CABLE BEACH POLO MAGAZINE 2017 - BROOME WESTERN AUSTRALIA

POLO AIRNORTH CABLE BEACH

2017 MAGAZINE

WELCOME TO CABLE BEACH POLO

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olo on Cable Beach has grown considerably since it first appeared as a major Broome event in 2010.

Back then it was an exhibition match held on a single day, but it has quickly expanded to become a two day tournament that is passionately contested by some of the world’s finest professional players.

This year, we extend a warm welcome to two of Australia’s highest ranked professionals – Tom Hunt (+7) and Rob Archibald (+6). We’re also looking forward to watching the silky skills of players like Jack Archibald – a player that has been selected for the Australian World Cup team to compete in the World Polo Championship Sydney 2017. Make no mistake, they’re all here to win – word has spread throughout the global polo community about the exceptional playing conditions in Broome that makes for high quality, fast-paced matches. The natural canvas we have is Cable Beach – one of the best – if not the best – playing surfaces in the world thanks to the massive tides that compact the sand naturally. The fine food and wine, sunshine and blissful Broome sunset over the ocean at the end of each day completes the equation.

Of course, none of this is possible without generous corporate support. In 2017, we enter a new era with three major sponsors – Airnorth, Paspaley and Merchant Shipping – committing to the event through to 2019. And I am proud to say that this year has attracted our strongest ever support from local business and the community, illustrating how committed those in the region are to see it continue.

I warmly welcome you to an exciting weekend of polo on Cable Beach and hope you are able to linger awhile in this extraordinary destination to enjoy some truly unique experiences.

MARILYNNE PASPALEY AM Founder Cable Beach Polo & Governor International Beach Polo Association, Australasian Region

2017 PROGRAM Friday, 19 May 2017 WELCOME EVENTS Airnorth Cable Beach Polo – Official Welcome

Airnorth Cable Beach Polo – Opening Party

The Official Welcome launches the Airnorth Cable Beach Polo 2017 weekend with a private event for sponsors and their guests and Platinum Passport guests.

The official opening party on the lawns of the Mangrove Hotel, the official hotel for the Airnorth Cable Beach Polo 2017, will feature entertainment, food stalls, champagne bar and appearances by the tournament’s polo players along with a parade of polo ponies.

Venue: Pinctada McAlpine House Time: Friday 19 May 2017 from 6:00pm to 7:30pm Entry: By Invitation Only

Venue: Mangrove Hotel Time: Friday 19 May 2017 from 6:00pm to 9:00pm Entry: Free entry to the public

Saturday, 20 May 2017 AIRNORTH CABLE BEACH POLO TOURNAMENT – DAY 1 Airnorth Qualifier Matches

Flying daily from Broome to Kununurra, Darwin and beyond

Venue: Cable Beach Polo Arena Gates Open: 10:00am – 2:00pm Entry: Ticketed Entry to VIP Marquee enclosure Free public viewing areas

Dinner Under The Stars

Banksii Pop-Up, Cable Beach Broome An intimate dinner for 200 guests on Cable Beach featuring distinctive produce from the Kimberley.

Executive Chef, Hamish Ingham, Bansksii Vermouth Bar & Bistro at Barangaroo in Sydney Venue: Cable Beach Polo Arena Time: Saturday 20 May 2017, From 6:30 pm to 10:00 pm Entry: Ticketed Entry to VIP Marquee enclosure

Dili, Timor-Leste Maningrida Milingimbi Elcho Island

Sunday, 21 May 2016

Gove

Flying customers into the Kimberley region since 1998

Groote Eylandt Katherine Kununurra

Cairns

Broome

Services to 17 destinations across two countries

Tennant Creek

Townsville

AIRNORTH CABLE BEACH POLO TOURNAMENT – DAY 2 Paspaley Australasian Beach Polo Cup

Cable Beach Polo After Party

Venue: Cable Beach Polo Arena

Wind up your Airnorth Cable Beach Polo weekend at the Airnorth Cable Beach Polo After Party.

Gates Open: 10:30am – 3:30pm Alice Springs

Book online at www.airnorth.com.au Airnorth Reservations ph: 1800 627 474 or contact your local travel agent

Toowoomba

Perth

Melbourne

Entry: Ticketed Entry to VIP Marquee or Matsos Polo Beach Bar

Venue: Matso’s Brewery

Free public viewing areas

Entry: Ticketed Entry

Time: 7:00pm – Late

TEAMS | AIRNORTH CABLE BEACH POLO 2017 MAGAZINE

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TEAMS

Three teams are participating in the 2017 Airnorth Cable Beach Polo to win the Paspaley Australasian Beach Polo Cup. The qualifying matches on Saturday 20 May are a roundrobin tournament leading to the Finals matches on Sunday 21 May. The runner-up will receive the Broome International Airport Cup.

TEAM 1:

TEAM 2:

TEAM 3:

Mangrove Hotel (+10)

Europa Saddlery (+10)

Brooklands (+8)

Pos.

Hdc

Pos.

Hdc

Pos.

Player

Player

Player

Sunday, 21 May 2017 PASPALEY AUSTRALASIAN BEACH POLO CUP Hdc

1

Garrett Prendiville

+1

1

Zac Johnson

0

1

Clinton Wheatley

-1

2

Eru Barlow

+3

2

Hugo Fischer

+3

2

Matt Welsh

+4

3

Rob Archibald

+6

3

Tom Hunt

+7

3

Jack Archibald

+5

Saturday, 20 May 2017

Mangrove Hotel

VS

Brooklands

MATCH 2

Europa Saddlery

VS

Brooklands

1st Ranked Qualifier

VS

3rd Ranked Qualifier

MATCH 2

2nd Ranked VS Qualifier

MATCH 3

3rd Ranked Qualifier

1st Ranked Qualifier

VS

2nd Ranked Qualifier

PRIZES

AIRNORTH QUALIFIER MATCHES MATCH 1

MATCH 1

MATCH 3

Mangrove Hotel

VS

Europa Saddlery

The winner of the tournament will receive the Paspaley Australasian Beach Polo Cup.

The runner up will receive the Broome International Airport Cup.

GET SET FOR

FUN IN THE SUN The Airnorth Cable Beach Polo is the hottest ticket in town.

Get your sunscreen and smile on for Broome’s most memorable event.

Broome International Airport your gateway to the Kimberley

When it comes to aviation we will get you airborne‌ Broome International Airport is the regional air hub of the Kimberley and hosts fi ve commercial airlines in addition to a wide range of air charter operators. Whether your requirement is for personal or business airline travel, corporate charter or an aerial adventure tour of the Kimberley’s stunning scenery, Broome International Airport and its air service operators can fulfill your every need.

MacPherson Road Locked Bag 4016 BROOME WA 6725 P. 08 9194 0600 F. 08 9194 0610 E: admin@broomeair.com.au

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ots of fun. Lots of sun. Situated around 2,000 kilometres north of Perth, Cable Beach Polo is much more than the most remote beach polo event in the world – it’s also one of the most enjoyable events on the calendar given the amazing natural environment in Broome.

