Marque Magazine - Spring 2014

box clever A Boxer engine in the BMW Concept Ninety Roadster elevates its classic styling to state-of-the-art performance

funny bones Comedian and playwright Ben Elton draws on his adopted WA home’s influence in a new version of his play, Gasp!

THE auto classic MAGAZINE

s p r i ng 2 0 1 4

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contents M A R Q U E | T H E a u t o c l a s s i c M A G A Z I N E | SPRI N G E D I T IO N

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Welcome to MARQUE Magazine

A

s we welcome spring back, we bring you the second issue of our new quarterly magazine, Marque (MQ), I trust you'll agree that we've assembled a stunning collection of features, including all the latest news and innovations from Auto Classic and BMW. Matthew Mills puts the 4 Series Gran Coupé through its paces and is thoroughly impressed by the new addition's style, pace and grace. We also preview the incredible BMW Concept Ninety, a roadster motorbike which will set hearts racing, as well as the MINI One Hatch.

And of course our cover star - the thrilling BMW i8 is guaranteed to draw crowds when it arrives for a preview at Auto Classic in a few weeks time.

As usual, you'll find our suggestions for the hottest shows, events and openings in the city and beyond as well as an exclusive interview with Ben Elton, playwright and comedian who's bringing a new version of his play Gasp! to the city. Daryl Cook describes why he loves the Auto Classic experience in My MQ and we invite you to take tea with Rochelle Adonis, one of the country's most innovative creators of cakes and confections.

If you love golf, you'll be well-catered for in this issue with a preview of the Perth Internationals well as the definitive golfing equipment wish-list. Finally we invite you to explore the rich cultural history of Afghanistan's ancient art treasures - a oncein-a-lifetime chance to see gold and jewels which remained hidden for years thanks to the dedication of a band of 'key holders' who kept them safe from the Taliban and Russian military forces with no thought for their own safety.

I hope you enjoy this edition of MQ - the whole team at Auto Classic look forward to welcoming you back to the showroom very soon.

82 10 ................. MQ TIPS

18................. MQ PEOPLE

eet Grahame Marshall, CEO M of the Royal Flying Doctors as the organisation celebrates 80 years of saving lives

22................ MQ ADVENTURE

honda Craig’s adventure of R a lifetime, raising money on Variety WA's 4x4 Challenge

28................ MQ design

n incredible Zorzi-built home A in South Perth riverfront

30................ MQ THIRST

Perth’s first whiskey distillery,

Whipper Snapper

32................ MQ APPETITE

56 JOIN THE CLUB Golf’s superstars are heading to

Darrin Brandon Dealer Principal, Auto Classic

he hottest shows,events, T hotels and ideas around

the city for one of the sport’s richest prizes - the Perth International

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ochelle Adonis and her R amazing cakes and confections

35................. MQ bmw review

Matt Mills enjoys the 4 Series

BMW Gran Coupé

38................ MQ music

Robbie Williams – the bad

boy who grew up

40............... MQ travel

Ubud’s timeless charm

40 bmw/mini

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44 44............... MQ cover story

re you ready for the A incredible BMW i8?

48................ MQ fashion

STYLEAID thrilled

fashionistas more than ever this year

52................. MQ bmw preview

MW Concept Ninety B Roadster

56................ MQ sport

The Perth International

is coming to town

61................. MQ culture

Afghanistan’s treasures arrive at the Museum of WA

66................ MQ the craft

leur Schell and Alana F McVeigh’s porcelain artistry

69................ MQ mini preview

The MINI One Hatch

72................ MQ PERSONAL tour

uto Classic’s Daniel A Strahan’s view of the M4

74................ MQ R&R

Assembling your dream golf kit

76 .............. my MQ

aryl Cook’s love affair with D BMW continues

78................ MQ performance

Ben Elton’s back with Gasp!

81................. MQ business class

We review the Qatar Airways

business class offering

82................ MQ last word

Published by

THE auto classic MAGAZINE

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reakfast TV’s Lisa B Fernandez’ seven deadly sins Publisher Aisha Ischel | aisha@premiumpublishers.com.au Editor Gabi Mills | gabi@premiumpublishers.com.au

Premium Publishers, (Peard Media Pty Ltd), Freemasons House, 181 Roberts Road, Subiaco WA 6008.

Images Crib Creative, Matt Jelonek

Ph (08) 9273 8933

Sales Gloria Karageorge | gloria@premiumpublishers.com.au

Creative Design Cally Browning | cally@barecreative.com.au Contributors Norman Burns, Rhonda Craig, Matthew Mills, Sandra Harris Ramini,

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TIPS

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

Top trio arrives The all new BMW M3 Sedan, BMW M4 Coupé and BMW X4 have arrived at Auto Classic.

The BMW M3 Sedan and BMW M4 Coupé are formidable Ultimate Driving Machines that are built to dominate the road and track.

Under the hood they feature a new high-revving, in-line six-cylinder engine with BMW M TwinPower Turbo technology that generates 317kW of power, 550Nm of torque and an undeniable defiance of

• The extraordinary film won three Golden Globe awards and three Academy Awards; • The production has played over 48,000 professional performances worldwide giving a total audience figure of over 65 million people; • On October 8 2010 the London production of Les Mis celebrated its 25th birthday.

It’s the longest running musical in the world and on June 1 2012 celebrated its 11,000th performance in London; • To mark its 25th birthday, the show made history by having three productions playing in London at the same time, the original London production, the new 25th anniversary production played at the show’s original home at the Barbican for 22 performances and there was a special anniversary concert at the O2 Arena;

the world’s favourite musical

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t may not be the most cheerful show around (it’s title gives away its tragic theme) but, for many, Les Misérables is the definition of brilliant modern musical theatre. As the blockbuster show prepares to arrive at Perth’s Crown Theatre in January, here are some Les Mis facts you may not know: • Over 100 professional

companies have opened Les Misérables worldwide; • Productions have played in 42 countries and 322 cities including the Dominican Republic, Estonia and Mauritius; • Les Misérables has been translated into 22 different languages including Castillian, Icelandic and Hebrew; marque spring

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gravity that is guaranteed to get your adrenaline pumping.

The stylish new BMW X4 fuses the quintessential power of an X model with the aesthetics of a classic coupé. With its dynamic contours and coupé-style silhouette, combined with power and performance, the BMW X4 exudes outstanding confidence on the road. All three models are available to test drive at Auto Classic today.

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• The 25th anniversary concert featured over 350 actors and musicians together with the casts of the London and 25th anniversary productions as well as many members of the original 1985 London cast.

32,000 people attended this spectacular celebration which was broadcast to cinemas around the world and released on DVD and Blu-Ray; • Les Mis reopened on Broadway in March, 27 years after its Broadway debut in 1987; • There have been 47 cast recordings of Les Mis (including albums, singles, symphonic and digital download albums); • Each performance entails some 392 complete costumes consisting of some 1782 items of clothing and 31 wigs.

Visit lesmis.com for tickets to Les Misérables, Crown Theatre, Perth, from January 15.

My city

By Stefano Carboni | Director of the Art Gallery of Western Australia It wasn't that long ago that Perth was regarded as a sleepy city. There was a perception that our isolation meant we were behind the times, relegated to follow the fashion and cultural trends of Sydney and Melbourne. This was true – we had our beaches and coastal lifestyle but in terms of taking new initiatives, we were not often at the forefront.

However, as the city has been expanding and maturing since I arrived in 2008, there is a perceptible change. Where people used to visit the Eastern states to get their artistic fix, they are now including Perth in their plans.

Working in the Perth Cultural Centre, I’ve witnessed the change first-hand. What used to be empty space used for commuting from the train station has become a cultural hub for young and mature people alike. There’s an experience for everyone whether it be at the Western Australian Museum, The Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts, the Blue Room Theatre or the Art Gallery of WA. For a time, Perth has been working towards developing a competitive identity as a cultural capital. The Perth International Arts Festival is now an established event with a national and international profile. Fringe World is growing year on year and contributing

strongly to the cultural vibrancy of the Perth Cultural Centre. I enjoy seeing people out across the summer months, combining cultural events with our enviable outdoors environment. And, of course, for me as Director of AGWA, I’m pleased to see the Perth Cultural Centre developing into a viable cultural district.

The cross-partnerships developing between cultural institutions, such as the recent Perth Festival, PICA and AGWA collaboration for William Kentridge, are collaborations of which I am keen to see more. The Metropolitan Redevelopment Authority’s commitment to transforming the area has resulted in significant growth within the precinct and stimulated broader interest in the arts.

I know that AGWA has benefited from the combined emphasis and energy in this area. Our exhibitions and spaces are alive with people. We are committed to sharing the permanent collection alongside international exhibitions to explore the dichotomy between our place and the world, and expand the cultural experiences on offer in our state.

Visit artgallery.wa.gov.au for a full list of current and future exhibitions.

Cornucopia of gourmet treats This year’s Margaret River Gourmet Escape is set to wow with a plethora of new faces joining the usual stellar lineup. There's also an impressive collection of new events taking place in the forest, in vineyards, at the beach and even out at sea, with a starring role for the region's extraordinary produce.

The recently announced roll call of talent joining this now globally admired event confirms that this little corner of WA’s south west is a real magnet for

culinary enthusiasts.

“Honestly, I don’t think that there is any other food event on this planet like this,” said Heston Blumenthal at last year's, who will be back in the south west in November.

Heston will be joined by Rick Stein, Sat Bains, Guillaume Brahimi, Peter Gilmore, George Calombaris, Hadleigh Troy and WA's own Matt Stone.

The three-day extravaganza has quickly established itself as one of the world's best culinary events. Once again this year marque spring

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it will deliver a jam-packed program showcasing the best of WA and the Margaret River region through an unparalleled line up of over 30 international and local food and wine experts.

So who will be making the long trip down under?

Here’s just a small snapshot of the new foodie stars festivalgoers can expect to see in action during one star-studded weekend in November: Ashley Palmer-Watts (Dinner

by Heston Blumenthal, London UK) – Ashley heads up the kitchens of the two Michelin starred Dinner by Heston Blumenthal in London.

Jonny Lake (The Fat Duck, Bray UK) – head chef of the three Michelin starred The Fat Duck and Head Chef of Development, Jonny will be bringing The Fat Duck to Australia in February next year.

Clare Smyth (Restaurant Gordon Ramsay, UK) – the first British female to earn three Michelin stars.

Frank Camorra (MoVida Melbourne & Sydney) - one of Australia's most respected chefs.

Paul West (River Cottage Australia) - chosen by Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall to continue the River Cottage idea here in Oz. Visit ticketek.com.au to secure your place at this year’s Margaret River Gourmet Escape - VIP packages available.

MQ TIPS

I

n the fully updated and revised 32nd edition of Australian Wine Vintages, Master of Wine Rob Geddes provides readers with the definitive guide to selecting the best quality local vintages in any price range. Aiming to showcase the top 10% of wineries that consistently deliver quality, the popular pocket-sized book (also available as an App) includes detailed tasting notes, vintage quality and indicative prices for over 6000 wines from 317 of Australia’s best wineries, with 19 new wineries included in this edition. It also includes an updated list of Certified Organic and Biodynamic wineries, a scoring page to compare the writer and wine show scores, and a quick guide to the various wine varieties and regions so you know what to look for.

Cherubino Wines 2011 Franklin River Shiraz

96/100 $65

Leeuwin Estate 2011 Art Series Chardonnay

96/100 $85

Elegant and an understated youthful wine that is fresh and bright, with fresh lemon, pear and subtle oak aromas.

In the mouth the fruit is polished, integrated, textured, poised with fine acids and length, with intensity and duration growing and curling like a wave as it runs the palate.

The oak is very high quality, not prominent by style in its support and control of the deeply flavoured palate. The long finish has citrus, smoked meats and is full of promise.

Woodlands 2011 "Alex" Cabernet Sauvignon

95/100 $130

All you want is a great young Cabernet. Reserved, complex, and fragrant with earthy cabernet elements.

The palate is excellently structured, line and length, refined tannins, long, lithe and running bare with tight texture and low key fruits in 2014. The middle palate and finish has just ripe berries and liquored blackberries. The effortless style and reserved fruit indicate a fantastic aging potential. Drink 2018 onwards.

Rob Geddes is a wine industry veteran, one of the few Australians to be awarded the ’Master of Wine’, and author of Australian Wine Vintages ($35). The 32nd edition is now available at book stores or online at thegoldbook.com.au

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silver Service 2014 marks the 25th anniversary of the Art Gallery of Western Australia Foundation and to celebrate a landmark exhibition will run at the gallery until December 1.

More than 4,500 works have been brought to the gallery since 1989, representing the rich relationship between the Foundation’s 470 supporters and those who come to the gallery all through the year.

Key works acquired through the Foundation’s support will be showcased in the exhibition, with a diverse mix of historical, 20thcentury and contemporary art including works by Tony Albert, Fiona Foley, Kitty Kantilla and Ray Ken. Visit artgallery.wa.gov.au for more information. (above) David Hay, Possibilities, 2008

Richard Bell, Colour Theory, 2012

Perfumed cherry and blossom aromas. In the mouth an extraordinary tannin ripeness and berry fruit creates a deep sweep of mouthfilling flavour that ranges from maraschino, red cherry raspberry and lasts very long with elegance and mineral tannins. Needs to be kept until 2017.

Tony Albert, No Place Warrior, 2009

WA’s wines three of the best

SECRET SANCTUARY Left, Lodge at the Hills, right, Annandale, below, the Kinloch Club. Below, left to right, Lodge at the Hills, Annandale, Kinloch.

Luxury lodges open in NZ New Zealand’s acclaimed collection of luxury lodges OFFERS THE PERFECT SPOT TO PRACTICE YOUR DRIVING - GOLF DRIVING THAT IS - IN THE MOST SPECTACULAR SETTINGS.

F

or golf lovers, the just launched Lodge at the Hills at the internationally acclaimed Hills Golf Course is a six-room exclusive-use lodge with an unparalleled setting amid 500 acres, surrounded by glacial valleys and snow capped mountains. Guests will arrive via helicopter transfers, including glacier golf en route, and enjoy meals prepared by a Michelin-trained chef. Golf lovers can play as much as they like on Sir Michael Hill’s own private St Andrews-inspired golf course on their doorstep as well as practice putting on their

spa pool and tennis court. The three other private and secluded villas each have their own distinct character: the romance and contemporary architecture of glass-fronted Seascape in its own bay, the historic hilltop charm of Shepherd’s Cottage, and the stunning seaside location of Scrubby Bay, a large cedar-clad beach house for gatherings of up to 14 people with award-winning private chefs, home-grown produce and farm-to-table cooking lessons for guests to enjoy.

For adventurers, everything from 4WD farm tours,

own private green, while a range of extraordinary experiences including, guided heli wine tours from a Master of Wine, will be on tap.

Further up the South Island on the Banks peninsula coastline near Christchurch, Annandale is the latest go-to retreat, with four distinctive luxury villas set across a 4000acre sheep and cattle farm in Pigeon Bay. The historic farm features a restored five-bedroom homestead with magnificent gardens and state-of-the-art facilities, including infinity pool,

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mountain biking and hiking, to guided kayaking, paddle boarding, sailing and fishing charters are available.

Opening in November, the Kinloch Club on the shores of Lake Taupo will launch a five-star contemporary luxury lodge and 26 luxury villas around the par 72 championship Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course. Running in conjunction with the nearby award-winning Treetops Lodge and Estate, the lodge will have panoramic views over Lake Taupo, fronting a lovely sandy beach, perfect for boating, windsurfing and swimming.

The area also provides a wealth of adrenalin activities, some of the best fishing in the world and the geothermal and Maori cultural heartland of Rotorua just an hour away.

Visit thehills.co.nz, thekinlochclub.com and annandale.com

MQ tips

Art meets footy

F

ormer West Coast Eagles footballer-turned-artist, Michael O’Connell unveiled his submission for the Archibald Prize 2014 in June at The Rose Medical and Aesthetic Centre in North Fremantle.

His subject is of a man, instantly recognisable to footy fans across Australia and a recipient of the AFA’s Most Outstanding Media Contribution in 2006; the legendary Dennis Cometti.

Titled ’Part of the Living Room’, the 2m x 170cm oil painting is a double portrait, which the artist describes as “making Dennis a part of the living room, showing a comparison to the Dennis we see on television”.

The unveiling took place at a space where "creativity flows, and masterpieces are made", O’Connell explained.

Geláre scoops up new customers WA-owned and operated ice cream company Geláre will bring their unique brand of desserts to the people of Atwell, with a new store opening at shopping Harvest Lakes Shopping Centre.

Providing ice cream to Perth's sweet-toothed customers for almost 30 years, Geláre is an Australian success story.

The brainchild of Persian-born Farid Torabi, Geláre is a favourite among locals and tourists alike, with its delicious ice cream range, frozen yogurts, freshly baked waffles and freshly brewed coffee available at 17 locations across Australia.

Employing more than 130 staff across Australia, Torabi says the stores are all about the Geláre experience.

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“My studio is homed in The Old Keg Room, a creative space that Kate Morlet-Brown has developed here at The Rose. The artwork was created with Dennis sitting numerous times at The Rose Café a Medical and Aesthetic Centre and painted in my studio here”.

Kingsley Brown, managing director of The Rose, said: “Tying in with the beauty and wellbeing services that we offer at The Rose, we are so happy to be supporting Michael who uses oil to create beauty in art”.

More of Michael’s artwork can be seen at The Rose Café, located at The Rose: Medical and Aesthetic Centre, 78 Stirling Highway, North Fremantle.

For more information on the creative space available at The Rose, call 08 9385 5544 or visit therose.net.au.

“We’re passionate about providing high quality, delicious products in every one of our stores," he says.

"Each customer that comes into a Geláre is there for a reason, whether it’s to a enjoy a treat with family, catch up with friends, or even just take a quiet moment to themselves. We want to make sure that their experience is a great one."

The experience is definitely working, with the Harvest Lakes store being the 16th to open Australia-wide. There is also an additional eight stores in Singapore, with a further three underway

by October; one in Hong Kong and two planned to open in Malaysia by the end of the year.

For more information on Geláre, or to find a store near you visit gelare.com.au.

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One to Watch With a tagline which reads 'Timepieces for Dangerous Men', you would expect that the Haigh & Hastings watch brand has a dash of excitement and you wouldn't be wrong says Gabi Mills. Images by Crib Creative and Milkable.

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estern Australia is known for many things but perhaps being the place where watch brands are born is not one of them.

