Airnorth Magazine - April/May 2020

April/May 2020

TA KEM E M E HO AD TO R E

A real Australian business magazine

Bountiful Broome Your gateway to the Kimberley

GET INTO EXMOUTH

Whale sharks and marine wonders

ZEN TIME

Downtime in Australia’s top yoga retreats

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Canberra

Welcome aboard I would like to take this opportunity to address the current travel climate that customers, businesses and communities are all experiencing throughout Australia and across the globe. Earlier this year we saw our neighbours in the eastern and southern states affected by bushfires that swept through communities for weeks on end. Our thoughts are with those communities now as they start to rebuild.

Closer to home, we are all experiencing the real concern of Coronavirus and what this means for our communities, families and friends both near and far. I would like to assure you that, as always, safety remains our priority and we are taking all necessary measures to ensure the safety of our customers and staff. We remain committed to the communities we serve and will continue to deliver a safe and reliable service to the destinations we fly to and from. Our regular cleaning and maintenance procedures have been amended to include a disinfect process, with

a unique antimicrobial technology that actively protects our treated hard and soft surfaces for up to 100 days.

Furthermore, all our aircraft have been fitted with a Universal Precaution Kit in addition to the biohazard kit, which includes gloves, hand sanitiser and face masks to keep our customers and crew safe in the event of a suspected case during flight.

While some borders may have travel restrictions, Australia is still very much open for business, and Airnorth is here to connect you to some of our country’s most unique destinations. This year, when planning your 2020 holidays, we encourage you to do the neighbourly thing and ‘go next door’: visit a neighbouring region and explore Australia.

Thank you for choosing to fly Airnorth. Sit back, relax and enjoy your flight.

Daniel Bowden, Chief Executive Officer, Airnorth APRIL/MAY 2020

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KIMBERLEY GRANDE HOTEL EXPERIENCE THE BEAUTY OF THE KIMBERLEY

Nestled amongst the wilderness of the Kimberley’s you will find Kimberley Grande, the perfect place with spacious room to come home to after adventurous days.

Spend your day relaxing by our picturesque pool and indulging at our restaurant and bar facilities.

Numerous conference and function packages are available all year round

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

AusBiz. Check out AusBiz. at the back of the magazine.

AGRIBUSINESS Times have changed and now many farmers buy livestock online.

MINING Proximity detection is a crucial part of mining.

PROPERTY The pros and cons of buying a holiday home.

BUSINESS The metamorphosis of the humble gym.

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contents 11 Airnorth News

Airnorth shines a spotlight on some fantastic sponsorship initiatives.

18 The bounty of Broome

14 Entertainment

Adventure aplenty, and ancient wonders to be discovered up north in beautiful Broome.

16 Events Calendar

24 Natural wonders at Ningaloo Reef

The latest theatre, books, art shows and tours in Oz. Don’t miss what’s on and what’s hot around Airnorth locations this April and May.

This underwater wildlife haven boasts more than its marvellous whale sharks.

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“MANAGE IT YOURSELF” they said...

“YOU’LL SAVE MONEY” they said...

nowleasingnt.com.au Darwin Corporate Park 631 Stuart Highway, Berrimah Licenced Agent

publisher’s letter Welcome to the second quarter of 2020. What a rollercoaster it has been for so many of us. Looking on the bright side (as you have to in trying times like these) I think one of the best things for all of us in the Australian tourism and travel industry is that Tourism Australia has rolled out its ‘Holiday Here’ campaign, and put a whopping $76 million towards it. The aim of the game is to ensure that people keep exploring our beautiful country, and we all know that the many communities hit by drought, fires and floods and now coronavirus, need the support of tourists more than ever.

What better excuse did I need to head back to one of my favourite places in Australia – beautiful Broome? If you haven’t spent time in this magical town sitting on the doorstep of the Kimberley, it’s well time you put it on your bucket list. There are so many things to get into up there, and the surrounding region is utterly blessed with ancient wonders. In fact, Sir David Attenborough even called the Horizontal Falls one of the great natural wonders of the world.

Enjoy the read, stay safe, and remember that when it comes to helping others in need, every bit counts.

MICHELLE HESPE, AND THE TEAM AT TOGETHER WE FLY

EDITORIAL

Publisher: Michelle Hespe publisher@publishingbychelle.com Art Director: Jon Wolfgang Miller Assistant Editor: Sarah Hinder editorial@publishingbychelle.com Sub-Editor: Shane Cubis Proofreader: Claire Hey Editorial Assistants: Jillian Ramirez, Maya Franks, Kaitlyn Stork & Olivia Bornstein

A DV E R T I S IN G

Brand & Communications Manager: Effe Sandas advertising@publishingbychelle.com

CONTRIBUTORS

Darren Baguley Kirsten Craze Ian Lloyd Neubauer

PRINTING

Blue Star PRINT 81 Derby St, Silverwater, NSW 2128

Together We Fly is published by Publishing ByChelle, (ABN: 78 621 375 853 ACN: 621 375 853) Level 1, 3 Westleigh Street, Neutral Bay, NSW 2089 publishingbychelle.com The reproduction of any content, in whole or part without prior written permission by the publisher is strictly prohibited. Opinions expressed in the content are those of the contributors, and not necessarily those of the publisher. All information in this magazine was believed to be correct at the time of publication, and all reasonable efforts have been made to contact copyright holders.

Publishing ByChelle cannot accept unsolicited manuscripts or photographs. If such items are sent to the magazine, they will not be returned. We apologise if we don’t get back to your email, as we do receive a large volume of communication via various online channels. Some images used in Together We Fly are from istock and Getty images, and we make every effort to credit all contributors.

If you would like to read the digital version of Together We Fly, please be our guest!

Simply go to trulyaus.com – which is dedicated to exploring and celebrating all things Aussie, giving travellers the lowdown on the best places in regional, rural and outback Australia.

TRULYAUS.COM Cover image: Tourism Western Australia

APRIL/MAY 2020

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Dili, Timor-Leste (DIL)

Milingimbi (MGT)

Maningrida

Elcho Island

(MNG)

(ELC)

DARWIN

Gove

(DRW)

Truscott Kununurra

(GOV)

Groote Eylandt (GTE)

Katherine (KTR)

(KNX)

Broome

Cairns

McArthur River

(CNS)

(MCV)

(BME)

Tennant Creek

Bootu Creek

Townsville

(TSV)

(TCA)

Alice Springs (ASP)

Toowoomba (WTB)

Perth (PER)

OUR DESTINATIONS CHARTER ROUTES SCHEDULED ROUTES SEASONAL SERVICES

Melbourne (MEL)

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CHARTER ROUTES SCHEDULED ROUTES SEASONAL SERVICES

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airnorth news

Sponsorship highlights Airnorth is delighted to provide support to our local communities and connect businesses and events throughout our ports.

IT’S A BLOKE THING WORDS OUT WEST: WESTERN DOWNS READERS & WRITERS FEST Airnorth proudly sponsored the inaugural Words Out West: Western Downs Readers & Writers Fest in Toowoomba this February, supporting the festival with flights from Melbourne for Australian author John Marsden, best known for his Tomorrow, When The War Began series.

In its first year, Words Out West welcomed more than 900 attendees to the Darling Downs region, where participants enjoyed a writers’ retreat at Bunya Mountains (supported

by Queensland Writers Centre), literary workshops, keynotes by guest authors and a Gala

Dinner featuring Kurt Fearnley at Dalby Events Centre.

The festival was designed to activate the Western Downs region’s artistic and cultural industries and encourage people of all ages to attend and participate in a weekend of literary fun.

Dedicated to ensuring a better outcome for men diagnosed with prostate cancer, the It’s a Bloke Thing Foundation held its annual Darwin Luncheon event on February 25 to raise funds and awareness for prostate cancer care, research and education.

Darwin International Airport hosted the event, transforming the domestic lounge into a five-star dining experience, with guests enjoying the best in local food, drinks and entertainment, while raising a huge $201,707 towards supporting a fulltime prostate cancer nurse for the region.

Airnorth supported the 2020 luncheon by donating more than $5000 worth of in-kind airfares in support of two prizes: a once-in-a-lifetime Dhipirri Fishing Experience in Milingimbi, Arnhem Land, and an adventurous stay at the beautiful El Questro in the East Kimberley region.

For more information, visit itsablokething.com.au

APRIL/MAY 2020

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airnorth news

FREDS PASS RURAL SHOW Airnorth is proud to be a major sponsor for the 41st Freds Pass Rural Show this May. The annual event has become a much-loved tradition of the Northern Territory, with more than half a million people having had the opportunity to sample a ‘unique slice of rural life’ with a visit to the iconic Freds Pass Rural Show over the past 40 years.

The show is known for its strong rural theming with a vast range of equestrian events, livestock judging, animal displays, an exhibition hall showcasing the communities, many talents, woodchopping, a sideshow alley, music talent quests, NT Young Rural Achiever Awards, and a vast array of poultry and produce. It has truly become an annual event where ‘urban meets rural’.

Last year the show introduced the 50km Feast gourmet dining experience served under a starstudded Territory night sky. The unique evening became an immediate success and a sell-out event, with dinner guests enjoying the best in local produce sourced within 50 kilometres from the evening’s dining table.

The event showcased the talents of some of the Territory’s top chefs, including Lynton Tapp, Chung Jae Lee and Jimmy Shu, who will all be returning for another year in 2020.

Airnorth is proud to be partnering with the 50km Feast as the event’s preferred airline.

BUSHFIRE FUNDRAISING

Across Australia we have all felt the impact of the recent bushfires that swept through the southern and eastern parts of our country for months on end. Now, many communities are working to rebuild in the aftermath. As they do so, Airnorth has been proudly supporting bushfire fundraising efforts, with money going directly to aid those most affected in these regions.

Airnorth has recently donated airfares to assist with fundraisers in Darwin, Gove and Groote Eylandt.

On January 31, Airnorth attended the Fire in our Hearts Fundraiser hosted

by Darwin’s Wharf One Food & Wine.

The event quickly sold out, raising

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more than $20,000, with all money raised going to three young families who tragically lost their loved ones fighting the fires in NSW. Elsewhere, the Nhulunbuy Corporation hosted a concert, with the proceeds of ticket sales and auction items going directly to support families affected by the fires, and the community of Groote Eylandt organised a series of events throughout February, including an auction and the Amazing Groote Race, which saw 21 teams participate in a competitive race through the community for the grand prize of an Airnorth flight from Groote Eylandt to Darwin. Groote Eylandt has now raised more than $10,500 to aid with bushfire recovery efforts.

airnorth news

Where magic happens The Argyle Diamonds Ord Valley Muster is a unique celebration in one of the world’s most remote locations.

In the faraway north of Western Australia lies the gateway to the East Kimberley, one of the world’s last true wilderness frontiers. The vast, untouched landscapes are punctuated with fat boabs that are dwarfed by vertical red-rock gorges. The land is so ancient and so lush that it’s impossible not to be captivated by it when visiting Kununurra.

The best time to visit Kununurra is in May, the start of the dry tourism season, which is kicked-off with a huge celebration, the 10-day Argyle Diamonds Ord Valley Muster, featuring comedy, a proper country rodeo, fringe entertainment, cultural dance and Corrobboree, a series of secret suppers, Art in the Park, music, early morning yoga on boats and a closing party with a diamond dig.

The 20th Argyle Diamonds Ord Valley Muster starts on May 15, and the festival highlight is the region’s biggest party, the Aviair HeliSpirit Kimberley Moon Experience. The concert offers a Kimberley experience that has become a bucket list event.

There are three ways to do Aviair

by Dianne Bortoletto

HeliSpirit Kimberley Moon Experience: the casual general admission, perfect for families, the 18+ Garden Bar with a styled and licensed lounge area, or the glamourous black-tie Kimberley Fine Diamonds Dinner, the region’s most prestigious event which includes canapés, a full open bar, a sit-down dinner and an exclusive dance floor.

