AusBiz Magazine - July/August 2020

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NEWS+VIEWS | MINING | AGRIBUSINESS | INFRASTRUCTURE

p.8 the phenomenon of coral spawning P.12 HR in renewable energy projects P.18 the australian truffle industry P.22 lowdown on australia’s trucks p.28 profiling mums in business

IF IT AIN’T BROKE, WHY FIX IT? How much money should be spent on upgrading Australia’s trucks? p24

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AUSBIZ NEWS

Home Improvement The HomeBuilder grant, recently announced by the Morrison Government, is a gamechanger for anyone who is considering buying or renovating, given the criteria (which some are saying is too complex and not very equitable) can be met. HomeBuilder is designed to help kickstart building activity over the next months, with those qualifying for the program being given $25,000. The idea is more people will be inclined to build, and therefore more builders and their contractors will gain work. Construction is Australia’s thirdbiggest employer, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

To be eligible for the grant you must be an Australian citizen and prospective owneroccupier. If single, your salary must be less than $125,000 per year, or if you are part of a couple your combined income must be less than $200,000 per year. The grant can be spent on a new home valued at up to $750,000, or a renovation to an exisiting home valued between $150,000 and $750,000 (with the dwelling not valued at more that $1.5 million before the renovation). The contract for the new purchase or renovation must be signed between 4 June 2020 and 31 December 2020, with work to be commenced within three months of the contract date. If you’re one of the lucky few who fit the bill, now is a great time to upscale.

WHAT TO EXPECT IN TRAVEL

With travel opening up across the states, Australians are keen to get back in the air and on the road. Travel, however, no longer looks the same, with hotels, restaurants and various other hospitality industries now embracing intense cleaning and sanitising processes as part of their normal service — to ensure customers feel both safe and confident in the current climate. Although COVID-19 advice is in a constant change of flux, hotel and restaurant groups around the country are promoting their cleaning programs to reassure guests that the doors are both open and clean. Measures will vary from venue to venue, but some of the common measures you can expect to see include hand sanitiser being readily available, common areas being regularly sanitised and cleaned, more cleaners working within the venues, flexible booking conditions available to guests, and updating measures as the health advice from official government bodies is updated.

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AUSBIZ NEWS

QLD Invest deliver valuable property investments to Australian families Let’s face it, working for the man is good for paying the bills, but to really get ahead, we all know that property investing is a must. As a wise old investor said to me years ago: “This property will never be as cheap as it was when you bought it.” Well, I guess that’s why they call it REAL estate.

Where do you start? Seriously!

How much research do you need to conduct before you buy a property?

When navigating all the contradicting property reports out there, it’s easy to follow the herd, simply because that’s what the herd does. Plus, who has the time to drive across the country investigating every nook and cranny, trying to locate that ‘great deal’?

Well, enter Korry from QLD Invest.

The really unique thing about what Korry does is he ‘manufactures’ the wealth into the property design. It’s a concept that takes time to wrap your head around. But once you get it, you’ll probably never buy a stock standard property again. QLD Invest was set up by Korry in order to deliver real wealth, to everyday families, through smart property investments.

KORRY AND ROMA FROM QLD INVEST WITH THEIR DAUGHTERS.

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Korry explains that his team spends most of their time looking at council zoning, and what would be allowable under council rules. Then designing a building that will deliver a specific commercial outcome to the investor.

“We deliver a complete package.

All the investor needs to do is be prepared to work with the mortgage broker to get the lending in place and sign a few contracts.

“We’ve got dozens of clients currently involved in projects which will provide $80,000-$120,000 in immediate uplift, within six to eight months. Not only that, it provides big tax deductions. It’s hard to beat. And an investor on a normal salary can get into high return property, with around $100,000 equity or deposit.”

Korry explains: “We named the business QLD Invest because southeast Queensland is in fact one of the best locations for investment at the current time and foreseeable future.

“Many of our projects are returning high weekly rents and incredible returns of 6 to 15 per cent each year.

On top of that is the capital growth.

One of our clients who wanted to move up from Sydney, is in fact getting a 25 per cent annual return on the project that we delivered. It’s basically allowed the family’s dad to stay at home. That’s life changing, and that’s when I get real satisfaction from my business. We are a family business, and we pride ourselves in helping families secure a great future.”

QLD Invest makes the investment process seamless. With every step, from initial discussion through to securing lending, managing the project and getting it rented, the team at QLD Invest support the process at no charge to clients.

