BMW Marque Magazine - Summer issue 2014

SHOWSTOPPER Cameron Mackintosh’s epic re-working of the world’s most popular musical, Les Misérables, storms into Perth

age of elegance Step back in time with a beautifully preserved BMW 3.0CS

THE AUTO CLASSIC MAGAZINE

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MQ REVIEW

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SAM TEOH ARCHITECTS is a design-orientated boutique architecture practice providing high-quality architecture and interior design with an emphasis on solar-efficient design and environmentally-friendly materials.

Our enthusiastic team is passionate about what they do and dedicated to the pursuit of high-quality design.

We take time to listen to our clients and provide a personal service to ensure a smooth building process.

Our attention to detail, coupled with our significant industry-experience, ensures innovative and practical workable solutions from concept through to fruition.

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Perth's leading fine art gallery, specialising in Contemporary Painting and Sculpture Open 7 days | Monday - Saturday 10am-5pm & Sunday 11am-4pm The Old Perth Technical School | Level 1/137 St Georges Terrace, Perth T. 08 6465 4314 | perth@lintonandkay.com.au

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CONTENTS MARQUE | THE AUTO CLASSIC MAGAZINE | SUMMER EDITION

86

WELCOME TO MARQUE MAGAZINE

S

ummer is finally upon us and, for many, that means time to unwind with the family, enjoy a holiday with good food and drink. You’ll find plenty to inspire on all these fronts in the summer issue of Marque magazine, from travel ideas (a bespoke cruise around the Indonesian archipelago and an ultra luxurious stay in the Caribbean) to learning how to make cheese from scratch in the Swan Valley.

We’ve had a busy few months here at Auto Classic too, introducing customers to the amazing iBrand range of cars (the i3, pictured above, and the i8) as well as a thrilling BMW Drive Day experience which allowed a lucky few to put some BMW M cars through their paces.

We’ve introduced a new feature - MQ Vintage - where experienced motoring writer Paul Blank takes readers on a tour of a BMW classic - in this case, the gorgeous BMW 3.0CS. We’re pleased too to introduce a first for WA - the BMW Genius aka Aidan Gregan) who is on hand every day here at Auto Classic to help customers get the most out of their new purchase.

Matthew Mills reviews the all-new X4 while we’re pleased to roll out the new MINI 5 Door too as well as our cover star, the Series 2 Active Tourer.

Perth is in for a treat later this month when the 25th-anniversary production of Les Miserables comes to town - read Gabi Mills’ exclusive interview with three of its stars. There’s also a treat in store for music lovers when two of the world’s greatest performers - Paul Simon and Sting - join forces on stage for an open air show - it’s not to be missed.

Finally Rob Broadfield, The West Australian's irrepresible food critic shares his Seven Deadly Sins (hint - he mentions food a lot).

Happy Christmas and a safe new year to all.

34 12 .................. MQ TIPS

60 VINE MAGIC Three of WA’s very best winemakers

he hottest shows, events, T hotels and ideas around

18................. MQ CLASSIC

he William HofmeisterT designed BMW 3.0CS

20................ MQ BEAUTY

eet Dr Dennis Millard of M Utopian Cosmetics

24................ MQ CITY

ydney’s Shangri-La is better S than ever thanks to a refurb

32................ MQ BMW REVIEW

The exciting BMW X4

34................ MQ BUILD

ulti award-winning builder M Urbane Projects sets the bar very high

36................ MQ TRAVEL

26 SAVE THE CHILDREN Tara Winkler has changed the

Darrin Brandon Dealer Principal, Auto Classic

lives of hundreds of Cambodian kids thanks to her charity work

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Cruise in style with Tiger Blue

42................ MQ TRAVEL

ive the luxury island life in St L Barts, says Gill Pringle

46................ MQ MUSIC

Paul Simon and Sting get ready

to rock Perth

48................ MQ BMW COVER STORY

BMW Series 2 Active Tourer

36 BMW/MINI

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48 52................. MQ APPETITE

earn to make cheese in the L beautiful Swan Valley

56................ MQ MINI PREVIEW

eet the all-new MINI M 5-door

58................ MQ LAUNCH

The new iBrand range

70

WA’s most talented winemakers tocking up for summer, S the international shopper way

68................ MQ GENIUS

Aidan Gregan is WA’s first BMW ‘genius’

PowerDive system

76................ MY MQ

Aquariums are big business for two Auto Classic customers

78................ MQ PERFORMANCE

The Les Misérables behemoth comes to town we meet the actors behind Javert, Valjean and Fantine

72................ MQ BUSINESS CLASS

Qantas is put through its paces

86................ MQ LAST WORD

The West’s food reviewer,

Rob Broadfield reveals all Publisher

Published by Premium Publishers, Freemasons House, 181 Roberts Road, Subiaco WA 6008.

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Hassle-free diving with the

64................ MQ FASHION

he thrill of the racing T circuit

72................ MQ R n' R

60................ MQ THIRST

Rob Geddes meets three of

MQ EXPERIENCE

Ph (08) 9273 8933 W premiumpublishers. com.au

Aisha Iscel | aisha@premiumpublishers.com.au

Editor

Gabi Mills | gabi@premiumpublishers.com.au

Art Director

Cally Browning | cally@barecreative.com.au

Contributors Paul Blank, Rob Geddes, Matthew Mills, Gill Pringle, Sandra Harris Ramini Images

Crib Creative, Matt Jelonek

Sales

Gloria Karageorge | sales@premiumpublishers.com.au

Kay Cohen | kay@kaycohen.com.au

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PREMIUM PUBLISHERS

TIPS

The hottest shows, the best new innovations, travel inspiration and best theatrical openings

MY CITY

By Sally Kelly | Managing Director, Assured Hotels in Western Australia

W P&O RETURNS to WA F

or those who love the good life on the high seas, there's some very good news indeed. P&O Cruises will be basing its superliner Pacific Jewel in Freo for an exotic season of cruises to Indonesia, Asia and Western Australian ports from March 2015.

It's the first time the cruise company has based a superliner in the state since the smaller 47,000 tonne Pacific Sun was based in WA a few years ago.

Voyages include a 12-night sail to Lombok, Bali and Komodo Island, as well as calls to Broome and Geraldton, priced from $899 per person quad share. Meanwhile a 14-night cruise from Fremantle to Singapore, with calls to Indonesia, Brunei, Malaysia and Vietnam, is priced from $899 per person quad share.

Announcing the move, P&O Cruises

Senior Vice President Tammy Marshall said the new schedule confirmed Western Australia’s position on the nation’s cruise map.

“As demand for cruising grows across Australia we’re seeing an increase in passenger numbers from Western Australia as well as growing interest in the State’s cruise destinations from travellers across Australia,” Ms Marshall said.

“Our latest program responds to that demand and we expect Pacific Jewel’s season of cruises from Fremantle to be very popular among local and interstate travellers.”

Meanwhile Pacific Eden will call Freo home for a record three months, offering 13 cruises from April to July 2016.

Visit pocruises.com.au or call 132494 for details of the 2015 schedule of cruises.

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hat a decade of change we have seen in the Perth hotel sector. Perth used to be the country cousin in the room rate stakes - 10 years ago national companies negotiating room rates across Australia expected their rate in Perth to be significantly less than for a comparable hotel in Sydney, and availability was seldom an issue. Fast forward to 2012 and rooms in Perth were in short supply and often more expensive than on the east coast.

It has been a bit of a rollercoaster ride – the demand fuelled by mining and resources sheltered many of us in Perth from the worst of the GFC and we recovered to see strong results in 2011 to 2012, but the heady days are over and we are all back to working hard to achieve our share of the smaller market with the impact of significant costcutting by major corporations and a general mindset of reduced spending across many sectors.

The focus on value for money makes apartment hotels a good choice – some of our corporate clients are now using the two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartments at Assured Ascot Quays Apartment Hotel as two single suites to accommodate two

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THE WORLD’S FIRST FLYING BUTLERS

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n elite group of Etihad Airways cabin crew are set to become the aviation world’s first flying butlers, having recently completed a specially tailored threeweek training course in London.

The handpicked team of 13 men and women from a diverse range of countries – all based in the airline’s home of Abu Dhabi – demonstrated their outstanding hospitality skills during training at the world-renowned Savoy Hotel in the UK’s capital.

A series of masterclasses given by the hotel’s Head Butler, Sean Davoren, focused on etiquette and protocol, valet skills and

concierge services, to boost the cabin crew’s existing high-level customer service experience.

The role of the world’s first flying butler is to look after VIP guests booked in Etihad Airways’ ground-breaking three-room cabin, The Residence by Etihad, which features a living room, private shower room and double bedroom.

The Residence takes to the air this month on board the airline’s first Airbus A380 aircraft. The A380 will be deployed on Etihad Airways’ premium Abu Dhabi to London Heathrow route.

personnel at significantly less cost per person than two normal hotel rooms. Families are also benefiting from the growth in availability of apartment-style hotels.

Another change over the last decade has been the shift to dynamic pricing.

At Assured we moved into the dynamic pricing model earlier than most Perth hotels, and have found it a win-win for both us and our guests. Credit has to go to the airline industry where the concept was pioneered.

Hotel rooms used to be sold at a fixed rate - now we have BAR. With the other major change of online bookings, BAR has become

a well known acronym for Best Available Rate.

BAR fluctuates daily, generally quite low for bookings made well in advance and higher for bookings close to the date of stay if there are only a few rooms available.

Government incentives have encouraged considerable interest in development of new hotels in Perth, however with the levelling off of demand it is anticipated many will not proceed.

Those that do will leave the city well serviced, with existing hotels including our Assured properties continuing to refurbish to provide a high standard.

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The newly qualified flying butlers, who all currently work as in-flight chefs or food and beverage managers on board Etihad Airways’ long-haul fleet of aircraft, were given the special training at the London School of Hospitality and Tourism at the University of West London, as well as on-the-job training at the Savoy Hotel.

The Savoy was chosen by Etihad Airways’ management as the premier location for the tailored training course, as the hotel was the first in the world to establish its own academy to teach professional butlers.

Sean Davoren, the Savoy’s Head Butler, said: “The Etihad Airways trainees have been an absolute joy to work with and they all now possess the skills required to provide the highest standard of hospitality for the airline’s premium guests, by blending the discretion of a traditional English butler with the efficiency of a 21st-century personal assistant.”

The first Etihad Airways A380 service will fly from the UAE capital to London’s Heathrow Airport on 27 December. The airline will receive three more of the superjumbo aircraft in 2015 and the new planes will fly from Abu Dhabi to London and Abu Dhabi to Sydney. New York will follow as the next destination for the A380.

Visit etihad.com for information.

MQ TIPS

G I

Toast Hogmanay in style

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he Scots know how to celebrate the new year properly, charging their collective glasses with a drop or two of single malt as the clock chimes midnight. In that spirit, an Australian-produced single malt may be the toast of choice as 2015 begins, its excellence securing a place next to its Scottish competitors with honour and pride.

Hellyers Road Distillery hit a notable milestone earlier in the year, releasing its second aged statement single malt. Make no mistake; this is a world-class whisky, produced by the largest boutique distillery in Australia.

Their limited edition, single cask release, The Gorge was recognised as the nation’s second best single malt while its Peated and 10 Year Aged also received high marks from the judging panel. At the same awards in 2010 the distillery was credited as producing the best single malt in the country so this latest recognition continues a run of success for the emerging whisky producer.

In late September the distillery also showcased its products at the world’s largest whisky event, Whisky Live - Paris. In 2013 its Pinot Noir Finish was recognised as Best New World Whisky in blind tastings held at this event, a feat they anticipate will springboard their distribution efforts in Europe.

2014 has been a busy year for Hellyers Road. As well as garnering so many awards, the distillery has also welcomed in excess of 20,000 visitors to its Burnie Visitor Centre.

A word to the wise - this 12-year old single malt is destined to become a benchmark Australian single malt.

TASTING NOTES: Released in 2014, this superb whisky imbues a calming softness, reflective of its age. An elegant, gentle spirit that extols an oily sweetness over tones of vanilla and citrus. The mellow aftertaste provides reward for effort and a subtle reminder of the pleasures this hallmark spirit embodies.

F T

WISH LIST

BMW have Christmas all wrapped up with MQ's top gift ideas for the festive season.

G U I

D E

$99

BMW VISION EFFICIENT DYNAMICS REMOTE CONTROL MINIATURE The BMW Vision EfficientDynamics concept car is a symbol of progress and must be top of the list for any self-respecting BMW fan this Christmas. Even as a scale model, it impresses with its dynamic sports

car character, its precise lines, distinctive front and sporty rear are perfectly reproduced in the 1:14 scale miniature. Thanks to the driving function you can even get moving - into the future.

FLEX DUFFLE BAG Thanks to Flex Form Technology, this lightweight yet sturdy sports bag developed by OGIO will always stay upright. The large opening of the main storage section and padded straps ensure effortless handling. Additional features include a shoe compartment, two outer pockets, and a front section with a fleecelined mobile phone slot and room for your drink bottle too.

$119

GOLF BAG 9-inch bag with generous interior dimensions and numerous storage compartments as well as a weatherproof, lined pocket for your valuables. It's easy on the shoulder too thanks to padded straps and threepoint design. There's a quickgrab drinks holder and easily accessible scorecard holder while the aluminium stand has a solid foot design that prevents it from sinking into the ground.

Includes matching rain cover.

M BOARD CASE

$419

Travel in style with this handy boardcase. There's a retractable telescopic handle and the red zip provides a colourful highlight (easier to spot on the conveyor too), along with the zip pull featuring the M stripe design and small inlaid BMW M logo plate on the handle.

$279

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NOVOTEL NINGALOO RESORT EXMOUTH

ONLY RESORT ON THE BEACH AT NINGALOO

SUMMER BONUS Pay for four nights and get a fifth night FREE* * conditions apply

GATEWAY TO THE WORLD HERITAGE-LISTED NINGALOO REEF • Luxurious 4.5 star resort • Gold Plate Award winning Mantaray's restaurant and bar • Lounge, swimming pool and gymnasium • Snorkel the Ningaloo Reef and swim with whale sharks • Safari tour Cape Range National Park • Stunning sunrises on Sunrise Beach • Humpback whale watching tours • Located adjacent to the Exmouth Marina with ample parking for boats and trailers

Call 9949 0000 or email reservations@novotelningaloo.com.au

novotelningaloo.com.au

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MQ TIPS

Let's go to ... Kangaroo Island

By Trish Gallagher

VISIT The Remarkable Rocks in Flinders Chase National Park, in situ for 500 millions years, are a sight to behold and stroke. Experience the force of the southern winds belting the coastline and you’ll understand how these monolithic granite formations where created. Thanks to the red lichen covering them, the rocks have a vibrant marmalade hue depending on when the sun hits. Busy in high season, visit early morning or late afternoon to avoid crowds.

Flinders Chase National Park, S Coast Rd, Flinders Chase SA 5223, (08) 8553 4450

EAT & DRINK

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ost sealers and convicts who escaped the clutches of authority first set foot on this wild fragment of Australia in the 1800s, long after the Aboriginal people left, having lived there for 16,000 years prior.

Matthew Flinders, on his way around Australia, landed on the rugged north coast and named it after the very first thing he saw – a roo. Whether you stay for a day or a week or a month, there's plenty to do on KI, just a short 30-minute plane ride from Adelaide.

DO Explore as much as you can by car, foot or cycle. This is truly a diverse landscape with so much to see, from the dense mallee scrub to the wild coastlines of the island. The Visitor Information Centre in Penneshaw is excellent - lining up quad biking, helicopter rides, adventure caving at Kelly Hill or coastal trips where you can get up close and personal with dolphins, sea lions and whales.

If kicking back is more your style and food is on your agenda, book the KI Food Safari – a seven-night event

that takes in the very best produce and experiences with a foodie slant that the island has to offer. Tickets include BBQs and drinks, tours of the island producers and a long lazy lunches.

STAY Southern Ocean Lodge sits on the southern coast of Kangaroo Island and is a peaceful oasis nestled into the side of the breathtaking coastline. Lodgings snake down the incline of Hanson Bay, each apartment affording views out into the denim coloured southern ocean.

This isn’t a shipping run, so you will see nothing but bright stars in the inky sky when the sun goes down.

The restaurant and great room act as an anchor to the Lodge, a place to come, have a wine from the Lodge's cellar, relax and unwind. If a bit of adventure is on your cards, the Lodge will happily arrange day trips to all of the island's natural wonders and small producers dotted across the landscape. southernoceanlodge.com. au, Hanson Bay Road, Kingscote SA 5223, (02) 9918 4355

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Southern Ocean Lodge’s head chef Tim Burke creates exquisite dishes using locally fished, farmed and foraged produce. We dined on local marron, oysters and kingfish and Barossa Valley Berkshire pork, all delicately prepared

by Tim’s tightly run kitchen.

The island is also home to KIS or Kangaroo Island Spirits, producing a range of gins, vodkas and liquers, some of which have been sweeping the awards table due to small batch production and use of island botanicals.

Their most popular (by this writer’s standard) is the Wild Gin, using native juniper, cassia, pink pepper and ginger.

KIS Distillery & Cellar Door, 856 Playford Highway, Cygnet River, 5223

DON’T MISS A trip to Island Beehive. Peter Davis who owns and operates Island Beehive is a KI native and is passionate about his Ligurian bees. This friendly little bee has been on the island since the beginning of the last century and today produces more than 100 commercial tonnes of the liquid amber for domestic and highly sought after international markets. Be prepared to gorge on honey icecream, honey-filled chocolates and stellar coffee.

Island Beehive, 59 Playford Highway , Kingscote, South Australia, 5223, (08) 8553 0080

GETTING THERE Rex Airways offers a direct flight to Kingscote from Adelaide Airport four times per day and the journey takes approximately 35 minutes.

Sealink leaves from Cape Jervis (1.5 hrs drive from Adelaide) and the ferry trip to Penneshaw on Kangaroo Island is 45 minutes, not as quick as the plane, but scenic.

Please note that in inclement weather the ferry service will not run.

AUTOCLASSIC.COM.AU

RESCUED FOOD FEEDS THOSE MOST IN NEED

A CORPORATE AND café driven initiative connecting rescued sandwiches, rolls and wraps from CBD cafes to feed people in need created an Australian first when Uniting Care West’s Food Rescue service rolled out its unique cargo cart project in the City of Perth.

The initiative is also marked by its contribution to diverting organic waste from the landfill.

Two carts operate each day in the CBD with corporate volunteers from Alinta Energy, Argonaut, Ausenco, Rio Tinto, Bankwest, QBE, Clayton Utz, PWC, Wespac, Business News, Bank West, Brookfield Place and the Waste Authority taking part in the daily runs, collecting food which is then distributed

by Food Rescue’s refrigerated vans to homeless support centres including Manna Inc, The Salvos and Uniting Care West’s Tranby Inner City and Family Foundations Services.

With one volunteer pushing the cart and two collecting the food from the cafes, city workers will get used to seeing Perth’s distinctive red-clad Food Rescue heroes providing an innovative solution to a society which on one hand consumes so much when so many do not have enough.

Visit http://www.unitingcarewest. org.au/services/food-rescue/

Russell Blaikie, Food Rescue’s Food Ambassador and chef and partner at Must Wine Bar said that as a chef it upset him to see fresh food discarded when it could be put to good use for people who were hungry, a sentiment echoed by the many participating cafes who have already joined the push to reduce waste and ensure that those who are hungry have something to eat.

