Kununurra Sun - May 2023

Kununurra Sun

WELCOME TO THE DRY

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! The start of the dry, it puts a spring in your step, doesn’t it?

Waking up in the morning and the temperature being bearable enough to want to sit outside and enjoy your morning cuppa and toast, or for those adventurous, a morning walk without losing half your bodyweight in sweat is a luxury.

You no longer have to time your run between your car and the office, or Coles, trying to miss the hit of humidity along the way. The nights are perfect, and your air conditioning gets a well deserved break on the bench after being the MVP for the past few months.

If April, hasn’t already got you rejoicing, May surely has to be the month that reminds you why you’ve chosen to live in this wonderful region and all the amazing outdoor adventures you can now do, without questioning your sanity while undertaking any outdoor activity that doesn’t involve a swim. A walk up Kelly’s Knob is much more enjoyable, and even though the lines to get your morning coffee are a bit longer, when someone asks where you’re from it’s handy to say with a bit of smugness ‘Oh, I live here'.

Camping is back, big time. If you're a bit of a rookie camper, head to page 10 for a deep dive into the art of camping. The Ord Valley Muster is also back for 2023! We've got you covered with a guide for this jampacked week of fun on pages 6-9.

If it’s your first dry season – welcome. You’ve done the hard yards over the wet and now is your time to get out and celebrate all the amazing nooks and crannies of the East Kimberley. Make sure to say ‘yes’ to every camping invite and don’t ever knock back an opportunity to catch a sunrise or sunset in this perfect weather.

Have a fabulous month!

PAGES 6-9

Ord Valley Muster Festival Preview

PAGES 10-11

An exploration into the Art of Camping

PAGES 12-15

The land of Haveacrack and Givemagoes

PAGES 18-19

A day at the Dam to Dam

PAGES 20-21

Kimberley CreativeYollande Grimley

PAGE 24-25

Kununurra Community Garden

Captured in KNX

We want to see how you enjoy all the East Kimberley has to offer! Share your adventures with us by using #knxsun across Instagram to be featured.

Whats On

LAKE ARGYLE SWIM

Saturday 6 May 2023

The mission of the Lake Argyle Swim Inc. is to create a self-sustaining and financially viable public event which promotes a healthy lifestyle through Swimming and brings further visitors to the East Kimberley region.

Time : All day

Venue : Lake Argyle

FREE VACCINATION PROGRAM

Monday 8 May 2023

*Flu vaccination only available for children between 6months and 12 years of age and adults over the age of 65. The Japanese Encephalitis vaccine is available for everyone 2 months of age and above. All vaccinations are free of charge.

Time : 9am - 12pm

Venue : Kununurra Leisure Centre Hall

Cost : Free

Contact : WA Country Health Services

THE GIBB CHALLENGE

Friday 19 May 2023

The Gibb River Challenge is a team relay cycling event raising community awareness and funds for RFDS.

Venue : The Gibb River Road

Contact : www.thegibbchallenge.com.au

Team KNX Sun

CREATIVE DIRECTORS: EDITORIAL:

ROSIE DUFFY & JESS BUCHAN ROSIE DUFFY, JESS BUCHAN, ELIZA PARRY-OKEDEN

PHOTOGRAPHY: GRAPHIC DESIGN: JESS BUCHAN (unless stated otherwise) SEBASTIAN TASI

The paper we choose to print Kununurra Sun on has a positive impact on forests people and wildlife. FSC certified forests have to meet our rigorous standards. This means FSC certified forests are healthy, and benefit local communities as well as providing jobs for workers. FSC certification tracks the wood from the forest to the shelf. So when you see the FSC label on our magazine, you can be sure this paper came from responsible sources.

ORD VALLEY MUSTER FESTIVAL

Saturday 19 - Saturday 27 May 2023

Dry season is here and the Ord Valley Muster Festival is back in full swing. A week packed with exciting events and experiences including yoga boat, comedy, story telling, dining under the stars, rodeo and more. A taste of what the East Kimberley region has to offer.

Contact : www.ordvalleymuster.com.au

ORD RIVER PADDLE

Saturday 27 May 2023

Registration includes:

Transport to Lake Argyle, Saturday morning for a 0700am start (pick up from Celebrity Tree Park, Kununurra at 5:20am)

Issued one of our 40 identical 'sit-on-top' SeaFlo kayaks & paddle at the Start Line, Paddle 29 km downstream (to Sandy Creek), Finish Line Party Cruise on the "Jabiru", a 3 hour cruise back to Celebrity Tree Park, with all drinks and food included.

Venue: Ord River Argyle Dam Wall

Contact: www.ordriverpaddle.com.au

Wanja genkaleng ger-ger giriyin

It might be windy. Lernkeding berrandawoon marling

The cane grass is leaning over.

MIRIWOONG TO ENGLISH TRANSLATION

Kununurra Sun acknowledges the Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples of this nation. We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the lands throughout the Kimberley and in particular the Miriwoong and Gajirrawoong people of Kununurra and surrounding areas where we live, work and welcome visitors from afar.

@ANGE_RAS

@DUSTYFEET_AND_DIRTYPAWS

@BROOKLYN.ENGELS @IRENEHUNGX

@CHARLIE_DAISY_TRAVEL

@NOONGAR_WANDERER

Ord Valley Muster Preview

After a hiatus in 2022, the Ord Valley Muster is back!

A signature event on the Kimberley calendar, the OVM is a curated program of special events, from big concerts to lunchtime sessions, station luncheons, comedy, Indigenous culture and arts and family-friendly festivities kicking off our tourism season.