“We deliver far more than most people would be able to achieve with their own knowledge, and we do it quickly, including high return SMSF property.“ Talking with Korry, you will learn more in three minutes than you may in a lifetime. qldinvest.com.au | 0439 425 855 korry@qldinvest.com.au

AUSBIZ NEWS

EXPLORE REGIONAL NSW

A trip to the Central Tablelands, west of Sydney, wouldn’t be complete without a trip through the lovely Blue Mountains to Bathurst, Australia’s first inland European settlement where rich history fuses with a contemporary landscape.

Highlights here include the Australian Fossil & Mineral Museum, National Motor Racing Museum, Chifley Home and the new Bathurst Rail Museum.

There are plenty of interesting museums located all around country NSW, from the Bradman Museum in Bowral to the Age of Fishes Museum in Canowindra, and the Temora Aviation Museum, which houses a world-class collection of historic aircraft.

Great regional art galleries include MAMA in Albury, Wagga Wagga Art Gallery and Western Plains Cultural Centre in Dubbo.

Keen to support local and regional tourism while indulging in cultural experiences? Start planning your next adventure now.

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.

Edible Wedding Bouquets Who knew that herb bouquets could become a wedding trend? Bundaberg farmer Amanda Giles bunched some sage, parsley, thyme, chives, rosemary, oregano and mint together for a lady who wanted to try all the herbs. “We took some photos, put them on Facebook and Instagram and people went crazy for it, and now it’s an everyday thing.”

Interestingly, Amanda spent 12 years working in the mining industry before moving into herb farming. Together with her husband Chris Giles, she hopes that herb bouquets might become a must-have wedding accessory.

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BUSINESS MENTAL HEALTH

THE IMPORTANCE OF LOOKING AFTER YOUR MENTAL HEALTH Small business owners, senior leaders and managers have been left reeling in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Whether your business has closed or is still operating, here are some strategies to help you through the toughest of times.  6

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BUSINESS MENTAL HEALTH

Many businesses in Australia have been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic and there is still a long way to go as we move towards recovery. Your business may be facing the immediate financial stress of closing down or a reduced turnover. You may be applying for government assistance (often for the first time) and dealing with the emotional impact of what’s happening to a business you’re invested in. You’re also no doubt concerned about your employees who may be dealing with losing their jobs or a reduction in hours.

The general uncertainty about how the coronavirus situation might affect you and your business in the weeks and months ahead can have a huge impact mentally, emotionally and physically, which is why taking care of yourself now is so important.

Below, we detail some immediate coping strategies, and provide information about where to turn for additional support. It’s always a good time to focus on mental health.

SUPPORT YOUR STAFF It’s natural to be concerned about the ongoing health and wellbeing of your staff, especially those who have been stood down from their role or had their hours cut, those whose roles have been made redundant, and casual workers who you no longer have any work for.

This article looks at various ways in which you can support the wellbeing of your employees during the COVID-19 pandemic.

ENSURE THAT YOU LOOK AFTER YOURSELF Whether you’re a business owner, senior leader or a manager, to be best-equipped to support your employees, it’s important that you prioritise your own wellbeing – both physical and mental.

SOME PRACTICAL TIPS • Try to maintain perspective – there will be an end to the situation.

• Make sure you are getting accurate information from credible sources.

• Structure your days and establish a routine as best you can.

• Establish regular sleeping patterns and make sure to get enough rest.

• Look after your physical health and find a way to stay active.

• Moderate the amount of news you consume each day.

• Try to do something each day that makes you feel good.

• Participate in exercises that you find relaxing, and perhaps try therapeutic activities such as mindfulness, meditation and yoga.

ACCESS EMOTIONAL SUPPORT • Seek out support, both practical and emotional. Talking to other people is one way to help make sense of your situation.

• In addition to speaking to colleagues and others you are close to, consider reaching out to fellow business owners and managers who can relate to your specific circumstances.

• Don’t be afraid to speak with your GP or a health professional if you find it hard to stop worrying.

PREPARE FOR LIFE AFTER COVID-19 Whether your business has closed down, temporarily paused, or you’re working reduced hours, it’s important to remember that there will be opportunities to get back to work. In the meantime, there are ways you can use the time to focus on the future.

• Consider completing any outstanding administrative activities you’ve simply been too busy for, such as tax reporting and updating your business or department plan, so

you are ready for the next chapter in your professional life.

• Enrol in an online training course, conduct online research or delve into background reading on your sector, so that you can return to work with new knowledge and expertise.