Festive treat for Whovians SONIC screwdrivers at the ready - the Doctor Who Symphonic Spectacular will be performing for the first time in Perth with two shows on January 31 at Perth Arena.

Featuring a cast of over 145 musicians, actors and singers and presented by the Fifth Doctor, Peter Davison, MARQUE SUMMER

not to mention Daleks, Cybermen and a host of other Doctor Who monsters, Doctor Who Symphonic Spectacular is a musical celebration of the iconic TV series which last year celebrated its 50th anniversary.

It includes special edited sequences of Peter Capaldi's debut as the Twelfth Doctor, as well as fan favorites from recent series and classic nostalgic footage.

Composer Murray Gold’s captivating music will be performed by Australia’s finest musicians and singers including the West Australian Symphony Orchestra.

For fans keen to put their questions to Peter Davison and find out more about how the show is put together, there are Ultimate Fan VIP packages from $349 available.

Visit pertharena.com.au or ticketek.com.au to book seats.

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Two ships.

Two nations. One extraordinary story.

T

o commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Cocos (Australia’s first naval engagement of World War One), the Western Australian Museum has curated and produced a compelling exhibition that speaks of the tributes that flowed to both the victor and the vanquished.

The Last Gentlemen of War recreates the events of an extraordinary battle in 1914. The first HMAS Sydney met the German light cruiser Emden at the Cocos Islands.

The result? A decisive victory for the Royal Australian Navy in its first-ever wartime engagement. But Emden deserves her fame.

This exhibition recreates the events surrounding the Battle of Cocos and tells a story of decency, honour and even humour – a stark contrast to the bloody, protracted acts of war that would quickly follow.

The Last Gentlemen of War, Western Australian Maritime Museum, Victoria Quay, Fremantle, until April 26, 2015, free (entry fees apply to other exhibits at WA Maritime Museum).

CLASSIC

TIMELESS ELEGANCE

There’s a beautifully preserved example of the BMW 3.0CS right here in Perth says Paul Blank - a classic which still stirs the soul.

O

ne of the cars that put BMW firmly on the map of those brands making luxurious and elegant sporting models was the famous 3.0CS. The model had developed from a pillarless coupe made from 1965, with a two-litre, four-cylinder engine, but when BMW introduced their new line of six-cylinder engines, making a version of the coupe with this advanced new engine made perfect sense.

By extending the front of the car and adding styling akin to the new E3 sedan models, the result was one of the great classics - a beautiful and timeless design, with performance to back-up the styling, which brought MARQUE SUMMER

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international recognition and success.

BMW’s designer of the era William Hofmeister, is credited with the styling, which brought with it several themes that stayed with BMW for years to come.

Initially using a 2.8-litre six-cylinder, the three-litre was added in 1971. With this came four-wheel disc brakes, power steering and uprated front suspension.

Fuel injection also became available, giving the car 149kW (200 horsepower) and a top speed of 215km/h.

BMW had the bodies for the coupes built off-site by well-known German coachbuilder Karmann.

The coupes were marketed in Australia, but were relatively expensive, reflecting the nature of the car. By 1975 a 3.0CSi was priced at $19,279, when a BMW 2002 was half that price.

One such example of this glamorous model is owned

by Perth enthusiast Nigel Giles.

Coming off the production line on October 11 1971, his car was delivered new in June 1972 in Nice, on the French

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Riviera to a wealthy English lady, who 10 years later took the car to the United Kingdom.

In 1998 the car was purchased by an Australian who brought the car to his home in Peppermint Grove before undertaking some upgrading.

A new engine was installed, along with changing the original 4-speed gearbox for a Getrag 5-speed unit. A limited slip differential was installed, as had been optional on the car when new.

The car was repainted in 2011 and is now resplendent in Polaris Silver, which was a popular BMW colour for many years. The chrome-work and rubber parts were replaced, but the interior remains substantially original and untouched – testament to the quality of

a car made over 40 years ago.

The current owner has needed to do little to the car in the two years he’s owned it, aside from enjoying the evocative, classic car.

I drove the car to the photo-shoot and it was an absolute delight to drive - smooth, powerful and with excellent handling - all the things the model was so admired for when new. And of course its stylishness has not diminished with the years.

BMW also produced a lightweight competition version of this model, called the CSL. With aluminium panels and an expanded, modified engine, the CSL proved tremendously successful in the European Touring Car Championship, delivering BMW five championship wins and helping cement the performance image of the company, which it maintains to this day.

When production finished in 1975, just over 30,000 of these elegant six-cylinder coupes had been made.

Today, they are highly desirable collector’s items. MQ

The current owner has needed to do little to the car in the two years he’s owned it, aside from enjoying the evocative, classic car.

SUBLIME The beautifully preserved 1971 BMW 3.0CS is a pleasure to drive, with many of the original features in fantastic condition. .

PAUL BLANK is a Perth-based classic motor writer and would love to hear from classic BMW-owners who read Marque magazine for future issues. Please contact Paul at paulb@classicrally.com.au.

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BEAUTY

PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT A new cosmetic injectables practice is introducing non-invasive, surgery-free solutions to clients, keen to look their very best this summer.

D

r Dennis Millard has the kind of bedside manner that, if bottled, could make him a fortune. As director of Utopian Cosmetics, his clients are treated to extra long appointments where he assesses every aspect of their cosmetic aspirations. The luxury of time is something those who’ve already discovered the Utopian difference wouldn’t swap for the world.

The talented doctor has always been interested in cosmetic medicine, a throw-back perhaps to his younger days as a male model.

That particular career path however was abruptly curtailed after a horrific surfing accident which resulted in

Dr Millard breaking his neck and smashing up his face on the rocks.

“I was unconscious in the water, just off Brighton Beach in Scarborough, and my friend had to pull me to shore and I had to go through major surgery to rebuild my face,” he says, touching his cheekbones which, it’s fair to say, you’d never know are now reinforced with metal plates.

During a medical placement in the emergency department on the east coast, Dr Millard was approached by a colleague to train in cosmetic medicine procedures and was hooked from then on.

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HEY GOOD LOOKING Dr Dennis Millard, director of Utopian Cosmetics, has his eyes firmly set on delivering the best possible care for his clients.

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and demanding ‘day job’ working in anaesthetics for the past five years, Dr Millard has recently opened his own cosmetic injectables practice - Utopian Cosmetics - and is fast becoming the professional of choice for those keen to improve a little on what nature gave them.

“Many injections in other practices are administered by nurses, but at Utopian Cosmetics we believe in giving a premium service which involves only doctors performing injections.

“We believe in our clients being in the best possible hands - and that means procedures performed by doctors.”

Botox, dermal fillers, teeth grinding, hyperhydrosis (a treatment to stop excessive underarm sweating), hair loss and injection lipolysis are the most popular treatments on offer from Dr Millard and his team at Utopian Cosmetics.

“Dermal fillers, which can last from between six months to three years, can replace lost volume anywhere in the face, rejuvenating a person’s appearance in a really effective way, while lipolysis is a great way to ‘melt the muffin top’, especially when used over a series of treatments and in conjunction with an exercise regime to keep the fat cells from returning.”

Part of the Utopian Cosmetics’ point of difference is Dr Millard and the team’s gentle determination to get to know patients in depth, offering treatments which, based on his knowledge, will be of the most benefit - and not necessarily what the patient themselves may think they need.

“My philosophy is to help my clients to look as healthy and young as possible but I’m very much about a natural look,” he says.

“If somebody comes to me and wants that typical ‘frozen’ or fake

look, I’ll refer them elsewhere. It’s just not something I offer.”

At least a quarter of the practice’s current customer base is male and Dr Millard is pleased to see that his male customers appear to be ‘looking after themselves more’ these days.

“Male grooming as a whole has improved over the years and it’s perhaps only a natural next step for those clients to consider getting Botox or fillers.”

Managing excessive sweating is also a surprising part of his practice.

“Botox prevents excessive sweat excretion with no nasty side effects,” he says.

“Underarm sweating is a relatively primitive reflex and these days we can control it.”

A full client questionnaire covering the state of their health and lifestyle choices is completed at the first appointment, as well as pretreatment photos to show before and after progress.

“Under certain medical conditions, it’s not possible to treat clients - for instance during pregnancy, breastfeeding and some neuro-muscular diseases,” he says.

“After the medical consultation,

It’s a refreshingly honest and relaxing approach to making the most of a person’s natural beauty and, where necessary ... giving nature a little hand

I’ll then give them a cosmetic consultation and will work within their expectations and desires of what they’d like to achieve. I’ll listen and then suggest what I think might help, using my experience to suggest the best solution.”

As a result, clients have the luxury of long appointments with Dr Millard, a reflection again of his desire to practice ‘ethical medicine’.

“If it becomes apparent that a surgical procedure may be the best option, then of course I will recommend the best surgeon for this thanks to my wide network of contacts.”

It’s a refreshingly honest and relaxing approach to making the most of a person’s natural beauty and, where necessary, giving nature a little hand if the years or Australia’s harsh sunshine have taken their toll.

“I won’t offer anything they don’t need,” says Dr Millard. “We believe in enriching the lives of our patients by, first and foremost, helping them achieve confidence in themselves.” MQ For more information about treatments available call 1300 311 755, visit utopiancosmetics.com.au or email info@ utopiancosmetics.com.au.

108 Stirling Highway Nedlands 9616 3522 soundcentre.com.au

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WATCHWATCH By Norman Burns Images Courtesy Sinn, Cartier, Breitling, Edox, Alpina, Guiliano Mazzuoli, Piaget, IWC Schaffhausen

CHRISTMAS TIME

If there’s one festive gift that keeps giving, it’s a beautiful timepiece.

IN THIS WORLD of instant gratification there is something strangely comforting about a piece of equipment that harks back to the pre-digital age.

And what else encapsulates style, glamour, bling, functionality and machismo - and love for another - other than a great watch? And, for the ladies, a bit of razzle dazzle (diamonds and the like) is an added bonus.

Properly looked after, watches will work, well, like clockwork for decades and indeed can be passed from one generation to the next.

MQ takes a look at some of the latest and greatest watches that would make a truly dazzling stocking filler.

MEN Few would disagree that the whole “watch fandom” thing is pretty much a man’s domain. And for quite a while now the mantra among watchmakers has been “big is better”, with timepieces up to 46mm in diameter not uncommon. There are signs though that smaller, more subtle watches are on the way back. But whether you’re a less-is-more kind of guy or someone who wants to make sure the world knows what’s on your wrist, there are plenty of fantastic new models to suit everyone’s tastes.

BREITLING CHRONOMAT 44 RAVEN “Retro” is very much in vogue in watchmaking, and Breitling’s groovy, 44mm Chronomat 44 Raven ticks all the boxes with its 1970s-flavour orange and black colour scheme and funky, unidirectional, ratcheted, rotating outer bezel. But mere aesthetics don’t cut it with Breitling, a world leader in “instruments for professionals”, and this is a watch with some serious functional firepower: water-resistant to 200m, its Breitling Caliber 01 automatic movement is chronometer-certified (the highest standards of accuracy for a wristwatch). Add the tachymetre scale on the inner bezel, chronograph sundials (1/4th second, 30 minutes, 12 hours) and 70 hours’ power reserve and this is indeed a lot of “toy-for-a-boy”. $11,970.

Visit breitling.com

EDOX HYDROSUB Boutique Swiss watchmaker Edox has this big, bold beauty, a “reedition” of its classic diver’s watch released in 1965. This one is limited to just 350 pieces worldwide and has been launched in conjunction with an expedition to the North Pole planned for February next year by champion free diver Christian Redl and Australian photographer Markus Fillinger. The case back is engraved to mark the project, while the 49mm HydroSub (water-resistant to 500m) features a special crown protector to shield the watch from the extreme conditions Redl and Fillinger will encounter during their trek to the magnetic North Pole.

Nicely collectable and with a pretty reasonable price tag to boot ($3600).

Visit lionbrands.com.au

ALPINA SEASTRONG DIVER 300 Geneva-based Alpina arrived in the Australian market only this year but has a watchmaking legacy dating back to 1883 and lays claim to inventing the concept of the “sports watch” with its Alpina 4 in 1938. Diver’s watches (whether you venture under the sea or not) are a massive seller worldwide and the Seastrong Diver 300 is a beautifully slick example, sporting an Alpina automatic movement at its heart. The rotating, unidirectional bezel is used to mark off dive times.With glow-in-the-dark Superluminova markings, the Seastrong is perfectly readable if you are deep under the briny (and it is water-resistant to 300m) or deep into a late night out. Yours for $2050. Visit lionbrandsaustralia.com.au MARQUE SUMMER

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GIULIANO MAZZUOLI MANOMETRO Italian style and Swiss watchmaking know-how add up to an irresistible combination with the Mazzuoli Manometro.

Inspired by - of all things - a tyre pressure gauge, Italian designer Giuliano Mazzuoli came up with this striking, uncluttered design which offers a real point of difference in the men’s watch market. An automatic Swiss ETA movement, housed in a polished steel case, runs the show. A natural calf-skin Tuscan leather strap complements the watch to a tee. Basic models start (Mazzuoli has a whole range of auto-themed timepieces) from $4200 and Mazzuoli even offers variants with the winding crown at 10 o’clock for “lefties”. Visit cooltime.com.au

PIAGET BLACK TIE These new pieces (to be officially released in January at the SIHH show in Geneva) from Piaget invoke an Audrey Hepburn-like Breakfast at Tiffany’s sense of style and no wonder - the Swiss manufacture has “re-imagined” several of its classic designs from the 1960s. An automatic Piaget 534P movement ticks away beneath oval dials made, by master craftsmen, from lapis lazuli, jade or hard ruby, while the shimmering gold bracelets are works of art themselves, the “palace” effect mimicking a ribbon on the skin. And, topped off with a stunning ring of diamonds around the bezel, what more could a girl want? Price to be determined. Visit piaget.com

WOMEN SINN 342 TW66S A Sinn-ful Christmas? Why not. German watchmaker Sinn (pronounced Zinn) is a market leader in ultra-tough, technically advanced men’s watches but shows its feminine side with this stylish beauty. An 18-carat white gold bezel is set with 66 Wesselton diamonds while the oblong case, in true Sinn style, is constructed from tough, highly-polished and light-on-the-wrist titanium. An automatic Swiss ETA movement is under the hood.

Yours for $8235. Visit definewatches.com.au

IWC PORTOFINO MID-SIZE AUTOMATIC

CARTIER BALLON BLANC DE CARTIER

Drawing its inspiration from the idyllic lifestyle of Italy’s Portofino region, IWC’s new Portofino mid-size range sparkles with elegance. The Swiss manufacture says the range isn’t aimed exclusively at women but there’s no doubt it's the fairer sex who would make a beeline for this lovely number, its stainless steel case set with 66 diamonds, the 37mm watch complemented by a very sexy Santoni red alligator leather strap. An IWC automatic mechanical movement powers the watch, which when fully wound has a 42-hour power reserve. It’s yours for $13,300.

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Ahh, Cartier. A giant in the jewellery business, of course, but also an innovative watchmaker with an amazingly rich heritage dating back to the early 20th century.

The Ballon Blanc de Cartier seamlessly blends Cartier’s talents in both fields with a strikingly delicate (just 24.2mm in diameter), ultra-feminine timepiece crafted from 18k gold (the case and ‘’bubble’’ bracelet), and featuring a sparkling, brilliant-cut diamond at four o’clock on the bezel.

Cartier’s signature Roman numeral indicators surround the lovely flinque mother-of-pearl dial, while a quartz movement ensures absolute timekeeping precision. Yours for $46,400.

Visit cartier.com

AUTOCLASSIC.COM.AU

SYDNEY IN STYLE Staying in Sydney just got a whole lot more luxurious thanks to a refurbishment unveiled at one of the city’s most iconic hotels - the Shangri-La.

I

t was already one of the best addresses in town, but now the Shangri-La has an extra wow factor to woo guests to stay a little longer on the prestigious The Rocks property.

Hotel guests can now enjoy a new level of personalised service after Australia’s most sophisticated new accommodation offering was unveiled at the Shangri-La Hotel a few weeks ago.

The iconic venue, which commands Australia’s best hotel view from its prime position in The Rocks, has recently unveiled an $8 million refurbishment.

The new Horizon Club takes its place as the city’s largest and most luxurious club lounge and hotel rooms.

Ninety hotel rooms and suites on the hotel’s top five accommodation levels reopened in November and they really are a stunning addition to the hotel’s already enviable collection of accommodation offerings.

They are the newest and biggest hotel rooms available in Sydney - the largest one offering a vast 242sqm of living and entertaining space, with two bedrooms, an executive

study room, private dining room, a personal butler and a grand piano.

The Horizon Club lounge is a four-storey atrium, which takes in sweeping views across Sydney Harbour to the magnificent Opera House and Harbour Bridge.

There’s an entirely new décor and one of Sydney’s only communal tables in a five-star hotel club lounge as well as superb boardroom and leisure facilities.

Guests of the Horizon Club enjoy a selection of superior rooms, all with extraordinary water views, and an exceptional level of personal service. There is access to a range of privileges and benefits including complementary buffet breakfast, afternoon tea, evening canapés and cocktails and a private check-in.

The hotel is also set to announce an exciting new range of Horizon Club personalised service offerings when it reopens its club lounge later this month.

Shangri-La Hotel, Sydney, vice president and general manager Michael Cottan said the relaunch would take service and accommodation for discerning travellers to the next level.

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LUXE LIVING Guests at the ShangriLa are treated to stunning views of the iconic Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge. Above, the spa and below, one of the newly refurbished guest rooms.

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“Since we first opened in 2003, the Shangri-La Hotel, Sydney has become one of the icons of the Sydney hotel landscape and attracts a growing set of increasingly loyal frequent guests from around Australia and around the globe,” he said.

“The demand for our Horizon Club facilities has been overwhelming and with our new Horizon Club floor more guests are able to experience the higher standard of accommodation that the Horizon Club offers, as well as the acclaimed personalised service, privileges and amenities.”

Visit shangri-la.com for details.

M4341_MQBMW_DEC14

there is rare … and

then there are

pink diamonds

Beyond Rare

B U N B U RY • D U N S B O R O U G H • K U N U N U R R A

www . n i n a s.c o

PEOPLE

Suffer the little children A visit to Cambodia changed Tara Winkler’s life forever - and also those of hundreds of impoverished local children, living on the sidelines of society. By Gabi Mills.

N

ine years ago, Tara Winkler wouldn’t have described herself as anything more than a tourist.

Like so many before her, she was travelling around Cambodia, enjoying the ancient culture of this battered and bruised south east Asian country.

The very last thing on her mind was the plight of the country’s orphans. But that all changed with a return visit in 2007.

“I discovered that the director of an orphanage I had visited in 2005 was physically and sexually abusing

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the children,” she says during a fundraising trip in her hometown of Sydney in November.

“He was also embezzling donated funds, causing the children to starve, forced to catch mice and rats to feed themselves.”

Joining forces with a local qualified NGO director, Pon Jedtha and with support from the department of Social Affairs, Tara and Jedtha established created the Cambodian Children’s Trust (CCT) and rescued the children from that hellish orphanage, providing them with a new safe home.

At just 21, Tara became responsible for fourteen Cambodian orphans, an act which changed hers and their - lives forever.

