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Daniel Herbert, CEO of SSKB Strata Managers, said he was fortunate to have had special training on coping with stress and anxiety thanks to his time with the national team.

Ex-Wallaby and current Rugby Australia board member Daniel Herbert has gone to extraordinary lengths to help the residents of his apartment buildings cope with COVID-19.

The World Cup-winning former vice-captain of the Wallabies is the Brisbane-based chief executive of SSKB Strata Managers – a company that has properties under management across Queensland and in Melbourne.

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SSKB Strata Managers has about 4000 residents impacted by stage 4 restrictions in Melbourne. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Andrew Henshaw

Many strata residents, including about 4000 that his company deals with in Melbourne alone, had come under pressure during forced lockdown periods after facilities had to close and interaction with others was limited.

Concerned about the mental health and wellbeing implications of a long lockdown for residents, Mr Herbert hired a man, who once trained with Shaolin monks, to run a series of online training sessions to help residents reduce their stress levels.

Chief Maker’s Greg Layton.

“Any athlete knows you have to play mental tricks with your brain to get through difficult periods,” he said. “I was lucky that when I was young, we went through AIS in the early days of sports psychologists about managing performance, how to not let anxiety take over, how to look at difficult situations as an opportunity and how to get the best out of it. Had I not been fortunate enough to fall into sport I would not have those tools. A lot of people are in that situation now (with COVID-19 impacts) and if we can help as a company it can only be a good thing.”

He hired Chief Maker’s Greg Layton, who has helped many senior executives build their own resilience ‘toolkits’ during corporate transformations, to help support residents with stress and anxiety reduction techniques.

The sessions run every Tuesday via SSKB Strata Managers’ Facebook page, with Mr Layton’s first session focused on how to turn negative emotions and triggers into positive mantras and actions.

Some of the most common concerns from apartment owners in Melbourne included how to lead a team during isolation, how to handle everything when you live alone, homeschooling kids and how to think of new social activities during lockdown.

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The post Ex-Wallaby’s extraordinary move to help COVID-19 lockdown residents appeared first on realestate.com.au.

Family gem – 35 Weemala Rd, Northbridge.

A real test of the desirability of a family home comes with how well it serves its owners through the various stages of raising their children.

And for Kate Novakovic and her husband, their home has passed with flying colours.

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The couple had two small children in tow when they moved into their home in 2011, after returning to Australia from a stint working overseas.

In 2012 and 2016 they undertook renovations to the architect-designed, three-level home that has a sought-after northeast aspect and spectacular views across Middle Harbour.

Fast forward to 2020 and the couple have added another two children to their brood.

What a view!

The main bedroom.

They have loved every moment of living in their Weemala Rd home, and are deeply attached to the local community.

They don’t plan to leave the suburb when they sell, but are hoping to try their hand at a larger building project.

“We wanted a house with space and a yard and a pool, and this house has been perfect,” Mrs Novakovic said.

“It’s really light and warm throughout the year, and the versatility of the space has made it great with the kids.”

Sunny spot.

Outdoor living and dining.

The other big test came during the recent COVID-19 lockdown.

With a gym set up in the home’s lower level, the pool gas-heated for all-season swimming, a child-friendly yard with in-ground trampoline and plenty of internal living space inside and out, the family not only survived lockdown, but thrived in their beautiful home.

“It’s been awesome,” she said.

Family friendly.

The kitchen.

The lower level of the house also has a dedicated home office and guest room.

And then there’s the location. The peaceful and close-knit cul-de-sac is set one street back from the waterfront, and is within easy walk of Tunks Park.

Launching kayak at Fig Tree Point is a favourite family outing, and the local school has been a winner. The city is minutes away by bus or car.

The home is for sale by expressions of interest, with a price guide of $7 million. For more information contact Steward Gordon, from Ray White Lower North Shore.

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The post Grand Northbridge home passes the test for families of all ages appeared first on realestate.com.au.

Andrew and Rob Gray of Graya, with Frank Licastro of Frank Developments, are set to create a multi-residential development called ‘Maison’ in New Farm.

LUXURY Brisbane home builders Graya™ and Frank Developments are delving into the world of multi-residential development.

Teaming up with friend and industry peer Frank Licastro, brothers Rob and Andrew Gray are set to create ‘Maison’ — a landmark building in New Farm, comprising just five exclusive sky homes.

The trio say they have naturally transitioned into the multi-residential space as they saw a gap in the market to create considered residences with the same characteristics of a home in addition to the lifestyle apartment living offers.

A render of Maison, 60 Moray St, New Farm. Image: Frank Developments.

The property moguls spent two years scouring for perfect the site to bring their vision to life before finding 60 Moray Street.

‘Maison’ will have five, full floor, four-bedroom residences with direct lift access, an abundance of natural light and cross ventilation plus sweeping views of Brisbane’s skyline, river and New Farm.

The development has a private recreational deck for residences 1 to 4, which includes a swimming pool, sunbeds, a barbecue and alfresco and lounge spaces.

The penthouse will have its own private rooftop with a pool, barbecue area and open space for the owner to furnish to suit their needs.

It’s not the first time the three of them have worked together.

Frank Developments also collaborated with Graya to create the luxury home ‘Laurent’ in Paddington, which sold for $4 million last year.

“We have known each other for over a decade, since we started in the construction industry,” Mr Licastro said.

“We had been looking for the right site for well over two years and we found it on a beautifully square corner block in Moray Street, which allowed for three sides of light in our sky homes.”

A render of Maison, 60 Moray St, New Farm. Image: Frank Developments.

Graya™ director Rob Gray said Maison’s location and design would make it a landmark building that people would recognise for years to come.

“We were so happy when we found our site,” Mr Gray said.

“The corner lot makes the floor plans extremely efficient and liveable, unlike many of the dark and compromised floor plans you see time and time again.

“We feel many people are missing the market by not truly delivering what their end occupant wants in regards to design and lifestyle. We have long careers ahead of us, but we know this will be a flagship project that we have put everything we have into.”

The kitchen in the house, named Laurent, at 44 Reading St, Paddington, which sold for $4m. Picture: Scott Burrows.

Lead agent Matt Lancashire of Ray White New Farm said the developers had chosen one of the best river roads in New Farm.

“Moray Street is such a sought after address that people will pay a premium for,” Mr Lancashire said.

Designed by architect Joe Adsett, Maison is set to offer apartment living with the same spatial qualities and character of a home.

The nature-inspired development has landscaped planting wraps, which cascade along the curved façade, providing privacy for each residence.

Graya and Frank Developments built this house, named Laurent, in Paddington. Picture: Scott Burrows.

Development approval for the project was granted by Brisbane City Council last month without appeal within the Planning and Environment Court, which Mr Gray said was a reflection of the extensive community consultation undertaken in the lead-up.

Maison will be launching to the market in the coming weeks.

And we can expect more where that came from, with Mr Gray revealing Graya plans to go down the multi-residential path more often in the future.

Graya has built homes for Broncos captain Darius Boyd and his wife Kayla, former Wallabies captain Stephen Moore and rapper Example and his model wife, Erin McNaught, among other high-profile names.

The post Graya’s next project revealed: Landmark building in New Farm appeared first on realestate.com.au.