Blue skies make for a great event, but there’s no question that it’s what’s underfoot that is the real secret to success. We’re talking sand. Great sand as luck would have it. Everyone that

walks on the famous Cable Beach attests to its beauty, but it’s the evenness and consistent compression that makes it absolutely perfect for polo ponies. The other key factor is the huge tidal movement – sometimes as high as 10 metres.

During the Cable Beach Polo window, these tides are still up around 8 metres meaning there is a huge expanse of flat, consistently compressed sand making for a perfect playing field. The twice daily tidal draw is not too dry and not too soft (deep sand is the last thing you need for beach polo).

cablebeachclub.com

AIRNORTH CABLE BEACH POLO 2017 MAGAZINE | FUN IN THE SUN

Belvedere is a quality choice. Drinking responsibly is too.

In the lead-up to the event, fastidious beach measurement and tidal calculations take place to predict the tides for the match days. In the past, these calculations have been the key to the timing of the event and most importantly, the positioning of the marquees and kitchen infrastructure to keep the ebb and flow of the ocean at bay. At the conclusion of each day’s play, the playing field perimeter boards and scoreboard are completely dismantled to let the high tide push on in and sweep the field clean again for the next day’s tournament. And then when that high tide recedes, a small army of people stride down the beach to replace the barriers just before play begins. It’s a true military operation. Garry Grbavac – the man in charge of the timing

KNOW THE DIFFERENCE. FA C E B O O K . C O M / B E LV E D E R E V O D K A A U S T R A L I A

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and copious calculations – is well aware of the challenges compared to organisers in other parts of the world. “For us, timing is everything and if our numbers are slightly out, the consequences aren’t worth thinking about. But in other tournaments – like Miami and Dubai – they’re positioned well above the high tide line and they prepare their surfaces by pumping water over the sand. But they just can’t quite get that firmness which is such a key part of the Cable Beach playing field. We’re just lucky that in this part of the world, the tides are so extreme.”

A lot of the players and horses have experience playing on sand, but for those that don’t, arriving early is critical to

practice ahead of the tournament. It also gives them the chance to take in the history, culture and natural wonders of Broome – a little fun in the sun before the big party gets going.

And what an important party it is for Broome. In times past, the event has drawn several thousand spectators, boosting hotel occupancy close to 100% and creating a definitive buzz in the bars, cafés and restaurants all over town. That’s not to mention the considerable media attention that’s been commanded before and during the event. And there’s so many stories behind the scenes – consider that the ponies themselves travel 4,000 kilometres from Perth to Broome and back again to Perth, requiring the grooms, equipment, feed and drivers for the journey both ways.

Without question, the most important night of the week is the incredible Dinner Under The Stars, featuring a huge banquet table on Cable Beach beneath a galaxy of glittering stars above. This year, Hamish Ingham of Banksii Vermouth Bar and Bistro in Barangaroo Sydney is guest chef, with a menu that will feature Kimberley beef and seafood.

Entrance to the public area of Airnorth Cable Beach Polo will again be free in 2017. To enable more spectators to be up close and personal to the matches, the viewing areas on both sides of the beach polo field will be lengthened. Get set for big fun and lots of sun!

BIG RED ROAD TRIP

BY PETER JAMES

Evening sun illuminates the pindan cliffs on the West beach at Cape Levique

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s I’m shaking Don Bacon’s hand in Broome, I’m already forming suspicions that he’s one of those organised kind of guys. You recognise his type when you’re like me – the complete opposite. We hop into his Landcruiser and all the signs confirm it. The car is immaculate and the cargo area at the back is packed with Tetris like efficiency.

There’s a spot for everything with purpose-built drawers and neatly stacked boxes that no doubt contain lots of useful four-wheel-drivey things. Yep – we’re in good hands for a road trip to the top of the Dampier Peninsula and back.

When I say ‘road’, I use the term loosely – there’s a considerable absence of bitumen for much of it. In the wet, it’s a 90 kilometre stretch of impassable red puddles that can gobble up cars and is sensibly shut down by the authorities.

In the dry, it’s 90 kilometres of dusty red corrugations. Either way, it’s red and it’s raw and for guys like Don, it’s out of this world. Which is exactly what I’m thinking when we arrive at James Price Point. If you just landed your spaceship from Mars on the cliffs at this remote section of coastline, you’d feel right at home. After I’m satisfied that NASA’s Curiosity

Rover isn’t going to materialise from around the corner, I set about taking some pictures, but I can’t help but feel that I’m going to be accused later of photoshopping these colours.

We’re in the heart of pindan country – pindan being a local word for the vibrant ochre soil that is now caked on the soles of our shoes. I turn away from the majestic cliffs to take in a swathe of turquoise – the equally breathtaking beauty of the tepid Indian Ocean that, in just a few months, will host vast pods of Humpback whales frolicking with their young just offshore. Which higher power had the idea to smash red

and blue together with such violent intensity? It’s like Don is reading my mind. ‘When the tide goes out,’ he says, ‘there’s a huge expanse of reef and the dinosaur footprints are quite visible. The indigenous people have known about these footprints for centuries – they relate it to the creator being.’

Don tells me that the important part of this find is that it’s not just a few footprints – but long trackways. ‘You can follow their footsteps – left, right, left right – all the way down the coast.’ I stare off in that direction and imagine towering beasts lumbering along. ‘And they’ve now documented 20

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BIG RED ROAD TRIP | AIRNORTH CABLE BEACH POLO 2017 MAGAZINE

different species – so it’s tremendously significant.’ All this adds to the mystical quality of James Price Point, and as a hot breeze carries a curious White Bellied Sea Eagle overhead, you can’t help but feel moved by this place.

We decide to push on as the sun is whistling through the sky and Don wants to reach Cape Leveque for the sunset. It’s not dry season yet – my sweat-laden t-shirt is testament to that – it’s somewhere in-between wet and dry, but dry enough to drive to the top and back. Pretty soon, Don’s Landcruiser is chewing up the corrugations and we’re sailing along at ninety clicks. Don’s done this trip many times and never

tires of it. ‘Every time I come here I say “Ah – it’s so nice” – it’s kind of in me.’ I discover in a previous life Don rose through the ranks with a local pearling company from the very bottom to become General Manager. But after 17 years, he retired and a not long ago decided to follow his heart and share the virtues of the Kimberly region with people from all over the world. His aptly named Amazing Kimberly Tours is that step into a new life chapter.

We eventually outlast the ruts and bumps to hit bitumen that’s heavily stained on the left by pindan coated tyres. Soon enough, Don has us pulling in at Kooljaman Wilderness

“...the most unique and memorable place we’ve stayed in Australia.”