Superstar Jessica Mauboy and rock legend Jon Stevens supported

by Busby Marou will keep the dance floor pumping until late.

Most of the festival’s 30 events will be held at the new walk-from-town Ord Valley Muster Hub, situated on the banks of Lake Kununurra, a section of the Ord River. Kununurra itself is a friendly rural town that has all the essentials – pubs, service stations, cafés, travel agents, banks, hotels and caravan parks, but the real beauty lies all around Kununurra. Drive just two kilometres out of town to the Mirima National Park and you’ll be rewarded with views of the Bungle Bungles.

Venture an hour in pretty much any direction to find waterfalls and natural flowing springs with water so pure you can drink it as you swim.

For more information, visit ordvalleymuster.com.au APRIL/MAY 2020

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entertainment

Entertainment

by: sarah hinder & maya franks

tour April 24–May 20 in Perth WA, Adelaide SA, Melbourne Vic, Sydney NSW, & Brisbane Qld Rock out with British singer, entertainer and activist Billy Bragg this autumn, during his international tour. billybragg.co.uk

art Margaret River Region Open Studios

April 25–May 10 in Margaret River WA Explore more than 100 artist studios from Busselton to Augusta.

The event features an astounding array of local talent, including painters, sculptors, jewellers, printmakers, glassblowers, ceramicists, metalworkers, mixed media artists and upcyclers, who share a love of and are inspired by this beautiful region of Western Australia.

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Image: Nathan Wills

Image: Jacob Blickenstaff

Billy Bragg Tour

entertainment

books

podcasts

TED Radio Hour

Good Boy, Jennifer Finney Boylan

Out April 2020, Celadon Books, memoir This memoir tells the story of Boylan’s life through the lens of the dogs she’s owned. As a transgender woman, the dogs on her journey have helped her to better understand herself and the world around her.

The Octopus and I, Erin Hortle

Out April 2020, Allen & Unwin, fiction Set in small-town Tasmania, Hortle’s debut novel follows protagonist Lucy as she recovers from major surgery and comes to terms with her new body through a surprising connection with the local octopuses.

tour

Anzac Girl, Kate Simpson & Jess Racklyeft

Out now, Allen & Unwin, children’s This true story of Sister Alice Ross-King, who sailed to war as a nurse in 1914 and became the most decorated woman in Australia, includes extracts from Alice’s actual diaries kept during the war.

theatre

Everything you love about Ted Talks, minus the visuals.

Listen to compilations of fascinating talks.

Host Guy Raz interviews individuals who give talks to contextualise and explain the complex topics discussed on the show.

A Plate to Call Home

Seasons 1-4 available Gary Mehigan knows it’s not just about the food – it’s about where it comes from. Just as food producers deliver farm to plate, he delivers the scoop on how they do it.

Ladies, We Need to Talk

Joel Creasey

March 9–June 5 around the country Following a sold-out successful season in New York, this young talent on the Australian comedy scene returns for an Aussie iteration of his Messy Bitch tour, in big-city and regional locations around the country. joelcreasey.com.au

Single Asian Female

April 23–March 9 in Adelaide SA Michelle Law’s hilarious comedy follows the story of a Chinese-Australian family running a restaurant, The Golden Phoenix, on the Sunshine Coast, when the two generations of Wong women meet at a crossroads. statetheatrecompany.com.au

Seasons 1-3 available Host Yumi Stynes talks everything to do with female health and sexuality – without holding back. Look out for new episodes each week on Tuesdays.

APRIL/MAY 2020

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Events calendar

What’s on & what’s hot

by: sarah hinder & Jillian ramirez

May 15–24 Argyle Diamonds Ord Valley Muster East Kimberley WA Showcasing the talent of the East Kimberley region, highlights of this awesome event include the Kimberley Moon Experience and dinner under the stars. ordvalleymuster.com.au

May 22–31

Taste of Kakadu

April – September

Waringarri Art and Culture Tours

Kununurra WA Walk amongst the unique beauty of ancient Kimberley escarpments with Indigenous elders and tour guides. If you can’t make it this year, visit our SHOP and support our award winning artists! www.waringarriarts.com.au/shop Events were scheduled to proceed at the time of printing.

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Kakadu National Park NT Taste of Kakadu is back with a sensational program set to immerse Kakadu National Park visitors in a stimulating journey of the senses. The 2020 program holds an impressive line-up of new experiences, plus festival favourites to celebrate the region’s incredible Indigenous food and culture. For details and bookings, head to kakadu.com.au/taste

regional news

San Diego Zoo vet assists at Taronga Zoo Kristin McCaffree, a San Diego Zoo Safari Park wildlife health technician, has been assisting at Taronga Zoo following the bushfires and drought conditions in Australia. Along with another member of the San Diego Zoo Safari Park staff, she is assisting in Taronga’s endeavor to care for injured Australian wildlife.

According to Frances Hulst, a veterinarian with Taronga Zoo: “It’s been really great to have Kristin here. She is a highly experienced registered veterinary technician, and we are so pleased that San Diego Zoo Global could provide us with the on-the-ground assistance.”

Kristin has cared for a platypus and other animals. This platypus was one of seven brought into the zoo for safety as their habitat became threatened by bushfires.

If you would like to donate to Taronga Zoo to assist with wildlife rescue costs, please visit taronga. org.au/savewildlife

Captain Cook’s ship discovery According to maritime archaeologists, the remains of Captain Cook’s ship are closer to being uncovered than some may have thought. Originally designed to haul coal, the HMS Endeavour landed in Australia in 1770. While it is well established that this ship made it to Australia and then back to England, the picture had previously been a bit blurry regarding the final resting place of the vessel. After much research and countless hours, researchers discovered that, based on some renaming and jumbled records the HMS Endeavor was actually renamed the Lord Sandwich – a boat that was intentionally sunk during the American Revolution. As fascinating as the wreck is to study, the professionals onsite don’t think raising the ruins is wise. While it’s not 100 per cent confirmed that the wreck is the HMS Endeavor, maritime archaeologists are definitely closing in on the site.

APRIL/MAY 2020

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Explore

Once you make the epic trek to this WA resort town and its magical surrounds, you won't struggle to find reasons to return.

Broome

Image: Jewels Lynch Photography

WORDS: Michelle Hespe | Photos: Tourism Western Australia

with a view

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Stepping off the plane into a warm Broome evening is akin to being enveloped in the balminess and delicious scents of Asia. This large coastal town of almost 14,000 people – a melting pot of nationalities – is considered the gateway to the Kimberley. Mix this with an abundance of the some of the best seafood in the country and you have a remote culinary hotspot surrounded by sensational scenery and the kind of adventures that regularly top bucket lists. From walking in dinosaurs' footprints and whale-watching to riding a camel on a beach at sunset and eyeballing horizontal waterfalls, Broome is nothing short of enchanting.

Everyone takes things at a leisurely pace in Broome, including the cabbies.

“Isn’t it a beee-ewdy of a night, hey hon?” my driver says as I slip into the back seat. She follows this up with a big smile and a slow shift into gear as she cruises into town.

“Now where are you off to, darlin’?”

I give her my hotel’s address and lay back into the seat. She turns the radio up and, as fate would have it, the Eagles’ ’Take It Easy’ rolls from the speakers. This town might well be considered a mere stepping stone into the vast ancient outback, but the visual charm of Broome, defined by the red Pindan soil that meets white sandy beaches before dipping into strikingly bright turquoise waters, make it a treasured destination.

indeed establish Broome in 1883.

Yawuru people had been living in the area for more than 40,000 years, but after white settlement, many were killed while others were forced to work as skin divers. Thousands died alongside the Chinese and Japanese pearl divers who flooded in for work.

Broome became known as the ‘Queen City of the North’ because between 1889 and 1891, the price of mother-of-pearl shell escalated to incredible heights, and by 1898 Broome was the main cargo port for north Western Australia. World War II hit and the town’s pearling industry came to a grinding halt as men rushed to war and the Japanese population were forced into camps.

After four separate air raids, Broome was decimated, and it wasn’t until the war ended that residents returned to rebuild their homes and lives. The town rose from the ashes and a new market in cultured pearls began to evolve, changing the face of the industry forever.

South Sea Pearls are now recognised as the finest in the world, and they, alongside tourism, fuel the town’s economy – as can be seen downtown, where every second store is a pearl jeweller, and every other a café or restaurant.

“It’s a great town – you’ll love it,” my driver says as I leave her with a hearty wave. “Now go and enjoy yourself, darlin’!”

Hailing a history

Beer o’clock

My taxi driver knows her stuff, and after letting me relax, she launches into a quick history lesson: “In the early 1880s, the governor of Western Australia, Sir Frederick Napier Broome, I think, said they were gonna set up a town on the north-west point of Roebuck Bay, and it was to be called Broome.”

Sir Frederick Napier Broome did

The enjoying-myself process kicks off with a wander down to Matso’s Broome Brewery, formerly the Union Bank of Australia, located in a notorious Chinatown red-light district (then, not now).

The building was turned into a store run by the Matsumoto family and renamed Matso’s Store. It was later  APRIL/MAY 2020

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Image: Horizontal Falls Seaplane Adventures

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PREVIOUS PAGE: Aerial view of the Horizontal Falls, Talbot Bay. FROM TOP: Boat tour of the Horizontal Falls; Gantheaume Point just after sunrise.

purchased by Lord McAlpine, Broome’s late-20th century patron, who moved it to Hamersley Street, where it sits today. I soon come to realise that Lord McAlpine had something to do with nearly every building and piece of land in town.

I arrive at Matso’s to find the place buzzing with ‘barefoot stompin’ groove’, as the band calls it. I drink my mouth-tingling ginger beer and indulge in a delicious plate of cold meat slices, cheese and fresh bread while people dance with abandon, showing off their bare tanned backs and arms. This is winter in Broome.

Getting horizontal After a peaceful night’s sleep, I wake early to the sound of a few very loud and happy king parrots, obviously as excited as I am by my upcoming trip across the Kimberley to see what Sir David Attenborough calls “one of the greatest wonders of the natural world” – the Horizontal Falls.

As our tour group glides over the Kimberley in a seaplane, there’s another ancient creation to behold

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with every moment. After an hourlong flight, the plane dips and gracefully glides into a gorge where it lands like an agile seabird beside lightly bobbing pontoons.

Kitted out in life jackets, we climb aboard a speedboat and position ourselves on thin mounds of seats with a steel bar in front for balance. The boat speeds off at rocket pace into the gorge, heading for our destination.

They are called ‘waterfalls’, but this natural phenomenon is actually created by intense tidal currents hurtling at a million litres per second through two narrow gorge inlets as water banks up against one side of the narrow cliff passage, to be repeated again on the turning tide. Our driver has a lot of fun powering us around in circles before taking on the waterfalls at high speed again and again. Sun on my face, all I can do is hold on and yelp in joy as we’re spat so easily in and out of the ancient gorge. After a pontoon-cooked fry-up of bacon and eggs, we climb back into our seaplane and take the coastal route back to Broome, where we’re all delighted to look down upon several whales cavorting in the deep waters, large turtles floating about like happy locals, and a couple of scarily big saltwater crocs sunning themselves on the coast.

Another day, another utopia After waving goodbye to my fellow Horizontal Falls mates, I’m whisked off to Broome’s sister paradise, just over an hour up the highway.

Ramada Resort by Wyndham Eco Beach Broome was the brainchild of Broome local Karl Plunkett. He formerly owned a couple of backpacker hostels in Broome, and one day while fishing on Eco Beach with some mates, decided he would build WA’s first eco-beach retreat. In April 2000, Cyclone Rita destroyed the original, more rustic retreat on Eco Beach

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and Karl subsequently spent 18 months on an incredibly impressive rebuild.