So, if you’re a little like us and still wondering what to schedule in your calendar we’ve done the research for you. Here’s a guide to the events Kununurra Sun won’t be missing during this year’s ‘Muster’

A highlight of the nine-day Boab Metals Ord Valley Muster festival and probably the most popular event, is the Aviair HeliSpirit Kimberley Moon Experience headlined by WA’s home-grown Birds of Tokyo along with Toni Childs and King Stingray on Saturday 20th May at the Festival Hub, on the banks of Lake Kununurra and walking distance to town. (Look out for us going wild for friends of the Sun King Stingray).

Luxe or leisure, there are a few ways to experience the Aviair HeliSpirit Kimberley Moon Experience.

For a dazzling, elevated experience, the all-inclusive glamorous black-tie Kimberley Fine Diamonds Dinner includes champagne, canapés, a seated multi-course dinner, and a full bar and dancefloor, ready for you to shimmer and shake all night long.

In the reinvigorated 18+ Muster Bar, find an exclusive area with a licensed bar, delicious food, private toilets and seating options, everything you need for the perfect child-free night out.

The popular and most accessible all-ages ‘Moon’ experience encourages eventgoers to bring a picnic, rug, esky and their dancing shoes for a magical night of music under a starstudded sky.

Other unmissable events in the program include Comedy in the Park, held for one night only at the Festival Hub on Wednesday 24th of May and includes comedians such as the brilliantly funny Steph Tisdell, Chris Franklin, Bev Killick and Fabian Woods.

On Thursday, 25th May, get ready for the toe-tapping, boot-scooting Johnny Cash Tribute Show that includes the greatest hits of The Man in Black as performed by Monty Cotton, whose voice has been described by the Edinburgh Spotlight as being so close to Johnny Cash’s that with your eyes closed, you’d think it was the real Cash singing himself.

The music doesn’t stop there. Gina Williams and Guy Ghouse perform on Sunday, 21st May, at Art in the Park , in a rare performance that connects and captures audiences through the power of song. Theirs is a fresh, modern interpretation of ancient music and stories, singing in the language of her Noongar people – connecting one of the world’s oldest languages with our youngest audiences.

The stunning outdoor exhibition Art in the Park on 21st May showcases works from the region's incredible creators. Wander around and appreciate the prints, paintings,

photography, screen printing, fabrics, sculpture and wearable art on display as the sun sets, turning the sky from blue to orange. Stay for a drink and a bite to eat as the captivating music of Gina Williams and Guy Grouse moves from the background to the main performance.

Captivation continues at Storytelling Night Miriwoong Elder David Newry hosts a cultural night around a campfire of storytelling expressed in a number of forms, including the spoken word, movement and song, presented by the Mirima Dawang Woorlab-gerring Language and Culture Centre (MDWg) on Tuesday 23rd May at the Festival Hub.

The Boab Metals Ord Valley Muster celebrates our local East Kimberley community with a free heart-warming showcase at Horizon Power Party in the Park with joyous song, dance and music performances on Friday 26th May.

Finally, after a week of new experiences it’s time to don the denim and grab a cowboy hat for the Top End Mustering Rodeo, which closes the festival Saturday, 27th May.

We’ll see you there!!

An Exploration into the Art of Camping

It’s camping season.

Instead of weekends bouncing between hiding in air conditioning and sitting under waterfalls, we’re rolling up our swags, pouring ice into the esky and packing the car to the brim for an overnight (or multi-night) adventure in the great outdoors.

As a resident of Kununurra for the last three years, one would assume my camping routine would be quite bulletproof, however dear reader, your assumption is wrong. To give you an idea of where roll out my swag on the camping scale, I only came into the ownership of a camping table & billy in the last couple of months.

However, what I have learnt is that there is a certain art to camping that takes time and experience to muster. And while some may have all the gear, it takes more than that to have some formation of the idea.

Let’s take a deep dive into the art of camping…

Creature comforts are ALWAYS essential

Let’s face it, we’re all way too old to be roughing it out with a bad pillow and packet of noodles for dinner. There is nothing wrong with tossing in an extra pillow, your face moisturiser and a handful of Robert Timms coffee bags (or, if you’re extra bougie, a coffee plunger)

Must bring items include: bug spray, sunscreen, water, toilet paper and/or wet wipes.

Location, Location, Location

Look, we’re a pretty bloody lucky bunch. We have an abundance of spectacular camping spots right on our doorstep and more often than not, the place entirely to ourselves. However there are a few key factors in scoping out the ultimate camping location.

• Shade is non-negotiable. Whether it comes in the natural form of a tree or from an awning, life is exponentially better when there is shade.

• On the back of that, knowing where the sun is where you’re setting up will make waking up a much more

pleasant experience.

• This goes without saying but being croc-wise is always extremely important. You don’t want to end up as a statistic.

Unpacking only gets worse

It’s like that basket of laundry that you pulled off the line a week ago that’s stashed in the corner of your room. You know it's there and it bugs you everytime you see it, yet you continue to walk past it every day pretending it doesn’t exist.

The same goes with unpacking after camping. There is nothing worse than opening an esky to discover four-day old warm bacon and empty bottles of beer rolling around in the shallow tide of melted ice.

Know your place in the campsite

Are you the cook, the cleaner or the assembler of activities? Perhaps you’re the planner of the camping site or the one who brings the good cheese.

Whatever you are, don’t be the person who lingers on the edge, not contributing anything.

Always camp with friends who are more into camping than you are

This comes from a simply selfish point of view. It’s like my dad always says ‘The best kind of boat is someone else’s.’

The same goes with camping. It’s always a smoother experience when you camp with the friend who has the camp specific washing up bucket, a sturdy camp table and a general better idea than you do.

Wherever your camping expertise may sit, there’s still no better feeling than settling into your camp chair, fire crackling in front of you and a million stars shining from above.

Bring on camping season!

AS THE DRAGONFLIES FLUTTER AROUND US AND THE HUMIDITY DROPS TO THE LOWEST IT'S BEEN IN MONTHS, THERE'S A NEW SPRING IN THE STEPS OF KUNUNURRA FOLK.

