AusBiz Magazine – January/February 2021

AusBiz.

NEWS+VIEWS | MINING | AGRIBUSINESS | INFRASTRUCTURE

p.08 Lentils, & four generations of farming P.12 australia’s thriving lavender industry P.16 recession-proofing australia P.21 putting an end to water wastage p.28 quinoa hits the mainstream

WORKPLACE WELLBEING & HOW WE CAN DO BETTER Bia Affonso, Head of Impact at Neu21, outlines where we’re falling short on fostering wellness in the workplace and how we can improve. p24

SUPPLIERS OF NEW, USED AND RECONDITIONED PARTS & COMPONENTS P 1300 4 SPARES E sales@expressway.com.au W www.expressway.com.au SUPPLYING THE EARTHMOVING INDUSTRY WITH PARTS & EQUIPMENT SUITABLE FOR CATERPILLAR & HITACHI SINCE 1964

WORKSHOP FACILITIES IN WAUCHOPE, HUNTER VALLEY, MACKAY & PERTH

WAUCHOPE 02 6585 1000

HUNTER VALLEY 02 6574 6499

MACKAY 07 4955 0220

PERTH 08 9477 1355

GUNNEDAH 02 6741 4777

AUSBIZ NEWS

Going Straight To The Source The notion to “support local” has never been more prevalent than it is now. As the ability to import quality, COVID-safe goods from overseas becomes increasingly challenging, Australians are being encouraged to shop closer to home. “Buy local” is a message that the team at Straight To The Source have been championing since 2012 when the two founding partners identified an alarming chasm between producers and consumers in Australia.

“We’ve been hearing for years what a challenge it is for producers to get their product, brand or destinations in front of the right people,” says co-founder Tawnya Bahr. As a leading food expert, executive chef and advocate for Australian producers, Tawnya’s mission has always been to leverage the vast network she has amassed in her 23-year career to connect primary and artisan producers with people who truly value their food.

The second brain behind the brand is Lucy Allon, whose 20 years in the food industry has seen her work alongside leading chefs and restaurateurs such as Maggie Beer, Matt Moran and Neil Perry. Straight To The Source initially began offering food tours and workshops in regional areas to educate their growing community of chefs, food industry professionals and discerning foodies about sustainability produced goods in Australia. Destinations such as the Grampians, Eyre Peninsula and Macleay Valley have previously played host to these highly educational experiences. However, when COVID-19 hit, all tours and face-to-face operations had to cease, sending Tawnya and Lucy back to the drawing board.

From mighty challenges new opportunities grow and soon Straight To The Source was manifested in a new form – an online directory connecting producers, chefs and foodies alike. The platform highlights the exceptional offerings of both Australian and New Zealand producers as well as covering up-to-date industry news to keep their audience informed about new ingredients, emerging food industries and sustainability and innovation.

With tours and workshops set to resume in 2021, the robust offerings from Straight To The Source will no doubt solidify its position and prominence in the Australian food scene.

To find out more, visit straighttothesource.com.au

ATTACK OF THE ARMYWORM Between drought, rising input costs, reduced water allocation and hit-andmiss harvests, you’d think farmers would have enough to worry about. Throw in a crop-destroying foreign pest and you’re dealing with some seriously tough working conditions.

The latest agricultural threat to Australia’s farming industry, fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda), first reached the mainland in February 2020 after being detected on the Torres Strait Islands the month prior. A moth native to the American tropics, it has been known to decimate crops overseas, specifically maize, sweetcorn and sorghum.

Since its detection across northern parts of Queensland, Northern Territory and Western Australia, fall armyworm has been quick to establish. In response to the growing threat, Plant Health Australia (PHA)

has announced new resources to assist in defending crops against the pest.

Stuart Kearns, National Manager for Preparedness and RD&E at PHA, said that the threat posed by fall armyworm prompted concerted efforts to find out about its likely effects in Australia and how best to manage it.

“We have sourced knowledge from around the world to develop a new reference guide on the pest, together with a series of podcasts, that will help the industry manage the invasive moth species,” says Stuart.

“The information assembled includes how to scout for and recognise the pest, its life cycle and biology, estimated areas at risk, and management practices that will help to limit the damage it causes.”

A Fall Armyworm Continuity Plan has been created by the Grains Research Development Corporation, led by cesar Australia with project partners PHA, Centre for Agriculture and Bioscience International, and the Queensland Department of Primary Industries.

The 75-page document is intended for use as a reference guide that provides a basis for designing area wide management plans, crop specific management manuals and strategies to avoid resistance to chemical controls.

The other resource, a series of podcasts, aimed primarily at agronomists and growers, will prepare farm businesses for potential impacts.

