Issuu

ISSUE 76

FREE MONTHLY AUGUST 2021

PHOTOGRAPHY CREDIT: SARAH LLOYD

It’s official. We’re in the depths of winter and there’s no turning back now. Some of you have been lucky enough to catch a few rays up north but for most of us, it’s been day after day of heaters on, jumpers on, kettles on. It’s not all bad though... We’ll take any excuse to have mulled wine on the stove, a roast in the oven, and a social calendar that includes nothing but a date with a hot bath and a good book. Speaking of good books, we caught up with a few local bookworms this month to find out what they are reading this winter (p. 22). It made us want to head straight for The Book Box! Is there really anything better than the rain pouring down outside while you’re in the warmth of your living room, immersing yourself in a land faraway? We think not. That said, there is still plenty going on in town this month so if you’re looking to venture out, check out Culture Pops on page 16 to find out what’s on. Our August highlights include the Esperance Theatre Guild’s new production, Clutching at Straws, which opens tonight. You can read all about it on page 19. Guest contributor Tom de Souza has provided us with a cracker of a read this month, detailing his off-road journey along the old telegraph line on the Nullarbor (p. 4). While it’s not an adventure for the faint hearted, it sounds like a once-in-a-lifetime journey that all camping and four-wheel-driving enthusiasts should experience. And to think it’s in our own backyard! Amazing. Thanks, Tom, for allowing us to join you on your travels (in spirit, anyway).

T RAVEL STOR IES Old Telegraph Line

BEHIND THE SCENES Upward Spiral Roasting

While Tom was out on the Nullarbor, we were busy beavering around town. We visited local coffee roasters Upward Spiral Roasting to learn the ins and outs of coffee roasting (p. 12) and dropped into a new home on Corry Street, which is at the forefront of environmentally friendly building and design (p. 8). Behind both ventures are hard-working, driven, and forward thinking members of our community. We were inspired hearing their stories and hope you are too! Whatever you’re up to this month, make sure to keep us in the loop! We love seeing the creative ways locals and visitors keep themselves entertained throughout winter, so whether you’re warming up by the open fire at the brewery or venturing to a remote part of our region to look for whales, be sure to #esperancetide along the way. Until next time...

Established in 2016, Esperance Tide is a free, monthly publication that shares our community’s most uplifting and inspiring stories. We strive to support small business and community events, and champion the heroes that reside within our region. Esperance Tide is 100 per cent locally and independently owned. Thank you to our advertisers who make this possible and the 4,000 people who pick up a copy every month. We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which we work and play, the Nyungar and Ngadju people, and pay our respect to their Elders past, present and emerging.

FLY IN G HIG H With Fly Esperance

REC IPE Baked Lemon Cheesecake

C RE ATI VE D I R EC TO R

ED IT OR IA L

WE ARE ONLINE

Bronte Vincent

Hannah Siemer

/esperancetide

esperancetide.com

bronte@esperancetide.com

hannah@esperancetide.com

@esperancetide

tideandco.com.au

P U BL I S H ER

C ON T R IBU T OR S

Karli Florisson

Katie White

TIDE TOWN PTY LTD

Tom de Souza

Kyron Smithson

ABN 94 651 306 160

Lucy Vincent

Renae Roberts

2 / ESPERANCE TIDE / AUGUST 2021

Tagged in Town FOLLOW @ESPERANCETIDE ON INSTAGRAM & HASHTAG #ESPERANCETIDE TO BE FEATURED

@ H Y PN OHA LE

@ N .AAAL EX

@ FIFT HDRIP

Esperance shark sighting! We had to bale outta there pretty quick.

A damn good weekend.

Soak up that sunshine!

@ A N N I EMED WI N

@ KAEDEKER

@ RAC HEL GRIN DS

I think I’m in love with Esperance!

Appreciation to all the amazing humans we met on our travels.

A beautiful clear winter’s morning.

Gentle Dentistry with Your Comfort in Mind Customised solutions for all your dental needs. 8 Dempster St, Esperance 9071 5888

From complex treatments such as dental implants, to regular check-ups and everything in between. 3 / ESPERANCE TIDE / AUGUST 2021

4 / ESPERANCE TIDE / AUGUST 2021

T RA CING THE WIR E

Travelling the Old Telegraph Line W O R D S & P H OT O G R A P H Y TO M D E S O U Z A

There are four bars of mobile signal at the Caiguna roadhouse. It is a remarkable thing, and not only because we are way out in the middle of the Nullarbor Plain but because of where we have just been. For the last week me, my partner Dorje and our little old dog Jezza have travelled WA’s Old Telegraph Line. There isn’t much left of it now – just a few burnt out old timber bush poles and the odd strand of rusty wire – but this was once WA’s only direct line of communication with the outside world. In the late 1800s telegraph was a new technology transforming the speed at which people could communicate, but 1200 kilometres of harsh country stood in the way of a link between WA and the rest of Australia. Work began in 1875 to connect existing stations at Albany and Port Augusta. It was an epic task. For three years men on packhorse battled through rough mallee scrub, sandhill country, and waterless cliffs, erecting timber bush poles and running a single strand of galvanised iron wire between repeater stations. They followed a vague route made only a few years earlier by Edward Eyre, the first European explorer to cross the Nullarbor. Today the stretch of Old Telegraph Line between Esperance and Cocklebiddy is a 500 kilometre four-wheel-drive trail. It runs along some of WA’s most remote coast. Following the line is not an easy journey, but for experienced and well-equipped travellers it follows an incredible story through some of Australia’s most raw and beautiful country. We’re travelling in an old Land Cruiser Troopcarrier, and our vehicle is fully loaded. We’re carrying 200 litres of diesel, 100 litres of water, spare parts and tools, camping gear, an EPIRB, a boat, and enough food to last a couple of weeks. We need to be prepared because a misadventure out here could be fatal. In 2020, Perth uni student Lachlan Marie bogged his dad’s Jeep in an Israelite Bay salt-lake. After unsuccessfully trying to recover his vehicle he had to walk two days to find help, drinking water from muddy puddles along the way to sustain himself. This country is as harsh and unforgiving as ever. Our journey begins at Point Malcolm. It is a significant demarcation, where the Recherche Archipelago ends and the Great Australian Bight begins to curve up. It is also the boundary between traditional Noongar and Ngadju lands. To the Ngadju, Point Malcolm was known as Jawarangya. It was an important meeting place and

stopping point as they travelled their country. Food was plentiful here. The men hunted and trapped tamar wallaby and emu, and women gathered bush cucumbers, oysters, cockles, and periwinkles. Families fished for butterfish, salmon, and skippy. Point Malcolm also helped to save Edward Eyre’s life. When he arrived here in 1841 his 3200 kilometre overland journey had just taken a turn for the worse. Eyre and his party had gone beyond where any other European explorer had been before. Three Aboriginal guides led him and his trusted lieutenant John Baxter across the Nullarbor. They had spent weeks walking along the waterless sea cliffs. The men were severely dehydrated and half starved, and one night, two of his guides rebelled, shooting and killing John Baxter. They took most of the party’s rations and disappeared into the night. One guide, Wylie, remained with Eyre. They struggled west together until they made it here, to Point Malcolm. It was a relative oasis. Nearby they found running water for the first time since Streaky Bay, and there was good grazing for their horses and plenty of food. They camped here for a week, restoring themselves on kangaroos, possums, crabs, and fish. When we arrive at Point Malcolm the tide is up and a strong wind is blowing into the bay. It is murky and chopped up and the beach is clogged with decomposing seaweed. We make a camp at two picnic benches in a clearing of tea trees. There are no facilities, not even a long drop toilet. After lunch the wind and tide recede. The bay is now all long sandbars and clear, glassy pools. Dolphins frolic in the deeper water, herding up schools of jumping bait fish. At sunset, a bruised sky dances on the shallow water. This is not the kind of place that immediately strikes you as beautiful. It is a place where patience is vital and the wilderness and isolation can be terrifying until you surrender to its siren-like call. ⟶