The land of Haveacrack and Givemagoes

WORDS BY ELIZA PARRY-OKEDEN

“Well, what are these strange words that you’ve obviously made up?” you might be wondering, and rightly so. I am also unsure. But I feel like they convey the essence of the phenomenon quite well.

The general gist is that this place has something that makes people want to muster up courage and join in; a weird wonder that encourages people to try things they never have before, test their boundaries and jump in head first. A perpetual participator, if you will, even though the thing you happen to be participating in, or putting your hand up for, is something you would’ve given your middle finger to in a pre-Kununurra life.

While knowingly sounding like a dickhead, it’s “the vibe” of small, isolated communities. I know use this phrase too much, because my Mum now uses it in the same context –frightening. But for arguments sake, it is the vibe around the place that makes accepting an offer to go camping for a weekend with pretty-much strangers or offering to sell tickets to the movies on Friday night extremely enticing.

There are definitely levels to this, so here is a thoroughly researched and completely accurate scale from which you can measure your status as a local involved icon:

Becoming a member of a local committee

Let’s kick this off with a fairly straightforward one – you only need to pick up any one of our past editions of the Kununurra Sun and you’ll get a glimpse of the plethora of clubs and committees that are at your fingertips, just begging for you to give ‘em a go. The town literally runs off this stuff, so if you’re on a local committee of some kind, you

can have a well-deserved 10 points straight off the bat.

Joining a team or club of some sort

Regardless of your talent in any given sport, you’ll undoubtedly be approached by a member of a team to either join theirs or fill a gap at some point in your time here. Shimmying into a guernsey or cracking out the old ankle guards when an insert-activity-here team has a run of injuries or vacancies is not based on prior performance; it’s all about having a go.

The scope for this one is wide. I can promise you that preKununurra, the closest I was getting to a cane toad was with a tyre tread. All of a sudden, I find myself mustering toads across the golf course into a plastic bag with a pair of tongs. Admittedly, a few still meet my tyre tread, but I now feel personally obliged to catch them in the name of Quolls and science. Astounding.

With the breadth of category in mind, I’ll allow 10 points for regular commitment to a team or club of any kind, an additional 5 points if you’re a first-timer and 3 points for oneoff appearances.

Supporting a team or club of some sort

Participation in said teams or clubs is all well and good, but where, I might ask, would the participants be without a bit of spirited cheer from the sidelines? There’s a bit of an art form in this as well, as I’ve observed: Don’t know the rules? No worries! Cheer when everyone around you does. Foolproof. Unsure which team you're supporting? Not a drama – cheer for the team everyone around you is. Arguably pussy-footing, but again foolproof. Or, throw caution to the wind, and back whoever or whatever floats your boat at any given time!

Guaranteed chaos ensues.

Show up, turn out, and you get 3 points for every turn as cheerleader and general booster. You get an additional 2 points if you attend these events to cheer without getting distracted by the social aspect. I’ll admit, I am yet to navigate this, but kudos to those who can.

Swimming in a large body of water competitively

I am referring to the Lake Argyle Swim. Although this sort of carries on from the above, there are some external factors that I would argue warrant more points here. Not only are you swimming in a body of water that (a) doesn’t have salt for buoyancy and (b) has an obscene amount of freshwater crocodiles that you are very aware of, you’ve also probably never swum 5 ks in your life?? but all of a sudden it’s a hugely enticing way to spend your free time??

The mind boggles, but it epitomises the haveacrack ethos

I reckon, so I’m happy to award swimmers a solid 10 points for this one. Have 5 points if you’re part of the support crew - a boat driver or kayak queen for example - and a bonus 2 points for slotting into a swim team within two weeks of the big day. Nothing like being not prepared for nothing.

Volunteering regularly

One thing that this place is not short on is opportunities to lend a hand. This works two-fold, as not only are you helping keep local endeavours ticking over but you’re also making yourself feel good. Quite selfish really. BUT, actual scientific research – as opposed to the pseudoscience you’re indulging currently – shows that this is legit, and many would argue that willingly doing things for others without reward is the key to happiness and a satisfying life, whatever that may be.

So in the spirit of feeling good, you can have 15 points for anything that requires you to volunteer your time and efforts to the community, I’ll let you be the judge. Sending your stuff to the Kununurra Sun for publishing is similarly rewarding! So I’ll give 10 points for submissions to the mag, and we can all pretend that we’ve never heard of the word ‘bribery’.

Offering to remove unwanted animals from people's homes

This is bizarre, even for a community that embraces the bizarre. Anyway, if you are the type of person that sees people post pictures of, say, snakes in their chook-house on the community notice Facebook page and you go out of your way to assist in some way, you can have as many points as you like, as far as I'm concerned. Name a number.

MILK AND HONEY? OVERRATED. KUNUNURRA AND SURROUNDS IS THE LAND OF MANY MAGIC THINGS, INCLUDING A SENSATION, PERHAPS A MIND-SET, WE’VE DUBBED HAVEACRACK AND GIVEMAGOES.

If there is a chance that the animal could be venomous, or dangerous in some way, negative 3 points here if you attempt to identify the animal in question in the comments rather than telling the person to call the damn police, and negative 5 points if you’re the person making the post in the first place. (Side note: do not bother the cops with your snakes, I’m merely stressing the stress)

Offering to give someone a lift

I know we bang on about this alot, but one of the first things I noticed when I arrived in Kununurra, aside from it being a mecca for rooftop campers, was everyone’s enthusiasm to do stuff outdoors. Nothing groundbreaking about that. The bit that had me beat, however, was everyone’s enthusiasm to have me join, no matter the occasion, destination or my choice of tunes. As the owner of a Holden Cruze and notowner of a boat, I am eternally grateful to those that risk their back diffs and the general tranquillity of the trip, to include me in their 4WD or high seas adventures for no apparent reason other than the more, the merrier. Even a last minute trip to Darwin, or a package for my sister in Katherine, is easily accommodated by total strangers heading in the right direction. Marvellous stuff, that.