JAN/FEB 2021

3

The future is looking bright for Australian industry Nestled in the Tweed Valley outside headquarters of Australian Radio Towers – an engineering, fabrication and construction company with a focus on servicing industry and infrastructure development projects in Australia.

But Australian Radio Towers is far from your average manufacturing and construction company.

4

AusBiz.

With Andrew Price, the company’s dynamic and forward-thinking CEO at the helm, Australian Radio Towers is destined for a bright and progressive future within the Australian industrial landscape.

As 2021 unfolds, and we re-evaluate the year that was undeniably the most catalytic we’ve seen in the 21st century, many Australian businesses are taking stock on what the future of Australian industry will look like and how they can tackle what’s next.

Australian Radio Towers is one such company. With a legacy dating back to 1974, the company started as a small family business with the ambition, passion and commitment to be pioneers of their industry. Forty six years

AUSTRALIAN RADIO TOWERS

later it's an ethos that seeds through the company culture and drives the company’s ambition.

Now with 65 employees and a long, proud history of successfully servicing government, military, public and private utilities, the Australian Radio Towers team has positioned themselves to be at the forefront of development across the industries they service.

As the name suggests, Australian Radio Towers has predominantly serviced the communication and renewable energy industries. However, as the company has continued to expand its research and development team, consistently and successfully implementing innovative practices across a number of their projects, a need for its solutions across a variety of industries outside of the communication and renewable energy space has emerged.

The ccompany now services not just the communications and renewable energy sectors, but has expanded into other arenas as well, such as the natural resources and emergency services industries.

“We’re continuing to see that the solutions we’re building for the communications and renewable energy sectors have the ability to serve a purpose across a multitude of industries, and our research and development team are continuing work and the contribution we can make within the Australian innovation ecosystem,” says Andrew.

With much of its success stemming from a client-centric model – where the approach will always be centered around taking the time to understand the requirements of each of their clients needs – the team are able to bring unique solutions, designed with the

rugged Australian climate in mind.

This way, robust, sturdy and long-lasting infrastructure is created that ticks all of the sustainability boxes.

Australian Radio Towers’ research and development team is doing more than just addressing challenges that relate to products and services – they’re working on developing intuitive and diverse solutions for all aspects of the business.

This has led to the team focussing on the future of the business, governance structure and the enhancement of relationship building within the industry.

All of this is driven by Andrew’s vision for a company that holds innovation and sustainability at the core of every aspect of its work, not just the product offering.

“Delivering sustainable solutions

for the future is no longer just about the sustainability of the product you’re producing, but the sustainability of your business. It’s also about creating a healthy, supportive and long-lasting environment for your clients and staff to thrive in,” Andrew says.

"Sustainability, especially when seeded throughout an entire company, can seem like an insurmountable feat," he says. "But as a sustainable future becomes a more important endeavour for all of us, looking to companies such as Australian Radio Towers as a beacon of what's possible, is giving us all hope for the development and implementation of dynamic solutions that can solve the most crucial challenges of our generation." australianradiotowers.com JAN/FEB 2021

5

POSITION PARTNERS

Evolution mining Improving reliability, longevity and accuracy of deformation monitoring at Mt Carlton gold mine.

Mid-tier gold producer Evolution Mining has rolled out a Senceive wireless monitoring platform at its Mt Carlton site to deliver live reporting to supervisors and control teams.

Mt Carlton is located 150 kilometres south of Townsville, Queensland. Operating a 500-metre by 400-metre pit and a 600-metre by 600-metre tailings dam, the company opted to introduce advanced deformation monitoring technology to deliver real-time status updates and alerts to its team.

Evolution opted for Senceive’s GeoWAN solution, a long-range transmission system capable of covering areas up to 15 kilometres.

It incorporates several sensors placed along the tailings dam and/or pit walls to measure for minute movements in the surface. The sensors are wirelessly connected to a solar powered gateway, positioned near the pit, where data is transferred live to the web-based monitoring software.

Depending on the application, different sensors can be used in combination to deliver highly accurate geotechnical measurements, including tilt, pressure, vibration, temperature or optical displacement.

6

AusBiz.

POSITION PARTNERS

The setup at Mt Carlton At Mt Carlton, Evolution has more than 20 triaxial tilt sensors positioned around the tailings dam to measure for any movement. The team is also rolling out live monitoring of piezometers that measure changes to moisture levels within the tailings dam walls.

In the open pit, there are numerous sensors pillar movement.

Senior Mine Surveyor for the company, Callum McNaughton, said the solution has enabled his small team to provide accurate, viable monitoring data to the departments that need it.

“The wireless monitoring platform has been perfect for us,” he said. “It dramatically reduces the need for us to manually survey these areas, saving us time and increasing safety by removing surveyors walking these areas on foot.”

