Marque Magazine Autumn 2016

BEYOND THE GRAVE Jemma Rix breaks hearts in Ghost

rock on Bryan Adams set to thrill in Kings Park

AUTUMN 2016

THE AUTO CLASSIC MAGAZINE

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DESIGN INTERIORS CONSTRUCT LANDSCAPING

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Discover the intoxicating luxury that only comes when every desire becomes a beautiful reality.

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CONTENTS MARQUE | THE AUTO CLASSIC MAGAZINE | AUTUMN 2016 EDITION

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WELCOME TO MARQUE MAGAZINE

I

t’s that time of year when, as the season changes from blisteringly hot days to more mellow temperatures, our thoughts turn to new inspirations and passions.

The autumn issue of Marque Magazine is no different, and I’m sure you’ll find plenty to inspire and evoke passion within these pages. If it’s time to plan a holiday, where better than Tuscany’s elegant, ancient cities and rolling hills, Singapore’s vibrant urban landscape or go in search of that elulsive Spanish spirit - duende - in Barcelona?

If on the other hand you’d like to find out whether the hype surrounding BMW’s innovative i3 electric hybrid car lives up to expectations, read acclaimed WA photographer Christian Fletcher’s review after an extended test drive down to Margaret River.

If music is your artistic passion, we’ve got that covered too, with Canadian superstar - and talented photographer as it happens - Bryan Adams performing in April at King’s Park. We interview Brad Cohen, creative director of WA Opera, and he shares his Seven Deadly Sins, and Jemma Rix, star of Ghost The Musical, shares her hopes and dreams as the hit show comes to Perth.

BMW’s extraordinary M2 Coupe leaps from a starring role in the latest Need for Speed game onto the showroom floor - make sure you book a test drive today. And it's likely that Paul Silverton, Auto Classic’s longest serving salesman, will be more than happy to assist you with such a request - read all about why he’s spent most of his working life at the Victoria Park dealership.

I hope you enjoy this issue.

Gabi

72 MQ CULTURE Understand the world - in 100 objects at the Museum of Western Australia

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MQ TIPS

he hottest shows, events, travel T and ideas around

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WISHLIST

BMW golf gear

12 WHEN IN ...

Tuscany

14 MQ COLLECTABLES Typewriters are making a comeback

18 WATCHWATCH Divers watches from Smales

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Is this the Western Force's year?

24

LET'S GO ...

Singapore – Asia's most vibrant city

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MQ PEOPLE

MQ FASHION Aurelio Costarella's new store opens at The Treasury

Gabi Mills Editor, Marque Magazine

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eet David Manning, snake and M spider wrangler

29 MQ BEAUTY Enviro hair testing

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BMW PREVIEW

M2 - game changer

32 PROPERTY Overton Terraces, Cottesloe

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BMW FEATURES

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26 34

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MQ TRAVEL Reignite your passion in

MQ FASHION Aurelio Costarella's new store

38 MQ TRAVEL Find yourself in Koh Samui

62 MQ PROPERTY Hamptons Retreat, a Private

Barcelona

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MQ PERFORMANCE

Jemma Rix, star of Ghost The Musical

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MQ MUSIC Bryan Adams and his life

through a lens

46 BMW REVIEW 1 Two weeks with the BMW i3

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MQ THIRST

Black Brewing Co.

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BMW NEWS BMW APPETITE Abalone farmer Brad Adams

shares his passion

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opens in the CBD

Properties gem in Eagle Bay

66 MY AUTO CLASSIC Paul Silverton and his long

career at the dealership

68 MQ R&R Croquet - what's all the

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hooplah?

72 MQ CULTURE Discover the world's most

important 100 objects

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BMW REVIEW 2 BMW 125i M Sport

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MQ LAST WORD

WA Opera's Brad Cohen

Published by

Editor

Gabi Mills | gabi@premiumpublishers.com.au

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

Art Director

Cally Browning | cally@barecreative.com.au

Sales

Natalie Du Preez | natalie@premiumpublishers.com.au

Ph (08) 9273 8933 premiumpublishers.com.au

Contributors Norman Burns, Christian Fletcher, Carmen Jenner, Beverly Ligman, Matthew Mills, Sandra Harris Ramini.

Images

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Crib Creative, Christian Fletcher, Elements Margaret River.

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PREMIUM PUBLISHERS

TIPS

The hottest events, the best innovations, travel inspiration and exhibitions

RETURN OF THE VOICE

F

WESTERN AUSTRALIAN NATIVE Tim Winton is considered one of Australia’s greatest living writers. He has won the Miles Franklin award four times, and been nominated for the Booker Prize twice, once for The Riders, which Perth audiences now have the opportunity to see told on stage in the opera adaptation in association with the West Australian Symphony Orchestra at Her Majesty’s Theatre.

The Riders tells the story of Scully and his daughter Billie and their intercontinental search for the elusive Jennifer, their wife and mother, who appears to have vanished into thin air. A moving, sometimes dark and ultimately unsettling tale about loss, identity and pursuit it was initially commissioned by Victorian Opera, and created under the skillful direction of composer Iain Grandage, librettist Alison Croggon and director Marion Potts.

Winton is famously hands-off with adaptations of his work, and in fact both Grandage and Croggon have referred to this work as a re-imagination rather than an adaptation.

Fans of the novel will notice key, justifiable changes in plot, but the essence of Winton’s great work remains as powerful and beautiful as ever.

The Riders, Her Majesty’s Theatre, April 13, 14 and 15 at 7.30pm.

Visit premier.ticketek.com.au for tickets.

resh from her critically acclaimed preview show at the Graphic Festival in Sydney, Sarah Blasko has just announced her national Eternal Return tour, which will be touching down in Perth at the Astor Theatre on April 30.

Described as a love album by the lady herself, Eternal Return appears to be a bit of a departure from her normal musical style. It’s “a soundtrack for a spaceship floating gracefully through the galaxy”, according to the Sydney Morning Herald.

Eternal Return features collaborations with David Hunt, Ben Fletcher and Nick Wales and has a marked retroelectronic vibe throughout. “I got interested in old synths again, which I haven’t been for a few years,” says Blasko. She names Gary Numan, Diana Ross and Michael Jackson as just a few of the album’s influences, as well as Paul McCartney and Bruce Springsteen, adding; “I was thinking about Tina Turner when I was singing Beyond. No-one else might necessarily hear that, but that’s where I went in my head.”

Despite the nostalgic influences, the spectacular voice which has always been one of Blasko’s greatest strengths, as well as her lyricism and ability to craft haunting, beautiful melodies retain the centre stage in Eternal Return.

Sarah Blasko, Astor Theatre, April 30. Check out tickets and more infomation at sarahblasko.com

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IMAGES Jeff Busby

Songs of love, loss & identity

Off the

MEATY READING

BEATEN TRACK

H

e’s probably Inglewood’s most flamboyant resident so it should come as no surprise that celebrity butcher Vince Garreffa is finally getting around to writing a book about his life and times.

The boy from Calabria, Italy, who came to WA as a five-yearold has for years regaled friends and customers with stories about his life that have made them laugh and cry. Local writer Kami Ramini heard Vince tell those stories and urged him to sit down with her and put them on paper. Small problem however. Books cost lots of dollars to produce. Fortunately, Vince has a solution.

“While I’m neither shy, nor retiring, I’m also not wealthy in money – but very wealthy in everything else,” Vince says.

“So to be able to tell this story, my family has urged me to get the book crowd-funded.”

Crowd funding involves people investing small amounts of money in the project to bring the book to fruition and then all excess monies go to charity Mondo Community Warriors, which Vince runs with Lifeline Patron, Graham Mabury.

With 50 years as a butcher, the founder of Mondo di Carne butchers and multi award-winning White Rocks Veal, Vince has been the supplier to most leading restaurants in WA and many of the leading restaurants in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide.

One hundred dollars invested in this project will get you a personally signed copy of the book, an invite to the spectacular launch party and the satisfaction that you have donated to charity. With the total hovering around $30,000 so far with a target of $150,000, the project needs a boost to get it off the ground.

As well as anecdotes from Vince’s past, the book will also include beautifully illustrated educational segments on cuts of meat and meat preparation, with stepby‐step images and illustrations to further readers’ knowledge.

Vince is planning to publish between 2,500 and 5,000 copies, depending on demand.

To invest in Vince’s book, you can donate directly to mail@mondo.net.au.

GOOD NEWS FOR intrepid hikers: boutique tour operator Crooked Compass have just added a new tour to their repertoire: the Valley of The Assassins, a “quieter, greener and more traditional side of Iran”.

Until quite recently, Iran was largely off the table for organised travel, but with the recent lifting of sanctions, demand for this beautiful location can be met. A 14-day tour running between September 15 and 28, Valley of The Assassins takes intrepid hikers through the stunning Alborz mountains (below), the hills and plateaus of the Talesh Highlands, pastoral lands of the Shahsavan Nomads, traditional villages, ancient castles and stunning mountain scenery, finishing at the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Tabriz bazaar (above right).

Launched in 2014, Crooked Compass is focused on unique, remote, lesser known and untouched destinations, as well as looking for fresh ways to explore known haunts.

Founder Lisa Pagotto, a lifetime traveller who has visited almost 100 countries, believes to truly experience a destination you must be completely immersed in it and live like the locals do, which is what Crooked Compass aims to achieve in their range of small group tours in Oceanea, the Middle East, Africa and Asia and Latin America.

Prices start at $5,390 per person. Visit crooked-compass.com for more information.

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TIPS

WISH LIST

IN THE SWING Grab a golf accessory or two from BMW Auto Classic’s extensive range.

GOLFSPORT CARRY BAG $449 This ultra-lightweight, waterproof OGIO carry bag comes with a comfortable four-point shoulder strap system with soft padding and individually adjustable straps. Aluminium legs with automatic activator mechanism and anti-sink foot pads ensure optimal ground contact at all times.

Other features include an easy-grab handle, seven club compartments, five outer pockets and two inner pockets, one with an insulated drinks compartment. There's a convenient hook-and-loop glove patch and a fleece-lined outer compartment protects your valuables and smartphone.

GOLFSPORT CLUB TOWEL | $25 Convenient club towel. High-quality velour outside, absorbent terry cloth inside, 3-way ply. Removable carabiner. This towel complements the drinks bottle, green set and tee bag.

GOLFSPORT GIFT SET | $99 Cool gift set in the shape of an oversized golf ball.

Includes functional cap, pitch fork and Titleist Pro V1 golf balls. Solid, detachable stand in the shape of a tee. Can also be displayed as a ball: simply replace the stand with the clip-on BMW logo supplied.

GOLFSPORT FUNCTIONAL UMBRELLA | $119 How about a sports umbrella with automatic quick-opening function?

This ultra-lightweight yet sturdy fibreglass frame ensures excellent handling and durability. Highlight: a dual canopy which prevents the umbrella from inverting when exposed to high winds.

Ergonomically shaped, water-repellent hard foam handle with BMW logo on the underside. Lightreflecting silver-coloured inner canopy. MQ

TITLEIST PRO V1 GOLF BALL $29 pack of three Professionally produced golf ball from our trusted partner, Titleist. Tour-proven around the globe. Thin, soft urethane elastomer cover.

GOLFSPORT CARTBAG | $499 Ultra-lightweight, waterproof OGIO cart bag with easygrab handle and padded shoulder strap. Large and intelligently organised, with 15 club compartments and dividers extending all the way to the base. Six outer pockets and six inner pockets. With towel loop and umbrella holder. Includes rain hood.

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WESTERN AUSTRALIAN ACADEMY OF PERFORMING ARTS

DIAMONDS IN THE ROUGH SET AGAINST THE magnificent backdrop of the Ord Valley and Lake Kununurra, among freshwater gorges, national parks and stunning reserves, the Argyle Diamonds Ord Valley Muster has become a bit of a must-do on the WA social calendar, attracting thousands of visitors each year.

Hosted in Kununurra, some 800km from Darwin, it was originally conceived as a meeting of like-minded locals 15 years ago.

Today it’s grown into an epic 10-day festival, packed full of events including comedy, food, indigenous cultural experiences, sports, mine tour, diamond dig, art, markets, community events, film and music and an unmissable rodeo which kicks it all off.

Musicians Bernard Fanning, San Cisco and Troy Cassar-Daley will be taking to the stage in the unmissable Kimberley Moon Experience, a huge party held under the stars during the full moon, alongside the Ord River.

Considered one of the biggest events of the festival, punters can head down early with a picnic in the General Admissions area, or swank it up in the Kimberley Fine Diamonds Corporate Circle, a black-tie dinner dance event.

Speaking of food, George Calombaris, decorated chef and MasterChef Australia judge will be leading the festival’s culinary events at the Kimberley Kitchen and Durack Homestead Dinner, two events that are expected to sell out quickly.

If you haven’t yet got around to visiting the Kimberley region, the Muster is be a very good excuse to go.

Argyle Diamonds Ord Valley Muster, May 13 to 22. For more information and tickets, visit ordvalleymuster.com.au.

REGAL THEATRE 11–18 JUNE BOOK NOW

1300 795 012 | TICKETEK.COM.AU

MQ TIPS

Treasures of the south west

B

eyond the Farm Gate by Danielle Costley is your map to uncovering the culinary treasures of Australia’s south west.

In a journey that’s both breathtaking and deeply communal, this publication brings together the stories, recipes, and passion of 31 artisan food growers. Discover a place where food is an expression of craftsmanship and, at times, the very lifeblood of a community.

Go from the world’s only abalone farm to a sunkissed orchard growing Manjimup Pink apples.

Pop a citrus caviar in your mouth, unearth the rare and elusive Perigord truffle, or sample oozing and decadent jarrah honeycomb straight from a beehive.

Beyond the Farm Gate was written by Danielle Costley and photographed by Chris Gurney, $60.

Purchases can be made through the Margaret River Press website (margaretriverpress.com).

SADDLE UP A RECORD NUMBER of 146 cyclists are preparing to embark on a gruelling journey from Albany to Perth for the five-day 2016 Hawaiian Ride for Youth. Now in its 13th year, the ride raises awareness and funds for Youth Focus and its work in preventing youth suicide and depression. It has raised over $12.5 million since its inception.

Along the journey, between April 5 and 9, the riders stop at 19 regional high schools and engage students in the issues of youth suicide, depression and self harm. All funds raised help to support the provision of free, unlimited, expert therapeutic counselling services to young people and their families throughout Western Australia.

This year, high-profile riders like Richard Goyder, Russell Gibbs, Beau Waters, Michelle Guy and WACA CEO Christina Matthews will be participating. “For many riders, the school visits are the most rewarding part of the five-day event, giving them the opportunity to spread awareness of the services thatYouth Focus provides and share their own personal stories,” explains Hawaiian Ride for Youth chairman Bruce Fielding.

The ride will commence in Albany and divide into three pelotons, each covering 700km to Perth via regional towns including Katanning, Narrogin, Walpole, Pemberton, Busselton, Frankland River, Bridgetown, Gnowangerup and Collie before meeting in Mandurah and riding the final leg together.

Hawaiian Ride for Youth, April 5 to 9, from Albany to Perth.

To donate or for more information visit rideforyouth.com.au

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DESIGNS DESIGNS

t R E M O D E L L I N G t R E S T O R AT I O N t A WA R D W I N N I N G t R E M O D E L L I N G t R E S T O R AT I O N t A WA R D W I N N I N G

18 Napoleon Street, Cottesloe 9385 5330 18 Napoleon Street, Cottesloe 9385 5330

www. scagnetti.com.au scagnetti.com.au www.

WHEN IN...

Sandra Harris Ramini goes off the beaten track and finds a Tuscany that beguiles and seduces.

WHEN IN ...

Tuscany I

am driving through the Tuscan countryside. Around every corner is a view that anyone who’s had a dream or bought a postcard will instantly recognise. Soft, undulating hills covered with silvery olive groves or ancient vineyards; the occasional farmhouse just visible between the folding and unfolding curves and, to finish it all off, those iconic cypresses, tall, quite stern, punctuating the landscape like exclamation marks.

But where am I going?

That’s not your question, it’s mine. I have been highjacked mid trip by a Tuscan friend who steers me away from the admittedly familiar joys of Florence and Siena and insists on taking me on a road less traveled.

I am nervous. I want not only pretty, but also historic and

culturally interesting with original shops, nice restaurants and maybe a market. I am told not to panic, that my destination is recognised as possessing all these qualities. It is just slightly less frenetic, and a lot less crowded than the usual Tuscan hotspots.

We turn yet another corner and there it is, Volterra, an ancient pre-Roman walled town, toasting in the afternoon sunshine. Once it was a key city of the Etruscans who probably came to Italy from Turkey around the fourth century BC. They appear to have been an elegant and highly civilised people who understood that life, and even after-life, was to be enjoyed. I learn this from a collection of urns in the Volterra Etruscan Museum.

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with precious artefacts, it’s fascinating, especially the vast collection of urns, many featuring glamorous people lounging around, eating grapes with the Gods and having a good time. There is also amazingly crafted jewelry, which I love especially when I realise that it is possible to buy top quality, 24-carat gold copies of some of these gorgeous pieces right here in town.

Yet, even though this whole region of Italy, Toscana or Tuscany, is named for the Etruscans, most of us, including me, know very little about them. As we continue along the main street the sun finds chinks between the walls and the tall, narrow houses, occasionally highlighting this shop or that. Off into a tiny side street we find the shop of Ilaria Tognarini, whose diverting Trompe de L’oeil panels and witty ceramics speak of Italian style all on their own.

Then it’s back into the grand piazza where tables from a nearby café spill out into the street and giant posters on the museum walls announce forthcoming operas and concerts and similar exciting happenings.

I love Volterra. The views from the outer walls are spectacular; in fact on a clear day you can see across the

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sea to Corsica. There is a Saturday market, local fruit and veg at one end, pots, pans, cashmere sweaters at the other. The cafes are a delight, filled with homemade pastries of every description, each one a little artistic treasure.

There is a goodly assortment of excellent restaurants and masses of shops selling alabaster, which is another specialty of this multi-

TUSCANY TAKEAWAY Visit one of the many artisan shops and take home a reminder of your Italian sojurn.

faceted town.

I have to be dragged away from Volterra, which is how we get to arrive at Castellina in Chianti, about an hour’s driving away.

Another revelation. It’s a terracotta and stone maze of skinny houses, squiggly alleyways and tiny workrooms with shops at the front and workshops at the back.

We meet Samuele and Rossella at the loom in their new shop where they create and sell woven scarves and jackets in all the subtle and covetable colours of Tuscany. We visit the porcelain shop of sculptor, Lucia Volentieri and marvel at the way her work is so fine some of it is almost transparent.

Intrigued and inspired by everything, I go on a mini shopping spree picking up a stylish woven

cravat, a bright orange Italian coffee pot, some exquisite writing paper, hand-painted olive oil containers and a crazy ceramic plate in Tuscan colours that just can’t be ignored. It is all so exciting we have to cool down with a gelato from Antica Delizia, considered one of the best in Tuscany. Taste the dark chocolate and ginger ice-cream and you’ll see why.