So with this in mind, if you’ve regularly sacrificed your car to get a group out chasing waterfalls on Valentine Spring Road, or any other 4WD requisite destinations, you can have 5 points. If the adventure includes at least one overnight, I’ll give an additional 3 points, and then 2 on top of that for any newcomers you’ve chosen to include. As for people getting places, you can have 2 points for every time you’ve offered or given someone a lift further than 100 kms… unless you’re Ivan Milat.

Entering something into the Ag Show

Every bloody year I think to myself that this is the one; that I’ll be organised and enter something in the Kununurra Ag Show. I can’t bake for shit and my thumb alternates between shades of too much water and not enough, but I have these grandiose dreams of Grand Champion nonetheless. While my track record is unlikely to improve for another year, I’m so glad that others do not share the same affliction. My favourite part of the Ag Show - a tough call, because I'm a big fan - is strolling through the pavilion and soaking up the sweet stench of competition. Akin to the colosseum, it’s the closest we’ve got to condoned bloodsport, besides battling it out for car parks over caravans, and I frickin’ love it.

I’ll give you 3 points for every category you enter in the show. An extra 2 if you’re there to absolutely annihilate the competition, and 1 more if it’s an ongoing feud with a specific opponent that will likely outlast you both and be talked about for generations to come. Bring it on, babes!

Fostering or adopting an animal

I’m the first to admit that looking after myself is a fulltime job that I’m not sure I’m even that well qualified for, however, you would not believe how close I've been to getting a Kimberley Special. Me, who can’t stay in one spot for five minutes and who’s life schedule could be described as ad hoc at best, has almost talked herself into a commitment that in any other dimension wouldn’t even be on the table. can see how this one could be a stretch, because pets are pets and we need them as much as they need us et cetera et cetera, however I’m sure that I’ve never lived somewhere with the same level of circumstantial pet ownership and devotion. Whatever your reasons, adopting

and fostering animals is a wonderful thing and is reflective of our community values as a whole, I think.

So for this, 10 points if you’ve adopted, fostered, re-homed, saved, facilitated, whatever-you-want-to-call-it an animal in your time here.

Bringing back Macca’s from a trip to, or through, Katherine

What is supplying 5 hour old, congealed yellow cheese to your nearest and dearest, other than selfless community engagement in its purest form? I think 2 points for this one… maybe 1 point if you offer, but finish the goods on the way home. It’s the thought that counts, after all.

RESULTS:

Score 1 - 5: I assume you’ve just arrived… if not, do better darls, and look at all this room for improvement – exciting!

Score 6 - 10: A mild entrée into the the world of haveacracks and givemagoes, but you’re on the right track nonetheless.

Score 11 - 15: You’re one submission to the Sun away

from greatness, so don’t hold back… a poem or painting perhaps? You do you babe!

Score 16 - 20: You’re already shit hot – go forth and conquer!

Score 20 and up: You’ve either got tickets on yourself as a snake wrangler, or you’re a bona fide legend ‘round town. You don’t need our help!

Math is not a strength of mine, so apologies if the above doesn’t actually work in practice as I can’t be bothered to check. am happy for you to have creative licence with the scoring and results, or throw this in the bin and make your own – chaotic! I love it!

When all is said and done, though, there’s no such thing as too much or too little, and having written this article I actually feel like a scoring system is contrary to the point. So haveacrack, givemago or whatever other nonsense you’d like to use to explain it, and I hope that you find joy in just being amongst it. I know I wouldn’t be dead for quids!

You’re Invited to the

Mirima Dawang Woorlab-gerring Language and Culture Centre Anniversary Celebration and Exhibition Opening

For the Mirima Dawang Woorlab-gerring Language and Culture Centre, this year marks over 30 years of revitalising Miriwoong Language and Culture, and 10 years of engaging children in schools and community in Miriwoong language lessons with the Language Nest Program. We would love you to join us as we unveil our new exhibition signage, share some food, look back at how far we've come and celebrate Miriwoong language and culture!

Date:

Time: Location:

Thursday 30 June 3pm MDWG Language Centre, Button Drive

A day at Dam to Dam

WORDS BY ELIZA PARRY-OKEDEN

The beloved Kununurra Dam to Dam event was a riproaring success this year; a success all the more sweet after a brief hiatus in 2022.

Thrilling action on the water, a top-tier location - arguably the best in town - and enough cold beverages to sink a dinghy on the Ord and soothe one of the warmer days we’ve had of late, proved to be a winning combo for the Kununurra Ski Club. The event, which drew over 400 people through the gate before the count was abandoned due to the heat, boasts a variety of race categories to accommodate makes, models and engine power. However, all eyes were on the Enduro race which covers the length of the Ord River, from the Lake Argyle dam wall to the Ski Beach finish line. Darwin locals took out the big win in their boat On Tha 45, followed closely by She’ll Be Right, the boat that sank quite dramatically before being retrieved from the river bed hours later.

Champagne Cruise

WORDS BY ELIZA PARRY-OKEDEN

“We’re incredibly proud to have brought the event back after it’s cancellation last year, and the level of support we received from locals coming down and enjoying the day has us all geared up for next year,” says newly-minted Kununurra Ski Club Secretary, Tessa McLeod, who’s already got her sights set on a dazzling day in 2024.

“We will hopefully have our road access back and all the competitors from the Broome, the Pilbara and beyond can join us.”

Of course, the event would not have been possible without the hard work of the Kununurra Ski Club Committee, their major sponsor Mitre 10, and the support of the Shire of Wyndham East Kimberley’s Community Grant Program.