One of the key advantages, Mr McNaughton explains, is the ability to set different tolerances and time triggers for each sensor and/or area.

“In the tailings dam we have a slightly higher tolerance before any alerts are triggered, because you do get some movement in the dam and swelling from rain,” he said.

“Inside the pit and in one area where there is a crack in the wall, the tolerance is much tighter and the sensors are triggered more frequently,” he every ten minutes in the pit, whereas they monitor every half an hour on the tailings dam.”

Complementing a surveyor’s work Mr McNaughton said that the wireless monitoring system did not replace traditional survey methods, but instead complemented them with ongoing monitoring data that enables early intervention and proactive management of the pit and tailings dam.

“The platform doesn’t take away from a mine surveyor’s work – it acts as a pre-warning system and enables us to track trends over time,” Mr McNaughton said.

“In my opinion, the reliability, longevity and accuracy of the system we have in place at Mt Carlton would be hard to beat,” he added.

For more information, visit: positionpartners.com.au, or call 1300 867 266

JAN/FEB 2021

7

AGRICULTURE

MEET THE PINNAROO FARMER Phillipa Lawson, a fourth-generation farmer, shares the story of her family’s 1500-hectare property straddling the South Australian and Victorian border.

Words: emily herbert photos: Melissa Brown

As a mother of two with an environmental science degree, working as a middle school teacher, Phillipa helm of her family’s farm. Her husband, Skeet, an aircraft mechanic in the airforce, travelled extensively for work and had, too, never considered a life on the land. But when Phillipa’s father approached the pair about taking over the property, they were both surprised and delighted.

“Skeet had a massive tree change.

I thought I was marrying an air force mechanic!” Phillipa laughs. “He was a real city boy. He was in the RAAF for 12 years. But after coming home, dad asked Skeet if he’d like to give it a go for a year – and here we are.”

The pair moved back to the farm and have been working the land ever since, their two daughters growing up free-range in the paddocks Phillipa herself grew up in. In an effort to look

8

AusBiz.

after the land as much as possible, Skeet uses a multi-pronged approach to weed management, helping to reduce chemical use while boosting production and soil health. The family sow wheat, then barley, followed by a pulse crop for That’s not to say they haven’t had their challenges. After a huge career change, the pair have had to learn years, we had two droughts, a number of devastating frosts and a plague,” says Phillipa. time at home with their kids far operation. In fact, it was the couple’s youngest daughter, Annabelle, that helped steer Phillipa towards her latest

nutritionist suggested more protein could be helpful. So Phillipa began

AGRICULTURE

PHILLIPA WANDERING THE FIELDS OF HER 1,500-HECTARE FARM IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA

JAN/FEB 2021

9

AGRICULTURE

LEFT: PHILLIPA'S RED LENTIL BROWNIES RIGHT: PHILLIPA & SKEET ON THEIR PORCH, RED LENTIL FLOUR, MOULDING DOUGH, PINNAROO FARM GOODIES & THE FAMILY IN THEIR FIELDS.

MOIST RED LENTIL CHOC CHIP SLICE INGREDIENTS incorporating red lentils straight from the paddock into their meals, but it wasn’t an easy introduction.

“If I added lentils straight into the dishes, she would pick them out,” Phillipa says. “I was talking to Skeet about it, and suddenly thought maybe I could grind the lentils some protein into her diet! I found our sauces and add nutrients to her biscuits and pancakes.”

Phillipa realised that the vast majority of lentils sold in the local supermarkets were imported, while the top quality Australian grown crops were exported overseas.

With the crops vulnerable to foreign tariffs and considered unsalable if damaged in any way, Phillipa saw the opportunity to diversify channels onshore.

“If the lentils are chipped or dented from coming through the header and aren’t deemed pretty enough for the packet, they don’t make export grade – even though they have exactly the same nutritional value,” Phillipa says. “It seems like such a waste, especially if producing a milled product. I started to look into milling Ultimately, my vision is that The Pinnaroo Farmer will one day use not just our lentils, but crops from around the district, giving farmers greater autonomy about how their lentils are sold.”

10

AusBiz.

With demand for plant-based proteins on the rise, Phillipa feels optimistic about her product’s future. Devising a system to separate the lentil and grain side of their free – another value add that the Lawson’s customers love. The lentils are harvested, then sent to be cleaned before returning to the farm to be processed by Phillipa’s are then sent to Adelaide to be tested for gluten traces, which helps put Phillipa’s mind at ease about the purity of the product. months to go from concept to delivery – now stocked in the Pinnaroo bakery, a supermarket in Adelaide and online.

Launched during the COVID-19 pandemic, Phillipa’s panache and eye for a gap in the market, combined with her love for the land and the produce they create, has marked the venture a success with incredible future potential.

