Touchstone Spring 2011 - Cerebral Palsy League

Picnic in the Park Stage Highlights3All About YouHitting theright notes2156Anne “Annie” Higginsonimpressed the crowd at Picnicin the Park when our very own‘Cascades’ took to the stage41. Runners-up in the cook-off: Treasury Hotel and Casino’s Linda Swanson and CPL Ambassadors Chris Scott andRay Smith; 2. Brett Whitmore from Cascades; 3. Vision-impaired classical guitarist Lorin Nicholson and his sonAndrew; 4. Member for Brisbane Central Grace Grace MP welcomed flocks of picnic goers; 5. The Australian ArmyBand Brisbane was a crowd favourite; 6. Cook-off winning team: Erik Paartalu, John Hughes and Jo HendersonJohn’s Moroccan LambAnnie Higginson,trombone extraordinaireHave a go at preparing the Picnic in the ParkCelebrity Cook-off winning dish!INGREDIENTS• 1kg lamb backstrap(cut into approx 200g strips)• 2 teaspoons cumin seeds• 2 teaspoons coriander seeds• 2 teaspoons fennel seeds• 1 dried red chilli• 2 teaspoons peppercorns• 2 teaspoons sea salt• small handful of rosemary• 1 clove of garlic• 100ml olive oilTIP: John likes to dice up hissalads, mix in some feta cheeseand top with olive oil and lemon!METHOD1. Grind together all the herbs,spices, salt and pepper in apestle and mortar. Add theolive oil and mix.2. Coat the meat in the mixture.Wrap in cling film andmarinate for half an hour.3. Heat up a fry pan and addsome olive oil.4. Place the lamb in the fry panand cook until tender. Thelamb strips should only take2-3 minutes on each side.5. Serve with couscous anddiced salad.What a lot of people might nothave realised is that Annie hasonly been playing the trombonefor a year.In early 2011 she startedattending CPL’s Redcliffeservice three days a week and,in particular, it was the musicand art programs on offer thatcaught her eye.The 19-year-old joined‘Cascades’ in March and shehasn’t looked back since.Annie’s mum Harvinne said herdaughter was very persistent inchoosing the trombone and shepicked it up quite easily.“Annie plays by ear which isamazing. She practises at homeevery day and on Thursdays shehas her one-on-one music lessonat Browning Street Studios inWest End,” Harvinne said.“She likes any kind of musicbut her favourites are probablyjazz, blues, Cuban and salsa.”All of the Higginson familycame to Picnic in the Park atBrisbane’s Roma Street Parklandin July to watch Annie play aspart of the stage program.Her parents Harvinne and Pauland younger brother Robertwere very impressed with theturnout.“Annie really loves performing– if it was up to her she’d play allday!” Harvinne jokes.“Being part of the band isgreat for Annie – it’s a chancefor her to really express herself.When you look at where shewas and where she is now it’samazing!“Quite often kids with autismhave incredible attention todetail and focus. This is great forher music. She has a real knackfor it!“She’s tried the piano andkeyboard but her real love is forbrass instruments,” Harvinneexplains.Annie’s other interests includecars, computer games, walking,swimming, shopping, make-up,nail polish and dancing.6 Touchstone Spring 2011Touchstone Spring 20117