5 / ESPERANCE TIDE / AUGUST 2021

From Point Malcolm we follow a sandy track up to Israelite Bay. This settlement was once a hive of industry. It was home to 150 people who worked at the telegraph repeater station, and loaded wool from nearby sheep stations onto ships at a timber jetty. All that’s left now are a few old graves, crumbling stone ruins, and the jetty’s rotting timber pylons. The only people within cooee are a few hardy abalone fishermen working from tin sheds. North of Israelite Bay the track forks in two different directions. An inland track runs 100 kilometres to Point Culver, but it is a sunny, windless day and we hope to travel along the beach. We arrive to find it piled with mountains of car-swallowing seaweed. We opt to follow a track a little back in the dunes, but it is scarcely a track. Driving 60 kilometres takes us six hours. In the late afternoon a piece of bluebush tears a hole in the sidewall of a tyre. We make it to Wattle Camp just before dark. Wattle Camp is an anomaly of pleasant-smelling wattle trees on a bare samphire marsh. Beneath the trees, old beer bottles and rusty cans are neatly lined in the dirt, relics of the linesmen who once worked this country. The coastal route the line took meant that heavy dews and sea mist often interrupted transmission, and it had to be maintained by men roaming about on camels. These cans

and bottles are the only monument to their service. From the Wattle Camp we head back down to the beach. It is clear enough of weed but the moon was full last night and there is now no beach to speak of. There is nothing to do but sit and wait for the high tide to recede. We let some air from the tyres, make a couple of cheese and salad wraps and have a quick fish. Three casts bring in a salmon trout and a banjo shark. Once the beach reemerges we drive hard along the wet sand, passing the occasional sunbaking Australian sea lion. This beach is one of the most remote in the country but to my disgust it is littered with rubbish. We pass bundles of marine rope, fishing nets, washed up old plastic crates, PVC pipe, and dozens of bottles and splinters of plastic. The rubbish that washes up here is only the tip of the iceberg. According to CSIRO research, there is 35 times more plastic on the ocean floor than what washes ashore. In the distance the great Bilbunya dunes tower overhead. They are so pure white and surreal that from 30 kilometres away they look like mountains of caster sugar. These 120 metre tall dunes are the biggest sand dunes in the southern hemisphere. You can actually see that they are live, the wind whipping at their peaks and constantly sculpting their form. In other countries the dunes might be a tourist attraction or a national monument, but out

6 / ESPERANCE TIDE / AUGUST 2021

here there is nothing other than the dunes themselves to inform you of their significance. Europe may have its cathedrals and basilicas - this country here is a church of the open sky. We need to pick a way behind the dunes and ascend the Wylie Scarp to continue east. We struggle to find a track. Finally, an upright whale jawbone and two empty oil drums mark the way. Near the top of the scarp, rubber matting has been laid to help with the climb up the very steep and sandy track. We crawl up, heading away from the coast and into rough mallee scrub and limestone plain country. This Wylie Scarp, named in honour of Eyre’s travel companion, is an ancient uplifted sea bed. For much of our journey it has appeared way inland beyond the salt and samphire flats. Now it swings sharply to the coast and we are on top of it. Looking down you can see how it holds the Bilbunya dunes in place, and falls away into the Southern Ocean at Point Culver, just a few kilometres to the east. It continues on as the longest unbroken sea cliffs in the world. Those sea cliffs posed an enormous challenge for the men building this line. The 17,000 jarrah bush poles they needed could only be brought in by ship, and there was almost nowhere to land them. Beyond Point Culver the only tiny let up in the cliffs is 60 kilometres east at Toolina Cove. The cove is a low

rocky beach at the base of almost vertical cliffs. Looking down we see sharks chasing a school of salmon in the turquoise water. Landing the poles here was a feat of ingenuity, and bloody hard work. They would be unloaded from the ship onto rafts and brought ashore. Each 102 kilogram length of timber then had to be individually hand-winched up the almost vertical cliff face. Here they were loaded onto packhorse and carted to various makeshift bush stores. We batter along, travelling at a speed not much faster than those men on their packhorses. Occasionally we pass an old telegraph pole still standing upright, or a rusting old ship’s boiler that was once a water tank for the men. There are some excellent bush camps but limited coastal access. At the turn off to Caiguna, the allure of a hot shower and a roadhouse meal proves too much. We turn north, the track growing smoother and wider. The old telegraph poles are all but gone. Two microwave-link towers rear up out of the bush and indicate the roadhouse up ahead. As we grow closer my iPhone starts pinging with messages and notifications. Each one beams across a giant cellular network at a speed and ease that this country could have once only dreamed of.

7 / ESPERANCE TIDE / AUGUST 2021

BUILDING OUTS IDE THE BOX

The Corry WORDS HANNAH SIEMER P H OT O G R A P H Y R E N A E R O B E R T S , T H E R O G U E R O A D

Hidden in plain sight towards the southern end of Corry Street is an unassuming house with big impact. Upon a fleeting glance, you’d be forgiven for mistaking it for a shed; its single highpitched gable, framed by an exposed steel beam, more at home in the industrial area of Esperance, than on a residential street just a stone’s throw from the centre of town. Upon closer inspection, however, the home suddenly demands attention. Bold and industrial, it entices passers-by to look closer, trying to catch a glimpse inside. Between a timber panelled double garage and a front window masked by vertical timbers, generous concrete slabs form steps that lead down the natural topography of the block and towards the front door. The door is a statement in itself, designed and brought to life by a Fremantlebased metal artisan. Inside, modern minimalism hides intricate eco-conscious features. ‘The Corry’, as it is lovingly referred to, is so much more than meets the eye.

The Corry’s owner Lachie Mitchell spent much of his early 20s working in Perth as a carpenter. After returning to Esperance, he bought the empty quarter-acre Corry Street block in 2018 with the aim of building a home using ideas inspired by some of the cutting-edge houses he had worked on in the city. Together with Greg Horan Construction and Perth-based Dalecki Designs, Lachie brought this home to life. “I wanted to do something in Esperance that was different from the norm,” Lachie, now 27, says. “Not just in terms of the overall aesthetic but in the construction of the house, too. I wanted to bring more modern and passive aspects to building in Esperance.” One such idea was the construction of an outdoor toilet on the block prior to commencing the build, thus avoiding the need for a portaloo and its associated environmentally-damaging chemicals. The toilet remains in the backyard of The Corry and is not only used when entertaining outside but acts as a small garden shed, too. It is the quintessential Australian backyard dunny, built with corrugated tin from an old shearing shed on Lachie’s family farm in Gibson; it is a nod to years gone by in a home designed for the future. ⟶

It was imperative for Lachie that he build the home as sustainably as possible, using materials that were recycled, sourced locally, or were at the environmental forefront of construction. Recycled bricks, exposed in several parts of the home and used to create a combined letter and planter box at the front of the house, came from Perth. The sliding wardrobe doors in three of the four bedrooms, as well as the cladding on the garage, are made from timber chips and pulp that were headed for landfill, while steel beams from an industrial demolition project make up the bones of the home’s outdoor entertaining area. Raw concrete benchtops in the bathrooms and kitchen, in addition to the inbuilt dining table, were handcrafted by Lachie, negating the need for foreign materials and their associated carbon footprint. “There is so much waste and unnecessary environmental impact that comes with getting a slab of stone from wherever in the world,” Lachie says. “Using concrete was just another way to keep everything as local as possible.”

Despite burnished concrete flooring throughout the home and no window furnishings, The Corry is as warm in winter as it is cool in summer. The home is built using passive design concepts, with no heating or cooling required. Floor-to-ceiling sliding doors in the kitchen allow for northern light to stream in most of the day, charging a solar passive bank on the concrete floor. The thermally insulated glazing in the doors ensures temperatures are kept mild, ranging between 19 and 26 degrees year round. “We’ve found there’s only been a week or so in winter where we’ve needed to put a jumper on inside,” Lachie’s partner Katie White says. Lachie adds, “Last Christmas, when it hit 40 degrees, we had 12 people in here and it was completely comfortable. No aircon, no worries.” Louvers also allow for crossflow ventilation, cooling the home on warmer days. “We can open up the house in summer and the south-easterly will act as a natural air conditioner,” Lachie says.

10 / ESPERANCE TIDE / AUGUST 2021

The design features aren’t just good for the environment but are financially beneficial, too. Lachie estimates his power bills are significantly lower than a standard 4 x 2 home. High windows also keep electricity costs down, allowing an abundance of natural light to enter the home, thus minimising the need to turn on lights. Water usage is kept low, too. Rainwater is used in much of the home and the low-maintenance, mostly native garden doesn’t have reticulation. Botanist Katie carefully chose plants that were easy to care for, attractive to birds and smelled great, as well as provided privacy from neighbouring properties. “I thought about the garden functionally and how it will interact with the home,” she says.