“It’s good for my family, it’s great for the product to be enjoyed locally and hopefully it will one day service other customers who’d like to be able to trace their lentils from gate to plate,” Phillipa says. “Most of all, it’s the support and feedback from our customers that love what we’re offering. This really makes me proud and suggests we’re on the right track.”

• 125g melted butter • 1/2 cup brown sugar • 2 eggs • 1/2 cup of The Pinnaroo Farmer red lentil flour • 1/2 cup tapioca flour (for non GF use plain flour) • 1 tsp vanilla essence • 1/2 tsp baking powder • 1/4 tsp bicarb soda (baking soda) • 3/4 cup choc chips…you can also use sultanas NOW WHAT? Line a 20cm square tin… I use whatever slice tin I have available!

Mix butter, sugar, eggs and vanilla in a bowl. It will form a smooth caramel batter.

Add flour, choc chips, baking powder and bi carb to the mixture and stir well.

Pour into the tin.

Cook on 170 degrees for 15-20min until slightly springy when you touch it.

Cool in the tin and then cut the slice into squares.

If I hide these from the hubby and kids… I can get nearly a week of lunchbox snacks! Sometimes I sprinkle coconut on top or use cranberries instead of choc chips.

"My vision is that The Pinnaroo Farmer will one day use crops from around the district, giving farmers greater autonomy about how their lentils are sold."

JAN/FEB 2021

11

INDUSTRY

THE SMELL OF SUCCESS: AUSTRALIA'S LAVENDER INDUSTRY Australia’s lavender industry is about to bloom in a big way thanks to a new partnership which could bump Aussie farmers into the international spotlight.

Words: bethany plint

SUNSET OVER A THRIVING LAVENDER FIELD

12

AusBiz.

INDUSTRY

Placing a small bunch of lavender in your sock draw has always been standard practice, but this fragrant purple plant is bound for much bigger things than resting amongst your unmentionables.

Image: Thomas Despeyroux

Australia’s emerging lavender industry is set to grow thanks to a partnership between AgriFutures Australia and La Trobe University’s Institute for Agriculture and Food (LIAF) that will identify the best conditions and farming methods for the The research project aims to educate the farming industry on best practices for cultivating high quality lavender products, and LIAF Research Director Professor Jim Whelan says the work could position Australia as a world-leader in lavender oil

JAN/FEB 2021

13

INDUSTRY

aromatherapy and culinary applications, as “This project will equip farmers with the tools and knowledge to grow consistent, La Trobe agronomist Dr Marisa Collins says, “Lavender is super tough and highly tolerant of poor soils, drought, frosts and wind, but to tap lavender’s full potential, we will provide growers with tailored crop nutrition strategies that are backed by peer The project is funded as part of the AgriFutures Emerging Industries Program which has its sights set on supporting the emergence of rural industries that can reach

be conducted to ensure the quality of each harvest meets the regulatory standards set out for both lavender and lavandin (hybrid

FROM LITTLE THINGS BIG PROFITS GROW AgriFutures Australia Senior Manager, Emerging Industries Tom McCue says, “Lavender is a high growth potential industry and partnering with LIAF to improve agronomic principles, increase grower numbers and crop production will help the industry progress towards the $10 million

of the industry is at the core of this work, and we look forward to achieving this through dedicated industry research, development

Image: Baraa Jalahej

“Lavender is highly sought after for marketing opportunities from ornamental

QUALITY VS QUANTITY A member of the mint family, lavender has a long history of cultivation, dating back to the Mediterranean region which thrives in wellOften dried out for potpourri, it has recently experienced a spike in demand,

extract the intensely fragrant oil which is now Two main species of lavender appear to dominate the industry – common English or true lavender (Lavendula angustifolio) yields the best quality oil, while the latter delivers three times the quantity but at

products which, while all marketed as the same strain, had varying degrees of quality the two industry bodies – The Essential Oils Producers Association of Australia and The Australian Lavender Growers Association – in conjunction with Standards Australia posits that frequent testing must

14

AusBiz.