Fast-forward to 2014, and CCT is now no longer an orphanage but an organisation focused on keeping vulnerable children with their families and helping the whole family to break free from the cycle of poverty. With the support of some of Australia’s most famous names - Jimmy Barnes, Hugo Weaving, David Gonski [TW1] - Tara and the CCT team have morphed into a uniquely powerful force on the ground in Cambodia - specifically in

Battambang.

From those small beginnings, CCT’s vision has grown exponentially to encompass so much more than its original scope of helping a few children escape a dreadful life. Now the organisation, which Tara still calls a small NGO, is dedicated to making a lasting change in Cambodia through sustainable community development, education, small business enterprise and job creation.

Perhaps the most surprising thing about all this is that Tara now eschews the version of herself which was so motivated back in 2007 to act.

She asserts that while rescuing the children from the abusive orphanage was the right thing to do, setting up another orphanage was not.

“Many things that I once believed about charity and aid turned out to be wrong,” she said in a recent interview for the CCT website.

“I believed that supporting orphanages was a good thing to do. I believed that the children in these orphanages had no parents. I believed volunteering in orphanages was an honourable pursuit, even without any specific skills or training.

“I hadn’t before considered the effects of forming bonds with

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orphaned children and then leaving them shortly after.

And I believed that the people who looked after the orphans must all be kind, caring, good-hearted people.”

On the basis of these mistaken beliefs, she took that first trip to Cambodia in 2005 and pledged her support to the poorest orphanage she could find.

“This part of my story is not unique. Orphanages in developing countries are largely funded by wellmeaning foreigners who believe they are helping. After my first trip to Cambodia, I went home, raised funds and returned the following year to volunteer. I had become a voluntourist.”

A Save the Children Alliance report cited that over 80 per cent of children living in orphanages have parents (Csaky, 2009) - that’s rather horrifying when you think about it and perhaps translate those numbers to an equivalent situation in Australia. Think about it. The vast majority of ‘orphans’ actually have family who could be looking after them but thanks to ‘voluntourism’, they are uprooted, placed in care and become money-earning machines for organisations in the business of tugging on the heartstrings of well-meaning visitors like Tara.

“It’s shocking to realise that the laws of supply and demand apply to the business of NEW orphanages, where children are the BEGINNINGS commodities and we, well-meaning Left, Tara Winkler, foreigners, are the customers.”

CEO of the Cambodian The realisation that she and Children's Trust.

Below, community others like her were well-intentioned support is the key to contributors to the ongoing corrupt long-term improvement system would perhaps have paralysed of the young generation’s lives. lesser folk into embarrassed inaction.

Tara on the other hand showed her mettle and forged a new path, concentrating on keeping the kids out of institutions and supported instead within their own families.

“CCT’s Youth Centre program is now core to our organisation - the centre provides the essential support vulnerable children need while keeping them with their families,” she says.

“These days we don’t come across many children who need to be taken into care. Even children who have been orphaned can mostly be supported in kinship care. It’s the traditional model that’s used and if all the NGOs in Cambodia were providing support to families, it would help put a stop to trafficking too.”

Tara tells me that some poor families illegally cross the border to Thailand in search of work. If they

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MQ PEOPLE

are caught by the Thai police they will be sent back to Cambodia and the kids will be placed in orphanages – breaking apart the family, simply because of poverty.

She’s the first to admit too that it’s ‘partly luck’ which has brought CCT and her hard-working team to this point in the charity’s journey.

“At age 21, I didn’t have much of a background in anything and if I was advising my younger self on how to go about things, I’d say don’t do what I did – learn before you jump in to help” she says wryly.

Taking the wrong turn towards voluntourism for many of those who visit Cambodia has resulted in a boom in the business of orphanages, ironic when you consider as Tara said there are far less actual orphans in the country these days.

“The number of orphanages in Cambodia doubled between 2005 and 2011,” she says. “It’s almost like a stolen generation, the size of the problem at the moment. Research has shown that residential care can result in clinical personality disorders, growth and speech delays as well as an impaired ability to re-entre society later in life. Ask any NGO in Cambodia with a reintegration program - once you’ve broken up a

family by placing the children in care, it’s hard work facilitating a successful reunion. CCT’s has managed to successfully reunite several families – many of the initial 14 children who were rescued out of the corrupt orphanage are now living with their biological family, while still receiving support from CCT.” There are no formal social services in Cambodia as we might recognise here in Australia, so part of CCT’s role is to offer access to medical services, which we all take for granted here.

“We make sure that they are healthy and strong enough to make the most of the education opportunities we can offer them.

Although the medical care we can provide is mostly crisis intervention at this stage. More funds are needed for preventative health programs. We have a Cambodian nurse who works with our medical advisory board from Australia.”

With such poor infrastructure, it’s no surprise perhaps that Tara has very strong opinions on the Australian Government’s plans to rehome refugees who land in its jurisdiction in Cambodia.

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CIRCLE OF LIFE Above, for the past seven years the CCT has helped children in extreme poverty and given them a future thanks to education, health care and prospects.

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atrocious. They won’t be welcomed

by Cambodians eithers, especially if they are seen to receive higher standards of care than the country’s own people can receive.”

For a country so plighted by a human history pock-marked by war, genocide, poverty and corruption, in the early days Tara was unsure which particular problem to address first.

“We started out in response to an emergency situation without a long-term vision or plan. When the opportunity for growth arose after

the airing of the ABC Australian Story in 2010, it was hard to know where to go next. Everywhere you look in Cambodia there is so much need.”

Initially she considered establishing a domestic abuse centre, just one of many issues which needed ‘so much attention. But then quickly realised that spreading resources too thin is not a recipe for success.

“We’re just one little NGO – we’re not going to be able to solve Cambodia’s problems. Not even all the NGOs in Cambodia will be able to solve Cambodia’s programs. It’s going to take an entire generation. So it’s our job to empower that generation.

granted.

“When the intelligentsia of a whole generation was wiped out, post-traumatic stress is passed down from generation to generation. We need to empower that new generation and fill the vacuum.”

Despite the overwhelming statistics and odds against success, Tara’s great strength is her humanity and focus on the individual.

“It’s not a number’s game for us.

We are committed to each individual in our programs. Over the last seven years, we’re starting to see the results and some amazing success stories.”

She cites two sisters whose baby sister died at seven months, whose

CCT has provided, their lives look very different today.

The older sister is now receiving high quality treatment for HIV and is expected to live a long, healthy life. She’s now married with a child and, thanks to the treatment she receives; both her husband and child are confirmed HIV negative. The other sister has graduated high school and working as an assistant producer for the BBC Media Action radio station in Phnom Penh.”

It is, she says, this combination of long-term systemic change and the strength of the individual to take control of their own life story which makes her role so rewarding.

“Somebody asked me how I keep going, when there were just so many cases out there. I said it’s like that story of the boy walking along the beach throwing starfish he found on the sand back into the sea. His friend asked “Why are you doing that? There are so many starfish – you’re never going to make a difference!” “It makes a difference to this one,” the boy replied, throwing the

Our vision is now to solely focus on Cambodia’s youth – enabling them first escape poverty and then to grow up to become the educated, ethical and empowered leaders their country so desperately needs.”

The key to that line of thinking then is to create a new generation equipped to change their own country from within. And of course this means allowing children to be strong, healthy, educated and informed about the choices the rest of the developed world takes for

parents died of HIV. “The older sister was raped by her stepfather and as a result contracted HIV and given a lifeexpectancy of just ten years. Both sisters were then sent to the corrupt orphanage where the younger of the two became the prime victim of the sexual abuse inflicted by the director of the orphanage - with little hope for the future, she was planning on becoming a prostitute. We rescued both girls out of the orphanage in 2007 and, thanks to the support

BRIGHTER FUTURES Above, many children who had bleak prospects when Tara first met them now have much to look forward to, thanks to CCT.

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starfish back into the sea.””

Along with education and medical services, perhaps one of the most important avenues of support CCT offers is that of social enterprise.

“Job creation is a silver bullet of success, allowing people to fund their own existence. We run a restaurant too - Jaan Bai (or rice bowl in Khmer) - which provides hospitality training and employment to disadvantaged youths. We run a community art gallery too, and in the future we hope to establish more social enterprises

MQ PEOPLE

RAISING FUNDS The CCT Fundraiser Perth Dinner hosted

by The Trustee. from left: Glen Bosman, Chair, Yes Cambodia; Don Hancey, Panorama Catering/WA Food Ambassador and Founder of Yes Cambodia; Tara Winkler, Founder Cambodian Children’s Trust and Peter Manifis, Chef/Owner, InContro Restaurant, South Perth.

Chefs dig deep for Cambodian kids Don Hancey, WA Food Ambassador and founder of Yes Cambodia.org whose work takes him across the state spreading the word on WA produce, was joined

by Perth’s top chefs to create a special Five Chef Dinner in Perth in November. The night included a ‘fine dine for a year’ auction, all in the name of helping Cambodian children and families.

Hosting the dinner at The Trustee and playing the part of auctioneer was the high energy Scott Taylor, one of WA’s most successful entrepreneur restaurateurs (The Trustee, Beaufort Street Merchant and Enriques School for to Bullfighting, etc) who worked the gavel to achieve a major fundraising result from the many donated items and services.

Forty five of WA’s most generous charity supporters pulled up a chair in the Trustee’s gorgeous dining room enjoying a stunning menu prepared by chefs Michelle Forbes of The Trustee, Sophie Budd of Tasty Budds Cooking Studio, Pete Manifis, seafood maestro from In Contro, Adam Bielawski from Poach Pear and Don Hancey from Panorama Catering.

The Fine Dine for the Year Auction for Cambodian Children was an opportunity for food lovers to bid on a single booklet for a year of dining at twelve seriously good restaurants, with Uber vouchers to deliver guests safely home. Wining and dining at a table of four for a year was on offer, not just at any restaurant, but at twelve of Perth’s hottest, with the auction raising more than $6,000. Dinners were generously provided by The Trustee Bar and Bistro, Enriques School for to Bullfighting , Print Hall, Varnish on King, Red Cabbage, No.4 Blake Street, Co-op Dining, Restaurant Amusé, Crown Perth, Must, El Publico and Mary Street Bakery to give support to to Cambodian kids and families.

which create low skilled jobs in agriculture.”

Another exciting new project on the horizon for CCT is a STEM School (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics).

“We are in the process of establishing a STEM curriculum for Cambodia, with the support of professors James Curran and Tara Murphy from the University of Sydney, which will teach kids how to computer code, tapping into the south east Asian position as being a hub for outsourcing tech roles. If it’s successful, then hopefully it will be a program we can launch nationally.

At the heart of all CCT’s operations is the need to raise more funds, and the latest initiative #100KidsByXmas - has a simple aim.

“Child sponsorship is vital to ensuring we can continue to run the range of programs which help kids and their families break free of poverty. If we could get all the children in our programs sponsored, all our operating costs would be covered,” she says.

“The 100 kids are currently in our Youth Centre program and we need to have the costs of their support covered. Many of these 100 children come to us from the slums – before meeting CCT they never went to school, they used to beg or collect rubbish for a few coins in order to support themselves. Now they come to our Youth Centre every day to wash, to eat nutritious meals, access medical attention and receive a wellrounded education. For just $150 a month as a primary sponsor, or $50 as an ‘aunty’ or ‘uncle’, you’ll help change a child’s life.”

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“We send little e-book updates on each child to sponsors with photos, a video, artwork and a letter.”

If you sponsor a child before Christmas, there’s also the chance to win a trip to Cambodia, thanks to Flight Centre, to visit the child you sponsor*.

Tara, who splits her time between fundraising in Sydney and overseeing operations in Battambang, is fluent in Khmer and is a quiet powerhouse of achievement. She was awarded NSW Young Australian of the Year in 2011 in recognition for her achievements in Cambodia, she was named an Ambassador for National Youth Week in 2012 as well as being named ‘Fabulous at Every Age’ by Harper’s BAZAAR in 2014 . The ABC has also made two Australian Story documentaries about her, with the first airing in 2010 and the most recent one airing in March this year. If it was up to her, however, she would remain very much in the background - public appearances are not her thing at all.

“I really love my job and life in Cambodia and that’s what I’m good at, leading an amazing team. I’m not, however, very comfortable in front of a camera.”

A recent fundraising dinner in Perth added an impressive $35,000 to the CCT coffers. Tara’s also working on a book of her experiences so far.

What’s it called, I ask?

“The working title is ‘How NOT To Start an Orphanage’” she replies, with a twinkle in her eye.

Visit cambodianchildrenstrust. org to find out more about the charity’s fundraising and sign up for #100KidsByXmas * in accordance with CCT’s child protection policy.

BMW

BEST of BOTH WORLDS

The BMW X4 is a gift for drivers intent on enjoying smooth freeway kilometres and the thrill of the dirt track. By Matthew Mills

O

n a lazy summer’s afternoon in the backyard, sirloin steaks sizzling on the barbecue, a crisp sauvignon blanc chilling in a bucket of ice, Australians can seem to be a laid-back lot.

We like to relax, we like to live and let live. But, there’s another side of us, a trait that many would agree is on of the reasons our big, red land is one of the best places to live on the planet.

Basically, we don’t like to MARQUE SUMMER

compromise. Hey, in truth we do want the best of both worlds. We’ll work hard to get it, but, at the end of the day, we’re going to want the best of everything.

For instance, it may be that we have a beautiful pool in our backyard, but that doesn’t mean we don’t want to swim off the rocks on a far-flung beach. And it may be that we have a pristine park on our doorstep, but that doesn’t mean we don’t want to pull on

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our boots and hike through the bush.

No, many of us want a taste of everything that’s on offer. Which is why BMW may well have just built the perfect car for us demanding Aussies.

The clue is in the X4’s succinct name. There’s a code in those letters and numbers, as you probably know as a BMW aficionado – an even number means a sports model, an X means a car/SUV crossover.

Those two symbols, then, quickly

MQ REVIEW

announce that what we have here is a car for the driver who wants that quality, on-road drive that has long been BMW’s benchmark, but also wants to regularly leave the bitumen behind and head into the bush and onto the beach.

Just looking at the X4 is proof that it’s going to be ready for whatever you want it to do. It has that stockiness, that bulk, that’s inherent throughout the X range – it looks tough, pugnacious – but there are sleek lines too, hinting at its prowess on the road.

It boasts the kind of healthy ground clearance that makes you confident it will cope with lessthan-perfect terrain – 204mm – but somehow manages to defy the ‘situp-and-beg’ looks of other vehicles in its class.

From the front, it looks powerful

– all big headlights and chunky grills – and from the side, those modern BMW contours bless it with urban good looks.

Once inside, the X4 doesn’t disappoint. It feels big inside, defying its position on the X-range size chart. The seats hug you, pulling you into the perfect driving position, and the dash is clinical yet stylish.

There’s a big centre screen, at just over 22cm one of the biggest you’ll find, and it’ll guide you through all the bells and whistles the modern motorist has come to expect – USB, Bluetooth with audio streaming, satnav, a 20GB hard-drive for your tunes, voice control and the ability to hook up multiple phones.

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Hitting the start button unleashes that wonderful BMW roar and purr.

We were behind the wheel of the four-cylinder 20i petrol variant – and it felt wonderfully powerful, the official figures hitting 135kw of power and 270Nm of torque.

There are three other engine types, too, however, the two-litre diesel (140kW and 400Nm) and

TAKE IT AS RED The X4's stylish good looks will turn heads, its sophisticated interior will impress anyone lucky enough to enjoy its assured drive.

By highest consumer ratings for iPhone, iPad and Android as at 18/9/14

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the two big boys – the six-cylinder, three-litre diesel (190kw and 560Nm) and the high performance 35i petrol (225kW and 400Nm). All variants boast BMW’s XDrive four-wheel drive system, which is standard across the X range – and all are automatic.

On the road, the X4 is a dream.

It’s one of those cars that makes you feel confident – both of the power at your fingertips and that you are in a very safe place. I had the kids in tow when I picked our review car up from Auto Classic, so it was all the more satisfying to clock that it has been crash-tested and met fivestar standards with plenty to spare.

Among the new additions to its safety arsenal are intelligent emergency call and radar cruise control.

Around town, the X4 responds instantly to what you want it to do, picking up and slowing down almost intuitively. Visibility is excellent, nothing’s going to creep up on you.

It’s comfortable for everyone, the back seats as good place to be even if you’re taller than 180cm and the luggage area is roomy and accessible.

On the freeway, the X4 feels confident and assured, with power to spare.

We didn’t get the chance to truly put it through its paces off-road, but a quick spin along a less than perfect track left us impressed – and reviews worldwide

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have been more than positive.

All in all, then, the X4 continues BMW’s success story in Australia, offering up a car as happy on the freeway as it is on a dirt trail, ticking all the boxes that us quietly demanding motorists demand. MQ

FAST FACTS BMW X4 X4 XDRIVE 20i 2.0-LITRE TURBO-PETROL ...................................................... $69,430 X4 XDRIVE 20d 2.0-LITRE TURBO-DIESEL ....................................................... $73,400 X4 XDRIVE 30d 3.0-LITRE TURBO-DIESEL ....................................................... $83,900 X4 XDRIVE 35i 3.0-LITRE TURBO-PETROL........................................................$87,430 Visit autoclassic.com.au to arrange a test drive.

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BUILD

BUILDING BY DESIGN Urbane Projects has firmly established itself as a multi-award winning builder in the luxury residential market in Perth.

S

teve Gliosca, managing director of Urbane Projects, is both the designer and builder, which is a rarity in today’s construction industry. He set out to create a design and construction company that could offer a complete service to today’s busy clients where everything they need to create their one-off home is right at their fingertips. “Design is such an important aspect of every new home and clients now are very aware of how the design of spaces needs to evolve as their children grow and stay at home longer,” says Steve.

“We are not about creating volumes of homes per year, we focus on the design and construction of a smaller number of homes per year giving us the flexibility to work closely with each of our clients to maximise their block and their vision of how the space should be used to reflect their personality, taste, family and budget.”

The recently completed home 'Expressing Views' was designed by Steve and his attention to detail and keen eye for design earned him the accolade of 2014 HIA Western Australian Housing Award for Residential Building Designer of the Year.

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“This award was a great surprise," he says.

"I feel very honoured that my peers have recognised our design ethos of creating a contemporary home that while it has architectural points of interest it is still very much the family home, providing our clients with a wonderful space.

“There is an abundance of choices in today’s marketplace and we are thrilled that our clients are nearly always recommended to us by our previous clients.”

Urbane Projects was also awarded the 2014 Perth Housing Award for Residential Building Designer of the Year and won five awards at the 2014 HIA - The Laminex Group Kitchen & Bathroom awards for Regional Kitchen Project of the Year, New

Kitchen Project of the Year, New Kitchen Project $70k & over, New Bathroom Project of the Year & New Bathroom Project $35,000 and over.

“The awards we have won this year are great recognition of the design, level of quality and workmanship that is present in each and every one of our homes.

“While rewarding, they are not our motivation behind the design and construction services we provide.

We are very client-focused and wish to provide each and every client the highest possible attention to detail and service we can. We value our client relationships and have their needs at the forefront of what we do.”

The impressive home that has been at the centre of the awards was designed by Steve to capture the views of the river, but was also designed to take full advantage of its corner position. Although imposing in size, this home has intimate spaces

to allow the family to come together or entertain on any scale. There has also been considerable thought given to their children and how they use their spaces with their own ensuites, “hang out” spaces and rooms for their guests. It was also important to design spaces that allow light to filter through and provide a focal point.