My pal insists her ricotta and pear is even better. On a yum scale of one to 10 they both hit an easy 11.

Obviously Castellina being in Chianti is a clue as to its real fame, which is all that luscious red wine.

But don’t think you’ll see kitsch raffia bottles hanging from café ceilings in this chic little town. Castellina in Chianti is smart, it’s stylish and from its walls, all interlaced with secret tunnels and so forth, the view over the valley of Elsa towards Volterra and then the coast is so lovely. Italy at its best.

There is such history in this sophisticated corner of Italy. I don’t just mean the ancient stuff I mean 20th and 21st-century history. The writers, the painters, the sculptors, the moviemakers have all added their own particular slices of colour to Tuscany. On wondering what it must be like to live here, I am taken to see one of those gems that could just be for sale to the right owner and for the right price.

It’s a 17th-century villa of magnificent proportions with a provenance that makes the heart beat faster. It belonged to movie actor and producer Franco Cristaldi, who was once married to that luscious Italian actress of the 50s and 60s, Claudia Cardinale.

Searching for peace and tranquility Franco and Claudia found the Villa di Ulignano. What a find.

It was here that Claudia, Franco and director Sergio Leone created the movie “Once Upon A Time In The West”. Once upon a time in Tuscany maybe this villa could be mine.

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FAST FACTS VOLTERRA Ilaria Tognarini - Trompe de l’oeil and ceramic ware.

Visit ilariotognarini.com L’INCONTRO Delicious coffee and pastries. Via Giacomo Matteotti, 18, 56048 Volterra PI, Italy Also Bar dei Poeti, just up the street. Lovely retro coffee machine and charming, smiley staff.

Via Matteotti, 57, 56048 Volterra PI, Italy RESTAURANTS Vecchia Lira, Via Giacomo Matteotti, 19, 56048 Volterra PI, Italy Ombra Della Sera, Via Guarnacci, 56048 Volterra, Italy Del Duca, Via di Castello, 2, 56048 Volterra PI, Italy MUST SEE Guarnacci Etrurian Museum, Via Don Giovanni Minzoni, 15, 56048 Volterra PI, Italy Fabulaetrusca, Handmade gold and silver Etruscan jewelry (visit fabuloaetrusca.com) VISIT Castellina in Chianti, Lucia Volentieri (visit luciavolentieri. com) Rossella and Samuele, La Tessitura di Tregole, Via Fiorentina 15, 53011 Castellina in Chianti (SI).

Villa di Ulignano, villadiulignano.it/en/ - Call Paola Stellato +39 347 2328

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COLLECTABLES

Keys to history The product of a seemingly bygone era, the humble typewriter is winning a whole new legion of fans, from hipsters, to students, nostalgia freaks, the ‘average Joe’ - even spy agencies.

By NORMAN BURNS. Images: Courtesy SHELTER HARBOUR PRESS.

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The bottom line is that typewriters were built to last, robust enough to handle the often twofingered pounding of chain-smoking hacks. However typewriters, way more than a modern laptop or tablet device, seemed to become part of you. Each typewriter in that newsroom had, like the staff, its own quirks, its own personality. If your machine needed to be taken away for an overhaul, its not-quitethe-same replacement was often subjected to a stream of very colourful language.

ne of my most vivid memories in four decades of working in print media is the shift, virtually overnight, from the “olde world” way of producing newspapers to the cold, clinical although admittedly clever - world of computerisation.

This was brutally evident when I worked at The Auckland Star in New Zealand in the early 1980s. The Star, like most papers of the time, was ditching its hot metal machines and switching to computer typesetting, or cold type. And it wasn’t just printers who faced the onslaught of new-fangled technology; the staple tool of the journo, the typewriter, was also going the way of the dinosaur.

The Star was also moving to a new building and, in the rush to bail out of its Dickensian rabbit warren in downtown Auckland, everything that wasn’t nailed down was being turfed into huge skip bins.

Reverberating through the building one morning was a harsh metallic k-r-a-a-a-n-g-ing as dozens - possibly hundreds - of obsolete Imperial typewriters were tossed away. I tried to get one, but some tiny-minded bean-counter had decreed you had to fill out a bunch of forms first and by the time permission came through, well, the Imperial force would be landfill.

Even then, the manual Imperials -

massive steel beasts, each weighing several kilograms - were ancient; there were a few ‘newer’ portables around the newsroom but the Star’s number crunchers knew they were onto a good thing with an asset that could be written down year after year and not need replacing.

The Imperials were virtually indestructible; well, apart from one that was tossed out the window in a fit of pique by one journo; with the newsroom on the third floor it was lucky pedestrians below didn’t become headline news.

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TYPEWRITER TOUTS Typewriter wallahs ply their trade in Istanbul in the 1930s.

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Newsrooms back then were noisy, chaotic affairs; you could hear the “chatter” of dozens of typewriters being thrashed to meet deadline streets away. Pop into a modern newsroom today and there still may be the odd bit of deadlinedriven panic but the overwhelming impression is of silence, punctuated by the very quiet chitter-chatter of computer plastic keyboards.

OK, you might say, so what?

The typewriter is, like the horse and carriage, reel-to-reel tape deck or VHS videotape, an obsolete

MQ COLLECTABLES

Hanx for the memories HE’S ONE OF the biggest movie stars in the world - and an unabashed typewriter collecting tragic. But Tom Hanks also wanted to share his typewriter love with the digital generation, inventing (in conjunction with the Hitcents agency) an iPad app the Hanx Writer - which mimics the olde world experience of real typing. The keys clack, the paper moves side-to-side; new sheets have to be rolled in when you start a new page. The only thing you don’t have to do is use the “xxx” method to delete mistakes; the Hanx Writer has a modern “delete” key.

“Hanx Writer is just my little gift to the future Luddite Hipsters of the world,” Hanks told USA Today.

Hanx Writer is free to download, so you can get “clickity clacking” straight away.

technology that has well and truly had its day . . .

Except that it hasn’t.

There’s a new generation (and not just misty-eyed journos) who want a piece of typewriter action. Collectors, students and the average joe are clamouring for reconditioned models; there’s the "type-in” movement (a mass of typewriter fans turn up at a cafe and begin typing away); and, bizarrely, some the world’s spy agencies are reportedly reverting to using manual typewriters because the machines, unlike computers on a network, can’t be “hacked”.

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FONT-ASTIC There's a growing movement among word-loving folk to re-embrace the joys of the typewriter in the modern age.

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To paraphrase Mark Twain (a famous typewriter exponent) reports of the typewriter’s death are well and truly exaggerated.

The typewriter’s journey from idea to reality is detailed in a fascinating new book titled, simply, Typewriter (Shelter Harbour Press).

As well as digging into the pretty crazy history of how the typewriter came to be, the book (cleverly set in typewriter ‘font’) delves into its role in popular culture, movies and literature. Who, after all, can forget Jack Nicholson’s character in the horror classic The Shining typing, over and over again, “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy”.

Then there are the typewriter wallahs touch typists who plied their trade on the streets of Turkey, India and all places in between, offering instant secretarial services in the pre-computer age. The wallahs still exist today in Rwanda, India and

Myanmar.

A typewriter was also a crucial piece of evidence in one of the most famous espionage trials of the 20th century, that of State Department official Alger Hiss, accused by the House Un-American Activities Committee of being a communist.

The trial centred around official documents Hiss’s wife had allegedly retyped on an old Woodstock typewriter. Hiss maintained his innocence, his defence team going to the extraordinary length of building a replica of the Woodstock to prove the documents could have been typed on any machine. Their efforts were in vain and Hiss got five years’ for perjury.

Shelter Harbour Press publisher Jeanette Limondjian says she and editor Tony Allan both grew up in the glory days of the typewriter and bonded over tales of their IBM Selectrics.

“When I saw typewriters popping up in Urban Outfitters and hip joints all over the city, I knew it was time to bring out a book on the subject,” says Jeanette.

She says the typewriter’s tactility is one of its great selling points, even in the touch-screen digital age.

“There is something about the tap of the keys and the ring of the bell, something satisfying about ink on paper. Everyone loves it. A lot of kids have never used a typewriter, but once they start, they’re on eBay buying one of their own. They’re so personal and totally hack-proof.

“Paul Schweitzer, of Gramercy Typewriter Company, sold me my first typewriter and when we started looking for someone to write the foreword, we asked him. It was great to visit him at his shop in New York and take a look at the machines on display. Tom Hanks is one of his customers, so we felt a little stardust rub off on us when we visited Paul.”

And is there a holy grail typewriter?

“For me, it’s not about the money, but about the rarity. I’m fascinated by the lost typewriters - machines that no one has ever seen such as William Burt’s Typographer, which was the first machine ever to be patented. A fire at the Patent Office destroyed the prototype. If the replica made for the World’s Fair of 1893 ever turned up, the price would be astronomical,” she says.

Jeanette says feedback on Typewriter has been great and she’s now looking at a sequel of sorts, concentrating on great writers and their machines.

And as the typewriter claws its way back into modern life, get ready for new additions to the English language such as “laptap” (alternative name for a portable typewriter); laptopistan (a place where laptops rule, ie a coffee shop); type-in (a jam session for manual typewriters and their devotees) and the typosphere (the typewriter community according to fans).

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Back to the future Ever had one of those eureka moments for a great idea, only to jump on Google and find a: someone else had the idea first b: they actually went through with the idea and c: it’s been a roaring success?

So it was when I jumped out of bed after dreaming about retro-fitting typewriters with a USB port; you could have the best of both worlds, typing away on a manual machine but with the option to save your work electronically.

Trouble is (for me that is) Jack Zylkin, a selfproclaimed computer hacker/designer/engineer from Philadelphia, got there first.

Says Jack: “The idea for USB Typewriter all began in late 2009, when I found a clunky old Royal typewriter on the side of the road. After a little spit polish and elbow grease, I was really amazed by how pristine this machine was underneath its century’s worth of rust and dust. And even more amazing, it still worked!”

The find sparked Jack to come up with an idea to put typewriters to good, productive use once more - hence a do-it-yourself kit to install a USB kit to (most) typewriters.

Jack says the kit has helped “rescue” more than 1,000 typewriters since 2010. And if do-it-yourself isn’t your cup of tea, Jack also sells complete, ready-to-go, transformed typewriters on his website usbtypewriter.com.

AUTOCLASSIC.COM.AU

WATCHWATCH Presented by SMALES

TIME

AND

TIDE

The diver’s watch is one of the horology industry’s greatest sellers; and no wonder with models that are a perfect meld of fluid design, superb functionality and rugged engineering.

W

hen the wristwatch was just coming into vogue in the early 20th century, Rolex founder Hans Wilsdorf came up with a gem of an idea.

It was 1927 and he’d heard that one Miss Mercedes Gleitze, typist and part-time professional swimmer from Brighton, was about to swim the English Channel - the perfect opportunity to prove to the world the reliability of his newly patented waterproof watch, the Rolex Oyster.

Wilsdorf is said to have been inspired by an oyster shell for his waterproof case. Miss Gleitze duly swam most of the way to France (freezing conditions proved the stumbling block) and she wore the

Rolex on a chain around her neck, not on the wrist. But it functioned perfectly and a few weeks’ later Rolex took out a front-page advertisement in the London Daily Mail extolling the virtues of its “Wonder Watch” which it said was “MOISTURE PROOF, WATER PROOF, HEAT PROOF, VIBRATION PROOF, COLD PROOF, DUST PROOF”.

Rolex still produces Oyster case watches today and other manufacturers scrambled to produce “sports watches” that could defy the elements - particularly being immersed in water - and still work perfectly. Development of breathing equipment for divers in the 1930s, and then the aqua-lung in 1942 by

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TUDOR TIMES Tudor, the sister brand of Switzerland's Rolex, produces superb dive watches such as these immaculate Pelagos pieces.

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Jacques Yves-Cousteau, accelerated interest in specialised diver’s watches.

At first, these were mainly for military or professional use but the dawn of recreational scuba diving and snorkelling was, pun intended, perfect timing for watch manufacturers.

Now they had a commercial reason to develop and refine timepieces that could be worn in the sea, and land.

Robust and sexy, today’s diver’s watches are quite incredible pieces of engineering that have a much more rugged persona than their dress watch “cousins”. But they also look just as sharp in the office, being worn out on the town, or when you’re kicking back on the golf course as they do under the waves.

BALL ENGINEER MASTER II SKINDIVER II, $3,845 Ball offers some excellent, very affordable, models right across its range, and this new diver’s watch is no exception. The Skindiver II, an update of a retro-inspired piece released a few years ago, has some heavy duty deep diving features (water resistant to 500m, helium escape valve) that most wearers in truth will never need, but it is still cool to have them on your wrist. The watch is 43mm in diameter, has a steel braided strap and ceramic outer rotating bezel. Ball is big on “luminous” features using a special system of micro gas tubes on the indices and hands, perfect for seeing in murky water - or a lowlit nightclub. So why are Ball watches relatively “cheap” while offering much of the same functionality as ritzier competitors? The answer is in the “engine”; Ball does not make its own movements, (a very expensive exercise in research and development) instead adapting and upgrading ones from specialist suppliers such as ETA, as is the case here.

BREITLING SUPEROCEAN HERITAGE CHRONOGRAPHE 46, FROM $7,270 Big and bold at 46mm, Breitling’s SuperOcean Heritage Chronographe 46 comes with either a distinctive steel mesh bracelet or rubber diver’s strap and looks every part the rugged 21st-century sports watch albeit with a nod to the brand’s dive watches of the past. The 50s-style font for the “superocean” logo is a cool touch for the watch, powered by a Breitling 13 automatic mechanical movement and is water-resistant to 200m. The chronograph dials feature 1/4th second, 30-minute and 12-hour counters, and dive times can be set via the unidirectional, racheted bezel. Add in date display and 42hour power reserve and this is a nice package indeed.

TUDOR PELAGOS, $5,250 Apart from being a beautifully streamlined, no-nonsense timepiece, the Tudor Pelagos has some serious deepwater kudos - not to mention an impeccable family history. Tudor is the other brand from market leader Rolex, produced to the same exacting standards as its better-known big brother, but with less pain for your wallet. The 42mm Titanium Pelagos is ultra-accurate, with its in-house movement Chronometer-certified.

Like Rolex dive watches, the Pelagos case has a rugged, patented, construction, which is why the company states its watches are water-proof, rather than waterresistant - in this case, to 500m. The indices and outer bezel are also highly luminous, their blue glow being the optimum colour to see underwater.

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ROLEX OYSTER PERPETUAL YACHT-MASTER, FROM $27,900 The date window “bubble” (or in Rolex parlance, the Cyclops lens) is a famous Rolex standard, but this new Yacht-Master, available with a 37mm or 40mm dial, has has a host of firsts for the world’s most famous luxury watchmaker. For a start, the black-on-matte-black bi-directional bezel is made out of a new material, cerachrom, and the case is constructed of Rolex’s own in-house 18k gold, Everose. Everose gold contains platinum, so its beautiful lustre will not fade over time. Then there’s the Oysterflex bracelet, which looks like a straightforward rubber strap but is far from it.

Rolex has incorporated a thin layer of titanium/nickel alloy into the bracelet, to which the rubber (a high-performance elastomer) is moulded. The result is a lightweight, flexible but strong-as-a metal bracelet - and a very sporty finish to what is a beautiful watch.

The case, natch, is as watertight as can be (the crown is protected by a patented Triplelock system) to a depth of 100m. If you were looking for a distinctive Rolex, this is it.

All timepieces available through Smales showrooms in Subiaco, Bunbury and Kalgoorlie. smales.com.au

RUGBY’S SUPERMEN New jersey, new competition, new-look team, new attitude. The Western Force is determined to make an impact this season in the world’s toughest provincial rugby competition - Super Rugby.

By NORMAN BURNS. Images COURTESY SANZAR/WESTERN FORCE

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SPORT

T

hose of a certain vintage may recall the Labor Party’s slogan for the 1972 general elections “It’s time.”

It would also be a fitting motto for long-suffering fans of the Western Force (one of whom is myself), which since its launch 11 years ago as the fifth Australian team in Super Rugby has never made the finals.

In fact, the Force is coming off an unwanted trophy in 2015 - the wooden spoon for finishing bottom in the 15-team comp. (It didn’t help that powerhouse captain Matt Hodgson missed most of the season through injury).

But Super Rugby, which started out life in 1986 as an annual tournament involving NSW, Queensland, Auckland, Canterbury and Wellington as well as a composite Fijian side, is moving into a new era in 2016 and one which, together with a new energy and focus at the Perth club, could see the Force finally deliver the goods.

The Force undertook some

thorough soul-searching on performance, tactics, attitude and fitness after last season’s rock-bottom finish and coach Michael Foley has vowed to bring a new brand of fast flowing, expansive rugby to the table.

“It was a disappointing season but the boys have put that behind us; coaches, players, everyone came together to focus on how we want to play this year,” said Force centre Kyle Godwin.

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to play for last year - we kind of lost that team culture. We’ve had a huge group effort to work on the things we want to put behind us.”

The Force will also take to the field in a new-look, state-of-the-art jersey made from tough, cool, lightweight and hopefully hard for tacklers to get a grip on - Exotek fabric.

“As performance wear, it’s very much at the cutting edge. In recent years the jersey has evolved from a top that simply determined which team you were playing for to a garment that can make a significant contribution to the performance of an athlete,” says Matt Hodgson, one of several senior players who helped design the strip.

Coach Michael freely admits it’s been a somewhat bumpy ride for fans since the club’s inception in 2006.

“Without question, there have been some disappointments. The club earned its introduction into Super Rugby on the back of what Gary Flowers (the ARU CEO at the time) referred to as ‘people power’,” he says. ‘’However, some of that initial support and enthusiasm waned when the team didn’t achieve early on-field success and then a series of off-field incidents created doubt about the team’s ambition in supporters’ minds.

“In 2013, we made a serious commitment to shifting the team’s focus to earning the respect of people who we cared about. More specifically, each other, our families, our organisation, our fans and the opposition. To that end, significant progress was made through the 201314 seasons.

“It’s understandable, given the results of 2015, that people feel let down and any attempt to reconcile that in words will seem empty. What our fans need to know is that the season wasn’t something we moved away from easily. Our review was thorough and the commitments we’ve made and will keep each other accountable to relate to both who we are and how we play and

MQ SPORT

and Rugby WA Development Officers and pathway managers like Dwayne Nestor, a lot of mums and dads have sacrificed personal and family time in supporting their sons to become elite level sportsman.

If it wasn’t for Mr and Mrs Burton, Godwin, Hoskins, Scoble, Koteka, Ainsley, Hardwick, Louwrens and many others, their sons wouldn’t be part of what is the most Western Australian team in the club’s brief history,’’ he says.

Another thing in the Force’s favour for 2016 is that the competition has been given a significant shake-up.

