In my beauty bag: Bernadette Soares

PETER MEECHAM/Fairfax NZ

Bernadette Soares is passionate about beauty and has her definite favourite brands (if Pantene made our hair look like hers, we’d use it too).

Bernadette Soares, 45, is a mother of three who came to New Zealand from Mumbai, India when she was 21.

She launched the Pharo Salon Sugaring System in 2009 and now has 500 salons across Australasia stocking the alternative eco-friendly and less-painful alternative to wax (a busy woman!).  She also owns beauty brands Radiessence, Natural Glow and Bodeze (a very busy woman then).

“I wear makeup on weekdays but lighter on the weekend. Even at home I dress well, I don’t really slack off, and it just completes your look.

I was brought up with a lot of natural beauty treatments, and that was my introduction. From very young at six, seven, eight, we were alway looking after our skin and our hair.

First thing in the morning after showering I moisturise with Estee Lauder hydrating and anti-ageing moisturiser. I am always trying out new products but if I had to stick to one moisturiser it would be Estee Lauder. Then I use Radiessence Colour Collection cream – it has an SPF30 – it’s a primer and a very light concealer.

I use Radiessence foundation. I always do my eyes up, no matter what. I have an Elizabeth Arden quad in browns – every time I use one I replace it. My mascara is Isabelle Dupont from Italy, I get it at Makeup Direct. It has a double wand for the base and the overcoat.

Some days I use bronzer and do a bronzed natural look; other days I use an Isabelle Dupont skin corrector which gives you a light powdered look. I quite like some of the Revlon blushes too, and some days I have a pink blush (I don’t like to stay with the same look all the time).

I love my ColorStay Revlon Lipglosses – they do give you a stain that lasts all day. The Natural Glow ones are a bit lighter and just give you a sheen.  I prefer lipgloss to lipstick.

I can’t do without my favourite Estee Lauder White Linen perfume. I try the new fragrances that come out but I always go back to it. I have the hand and body lotion and the shimmer powder too.

I’m a huge Pantene fan. I’ve tried all the expensive shampoos – everything – and I’ve always come back to Pantene. Shampoo, conditioner, smoothing serum to take away the frizz, the heat protection mist – I’ve got them all! I always use Livon oil (it’s an Indian brand) on top for a sheen.

I’m a big Zoya fan when it comes to nails – it’s an organic brand from the UK. They have great colours that last a really long time.

Even if I am not going to the beach I will spray my body with one of those SPF cans that you get now – I think it’s a Neutrogena.

I am passionate about beauty – you have to be when you own four beauty brands.”

– As told to Julie Roulston 

The process of decolonization in Goa and East Timor
Published on October 27, 2013
During the age of European imperial expansion, which began at the end of the 15th century, the Portuguese and Spanish kingdoms were first off the mark.

While the Spanish headed west, with Columbus landing in the Americas, the Portuguese, attracted by the wealth of the fabled east, sailed around the continent of Africa and into the Indian Ocean, to south and South East Asia.

In 1498, Vasco de Gama reached India, and 12 years later Portugal acquired Goa, on India’s west coast. They also managed to conquer areas of what is now Indonesia, including Timor, where Portuguese merchants arrived in 1515. Macao, at the mouth of the Pearl (Zhu Jiang) River, in southern China, became a Portuguese trading post in 1557.

However, while they would lose most of their empire to stronger European powers such as Great Britain and the Netherlands, the Portuguese managed to retain little remnants, including Goa, Macao, and the eastern end of the island of Timor. (The Dutch had made the western part of Timor part of their Dutch East Indies empire.)

While British India gained its freedom in 1947 and Dutch-ruled Indonesia its independence in 1949, the Portuguese hung on to their small possessions.

By the mid-1950s, though, decolonization was in full swing in Africa and Asia, and these little colonies stuck out like sore thumbs. The Bandung Conference, a meeting of 25 recently independent Asian and African states that took place in Bandung, Indonesia in 1955, had called for an end to colonialism, and Indonesia’s President Sukarno became one of the leaders of the nonaligned movement of newly sovereign countries.