That’s all rapidly changing however thanks to a new watch brand which is bursting onto the global scene thanks to a collective of WA-based business brains who have created the Haigh & Hastings brand, ready to take on the dominance of those other watch-makers from Europe and Asia.

“It all started at a dinner party last June,” says co-founder and director Simon Haigh. "I met Matthew Sears that night and realised I’d known his wife (from whose maiden name the Hastings comes) for seven years without actually meeting him.”

As it turns out, Matthew is a 'watch enthusiast’ who planted the seed in both their fertile minds that it might be time for WA to have its own watch company right here in Perth.

The pair, driven by Matthew,

designed and ordered three test watches, coming up with not only the Haigh & Hastings name for their new venture but also the ingenious tagline which has already struck a rapidly growing chord with its appeal to the adventurous yet unpretentious type of man.

“I thought to myself that with the name and the tagline there was something here,” said Simon, whose experience working within major international corporations like BHP gave him strong strategic consultancy experience.

By the end of 2013, the brand had its first watch to take to market and, following a couple of small features in the press before Christmas, the rocket’s fuse, according to Simon, was lit.

“In the new year we were approached by the Western Force to be a sponsor for their 'man of the match’ award, as well as other international sporting brands who wanted to be associated with our firm too.” The company followed advice to pick associations carefully for their new brand and turned many approaches down, that were deemed unsuitable.

An experienced board of business experts have since joined the Haigh & Hastings company, including James Ross and Gene Lilly from Perth and Giles Bushby - ex Fossil UK MD, from England, and further marque spring

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TIME FOR CHANGE The team behind Haigh & Hastings from left to right, Gene Lilly, Simon Haigh and James Ross.

merchandising deals are in the works as well as stocking opportunities from here to Johannesburg and the UK. “We started with our black, bezelled M2 diver watch, black with a subtle, clean-looking design and the ability to be worn by divers to a 1000ft (300m) depth rating. The watch is manufactured with components from Asia and Europe and contains a high end Japanese automatic movement.”

Since then the Redhead has joined the collection as well as the Blue Ring, Greenbriar and green and gold Australis models, with further watch lines already being designed.

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There are 13 different coloured straps, made in natural Italian rubber, to choose from, with leather and metal straps on the way, and the company is investing in some cutting edge marketing techniques to stand out from the crowd in a notoriously competitive marketplace.

“We’re working on a preChristmas shopping season release of a top end website, point-of-sale material and video clips which will all showcase our growing brand qualities,” adds managing director James Ross.

For keen supporters of WA enterprise and lovers of the spirit of adventure, the arrival of Haigh & Hastings on the watch scene could be just the thing to make their wrists stand out from the crowd. MQ Visit haighandhastings.com for pricing and stockists.

MQ tips

The perfect time to visit ... Smiths Beach Resort S

miths Beach Resort is one of the most beautiful spots to spend time at this time of year, but there’s much more to it than just a wonderful place to unwind. In spring (not too hot, not too cold), there are plenty of activities to enjoy, as suggested by Tony Fletcher, the resort’s resident authority on the area.

Take the leap If you’ve always wanted to take the plunge - literally - and jump out of a plane, then why not give this ultimate experience a whirl in Margaret Rier? Book a stay at Smiths Beach Resort and take the leap with Southern Skydivers.

Two-night packages start from $555 per person, twin share including an adrenaline-packed sky dive with local experts, Southern Skydiving.

Visit southernskydivers.com.au for more details on skydiving or contact Amy at Southern Skydivers at amy@southernskydivers.com.au

PERFECT BASE Make the Smiths Beach Resort your HQ and explore the south west during this lovely time of year.

Chop chop Take a scenic tour on board a helicopter and see the Margaret River area as you’ve never seen it before from the air.

A two-night package including a 20-minute scenic helicopter flight from $495 per person, twin share including a delicious light lunch, or $695 per person, twin share for a fabulous scenic flight including a three-course lunch and glass of wine at the beautiful Leeuwin Estate.

For further details contact Brett at Wild Blue Helicopters at Brett Campany at brett.campany@gmail.com

On your bike Avoid the arguments about who’s the designated driver with an innovative Sip N Cycle Winery Tour. Enjoy the fresh air and beautiful scenery as you take a leisurely guided cycle

Giants of the sea In September and October, join a whale-watching tour and take the opportunity to spot these gentle giants cruising back close to the coastline. Tours operate out of Dunsborough and once you’ve seen one of these impressive creatures breach the surface, it’s an experience you’ll never forget.

Book a two-night package including whale-watching cruise from $410 per person, twin share. Visit whalesaustralia.com.au/whale-watching/ around some of the region's wineries with Dirty Detours. A two-night package including Sip N Cycle Tour is $340 per person, twin share. And for those who are after something more energetic, there are also guided mountain biking tours to suit all levels of riders.

Visit dirtydetours.com for details.

For more details contact Rob or Tam on 0422 343341.

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Boot camp Thanks to a gentler climate, this time of the year is one of the most spectacular for taking a hike on the Cape To Cape Track. It runs straight past the resort so you can do it yourself very easily without a guide. However for the best experience and to see things you’d easily miss otherwise, we recommend joining Cape To Cape Explorer Tours.

A two-night package including a full day walk along a picturesque section of the track starts including lunch from $395 per person twin share. Visit capetocapetours.com.au or contact Clare on Cape to Cape at info@capetocapetours.com.au

autoclassic.com.au

Watchwatch By Norman Burns Images courtesy Montblanc

Peak of excellence

Timewalker Extreme

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ontblanc is a heavy hitter in luxury watches - amazing really considering the company, which forged its reputation through beautifully made writing instruments, only entered the haute horology market in 1997.

Barely 20 years on, Montblanc’s range more than holds its own against more established rivals and is now a distinguished manufacture - a French term for a watchmaker that makes all its own components.

With the Meisterstuck (German for masterpiece) Heritage Collection, Montblanc acknowledges its writing instrument heritage (the Meisterstuck pen was first produced in 1924), with four models (Heritage Pulsograph, Perpetual Calendar, Heritage Moonphase and Heritage Date Automatic), all dripping with fine craftsmanship - the kind that elevates the top timepieces to works of art.

The 41mm Pulsograph (just 90 available worldwide; price around $38,800) is powered by a Montblanc's manually-wound Calibre M13.21 movement, but the devil is really in the detail, with an intricately worked dial and parts of the movement hand-embellished, all wrapped in a beautiful 18k gold case.

The watch also sports

a pulsometer scale; these allowed doctors to measure the heartbeat without having to feel a patient’s pulse for a full 60 seconds. Pulsometer scales were featured in watches produced by Minerva in the 1920s.

In 2006, Montblanc’s parent company Richemont bought out Minerva and Minerva’s much sought-after movements now form the backbone for Montblanc watches.

With the Homage to Nicolas Rieussec, Montblanc doffs its cap to the 19th-century French watchmaker of the same name, credited with inventing the chronograph (or time-writer, from the Greek words “chronos” - time - and “graphein” - to write) in 1821.

Rieussec’s ingenious contraption was made to precisely measure the running times of racehorses. It used two calibrated discs, one for 60 elapsed seconds, the other for 30 elapsed minutes. Each time a horse crossed the finish line a button was pressed, which would trigger a mechanism that dropped an ink blot onto the disc; the blots could be read off against the chronograph markings, thus giving an exact finishing time for each horse.

This new 43mm watch (193 pieces worldwide, rose gold or steel, $38,600) mimics the Heritage Pulsograph

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colours and style of Rieussec’s original (the chronograph display is via rotating discs, just like that of its 1821 inspiration), but with additional modern-day functionality - including date display and two time zones. The Calibre MB R200 automatic movement provides a 72-hour power reserve and the Homage reveals a “magic” trick when the sun goes down via an ingenious readout in which the hour markings only become visible after dark.

And while Montblanc celebrates the past, it is not afraid to embrace modernity, as the TimeWalker Extreme Chronograph DLC shows.

This is new 43mm model marks the 10th anniversary of the TimeWalker family, and has a lean, mean, no-nonsense look. The micro-bead blasted stainless steel case is coated with diamond-like carbon, while the jet-black dial has sub-dials for elapsed minutes (12 o’clock), elapsed hours (6 o’clock) and seconds (9 o’clock).

It’s a big, bold no-frills timekeeping statement, but deceptively simple - even the strap is out of the ordinary, a sandwich of specially treated leather with an inlay of “Vulcarbone” cautchouc (natural rubber) for extra strength and flexibility.

Visit montblanc.com

Homage to Nicolas Rieussec

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it’s hip to be square Let’s be perfectly Franck; a lot of the higher end offerings in the luxury watch segment lean heavily towards the conservative, if not outright stuffy, end of the design spectrum.

Except Franck Muller’s. The eponymous brand from Geneva offers an artistic playground for Mr Muller, whose often zany creations (such as the Crazy Hours models, with hours displayed in a random order) are still outrageously stylish, but with some serious geewhiz goings on in the intricate movements inside.

With the Master Square Playa collection Muller tones things down somewhat - but not to the level of “boring”.

With three case variants (stainless steel, 18k red gold and 18k white gold), the Playa (Spanish for beach) nicely bridges the gap between sporty and elegant.

Under the hood is a quartz movement, and the square-ish case (32.7mm x 40.7mm) is nicely offset by a white rubber bracelet. Priced from $9300 to $16,900, depending on the model.

Visit franckmuller.com

people

The Royal Flying Doctors have been a part of our national landscape of emergency services for 80 years and, as the organisation looks to the future, CEO Grahame Marshall ensures that this vital lifeline is more relevant than ever. By Matthew Mills.

Top flight T

here can scarcely be a more comforting sound if you’re hurt and scared in remote bush, miles from anywhere or anyone, than the distant thrum of a Royal Flying Doctor Service plane honing in on your location.

So says Grahame Marshall as he talks enthusiastically about his role as CEO of the near-legendary operation in WA, justifiably proud at being at the helm of one of the state’s most important institutions.

The RFDS is one of those organisations which needs little introduction – the brave band of doctors, nurses and pilots have flown across the skies of Australia bringing medical care to and saving lives in the remotest parts of our big, dry land since 1928.

Nary a day will go by in WA without a TV bulletin or newspaper column telling a tale of a Sandgroper rescued from the edge of nowhere by an RFDS crew in one of its marque spring

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HEROES ON HIGH The Royal Flying Doctors have been a vital part of the emergency services offering in Australia for eight decades.

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planes – and most of us who were around in the last millennium will well remember the exploits of the big-haired team down at Cooper’s Crossing who brought the heroics of the service into our lounge rooms a couple of times a week.

Grahame chuckles when I remind him of The Flying Doctors – the smash hit Aussie TV series from the late 80s and early 90s – and admits that he did catch the odd episode as a young man.

But while most of us will know from that iconic show and the news headlines that the RFDS is out there, few will have a complete grasp of the true scale of the operation.

Grahame lays out some figures to illustrate just how much of a challenge the RFDS in WA faces.

In the last 12 months, 9,000 sick and injured patients have been transported to hospitals across the state for treatment. The service’s communication hub at Perth’s Jandakot Airport has taken 40,000 phone calls for medical assistance or advice.

Its pilots have made more than 16,000 landings and flown more than 8million km over the skies of WA – to save you the math, that’s the equivalent of 200 times around the world.

Those figures have been clocked up by the state’s 15 aircraft – 14 Pilatus PC-12s and one Hawker 800XP2. The PC-12s are singleengine turboprop aircraft, the Hawker a jet kitted out to the same high aeromedical standards as the rest of the fleet.

The aircraft are based at five locations, Port Hedland – which was home to WA’s first base, officially beginning operations on October 10, 1935, seven years after the Rev John Flynn had launched his visionary service in Cloncurry, Queensland – Derby, Port Hedland, Meekatharra, Kalgoorlie and Jandakot.

The doctors and nurses that man the planes live in the remote communities they fly from, taking on eight-hour shifts, which can often run much longer if duty calls.

Many flights involve moving patients from remote hospitals to Perth when a higher level of medical care is needed, but, of course, often the crews are on emergency details.

“Our calls are taken at Jandakot,” Grahame explains. “A doctor will make an assessment of the situation and decide whether a plane needs to be sent. In a non-emergency, they

have to say that the caller should seek local assistance, which can be tough as it could mean a two-hour drive, but the doctor has to make that call.”

But if a plane is needed, the call is handed to the base’s non-medical communication specialists who sort out the logistics of the situation, who to send and from which base.

“The planes will go out with a single pilot and a doctor and a nurse.

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VITAL LIFELINE WA has 15 specially kitted-out aircraft to rescue patients from all over the state Above, Grahame Marshall, CEO of the RFDS.

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patients in the small confines of the plane, to stabilise them in very challenging conditions like adverse weather conditions. They have to be fit and versatile. They’re a special breed.”

The RFDS is a 24-hour operation, always on the go. And keeping that level of service up doesn’t come cheap – WA’s arm of the service costs $90million a year.

State and federal government funding helps cover the operating

MQ PEOPLE

Its pilots have made more than 16,000 landings and flown more than 8 million km over the skies of WA – to save you the math, that’s the equivalent of 200 times around the world

costs, but when it comes to capital requirements for new aircraft, and on the ground infrastructure such as hangars and patient transfer facilities, the RFDS needs to cover around 20 per cent of those costs themselves – and that’s where fundraising comes in.

“We have a plethora of small communities out there who raise money, with everything from the traditional chook raffle and barbecue to more formal structures,” Grahame says.

“And we have our annual Altitude ball in August which raises both funds and the profile of the organisation, but we also look for corporate help.”

One group of businesses more than happy to help out are those in

NEW LIVERY New planes have enjoyed a rebranding, with their underbellies being painted a vibrant red.

the mining world – Rio Tinto has committed $11 million towards the Hawker Rio Tinto Lifeflight Jet since it joined the fleet in 2009, Karara Mining stepped in to help with the service’s mobile dentist service last year and, in February, BHP Billiton chipped in $4.5 million towards the $22million needed to buy four new PC-12s.

“It is a chance for sponsorship,” Grahame says, “but we like to see it more as a working partnership with these companies. They have a vested interest in the areas that we are working in and want to make a difference as much as we do.”

The four new PC-12s also marked a turning point for the RFDS in WA – for the first time in the near-80year history of the service the planes eschewed their traditional white-with-blue-and-red-stripe paintjob.

Instead, a rebranding saw their underbellies painted a vibrant red and adopting a generally more modern livery – something Grahame is certain is necessary.

“We have to move forwards,” he says, “I guess we are starting to understand that we have to contemporise.

In the remote parts of the state, when we’re promoting marque spring

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ourselves we’re preaching to the converted, they know who we are and what we do.

“But in the metropolitan areas, there’s a different demographic that we have to market ourselves to.

Younger urbanised people may think that we’re not relevant to them, but we are. Everyone travels nowadays, for work and leisure.”

And cutting-edge marketing will become more and more important as our booming state continues to expand.

“We are taking on an extra 400 to 500 patient transfers by air each year,” Grahame says.

“That’s as many patients as each of our aircraft currently carry annually. Put simply, we need to expand by one additional aircraft each year.”

But Grahame is both optimistic and enthusiastic about the challenges to come. He admits that in the three years he has been head of RFDS’s WA section – a position he rose to after a successful career as an executive in financial circles and seven years on the board of the service’s South Australia operation – he has been proud of what he has achieved and relishes “making a difference”.

The future, then, he says, is as bright as the underbellies of the service’s new planes.

“The RFDS has had a rich 80-year history in WA,” he says. “And we want to be around for at least another 80.” MQ

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ADVENTURE

Driving force The 2014 Variety 4WD Challenge took a gallant band of 60 hardy adventurers 4000km across the Kimberley, raising thousands of dollars for some of WA's most need children.

Rhonda Craig was in one of the cars. Here is her story. Images by Miro Selak.

Stella's crew

Our crew consists of Mandy Prindiville, Debra Tarabini and myself and we’ve been friends for over 30 years. Since our first Variety 4WD Challenge in 2010, we’ve learned about four-wheel-driving and fundraising, the experience of travelling with an amazing crew and that these events are as much about what you give as what you get.

The freedom of the outback and the personal satisfaction and achievement of travelling over 4000kms in our trusty 20 year old 80 series turbo diesel cruiser is something which, well, gets into your blood. Meeting new friends and reconnecting with old - it’s a great event that we enjoy immensely.

Our vehicle is Car 65, or as she is affectionately known, Stella welcome to the 2014 Variety 4WD.

Stella's Crew at the start ing line

Saturday,24 May 2014

The polo is on in Broome, but the real big event is just down the beach, where the 2014 Variety 4WD Challenge officially begins. As we gather to enjoy pre-start cocktails on Cable Beach at sunset, plans for the week are laid out by the event co-ordinator, Bill. First-time participants are introduced and

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The assembled 4x4s

One of the legendar y suns

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et meals

dino-pigs handed out to them. These dino-pigs are to be attached to each challenger for the entire journey and big fines (read ‘donations’) apply if they are lost, stolen or just forgotten.

The excitement starts to mount.

There are old faces and new, all about to set off on an amazing journey further north in WA than

most of us have ever been before into very remote territory.

We make our own way back to Cable Beach Club then on for tapas at 18 Degrees Restaurant with Car 68 and Car 98 before later meeting up with Car 2, Car 76 and a couple of officials for drinks at Divers Tavern an ‘unofficial’ pre-event celebration.

As the afternoon progresses, we turn into Mt Barnett to refuel, then travel another five kilometres down a very dusty road into the Manning Gorge Camp Ground where ‘Chef’ Brad Leahy is busy preparing the evening meal for us. We set up our swags, tents and camper trailers,

Monday,26 May 2014

Sunday,25 May 2014

We’re up early to check out of the resort, before a vehicle and radio check. It’s around 8.30am when all 27 vehicles (including seven officials’ cars) set off for the Gibb River Road turn-off, just before Derby.

This section of the Gibb River Road (GRR) travels past the Windjana turn-off and up through the Leopold Ranges, where magnificent views are coupled with a really interesting

drive. The Gibb is in good condition, and winding through the ranges there are some stunning photo stops as the landscape changes through the high rocky ranges. One minute the view is craggy rock and scrubby trees, the next minute a deep dipping valley or river crossing where the foliage turns tropical and lush.

who have decided to throw a cocktail party. Much conversation and laughter as friends and acquaintances old and new reconnect, and review our first day on the road.