The super-stylish eco-friendly resort consists of 25 luxury villas; 30 safaristyle Eco Tents (which Karl designed himself and sells worldwide); a main lodge housing a reception area, restaurant, café, infinity pool, souvenir and general store, and a yoga studio overlooking the beach.

The retreat is completely selfsustainable, using 240 solar panels across 24 of the villas to store the sun’s energy for evening use.

Remaining energy is then passed through a grid and fed into a large shed to be stored in battery format, ready for use wherever power is needed elsewhere on the property.

The retreat is virtually empty during the day as everyone is getting into in one of the many activities such as whale-watching, mud-crabbing, fishing, cliff-top walking or cave exploration.

A few people lounge around the pool, basking in the sun like lizards.

Whale of a surprise I feel so energised by the past day’s activities, the fresh air and an exquisite dinner of threadfin salmon at the retreat’s restaurant, that I am up at 4.30 the next morning and running along the beach as though I’m five years old

FROM LEFT: Cygnet Bay Pearl Farm showroom, Dampier Peninsula; Enjoying a beer at Matso’s Broome Brewery.

and can’t wait to find out what’s around the next corner.

With ancient rock formations on one side and the silently lapping ocean water on the other, the sun rises and spreads her warmth across the paradise that is Eco Beach.

At 10am a group of us take a dinghy out to one of the retreat’s fishing boats and with our skipper Dave, we embark on a two-hour whale-watching trip. At different times we see at least eight whales playing in the ocean and throwing their tails about – then, when we’re least expecting it, a whale reveals the entire top half of its body within three metres of the boat. We all gasp as its mouth and barnacled body rises in a solid grey mountain beside us, before disappearing under the boat. We stand stock-still, cheese and crackers in hand, and after a few seconds, let out a collective sigh, then praise Moby for having the manners to keep swimming and not up-end us into the (apparently) shark-infested waters.

Broome Time Back at my first stop, I decide some ‘Broome Time’ is in order, and so after exploring the charming central township and stopping by Sun Pictures, the world’s oldest picture theatre gardens, and taking a stroll along the beguiling flat expanse of Cable Beach, I head to Bali Hai Resort and Spa, which has one of the oldest spas in Broome.

The spa has seven treatment rooms, each nestled within an abundance of luscious tropical gardens.

After a Balinese Coco Hot Oil Wrap, during which I float around in a warm, perfect place that must surely have been Heaven, I shower in the outdoor bathroom while ambient Balinese music plays softly and the palms rustle quietly.

Now that Broome Time has taken a sleepy hold on me, I meander at a happy snail’s pace back to Cable Beach and join hundreds of people watching another gorgeous sunset. As night falls I head out for a drink, and some friendly locals insist that I join them,  APRIL/MAY 2020

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FROM LEFT: Aerial view of Gantheaume Point; Dinosaur footprint at Gantheaume Point.

as they don’t want me sitting alone.

We eat some delectable tapas, drink great wine and talk about our lives and various Kimberley adventures.

One of the men was a pearl diver for 25 years, so he recounts stories of the old days, when the water was so clear he could watch his colleagues ascend at different heights while sitting on another boat, their individual bubbles gently carving out a path above them.

My last day here is Sunday, so I stroll into town for the Broome Courthouse Markets. Local produce including food, handmade crafts and clothing is showcased outdoors in a park space, which I cruise around while lapping up the live music and friendly vibe. I pop in for a quick lunch at Zanders at Cable Beach, as I’ve heard so many great things about the food and top position on a grassy knoll above Cable Beach.

It doesn’t disappoint. The restaurant has a lovely laidback feel but the food is worthy of a fine dining experience.

While thoroughly enjoying the grilled

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Image: Garry Norris Photography

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barramundi burrito bowl, I come to understand why so many people come to Broome for seasonal work and decide to stay on. It does get extremely hot from November until March, but the monsoon rains roaring across the beach and through the mangroves must be an incredible sight and experience.

Filling some big footprints After that quiet breather, I’m picked up in a bus that takes a group of us to the home of Broome Hovercraft Eco Adventure Tours. We board a bright yellow Jetsons-style craft and after we’re belted in, the hovercraft rises two feet in the air and we slip gracefully down the driveway to the flat sands of Roebuck Bay. We zoom across the bay as the sun makes its languorous descent towards the horizon to our first stop: the site of some famous dinosaur footprints.

Standing below bright red and orange craggy cliffs above the rocky beach of Gantheaume Point, our guide

asks us all to stand in the footprints of a juvenile herbivorous dinosaur so that we can get a good visual idea of his steps. As we look at one another standing in the enormous footprints, more than a metre in diameter, we quietly imagine the long-necked creature making its heavy-footed way across the mud flats where its path has remained fossilised for 130 million years.

We board the hovercraft and cruise out to the mud flats where I prepare to savour my final sunset-lit view of bountiful Broome. Once outside, our guide flicks open a barbecue table and, with a well-rehearsed flourish, spreads a white tablecloth and presents an array of beautifully prepared nibbles.

Everyone pours their BYO drinks as we stand in the middle of Roebuck Bay, toes warmed by the squishy grey mud. Glasses are raised to one another, for choosing to be in such an incredible place at an incredible time, and to Broome, who, on cue, reveals her much-photographed, spectacular illusion of a staircase ascending from the rippled tidal flats, all the way up to a perfectly golden sinking sun. AN

SPECIAL FEATURE

Walking, talking and dancing with Kimberley artists Immersed in creative liveliness ‘This place is where community comes together to feel good. It is where our young people can learn about our culture, and where our families share stories and celebrate!’ Indigenous artist Jan Griffiths speaks with a group of visitors on a Sunset Tour at Waringarri Aboriginal Arts. Her backdrop is a gallery displaying soft ochre-coloured paintings, sophisticated hand-printed textiles, unique hand-thrown ceramics and intricately engraved boab nuts from the iconic Kimberley boab tree.

In the heart of Miriwoong country at Kununurra, among the stunning scenery of the East Kimberley, local Indigenous guides enlighten visitors about one of the oldest communityowned Aboriginal arts centres in Australia. Originally established to represent the diaspora of Kimberley Indigenous language groups, the centre was integral to the development of revolutionary artists Rover Thomas

and Queenie McKenzie. Limited edition etchings and lithographs by these iconic artists are still available for sale for the savvy collector!

Today, the centre represents both established, award-winning artists and emerging talents who consider the centre much more than a place to create and sell art. It is a hub for the local community to come together, whether to have a cup of tea while watching family members paint or to discuss local cultural issues. Corroboree nights are held regularly, bringing families together to watch dancers flaunt their moves at events such as Corroboree Under the Stars, held annually during the Ord Valley Muster in May. For Jan, Waringarri Arts is a place where she can spend time with family, learn from her elders, develop her arts practice and teach her own children.

Jan learnt ochre painting from her parents, both highly respected and

sought-after artists, Mr A. Griffiths and Peggy Griffiths, whose works are included in many prestigious collections. Following in their footsteps, Jan is a successful multi-disciplinary artist, working in painting, ceramics and couture fashion, always eager to show her latest works.

Visitors to the centre are immersed in the creative liveliness of this place, which pulses with the energy of art, community and culture. Booking a tour adds more time for a deeper connection with local Indigenous artists while also offering the unforgettable experience of visiting Country with elders, participating in traditional activities such as artefact making or damper cooking, and viewing an incredible Kimberley sunset while listening to the moving sounds of a didgeridoo. It’s an opportunity not to be missed, which affords a rich learning experience shared by all.

APRIL/MAY 2020

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Wildlife & Wilderness

Adrift at

Ningaloo

Most people journey to Ningaloo Reef cradling a dream of swimming with whale sharks. That’s completely understandable, but it’s just one of the many reasons that this heritage-listed reef should be topping your bucket list.

WORDs: Michelle Hespe

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Wildlife & Wilderness

PREVIOUS PAGE: Scuba-diving in Ningaloo Marine Park.

THIS PAGE: Snorkelling in Ningaloo Marine Park; Night sky when glamping at Sal Salis; Mantarays Ningaloo Beach Resort.

A big fish tale Jimmy, the skipper and owner of Ocean Eco Adventures, is deftly guiding our gleaming 20-foot vessel – Latitude 22 – through thriving patches of corals and swathes of sea grass in a kaleidoscope of fluttering greens. The water is so clear I can see the intricate patterning of some fish as they playfully dart in and out of their underwater forest, the sun reflecting off their scales. “We call this tiger shark highway ‘cause there are so many of them,” says Jimmy with a hearty laugh, as three large green turtles glide across our lane.

A woman on the lower deck squeals with excitement as she clicks some photos of the shiny shells the size of large ponchos. Barely a minute later there’s a loud shout from the stern of the boat – “Whales!” – and I look around to see two humpback whale tails slapping the surface of the water barely 20 metres from us. One whale does a backward flip of a breach and the two giants cavort about to a chorus of “Ohhhs”. I don’t know which way to look when a young child yelps and shouts to her mother: “Dolphins, Mummy!” So there are – three of them frolicking in our slipstream.

Welcome to Ningaloo Reef: a 260-kilometre stretch of fringing reef that’s home to 200 species of hard coral, 50 soft coral and more than 500 species of fish – the biggest of which we are here today to swim with.

To say that the reef is teeming with marine life is an understatement.

We’ve already seen a pod of orcas and a fever of stingrays, and haven’t even

made it to the patch of ocean that the spotter planes have identified as hosting whale sharks today.

To add to the excitement of the 20 guests onboard Latitude 22, the sun is shining and the water is warm. Having all been in for a couple of snorkels, we’re already kitted out in thick wetsuits, and we’re all on a nature-inspired high.

Jimmy stops the boat and the crew – most of them marine biologists with more than one impressive hat – gather to deliver the highly anticipated news that a whale shark has been spotted only 20 kilometres away.

The procedures that need to be followed out here are rigid, ensuring that everyone stays a safe distance from the whale sharks, which can grow up to 12 metres in length and can live until 100. We’re told that  APRIL/MAY 2020

25

Wildlife & Wilderness

the ones in this reef are usually male and around four to eight metres, and we’re given the lowdown on the whale shark’s expected behaviour.

There’s nothing to be scared of, we’re assured, except for one bumping into you, as the sheer weight of its more than 10 tonnes would be enough to knock anyone out. The whale shark is a filter feeder – living on macroalgae, plankton, krill, Christmas Island red crab larvae and small nektonic life, such as small squid or vertebrates.

After the briefing, we all eagerly watch the water as Latitude 22 glides to the place the spotter planes have singled out. Jimmy is on the radio sharing the coordinates with four other boats out on the reef, as in true Aussie spirit, if only one or two are spotted, everyone ‘shares the sharks’, the crews making sure all the swimmers get their special time in the water. The friendly yet highly competitive banter on the radio is a comic routine, but one that is necessary to keep all businesses on the reef working together and for the same cause: protecting Ningaloo and her many living assets.

After 10 minutes, Latitude 22 slows and is positioned in ‘the spot’.

Two teams of 10 snorkellers are formed and we all sit on the edge of the stern, flippers above the water, goggles

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and GoPros in place. Then it’s all suddenly on, endless bubbles and the wonderfully warm waters of Ningaloo having engulfed me. We all snorkel in a line behind our leader, and before I know it, through the blue mass glides a shape I’ve been longing to see in the wild for over a decade. He’s slow and graceful, large and purposeful.

He’s just cruising along with his filterfeeding mouth wide open in a sort of semi-smile, all manner of sea morsels being consumed as he moves towards and by us. I forget to kick.

Or breathe. I’m just hanging there, ogling him. Then my group all start swimming and he’s below us, about five metres down. For a fleeting moment I am swimming alone with the biggest fish in the ocean – filtered sunlight streaming through the gaps in my lanky limbs, lighting up the big cartoon-like spots on his back. I see my shadow on him, and then he disappears into the deep blue and I am left there elated, floating, staring bug-eyed out into Ningaloo.

