morning's author talk at Hervey Bay's new library.

More than 50 book lovers gathered to hear Monica share insights into her writing, particularly her latest novel, When Sullivan Met Lola, a heartwarming story celebrating all that makes life worth living and the power of everyday kindness.

Known for her engaging family dramas, Monica was a delight to listen to, with a wonderful sense of humour.

The library has copies available to borrow, but be prepared to queue. I was fourth in line to reserve a copy, so headed to QBD instead, bought myself a book, which Monica happily autographed. Looking forward to reading this one, and discovering more of her novels.

This morning's talk was part of the lead-up to the Fraser Coast's annual Lines in the Sand Festival for readers and writers, with more author events scheduled in the coming weeks and throughout November.

For the full program, visit the festival website. Link in the comments.

14/10/2026

WHY DO EMPTY ROOMS LEAVE BUYERS COLD? 🏡

An empty house might be a blank canvas, but can prospective buyers really picture themselves living there?

With virtual staging becoming increasingly common in real estate advertising, there's a fine line between showing a home's potential and creating a misleading impression.

Using my own photographs of a vacant Bundaberg townhouse, I've explored how virtual staging can transform the way we see empty rooms, and why nothing replaces walking through the front door.

🏡 Thinking of selling a vacant home?

Pop over to Jocelyn Magazine for seven practical tips on presenting your property, plus some revealing before-and-after photographs.

👇 Link to the full article in the comments.

12/10/2026

The Storyteller: When Curiosity Gets the Better of a Sceptic! 🔮

I'm a sceptic when it comes to astrology, tarot cards and the like, but curiosity got the better of me. So I asked ChatGPT to create a tarot card of me based on the Jocelyn Magazine website and social media.

Meet The Storyteller. I have to admit, it's captured me rather well, right down to the camera, coastal living and the ever-present cuppa! ☕😂

Not sure about predicting the future, but it's done a reasonable job of illustrating the present.

10/10/2026

🥚 THE HENS MISSED THE MEMO … AND THE BEEKKEEPER SAYS 'BEE-HIVE' 🐝

What a lovely morning catching up with some familiar faces and meeting a few new ones at the Urangan Pier Markets today.

First stop was Brother Brother Organics, where I caught up with Vicki and Shayne Kuhn and their son Nick, from Mungar, near Maryborough.

The last time I interviewed these egg producers was in 2020, as editor of the Maryborough Herald. COVID was closing restaurants, but their hens hadn't received the memo to slow down production. 😂

Six years later, those girls are apparently still laying up a storm.

Then there was foodie Peter Woodland, happily buying Fig Ginger Jam from Cecilia (CC) Diaz-Petersen of Woolooga Farm Kitchen. Now there's a flavour combination worth investigating.

And thirdly, Chris Hall, the Toogoom apiarist behind Raw Honey, who clearly loves his bees almost as much as he loves a good pun. His favourite advice to customers? 'Bee-hive yourselves!' 🐝😂

It's people like these who make our local food industry so special. Behind every carton of eggs, jar of jam or pot of honey is someone putting their heart, hard work and good humour into producing something wonderful.

❤️ Let's support our local growers and producers.

📍 Urangan Pier Markets, Pier Street, Hervey Bay

🗓️ Every Wednesday and Saturday, 7am–12 noon.

Pop along, have a chat, fill your shopping bag and keep our local food industry thriving.

And if you'd like to discover more about the wonderful food being grown and produced across our region, I've explored just that in my latest Jocelyn Magazine article:

👉 https://jocelynwatts.com/fraser-coast-food-industry/

09/10/2026

🌱 COULD THE FRASER COAST BECOME QUEENSLAND'S NEXT GREAT FOOD REGION?

We're famous for whales, beautiful beaches and retirement living. But what if our future was also built on what we grow, produce and create?

From seafood and macadamias to sustainable agriculture, alternative crops and new manufacturing opportunities, the Fraser Coast already has many of the ingredients for a thriving regional economy.

🥑 Could stronger connections between growers and local businesses create more jobs?

🏢 Could vacant Council buildings help emerging food enterprises get started?

🌿 And can we grow our economy without sacrificing the environment that makes this region special?

Perhaps it's time to think beyond tourism and retirement, and imagine a Fraser Coast where more people can build careers, businesses and futures.

Photo: Canva Pro

👉 Pop over to Jocelyn Magazine to read the full editorial. And tell us what you think. Could the Fraser Coast become Queensland's next great food region?

🔗 Full article: https://jocelynwatts.com/fraser-coast-food-industry/

02/10/2026

FIRST TIME ON K'GARI (FRASER ISLAND)?
Don’t Leave the Mainland Without Knowing These Things.

K’gari might look like an easy-going island escape, but travelling there comes with a few quirks of its own. Tides can dictate your timetable. Soft sand can catch out the unprepared. Wongari (dingoes) deserve plenty of space. And sometimes simply getting from A to B is part of the adventure.

I’ve pulled together the practical things first-time visitors should know before setting off, from 4WD preparation and beach driving to staying safe, respecting Country and knowing what to expect once you arrive.

👉 Pop over to Jocelyn Magazine for Visiting K’gari for the First Time: What You Need to Know Before You Go. Link is in the comments.

'gari

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