For a start, no fewer than three extra teams have joined Super Rugby; a sixth South African franchise (the Southern Kings), an Argentine team (the Jaguares) and arguably the biggest gamble of all, the superbly

SUPER RUGBY 2016 CONFERENCES

are focused firmly on becoming a champion team.’’

While the side lost some players (among them lock Sam Wykes, and Wallaby winger Nick Cummings) it has also gained experience, speed and firepower into the playing squad.

Former Springbok and Stormers fiveeighth Peter Grant looms as a key to controlling the play.

Michael is also expecting his contingent of WA-raised players, such as Kyle Godwin, to step up.

In fact, the development of locals into Super Rugby-standard players has been one of the highlights for Michael. Kane Koteka and Richard Hardwick, for example, were two of the inaugural winners of the Future Force scholarship, a program to bring local players to the fore. Kane played 10 Super games last year in an impressive debut.

“A number of people in the Rugby WA family have been working away for much longer than I’ve been at the club and they’ve made great progress. While the more obvious people are club coaches and officials

AUSTRALIA Western Force, Brumbies, Reds, Melbourne Rebels, Waratahs NEW ZEALAND Auckland Blues, Hurricanes, Highlanders, Chiefs, Crusaders AFRICA 1 Bulls, Cheetahs, Stormers, SunWolves AFRICA 2 Jaguares, Kings, Lions, Sharks NORMAN’S FINALISTS FOR 2016 Auckland Blues Argentina Jaguares NSW Waratahs Stormers Highlanders Western Force Hurricanes Bulls SUPER RUGBY CHAMPION 2016 ~ Stormers RUNNER-UP ~ Blues WOODEN SPOON ~ SunWolves

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monikered SunWolves, out of Japan. There’s also been something of a seismic shift in top players, particularly from the New Zealand franchises, opting to play in the lucrative French Top 14 competition.

Said Brendan Morris, Super Rugby organiser SANZAR’s interim chief executive: “As we stand eagerly on the cusp of a new era of Super Rugby, fans can look forward to the upcoming season with a great deal of optimism and enthusiasm. We are in the envious position to be delivering our great brand of rugby to new cities and international markets, unlocking a host of commercial opportunities and delivering the unbridled excitement of Super Rugby to a legion of new and existing fans.”

There’s no doubt, though, that the expansion is somewhat of a gamble.

“The growth of the competition brings exciting changes and new interest, both commercially and from a spectator perspective, which is great for us all.

The SunWolves, Kings and Jaguares will provide new and different challenges,” says Michael.

“However, I feel SANZAR has often instituted change based heavily on commercial factors linked to broadcasting without also considering the impact on the athletes and, as a consequence, performance across all teams in the competition.

"Within the SANZAR umbrella, each team seeks to achieve independent financial sustainability through on-field success . . . at times there seems to be some naivety on how new evolutions of the competition impact on that.”

The SunWolves, on paper at least, look likely wooden spooners and will be one of the teams the Force plays (in Tokyo on May 7); with the extra teams, Super Rugby has been split into four conferences (two in South Africa; one each in Australia and New Zealand).

Teams will play six matches within their own conference, five

against an Australasian conference, four against a South African conference and will have two byes across the 17-week regular season.

At the end of a total of 135 regular season matches the top eight teams (the four conference winners plus the three highestranked teams from the Australasian group and the next highest-ranked team from the South African group) will battle it out in knock-out postseason play, the top two facing off for the Super Rugby trophy in a winnertakes-all clash on August 6.

The Jaguares, who will be in the Africa 2 conference, could be the surprise package - their squad has 29 players with Test experience, including 11 of the starting 15 that lost the Rugby World Cup semi-final to the Wallabies at Twickenham in October last year.

Whether the Jaguares can maintain Test-level intensity week-in, weekout remains to be seen.

Michael is circumspect when asked what will be his “pass mark” for the Force in 2016.

“We have only talked about winning. On that basis, I won’t be thinking of what ‘pass’ looks like.”

However his message to the playing group is straightforward.

“We have worked as one, across all players and staff to develop our game towards scoring more tries. On the back of that, our key messages are that we need to act for each other, relentlessly chase improvement and be brave in the way that we stay true to keep each other working towards our goals.”

The acid test though for the Western Force’s brave new world will be at nib Stadium on Saturday, February 27 at 6.50pm when it faces conference rivals the Melbourne Rebels in the season opener. MQ For details and the latest news on the Western Force and Super Rugby fixtures, visit western force.com.au *The author of this story is a Western Force member and rugby tragic.

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BY THE NUMBERS Super Rugby crowd, 61,823 biggest Waratahs v Crusaders final August 2, 2014

1,377 most points in Super Rugby, Dan Carter (Crusaders 2001-08/2010-15)

games in Super Rugby, Nathan 157 most Sharpe (Force 2006-12, 87 and Reds 1998-05, 70)

consecutive matches (Caleb 104 most Ralph, Blues/Crusaders 1998-2006) largest winning margin (Bulls, 89 points, 92, v Reds, 3, 2007) matches as captain, Nathan 79 most Sharpe (Force 79, Reds 2) tries (Doug Howlett, Blues/ 59 most Hurricanes/Highlanders, 1997-07) points in a match (Gavin 50 most Lawless, Sharks v Highlanders, 1997) tries in a match, Lions v Chiefs 18 most 2010 tries in a season (Joe Roff, 1997; 15 most Rico Gear, 2005) conversions in a match 13 most (Andrew Mehrtens, Crusaders v Waratahs, 2002)

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quickest try 8 seconds, (Bryan Habana v Cheetahs, 2011)

LET'S GO

Singapore offers the best of both worlds for a short stay; a perfect stopover for those heading elsewhere and a very funky destination in its own right.

SINGAPOREfling

By NORMAN BURNS. Images courtesy HOTEL JEN TANGLIN, SINGAPORE TOURISM BOARD.

S

ingapore used to be seen by many as a safe but dowdy destination with great duty free.

Hi-fi gear, cameras, cosmetics and cheap booze were the calling cards of the land where chewing gum could get you in serious strife.

Singaporeans still aren’t enamoured of chewing gum but that’s about where comparisons with the old Sing end.

The new kids in town are brash, arty, hip and stylish - but with an appreciative eye on the past too. And whether you feel like breaking a long international journey with a brief stay on the island or want to check out a long weekend in Asia instead of Melbourne, there’s an incredible array of things to experience.

EAT Food is a national obsession here, and one of the island’s leading food bloggers is local doctor (and foodie supreme) Leslie Tay, who has shared his Magnificent Seven street eating spots to check out:

1 HILL STREET CHAR KWAY TEOH

4 ENG SENG RESTAURANT 3

Blk 16, Bedok South Road Ph: 00 11 65 9042 1312 Char Kway Teoh - literally stir-fried ricepaper strips - is a staple around Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore, although there are many regional variations, but Leslie rates this little stall is the best on the island.

247 Joo Chiat Place (Jn Joo Chiat Place and Still Rd) Ph: 00 11 65 6440 5560 Eng Seng is on the front lines of the perennial battle between two of Singapore’s signature dishes - black pepper crab and chilli crab – and its version of black pepper crab wins the day here. Such is its popularity, you need to ring ahead to reserve your crab - and then get down around 5pm to queue for a table.

2 JANGGUT LAKSA QUEENSWAY

5 WARONG NASI PARIAMAN

Shopping Centre, #01-59, Singapore Ph: 00 11 65 9622 1045 Another gem; for around $4 you get a bowl of the famous, creamy, spicy coconut-based laksa broth, oozing prawny goodness and more.

738 North Bridge Road Ph: 00 11 65 6292 2374 This groovy little third-generation run cafe in a heritage building has been dishing up delicious Malaysian since 1948. Open 7.30am to 8pm, Leslie recommends its grilled chicken and beef rendang.

3 TATSUYA SUSHI GOODWOOD PARK

699 North Bridge Road Ph: 00 11 65 6298 7011 Zam Zam’s longevity speaks for itself (108 years in business at the same premises) and its murtabak - a mutton or chicken-filled pastry - is legendary.

Hotel 22 Scotts Rd Ph: 00 11 65 6737 1160 The popularity of Japanese, sushi in particular, has boomed in Singapore and Leslie rates Tatsuya as a must.

Chef Ronnie Chia was a two-time World Gourmet Summit Asian Ethnic Chef of the Year and he specialises in hard-to-find-elsewhere regional sushi delicacies.

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6 ZAM ZAM 679,

7 GEYLANG LOR 29 FRIED HOKKIEN MEE 396 East Coast Road Hokkien Mee is another of Singapore’s famous dishes, a combination of fried noodles, prawns, vegetables, chicken and more, and here the dish is prepared over a charcoal fire.

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TIP If you dine at one of the more up-market establishments beware of the “plus-plus” sting with the bill; that’s 7 percent sales tax and 10 percent service charge.

For Dr Leslie Tay’s latest insights into Singapore’s ever-evolving food scene, visit ieatishootipost.sg

CULTURE ‘Melting pot’ is a bit of a hackneyed term but in Singapore’s case it is 100 per cent accurate; from Little India, to Arab Street, Chinatown and the Malay Muslim quarter of Kampong Glam there are worlds-within-worlds to explore.

the craziness) is a visit to the Mustafa Centre in Little India (visit mustafa. com.sg). Open 24 hours, it sells pretty much everything (including the kitchen sink). The former red light zone of Bugis Street is now an electic shopping precinct of more than 600 stores while Little India’s bustling Tekka Market is a cacophony of colour, smells and sound. The area of Tiong Bahru - the island’s first housing estate, built in 1930 - has

SHOP The glory days of duty free may be gone, but that’s no excuse not to FOOD OF THE GODS From scrumptious laksa at the Hotel Jen Tanglin (above) to spectacular street food, Singapore is a foodie's paradise.

Below: One of the groovy rooms at the Hotel Jan Tanglin.

let alone run at night - would have been ridiculed in old Singapore. Now one of the highlights on the Formula 1 calendar, the Singapore Night Grand Prix is a spectacular success. Crowds of more than 260,000 caught the action at the Marina Bay Street Circuit last year and this year’s race (September 16-18) promises to be just as popular.

Visit singaporegp.sg

STAY These days you’re spoilt for choice for cool and quirky boutique lodgings. A good case in point is the Hotel Jen Tanglin Singapore, formerly the Traders Hotel. It still has a lot of rooms - 565 to be precise - but each is uniquely decorated (plus free WiFi, high pressure walk-in showers, king-size beds with 300-thread count linen and more) and the hotel is now hip and contemporary thanks to a $S45 million makeover.

This is big-scale boutique and the hotel is also going the extra mile to really immerse visitors in the local culture and attractions with its innovative Heart Map concept, in which guests and staff alike are encouraged to write favourite tips and recommendations on a handdrawn map.

For those who crave boutique small options include The Scarlet (80 rooms, including five individually themed suites); the eclectic The New Majestic, a dazzling blend of art themes and colonial memories in 30 rooms; WANGZ Hotel (41 rooms in an oasis-like setting just minutes from the Orchard Road shopping mecca) and the innovative Wanderlust (29 rooms), housed in a 1920s building in Little India.

Check out on the web: hoteljen.com; thescarlethotels.com; newmajestichotel; wangzhotel.com wanderlusthotel.com

GETTING AROUND

morphed into a little hipster village including groovy bookstores (Books Actually, 9 Yong Siak St); or if you’re searching for distinctive, animalshaped furniture there’s Strangelets (7 Yong Siak St) while collectors can get their kicks - and quirky designer products - at Fleas and Trees (68 Seng Poh Lane 01-10). shop till you drop around Singapore.

I like checking out the eccentric, quirky and vintage, and thankfully there’s no shortage of all of the above there. A must (if just to experience

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Singapore’s excellent Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) system is one of the cleanest and easiest to use in the world, while for under $S2 you can hop on a local bus. The smartest way to get around is via the Singapore Tourist Pass, an ez-link card that offers unlimited travel for the duration you choose. Plus it has exclusive merchandise offers for cardholders - and you can get a refund of any unused portion of the ez-link card when you leave Singapore. Visit thesingaporetouristpass.org

GETTING THERE Singapore is one of the most accessible air destinations from Perth; around seven flights a day leave Perth from carriers including Scoot, Jetstar, Virgin Australia, Qantas - and of course, Singapore’s national carrier, Singapore Airlines. Visit singaporeair.com MQ

AUTOCLASSIC.COM.AU

PEOPLE

ANIMAL ARKTIVIST

Images CRIB CREATIVE Snake images COURTESY HOUNDSTOOTH PHOTOGRAPHY/DAVID MANNING

Perth wildlife expert David Manning doesn’t blink when it comes to handling venomous snakes, spiders or scorpions. After all, he’s had to deal with far trickier creatures directors and producers in the TV and movie industry. By NORMAN BURNS.

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olourful doesn’t quite cut it when it comes to describing animal expert David Manning’s career.

Among the many memorable moments in more than 25 years working with domestic animals and wildlife, David’s had to: • provide a bunch of penguins to appear in a Queen music video; • co-ordinate the hatching of a live chick on David Attenborough’s hand; • train a fly (!) to go into a strip club for a video by dub band Massive Attack; • provide a king snake to appear with the late David Bowie in the MARQUE AUTUMN

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film Labyrinth, and; • rub oil on a naked supermodel holding a boa constrictor over her head for a car advertisement.

Then there was sourcing countless dogs, cats (“they’re the worst to work with”), horses and pretty much every other creature going around for TV and film productions and advertising work - even rounding up some giraffes and zebras for a party thrown by pop legend Elton John.

“I always liked animals,” says David, who grew up in Surrey in the UK and, in his words, “lucked out” at 16 when he got a job with a London reptile importer.

“They brought in reptiles as pets,

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ANIMAL MAGIC David Manning has had some strange requests in the past, making the most of his animal wrangling skills.

for zoos and wildlife parks. David Attenborough lived around the corner (from the company), and he used to drop in to get crickets to feed his newts or salamanders,” says the 54-year-old who moved to Perth in 2006 and now runs, with partner Jenny Seymour, Animal Ark which aims to educate young and old alike about wildlife - particularly dealing with snakes and the like.

“People tend to think it’s all about saving people from snakes; but it’s really more about saving snakes from people,” says David, adding that most snakes are timid unless provoked.

“We got a call recently from a guy in Joondalup who had a tiger snake in his garage. We got up there to remove the snake, which was obviously scared and trying to hide.”

After cutting his (animal) teeth at the London zoological supplier, David’s career took quite a turn when a BBC film company came by to rent wildlife and a wrangler for a production. He saw the potential for a move into a whole new side to working with animals - advising on, supplying, training and handling creatures, and all the equipment needed to support them, to the entertainment and media industry.

“Our first concern was always the welfare of the animal and then the welfare of cast and crew on the set,” says David, who worked with a vast range of specialist animal agents.

“It could be that someone needed a five-week-old sealpoint kitten, or baby corgi, or a

tiger. We once supplied a horse for the Royal opening of Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre - the Queen attended and the horse had to be pretty much bomb proof and not be spooked easily, or kick or bite.”

A car ad featuring supermodel Naomi Campbell stands out in his memory, and not just because he had to provide a boa constrictor for the shoot.

“She was naked, and holding a large boa constrictor but the assistant who had to ‘oil’ her was petrified of the snake and wouldn’t go near her. They asked me to rub oil on her; it was tricky and she kept slipping off the car because of the oil.”

The shoot involving wildlife legend Attenborough came about because the director wanted shots of a live chick hatching on his hand.

“Sir David was only availble for three hours and it took a while to get the exact shot of the chick hatching and looking into the camera; we had a lot of ready-tohatch eggs lined up.”

By the mid-2000s, though, David and Jenny were looking for a lifestyle change and decided to emigrate to Australia.

“Initially I was

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SNAKES AND LADDERS David runs Animal Ark with his partner Jenny Seymour, educating young and old about snakes, spiders and scorpions.

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looking at the east coast, with the film industry there, and setting up a ‘prop shop’ - we also used to supply a lot of animal props in the UK,” says David.

But Perth was also an attractive choice - Jenny had family here. Plus, WA was “reptile central” - the ideal choice for a dedicated ophiophilist (lover of snakes).

Through Animal Ark, David and Jenny have delivered their animal education and conservation message to schools and businesses, gathering an impressive collection of reptiles and other animals in the process - and not all of them the cuddly types.

A Saturday morning class with a group

MQ PEOPLE

SNAKE TALES MOST AUSTRALIANS HAVE

(snakes are a protected species in any

a long way to go separating fact

case). If you are ever bitten you need to

from myth about our native wildlife -

apply the appropriate first-aid treatment

particularly venomous snakes.

and seek medical help of course, but

Such as the oft-repeated ‘fact’ that Australia is home to the majority of the

(inject venom) even when they bite.”

Snakes are likely to be more of a

world’s deadliest 25 snakes.

“There are 188 species of snake

daily issue with those in the country

in Australia; 100 types in WA, and 21

but they can be found throughout any

species around Perth, of which 15 are

metro area.

venomous,” says David. “But on average

David says keeping your backyard

in Australia around two people a year die

tidy - and mice-free - is a good start to

of snakebite, whereas victims number in

keeping your property snake-free too.

around 100,000 annually elsewhere in

“Mice are a big factor; where there’s mice, you’ll find snakes.”

the world.”

A lot of the ‘deadly Australian snake’

Snakes do, however, take a big toll

belief is based on stats relating to the

on some very important members

toxicity of a snake’s venom; the inland

of the Australian community - pets,

taipan, for example, is rated by some

particularly all-too-curious dogs.

of as the world’s deadliest - but this is

“It’s said around 60,000 dogs a

based on the number of mice it can kill

year are bitten and some 15,000 die.

through the venom, not the number of

When these are working dogs, out in

humans that have been killed.

the country, that has a big effect on income,” he says.

“If you had a list of the Top 10 Deadly Snakes Known to Have Killed

Through Animal Ark, David helps

Humans Worldwide, there probably

train dog owners, and their prized pets

wouldn’t be an Australian snake on it,”

or working dogs, to be “snake proof”.

“All snakes have a unique smell and

says David.

Species such as the tiger, dugite, king

of kids and parents at Animal Ark’s office near North Beach’s Star Swamp involves several containers of venomous snakes (a tiger, king brown and death adder); a massive redback spider plus scorpions and tarantulas.

It’s fair to say no-one is tempted to get too close to these critters but when David and his helpers bring out some nonvenomous pythons few resist the chance for a bit of snake charm.

As well as the classes and school visits, David also teaches corporate clients councils, mining companies, transport companies and the like - the correct procedures to deal with snakes, other reptiles and fauna (“a kangaroo that is injured on the roadside may look sweet and cuddly but can pack quite a punch”). MQ

many snakes don’t actually envenomate

we use the smell of venomous snakes

brown and death adder are, of course,

- plus on-the-ground non-venomous

not to be messed with, but David has

ones - and an ‘e-collar’ to train a dog

one mantra above all for people when it

to associate the smell and sight with

comes to dealing with snakes.

something they don’t want to mess with.”

“Just leave them alone; don’t try to hit them, or chase them, or kill them

For more information, visit animal ark. com.au

PS So what’s the deadliest animal in Australia (apart from human beings, that is)?