A beautiful central courtyard on the ground floor with planter boxes is a wonderful example for this.

“The integration of architectural features within the home are important however they should be used to enhance the design and focus attention on the attributes of the features of the block or interesting aspects of the layout of the home,” Steve said.

“Landscaping is also integrated closely with our design and in this home the exterior sculpture set against the glass-faced rendered walls was about creating impact and a sense of complexity against a

LIVEABLE LUXURY The 'Expressing Views' home won Urbane Projects the HIA Western Australian Housing Award for Residential Building Designer of the Year - and it's not hard to see why.

contemporary elevation.”

“Design is a very important aspect of our roles here at Urbane,” says Steve. “We have a real passion for design and are excited about the trust clients place in us to design and build their homes. Design is in everything that we do – from those initial sketches to the colour boards we create - it is all about creating visual reality for our senses.” MQ Visit urbane.net.au for more details.

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TRAVEL

RHAPSODY in blue

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Alex Speed is transported to another world aboard Tiger Blue, a traditional ‘phinisi’ wooden sailing ship, exploring the untouched splendour of the Indonesian archipelago in supreme luxury and comfort.

THE CONCISE OXFORD Dictionary gives the meaning of ‘bliss’ as ‘perfect happiness’. But since returning from a week sailing through the unexplored, and for me completely unexpected, nirvana of eastern Indonesia, I now know of another two words that perfectly encapsulate bliss. Tiger Blue.

To put you in my head space, imagine an archipelago of mountainous islands, dotted among mile after mile of staggeringly beautiful, pristine and empty marine national parks, filled with warm azure oceans, and thousands upon thousands of fish species.

This is the dreamy Indonesia I experienced recently. And now imagine a beautiful wooden boat, a traditional two-masted schooner called a ‘phinisi’ constructed of ironwood and teak, so charming in its understated luxury with its sweetnatured, smiling crew, that if it were mine, I could never leave it.

This is Tiger Blue. Pure bliss.

How is it, as an Australian, I had previously never heard of these Indonesian delights right on our doorstep? Far away from the hordes of Aussies-on-holiday who congregate, en masse, in Bali, or from most of the 240 million people who call Indonesia home, how is it Tiger Blue owners’ Englishmen David Wilkinson and Nigel Foster have managed to keep their beautiful boat and the waters it sails so secret?

Built as the culmination of a lifelong dream to explore and dive the beautiful islands of South East Asia, it

is a secret I am now privy too. And one which I am almost loathe to share.

Our adventure begins in Sydney, when my husband Torquil and I fly out. We are work- and, world-weary.

Life feels too busy. When we are not working, we are busy raising our three great kids. We are short on ‘me’ and ‘us’ time. But this week the kids are staying with their wonderful grandparents and the six-hour flight to Bali passes in a flash of heady over-excitement and, for the main, blessed silence.

A quick overnight stay, and then

Our plane comes down to land through parched hills, cleared bare of trees to make way for the newly built airport.

According to state reports, Labuan Bajo is the fastest growing regency in Indonesia and, if the grand scale of the airport is anything to go by, the rickety little port town certainly seems busy ensuring it is ready for an ever-increasing influx of international visitors.

Not many package tourists here though, only those keen to get off

AUTHENTIC • ORIGINAL NEPALESE CUISINE

The perfect place for we are back to the airport for an early morning flight to the busy harbour town of Labuan Bajo, situated on the island of Flores, in the eastern Lesser Sunda Islands. As the temperature climbs to the glorious 30s and stays there all week, our plane carries us across staggering scenery.

Volcanic mountains seemingly drift past our windows. A jigsaw of floating islands dot turquoise seas below, their surrounding coral reefs visible from my window. Tiny boats dot the ocean.

Already, the daily maelstrom of domestic humdrum, work, and squabbling children feels a million miles away. This is an ancient, majestic land, and far below the seas whisper of freedom and adventure.

It is the end of the dry season.

KICK BACK AND RELAX Tiger Blue is a beautifully furnished 'phinisi' - a traditional Indonesian sailing ship, the perfect way to explore the exotic archipelago.

the beaten track a bit. Backbackers and divers abound. Many, like us, have come to visit the famous Komodo National Park, home to the prehistoric giant Komodo monitor lizard, which is only accessible by boat and to dive the wonderful sites all around this famous coral triangle.

But not many will do it in such wonderful five-star luxury.

We are joined by British expats and oil industry execs, Sarah Molyneux and her partner Duncan Coulson, also part of this week’s Tiger Blue trip.

Gregarious and sun-kissed, the MARQUE SUMMER

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MQ TRAVEL

THIS IS ONE OF MOTHER NATURE’S GREAT BEAUTIES,’ FOUED TELLS US QUIETLY. ‘EVERY TIME I SEE IT, I FEEL HOPE FOR THE WORLD BECAUSE COME HELL OR HIGH WATER, EACH AND EVERY SUNRISE AND SUNSET THE BATS LEAVE AND THEN THEY COME BACK.’

couple live and work in Jakarta.

Keen divers, they have made several trips to Indonesia’s islands to escape the congested capital of 10 million.

Indra, Tiger Blue’s cruise director, and enigmatic French Tunisian dive master Foued Kaddachi greet us and escort us from plane to speedboat, which awaits at one of the piers of the ramshackle harbour town.

Our bags are loaded, and then, with a glorious whirl of engines, we are off, flying out across the water toward our home for the next seven nights.

Tiger Blue sits anchored out to harbour awaiting our arrival. We are met by the ever-smiling steward Ardi. As discreet and efficient as any butler, he holds a tray bearing icecold glasses of cherry juice, as we are welcomed on board.

Within minutes our bags are discreetly whisked below to our cabins and we are free to explore as we await the final three guests who are to join this trip.

Tiger Blue is a bit like a 34m floating boutique hotel. It has a huge open foredeck complete with vastly proportioned daybeds, and a fabulous communal dining table. Each meal we

PARADISE FOUND With only five newly renovated en-suite cabins, guests have the chance for lots of 'me' time.

sit with the other guests and devour Indonesian and European cuisine, cooked up by chef Rudy and his sous chef Rian.

There are five newly renovated ensuite cabins. Below deck there are two double cabins with wonderfully huge, high double beds, all which split to convert to singles if needs be, a twin cabin, and in the aft an enormous luxuriously appointed family cabin, with double bed and bunk beds.

Up on deck, a huge stateroom cabin looks out across the seas.

Sleeping up to 12 guests, Tiger Blue is MARQUE SUMMER

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available for single charter groups of families or friends – it would make the most wonderful celebration birthday, or reunion experience, or an unforgettable family holiday with the kids. I make a mental note for when they are older.

Eight weeks of the year, set trips like ours are available, to Komodo, Pandar and Rinca islands where we are headed, and to other destinations such as Raja Ampat and the Banda Islands.

Our double cabin with its wooden walls and batik decorating is charming and romantic, and smells like the complimentary cucumber and aloe vera body lotion and sunscreen left out for us. Think Ralph Lauren on water safari. This is relaxed luxe at its best, with the emphasis on five-star service, stunning scenery and sink-rightdown-into-it comfort accommodation.

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E: STAY @ BERKELEYRIVER .COM. AU *Excludes alcohol. Photos by Tony Hewitt

MQ TRAVEL

From the moment we step on board, shoes are off and left in a basket. Then it's bare feet for a week: which is a somehow a nice analogy for the complete relaxation transformation Tiger Blue encourages. Mine was instantaneous.

Within minutes, I was up on the top deck on one of the four body-shaped loungers, swimming cossie on, book in one hand, drink in another.

Over the days as Foued departs with the keen divers to explore the beautiful coral world underneath us, Torquil and I completely chill. We read, we sleep, we sunbake, we swim and we snorkel in the beautifully clear clean waters.

The Komodo National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is made up of 220,000 hectares of protected lands and waters. It is home to thousands of species of fish, marine life and brilliant coral gently waving in the current.

Over the week, we snorkel with giant manta rays, white and grey tipped reef sharks, cuttlefish, huge gropers, dolphins and turtles. Life on Tiger Blue follows pretty much follows its own trajectory and we are free to do as much or as little as we choose.

I choose very little, as my skin welcomes the sun’s warm kiss. Each

morning we luxuriate in waking up naturally, rather than by our three year-old, 6am alarm clock.

The crew move the boat first thing each morning, the diesel engine purring into life early, so we are positioned in a different bay each day. One day we visit the famous Komodo National Park, to see those native monsters up close.

Guides with long pronged sticks for protection take us on a walk through the arid national park, where native deer, pigs and snack-sized monkeys live a fraught existence with about 200 of these prehistoric amphibians.

We stumble across three of these monsters ripping into a hapless deer, a rare treat our guide assures us. With layers of serrated backward teeth like a shark, the komodo bites its prey, following it for days as the lethal bacteria in its mouth kills it.

When weakened enough, they then pull the prey apart and eat it. Bones and all. Another day, the crew sets up a marvelous bonfire complete with beanbags and a bar on a stunning pink coral beach. We all sip gin and tonics and Campari’s in hand, considering the beauty all around us.

One evening, as sunset approaches, Foued, who has lived MARQUE SUMMER

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VOYAGE OF DISCOVERY Above, the fearsome Komodo dragon is just one of the amazing natural wonders to be seen during a Tiger Blue adventure.

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in Indonesia for 16 years, tells us we must come on a mystery trip out on one of the inflatable rigs. If you have never raced across stunningly blue Indonesian waters in a private speedboat, wind whipping your hair, local Bintang beer in hand, destination unknown I implore you: make it part of your bucket list.

I look at Torquil and the grin on his face tells me that the worries of life and bills and work are elsewhere.

We arrive at a giant mangrove swamp just as the sun is setting, and a bright orange moon is rising. A lone fruitbat flies up from the swamp, and out over the water where we sit. Suddenly, as if a whistle has been blown, millions of bats fill the sky and make the nightly migration from mangrove feeding ground to rainforest beds.

"This is one of Mother Nature’s great beauties," Foued tells us quietly. "Every time I see it, I feel hope for the world because, come hell or high water, each and every sunrise and sunset the bats leave and then they come back."

And that in a nutshell, is somehow the real beauty of spending a week on Tiger Blue, in this stunning part of the world. In this ancient ageless land, clocks and computers and the continued consumerism message for more, more pushed on us at home, have no place.

In Tiger Blue’s onboard library I find a book, Ring of Fire. It was written by British brothers Lawrence and Lorne Blair, who travelled these waters in the 1990s to retrace the steps of great British naturalist and explorer, Alfred Russell Wallace.

In it they write "time here belongs to the Gods, not to the clocks of the linear West."

Thank you Tiger Blue for giving us time. Time to think, time to rest, time to float gently in the warm ocean, and watch a turtle go about its daily life.

Blissful time to simply be perfectly happy. MQ Visit tigerblue.info for forthcoming cruises and pricing details.

ART

SUMMER OF ART There’s plenty to inspire and enthrall art lovers over the next few months at Linton & Kay’s iconic city centre and Subiaco galleries as three exhibitions draw the crowds.

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rom December 9 to 23, Kiara Rechichi-Baker’s show Chiaroscuro celebrates the ancient art of the linocut.

“The term ‘chiaroscuro’ (from the Italian: chiaro, light, and scuro, dark) defines how ‘light and shadow’ is created and embodied in an artwork,” says Kiara.

The collection of linocuts, produced in small limited editions, exemplify this study of the ‘light and shadow’ of both images and the heart.

Inspired by the contrasts and heavy shadows of tenebrism, the linocuts are an exploration of figures and objects as they emerge from or dissolve into the darkness; like tiny light icebergs cradled by intensely dark water.

“The exhibition is a celebration of life’s chiaroscuro,” says Kiara. “It’s my heart’s homage to the light’s truth and grateful acknowledgement of the dark’s compassion.”

Be quick to catch the last few days of Jacinda Bayne’s exhibition which closes on December 14 at Linton and Kay’ Subiaco Gallery.

An award-winning West Australian artist whose work is held in collections of note both nationally and internationally, Jacinda’s exhibition has been a popular drawcard for the Subiaco gallery in recent weeks.

Called Landscape and Memory, Jacinda explores landscape, as, in the words of Henri Frederic Amiel, ‘a condition of the spirit'.

“Several personal influences are reflected in my paintings,” says Jacinda.

“Together they have inspired me to investigate the relationship between memory and place, culminating in this new collection

Landscape and Memory.

Jacinda describes herself as an ‘emotive colourist’.

“It’s a term that summarises the way in which I react to place, to landscape, to seasons.

“I instinctively measure or weighup emotion in terms of colour and carry this memory through to my art practice, striking a chord with the viewer and thus sharing experiences in common.”

Looking ahead to the new year, make a note of a forthcoming exhibition from Regina Noakes, set to showcase a collection of paintings from February 18 to March 5.

Painting instinctively and drawing on personal experiences and observations, Regina’s paintings abound with people and animals whose demeanour range from the contemplative to wild imaginations.

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VISIONARY WORK Top, Flame Tree, oil on canvas 102 x 183cm

by Jacinda Bayne; above Spero, 45 x 162cm Relief print on paper by Kiara Rechichi-Baker; top right: Kitten, oil on canvas, 120cm x 92cm

by Regina Noakes.

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sometimes from childhood memories, but also from frequent stays in Italy, suburban family life and lots of animals in the home.

Often citing French impressionist Degas, who said ‘only when he no longer knows what he is doing does a painter do good things,’ Regina’s work is powerful, ambiguous and fun-loving – the kind of collection of works which captures the imagination and won’t let go.

See Jacinda Bayne’s exhibiton until December 14 at Linton and Kay Galleries Subiaco, 299 Nicholson Road (corner Nicholson Rd), gallery opening hours, Monday to Saturday from 10am to 5pm, Sunday from 11am to 4pm. Call (08) 9388 3300 or visit lintonandkay.com.au.

The Kiara Rechichi-Baker exhibition is showing at Linton and Kay’s City gallery, Level 1/137 St Georges Terrace, gallery opening hours, Monday to Saturday from 10am to 5pm, Sunday from 11am to 4pm. Call (08) 6564 4314 or visit lintonandkay.com.au

TRAVEL

St Bart’s, St Barths, Saint Barthelemy, St Bartolomeo . . .whichever name you call it, this eight square mile rocky island in the French West Indies is simply the most glamorous vacation spot in the world. By Gill Pringle.

STAR -STUDDED

idyll

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f celebrities gather in the South of France during the spring and the Hamptons in summer, then St Barts in the French Caribbean is the only destination for the truly stylish traveller between December and March.

Here Beyonce, Leonardo DiCaprio, Miranda Kerr and the Clooneys mingle with oligarchs and billionaires on this volcanic island where a stretch limousine impresses no-one.

Partitioned by narrow, twisty, often single-track roads, a MINI or moped is the preferred ride.

Oftentimes, famous visitors

barely step foot on land, cruising on superyachts or taking a speedboat to one of several beaches such as Colombier, accessible only by sea or steep cliffside path.

But few can resist the nightlife, A-listers venturing out to mingle at the reservations-only nightclubs, bars and restaurants dotted around the main port of Gustavia or at the beach in St Jean.

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island - but they’d be wrong.

Populated primarily by descendents of the original French settlers and transplanted Europeans, this all-French speaking island is like a hippy chic cousin of St Tropez.

Unlike its island neighbours, there’s no sad fruit-topped plastic-parroted cocktails or soggy burgers - instead think chilled white wine and exquisite French cuisine.

Christopher Columbus sailed past Saint Barthelemy on his second voyage to the New World in 1493, naming the island after his brother, Bartolemeo. Today, getting to St

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Barts is no less adventurous, landing in a tiny de Havilland Turboprop on a runway so short it’s the subject of many seat-of-your-pants YouTube videos - or by bumpy ferry. If you really want to arrive in style, then there’s also numerous private charter flights and boats, although WinAir’s planes are so small, it feels pretty private anyway.

With villas renting upward of US$100,000 a week in the high season, a mere drop in the bucket for many visitors, St Barts also offers a small handful of discreet celebrityfriendly hotels.

So how does it feel to holiday like a pampered superstar, you'll want

scattered hillside overlooking the island’s only surf beach.

Understatement is the word, and only a discreet sign and narrow stone driveway indicate you have arrived at this little slice of heaven where a rare indigenous Gaiac tree graces the entrance.

Le Gaiac is also the name of the hotel’s recently-renovated gourmet restaurant, widely considered the best dining venue on the island and where Rod Stewart or Richard Gere may be spotted feasting on Le Gaiac’s signature spaghetti a la truffle noire, washed down perhaps with a little Chateauneuf du Pape.

Prepared by chef Jean-Christophe

to know? In the name of research we promptly checked in at St Bart’s premier resort, the tres chic 5-star Hotel Le Toiny, favoured by Brad Pitt, Kate Moss and Gwyneth Paltrow, not that any of its discreet staff will tell you this.

Situated a 15-minute drive from Gustavia’s noisy party scene on the peaceful and remote rugged south east tip known as the “Cote Sauvage”, here Le Toiny’s collection of 15 colonial-style villa suites each with its own private terrace and heated infinity swimming pool - nestle among 38 acres of palm-

Gille, be sure to savour his semicooked duck foie gras with lemon marmalade and toasted brioche or the grilled Caribbean lobster, rice pilaf with fresh coconut and vegetables served with buttered lemongrass sauce.

What makes Le Gaiac even more special is its location, perched on a hillside terrace where diners are soothed by the distant sound of waves beneath a moonlit starry sky undiminished by any nearby lights.

The same can be said for the entire resort where privacy, exclusivity and a sense of being so MARQUE SUMMER

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LAP OF LUXURY Le Toiny's collection of 15 colonial-style villa suites on the Caribbean island of St Barths take some beating. Above, the cuisine is worldclass too.

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utterly far away from everything even the next villa - are key.

Each villa has its own entrance, parking, private terrace, infinity pool and garden - safe from the eyes of neighbours or staff - all with ocean views of the Caribbean. With each villa offering a slightly different take on a theme, our own one-bedroom bolthole boasted an elegant living room, antique writing desk, French windows, kitchen and Nespresso machine, indoor and outdoor showers, Victorian-style bath-tub and four-poster bed draped in mosquito netting. Our pool quickly became the focal point, whether floating around watched by curious iguanas and tropical birds, sipping a cocktail or dozing with a book on a lounger.

One of our favourite features of Le Toiny is breakfast, delivered each morning to our private poolside terrace as if by magic. After completing the room service slip the previous night, we would raise Le Toiny’s signature “red flag”, the equivalent of a do-not-disturb sign and drift off to sleep, always waking seconds after the breakfast fairies had laid out our morning feast.

It became a game, trying to catch them in the act of setting out the coffee pot and chilled juices, the perfectly cooked eggs, fruit plates and freshly baked croissants with home-made pear-cardamom jam or caramel, all presented on distinctive turquoise china.

Nobody knows how to make breakfast quite like the French and, apparently, nobody knows how to deliver breakfast as quietly since we never once even glimpsed our server.

Lazy days were spent poolside or walking the 15-minute trail down to Le Toiny’s beach which still bears the crumbling, centuries-old structures of early settlers. We studiously avoided the on-site gym, instead opting for a St Barth Blossom massage at the hotel’s Serenity Spa Cottage, covered with flower petals and oils and drifting in and out in rhythm with the sounds of the ocean.