Thank you to all involved!

The morning of the Dam 2 Dam race was a fabulous excuse – as if one was needed – for a flock of fine females, and two unsuspecting blokes, to brave the high seas and cheer for the dinghies from aboard the Jabiru.

The day was stinking hot, but a lovely Ord River breeze sliced through the stickiness and the stifling heat was no match for the seasoned champas sippers onboard. As we moseyed on upstream to get a look at the action, the laughter and good cheer could probably be heard from Wyndham. Corks thrust from bottles of sparkling wine encouraged choruses of Woo-Girls, while the strains of Eliza Rose’s infectious summer-classic ‘B.O.T.A.’ enveloped the revelers like a random-but-now-bestie in the bathrooms at 4:00am with a tube of mascara on offer and a spare drink.

I couldn’t tell you the exact time that we passed the first boat, cruising at break-neck speed toward the finish line, but the palpable excitement mixed with two stroke fumes was intoxicating. Depending on who you speak to, we may have watched three or four boats speed past; each

one punctuated with the ringing of a bell. I’m afraid I was quite an unreliable witness at this event altogether actually. Absolutely nothing to do with the aforementioned bubbles, I’m sure.

And when we’d well and truly worn a hole in the drinks package, we were dropped right back into the throng at Ski Beach, slightly less refined than when we’d left, but equally as enthused to carry the celebrations onwards into the evening. I, for one, didn't take well to my sea legs and wound up disembarking the boat thoroughly pickled. But you do get that on the big jobs I suppose.

All in all, it was a bloody good day out, so we’d like to give a heartfelt thank-you to the Ski Club committee members for getting this show on the river, and for their hospitality and well-tested patience. We’re looking forward to next year, if you’ll have us! It’s definitely not one to miss.

Yollande Grimley

KIMBERLEY CREATIVE

Yollande Grimley is an experienced picture framer who works at Artopia Framing and Photography. We sat down with Yollande to talk about how she came about framing and her experience in the Kimberley.

TELL US WHERE YOU’RE FROM AND HOW YOU ENDED UP IN KUNUNURRA

I grew up on the north east coast of Tasmania, and was living in Hobart doing specialty barista work before making the move to Kununurra. I initially came here just to visit my parents for a couple of months, who had been here for 18 months prior working, before I went on an around the world backpacking trip. But four days after I arrived covid hit and the whole world was shut down, so figured I’d just wait it out in the beautiful place of Kununurra. That was just over three years ago now and I am still yet to leave, which I don’t see happening too soon.

HOW DID YOU GET INTO FRAMING

To this day I don’t really know, I think its just one of those wonderful things that happens in small rural towns, there’s just so much opportunity and I was given one and just ran with it, and ended up falling in love with the art form of picture framing. I was originally working at Wild Mango as a barista when one day out of the blue I got a call from Cally Bugg, my now boss and good friend, asking me to come to the gallery after work to have a chat. The previous framer Chelsea Manning was leaving

town and there was an open position. I didn’t have any previous experience in framing but had always loved woodwork and working with my hands, so Chelsea trained me up before she left and here we are.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE MATERIAL TO WORK WITH

We solely work with wooden frames, which I love. I feel like there’s a lot more creative freedom with wood frames than metal or synthetic. But my favourite type of frame to work with is our natural, raw wood frames as they have such a natural and beautiful elegance to them. I like that it’s the closest to their original form, and you get all kinds of quirky imperfections throughout. Even if you’re making two of the same frames from the same length of wood, the imperfections differentiate from one another, which I find almost poetic in a way.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE ARTWORK YOU’VE FRAMED

This is a really hard question to answer as I’ve framed so many incredibly beautiful pieces of art. I’ve done a few frame restorations of some really old antique pieces of art, which are some of my favourites because they’re so fragile and being able

to see the traditional ways that frames were created. I then try to depict that as best as possible to do the artwork, the frame and the previous craftsman of the frame justice, which can sometimes be a real challenge. When the restoration is finished you feel like you’ve become apart of that history which is special to me.

WHAT IS YOUR DREAM PIECE TO CREATE

I think my dream piece would consist of framing different kinds of organic matter. I’ve done quite a few frames where people have brought in gum leaves, feathers or even bugs and ask me to frame them. The whole process is super fun and creative and I really enjoy the different type of thinking that takes place compared to framing a piece of art or a photograph.

DO YOU HAVE ANY BASIC TIPS FOR A NOVICE FRAMER

My one piece of advice would probably be stay open to different techniques and changing up the way things are done, as sometimes it’s easy to get stuck in ‘your’ way of doing things or the way you were first taught. There are so many different techniques to do one thing and some are better than others or are more efficient. As you grow, the techniques will change and improve. So yeah always be opening to changing things up and trying new things is important.

WHAT PODCAST/TV SHOW ARE YOU LOVING RIGHT NOW

I don’t really watch a lot of television or listen to many podcasts, however I’ve listened to one podcast called ‘know thyself’ which I quite enjoy, it gets the brain ticking away a bit which I like. I’ve also found a new love for reading through a book called ’Shantaram’ which is an epic novel. I’ve recently been chipping away at the second book called ’The Mountain Shadow’ which is seeming just as good.

CAN YOU TELL US WHAT YOU LOVE ABOUT LIVING IN KUNUNURRA

There are many things I love about living in Kununurra, I think the biggest thing for me is the fact that you can drive thirty minutes in any direction and you’re completely alone in the middle of nowhere in the most vast and extreme landscape, it’s beautifully cathartic.

I also love the strong sense of community Kununurra has, I think it’s something quite special and rare in the modern world we live in. There’s not many places like Kununurra.

Yollande does framing at Artopia Framing and Photography located at 116 Coolibah Drive in Kununurra.