Image: Olga Tutunaru

Distinction between the two varieties has proven a challenge for the Australian

INDUSTRY

and extension (RD&E) plan,” says LIAF experts in soil science, plant trials and data collection, curation and analyses will map the performance of different lavender varieties and farming practices to optimise their growth and assess soil characteristics and fertiliser regimes, and develop future breeding strategies to optimise lavender quality The project is in partnership with essential oil distiller and exporter Lavender Industry Association (TALGA) and phenotyping technology company Australian arm of global phenotyping

MORE ABOUT LIAF & AGRIFUTURES

FAST FACTS

The La Trobe Institute for Agriculture and Food (LIAF) is a research institute for soil science and agronomy, seed biology, nutritional bioengineering and medicinal agriculture – based at the

LAVENDER FLOURISHES BEST IN DRY, SANDY OR GRAVELLY SOILS IN FULL SUN AND NEEDS LITTLE

research aims to meet critical societal needs relating to seed production, food and nutrition challenges posed by a growing population in a resource AgriFutures Australia is the trading name for Rural Industries Research & AgriFutures Australia invests in research, leadership, innovation and learning to support industries that do not have their own research and development function, as well as new

AUSTRALIA'S LAVENDER INDUSTRY CONSISTS OF MANY SMALL PRODUCERS AND ONLY

SOME OF THE PROPOSED BENEFITS OF LAVENDER OIL INCLUDE REDUCING ANXIETY,

AND ACCELERATING THE HEALING TIME FOR MINOR

JAN/FEB 2021

15

FINANCE

16

AusBiz.

FINANCE

FINANCIAL TRANSFORMATION: THE SAVING GRACE OF AUSTRALIA’S BUSINESSECONOMY Staring down the barrel of another recession, Carolyn Breeze, ANZ General Manager of GoCardless transformation could recessionproof Australia’s business economy. words: Carolyn Breeze COVID-19 has incited the world’s largest and fastest digital transformation period in recent history. Disrupted supply chains, decentralised operations and remote teams have imposed a new way of doing business, all enabled by technology.

The pandemic has also impacted consumer spending behaviours, forcing companies to ramp up their online presence.

Australia Post’s 2020 eCommerce Report reveals that local eCommerce grew more than 80 per cent in the eight weeks after the World Health Organisation declared COVID-19 a global pandemic. With eCommerce becoming the new normal, the way consumers spend money is naturally evolving.

ONLINE SHOPPING AND THE SUBSCRIPTION ECONOMY Subscriptions and micropayments are big business in Australia, with research indicating that 70 per cent of the population, or 18 million people, count themselves as subscribers. The average household spends $660 per month on recurring goods and services, and throughout the pandemic, this JAN/FEB 2021

17

FINANCE

Financial transformation refers to the process of making financial operations, processes and outputs more efficient.

has been exacerbated. Relationshipcommerce platform Order Groove recorded a 40 per cent increase in new enrolments across most subscription verticals, with household goods and supplies ranking among the top growth categories.

For businesses to remain relevant in a post-COVID, recession-laden economy, they must support their online offerings with equally advanced and relevant digital payment options.

More than just digital transformation, COVID-19 has revealed the need for Financial transformation refers to the

Despite its potential for broad can produce use-cases that drive value for customers and companies alike.

For businesses to survive Australia’s

18

AusBiz.

need to start considering the value of parallel with digital strategies.

TO THE ONLINE CHECKOUT, AND BEYOND While eCommerce is the way forward, it also brings with it a new set of challenges. In particular, market saturation and knowing how to stand out from the crowd.

In a recession, consumers become more discerning with where and how they spend their money. Although, it’s not just about offering the lowest price, consumers want a positive experience at every touchpoint with a brand, including the checkout.

In a survey of 1,200 consumers in abandoning their cart because their preferred payment method was not

on offer. That equates to $7 billion in annual abandoned sales.

The rise of digital payments has brought more choice than ever to the eCommerce industry, with subscription models and buy now, pay later platforms becoming a trend that Australian consumers have latched on to for good. This boils down to two emerging payment behaviours: an aversion to debt, and a disinterest in ‘ownership.’ Research by Zuora indicates that 70 per cent of people believe subscriptions free them from cent wanting to own less ‘stuff.’

These trends connect payments to more than just the checkout; it shows part of the eCommerce experience.

The modern consumer is brand agnostic: if you’re not offering their preferred payment model, be it direct

FINANCE

competitor who does.

Flexible payment options are part and parcel of the digital transformation process. But setting yourself up with checkout options doesn’t have to be complicated when you lean on best-in-

GET FINTECHS TO DO THE HARD WORK FOR YOU

specialists in niche elements of

is to automate certain processes that minimise human-touch; reduce spend; and maintain a competitive edge when it comes to customer acquisition. The best way to achieve this? By leaning on providers who transform both the

Financial infrastructure and payments are a complex part of any business.

Given the relative newness of diverse digital payment methods, it’s unlikely that the average company will have a

business, and the customer experience.

As an example, 70 per cent of ANZ businesses are looking to shift to a subscription model within the next two to three years. However, having the

out of the transformation journey.

Australasia is home to more than

will be critical to their success as a subscription provider.

Recurring billing platforms like Chargebee make it easy to accept regular payments. To get the highest

return on investment however, companies must make sure their backend systems can accept micropayments seamlessly for the customer and business. Finding a low-touch platform that offers the infrastructure to support both of these functions is essential.