FACT BOX • EDEN ROCK This quirky Robinson Crusoe-with-money

style structure on St Jean beach was built 50 years ago by local eccentric Remy de Haenan, throwing the doors open to Greta Garbo, Howard Hughes and Robert Mitchum. Later expanding to include the aptly named Villa Rockstar, to this day, it's still a place for star-spotting. Dine at world famous chef Jean Georges Vongerichten’s Sand Bar for primo viewing washed down with champagne and the island’s best pizza. Visit edenrockhotel.com

• SHOPPING It's hard not to get sticker shock here where

the local currency is the euro. Even visitors like Harrison Ford, Naomi Watts or Simon Cowell must occasionally be intimidated by the extravagant prices where a plate of fries can set you back beaucoup bucks and there’s not a McDonald's or Domino's to be found.

• VILLA RENTALS, hotels, transport, restaurants: saintbarthtourisme.com or st-barths.com are both essential guides.

• St Bart's most successful export, LIGNE ST BARTH’S COSMETICS AND PERFUMES, are made exclusively on the

Other days, we took a picnic (baguettes and cured ham, cheeses, salads, cut fruit and chilled soup neatly packaged into an efficient cooler), and cruised around the island in our petite voiture, courtesy of BartLoc rentals, swimming and snorkeling at the glorious beaches at Anse de Gouverneur or Anse des Flamands.

Trying out the different beaches and restaurants is part of the St Barts experience, so a car or moped is essential, even if nothing is more than a 20-minute drive away, unimpeded by a single stop sign.

Everywhere on this island is

beautiful, although Le Toiny - named the top hotel in St Barts by Conde Nast Traveler's Gold List in 2013 and 2014 - quickly felt like home, some days never leaving while trips to the beach were often curtailed by the lure of its serenity. MQ Check out Hotel Le Toiny at letoiny. com Villas range from $890 to $4895 per couple per night (an additional guest is an extra 100E) depending on the time of year.

Hotel Le Toiny St. Barth, Anse de Toiny 97133 Saint Barthelemy, French West Indies, Caribbean Tel: +590 (0)590 27 88 88. Visit reservations@letoiny.com for more information.

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island. Founded in 1983, Birgit and Herve Brin took their cue from the native Arawak Indians who used the bright red seeds of the rare roucou shrub to protect from mosquito bites and salt water, turning their skin a reddish colour and resulting in the nickname, The Redskins. Utilising roucou seeds today in their own sun care line, their moisturisers are made from coconut and avocado oil, papaya, aloe vera and mint. A firm celebrity favourite, their store and factory in the beach town of Lorient is open to the public. Visit lignestbarth.com

• LE CARRE. Owned by bon vivant Franck Mathevet,

you get more than truffle oil popcorn and tapas at this unique eaterie, situated outdoors in the walkway between a short street of high-end boutiques selling Ralph Lauren and Cartier. “Shopping makes everyone hungry and thirsty,” says Franck who plies us with endless amusing stories about the island and its guests. His signature dish is Salade de Poireaux en Habit Rouge, a leek and beetroot salad almost as colourful as himself. Offering a raw bar, duck, steak or grilled fresh fish, it’s the perfect spot to feast your eyes upon the quayside action at Gustavia. Don’t forget to wash it down with a shot of Franck’s home-made vanilla and caramel infused rum. Visit lecarresbh.com

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MUSIC

BROTHERS B IN ARMS There’s a unique opportunity to see two of music’s greatest performers - Sting and Paul Simon - create magic together at Sir James Mitchell Park in Perth in the new year.

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etween them, they’ve created some of the most memorable music of their generation.

Sting, both with iconic 80s band The Police and after as a solo artist provided the soundtrack to so many people’s lives while Paul Simon, with Art Garfunkel and then in the late 80s became a major force in a more eclectic world music direction straddling multiple music styles.

The pair, long-time friends, are bringing their critically-acclaimed On Stage Together tour to Australia and New Zealand in January and February, performing in the open air here in Perth at An Evening on the Green at Sir James Mitchell Park on February 21.

The concept of the tour found its roots in a charity performance back in 2013 when they performed together for the first time. Both artists, known for exploring world

rhythms, found a happy synergy of styles together and a classic double act was born.

The concerts promise to feature the two singer/ songwriter's voices and bands, showcasing their bestknown songs in solo and joint performances, something which Simon calls ‘our little experiment'.

The shows have already been received with rapturous reviews in the States, the artists revelling in their infectious enjoyment of playing music together, often performing over more than three hours of ‘amazing material’ with a ‘small army of world-class musicians’.

As an antidote to the current passion for pomp and technology, falling back on old school musicianship should find a place in the hearts of those who witness the performance in February here in Perth.

The goal, Sting told Rolling Stone magazine recently, is to raise the game for these creatively restless icons.

“The evident, grinning joy they share in taking on that challenge is infectious and engrossing,” reported the Orange County Register after witnessing the pair in action.

“More than 30 songs in three hours still felt like an appetiser; I left hungry for more, contemplating other morsels I wish could have fit on their plate.”

There’s no danger of one musician being deemed more

It’s an entirely sympathetic relationship, with both stars acknowledging the other’s impact on the world stage of a headline act than the other; even the merchandise has two different T-shirt versions: Paul Simon & Sting on stage together, and vice-versa. It’s an entirely sympathetic relationship, with both stars acknowledging the other’s impact on the world stage with a mix of solos, duets and medleys of each other’s works, their voices perfectly complementing each other.

Expect the music to not only traverse the years drawing on both artists’ rich back catalogue but also the world, with inspiration drawn from South Africa, Chile, Jamaica and London. So physically different, the pair nevertheless appear ideally matched, artistically at least, their individual strengths (Sting’s powerful leading man presence, Simon’s bonhomie lyricism) make those three hours fly by. In fact, such is the magic these two create on stage, you’ve got to ask: what took them so long to get together? MQ On Stage Together, February 21, Sir James Mitchell Park.

Visit livenation.com.au for ticketing details.

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BMW PREVIEW

TOUR DE FORCE

The 2 Series Active Tourer is set to change the motoring landscape with its combination of style, functionality and dynamism.

F

or a long time, the three letters BMW have stood for quality, class and performance in the motoring world.

The badge means power, success and quality and few would question that the German motoring giant has stood tall in its industry.

One area, however, BMW has traditionally left to others to occupy – the world of the smaller, more compact, front-wheel-drive powerhouse.

That, however, is all about to change with the launch of the BMW 2 Series Active Tourer, a motoring industry milestone that will see BMW beautifully combine hallmark BMW dynamics, style and elegance with the functionality of space and comfort that are the gateposts of premium compact class.

Somehow, the BMW 2 Series Active Tourer manages to offer generous levels of space within impressively compact dimensions. It’s 4,342mm long, 1.8m high and 1,555mm wide – perfect dimensions to cope with the increasingly exacting mobility requirements of modern urban living, yet from the inside there is all the comfort of a less compact machine.

Other innovations, such as new turbocharged engines with three and four cylinders, a comprehensive package of BMW EfficientDynamics measures and the extensive connectivity provided by BMW ConnectedDrive, ensure a driving experience defined by sporting ability and exemplary efficiency, one which will likely put this spectacular car at the head of its field.

Conscious of the need to meet the high level of spaciousness, variability and functionality demanded in the premium compact class, BMW has given the 2 Series Active Tourer a sophisticated front-wheel-drive system capable of delivering the degree of driver engagement expected of the brand’s models. Together with the long wheelbase of 2,670mm and raised roofline, this configuration enables the room inside to be maximised, resulting in an unprecedented feeling of spaciousness.

Driver and front passenger enjoy a far higher seating

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position than in a sedan, which affords a commanding all-round view at the same time as making it easier to get in and out. The wealth of storage facilities and the option of a fold-flat passenger seat backrest are just two examples of the interior’s impressive flexibility and cleverly devised layout.

The cabin has a light and spacious feel to it, with all surfaces horizontally structured in a layered look. There is also the option of a large panoramic roof that lets light flood into the interior.

The brand identity, with its overriding sense of dynamism, is clearly present in the BMW 2 Series Active Tourer too. It shines through in trademark features such as the slightly forward-slanting BMW kidney grille at the front end flanked by the distinctive twin circular headlights.

The short front overhang in particular is highly unusual for a front-wheel-drive car, and is just as much a classic BMW styling cue as the short overhang at the rear, the long wheelbase, the Hofmeister kink in the rear side windows and the L-shaped rear lights.

Crisp contours and an eyecatching swage line at the sides give added impact to the wheel arches and inject the BMW 2 Series Active Tourer with forward thrust even when stationary. Moving inside, the controls for the radio, air conditioning and air vents are angled towards the driver in another unmistakable BMW design trait.

The versatile luggage compartment, whose capacity can be enlarged from 468 to 1,510 litres, and the 40:20:40 split-folding rear backrest fitted as standard exemplify this model’s excellent everyday practicality.

Flexibility is further enhanced by a sliding rear seat which allows legroom in the rear or the load compartment capacity to be increased as required. One particularly smart touch is the foldable boot floor that conceals a storage compartment with a handy multifunction tray.

The rear backrest can be adjusted as an option to offer either added comfort for the three rear seats or extra luggage space. Access to the luggage compartment couldn’t be easier thanks to the large, broad,

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COMFORT AND CLASS Generous levels of space in a compact package make the BMW 2 Series Active Tourer is a perfectly proportioned powerhouse.

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wide-opening tailgate.

The new BMW 2 Series Active Tourer is being launched with a choice of three powerful, light and fuel-efficient three and four-cylinder drive units that form part of a new generation of engines. They are installed transversely and boast a compact design along with BMW TwinPower Turbo technology, at the same time as complying with the EU6 emissions standard.

The new three-cylinder petrol unit stands out for its exceptional efficiency and great performance abilities. This cutting-edge powerplant is receiving its premiere in a model from the BMW core brand in the guise of the BMW 218i Active Tourer (fuel consumption combined: 5.2–4.9 l/100 km; CO2 emissions combined: 120–115 g/km) with sixspeed manual gearbox.

The engine has a displacement of 1.5 litres, generates 100 kW/136 hp and excels with its spontaneous throttle response, hearty appetite for revs and high pulling power.

Topping the bill at market launch is the BMW 225i Active Tourer (fuel consumption combined: 6.0–5.8 l/100km; CO2 emissions combined:

MQ PREVIEW

the vehicle’s weight down. Apart from being a crucial factor in the model’s exceptional driving dynamics, this lightweight engineering is just one among many BMW EfficientDynamics technology elements. These also include the Auto Start Stop function, Brake Energy Regeneration, Optimum Gearshift Indicator, on-demand operation of ancillary units and the integral Air Curtain, which uses two vertical air inlets in the front bumper to direct the airstream along the front wheels.

In addition to the standard model, BMW also offers the BMW 2 Series Active Tourer in four other variants with an interior, exterior and specification tailored even more closely to customer requirements. Standard equipment for the BMW 2 Series Active Tourer already comprises the Radio Professional including a hands-free telephone facility with Bluetooth interface, the BMW iDrive control system with controller on the centre console and 6.5-inch. Control Display, a rain sensor and automatic headlight activation, a sports leather steering

139–135 g/km) with a standard-fitted eight-speed Steptronic gearbox. With an output of 170 kW/231 hp, a time of 6.6 seconds for the 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) dash and a top speed of 240 km/h the model’s four-cylinder engine raises the bar for dynamic performance in its class.

Hard at work under the bonnet of the BMW 218d Active Tourer (fuel consumption combined: 4.3–4.1 l/100 km; CO2 emissions combined: 114–109 g/km)* is a four-cylinder diesel engine.

A member of the same new engine family as its two petrol counterparts, it delivers 110 kW/150 hp while mustering up peak torque of 330 Nm (243 lb- ft). This powerpack serves to reaffirm the exceptionally dynamic performance qualities of diesel engines from BMW, propelling the BMW 218d Active Tourer with standard six-speed manual gearbox reaches from standstill to 100 km/h in 8.9 seconds and on to a top speed of 208 km/h. An eight-speed Steptronic gearbox will be available as an option for this model variant.

Like all BMW models, the new BMW 2 Series Active Tourer makes its mark with great driving dynamics and the sort of driving experience the brand is renowned for.

The newly developed chassis, comprising a single-joint spring strut axle at the front and a multi-link rear axle, combines agility and directional precision with excellent handling stability and suspension comfort.

The front drive axle in the new BMW 2 Series Active Tourer has undergone extensive fine-tuning, ensuring that it endows the car with optimum driving dynamics and wonderfully precise steering feedback. The electromechanical steering and the system’s functional arrangement combine to produce a driving sensation that is devoid of interfering torque steer.

The intelligent use of hightensile and ultra-high-tensile multi-phase steels makes a decisive contribution to safety standards in the BMW 2 Series Active Tourer, while also helping to keep MARQUE SUMMER

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wheel, the Intelligent Emergency Call system and Collision Warning with City Braking function.

The Advantage, Sport Line and Luxury Line variants also feature two-zone automatic climate control, Park Distance Control at the rear, front foglamps, cruise control with braking function and a multifunction steering wheel.

The Sport Line model highlights the dynamic character of the BMW 2 Series Active Tourer with special alloy wheels and sports seats. The high-gloss black kidney grille bars, model-specific air intakes and the accent strip on the rear apron underline the car’s presence. And in keeping with the look, the exhaust tailpipe comes in an electroplated black chrome finish.

The Luxury Line model majors on elegance and exclusivity, as underlined by subtle chrome applications for the exterior before you climb aboard and the exquisite leather trim including heated seats for the driver and front passenger once inside.

The BMW 2 Series Active Tourer will also be available with the M Sport specification from the end of 2014. MQ The 2 Series Active Tourer from $51,990 drive away. Visit autoclassic.com au for details.

AUTOCLASSIC.COM.AU

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APPETITE

BREAKING THE

MOULD

The ancient art of cheesemaking is alive and well in the Swan Valley says Kami Ramini. Images by Crib Creative.

I

t seems that it’s not just the eating of delicious cheese that’s a little moreish, but the making of it can get pretty addictive as well.

Tanya Baretto, founder of The Cheese Maker in Perth’s Swan Valley, found exactly that in 2009 when one of her friend’s brought a homemade camembert to a dinner party.

“It was so delicious and I just couldn’t believe she’d made it at home,” says Tanya. “So a few champagnes and a lot of cheese later,

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we were planning to set up home cheese-making courses together.”

And that was that.

Tanya and her then-business partner Pamela Sutton set up shop in Pamela’s house, running cheesemaking courses for friends. The entirely self-taught pair of cheese aficionados soon built a name for themselves and spent three years running courses in various venues around Perth, teaching the art of home-style cheese-making, including

that life-changing camembert, as well as a range of yoghurt products, fetta, mozzarella, farmhouse cheese and even halloumi.

In 2012, when Pamela decided to return to her job as a marine biologist, Tanya moved the school to newly-opened The Cheese Barrel, nestled amongst the vineyards of Olive Farm Wines in the Swan Valley; and she hasn’t looked back since.

“It’s a perfect place to run the courses because it makes for a really great day out,” says Tanya.

“With home cheese making, there is often a bit of downtime while you’re waiting for the cheese to do its thing, and what better place to

CURDS AND WHEY Left, Tanya Baretto, founder of The Cheese Maker, teaches all-comers how to make cheese at her HQ in Swan Valley.

stop for breaks than this beautiful terrace, with a board of exceptional international cheeses to nibble on, or popping over to the cellar door for a wine tasting. It’s pretty special.”

I didn’t take much convincing.

So two weeks after my first meeting with Tanya, I was off to the Swan Valley to try my hand at the full-day Classic Delights course, which promised to teach me how to make fetta, ricotta, yoghurt, yoghurt cheese (labneh), and sour cream. All in one day? It was intimidating and tempting in equal measures at this stage.

“It’s home cheese making and that’s a big difference from the commercial practice,” says Tanya.

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“There’s some theory and a few rules, but really it’s practice makes perfect so it’s something anyone can master.”

Our instructor for the day, Joanne Costelli (actually Doctor Joanne Costelli – her background is in microbiology and biochemistry), started her cheesemaking life at one of the Cheese Maker classes back in 2011, and quickly caught the cheese-making bug thanks to Tanya’s ongoing support of her “graduates”.

Joanne confirms anyone can make cheese at home, following a few simple steps and with the right equipment.

“After your course, you’re not just left on your own,” she explains to our class of 11, admittedly all looking a little flustered by the syringes and thermometers on the bench tops.

“On the back of your handouts you’ll find Tanya’s mobile number, we call it the ‘Cheese Rescue Service’,”

AUTOCLASSIC.COM.AU

she smiles. “You can call any time to ask any questions you may have and Tanya will talk you through it – I know I did, and she always had the answers.”

Our handout also includes the five recipes we will be making, as well as details of the process of cheese-making and what words like ‘pasteurisation’, ‘homogenised’, and ‘starter culture’ refer to, and what differences they will make to our cheese.

Simply put? To make cheese we will be separating curds (solids) from whey (liquids) in the milk and then draining those curds to make cheese. How much liquid we remove and how long we drain it for will dictate the essential characteristics of the different products. The starter cultures are good bacteria which bring body and flavour to the cheese and assist in the solidifying (or coagulation) process.

So it’s time to get started and fetta is first on the list, as it takes the most time. We divide up into three groups, each with our own station complete with everything we need to make our cheese – and it’s quite a list. A gas burner, large saucepan, slotted spoon, a few sterilised syringes and measuring cups, cooled boiled water, a thermometer, timer and a couple of bottles and sachets containing enzymes necessary to coagulate and flavour the milk. There’s also our incubated culture starter, already creamy and set, which Joanne made up for us two nights ago.

“Remember, we’re home cheesemakers,” says Joanne as we turn to our benches with a little trepidation, “it doesn’t need to be an exact science, so just follow the steps and you’ll make delicious cheese.”

And we did. Milk, cream, calcium chloride, OK. Heat then transfer.

Now add the starter, dash of lipase powder (there is a spoon for measuring a dash!), then the rennet and stir. Yes, we are making cheese and our little group of four is starting to look quite happy with itself. After a minute of carefully stirring in

Hot milk literally turned into ricotta in front of our eyes as Joanne poured in white vinegar and stirred.

“It’s magic,” she says.

the rennet, it’s time to wrap up our cheese and leave it to set for 60-90 minutes.

“Nighty-night,” says one of the guys in my group as he closes the Styrofoam container, and we head out to the sunlit terrace for homemade yoghurt and orange cake (courtesy of Joanne) and a barista-made coffee.

Back in the classroom, our fetta curds setting in their boxes, it’s time to learn about yoghurt. First thing is to taste the difference. There’s natural yoghurt, probiotic yoghurt, a blend of the two, sour cream, and then the yoghurt cheese (labneh), served plain, rolled in dukkah, and in a chilli oil marinade. It’s fresh, tangy, creamy, beautifully set, and what’s better than anything? It’s pure.

No added naughties. Just milk, plus starter culture, incubated overnight, equals yoghurt. Amazing, really.

Next, we’re back to our fetta and it’s time to “check for a clean break”.

Which means making a tiny incision in the curds to check if the whey is ‘clean’. If it’s cloudy, the proteins haven’t fully separated yet and it needs to rest a little longer. If it’s clean, like ours, it’s time to cut 1cm cubes into the curd and then start turning.