However, in both Goa and East Timor, centuries of Portuguese rule had made the native populations almost entirely Portuguese-speaking Roman Catholics, and Lisbon stubbornly refused to give them up. Portugal itself remained a backward semi-fascist state.

Losing patience, India’s prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, sent the Indian army into Goa (and Portugal’s two other Indian dependencies of Diu and Daman) in 1961 and expelled the Portuguese. No one took much notice or protested. In India, the action was seen as the liberation of historically Indian territory. (When Macao was returned to China in 1999, the same argument was made.)

Relations between India and Portugal only thawed in 1974, when, following a revolution that led to the end of authoritarianism in Lisbon, Goa was finally recognized as part of India. In 1987 Goa became a separate state in the Indian federation, which it remains to this day.

Although Goa was predominantly Catholic during the long centuries of Portuguese rule, many left after 1961, and today Goan Catholics form only 30 per cent of the state’s total population (the majority are now Hindu).

The 1974 Portuguese revolution also saw the final end to its empire, as the new democratic government in Lisbon granted its African colonies independence. In East Timor, however, things turned out differently. It had also declared its independence, in 1975, but was invaded by Indonesia and declared Indonesia’s 27th province the following year.

The regime in Jakarta claimed the same rights to East Timor as India had done with Goa – it was a matter of decolonization. Based on the premise that the Portuguese half of Timor, an island geographically situated in the center of the vast archipelago, was really part of its territory, Indonesia contended that the division of the island into two had been simply the legacy of European imperialism and therefore should be rectified.

The Indonesians considered it another stage in the emancipation of their country, which had begun with the war of national liberation against the Dutch. No doubt Indonesia thought the same political reconciliation that had taken place with India would also occur following the annexation of East Timor. But things did not work out that way.

The United Nations never recognized the annexation, nor did Portugal. And the East Timorese, who were 97 per cent Catholic, never reconciled themselves to being part of the world’s most populous Muslim nation. Their long and bloody subjugation under Indonesian rule resulted in some 200,000 deaths from famine and violence during the occupation.

International pressure mounted on Indonesia to allow self-determination for the province. Wishing to avoid the impression that Indonesia ruled East Timor as a colony, Indonesian president B.J. Habibie agreed to a vote, offering a choice between special autonomy and independence.

The 1999 UN-sponsored referendum found 78.5 per cent of East Timorese opting for independence. Further Indonesian-sponsored violence ensued, resulting in the arrival of an Australian-organized peacekeeping force. Finally, in 2002, East Timor (Timor-Leste) became an independent country and a member of the United Nations.

The world had changed since the era that produced the Bandung Conference. In 1961, the ideologies that legitimized the acquisition of territory by force, if necessary, on the basis of decolonization and anti-imperialism had allowed India to incorporate Goa. But four decades later, these had been trumped by the concept of the right of a people to self-determination.

Henry Srebrnik is a professor of political science at the University of Prince Edward Island.

Subject: Sponsored Family Visitor Information

This email is to highlight the announcement made on 12 March by the Minister regarding changes to Visitor visa regulations. http://www.minister.immi.gov.au/media/bo/2013/bo194165.htm

We encourage you to disseminate this advice to your community members. The really important thing for you to be aware of is any applications made on old forms will be returned as invalid.

From Saturday 23 March, visitors seeking a new visa to enter Australia for non-work purposes will need to apply for a new Visitor (Subclass 600) visa, or if eligible, the new Electronic Travel Authority (subclass 601) or the eVisitor (Subclass 651) visa. These visas will allow for tourism, family visits, and business visitor activities (undertaking of business enquiries and contractual negotiations, Government to Government visits and attending conferences). These visas will not allow business visitors to perform work.