Saturn enters Pisces, Mercury is in retrograde, and to top it all off. there is a solar eclipse to see out the month. Not to worry, the KNX Oracle is here to guide you through the chaos.

AQUARIUS – 20 JANUARY-18 FEBRUARY

A goal you’ve been working towards for a while now is coming to fruition. You’ll find it easy to express vows of love over hate and celebrate it with everyone you love in this world. Your energy is infectious, spread it widely!

PISCES – 19 FEBUARY-20 MARCH

Just when you thought the barra have stopped biting, you’ll find luck on your side. And as they say,`a fish on the hook, is a fish on the plate’. The metaphorical fork in the road all lead to good things! Rig up the rod and enjoy the thrill of the chase!

ARIES - 21 MARCH-19 APRIL

You are strong and capable. This month allow yourself to appreciate and celebrate you. Be confident to take risks without the affirmation from others. All the pieces of the puzzle are coming together. You are the hero in your story book this month

TAURUS – 20 APRIL- 20 MAY

Relationships feature very strongly in your stars this month. You’ll be prone to jumping into intense and passionate relationships. Life can be turbulent, yet you crave the drama. No time for sugar-coating it, you’ll secretly love it.

GEMINI – 21 MAY-20 JUNE

The social season is upon us. This month creativity and communication comes into focus. Listen to the music of our mind and express them in physical manifestations. This could be in artistic creations, creative writing, or interpretive dance.

CANCER – 21 JUNE-22 JULY

Feel like you’re performing mental gymnastics as you juggle new responsibilities, being caretaker at home, boss at work, and meeting family obligations? All this bending over backwards, yeesh, its ok to just sit on your arse and say no sometimes.

LEO – 23 JULY-22 AUGUST

Find connection to the past and future through interactions

with other generations. Let go of attachments to your current world order and appreicate the fluidity of life. Like the red glow of the cockburn ranges at dawn, wisdom looks good on you.

VIRGO 23 AUGUST-22 SEPTEMBER

You spend so much time trying to fix things, you’ve forgotten to actually see the problem. As a result you’re striking the hammer at something that isnt broken. Avoid a rude awakening by accepting the truth instead of opting for a band-aid solution.

LIBRA - 23 SEPTEMBER-22 OCTOBER

Crippled by indecision, do you feel like one wrong step can have you buckling by the knees, Libra? Hiding behind a veil of determination and witty humour will expose your insecurities. Let down the veil and you might see things more clearly.

SCORPIO - 23 OCTOBER-21 NOVEMBER

Acceptance. Self sufficiency. Stability. This might not sound sexy, but you’ll be sure to be feeling sexy. Blessings from the past ignite a sacred flame inside you and breathe zest back into your relationship. If you are single, be ready to mingle.

SAGITTARIUS – 22 NOVEMBER-21 DECEMBER

Whether it be through material or behavioural manifestations, the start of 2023 had you living in excess. This life has got you bulging like a boab, however, unlike the majestic boab it’s becoming grotesque, time to shed some leaves and tone it down a little.

CAPRICORN - 22 DECEMBER-19 JANUARY

This month is a good time to ease into a new endeavour, hobby, or take steps to act on what defines you. Beware the growing pains and be sure you are embarking on a journey that comes from within, and not what you think you should be doing.

KNX Community Garden

It’s May and it’s grow time! The Community Garden is alive with budding trees, germinating seeds, blossoming flowers and seedlings striving towards the softer sun. The humming of native bees and the gentle choir of birds welcomes all. It is a place of diversity, harmony and life.

The weather is cooler and the next few months are where we have the opportunity to grow more temperate climate foods that do not enjoy the Hot (Barndenyirriny) and Wet (Nyinggiyi-mageny) seasons here on Miriwoong Country. However, it raises questions.

Should we be putting so much energy into the ‘growing season’ if we are not a commercial farmer and are only growing on a small scale for our families? Is this a long-term view to improve our food security?

Permaculture is known for long-lasting, low-maintenance perennial gardens that stack plants in time, space, and function. This is somewhat opposite to annual planting or, a monoculture. A well-planned polyculture will yield year-round, providing food, seeds, and compost crops for people, wildlife,

and microorganisms alike.

For people to flourish living in a remote, subtropical, steppe climate, the region requires community to collaborate with foresight. To maintain a strong, community-minded focus on food. Food security is a real issue in the East Kimberley. If it’s not flooded or damaged roads, it’s a truck broken down, or an influx of our incredible tourist population, or anti-social behaviour or, or or… the point is, food security is an all-year round challenge.

It is one that links directly to the state of our community’s mental health, physical health, social health, cultural health, and more. It requires all of our grass-root organisations that provide any type of food relief (or education about growing food) to work closer with Aboriginal Corporations and other agencies and services within our community so that we unite and combine our resources, skills and strengths. Only by working together in a collaborative circle can we provide our entire community with healthy, nutritious food, all year round. Watch this space as locally led Food Relief Forums are established, led by local people working together.

If you’re at home and ‘all year round nutrition’ resonates, here is where to start.

A healthy garden starts with healthy soil. A healthy soil biome is an incredibly complex ecosystem of bacteria and fungi within soil. A rich community of organisms that fosters plant health and a host of other benefits to the system. Our focus starts under our feet! Look down, observe & interact. How can we create the right environment for multiple ecosystems to find their harmonious but diverse balance that in turn can offer us a growing medium that produces all year round, high level nutrition.

Visit our Facebook group Kununurra Community Garden Kitchen to link with like-minded people that are passionate about nutrition, health, community and nature based living.

Visit our Facebook page Kununurra Community Kitchen to follow our food relief journey and to get involved with volunteering.

Between the Lines

on-trend and bands traversing the country on a tour bus was the epitome of glamorous.

What I didn’t expect was the hold this work of creative writing had on me until this very day.