• Share ideas with loyal and trusted staff members who may be able to assist you when it’s time to start working again.

• If your business is still operating or could be revived in the future, why not use this time to beef up your online presence, including your website and social media profile. If you’ve always wanted to take your small business online but haven’t had the time, now is an ideal opportunity.

• Maintain contact with your customers via direct email, social media or signage (if applicable).

• Try to share your business journey with your community in order to retain customer loyalty.

Story provided by Beyond Blue, which supports Australians with mental health care and has developed the Coronavirus Mental Wellbeing Support Service. coronavirus.beyondblue.org.au JULY/AUG 2020

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CORAL SPAWNING

Image: Rolex©/Frank Gazzola

AN UNDERWATER SNOWSTORM AWAITS.

A STAR IS SPAWN More than a tourist magnet – the Great Barrier Reef’s spectacular coral spawning offers ways to help secure its future.

Words: David Levell

CORAL SPAWNING

Descending into semi-darkness down the anchor line in small groups, we find the bottom readily visible 10 metres below in the dim glow of boat lights and our dive leader’s torch (we all carry one). The extensive coral beds and bommies are glorious, but we’re a bit early for the full majesty. It’s not until the second dive – after a delicious hot meal back on board – that we see some spawning action. Floating upwards from a carpet of staghorn coral, hundreds of small white dots ascend through dark waters as if pulled by invisible strings. Later that night, countless more will join them.

“It’s incredibly beautiful underwater when you see this underwater snowstorm, all these eggs and sperm lifting off the corals and floating gently away in the current,” says Peter, and he’s right.

As spawning peaks, the waves roll with a pink, oily coating of floating spawn. Upon surfacing, the egg-andsperm bundles break up and mass fertilisation begins. A few days later, millions of miniscule newborn coral larvae sink to the bottom of the sea floor and attach to reef substrate.

Feeding and growing, they keep the coral life cycle ticking over.

Amid this outpouring of new life in waters rich in colourful coral, the threats facing the Great Barrier Reef seem deceptively remote. And how to reconcile the global media reports of its death after the 2016-2017 mass bleachings with the mass breeding taking place all around us?

“The Great Barrier Reef is certainly not dead,” Peter says. “But it was significantly damaged by those bleaching events. The greatest impact 

The placid sea contrasts with a busy deck bustling with a mixture of tourist divers and snorkellers gearing up Image: TEQ/ James Hill

Reef sharks, shrimps, octopuses, dazzling varieties of corals and fish… such sights would normally be scubadiving highlights on the Great Barrier Reef. But not tonight – this isn’t just any dive on a coral reef. This is spawning night, one of those few, special nights of the year it snows underwater.

Often likened to a submarine snowstorm, mass coral spawning is the spectacular, simultaneous release of egg-and-sperm bundles by an entire reef of corals. It only happens over a handful of nights once a year – and |only when conditions are just right.

“In late spring and early summer we get warming water which seems to stimulate the maturation of the eggs and sperm inside the coral,” explains Professor Peter Harrison, an Australian scientist who was one of the original discoverers of coral spawning, in 1981. “Then they usually spawn four to six nights after a full moon, which coincides with periods of slack water that increase fertilisation rates.

Spawning after dark means all these fat-filled energy-rich food sources [coral egg and sperm] are only seen by a few nocturnal predators, not by the major daytime predators.”

It’s five nights past November’s full moon and we’ve just spent a couple of hours motoring 55km out to sea from Marlin Marina, Cairns, aboard Tusa Dive’s (tusadive.com) vessel Tusa T6, enjoying the sunset, coffee and briefings. Moored at Coral Gardens dive site on Saxon Reef, the placid sea contrasts with a busy deck bustling with a mixture of tourist divers and snorkellers gearing up, all eager to witness the annual miracle.

Water temperature is an inviting 27°C, warm enough for almost everyone to forgo wetsuits. Even so, we’re all in stinger suits, a standard November to May precaution, although it’s reassuring to hear stinging jellyfish are a coastal menace not usually encountered on these outer reefs.

A SCUBA DIVER STARTS HER DESCENT TO CORAL GARDENS ON FLYNN REEF, GREAT BARRIER REEF

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was in the northern parts, but some central parts were also badly hit. Some reefs are badly affected with very few corals left. Many reefs were significantly impacted but patches of coral remain.

And other reef systems that were protected by upwelling of cooler water still have very good coral cover. What we need to do now is use surviving corals as the foundation for breeding the next generation of corals to more rapidly recover coral communities.”