DISCOVER THE STORY OF THE AUSTRALIAN PEARL AT BROOME’S WORKING PEARL FARM

PEARLS | TOURS | ACCOMMODATION & CAMPING | DINING “It’s hard to convey exactly what captured us most about the Cygnet Bay Pearl Farm.

Perhaps it was the sense of heritage, the sense of adventure, the rich cultural experience, the stunning Kimberley landscapes or epic views that grabbed us?

Or perhaps it was the way this excellent destination rolled all these factors into one brilliant experience.”

- Extract from travel blog Big World, Small Pockets.

Follow on Facebook & Instagram: @bigworldsmallpockets

Top: Ochre trails stain the road to Cape Leveque as it changes from dirt to bitumen Bottom left and right: The prehistoric beauty of James Price Point

Image: Waterfall Reef.

9192 4283 | cygnetbaypearlfarm.com.au

1. broome helicopter 5.04.17_Layout 1 5/4/17 12:18 pm Page 2

Delivering Imported Cement & Lime Solutions to Northern Australia.

www.merchant.com.au

Bardi Jawi elder, Frank Davey

Resort on the tip of Cape Leveque. This isn’t the kind of ‘resort’ you might read about in a luxury travel mag. It has an authentic ruggedness that matches the environment perfectly. Jointly owned by the two surrounding indigenous communities of Djarindjin and Ardyaloon, Kooljaman is over two decades old, and its simplicity combined with its sensitivity to nature make it a sought after destination for people looking for something unique – and boy, doesn’t it deliver. If it isn’t Australia’s most picturesque campground, I’d like to see the place that beats it. There’s a variety of interesting accommodation options around the headland from deluxe safari tents on timber decking all the way through to your basic unpowered campsite. Whatever grade people opt for, they’re all waking up to nature in its most honest form.

Don takes us for a drive out to the East Beach on the other side of the Cape past more interesting camping sites and

safari tent setups. We pull up at a simple, grass-thatched structure with unparalleled views over a bay that looks like it’s a setting for a movie. ‘This is our family’s preferred site – we book early and take it for a week or so each year with the kids.’ For a resourceful guy like Don, this site’s simplicity presents no issue whatsoever. No power? No running water?

No problem. I stop taking pictures for a second to drink in the 180-degree ocean vista in front of me. To my left is a red, rocky fringe that meanders out to a mysterious headland.

To my right, the white beach zig-zags dreamily off into the distance. ‘See that spot right there?’ Don says, pointing straight at the bay ahead, ‘that’s where I wade out with my coffee every morning and wake up slowly.’ We head back to West Beach to catch the sun’s last rays bouncing off rugged pindan cliffs, and just like that, Don’s whipped out a cheeky bottle of white and some soft cheese. It’s another amazing Kimberly moment – true to his business offering.

Captions Here verum doluptatur; il magnatur siminctes dem ad mo berciatusam; evelia doloressita de pori dolore autatia quaspidiam excerrunt, explis et quoditi omnimpe ritat. Voluptatur? Volupit aerferion eic to beaquis dolupta nos etur? Rios consequo essim dolorem ex et inctur sim enditiae. Mil id quiat dolor minimol orrumque provid magniaersped quo est, ererepu dicium, sit aut ommod magnita quam quidicae et enihiliquiam exeribus dol.

Up early the next morning before the dawn, I want to put myself on that East beach to feel what it’s like to start the day the way Don does. There’s hardly a cloud to be seen and the full moon is bookending the sky. As the sun springs off the horizon, I’m presented with so many photographic options, I’m almost in a panic – but resolve to simply wander and enjoy the moment. Traversing the sand dunes, I tear my eyes away from the tangerine sky and look down to see how the array of beach life has left a canvas of tiny trails that paint their own kind of indigenous art at my feet.

Don is keen to keep moving this morning as we have a special date with Frank and Joe Davey – Bardi Jawi elders at Gumbanan Bush Camp situated on a timelessly perfect headland overlooking the ocean stretching out to Sunday Island. As Don’s car glides in, I can see Frank and Joe sitting around the fire and I’m suddenly very nervous. I’ve never met Aboriginal elders before and apart from being anxious

that I might do or say something that will offend, I’m not sure how to begin.

I needn’t have worried. Frank smiles warmly as we approach and greets us with a gentle: ‘Welcome to Bardi country.’

I mentally park my million and one questions as Frank launches easily into his family’s history here. He touches on how he and Joe were born and raised on Sunday Island in a Presbyterian Mission that was established there. How his people eventually returned and were given title over their traditional land right here at Gumbanan. And how he has had to prove to authorities along the way of the validity of their land claims. One vital piece of evidence is the large rock fish trap – pronounced Mayoorr – that his ancestors built in the ocean shallows below where we are standing.

The massive tidal flow here engulfs the trap and when the tide recedes, it captures enough fish for dinner. Simple, sustainable, ingenious.

AIRNORTH CABLE BEACH POLO 2017 MAGAZINE | BIG RED ROAD TRIP

Too soon, the quad bike tour returns to camp and to my dismay, Frank has had to go. But this is without question, one of the most fulfilling days I can remember having.

My head is swimming with imagery and the gritty tactile moments we’ve all just experienced.

It’s a long drive back down the Cape Leveque road to Broome, and the deep scarlet sunset over the ochre track creates photographs that you could turn upside down and you’d hardly tell the difference. I ask Don what his favourite spot is on the Peninsula. ‘For me, it’s like a box of chocolates. Yes, I have favourites, but there’s a lot of amazing chocolates to enjoy.’ Slightly borrowed from Forrest Gump, but couldn’t put it better myself Don.

Amazing Kimberley Tours runs personal tours for small groups (up to four people) throughout the year. Access to the Dampier Peninsula is limited to drier months, but owner Don Bacon also conducts tours to inland regions and in and around Broome. Don can be contacted on 0418 919 087 – or through info@amazingkimberley.com.au Kimberley Outback Xposure conducts a range of cultural tours and experiences in and around the traditional homeland of the Davey family at Gumbanan Bush Camp. Bookings through info@kimberleyoutbackxposure.com.au or by calling 0499 330 169. Quad bike tours by request – minimum four people per tour.

Kooljaman at Cape Leveque offers a range of naturebased experiences together with an array of low impact accommodation options.

Book online at reservations@kooljaman.com.au or by calling (08) 9192 4970.

I would have loved to spend the rest of the day in Frank’s company – there’s so much to learn from him – but the team from the newly formed Kimberly Outback Xposure have other plans for us. Dave Evans and Gerard Petrov introduce us to our twin quad bikes for a special tour of the surrounding country, to be hosted by Frank’s son Moochoo.

This exciting new venture – a collaboration for the benefit of the local people – is the first of its kind in The Kimberlys.