Daisy Jones and the Six is loosely based on one of the most iconic bands in the world, Fleetwood Mac and it tells the tale of how a small town band hit the big time fast and couldn’t keep it together enough to hold onto their metaphoric rise.

The story is told in a documentary style, with the band members recalling their experience through flashbacks to their heyday. The mystery behind why the band split had never been shared until now, and it’s fascinating to see how each band member remembers their experience differently.

The band’s two lead singers Billy Dunne and Daisy Jones have an undeniable chemistry, so fiery they almost spit flames at each and their connection is what plays a huge part in the breakdown of the band. Throw in rapidly growing egos, resentment and creative tension and you’ve essentially got a recipe for disaster.

carefully. Expectations need to remain low because there is no chance a TV director can create the dreamy illusion you’ve formed in your mind. How each band member looks, how the songs sound and the undeniable chemistry between Billy and Daisy - will it live up to your expectations?

However, kudos to the show writers Scott Neustadter and Michael H Weber because they nailed it - mostly.

The band comes to life with actors such as Sam Clafin, Riley Keough (who adds an extra element of rock and roll being Elvis Presley’s granddaughter) and Suki Waterhouse taking the stage. While they fit their characters with ease, the glossy production of the series takes away the raw edginess the book portrays. Even scenes showing Keough as a drunken mess are paired with the perfect blowout and flawless skin.

Despite the shiny post-production, the TV series really wins in the small details such as facial expressions and body language between the band. As they are interviewed throughout the story, it's incredible what would have taken several paragraphs in the book, can be portrayed with just a simple look.

Riley Keough is a force of nature on screen and you can’t help but love the talented yet troubled star of the band. Her fiery, feminist awareness and ‘I don’t give a shit’ attitude is enjoyable to watch, especially when she’s calling Billy out for being difficult.

the very end. The role of Billy’s wife and muse Camila Alvarez is played by actress Camilla Morrone and her effervescent and warm personality oozes out on screen and will make you fall in love with the character from the first time you see her on screen.

For me, the best part of the Daisy Jones and the Six juggernaut is seeing their record-breaking album Aurora come to life. The actors all learned to play their instruments and go through vocal lessons so they could perform together and record the album. It’s the perfect collision of imagination and reality.

The songs are nostalgic and echo the sound of Fleetwood Mac’s iconic record Rumours. And don’t be thinking it’s some throw together album to complement the show, some of the industry’s best musicians, such as Phoebe Bridgers and Marcus Mumford jumped on board to bring Aurora to life.

I have had the album on repeat since finishing the show, even now as I type this review, the catchy guitar chords and Daisy’s voice play in the background.

FINAL THOUGHTS: BOOK VS. TV SHOW

While I loved the show and the ending really hit where it hurts, the deep dive that the book plunges you into cannot be replicated. I would recommend reading the book first to get the full grasp of the story and then enjoy the visual delight of the band coming to life on screen.

NOT SINCE THE DAYS OF HARRY POTTER HAS A PIECE OF FICTION COMPLETELY HAD A HOLD OF ME. AS A CHILD, I SPENT YEARS DEVOURING THE SERIES, PRACTISING MY WINGARDIUM LEVIOSA AND WAITING FOR AN OWL TO DELIVER ME AN ACCEPTANCE LETTER INTO HOGWARTS.

Daisy Jones and the Six had a similar effect on me. The 2019 best-selling novel by Taylor Jenkins-Reid follows the story of how a once-in-a-generation band formed, sky-rocketed to the top, and fizzled fast and mysteriously.

When I first picked up Daisy Jones and the Six back in the dark days of COVID, I was expecting a lighthearted romp through the trials and tribulations of a rock band in the 70’s.

Oh, how I wanted to live in the days where velvet flares were

Daisy Jones is almost a direct copy of Stevie Nicks, there’s no denying where Taylor Jenkins-Reid pulled her inspiration from. Every mention of flowing hair, fringed jackets and a penchant for drugs and alcohol screams Stevie but I think it’s why the story feels so viscerally real.

The troubled Billy Dunne is how you picture every lead singer in a 70’s rock band. So creative and tortured, they can’t seem to function in day-to-day life. Billy’s storyline includes the beautiful Camilla, the love of his life that seems to not only hold him together but the entire band.

I was sad once I’d finished the book to have to depart from the free-loving, hedonistic lifestyle of Daisy Jones and the Six and return to my normal life. Luckily for us readers, we didn’t have to wait long to see the band mates come to life, with Amazon bringing out the TV adaption to the silver screen.

Like all book-to-TV adaptations, they must be approached

Sebastian Chacon who plays the drummer, Warren Rhodes is also a delight to see come alive on screen. His laidback attitude to life (most likely thanks to the mountains of marijuana he smokes) is infectious and he’s the one band member who seems to just be enjoying this crazy ride.

The true star of the show is not in fact the books namesake but instead the woman who remained by the band’s side until

Getting Quizzy With It

KUNUNURRA SUN KITCHEN Paloma Cocktail

If there’s one thing we love about the beginning of the dry season, it’s the return of the Kununurra markets in Whitegum Park. Fresh, sunny mornings strolling through the stalls and picking up a treat or two.

Our favourite? The Oria Orchards freshly squeezed grapefruit juice. That two litre bottle filled with the good pink stuff is an instant reminder of dry season days, so we thought what better way to celebrate the start of the dry than with the quintessential grapefruit cocktail - the Paloma.

Translated from Spanish as 'dove', the Paloma may live in

the shadow of its big sister, the Margarita but it’s actually considered Mexico’s national drink.

And with the mouthwatering collision of sweet 'n' sour flavours, why wouldn't it be?

The Paloma beautifully incorporates a little bit of everything. You've got sweetness from sugar syrup, sourness from the lime and grapefruit, bubbles from the soda water and a bit of a kick from the blanco Tequila. It's simple to make and perfect for any fiesta, so consider this permission to retire the Margarita – if only for a day – and try another of Mexico's favourites.