Across the way, an outdoor dining room has been set up by the team for all of the participants to experience Chef’s amazing dinner which includes pasta and risotto and some sensational salads including roasted beetroot, lentil, spinach and an amazingly fresh Greek salad.

and enjoy a couple of very cold beers and conversation with our fellow 4WDrivers before heading into the Manning Pool for a swim in the fresh clean water of the Barnett River.

The creek swim is a shower substitute for most of us and way more refreshing. As daylight fades, we join some of the event participants marque spring

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An early rise is unavoidable and many travellers decide to take advantage of the fantastic fresh water in Manning Gorge and take another dip.

We’re out of the camp ground early to attend the Wananami Remote Community School at Mt Barnett where the kids and staff put on a BBQ breakfast for all of us. We hear from the principal and teachers about this progressive community and the work being done at that school. After breakfast, Variety announces that they will contribute towards funding a vegie garden for stunning Left, the kids, as well as an excursion to the Mitchell Falls Broome for some of the students was a high point for so they can go to the beach and Rhonda.

Above, the the movies – something these kids Kimberley’s red dirt just don’t get the opportunity to was ever present on experience and a brilliant example of the 27 4x4’s wheels. the hands-on work Variety WA does in remote communities like this.

It’s a lovely experience for all of us, especially for the first timers who have yet to be exposed to the wonderful work Variety does for disadvantaged kids throughout WA. We hit the Gibb River Road travelling north through the dust and creek crossings, turning off into the Kalumburu Road to our lunch stop at Miners Pool.

Turning left at the King Edward River we travel up a much tougher track where the terrain includes many water crossings, palm trees and dappled afternoon sunlight.

Tents are pitched in double time and Chef’s crew are astonishing in pulling together another outstanding meal.

Another fantastic night out under the stars camping at Mitchell Plateau Camp Grounds.

Tuesday,27 May 2014

We rise with the birds and the early light to swim in one of the many billabongs and creeks just within a few metres of the camping area. Breakfast is served in leisurely style from 7.30am, after which people start to make their way up to the world famous Mitchell Falls.

We choose to chopper up to the falls and walk back, in what is a stunningly beautiful six-minute flight from the

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MQ ADVENTURE

fire works Participants were treated to an amazing Neanderthalthemed steak night.

Car 65

ke-off

Getting ready for ta

Wednesday, 28 May 2014

camping ground. We fly across the falls several times before touching down with our day’s supplies (sunscreen, sarong, hat, water and snacks).

The water at the top of the falls is free flowing, clean and refreshing.

All of us have time and space to bob around up there for most of the day, take a short walk around to see the falls themselves which are quite a magnificent sight at 35-storeys high.

While you’re sitting at the top of a wide plateau that looks so vast and the falls plunge so deep, it’s a deeply personal and intimate experience sitting on a rock looking across at the falls which are truly awe inspiring.

A small group of us (ten or so) decide to walk back, a walk that takes about one and a half hours past Merton Falls and (if you can find your way there) to a tucked away treasure - Little Merton Falls. This is one of the highlights of my trip.

Only about 800 metres from the campsite, it’s a true oasis at the end of a long hot walk back from Mitchell Falls. A gorgeous billabong at the bottom of a waterfall with super refreshing water.

The vastness of the park at over

115,000 hectares, the isolation, the unique Livistonia Palms, the heat, the hidden treasures like Little Merton Falls and the ancient Wandijna Aboriginal rock art you see along the way all amount to priceless moments.

Having had most of the day to prepare, Chef really excels himself this evening with open fire roasted so-called Stoneage rib-eye steaks, which everyone raves about as being the best steak they have ever eaten.

Accompanied by perfectly seasoned roasted vegetables, fresh bread rolls and a crisp salad, it makes me wonder how on earth he manages to pull these extraordinary meals together for seventy people every night.

The Stoneage ribs are the perfect meal to accompany our ‘Cave Man’themed costume party. Lots of lovely wine and crazy people dress up in all sorts of Neanderthal costumes (think Flintstones), adding to the fun. A subdued and early-ish evening for many who are a bit tuckered out by the long day walking in and out of the falls, doesn’t deter a few stragglers sitting around the campfire talking quietly, enjoying the million-star sky into the wee hours. marque spring

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The sounds of distant dingoes and chirping birds welcome a new day on the plateau and it’s time for another dip in the refreshing billabong just near camp before packing up for a late start at 10.30 back along the track and the Kalumburu road.

That afternoon we pull into a roadside location at around 2pm to stretch and rest, only to find Chef again parked up to cook us a BBQ lunch, before continuing on to Drysdale Station where we all have accommodation booked. After three nights on the road camping, hot showers were enjoyed by all, I can promise you that.

The Drysdale staff were so friendly and hospitable and we enjoy a lovely dinner in the beer garden where again, our wonderful band play and set feet dancing into the night. Tonight they’re joined for a short while by Susie from Car 127 who has brought along her banjo, entertaining us with some country tunes.

Once again, we dance and sing under the stars until falling into a welcome comfy bed for the night.

Thursday,29 May 2014

Today we are lucky enough to follow an old mustering track across Mt Elizabeth Station about 50kms down the GRR from Drysdale. Vast, varied and unique this station is a magical Kimberley experience.

The mustering track has not been used for many years so the driving and the river crossings are challenging as much of the way there’s really no track at all to speak of. The Station owner Pete and Official Vehicle 2 had opened the track only the day before, and as we make our way through spear grass and some pretty hairy creek crossings - it’s great fun for everyone.

Later in the afternoon we all take a detour down to a beautiful gorge on the Hahn River, a few kilometres from the old abandoned homestead at Mt Elizabeth. We stop for a tapas-style lunch on a sandy white beach - a couple of glasses of very good champagne, smoked salmon, double brie, pate, truffled salami - a lovely picnic in the shade in the late afternoon. This is what 4WDriving is all about - discovering fantastic places so out of the way and out of the blue.

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Art

ON THE FLOOR

A ward Winning International Designer takes rugs to a new level of art form.

Each individual knot in a Jenny Jones Rug is like a paint stroke and like artwork the natural variations in each piece is a part of its beauty, desirability and individuality

Composed of the highest quality materials including handspun wools sourced from the meadows of New Zealand or high up in the Himalayas and the purest Chinese silks.

Subtle shifts in texture and pile heights create a tactile quality adding another dimension to the design.

“The right rug will define a room, tie it all together, and sometimes transform it. So pay just as much attention to the art you put on your floors as you do the art you hang on your walls.” - T.J Wolfgang

jennyjonesrugs.com 08 9286 1200 6 Stirling Rd, Claremont WA

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Car 9 gets itself bogged in the sand, but with everyone around to help, they’re soon free to enjoy themselves too.

Unfortunately, one of the female participants has been feeling unwell for a few days and faints in the area just behind the vehicles. I’m able to grab her before she falls, and immediately there are many well trained people there to help.

Before I know it, our Doc and Nurse, as well as one of our highly trained ex-army participants from Car 1970 are attending to her and have her in recovery position, administering water, taking blood pressure, blood sugar readings. Meanwhile the fantastic officials have formed a canopy shade over the top of her using a tarpaulin. Honestly it’s wonderful to see how capable everyone is in a crisis and soon enough with some water, rest and an adjustment to her blood sugar, the participant is up and ok, under the watchful eye of Doc for the next few days.

We spend the evening at Mt Elizabeth Station where it’s cool enough for campfires, and a few red wines. Chef puts on a lovely meal in the camp ground, although many of us are staying up at the homestead which is comfy and warm. The station is still in full working order with loads of wildlife, magnificent horses, enormous cattle and a crazy little donkey who hangs out around the homestead and seeks out visitors for a scratch or a bit of attention.

Friday,30 May 2014

Our last day out on GRR, and we split into a couple of groups, with some official vehicles accompanying both groups. There are so many gorges and wonderful places to stop and explore along this part of the Gibb - too many things to see just in one day.

Our group (Cars 65, 1907, 46 and 98) travel with Official Vehicle 7 (OV7) to Windjana Gorge, a very special, mystical place that was formed from the reef of an inland ocean 130 million years ago. It’s not

a swimming place with too many freshwater crocodiles around to make that a possibility. Freshies may not be killer crocs but they can certainly do some damage if they decide to nibble on you.

We stop here for lunch and explore for a couple of hours before hitting the road back to Derby where we have our final dress-up evening, celebrating with our ‘Elegance in the Mud’ theme, at the Derby fishing club with entertainment by ‘Dogs on

Fun, games & dress-ups

gorgeous Above and right, Windjana Gorge, home to the freshwater crocodile and opposite, funds raised go directly to the most needy kids in WA thanks to the 4x4 Variety Challenge.

the Bonnet’.

We’re joined here by some Derby locals, including some lovely families who have benefited from Variety assistance in the past. It’s always great to talk to the people within the community whose lives are touched and changed by the fundraising we do and the work done by Variety WA.

Saturday, 31 May 2014

This morning, before departing Derby we’re all invited to the Derby marque spring

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Regional Hospital to present a Variety Grant that will help provide portable monitoring equipment to assist the hospital with its regional and remote work in various communities throughout the West Kimberley.

The equipment is used to efficiently provide accurate health reviews and monitoring for infants and children when visiting communities. We meet some of the staff at the hospital and leave gifts for the children’s ward before heading off down the highway toward Broome.

Turning right at the Cape Leveque road, we head out on to the perfect white beach where we take an amazing beach run south down Cable Beach and into Broome to the finish line.

It’s perfect timing - we arrive in the late afternoon, at low tide so we can all stop on the beach and truly celebrate our achievements together.

Our final evening arrives at the Mangrove Hotel, overlooking Roebuck Bay and we’re entertained by the

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A Brief History of

THE VARIETY 4WD CHALLENGE Every year, the Variety 4WD Challenge, proudly supported

by Coleman Camping, takes everyday Western Australians on a ‘five million star’ 4WD adventure with a difference.

Through the mud, the dirt and the sand, these intrepid travellers come together in an eight-day escapade of camaraderie and spirit, united by one cause: to raise funds for Variety WA and empower WA children in need to live, laugh and learn.

With an emphasis on keeping the ‘fun’ in fundraising, the Variety 4WD Challenge is full of good tracks, fabulous scenery, exceptional food, wine, fun and entertainment – along with a dedicated support crew of 4WD, medical and mechanical experts to support participants every step of the way.

To participate, you’ll need to take up the challenge to fundraise a tax deductible minimum of $6,000 per vehicle (or $8,000 if you’ve been on a previous event). This can be achieved via corporate donations, fundraising and more, with awards for the highest fundraisers.

The next Challenge takes place next April and for more information about the Variety 4WD Challenge, please contact Bill at Variety WA on 9355 3655 / bill@varietywa.org.au.

2015 will mark the 19th year of the Variety 4WD Challenge. Some past major projects funded by the Variety 4WD Challenge include: $100,000 towards a new sensory playground for children in the Goldfields through the WA Country Health Service $150,000 towards Children’s Rooms in the new Peel Health Campus Paediatric Ward $30,000 worth of life saving nebulisers for children living with Cystic Fibrosis To donate or find out more about participating in a future 4X4 rally, visit varietywa.org.au

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fabulous James Morley and Chris Murphy who are joined for a few tunes by Billy and ‘Winno’ to finish off the evening.

The major fundraisers, high achievers, long-term event participants and award-winners are all acknowledged for their efforts. Importantly, Don and Darinka Brooker, who sponsor the event through Coleman Camping, are officially presented with their joint Variety International Presidential Citation, finishing off an experience that we’ll all never forget. MQ marque spring

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design

The light fantastic

An incredibly spacious home in South Perth has been created specifically to accommodate a serious car enthusiast’s impressive collection of motors, but the high specs in the garage are just the beginning of this amazing space built by Zorzi.

T

here can’t be many residences in Perth which have been created to house not only a family but also a collection of beautiful cars.

The Boughton Architecturedesigned home, built by Zorzi in South Perth is certainly one of a kind, with the owner’s passion for four wheels firmly at the heart of the building.

The ground floor is entirely dedicated to the collection of wheels, a 12-car garage and mechanical room that resembles more a showroom than your average storage space.

With polished floors and feature back light ceilings and polished columns clad in lacquered detail, it’s an incredibly dramatic addition to the house and showcases the valuable collection to dramatic effect.

Built on the South Perth foreshore, the home is spread over four levels and spans 1389sqm marque spring

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on a 16.3m wide block. Apart from constructing a showstopping space for the car collection, the brief also required the design to include as many views as possible of the river without encroaching on the neighbours’ privacy. The spectactular cityscape vistas are viewable from multiple parts of the home thanks to an intelligent approach to design, but that’s not to say such wonderful views have been achieved easily.

Thanks to the block’s position, Zorzi had to naviagate a number of logistical factors including little or no space on site for materials to be delivered, a puzzle they were more than able to solve thanks to their long experience operating in the city.

The design specifications were second to none from custom Alucobond garage doors and cladding to panels of cross-cut stone used as panels hanging from walls and ceilings, some of which were as big as 3m x 1.5m and weighing over half a tonne each. Such massive features demanded a builder of considerable confidence and excellence to fulfil the highly technical expertise required to ensure secure and safe installation.

After nearly six decades building many of Australia’s most exclusive homes, Zorzi have a team of artisans who they work with continually, ensuring that every aspect of

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the home is executed with exacting precision. As such, every part of the South Perth property from the world class showroom garage through to the custom cabinets and mosaic-tiled stiletto bath reflects the owner’s taste and desire for the very best in interior detailing.

Working closely with the architect and interior designer, Zorzi’s team of builders and craftsmen were able to translate the paper plans into a vibrant, world-class finished home on time and on budget.

In addition to the external doors and cross-cut stone slabs with negative detail in aluminium, materials include stone flooring, Sunlite automated louvre roof and a mosaic-clad swimming pool with infinity edges. Internally there are custom-polished timber cabinets throughout with lacquer compressed sheeting structured to clad the internal stairs. There’s a full home automation system and solid timber flooring blended with stone slabs as well as a water softener filtration

system throughout the home.

Space, elegance and modernity abound, but throughout there is a sublime sense of calm and design confidence. Staircases draw the eye up throughout the property, colour and texture playing their part in this infinitely engaging house, natural light featuring as a major part in the success of the rooms’ dramatic impact.

Fusing a modern and classic styling, the home is an expression not only of the owner’s vision to create a truly exceptional residence but also a triumphant delivery of all the design and build requirements as carried out by the talented architecture, interior design and building team. As an example of exacting craftsmanship from basement to top floor, it’s hard to imagine a higher quality residential property in Perth, a perfect storm of when client expectations are met by a top flight team, intent on delivering that vision at all costs. MQ

DRAMATIC EFFECT Below, the customdesigned garage houses up to 12 cars while the interior of the South Perth home is second to none in terms of design quality.

FACT BOX ✓

5 Bed 5 Bath ✓ 2 Powder ✓ 12-car garage ✓ Study ✓ Cellar ✓ Pool ✓

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THIRST

Once upon a time in the west In just a few years from now, American whiskey connoisseurs will be able to buy their very own WA-produced drop of the good stuff. Gabi Mills meets the quartet behind Whipper Snapper Distillery.

Images by Crib Creative.

T

he genesis of Perth’s only locally distilled American-style bourbon reads like a chapter from a Boy’s Own adventure, crossing continents, finding long lost relatives and refining secret recipes before introducing a new generation of whiskey lovers to their own creation, right here in the other wild west.

You may as well settle down, because this is a good yarn.

The Whipper Snapper story starts way back in the dark days of the Second World War, when a fresh-faced young West Australian Lancaster pilot, Vic, became pals with an American bomber airman.

Not only did they share a love of the big planes they flew over war-torn Europe, they also shared a passion for the original amber nectar whiskey.

Once the war had ended and they’d both hung up their flying goggles, Vic returned to his home in Scarborough and continued to make his own moonshine version of the whiskey recipe his Yankee mate had shared with him all those years before.

band of brothers James 'Jimmy' McKeon and Alasdair Malloch, the brains behind Perth's only American-style whiskey distillery, Whipper Snapper.

Enter stage left Vic’s neighbour - a young whipper snapper called Alasdair Malloch (hint - whipper snapper becomes an important moniker in this tale). Not only was Al a ready pair of ears to listen to Vic’s story (and in fact helped him write a memoir of his life), he was also the perfect magician’s apprentice to carry on the historic craft of whiskey distilling. The pair would spend many happy hours refining the recipe in a shed, joined in due course by Al’s equally whipper snapperish friend (and future brother-in-law), James ‘Jimmy’ McKeon. marque spring

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And this is where the story takes a Hollywood turn. It occurred to the trio that it would be an adventure to try to track down a relative of Vic’s American WWII pilot friend, all the way over in Colorado. Like all the best movies, they found Tommy ‘Coop’ Cooper, founder of an award-winning

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Colorado Gold whiskey recipe.

Amazingly Coop had spent a lifetime refining that same recipe from the 1940s, and was looking forward to a well-earned retirement.

That was, of course, until he heard about those whipper snappers from over the sea who had a nugget of an idea to produce Western Australia’s first American-style whiskey - not in that Scarborough shed, but in a converted warehouse in East Perth.

Meanwhile Al and Jimmy were already on their way to Scotland and met Frank McHardy, famous for his stellar single malt whisky artistry, a man who, like Coop, had been distilling for more than 50 years. Frank was the last piece in the Whipper Snapper jigsaw, helping the fledgling whiskey distillers refine and improve that original recipe and using his experience at Springbank, Bushmills and Bruichlanddich distilleries to propel their golden drop to gold class.

It’s no surprise then what name the group of four decided upon Whipper Snapper Distillery was the obvious choice. The iconic imagery of a Lancaster bomber complete with whiskey barrels where munitions should sit under its wings is an equally smart move, the huge logo adorning the outside of the distiller firmly anchors this brand’s legacy in the honourable past of derring-do and heroes.

And for a nation that polishes off over 26 million bottles of bourbon a year, it would seem like the East Perth famous four have got a winner on their hands - albeit a few years down the track.

“I’m a passionate whiskey enthusiast,” says Alasdair, now chief manager of operations.

“After travelling around the world, began to wonder why nobody was making American-style whiskey here in WA.” With the right personnel and, crucially, the right secret recipe in place, the next step was relatively

simple - setting up shop in their East Perth premises. What wasn’t so simple was getting hold of the right equipment - a bespoke still - to make the whiskey according to Coop and Frank’s instructions.

“Fortunately, a still to our exact requirements was available thanks to another distillery not requiring it after all, so we snapped it up and brought it over from Europe.”

The beautiful hand-tooled copper

still looks like something from a steam punk’s fantasy, with various pipes and columns all of which are carefully designed to tease out the optimum whiskey at the end of the long distillation process.