Dave tells me how these two seater quad bikes are perfect for this kind of cultural tour, ‘maximum experience. Minimum footprint.’ After some basic instructions, we set off in single file – and I can’t help feeling as if I’m in a Jurassic Park tour car about to embark on a mystical tour of the unknown. Soon we arrive at stunning ‘Squeaky Beach’ so called because of its high silicone content and the sound your footsteps make in the sand. ‘Ten metre tides,’ Dave says, nodding at the water advancing toward us at an extraordinary speed.

Within a few minutes, it’s licking at our feet. ‘Welcome to the Kimberleys,’ Gerard says wryly. Next, we steer our quad bikes through scrub alive with native wildflowers, weaving around trees and onto a majestic creek plain. We stop here and there as Moochoo explains how his people interact with the land and points out plant life that sustains them. I can’t quite work out what is more special – the full immersion into this magical landscape or the telling of it by a young man intimately connected with life here.

Top: Moochoo Davey in charge at Squeaky Beach, Gumbanan Middle: Twin quad bikes in single file – minimum footprint, maximum adventure Bottom: Ten metre tides march up the sand at Squeaky Beach Opposite: The hardy Ipomea X Multifida snakes its way across James Price Point

Other must sees on the journey to Cape Leveque and back: SACRED HEART CHURCH AT BEAGLE BAY Built by Pallottine priests between 1915 and 1918, this stately whitewashed brick church stands incongruously in the scrub landscape. Pinctada maxima pearl shells feature heavily in the decorations of the altars providing the church with a unique iridescent flavour.

ARDYALOON TROCHUS HATCHERY AND AQUACULTURE CENTRE AT ONE ARM POINT The opportunity to meet with Barry Sharpe, manager of the hatchery and laconic identity, should not be missed. This centre for the collection and distribution of Trochus shell – prized for its deep lustre in button making – also features an array of tanks housing fascinating tropical sealife including the stars of ‘Finding Nemo.’

SACRED HEART CHURCH AT LOMBADINA A missionary outpost of the church at Beagle Bay, this gorgeously original timber church is alive with character.

Constructed by hand from local wood, the church still has its original paperbark roof intact. Corrugated iron was later added for extra protection, but the paperbark was kept as insulation and is visible today from within the church.

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THE LONG REACH OF SHORT STREET | AIRNORTH CABLE BEACH POLO 2017 MAGAZINE

THE LONG REACH OF SHORT STREET

BY PETER JAMES

‘T

his is one of the oldest buildings in Broome – a Pearling Masters house,’ Anthony Simmons says, as I muscle my way into the cool air stream flowing from Short Street Gallery’s air conditioner. ‘Apparently back in the day, when the tide came in, you could fish off the front porch.’ Though diminutive, the beguiling old cottage is almost a piece of art in itself. Anthony’s the Manager of what has become one of the most important galleries for Indigenous art in the world. ‘Yes,’ he says, arms stretched wide, ‘we might be small, but here, we punch above our weight in terms of reputation.’ Short Street Gallery is synonymous with significant Indigenous art from this part of Australia, ‘we supply a lot of galleries in Europe – in fact, you could take any of these paintings to Sotheby’s and that they originate from this gallery is provenance enough.’

Anthony’s spent forty years in the art industry and just five in Indigenous art with Short Street Gallery. But he’s packed a lot of knowledge into those five years. ‘The thing to realise with Indigenous art is that it’s not one type of art, it’s a hundred different types of art under the one banner.’

The work in the current exhibition showcases plenty of ‘traditional’ Indigenous art – and as captivating as it is, there are other paintings that are modern and exciting to the eye.

‘There’s a new, young vanguard of artists coming through at the moment that are creating their own contemporary style – like Tiger Yaltangki,’ Anthony says pointing out one of Tiger’s vibrant pieces. ‘It’s so different – perhaps it’s because he cites Doctor Who as one of his inspirations.’

Short Street Gallery was established in 1998 by Emily Rohr – and we’re lined up to do a Broome-Cairns phone linkup later.

I discover that Emily – a fair skinned Australian – actually has her own local “skin name”. ‘In fact,’ says Anthony, ‘one of our favourite artists – Daniel Walbidi – calls her “mother”.’

That makes sense when you discover that Daniel, who hails from a small coastal town three hours drive from Broome, came to Emily as a boy, asking if she could help him become an artist. Today, his work hangs in the Metropolitan Museum in New York and he has exhibited throughout the world. ‘In all the years I’ve been in this business,’ Anthony says, ‘I’ve seen a lot of good artists – but seldom a great one.

Daniel’s in that category.’ I’m keen to see some of Daniel’s work, so Anthony brings up one of his pieces on the gallery’s computer, ‘No,’ Anthony says, shaking his head, ‘that doesn’t do it justice – wait until I take you to The Bungalow and you see it in the flesh.’

Opposite and above: The blend of traditional and contemporary works on offer at Short Street Gallery

Indigenous treasures ready to be discovered at The Bungalow

We mercifully arrive at The Bungalow at Town Beach to glasses of chilled water that gather beads of condensation before our eyes in this humidity. This is Short Street’s enchanting showroom, come store-room, come dispatch centre, come office. It has also been a studio space for local artists that have created their work on the brick patio out the back where the empty outlines of paint on the bricks convey

an intriguing narrative of their own. As I down my glass of water, I spy Daniel’s piece on display. Anthony was right– in the flesh, the piece jumps at you, coruscating with silvers and golds and subtle splashes of colour that dance across the canvas. It’s modern. It’s traditional. It’s like nothing I’ve ever seen. I’m not sure whether it’s because I now know he’s a great artist that I see the work through that prism or

whether it’s simply because I’m so completely bewitched by the piece itself. I just know I like it.

I’m due to put the call into Emily when a young local Yawuru artist, Sebastian Arrow arrives to drop off some of his work.

Sebastian carves traditional Bardi Jawi stories into Mother of Pearl shell, using ochre and djugong fat to cure the work. His

AIRNORTH CABLE BEACH POLO 2017 MAGAZINE | THE LONG REACH OF SHORT STREET

intricate, entrancing pieces are already in hot demand, Kerry Stokes being a recent investor.

Sebastian takes a few moments to explain the delicate shapes and the meaning behind some of the new work and I’m quite taken aback with his passion and eloquence. ‘You see here the symbol of a fish, which was actually found on an etched fishing boomerang in Norman Creek by Rodney Dan circa 1991,’ he says, his finger tracing the lines he’s carved into the shell. ‘You can see how it merges into a rhomboid that can be also interpreted as a pelican. I’ve elaborated the shapes using unidirectional patterns that resemble the radiating flow of the ebb tide.’

Emily and I finally connect by phone across the country and she tells me that while Cairns is now home, there’s a lot of commuting back and forth to Broome. Naturally,

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the conversation turns to Daniel. ‘The younger successful artists seek out the traditions and values of their people. He’s inherited a lot of knowledge and has become a keeper of his culture.’ Emily tells me that the motivating force for artists like Daniel is not money – it’s the notion of “I am country” – ‘You need to understand that when they paint their country, they paint themselves.’