After a year in The Corry, Lachie is now looking to sell. Lachie has had a lot of interest in the home since putting it on the market, suggesting local buyers value sustainable living just as much as Lachie does. He says he has received an overwhelmingly positive response to the home from prospective buyers, as well as family and friends. Lachie and Katie agree it will be bittersweet when the home sells but they’re looking forward to what comes next, with Lachie having just been granted his building licence under construction company Artique. “It was such a learning curve, implementing all these ideas,” Lachie says of his first complete home. “I can’t wait to do it again and try new things.”

Don’t forget Father’s day is coming up. Get in early for that special something for pride of place from his favorite child! • Custom Preservation Framing • Wide range of moldings to choose from • Decorative boarder mats available • Wide range of border mat colours • Jersey and jumper framing • Medals and Memorabilia display frames

87 A DEMPSTER STREET, ESPERANCE

• Photo print services in all standard as well custom sizes • Image touch up and restoration service • Canvas printing and stretching • Layout and formatting service • Catalogues of historic prints and images from local photographers

(08) 9071 2924

11 / ESPERANCE TIDE / AUGUST 2021

BEHIND THE S CENE S

Upward Spiral Roasting WORDS KARLI FLORISSON P H OT O G R A P H Y L U C Y V I N C E N T

While many people go to great lengths for a good cuppa, Glen Rollond has raised the bar in the pursuit of good coffee. After tinkering around with roasting his own coffee at home, Glen completed a course with professional Melbourne-based coffee roaster, Anne Cooper. Then, in 2017, he took the plunge and established his own coffee roasting business, Upward Spiral Roasting. As a small batch coffee roaster, Glen began by selling his coffee to local coffee connoisseurs at Bob and Jim’s. In 2019, Glen and wife Mitsuko decided to open their own coffee shop, Cloud Eleven. Here, the couple have been able to share their love of great coffee with the town. If you walk past Cloud Eleven on a Monday, you’re likely to notice the smell of freshly roasted coffee. Monday is roasting day for Upward Spiral, onsite at Cloud Eleven. Visitors to the cafe can even watch through the window as Glen adjusts the controls in order to get the perfect roast for the particular coffee that he is using at any given time. While it might look like an art form, a great deal of science goes into achieving the perfect coffee. Glen notes there is always plenty to fine tune, and you can always make improvements. “You never get to the point where you know you’ve roasted a coffee perfectly,” he says. Small adjustments to the temperature of the roaster, as well as the length of time that the coffee is roasting, all contribute to getting the most flavour out of each batch. The aim for Glen is repeatable results, which contributes to Cloud Eleven’s reputation for consistently good coffee.

Another challenge for the business has been sourcing the coffee beans that Upward Spiral uses. There are numerous issues that impact coffee supply. Weather conditions might contribute to crops in certain areas not being up to standard, or unrest in a country could cause supply issues, as has recently happened in Colombia. Glen explains the pandemic has also caused issues with global shipping, which has impacted importers in many different ways. COVID outbreaks in different parts of the world have also caused a lack of seasonal workers who pick coffee crops, as countries have closed their borders across South America. Despite the challenges, Glen enjoys the process of sourcing coffee from places across the world. Upward Spiral uses coffee from a variety of countries, including Brazil, Ethiopia, Colombia and Guatemala. As well as sourcing consistently great coffee, Glen has made it a priority to source coffee that is ethical and provides a good wage for the growers. He explains there are two main markets for coffee. The first is the general commodity market, which is governed by the global coffee price, and can lead to farmers being paid below cost. The emphasis in this market is also quantity over quality. The second market is the specialty or direct trade market. In this model farmers are paid a higher price and in turn, given assistance to produce higher quality coffee. There is usually an ongoing relationship between farmer and buyer so that the farmer has the security of knowing their coffee will be sold and for how much, in advance. This can help to lift the farmers out of poverty and provide them with financial independence. “We, like many others in the specialty industry, absorb this cost and charge pretty much the same for the final product as many who buy the significantly cheaper commodity coffees,” Glen says. Since opening Cloud Eleven, Glen and Mitsuko have been very busy. “I’ve been surprised and grateful at just how busy things have turned out to be in the shop,” Glen says. Cloud Eleven, which will celebrate its second birthday next month, might be tucked away, but that hasn’t deterred customers. Along with great coffee, Cloud Eleven sells a range of gourmet toasted sandwiches and other snacks, as well as a range of teas, all served in Mitsuko’s handmade ceramics. As well as using their beans in the cafe, Upward Spiral coffee is also available to purchase, and has a very solid customer base. They also supply coffee to Aurelia’s Ice Creamery and Café, Yirri Grove, and the Eucla Motel. Despite the hard work involved with coffee roasting, Glen enjoys it, particularly the customer service aspect of the business. While normally preferring to stay behind the scenes, he says that he has enjoyed getting to know some of the really great people in town – which is fortunate for Esperance coffee fans, as we look forward to enjoying Upward Spiral coffee for many years to come. ⟶ 13 / ESPERANCE TIDE / AUGUST 2021

BEH I ND TH E S CENES

Glen’s top tips for making a great coffee: • Use freshly roasted coffee. Most coffees are at their best within three weeks of the roast date. After that, they’ll flatten out and become dull and stale. • Use rainwater. Good water really makes a difference to the taste of the coffee. • Use freshly ground coffee if possible. The longer that coffee grinds are exposed to air, the more they will oxidise and lose their taste and aroma. • Weighing your shots of coffee will help with consistency and repeatability. • Adjust the temperature of your water to suit the coffee you are using. For many types of coffee, boiling water can be a bit too hot.

COSMECEUTICAL SKINCARE CORRECTIVE SKIN TREATMENTS BODY TREATMENTS FACIALS SKIN NEEDLING LED LASH LIFTS BROWS MAKE-UP PEDICURES MANICURES (08) 9071 5778 22 Andrew Street, Esperance

bnaturallyyou.com.au 14 / ESPERANCE TIDE / AUGUST 2021

Council Connections One & All Program a Hit The Shire’s quarterly One & All Program was a huge hit these past school holidays with around 100 participants attending each session throughout the week. Taking place from 12 - 15 July, participants enjoyed Futsal, Ninja Kids Exercise, a movie, and Games Galore & Brick Club. The free program is delivered each school holidays in collaboration between the Shire and Escare. Keep your eyes peeled for information about the September program.

Volunteer Resource Centre on the Move After nearly 20 years on Dempster Street, the Volunteer Resource Centre has packed up and is moving to their new home at the Esperance Public Library. While their location is changing, the Volunteer Services they provide will remain the same. If you want to volunteer or need assistance recruiting volunteers, the team plan to be operational from the beginning of August and can help. If you’re a local organisation looking to hire equipment, please give a week’s notice so items can be packed and ready for you. We apologise for any inconvenience and appreciate your patience as the team adjusts to the new set up. While they’re in the process of moving you can reach the service via email at volunteer@esperance.wa.gov.au or on their Facebook page. For urgent matters, call 0412 445 615.

15/07

July August

Thank You Animal Rescue Cooperative The Shire’s Animal Management Facility recently received a pallet of dog food for the pound pooches, graciously donated by Animal Rescue Cooperative (ARC) through their Companion Animal Rescue Food Program. Our good friends at SAFE Esperance, whose unending support the community and Shire would be lost without, also received two pallets of food. ARC’s mission is to save animals by supporting rescue. They do this by providing an “at scale” support program helping rescuers, peak bodies and aligned industry partners to get help where it is needed. We would like to send a big thank you to ARC and their sponsors, PetBarn Foundation, and everyone involved for the generous donations and valuable time.

Watch Our Council Meetings Did you know we record our monthly Ordinary Council Meetings? We’re currently uploading the recordings to our website in anticipation to commence livestreaming meetings in October this year. Our next Ordinary Council Meeting will take place at 4pm on Tuesday 24 August. If you can’t join us in the Council Chambers, this is a great way to watch local democracy in action.