“It’s an exercise in patience,” says Alasdair in something of an understatement. The distillery has a prototype whiskey which visitors can already taste, but the first properly matured Whipper Snapper American-style whiskey casks won’t be cracked open until at least 2016.

“We’re not into shortcuts, we could do smaller casks (which would mature quicker) but we didn’t want to end up with an inferior product.”

Those casks, by the way, are imported white oak beauties from Missouri, imparting their own special flavour on the maturing liquor within.

The taste profile of the Prototype whiskey is very promising, lipsmackingly flavoursome with a lovely depth.

“We make whiskey with a similar style to a maker’s mark bourbon,” says Al, “but with a lot more vanilla and butterscotch marque spring

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flavours running through it.”

As everything is made by hand, Whipper Snappers take pride in a return to the craft side of making their products which, in due course, will include a single maltstyle whisky and other spirits.

“All the grain is sourced from right here in WA, we’re proud to make a purely WA-created product - except for the bottles, they’re from France.”

The Prototype ‘moonshine’-style whiskey goes into casks at around 43% but the ethereal sounding angel’s share - ie evaporation - takes this down to around 40% when bottled.

Thanks to the huge growth in boutique whiskey and liquor bars - like Andy Freeman’s fabulous Varnish on King, a paradise for bourbon lovers with over 200 different types in stock - the future for these young pretenders, whipper snappers indeed, looks bright.

And as they wait for the slow and steady maturation process to work its magic, this band of brothers isn’t resting on its laurels.

“We’ve opened a coffee shop at the front of the premises, are offering guided tours around the distillery and a whiskey school where visitors can learn the craft of whiskey making, its history and why Whipper Snapper is a world-class product in the making.”

Something tells me this isn’t the end of this particular success story. MQ To arrange a private tour and tasting of Whipper Snapper Distillery at 139 Kensington Street, East Perth, visit whippersnapperdistillery.com or email info@ whippersnapperdistillery.com.

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appetite

The icing on the cake As the Greek god of beauty and desire, it’s entirely appropriate that Adonis is a key component in the name of one of Perth’s most covetable cake and confection creators Rochelle Adonis. By Gabi Mills. Images by Crib Creative.

S

pend any time with Rochelle Adonis and you’ll crave even a modicum of the elegance and aesthetic which imbues not only her whole being but also the cake and confection brand which bears her name.

You’ll look down at your chipped nails and wish you’d bothered to sort out a proper manicure before picking up one of the dainty teacups which make up the Harlequin tea set, such

a memorable part of a high tea taken there, collected from antique shops all over town.

You’ll wish your hair wasn’t quite so . . . so jungle-themed. You’ll wish, goddamit, you could cook a cake, a brownie even half way as good as the amazingly tempting fancies on offer in Rochelle’s store just off Beaufort Street.

It’s enough to send you into a terminal decline - the exacting

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standards are just too high.

Fortunately, Rochelle herself is not as precious as her cakes and delicacies look. She’s funny, lasersharp and absolutely focused on protecting the hard-won excellence Rochelle Adonis the brand has achieved, almost entirely through word-of-mouth.

“The organic growth of Rochelle Adonis was something I never solicited,” she says. “But I’m really

“I was working from home and found that my reputation as a pastry chef preceded me here in Perth.”

Creating show-stopping wedding cakes, adorned with fresh flowers was the launchpad which alerted the city to the arrival of something special in cake creation.

“It went crazy from there. Caterers got wind of me and, by 2007, I realised I had a fully fledged business running out of my own home.”

Shifting up a gear, Rochelle took the lease on a little shop in 2008 in Brisbane Street, just a ‘hole in the wall’ studio, she says, but a hole in the wall with the blueprint design

honoured by what the brand has achieved.”

Customers regularly glide in through the door throughout out interview, brought to the beautifully designed venue because they’ve heard that here is a temple to decadence. Some enquire about booking a private high tea for a special birthday, others are after information on a wedding cake.

There’s a magisterial, almost deferential quality to these interactions as if both parties are aware that they are in the presence of something approaching heavenly confectionary bodies.

All this is even more extraordinary

when Rochelle admits that she ‘didn’t have a business plan’.

“After training in Sydney as a pastry chef (with Matt Moran) and spending time working in Europe before returning to Sydney, as a woman I grappled with wanting a family and a career.”

At four weeks pregnant, she decided to stop working - all those long hours standing all day long would take their toll - and at that point made the decision to have a career and family before she was 30.

Her first child was born in 2001 and after that she never returned to the workforce - “I’m unemployable these days,” she says, smiling. marque spring

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TEA FOR TWO Above, Rochelle Adonis presides over a growing cake and confectionary empire with a passionate fanbase of her delicious style of serving high tea and sweet treats.

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which her current premises reflect.

It’s a pattern which has dictated Rochelle’s success - find a design ethos which works, and stick to it.

“The light decorations in this shop came with me from the last place,”she says, and they are doozies.

Whimsical and as beautiful as an angel’s hairpiece, they fit in as if they’d been made for the space.

“I had the idea for a long marble, industrial-style communal dining table and started to collect vintage cups, china and glass. It feels like home to me, especially as the business was born as such a very personal place.”

Originally raised in Frenchspeaking Canada, Rochelle and

her family moved to Sydney when she was ten years old. She’s made cakes for royalty and worked at the world famous Hotel Sacher in Vienna, home of the super elegant chocoholic’s favourite slice, the Sacher Torte.

“Cakes and confections embody everything that we do, but it’s hard to categorise what we are,” she says.

“In some ways it’s easier to say what we are not.”

“We’re not a cafe and we don’t have a coffee machine but for two years running we’ve won mentions as one of the best cafes in Australia.

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sweetness and light The Rochelle Adonis collection of cakes and confections are hard to resist, including handmade cheesecakes and nougat. Visit rochelleadonis.com.

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to never close off certain income streams.”

Rochelle says she doesn’t follow trends but nevertheless her nougat has become a trendsetter.

“I was very kindly given a nougat recipe while I was working from home. I tweaked it and played with the recipe then one of the big caterers asked me to make nougat for them after a supplier had let them down. And it went from there - I had incredible feedback.”

One of the disadvantages of having a brand which is your name as well, she says, is that people can confuse the two. On the plus side however, Rochelle is the HR department, head of publicity as well as chief cleaner and bottle washer - everything about the brand comes down to decisions she and she alone has made.

“I don’t have any investors or other directors I have to check with if I have an idea.”

Thanks to her sound technical foundations as a pastry chef, the extraordinary finesse which has become a hallmark of a Rochelle Adonis cake or confection reflects Rochelle’s belief that ‘food shouldn’t be manhandled’.

“We don’t use food colouring we’re chefs, not chemists,” she says.

So if Adonis and his Mt Olympian mates popped down from the clouds for a taste of earthly nectar, they wouldn’t be disappointed with Rochelle and her team’s vintage plate of goodies.

Heaven-sent indeed. MQ

bmW preview

A coming of age

The arrival of the 4 Series Gran Coupé at Auto Classic’s showroom is something to celebrate. But be quick to bag yourself the big daddy of the collection they’re sure to be a bestseller says Matthew Mills. Images by Matt Jelonek.

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e all have to grow up – but that doesn’t mean that we can’t do so gracefully, with style and panache.

Yes, we may have taken on a few more responsibilities, a child or two perhaps, a career rather than a job, but that shouldn’t mean that life becomes even the slightest bit less vibrant and exciting.

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who love life stand by – I may be evolving, maturing, but I’m not going to compromise. And one would guess it’s something BMW had writ large across their mission statement when they worked to bring the world the 4 Series Gran Coupé.

Yes, it’s here at last, the much-anticipated addition to the fantastically popular 4 Series range, and finally is

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sitting proudly in the Auto Classic showroom.

It comes on the heels of its little brothers, the Coupé and the Convertible, two beautiful cars that have already taken the motoring world by storm.

But now the big boy is here and, although it had such tough acts to follow, many will think that BMW may well have left the best to last.

MQ bmw PREVIEW

The first thing you notice about the Gran Coupé is that it is, quite simply, a beautiful machine.

Inheriting the dramatic lines and pumped-up elegance of its predecessors, it sits before you almost challenging you to get behind the wheel.

Once inside, it quickly becomes apparent that the proud words of Phil Horton, managing director of BMW Group Australia, prior to the Gran Coupé’s launch were no idle boast. He’d told the world: “The Gran Coupé variant adds more functionality to the the BMW 4 Series without compromising any of the aesthetics or driving enjoyment of the vehicle.”

And that, I can vouch, is the key to this remarkable vehicle. As a family man myself, I know that as much as I want style and class in my car, there are practical requirements I must take into account too.

Basically, I need practicality and space. I need to be able to put teenagers comfortably in the backseat without them complaining, I need enough storage space to meet the requirements of a busy family and business life.

Too often, those demands spell compromise – but not here. Here we have a car that can quietly tick all the boxes of responsibility while never once shrugging off its mantle of a quality machine.

Remarkably, the Gran Coupé is the same length as – and shares a wheelbase with – its little brother,

the Coupé. I know that because the experts have told me so – and I have to take their word, despite how difficult it is to grasp that concept.

The Gran Coupé just feels so much bigger. It’s a magic trick which the inspired designers have

engineered by raising the roofline by just 12mm and extending it backwards a little over 11cm.

Somehow – I’ll leave the science to the experts – this creates 480 litres of luggage room, an impressive figure which expands to 1,300 litres thanks

The first thing you notice about the Gran CoupÉ is that it is, quite simply, a beautiful machine

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to the 40:20:40 split fold rear seats.

Of course the Gran Coupé also has the two extra doors, allowing easy access for your kids or business contacts alike and, like the Coupé, it boasts those beautiful frameless windows.

that sends a shiver down the spine of anyone who loves the road.

A glance around the cab reassured me that I had everything I would expect from BMW. Beautifully styled, all the bells and whistles the discerning motorist has come to expect – sat nav, Bluetooth connection, reversing camera – and a few more besides. Pulling away (and enjoying the reassuring pull of the self-adjusted seatbelt hugging my shoulder) I couldn’t help but let out a happy laugh as the clever 3D odometer and display - known as Head Up - appears in the windscreen.

So it’s quickly established with just a quick look around the vehicle that everything you need on a practical level is delivered in spades, but how does it drive? Does it live up to the impossibly-high standards BMW have set over the years?

The simple answer is yes.

I was testing the diesel variant and, as soon as I hit the start button, I was greeted with that gentle growl

From the driver’s position, it looks like your instruments are hovering over the bonnet – a remarkable feature that quickly becomes an intuitive way to monitor the car without your eyes leaving the road.

All in all, the cockpit style dashboard has all the panache of the Coupé. The leather trim, 18-inch alloy wheels, bi-xenon headlights and clever auto tailgate – a swipe of a marque spring

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foot will open it up if you’ve got your hands full – are all there as well.

And, of course, the Gran Coupé drives like a dream. The four-cylinder turbo is, like all the variants, beautifully matched with the eight-speed auto, producing torque aplenty, but offering an economic gas consumption figure of 4.6litres per 100km.

It hugs the road beautifully, producing that rare feeling of both ultimate power and ultimate safety.

And, what’s more, it turns heads. Pulling up at lights, drawing into a parking bay, it’s hard not to notice the nods of appreciation and

ALL THE MOD CONS The BMW 4 Series Gran Coupé delilvers not only in terms of good looks but also with a cockpit packed with extras.

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admiration from fellow motorists – but easy as anything to revel in the fact that that you’re behind the wheel of car that, like the best of us, has refused to compromise. MQ * BMW 4 Series Gran Coupé 420i drive away $79,000. BMW 4 Series Gran Coupé 420d drive away $81,590.

BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe 428i drive away $90,855. BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe 435i drive away $120,675.

music

T

he boy from Stoke-on-Trent done good, no matter how you look at it.

After all, there are very few artists performing today, who can claim that they’ve sold 55 million albums globally, can sell out a global tour in a matter of hours and that they’re on many ladies of a certain age’s wishlist. But Robbie Williams, 40, can do just that.

Known as much for his cheeky wit as his hit-studded albums, Robbie is back on Australian soil for a national run of dates this September, bringing to life his swing album, Swings Both Ways. As the man who should have played James Bond in another life, the mix of swing classics, trademark Robbie swagger and a fair sprinkling of his post-Take That hits, it’s a show with something for everbody - well, everybody who likes the star’s version of MOR music these days.

Making its debut at Perth Arena on September 11, the tour quickly had to add a second show for the day after.

After all, it’s been a long time between drinks, a full eight years since Robbie last performed before an Aussie audience. Since then he’s got married, had a daughter (Theodore) and turned into something of a silver fox with a flash of grey now in those luscious dark locks so beloved of 80s teens across the world.

Back in December 2006, Robbie undertook a stadium tour of monumental proportion across Australia, hot on the heels of a colossal stadium tour three years earlier.

The anticipated rush for tickets for these shows saw promoters go on sale over two days to cope with the demand - and they were right to anticipate such demand as nine monstrously large stadium shows sold out over just one day.

By the end of that tour, Robbie had played to almost 500,000 Australians, making him one of the most popular visitors to our shores of all time.

Robbie’s love for Australia has been well documented over the years, with a slew of tours and special performances (including the 2009 ARIA awards).

He’s shared the stage and vinyl in some noteworthy collaborations with our own homegrown stars; Kids, a duet with pop star Kylie Minogue and a cover of Frank & Nancy Sinatra’s Somethin’ Stupid with Nicole Kidman, to name the most well-known.

Add to this that an estimated 2.6 million Robbie Williams albums have been sold in Australia to date –

just williams He’s the original loveable boy band star who grew up before our very eyes and as Robbie’s legion of fans prepare to see their idol at the Perth Arena and later in the month at the Singapore Grand Prix, you can guarantee Williams won't disappoint.

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DIVE WITHOUT TANKS

If you like snorkeling, you’ll love Power Diving! making that one in 10 Australians who own a Robbie album – it’s fair to say that the star is pretty popular with the big red land’s music-buying public.

Robbie’s latest album, Swings Both Ways, is the follow-up to his original 2001 swing release, Swing When You’re Winning, which spent six consecutive weeks at the top of the UK charts and likewise garnered unprecedented success in Australia, going four times platinum and remaining his best selling album of all time.

The album debuted at number one in the UK and number five on the ARIA charts and within the first four weeks of release it was certified Gold in Australia. This is his 11th charttopping album in the UK, which now means that he, unbelievably perhaps, draws level with Elvis Presley as the male solo artist with the most number one albums.

In addition, Robbie was inducted in the UK Music Hall of Fame as the greatest artist of the 1990s alongside Madonna and Michael Jackson.

In the middle of his Aussie tour,

Robbie will pop over to Singapore for the first time in 13 years, joining an all-star line-up of international headliners who will be performing over the Grand Prix race weekend (September 19 to 21) at the Marina Bay Street Circuit, including Jennifer Lopez, John Legend, Pet Shop Boys and Ziggy Marley.

As the youngest member of the massively popular English pop group Take That in 1990, Robbie has enjoyed a hugely successful musical career despite leaving the band in 1995.

Robbie re-joined Take That in 2010 for a record-breaking tour and album, which became the fastest selling album of the century, followed, by two years later, his ninth solo studio album Take The Crown which featured his 14th number 1 single Candy, the fastest selling single of the year by a male solo artist.

So in a career packed with superlatives, Robbie could be forgiven for resting on his laurels but based on this year’s blockbuster shows alone, that doesn’t look likely anytime soon. MQ marque spring

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

www.powerdive.com

travel

The Ha’i life

“Bali Ha’i may call you, Any night, any day, In your heart, you’ll hear it call you: “Come away...Come away.”

Bali Ha’i will whisper On the wind of the sea: “Here am I, your special island!

Come to me, come to me!” ~ Bali Ha’i from South Pacific, Rogers and Hammerstein.

From the volcanic sands and pounding ocean of Bali’s south west to the mountainous beauty of Ubud and its surrounds, Sandra Harris Ramini is beguiled and bewitched by the island’s legendary gentle grace.

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t’s the siren song that has haunted me for at least 30 years so imagine my dismay when I discovered, quite recently, that Bali Ha'i and the island of Bali are not one and the same.

The obvious clue I missed was that Bali Ha'i was in a musical called marque spring

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South Pacific and not in a musical called Indian Ocean.

So while my heart was in the right place, my geography certainly was not.

No matter. Our chosen resorts are two of the most glamorous on the island, where, we are assured I will find the Bali of my dreams; a vibrant, vivid, tropical paradise of temples, shrines, stunning beaches and lots of reviving

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massage under starry skies.

Those unfortunate tales of youthful high spirits going too far are clearly not for us. Instead we are advised to look forward to subtly spiced dishes with a sophistication unknown in most Indonesian cuisine, a temperature that hardly varies, day or night in both sea and air and warm, welcoming service.

“The only trouble with the Balinese is that they smile all the time,” I am told by a grumpy ex-colonial with a bad case of the miseries. Shame.

As for getting there, I shall say nothing about Denpasar Airport except a single word: endure. It will be worth it. A few deep breaths later, happily ensconced in our limo, thoughtfully provided by our first resort we have left Denpasar and its accompanying urban sprawl behind us.

I carefully avert my eyes as we pass signs for Kuta Beach and only open them again as we drive through winding village streets lined with frangipani trees and hibiscus flowers interspersed with statues wearing black and white chequered cloths around their hips.

Yes, they are about modesty, even Gods must protect their privates,

but they are also about Ying and Yang and the balance of strong and weak, good and bad. It is my first lesson in understanding the Balinese people and their search for balance in their lives and while it seemed quaint at the time the underlying message was quite powerful. When you’re in harmony with your fellow man and your surroundings smiling comes easily. Hmm. There could be something in that.

An hour or so later as we were greeted by our hosts at Alila Villas Soori, the sun was setting over the Indian Ocean.

There is a line in Bali Ha'i, which speaks of “where the sky meets the sea” and that’s precisely what happened. The view that confronted me was of a silver sea streaked with

pink and lilac and the accompanying sky merged with it so completely it was as if sky and sea were as one.

The volcanic sand on this side of the island is as fine as ash, becoming the colour of gunmetal in the hovering twilight. The whole effect of sand, sky and sea was as if I was standing on the edge of a pearl shell.

Alila Villas Soori is a stylish, exclusive, boutique-style hotel and there are just 15 ocean-facing one-bedroom villas and another eight with views over lush paddy fields backed with soft, undulating mountains.