The horse. In the past decade, 77 Australians have been killed by horses.

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BEAUTY

IT’S ALL IN THE FOLLICLE Environmental Wellness Profiling is one good way to get into tip top shape. By BEVERLY LIGMAN

W

hat if a simple half-hour test using just four strands of your hair could help you eat better, feel better, look better?

When I heard about the Environmental Cell Wellbeing Test I have to admit that my interest was piqued. I was keen to know exactly what testing some strands of my hair could tell me.

According to Julia Douglas co-

owner of Wellness Centre 5Glyde in Mosman Park, the test can give you all of the information you need to clean up your act.

“The Environmental Cell Wellbeing Test allows you to understand how your lifestyle may be positively or negatively affecting your health,” she explains.

“Your environment controls up to 98 per cent of the body's normal day to day functions.”

The test can detect deficiencies in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, overloads in toxins, as well as exposure to radiation, chemicals, parasites, bacterial infections and

food sensitivities.

All from a piece of your hair and it doesn’t hurt a bit.

“The science -based technology reads the sine waves which resonate from your hair follicle like a microphone reads your voice,” Julia said.

“We take four strands of hair including the follicle and place them on a device which reads the sine waves surrounding the hair.

“It then transfers the resonance information to the epigenetic indicator centre in Germany. The information is then decoded and returned back to us as a document for assessment within 15 minutes.”

And because the results are in real time the test, which costs $250, allows you to actually understand what lifestyle changes you need to make right now to get your health back on track. MQ Call Julia on (08) 9385 5665 or visit 5glyde.com.au

24 St Quentin Avenue Claremont WA 6010 T: (08) 9383 3600 E: info@brinkhaus.com.au www.brinkhaus.com.au Fine Jewellery Design & Manufacture Remodelling 18ct Gold & Platinum Free Jewellery Cleaning ● AUTOCLASSIC.COM.AU MARQUE AUTUMN ● & 029Repairs

PREVIEW

GAME CHANGER

The new BMW M2 Coupé takes a starring role in the latest Need For Speed game - but just wait til you get behind the wheel in real life says Matthew Mills.

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f you haven’t yet had the chance to put the new BMW M2 Coupé through its paces and want an expert opinion on how this latest edition to the Motorsport stable handles, you might find the answer in unexpected places. I know I did.

My first ringing endorsement of this wonderful high-performance compact thrill machine came courtesy of my son Sam, who, at 13, is a seasoned veteran of the games console motoring world.

He spotted me leafing through some promo material and excitedly pointed out that what I had in my hands was his current favourite motor – in the virtual world, that is.

Sam, you see, has been mastering the motoring elegance of the new M2 since last November, thanks to BMW’s innovative approach of teaming up with gaming Electronic

Arts and giving them the go-ahead to include the car in the latest version of classic road race title Need For Speed.

My boy assured me that the M2 Coupe was the car to have in the game that has been bringing console motoring fans fast-paced video-game action and accurately detailed cars for more than 20 years.

It’s not the only M series to grace the game - the BMW M3 E30, E46 and E92, and the new BMW M4 Coupé are all there too – but the M2 Coupé came with the additional cache of being still under wraps in the real world.

At the time, Steven Althaus, Director of BMW Brand Management and BMW Group Marketing Services, was excited at giving motoring fans the chance to see the future via the PS4, saying: “BMW M represents passion and MARQUE AUTUMN

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fascination for high-performance sports cars. Need for Speed is the ideal platform to introduce our exciting BMW M2 Coupé to fans of the series and the BMW M brand, ahead of its market launch.”

Now, however, the wraps have finally been pulled aside and the new BMW M2 is here, waiting for those of us with a full licence rather than a controller in the AutoClassic showroom.

And it’s just as good in the real world as it is on the virtual streets of Need For Speed.

The BMW M2 Coupé raises the bar for driving dynamics and agility in the high-performance compact sports car segment. Its newly-developed three-litre sixcylinder engine with state-of-the-art M TwinPower Turbo technology delivers 272 kW/500NM (overboost) and has a combined fuel consumption; 7.9 l/100 km and combined CO2 emissions: 199 g/km),1.

Its signature M design hints at its exceptional performance potential and ensures that it is instantly recognisable as the newest member of the BMW M family – with impressive features such as a low front apron with large air vents, muscular flanks with characteristic M grill elements and broad rear end with hallmark M twin-

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tailpipe exhaust system.

Full racetrack capabilities are assured by M Compound high-performance brakes and an electronically-controlled Active M Differential, as well as the Dynamic Stability Control system’s M Dynamic Mode (MDM) for controlled drifts.

The BMW M2 Coupe is available in two variants, with prices starting from $101,412 for the M2 Pure, and $110,997 for the range-leading M2, and features a broad list of standard specification across the range.

Only available with a six-speed manual transmission featuring new carbon fibre friction lining and speed synchronisation, the BMW M2 Pure introduces the model to a broader audience, while including key features and outstanding performance.

Offering a comprehensive list of base equipment, the BMW M2 features a 7-speed M double-clutch transmission with Drivelogic, including integrated Launch Control as standard. A six-speed manual transmission is available at no cost.

BMW Group Australia Head of Product and Market Planning, Shawn Ticehurst, said the new BMW M2 was the modern-day successor to the likes of the BMW 2002 turbo and E30-era BMW M3, available from 1985 until 1992.

“The M2 follows BMW’s long tradition of producing highperformance compact sports cars,” he said. “With impressive performance, powerful styling, extensive standard equipment and an attractive price point, the M2 presents a compelling value proposition.

“Australia is already one of the leading markets per capita for BMW M vehicles, and given dealers are already reporting significant levels of interest, we are confident this status will only be enhanced with the M2.”

The design of the BMW M2 emphasises its place as the leading performance model of the brand’s compact range, with a prominent M double-spoke kidney grille, low-slung

front apron with large M air inlets and trapeze-shaped blades and air curtains for optimised aerodynamics.

Characteristic M quad exhausts in high-gloss chrome and an integrated diffuser element in the rear apron emphasise the athletic low centre of gravity, while a spoiler on the rear edge of the tailgate enhances the aerodynamic balance between the front and rear axle.

Typically driver orientated, the cockpit is complemented by numerous M features, such as Black Dakota leather sports seats with blue contrast stitching, complete with embossed headrests, adjustable side bolsters, open pored carbon fibre trim and M three-spoke steering wheel.

Laying at the heart of the BMW M2 is a three-litre, six-cylinder inline engine with M TwinPower Turbo technology.

Enabling immediate power

oil supply, which remains reliable even under extreme G-forces, the BMW M2 charges from 0-100km/h in 4.3 seconds with a 7-speed M Double Clutch Transmission or 4.5 seconds as a six-speed manual.

The 7-speed M Double-Clutch transmission optimises acceleration from a standing start while reducing fuel consumption.

Featuring Drivelogic and an integrated Launch Control function, the transmission includes Stability Clutch Control, opening the clutch when the vehicle threatens to oversteer in order to stabilise the car, a function enabling slight rear-wheel slip and Creep on Demand.

The six-speed manual transmission, with new carbon fibre friction lining and speed synchronisation, blips the throttle on downshifts and reduces engine speeds during upshifts for an even more comfortable shifting experience.

An extensive list of standard specification highlights the BMW M2 as the premier model in the 2 Series Coupe range.

Leading the equipment highlights, the BMW M2 Coupe includes an Active M differential, M compound brakes, Tyre Pressure Monitor, Driving Assistant, rear Park Distance Control, Rear View Camera, Carbon fibre interior trim and Dakota leather upholstery.

SMART MOVER The new BMW M2 Coupe has many highlights including Drivelogic and an integrated Launch Control function.

delivery, the engine features a TwinScroll turbocharger, HighPrecision Injection, Double-VANOS variable camshaft control and Valvetronic variable valve control, generating 272kW and 500NM (overboost).

With all components geared towards maximum performance, from the crankcase bearings to the MARQUE AUTUMN

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Automatic air conditioning, Bi-Xenon headlights, DAB+ digital radio, navigation system Professional with Real Time Traffic Information, interior and exterior mirrors with anti-dazzle, interior lights package and Harmon Kardon sound system in the M2 and HIFI sound system in the M2 Pure.

So, as Sam will tell you from his virtual encounter, the new BMW M2 Coupe looks superb and drives fantastically.

Isn’t it about time you experienced it in the real world? MQ

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PROPERTY

RARE OPPORTUNITY TO OWN A GEM

Overton Terraces offers an unrivalled opportunity to live the unbeatable west coast lifestyle, in the heart of Cottesloe.

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n 1936, legendary WA mining entrepreneur Claude de Bernales pinpointed Overton Gardens in Cottesloe as having the potential for a model garden estate.

At the time he was living in what is now the Cottesloe Civic Centre, so was well placed to see the potential in this particularly beautiful part of the western suburb’s sunset strip.

Fast forward 80 years, and a new generation of innovators have followed in de Bernales’ footsteps, with Perth property group Australian Development Capital offering a new generation of residents the opportunity to live in the heart of this popular suburb in a brand new enclave of bespoke townhouses, studios and apartments. Overton Terraces is a collection of 12 beautiful residences, designed by the multi-award winning Banham Architects, and delivers

a response to the client brief to create a garden estate development that provides the most up-to-date requirements for modern living.

With a warm coastal feel, strong linear expressions and a focus on maximising the internal and external spaces, the design is not cluttered by unnecessary features.

Rather, it makes a virtue of the abundance of solar light, fresh sea air and natural gradient down to the beach landscape the location affords.

All detailed with contemporary elegance.

Sitting at the apex of de Bernales’ Overton Gardens, Overton Terraces’ location is hard to beat: walkable, connected and elevated above the beach with the Cottesloe Civic Centre gardens to the rear.

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individual needs, and therefore no residence should be the same. This collection of homes presents to the street as a modest residential structure. Discreet yet breathtaking it has been created to complement the lifestyle of the Cottesloe community. This clean, low-scale style suits this location between the Civic Centre gardens and the golden sands of Cottesloe beach.

Carefully considered floor plans incorporating three townhouses, three studios, four luxury apartments and two penthouses allow living to flow between indoors and out. Open-plan internal living areas that are moulded with expansive terraces provides an unmatched combination that together realises views, light, and

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natural ventilation.

Here, like most great architecture, form has followed function with the natural contours influencing the articulation of the structure.

Operable white linear awnings hang effortlessly above, providing access to essential winter sun, but shade in the peak of summer and maximum flexibility for you as the owner. Lay on a sun lounger, or entertain a dozen friends and family around your outdoor dining table with your favourite BBQ feast. The space is there for you, and for all seasons.

Crafted by multi award-winning luxury home builder Adrian Zorzi, whose most recent accolades include the 2016 Master Builders Association Bankwest Top WA Home, it goes without saying that buyers can take comfort in knowing that living at Overton Terraces will be an experience where abundant luxury and attention to detail are the norm, a development with no peers on the coast in Perth.

“With a proud heritage of building luxury homes in the South West of our state, it is with pride that we bring our expertise in high end construction to this outstanding new development,” says Adrian Zorzi.

“As Zorzi South West Builders we have collected over 60 Housing Excellence awards from the Master Builders Association and the Housing Industry Association in addition to numerous other accolades, and we are excited to be able to have now

expanded into Perth under the name ‘Adrian Zorzi’.”

Attention to detail is the key mantra of Adrian’s business, and the delivery of contemporary bespoke design is a specialty, he says.

“Both will be the cornerstones of Cottesloe’s most exclusive new address, Overton Terraces.”

The developers of the project, Australian Development Capital (ADC), are thrilled to have such a prestigious opportunity to present

this landmark development.

“As property developers, this opportunity is once in a generation – an elevated site, with context and contours that can accommodate a residential scale development that maximises views of the ocean and the Cottesloe Civic Centre,” says

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Roderick Hamersley, of ADC. “We believe that our response to the opportunity, formulated with our design team and our builder, is worthy of this truly spectacular location and the uniqueness of the opportunity, and residents will be afforded a truly unique lifestyle.”

This is the first time since 1987 that an apartment development with ocean views and of this magnitude has been released in Cottesloe, a fact that contextualises

UNMISSABLE OPPORTUNITY Overton Terraces will give its residents the chance to enjoy all the advantages of living in the heart of Cottesloe.

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the rarity of and exclusivity of this type of lifestyle in this location.

For such a unique opportunity to live in the heart of Cottesloe, it is anticipated that residences within Overton Terrace will not remain on the market for long. MQ Visit overtonterraces.com.au for details.

TRAVEL

EMBRACE DUENDE Barcelona is a tantalising place to visit, finds Sandra Harris Ramini, full of visually surprising vistas, delicious tapas bars and, of course, flamenco dancers channelling 'duende'.

A

ctually it was all an accident.

There we were, spinning along the French motorway around Perpignan looking for some enchanting but unpronounceable French fishing village when, oops we got lost on the roundabout and found ourselves on the way to Spain.

‘hola’ to Spain as the sun came out, the landscape suddenly got a Spanish feel, and the South of France with its gentle undertones of lavender and rosé wine was left behind.

‘Help’, shrieked our friend, ducking out of sight in the back seat, ‘I haven’t got my passport!’ Intakes of breath all around. The open borders of Europe have been sorely challenged in the last few months, but happily our concerns were totally unnecessary. No check points, no borders, no problems.

So, what to do next? Coming up in about 15 minutes was Figueres,

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hometown of Salvador Dali and site of his famous museum. We decided that we had time to say “hello Dali”, explore the museum and still get to Barcelona for a late lunch.

That was the plan.

Forget your usual museums, solid, worthwhile and probably grey.

Instead think pink. Imagine a cartoon palace, one invented by Disney or possibly Pixar and you have it. An oriental fantasy filled with surprises. Inside there’s the famous ‘lips’ sofa, impossibly red and almost carnivorous in its shiny, plastic softness.

There are melting

watches, religious images turned upside down and inside out, and there are romantic dreams that become weird, bedeviled nightmares.

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COLOUR AND PASSION Barcelona is a treat for art lovers and those who enjoy their senses being stimulated in every way.

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time. But you can’t ignore him. With senses suitably battered and ideas whirling in our heads like Don Quixote’s windmills it was foot down to the floor and no stopping till we hit Barcelona nearly 200 kms away.

Amazingly, we did it in an hour and a half. European motorways are as smooth as silk. Anyone traveling at less than 120km an hour is a cowardy custard and you’re either in it, win it and test your prowess over lunch or take the side roads.

We burst into an enthusiastic chorus of ‘Viva Espagna’, which became ‘Viva Barcelona’ pronounced incidentally with the soft ‘c’ not the ‘th’ of Castilian Spain. Showing off your Spanish with ‘Barthelona’ will get short shrift from the locals.

This city is the Catalan capital, with its own style, its own culture and its own language. No lisping allowed.

Each of us has our wish lists. I have to visit my favourite, most over the top, most eccentric building ever, the Palau de la Musica Catalana. It’s not designed by the great Gaudi, but by his contemporary, Lluís Domènech i Montaner, and is Art Nouveau at its most voluptuous. I have yet to go to a concert here, so I have no idea of the acoustics, but the vision of it, all curlicues and images from nature, is heavenly.

Husband is cautious about Gaudi – Gaudi by name, gawdy by nature, he mutters and suggests a ramble down Las Ramblas, the unique boulevard of tourist boutiques, stalls of every description and thick, black coffee served with a wee dram of fundador, Spanish brandy, on the side.

I point out that this is a breakfast specialty in a land of tough hombres. But he is already thinking of lunch and wonders whether we shouldn’t go for proper paella now washed down with a fine rioja, or if an equally proper paella this evening accompanied by a fabulous flamenco would be

MQ TRAVEL

even better.

He also wants to buy a genuine Barcelona T-shirt.

Friend of no passport fame is happy to make nodding acquaintance with Art Nouveau and even more with the Pop Art that suddenly appears on street corners by international artists like Roy Lichtenstein and Claes Oldenburg, but what she really wants to find is a great tapas bar, with Serrano hams hanging from the ceiling and tiny plates of strange, exotic food, which is yet another reason why Barcelona is so beloved of any foodie worth their rock salt.

We all agree with each other’s choices, but the numero uno of sites, the one we all want to see more than just about anything, except lunch, is Gaudi’s La Sagrada Familia, the extraordinary church that is either the best or the worst building in the world.

From the outside this still unfinished monument to God could be a ghastly theme park. Or a dazzling folly. Or a joke. But don’t let any of this put you off going inside.

You have to queue and sometimes wait and come back the next day, but it’s worth it.

The interior of La Sagrada Familia is magnificent. At last there appears to be a plan with skeletal columns giving the impression of an

enchanted forest, soaring to a multi coloured, star-studded heaven.

We emerge a couple of hours later, blinking in the sunlight, stunned by what we’ve seen and very, very hungry. It’s around 3pm, just right for lunch in Barcelona and we fall into the tapas bar of our dreams in La Boqueria Market; Serrano ham hanging above our heads, gorgeous, vibrant tiles lining the bar and yummy bites of fried tiny squid, of crispy patatas and rather a lot of Fundador afterwards.

Tonight, Flamenco, paella, rioja and we’ve barely touched the surface of Barcelona. What a city! MQ

TWO TO TANGO Barcelona is the type of city which will surprise you at every corner, from Gaudi's unfinished cathedral to little bars open til the wee small hours.

FAST FACTS

Barcelona We enjoyed the show at: Tablao de Carmen in Poble Espanyol (Spanish Village), Avda Marqués de Comillas Pueblo Espanyol de Montjuïc 08038 Barcelona, España.

Tapas Bars: Just go into the market and choose. Whatever you eat will have been delivered there fresh that morning.

Also Sol Soler – specialises in vegetarian tapas. Fun and unpretentious, rather than gourmet.

Quimet I Quimet: Another Barcelona legend, Quimet i Quimet is a family-owned affair in the vibrant yet untouristy Poble Sec district. There’s a touch of class to everything from the mussels to the montaditos.

Where to stay Lots of great hotels, some more expensive than others. We liked Barcelo Raval Rambla del Raval 17-21, El Raval (00 34 93 320 1490) Great location, rooms are light and airy, all with Nespresso machines.

Dining options include B-Lounge, which serves a global menu, including kangaroo steaks on a slick of liquorice sauce.

Doubles from €68 (about $106).

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MQ TRAVEL

Love is IN THE AIR

Thailand’s Koh Samui has created a romantic niche as the island of choice for those in search of Cupid’s arrow. By CARMEN JENNER.

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he night promises all the drama of a tropical storm as palm trees bow to the tumultuous weather gods holding court.

Serene skies make way for the approaching monsoon season as the rain pounds sideways into Manathai Koh Samui’s restaurant Waterline.

Everyone takes cover as the waitstaff prepare the restaurant for the impending deluge.

There was a time not that long ago when fine dining wasn’t a feature and Koh Samui was famed instead for its fishing communities and coconuts.

Now its staggering beauty fringed

by aquamarine is a drawcard for loved-up couples.