There is no point investing solely in customer-focused technology if it causes more work for you behind the scenes. transformation is using best in class payment providers enabling businesses to replace outdated practices like paper-based bank debit in the case of GoCardless.

Moreover, the specialist and agile companies who use them on the cutting-edge of innovation, helping them navigate and recession-proof their business for the future.

JAN/FEB 2021

19

beyond anxiety

COMMUNITY

#FinishWaterWaste: HELPING FARMERS MANAGE THE ONGOING IMPACTS OFÂ DROUGHT

Image: Tyler Alberti

Since its launch in 2019, the #FinishWaterWaste campaign has raised more than 14.8 million litres of water for struggling farmers. Staring down the barrel of another unpredictable Australian summer, consumers must understand the power they have to preserve one of our most precious resources.

Words: Saurabh JaiN

JAN/FEB 2021

21

Image: Archie Sartracom

COMMUNITY

Too many of the rural communities across Australia are still recovering from the terrible trifecta that was Summer 2019/20 – heatwaves, drought

nation’s farmers are not forgotten and

COVID-19, which brought even more uncertainty to the nation’s farmers

40 litres of water will be delivered to a

us means that many Australians living

still struggling for water security as

drought in rural communities, with many still facing water restrictions and, in the worst cases, reliant on deliveries

worst droughts on record drags on,” says Saurabh Jain, Marketing Director

A RESPONSIBILITY TO AFFECT CHANGE insight that rinsing dishes before stacking them in the dishwasher wastes

Australians could collectively save 20 “As a leader in household cleaning

liquid gold to our farmers – it really is one of the best gifts we can give

aims to educate metro-dwelling Australians on the struggles of drought

22

AusBiz.

Since launching in 2019, the initiative litres of water for struggling Australian farmers, with deliveries of water

KEEPING OUR FARMERS GOING from Clifton, Queensland,

COMMUNITY

received a delivery of water via the

their 25-year old farm, whittling the 50, and forcing them to economise to “At the height of the dry, our dams

The farmers had less than 10 inches of water in their tank when a

Image: Tyler Alberti

HOW CAN WE HELP RURAL AUSTRALIANS?

Quit pre-rinsing dishes before stacking them in the dishwasher to save up to 40 litres of water per load.

than ever that the issue of drought

FIVE WAYS TO SAVE WATER AROUND THE HOME

Challenge” to encourage Australians to live off 40 litres of water for one day and ultimately become more water on social media, using the hashtag 40 litre water donation to a farmer

ABOVE: CATE & KARL WELCOMING THEIR WATER DELIVERY OPPOSITE: #FINISHWATERWASTE ACTIVATION AT BONDI ICEBERGS

Rinse fruit and veg in a bowl rather than under running water and use the leftover water for your plants or garden.

Choose the half-flush on a dual flush toilet.

Upgrade to a water-efficient showerhead, which uses 9 litres of water per minute and saves 20,000 litres of water per person per year.

Switching from a top loader to a front load washing machine saves up to 70% of water, saving around 36,000 litres of water per household per year.

For more information on how you can help, visit finishwaterwaste.com.au JAN/FEB 2021

23

IN THE WORKPLACE

BIA AFFONSO LEADING A WORKSHOP WITH HER TEAM AT NEU21

24

AusBiz.

IN THE WORKPLACE

WHY WE’RE FAILING AT WORKPLACE WELLBEING AND HOW WE CAN DO BETTER Bia Affonso, Head of Impact at Neu21, outlines where we’re falling short on fostering wellness in the workplace and how we can improve.

Words: Bia Alfonso Photos: chris mcconville In most traditional workplaces, wellbeing is a box ticked after fruit bowls and Employee Assistance Programs (EAP) are provided, offering services and healthy food options.

It is time to acknowledge that the wellbeing of our people goes far beyond EAP services. How do we foster positive emotions at work when we’re stripped of our autonomy? How if we don’t understand how our work contributes to the organisation’s purpose and strategic goals? And how can we sleep peacefully when we’re assigned more work, and everything seems urgent?

JAN/FEB 2021

25

IN THE WORKPLACE

LEFT: TEAM MEETING AT THE NEU21 OFFICE RIGHT: NEU21 TEAM WORKING COLLABORATIVELY & BIA AFFONSO IN HER OFFICE

Now imagine having to cope with the above when working remotely, juggling home schooling, a shared working space with your partner and the added pressure of managing impressions when showing up in zoom calls. How do we keep it together when lockdown is pushing some to mental breakdown, surfacing the loneliness modern world?