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Tough Sudoku for Thursday 20-4-2023

INGREDIENTS

10mL lime juice

20mL pink grapefruit juice

45mL blanco Tequila

(shot) agave or sugar syrup (optional)

90–120mL soda water (or for an extra grapefruity punch, use pink grapefruit soda)

Salt and grapefruit wedge, to garnish

Sudoku provided by Sudoku.com.au

METHOD

1. Throw your glasses in the freezer - DO NOT miss this step!

2. Add agave/sugar syrup, lime juice, pink grapefruit juice and blanco Tequila to a cocktail shaker.

3. Add ice, then shake vigorously but briefly.

4. Grab your glasses out of the freezer and salt the rim of your glass (we run a wedge of lime around the rim to help the salt stick)

5. Pour the juice and tequila into your glass and top with soda.

6. Add ice and garnish with a grapefruit/lime wedge.

7. Sip and repeat if desired!

Balls ' n ' All

KUNUNURRA WARRIORS BOXING CLUB

Public Boxing sessions Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday. Youth 9yrs-16yrs 4.30pm-5.30pm. Adults 5.30pm-6.30pm. Sparring by Coach invitation only Saturday mornings. Club and Coaches registered with Boxing WA. Offering boxing for general fitness right through to competition. Disciplined, well-programmed. Great for physical health, mental health and wellbeing and provides a sense of inclusion and belonging.

Kids Sport available! Ask us how. Facebook page Kununurra Warriors Boxing Club

Email: knxwarriorsbc@gmail.com

Phone: 0458 470 177

INDOOR CRICKET

With the change of season happening somewhat overnight it’s time to get back in the nets. Sporties is again hosting the men’s indoor cricket season with all fixtures being played across Tuesday and Thursday nights during the ‘grading’ season with the only exception of opening night on Wednesday 26th April. There will be 8 teams competing for spots in A Grade this season and be sure to get down to Sporties to catch the action.

INDOOR CRICKET

The KNX Tennis club have been actively promoting their fantastic social Tuesday night social tennis event by painting the town in posters. They aren’t stopping there though and what better way to promote than a plug right here in the Sun. If you’re looking for an excuse to have some fun, socialise and sneak in some exercise all new players are more than welcome. With nightly through to season long membership available whether you’re in town for a night or a long-term local everyone gets to enjoy having a hit.

GOLF

Like we promised last edition here is the low-down:

The annual open day was taken out by “The Bogey Boys” and by all reports (and a few cracking shots - photos that is) the day was another big success for the club with 34 teams taking part. Speaking of photos the coveted best dressed award went to “The Wise Men” and, coming from a source who happens to know them well, they were indeed

wise by name only.

The Summer Cup also wrapped up since writing our last issue and congratulations to Dan ‘Dipper’ Goldup for taking out the top spot in a very tight final round.

If you’re fancying having a crack at course be sure to check out the latest updates on the Lake Kununurra Golf Club Facebook page with weekly competition and visitors most welcome.

EAST KIMBERLEY FOOTBALL LEAGUE

The much anticipated 2023 EKFL season has commenced with two rounds complete (at the time of writing). With the season seeing a split of the Northern teams playing together and some very unfortunate facility damage meaning that no games can be played in Warmun Kununurra will be alive with footy most weekends until September hosting 5 of the 6 teams and Wyndham putting on a show for all the Crocs home matches.

Round 3 sees the only two remaining undefeated sides go head-to-head when the Ord River Magpies take on the Warmun Eagles at Kununurra’s Ag Oval.

If you want to have a run around, with both mens and womens (starting RD5 of the men’s draw) competitions, it’s definitely not too late to join any of the clubs so head to their respective facebook pages (Ord River Magpies Football Club, Kununurra Demons, Waringarri Crows Football Club, Port Wyndham Crocs Football Club, Warmun Eagles FC, Bow River Blues) or jump on PlayHQ and search the EKFL Northern Division to find a contact.

CALL-OUT TO ALL SPORTS CLUB

With the dry season upon us and many new faces coming to town we want your info!

We are hoping to put together a sporting calendar we can share on our socials so that our visitors can enjoy our local sport offerings. Please send us any details you have and we will look to publish the calendar by Mid-May with any details we have been sent. We look forward to hearing from you

Kununurra Picture Gardens

Ticket Prices: Adult $15, Child $10, Family $40 (1A+3C) (2A+2C)

Gate Opens - 5:30pm | Movie starts: 6:00pm

Friday 05 May 2023

ARGONUTS

Saturday 06 May 2023

SCREAM VI

Friday 12 May 2023

FISHERMAN'S FRIEND: ONE AND ALL

Saturday 13 May 2023

EMPIRE OF LIGHT

Friday 19 May 2023

FLICKERFEST

Saturday 20 May 2023

DUNGEONS & DRAGONS

Saturday 27 May 2023

THE SUPER MARIO BROS. MOVIE

VOLUNTEERING AT THE KUNUNURRA PICTURE GARDENS

Are you a popcorn connoisseur? A master of ticket sales and car tetris? Maybe, you simply like watching movies outdoors? If yes, come and volunteer at the Picture Gardens!

May is set to be another busy month for the Kununurra Picture Gardens, a 100% community-owned and volunteer-run outdoor cinema nestled in the heart of town. The KPG need a number of volunteers at every screening to ensure that everything runs smoothly,

including ticket-sellers at the gate and attendants at the kiosk to sling popcorn and lollies to the hungry masses. If you consider yourself a bit of a movie buff, there are trainee roles for Cinema Controllers so that you can shadow the pros and learn the ropes.

If you’d like to volunteer at the Kununurra Picture Gardens, visit their website at kpg.org.au or email volunteerskpg@gmail.com.