There’re plenty more civilised ways to get soaked, like the glorious Crystal Bay whose name derived from its insanely pretty waters. Join the bevvy of bikini-clad pretties emerging from the sea swanning into Rock Salt Restaurant perched on the water’s edge for plenty of raw and green options. Choeng Mon, near the Big Buddha on the north-western tip of the island, is popular for the sophisticated while the soft sands of Bophut Beach give the calves a workout leaving you completely MARQUE AUTUMN

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justified to flop until you need refreshment from the nearby Fisherman’s Bay. Forget the trashy full moon parties and instead explore Koh Phangan’s gorgeous beaches in virtual seclusion just 20 minutes away by ferry. Hire a taxi from the ferry terminal or grab a map and hire a boat or bike to explore at whim. Two stand-out beaches are Bottle Beach in the remote northern end adorned with powdery white and turquoise hues, and if time and energy permits, climb the steep track for envyinducing Instagram views. From Bottle Beach, walk or take a longboat to Thong Nai Pan Beach, which has two heavenly sandy bays lined with rustic eateries. There are plenty of water lapping-bungalows which is just as well since you’re not going to want to leave. Lingering on the island demands a gorge on Parisian fare at the candlelit

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L’Alcove with dessert at the nearby Organic Chocolate House; aka the Naked Chocolate café – and I dare you to ask why.

Safari Boats offer tours and private charters of Koh Phangan, Koh Nang Yuan (believed to be the most beautiful of them all) and Angthong Marine Park, featuring an archipelago of 42 islands, including monkey island which has no monkeys but claims its name from its gorilla shape. Snorkel through schools of sea bass and pilot fish, take an invigorating climb to Emerald Lake, go sea kayaking and swimming through spectacular outcrops.

Back on the mainland, it’s time to

create more memories and pad thai, green curry chicken and green papaya salad at the Island Organics cooking school. Even if you’re no connoisseur, it's worth spending time with owners Cameron Hanson, a renowned photographer, and his gorgeous wife Lat on tours through her abundant garden which she impressively transformed from a barren plot.

Now, back to our stormy dinner at Waterline Restaurant. Inspired by his Italian roots and items randomly washed ashore, chef Roberto Bellitti creates a whimsical menu, like Liquid Underwood depicting the ebb and flow of the tide with a mushroom and herb soup with mascarpone, or Sweet and

CHIC CASTAWAY below, the sumptuous Lamai Suite at the Manathai Koh Samui.

Salty constructed of river prawns with calamari, mango and coconut salsa.

Each dish was a revelation.

Following the island’s lead, the Manathai is unique in that it’s the only colonial-style hotel on Samui.

If Graham Greene were still alive, I could picture him penning a novel here just as he wrote the Quiet American in Hanoi’s Hotel Metropole.

Recently opened in July 2015, the suites, decorated in soft blues and greens with four-poster beds and wood panelling, are luxurious in their furnishings and size.

Manathai is located in Lamai, an area known for its French expat community, and there are several French bakeries and a cheese shop nearby which could be the makings of a decadent beach picnic.

Or be enchanted at Villa Chocolat, a café serving coffee and chocolates handcrafted to the tunes and twirls of the ballet school on the premises.

Just as the island prides itself on its pristine condition, it naturally attracts couples attune to keeping their bodies aligned and healthy. The insane views of Jungle Club, Gecko Bar and June’s Art Café are just a few hotspots dishing up organic

freshness, as do Vikasa and the Yoga Garden along with yoga for the bendy. Day spas are plentiful, and Tamarind Springs is conveniently close to Manathai, offering all kinds of heavenly treatments among lush vegetation.

So if you’re in need of a love nest, look no further than Samui. MQ Carmen Jenner was a guest of Manathai Koh Samui – manathai.com/samui. Rates start at approximately $100 per night. For more information on Koh Samui go to kohsamuitourism.com MARQUE AUTUMN

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PERFORMANCE

Jemma Rix makes the role of Molly in Ghost all her own in the latest hot ticket to come to Perth’s Crown Theatre. By GABI MILLS.

SUPERNATURAL STAR T

he movie which made the art of the potter’s wheels as sexy as Patrick Swayze has been given new life thanks to an ingenious reworking for the stage.

Ghost the Musical, written by the author of the original Oscarwinning movie Ghost, Bruce Joel Rubin with a brand new musical score by Eurythmics’ enigmatic bearded one, Dave Stewart, has proved a bittersweet hit during its runs on Broadway, the West End and Singapore.

It was in Singapore that its young Aussie star Jemma Rix, who plays Molly Jensen, first saw the show although she was more than familiar with the soundtrack already.

“When I saw the show with Millsy (Rob Mills, who plays Molly’s ill-fated lover Sam) in Singapore I knew that Australian audiences were in for a treat. When we started rehearsal the cast was just amazing,” says Jemma, a well-known face (allbeit generally covered in green greasepaint) here in Perth thanks to her incredible 1,200 plus performances as Elphaba in Wicked.

“For me the songs came first, just like Wicked. For so many Australian performers, we don’t always get to watch new shows so we usually listen to the soundtrack first, and that’s

what I did in this case.”

Any concerns that such a wellloved movie would suffer in its transference to the less flexible constraints of a live stage show proved unfounded as audiences were wowed by the high-tech special effects which help create the illusion of Sam’s untimely end - and his subsequent spectral state.

“I feel like audiences are curious to see what the show is like,” says Jemma. “They sit down and the show sets off immediately at a very fast pace and although of course it’s like the movie, the new music lifts emotions to another level.”

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bells and whistles were removed, the heart of the show revolves around a love story so strong it breaks through the barriers of life and death itself.

Ghost, in case you didn’t know, is the story of Sam and Molly, a young couple whose relationship takes a shocking turn after Sam’s untimely death.

Trapped between this world and the next, Sam refuses to leave Molly when he learns she is in grave danger. Desperate to communicate with her, he turns to a storefront psychic Oda Mae Brown, who helps him protect Molly and ultimately avenge his death.

Oda Mae, played with delightful verve by Ella Mae Brown, is a much-needed comedic turn in a show which necessarily deals with a heavy dose of grief and sadness.

“I love hearing the laughter Oda Mae generates in the show,” says Jemma. “It’s a great moment of catharsis for the audience who are on a bit of an emotional rollercoaster during the show.”

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For Jemma herself, enduring that rollercoaster eight performances a week takes a special kind of determination.

“It was definitely a big deal for me to realise that I’d have to go through that grief process every night and it’s certainly tough and draining.

Fortunately in real life I’m a pretty happy person and on my day off, it’s all about r n’ r, recuperating for the next week’s performances.”

Jemma is determined to deliver as high a quality performance to each audience every night despite the high demands put on her voice and emotions.

“You get used to it I think - and after all, I get to cry every day,” she laughs.

When Rob Mills and Jemma were cast in the lead roles, they both received letters from the playwright, Bruce Joel Rubin, who was keen to help them find Sam and Molly’s defining characteristics as he saw them.

“Molly’s a tomboy, she’s strong and the producers were very clear that they didn’t want the audience to feel sorry for her at the end of the show. It’s tricky to get that balance right, in light of what she goes through, but I think I’ve got my own

version of Molly now.”

For many, Molly will forever be in the image of Demi Moore, a legacy that Jemma is not afraid of overturning with her own take on the grieving girlfriend.

After all, she defined Elphaba, another strong female character, so it would seem the casting agents chose wisely when they picked the 30-year-old from New South Wales.

The small matter of the fact that she and Rob Mills had played opposite each other too in Wicked was a bonus; the chemistry between the two is palpable.

“I love the opening section of the show,” says Jemma. “Molly’s at her happiest, Sam’s alive and there’s happy banter between her, him and Carl (played by Alex Rathgeber). I get along with Millsy so well and we just bounce off each other.”

Equally the most powerful moment for Jemma comes in a classic stage

show moment. It’s just her, a spotlight and a sensational song - With You - as Molly’s heart is laid bare.

It’s a demanding show - both physically and mentally.

For instance Rob Mills is only off stage for a total of just under a quarter of an hour, but you get the impression Jemma and her co-stars wouldn’t have it any other way.

And as Perth was the final place she performed Wicked, the city has a big place in her affections.

“I’ve been there twice and my husband often takes part in the Ironman competition in Busselton at the end of the year. It’s a really beautiful place, and the audiences are just so wonderful.”

Whether she believes in an after life or not, Jemma is at least hopeful that there’s something out there.

“Wouldn’t it be wonderful to be able to say a final goodbye to your lost loved one, like Molly’s able to do in the final scenes,” she says.

“What a beautiful moment that would be to say goodbye. I’m not against a good ghost story but the most ghostly thing that’s happened to me is a light switching on randomly.”

Who knows - perhaps it was Sam giving her his vote of approval. I like to think so. MQ Ghost The Musical, Crown Theatre, from May 21. Visit ghostthemusical.com.au for tickets.

Molly’s a tomboy, she’s strong and the producers were very clear that they didn’t want the audience to feel sorry for her at the end of the show.

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He’s performed at the 2015 AFL Grand Final, sat at the top of the charts with one of the world’s most enduring number ones and is a talented portrait photographer.

Bryan Adams, it seems, is the complete package. By GABI MILLS.

S

ay Bryan Adams and random sentences will be rattled off at you.

Summer of ‘69. Run to You. (Everything I Do), I Do It For You. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the playlist of one of the world’s (and certainly Canada’s) most enduring rock acts.

Grammy-winning singersongwriter Adams will return to Australia this March for his Get Up tour, and for many it will be a highlight of the live performance calendar. Well known for being a consummate performer who loves to just get up on the stage and play guitar, Adams will no doubt give his fans exactly what they want, and then some, with a run through of his latest and greatest hits to date.

In addition to arena performances at Sydney’s Allphones Arena and Melbourne’s Rod Laver Arena, Adams will also play a series of a day on the green outdoor events including Perth’s own King’s Park concert, with special guests Baby Animals and The Superjesus.

Canada’s most successful singer ever has been making musical history for more than three decades and has garnered more than 65 million album sales, 21 top ten hits and seven number one singles, topping the charts in more than 40 countries around the world in the process.

Releasing his 13th studio album late last year, it’s a project produced by famed ELO frontman Jeff Lynne (The Beatles, Randy Newman, Tom Petty, Traveling Wilburys) and co-written with his long time collaborator Jim Vallance.

Fans have been keen to get

their hands on the record, which features nine brand new songs and four acoustic versions. For Adams himself, it’s an album which marks a specific point in his development as a muscial artist.

“There is a carefree feeling about this album, and in many ways it is the album I wish I’d been able to make 25 years ago,” says Adams of his new release.

The music video for lead single Brand New Day was directed by Adams himself and stars much-loved actress Helena Bonham Carter and Theo Hutchcraft from the band Hurts.

He may be well known as a master of rock guitar, but it’s less well known here in Australia that he is also an astonishingly talented photographer. As famous faces cross his path, he has on occasion snapped their image: Rufus Sewell smoulders on a sofa, dapper and intense. Mick Jagger, Lindsey Lohan, Mickey Rourke in a bathtub, Amy Winehouse even - all were subjects for his exhibition Bryan Adams Exposed.

But it’s perhaps his intimate portrait of a smiling HRH The Queen, taken on the occasion of her Royal Jubilee, that is most surprising. The image went on to be used on a Canadian postage stamp while his exhibit Modern Muses was on display in 2008 at the National Portrait Gallery in London.

Adams isn’t just attracted to the glamour and glitz of documenting his showbiz pals’ lives through a lens – he also put together an emotionally-charged book of wounded young British soldiers in 2013. Wounded: The Legacy of War MARQUE AUTUMN

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has been critically admired, with Adams using his lens to bare witness to these young soliders’ scars, disabilities and disfigurement with unexpected directness. The images are accompanied with haunting interviews, providing a narrative to each personal journey to recover.

The photographs which comprise the book have just finished being exhibited in prestigious art museum, Somerset House, in London, to much acclaim for their unflinching look at such an under-discussed subject.

As one of the biggest rock superstars of our time, Adams has been the recipient of the Order of British Columbia and the Order of Canada; been nominated for three Academy Awards and five Golden Globes; and received 18 Juno Awards, an American Music Award and five ASCAP Film and Television Music Awards.

A consummate performer, Adams is touring somewhere in the world over 100 days of every year, perhaps storing up future photographic encounters as he travels the world.

Reckless no more, it seems. MQ Bryan Adams, March 21, Kings Park & Botanic Garden, Perth. Visit frontiertouring.com/bryanadams.

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RUN TO HIM Bryan Adams will be bringing his globally popular rock n' roll live show to Perth's King's Park in March.

REVIEW

I-OPENER

Acclaimed local photographer Christian Fletcher is as passionate about the environment as he is about his art. As such, he couldn’t wait to try BMW’s outstanding electric car, the i3.

F

rom the moment I got behind the wheel of the BMW i3, I was hooked. This strange little car was about to become an obsession. I had to have one.

My wife, however, wasn’t so easily convinced. We live in the country, she said. Is an electric car really going to work for us? Only one way to find out, then – take up Auto Classic’s offer of a two-week loan and test this innovative machine out.

My passion for the environment meant that I was excited to check out the i3’s green credentials. I’ve been a photographer for more than 25 years and in that time I’ve been to some amazing places around the world – which means I’ve seen the best and

worst of man’s impact on the planet.

This in turn has had an effect on how I think and act. I see the electric car, charged by renewable energy, as one of the solutions to combating climate change. And I’m an early adopter, so for me getting on board quickly was important.

I arrived at Auto Classic and was given a quick rundown on how the i3 worked and I was away. The first thing that struck me was how nimble and quick it was. I felt like I was in a super refined go-kart. It was exhilarating.

When I headed south onto the freeway, however, I had my first experience of the much-talked about “range anxiety”. My i3 had the range MARQUE AUTUMN

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extender, a 647cc two-cylinder petrol engine that you can select to hold the battery charge at any time once the charge gets below 75 per cent. I opted to set it once I got down to 50 per cent.

Confident, then, that distance wasn’t a problem, I headed to Bunbury. Admittedly, I kept a keen eye on the gauges all the way, but eventually I rolled into the petrol station with 7kms of fuel left and 50kms of electricity.

I have to say, I didn’t enjoy pulling up to the bowser and topping up with $12 of gas. In the future, more and more servos will have electric connection points, and the RAC's Electric Highway offers a great charging service, but for now I decided to fall back on the old tech.

I continued on to Dunsborough using the range extender and then turned it off when I knew I had enough battery left to finish the journey.

In the end, I made the trip from Perth just as quickly as I could with my petrol guzzler – and that was the end of the range anxiety.

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That night, after taking my daughter to basketball in Busselton, I left the car to charge overnight, ready to show it off the day.

I love early mornings, so I was up at 4am. I had a full “tank” of electricity and loaded my camera into the boot. It isn’t huge but with careful packing you could store a reasonable amount in there.

Pulling away, I realised another advantage of the i3 – as it’s completely silent I could leave home first thing and not wake the kids whose bedrooms are near the carport.

I slipped silently away and headed off to Meelup Beach for the sunrise, a perfect backdrop to photograph my car.

The i3 has some sexy angles to capture on film. Awesome 20” rims with low profile tyres give it a solid sporty look.

After the morning shoot it was time to start giving joyrides. People were so interested in the car, strangers came up and asked questions and there were plenty of double takes as I drove through town.

I’m chairman of an environmental group in Dunsborough, the Naturaliste Renewable Energy Group, and three other members were keen to have a ride. All of them were close on – or over 180cm, so the four of

us headed off to see if the i3 could tackle a serious hill fully laden. It went unbelievably well – there was power to climb and accelerate even on the steepest sections.

Having the i3 for a fortnight gave me the chance to see if it would suit my lifestyle – and I came to the conclusion that owning one is like owning a smartphone. You get used to the idea that you plug it in when the power gets low.

My routine would be to only charge the car during the day where possible, making best use of our solar power rig. We have a 3kw PV system on our roof and on a good day we produce up to 18 units of power. We have just signed up to put another 3kw up there, so this figure should double. With that in place, we’d only ever need to use our own renewable energy to power the car.

From empty, the i3 needs 18.8 units of electricity to charge it up.

The key is to not let the batteries go flat – the most I ever got down to was about 25 per cent charge. You don’t, then, need to fill it up every day. In fact you don’t need to charge it every day, you just need to plan your travel and make sure you are topped up and ready to roll.

So range anxiety was not an issue for the two weeks I had the car. In

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PERFECT PACKAGE Christian Fletcher fell in love with BMW's i3 during an extended test drive down to the Margaret River region.

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that time I travelled just on 1,000kms and used 8.5 litres of petrol, around $12 worth. If I’d used by 4x4 to go the same distance, it would have drunk 110 litres of fuel, at a cost of approximately $145. If I charge the car only during the day and off my solar panels then the electricity cost is next to nothing. If I charge it overnight I believe it would cost me something like $4.50 for every 150kms.

Financially and ecologically, then, the i3 is a winner, but it also wins simply as a car.

I loved its shape. It looks small from the outside, but it’s roomy on the inside. It can be easily parked – the reversing camera is the best I

MQ REVIEW

have seen. Visibility is brilliant out the front and sides. The windscreen is so far from the front seats you can’t touch it with your outstretched arms, which increases the feeling of small on

the outside, big on the inside.

So what are the best features of the i3 to me?

Unsurprisingly, number one must be the simple fact that it’s an electric

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car. Once you experience the quiet, smooth ride, devoid of a nasty internal combustion engine, you will be sold.

The range extender gives confidence – I’d not want to use it, but it is such a good idea and eliminates any worry.

Secondly, though, as a car, the i3 is as good as anything in its size range. It is almost shockingly quick and has some very cool tech that would impress any geek.

The two screens offer fantastic information, things like current tyre pressure to a visual map of your driving style. The bluetooth for connecting to your phone works brilliantly and I loved how easily I could make calls without taking my eyes off the road. The adaptive cruise control is fantastic, slowing to the speed of the car in front of you which makes driving much more relaxed – a very clever piece of tech.

And it’s just so good looking. It says “the future” as soon as you set eyes on it. Everyone looks at it, great if you are an extrovert. I had one couple arguing over whether it was electric or not, and another lady taking photos of it in the car park.

So would I buy one? Hell yeah! It is a car that excites, but fits in with my eco-friendly lifestyle too.

It was the 2015 Green Car of the Year and is made in a factory run on renewable energy. It can be charged at home using your own solar energy and can inspire others to go electric. Once you have a drive you will be hooked.

The big question, though, is how does my wife feel now? Well, she loves it. Mission accomplished. MQ

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architecture + interiors

AN ARCHITECTURAL DREAM TO CALL YOUR OWN Craig Steere Architects is a boutique design practice offering personalised architectural and interior design services for bespoke housing, boutique-sized retail, hospitality and commercial facilities.

We help realise our clients’ unique architectural dreams through responsive and environmentally sustainable solutions. Together, we are committed to design excellence; our attention to detail, enthusiasm and creativity provide the catalyst for world class, award winning solutions.