We discuss the challenges of today’s art industry, and despite Short Street’s impeccable reputation, Emily knows all too well how tough it is out there, ‘we have tremendously close relationships with our artists, because we know that our survival depends on theirs.’ With the eclectic collection of thrilling Indigenous art in her caretaking, that survival looks quite assured to me.

During the year, Broome’s Short Street Gallery holds several exhibitions of local art and is open six days a week. The gallery, located at 7 Short Street, Broome, can be reached on 08 9192 6118 or through shortstgallery.com.au. The Bungalow is open by appointment only and can be reached on 08 9192 6118.We mercifully arrive at The Bungalow at

As soon as you step through the modest white picket gate onto a path sprinkled with frangipani flowers and shaded by towering palm trees, you know instantly that you are entering a special place of relaxation and tranquility.

Top: Mother of Pearl shell as a canvas for great art Bottom left: Passionate Yawuru artist, Sebastian Arrow Bottom right: The Bungalow

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RULES | AIRNORTH CABLE BEACH POLO 2017 MAGAZINE

BEACH POLO

RULES Due to the smaller playing field and the smaller number of players, beach polo rules slightly differ from the rules regarding grass polo. With knowledge of the basic rules, even a newcomer to polo can partake in the action on the field. Here you will find the basics of the fast sport of polo at a glance.

THE TEAM In the matches of Cable Beach Polo, each team consists of three players.

Each of the three players is assigned a position numbered from 1 to 3. No. 1 is the attacker, no.2 is the team’s tactical link, and No. 3 (also known as the “back”) is the defender in the rearmost position. In grass polo, the “typical” form of polo, the team is completed by one more player.

THE GAME A beach polo game usually has four periods of play known as chukkas.

One chukka is between 4 and 7 minutes long with the clock being stopped every time there is any interruption. The breaks between each chukka are about three to five minutes long and this is when players have to change ponies. Sides are changed every time a goal is scored – which can be rather confusing for first-time polo spectators. The game is not stopped if a player falls off his horse, as long as he or she is not injured. However, play is stopped if a horse injures itself, the bridle gets entangled, or a horse’s bandage comes undone.

LINE OF THE BALL The line of the ball and the right-of-way make up the fundamentals of the game. The line of the ball is the imaginary path the travelling ball is expected to take. This line may not be crossed by the opponent. A player who is going straight after a ball he has hit, or the first player to swing into the line of a rolling or flying ball, without hampering the others, may not be intercepted by any other player as this could harm the player or the pony.

AIRNORTH CABLE BEACH POLO 2017 MAGAZINE | RULES

THE FIELD The standard polo field is 300 yards long and 200 yards wide or the equivalent of about 270 m x 180 m. In beach polo the size of the polo field always depends on the space available. The playing field at Cable Beach has a size of 110 m x 50 m – plus 25 metres of end-zone at each end of the field. The 3 m-high goal posts are 8 yards (approx. 7.2 m) apart and are collapsible for safety reasons. A goal is valid every time the ball goes through the goal – regardless of how high the ball is hit.

HANDICAP Each player is individually ranked – as in golf – on a handicap scale that ranges from -2 (beginners) to +10. There are only a handful of players worldwide with a +10 goal handicap. The team handicap is the aggregate of the players’ handicaps. The difference in goals (“handicap goals”) between two teams is awarded to the lower rated team before play begins.

In beach polo, the handicap of each player is raised by 1 goal.

THE MALLET AND THE BALL The mallet (also known as the stick) is usually made of bamboo or willow and may only be held in the right hand. Depending on the height of the pony played, and the rider, the mallets are between 122 cm and 137 cm long. The ball is hit with the head of the mallet. The ball, which is traditionally made of compressed bamboo and today mostly of plastic, has a diameter of about ten centimetres and weighs about 130 grams. In beach polo, a bright coloured light plastic ball is used.

HOOKING Hooking is a common defensive play. It means that a player can block the swing of the opponent by using his or her mallet to hook the mallet of the opponent swinging at the ball. A player may hook only if he or she is on the side where the swing is being made or directly behind an opponent.

The most important rule in polo is always the safety of the horse!

CHANGE OF SIDES AFTER EACH GOAL One of the most important rules: the teams change sides after each goal.

This rule stems from the hot and sunny colonies in India, where polo was played in the evening due to the high temperatures during the day. As the sun is low in the evening, it was a considerable disadvantage to play against the sun.

THROW IN The “Throw In” is performed after each goal. Both teams line up at the halfway line of the pitch, facing the umpire, respectively in the direction of the opponent’s goal. The umpire throws the ball between the two teams to resume play. “Throw Ins” may also occur during the match or at the start of each chukka, always in place where the previous chukka has ended.

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WHEN IN BROOME...

So how many days have you got in Broome? It’s one of the defining questions of any trip to the Kimberleys. Largely because whatever the answer, it’s almost always just a few days short, given the array of engaging things to do in this amazing part of the world.

W

hat is it about sitting on the back of a camel that is so utterly absorbing and unexpectedly relaxing?

Is it the rhythm of the camel’s gait as it ambles gracefully along the sand? Is it the warm breeze drifting across Cable Beach, lulling your mind into a zen state? Or is it the sinking sun, casting splashes of orange and pink across the western sky?

Truth is, it’s all of the above, and more. Yes, it’s possibly the most ‘touristy’ thing you can do in Broome. But it’s also tremendous fun. And if you can just give in to the fact that you’re here on a break and up for something different, then a Cable Beach Camel ride at sunset is a couple of hours you won’t forget in a hurry. There are three camel tour operators running tours on Broome’s famous Cable Beach. They’re all around the same price bracket and they all head off in the same general direction around sunset each day. So give them a call, book your spot and don’t forget to take the camera.

You’re either going to get a great sunset shot or a fun snap of you and a friend on the back of an elegant animal. True, they seem to have double jointed jawlines that gape alarmingly as they chew on whatever it is that they’re chewing, and it takes a few minutes to adjust to the rock and roll of their steps, but it’s a wonderful way to watch the sun squeeze over the horizon.

Call Broome Camel Safaris on 0419 916 101, Red Sun Camel Tours on 08 9193 7423 or Sundowner Camel Tours on 0477 774 297.

An outdoor movie in tropical warmth, punctuated by the sheer absudity of a light plane coming in to land directly overhead – it could only happen in Broome. Whatever you do, don’t miss out on catching a flick at Sun Pictures – Broome’s oldest – Australia’s oldest – the world’s oldest outdoor cinema.

With a history that is almost more fascinating than the storylines you’ll see on the big screen, Sun Pictures is something of an institution in this town. It all kicked off in the silent movie era way back in the early 1900s and it doesn’t take much imagination when you’re sitting in the banana chairs that make up the front seating to sense what it would have been like all those years ago. Despite an unfortunate period of segregation, there is no question that this unique open air cinema has in many respects, been a barometer of Broome’s distinct culture across the last century. Thankfully, Sun Pictures is largely original, with a wonderful area set aside as a museum showcasing the old projectors that are an integral part of its DNA.