Serendipity at Sal Salis There are a million shining stars in the sand dunes, and it’s not the Milky Way – insanely clear when there’s no light pollution – fallen from the sky. It’s the minute eyes of hordes of wolf spiders sparkling back at me like diamantés from their sandy haven. The harmless spiders’ many pinprick-sized eyes reflect my torchlight as I stop to see the phenomenon en route to canapés and drinks on the outdoor dining balcony of Sal Salis. Remarkable.

The wildlife and wilderness at Sal Salis is what draws lovers of this eco tent resorts a 45-minute drive out of Exmouth. Everything about Sal Salis is centred upon its conservation and sustainability ethos – from the tents that are on elevated wooden posts to minimise impact on the ground, to the eco non-flushing toilets and the showers that give guests 20 litres of water brought in from Exmouth every day. The wonderful staff at this resort, managed by Will and Kate, are all in love with nature and the great

Wildlife & Wilderness

PREVIOUS PAGE: Snorkelling with a whale shark; Glamping at Sal Salis.

THIS PAGE: Vlamingh Head Lighthouse, Exmouth.

outdoors, most of them also being qualified biologists and scientists.

Every evening, guests from the nine tents (think glamping: floorboards, fine linen on king-sized beds and your own little deck with hammock and armchairs) meet at the one communal area, which consists of a lounge and reading area, undercover dining area, and a pontoon-like balcony that hosts the main dining table seating up to 20 people. The chef is superb, dishing up canapés, entrées, mains and desserts that are not only well considered (she has to think carefully about every ingredient as it all has to be delivered from town) but delicious, with some fun and cleverness thrown in.

From risotto balls and cheese platters to chilli mussels, lamb shanks and red wine marinated pears with ice-cream, this outback chef knows how to make simple food shine.

Guests at Sal Salis have allinclusive packages, which takes in accommodation, food and beverages (all wines are top Aussie gems), and activities such as guided bush walking and trekking in the nearby gorges, kayaking, fishing and snorkelling. On my last day, before the sun went down and the chill of a desert night settled upon me, I went drift snorkelling a few minutes’ walk from my tent. I was only a metre above an abundant coral reef, a few metres from the shore, and I just let the current take me.

Thousands of fish swam around me – little puffy, slim, poky and flat faces of curiosity staring up at me from within their homes of coral, sand and seaweed. At one point I was completely mesmerised by my body being carried gently along through an unbelievable mass of lively marine life, a school of parrot fish came flying towards me, then swirled out in a silky fan of colour to either side of me as I glided through them.

There I was – ogling again, mouth unattractively agape, floating. I felt like a giant fish adrift in Ningalaoo. AN APRIL/MAY 2020

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Wellness Retreats

&

Relax retreat From the mystical coast to the secluded bush, there is a yoga retreat in Australia that’s right for you. Channel your inner yogi at one of these famous retreat spots, and come home feeling refreshed, relaxed and ready to take on the world with a more mindful perspective.

WORDS: Jillian Ramirez

Happy Buddha Retreat, Wentworth Falls NSW

Only a 90-minute drive from Sydney, this Wentworth Falls retreat in the Blue Mountains region is an easy escape from the city. Its bohoinspired yoga centre is surrounded by bushland with a glimmering waterfall only a 15-minute hike away. You can choose to retreat mid-week or on a weekend filled with yoga, meditation, workshops and contemplation. All meals are vegetarian, and through a combination of Hatha, Vinyasa and Yin yoga styles, the aim is that you ’leave with lightness’. happybuddharetreats.com.au

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Wellness Retreats

Elysia Wellness Retreat, Hunter Valley NSW Whether you’re in need of peaceful sleep and meditation or energising activities and fitness, this tailored retreat is sure to meet your needs.

Choose from a range of workout classes – yoga, Tai Chi, Pilates and more – then eat some mindful meals. Or have a one-on-one wellbeing session before heading over to the spa to choose from more than 50 beauty and relaxation treatments. On Saturday nights, garner some motivation courtesy of a versatile panel of guest speakers, including authors, health and wellness experts, and sporting greats. elysiaretreat.com.au

Rest & Digest, Melbourne VIC

Inner Stillness Retreat, Torrensville SA

If you’re looking for something a bit shorter and less expensive, Rest & Digest will be enough to satisfy both your yoga and cake needs. Once a month, enjoy a light session of restorative yoga before sitting down among your R&D companions to eat, laugh and chat. Don’t worry – this gourmet experience can accommodate any dietary requirements. gourmetyoga.com.au/rest-digest

’Go deeply into silence’ at this traditional ashramstyled retreat. Maintain long periods of silence in order to discover the peace of deep presence and inner stillness.

Experience the gentle unravelling of accumulated tensions through meditation and yoga practices. yogaspirit.com.au/ events-retreats/innerstillness-retreat

Samadhi Eco Yoga Retreat, Point Lookout QLD Surrounded by pristine beaches and surf breaks, the Samadhi Eco Yoga Retreat is for guests who want to channel their island spirit with Vinyasa yoga, somatic movement and meditation. Featuring vibrant vegan meals, sunset meditation and the inspiring presence of the sea, this retreat makes for the perfect escape. samadhiflowyoga.com/retreat-meditation-info APRIL/MAY 2020

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Wellness Retreats

Yoga & Cleanse 8-Day Retreat, Margaret River WA Harmony Hill Health Retreat, Margate TAS Nestled within a 17-hectare bush property outside Hobart, this luxurious villa accommodates just one individual or couple at a time, ensuring you receive the care and attention you deserve.

Enjoy the songs of native birds and beautiful mountain views from the comfort of your spa bath. Daily yoga, massages and healthy meals are provided to ensure a proper detox of the body and mind.

You’ll leave feeling relaxed, refreshed and, most of all, healed. organicspa-retreat.com

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Set near the spectacular Marri forests and wild beaches of Margaret River, this yoga and cleanse retreat blends forest and ocean walks, sun and stargazing, and forest meditations with its yoga routine. The retreat emphasises a diet that’s modern vegan, glutenfree and organic, inspired by the classic healing dishes of Ayurvedic and South Indian cuisine. Two workshops and cooking classes are included to share the principles of this yogic diet, teaching you how to continue the lifestyle upon your return home. This leads up to two days of silence and fasting with cleansing juices, teas, tonics and broths. During

the two final days of the retreat, simple, healing and nourishing foods are reintroduced to the diet. kookaburrayoga.com

Balance for Life Yoga & Wellness Retreat, Dundee Beach NT The goal of this yoga retreat is to ’connect, reflect and renew’. At the relaxing seaside location of Dundee Beach, you can enjoy nature walks, meditation, daily yoga classes and a significant focus on selfdevelopment. Team leaders will help you gain the tools to find your ’divine purpose’ in life. You’ll be strongly encouraged to finish that book you’ve been carrying around forever and to build relationships with likeminded people. balanceforlife.com.au

Directory

Experiences

Great places to stay, and awesome things to do across Australia.

King Island Escapes

Kalbarri Edge Resort

2020 Mackay Festival of Arts

135 BARNES RD, LOORANA, KING ISLAND TAS T 0417 580 550 E stay@kingislandescapes.com.au kingislandescapes.com.au

22 PORTER STREET, KALBARRI, WA 6536 T 08 9937 0000 E reservations@kalbarriedge.com.au kalbarriedge.com.au

MACKAY QLD 4740 T 07 4961 9777 E festival@mackay.qld.gov.au themecc.com.au/mackayfestivals

Immerse yourself among the raw beauty of King Island from the comfort of our luxury four-bedroom retreat. Enjoy the breathtaking views from the red cedar hot tub and glass sauna, with access to your own private beach. Relax and reconnect at Porky Beach Retreat.

Positioned on the Murchison River where it meets the Indian Ocean, Kalbarri Edge Resort offers well-appointed rooms, a fantastic restaurant experience and outdoor activities.

Experience rugged cliffs, gorges, sensational beaches, the world-famous Pink Lake, and the stunning spectacle that is Nature’s Window.

Plan your visit to the Mackay region in July for 10 warm North Queensland winter days and nights of visual arts, music, theatre, idea forums, films and creative workshops, all showcasing the beautiful Mackay region. Heading into its 34th year, the 2020 program is packed with vibrant, fun and intriguing events for all ages.

APRIL/MAY 2020

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The rarest of the rare.

THE COLOURED DIAMOND SPECIALISTS

Founded in 1966, Nina’s Jewellery are the original Argyle diamond jeweller.

Trust their team of GIA certified Diamond & Design Specialists and on-site Master Jewellers, experts on Argyle pink diamonds and natural coloured diamonds from all over the world.

DUNSBOROUGH KUNUNURRA

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Office Products

Working it

Some fabulous products that will turn your office into a bright and cheery space.

Compiled by: Maya Franks

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1. artistically driven Having a beautiful workspace is important, and studies prove that having artwork on the walls can boost productivity. Daydream about the beach from your desk with this beautiful print from Olive Et Oriel. Dimensions are 42 centimetres by 59.4 centimetres. $60, oliveetoriel.com

2. tree of knowledge Spruce up any space with this realistic-looking lemon tree. If you’re wanting to add a bright pop of yellow colour to your office while lifting the room with greenery, this little tree packs the perfect punch. $389, templeandwebster.com.au

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3. add some sparkle 4

Why drink still when you can have sparkling whenever you please?

Soda Stream allows you to sustainably and cost effectively access sparkling water all the time. With the push of a button, choose from three levels of carbonation and enjoy sparkling water in just seconds. $199, myer.com.au

4. pop of colour Keep your desk colourful. These delightful little boxes are perfect for storing treats, office supplies or anything you can think of. Even if you don’t put anything in them, they simply add a pop of excitement to any workspace. $298, jonathanadler.com APRIL/MAY 2020

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Office Products

5. stand up!

The ProPlus™ 36 Varidesk turns any desk into a standing desk.

It comes in a two-tier design with an upper display surface and a lower keyboard and mouse deck.

The Varidesk is made from best-in-class materials, has a five-year warranty and is shipped fully assembled. The 36-inch model comes in white, black or dark wood. $550, vari.com

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6. Neat & Tidy

7. colour your day

8. PICK ME UP

Keep your files and your business cards tidy with this leather organiser from the artisans at Kundra. These products not only make wonderful additions to any office space, but also make a great gift for hard-to-shop-for co-workers.

From $69.95, templeandwebster.com.au

Colorstrology is the perfect coffee table book for your office, combining concepts from astrology, numerology, and colour theory. With a vibrant cover, this book is filled with fun personalised information for every astrology fan who stops by to check it out. $28, amazon.com.au

One of the most innovative portable espresso machines on the market, the Nanopresso brews a high quality espresso, wherever you are. All that’s required is ground coffee and boiling water; the rest is taken care of by the easy-to-use manual pumping system. $91.90, wacaco.com

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Office Products

9. sorted Getting organised is the key to success, and the LifePlanner makes it easy. Keep track of your calls, appointments and meetings in style. Erin Condren offers a wide variety of highly customisable options.

From $55, erincondren.com

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10. let there be light

11. something in the air

12. CUT IT OUT

Don’t get left in the dark. This lovely lamp from Temple & Webster makes an aesthetically pleasing addition to any office space. This retro-style light is available in a few different colour schemes, but our absolute favourite design is pictured here. $99, templeandwebster.com.au

Next time someone cooks fish in the microwave, you’ll be prepared.

This oil diffuser from Alchemy Produx is both whimsical in its appearance and smells simply amazing. Choose from a range of scents that best fit your tastes. $49, alchemyprodux.com

These top-tier wireless headphones from Bose boast precise noisecancelling technology. The stylish headphones are sturdy, impactresistant and connect via Bluetooth.