Phone: (08) 9380 4662

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www.craigsteerearchitects.com.au

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THIRST

BLACK FUTURE TO THE

The Black Brewing Co. on the former Saracen Estate/Duckstein Brewery site in Wilyabrup, aims to bring a fresh, modern and creative dimension to Margaret River’s booming hospitality and tourism trade. By NORMAN BURNS. Images courtesy BLACK BREWING CO. FROM LITTLE THINGS, big things grow.

Take new brewing/food venture the Black Brewing Co. for example.

Founders Scott Douglas and Stewart Sampson, over long chats around the kitchen table, had been debating the lack of direction in the Australian wine industry particularly the absence of younger entrepreneurs.

But they weren’t going to just whine about the situation - the pair resolved to do something about it.

And not just wine; they felt there was scope, too, for a distilling venture.

Stewart had been collaborating

since 2009 with legendary winemaker Robert Bowen to make the Pemberley and Robert Bowen labels, so had a wealth of experience to bring to the project.

He and Scott started mucking around with distilling in Stewart’s Swanbourne backyard.

“We started sourcing potatoes from Pemberton and then distilling them through a five-litre pot still in Stewart’s shed,” says Scott.

“The first batch was just drinkable but more appropriate for stripping paint.”

The initial product may not have been a world-beater, but their MARQUE AUTUMN

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BLACK IN BUSINESS The Black Brewing Co. is a welcome addition to the vibrant distilling and brewing scene in the south west.

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suburban efforts sparked an idea for a great name - Black Brewing Co; the ‘black’ referring to slang for covert operations, or black ops.

The pair eyed Margaret River for their new project but it took three years before an ideal property, the former

Saraceni and Duckstein property on Caves Road, came on the market.

As well as being in a brilliant location right in the heart of the Caves Road tourist trade, there was the added bonus of the property having the Duckstein’s German-built brewery, which can produce more than 180,000 litres of beer a year, already on-site.

Scott and Stewart weren’t just interested in re-badging an existing

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brewery/cellar door and restaurant though; they aimed to bring a new dimension to the Margaret River region; a creative hub to showcase artistic endeavours, as well as present their own take on “new West Australian” food. And, importantly, they wanted to engage and attract locals as well as out-of-towners.

The first of Black Brewing Co.’s artistic collaborations are already evident, with a striking 6m x 4m cellar door mural by Fremantle fine artist David Spencer and illustrations on display from Sydney-based artist Brooklyn Whelan, and Scott promises more to come.

Scott and Stewart brought former Sail & Anchor and Gage Roads head brewer Paul Gasmier on board to produce a range of beers including their exclusive Fresh Ale, a brew inbetween an IPA and a Steam ale. Now, just a few months after opening Black Brewing Co. is humming along nicely and, says

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Scott, getting a lot of support from locals – and love on Instagram.

“From a standing start we got the keys in November, built a great core team consisting of Sam Oliver (venue manager) and Ben Beaton (head chef), completed a fit-out of the restaurant and cellar door and went straight into the busiest time of the year - December and January,” says Scott.

“It translated into a month of 4am starts and 1am finishes - fortunately we had enormous support from local tradies and friends and most importantly, very supportive wives and girlfriends.”

As well as its own, distinctive brews, Black Brewing Co.’s kitchen is producing a mouth-watering array of dishes heavily influenced by WA’s proximity to Asia.

“What we are doing is encapsulating and expressing a cuisine that reflects the region and its influences. It’s a ‘West Australian

MQ THIRST

Scott and Stewart aimed to bring a new dimension to the Margaret River region; a creative hub to showcase artistic endeavours

local’ offering that calls on fresh, seasonal produce sourced from our own backyard but enhanced with the state’s regional ties, such as Indonesia. We are closer to Indonesia than Sydney and most West Australians spend a lot of time there, so there is a desire for a bit of spice/ heat and Asian accents in our food now,” says Scott.

“Ben Beaton, our head chef, is fantastic at collaborating on a brief and coming back with his interpretation of it and then continually refines the dishes over that period.”

So Black Brewing Co.’s food and brews are in full flow; next cab off the rank will be a new wine label, drawing on Stewart’s expertise.

“We like to make wine that reflects Margaret River - in our own style. Young, vibrant, readyto-drink wines that best showcase the variety within the context of the region and vineyard,” says Stewart.

“We have plans to develop further some interesting varieties we like from Spain and Portugal.”

Another massive plus for Black Brewing Co. is that the premises has a special facilities licence, giving Scott and Stewart a lot of options when it comes to being a functions venue.

“We are licensed for 500 people, with an allowance for a special event of 1,000 people once a month. The majority of the main building and gardens are licensed, enabling us to serve food and wine for both consumption and sale in the cellar door. A number of cellar doors are licensed for tastings only.

“The main restaurant area can comfortably hold 400-500 for events such as bands or concerts which are not weather-dependent. We have comfortably hosted weddings of 200 people seated or 90 seated in the cellar door in a more intimate setting.”

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BUZZING VENUE The Black Brewing Co. is licensed for 500 people but can host 1,000 for a special event once a month.

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welcome at Black Brewing Co. says Stewart.

“Families are everything the south west is about; we have extensive grounds for kids to roam and explore, including the island.

The communal tables and share plate menus are a huge hit with a lot of the young families we had over the busy summer period. We have a dedicated and secure kids playground in the garden off the restaurant that we plan to develop further with a naturescape area with cubbies, ponds and flying fox etc."

The pair also have their eyes on one final piece of the Black Brewing Co. puzzle; building a distillery on the property.

“We have unfinished business with a certain potato vodka . . . watch this space.” MQ Black Brewing Co., 3517 Caves Road, Wilyabrup, (08) 9755 6500, blackbrewingco.com.au

MQ NEWS BMW REVIEW

SMOOTH RUNNINGS The rise of the the electric car is being fuelled by RAC's Electric Highway. Matthew Mills investigates.

M

ake no mistake, cars are evolving – they have to if they are to survive in a changing world.

The simple truth is that the days of the traditional gas-guzzler are numbered. The planet is running dry, the penny has dropped that there isn’t an infinite supply of oil, and we’re all coming to terms with the fact that things are going to have to change.

Luckily, BMW has been on the case for some time and has developed the technology that will keep us behind the wheel for many years to come – namely its innovative electric cars.

The i3, the remarkable compact that has taken the motoring world by storm, was launched in 2013 – and the reaction has been startling.

A slew of awards, including World Green Car of the Year and Wheels

Car of the Year here in Australia, quickly acknowledged just how important this distinctive, groundbreaking vehicle is.

The key to its success was simply that, as well as boasting a state-of-theart electric power system, it was also a damn good motor. Stylish, modern and comfortable, it drives as well as any petrol engine car. It’s quick and powerful, more than enough oomph to keep up with – and leave behind – any other compact on the road.

And then hot on the heels of the i3 came the stunning i8, BMW’s hybrid sports car, a machine that as well as having equally innovative electric technology, is also one that petrolheads dream of – drop dead gorgeous looks and exhilarating speed, 0-100km/h in just 4.4 seconds MARQUE AUTUMN

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and a top end of 250km/h.

While the i8’s exclusivity has, like all luxury cars, made it a rare sight on the road, i3 sales are soaring. The little miracle is credited with having a big hand in the explosion in electric and hybrid cars in Australia – sales have risen by 49 per cent since 2011 to 13,246, with the majority of those going to private buyers – mainly due to the fact that it is simply a very good car.

All in all, the i3 and i8 are just about beyond criticism, however one issue does keep raising its head during discussions on whether electric cars will ever eventually dominate the motoring industry – range anxiety.

It’s a strange debate. Setting aside the necessity of the evolution of motoring technology, a hand forced by environmental concerns and the finite nature of traditional fossil fuels, the i3 boasts figures that should make the issue moot.

It will, after all, take you 200km on a full charge, more than enough for most motorists’ daily requirements – and, of course, it is also available with a 647cc rangeextending petrol engine.

But, while we’re all used to having to refuel our traditional vehicles, some quarters still raise concerns that an electric car could become stranded due to a lack of charging opportunities.

Two arguments should allay this fear. Firstly, the i3’s technology means that all it needs for an overnight charge is a standard domestic power socket, and secondly charging stations offering quick-charge opportunities are springing up all over the place – and WA is leading the way, thanks to the sterling work of motoring heroes, the RAC. Their Electric Highway is a flagship example of what can be done. They have set up as series of charging stations between Perth and Margaret River, at which electric car drivers can, until March 31, top up their charge for free.

There are 11 in all, the city’s is on Wellington Street and others crop up in towns across south west WA. You’ll find one in Mandurah, Harvey, Bunbury, Donnybrook, Busselton, Dunsborough, Margaret River, Augusta, Nannup and Bridgetown – and a 12th is due to open in Fremantle soon.

The system is a fantastic example of efficiently providing the infrastructure this exciting new technology needs.

And it’s only going to expand and prosper. So, it’s not a matter any more of when the day of the electric car will arrive, thanks to BMW and the RAC, it is already here. MQ Visit electric highway.rac.com.au for more information.

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FAST FACTS BMW i3 BMW i3, from $72,654 driveaway.

BMW i8, from $325,500 driveaway.

APPETITE

TREASURE CHEST Abalone is in the blood of WA entrepreneur and fisherman Brad Adams. And with his new venture off the state’s southern coast, Ocean Grown Abalone, the 47-year-old is poised to reap the rewards of a world-first, innovative, sustainable way to harvest these ‘treasures of the sea’.

By NORMAN BURNS. Images courtesy OCEAN GROWN ABALONE/BRAD ADAMS.

F

irst things first; an abalone is not a shellfish.

The abalone is, in fact, a reef dwelling snail - and a delicious one at that. It is also worth its weight in gold as a sought-after delicacy in Asia, particularly China, which is where WA fisherman and entrepreneur Brad Adams comes in.

Brad can’t recall the first time he tasted abalone but even as a young child he always wanted to be an abalone diver, following in the footsteps of his late father Terry,

who pioneered the WA commercial abalone diving industry in the 1960s. Now Brad, plus partners and investors, is doing some pioneering of his own in the industry, successfully establishing Ocean Grown Abalone (OGA), the world’s first sustainable abalone “ranch”, in the seas off Augusta.

“I actually have no recollection of first tasting it so it must have been part of my diet from a very young age. I still enjoy eating, cooking and sharing it with people today.

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"Yes, I always wanted to be an abalone diver. I got my PADI dive ticket at age 12 and have logged thousands of hours underwater ever since,’’ says Brad, whose two younger brothers Darren and Nathan are also abalone divers and manage the family’s licence.

“There was a bit of competition when we were all commercial abalone divers a few years ago as we were diving separate licences fishing the same areas. We would be trying to get the best catches and, as brothers do, trying to outdo each other at times and get bragging rights for the biggest catch. Now I have gone a different direction with the ranching of abalone business where the ‘hunting’ element has been removed and now farm the ocean, tending the crop,” says Brad.

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Diving for abalone is potentially a risky business. As well as the challenges of working underwater there is the threat of great white sharks.

“You don’t stay in this game for long or have success if you think about the ‘grey suits’ all the time,’’ says Brad.

“I enjoy the varied weather conditions we dive in and once in the water I go into work mode and never even give sharks a second thought. Time when diving goes so quickly when working underwater that two hours seems like only 10 minutes on land.”

OGA takes juvenile abalone grown over 18 months at the 888 Abalone PL Hatchery in Bremer Bay and then transplants them on artificial reefs in Flinders Bay off Augusta. When ready - and with a three-year turnaround patience is

farmed abalone has also increased dramatically but this is where OGA can play its trump card with ‘quality over quantity’, supplying abalone of the highest quality from WA’s pollution-free seas to the high premium market.

“The OGA abalone ranch in Flinders Bay is where two of the world’s great oceans - the Southern and Indian - collide to provide pristine, clean, nutrientrich waters that provide unrivalled environmental conditions in which to grow the world’s most premium abalone,’’ says Brad. “At present our Greenlip abalone, both wild-catch and aquaculture, receive between $150-$195 for the meat per kg depending on the grade and quality, which equates to an in-shell price of $50–$65/kg.”

the key here - the abalone, plump and juicy, are harvested, flash frozen and whipped off to top restaurants and seafood retailers throughout Australia and Asia. OGA hopes to eventually harvest 100 tonnes of abalone a year (globally, around 5,000 tonnes is gathered from the wild).

Like all commodities, abalone is sensitive to fluctuations in the global economy or environmental issues that affect supply and demand.

China’s domestic output from

OGA spent two decades developing the technology and techniques (with three patents pending) for abalone ranching before reaching out for investors. When it launched its prospectus it was overwhelmed by the response.

“We were seeking to raise $6 million and were over-subscribed by $2 million in a week,” says Brad, who adds: “There were many knockers along the way…(but) our early years of research proved that commercialising this technology we have developed MARQUE AUTUMN

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SEAFOOD DELICACY Below, Brad Adams of Ocean Grown Abalone, always wanted a career which revolved around the sea and abalone.

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can be very profitable, sustainable and has significant blue sky potential for future business growth. OGA is already seeking to expand its business model to new locations along the southern Australian coastline.”

Brad says OGA’s biggest market potential is Asia, particularly China.

“The Chinese regard the abalone as one of the ‘five treasures of the seas’. Abalone is a part of Chinese culture in that it is revered as a luxury food and is given as gifts, it is seen an important food to have at celebrations such as weddings, important business meetings to show face (respect) from the host to invited guests.’’

WA has 15 species of abalone (or Haliotidae in scientific terms) but just three - Roe’s abalone (Haliotis roei); Greenlip abalone (Haliotis

MQ APPETITE

laevigata) and Brownlip abalone (Haliotis conicopora) are large enough to be fished.

OGA concentrates on the Greenlip abalone, which are first harvested, wild, from the ocean. These abalone are then transferred to the 888 Abalone Hatchery and placed in a quarantined breeding facility. Abalone in larval stage (called veliger) are later collected and, through a precise, and complex, process are reared in tanks until the abalone are juveniles around 40mm in size.

At 40mm, the abalone are ready for their return to the wild and new homes at OGA’s purpose-built reefs off Augusta. The juveniles are placed in special pens, and after a two-day rest so they can recover from the stress of the transfer, the pens are opened; the abalone can crawl onto the reef, where they’ll live “au naturel” for the next three years before being harvested. The artificial reefs also attract many other species of fish, including dhufish, wrasse, King George whiting and rock lobster, a win-win for the marine environment.

Says Brad: “We then let Mother Nature take over and the abalone grow as nature intended on those reefs, feeding on the abundant seaweeds drifting past for up to three years. Our dive teams then harvest the abalone at an average size of 350 grams or 130mm in length.

“The product harvested is exactly the same high quality product that I used to hunt for in the wild, but with the aquaculture advantages of being able to harvest according

to market demands and there are no restrictions on how many you can harvest as there is in the wild fishery (who have quotas set by the Department of Fisheries to ensure the resource remains sustainable).”

The live, fresh abalone are taken to OGA’s processing factory in Augusta where they are ‘shucked’.

“The abalone meat is split from the shell, then cleaned, graded and individually quick frozen (IQF) in a blast freezer and packaged for export or delivery to local markets,’’ says Brad.

When Leeuwin Estate head chef Dany Angove introduced OGA’s product to three-star Michelin chef Mossimo Bottura at the Margaret River Gourmet Escape last year the Italian was “blown away”.

“He said it was the most amazing seafood he’d ever tasted. He called it the ‘meat of the sea’,” says Dany.

Brad’s favourite way of preparing abalone is sashimi-style: “Slice a fresh abalone thinly and serve with wasabi and sashimi soy sauce… delicious. You get a uniquely flavoured taste of the ocean, with a texture that is indescribable, firm but tender at the same time).”

The meat’s versatility is one of its biggest attractions to chefs and seafood lovers alike. Says Dany: “It’s incredibly versatile...goes with citrus flavours; we sous vide it and then slice it thinly and garnish with enoki in a chicken consomme; it can accompany meat - the flavours are fantastic and people can’t get enough of it down here.” MQ

RECIPE COURTESY

Leeuwin Estate head chef Dany Angove

RECIPE

FLINDERS BAY ABALONE WITH MACADAMIA EMULSION, WATERCRESS OIL, PARSLEY AND KOHLRABI INGREDIENTS 1 raw greenlip abalone 1 kohlrabi peeled and sliced as thin as possible 1 tablespoon watercress oil Micro parsley 1 tablespoon macadamia emulsion METHOD a) Place abalone in a cryovac bag with a little grapeseed oil and sous vide in a water bath at 85 degrees celsius for four hours, refresh in iced water. b) Take 200ml white wine vinegar, 200ml water, 50ml sugar and bay leaf bring to boil, once at room temperature place kohlrabi slices in overnight. c) Take 100g watercress, blanch in hot salted water for 30 seconds, refresh in cold water, strain and pat dry. Blitz watercress in a food processor with 100ml extra virgin olive oil and 100ml grapeseed oil. Strain overnight through a muslin cloth or coffee filter, keep the oil and discard the watercress pulp. d) Pick and wash the parsley leaves. e) Soak 200g of macadamia nuts in water overnight. Blitz in a food processor and strain through a muslin cloth or coffee filter. Keep the strained liquid and discard the macadamia pulp.

Return to the food processor with 1 tsp xantana and seasoning sea salt, blitz hard for 1 minute until it reaches a thin mayonnaise-like consistency.

Place four slices of abalone on a plate, then place two slices of pickled kohlrabi next to the abalone, splash 1 tablespoon of the macadamia emulsion around the plate. Serve.

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Lifetime Guarantee At Peter Wilkinson & Co, we are so confident in the quality of our workmanship that we provide a lifetime guarantee on all of our repair work.

If, in the unlikely event, you are not completely satisfied with the work we have undertaken, simply contact us and we will gladly address your concerns.

Why Choose Peter Wilkinson & Co? • All work is factory-backed • Lifetime guarantee on all repair • Lifetime product guarantee on all paintwork workmanship • No risk of voiding warranty • 12-month/20,000 km guarantee on all new parts • We use only genuine parts

Accredited BMW Bodyshop | 1 Adrian St, Welshpool WA 6106 ✆ 08 9362 5622 057 AUTOCLASSIC.COM.AU info@peterwilkinson.com.au

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Images CHANTEL CONCEI MODELS CLAUDIA AND TIGGY @ CHADWICK.

FASHION

TREASURY CHEST Aurelio Costarella has been a driving force in Perth fashion for the past 30 years. And with the city’s recent resurgence, it’s no surprise he’s chosen now to open a beautiful flagship store in the historic Treasury Buildings.

By BEVERLY LIGMAN.

T

here’s a certain serendipity to the stores that Aurelio Costarella has opened over the years.

The designer, who was a student of architecture before he studied fashion, has always loved historic buildings, as evidenced by the beautiful boutique space he has in North Perth, which was once an old post office.

It’s no surprise then that he was attracted to the incredibly elegant Treasury Buildings where he opened a new flagship store late last year; which was, he later discovered coincidentally, also the building’s post office.