Upcoming Council Meetings /ShireOfEsperance

Agenda Briefing: 17 August 2021 at 1PM Ordinary Council Meeting: 24 August 2021 at 4PM @shire_esperance

@shireofesperance

Ph: (08) 9071 0666 • PO Box 507, 77 Windich Street, Esperance, WA 6450 shire @esperance.wa.gov.au • www.esperance.wa.gov.au

12/07 15/07

Our monthly arts & culture guide brought to you by:

LIVE MUSIC

Tim Currie (with special guest) AUGUST 1 @ 3PM LUCKY BAY BREWING Free • www.luckybaybrewing.com.au

Mary & Olivia AUGUST 6 @ 5PM & AUGUST 8 @ 3PM LUCKY BAY BREWING Free • www.luckybaybrewing.com.au

Morning Melodies AUGUST 12 @ 11AM ESPERANCE CIVIC CENTRE Free • www.esperance.wa.gov.au

CONCERT

MARKETS

The Sweet Caroline Tour: A Tribute to Neil Diamond AUGUST 3 @ 8PM ESPERANCE CIVIC CENTRE Tickets $73.95 • www.esperance.wa.gov.au

The well-loved classics of Neil Diamond are back on stage and in the spotlight, showcased by a world-class international band and produced especially for the theatre. COMEDY

Comedy Gold AUGUST 24 @ 7:30PM ESPERANCE CIVIC CENTRE Tickets $29.50 • www.esperance.wa.gov.au

Comedy Gold is back for it’s ninth consecutive year and is jam packed with some of Australia’s funniest and most recognizable comedians.

Museum Village Markets AUGUST 1, 15 & 29 @ 8:30AM - 12:30PM ESPERANCE MUSEUM VILLAGE

Esperance Growers Market AUGUST 7 & AUGUST 21 @ 9AM SCOUT HALL GAMES

The Switch - Live Mystery Adventure AUGUST 14 @ 5PM, 7PM AND 9:30PM SECRET LOCATION Tickets $40 • www.findtheswitch.com

An exciting race against the clock, as you and your friends compete against other participants to be the first to throw the Switch!

Adam Morris AUGUST 13 @ 5PM & AUGUST 15 @ 3PM LUCKY BAY BREWING Free • www.luckybaybrewing.com.au

Adam Morris is a troubadour, a man of many talents. Regularly performing solo in his time away from the Murder Mouse Blues Trio, Adams refined husky vocals give voice to a well-crafted lyric.

Mousey AUGUST 20 @ 5PM LUCKY BAY BREWING Free • www.luckybaybrewing.com.au

Learn more about what’s on in Esperance by visiting esperancetide.com/whatson

/fenwick.cinemas @fenwick3cinemas

CHECK THE WEBSITE FOR SESSION DETAILS esperancefenwickcinemas.com.au PHONE 08 9072 1344

Dempster St, Esperance

PLEASE NOTE LIMITED SEATING - ADVANCED TICKET PURCHASES ADVISED 16 / ESPERANCE TIDE / AUGUST 2021

THE BRIDGE

Club 75 Winter Edition Vol. 3 AUGUST 21 @ 6PM CANNERY ARTS CENTRE Tickets $19.50 • www.kyzapresents.com

Neil Murray: Keep Rolling On AUGUST 22 @ 3PM LUCKY BAY BREWING Free • www.luckybaybrewing.com.au

Manasseh Blues Band AUGUST 27 @ 5PM LUCKY BAY BREWING Free • www.luckybaybrewing.com.au

Tipsy Jipsys AUGUST 29 @ 3PM LUCKY BAY BREWING

My desk is stacked high with paper work, the result of upcoming time away when, theoretically, I should put admin on hold. When I signed up to the creative industries I didn’t realise I would be creating extravagant amounts of paperwork but, hey! Reality check. This Bridge will be short and sharp. August sees Grand Casual on the road for a number of shows, culminating in a fairly chilled round of events on the home front. Lucky Bay Brewing has a really funky calendar full of music across August, a highlight being a performance by Neil Murray - founding member of the Warumpi Band - on Sunday 22 August. We have our final Club 75 for the winter with a lineup of locals on August 21, headlined by prolific local songwriter Bodes, accompanied by Scotty Timmins, Bruce Fitzpatrick and The Manasseh Blues Band. Tickets are live and available from www.canneryartscentre.com.au.

One thing that has been an absolute blessing for my work in Esperance is local sponsorship. I often stare down the barrel of a gig budget and think to myself, “Holy hell, how do I get that over the line?” Sponsorship is usually the answer. Post-pandemic, Bob and Jims, Wells Building Designers and Consultants, Luxe Floral and Home Co, Elders Esperance, Dudley Newton Optometrists, and Elpha have all contributed towards one or more Kyza Presents events, allowing the figures to make sense. Also, a massive shout out to Esperance Tide and Brodeine & Deine for their support of Kyza Presents. Bronte and Brodie’s contribution of time and expertise in their fields remains absolutely invaluable. The Rotary Club Of Esperance Bay have been legends all round, too, currently getting behind the delivery of four great music-based workshops at the Cannery during winter. The next one is songwriting with Fieldsy on Sunday 1 August. Get amongst it. KY R O N S M I T H S O N

Free • www.luckybaybrewing.com.au

Gra nd C a su a l Re le a se N ew Single

WORKSHOP

Songwriting with Fieldsy

Local faves Grand Casual released a new single on July 29, ahead of the band’s tour up north this month. Written in mid-2020, ‘Spaced’ is an abstract tune about our relationships with the people around us and how they influence our mental state. Check ‘Spaced’ out on Spotify and then head to our website to read more about the story behind the single.

AUGUST 1 @ 1PM CANNERY ARTS CENTRE Free • www.canneryartscentre.com.au

With heavy Celtic influence and a strong connection to our Aussie plains, Fieldsy has travelled from Perth to Dublin, sharing her tales and melodies along the way. Join Fieldsy as she discusses her approach to songwriting (ages 12+).

Photo Credit: Sarsby Martin

medy o C COMEDY AMOS GILL | BEN KNIGHT | PONY | GEORGIE CARROL

presents

Gold

ESPERANCE CIVIC CENTRE PRESENTS

Doors open 6:30pm, 7:30pm start TICKETS $25-30

Ages 15+

GOLD TUE AUG 24

ugust 29th Wednesday, A

Tickets available from Shire Administration, Esperance Library, Visitor Centre Online www.esperance.wa.gov.au/civic-centre

17 / ESPERANCE TIDE / AUGUST 2021

ME E T T H E ART I ST

Sarsby Martin Sarsby Martin is a multidisciplinary muralist, photographer and writer who landed in Esperance from the Perth Hills as a teen. She describes her work as dark, playful and pink, as evident in her mural on The Book Box, which Sarsby completed in July. When Sarsby’s not pursuing her creative endeavours, you’ll find her at either Cloud Eleven Coffee + Tea or Lucky Bay Brewing, depending on the time of day. L et ’s t al k a bout you r p h o t o g ra p h y . A lot of it is self-taught. You have to have a third eye for photography. I think it’s called your mind’s eye, and I’m pretty sure I’ve got one of those. I first dabbled with photography in high school and developed an interest in portraiture from there. I enjoy commandeering a lot of candid photos of people. The more realistic the photograph, the better. People already spend enough time re-inventing themselves; it’s nice to grab a slice of that process without too much manipulation to their honest selves. N o w t o your ar t . W h e re d o e s yo u r i n s p i ra t i o n co me f rom ? Many hands-on experiences I’ve had with the people surrounding me and the trails of thought that cross my mind at night. Inspiration is a force that cannot be reckoned with. T here s e e m s t o be a re c u rr i n g t h e m e o f f i s h ... Anything ‘marine’ and ‘ocean’ related is exhausted down here in Esperance. I don’t blame people. It is right on our doorstep, but I have always had a childish ambition to venture down to the furthest depths of the ocean to witness species of ocean life that are commonly overlooked. This has bled into my work on some occasions. We get caught up with publicised species like whale sharks, dolphins and turtles; it’s nice to look at your lonely pufferfish and give it all the credit it deserves. A fish’s anatomy is incredible to play around with too - they’re great things to re-invent by changing the shape of the anal fin or adding an extra eyeball. It’s a friendly reminder to dive deeper into the unknown, and I think the audience down here thrive off that idea.

W ha t do yo u wr ite ? Guided gibberish people can relate to their tangled lives and grow a better idea of themselves from my tangible use of Grammarly. Hypothetically speaking, I love the idea of spitting sentences at people. A good slap across the face with words to shake someone out of relatively flaccid everyday life. Whether someone is possibly offended is not my problem because I wasn’t the one who read it. Touché. L a stly, te l l u s whe re we c a n find yo u r wo r k! You can find my murals on The Book Box in the Museum Village and within the private dwellings of good friend and horticulture expert Dan Paris at Mystwood Harvest. If you find yourself waltzing the streets of the Perth CBD, breeze past August Eyewear. I let a creative bomb off in their front foyer. To keep up with everything, you can follow my progress via Instagram (@bysarsby) and my website www.sarsbymartin.com. I’d like to personally thank the Esperance Community for your support. Much love from that common pink haired hooligan you may have seen scooting around town on her bike .