The best part is that they have 20 hours of battery life. $499.95, bose.com.au APRIL/MAY 2020

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NETWORKING INDUSTRY EDUCATION PRODUCT INNOVATION

Queensland Mining & Engineering Exhibition

21-23 JULY 2020 Mackay Showgrounds

5000+

Industry Personnel

230+

Industry Suppliers

Free to Attend Trade Expo & Seminar Series

REGISTER NOW For more information visit qmeexpo.com.au

Office Products

13. light the way Tip Lamp is an example of simple, functional design with careful attention to detail.

Offering direct as well as ambient light, the lamp’s adjustable head and arm feature an opal diffuser and dimmer function that alter the volume of light. $479, top3.com.au

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14. bright ideas

15. green and handy

16. creative cuffs

This customisable journal is high quality, inside and out. With a cool artistic hard cover and filled with sheets of lovely, smooth paper, this little notebook was made to hold all your best and brightest ideas. $43, papier.com/au

This bamboo stainless steel travel mug is anything but ordinary. If you want a travel mug that’s eco-friendly, leak-proof, and well made, look no further. Say ‘no’ to single-use cups for good with Ankhtive. $29.95, ankhtive.com.au

These adorable, bespoke sterling silver cufflinks featuring children’s drawings are the perfect gift for a colleauge, or something to add to your own office get-up. They’re also a nice talking point and will bring a smile to many a face. $221.22, giftslessordinary APRIL/MAY 2020

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With 180 Hotels across Australia & New Zealand, Choice Hotels has you covered.

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At Choice Hotels, we know how important your trips are to you. Because they’re important to us, too.

So, no matter where you’re travelling, from Adelaide to Albany or from Cairns to Coober Pedy, our hotels are never far from where you need to be. You can always count on our hotels for a warm welcome and real value, and with our Choice Privileges™ rewards program, we ensure that travel is as rewarding as possible.

Book direct on ChoiceHotels.com and get the lowest price guaranteed* If you find a better price online, we’ll match it. *Terms and conditions apply, visit https://www.choicehotels.com/en-au/legal/best-rate-rules

Office Products

17. get rolling

The Studio Roller is an innovative way to display information in the office or home. A simple, functional wallmounted bracket seamlessly dispenses kraft paper to write ideas and daily tasks. $260, georgeandwilly. com

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18. ALL BOOKED UP Shelves looking a little dull? Give your office a makeover with these modern bookends.

Made of semi-precious agate stone, there aren’t many organisational tools that look this good. $150, mattblatt.com.au

19. rAISING THE BAR This bar cart will turn your office into the go-to spot for a post-work drink.

It has a sleek-looking

stainless steel finish and a 16-kilogram capacity. $199, templeandwebster.com.au

20. WALK THIS WAY Transform any office walkway into a cosy haven with this warm-toned rug.

Complete with a vintage look, this durable and soft rug will provide the perfect mix of colour and boho-chic to make your hallway pop $149, templeandwebster.com.au APRIL/MAY 2020

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Save on the Weekends with Hertz Enjoy 15% on weekends when you rent with Hertz!* For quality service, competitive rates and a modern fleet of vehicles for any occasion; you can trust Hertz with your next journey.

Book now at hertz.com.au/rex *Terms and Conditions apply. Promotional Code (PC) number 210130 must be quoted at the time of reservation to redeem the 15% offer. Offer is available at all locations, for rentals booked between 01/04/2020 and 31/05/2020. Minimum rental period of one (1) day with a maximum of twenty-eight (28) applies. A maximum of 15% off the daily rate (time and kilometre charge) will be granted per rental. A fifty-nine (59) minute grace period is allowed for returns. Returns outside the grace period will be charged up to an extra day rental fee. Offer excludes taxes, fees, optional products and services. Offer is non-discountable and cannot be combined with any other promotion, special offer or coupon. Offer is not applicable on contract, tours, government or insurance replacement rentals. Offer is not applicable to Prepaid (Pay Now) rates. Offer applies to Prestige Collection vehicles and is subject to availability at time of vehicle collection. Hertz standard driver and credit qualifications in effect at the time and place of rental apply. Hertz standard age, driver and credit requirements apply. Vehicle models may differ and specifications may vary by location. Vehicles can be reserved by car group only and not by particular car model or colour. Fleet subject to change without notice. One way rentals are available between selected locations.

Special conditions may apply. Terms and conditions are subject to change without notice.

AusBiz.

NEWS+VIEWS | MINING | AGRIBUSINESS | INFRASTRUCTURE

p.8 agribusiness: buying livestock online P.16 mining: proximity detection p.22 propertybiz: buying a holiday home P.27 agribuisness: aussie nut producers P.32 business: the modern gym

Image: Andrew Barnes

FROM STRENGTH TO STRENGTH Kitson Manufacturing Solutions are leading the way in regional manufacturing and construction. p5

AUSBIZ NEWS

Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour Book your next event at Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour – Australia’s Best Luxury Hotel – and receive VIP treatment. Book before July 31, 2020, and we’ll upgrade your lunch and take 20 per cent of your room, with stunning Darling Harbour views and VIP amenities. Centrally located in Darling Harbour, next door to the International Convention Centre, Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour features nine luxurious function rooms, world-class facilities and 590 rooms spread over 35 floors.

Contact us at sofitelsydneydarlingharbour.com.au 02 8388 8888 | H9729@sofitel.com

wowflowers.com.au

WOW Flowers, created by the Worn Out Wares family is a boutique floral studio that specialises in weddings and events. Located in the heart of Singleton we’re open seven days a week, and by appointment

WOW Flowers. 41-43 George Street Singleton, NSW Ph: (02) 65 721 866 enquiries@wowflowers.com.au Image: Raquelle Loraine Photography

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AusBiz.

AUSBIZ NEWS

NOW LEASING NT

Now Leasing NT has been raising the bar in property management in Darwin since opening in November 2015. Joely Sullivan and Jo Griffiths have gone from starting up and running the entire business to now employing a small team, and consider themselves the first choice in property management in Darwin and its surrounding areas.

Recently expanding its office space within Darwin Corporate Park and with an ever-growing team, the company’s success shows that even in a challenging market these ladies are improving their business by thinking outside the box and doing things differently. Joely and Jo are regarded as the most well-informed property managers in the Territory, regularly investing in training and technology.

If you are looking for reliable property management, visit nowleasingnt.com.au or call today on 08 8984 4404.

Explore everything mining in Mackay The Queensland Mining and Engineering Exhibition (QME) will return to Mackay this July 21–23. QME will feature more than 230 suppliers showcasing leading products and solutions for the mining industry, as well as a free-to-attend seminar series, which will feature industry experts speaking across a number of key themes, including operations and maintenance, health and safety, and workforce and industry outlook.

QME is free to attend for those that work in and for the mining industry.

Register now at qmeexpo.com.au

Developing Boys into

‘Men for Others’ Saint Ignatius’ College Riverview is a Catholic boys’ school in the Jesuit tradition, located in Lane Cove, Sydney.

In Jesuit parlance, “men for others” are those who are committed to justice and understand the value of serving others to help create a better world.

Developing such men is a prime objective at Saint Ignatius’ College Riverview.

While the learning facilities, sporting opportunities and pursuit of the arts at Riverview are world class, it is our pastoral care that truly sets us apart.

Providing care and connection for each individual is at the heart of the College. It is here that our young men develop conscience, compassion and a “faith that does justice”.

Find out more and see if we’re coming to your town as part of our 2020 Boarding Roadshow: www.riverview.nsw.edu.au/boardingroadshow APRIL/MAY 2020

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AUSBIZ NEWS

GUILT-FREE G&T

The new low calorie, lower ABV craft G&Ts from Manly Spirits are all about natural ingredients, sophisticated flavours and Instagram-friendly design. Packaged in bespoke glass with signature Fibonacci patterning on the bottles, these miniature versions of their sibling 700ml bottles stand out from the crowd, thus catering for the more sophisticated drinker who doesn’t compromise on flavour when purchasing RTD beverages. The Pink G&T also has the added benefit of having zero sugar, and low calories – ideal for the health-conscious consumer.

“We were finding that people who enjoyed our premium gins at home were having to compromise when it came to bringing drinks to a barbeque, dinner party or picnics,” says Vanessa Wilton, co-founder of Manly Spirits. “If you appreciate high quality, craft gin, why should you have to compromise when you are choosing a nofuss, ready-to-drink option?” Available at all good retailers or online at manlyspirits.com.au

RAISING THE LUXURY BAR

Marsden Hotel Burwood’s has introduced a collection of unique dining experiences, inspired by Europe’s food and drink precincts. The indulgent offerings, which include an artisan patisserie, upmarket restaurant and an awesome rooftop bar has this hotel raising the bar on accommodation for the business or leisure traveller.

The hotel’s restaurant, Onyx Grill, boasts a curated menu where meat is the star attraction. The focus is squarely on quality steaks, including grass-fed angus and grain-fed wagyu, as well as in-house dry-aged meats. The kitchen was created to be predominantly powered by wood fire, and has been fitted with a mibrasa grill and charcoal oven, which helps to enhance the natural flavours of the ingredients. The super stylish rooftop Skye Bar boasts a champagne bar, and a delicious bites including oysters, antipasto and charcuterie boards. The sleek rooms and suites (some with generous modern baths) embrace simplistic luxury with a colour palette of cream, black and grey, with striking black marble and gold accents. Don’t head off without enjoying a fresh and flavourful breakfast at the Artisaint café, where a pink onyx communal table makes for a beautiful centrepiece. marsdenhotels.com.au

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SPECIAL PROMOTION

Parkes major projects continue to grow with the expansion of North Parkes Mines, Inland Rail and the Clean TeQ Sunrise Project. With these additional regional projects, Kitson Manufacturing Solutions (KMS) has continued its long list of wins over the past 12 months, going from strength to strength. In terms of growth, KMS recently moved to a larger workshop located on Matthew Street in Parkes to ensure the company is keeping up with the business demands of the marketplace.

Managing Director Glenn Kitson says: “In 2005, I walked into this shed on three separate occasions to ask PYBAR for a job. On my first two attempts I was turned away, but persistence does pay off, and after my third attempt I was offered a Fixed Plant Fitter position.

“As a teenage boy, I always wanted to work in the mining industry, and 14 years ago I was given that opportunity. With a vision, dedication

and a lot of hard work over the last six years, I have been working towards scaling and growing KMS.” KMS currently employs 12 full-time local employees and upwards of 20 sub-contractors for maintenance works.

As a regional-based company, KMS are fortunate to have skilled workers onhand, with many of employees based in Parkes, Forbes and Trundle. In addition, KMS recently employed a local first year Apprentice, allowing the company to educate and guide the future workers of these major projects, as well as employing local farmers that have been impacted by the recent drought with work during this time.

KMS’s focus for 2020 has been setting up a dedicated workshop facility to meet the requirements of major projects across NSW, and the company now has the capabilities for steel fabrication of all project sizes.

In addition, there’s an onsite workshop mechanical engineer that supports

Image: Kerry Fragar

Kitson Manufacturing Solutions – going from strength to strength

its engineering requirements along with drafting and certification. “With a highly qualified team, who will go above and beyond for our clients, KMS is vison is to become a leading supplier,” says Kitson.

For further information on KMS, please get in touch.

Email: admin@kitsonsolutions .com.au | Website: kitsonsolutions. com.au | Facebook: @ kitsonmanufacturingsolutions APRIL/MAY 2020

5

Making the Right Choice

Interview with the CEO of Choice Hotels Asia-Pac, Trent Fraser Choice Hotels Asia-Pac began in Australia in 2002 with the acquisition of the Flag Motels group, and it is now are a wholly owned subsidiary of the parent company Choice Hotels International.