The space is gallery-like, with beautiful natural light flooding in from large windows and high heritage ceilings, making it the perfect space to showcase his collections.

Thoughtfully designed by Jack Tooley and Janet Keating of JKID, the store also houses a carefully curated selection of homewares, bags and furnishings all hand-chosen by the designer himself.

It brings Costarella back to Perth city after a 21-year hiatus.

“I’ve always loved the State Buildings,” he says.

“Having a background in architecture I’ve always had an appreciation for old buildings and in particular that was one that I always admired.

“I was invited to be shown through the premises at almost completion stage and I immediately

knew that was where I belonged.

“As soon as I walked into that space and and saw what architect Kerry Hill had done I knew I wanted to be a part of it. He has restored it faithfully and treated it respectfully and the result is wonderful.

“We’re thrilled with the new store.

I wanted it to feel more like a gallery, a beautiful, light-filled space with art, objects and fashion. The kind of stores I appreciate when travelling.”

Costarella has just returned from Sydney where he showed his Autumn Winter 2016 collection for David Jones, a collection that he says was inspired by both nature and architecture.

“Architecture is something I keep coming back to for the form, the structure and the silhouette, a lot of the pieces in this collection are quite three dimensional and sculptural,” he says.

“But they’re intertwined with very soft, feminine shapes, I’ve been inspired for a long time by floral forms.

“The brand ethos and signature is always there, it's just interpreted differently for each season.

“For me, the Costarella woman is always the same. She is strong, confident, independent, she appreciates quality, she invests in pieces, doesn’t do throw-away, disposable fashion and she’s very discerning.

“I’m drawn to the style of older women like Iris Apfel, Carmen Dell’Orefice and Lauren Hutton because they have a wonderful selfMARQUE AUTUMN

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RAY OF LIGHT Aurelio Costarella's latest store is perfectly positioned in the new Treasury Buildings.

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assured quality to them; they know who they are and that’s something that younger women don’t quite have yet. Older women have this inimitable sense of style, a signature about them that only comes from having lived.”

Having a retail presence in the city again after 21 years has meant that the designer has almost come full circle back to the first store he ever had.

“I first started in the city about 33 years ago when I had a store at Cremorne Arcade, which no longer exists,” he said.

“It was one of those beautiful little arcades that really led nowhere.

“I was also one of the first tenants in the original Raine Square many years ago before I moved to Claremont in 1991.

“With The Treasury store we really wanted people to have a shopping experience. The space feels very European, it’s really not like other stores in Perth.

“There is a real lost art of service in retail and we wanted people to have the magic of that experience at our store.”

Unlike some of his contemporaries, Costarella is one of the big names in Perth fashion who has never left the city, continuing to work from WA since he first started the label instead of relocating overseas or to the Eastern States.

He says the ‘New Perth’ the Treasury Buildings heralds has been well worth the wait.

“I feel so happy to be part of the

MQ FASHION

New Perth, it’s long overdue,” he says.

“The Treasury precinct is stunning, with the new library designed by Kerry Hill across from one of my favourite (and most iconic pieces) of Perth architecture, Council House, surrounded by beautifully designed buildings and the Supreme Court Gardens.

“It’s just wonderful. I love sitting at Wildflower for lunch looking over

it all. The way I describe the Treasury Buildings to people who aren’t from here is that it’s the closest thing to Paris that we have in Perth.

“Like all good things, it really has been worth the wait.” MQ

CONFIDENT COUTURE Aurelio Costarella believes the Treasury Buildings are the closest thing to Paris that we have in Perth.

Find Aurelio Costarella at The State Buildings, Corner of St George’s Terrace and Barrack Street in Perth City. Visit aureliocostarella.com

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BUILDERS REG NO. 11371

DESIGN BUILD LIVE

W W W. U R B A N E . N E T. A U

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SHORT STAY

Eagle eyed

If you’re going to stay in a home away from home down south, make a beeline for Hamptons Retreat.

It’s a luxurious Private Properties’ holiday home with plenty of star appeal. By MATTHEW MILLS.

I

f childhood holidays are all about making magical memories, then our kids and their friends came back from Hamptons Retreat with an unforgettable treasure trove to revisit in years to come.

From the moment we arrived at the end of a quiet cul-de-sac, every one of our happy gaggle of urchins, from the mad-cap seven-year-old to the two 18-year-old sophisticates, were bug-eyed with glee at just what this beautiful Eagle Bay property had to MARQUE AUTUMN

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offer.

Our arrival was staggered – we needed three cars to transport our party down south from Perth – and I was at the wheel of the last motor to arrive.

With me were my son Oli, the seven-year-old, my daughter Daisy and her BFF Alex, both 12. The trio all gasped as we pulled into the driveway and were almost out of the car before we’d hit a full stop, such was their excitement.

And it was well merited.

As far as first impressions go, Hamptons Retreat ticks all the boxes. A two-storey architectural dream, floor to ceiling windows letting all that glorious south west

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about that later – which gave me the chance to explore the main house.

Hamptons Retreat is all about big, cool open spaces. Through the front door, the entrance hall – double height, with driftwood sculptures adoring the wall - has a stylish wooden bench seat nestling under the stairs that’s big enough for three.

This space leads organically into a large, stylish lounge. Decked out with an impossibly comfortable

light in, it seems to glisten in the sunshine, the stylish white wood panels with chic pale blue window trim complementing the welcoming stone steps leading up to the double doors.

A toot on our horn had announced our arrival and the rest of our party spilled out of the double front door, full of excited instructions as to what to see first. The kids already on the scene insisted that Daisy, Alex and Oli check out the games room – more

L-shaped sofa and glass-topped coffee table, the whole scene is lit up by the sunshine pouring through the French windows with views across the garden and pool.

The big-screen smart TV, hooked up to full-package Foxtel, is here, standing grandly on a stylish cabinet packed with board games and DVDs. Moving through to the kitchen, I realised we’d landed in a culinary paradise – Hamptons Retreat boasts the kind of food-prep area that MARQUE AUTUMN

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PARADISE FOUND Hampton's Retreat is a beautiful, generouslyproportioned property close to all the attractions of the Margaret River region.

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would grace any top-end foody TV programme. Acres of surfaces including a freestanding wooden work station - surround the room, meeting in the middle at a stateof-the-art double oven. Shelves are stacked with pretty pastel crockery and there’s a country-style dining table to serve up the delights you’ve put together. There’s a double American-style fridge/freezer next to the pantry area, which is equipped with kitchen gadgets and more than

MQ PROPERTY

enough space to store enough treats to feed a hungry band as big as ours.

A clever rear-facing retractable window stretches the whole length of the room, creating an outside bar area – a touch the kids loved, happily ordering mocktails from the grownups within.

On the other side of the downstairs lounge are two of the bedrooms, one with a double bed, where Alex’s mum and dad Anne and Russell would sleep, and one with two singles. Both are airy and stylish, extremely comfortable and, like everywhere in this wonderful property, light and airy. An immaculate bathroom, with gleaming azure tiles and marine-themed decor, serves these two rooms.

The second storey mirrors the first, with a second lounge – this equally as sumptuous as the one below but sans TV, a welcome omission for the grown-ups in our

party – with a balcony complete with a weathered wooden table and chairs, that looks out over the backgarden.

It was here that I got my first glimpse of the delights behind the house, the elegant pool, flanked by resort-style loungers, the inviting decking holding an array of heavy, oldwood French-style garden furniture, the daring outdoor bath down a secret little pathway, and the big, black trampoline that seemed to always have at least a couple of kids (and my wife on at least one occasion) on it all the time we were there.

But before I headed out, I had to take in the magnificence of the master bedroom, where my wife and I would be king and queen for the weekend. Simply stunning is the only way to describe it.

It seems almost impossibly big, with a bed that goes on forever.

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cotton linen, glistening white, artwork to covet, including one work on the far wall, a gorgeous painting of what we imagined was a local Eagle Bay summer sea scene, perfect for the mood of the property - one of the many wonderful pieces of art that bedeck the property.

The ensuite is just fabulous, and the walk-in wardrobe big enough for the most extensive fashion collection, but the bedroom’s piece de resitance has to be the balcony that opens up onto the sea view just over the treetops.

Bedrooms four and five, and bathroom three, are at the other end of the second storey, again a double and twin-singles, and are as comfortable as their counterparts downstairs.

Sam, my 13-year-old son, and his best buddy Rohan

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appeared at this point and insisted that I check out the games room.

Set apart from the main house up a flight of pristine white stairs, this clever addition houses a couple of comfy sofas, a big screen TV and a ping-pong table, and was set to become the kids’ clubhouse for the weekend.

It also exemplifies the thought the owners have put into making sure that visitors have everything they require. Fun bits and pieces are all over the property, board games, sports balls, books – even a selection of straw hats to keep the sun off.

Coupled with the gorgeous swimming pool and fun trampoline, it became difficult to get the kids in the car for day trips – although once at the horse-riding centre and the Margaret River Chocolate Company they didn’t complain too loudly.

As it happened, however, the highlights – the memories our children are going to treasure from our stay at Hamptons Retreat – will

definitely be the things we did at the house itself.

From the big, hearty barbecues to the larks in the pool, from the latenight, no-grown-up feeds and flicks in the games room to perfecting flips on the trampoline, from the sunset walks to the beach to the thrill of

ROOM FOR EVERYBODY The Private Properties' holiday house has plenty of living space, indoors and out, for all ages to enjoy.

sleeping in a new, luxurious room, all of them, from Oli to our 18-year-old Felix and his girlfriend Ashley, will never forget our stay.

But while our youngsters had the time of their lives, it’s important to remember that Hamptons Retreat isn’t an exclusively family-orientated

property – quite the opposite, in fact.

As us grown-ups sipped a chilled glass of wine on the decking on our last night, Oli asleep, the tweens ensconced in the games room and Felix and Ashley watching a DVD in the downstairs lounge, we allowed ourselves to fantasise about returning one day without the bairns – the house, we agreed, would be just idyllic for a no-kids break with a few good friends.

Good company, beautiful food and wine in a beautiful house in a beautiful area – that sounded just perfect, we agreed, and tentative plans were hatched for an upcoming birthday.

But, for us, our first experience of Hamptons Retreat was of a perfect, boisterous yet elegantly luxurious family getaway. We can’t wait to see what our next experience brings. MQ Hamptons Retreat, Eagle Bay WA. Contact Private Properties on (08) 9750 5444. Visit privateproperties.com.au MARQUE AUTUMN

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MY AUTO CLASSIC

SILVERTON SERVICE BMW Auto Classic's long-serving new car sales manager Paul Silverton still gets as much of a buzz from his role as he did on his first day on the showroom floor, 30 years ago.

By GABI MILLS. Images by CRIB CREATIVE.

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L

eaving the UK behind in 1985, a young Paul Silverton had the world at his feet.

He didn't necessarily have a plan, but after living in New Zealand for a few years, his adventures took him to Perth in 1988. With just enough rent money to last two months and living near the WACA, he took a fateful walk across the causeway to look for a job.

"I walked into the Auto Classic showroom asking for a job and I've been here ever since," he says.

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saying – I feel a strong tie to it. It's important to me to give a world-class customer service experience to every person who walks through the door."

The car sales landscape has changed dramatically over Paul's career.

"There is so much more technologycompared to cars of the past," says Paul. "What's stayed the same though is the substance of a BMW and the way it drives, the handling and the performance, how it feels. You're part of the car when you drive it.

With such a global brand to market, Paul enjoys keeping abreast of every new development in the BMW family.

"The range has changed so much since I started, There’s a model for just about every lifestyle, and the models just keep on coming. In the

hybrids down the track."

The dazzling innovations which are regularly announced by BMW can, on occasion, be a challenge to keep up with, but Paul is a passionate advocate of BMW's leading edge developments.

"I always say selling cars isn't rocket science – but it's getting close," smiles Paul.

The current Auto Classic showroom, one of the biggest of its type in the southern hemisphere, was built 14 years ago, and, was nicknamed the Taj Mahal.

"The first BMWs I sold were to the same customer - a 5 Series and a 7 Series. I still remember the pen shaking in my hand a little. Nothing I had ever sold before was close to the value of this investment.

Just as important as laying down the foundations for a long-term customer service relationship is building a team of long-term salespeople, says Paul.

"In fact some former work colleagues now have their sons working with me here at Auto Classic.” I’ve watched them grow from toddlers to grown men. It’s now my responsibility to help them learn as much as they can, while building skillsets and a firm foundation for their

Trust and loyalty, says Paul. That's the greatest accolade his clients give him when they come through the Auto Classic doors. last five years, there have been many exciting developments, for instance the iBrand range of plug-in hybrid vehicles. It's interesting too that 70 percent of cars sold are diesel variants; hopefully we'll see diesel

Paul has always found the automobile industry exciting but rather than being a 'rev head', what really drives this sales dynamo is the importance of customer relationships.

"I love the relationships that develop and the fact that dealing with every customer is different. I love the BMW brand too, that goes without MARQUE AUTUMN

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own careers."

If there’s a model in the BMW range that still gives Paul a thrill it’s the BMW M4.

"The hairs on the back of my neck still get a little tingle when I start up the car," he says.

For an Auto Classic employee with such longevity, Paul has seen families grow their BMW collection with him over the years.

"This morning, one of my repeat customers is coming to pick up her brand new car. They've bought six cars from us over the years, and the excitement from her is palpable - that's just gold. Those are the high points for me."

Trust and loyalty, says Paul. That's the greatest accolade his clients give him when they come through the Auto Classic doors.

"Of course there are always sales targets, but for me it's about making each customer feel valued. I feel every BMW owner has joined a club when theyinvest in a BMW. To this end everybody should be acknowledgedand rememberedand have that special experience."

Anyone visiting the dealership or considering a vehicle purchase should also experience nothing less. MQ Visit Paul at Auto Classic, 48 Burswood Road, Victorial Park.

Tel: 08 9311 7588 or email paul.silverton@autoclassic.com.au.

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R&R

H P DREAMS

Images CRIB CREATIVE.

Croquet is widely thought of as being a genteel, Victorian-era pastime, but, as Norman Burns discovered, this cross between chess and snooker is as mentally challenging as any sport.

S

traight off, let’s bust the croquet myths.

No, it is not just a pastime for those with one foot in the grave.

Yes, it is a real sport (with world championships and everything).

Yes, you can raise a sweat.

Association Croquet is the “traditional” version of the sport, while Golf Croquet is its equivalent of cricket’s T20 format - short, sharp and a whole lot of fun, which brings me to a beautiful summer’s morning in Perth’s suburban Mt Lawley where State and Australian No.1 player Chris McWhirter is going to show me the ropes of what he dubs a “brutal” game.

Chris, 38, comes from a rugby playing background and had an unorthodox introduction to croquet.

“One Christmas my flatmates and I went out to buy a homebrew kit but they were sold out and we spied a backyard croquet set, so we bought that instead. We used to play it at parties and picnics,” he says.

Croquet fever took hold and it wasn’t too long before Chris and his mates got playing on a “real” croquet court at what is now Forrest Park Croquet Club.

“We used to come down on Sundays, play and have a few beers - then one day a club member MARQUE AUTUMN

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suggested we join. The North Perth club had relocated to the Walcott Street courts, but they had lost a lot of members. We joined up and unknowingly kept the club alive. It’s now got a healthy membership base (around 70) and I’d play at least several times a week,” says Chris, who now holds the No.1 ranking in Australia and, at the time of writing, had just returned from a three-Test Golf Croquet series against perennial sporting rivals New Zealand. The New Zealanders were the higher ranked team but the series, which is played every four years, went right down to the wire, with the Kiwis winning on the last hoop of the last match.

Chris is quick to reinforce that, at the highest level, croquet is not just a leisurely, gin-and-tonic-in-hand stroll through the park.

“The New Zealand series was tough. I reckon we walked at least 10km a day. It takes a lot of concentration and tactical awareness - and one bad shot and you can

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be gone.”

So just how do you play Golf Croquet?

Chris teamed with me (never touched a mallet in my life) for a doubles game against fellow croquet guns and Mt Lawley members (and husband and wife) Brett and Janine McHardy.

Janine says she and her husband played a lot of competitive pool and got into croquet after getting a flyer in the post. She says soon learned it was not a as gentle an art as it seemed.

“Someone told me it was a game for bastards - and they’re right,” says Janine, who is ranked in the Top 10 in the state (Brett is ranked 22 in Australia) after just four year’s playing the sport. “You learn something from every game,” she says. “It’s very addictive.”

In Golf Croquet, players take alternate shots around a 13-hoop course; the first to notch seven “hoops” - or points - wins. (In Associate Croquet, players take sequential shots in a race to 26 points).

Gripping the mallet (these can cost up to $600 for ones made of carbon fibre) is not unlike learning a golf grip. There are three main styles: • Solomon Grip - named after croquet ace John Solomon, the knuckles of both hands point forward with the thumbs behind; • Standard - the player’s bottom hand is behind the mallet shaft; • Irish - both hands are behind the mallet shaft.

“A lot of people think you hold the mallet to the side; and you can, but this was when women players wore long dresses. We are much more casual now, there’s no formal whites or anything like that,” says Janine.

In truth, to start off it is whatever grip you feel comfortable with but, like all sports, it’s best to learn the correct technique if you want to improve in the game.

Lining up the target ball (or “stalking” it) is also vital, as are

getting your angles right; there is less than 1mm gap for a croquet ball to go through the hoop.

A common rookie error is to try to guide the mallet with your wrists; the right action is from the hips, a pendulum-like strike.

A few grip tips later we get ready for croquet “combat”. The relaxed dress code and vibe is a little misleading, because I can see “white line fever" kick in for Chris, Brett and Janine when the game starts. Well, you don’t get to represent your state or country without being fiercely competitive.

It soon becomes obvious to me the “bastardry” in the game Janine was referring to. A standard tactic is to smash the opponent’s ball to the other side of the court; as you can approach a hoop from only one direction, you then have to manouvre back into a scoring position.

While my shots echo with a barely audible “clack”, Chris, Janine and Brett dazzle with a range of thunderous drives, clever positional play, even jump shots (straight from the pool room) whereby they leapfrog their ball over mine (which I thought was blocking the hoop).

Luckily I have reasonable hand-

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eye coordination and don’t completely disgrace myself.

By the time Chris and I walk off 7-5 losers I can see why croquet is a sport which once played really gets its hooks into you.

“It’s also a great corporate activity; the club can hire out the courts, we provide the equipment and it is a very social but competitive day or night out,” says Chris.

IN THE NAME OF THE GAME If it wasn’t for a new-fangled sport called sphairistike back in the mid-1800s, the venerable Wimbledon tennis courts may well today be reverberating with the “clack” of croquet mallet on wooden ball.

Croquet you see, or at least its ancestor, dates back to the 1300s in France where it was called paille-maille (ball mallet). The French had a particularly good relationship with the Scots (no doubt because both hated the English), so paille-maille became popular in Scotland. When King James VI united the Scottish and English crowns (becoming known as King James 1 in the process), paillemaille became entrenched in London. So much so, that a road near popular playing fields was named Pall Mall.