People who seek to lodge an application for the new Visitor visa (subclass 600) Family Sponsored stream, formerly the Sponsored Family Visitor visa (subclass 679) will find the following changes:

· a new application form (form 1418 to replace form 48S) ;
· application forms to be completed for each person applying to visit Australia, including dependent children – there will no longer be “combined applications”;
· the Visa Application Charge (VAC) will be $115.00 for each person on the application;
· a new version of the sponsorship form 1149; and
· applications to be mailed/couriered to the specified address(es) – no in-person lodgement possible.

The department intends to progressively expand access to online lodgement of the Visitor (subclass 600) visa to all countries by 2013-14. People who hold a visa issued before 23 March 2013 will continue to be able to use that visa until it expires.

For further information on these changes please go to:
www.immi.gov.au/visas/visitor-visa

Please do not hesitate to call 131 881 if you require any further details.

Kind regards
Nicole Lungershausen
Settlement Officer
Department of Immigration and Citizenship
Telephone: (08) 7421 7336
Email: nicole.lungershausen@immi.gov.au

Footprints on the Sands of Time
By Menin Rodrigues (menin100@gmail.com)

Introduction
The Portuguese influence and dominance goes back to the 15TH Century but the real transition of Goans (of Portuguese-Hindu pedigree) from one place to another – from Goa to Bombay, to Karachi, to Africa and other continents started, realistically speaking, sometime in 1820. When the British eyed Karachi as a future city of trade, commerce, leisure and strategy, and with Charles Napier occupying Sind, the advent of Goans in Karachi (Kurrachee) had begun. They came in dhows and anchored at the threshold of the city’s two ‘gates’ – Kharadar (Salty Door) and Mithadar (Sweet Door).

These enterprising people from Goa of pre-partition India have been living and working here, a sleepy fishing village-turned-megacity, since that time. They did not look back in their quest for a new homeland and prosperity, gave off their best, excelled in everything they touched, grew in numbers and affluence but gradually lost interest. Large number of families, like gypsies and nomads moved on, in search of greener pastures, leaving behind their trademark talents and footprints on the country of their choice, in this case, Pakistan. Though they have long gone, drifted away from the shores of their country, they will always have a little Pakistan in their hearts.

A recent email from Brian Gonsalves, a Goan from Karachi who now lives on the Island of Margarita, Venezuela, says it all. He writes, “My House in Venezuela is called ‘Pakistan’ – how is that for patriotism!!” more..

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Karachi Goans

by Lenny Barreto

The Goans of Karachi, have a history of their own.

With the East India Company consolidating themselves in India and with the occupation of Sind by Sir Charles Napier in 1843, many Goans did not want to live under the Portuguese and very many wanted to improve their lot. So they moved first to Bombay and later to Karachi.

The first Goans came to Karachi by sea in sail boats, called Dhows. Karachi at the time was a small non-descript town and a one-way stop to the important ports of Bombay and Calcutta.

It is difficult to imagine the difficulties these early settlers had to face in an alien land, where conditions were hard. But by sheer grit and determination and by their adventurous spirit, these early Goan settlers lost little time in improving their prospects for a better life.

The British needed people to work with the British Army and other civil jobs in Karachi. They found the Goans hardworking, loyal, honest and well behaved and easy to manage. The British were, therefore eager to have these pioneers settle in the area. They first hired them in service jobs – as domestics, bearers and cooks and some supplied food. The British subsequently offered them jobs with the British Indian Civil Services – in the Customs, Police, Railways, Telegraphs and other government jobs.

Most of the early Goan settlers in Karachi were single males – they started “chummeries” and moved out, building their own houses and forming their own townships.

Many would get homesick and would make trips to Goa by sea for a holiday and on vacation – they would encourage more people to emigrate to Karachi for better jobs.

One of the main concern of Goans wherever they settled was their religion and the Karachi Goans were no exception. Most who came to Karachi were Roman Catholics. Since there was no church in Karachi at the time, they made sure that one was built. With full support and help of the Irish Fusillers, the Goans started St. Patrick’s chapel, which became a Church and later a Cathedral. The Church, became the center for the whole Catholic community for adults and children and the Goans gave very much of their time in helping in all the Church social and spiritual activities – they organized excellent ‘melas’ and fairs, they organized plays and concerts, sports and picnics, they trained altar boys to serve in the church, opened a catholic library and started a church choir and organized prayer meetings and sodalities for adults and teenagers. They even had an early Sunday morning Konkani mass and choir.