The brands under the Choice Hotels umbrella in Australasia are Ascend Hotel Collection – an upscale, boutique hotel offering, Clarion Hotels – upscale, full service hotels, Quality Hotels – midscale hotels across metro and regional locations with high quality amenities.

Comfort Hotels – a mid-scale brand offering a clean, comfortable night’s sleep in predominantly regional locations with additional amenities such as breakfast restaurants. Econo Lodge is the economy option for a great night’s sleep while on the road for work or travel.

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With a network of more than 300 hotels in the Asia-Pac region, and more than 7,000 hotels internationally, Choice Hotels is wherever you need to be.

What advantages does Choice Hotels offer for travelling professionals?

In addition to our significant regional and global footprint, Choice Hotels also offers a global loyalty program, Choice Privileges. The program has over 43 million members globally and offers guests the ability to earn points on every stay, and use those points to redeem free nights in Choice hotels across the world. Alternatively, Choice Privileges members in Australia and New Zealand have the option to convert their points to either Qantas Frequent Flyer points, Velocity

SPECIAL PROMOTION

Points, or Air Points with Air New Zealand. Choice Privileges members also enjoy perks such as free parking, free, WiFi, free late checkout, access to exclusive promotions and discounts – including 5% off the best available rate on choicehotels.com. Membership is free, and points do not expire.

Tell us about the growth of the Ascend Hotel Collection?

We're particularly proud of the growth of our upscale Ascend Hotel Collection brand, which guests can now find in every mainland capital city in Australia, and it is continuing to expand across New Zealand.

In the last twelve months we have welcomed number of new hotels to this collection across the region, including the CH Boutique Hotel, located in central Tamworth, which offers premium hotel accommodation just minutes away from the major, iconic attractions and popular restaurants of this regional hub.

The latest hotels to join the Ascend Hotel Collection in Melbourne include The Alto Hotel on Bourke, Ascend Hotel Collection, a boutique property, housed in the heritage listed former Australian Railway Union building which was built in 1914. Alto Hotel on Bourke is the first carbon neutral hotel in Australia and hotel staff have a strong focus on providing friendly guest service in a warm, welcoming environment and implementing environmental initiatives throughout the hotel in an effort to reduce environmental impact.

Two recent additions in New Zealand include The Classic Villa in Christchurch, and The Honest Lawyer in Nelson. The breathtaking Italianstyle historic hotel, The Classic Villa is conveniently located in central Christchurch, boasts multiple awards including winning TripAdvisor’s Certificate of Excellence consecutively from 2011 – 2018. The Honest Lawyer, located on the Monaco Peninsula

in Nelson, is an impressive ‘Olde Worlde’ English-style country pub on the waterfront. The hotel features picturesque grounds and views overlooking the stunning Waimea Estuary and mountains.

The Domi Serviced Apartments, Ascend Hotel Collection, is a brand new, upscale apartment complex, next door to the recently redeveloped "The Glen" shopping centre. The property is ideally located near shopping precincts, business hubs, as well as Monash & Deakin universities What new initiatives and projects are on the horizon for Choice Hotels?

Choice Hotels Asia-Pac continues to remain focused on expanding our local and global footprint. Recent

and upcoming openings across the region include Quality Apartments Dandenong; Quality Suites Willow on Square, Palmerston North, New Zealand; Quality Inn Ashby House, Tamworth; Quality Hotel Sunshine Haberfield, Sydney; Quality Inn O’Connell, North Adelaide; Quality Hotel Carlton and the Comfort Inn City Centre, Armidale. We’ve also opened Econo Lodge in Lilydale.

And the Econo Lodge Border Gateway in Wodonga Choice Hotels International has been offering great accommodation experiences across the globe since the 1930s, and is one of the largest, most successful accommodation franchisors in the world, with more than 7,000 hotels in more than 40 countries.

APRIL/MAY 2020

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AGRIBUSINESS: LIVESTOCK

~~~

The stock auctioneer at the local saleyards is synonymous with the bush. But with smaller stockyards consolidating into larger centres, plus a growing trend towards internet auctions, are their days numbered?

Words: Darren Baguley

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Image: blue cinema

IS THE FUTURE OF LIVESTOCK MARKETS ONLINE?

AGRIBUSINESS: LIVESTOCK

Few scenes are more evocative of the Australian bush than a saleyard full of livestock and a crowd of willing buyers – just ask any politician seeking to improve their image in the eyes of country voters. But just as rural Australia has been changing, so has the way we trade rural produce. Blockchain is quietly revolutionising grain sales, internet shopping is changing the face of retail, and online developments are changing the way we sell livestock.

There are several sites available for this, but the most successful is AuctionsPlus. It is certainly the business with the longest heritage, having started in 1986 as a project of the Australian Meat and Livestock Corporation (AMLC), now Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA).

According to AuctionsPlus CEO Angus Street, both organisations had the vision of seeing livestock traded electronically and were far ahead of their time.

“A lot of people see us as a startup, but even though we’ve seen exponential growth recently, we’ve been around 32 years. The first sale took place in 1987 and it took two kilometres of telecoms and a generator for the fax machines. When we did get into the Internet era, we had to deal with slow speeds from dial-up, data black spots and creating technology that simply didn’t exist at the time.”

In its modern form, Street says AuctionsPlus is “like eBay for cattle and sheep with a twist”. Livestock are assessed on-farm by accredited, rigorously trained assessors who undergo regular and random audits to ensure assessment is uniform, consistent and meeting the expectations of both buyer and seller. Sellers pay $7 a head for cattle and 90c a head for sheep.

And, just like eBay, stock can be relisted for free if they don’t sell. A buyer has 48 hours from delivery to raise any issues regarding assessment, animal condition

and so on. Street explains, “We have a dedicated integrity unit that monitors the platform, user management and dispute resolution.”

As well as one-off stud sales, AuctionsPlus has two auctions weekly – Tuesday and Thursday Sheep and Friday Cattle – which attract 467 attendees, on average. The company has created a national marketplace that stretches from outback Queensland through New South Wales to Victoria and South Australia.

According to Street, the company is “probably the number-one provider of interface stud sales, and facilitates the sale of $870 million livestock annually.”

Alongside the growing success of online livestock sales, the other major trend is consolidation of country town

and city saleyards into larger regional groupings; for example, the NSW Central Tableland Livestock Exchange (CTLX) amalgamated Bathurst, Blayney and Orange saleyards.

According to Garry Edwards, Managing Director of AAM Investment Group, the manager and operator of the Regional Livestock Exchange (RLX) portfolio, there are several drivers behind the move to consolidation.

“It’s a combination of factors around cost, freight and efficiency,” he says.

“If there’s a greater number of buyers, there’s more competition, which results in higher prices for sellers in general. It’s also easier for large buyers such as processors to fill a truck in one transaction at a large centre, and for buyers the cost of labour and 

~~~

Just as rural Australia has been changing, so has the way that we trade rural produce.

APRIL/MAY 2020

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AGRIBUSINESS: LIVESTOCK

FAST FACTS • The Australian cattle herd was 26.2 million head as at 30 June 2017, and the Australian sheep flock was 72.1 million head (ABS Agricultural Commodities 2016-17).

• In 2017, adult cattle slaughter totalled 7.2 million head, down 2 per cent year-on-year. Australia exported 69 per cent of total beef and veal production (DAWR, ABS).

• In 2017, lamb slaughter totalled 22.4 million head, down 2 per cent year-on-year. Sheep slaughter totalled 7.5 million head, an increase of 8 per cent (ABS).

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transport is the same to attend a sale no matter how many animals acquired.

“For sellers, their stock is under a roof and on a soft floor, which leads to improved environmental and animal health outcomes. For example, weight loss at the new facilities has been reduced by 2 per cent. If you’ve got a 500 kilogram animal, less 2 per cent is 10 kilograms, and it very quickly adds up if you’re selling 20, 50, 100 or more animals.”

Edwards also argues that, unlike local government which can struggle to justify spending ratepayers’ money on a facility that is used sometimes only once a month, companies such as RLX can afford to be more expansive.

“Our investors are super funds, and they take a long-term view. So with CTLX, it was designed to be a 20- to 30-year project, and we were able to build something quite modern and depreciate it over a long time.”

Perhaps not surprisingly, Edwards is sanguine regarding the impact of online auctions: “The online platforms have been around for nearly 30 years.

In recent years they have got more publicity, but they still only handle 4-5 per cent of transactions. Australiawide, 62 per cent of livestock goes through physical facilities.

“The advantage physical facilities have is high clearance rate – 99 per cent of animals sell because the physical 

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~~~

Advances in technology and the increased emphasis on animal welfare and ethics will see the business grow exponentially.

environment drives excitement. We use online systems to stream out to people who may not want or need to attend in person, so people can increasingly get the best of both worlds.”

One thing both Street and Edwards agree on is that traditional saleyards will still be around in 50 years. Street argues that online has definite advantages, such as “no freight charges, no expensive yard fees, no slippage in terms of weight and just generally better outcomes in terms of animal welfare because the animal stays in the paddock until it’s sold. In addition, as a seller you’re in control, you shift from price-taker to price-maker. “[Nevertheless, there is] always going to be a need for physical saleyards. However, generational changes, advances in technology and the increased emphasis on animal welfare and ethics will see the business grow exponentially.”

Edwards says that volume will be key: “We’ll see more amalgamations, whether that’s driven by councils or private investment. The number of animals being sold hasn’t changed much in 25 years, so it all comes down to the dispersion. There’s a definite link between cost efficiency and volume, and the other thing about a large facility is that it’s a very transparent marketplace with everything from feed lot buyers to restockers.”

APRIL/MAY 2020

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Key benefits: • Up to 10 times faster than marking out on foot • Increase safety by following the robot from a car • Reliable, repeatable 2-3cm accuracy • Works as hard as you do with 8 hour battery • Versatile to accommodate different spray can sizes • Compact, portable design makes for easy transportation • Use with your existing GNSS and optical survey equipment • Works with a variety of standard file formats Visit our website to register for a demo roadshow near you in 2020!

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Robot helps get Brisbane’s new runway ready ahead of schedule Brisbane Airport’s new parallel runway project is almost complete and set to become operational in July this year.

Putting the final touches on the $1.1 billion infrastructure project involves marking out the runway line work so that pilots and other airport personnel can taxi on and off safely.

With more than 50 kilometres of lines to mark out, the contractors predicted a 5–6 week timeframe because traditionally line marking is labourintensive work and involves surveyors walking along the design and marking points at intervals along the way.

With the help of an innovative robot called Tiny Surveyor, distributed and supported in Australia by Position Partners, the team was able to save at least four weeks of work as the robot completed all the pre-marking in a fiveday period.

Using an on-board, high precision GPS unit and a tablet for the operator to control the system, Tiny Surveyor automatically lays out a digital design quickly and accurately, to save time and increase safety.

“We look at it from an overall health and safety aspect and that’s what technology is about: making jobs and infrastructure projects safer and more efficient,” said Paul Coughlan, Head of Infrastructure Development and Project Director New Parallel Runway, Brisbane Airport Corporation.

“Productivity, speed and accuracy

are the three main benefits of using Tiny Surveyor on a project like this,” explained Karl O’Toole, Geospatial Applications Specialist at Position Partners.

Tiny Surveyor is ideal for other line marking applications such as roads, sporting grounds, fencing and car parks. It can be used with either GNSS or total station positioning to give accurate results.

For more information on renting, purchasing or getting a demo, contact Position Partners on 1300 867 266 or visit positionpartners.com.au APRIL/MAY 2020

15

MINING: PROXIMITY DETECTION

DON’T STAND SO CLOSE TO ME

Proximity detection is the new technological frontier when it comes to preventing death and injury on mine sites.

Words: Darren Baguley

The majority of operators are eager to improve their safety as long as the technology is intuitive, simple to use and non-obstructive.

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MINING: PROXIMITY DETECTION

For many years, a mine was the most dangerous workplace in Australia.