The pandemic has awakened many leaders from their apathy and sleepmode, but for many they were abruptly asked to take action without knowing how to. Some are still groggy catching up to maintain performance and provide support while their people are working from home or in the frontline. I’m not even mentioning the employees who were let go or stood down – with those, the risk of real struggle is even more heightened.

How do leaders, used to striving shareholders for doing so, navigate such a complex and challenging time?

26

AusBiz.

They are the byproduct of a broken system that never taught them how to focus on their people’s and their own wellbeing, especially during disruption.

As W. Edwards Deming wisely said: “94% of problems in business are systems-driven and only 6% are people driven.”

We’re still feeling the hangover of

The reality is that leaders have now been pushed to rethink how they design their policies, practices and reward systems. The old paradigm of growth at all cost is not equating to more gains as a rule of thumb, and how we manage change in a simplistic, linear and binary good-or-bad way, doesn’t cut it anymore.

early 20th century practices and narratives of what people need at work. According to the Change Lab 2020 Workplace report, employees who had no workplace support were more likely to feel that their organisation and teams were just getting by or really struggling with COVID-19.

ways of working, people happiness and wellbeing have gained momentum, but if we don’t turn these into action we run the risk of falling asleep again and reverting to our old ways.

Traditionally, employees’ wellbeing has been delegated to HR practitioners who are not usually trained or incentivised to create

IN THE WORKPLACE

"Sometimes a real conversation is more powerful than any fruit bowl or free yoga class that we don’t have time to attend."

human-centred policies, practices, processes or KPIs. Employees are often stigmatised as being problematic if We thought that we were giving our people everything they needed to feel good, but we are still stuck in a with technical solutions. Sometimes a real conversation is more powerful than any fruit bowl or free yoga class that we don’t have time to attend.

Wellbeing should be a core strategic focus, not a perk or an afterthought.

It’s about trust, adaptability and kindness. By intentionally designing our organisations using these principles people are more likely to do well despite the rampant challenges we face today. It’s a journey of discovery, experimentation and development.

We need this now more than ever before, so that individuals function well, feel good and are better equipped to not only perform, but also create a wellbeing economy – an economy where both people and

JAN/FEB 2021

27

AGRICULTURE

A NEW KIND OF QUINOA This ancient grain is about to burst out of its boutique bubble and hit the mainstream as a new open access variety becomes available.

Words: AGRIFUTURES AUSTRALIA

28

AusBiz.

AGRICULTURE

AgriFutures Australia's investment into the industry has provided growers with access to high quality quinoa seed suitable for Australian conditions.

Quinoa has been touted by healthy eating fanatics as the “better version of brown rice,” packed full of nutrients that put other grains to shame. But it has always sat on the proverbial top shelf in terms of its status (and price).

That could all change, however, with the development of a new variety that will be widely accessible to farmers around the country, allowing the smaller players of

opportunities for farmers to grow the popular superfood, with increased production potential for both local and

Australia’s agricultural industry to jump on the quinoa bandwagon and enjoy some of its success.

was undertaken between 2015 and 2019, funded by AgriFutures Australia, with coinvestment from the Western Australian Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD).

The project focused on investigating where and how quinoa can be grown

OPEN SOURCE GRAINS A new open access quinoa variety developed in Australia is set to boost

non-contract variety in Australia, “Kruso White” may be the key to transitioning quinoa from a niche, cottage crop to wider adoption across Australian broadacre farming environments.

A national quinoa research project

across Australia. The endeavour was also successful in developing the new variety, which is now ready for bulk up and commercialisation.

The new variety, known as “Kruso White”, was launched in Kununurra in northern WA on Tuesday 8 September by the Hon. Alannah MacTiernan MLC, WA Minister for Regional Development, Agriculture and Food.

PLANTING SEEDS FOR THE FUTURE Access to the locally bred Kruso White will soon be available for farmers. They’ll be required to submit an Expression of Interest through DPIRD, which seeks to JAN/FEB 2021

29

AGRICULTURE

Credit: Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development

IMAGE: DR HARMOHINDER DHAMMU, PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR OF THE PROJECT, IN QUINOA VARIETY TRIAL AT GERALDTON, WA.

licence multiple organisations to bulk up and market the quinoa variety upon its commercial release. Both group and individual applications are encouraged.

AgriFutures Australia General Manager, Business Development, Michael Beer, welcomed the launch, emphasising the increased opportunity that a public variety of quinoa offers Australian producers.

“The production of quinoa globally climbed from 23,000 tonnes in 1990 to almost 200,000 tonnes in 2019,” says in demand, the national quinoa project recognised the potential for quinoa as a high value cash and break crop in Australian cropping systems.”

With promising results under both rainfed and irrigated conditions, Kruso White has proven suitable for winter and springautumn sowing, has wide adaptability, good yield and high seed quality.