The majority of Goans studied at St. Patrick’s High School, which was the only Catholic School for many years in those early days. Most of the teachers were Goans. It was the Goans of Karachi and St. Patrick’s High School, that gave India and Pakistan their first Cardinals (Cardinal Valerian Gracias and Cardinal Joseph Cordeiro) and also a number of Bishops and Archbishops – (New Delhi, Allahabad, Nagpur, Poona, Calcutta, Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad).

Besides in the religious and spiritual – the small community of Karachi Goans excelled in the sports and athletic fields, and produced one of the best sportsmen in the world and on the sub-continent, in hockey, cricket and boxing. St. Patrick’s High School and the Karachi Goan Community also gave the British, Pakistan and India – Judges of the High Court, Army Generals, Cabinet Ministers, Mayors of cities, Hockey and track Olympians and Test Cricketers.

From a miniscule community of Roman Catholic Goans perhaps one of the smallest in the world, can this be matched ?

As the Goan population in Karachi began to grow, they felt that they had to organize themselves and have a place to meet and to hold their own social and sporting events. After working hard, Goans love to have a good time and to enjoy themselves. So in 1886, Goans started the Goan Portuguese Association (GPA) and in 1930 gave a new name to the club – Karachi Goan Association (Karachi Goan Association).

The present Karachi Goan Association building is still to be matched – it is a magnificent structure, and a popular Karachi landmark. The building has an extensive dance hall on the upper floor and is also given out on hire for weddings. There is a spacious stage for concerts, plays and operas. There are billiard and card rooms, table tennis rooms, a well furnish library and a well stocked bar and an outdoor tennis court. The Karachi Goan Association was the pride of the Goans and was the center of many cultural and social events. First class dances and operas all organized by the members of the Karachi Goan Association were held at the hall. During the Christmas Season – ten days of various functions were held at the Cluy – the top bands (all Goan) were in attendance, also held were children concerts, plays and whist drives. For two years during World War II the Karachi Goan Association was requisitioned to the United States Armed Forces, stationed in Karachi and used by them as a Senior Officers Club. The Karachi Goan Association also played host to the Late Duke of Windsor then Prince of Wales and the First Governor of the Province of Sind.

The Karachi Goan Association put on many plays and operettas- all Goan talent – which drew high and appreciative audiences – members of the diplomatic corps, top government officials and prominent and business people. The operettas were on a very high standard. The musicals and operettas which was all Goan included the Gilbert and Sullivan Musicals – the Mikado, the Gondoliers, Trial by Jury, Pirates of Penzance and the HMS Pinafore.

A mile from the Karachi Goan Association building, was the Karachi Goan Association Gymkhana for all outdoor and indoor sporting activities. It is a 30,000 square yard plot, with two tennis courts, an indoor badminton court and a field for cricket, hockey and soccer, which was played regularly on these grounds. Inter village games were held regularly on these grounds. As in any other place if there is more than one Goan there has to another Goan Club. This was an era when the community was divided based on social and professional status and many Goans started separate clubs for themselves and families. In Karachi another Club – The Goan Union was organized – a very well run club with a lot of exceptional talent. Smaller than the Karachi Goan Association, but very successful. Never was there any animosity between these clubs. After all members of both clubs attended the same school and church and prayed and played together.

Given their small size of the population – the Karachi Goans are proud of their achievements and contributed immensely to the new country that was created – Pakistan. They did exceedingly well and held top positions in the various Government and Civil Services and Defense Services. There was a second migration of Goans from India to Karachi, when Pakistan was created. Quite a few of them came to settle in Pakistan and all were successful in their jobs and professions – many became managers in firms and business houses, some opened their hospitals and medical clinics and some became high ranking officers in the Defense Services.