“There are moments when being exact is important and this is one of them,” says Joanne. “The size of the cubes will determine the texture of your fetta, so I’ve brought rulers. You wouldn’t believe the variety of 1cm we see.”

And that’s the hard part done.

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ANCIENT ART The joy of making cheese means that Tanya's students continue to make it at home, once they've learned the basic skills.

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After a five-minute rest, we turn the curds carefully the first time, using a slotted spoon to break up the cubes, and then repeat the process twice over the course of two hours, a little more vigorously each time.

The break in between was a perfect opportunity for lunch; an extensive and delicious international cheese board, fresh meats, and a glass of chilled Olive Farm Wines Verdelho.

“Unlike yoghurt or ricotta, fetta making does take time,” says Tanya over lunch, “but you don’t have to stand over it or anything so it can definitely fit into your day.”

We all toast to that.

By the last part of the afternoon, everyone in the class is visibly confident in their cheese-making skills. We’re marvelling in the simplicity of doing very little as our curds and whey get on with the job for us, separating and setting, the curds getting firmer with each turn.

Sour cream and ricotta are next on the list and are yet more examples of incredibly simple recipes with truly delicious results. Hot milk literally turned into ricotta in front of our

eyes as Joanne poured in white vinegar and stirred.

“It’s magic,” she says. And tasting it minutes later, it really was.

Back to the fetta and it’s time to spoon the curds into our hoops (containers to drain the curds). Then we’re nearly on the home straight, so it’s time to decide on flavours. More tastings – chilli, garlic and herb, pepper, or plain – mix in those dried aromatics if we want to and we’re pretty much done.

Our homework will be to finish off the fetta, you see, as it takes days to complete.

“We’ll give you all your block of fetta to take home.

You’ll need to turn it a few more times in its hoop today, then leave it to drain overnight, tomorrow you leave it to air dry and then finally soak it in brine for 24 hours. That’s what makes it ‘fetta’. After that, it’ll be ready to eat.”

As I write, my perfect little block of creamy white fetta is air-drying on my kitchen bench. Tonight I’ll soak it in brine and then marinade it in thyme, lemon zest, peppercorns and extra virgin olive oil, with just a little macadamia oil so it won’t set solid in the fridge.

I also brought the whey home with me and have already made ricotta from it, which we sprinkled over pasta (also boiled in the whey) with pesto for dinner last night.

I’m amazed at how simple and wholesome home cheese-making is, how nothing need go to waste, and how little effort it takes to make truly delicious cheese.

Yes, I’ll be making more of it. With my newly purchased Classic Delights Ultimate Kit in tow, I feel like the home cheese-making bug may have bitten me too. MQ

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Courses held at The Cheese Barrel, 920 Great Northern Highway, Millendon WA 6056.

Hampshire on Eighth 88 Eighth Avenue Maylands

Home cheese-making courses start from $197 per person.

Cheese-making kits and equipment are available on sale after the course or can be ordered through the website.

T: 9200 1892 F: 9200 3958 E: info@hampshire-group.com.au

For class times and bookings: thecheesemaker.com.au info@thecheesemaker.com.au

Hampshire on Eighth 88 Eighth Avenue Maylands www.hampshirebutcheries.com.au 88 Eighth Maylands T 9200 1892 F 9200 3958 Avenue E info@hampshire-group.com.au T: 9200 1892 F: 9200 3958 E: info@hampshire-group.com.au

www.hampshirebutcheries.com.au

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www.hampshirebutcheries.com.au

MINI

BIG NEWS FOR LITTLE CLASSIC

The new MINI 5 Door proves the theory that good things come in small packages.

I

t almost seems like a contradiction in terms, but let us introduce you to the next addition to a classic line – a MINI that’s big.

Yes, the latest evolution of the iconic little car has taken everything that has made it a diminutive darling of the road for so many years and engineered it to suit the needs of those of us who have to admit that size does actually matter.

Enter stage left, the MINI 5 Door, a stunning new addition to the range that is sure to be a big hit with motorists who want to continue their MINI journey even if their demands have changed.

After all, why should you have to look away from the classic British icon that BMW dramatically rescued from the jaws of extinction at the

end of the last millennium just because you’ve had a couple of kids?

And why shouldn’t grown-ups in the back of this small but perfectly formed motor benefit from that little bit more space, comfort and luxury?

Well, those are questions the clever people at BMW have answered in style with the creation of the new MINI 5 Door.

All the classic design is there, it’s still as beautiful as it ever was, as iconic as all Minis throughout motoring history have been, but dusted with that BMW style that has made the new, 21st-century version stand out and rewrite the legend.

So, how have they made it that bit bigger?

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giving the three seats in the back 72mm more foot space and legroom, 15mm more headroom and 61mm more interior width at elbow height.

The luggage compartment space has expanded too – it’s now 278 litres, 67 litres more than in the 3-door model – all these figures outstanding in the small car premium segment.

All in all, the MINI 5 Door is 161mm longer than its standard MINI cousin, measuring in at 4,005mm in total. It’s the same width, so it’s as comfortable on the road, but it’s 11mm higher.

The expansion, though, hasn’t meant any loss of style – characteristic design features such as hexagonal radiator grille, headlamps and rear lights with wide chrome surround, side turn indicator element and black body bordering are all still there.

There’s 12 additional exterior paint finishes to choose from and exterior mirror caps in contrasting colour are yours on request at no extra charge.

The new MINI 5 door will be launched with six model variants, two petrol and two diesel engines of the new generation available with MINI TwinPower Turbo Technology.

There’s the MINI Cooper One 5 Door in 2015 with 75 kW/102 hp 3-cylinder petrol engine, the MINI Cooper 5

AUTOCLASSIC.COM.AU

Door with 100 kW/136 hp 3-cylinder petrol engine, MINI Cooper S 5 Door with 141 kW/192 hp 4-cylinder petrol engine, MINI Cooper One D 5 Door with 3-cylinder diesel engine (70 kW/95 hp), MINI Cooper D 5 door with 3-cylinder diesel engine (85 kW/116 hp).

Six-speed manual transmission is standard in all models, but also available is the 6-speed Steptronic transmission for all models except the MINI One D 5 door and 6-speed Steptronic Sport transmission for the MINI Cooper S 5 door.

Those engine variants offer impressive combined fuel consumption figures – 5.9-3.5l/100km – and combined CO2 emissions of 136–92 g/km). That’s good for the planet as well as the motorist, a theme which is emphasised by the inclusion of extensive MINIMALISM technology, including auto start/stop function and optional GREEN mode.

The immaculate engineering of the 5-door addition delivers that typical MINI go-kart driving experience, thanks to the modelspecific set-up of the extensively refined suspension technology which boasts single-joint spring strut front axle and multilink rear axle.

The incredible handling and maximum agility is made possible by the weight-optimised construction with a high degree of stiffness, electromechanical power steering with Servotronic function as standard, Dynamic Stability Control as standard including Dynamic Traction Control (DTC) and Electronic Differential Lock Control (EDLC).

Also ask Auto Classic’s experts about Performance Control, modelspecific spring and damper set-up and optional Dynamic Damper Control.

The MINI 5 Door’s standard trim includes 15-inch and 16-inch light alloy wheels, but they are optionally available up to 18 inches.

Your driving experience can be

varied in the MINI 5 Door using using the optional MINI Driving Modes. A rotary switch at the base of the gear or selector lever lets you flick between standard setting MID mode, SPORT and GREEN modes.

Of course, safety was paramount in the design of the new MINI 5 Door.

Standard safety fittings include front and side airbags, side curtain airbags, three-point automatic belts on all seats, belt tensioners and belt force limiters, ISOFIX children’s seat attachment at rear (and optionally also on the front passenger seat), tyre pressure control and partially active engine compartment lid for optimised pedestrian protection.

It’s a beautiful vehicle from the

PUNCHY PACKAGE The new MINI 5 Door makes this classic a real option for the family on the go.

inside looking out, too.

The instrument cluster on the steering column shows road speed and engine speed, colour display for vehicle status details and fuel level.

There’s a 4-line TFT display as standard on pepper (or optional colour display up to 8.8 inches) where you can monitor navigation, entertainment, telephone and vehicle functions using MINI Controller in centre console.

And of course, there’s the classic start/stop button.

The MINI 5 Door also come equipped with a wide range of innovative driver assistance systems, including MINI Head-Up-Display, Parking Assistant, rear view camera and Driving Assistant, including camera-based active cruise control, collision and pedestrian warning with initial brake function, high beam assistant and road sign detection.

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Among the extensive range of standard features and high-end options the car can offer are LED headlamps, including LED daytime driving light and LED rear lights, adaptive light distribution and LED turning light, LED fog lamp, lighting package with LED interior and orange-coloured ambient lighting, rain sensor with automatic driving light control, heatable windscreen, Park Distance Control, Comfort Access, electrically operated glass roof, roof rails, electrically heatable and foldable exterior mirrors, automatic anti-dazzle interior and exterior mirrors, seat heating, 2-zone automatic air conditioning, broad selection of roof and exterior mirror decorative styles, bonnet stripes,

Professional navigation system, MINI Radio Visual Boost, Harman Kardon hi-fi speaker system and DAB tuner.

It also boasts a backrest with 60/40 split and optional storage package including luggage compartment floor which can be locked into place at varying points. MQ The MINI 5 Door from $33,161 drive away will be available from mid 2015. Visit autoclassic.com.au for detais.

BMW LAUNCH

NEW ARRIVALS LAUNCHED IN STYLE

The BMW i3 and i8 made their glittering debut at a special VIP evening hosted by Auto Classic in late November, introducing customers to the brave new world of the incredible iBrand. images by Matt Jelonek THE AUTO CLASSIC team introduced the first ever BMW i3 and i8 to customers and special guests who joined the team in celebrating the launch of the all-new BMW i, a concept of innovation in sustainable mobility.

Guests were taken on a visual journey into the philosophy and concepts behind the BMW i Brand as MC Mark Readings discussed

MC Mark Readings

the technical features of each of the new vehicles.

The much anticipated all-electric BMW i3 and the most progressive BMW sports car - the plug-in hybrid BMW i8 were very well received by excited guests and customers, while BMW ‘Genius’ Aidan was on hand to explain the details behind the brand’s amazing innovations.

Visit autoclassic.com.au for more info.

Yang Liu & Ryan Rafferty

Eddie Soong & Lally Major

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Steve & Valerie Pretzel

Caroline Pasovsky & Daniel Leslie

John Farrell, Melissa Wallis & Ray Sputore

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Steve & Samantha Motion

John Major & Jimmy Yong

Derek Harrison & Zoran Tomick

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Prasanna Suraweera, Shelley Phillipson & Michael Boyle

THIRST

STARS

of the

VINES Rob Geddes, author of Australian Wine Vintages, drops in on three WA winemakers who have been voted by their peers to be in the top ten across Australia – Vanya Cullen (below), Virginia Wilcock and Larry Cherubino.

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ustralian wines and winemakers continue to punch above their weight enjoying more attention and critical acclaim than many older established wine nations and their regions. Here are home-grown examples of what it takes today to be world class and what we can look forward to from three of the most talented winemakers in the country, right here on our doorstep.

CULLEN WINES Vanya Cullen The Cullen website shows the intensity of their direction - making wines “hands free” by not adding anything, winemaking coming from a place of discernment, knowing a lot and being brave enough to let it happen.

In a few short words it brings a focus to the philosophy, passion, belief in quality and commitment, “certified biodynamic, carbon neutral and naturally powered,” all of which has been achieved since 2006.

Vanya Cullen’s belief is awareness

of her family being a custodian of the land and appreciating that vine maturity gives more intense wine characters. The quality of the cabernet and chardonnay here is world class thanks to the consistent climate giving reliable, consistent, high-quality wines.

“It is a great site and having 32 years experience at making a better wine each vintage it’s a blessing to have this opportunity each year to try again, a lifetime's work indeed. It becomes intuitive winemaking.”

I have tasted every vintage of Diana Madeline from 1990 onwards and can see the durability and evolution in their wines over time.

Vanya has sought to refine the management of the 500-millionyear old granite and gravel soils to naturally express the potential of the site, for the fruit to show more cassis, rose, violets and iron stone minerality.

To get more, she adds less and her wines have nothing added in terms of acid, yeast or bacteria. Hence they MARQUE SUMMER

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are the most intense reflection of the site she can achieve with what we know today in terms of winemaking.

Vanya’s wine-growing approach is to do whatever it takes to make outstanding wines, short of adding anything to the wines that will change the typicite (the degree to which a wine reflects its varietal origins).

Quality is paramount and every winemaking step incorporates this philosophy. The wines can only be as good

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as the grapes but the uniqueness of Cullen Wines comes in part from the vineyard.

“The role of the winemaker is to act as caretaker to the fruit,” says Vanya, “to understand and to realise the full potential of the vineyard and the fruit which comes into the winery. The whole time we are learning and observing from the interactions.”

“My parents were environmentalists, they started by farming conventionally and using only a few chemicals. I drove the move to organic certification in September 2003 and finished this by the site becoming certified biodynamic.

“Each step gets you a little closer to the Holy Grail of your vineyard’s specific tastes, yet never quite solving the sense of mystery that lies at the heart of the taste of our wines.

“There are always missing pages from the map of our journey and we never really know it all, but we can observe and respond to the weather and the vines and ensure they are in good health.

“It is about all the components of a vineyard; soil, subsoil, aspect, weather, vine variety, vine age all coming together, but there is always a mystery in just how we achieved the taste of each vintage.

“The whole is bigger than the sum of the parts. Our learning never stops nor the sense of wonder and amazement at these complex systems. It’s alchemy or magic almost.”

Vanya is looking forward to ‘growing better wine in the vineyard’ and exploring ways of sustaining vine health to enhance the flavours of the vineyard.

In the cellar, she is working with other ways of maturing wine away from oak. In 2014 she purchased six 300-litre amphoras. Made of clay, she sees the wines are more textural, softer in the mouth with supple velvety tannins, one of the central elements of great cabernet wines.

Visit cullenwines.com.au

VASSE FELIX Virginia Willcock From the moment Virginia Willcock arrived at Vasse Felix, her burning ambition was to make the most of her 16 years experience in Margaret River.

During her first year, together with Paul Holmes A Court, they reviewed, tasted and discussed what is done best in Margaret River and how to do it better at Vasse Felix. Their focus on vineyards and varieties was aiming for clearly defined styles and easy to appreciate quality distinctions.

The results of these decisions have drawn admiration from wine drinkers, critics and wine shows alike.

Virginia is nothing short of passionate and insightful.

To her, wine has to conjure a sense of place, and drinking a glass of wine is “travelling” - hence if you can’t physically go somewhere you can physically taste the place via its wine.

To her, we drink wine because it is an expression of our environment and she makes wine to balance as much of Margaret River’s regional complexity with the minimum required of the wine-maker’s personality.

Complexity is important to Virginia and the journey for her is moving away from sterile polished wine styles towards getting feeling and sensation into Vasse Felix wines, taking you somewhere else closer to the earth the wines come from.

With chardonnay there is room besides the varietal chardonnay’s citrus pineapple or delicate stone fruit for flinty complexity from high solids ferments and lamb’s fat and mushroom from wild yeast ferment to create wines with the soul of the region.

Meanwhile the cabernet sauvignon is about harnessing the powerful cassis/blackcurrant and dark olive fruit to allow the gravelly soil characters to come through via low crops, old vines and sensitive wine-making.

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MUCH ADMIRED Vasse Felix's Virginia Willcock has concentrated on the vineyard's sense of place to establish her wines as firm favourites.

The balance in winemaking decisions is, for Virginia, is a Zen moment.

It is about confidence between “the doing and the not doing”, having, in her words, “the experience to trust yourself to know the vineyard well enough to believe even in moments when the wine is not giving much reassurance that the wine and winemaker are on the right path.”

Virginia’s experiences and vineyard knowledge means a holistic understanding of wine-making intervention to allow the best results to happen.

“It starts before a berry is even harvested,” says Virginia.

“Having faith in the phases a wine goes through to know to let it go through to completion and not interfere as balance in the vineyard will mean balance in the wine to best express itself."

Over the last eight years Vasse Felix has been developing new plantings of clonally selected chardonnay and cabernet at Willyabrup and Karridale.

Virginia’s understanding of this superior ground is now, with three crops harvested, advancing about the future styles of the company.

These vineyards and Vasse are, in Virginia’s words, ‘coming into a beautiful phase’ and are the next major step in the development of the pedigree of future Vasse Felix wines.

Growth in quality rather growth for expansions sake in high quality chardonnay and cabernet.

Visit vassefelix.com.au

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MQ THIRST

LARRY CHERUBINO WINES Larry Cherubino Larry Cherubino, a family man, has a sense of humour and is modest in the way of winemakers, articulate about his beliefs and philosophical about his journey but not dogmatic His peers and certainly veteran winemaker, marketer and manager for the Oatley family Chris Hancock regard him as one of our greatest talents, but despite this he is modest.

“I am not a particularly talented winemaker,” he says. “All I have been able to do is say that wine is really good and that is not so good, and that creates the decision as to where to put our efforts.”

Since 2012, he has been technical director for Robert Oatley Wines and has a few small vineyard clients where the focus is on growing great wines rather than trying to make them in the winery.

“Wine is not about being powerful

in the winery,” he says. “We have a lot of remedial techniques at our disposal today so we have moved away from powerful winemaking and towards better grape-growing” If he has a particular strength it is less about a particular wine-making technique and more about selection; finding the right fruit to make the highest grade. He points out that today the focus is on vineyard provenance, the primary story in wine and the source of quality.

“Good wine companies are trying to get the unique character of their vineyard across into the bottle,” says Larry.

“Everyone wants to get the best in the bottle, but it is not me, the winemaker, but me, the grower, that is decisive.”

“To ensure Cherubino do this well we have invested in vineyards in Pemberton, Porongurup and Frankland and soon Margret River, with excellent provenance. Becoming MARQUE SUMMER

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INFECTIOUS ENTHUSIASM Above, Larry Cherubino is a true innovator in the winemaking industry, garnering many awards for his range.

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growers means taking a long-term view of the wine industry, showing we are serious about setting the future direction and plan, which is the primary story in wine.

“Today’s vineyards are better than the past thanks to the last 10 years of research into how they affect wine quality in Australia,” says Larry.

“International premium winemakers know that a great vineyard site and minimum winemaking intervention make the great wines, they don’t even think it, it is just part of their wine’s DNA narrative.

“But now the idea is in Australia it is relatively new and spreading,” he says.

“It is essential to our future quality.”

In Larry’s view, the next step is getting the best vines and to that end he has been involved in importing new clones (sub types of varieties) into WA. He has four new Shiraz clones, eight new cabernet sauvignon and two merlot and is grafting these onto on older vines of the same variety. He has also made several wines from the new clones including a pinot grigio, under the AD Hoc label and fiano and a syrah which appears in his Laissez Faire label.

His excitement is contagious.

“We are harvesting new flavours and textures never seen in WA before.”

“Australian Shiraz misses the floral qualities that the top European wines have and the new clones with their different cluster architecture, shape and berry size and increased resistance to heat and shrivelling are producing exciting opportunities for improved quality.

“Now it is about matching the clones to soil and climate.” MQ Visit larrycherubino.com Rob Geddes is author of Australian Wine Vintages, Australia’s longest running wine guide since the 26th edition in 2008. His first book “A good nose and great legs, the art of wine from the vine to the table” was revised in 2011, after four reprints.