Read an extended interview with Sarsby at esperancetide.com 18 / ESPERANCE TIDE / AUGUST 2021

A R T S & CUL T URE

Clutching at Straws A riotous English farce, bursting with larger than life characters and brilliant Esperance talent, Esperance Theatre Guild’s latest production is a must-see. The cast and crew have been hard at work preparing this latest offering, Clutching at Straws, which opens at the Bijou Theatre tonight. Clutching at Straws is set in the living room of a 300-yearold mansion, where a retiring businesswoman is preparing to hand over her business to her niece. There are some complications along the way, which include a mysterious fiancé, a heartbroken nurse, an uptight solicitor, and some swingers who have mistakenly wandered into the wrong house. Clutching at Straws is directed by Barry Wroth, who is fast becoming a seasoned local director, most notably directing the Bijou’s 2017 production of Are You Being Served? Fans of the Bijou’s most recent production, Art for Art’s Sake, will be eager to see this play, written by the same playwright Geoff Bamber and featuring the same witty dialogue and hilarious predicaments.

Director Barry Wroth (front, third from left) with the cast of Clutching at Straws, which opens at the Bijou Theatre tonight. Credit: Caitlyn Edwards

Barry Wroth is a big fan of English comedy and he has really enjoyed putting together this latest offering from the very busy Esperance Theatre Guild, along with a hard-working crew. Clutching at Straws was originally scheduled for last year, and ended up being delayed due to COVID, so the cast and crew are excited to finally present this play. The cast of 10 are all experienced local performers, including Mary McCulloch as the businesswomen Lady Celia Tinnion, and Katrina McAleese as Mrs Barge the eccentric housekeeper.

SH OW IN F O The cast and crew will present their special Pensioner’s Show, which also serves as a full dress rehearsal for the production, prior to opening night on July 30. The season runs for three weekends on Friday and Saturday nights. Tickets are available through the Bijou Theatre website, www.thebijoutheatre.org.au, at Clobberz in Balmoral Square and White Sands Gallery on Andrew Street (cash only).

WASO’s Southern Symphony Tour Beloved classics with Asher Fisch and Grace Clifford

19 / ESPERANCE TIDE / AUGUST 2021

U P, UP AND AWAY!

Experiencing Esperance from New Heights Fly Esperance is Esperance’s only locally-operated, year-round scenic flights operator. Launching earlier in the year, they offer three affordable flight options, providing visitors and locals alike the opportunity to fly over town, Cape Le Grand National Park, and out to Middle Island to see the coveted Lake Hillier. Fly Esperance also offer land and sea packages with other local tour operators, so you can experience Esperance from every possible angle. Fly Esperance Director Chris Hurst is passionate about getting people in the air, so they can experience the beauty of Esperance from above. It’s something he began doing back in 2017, while working for Goldfields Air Services (GAS). The Kalgoorlie-based operator was approached by the region’s tourism body, Australia’s Golden Outback, about running scenic flights to Lake Hillier; the bright pink lake was catching the attention of potential visitors online and demand for flights to Middle Island to see it was rapidly growing. Previously, the lake was just about inaccessible, unless you owned your own aircraft or boat, or knew someone who did. Chris worked hard to establish the GAS base in Esperance and quickly

realised the potential for a dedicated scenic flight operator in town. This year, he took over the GAS base, rebranded, and Fly Esperance was born. The company’s name says it all. “I wanted a name that was synonymous with Esperance,” Chris says. “Something which will be recognised as our local flying company, which we are.” Fly Esperance launched in April, at the tail end of a record season for visitors to the region. This season promises to be no different, and Fly Esperance is hard at work gearing up for a bumper summer. A shopfront will open next to Dudley Newton Optometrists on Dempster Street this month, to give them an unmissable physical presence right in the centre of town.

20 / ESPERANCE TIDE / AUGUST 2021

ADVERTORIAL

The shop will make it easy for people to drop in and chat about their flight options with the Fly Esperance team, as well as make bookings. Fly Esperance will also offer a courtesy coach to all its customers, picking them up from their accommodation and transporting them to Esperance Airport, where Fly Esperance takes off. But while a lot of planning and prepping for summer has been going on behind the scenes, as a year-round operator, Fly Esperance has continued to have its Cessna 182 up in the air throughout winter. According to Chris, the coastline is just as spectacular in the cooler months, and passengers have the added bonus of whale spotting. Chris says the best whale watching experience you can have is from the air, especially in Esperance where the water is so clear. “It’s like the whales are poking their heads through glass,” Chris says.

Many locals might think a scenic flight is only an activity for visitors, however Chris says this couldn’t be further from the truth. A flight over Esperance and its surrounding national parks allows locals to experience their backyard from a different vantage point, and even lifelong locals might see one or two things they’ve never seen before. “There’s no way to see most of the beaches in the region, other than by air,” Chris says. “You can’t get to them on the ground because there are no 4WD tracks, so you’ve either got to be very tenacious, have a boat, or like extremely long hikes!” But, Chris adds, at the end of the day it comes down to obtaining an overview of the spectacular coastline, which you can’t get from land or sea. He’s so keen to get locals up in the air that Fly Esperance offers a generous locals’ discount. Simply give them a call to find out more.

H OW TO BOOK Scenic flights with Fly Esperance start at just $150 per person. Not only do they offer early bird specials and a locals’ discount, but any flight cancelled by the customer due to COVID-19 restrictions will receive a full refund. For further information and to book, visit www.flyesperance.com or freecall 1800 951 251.

21 / ESPERANCE TIDE / AUGUST 2021

T I D E BOOK CLUB

Cozy Up With These Cool Winter Reads Imagine this. A crackling fire in the fireplace, a nice glass of wine, something low and moody playing on the stereo, and the soft glow of a reading lamp over your shoulder. Oh, and a new book. A pacy thriller, a laugh out loud rom com, or an intense drama. What better way to spend a winter’s evening? Winter is the perfect time to snuggle up with a good book. It’s too cold and wet for the beach, and you can’t go on your usual winter getaway to Bali, so why not take a holiday in the pages of a book instead? As writer Jhumpa Lahiri says, “That’s the thing about books. They let you travel without moving your feet.” You might have your spot on the couch with a warm cuppa all ready to go, but the next question is what to read? Book Box owner Tammy Hough has noticed that winter is often when people pick up more serious reads. “In summer, people want light books that they can read at the beach, something with a pretty cover,” she says. “In winter, people look for books with a bit more depth.” Tammy has also noticed that non-fiction is popular at the moment, like books such as Atomic Habits by James Clear, which is about ways that you can break bad habits and build good ones. Brene Brown’s books are also popular at the moment. She writes about courage and the power of vulnerability in books such as Daring Greatly and Rising Strong. As for fiction, Tammy has noticed that people are shying away from apocalyptic and end of the world novels at the moment, perhaps due to these strange pandemic times that we’re living in. Instead, people are reaching for fast paced thrillers such as American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins, which details the story of a Mexican woman outrunning drug cartels. Tammy has also noticed that Australian

Featuring beautiful blooms, gifts and interior decor, this boutique store offers a wide range of flowers and beautiful home and giftware to entice you!

fiction is popular at the moment, with Trent Dalton’s new novel All Our Shimmering Skies flying off the shelf. Anita Heiss’s novel Bila Yarrudhanggalangdhuray: River of Dreams is also popular at the moment, telling the powerful story of a young Wiradyuri woman dealing with the effects of colonisation in 1850’s Gundagai. A bit closer to home, Esperance author Fleur McDonald is always a favourite. Her ‘Detective Dave Burrows’ series, set in rural Western Australia, is very popular, with the latest in the series Something to Hide dishing up suspense and drama. Michelle Clarke from the Esperance Public Library says that sagas and historical dramas such as Anna Jacobs’ novels are popular with borrowers at the library. Kristin Hannah is also a popular author. Her novel Firefly Lane, which has recently been turned into a Netflix series, is always popular, as is her historical novel The Nightingale, set in France during World War II. For teen readers, the ‘Medoran Chronicles’, a fantasy series by Australian author Lynette Noni, is currently popular. Middle grade readers are enjoying the ‘Wings of Fire’ series, also in the fantasy genre, by Tui T Sutherland. And of course, for young readers, light-hearted books are always popular, such as the ‘Macca the Alpaca’ books, or the Diddle that Dummed, by Kes Gray. Although, Michelle says, that one might be even more popular with parents!