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WHEN IN BROOME | AIRNORTH CABLE BEACH POLO 2017 MAGAZINE

A tip from the locals? Make sure you take a small pillow to tuck into the small of your back – it just takes the edge off those banana chairs after a couple of hours. And don’t forget the insect repellent!

For information on what’s playing at Sun Pictures, visit broomemovies.com.au or call 08 9192 1077.

Looking for a great coffee in town? The Lock Up Cafe at Lot 3116 Carnarvon Street is all style – with a cool ‘pop up’ feel to the kitchen tucked away behind the old Lockup in Broome.

Step around the big Boab tree out the front to discover mouth-watering creations and a relaxing, shaded courtyard dining area and a well crafted coffee or juicy smoothie.

Enjoy a little taste of original Broome architecture and a browse through some wonderful books at Kimberley Bookshop at 12 Napier Street, Broome. One of the few original pearling masters houses still standing, this beautifully renovated, light filled bookstore holds a comprehensive range of titles with a particular focus on Kimberley history and culture, together with latest releases and a large collection of childrens books.

The history of Broome and its unique personality is indelibly intertwined with the history of the pearling industry that

began here. All visitors to the town quickly identify that Broome is different and come to love the influences they see from the influx of people who were enticed from a rich spectrum of cultures around the world to become part of the romance of pearling in Australia’s rugged North West.

Virtually nowhere else in the world can you buy pearls directly from so many pearl producers – but this is certainly possible in Broome, with pearling operations like Paspaley, Cygnet Bay and Willie Creek all having showrooms featuring wondrous pearls and jewellery designs. And a short walk around town will reveal the plethora of other pearl stores retailing pearls and pearl jewellery.

For deeper experiences, there are special tours offered by Cygnet Bay Pearl Farm and Willie Creek Pearls, giving guests an insight into this fascinating industry and the meticulous processes involved in producing just one perfect pearl.

Contact the showrooms for more information.

Pearl Producer Showrooms in Broome: • Paspaley Pearls 2 Short Street, Ph: 08 9192 2203 • Cygnet Bay Pearl Farm 2/23 Dampier Terrace, Ph: 08 9192 5402 • Willie Creek Pearls 31 Dampier Terrace, Ph: 08 9192 0044

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Treat yourself... #visitbroome

Top left: The box office at the Sun Theatre; Top right: Kimberley Bookshop Bottom left: Breakfast offering from The Lock Up Cafe; Bottom right: Broome pearls

AIRNORTH CABLE BEACH POLO 2017 MAGAZINE | CHEF’S UP FOR THE CHALLENGE

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CHEF’S UP FOR THE CHALLENGE N

ick Wendland looks completely at ease with the daunting challenge that lays ahead. This challenge is to satisfy the taste buds of over three hundred guests on each of the three days of Broome’s big Cable Beach Polo tournament. It’s not something he takes lightly – he knows from experience (being the driving force behind his celebrated Broome restaurant Aarli) that setting up a fully operational kitchen on the beach demands considerable planning, exquisite timing and the kind of logistics that a military unit would brace themselves for. ‘It’s a crazy weekend,’ says Nick, ‘but it’s great – I rate it the best event on the Broome calendar.’

Nick Wendland doing what he does best – creating another mouthwatering dish at The Aarli

It’s only a couple of months away from the first chukka of the tournament, but Nick’s already close to finalising the menu for the event. ‘Next step is to get it ticked off by the organisers before I start working on sourcing ingredients.’

He expects that three to four coolrooms at the Aarli will be filled to the gunnels with fresh produce ready for the Friday, Saturday and Sunday of the event.

Nick’s team will be 7 – 8 chefs strong with around 10 wait staff and a small army of bar staff that will serve up drinks to patrons. ‘The cooking team get there early in the morning on the Friday,’ Nick says. ‘After we bump the kitchen in, we

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CHEF’S UP FOR THE CHALLENGE | AIRNORTH CABLE BEACH POLO 2017 MAGAZINE

AIRNORTH CABLE BEACH POLO 2017 MAGAZINE | CHEF’S UP FOR THE CHALLENGE

43

INGHAM RETURNS FOR THE STARS

W

ithout question, Cable Beach Polo’s night of nights is Dinner Under The Stars – held on the Saturday evening of the event.

There are a few key ingredients that make this such a truly memorable occasion. First, there’s the stunning location on Cable Beach itself, with the full night sky in all its glory glowing above. Second, there’s the tremendous local produce on show – mouthwatering seafoods and prime beef from Australia’s Kimberley region. But what’s amazing food and a trillion stars without a talented chef on hand to make the whole thing come together? Enter Hamish Ingham – spearhead of Banksii Vermouth Bar and Bistro in Barangaroo Sydney.

just go for it.’ It’s quite an operation, with heavy equipment being moved onto the beach on four wheel drive trucks and a cluster of serious electrical generators providing the power.

‘I don’t think the team stops at all the whole weekend,’ Nick says, ‘there are marquees, bars, lights, generators, 6 – 7 coolrooms, music, sound equipment and that’s not to mention all the gear for the horses.’

Nick’s mastery of harnessing world class local ingredients to create mouthwatering dishes is matched only by his infectious enthusiasm for the event. ‘It’s a sensational environment to cook in – sun, sand, the ocean and beautiful women – I love being involved with it.’

Proud to be supporting events in Broome

Our vision is for a thriving and friendly community that recognises our history and embraces cultural diversity and economic opportunity, whilst nurturing our natural and built environment.

It’s not a short trip from Sydney to Broome – Hamish knows this well. He was responsible for the lavish culinary delights of Dinner Under The Stars just a couple of years ago and is well aware of the task ahead, ‘It’s certainly challenging trying to get the food organised from 6,000 kilometres away.

But I wouldn’t be going back to do it again if I didn’t enjoy it.’ Hamish and his team arrives in the week leading up to the event and at a local kitchen of his choosing, they begin preparations. ‘Of course it all comes down to that last few hours – we have to transfer it all to the beach using special refrigerated vans that can operate off road. It’s all about timing and being ready. And we will be!’

At the last event, Hamish wove an Asian theme through the menu, but this year, event goers can expect a Mediterranean, botanical feel which is more in keeping with his new venture at Banksii, ‘It’s a light, fresh approach – you might call it modern Australian.’ Hamish says he will be exploring plenty of local Indigenous produce, ‘Each region is unique and special – that’s why I like using local.’ He is particularly looking forward to teaming up with Yeeda Station for the quality grass fed Kimberley beef that will feature on the menu. Yeeda Station, run by Jack and Vicki Burton, is just 60km from Broome and is responsible for some of the best beef products in the west. Hamish has been in regular conversation from afar with Jack and Vicki about the cuts that will be appropriate for the unique preparation requirements of the event. ‘There’s a few logistics that need to be considered when you’re working out the cuts, but I’m really excited about the potential – and once again, it’s great to be able to draw on such amazing local produce.’