Residences with three bedrooms are also available and one enormous house suitable for an entire wedding party is also on offer. Ours is one bedroom, spacious, modern, has

ETHEREAL SETTING Ubud still has the power to take your breath away, despite being a mainstay of the Balinese holiday scene since the 1960s.

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masses of style with the Indian Ocean providing the view. Naturally we have a pool of our own. Doesn’t everyone? There is also the lavish, infinity pool a few steps away near the restaurant and bar if swimming lengths is your thing. I am asked if I would prefer my villa host, or butler, to be private (hardly about at all), discreet (only when necessary) or indulgent which is 24-hour continuous service. No prizes for guessing which is my choice.

Willing staff in a very chic uniform of cream and grey look after us splendidly. Lush bowls of fruit appear on every table, elegant drinks in chilled glasses, petals scattered on

MQ TRAVEL

our bed and flowers on our breakfast trays. We wonder what would should try from the Balinese menu.

“Try the ribs," says our villa host. He was right. Pork ribs meltingly tender and coated in a sweetish, sourish sticky sauce were a revelation. My husband, who has never willingly eaten pork in his life, demolished them in moments. And then had another helping. There is service and there is charm. The charm comes with smiles that reach the eyes. It’s very attractive.

It is quite a wrench to leave Alila Villas Soori but our next destination is the Four Season Sayan, with a formidable reputation for innovative, elegant design and everything else to match. I feel quietly confident.

As we drive high up in the mountains near the town of Ubud I can smell a change in the air.

It’s greener, crisper, clearer. Our destination is just moments away and suddenly we are above the treetops.

Literally. The drive into this elegant resort is like a magical mystery tour, with waterfalls and lily ponds sitting in the sky. Look down and there’s a

OASIS OF CALM The Alila Villas Soori at night and left, Sandra’s villa, a private haven of tranquility.

chasm, a gorge through which the mystical Ayung River flows. There are rice fields, meadows, bamboo jungles and glorious gardens. Look up and there’s only the sky.

There is harmony here and you can feel it. Uday Rao, the resort’s general manager, has an explanation.

“We don’t own all this,” he says.

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no. We lease it from the village, so everyone feels the benefit of Four Seasons being here. Everybody wins.

Four Seasons, its customers and the Balinese people.”

Already on this trip we have come to expect the very best in villa design and service – and we get it.

We’re delighted but unsurprised by the restaurant and the menu, both Balinese and French, offered by new head chef Jocelyn Argaud and the selection of exciting and/or relaxing pastimes we can consider. We decide against the white water rafting, but for the cleansing spa treatment.

We’re not interested in golf but we love the sound of a day with a Balinese farmer. Any or all of these offer something new but it is the sense of peace that makes Four

FAST FACTS

Alila Villas Soori Visit alilahotels.com/soori.One bedroom room rate variable according to season: approx $625 to $690

The next morning I am planting rice with Santika who introduced us to the life of Balinese farmer.

I am up to my knees in mud, placing tiny green seedlings in the ground and I am loving it.

Seasons Sayan special.

The next morning I am planting rice with Santika who introduced us to the life of Balinese farmer. I am up to my knees in mud, placing tiny green seedlings in the ground and I am loving it. We trek through the jungle and we learn to respect every plant and the nature that nurtures them. Santika takes us to his own special shrine where he offers fruit and cake and a lemon grass root to his particular God. A sense of spirituality hangs about in the air.

Or have our imaginations run way with us?

We have breakfast on a hillside and finish our day sharing a mesmerising spa treatment culminating in a shared bath filled with flowers under the stars. We

smell of roses and cinnamon and strange spices that we can’t quite identify. If it were anywhere else this experience might feel decadent.

Here in the clear, pure air of the mountains it can’t be decadent. It is sensuous. As we drift back to our change rooms I wonder, vaguely, where our clothes are. They appear to have vanished. Miraculously they appear, beautifully folded as I could never do, having been washed and ironed for us while we were pampered in the spa.

Before we go I seek out Santika to ask how he feels about Bali, its future and the inevitable changes tourism is making on his island. He smiles at me. Of course he does.

“Where there is harmony,” he says, “there is always hope.” MQ marque spring

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CHARM OFFENSIVE There are plenty of little stores and cafes in Ubud to while away the afternoon, as well as opportunities to explore nearby paddy fields.

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Perfect Escape Take advantage of this special rate for a perfect Bali escape. Book two nights or more and enjoy 35% off best available rate. Includes à la carte breakfast for two persons and return airport transfer. Excludes tax. Nonrefundable and non-cancellable. Full deposit taken at time of booking.

Valid until December 19.

Email soori@alilahotels.com

Four Seasons Sayan

Visit fourseasons.com/Bali Room rate – two bedroom villa Try the Stay Longer offer - extend your captivating three-night stay with a complimentary fourth night and daily breakfast on this island haven, valid till December 20.

INCLUDED IN THE PACKAGE Complimentary fourth night with every three consecutive paid nights.

Daily breakfast for two in the restaurant Luxurious villa or suites.

Please note: Rates for this offer are based on the best available room rate for the dates chosen. The rate shown is the average rate per night after the complimentary night has been applied.

cover story

back to the future Be still, your beating heart. The future is fast becoming reality as BMW Australia unveils the visionary new BMW i8.

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here are two things that most people agree on, as far as hybrid motoring technology goes.

Firstly, if you care about the future of the planet, then calling on both petrol and electricity to power a car is a good thing - lower emissions, less of a drain on fossil fuels, it’s hard to argue that future generations aren’t going to thank us for going down that road.

The other thing, however, is not quite so positive. Hybrid cars?

They’re just a bit boring, aren’t they?

There’s nothing much in the world of plug-in motors to set the heart racing, is there?

Well, dear car connoisseur, we can safely say that that is no longer the case, thanks to BMW’s latest addition, the quite stunning i8.

For all the world, it looks like a concept car - hardly surprising as it can trace its roots back to 2009 when it was just that, BMW’s peek into the future of hybrid technology. But, no, this magnificent piece of motoring innovation is road-ready and waiting for you to purchase in the Auto Classic showroom from early next year.

The technology involved is stunning. The i8 combines an ultra-efficient three-cylinder engine with an electric motor which boasts marque spring

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a range of 37km off its own back and will recharge its battery while driving as well as via a plug socket when stationary.

Working together, the two technologies deliver a maximum torque of 570Nm, driving the i8 to 100km/h in 4.4 seconds and giving it a top speed of 250kmh. All that on a fuel consumption of just 2.1litres per 100kms - 50 per cent lower than conventional sports cars.

All in all, then this is the car that will shatter the myth that hybrid, environmentally-sensible, economical motoring has to by definition be boring.

As Dr Herbert Diess, a member of the i8 development team, put it: “Even in a world optimised for CO2 and sustainability, we will continue to deliver the promise of ‘sheer driving pleasure’.”

BMW Group Australia’s managing director, Phil Horton, agreed, saying the i8 was a remarkable

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representation of visionary mobility and a trailblazer for the next generation of sports car.

“The BMW i8 is a showcase, not only for its visionary concepts, inspiring design and groundbreaking construction, but also for its innovative technologies which make it the car of the future,” he said.

Showcasing ground-breaking innovation in its design and construction, the i8 combines a full carbon fibre passenger cell with a high performance and incredibly efficient plug-in hybrid drive train, along with awe inspiring styling. It is also blessed with an exceptionally high

schemes, each creating a completely different character to the inside. The standard design, Carpo, is available with dark Amido leather upholstery or light Ivory White. Both are complimented by contrast stitching and painted surface elements on the instrument cluster, door trims and centre console.

For no additional cost the customer can also select the Neso interior design scheme which creates a more elegant ambience, combining black surfaces in the cockpit with light Carum Grey leather upholstery.

The Halo interior option provides the highest level of premium

interior design. The top-quality leather surfaces, in a combination of dark Dalbergia Brown and Carrum Grey, blend effectively with the contrast stitching and seat belts in BMW i Blue, which also adorns the accent ring in the steering wheel. The Halo line also offers high-class paintwork to selected trims on the instrument panel and door trims as well as an anthracite roof liner.

BMW i Blue seat belts and anthracite roof liner are available as standalone options in combination with the Carpo and Neso interior lines.

Each interior line is complimented by the standard fitment of the lights package which uses LED technology to create a subtle yet effective ambient lighting throughout the BMW i8.

The standard equipment list for the BMW i8 is reflective of its position as the flagship of the BMW i range, and halo model for the BMW i brand.

The safety credentials of the BMW i8 are just as impressive as its performance, particularly given its basic construction of a highstrength carbon fibre life module to protect the occupants. Passive safety features include pyrotechnic seat belt tensioners and belt force limiters for all seats, along with six airbags covering all seating positions, to provide the safest environment for occupants in the case of an accident.

DRAMATIC In addition, the BMW i8 is EFFECTThe BMW i8 can't fail to make an laden with active safety features to impression, thanks to help minimise the potential for an its cutting-edge design, accident in the first instance. These construction and sheer features include the full suite of breathtaking panache.

level of driver safety, comfort and convenience features as standard.

Just about every add on feature from the factory has been ticked as standard for the Australian market, leaving only the character of the i8 to be personalised by the customer.

The BMW i8 can be specified in a choice of four exterior colours Sophisto Grey Brilliant Effect, Ionic Silver, Protonic Blue and Crystal White. Additionally there are three differently styled 20-inch alloy wheels available to further customise the external appearance of the i8.

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additional services such as BMW Add On Mobility. BMW Financial Services and BMW i have created bespoke offers especially for BMW i8 customers, to provide them with conventional BMW Group hire cars for occasions when they may require different functionality to their BMW i8. For example, a BMW i8 customer may prefer an alternative vehicle, such as a BMW X3, to carry extra luggage and equipment for a skiing holiday. Customers may choose between a selection of BMW Group models for up to 12 days per annum, the cost of which can easily be integrated into the finance contract

Dynamic Stability Control systems as well as hybrid specific all-wheel drive, acoustic protection for pedestrian (for electric drive mode) and a tyre pressure monitor which monitors each tyre individually and provides warning of pressure loss.

Driver safety and awareness is further enhanced by the inclusion of features such as the Driving Assistant which provides camera based aids such as collision and pedestrian warning systems with light city braking, High Beam Assist as well as rear view, top view and side view cameras, all with object recognition function.

The standard Adaptive LED headlights, interior and exterior rear view mirrors with anti-dazzle function, park distance control and BMW Head Up Display also ensure optimum visibility and awareness for the driver.

Thanks to the standard Comfort Access System, entry to the BMW i8 is keyless. Inside, the driver and occupants can enjoy a plethora of infotainment systems. Audio entertainment is via the eleven speaker top-end harman/kardon sound system which boasts a six-channel digital amplifier and generates 360 W to produce crystal

clear sound reproduction.

The audio can be sourced from available FM stations, the DAB+ tuner, streamed from a paired Bluetooth audio device or smartphone, or accessed from the owner’s own music library which can be stored in the 20GB of hard drive space allocated as part of the standard Navigation system Professional. This feature also includes an 8.8-inch full colour screen and iDrive touch controller.

The BMW i8 provides unrivalled connectivity for the occupants with the suite of BMW i ConnectedDrive features as standard. These include Teleservices, Intelligent eCall, ConnectedDrive Services with BMW Online and Apps, Remote Services, Real Time Traffic Information, concierge services and internet.

Additionally, and unique to BMW i, is access to the full range of services provided by BMW 360 Electric. With this programme BMW i provides a unique product and services package precisely tailored to the special needs of electric mobility.

In addition to the home and public charging services, other key features include ‘Flexible Mobility’ and ‘Assistance Services’.

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BUILT TO THRILL Auto Classic will be previewing the BMW i8 in the next few months - your chance to see the vehicle up close and personal.

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under the BMW Financial Services Electrify Program.

In addition to enabling customers to charge their car at home, BMW i offers a wide range of assistance services, mobility guarantees and intelligent convenience functions to ensure uninterrupted mobility.

These include an advanced BMW i ConnectedDrive navigation system to maximise range, and the ability to use the charging stations of external partners. And if by any chance a vehicle should break down or run out of power, a broad range of BMW i services is available to ensure speedy assistance.

The BMW i8 will be available to preview in Auto Classic very soon.

Contact the showroom to find out more details. MQ BMW i8: From $325,545

TREASURES OF PERSIA AND THE

CAUCASUS Brand new tour brochure out now. Call for your copy.

IRAN, ARMENIA, GEORGIA & AZERBAIJAN Iran and the Southern Caucasus is a region of breathtaking scenery dominated by magnificent mountains, sublime lakes and exquisite architecture. Treasures of Persia and the Caucasus is a remarkable 29-day journey to Iran and the lush green heart of the Caucasus – Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan.

IRAN

GEORGIA

• Day trip to the ancient ruins of Persepolis • Visit to the majestic necropolis, Naqsh-e Rustam • Multiple night stays in Shiraz, Yazd, Isfahan and Tehran

• Two-night stay at Kakheti, Georgia’s beautiful wine-growing region • Day trip to the old cave city of Uplistsikhe • Visit to Stalin’s birthplace and childhood home at Gori

ARMENIA

AZERBAIJAN

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Economy flights between Australia and Iran/Azerbaijan and Australia

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All accommodation (twin-share)

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All transfers and ground transportation

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Expert local guides throughout

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All entrance fees and sightseeing

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WHEN HOW LONG HOW MUCH

• Visit to Azerbaijan’s true travel gem, Sheki, nestled in the slopes of the Greater Caucasus Mountains • Visit to the Palace of the Sheki Khans • Two-night stay in the Old City of Baku

047 ✆ 9242 4200 | traveldirectors.com.au marque spring

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12 May & 1 Sep 2015 29 days $14,950pp twin share (Single sup: $2,950) Lic No. 9TA 00295

• Three-night stay at Yerevan with its imposing views of Mt Ararat • Visit to World Heritage-listed Geghard Monastery • Day trip to ‘The Pearl of Armenia’, Lake Sevan

INCLUSIONS

Beauties and the

best

STYLEAID once again set the bar sky-high with a magical collection of fashion forward designs, all in aid of raising funds for the WA AIDS Council.

By Vicky Sofield. Images by Matt Jelonek.

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fashion

In August, over 750 guests found themselves transported by the imaginary storyline of ‘The Girl and the Golden Bird’ in a myth-inspired display of top quality Western Australian performances and fashion for the annual charity event, STYLEAID. Now in its 17th year and for the first time sponsored by MINI, the black tie fashion fundraiser has raised over $1 million of vital funds for the WA AIDS Council since its inception.

This year guests were swept off the red carpet and onto the runway with a slew of live performances by the West Australian Ballet, before local emerging and established fashion designers displayed their latest spring/summer collections at Crown

Perth’s Grand Ballroom.

Seated runway-side, guests, including Perth-raised Emmy Award-winning actress Greta Scacchi, Western Australian born international model and actress Courtney Eaton, Alana Patience and Carmelo Pizzino from Channel 7’s Logie Award-winning reality television show Dancing with the Stars (who also co-hosted the evening’s event), enjoyed their specially designed, three-course meals, prepared by Crown Perth’s premium restaurant chefs.

Soothing rain, storm cloud formations, thunder and the trickling of wet tropical rainforest leaves made an ambient and visual entrance before the showcase of the marque spring

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FASHION FOREFRONT Opposite 33 Poets, above left, Zsadar, above, One Fell Swoop, above right, guests Rayne and Andrew Embley.

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highly anticipated 14 local designers began. And then it was time for the designers’ creations to take centre stage as Dilettante opened the runway with long-line dress and coat silhouettes, draped designer threads, bold horizontal and vertical stripes and models who intermittently donned beautiful butterfly wings.

Second year sponsor ZOMP then unleashed its Creative Designer Award winners Karen Adie and Georgina Lewis of emerging handbag and accessories label Convict. A cool, edgy and eye-catching array of Australian handmade, functional and timeless clutches, satchels, totes and hobo handbags featured in an array of soft cowhides and leathers, sourced from around the world.

MQ fashion

Susan McGinn-Slee & Frederic Bauwens

The plunging necklines were often unconstrained, power suits, feathers, red and white lace, floaty, sheer and awe-inducing embellished made ae’lkemi’s dramatic collection a standout. In his 10 years plus of showcasing his creations at STYLEAID, designer Alvin Fernandez delivered on his promise that this collection would be “light, airy and feathery, with some new injections”.

Starring over 87 models throughout the evening, along with a multitude of talented performers, STYLEAID’s event manager Mark Reid said that, in its early days, the fundraising event showcased local, national and international fashion designers. However in recent years, WA’s fashion designers have come to the fore in every increasing numbers, and now the fashion fundraiser

Showcasing a dazzling collection of prints where a distinct point of difference was found in bright hues, bold chains, floral-infused and microscopically enhanced bugs, the Resort wear collection, aptly named Wild Things was Zsadar designer Shane Newton’s first Resort collection. STYLEAID 2014: Mythic was its debut as well as its finale; in fact it was the only time that it would feature on any runway.

Having previously shown his garments around this time last year at the prestigious Paris Fashion Week, Newton also revealed that he is about to launch his new women’s wear collection, set to be a feminine mix of ‘It-girl’ essentials and a clear steer in the opposite direction to his renowned androgynous and European-esque menswear line.

One Fell Swoop went on to

SENSATIONAL SHOW Abovem Frederuc Bauwens and Susan McGinnSlee with MINI Countryman, above right Alvin Fernandez's label, ae'lkemi was on show for the the tenth year. Right, Zsadar's Wild Things Resort collection.

focuses solely on showcasing local designer talent.

Back to the catwalk, and standout menswear label Zsadar instantly perked up the runway with the nostalgic beats of 70s British female pop music group Bananarama’s Want You Back. marque spring

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present their enticing spring/summer wares with their paint splash, multi-coloured prints pushing the envelope artistically. Encompassing dramatic shoulders, low necklines and sleeves, asymmetrical hems and an unforgettable pink onesie which wowed onlookers, this creative design duo’s reputation was solidified and proved why the label is emerging at stockist’s stores across Perth such as S2, Ricarda, Department and Eros.

Finally it was time for the night’s most anticipated designer, Aurelio Costarella. Closing the runway, the STYLEAID mainstay presented his youthful, high definition and attention to detail spring/summer collection (which had previously showcased earlier this year in Sydney).

For the Perth faithful, he added dramatic hair accessories and a mesmerising new hand-beaded, fringe-detailed gown to the exciting collection.

Aurelio, who is in his 17th year of showcasing at the fashion fundraiser, said: “I love the different themes each year and this year’s theme, Mythic, fits well with my brand.”