WE ARE LOCATED AT 94A DEMPSTER STREET WE ARE ONLINE luxefloralandhome.com.au FOLLOW US @luxefloralandhomeco @luxefloralco

22 / ESPERANCE TIDE / AUGUST 2021

What are you reading? Tammy Hough - The Book Box We Were Not Men by Campbell Mattinson. It’s a powerful book about twin boys who are orphaned and then brought up by their alcoholic grandmother. They both love the water, and the story follows them as they become competitive swimmers, and learn about courage and healing from loss and grief.

Fleur McDonald - Author I’m reading a book called Intuition by Amisha Ghadiali. I’m loving the meditation exercises and just learning how to stop and get off from the world for a few moments. I haven’t been very good at that and it’s nice to learn how.

Michel le Clarke - Esperance Public Library I’m reading The Dragon and Her Boy by Penny Chrimes with one of my kids. It’s the story of the last living dragon, stuck living in a tunnel under London, and the boy who unintentionally becomes her protector.

Karli Florisson - Tide Contributor I’m reading Your Own Kind of Girl by Australian singer and actor Clare Bowditch. It’s a memoir of her early life, dealing with anxiety and grief. It details the way that she grew into being herself, and it’s heartbreakingly raw and honest. A beautiful book!

U pc omin g Sho ws!

re or on lin e. ry , Vi sit or Ce nt ra Lib , in m Ad fro m th e Sh ire /c ivi c- ce nt re G et yo ur tic ke ts an ce .w a. go v. au er sp .e w w w at s AM fa nt as tic sh ow - KE N N EE D H Di sc ov er th es e G M EL O D IE S IN N R O M T LO TT ER YW ES M IN | 15 + ES ST 20 21 | 12 0 U G AU M IN | AL L AG 24 PT 20 21 | 12 0 SE C O M ED Y G O LD 2 R U TO M PH O N Y SO U TH ER N SY OND W AS O ’S LI VE TO N EI L D IA M R : A TR IB U TE U TO E N ES LI O AG L AR | 15 0 M IN | AL TH E SW EE T C M AR C H 20 22 N EW D AT E | 1

AU G UST S EPT EM B ER 202 1

23 / ESPERANCE TIDE / AUGUST 2021

5 MINU T E H I ST ORY

The Chase Syndicate BY KARLI FLORISSON

In the 1950s, Esperance was a sleepy little seaside town with a population of only 1087 people in the district, as recorded in the 1954 census. The Western Australian government hoped to develop land around the Esperance townsite for farming, but they lacked the capital to do so. The solution to the problem came when the Federal Minister for Labour, Harold Holt, who would later become the Prime Minister (and famously disappear while swimming in the ocean), visited the United States. While in the USA, Holt met businessman Allen Chase and spoke to him about the need for investment in regional areas of Australia. Determined to take advantage of the opportunity, Chase put together a syndicate of investors who wanted to invest in Australia. The syndicate included high profile people such as TV personality Art Linkletter, and actors Robert Cummings and Rhonda Fleming. Their first venture was a rice growing project in Humpty Doo, near Darwin. While working on the project in the Northern Territory, Allen Chase met former WA Premier Frank Wise. In what was an inauspicious start to their ventures in Australia, the rice growing project was a complete failure, after magpie geese ate most of the crop. Undeterred, the Chase syndicate turned their attention to the land surrounding the Esperance townsite, encouraged by Wise, who became an advisor on the project. In the early 1950s, there were only 40 farms recorded in the Esperance district, with many of them being small landholdings by the standards of today’s farms. While the Esperance sandplain was originally not considered to be ideal for farmland, research from the Esperance Downs Research Station in the 1940s showed that the soil in this area was deficient in certain minerals. The research showed that the application of certain minerals and trace elements could easily transform the sandy soil into quality farmland.

In 1956, the Chase syndicate signed a deal with WA Premier Bert Hawke to purchase and develop land on the Esperance sandplain. The syndicate purchased oneand-a-half million acres at a cost of just four shillings per acre, plus survey costs. Under the agreement with the Western Australian government, the syndicate was to develop the land and subdivide it into 2000 acre parcels of farmland complete with fencing and houses, which it would then sell or lease to interested farmers. The land that the syndicate purchased was in two separate parcels, one to the east of Esperance around the Condingup area, and one to the west around the Lort River area. The deal that the syndicate struck to purchase the land in the Esperance district immediately attracted a great deal of media attention, particularly as the American celebrities flew into Esperance to survey their new land. A crowd of locals met their plane at the airport, and a movie by visiting actor Robert Cummings was shown at the Bijou Theatre while he was in town. While there were some concerns raised about the large American syndicate taking up land that would then not be available to smaller Australian developers, the mood was generally one of excitement at the prospect of growth and development in the Esperance area.

24 / ESPERANCE TIDE / AUGUST 2021

With typical enthusiasm, the Chase syndicate set to clearing and ploughing their new land. Despite warnings from experienced Esperance locals that it was good practice to allow the land to lie fallow for a season after it was cleared and ploughed, the Chase group seeded around 17,000 acres of clover straight away. After a particularly dry year in the district, almost all of this crop failed. After this initial setback, enthusiasm for the project waned, and the syndicate had trouble coming up with enough money for the required development. In 1960, with the Chase syndicate’s failure to develop and farm the land becoming apparent, the group handed over the land to another US backed company, the Esperance Land and Development Company. The celebrity investors in the Chase syndicate, such as Art Linkletter and movie stars Rhonda

Fleming and Anne Baxter, were given parcels of farmland as reimbursement for their investment. The Esperance Land and Development Company went on to develop over 400 new farms on the land originally allocated to the Chase syndicate. The population of the Esperance district grew rapidly over the last half of the 1950s, with 2285 people living in the area according to the census of 1961. The town of Condingup was gazetted in 1963, as the farmland in the area was taken up by newly arrived farmers, many from the eastern states. It was not uncommon for new arrivals to bring all of their belongings with them on the road to their new home, with one such example of this being the Kettle family who in 1961 drove their farm tractor to their new land block in Esperance from East Gippsland in Victoria. Many of the US investors from the Chase syndicate retained an interest in the area for many years. Art Linkletter, whose farm was known as Linkletter’s Place, provided a building on his property for the first school in the area, Linkletter’s Place School, established in 1961. Later on, Linkletter also contributed towards the establishment of the Condingup Primary School, as well as the school bus and shop in the new town. Allen Chase retained land in the area as well, in the Cascade area, which he later sold, recouping some of the money that he sunk into the syndicate. While the syndicate itself might not have been successful, it undoubtedly drew attention and further investment to the Esperance region which contributed greatly to the district’s future development. Information sourced from the Esperance Museum.

Esperance distillery co Australia’s smallest distillery producing gin from native botanicals within the Esperance region.

www.esperancedistilleryco.com @esperancedistilleryco Check our website for opening hours. 25 / ESPERANCE TIDE / AUGUST 2021

HIDDEN HEROES Pink Lake Fire Brigade Volunteer firefighters tend to be people that we only think of during the hot, summer months. But even during winter, Pink Lake Fire Brigade still meets regularly, making sure that they stay well prepared and trained. As one of the town’s volunteer-run fire brigades, Pink Lake Fire Brigade meet fortnightly for a catch up and training. As Brigade Captain Nigel Ratcliffe says, the fire trucks these days are quite complicated, and so the volunteers need to make sure they keep on top of everything so that they are ready when the hotter months come. Pink Lake Fire Brigade was established after first Brigade Captain Tod Ballantyne and other local landowners got together to start a volunteer run brigade. Nigel has been the Captain for 12 months and in a year’s time, he’ll hand the position to his First Lieutenant, Kyle Lawrence. Nigel explains that the brigade has put in place a good system to rotate the leadership positions between the senior members of the brigade, to ensure that the brigade captains don’t burn out. Nigel says making sure the leadership positions are rotated means that the more senior members of the brigade stick around for the long haul, giving the group a huge amount of knowledge and experience to fall back on.

community stays safe and protected from bushfires. Nigel says being a part of the brigade provides a huge sense of community and camaraderie. “It’s such a great bunch of people. We really need to work as a team when we are out with the brigade,” he says. “When you’re working side by side like that, with four or five crew in the truck, you really rely on everyone knowing what they’re doing, and you really have to trust each other.” Pink Lake Fire Brigade always welcomes new members, and people who are interested in joining can get along to one of their fortnightly meetings. And while the members of the brigade really enjoy getting together to catch up, they don’t lose sight of their important mission. With bushfire season just around the corner, they will be ready for the challenges that they are sure to face, keeping our community safe. The very brave, selfless, and hardworking volunteer fire fighters of our community are our Hidden Heroes for this month. Esperance is very grateful for all that they do! The Shire of Esperance website has contact details for all of the local Fire Brigades, for anyone who is interested in getting involved!