Tickets for Dinner Under The Stars are not sold individually – places are available with Airnorth Platinum Passport and Gold Weekend Pass Packages. For more information, please visit cablebeachpolo.com.au

Dinner Under The Stars BANKSII POP-UP, CABLE BEACH BROOME

An intimate dinner for 200 guests on Cable Beach featuring distinctive produce from the Kimberley. The evening begins with a welcome glass of sparkling Veuve Clicquot champagne and flows with a selection of premium wines and beers. Executive Chef, Hamish Ingham, having just opened his new Bansksii Vermouth Bar & Bistro at Barangaroo in Sydney, is carving out time to be our guest chef for this exceptional experience. Available within Airnorth Platinum Passport and Gold Weekend Pass packages. Tickets are not sold individually.

VENUE: CABLE BEACH POLO ARENA TIME: SATURDAY 20 MAY 2017, FROM 6:30 PM TO 10:00 PM TICKETED ENTRY

broome.wa.gov.au

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SALTWATER WOMEN SHINING BRIGHTLY | AIRNORTH CABLE BEACH POLO 2017 MAGAZINE

45

I

n a nondescript set of shops in Pembroke Street, Broome, there’s a hidden shopfront that has no sign out the front to indicate that this is where you’ll find a special, emerging force in Australian art. Or at least, not when I turn up anyway – there’s a sign on order, they tell me.

When that sign eventually does go up, it’s going to make it a whole lot easier for people to locate the treasures of Nagula Jarndu – or ‘Saltwater Woman’ in the local language. Here visitors encounter a very different and wholly unexpected art organisation. ‘But this is much, much more than that,’ Barbara Bynder, Centre Coordinator, is quick to point out. Barbara, an Indigenous woman from the Eastern Wheat belt of Perth, originally came to Broome to help her daughter settle. Now she’s the full-time coordinator for an operation that provides socially challenged Aboriginal women with respite and opportunities for recovery. ‘They come here to paint, relax and take out some of the stresses of their daily lives.’

The work these women are producing is on fabric using a block-printing technique that has been employed overseas for many centuries. As block printing is by its very nature, done by hand – each block is designed and crafted by the artist, then coated by the artist with their choice of colour and placed by that same artist directly onto fabric – each piece is an original. ‘They tried screen printing, but didn’t like it so much,’ Barbara tells me. ‘Block printing is imperfectly organic and that is what brings each piece to life.’

SALTWATER WOMEN

SHINING BRIGHTLY

BY PETER JAMES

Top right: The intricate pattern of turtle eggs Bottom left and right: Amanda Rose Lee and her art

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SALTWATER WOMEN SHINING BRIGHTLY | AIRNORTH CABLE BEACH POLO 2017 MAGAZINE

I look around at the array of textiles being produced in this modest workshop and see that their inspiration is drawn from nature – in particular, that of the beach and the ocean.

Barbara introduces me to Amanda who is midway through producing a piece with a design of turtle eggs that she’s overlaying onto an earlier block print of turtle tracks across the beach. The simplicity and rhythm of the process belies the thought that goes into this work. ‘Originally, Amanda

started with turtles,’ Barbara says, ‘but she’s worked the tracks and the eggs in and now has three or four different designs that are virtually exploding out of her head.’

Even the blocks are little works of art in themselves. The women carve their linocut images, then glue these onto polystyrene blocks that afford them a good grip to apply the design to the fabric by hand. I’m particularly taken with

Left: Tara Sampi deep in thought on her new design Top Right: Mother of Pearl Shell design block Middle and Bottom Right: The array of designs is a true showcase of raw creativity

SALTWATER WOMEN SHINING BRIGHTLY | AIRNORTH CABLE BEACH POLO 2017 MAGAZINE

an ornately carved emu footprint block, but then I see the resultant emu fabric and it’s a feast for the eyes. As if on cue, young Nikki arrives at the workshop and one of the ladies tells her that I’ve been taking pictures of her work. ‘I haven’t finished it yet,’ Nikki says softly. ‘I might go one way or the other.’ You can see how Nikki begins to relax as she talks about her art, ‘I’ve got these ideas in my head, then I put it all down on paper and fabric and it changes the way

47

I’m thinking. It take the stress away,’ she says, smiling and nodding to the other women ‘they know what I mean.’

There’s raw energy here born from the strength of social interconnection. ‘The great thing about all this is that they’re not professionally trained – so they keep breaking the rules,’ Barbara says. ‘And just look at the results they’re getting.’ I meet Jayne Maes, a non-Indigenous woman with

Stunning art and artist – Maxine Charlie

Opposite: organic colour testing on materials is almost art in itself Top: Nagula Jarndu Coordinator Barbara Bynder Bottom left and right: The lifelike quality of an emu footprint takes shape

a long history in producing garments and importing pieces around the world via her label Camelman Products. Jayne’s in the formative stages of introducing the women here to the notion of converting their fabrics into clothing and homeware pieces. The sewing machines and overlockers behind us here in the workshop indicate the natural integration of the plan. Jayne’s no doubt seen plenty of designs in her 30 years in the business, ‘but when I walk in here, my head just goes off’ she says with a laugh, ‘there’s just so much potential.’ Barbara smiles when she hears this.

‘We’re on a momentum at the moment, with big plans,’

It’s an honour to be among these talented people, taking photographs of them with their work, seeing the pride on their faces. And it’s such a powerfully emotional feeling to purchase several original pieces by the artists I’ve met. They are truly – the art and the women – one of a kind.

Nagula Jarndu welcomes visitors throughout the year and the small showroom at 3/12 Gregory (Cnr. Pembroke) Street, Broome has numerous original pieces for sale – both fabric art and the original printworks onto paper. For more information, contact 0499 330 708 – email jarndu@westnet. com.au or visit nagulajarndu.com.au

AIRNORTH CABLE BEACH POLO 2017 MAGAZINE | BART’S MELTING POT

51

BART’S

MELTING POT

BY PETER JAMES

‘T

his Mango tree is a bit of a meeting place,’ Bart Pigram tells me. ‘My family have played music here for so many years – and there’s been many get togethers with people like Jimmy Barnes, Paul Kelly and Archie Roach.’

Bart and I are in his uncle Alan’s backyard in ‘old Broome’ and that Mango Tree is providing welcome shade from a fierce midday sun. I can’t imagine what it would be like to be here with The Pigram Brothers and some of the other big names in Australian music, jamming under the stars.

This is where Bart’s new cultural tour starts, giving lucky guests a taste of the history and music of the region’s famous Pigram family, some perspective around the Yawuru people they are descended from, and insights into this fascinating multicultural town that I’ve heard described as a ‘human soup.’ Bart personifies how the melting pot of cultures in Broome has generated diversity and inspired outcomes.