Neil Cownie Architect Neil Cownie > where each project is a unique journey Architect > where each project is a unique journey

The house is always a home and sanctuary foremost. It should provide a sense of belonging and an environment that creates great family memories, a place that has spirit, while also delivering the practical requirements.

The house is always a home and sanctuary foremost. It should provide a sense of belonging and an environment that creates great family memories, 063 AUTOCLASSIC.COM.AU a place that has spirit, while also delivering the practical requirements.

MARQUE SUMMER neilcowniearchitect.com.au

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FASHION

A stitch in time and space When Sandra Harris Ramini goes shopping, she's not limited to her high street. Why not choose a bespoke suit in Hong Kong, holiday in Europe, and pick up your finished garment on the way home?

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first caught onto the idea of global shopping 30 or so years ago when, for one reason or another, I spent much of my life on a Cathay Pacific plane, traveling between London, Hong Kong and Perth. Those were the days when the Stanley market was only known to the cognoscenti and when Hong Kong tailoring was better known for its price rather than quality. Fellow travelers would show me shirts they’d ordered at 10am, collected at 6pm and paid $10 for each or maybe $25 for three.

I admired their nerve, if not their taste. “What about fit, what about finish?” a little voice inside me cried.

I wasn’t saying that Hong Kong tailoring couldn’t deliver I was just saying ‘give them time’.

Unfortunately, like my fellow travelers I didn’t have any. I was rarely in Hong Kong for longer than 24 hours and while I longed for a bargain I wanted to be able to actually wear it. Then back in London, I lunched with a frightfully smart friend, known for his MARQUE SUMMER

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impeccable taste and style and he revealed his secret. He too used to go to Hong Kong regularly, he too used the city as a stepping-stone to further travel but he treated Hong Kong the way he treated Harrods. Went in, ordered a suit or a shirt or whatever happened to catch his fancy and informed the salesman that he would be back in a week or two to collect his purchases.

“London to Hong Kong is your High Street,” he said grandly.

“Do your shopping, continue with your travel and collect it on the way home”.

And so I did. A rather dreary trouser suit in a crumby biscuit shade was copied in cream gabardine and voila!

Two weeks later, for about $200

INTERNATIONAL SHOPPERS Hong Kong still offers the chance to bag a bespoke bargain - if you know where to look.

including the fabric, I collected an outfit Marlene Dietrich would have lusted after. Bespoke shirts in top quality sea island cotton for my husband were $25 each. Each time I flew to Perth I dropped in on my favourite shopping city to order something special. Going to collect it a few weeks later was always a treat.

Flash forward to 2014 and yet again I am flying the global shopping route from London to Perth via Hong Kong.

Checking out an in-flight online shopping guide I note that if I were a Hong Kong resident I could order a microwave oven, a 42-piece porcelain tea set or a caravan from my Cathay Pacific seat. I could even have my goods bought on this flight transferred seamlessly to my next.

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How practical. How global.

Our Hong Kong address is the Hotel Island Shangri-La. Regretfully, I decide against having my caravan or microwave delivered to the Island Shangri-La, but they wouldn’t have blinked an eye if I had done so.

This is a sophisticated hotel, where nothing is too much trouble. It is also in the heart of everything and staffed with charming, helpful people who long to make your trip to their city as successful as possible.

Ours started and ended with my shopping list; shirts for me, a ‘selection’ of summer jackets – my husband is inclined to order his jackets the way as he orders icecream – and a couple of pairs of lightweight trousers. Sadly, the

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prices of the good old days are now but a wistful memory. A bespoke suit that used to be around $200 starts at $1500; shirts are beautiful but the same price as London – or even worse, as Perth. What to do?

The helpful concierge at the Shangri-La took pity on us. Take the ferry to Kowloon, look at what’s on offer, she advised. Good prices and good quality still exist in Hong Kong.

You just have to look carefully and obey the rules.

Which are: 1. If it seems too good to be true it generally is. You will not get a bespoke suit in the best Italian fabric with your own special collar and button detail and a monogram in an afternoon. Nor will it cost

MQ FASHION

$400. You might get a great suit, properly measured and fitted in the fabric you have chosen and all ready for you to collect around a week later for a good price.

But forget the $400 option.

2. Always insist that the work is guaranteed. A good tailor will alter, repair or rework any shirt he makes for you for three years. He will keep your measurements on file and will mail you new clothing based on your past statistics.

3. Many people believe that only the Chinese make the best tailors.

Yet Hong Kong is full of talented, experienced Indian tailors who can be just as good, but usually less expensive. Check the clothes they’ve made, check their credentials and read the visitors book. Salesmen might play with the truth, customers tell it how it is.

All this having been said, we discovered Empress Custom Tailors by ignoring the rules totally. Hussein

stopped us outside the ferry station and suggested we follow him. As we had been warned never to do such a thing we followed him and met the charming, courteous Mr Vashi Melwani in his shop, tucked away in a nasty cement building just a short walk away.

His visitors’ book was filled with compliments; the samples of his work looked good, he spoke excellent English and my husband liked him.

He was measured down to the finest detail, deliberated over this fabric or that and then bought precisely what he was looking for, plus two shirts for me. Everything, three lined jackets, two pairs of trousers, and two ladies’ shirts cost around $1300.

Not quite as good as back in the 80s but streets ahead of anything we could have bought in Perth or in London.

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BUSTLING STREETS The choice of stores can be overwhelming in Hong Kong but that's half the fun - exploring the myriad of streets with exotic fabrics from around the world.

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we might want to wear our purchases in West Australia. In a way I was a mite disappointed.

Collecting my goods on the way home is the fun part. I comforted myself with the knowledge that Hong Kong is not just about tailoring.

I would have plenty of time to pick up my favourite M.A.C makeup at a fraction of the Perth price, check out a nifty little camera the size of a pen-drive and a silky Chinese jacket from the Temple Street Night Market and we could stuff ourselves with luscious street food until it was time to hop onto our plane and fly off into the sky.

Believe me. It’s the only way to shop. MQ

Enjoy

an unrivalled selection of over 50 varieties of tea imported from the finest tea gardens throughout China.

Indulge

yourself by sampling the delicious array of cakes and sweet options, inluding a full range of macaroons, brought to you by our pastry chef.

Enrich

your senses by dining With us and enjoying our eurasian food matched With fine WA Wines While taKing in superb musical offerings over the WeeKends.

HONG KONG CONDENSED Sandra did her global traveling on Cathay Pacific (visit cathaypacific.com).

When not shopping till she dropped she was at the Island Shangri-La Hotel, mostly having breakfast which she highly recommends. Visit shangri-la.com/hongkong/ islandshangrila Her favoured tailor is Empress Custom Tailors. ectailor@ netvigator.com Her favourite markets are the Ladies’ Market, Kowloon, Hollywood Road Market in Sheung Wan and Temple Street Night Market, near Jordan Subway Station.

Best malls for window shopping are Landmark Square and Pacific Place.

Best for shopping is Harbour City. But huge and very crowded.

196 Whatley Crescent, Maylands (opposite Maylands Train Station) Ph 9272 7738 | BREAKFAST • LUNCH • DINNER Sunday to Thursday, 8am ~ 4pm | Friday and Saturday ~ 10pm

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www.chapelsonwhatley.com.au

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BMW GENIUS

Meet Aidan Gregan, Auto Classic’s first BMW Genius, the showroom’s go-toguy for anything and everything to do with a customer’s purchase. image Crib Creative.

GENIUS AT WORK

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he first of his kind in WA, Aidan Gregan is a BMW Genius, holder of the title in a new initiative designed to give all Auto Classic customers access to the kind of insight into their car that only an expert can give.

For the past few months, Aidan has been sharing his knowledge about each and every BMW model on the showroom floor with customers keen to get the most out of their purchase.

“It’s a role that’s been around in Europe for a while,” says Aidan (you’ll be able to spot him - he’s the one in the BMW polo shirt rather than a suit).

“It’s a new concept here in Australia though. Seven of us went through the training process over east and I’m the only ‘Genius’ in WA at the moment.”

You could say that Aidan is the ideal candidate for the role. He bought his first BMW (‘an old 5 series V8') and as a result became fascinated by the brand.

DIVE WITHOUT TANKS

“I just felt throughout the interview process that this job was meant to be for me,” he says.

“I’m passionate about BMWs. My job is to engage and speak with customers about BMW’s products and services - it’s a real customer-led role.”

As a resident Genius, Aidan can join in the conversation with a sales person or perhaps after a sale has been made, keep customers as informed as possible about all that the model they have bought can offer.

“There are approximately 20 different models and then several different varieties within those models at any one time so it’s up to me to make sure they’re aware of all the car’s abilities.”

“A few new models are arriving in the next few months, the i3, the 2 Series Active Tourer and the i8 - so I’m going to be getting to know what they can all do. For instance there’s three days of training on just the ‘i’ brand alone.”

Being the most knowledgeable person on the showroom floor means

that Aidan is able to show not just customers but also the sales team just what each car can do.

“Owning a BMW and being able to use it to its full capabilities are two different things these days,” he says.

“What sets a BMW apart from other brands is that it’s a real driver’s car. Every BMW vehicle drives as well as the other - it’s not just an armchair on wheels. The Genius is not a sales role, I am simply available to help customers understand what each unique BMW has to offer and how it can meet the customer's individual needs - it’s the only car brand in Australia at the moment which offers this service.”

Customers are welcome to give Aidan a ring too if they need help with an issue.

“I always make sure that customers have a way of contacting me after we’ve had a chat in the showroom. I’m the Genius at the end of the phone for each and every one of our customers.” MQ Call Aidan Gregan, BMW Genius on (08) 9311 7533 or email aidan.gregan@ autoclassic.com.au.

If you like snorkeling, you’ll love Power Diving!

ASK Aidan...

Q: How do I set my driver profile?

A: Have you ever hopped into your car and found that someone has changed your meticulously set seating position, cranked up the radio and had the air conditioning on full? Most of us probably have, but luckily, all of the latest BMWs have the ability to save your personal settings in a variety of ways including: in the car itself, on a USB and most conveniently, on your key. Whenever you lock your BMW using the remote, the key stores all of the settings as they were when you locked it. This means that if someone else drives the car, they can have their own settings stored on THEIR key, and when you unlock the car with YOUR key, your settings are returned.

Q. What settings are saved on the key?

A. Basically, just about everything. If your car has electric seats, the seat position is saved. Other settings like wing mirrors, radio stations, air conditioning settings and even down to your shortcut buttons are also saved. This is especially handy when there are two people driving the one car intermittently.

Only have one key? No problem. You can just save your profile to the car itself and select it on start-up.

To learn more about driver profiles and all of the other great features BMW has to offer, contact or come into Auto Classic and ask for Aidan, the BMW Genius.

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5-6/634 Stirling Hwy, Mosman Park, Perth, Western Australia 6012 T. +61 (0) 8 9385 6500 F. +61 (0) 8 9385 6522

www.powerdive.com

BMW ULTIMATE DRIVING EXPERIENCE

EXPERIENCE OF A LIFETIME A group of Auto Classic customers were given the unique chance to put a range of BMW M cars through their paces at the challenging RAC Driving Centre - an unforgettable day of speed, precision and thrills. Images Matt Jelonek

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n November, a group of Auto Classic customers had the opportunity to drive a range of BMW M performance vehicles at the annual BMW Driving Experience at the RAC Driving Centre.

Despite some blustery weather conditions, the adrenaline was certainly building as participants raced through paced circuit laps of Motorkhana chasing down the leading instructors weaving through

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tight corners and long straights.

Stomachs were tested as the professional BMW race drivers took them for spin for hot laps in the BMW M3.

It was several hours of fun, adrenaline and the perfect opportunity to experience the capabilities and driving dynamics of the ultimate driving machines. MQ Visit autoclassic.com.au for more information.

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R&R

DIVING MADE easy

It’s the innovative system which allows even the diving novice to experience the wonders beneath the waves in minutes. PowerDive is revolutionising one of WA’s most popular aquatic pursuits.

UNDERWATER FUN PowerDive allows even first-time divers the chance to explore all the wonders of the deep with its innovative 'hookahstyle' diving system.

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t’s the chance to explore another world under the waves which draws so many to pursue scuba diving, but there’s no denying the equipment that goes with this adventurous hobby can be – how shall we put it – on the cumbersome side.

Weight belts, wetsuits, heavy tanks – it all adds up to a fair amount of the Beemer’s boot filled up with diving gear.

So if you want to enjoy the splendour of WA’s underwater dive sites but without overloading your car’s suspension, a local company may have a smart solution.

PowerDive is now regarded as the most advanced manufacturer of Surface Supply Diving, formerly known as hookah diving. Since 1997 the company, based on Stirling Highway, has revolutionised the joy

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of exploring the undersea kingdom without the limitations of snorkelling or lugging around air tanks and other gear associated with traditional scuba diving.

“With our PowerDive systems, even the most inexperienced divers can be exploring the ocean in minutes,” says Aaron Hawke, director of PowerDive.

“PowerDive units are the

number one choice worldwide for surface supply diving systems and we specialise in manufacturing three types of 12-volt systems and a compact, petrol direct-driven compressor.”

Although the system is based on the hookah technique, PowerDive offers its users substantial benefits over and above this traditional way of diving which involved steel helmets and old-fashioned dive suits.

“Typically a hookah will have drive belts and oil filters which are prone to failure, but with our light, simple and maintenance free PowerDives, there are no such concerns,” says Aaron.

The Deck Snorkel, Double Deck Snorkel and Power Snorkel models are the market leaders in 12-volt MARQUE SUMMER

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diving, and perfect for family fun or commercial applications, ranging from $1495 to $4995.

The petrol Super Snorkel is the best model for the serious commercial diver. “With a direct driven pump and an in-built reservoir, the unit can be taken to the extreme, whether you need to clean the hull of your boat, free a rope from your propeller or just explore a dive,” says Aaron.

All PowerDive systems use a low maintenance oil-less pump providing no emissions and each unit comes complete with commercial grade diver’s hose and the highest quality regulator mouthpieces.

The free-floating PowerSnorkel allows a single diver to reach a depth of 12 meters or two divers to six metres for more than an hour on the 35 a/h battery – plenty of time to explore the surrounding marine landscape.

“There are no tanks to carry, wear or refill and, after your dive, it’s just a matter of recharging the battery,” says Aaron.

The pump and motor are housed in a floating surround which enables the PowerSnorkel to float around with the divers and many resorts are cottoning on to the appeal of this entry-level way to explore the coastline without the commitment or time required to scuba dive properly.

“We’ve found that the sheer appearance and concept of PowerDive attracts people to the product. Its bright appearance and dive flag makes it is easy to see where the divers are at all time.”

For boat owners, the ongoing grind of keeping their vessel shipshape and free from tangles or hull damage could be made a lot easier with the PowerDive DeckSnorkel.

“It’s a compact and affordable system which allows boat owners to keep on top of their below the waterline maintenance, from emergency detangles to running gear cleaning,” says Aaron.

MQ R&R

WA's BEST DIVE SPOTS BATAVIA

“Just connect the DeckSnorkel to your ship’s power, switch on and 45 seconds later; you are under your boat.”

If you want to share the fun of a PowerDive adventure, then the DoubleDeck Snorkel allows you to buddy dive under your boat, sharing the load of those regular maintenance chores or a recreational dive with family and friends up to six meters together.

Once the diving bug bites, ever deeper dives are always on the horizon and with the Extreme Snorkel – the largest in the 12-volt range – one diver can reach up to 25 metres, or two divers can reach up to 18 metres.

Optional additional hoses and regulators are available to enable three or four divers to 5 meters. If you’ve chosen a remote dive location where it’s hard to refill tanks, then consider the SuperSnorkel with allows divers to a depth of 30 metres.

“The 13.5 cfm oil-less pump which is bolted directly to the 5.5 h/p Honda 4-stroke motor supplied is finished with only the best stainless steel braided hose and fittings and has a built in pressure gauge,” says Aaron.

“Thanks to this design there are no filters on the system and being direct drive, there are no belts. The pump and motor are housed is a stainless steel tube Air Reservoir Frame and Roll-Cage for easy handling and protection.” MQ For more information on the PowerDive Diving Systems contact PowerDive at www.powerdive.com

With tales of murderous mutiny, the Batavia Shipwreck off the coast of Geraldton is one of Western Australia’s best known historic dive sites. The ship lies in four to six metres of clear Indian Ocean, making it an excellent dive spot for people of all diving abilities. You will see the outline of the hull which is still fully equipped with cannons and anchors in a stark reminder of the gruesome tale which has now become part of Australian maritime folklore. A dive tour to the site tells the fascinating history of this Dutch ship which was wrecked on Morning Reef in the Abrolhos Islands in 1629. Dozens drowned while the survivors including 125 men, women and children were then murdered by a mutinous merchant.

Dive and charter tours can be arranged from Perth to the Abrolhos Islands, flights can be arranged from the Geraldton Visitor Centre for fly-over, half- or full-day flights.

brings you face-to-fin with an abundance of marine life, including bullseye, King George whiting and dhufish.

CHEYNES III When this original whale-chaser sank off the coast of Albany, the decks and gangways were soon taken over by soft corals, sponges and colourful reef fish, including blue groper, harlequin fish and queen snapper.

The largest intact, undisturbed wooden wreck on Western Australia’s coast lies in the clear waters of World Heritage listed Shark Bay. Discover the story of the ship that was deliberately sunk by a crew member in 1901, and the incredible marine life of Shark Bay.

LENA

HMAS PERTH

This former illegal fishing vessel was scuttled just off the coast of Bunbury in 2003. Sitting in 18 metres of pristine water, the Lena dive wreck is home to many hard corals and colourful temperate fish species.

SANKO HARVEST Widely regarded as one of the best sites for diving in WA, the colossal 174m-long Sanko Harvest sits in the crystal-clear coastal waters of Esperance. And beyond, the pristine coastal wilderness of the Recherche Archipelago awaits.

CITY OF YORK In 1899, long before Rottnest became Perth’s island playground and a Class A reserve, this Scottish iron barque met its watery end on the reef. A crew of 11, plus a cargo of timber and 5000 doors were lost that day.

GUDRUN

The wreck of HMAS Perth, a 133m missile detector, sits upright in 35m of water, just beyond Albany’s King George Sound - it creates one of the most dramatic and fascinating artificial reefs.

SOUTH TOMI

SS ORIZABA It’s well over a century since the engines of this 140m ship flooded, causing it to sink off the coast of Rockingham. And yet the boilers, deck plates, steering gear and bow are all still intact. Ideal for novices, it’s a captivating dive wreck. While you’re here, you can also take a swim with the wild bottlenose dolphins of Rockingham.

The South Tomi became part of Geraldton’s dramatic maritime history in 2003. Once used to illegally catch Patagonian toothfish, this fishing vessel is now a premier dive attraction and artificial reef with an abundance tropical and temperate fish and corals.

HMAS SWAN A world-class diving adventure awaits off the coast of Dunsborough, where the 112m HMAS Swan was scuttled after 26 years of naval service. This amazing artificial reef

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WEST AUSTRALIAN SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

2015*

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THE MUSIC OF HARRY POTTER Sun 1 Nov 1pm & 3pm Perth Concert Hall Race on your Nimbus 2000 across the night skies to Hogwarts and relive the magic of the Harry Potter series! Suitable for 5–12 year olds Sarah Chang appears courtesy of Mitsubishi Corporation

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CALL 08 9326 0000 quoting 1191 VISIT waso.com.au MARQUE SUMMER

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MY MQ

THE ART OF THE

AQUARIUM Philip Wu and business partner Graeme Faulkner have taken a hobby and turned it into rewarding bespoke aquarium businesses, Aquarium Gallery Perth.