A fittingly legendary presence to close such a magical evening. MQ

Backstage at

STYLEAID 2014: MYTHIC

BACKSTAGE BEAUTIES Some of the nation's best models strutted their stuff at STYLEAID 2014. Above, designer Shane Newton.

Backstage was a cool, calm and collective culmination of male and female models from Perth’s top modelling agencies;,Chadwick Models, Scene Model Management and Vivien’s.

Make-up

STYLEAID’s director of make-up from MAC, Carol Mackie together with senior artist Oceania, Nicole Thompson curated the evening’s make-up with an artful blend of raven eyes, flushed freckles, bold and neutral lips. There was plenty of creamy, dreamy and glowing skin, earthy mushroom and moss tones, youthful glitter and raw innocent eyes, all layered, contoured and hallowed onto the female model faces.

For the male models, the evening’s theme was sophisticated and contoured delivering high-definition cheekbones, bold brows and neutral lips.

Hair

STYLEAID director of hair Sue Morgan, from Be Ba Bo, co-ordinated a bevy of stylists to create the edgy up-dos, sleek braids, pretty ponytails, teased tresses, exaggerating accessories and harmonious hair looks using products and brands such as American Crew by Kevin Murphy, L’Oreal, GHD and Goldwell.

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Dream machine

bmw preview

The BMW Concept Roadster was recently unveiled at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa D’Este and thanks to its stunning styling, set more than just a few hearts racing.

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ast year BMW Motorrad presented the BMW Concept Ninety - a modern interpretation of a classic BMW motorcycle with boxer engine that demonstrated just how emotional a retrospective on 90 years of BMW Motorrad can be.

Some thought that this concept bike wouldn’t be topped, but this year’s creation would seem to knock those nay-sayers into a cocked hat.

Because this year it’s eyes front and forward with the new Concept Roadster – a thoroughly modern beast.

“The contemporary emotional appeal of the BMW Concept Roadster shows that, as far as BMW is concerned, motorcycling is much more than just perfect function,” said Edgar Heinrich, Head of BMW Motorrad Design.

It’s also about power, dyanmism and excitement on the road.

In many ways the BMW Concept Roadster is a typical BMW roadster with a powerful two-cylinder boxer engine, single-sided swing arm with cardan drive and a light tubular space frame.

It interprets these classic elements in the most state-of-theart, dynamic form.

“The BMW Concept Roadster is exciting to look and at least as exciting to ride,” says Ola Stenegard, head of vehicle design BMW Motorrad, of the BMW Concept Roadster.

The BMW boxer engine has always promised impressive performance and supreme power

delivery across the entire engine speed range. In its latest generation it generates 92 kW (125 bhp) at 7,750 rpm from 1,170 cc with a maximum torque of 125 Nm at 6,500 rpm.

The engine is also visually midpoint of the BMW Concept Roadster.

The compact proportions with low front and high rear form a wedgeshaped silhouette around it, which appears to accelerate the bike even when stationary.

The crouching posture with a powerful focus on the front wheel and the very short rear promise agile, light-footed handling.

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SPEED DEMON The new BMW Concept Ninety certainly packs a design punch, with its graceful contours and powerful two-cylinder boxer engine.

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below and the light seating area above with the fuel tank and rear section. The dark bottom section moves the BMW Concept Roadster visually closer to the road surface, thereby emphasising a road-oriented riding experience.

Meanwhile the lighter coloured upper section conveys lightness and a low visual centre of gravity.

The headlamp presents a modern, dynamic interpretation of the classic circular headlamp. Matted LED light banks in full LED technology shape the distinctive “face” of the BMW Concept Roadster, giving it an extremely technical look.

The interplay between the fuel

MQ REVIEW

The BMW Concept Roadster is exciting to look and at least as exciting to ride it's down to the experienced hands of the bmw modellers that have given the surfaces an emotional quality . . .

tank, seat and radiator is modelled to perfection in flowing style. It’s down to the experienced hands of the BMW modellers that have given the surfaces an emotional quality that no computer would be capable of recreating.

Its shape also provides an ergonomically perfect knee grip for optimum handling. A cover made of matted stainless steel adds a high-end yet robust accentuation at the centre of the fuel tank.

In addition to the rear structure,

there are other milled aluminium parts which underscore the technically sculptured look from the side perspective.

The most prominent features here are the lateral air intakes. They are also made of gloss aluminium with milling marks and are shown to excellent effect against the black surfaces of the radiator.

They trace a triangle open to the front which is formally based on the “gill” elements of the BMW supersports motorcycles. Performing marque spring

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the function of channelling air to the radiator, they also emphasise the dynamic gesture of the side. And for those with eagle eyes,the cooling ribs in neon yellow inside them are only seen on closer inspection.

Form and function are innovatively combined in the future-oriented engine spoiler. In the BMW Concept Roadster, it not only performs an aerodynamic function but also incorporates the entire front silencer.

Along with the short, steep tailpipe of the exhaust system, the engine spoiler concentrates form and function around the engine. In doing

so it emphasises the compact, dynamic statement of the side as well as the short rear.

Over and above the high-end milled parts, the BMW Concept Roadster comprises nothing but the very best quality highperformance components.

The fork tubes, rear shock absorber and brakes are elegantly set apart by their anodised colouring, giving the BMW Concept Roadster an exclusive touch of sporty flair. MQ For more BMW motorcycle info contact Auto Classic BMW Motorcycles on (08) 9311 7533 or email auto-classic.bmwmotorrad. com.au or sales@autoclassic.com.au

half page ad

HUMAN TOUCH It's designed by people, not computers, giving the BMW Concept Roadster an unmistakeably emotional vibe.

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It’s the international golf event which all of WA’s golf fans look forward to - and this year the competition for the top prize is hotter than ever.

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golf special

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ustralia’s richest golf tour event, the Perth International, returns to Western Australia in October and is set to deliver its strongest field of local and international golf stars.

2013 US PGA Champion Jason Dufner will return to Perth after being runner-up in the inaugural 2012 Perth International.

Young and super-talented Frenchman Victor Dubuisson will join him, along with last year’s winner Korean born-Australian based Jin Jeong, five-time European Tour champion and local hero Brett Rumford former US Open Champion Geoff Ogilvy, and Steven Bowditch who recently won his maiden PGA Tour title in April at the Texas Open.

Dubuisson is currently the number three player on the European Ryder Cup Points list, number eight on the Race to Dubai Rankings and number 22 in the world rankings.

He has enjoyed a terrific past year winning his maiden European Tour title in Turkey last October and reaching the final of the WGCAccenture Match Play Championship

in February.

Dufner and Dubuisson are most likely to be rivals at the Ryder Cup at Gleneagles four weeks before the Perth International.

Commenting on his return to Perth, Jason Dufner said: “I had a great time in Perth two years ago. I loved the city, the hospitality and the terrific golf course at Lake Karrinyup.

“I had a terrific battle to the end in 2012, closing as runner-up, and I am hoping to go one better and take home the trophy.”

Dubuisson played in the World Cup in Australia last November, but this will mark his first trip to Perth.

“I am looking forward to my first trip to Western Australia and have heard a lot of good things about the course and the tournament. It will be an important event for me in the lead-up to the Final Series and Dubai World Championship.”

Jeong will return to defend his title and will be joined in the field by five time European Tour champion and local favourite Rumford, along with Bowditch who won his maiden PGA Tour title in April at the marque spring

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LOCAL HERO Right, Brett Rumford, five-time European Tour champion will be making an appearance at the Perth International in September.

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MQ golf special

Texas Open.

On the initial player announcements, David Rollo, vice president-director of Golf IMG Australia, remarked: “We are delighted to see Jason and Victor commit to the 2014 Perth International and there is no doubt this year’s field will be strongest we have seen with more exciting announcements to follow.

“It is a validation of the outstanding support of Tourism Western Australia and we have the makings of a world class tournament this October.”

The Perth International is now in its third year and is owned and

promoted by IMG. It is proudly supported by the Western Australian Government, through Tourism WA, and is the only Australian tournament to be co-sanctioned by the European Tour, creating the opportunity to attract quality European players, and the PGA Tour of Australasia.

The Perth International is also partnered with premium brands including Crown Perth, Emirates Airlines, The West Australian, the Seven Network and Schweppes.

Lake Karrinyup Country Club is widely acknowledged as Western Australia’s premier private golf club and has been regularly rated as one

of the top ten golf courses in Australia.

This year there will be dedicated kids viewing areas for children under 16 to get the best view of the action.

Now in its third year, the event has consistently attracted huge crowds from its launch, and this year will be no different. MQ Perth Interational, Lake Karrinyup Country Club, Perth, October 23 to 26, visit perthinternational.com www.facebook.com/PerthInternationalGolf. Follow the event on Twitter @PerthIntl. Tickets are available from ticketmaster.com.au. Kids under 16 years old will be granted free entry when attending with a paying adult.

The Advantage Ticket benefits include a free Birdie Club Membership, providing the ticket-holder with access to discount green fees in WA and around the country. More info at teeoffaus.com.au.

STAR STRUCK Right, Jin Jeong and Victor Dubuisson will join the other international golf stars at Karrinyup.

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To celebrate, we have limited edition individual golf memberships available with special benefits!

The first 100 new members to purchase a 25th Anniversary Golf Membership will receive: » $250 food & beverage voucher to use at the resort » 25 complimentary buggy vouchers

» 5 overnight stays in the hotel » PLUS 25% off their first year golf fees

All our members also enjoy the unlimited access to 36 magnificent holes, equal playing rights for all members, exclusive resort discounts, private club house, swimming pool, gym, tennis & squash courts plus much more!

This is your chance to join the prestigious golf club at The Vines Resort & Country Club with this very limited special offer.

View all the benefits of becoming a member at The Vines Resort & Country Club – www.vines.com.au For more information, contact The Vines Resort & Country Club membership office during business hours on (08) 9297 0701 or phone 0406 047 895 or email memberships@vines.com.au *Terms & conditions apply. Special offer inclusions and price valid for the first 100 members only. marque spring

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culture

The WA Museum’s latest exhibition Afghanistan: Hidden Treasures from the National Museum, Kabul - is a treasure trove of gold, precious gems and carvings. For the museum’s head of anthropology and archaeology, Dr Moya Smith, it’s a dream come true to handle such priceless artefacts.

By Gabi Mills Images by Crib Creative.

Crowning glories A

s you step through the doors and into the atmospherically lit space containing so many treasures from Afghanistan, you could be forgiven for thinking you’ve walked into a time machine.

Gold glistens from carefully annotated cases, gold that was beautifully worked originally by our ancient ancestors. In one case there’s a stunningly detailed ram, solid gold and no bigger than your thumb from Tillya Tepe’s astonishing

collection of six tombs from the 1st century after Christ’s death. In another, a Roman Egyptian painted glass beaker - yes, glass and relatively intact - depicting a date palm harvest from Begram, the heart of ancient Afghanistan’s cultural nexus, again over 2000 years old.

There's jewellery which although thousands of years old, could easily pass for modern bling with its heart-shaped motifs on rings, thick curling gold bracelets, lapis lazuli

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embellishments and hair ornaments so delicate they look like a breath of air would break them.

And then, literally, the crowning glory. A delicate collapsible crown which can detach into six parts, making it easily transportable for its nomadic princess to carry from place to place. Literally one of the first examples of pret á porter fashion, Afghan-style.

What’s all the more extraordinary about this particular collection of

ancient treasures is that they’ve survived so many attempts to obliterate them from existence, from greedy farmers keen to melt down the gold to invading warlords destroying all in their wake.

It’s fair to say that my take on Afghanistan - particularly its place in ancient history - is limited to a sketchy knowledge of Alexander the Great’s empire-building exploits and the legendary Silk Road which passed through the war-torn country’s mountainous and remote countryside. Until I went to the exhibition however, I had no idea however that Alexander married a Bactrian princess - Bactria was the ancient name for Afghanistan’s northern province - and as a result, made the far-flung region the first

house such an astonishing hoard of rare antiquities and the National Museum of Kabul was built, a museum which became known as one of the best in the world, often called the Museum of the Silk Road by academics.

Dark clouds gathered over the future this collection of irreplaceable objects when, in 1979, the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan followed by the rise of the Taliban led to the physical destruction of the museum.

Black and white footage shows the museum a bombed-out shell, its entire contents gone. It was feared that one of the world’s great treasure houses had been lost forever but thanks to the courageous work of the Tahliwidar (or key holders), a group of extremely brave Kabul Museum

area in Central Asia to have a Greekstyle city built on its land.

For more than 4000 years Afghanistan’s strategic location at the crossroads of international trade routes from India, China, Greece, Persia and Mesopotamia meant that all manner of treasures from Indian ivories to Greek bronzes found their way into the hands of locals and chieftains in Afghanistan.

By 1922 it was clear that a repository would be required to

staff members who hid many of the objects in secret vaults, dry wells and other places, the collection was saved. Despite constant threats and intimidation, they did not share the secret of the hiding places until 2003 when theyfinally told a delegation from the National Geographic Society that all had indeed not been lost.

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TREASURE TROVE The incredible collection of riches from the National Museum of Kabul have been travelling the world, enthralling visitors with their astonishing beauty. ihiliquiaes.

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been destroyed by the Soviets and Taliban, many others had been saved, a selection of which - 230 in total have been travelling the world ever since in this exhibition.

Over 1.7 million people have so far marvelled at the collection and which arrived in Perth in July after exhibitions in Queensland, Victoria and other locations around the world. For Dr Moya Smith, who has overseen the delivery and display of the exhibition in the WA Museum, the collection is ‘one of the most elegant’ she has ever worked on.

An archaeologist whose research areas include the Mediterranean rim, Dr Smith says that seeing and, unusually for such a valuable collection, handling some of the treasures herself has been a career

MQ culture

EXPERT VIEW Dr Moya Smith has overseen the display of the exhibition at the Museum of WA. Far right, some of the amazingly wellpreserved jewellery on show.

What’s all the more extraordinary about this particular collection of ancient treasures is that they’ve survived so many attempts to obliterate them from existence.

highlight.

“Often with travelling exhibitions, you aren’t allowed to handle the items, but the Afghan staff have by contrast encouraged us to handle these precious items.

“There are too many superlatives for experiencing first-hand contact with the collection,” she says.

“Nothing ever prepares you for seeing it in the flesh. The size of the objects, the colours - they’re all so much more vivid than what you

might expect.”

What makes the exhibition doubly fascinating is the range of artefacts on view. There are everyday items like bowls and a sundial as well as more ceremonial items, like a gilded dagger.

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objects makes you immediately identify with the original user,” she says. “Those ancient people no longer seem remote or unknowable. Everything suddenly has a sense of place and context.”

Even as the WA Museum curator for the exhibition, and a self-confessed ‘stuff junkie’, Dr Smith admits that until she saw the exhibition first-hand she ‘didn’t connect’ the fact that Alexander the Great had married a Bactrian princess with what that would actually mean in terms of archaeological evidence.

“It was just an intellectual construct until I saw the artefacts themselves and made the connection between Alexander’s Greek impact on this land of mountain passes and river valleys.

For those who may be wary of taking the time to visit such an unfamiliar culture’s collection of archaeological

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MQ culture

discoveries, Dr Smith is optimistic.

“You have to hope that they’ll take the plunge,” she says. “It’s really a 2000-year-old time capsule, giving people a glimpse of something entirely different to perhaps what they’ve ever seen before. There are items from Mesopotamia to India, from Greece to Egypt, which have led to some interesting combinations of cultural influences artistically, completely unique to the area.”

For instance, there’s a cherubic goddess, Greek in style with an Indian beauty spot on her forehead and the wings of a Bactrian god.

An artistic blend of cultures unseen anywhere else in the world.

It’s impossible not to feel a sense of the romance of the Arabian Nights as you wander from exhibit to exhibit, the bejewelled items of people who went before revealing loves, hopes and achievements marked out in gold buckles, lapis lazuli clasps, fish-shaped glass bowls and burial treasures, those long dead speaking to us from beyond the grave.

The future of the museum in Kabul is still relatively uncertain, the political and military situation in the capital of Afghanistan far from ideal.

For now then, says Dr Smith, the

The keyholder's tale treasures of its nation will remain nomadic, just like those who once owned so much finery.

“At the moment it doesn’t have a new home once the exhibition finishes here in Perth in November,” she says.

“I’d like to think that Chicago, which works closely with academics in Afghanistan, might be the next stop for the exhibition. There’s always anxiety about it returning back to Kabul but also the hope and expectation that it can return.”

For a country who’s museum’s motto is ‘a nation stays alive when its culture stays alive’, who wouldn’t share Dr Smith’s hope that one day this astonishing collection of treasure will return to where it belongs - in Kabul’s rebuilt museum, safe from harm.

Afghanistan: Hidden Treasures from the National Museum, Kabul, Western Australian Museum, until November 16.

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BRAVERY Above, Shairazuddin Salfi, one of the Tahilwidars or key holders, entrusted with keeping the treasures safe and hidden for over a decade.

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Shairazuddin Saifi, one of five key holders or Tahilwidars, and conservator at The National Museum of Afghanistan guarded the secret location of some of the treasures of the National Museum of Kabul for years, an amazing act of cultural courage in the face of terrifying, destructive forces.

MQ Tell us a little about how you became a keyholder – it must have been a very honoured position as well as a risky one. What was your role in the National Museum of Kabul?

Shairazuddin Saifi I was the head of the conservation department at the National Museum of Kabul and also a member of the supervising committee in charge of securing and opening the crates. The government entrusted me with the key – before and during Karzai’s government.

When the Mujahedeen took over and civil war started in Afghanistan, especially in Kabul, the museum staff felt that the artefacts were at risk of being looted and disappearing.

Museum staff suggested to the presidency during the government of Dr Najibullah that we transfer the artefacts to two places: one was the national bank and the other was the ministry of information and culture.

In the national bank were five lockers and each had its own key, and also five keys for the artefacts in the ministry of information and culture. The five keyholders (Tahilwidars) held these keys between them.

The materials were locked in one storage which were packed in big boxes. Although it was very risky for all museum staff and their families, it was our national assets and I felt responsibility for them to accept and keep the keys safe.

MQ What was your motivation to put your life at risk to save your country’s artefacts from destruction?

SS Although it was very risky I had a feeling for my country, people, our background and culture and our history to be kept safe.

MQ How hard was it to keep secret the location of the artworks over so many years?

Did you ever come close to being discovered as a keyholder?