The Ideal Life Assurance – the biggest in Karachi now in Pakistan is purely a Goan institution and spread all over the sub-continent. The only mill in Karachi at the time was the India Flour Mill a Goan enterprise and the only printing press was also a Goan enterprise. Here are the names of some important Goans of Karachi and what they achieved, mind you this is not a complete list.

Cincinnatus Town in Karachi a very large residential development is named after an outstanding Goan leader – Cincinnatus D’Abreo. Hussain D’Silva Town another prominent residential development was started by Jerome D’Silva. Latin Britto Pedro D’Souza, was also a famous Goan land developer in Karachi.

Two Karachi Goans held the rank of Lt. Generals in the British India Army. Frank D’Souza, who was born and was a student in Karachi, became the first Indian to be appointed by the British as a member of the Railway Board of India. The membership to the Board was the preserve of the best. At the time of partition, Jinnah specifically requested Frank D’Souza for his help to set-up the Railway System in Pakistan. Frank agreed, but made one condition, that his home in Pakistan would be de-requisitioned. Jinnah and the Pakistan Government agreed. On completion of his job in Pakistan, Frank returned to India and gave his beautiful house in Karachi to the nuns to be used as a home for the aged. What an excellent man!

As mentioned earlier the first Cardinals of India and Pakistan were from Karachi – Cardinal Valerian Gracias and Cardinal Joseph Cordeiro. Cardinal Joseph Cordeiro (Oxford) a brilliant man was mentioned as a “papable” (possible Pope) in the Time Magazine. After the death of Pope John Paul I, he was appointed by the Pope as Secretary of several Curia Committees in Rome. Even as cardinal, he would use his bicycle on some of his visits, till he was informed by the Inter-nuncio that was not the right way for a cardinal to travel. Charles Lobo, Judge of the Sind High Court and Chairman of the Public Service Commission in Pakistan, was also appointed Pakistan delegate to the United Nations. Edward Raymond was the first Indian to be appointed by the British on the Indian sub-continent to adorn the Bench of the Judicial Commmissioner’s Court in Sind. His son Herman Raymond (Oxford) was one time Chief Prosecutor of Sind and Baluchistan and was also made a Judge of the High Court and was appointed by President Ayub Khan on a Special Judicial Committee to investigate the action of the politicians. Edward Raymond’s eldest son – Leonard Raymond was Archbishop of Allahabad, India, and another son Maurice Raymond (Cambridge University) was the first Pakistani General Manager of the Karachi Port Trust. Joseph D’Mello was appointed Chairman of the Pakistan Railway Board. Sydney Pereira rose to be Chairman of the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission.

In the field of sport – Peter Paul Fernandes of Karachi was the first Goan to be selected as a member of the Indian Olympic Hockey team he played in the 1936 Berlin Olympics. Old Bombayites will remember PP Fernandes, as he was commonly known, when he would come with the Karachi St. Patrick’s Sports Club hockey Team (all ex-St. Patrick’s school students) or with Karachi Goan Association Team to play in the Aga Khan Hockey Tournament. Mennen Soares represented Pakistan in Badminton, maybe the only Goan to represent a country in Badminton. Phoebe Barboza (nee Dias) the No.1 Women’s Badminton player in Pakistan. Dr. Michael Rodrigues Pakistan’s No. 1 Table Tennis Player. Bertie Gomes was the All India Heavy Weight Boxing Champion .Some of the old-timers say that Lawrie Fernandes from Karachi, who as an outstanding hockey center forward and who played for the All India Telegraphs was better than Dyan Chand, but for some reason was never selected to play for India.

To-day, many Karachi Goans have left their homes in Karachi to settle in other parts of the world, (Canada, Australia, United Kingdom and the USA and in other countries) and they have continued to do well in these countries, naturally so, because of their dedication, loyalty, hard work, education and religious background.

Lenny Barretto
13 Apr 2000