As well as senior members, the brigade also has a number of junior members, some as young as sixteen years old. And it’s not just for the blokes, with the brigade made up of both men and women. All of the members are ready to give up their time to make sure their Do you know a H id d e n H e ro ? The Esperance community is filled with people who do amazing things. It's time to honour our Hidden Heroes, those people serving behind the scenes, selfless and generous with their time and talents. To nominate someone you know, please email Jennifer.Obourne@esperance.wa.gov.au

26 / ESPERANCE TIDE / AUGUST 2021

BUSH BANTER OPENING MID AUGUST WATCH OUT ON FACEBOOK FOR UPDATES!

JETT Y BY T H E

Spectacled Donkey (Diuris conspicillata) located at Dempster Head

Escape the wind and join us for an informative and ‘hands on’ farming adventure. Half Day Tours of Oake Marsh Farm, or full day tours which also include visits to Stonehenge, Yirri Grove and Esperance Distillery Co.

Orchids are the only type of plant where the plant hunter junkies are actually named: Orchidophiles. And no, I’m not joking. It’s a well-known thing amongst botanists and plant people that there are a select few that are obsessed and only care about Orchids. My theory is that because Orchids are one of the few types of Australian plants that cannot be grown commercially, they’re true icons and treasure hunts of the bush. Sure, there’s plenty of Orchids from overseas available, but none native to Australia. This is likely due to the complex relationship of Orchids with mycorrhizal fungi. The obsessiveness of Orchid hunting may also be due to the annual nature of Orchids. They simply aren’t there for most of the year and then come Djilba and Kambarang, bang! They pop out to say hello. They also have the smallest seeds of all flowering plants in the entire world! It’s not only the people who are specific when it comes to Orchids; Orchids themselves often have incredibly specific pollination syndromes, with a specific species of midge, mosquito, wasp, or moth pollinating that one species of Orchid. While this trick of nature is very clever, it does mean with climate change and increased insecticide use, mismatches in the timing of pollinators and what is to be pollinated, the specificity can be devastating for a species.

Visit our website esperancefarmexperience.com to find out more and book your ‘must do’ Esperance Escapade. Look for us on Facebook

BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE CANNERY ARTS CENTRE AND KYZA PRESENTS

A few common Esperance Orchids to keep an eye out for in August are the Pink Fairy (Caladenia sp.), Zebra (Caladenia sp.), Helmet (Coryba sp.), Purple Enamel (Elyanthera brunonis), King Spider (Caladenia sp.) and Donkey Orchid (Diuris sp.). The Esperance Wildflower Festival is coming up on September 20 - 25, where you can see heaps of specimens on display and learn more about getting those tricky ones down to species level. K AT I E W H I T E - C A L A D E N I A C O .

27 / ESPERANCE TIDE / AUGUST 2021

Saturday

Orchid s in A ugus t

AUGUST

6pm

CANNERY ARTS CENTRE Pop Up Lounge Bar Tickets canneryartscentre.com.au

.3 vol

$16+BF MEMBERS $18.50BF NON MEMBERS

CANC E R

JU N 2 1 - J U L 2 2

August is the ideal month to get your life in order. Your social engagements are few and far between and it’s too cold to feel guilty for not leaving the house, so use that to your advantage. The wintery weather has given you an unexpected burst of energy. Clean out the fridge, organise your home office, or get cracking on the mess in the shed. The more spring cleaning you do now, the less you’ll have to do come spring.

LEO

JUL 2 3 - A U G 2 2

You’re not usually one to make a mountain out of a molehill but recently, it feels like every small inconvenience is the end of the earth. It’s okay to be a drama queen once in a while. You’re particularly sensitive to events around you at the moment and this will pass, but in the meantime practice the art of relaxation in whatever form works for you. Whether that’s sound healing or yelling at the footy on the TV, do more of it this month.

VI R G O

AUG 23 - SEP 22

Sometimes life lets you down. You look after your health, work hard, and make an effort with family and friends, but every now and then, you feel like you’ve been kicked in the guts. Unfortunately, you won’t be rewarded this month, as much as you deserve to be. Now is a good time to start a gratitude journal. Dwell on what is going right, rather than what is going wrong, and you might discover things aren’t as bad as they seem.

L I BR A

SE P 2 3 - O CT 2 2

If you’re single, step outside your comfort zone and explore different activities and environments this month. You have a newfound zest for life which is going to attract someone who is as unexpected as they are exciting. If you’re attached, this zest is still at play, so use it within your relationship. Suggest an activity that’s out of the ordinary, whether it be relaxing, romantic or fun. Your partner mightn’t feel like it at first, but your enthusiasm will soon catch on.

S C ORP IO

O C T 23 - N O V 21

You’ll find yourself much more idealistic than usual this month. You’re prepared to put your money where your mouth is in terms of philosophy and beliefs. This might arise as a result of you being bored with the mundane activities and the people you’ve surrounded yourself with. Something different in your life will be triggered by imagination and a desire to understand yourself and your world more clearly. This is a time for a retreat, workshop or other self-help discussion groups.

SAGITTARIUS

NOV 22 - DEC 21

Money is on your mind this month and you find yourself coming up with ways to make more of it. Don’t be fooled by quick rich or pyramid schemes. You’re not going to become a millionaire from the comfort of your own home. Why do you want to inflate your bank balance? Is it to get ahead with the mortgage, take a well-earned holiday or finally upgrade your car? Or is it to keep up with the Jones’? The answer will determine how motivated you are.

C AP RIC ORN

DEC 22 - J AN 20

You’re suddenly prepared to make necessary changes in your relationships and won’t give up until those changes swing into action. You’re not willing to settle for less than what you believe you deserve in your love life. If conflicts are arising in your relationship, it’s because you’ve been looking at your partner through rose coloured glasses. You’ve received subtle signals telling you something isn’t right, but you’ve been conveniently turning a blind eye. It’s now time to change all that.

AQ UARIU S

JAN 20 - FEB 1 7

Your kindness towards others is never ending, but are you being kind to yourself? Selfcare is more than just a millennial buzzword, it’s an important action for those who are constantly giving the best parts of themselves to others. Once a week throughout August, do something that is only for you. A nap, a bath, a solo trip to the cinema, whatever you need to give yourself a small pat on the back for being oh so amazing.

PI SCES

After a bump or two in the road recently, you’ll be pleased to hear August looks smooth sailing. This will free your mind to think about how you want the rest of the year to play out. Are you happy with how things have been going, or are you wanting change? If it’s the latter, don’t wait until 2022. Plan that change now so you feel like you’re heading in the right direction by the time the new year comes around.

A RIES

Phone (08) 9071 0500

TA U RU S

28 / ESPERANCE TIDE / AUGUST 2021

APR 20 - M AY 20

Watch your spending this month. You should take care when making purchases or risk a case of buyer’s remorse. Keep your receipts and review them weekly – if there’s something you’ve bought but haven’t used, don’t be afraid to return it. If you must depart with your hard earned cash, try to shop local where you can, to keep your money circulating locally. Your bank balance will deplete just the same, but you’ll feel a whole lot less guilty about it.

G EMI NI

M AY 21 - J U N 2 0

With so much uncertainty surrounding us, it might feel like a great time to lay low. But in actual fact, you should be making plans. If the risk of restrictions and border closures scare you, plan a staycation or a road trip through the region. Fill your itinerary with touristy things, like a scenic flight or boat cruise, or things you’d usually only do on holiday, like drinking cocktails before noon! Sure, it’s not Bali, but you can have just as much fun here at home.

Email enquiries@freightlinesgroup.com.au

www.freightlinesgroup.com.au

MAR 20 - AP R IL 19

You’re in for an intense month. Everything will happen at once, and you’ll find yourself muttering, “When it rains, it pours!” Remember, you don’t have to say yes to everything. Take time to make decisions, even small ones. Where you can, say no. This will provide you with some much needed breathing space to focus on what’s most important. Putting too much on your plate will leave you uncomfortably full; carefully choosing from the buffet will leave you much more content.