SS It was very hard and difficult to keep the secret, but all museum staff felt at risk as they knew that we had hidden the artefacts and could tell nobody.

MQ What was it like when you finally revealed the whereabouts of the treasures to the National Geographic Society? Did you feel the burden of responsibility lift, and were you proud of your and the other keyholders’ achievements over those years to preserve the treasures intact?

The NGS knew about its existence through the president of Afghanistan. I felt relieved that at last the international society knew about it and the objects, and that we would be safer.

Afghan people all over the world were upset because they thought they had lost their museum’s belongings, but finally the NGS could promote the revealing of the objects. It gave reassurance to everyone and introduced the world to our culture, history which is the pride of our country.

MQ Speaking personally what are your favourite artefacts in the exhibition? Were there some artefacts which were unable to be saved which you wish you could have preserved?

SS I love all these artefacts and pieces. I still suffer when I remember those pieces which were taken away by people especially the historical ivory collection and thousands of coins including gold, silver, bronze and copper.

MQ What do you hope the people of WA will discover about your country through this exhibition?

SS I hope that the people of Western Australia see that Afghanistan is more than a war-torn country. I hope it will help change their perception of Afghanistan to see that it is culturally rich and that it helps build relationships between Australia and Afghanistan.

MQ Do you have any regrets about the years you lived under threat of discovery – would you do it again?

SS No, I don’t have any regrets. All museum staff members were at risk by virtue of working for the museum. It was my duty as a key holder to protect the objects for the sake of our culture.

Although I am no longer a keyholder, I would do it again if I was given the duty. MQ

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Jill Kelly Kemarre Merne Ntange Edible Seeds 150x100cm

CELEBRATING 10 YEARS IN 2014 WITH A SERIES OF SPECIAL EXHIBITIONS AND EVENTS

South Fremantle based, we operate by appointment outside of our quarterly exhibition programme, details of which can be found on our website.

South Fremantle By appointment outside of exhibition dates Enquiries to Anna Kanaris ph: +61 8 9336 7787 m: 0418 900 954 e: info@artitja.com.au w: www.artitja.com.au

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the craft

feat of Clay

Ceramic art is more collectable than ever and two artists working in WA are at the forefront of the genre, says Gabi Mills.

Fleur Schell farmhouse surreptitiously winked, giggled and waved yet pretended to be frozen when I glanced up at them."

Nowadays her own children - Heidi and Harry provide inspiration for her playful creations.

“Their infectious joy and unwavering belief in magic continue to inspire me,” she says.

In 2005, Fleur and husband Richard Hill founded SODA – Sculpture Objects and Design Australia,

SODA (Sculpture Objects and Design Australia), Fremantle, WA

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leur Schell can’t recall a time when there wasn’t clay caught under her fingernails during a childhood redolent with memories of creativity in the baking hot summers of the Wheatbelt.

“I was born and raised in the Wheatbelt in the 70s,” she says.

“One of my earliest memories was building clay bowls and monsters on the edge of a pristine white dam. I was killing time, keeping cool and fishing for yabbies with a drop net.”

As her farmer father circled past in his noisy, dusty harvester he would spot collections of” strange little clay objects lined up along the top of the dam”, drying out in the hot sun.

“They all disintegrated when the rains came,” says Fleur.

Today, Fleur’s studio is scattered with objects made from porcelain that are sentimental, rich in detail and playful.

“I am drawn to objects that rekindle childhood memories,” she says.

“I spent my childhood convinced that the inanimate objects cluttering the shelves, sills and mantels in our

PLAYFUL STYLE Right, Moving Gardener and Unless, two of Fleur Schell's porcelain figures. Top, Fleur and friend on the edge of Goomalling dam and a teapot.

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an international ceramic residency and studio in Fremantle. “Through the sharing of clay knowledge I have been introduced to people and places who have profoundly enriched the lives of our family,” says Fleur.

Last year the pair launched The Clay House, a specialist facility which offers a unique opportunity for the community to engage in the creative act of building with clay, that remarkably luscious, messy and forgiving material - while simultaneously reconnecting their hands and hearts.

“The Clay House is a melting pot of cross-cultural experiences with artists from other countries generously sharing their knowledge and expertise of clay with local clay keeners,” says Fleur.

“Clay is a great leveller, people of all ages and dexterity can comfortably work alongside each other, sharing this unique creative space where it seems all inhibitions just seem to fade away.”

Visit fleurschell.com and sodaresidency.com.au

Alana McVeigh

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The Studio Gallery, Fremantle, WA

t’s no surprise that Alana McVeigh cites a quote by author Umberton Eco in relation to her work.

“Beauty finds its finest expression in static forms, in which a fragment of action or movement finds equilibrium and repose, and for which simplicity of expression is more suitable than a wealth of detail,” writes Eco and it’s as if he’s describing Alana’s work, such is the beautiful simplicity at its heart.

“My work examines the simplicity of form, a sense of stillness and an enquiry into aesthetics,” says Alana. marque spring

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“Within my quest to identify notions of particular aesthetics and beauty, I examine the rich history, classical standards and aesthetic sensibility inherent within some Eastern cultures.

“I have chosen porcelain as my main medium for its superior qualities of translucency, and pure white colour. These qualities enhance the aesthetic qualities and sensory associations I am striving to achieve within my work.” MQ Visit studiogallery.com.au

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SIMPLE PLEASURES Left, Alana McVeigh and her beautifully pared down style of porcelain artistry.

accessories

Small is beautiful

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Here's MQ's pick of the accessories collection from BMW i, available after the launch of the BMW i3 later this year, embodying the brand’s commitment to extending its philosophy into the smallest details.

1 The BMW i folding box Regardless of whether you’re looking for a place to pack away shopping, sports or travel accessories, the two large compartments and two small key compartments of this folding box allow all items to be arranged clearly and transported without sliding around. The inside is lined with a robust and waterproof PU-coated material. It also fits in perfectly with every BMW i model, since it is covered with the brand’s own seat upholstery material. It's even been designed to fit into any shopping trolley. When empty, the box’s clever folding system means it takes up less space when stored away. Available for the BMW i3 and BMW i8.

2 The BMW i key cover Similarly to a soft cover on a smartphone, the key cover slips around the BMW i key like a second

skin, with full remote control functionality maintained. And, with a telltale BMW i Electric Blue colour scheme, it wears its BMW i brand family ties on its sleeve. The velvety, supple material consists of 40 percent renewable raw materials.

A particular highlight of the material are its phosphorescent qualities, which allow the key cover to glow in the dark.

3 The BMW i climate cover The precision-designed climate cover can be positioned and fixed in place quickly and easily in the BMW i3. Once in place, the UV-resistant and reflective surface bounces back incoming sunlight during the summer and keeps the car shady, a real bonus in WA's long, hot summers. As a result, less energy is required to cool the interior. In the winter, it protects the car at the front and sides marque spring

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from ice and snow, so that heating the windows is no longer necessary.

Another well-conceived idea is the small spyhole for the windscreen, which keeps parking permits visible.

The climate cover is made from recycled PET with a silver-vaporised outer skin. The innovative all-over reflex print provides a cat’s-eye effect, as it reflects beams of light extremely effectively at night as well - ensuring the BMW i3 cuts a clearly visible and alluring figure even when it’s covered up. MQ

For more information about any BMW or MINI lifestyle accessories contact Kathy Armstrong on (08) 9311 7533 or email aftercare@ autoclassic.com.au 2

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mini preview

One love

Pricing details of a new entry-level variant to the MINI range have been announced making the all-new MINI One Hatch one for the Christmas list.

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he most affordable MINI ever, the MINI One Hatch, replaces the previous entry-level variant, the MINI Ray - yet delivers more power, greater economy, more sophistication and a higher level of specification, all at a lower price.

According to Kai Bruesewitz, general manager for MINI Australia, the new MINI One Hatch continues the trend set by the new MINI Hatch of offering more for less, all in an exciting new package.

“The new MINI One Hatch embodies the same technical and quality advancements demonstrated in the rest of the new MINI Hatch range and when compared to the previous entry level model, offers customers greater performance, improved comfort and a lot more value for money,” said Mr Bruesewitz.

The new MINI One Hatch is powered by a 1.2-litre version of the punchy three-cylinder engine currently found in the new MINI Cooper Hatch and delivers 75 kW and 180 Nm of torque.

This is enough to propel the MINI One Hatch to 100 km/h from standstill in 9.9 seconds (automatic: 10.2 seconds) while fuel consumption is a mere 4.9 l/100 kms (automatic: 5.0 l/100 kms).

The newest entry-level model has grown in every way over the predecessor, boasting increased dimensions for the chassis, body and interior space.

This increase in size is instantly felt on the inside.

Greater occupant comfort is guaranteed, thanks to increased shoulder room and foot space in the

front seating area and a roomier rearseat arrangement.

Carrying capacity is significantly enhanced with the luggage compartment increased to 211 litres - an increase of 51 litres over the predecessor.

Another aspect that has increased over the previous model is the list of standard equipment.

The MINI One Hatch not only includes the key features of the old MINI Ray, such as Bluetooth and USB interface, but also offers automatic start/stop with keyless go, servotronic power steering, Dynamic Stability Control including Dynamic Traction Control and Electronic Differential Lock as well as colour

line in carbon black.

“The improved performance, higher levels of sophistication and equipment levels as well as the attractive price will ensure the exciting MINI brand is on the shopping list of more Aussie customers,” said Mr Brueszewitz.

Price: MINI One Hatch from $28,000 drive away.

HOT HATCH The MINI One Hatch is a super fun drive which doesn't compromise on all the extras you would expect from a bigger vehicle.

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toys

Mini LEGO version hits the shelves It’s the classic Mini that we all love and now, for younger fans, there’s the chance to build their very own MINI Cooper from scratch, thanks to LEGO. The Danish toy manufacturer has added the Mini Cooper to its LEGO Creator Expert series, resplendent in British Racing Green, white roof and engine bonnet stripes, transversely mounted four-cylinder engine and picnic basket in the luggage compartment.

The creative use of space has always been its strength and now the classic Mini is presented in an entirely new format.

The LEGO Group is expanding the fleet of its product series Creator Expert to include this well-loved original from the United Kingdom.

It will be available as a 1,007-part set, providing authentic building and driving fun for all fans of the popular bricks and the legendary small car.

The LEGO designers based their model on the classic Mini Cooper built before BMW stepped in to save the ailing British icon from an untimely demise in 2000, recreating its inimitable charisma in the colourful world of their model kits

with painstaking attention to detail.

When fully assembled, the car is 25cm long, 14cm wide and 11cm high - thereby preserving the brand’s characteristic proportions.

It’s unmistakable appearance is further underlined by the bodywork in British Racing Green, the roof, exterior mirror caps and bonnet stripes in white, the checked pattern on the beige seats and the additional headlamps on the hexagonal radiator grille.

The model’s wheels, bumpers, door hinges, headlamps and rear lights fully reflect the design of the original, too. There are also emblems on the rear side body sections to indicate that the LEGO replica is based on the Mini Cooper produced from August 1997 to July 1998 to mark what was then the 40th anniversary of the classic Mini.

The doors, bonnet and tailgate of the Mini Cooper can be opened, providing a view of other precisely replicated details.

The 4-cylinder engine is, of course, transversely mounted, the steering wheel, gear lever, handbrake handle, backrests and headrests are all movable and, in the luggage marque spring

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PERFECTLY FORMED Little and not-so-little kids will crave this LEGO version of the classic MINI Cooper.

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compartment there is a fully packed picnic basket complete with a checked blanket.

Important points for authentic assembly: even in the form of a LEGO set, the small car classic is a genuine British specimen and has its steering wheel on the right-hand side and a yellow number plate at the rear.

The kit also includes a spare wheel: this is kept in the bottom compartment of the boot to save space.

As with most products of the Creator Expert series, the recommended age for the classic Mini LEGO set is over 16, but regardless of this, young and old alike can fulfil their dream of building their own original without tools or a driving licence. MQ The LEGO Mini Cooper is available exclusively online at shop.LEGO.com

Fueled by patented Turbulator Technology and a new face material, the G30 adjustable driver is PING’s longest, most forgiving driver ever. In wind tunnel testing, crown turbulators are proven to reduce aerodynamic drag and increase clubhead speed. The T9S titanium face is thinner for higher ball speeds, and it’s lighter to keep the CG low and back for optimal launch and spin. The low/back CG – a proven PING innovation – also increases MOI for unmatched consistency. With 5 loft settings and high-balance-point shaft technology, the G30 is the fastest way to longer, more accurate drives. Visit a PING Fitting Specialist or ping.com. You’ll be better for it. ®

5 loft adjustments

Contact American Golf Supplies (02 9524 8233) or ping@americangolf.com.au for PING Fitting Account Information ©2014 PING P.O. BOX 82000 PHOENIX, AZ 85071

New T9S face material

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Hot shot Collier Park Golf Course has one of the best stocked pro-shops in WA and, according to co-owner David Wilson, is more than able to kit out the keen golfer with a dream set of clubs.

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ver since he was six years of age, David Wilson has played golf.

“I was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland, and moved to WA at the age of three,” says David. “I joined the course at Hartfield as a junior where Ross (Metherell) was the pro.”

Fast forward a few years to 1986 and David and Ross’s paths crossed again when Metherell asked the talented golfer to be his trainee

at Collier Park Golf Course, a beautifully scenic public golf course with 27 holes.

“I went over to Germany ten years later and played nine seasons in Berlin, Munich and Dusseldorf before I came back and had a lesson with Ross who in turn just so happened to be on the hunt for a business partner.”

That was in 2005 and the pair now run the biggest and one of the marque spring

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TOP HOLE Above, Collier Park Golf Course's co-owner David Wilson is an expro golfer who loves the beautifully landscaped course south of the river.

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most successful public golf courses south of the river.

“Over 110,000 rounds of golf are played here every year,” says David.

That’s a lot of potential customers keen to replace all those lost balls, invest in new clubs or splash out on a top of the range motorised caddy.

“We run the pro shop and we stock the best, most recent equipment for our customers.”

A case in point is the newly released Ping G30 range which David put through its paces during our photoshoot.

Designed to produce longer drives and endorsed by Ping Pro Bubba Watson, the clubs are firmly on David’s wish-list - and probably a whole lot of other golf fans who visit the pro-shop every day.

With a G30 driver retailing for nearly $500, the new additions to the Ping range don’t come cheap, but, says David, their appeal lies in the fact that they are suitable for the beginner and regular player alike.

A family-owned company that was founded in 1959 in the garage of Karsten Solheim, the curiously named Ping range of golf clubs was founded on the frustration every golfer has felt for a missed putt. Karsten’s frustration inspired him to design a putter, which made a “pinging” sound when striking a golf ball.

They’re the perfect clubs to tackle the course’s three world-class ninehole courses which cover the gamut of golf course styles - resort-style, links-style and parkland-style.

“The course as a whole is undulating with an excellent condition,” says David who cites the signature three-par hole over the water as a particularly testing challenge.

There’s also a grass driving range which is open from ‘sun up to sun down’, allowing all-comers the chance to practice their swing.

The appeal of Collier Park Golf Course lies in its immaculate large greens, its devilish bunkers and the beauty of the landscaping itself,

R&R which is regularly visited by wildlife such as black swans and ibis. In fact, such is its range of holes and standard of upkeep, it’s a wonder anybody bothers with prohibitive private golf club fees when there are facilities like this available for all.

“People are time-poor these days so we find the majority of our customers don’t have the time or inclination to sign up for expensive private golf club fees. Here they can turn up, play nine or 18 holes whenever they want or perhaps book a session with our resident pro, Gavin Fontaine, seven days a week.”

For David, overseeing the smooth running of the golf course is his ‘ideal job’ unless, he says with a smile, he was playing golf professionally of course. MQ Collier Park Golf Course, Hayman Road, Como. Visit collierparkgolf@ iinet.net.au for prices or call (08) 9484 1666. Open 7am to 5.45pm.

1 PING Bag $499 2 Buggy $1,199 3 Shoes $239 4 PING Irons per club $145 5 PING G30 Driver $485 6 PING 3Wood $340 7 Titleist Balls $69 8 Titleist Gloves $29

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personal tour

The M3/M4 - a personal tour Auto Classic's Daniel Strahan showcases his favourite elements of the impressive BMW M4 Coupé and M3 Sedan

FAST FACTS THE BMW M4 COUPÉ & M3 SEDAN The BMW M4 Coupé is available starting at $183,858 Drive Away The BMW M3 Sedan is available starting at $173,208 Drive Away Optional Head Up Display $1,700

MQ Tell us about your career to date at Auto Classic.

DS I started out as a Sales Executive with Auto Classic BMW and have always had a love for the motorsport and flagship models of the brand.

When the Special Vehicles Manager position became available just over a year ago I jumped at the opportunity and am thoroughly enjoying the role.

MQ What’s so special about the dealership?

DS We have a dealership that’s filled with staff and customers who are passionate about what the brand represents, with a really progressive attitude towards what a vehicle ownership experience should be. We always have fun along the way but also provide a professional and enjoyable experience for our customers.

MQ What gives you a buzz at work?

DS My favourite part of the job would have to be driving a customer in their first BMW ‘M’ car. Each customer I speak to has their own very similar experience of their first ‘M’ drive that includes a smile from ear to ear and their heart beating a little faster.

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SHOWSTOPPER Above, Daniel Strahan and his favourite BMW - the M4 Coupé

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Phillip Island for his first drive.

Sitting next to him in the passenger seat as we took off and watching his face light up was one of those very rewarding moments in a career.

MQ Why have you chosen this particular model as your ‘star’?

DS I have chosen the BMW M4 Coupe as my ‘star’ because it is widely considered to be one of the best driver’s cars in the world.

The M4 represents the obtainable dream car that most car lovers grew up worshipping and, as adults, can drive and love every day. It is comfortable enough to go to and from work in traffic, but hard enough to tackle the track on the weekend.

For more information on BMW Special Vehicles contact Daniel Strahan on (08) 9311 7507.

daniel's top features of the M3/M4

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The engine is the most important part for me.

A return to form with a well-balanced straight 6 cylinder, 3 litre engine… only now with two turbochargers.

The turbos provide heaps of torque from the low end and not a hint of any lag thanks to the clever engine design. The sound is unique and every bit as loud as the old V8, but completely different in the best kind of way!

The 7 speed M Dual Clutch Transmission (MDCT) is now included as standard on the new M4.

(Manual 6-Speed as No Cost Option).

This system makes gear changes lightning fast and aggressive when you want them to be and can also be smooth enough to deal with traffic around town. The transmission can make or break a sports car and the Motorsport engineers have nailed it.