Discovering coral spawning opened a way for Peter – who has made reef recovery his life’s work – to do just that. Since the 1980s he’s been refining techniques for gathering large volumes of larvae spawned from coral that resisted bleaching temperatures, then releasing them to repopulate damaged areas.

His latest innovation involves fortifying larvae with special algae to help bleach-proof them even more.

Bleaching is a stress reaction from the loss – in overheated conditions – of the nutrient-supplying algae in a coral’s tissues. Normally corals can recover, but extreme heatwaves brought by global warming could turn bleaching into a death sentence for reefs everywhere.

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Image: Rolex©/Frank Gazzola

Image: Christian Botella

CORAL SPAWNING

Luckily, however, not all algae overheats at identical temperatures.

Taking a strain better able to handle heat than other types a coral might naturally find in seawater, Peter mixes it with larvae in tubs before settling them on a reef, ensuring they start out better armed against their sea of troubles.

“Combining heat-tolerant algae with larvae from corals that have survived the previous bleaching event is likely to provide extra capacity for the new juvenile corals to survive heat stress in the future,” he says.

Even so, Peter warns that future global warming scenarios could still take coral beyond this enhanced tolerance threshold. “What we’re trying to do is buy time for corals with these new populations we’re creating, in the hope that we’ll get real global action on climate change and greenhouse gas emissions.”

Coral doesn’t know it’s in danger, =of course. All it knows is business as usual – feeding, growing, breeding.

And while there are healthy coral reefs, that will include the incredible spectacle of mass spawning which is, as Peter says, “probably the greatest sexual reproduction event on the planet”.

LEFT: AN EXPOSED TROPICAL CORAL GARDEN IN QUEENSLAND. RIGHT: SCUBA DIVERS TEND TO AN OPAL REEF OFF PORT DOUGLAS.

FAST FACTS • Spawning occurs over several nights because different coral species on a reef release their egg-and-sperm bundles on different nights to avoid producing hybrids.

• Corals also reproduce by brooding (fertilising internally), budding (a detaching part grows separately), bailing out (a single polyp detaches) and parthenogenesis (embryos grow without fertilisation).

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RENEWABLES

RENEWABLES JOBS HEAT UP Wind, water and the sun now supply a fifth of Australia’s electricity, and it’s not just the environment that’s benefitting from the country’s shift to renewables – jobseekers are as well.

Words: Lisa Smyth

RENEWABLES

For the first time, large-scale solar farms have overtaken the hydro sector as the second-largest creator of renewable jobs.

In 2018, 21 percent of the power generated in Australia came from renewables – the highest ever level in our country’s history – largely fuelled by the one in five households that now has rooftop solar.

Plus, investment in large-scale renewable energy projects doubled from $10 billion in 2017 to $20 billion, with 87 projects under construction or financially committed to by the end of 2018. It seems the Australian renewable energy sector has emerged like a phoenix from very clean ashes.

GROWTH IN UNCERTAIN TIMES “Australian employment in renewables has recovered in recent years, though remains below its 2011-12 peak,” explains Callam Pickering, AsiaPacific Economist at online job site Indeed. “Renewables employment has

increased 60 per cent over the past two years, reaching 17,740 people in 2017-18.

“The recent recovery is notable, as too was the steep decline from 2011-12 until 2015-16. The global trend has simply been higher employment year after year, so Australia’s experience is unusual and likely reflects the uncertainty surrounding energy policy at the national level.”

That uncertainty continues, as the Morrison-led Coalition government has yet to outline its plans to replace the National Energy Guarantee policy it scrapped in 2018. And yet, the renewable energy sector, and its need for talent, is growing once again – why?

“It has been two record years for the sector,” says Kane Thornton, Chief Executive of Australia’s Clean Energy Council. “There has been a lot of investment in large-scale wind and solar projects, and a lot of consumer

interest in rooftop solar. Installing rooftop solar panels is much cheaper than it once was, and the cost of fossil fuel-powered electricity has gone up, so renewable energy is making more sense to more people.”

In fact, for the first time, large-scale solar farms have overtaken the hydro sector as the second-largest creator of renewable jobs, while rooftop solar maintains its top position, accounting for 46 per cent of jobs in 2017-18.

Surprisingly, Queensland has the highest number of accredited solar installers (1571), despite the state coming dead last in renewable energy penetration, with only 9.5 percent. Tasmania leads the pack with a whopping 95.9 percent penetration rate, followed by South Australia with 53 percent (Tesla and its giant battery might help explain that number two spot).  JULY/AUG 2020

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RENEWABLES

Image: Thomas Müller

AUSTRALIA HAS SEEN A TREND OF WORKERS MOVING FROM TRADITIONAL FOSSIL FUELS TO SOLAR.