Esperance Tide is delivered to you BY Main Office Lot 619 Sims St, Esperance

FEB 1 8 - M AR 19

T ID E KI T CH E N

Baked Lemon Cheesecake with a Twist Served with freshly whipped cream and raspberries, or simply dusted with icing sugar, this baked lemon cheesecake is as easy to make as it is impressive. Oh, and you won’t believe that it’s dairy free, too! Ingredients Crust 250g packet Arnott’s Nice biscuits 125g dairy free spread (like Nuttelex), melted Filling 1 cup raw cashews, soaked for an hour 1 cup full-fat coconut cream 1 tub vegan cream cheese 1 tbsp arrowroot powder or corn flour 1 tsp vanilla extract 2/3 cup maple syrup 1 Tbsp coconut oil, melted Zest of one whole lemon Juice of one whole lemon Pinch of sea salt

Method 1. Preheat the oven to 175C and line a standard loaf tin or round cake tin with baking paper.

4. Pour the filling over the crust. Tap on the bench to remove air bubbles.

2. Add the biscuits and melted dairy free spread to a food processor and blend until a fine crumb is achieved. Transfer the mixture to the tin and spread out, pressing down firmly until it is evenly distributed and well packed.

5. Bake for 50 minutes to 1 hour, until the edges look slightly dry and the centre appears a little jiggly (but not liquidy).

3. To the food processor, add all the filling ingredients. Blend until deliciously creamy and smooth, stopping to scrape the sides as required.

29 / ESPERANCE TIDE / AUGUST 2021

6. Let rest for 10 minutes then transfer to the fridge to cool completely (uncovered). Once cooled, cover and continue to refrigerate overnight.

SH ORT & SWEET: LAS T M ONTH’S

News in Brief 01

There was talk that an image of our very own Lake Hillier could be amongst a number of iconic Australian landscapes to feature in a new Australian passport design. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has not confirmed whether the bubble gum pink lake on Middle Island will be included, with the final passport design yet to be finalised.

It was announced a $150,000 floating pontoon will replace the boat ramp jetty, making accessing boats easier for emergency services and people living with a disability. Construction of the 25 metre long structure, which moves up and down with the tide, will be complete in a matter of weeks.

The state’s last remaining water deficiency declarations – Grass Patch and Salmon Gums – were revoked after recent rainfall in the area. Water deficiency declarations have been in place for Grass Patch since December 2019 and for Salmon Gums since March last year. However, with improved water availability, water carting for livestock is no longer required.

Local NAIDOC Week celebrations were officially opened on July 5, led by the Esperance Tjaltjraak Native Title Aboriginal Corporation. An opening ceremony was held on the lawn outside the Shire of Esperance building, before a procession made their way down Andrew Street towards the Whale Tail. The national theme for the week was ‘heal country, heal our nation’.

RICK WILSON

Delivering for O’Connor Unit 11, 75-79 Dempster Street, Esperance WA 6450 9071 4846

rick.wilson.mp@aph.gov.au

rickwilson.com.au

RickWilsonMP

Authorised by Rick Wilson MP, Liberal Party, Unit 11, 75-79 Dempster Street, Esperance WA 6450. 30 / ESPERANCE TIDE / AUGUST 2021

TRADES & SERVICES

Book your classifieds advert online esperancetide.com/classifieds Or email hello@esperancetide.com BIRTHDAYS

Over 25 years of Plumbing & Gas Fitting in Esperance & surrounds

PUBLIC NOTICES

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

NATIONAL TREE DAY

Happy 16th birthday Ellie!! Livin wild and free.

Sunday 1 August 9am - 12pm at 510 Collier Road, Pink Lake. Rehabilitation of Pink Lake area, planting in previous land clearing locations. Further info Chris Pope 0439 772 747

PUBLIC NOTICES OLD TIME / NEW VOGUE BALLROOM DANCING Come along and learn the Barn Dance, Gypsy Tap, Evening Three Step, Pride of Erin and more. Every Friday at the RAOB Hall on Williams Street. Dancing starts at 7.30pm. Contact Daryl 0419 370 089. AUDITIONS: JACK AND THE BEANSTALK Bijou Theatre 27 August 6pm (17+), 28 August 2pm (kids 5-16) Scripts at the library or email admin@thebijoutheatre.org.au

ESPERANCE COMMUNITY SINGERS Tuesday Nights from 7pm. at Esperance Senior Citizens Centre. $2pp new members welcome. More info Martin 0403 567 079.

0429 996 577

www.southernsuspension4x4.com Mechanical & Electrical Repairs for 4WD’s, Cars & Camper Trailers Supplier of 4x4 Off Road & Travel Acessories 53 Norseman Rd, Esperance

SUBSCRIBE TO THE TIDE Do you know someone who doesn’t live locally? Why not treat them to a Tide subscription for only $5 per month? Head to esperancetide. com/subscribe to sign up.

“CLUTCHING AT STRAWS” Bijou Theatre Jul 30, 31 @ 7.00pm Aug 6, 7 ,13 ,14 @ 7.00pm $25 Concession $20 Tickets: thebijoutheatre.org.au Enquiries: 0412 999 665

DRU M R O LL P LE A SE ...

Ph. 9072 0917

sales@southernsuspension.com

Advertise with Esperance Tide! To find out about your advertising options, email hello@esperancetide.com

2021 Tide Survey Results

Last month we asked you, our beloved readers, to complete a survey to give us a snapshot about who you are and what you love about the Tide. Thank you to everyone who completed the survey and congratulations to our randomly selected respondent Claire Hannaford, who takes home a $150 voucher to Tide & Co. Happy shopping, Claire!

make up 4 per cent of our readership. Most respondents (56 per cent) have been reading the Tide since its humble beginnings in 2016 (thank you!) but 19 per cent only started reading it in the last 12 months (welcome!). And another big thanks to the 48 per cent who said that they religiously pick up a copy every month.

You’re a mixed bag, you lot! The survey revealed our readers are a variety of ages, with the majority aged 18 – 35 (48 per cent), followed by the over 55s (31 per cent). Another 17 per cent are aged 36 – 55, while the under 18s

We asked you what you love about the Tide so we could give you more of it, and you delivered! Our features have proven to be the most popular part of the Tide, with 71 per cent of respondents saying they enjoy reading

about the people, organisations, initiatives and businesses in our town. But 5 Minute History, Hidden Heroes and our monthly recipe are also right up there in the popularity stakes, so we’ll be sure to keep those coming. When it comes to finding out what’s going on in town, we were glad to hear 83 per cent of respondents trust us to let them know what’s happening. Like us, plenty of our readers also jump on Facebook to see what’s taking place in Esperance (65 per cent), while 40 per cent dial in to a local radio station and 21 per cent pick up the local paper.

BA N K SI A M ED ICA L & HEA LTH

August Updates RELOCATION

“ON THE DAY” APPOINTMENTS

It is no secret that we have been planning for quite some time to relocate to James Street (the old civic video store).

Reserved for bookings throughout the week. These appointments are not able to be booked ahead of time by reception, but sometimes are used up by our Doctors, so they are not always available. We encourage patients to call us from 8:30am weekdays and from 9am Saturdays to check for availability of these reserved appointments.

Unfortunately, there have been many delays and setbacks... but we are still moving! Our new ETA is OCTOBER 2021!

NEW PATIENTS ARE WELCOME

Watch this space for more information to come.

Current Location

Ke mp S

But are required to be booked in with a nurse as well as a Doctor, which means that there can be less availability for these bookings at times.

Lo New ca tio n

Available for all people eligible based on WA Dept. of Health criteria. Quick, easy & free. No referrals required. Just call reception on 90711511.

te St

mp s

Ja me s

W in di

COVID-19 TESTING

PLEASE NOTE CANCELLATION LISTS Available, but do refresh each day. We encourage patients to call us from 8:30am weekdays and from 9am Saturdays to go on the list.

If your matter is medically urgent or life-threatening, you will be referred to the Emergency Department, at the Esperance Hospital.

We’d like to encourage patients with ongoing/complex health issues, to consider booking appointments 4-6 weeks in advance. Dr Kane Della Vedova will start to make a return to the practice in the near future, but Dr Becker will not be returning to Esperance, so we are relying on locum Doctors over the next 6 months. With love from the whole team at Banksia Medical & Health

WE ARE OPEN Weekdays 8:30am – 5pm & Saturdays 9am – 12pm Appointments can be booked by calling our friendly reception team on (08) 9071 1511. banksiamedical.com.au