The use of Carbon Fibre Reinforced Plastic (CFRP) components for weight saving is used more widely in this vehicle than any other BMW currently in production.

We all know the signature look roof on the previous generation of M3 Coupes and, added to that in this new incarnation, is a single-piece CFRP driveshaft, boot lid and front-end strut brace. Combine these with the use of lightweight aluminium and magnesium and we have the first M3/M4 incarnation that weighs less than the previous model.

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These buttons are completely customisable and allow the driver to map the entire vehicle to suit his preferences.

With three individual options available when setting the suspension, steering feedback, gearing ratio, shift speed and even traction control, the personalisation is taken to another level. And for the die hards, OFF is one of the three traction settings.

4 The BMW Head Up Display (optional) is something that really blows people away.

Once you are used to having one it is hard to go back. The system puts relevant driving information like navigation directions, current speed and telephone information out into the driver’s field of vision.

There are now two M modes for vehicle setup on the new BMW M4 Coupé.

The extra ‘Motorsport’ function on a BMW ‘M’ vehicle adds a mode where your tachometer, current gear, shift indicators and speed replace the standard information display. It is so handy when pushing these cars around a track to be able to keep your eyes on that fast approaching bend and still see exactly what the engine and transmission is doing. marque spring

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my mq

Heart of glass Daryl Cook has celebrated over a quarter of a century in the glass industry and as WA looks set to enjoy another boom in building over the next 25 years, the decision he made all those years ago to be an apprentice glazier was a very smart one indeed. By Gabi Mills Images by Crib Creative.

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s head of the DLC Group which comprises seven glass businesses, there’s not much Daryl Cook doesn’t know about the ubiquitous vitreous product we see all around us.

Thanks to the longevity of his career however he has witnessed many changes, most notably a move away from production techniques performed by hand which are now being achieved at the touch of a button.

“Cutting and processing glass has changed substantially,” says Daryl

from his HQ in Wangara. “In the past and in my time, it was all done by hand, a very labour-intensive process with the risk or scratching or chipping glass. Nowadays, we can achieve so many things with glass thanks to new techniques and technology.”

Five out of seven of his businesses specialise in supplying custom-made shower, mirror, robe and splash-back products.

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LEADER OF THE PACK Above left, Daryl Cook heads up a successful collection of glass businesses and has always loved BMWs, upgrading to a 6 series in recent months.

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unusual work too. For instance when the Crown Burswood was refurbished we fitted out the La Vie Champagne Lounge and are probably the only WA-based business who could do the type of work that was required.”

Repeat business is achieved easily when Daryl and his team can offer such reliability and quality, time after time.

“Every piece of glass is unique,” says Daryl about the product which he clearly still loves, 33 years after his first day as a glazier’s apprentice.

“I’m a very lucky person. I do

what I love and the industry I’m in is a growth industry.”

Out of the 150 staff now on his books, Daryl is proud that the first person he employed 25 years ago is still with the company.

“Every day above ground is a good day,” he says, smiling. “It’s been tough over the last few years but there are lots of opportunities nevertheless.”

A restless opportunist, Daryl confesses that he finds it hard to sit still and once he’s three quarters of the way through a specific project,

he’s already onto the next one.

Reflecting his magpie character, choosing a BMW from the Auto Classic dealership was an obvious choice, and he bought his first one - a 335i - nine years ago.

“Cars are probably my bling, I love my cars,” he says. “A neighbour of mine said that when you buy a BMW, after three or four years it’s still like the day you drove it off the showroom floor.”

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“I like the look of the i8 and the M5,” he says. “Daniel Strahan, the special vehicles manager, will give me a ring when he’s got something he thinks I’ll like. It’s just incredible the level of service you get from Auto Classic I’ve always dealt with David Burnley, and that’s now developed into a friendship. Auto Classic assign you a service manager who looks after you and compared to other dealerships who may at times be complacent with the level of aftercare service they offer, Auto Classic’s is second to none.” MQ

PERFORMANCE

JOKING ASIDE Ben Elton still has the ability to surprise, says Gabi Mills, as the creative whirlwind responsible for the birth of cutting edge 80s stand-up in the UK, Blackadder, The Young Ones and 14 bestsellers rejigs one of his early plays and places it firmly in Australia’s here and now.

I

’ve got a restless imagination,” says Ben Elton, long-time resident of Fremantle and self-confessed fan of musical theatre, “and I’ve got an ongoing passion to commit my thoughts to paper.”

That’s something of an understatement if you take even a cursory stroll through Elton’s curriculum vitae.

However, like most of the things that come out of the mouth of the man who used to be from Auntie,

nothing is said without a lasersharp wit, his super-charged brain processing, analysing and reacting to everything he encounters.

This is a man who doesn’t mince his words (let’s just say he’s not wild about journos or critics, some of whom have been less than kind over the years) and yet so many of those words, arranged in the right order, sometimes funny, sometimes provoking, have defined his working life.

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MAN OF LETTERS Above, Ben Elton, who lives in Fremantle, has been responsible for creating some of the most enduring comic TV characters of all time.

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astride some of the most memorable comedic characters from the early 80s to the present day, thanks to Elton the world witnessed the relationship of a prince and his kitchen rat through the ages (Blackadder and Baldrick) and then wept when, at the end of the final episode, Blackadder Goes Forth, the futility of war was more beautifully expressed in a few brief moments than a thousand worthy dramas that had gone before it.

He made us take a bunch of grotty students to our hearts (The Young Ones) and co-wrote with Notting Hill’s Richard Curtis the gold standard Mr Bean ‘exam’ episode for long-time collaborator and star, Rowan Atkinson.

But that’s just some of the TV programs which have flowed from Elton’s pen. There are plays - award-winning ones - as well as 14 international bestselling books and, perhaps most intriguing of all, musical theatre works - two cowritten with Andrew Lloyd Webber and one with supergroup Queen.

So you’d be forgiven for thinking that maybe Elton is happy to rest on his impressive laurels, that there isn’t much he hasn’t achieved. And, as he says himself, that’s true - up to a point.

However, when the Black Swan State Theatre Company’s Kate Cherry approached him and offered him the chance to create a play for his home state’s theatre, Elton didn’t need to be asked twice.

“When Kate said to me that they’d love to have a play from me, I didn’t really have a new idea for one but had thought for a while that Gasping! was becoming more relevant. I thought it was just a wonderful chance to revisit that work.”

Written in 1989, Gasping! - now Gasp! - imagined a world where big business spotted a new opportunity to make a lot of money from a previously free resource - air.

“It’s a comedy which imagines a world where the air we breathe has to be harvested, mined and marketed just like food and fuel and all the other finite natural resources of our planet.

“Because let’s face it, the fact that air remains the one single necessity of life which is still free, and consumed equally by rich and poor alike is just a bit of luck really. If somebody could sell it they would.”

However, as Gasping! was written back in 1989, during a period of Elton’s life where he had just meet his future wife, Sophie Gare, and was embarking on his Australian odyssey,

splitting time between the UK and Freo, on closer inspection the language was in need of tweaking.

“The premise is the same now as it was originally, a full-on farce - it’s just the comedic language that’s changed,” says Elton. “It came out at the time when it was the height of the yuppies, all ‘ok yah’ and references which dated it. Now it’s much more Aussie with two big muscular mining guys and a new love interest character too.”

Perhaps Elton’s greatest talent as a writer is to shine a magnifying glass on the human-ness of his characters, their ‘smallness’ ringing true for so many audiences.

“There’s great comic capital to be had by writing about characters who share that common belief that we all feel - that even the President of the United States has to occasionally stand naked. It’s that shared feeling that we’re not as great as we think we are, that shared essential desire to be liked and, as Stephen Fry has said, that fear of being ‘found out'."

Born in 1959 in Catford, near London, Benjamin Charles Elton was the product of an academic family with a strong interest in history marque spring

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FOREVER YOUNG Above, Bel Elton in full stand-up flow and top, The Young Ones starring Rik Mayall, Nigel Planer, Christopher Ryan and Adrian Edmonson was created by Ben Elton and launched the careers of stars who would go on to dominate the British comedy scene for years.

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and literature.

“My mother still holds a Chaucer reading circle,” says Elton. “It’s getting smaller every year.”

It was while studying drama at Manchester University in the late 70s that Elton met long-time friends and collaborators Rik Mayall and Adrian Edmonson, the hugely talented duo who would go on to star in The Young Ones and Bottom.

Before writing for others took over, a career in stand-up comedy beckoned, but it was always writing where Elton’s heart really lay.

Despite becoming wildly popular as a fast-talking, shiny suit-wearing, anti-Thatcherite ‘political’ satirist on Friday Night Live, Elton disputes the fact that he was ever actually ‘angry’.

MQ performance

I just loved the whole idea of being amusing and witty . . . From a young age I wanted to be NOEl Coward; I was much more interested in writing Hayfever than Mother Courage.

“It was never about being angry,” he says. “I’m not an angry person at all. One critic called me a Marxist during a review of Gasping! and I wrote a response to him - the first and only time I’ve responded to a critic - saying that was utterly ridiculous.

Gasping! wasn’t a political polemic - if anything, it’s a morality play but above all it’s a comedy, a farce.”

Commissioned to write the first series of Blackadder at just 21, Elton was part of a brilliant pack of now household names who were all at the time carving a new niche in comedy, thanks to the launch of Channel 4’s more modern approach to programming at the time and a golden period of creativity.

“It was just a time where a lot of us mutually benefited and although I’ve never been especially reflective, looking back, to be commissioned to write a comedy for the BBC at 21, it was an extraordinary time.”

Counting Jennifer Saunders, Dawn French, Rowan Atkinson, Stephen Fry, Hugh Laurie as well as Mayall and Edmonson as his friends, Elton is proud that over the years this has remained the case.

“Jenny (Saunders) and Ade (Edmonson) came over to stay with us recently while Hugh (Laurie) was in

town too,” he says. “We had a lovely time, I hired a boat and we went on the Swan River - it’s nice to know that we all have remained friends.”

When Rik Mayall died suddenly earlier this year, Elton found himself back under the saddest of circumstances in the company of his old mates to farewell their friend.

“Rik’s funeral was an extraordinarily sad moment with all of us coming together,” he says.

At the height of Elton’s British TV success, he found himself living in Fremantle with his new wife and picked up the pen again, this time writing his first novel Stark.

“I regret not calling it Fremantle,” he says, smiling. “It’s quite obviously Fremantle in the 1980s but I chose to call the town Stark instead.”

However it was the lure of the greasepaint that always remained Elton’s biggest dream, particularly within the often maligned genre of musical theatre.

“I just loved the whole idea of being amusing and witty,” he said.

“From a young age I wanted to be Noel Coward; I was much more interested in writing Hayfever than Mother Courage.”

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writing the lyrics for Andrew Lloyd-Webber’s score, and then We Will Rock You with Queen, his talents reaching yet again new audiences.

However, Elton is aware that some markets - the US in particular - are still there to be conquered.

“My son, who was 11 at the time, said something to me which made me laugh. He said ‘you and I have something in common. Neither of us has made it in America'."

Perhaps that last frontier is now just around the corner as Elton’s output once again steps up a gear. As well as Gasp! touring Australia, he’s also working on a new commission for the BBC and is developing a movie too.

“I’ve never worried about looking cool - I liked Kylie back in 1988 when nobody else did here in Australia. It’s the same with musical theatre. I think if people look back at works in the future, they’ll read some of the lyrics in shows like The Sound of Music and just love them. The public are always ahead of the critics.”

As his play originally conceived and written 25 years ago gets a modern makeover for a local audience who see ‘Twiggy, Gina and Clive on the front cover every day’, Elton is once again prodding and provoking us all through the mastery of his comedic lingua franca in Gasp!

“All art is some kind of deceit, whether it’s looking at a painting on a wall or somebody breaking into song half way through a show.”

“I’m a comic, a clown, with the wisdom of the fool,” he says.

And in an era where clowns seem to be at work in other areas of our lives too, it’s just as well we have Elton’s ‘foolish wisdom’ shining a satirical light on the big topics which concern us all - just as he has always done. MQ Gasp! by Ben Elton, Black Swan State Theatre Company, October 25 to November 9, call ticketek.com.au for tickets.

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business class

room

to relax

In each issue of MQ our experienced travel-writing team test fly the business class offering of a leading airline. In this issue, it’s the turn of Qatar Airways - and Telethon Adventurer Moira Clay gives a big tick following her experience.

Flight details Perth/Doha/Geneva (return) Business Class Qatar Airways

The flight I flew the B777 on the Perth/Doha leg and the A320 on the Doha/ Geneva leg (in both directions). The experience was very different on both. The B777 was spacious and easy to navigate.

Good spaces to stow all those little bits and pieces you need mid-flight. The Airbus was a reasonably new aircraft and had just been refitted in Business Class. It was much more compact but the design was clever and, again, good storage spots. I was on the aisle on the A320 so it was easy to get up and move around. The person on the window seat was more confined.

The experience One word for it – soothing. The lead up to my trip was the usual frantic one. When I boarded the flight in Perth (after having done a mad dash home from the airport to pick up something essential I’d forgotten) the lighting was dim, the staff floated around with calming smiles and I had space to get myself sorted. I felt better. The bed went totally flat and the pillows, doona and mattress made it extra

comfortable. The bathroom was spacious.

The goodie bag (by Salvatore Ferragno) was lovely. The pyjamas (which were discreetly provided to me in the right size by the flight attendant) really got me settled in. My only criticism was the Oryx Entertainment system (particularly on the A320). I found it clunky to navigate and on the A320 the system kept freezing which was frustrating.

The range of movies and TV shows was good, but required persistence to find, and I might have made a spectacle of myself laughing along to a rare fix of Monty Python’s Flying Circus.

The service The staff were calm, friendly and attentive without being intrusive. They introduced themselves by name which made it much more personal and they had great attention to detail.

Nothing was too much trouble.

The menu I loved the food and wine right from the Taittinger Rosé served before departure. The menu, created by four international master chefs (including Nobu’s Matsuhisa), was on-demand, so you could have what you wanted when you wanted.

I felt like something light at the start of the flight and was served a beautiful bowl of parsnip, sweet potato and mushroom soup with basil pesto crouton and chili oil, accompanied by a 2006 Chateau Pichon Longueville (to get me in the mood for being in France). It was the perfect start.

The food felt like a chef was busy creating each individual dish on the plane. The omelette for breakfast was delightful. The accompaniments were all delicious.

The airport experience It is worth adding in a few comments about the Doha layover at Hamad International Airport.

The airport is very new, being about two

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months old. It is nice (I prefer Dubai) but reasonably difficult to navigate with many temporary features. Individual Qatar staff were up front in acknowledging they were still working things out. On the way to Europe, the lounge was still temporary.

It was small and packed. Not a fun place to be. On the way home, the lounge had opened five days earlier and it was MUCH better. Many individual chairs each with a computer terminal, a bottle of water and a charging station. They still had various aspects of the operation to work out but the essentials were there. I was amused that after finding a lounge to recline on, the staff “moved” me because that particular couch was at the entrance of the lounge. MQ

The verdict Capsule B777 9/10 Capsule Airbus 320 7/10 General comfort: 8/10 Seat/bed: 8/10 Service: 9/10 Food: 9/10 Drink: 9/10 Airport/lounge: 6/10 (with room to move) General experience: 9/10 Visit qatarairways.com/au for timetable and flight details

last word

Seven Deadly Sins LISA FERNANDEZ | TV PRESENTER

My seven sins (Gluttony) What is the food you could

L

isa Fernandez is a popular Perth media identity, businesswoman, MC and single mother to fouryear old Isabella. Having spent the last 13 years as a radio broadcaster most recently on 92.9 in Perth Lisa decided to give up the 3.30am starts for TV. Lisa is currently a presenter on Channel 9's only live and local morning news bulletin Today Perth and Destination WA, also on Channel 9.

queen bee Making the leap from radio to TV, Lisa Fernandez makes the media business look easy. For our shoot at Chapels on Whatley, Lisa was dressed by WA designer Steph Audino and make-up/ styling by Ady Grader.

eat over and over again?

Seafood. Prawns, crab, fish, squid, octopus, lobster, scallops: you name it, I’ll eat it. My family are from Calcutta in India and my nana was Burmese (and an amazing cook) so I’m lucky to have had a culture-rich childhood filled with mouthwatering food memories.

(Greed) You’re given $1m that you have to spend selfishly – what would you spend it on?

Travel. As an ex-travel consultant I’m pretty well-travelled and, with my daughter Bella, I’ve been to Europe, France, Hong Kong and of course Bali, so on my future list of to-do holidays are New York, India, Russia, and Burma.

(Sloth) Where would you spend a long time doing nothing?

Vietnam. Like all born and bred West Aussies I adore the beach and Hoi An’s beaches are among the most beautiful in the world.

While holidaying there with Bella, I discovered quite a few Westerners helping out Vietnamese schools and volunteering to teach the children English so I would absolutely use my time to help the local community in some way. Also, I’m pretty sure doing nothing would send me crazy.

(Wrath) Which news story makes you white with rage?

Boat people being sent back to face persecution in countries from which they have fled and hearing reports about the living conditions of refugees in detention centres.

When did we become a nation so unmoved by human suffering? I’m deeply ashamed by the existence of

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Australia’s detention centres and I’m angered by attitudes demonstrating a lack of compassion for refugees.

(Envy) Who's shoes would you like to walk in?

When I was growing up my dad had a saying that has always stayed with me: “You never really know someone until you’ve walked in their shoes.”

So for me, it would be an interesting experiment if every Australian, myself included, could walk in the shoes of a refugee for just one day.

(Pride) What is the one thing you’re secretly proud of?

Secretly I’m proud that I made the WA Grand Final of RAW Comedy in 2013. I’ve always loved stand-up comedy but my comedy debut was delayed (funnily enough) because I worked in radio with so many genuinely talented comedians. So after getting through some tough heats at The Charles Hotel, I made the grand final. I’m proud that my family and friends were in the audience as I shared a few mildly amusing anecdotes at His Majesty’s Theatre alongside so many talented Perth comedians.

(Lust) Who makes your heart beat faster?

Unfortunately, nobody right now. Over the last few years my priorities have been raising Bella and consolidating my career in the notoriously cut-throat media industry, which means my personal life has been non-existent. Dead as the GST. But I haven’t given up hoping I’ll meet someone who might be able to fit into my life the same way I might fit into theirs. Is there room to give out my mobile number here? Just kidding… MQ

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