A REGIONAL BOOM While solar technicians and specialists are vital to the renewables industry, it’s actually construction roles that make up the largest portion of jobs in the sector. In the small city of Port Augusta, population 14,000, more than 3000 construction jobs have been created thanks to 13 renewable energy projects.

And, in April 2019, Westpac, one of Australia’s largest banks, announced it would source all of its electricity from renewable energy by 2025 and that it would buy a quarter of the output from the new Bomen Solar Farm near Wagga Wagga to help achieve that target. The project is expected to have a peak workforce of 250 during construction phase.

“Renewable employment is having an impact on the market

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as a whole – there have been 10,000 new construction jobs for large-scale projects in the past 12 months,” notes Thornton. “And this has been a boon for regional and rural areas where suppliers and labourers are sourced from local areas.”

While some local governments have voiced concerns about the reliability of renewable projects, as most require a much smaller ongoing workforce than comparable mining projects, other regional areas are banking on the cost savings that come with renewables to actually prop up other sectors.

For example, Whyalla in South Australia has a population just over 20,000, but plans to triple that in the next 20 years through an ambitious plan to upgrade the steelworks using 1 GW of renewable energy.

OLD DOGS, NEW TRICKS The mining sector slowdown has also had a part to play in the renewables employment boom, with some mining workers looking to get out before they are forced out, and some just looking for jobs that don’t impact their health. One former Queensland coal miner recently told the ABC that he will “live longer doing this kind of work” when explaining his switch to the renewables sector.

Myung Shim, Key Account Director for Q CELLS, Australia’s longest running manufacturer of solar cells and products, says: “In our own hiring we tend to look primarily for experienced, specialised talent from within the solar industry. However, we have seen a trend of workers moving from traditional fossil fuels to solar. Having a knowledge of how the energy market

RENEWABLES

works suggests that these workers have skills that can adapt to the technical nature of the solar industry.”

Thornton agrees: “We have pretty strong capabilities in Australia in most areas – engineering, software development, construction – these skills transfer across from other sectors into renewable energy. Plus, we have a strong and active training sector and universities that are very focused on developing the next generation of renewable workers.

“But there is no doubt the government should be doing more, especially in training. We need strong TAFE programs and a long-term skills strategy. A lot of people want to transfer into the sector.”

FAST FACTS • Six solar panels were installed every minute in Australia in 2018.

• 33 percent of all renewable jobs globally are held by women, compared to a 22 percent average in the oil and gas industry.

Image: Phonlamai Photo

A CLEAN JOB MARKET Certainly Australia has a lot of catching up to do. In 2018, 11 million people were employed globally in the renewables sector. China remains the leading solar employer in the world, with 61 percent of all jobs, followed by the EU, Brazil and the US. “Australia punches above its weight on solar employment, but the renewables sector as a whole still remains a small employer in the context of Australia’s 12.9 million-person labour market,” clarifies Pickering.

Still, a study released in December 2018 by the United Nations’ International Labour Office found that accelerating the transition to clean energy could add 24 million jobs globally by 2030. If Australia wants a piece of that action, it will need to maintain its momentum to ensure the renewables employment sector doesn’t burn out as it did before. Can we really rise from the ashes once again?

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Introducing Internet-enabled corrections for your base station • Replaces UHF radios • Works with all brands of GNSS • From $99 + GST per month Buy online today positionpartners.com.au/mirtk

SPECIAL PROMOTION

Position Partners launches MiRTK: an internet-enabled correction service for high accuracy GNSS Intelligent positioning solutions provider Position Partners announces the release of MiRTK – a correction service for GNSS equipment that utilises the Internet instead of UHF radio frequencies. MiRTK is compatible with all brands and models of GNSS from manufacturers including Topcon, Trimble, Leica Geosystems, Sokkia, Hemisphere and more.

“Until now, users that rely on high precision GNSS for applications such as surveying and machine control had no option but to use UHF radios or a network RTK solution,” said Cameron Waters, Geospatial Business Manager at Position Partners.

“Anyone that’s had to rely on UHF radio frequencies will have experienced problems, including interference, range limitations, costly licensing and severe penalties for breaching licensing laws. MiRTK offers an alternative that is refreshingly simple: no repeaters, no line of sight issues and no complex licensing,” he added.