But a relentless focus on safety has seen mining drop two places to Australia’s third-most dangerous industry. According to Safe Work Australia’s Key WHS statistics Australia 2019, mining is now behind Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing and Transport, Postal and Warehousing (with a rate of 3.7 fatalities per 100,000 workers).

While mining accidents such as the fatality at the Henty Gold Mine in Tasmania earlier this year grab headlines, miners are more likely to be injured or killed in accidents such as vehicle collisions, being hit by moving objects, being trapped between stationary and moving objects, and being trapped by moving machinery.

In reaction to the prevalence of such injuries, the Australian Mining Equipment, Technology and Services (METS) has responded with a range of innovative proximity detection (PD) and collision avoidance (CA) technologies in an effort to reduce – and potentially eliminate – these hazards.

While some commentators have lumped both technologies in together, Hexagon’s MineProtect global director Sean Perry stresses that PD and CA are two very different technologies.

“Object detection or PD is using radar and other sensor technology to detect the presence of physical objects and people around the vehicle, and to detect equipment and people.

“CA is predicting paths or vectors of where objects will be in the future

– we’re using technology that has come from the aerospace industry – and it’s often visualised as a red carpet rolling out in front of equipment. The faster you go the longer the carpet has to be.”

Currently PD and CA technologies are divided into three different levels, which were determined by the Earth Moving Equipment Safety Round Table (EMESRT), a global initiative involving major mining companies which was established in 2006. Since its formation, EMESRT has established nine levels of Incident Preventative Controls, but it is levels 7 (Operator Awareness), 8 (Advisory Controls) and 9 (Intervention Controls) that are the most relevant.

Level 7 provides a form of  APRIL/MAY 2020

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MINING: PROXIMITY DETECTION

situational awareness that helps machine operators see their entire surroundings while operating; Level 8 provides operators with audible and visual alarms to alert them to potential dangers; and Level 9 is a system that is able to detect potential hazards, provides warning, and as a last resort can take action to prevent a collision.

There are a number of Level 7 systems on the market, fewer Level 8 and no true Level 9 systems currently available.

According to Newtrax’s regional vice-president of APAC, Simon Waghorn, systems vary considerably between vendors, and the application and type of mining. “A PD system deployed on the surface in an opencut mine will typically use GPS, but in an underground environment GPS is not available and different technology is used,” he explains.

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“Newtrax specialises in underground applications, and we use a system of multiple radio frequency tags attached to people, vehicles and fixed assets to accurately determine where risks are apparent between 10 metres and 100 metres, and talk to each other to effectively form a peer-to-peer network independent of Wi-Fi, 4G or any other form of network.”

By contrast, Hexagon’s Perry says his company “also uses tags for individuals, while vehicles use radars – long range 50-plus metres, short range 3-5 metres, and cameras for less than three metres. The Hexagon system is also network-independent, communicating using vehicle-tovehicle ultrawide band. There are also cameras, and if the system detects an object it will automatically prioritise that camera view. The system

doesn’t use Wi-Fi or 4G, it uses radio and GPS, but if customers want the system to report back to base there needs to be some sort of public or private network available.”

While PD and CA systems promise much, particularly in the future as Level 8 and Level 9 systems become more available, there are still several challenges when it comes to deployment and implementation.

According to Waghorn, “There are several challenges from both a technological and a human perspective. Mines are an extremely harsh environment. For example machines smash into the sides of tunnels and systems need to be robust enough to cope with that. Geologically there are huge variations from mine to mine and areas within a mine, so the technology needs to be able to cope with considerable variation.

“The performance of the system needs to be consistently accurate, as false positives can lead to the operator ignoring the technology. Nevertheless, the majority of operators are eager to improve their safety, and as long as the technology is intuitive, simple to use and non-obstructive, they’ll use it.”

Perry agrees that acceptance onsite is a challenge, adding that a lot of sites aren’t making use of the data the systems are producing. “These systems are creating gigabytes and gigabytes of data, and it’s important for companies to try to get some value out of that data,” he says.

“A mine might record x-number of incidents avoided, but it’s critical that management receives feedback from that data in a way that it can be used to resolve issues. For example, data may show there is a haul road intersection that has a lot of traffic with heavy and light vehicles. That’s a risk.

Is there a way to minimise that risk?” 

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MINING: PROXIMITY DETECTION

FAST FACTS • There were nine fatalities in the mining industry in 2019.

• There is a wide range of PD technologies available, including radar, RFID, GPS, ultrawideband and electromagnetic.

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While there is an argument that PD and CA systems may become redundant in the not-so-distant future, Waghorn argues, “The reality of a human-free mine in the next 20 years is almost inconceivable.

There will probably always be a mix of autonomous equipment and humans within the underground workings because humans are needed to lay the infrastructure.

Running fibre for networks, building underground 4G networks and installing ventilation for diesel vehicles – these will need to be done by humans, so as autonomous equipment becomes more prevalent the need for humans in some parts of the mine will actually increase.”

Given the nature of the mining environment, with factors such as poor visibility, physical barriers and the heavy presence of mobile machinery of all types, the use of PD and CA systems is only going to increase as the technology becomes more capable and cost-effective.

PROPERTYBIZ

HOLIDAY HOMES: CASH COWS OR MONEY PITS? The pros and cons of owning a holiday home are far-reaching, but with solid homework and the right approach, Australians are reaping the rewards of short-term rentals.

Words: Kirsten Craze

APRIL/MAY 2020

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HOME TO OVER 75 STORES

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PROPERTYBIZ

Thanks to the sharing economy and property portals such as Airbnb, Stayz and Booking.com, an increasing number of short-term rentals are earning more than the average office worker does in a year as Aussies seek out holiday ’homes’ over hotel rooms.

While the exact number of so-called holiday homes is hard to determine (some otherwise primary properties only play the part seasonally), the last census noted that the Central Coast and Shoalhaven areas, both within close proximity to Sydney, were home to the largest concentration.

Matt Knight, buyer’s agent and director of Precium Property, operates across the Shoalhaven area. He says that while a popular rental can rake in thousands of dollars a night in high season, as well as brownie points with friends and family, they can also cost owners a pretty penny.

“If you don’t build the rental income, it will end up costing you money each year.

Bad management, or a home being overused by family, can result in $10,000 to $30,000 a year in negative cashflow,” he explains.

Other common pitfalls of owning a holiday home include owners not taking into account extended vacancies between peak seasons and the ongoing costs of maintaining the asset.

“Management fees, cleaning, council rates, maintenance and insurance are significant ongoing costs to factor in. Then there’s providing linen and keeping the gardens well kept, which are also important and cost money.

The best properties are expensive for a reason,” Knight says, adding that buyers should also check in with their accountant to determine the ultimate cost of income and capital gains taxes.

Today’s holiday homes are well-oiled machines, and while the motivation behind buying one is often about sun and fun, Christian Sergiacomi of Pacifico Property in Byron Bay says the dollar is still a major driver.

“I’ve had clients who never needed to rent their homes out. It’s amazing though, even if they don’t need to, even if they have all the capacity in the world, there’s a reason they’ve made it to that point – because they like the dollar. Some have asked, ‘How much did you say that house next to me was?’ When I tell them they can get $35,000 a week, they suddenly change their tune!”

However, Gold Coast buyer’s agent Tony Coughran of Simply GC says it’s not just about money.

“I had a client living on the land who bought because they wanted a beach holiday home for their family to use in the holiday periods, and rent out in the downtime,” he says. “So they’re not banking on an absolute return, but they’re picking up a lifestyle return.

It’s about weighing up the lifestyle benefits.

Like any investment, if you want to spend $60,000 on a pool it might only add $45,000 in value to your home, but you make up the balance in laughs, good time and memories.” 

IMAGES: PACIFICO PROPERTY IN BYRON BAY, NSW. APRIL/MAY 2020

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PROPERTYBIZ

TREAT IT LIKE A BUSINESS

DO YOUR HOMEWORK

While fun, holiday homes offer a taxable income stream, so handle them like a pro.

“Short-term rentals are like long-term investments, but they do require a little more focus, similar to owning a small side business.

If you want a purely passive investment, this probably isn’t it,” Knight explains. “Treat it like a business and profit from the peak season.

Don’t give in to your cousin who suddenly becomes best buddies and wants to stay the week of Christmas – and don’t take up all the peak periods yourself. The more you treat it like an investment in the early years, the better the financial rewards and the more freedom you will have later on.”

Sergiacomi says another good move for holiday rentals is a stylish backyard studio: “Using them for Airbnb is a brilliant business model because they’re rentable all year, as it’s mostly couples staying in them and they’re not confined to school holidays. Where it’s a big wedding venue, like Byron Bay, every guest needs somewhere to stay, and they’re not usually having big parties at your place.”

If it looks too good to be true, Coughran says, it just might be.

“Interstate buyers need to establish what holidaymakers really want in a location.

Consider the level of the unit, the aspect and its size. It can make a big difference if you know what you’re doing,” he explains.

“A lot of interstaters are paying an unnecessary premium and the selling agents love it.

Some of them are buying properties that are B- and C-grade, not A-grade. Get your money going further, otherwise you’ll be eating into your capital growth.”

Other things to research, particularly when buying an apartment with amenities, include body corporate acceptance of short-term rentals, whether the sinking fund covers beachside hiccups such as concrete cancer, and just how pricey the strata fees are.

IMAGES: HOTELESQUE HOLIDAY HOMES.

CONSIDER A NICHE People want a holiday experience to remember, and it can start with the accommodation.

"Australian tourists are happy with ‘quirky’ 

“Treat it like a business and profit from the peak season.”

APRIL/MAY 2020

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and will tolerate older homes as long as they are clean, well decorated and fun,” Knight says.

Then there are the successful listings with owners who think outside the square by offering things such as pet-friendly accomodation, themed decor, backyard glamping or eco-living.

But, in a mainstream destination, Coughran says it’s even more important to stand out.

“Buyers should be looking at the fundamentals of the property (is it going to increase in value?), but also make sure it has a significant point of difference,” he explains.

“Draw people to rent your property as opposed to the dime-a-dozen homes on offer.”

PRESENTATION IS KEY A picture tells a thousand words when it comes to booking a holiday, so how you look online and what you can offer is vital, according to Monique Eyles and Steve Keir of Hotelesque, a luxury concierge service for high-end short-term rentals.

“Presentation is key, with many owners setting up their holiday homes more like a hotel, so it’s best to pay attention to styling,” Eyles says. “Remove unnecessary items, as the modern traveller is far more discerning; they don’t like a massive amount of owner belongings. Use storage options in the home, or lock off a room for your personal items.

“Also make sure everything is working perfectly and create a guide of how to operate things in the home.”

HIRE THE HELP

Images: A. Wogas

“Many owners start out looking after their holiday homes but realise it can be a lot of work, and sometimes they’re not located close enough to easily support it when things go wrong,” Eyles says. “Being on call for broken appliances is not what owners dream of.”

Keir adds that being on call for a last-minute booking request or late-night call for help just doesn’t suit time-poor people.

“We’ve found one person’s ‘clean and perfect’ is not always up to someone else’s standards. At Hotelesque we have been honing our cleaning skills for more than 5000 guest stays – that gives us certainty that the guest will not be disappointed.

We call that Hotelessence,” he says.

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AGRIBUISNESS: NUTS

NUT JOBS

Meet the farmers who work for peanuts… well, pistachios, walnuts and hazelnuts anyway.

Words: Ian Lloyd Neubauer

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AGRIBUISNESS: NUTS

Rising input costs. Price gouging by supermarkets. Vegan protestors and the worst drought in living memory. Farmers in Australia have never had it so tough, with more than one in four saying they are likely to exit the sector, according to the University of Canberra’s latest Regional Wellbeing Survey. Vignerons topped the list, followed by fruit, vegetable and rice growers.