GROWING GREAT GRAINS An agronomic package including weed control options, best management practice, improved techniques of seed processing and the economics of quinoa production has also been developed as part of the project outcomes.

Dr Harmohinder Dhammu, research scientist at DPIRD and principal investigator of the quinoa project, said the average yield of Kruso White across 15 good trials at a national level was

30

AusBiz.

1.5t/ha, with a yield range of 0.5-3.1t/ha.

Gross margins of Kruso White production were found to be double that of wheat and canola under rainfed conditions at Geraldton WA, assuming quinoa yield of just 1t/ha.

Rich in proteins and essential amino acids, quinoa is well deserving of its reputation as a “superfood”, and even offers a gluten free substitute for other cereals. Its wide availability and the varied uses of the seeds for consumption has led to an increase in demand for quinoa worldwide.

The launch of the Kruso White quinoa is an example of successful collaboration directing investment and research into a niche agricultural market with potential for expansion.

KIMBERLEY GRANDE HOTEL EXPERIENCE THE BEAUTY OF THE KIMBERLEY

www.kimberleygrande.com.au 20 Victoria Highway, Kununurra WA 6743 Phone: 1300 9555 49 | 08 7918 7885 | Email:

PUZZLES

CROSSWORD 1

2

3

4

5

8

6

7

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

27

D

M I L C I Z L F T D L I F

E E K C I E O E H A R K O

L U E F R C A R A M E L S

D

SOLUTIONS:

Y

E

A

M T

R

A

F R

L

A

D

H

A

C

S

H

E A T S

S

B

E

T

L

I W

R A

D

R

A

S

T T

E

R L

T

L

N

N G U

R B

Y A

F

D I

G T

D

B

F R N

U A

E

O O O

O S A

I

E

S B

T

T

A L

G R

P O R

E G A P

I D

E R

A N

K

C

R N A

O A

H

T C

B

A

I

T

T C U

A

P

C

S

W O R A N G E J U I C E C

M I L K S H A K E M B K O

E U P E T A L O C O H C K

H S A U Q S N O M E L A K

Y S S L R A H S R A P N K

E M O A W I E W T P I J N

D O Y I L K C T L R T H I

A O A D D G E E D U E D R

N T M R E J J Y M E E R D

O H I O L U Z B F I C B T

M I L C I Z L F T D L I F

E E K C I E O E H A R K O

L U E F R C A R A M E L S

AusBiz.

SMOOTHIE SOFT DRINK SOYA MILK TUMBLER

H

32

ICED TEA LATTE LEMON SQUASH LEMONADE MILKSHAKE ORANGE JUICE RICE MILK

C O C

APPLE JUICE CARAMEL CHOCOLATE COFFEE CORDIAL FIZZY DRINK GLASS

25. Young chap started like a dream (3)

B O O B O O

27. Cook taco mix for parrot (8)

O H I O L U Z B F I C B T E

26. Hope deer is let loose (6)

N T M R E J J Y M E E R D

R

23. Mistake made by Yogi’s partner 20. Foil what’s often on the rocks (6) (3-3) 21. Come before tea to see a heavenly 24. Cancelled producing child body! (5) before spring (3) 23. Raised cattle, branded, and went (4)

A O A D D G E E D U E D R

D

16. Sole position in the way (9)

D O Y I L K C T L R T H I

R

15. Horse-drawn transport for a theatre instructor (10)

E M O A W I E W T P I J N

I

22. Dashes off other half of code (4)

Y S S L R A H S R A P N K

H S A U Q S N O M E L A K

E U P E T A L O C O H C K

M I L K S H A K E M B K O

I

19. Depress some prudish ear?

Tenacious! (10)

7. Insert a leader in Russia (5) 13. Anna kissed Dick, said to be antigovernment (11)

W O R A N G E J U I C E C

T

18. Complaining bitterly about fence (7)

6. Do they break in to steal mice? (3,8)

S

17. Longed for Ned after 12 months (7)

5. Lord’s wife seen with Chatterley’s lover! (4)

C

14. I leave train games for ships (10)

4. One who carries grizzly animal and queen (6)

Find all the words listed hidden in the grid of letters.

They can be found in straight lines up, down, forwards, backwards or even diagonally. Theme: DRINK UP

T

12. Temptation changed a bit (4)

WORD SEARCH

S

11. Be salver or be disloyal (6)

3. Weird spade adapted for use by many people (10)

T

2. Beat a retreat, initially, to pub (3)

E

9. You can count on it (6) 10. Raft no longer right behind (3)

C

1. For each grade, journalist put on an act (9)

M

DOWN

8. Give lawful permission to call on league allies (8)

D O

ACROSS

D

26

VISIT THE REAL AUSTRALIA

TRULYAUS.COM