OK, over in France a doctor decided to tweak the game of paille-maille, renaming it croquet after the crooked stick used to hit the balls through the hoops laid out on a grass court.

Croquet fever hit the British Empire big-time with a club at Wimbledon (the All-England Croquet Club) becoming

THROUGH THE HOOPS Croquet is a highly competitive and addictive - sport.

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MQ R&R

CROQUET v CROQUET Not all croquet games are equal; in fact, croquet has nearly a dozen internationally recognised variations. The two main disciplines however are Association Croquet (AC) and Golf Croquet (GC).

Association Croquet is the full international version of the sport, played by the majority of tournament croquet players.

Says Croquetwest: “The game is played by two players (or sides) each with two balls. The objective is to score 12 hoop-points and a peg-point with each ball before the other side does the same. Through careful play, a player can keep the tactical advantage, hence improving his chances of winning by making life difficult for the opponent. More importantly, he can earn additional strokes, so allowing breaks to be played and scoring many hoop points in a single turn. A top-class player can win a game in only two turns.”

Golf Croquet is a simplified form in which players compete one after the other a hoop at a time.

Then there are games such as garden croquet, ricochet, gateball, extreme croquet and kick croquet (toequet).

and the staging in 1877 of the first championship at Wimbledon (on the grass used for croquet) proved a defining moment as tennis transformed from a jolly nice activity to a full-blown competitive sport.

Eventually the All-England Croquet Club evolved into the All-England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club. Now, of course, the Wimbledon tennis championships are the regarded as the ultimate in the sport - but the club still has a croquet section.

While tennis stole its thunder, croquet didn’t fade away quietly.

Internationally, tens of thousands play the game for fun - or competitively.

The sport’s governing body, the World Croquet Federation, lists 29 member countries and says it recognises all variants of the sport including: • Association Croquet • Golf Croquet • Short Croquet • Two-ball Croquet • US Six-wicket Croquet • US Nine-wicket Croquet • Garden Croquet • Extreme Croquet • Ancient Croquet.

IMAGE Courtesy Kagin’s Inc.

ground zero for the craze. (Croquet is also thought to have spawned the game of snooker, developed when it was too wet for British officers in India to go outside and play).

Croquet’s bubble was well and truly burst though when one Major Walter Clopton Wingfield rocked up with his new sport of sphairistike (ancient Greek for “the art of playing ball”).

Wingfield’s game also involved a grass court but was played by hitting ball over a net - not through hoops.

Trouble is, no-one could pronounce sphairistike and soon a French term (which they apparently yelled before hitting the ball) – tenezt! (it meant ‘take heed’) – morphed into the English tennis.

Tennis-mania outshone croquet,

THE KID STAYS IN THE PICTURE THIS COULD BE the single most

KILLER GAME Wild West gunslinger Billy the Kid playing croquet with accomplices from his New Mexico gang known as the Regulators.

historically notable - and valuable photograph of croquet ever taken.

Bought for just $2 in Californian shop, this battered “tintype” image, taken in New Mexico in 1878, was expected to fetch close to $5 million at private sale.

The reason? The guy leaning nonchalantly on the croquet mallet at far left is none other than infamous Wild West gunslinger Billy The Kid (real name Henry McCarty), the trigger-happy leader of a gang known as the Regulators. It is only the second authenticated photo of The Kid ever found and it took five years’ of research to prove this beyond doubt.

Lifelong memorabilia collector Randy Guijarro bought the photo, and others, for just $2 at a Fresno antique store in 2010. He told the Guardian newspaper he liked the composition of the croquet shot but it was a week before he examined it under a microscope and recognised the notorious bandit.

“You could put a Winchester rifle in his hands. It was the hat, the stance, him leaning on a croquet stick.

I thought, my lord, it’s Billy the Kid,” said Randy, who is selling the picture through Californian numismatic firm Kagin’s Inc. Billy the Kid’s croquet prowess is unknown but he was a mean hand with a pistol - he is said to have killed 21 men.

The Kid was just 21 when met his match at the hands of Lincoln County sheriff Pat Garrett in 1881. MQ

WHERE TO JOIN | Check out Croquetwest’s website, croquetwest.org.au, for your nearest club and news on what’s going on in the world of croquet. There are 20 clubs in the state, nine of which are in the Perth metro area. Forrest Park Croquet Club has three flood-lit courts. Its annual fees are around $250, plus a $5 green fee (part-year memberships are also available to newcomers and the club can provide beginners with mallets). Visit forrestpark.com.au for more details. In August, Perth will host the Australian Golf Croquet championships, to be hosted at various clubs.

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CULTURE

The British Museum has shared some of its treasures in an incredible new exhibition which explores the last two million years of human history via 100 objects. By GABI MILLS.

TIME TRAVEL T

he BBC’s Radio 4 has been responsible for a lot of unforgettable programmes over the years. From introducing the world to the extraordinary talents of Spike Milligan on The Goon Show to broadcasting the beloved Desert Island Discs every Sunday, from creating the longest running drama anywhere in the world (The Archers) to revealing the history of humankind each week on the radio via objects from the British Museum.

The programme - called The History of the World in 100 Objects which ran on Radio 4 back in 2010, was a unique partnership between the BBC and the British Museum, involving schools, museums and audiences across the UK. During each of the 100 15-minute programmes, an object from the British Museum’s collection was featured, with expert narration from Neil MacGregor, the director of

the museum.

The programme catalogued a history of two million years of humanity, through the man-made objects discovered all round the globe, and starting with the earliest object in the museum’s collection (the mummy of Hornedjitef, an Egyptian priest who lived over 1,000 years after Tutankhamun and Ramesses the Great).

Fast forward to 2016 (a mere blip in the space/time continuum when you think about it), and an exhibition of those 100 objects is making its debut at the WA Museum right here in Perth.

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ANCIENT TREASURES This page, head of Augustus, bronze, glass, calcite, 27 to 25 BCE, Merore, Sudan (exclusive to WA Museum). Opposite, Ornate metal work, Korean dish with Japanese repairs, and Mummy coffin. Far right, WA Museum’s Curator Moya Smith.

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Neil MacGregor and CEO of the WA Museum Alec Coles.

The interesting aspect of the exhibition is that it’s not all about dusty tombs or Roman busts. There are items from the present day too, including objects chosen by each museum included in the exhibition that represent the state or country.

In WA Museum’s case, they’ve chosen the Murchison Widefield Array antennas, representing the unique partnership between the MWA project team and the Waljarri Yamaji peoples.

The idea of creating a continuous aural narrative history via the original Radio 4 show has translated into a wondrous visual history which literally allows visitors to take a walk through humankind’s key moments on earth.

From the earliest stone tools to Durer’s incredibly detailed etchings, from the famous Flood Tablet to vibrant Javanese shadow puppets,

all represent our ability to create, innovate and define our place in the world.

The objects create a conversation with voices from the past, encouraging visitors to question what it means to be human, now and then.

WA Museum’s curator Moya Smith is excited by the arrival of so many priceless objects from the British Museum.

Whether these objects are familiar from visits to the British Museum, or old favourites from publications, it is breathtaking to see them together.

Here they combine, in a way we have never seen them in London, in one intimate gallery space, creating a thread through the human voyage from first experiments with stone tools to modern objects that refect global economies or inventions that change people’s lives.”

The objects open a doorway into the societies that made them, inviting visitors to consider a diverse range of cultures and societies throughout history.

Discovering such treasures has often provoked extraordinary reactions.

An unremarkable-looking lump of rock, ‘dull, worn, unimposing and the lack of straight edges made it look sort of lopsided on its mount', according to playwright Jacqui Honess-Martin, would not, you would think, make a man rip off their clothes and run screaming through the Museum.

However, that’s just what happened when a self-taught translator, George Smith, did when he discovered what would become known as The Flood Tablet in a forgotten collection of rubble in the British Museum in 1872.

“I am the first man to read that after 2000 years of oblivion,” he said.

“This tiny fragment had been found amongst the rubble of a fallen, ransacked city, 13 miles wide and abandoned for 2,000 years to the devouring desert sands,” writes Jacqui, who went on to write a play about the tablet and its incredible story.

“It had been found again amongst piles of broken pieces that had been MARQUE AUTUMN

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KEYS TO THE PAST (clockwise from above) Pot shards, decorative tassle, Olduvai handaxe and WA's contribution to the exhibition, the Murchison Widefield Array antennas.

shipped thousands of miles on horseback and by sea to the British Museum.

“It had eventually been deciphered, through the poor light of the Victorian smog, by the lowliest of assistants, a man who taught himself to read its language. A man who realised instantly the incredible story locked into the tiny rivets and birdlike indentations that I now struggled to make out.

“Surely this was not the piece of stone upon which a story was etched, so controversial that the then Prime Minister attended the meeting at

which it was first read. A story that cut straight to the heart of Victorian understanding and that still galvanises and splits society today?”

The tablet, roughly etched in the 7th century BC in what is now northern Iraq, was written in Akkadian, an ancient language of the Neo-Assyrian Empire and discovered in the mid-19th century by a Turkish historian called Hormuzd Rassam.

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the Bible. To many this proves of the event’s existence, to others, it proves nothing more than an old story has been retold over the years - the tablet pre-dates the famous Biblical tale by 400 years and begs the question of when the idea of the flood story began in the first place.

Its discovery provoked a storm around the world, leading to a passionate debate about the Bible’s veracity, about storytelling and the origins of legend. George Smith published his translation only 12 years after Darwin’s Origin of the Species, opening, says Neil, a religious

Pandora’s box of controversy.

However there’s another layer to its importance; it represents a key moment in the history of writing.

Literature written down - rather than sung or told - can become world literature, circulating widely around the ancient world.

The origins of works by Homer, the Bible and beyond all find their root in the Epic of Gilgamesh, of which this tablet forms the 11th chapter.

The power of the objects lead us to other existences, says Neil.

Whatever you believe, it’s an epic example of the importance of these 100 objects, representing the power of history affecting future generations thanks to just a few marks etched on an ancient piece of clay. They raise big questions of truth

HISTORY IN ACTION artefacts that changed the world

and memory, the place of literature and art, myth, legend and beauty.

The exhibition allows you to stride around time, the continents and cultures in one afternoon, says Neil, with the objects raising big questions and big ideas.

It’s a precious opportunity for West Australians to experience the world’s most important objects, and to listen to the stories their continued existence still tell us, reaching our consciences above the cacophony of the modern world’s noise that threaten to drown out their faint reminders of what’s gone before. MQ

ONE OF THE fascinating artefacts on show is the Olduvai Handaxe (pictured opposite), found in Tanzania and made from phonolitel and approximately 1.2 to 1.4 million years old. A new form of tool known as a handaxe first appears in the archaeological record about 1.6 million years ago. Although made from stone, handaxes are often so well made that they look nothing like the natural lumps of rock from which they are produced. To create a handaxe, the maker must be able to imagine the shape it will eventually take and then express that thought through a sequence of skilful actions. Reproducing thoughts as objects is a way of expressing ideas outside the mind. The same area of the brain is used for making objects and language, so handaxes may be a clue that language was beginning to develop beyond the sound signals used by other animals.

Another stunning artefact is the bronze head of one of the ancient world's greatest leaders. Caesar Augustus was the first Roman emperor and he left his imprint all over the empire which covered vast regions of Europe and North Africa. Augustus understood the need to communicate his authority to all his subjects, regardless of geography, and he was proficient at self-publicity. He used his likeness to assert his personal authority, disseminating his official portraits across his empire. More than 250 of these survive, and they are remarkably similar. Augustus was always represented as a young man in his prime and his image became an enduring symbol of his power. One of the most important surviving portraits of Rome’s first emperor, it was originally part of a statue that was ritually beheaded in antiquity. This object caused an international sensation when excavated in Sudan in 1910 and is exclusive to the WA exhibition.

A History of the World in 100 Objects, Western Australian Museum, Cultural Centre, until June 18. Visit museum.wa.gov.au/100objects

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REVIEW

SPORTY SPICE

The impressive BMW 125i M Sport injects some fun behind the wheel. By MATTHEW MILLS.

W

hen the new BMW 1 Series was launched last year, one thing was certain – this was a beautiful vehicle.

The extended bonnet caught the eye instantly, but the deft touches of the clever people at BMW made it a stand-out success.

And that’s quite an achievement in the crowded compact car market – standing out is a rarity in this area full of similar vehicles offering similar packages.

The 1 Series, though, has individuality in spades which, coupled with the power, build perfection and legacy that the name BMW brings, quickly established it as the best option in its class.

It would be difficult, then to improve on such perfection – but there is a way, as I found out when I was offered the chance to get behind the wheel of the BMW 125i M Sport.

As soon as I saw it on the Auto Classic forecourt, I knew I was in for

a treat. Even in the good company of its lesser-spec peers, the 125i M Sport stands out.

The body kit is subtle, but the lowered chassis, chromed exhaust tips, gorgeous double spoke alloys and branded brake calipers give it away as a boasting the M Sport package even before you’re close enough to see the confirming badge.

Inside as well, it’s a stylistic triumph, great chunky steering wheel and branding.

The driver and passenger seats are unashamedly sporty, hugging the occupants like a devoted parent, but somehow they seem pleasantly separate from each other – none of this sporty car over-intimacy as shoulders touch when you buckle up which is so prevalent in other compacts.

A brief scan of the dashboard shows that the 125i M Sport has tech coming out of its ears – the big news with the 1 series refresh was MARQUE AUTUMN

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HEART RACER (opposite) The BMW 125i M Sport is just one in a long line of impressive vehicles.

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the introduction of a rear camera, showing the world behind you on the big 22.4cm dash-mounted monitor (optional extra), a great addition to the car’s inventory.

The monitor also displays the other bells and whistles controlled by BMW’s innovative iDrive system, the

big rotary dial on the console giving uncomplicated access to the stereo, optional Navigation Pro sat-nav and a few other treats.

There’s keyless ignition, which, for me, is still a lovely touch, and the dials are both attractive and functional.

Stylish and luxurious then, but of course the real proof of any BMW is in the drive. And, boy, but this one ticks all the boxes.

The 125i M Sport is, of course, a hothatch – big, powerful engine in a small frame – but because it’s a BMW it also comes equipped with the kind of handling others of its ilk lack.

There’s a two-litre, four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine under that long, lustrous bonnet, which pumps out 160kW or torque and 310Nm of power. Coupled to a state-of-the-art eight-speed automatic transmission, you can get to 100km/h from a

standing start in just 6.2 seconds.

That’s a great lump to begin with, but where the 1 series leaves all its competitors behind is in the simple fact that, unlike most every other compact, it is rear wheel drive.

The power, then, is just so controllable, the steering so accurate as there isn’t that pressure on the front axle from the driving unit.

It tackles the road with a confident gusto, slipping in and out of corners like it’s being sucked to the floor and releasing power in droves when it hits a straight.

But there’s more. Hit Sport + mode and the 125i M Sport goes almost bestial on you, throaty roars and heart-racing thrills yours for the taking.

As they say, however, with great power comes great responsibility – and BMW takes that very seriously too. An array of features – six airbags, ABS, brake assist, traction and stability control, lane departure and collision warning to name a few – easily earn it its five-star ANCAP safety rating.

All in all, then, the addition of the M Sport package makes the wonderful new evolution of the 1 Series even more tempting – a touch of magic at a price that makes it all the harder to ignore. MQ

FAST FACTS BMW 125i M Sport BMW 125i M Sport available from $52,990 drive away

INSPIRING INTERIORS I N - H O M E D E S I G N C O N S U LTAT I O N S N O W AVA I L A B L E

2 0 4 S T I R L I N G H I G H WAY, C L A R E M O N T MARQUE AUTUMN

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LAST WORD

SEVEN DEADLY SINS BRAD COHEN Artistic Director, WA Opera

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n his first season of programming as Artistic Director of the West Australian Opera, Brad Cohen has refreshed the work presented, reflecting the diverse nourishment opera provides. He’s compiled an exciting programme of works for 2016, including The Riders, Tim Winton’s novel set to music by Iain Grandage.

There’s also a brand new Opera Conference production of the ever-popular The Pear Fishers and Simon Phillips’ classic outback production of The Elixir of Love, in Perth for the first time.

Visit waopera.asn.au.

Gluttony What is the food you could eat over and over again?

It’s got to be oysters. I never tire of them, and I have a mate in NSW with whom I will happily sit down and get through 60 with at one go.

I’ve spent three decades in the UK, and it’s harder than you would think to get great oysters there. When I conducted in Nantes, though, I was living on oysters, red wine, cheese and bread. Heaven.

Greed You’re given $1m that you have to spend selfishly - what would you spend it on?

Money expresses true value to me only when it is converted into the things it can’t buy. One of those things is the richness and enjoyment music brings us, and I want people everywhere to feel ownership of classical music, and opera in particular. My industry has done so much in the past to make people less confident, to feel excluded and disempowered about the relevance of music to their normal lives. And it’s this connection which all of my

professional activities – conducting, broadcasting, blogging, designing music software, and directing West Australian Opera – have in common as their motivation.

Sloth Where would you spend a long time doing nothing?

Mauritius. I was born there, but didn’t go back for over 30 years, until a week in between Perth engagements in 2007. It was incredible – the plane door opened, I inhaled, and realised I was Home (definitely with a capital!). My soul unfolds whenever I spend time there – and it is the perfect place to spend time doing nothing. I fantasise about ending up that fat old guy, beachcombing up and down the sand.

Wrath Which news story makes you white with rage?

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years. Immigration, home ownership, funding for the arts, republicanism – the range of topics where the boundaries have shifted concerns me, and all are debates of which I am keen to widen the ambit.

Envy Whose shoes would you like to walk in?

I spent many years being envious, particularly of those conductors whose kind of career I wanted to grow into.

But now, in midlife, I realise that the composition of my own life, including work and personal aspects, is the only one I can and could possibly inhabit. I’m relieved to report that envy is becoming less and less a besetting sin of mine!

Pride What is the one thing you’re secretly proud of?

My pride is all about what I have made and built. My talent, such as it is, I don’t believe is anything to be proud of – it was given to me. But what I have made with it, through perseverance and sacrifice, is something I am proud of. I am also proud of making good sourdough bread, wooden furniture, music apps, and the choices I am able to make as Artistic Director of West Australian Opera.

Lust What makes your heart beat faster?

I hunger after stimulus, enrichment and variety. I believe that the purpose of life, if it has one at all, is to be curious, to greet whatever approaches with that curiosity.

Life, well-lived, is fueled by exchange, engagement and surprise – all things I value much higher than things or received values. And the people I treasure – my wife and son, among others – are jewels beyond price to me. MQ

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MAL AYSIA MORE HEAT MORE

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Check out events for 2016 at www.malaysia.travel MALAYSIA TOURISM PROMOTION BOARD Sydney Office: Level 6, 151 Castlereagh Street, Sydney NSW 2000 Scan to experience Malaysia

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