But in any market, there are winners and losers. And in this case, the winners are totally nuts. Since 2011, the annual farm gate value of our nut industry has nearly quadrupled to $1.3 billion, according to the Australian Nut Industry Council, and it’s showing no signs of slowing down. By 2030, it’s projected to hit $3 billion.

“The whole industry is booming and the reason is pretty straightforward – the plant-based food trend,” says Jolyon Burnett, CEO of the Australian Macadamia Society. “Whether it’s paleo, gluten-free or vegan, nuts pretty much tick every box, and the health benefits of eating nuts are getting better documented all the time. Ten years ago, 70 per cent of Australian GPs said they didn’t consider nuts to be part of a healthy diet because they made you fat. Today, that figure has flipped on its head and 70 per cent of GPs recommend nuts as part of a healthy diet.”

So is growing nuts commercially a walk in the park? To find out, AusBiz speaks with three farmers growing three different nuts in three different states.

SOUTH AUSTRALIAN PISTACHIOS “I have a great deal of sympathy for any farmer doing it tough, because us nut farmers are growing something the whole world wants to eat. We can’t keep up with supply,” says Chris Joyce, Director of Nut Producers Australia in South Australia’s Riverland region, 

DID YOU KNOW? • People who eat nuts every day reduce their mortality by 20 per cent, according to the Harvard Medical School.

• Peanuts are actually legumes, not nuts. They can be eaten safely by expectant mothers.

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AGRIBUISNESS: NUTS

“If you look at the prices of other nutritious health foods, walnuts are more affordable.”

the country’s biggest pistachio grower.

But the cost of establishing a nut farm is a major disincentive, Joyce explains. “Pistachio trees need six years to mature, which means you need deep pockets and to find a way to feed your family for at least five years. In the sixth year, you just cover your costs.”

Birds – and figuring out how to scare them away – pose another challenge for nut farmers. “There are a variety of scaring techniques: guns, cannons, sound recordings; the big orchards use light aircraft,” Joyce says. “At a minimum, you need one person working four hours a day to protect 20 to 30 hectares of nut trees.

That means you can’t grow nuts commercially on a hobby farm because the cost of scaring birds makes the whole thing unfeasible.”

There are currently about 1000 hectares of pistachio trees planted in Australia and another 1200 hectares of immature trees in the ground – with all additional output slated for China.

“Right now about 45 per cent of

all Australian pistachios go to China, and that’s a result of two things,” Joyce says. “The hard work done by our industry to have all tariffs for our nuts abolished, and Trump’s trade war. China has slapped tariffs of 40 to 50 per cent on nuts from the US, which is our main competitor. So, you can guess who’s become China’s favourite origin for nuts.”

VICTORIAN WALNUTS Philip Farnell didn’t do much research before he bought Wellwood Wallace, a 60-hectare walnut farm near the Victorian city of Ballarat, in 2014. “I just fell in love with the place,” he says.

Fortunately for Farnell, the gambit paid off. As one of only two Australian Certified Organic walnut growers in the country, his produce sells for four or five

times the price of regular walnuts – and will continue to track north. “If you look at the prices of other nutritious health foods, walnuts are more affordable given their high concentrations of the vitamins omega-3 and omega-6,” he says. “Comparatively speaking, walnuts are still too cheap.”

In this robust market, one would think Farnell is laughing all the way to the bank. But that’s not the case, he explains: “Walnut trees are very thirsty.

The cost of water today is about $850 per megalitre and climbing. It’s a major drawback, as are equipment costs.

“You need very dedicated machinery for shaking and harvesting trees that can’t be used for any other crop. We’re also about to invest $375,000 in a computerised irrigation system that reads moisture levels in the soil. It’s a  APRIL/MAY 2020

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AGRIBUISNESS: NUTS

huge amount of money but it’ll save me a huge amount of time.”

Farnell’s advice for anyone thinking about investing in a walnut farm?

“You need to do your research and not jump into it like I did,” he says. “I wish I’d known more about what a big investment it would be and that the returns, even on an existing farm, would be spread over 20 years. I don’t regret buying – it’s a beautiful lifestyle – but I’ve had to forget about early retirement.”

TASMANIAN HAZELNUTS Australian hazelnuts are so much fresher and tastier than the imported varietals sold in supermarkets that most growers have never seriously contemplated exporting. “The market is booming now that hazelnuts are seen as an alternative protein source that’s both cheaper and healthier than meat,” says Carol Bracken of Tamar Valley Hazelnuts, a farm in north-east Tasmania with 5000 trees. “So we don’t have to accept global prices.”

But will the bottom drop out of the domestic market when the million hazelnut trees planted by confectionery company Ferrero Australia in the Riverina region of NSW begin bearing fruit this year?

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Bracken thinks not: “Ferrero won’t be selling their hazelnuts in Australia.

They will crack them open here and ship them overseas to their processing plants, then ship some of the hazelnut meal back to their Nutella factory in Lithgow. It’s complicated, you see.”

Tamar Valley Hazelnuts sell through their virtual and online farm gate store, and to retailers in Tasmania and Victoria. Business has been good – but they have grown tired of the work and are looking for an exit.

“We’ve invested quite a lot to build it up to a successful business,” Bracken says, “but the property needs more investment in processing, more irrigation and more trees.

We’ve been at it for 10 years and are ready for a change. So if you’re interested, let me know – we’re putting it up for sale.”

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BUSINESS: GYMS

SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST A fresh look at the front line of the gym industry, to see how it’s working out.

Words: Ian Lloyd Neubauer

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In 1847, circus strongman Hippolyte Triat opened the world’s first commercial gym in Paris – a vast dome of cast iron and glass filled with dumbbells and barbells, where the wealthy exercised for exercise’s sake.

As bizarre as it was, the concept caught on. Today there are an estimated 200,000 gyms around the world, including almost 3500 in Australia.

And with so much focus on healthy living, 200 new gyms are slated to open in Australia every year, according to an IBISWorld industry report.

But growth in the number of new memberships in Australia isn’t keeping up with the number of new gyms. “At the moment we have around 20 per cent of Australians with gym memberships, 6 per cent actually go to a gym regularly, and that leaves 80 per cent of the population doing whatever,” says Barrie Elvish, CEO of peak industry body Fitness Australia. “So we are not targeting those people.”

Justin Tamsett of Active Management, a consultant in the fitness industry, puts it like this: “As an industry, we’ve helped the fit get fitter and helped the fat 

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BUSINESS: GYMS

Named after the length of its classes, F45 has taken the fitness industry by storm. There are more than 500 franchises in Australia and 1300 more around the world. get more embarrassed to get fit. So how do we decrease the intimidation factor of gyms to welcome people in?”

The answer, market research dictates, is a new breed of gym that incorporates technology, sports science and innovative customer service models to attract new members and future-proof profit.

Here are three gyms setting the pace.

THE 45-MINUTE GYM With 2700 different exercises used to create challenging workouts that change every day, F45 was ahead of its time when former equities trader Rob Deutsch opened the first outlet in Sydney in 2011. It ticks off more than half of the Top 12 Fitness Trends for 2020 identified by Fitness Australia, including ‘functional’ training that mimics everyday movement, bodyweight training, high-intensity interval training and small group classes led by registered professionals.

Named after the length of its classes, the brand has taken the fitness industry by storm. There are now more than 500 F45 franchises in Australia, another 1300 more around the world, and plans to open as many as 10,000 new venues in the US alone.

“The reason they grew so fast was probably the low barrier to entry compared with other franchises,” says Tamsett, referring to F45’s simple equipment – free weights, pull-up bars, kettlebells and the like – and annual turnover of $400,000 per studio. “Their timing was also perfect because they came in at the front end

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of the influencer marketing trend.”

Last year, actor and fitness icon Mark Wahlberg bought an undisclosed stake in the company. At the time, he said, “I’m a fitness fanatic and I fell in love with F45 after I walked into a gym and saw people from all walks of life, all levels of fitness, working out together.”

And in January, Bloomberg reported F45 had taken steps to list on the New York Stock Exchange. F45 declined to comment, but if Deutsch’s previous statements are anything to go by, it’s a done deal. “We’re the fastest-ever franchise rollout in Australia and we believe in the world,” he said.

THE NO-THRILLS GYM Fitness and Lifestyle Group, the company behind Fitness First, Goodlife Health Clubs and Jetts Fitness, is the largest player in the sector, with almost 30 per cent of industry revenue – a billion dollars per year.

The second biggest player, with 15 per cent of industry revenue and 520 outlets, is Anytime Fitness.

Established in the US in 2002, the company revolutionised the fitness industry with self-service gyms that have no full-time staff – only casual cleaners and personal trainers who are available on demand. Bored receptionists have also been taken out of the equation. Instead, members let themselves in – any time of the day or night – with keycards.

The no-thrills model has made it possible for Anytime Fitness to open gyms in country towns like Mount Isa and Narrabri on the North West Slopes of NSW, where people are 16 per cent more likely to be sedentary than city-dwellers, according to the National Rural Health Alliance.

“Our mission is to ‘Improve the self-esteem of the world,’” says Anytime Fitness CEO and Co-founder

BUSINESS: GYMS

Chuck Runyon. “It may sound like an audacious goal but we’re very serious about it. We’ll soon have 4000 gyms open in more than 30 countries.

Each of those gyms supports a small community of like-minded individuals who are determined to enjoy healthier, happier lifestyles.”

Anytime Fitness has mastered the art of acquiring new members.

Now it’s working on mastering the art of retaining them. “We built the franchise by focusing on convenience, affordability and a friendly, supportive atmosphere. That’ll never change,” Runyon says. “But we’ve sustained our growth by expanding our benefits for members, specifically our new group training sessions and our mobile app. It’s like having a personal trainer in your pocket.”

THE SPA GYM “Feels like a spa, works like a gym.”

That’s the mantra at Shelter, a luxurious high-tech health club that opened in the Sydney suburb of Double Bay last year. The focus is on spin classes – gym-talk for stationary bicycle workouts – though Shelter also offers hybrid spin-boxing classes, private infrared saunas and a smoothie bar with wacky ingredients like hydrolysed collagen and hemp protein. It also has the only freshwater ice bath in

Australia – a form of therapy used by professional athletes to accelerate recovery after exercise and injury.

“When I lived in New York I’d train at SoulCycle, sauna at HigherDOSE, practise cold baths at AIRE in Tribeca, box at Gotham in the West Village, and loved my juices from Juice Press,” says Co-founder Ben Mills.

“I questioned why someone hadn’t integrated these models that fall into the health and wellness space, and why no one had done so in Australia. Why couldn’t you leave a gym with the same feeling as you do leaving a day spa?”

A recent poll by Finder.com showed that more than 44 per cent of gym members rarely go to their gym, with wasted fees adding up to $1.8 billion per year. Shelter is among the gyms that have dumped this old pricing model. Instead, it sells single passes for $40 or discounted packs of 5-50 passes you can buy on-site or using your phone. “We’ve developed our own app,” explains Mills. “It’s a pretty seamless booking process.”

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PUZZLES

CROSSWORD

13. Large antlered animal

23. Golfer’s two under par

15. Comedian, ... Murphy

24. Grace

16. Shouted

25. Resource

18. Actor, ... Pattinson 19. Rot 21. Nauseous 22. Settles (debt)

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

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

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

SOLUTIONS:

20. Ability to govern

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

11. Segregates

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

9. Movie performer

17. Sport parachutist

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

6. Heaven’s ... Gates

16. Period of time

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

14. Command to dog

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.

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

5. Communicative

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

12. Collapse (4,4)

WORD SEARCH

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

4. Military student

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

10. Polar vessel

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

3. Rock-pool crustacean

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

2. Italian sparkling wine

8. Trattoria staple

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

1. Unload (suitcase)

7. Fracture

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

DOWN

1. Normal

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