By Gabi Mills. Images by Crib Creative.

F

or a city blessed with some of the most pristine marine coastline around, it’s no surprise perhaps that Perth residents love all things to do with the water.

Aquariums are big business for those who have embraced this tranquil hobby, with tanks ranging from the basic to the extraordinary.

Many interior designers tasked with adding the wow factor to hotel or corporate developments often choose amazing aquarium installations, with colourful fish

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adding a living, mobile flash of colour to otherwise industrial structures.

Philip Wu began his love affair with aquariums as a youngster in Taiwan, the former graphic designer began to discover that the world of aquariums was an ever-developing, fascinating art form.

“Freshwater aquariums are big over in Taiwan,” says Philip from the HQ of their thriving aquarium business, Aquarium Gallery Perth, in Wangara. The decision to become a wholesale supplier 11 years ago with

THE AGE OF AQUARIUMS Graeme Faulkner and Philip Wu with the three BMWs they own between.

business partner Graeme Faulkner was in response to Perth’s appetite for ever-more adventurous aquarium installations as well as more traditional walk-in trade.

“We are commissioned to help with installations in new build and existing houses,” says Graeme who counts the Mayor of Wanneroo as one of the business’s clients. “Once the aquarium is installed we help too with the maintenance and care of the tanks.

“It’s good to have the plumbing, the water and waste system in place.

Filtration can take place elsewhere but it can get complicated to install a large tank in a house where these systems aren’t nearby - but it’s still possible.”

With some installations costing upwards of $20,000, everyday sales are around $400 to $1000 in most cases. Aquariums can be an expensive hobby to pursue for true fans, no expense is spared when it comes to getting hold of the latest accessories, which Philip and Graeme can order in from all over the world.

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For instance there’s a new trend in the world of aquariums to recreate scenes from the Lord of the Rings movies in the tanks, incredibly detailed moss-covered rocks and gnarled wood become remarkably similar to the landscapes which the Hobbit and his friends wander through in New Zealand.

“We’ve set up a room in the back of the showroom where customers can come and experiment with their tank’s layout, placing accessories to get the right ‘look’,” says Philip. “It means they can be confident that when they buy wood or rocks that they’ve chosen the right ones to get the look they’re after.”

Many customers start with a small tank, stocking it with a selection of the multitude of freshwater (neon tetras are very popular) and reef fish (clown fish), many of whom seem to resemble Nemo, pumps and accessories, most of which are imported from Germany.

“The European equipment is more expensive, and in particular the German-made items are the best and solid.

It’s why we bought BMWs too,” smiles Philip and Graeme.

The business partners own three Auto Classic BMWs between them - Graeme has a 123d while Philip drives a 118d while his wife drives the kids around in an X3.

“Having an aquarium in your house is very relaxing.

It’s a piece of nature which you can watch and grow over the years, aquascaping with live plants,” Graeme and Philip say. “We grow corals too and can offer coral cuttings to customers who want to transplant them into their tanks.”

A recent trip to Japan to see all the new innovations in the aquarium world has inspired the pair anew with the incredible artistry that abounds in their niche area.

“Tokyo was a blast but it’s back to the real world now,” says Philip.

Aquarium Gallery Perth offers easy-care aquariums as well as high-end professional setups. Visit facebook.com/ AquariumGalleryPerth for details or call 08 9409 1144. MQ

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PERFORMANCE

PRISONERS OF FATE

By Gabi Mills

It’s one of the most unforgettable pairings of the modern stage - Valjean and Javert. The hunted and the hunter, forever entwined by the desire for redemption and recrimination. And in Cameron Mackintosh’s dazzling version of Les Misérables starring Simon Gleeson, Hayden Tee and Patrice Tipolki, Perth’s audiences will witness a performance masterclass in action.

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“If I speak I am condemned, if I stay silent I am damned...” VALJEAN XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

T

he moment the darkened stage comes to life with the hellish vision of a ragged chain-gang in 1815 rowing their way to oblivion, never looking up, only down, Les Misérables demands your attention in a way no other show can match.

Convict 24601, Jean Valjean, Mayor Madeleine - multiple names, one person - is one of two central pivots around which the entire plot revolves, spinning and churning others lives to pieces as fate has its way with all the characters who encounter him and his nemesis, the policeman Javert.

For two such central roles, the weight of responsibility weighs heavily on the actors who play them.

Fortunately in this 25th-anniversary version of the show, produced by Cameron Mackintosh, Valjean and Javert’s story couldn’t be in safer hands.

Simon Gleeson (Valjean) and Hayden Tee (Javert) are magnetic, both supernaturally blessed with phenomenal voices and stage presences - charismatic, terrifying, human which make it impossible to look away whenever they are under the spotlight.

Off stage, the pair are just as engaging but, thankfully, less intent on tearing each other apart over a stolen loaf of bread.

The fact that they are such firm MARQUE SUMMER

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HEROES AND VILLAINS Above, Simon Gleeson plays Valjean and Hayden Tee is Javert in the stunning 25thanniversary production of Les Misérables.

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friends is unusual for those who previously played the roles says Simon.

“A director said to us the other day that he’s never seen a Valjean and Javert to be such mates. Maybe in the past there’s been a bit of character hangover...”

“Ridiculous,” interrupts Hayden, one of two Kiwis in the cast.

“You do better work as friends otherwise the performance becomes two-dimensional.”

The pair’s close relationship in real life gives the dynamic between the eternally opposite characters even more of a frisson considering the back-story of the convict and the policeman sworn to pursue him to the ends of the earth.

Valjean, given his freedom by Javert, is a marked man from the moment he breaks his parole, goes on the run and changes his name as he goes up in the world, becoming Mayor Madeline. Javert never gives up the search for his man and, 20 years after releasing him, picks up the scent again in one of the many iconic moments of the show when the two finally lay eyes

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on each other once more.

In fact, Hayden’s performance as Javert is all about the eyes (and of course the monumental voice), those blistering pinpricks of light piercing the darkness of the stage and impaling the audience with their ferocious - and ironically - blind self-belief.

“I think that’s true, although it’s not necessarily that calculated on my part,” he says. “As the story unfolds I think Javert begins to unravel, his previous physicality unravels too so it becomes less about the eyes as he realises that what he was looking for wasn’t what he was searching for MARQUE SUMMER

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FATEFUL THREESOME Patrice Tipoki, above, plays the tragic character Fantine, who's fate is forever bound to Valjean and Javert.

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after all.”

Valjean meanwhile transforms too from chain-gang wretch to pillar of the community but, Simon says, he essentially never truly changes.

“The beauty of playing Valjean is that he’s constantly going 'I’m going to friggin’ kill someone' and then a voice inside his head says 'no, don’t do that' and that’s essentially what he’s all about.

“He never becomes a saint, he’s constantly grappling with his conscience trying to get as near as he can to the ideal and searching to be the best possible human he can be, which often means not taking the easy option.”

Javert on the other hand is never plagued by that self-doubt which many of us encounter at 3am, that ‘who am I and what do I stand for?' middle of the night conversation in our head.

“Had history dealt the cards differently and Valjean had come from a wealthy family and become mayor, then he would have had the perfect tool in Javert to enforce goodness and order,” says Hayden.

“Of course that wasn’t to be and it was only when Valjean shows Javert mercy that his self-doubt hits, suddenly and dramatically. In fact I don’t think he has that terrifying moment of self-realisation until that line three lines before the end of his final song - 'I’ll escape now from this world.' He’s finally asking questions and in that last split second decides his own fate.”

Both Simon and Hayden have played other characters in the show in previous productions, so were under no illusions of what would be involved if they scored the starring roles.

“We were both in the room together when Cameron told us we’d got the roles, but he was so ambiguous. He said 'don’t worry boys, you’ve both got it,' but we didn’t know if he meant we have ‘it’ as in the roles, or we had ‘it’ as in talent. Fortunately he took us both

“All it would take was a flick of his knife, vengeance was his and he gave me back my life...” JAVERT XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

separately for a walk and cleared things up,” laughs Simon.

“We’d both done the show before so we knew it was a beast,” says Hayden. “I’ve played Marius before and thought that was a dream role so my first reaction was ‘that’s amazing!’ and then “Oh I’m going to

be a hermit now’.”

On their days off, both actors find ways to relax and recover from the punishing performance schedule.

“Unlike Simon who has a family, when I have a day off I don’t speak to anybody all day except maybe the pizza guy who delivers dinner.

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RABBLE ROUSING Expect your soul to be stirred by one of the greatest musical theatre scores of all time when Les Mis opens at the Crown Theatre, Burswood.

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It’s the only way I can get my voice to recover before the next eight performances in a week.”

Whether or not being part of the Les Mis juggernaut is worth the sacrifice or not, the stars are in no doubt.

“Oh yes absolutely, and more,”

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“...and must my name before I die be nothing more than an alibi...” VALJEAN XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

FIRM FRIENDS In real life, Simon Gleeson and Hayden Tee are far from enemies, the pair say.

says Hayden without hesitation.

Being put through the emotional wringer every night, three hours a night, week after week means that Simon and Hayden have evolved small changes throughout their performances.

“It’s like hair growing,” says Simon. “We don’t notice moments happening because this moment in the show has become like this or that - it’s why resident directors help us keep on track and either say ‘let’s go back to the old way’ or ‘I really like

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the way it’s developed, we’ll stick with this new way.’”

It’s one of the few musicals - apart from opera - which relies entirely on the drama of the plot being driven forward by a completely sung script and score. As such it makes high demands on the skillsets of those on stage, neither more a singer nor more an actor.

“There’s no difference in my head,” says Simon. “It riles me when people say ‘oh do you act as well?’” he says, looking incredulous.

“Unlike a play, you’ll be suspending a moment over four bars of music which is an unnatural length of time. But because we’re spanning 40 years there’s no time to waste.

The plot is very lean and must be moved forward all the time.”

Those 40 years, which pass in just 180 minutes, take a heavy toll on the good looks of Simon and Hayden, from the young bucks of the early scenes transformed into old men by the time the last songs are sung.

“The first time I was made up as old Valjean I saw my grandfather,” says Simon. “My mother came to see the show in Melbourne and told me afterwards that she saw her son at an age that she will never see him in real life.”

Whether Simon’s Valjean and Hayden’s Javert will come to be seen as definitive versions of the roles is in the hands of history to some extent, but that’s a consideration which doesn’t bother the pair.

“I don’t know about you, Hayden, but I made a decision early on that if I go down the path of comparison it’s a road to ruin,” says Simon.

“You’ll make choices for the sake of being different or worry about things over which you have absolutely no control. The definitive version has to be definitive for you because it hasn’t happened before your version.

And of course it’s definitive to an extent for those who are watching your performance.”

“Yes,” says Hayden. “My attitude is don’t steal anything from other performances but equally just approach it as if you’re the first person doing it.”

History, I would suggest, will indeed add Simon and Hayden’s performances, to the pantheon of great Valjeans and Javerts and, lucky, lucky Perth - we have eight weeks to revel in one of the stage’s greatest double acts. MQ Les Misérables, Crown Theatre from January 7 to February 15. Visit lesmis. com.au for ticket information

The unluckiest girl in the world

F

antine’s fate is undeniably harsh. The young factory worker, who tried to keep the existence of her child Cosette secret from her bullying co-workers, descends into hell before the audiences’ very eyes.

From innocent beauty to ravaged whore, there can be few who aren’t reduced to a sobbing mess as her plight unfolds.

It takes a special talent to avoid Fantine’s tragedy turning into melodrama and, fortunately, in this anniversary production of Les Mis, the mother of Cosette is played with consummate empathy by ex-WAAPA actor, Patrice Tipoki.

As a mother of two daughters, Patrice tapped into her personal maternal experiences to play this extremely dramatic role.

“Being a mum and being able to relate to wanting the best for your child; I find it fascinating as an actor,” Patrice said. “You do your research no matter what part you play but I’m lucky that I also have personal experiences to draw from as well.”

Many readers will be familiar with her last incarnation as the witch Elphaba in the first Australian production of the hit musical Wicked. For that role, Patrice was slathered in a bottle green shade of body make-up; a pre-show cosmetics routine that couldn’t contrast more with her humble Les Mis costume.

“It was a pretty amazing ritual,” she said of preparing to play Elphaba. “But I’m grateful now for the complete opposite – in Les Mis we wear no make-up whatsoever, except for a bit of dirt. From sitting in the make-up chair for an hour and 15 minutes

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BLEAK TIMES ExWAAPA graduate Patrice Tipoki as Fantine brings a mother's insight to the role.

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for Wicked to now showing up for work and having to take any make-up I have on off; Les Mis is the complete opposite.”

Patrice admits she’s been preparing for this mother of a role since she was a little girl having first seeing the original run of the production 25 years ago. Sitting in the audience of one of the Brisbane shows was a spellbound six-year old Patrice, daring to ‘dream a dream’ of bright theatre lights.

“It was the first musical I ever went to see,” she said. “It had a huge impact on me because I’d always sung and danced and played and lost myself in music and to see all of that done together in such a beautiful piece as Les Mis really set me on the path of my life.” By Jo Campbell

BUSINESS CLASS

TO RELAX

ROOM

Moira Clay puts the Business Class offering of Qantas through its paces on a long journey from Sydney to Los Angeles.

FLIGHT DETAILS: Sydney / Los Angeles / Melbourne Business Class Qantas

THE FLIGHT: Being the plane junkie that I am, I was delighted this flight was on the A380 double-decker. These planes still amaze me. Business class was on the upper deck and my seat on both flights was in the forward section – a good place to be as there were only four rows of seats so it was quieter. The forward section is also adjacent to the lounge area that provided a good opportunity to stretch my legs. The ride was smooth and the landing even smoother. Big tick for a big plane.

THE EXPERIENCE: I was extremely glad that I was lucky enough to fly business. I was away for 10 days including flying time.

I had minimal jet lag both ways and didn’t feel “shattered” from the length of the journey. I wasn’t bored and I was able to sleep. The flat bed capsule was great and I had no difficulty getting the bed set “just right”. Similarly, the entertainment system was good but being a long-time Qantas frequent flyer this did not surprise me.

The range of movies and TV shows were

THE VERDICT General comfort: 8/10 Seat/bed: 9/10 Service: 7/10 Food: 10/10 Drink: 7/10 General experience: 7/10 comprehensive and I watched a couple of good films both ways. The goodie bag (by Kate Spade) was a bit ordinary. There was nothing wrong with it as such, but I’ve had much better quality on other airlines.

Overall, as an experience it didn’t blow me away. As a flight it was fine. It was not bad and there was nothing wrong with the service but it was, in general, formulaic rather than individual.

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THE SERVICE: First flight, the service was good. My connecting flight prior to the long flight was late so I was one of the last to board the A380. The gentleman who checked me in at the gate was extremely friendly and, to my surprise, left his post and walked me to my seat (nice!). The head guy on the flight – Juan Carlos – was very cheerful and seemed to love what he did. Other staff on the flight were similarly helpful. Second flight was a little different but there was a reason for this.

US Homeland Security had done a surprise search of the plane just prior to departure.

They had searched all the crew’s bags and there were dogs involved. The captain assured us they found nothing and there was nothing to worry about, but it delayed departure by about an hour and the crew was visibly rattled. They didn’t do anything wrong, but it wasn’t as relaxed and friendly as the first flight.

THE MENU: There were two absolute stand-outs of the food and beverage experience. On the flight home, I think I had the best meal I’d ever had on a plane - and quite possibly off a plane. That’s a big statement to make I know. It was after midnight and I felt like something light. I ordered sea bass with pickled radishes and broccolini on the side. The sea bass was cooked to perfection and the accompaniments were just right. It was light, tasty, super-delicious AND healthy!

(Qantas, please take note and do this meal more often). The other feature was small (literally) but worthy of a mention. After the main meal service, staff came around with a little sampler of T2 Sleepy Time tea.

A nice touch. It absolutely hit the spot and my only criticism was that I wanted a mug of it. Best wine was the 2012 Mt Langi Ghiran Cliff Edge Shiraz. The wines on the whole tended to be on the young side. MQ

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P ar ad ise is close r than you think

For more information: Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority (MTPA) Tel: 0299594277 MARQUE SUMMER

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Email: ssenlis@aviareps.com www.tourism-mauritius.mu

LAST WORD

SEVEN DEADLY SINS ROB BROADFIELD | RESTAURANT CRITIC house because every man needs a combi oven, a circulator and a Paco Jet.

(Sloth) Where would you spend a long time doing nothing?

Bali, Margaret River, the Whitsundays and the deck at Leeuwin Estate’s restaurant.

(Wrath) Which news story makes you white with rage?

The senseless, brutal, evil killings of innocents in Syria and Northern Iraq at the hands of the barbaric butchers of ISIS. How these murderers can be so lost to even basic human empathy and decency beggars belief.

(Envy) Who's shoes would you like to IMAGE CRIB CREATIVE

L

ong may Rob Broadfield's reign as WA's premier foodie expert continue. For more years than he'd care to remember, Rob has provided insightful and sometimes ascerbic restaurant reviews for The West Australian's weekend magazine. He also launched The West

Australian Good Food Guide and is the go-toguy for any chef worth his or her salt when it comes to getting the thumbs-up. Married to Diana for over 20 years, Rob is widely travelled, and an advocate for WA's best produce from Broome to Albany.

MY SEVEN SINS REFINED TASTES Rob Broadfield is the editor of the annual West Australian Good Food Guide, a now-eagerly anticipated benchmark of the best the state has to offer in terms of food and drink.

(Gluttony) What is the food you could

(Greed) You’re given $1m that you

eat over and over again?

Pasta al burro (long pasta tossed with good unsalted butter, sea salt and lots of cracked black pepper).

It’s simplicity is its virtue. Also, just-caught abalone, bashed with a hammer to tenderise and seared on a hot barbecue grill with garlic for just 20 seconds each side. Heaven.

have to spend selfishly – what would you spend it on?

I’d give a lot to my Telethon charity, The Rob Broadfield Dinner for Telethon at Cable Beach Club Broome.

And the rest? Mates, planes, lunch, good wines, hi-jinks - and that’s all in just one afternoon. And I’d put a commercial kitchen in our beach

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walk in?

There’s no one’s shoes I would rather walk in, but whenever I see volunteer doctors in crisis zones or the largely unheralded work of carers or those struggling against the unfairnesses of the world, I am reminded of just how much of an under-achiever I am.

These are the real “can do” people.

(Pride) What is the one thing you’re secretly proud of?

My George Clooney looks. Seriously though, The West Australian Good Food Guide and annual Awards night began as just an idea six years ago.

It has blossomed into a remarkably influential part of the hospitality industry landscape and WA’s most authoritative guide to dining. Did I mention my George Clooney looks?

(Lust) Who makes your heart beat faster?

The first good truffle of the season; any painting by Carravagio; the first ball of an Ashes test and the glorious prospect of five days of entertaining cricket and my wife Diana – 20+ years of marriage and I still get the flutters when I see her. MQ

REAL ESTATE

REMEMBER WITH ONE OF US, YOU GET ALL OF US.

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MQ REVIEW

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Construction Commenced Completion Q4 2016 MARQUE SUMMER

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