The style of music he and his family create has a distinctly Spanish/Creole feel to it. ‘It’s from the Puertollano side of the family I guess.’

The scene of many a jamming session – the Mango tree at Alan Pigram’s house.

Opposite: Bart Pigram’s multicultural ancestry captured in one haunting photograph

Bart shows me a striking photograph of Thomas Puertollano, his Great Great Grandfather, with his Great Great Grandmother, Agnes ‘Guilwil’ Bryan. A proud Filipino man standing next to a dignified Aboriginal woman. You look into their eyes and wonder what they were seeing back then. At that time of course, Broome was an extravagant cocktail of nationalities; Malays, Indigenous Australians, Scottish, Irish, English, Filipinos, Indonesians, Japanese, Chinese just to name a few. It was the mysterious pearling industry that brought them all together and has defined what Broome is today.

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Bart with his favourite guitar in the studio his uncle built by hand.

Bart selects his favourite guitar from a rack of many in the cosy backyard studio that his Uncle Alan hand built in the early 90s. He plays a riff from Johnny Walker’s Shoes – the first song off The Pigram Brothers’ 2001 Jiir album – and the way his fingers dance across the frets is mesmerising.

From the depths of my little trance, I can’t seem to conjure

anything better than ‘how did you learn to play?’ Bart shrugs modestly. ‘I grew up listening to dad playing in the style of his hero, Mississippi John Hurt. I suppose I’ve been trying to get to the old man’s level – but I never will. The music that he’s written in that finger picking style – not many people can play it.’

AIRNORTH CABLE BEACH POLO 2017 MAGAZINE | BART’S MELTING POT

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I glance around the studio at Pinctada maxima pearl shells in shell nets adorning the walls. On closer inspection, I see that each shell has been signed by an artist; Kelly, Roach, Camilleri, Chambers, Cassar-Daly, Higgins and many others. I take a moment to read their tributes to the Pigram family – oh, to be a fly on the pearl shell on the wall when those musicians were here.

We’re back in the car and Bart is shedding light on local language differences, pronunciations and interpretations – how the dialects vary subtly across this land. But it’s not just language, it’s also customs – with each clan having different rules and different laws that need to be respected, not to mention the invisible shared boundaries between traditional lands. It sounds complicated – it feels complicated, but then again, it has been tens of thousands of years in the making.

Bart pulls up on a gentle hill overlooking the bay where we learn about the origins of Broome, centering on a key water hole a stone’s throw from the Roebuck Hotel. He shares this history with an easy generosity of spirit – there’s not an ounce of malice in his voice directed at white settlers, ‘It’s not about pointing the finger at anyone,’ Bart says earnestly, ‘In Broome, we celebrate all cultures. We’re a true mongrel town.’

Bart’s wonderful tour concludes at the Runway Bar and Restaurant in Carnarvon Street where he’s got a surprise lined up for me. ‘This is Naomi, my big sister,’ he says

Top: The intimate recording studio at Alan Pigram’s house Bottom: A great way to record classic autographs of music legends.

proudly. ‘We’re going to do a couple of songs for you,’ he nods at the microphone adjacent to our table. As if that isn’t special enough, I’m now being served their nanna’s legendary Fish Soup and Rice – made famous by their father’s lyrics: ‘hey mum, I can just taste your fish soup and rice. I’m coming back home to you.’ The earthy fish broth is like nothing I’ve ever tasted, and there’s some mysterious edge to it. Bart senses my next question before I get the chance to ask it. ‘Nanna never shared the secret ingredient,’ he says, ‘but this is pretty right I reckon.’

Top: Nanna Pigram’s famous ‘Fish Soup and Rice.’

Bottom: Bart and Naomi Pigram in full flight.

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BART’S MELTING POT | AIRNORTH CABLE BEACH POLO 2017 MAGAZINE

I feel that Bart has been a touch diffident about his musical talents and take the opportunity to quiz Naomi while we eat. ‘You know, he’s the closest thing to my dad you can get in terms of style. You don’t hear that finger picking technique much – but Bart’s mastered it. Don’t know how – it’s just come out.’ Moments later, Bart’s fingers are plucking chords effortlessly and with Naomi’s haunting vocals, the cafĂŠ is brought to a stop as patrons, bypassers and staff are magnetically drawn into the music. The siblings do a short set of three beautifully executed pieces – Dear Alistair from the first Pigram Brothers album, Feel Like Going Back Home (featuring nanna’s famous dish), and another stunning tune – Broome and Pearls – written by a much loved family elder, Ellen Puertollano.

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Bart says that this musical interlude is the ideal finale to a tour for guests looking for that authentic blend of culture, music and food. Even though the secret ingredient for Fish Soup and Rice may never be known, there’s no question that Bart and Naomi Pigram have created a bounteous feast of experiences that would make their Nanna very proud.

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Visitors to Broome can choose from a number of Bart Pigramâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Narlijia (â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;True for youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;) Cultural Tours â&#x20AC;&#x201C; most can be tailored to different sized groups. Bart can be contacted on 08 9195 0232 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; or through narlijiatours@gmail.com. Visit narlijiaculturaltours.com.au or toursbroome.com.au 3 ( $ 5 / ( 5 Č&#x192; 6 % 2 $ 5 ' :$ / . ' $ 0 3 , ( 5 7 ( 5 5 $ & ( % 5 2 2 0 ( :$ Č&#x2039; 7 Č&#x2039; : : : * $ /: ( < 3 ( $ 5 / 6 & 2 0 $ 8 (0 *DOZD\ )3B8%* $GBY LQGG

Top right: Naomi Pigram shares her beautiful voice Bottom right: Bartâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s emulates his fatherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s talent for finger picking music Top left: Naomi and Bart on their musical tour of the town Bottom left: Guests enjoy the vibe of the mango tree

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AIRNORTH CABLE BEACH POLO 2017 MAGAZINE | STORY

AIRNORTH CABLE BEACH POLO 2018

26â&#x20AC;&#x201C;27 May

SAVE THE DATE

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WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK ALL OUR SPONSORS AND PARTNERS EVENT TITLE SPONSOR

MATCH TITLE SPONSORS

www.cablebeachpolo.com.au TEAM SPONSORS

OFFICIAL HOTEL

PARTNER HOTELS

SUPPORTING SPONSORS AND PARTNERS

PUBLISHER: Cable Beach Polo Pty Ltd., PO Box 3334 Broome WA 6725 Australia, Phone: +61 8 9192 0588, Email: info@cablebeachpolo.com.au, www.cablebeachpolo.com.au PHOTOGRAPHY Cable Beach Polo Pty Ltd and Don Bacon. ART DIRECTION & LAYOUT Grant Day James. Printed in Australia.

Reprinting, including excerpts, is not permitted without the authorisation of the publisher. All rights reserved

2 S H O R T S T R E E T, B R O O M E P A S P A L E Y. C O M