Designed for the geospatial, construction and mining sectors, MiRTK works with every make and model of GNSS equipment via a small modem

that slides onto the accessory slot of the tripod and connects to the base station via a single cable.

Unlike UHF radios, MiRTK is not limited by range from the GNSS base station and does not require line of sight with the survey rover or machine.

It is limited only by the Telstra network, so if a user is receiving emails on their phone the MiRTK service will work.

According to Waters, another benefit is the ability to utilise a single correction protocol across all brands and types of GNSS equipment on site, dramatically reducing complexity and potential connectivity issues. “MiRTK uses NTRIP and a user selectable format such as RTCM3 or CMR, that can be used universally regardless of the brand or model of equipment,” he said. “Users enjoy full speed, full constellation connectivity without the complex radio settings, baud rates, bandwidth or scrambling problems that you get when trying to utilise different GNSS systems with UHF radios.”

Users simply connect the modem to the base station, power the modem on and MiRTK will work for up to 20 hours continuously without charge. Each unit

can connect with up to 10 devices such as survey rovers or machine systems as standard, with unlimited potential to scale up connections as required.

MiRTK offers the first Hardware as a Service (HaaS) for the geospatial sector, covering the hardware, data and warranty in either a 12-month or 24-month subscription.

“The future of UHF is limited with lower bandwidth, higher density areas, increased governance, rising costs and little flexibility,” Waters said. “MiRTK gives customers a new approach to receive reliable correction data in a simple and hassle-free way, whilst utilising their existing GNSS hardware.”

For more information and to buy online visit positionpartners.com.au/mirtk or call 1300 867 266.

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AGRIBUSINESS

GROWING BLACK GOLD Truffles are a delicacy most often associated with Old World decadence, but in a surprise twist, the truffles served at the world’s top restaurants today are just as likely to be from Down Under as a country in Europe.

Words: lisa smyth

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Images: Truffle & Wine Co

AGRIBUSINESS

In 2012, hip-hop star Jay-Z visited Alba in northern Italy and went home with more than $20,000 worth of fresh white truffles. Heralded by luxury goods experts as responsible for influencing sales of Cristal champagne and Hennessy cognac before that, Jay-Z once again shone a spotlight on a niche luxury product that would soar in demand over the following years.

To claim that Australia, now the fourthlargest producer of truffles in the world (behind Spain, France and Italy), owes its success to Jay-Z may be a bit of a stretch – especially as it’s the black Périgord truffle that makes up most of the domestic harvest – but there’s no denying that consumer interest has grown exponentially in recent years.

“There is a lot more information available to consumers and a lot more awareness about truffles around the world,” says Alex Wilson, Head of Sales for Manjimup’s Truffle & Wine Co (TWC), the single largest producer of black

truffles in the Southern Hemisphere. “But, while the demand for truffles is higher than it has ever been, production in Europe has decreased dramatically. Urbanisation and climate change have resulted in less wild forests, and it’s just no longer part of people’s lifestyles in France and Italy to regularly go and hunt for wild truffles.”

ISLAND BEGINNINGS The first trees inoculated with truffle fungi were planted in Tasmania in 1995, and Australia’s first black truffle was harvested in 1999 (there is some debate as to which producer actually holds this lofty title).

The first truffières struggled to translate European techniques and methods to the Australian environment, particularly as even the soil fought against growers. European soil generally has a limestone base and is highly alkaline, while Australian soils are mostly acidic.

FUN FACTS OAK

Truffles have a symbiotic relationship with host trees, commonly English oak, holm oak and hazelnut.

300

To make a truffière commercially viable, an average of 200 to 300 trees need to be planted.

DOGS

Truffle hunting used to be entrusted to young pigs, but they are far too fond of the expensive delicacy. In Australia, dogs are preferred.

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AGRIBUSINESS

TRUFFLE HILL WINES IN MANJIMUP, WESTERN AUSTRALIA.

Truffle growers have to add heavy amounts of lime to the soil, raising the pH, at least one or two years before they can plant inoculated trees. Even then, it’s a matter of constantly monitoring the soil as well as ensuring correct irrigation. It’s not easy to get the balance right, but as growers shared their knowledge the industry grew in leaps and bounds.

There are now more than 400 truffières across the country, and it is estimated that by 2020 Australia will be producing in excess of 20,000 kilograms of truffles per year. The industry may be a small player in our agricultural sector, but at $2,500 per kilogram it’s definitely a mighty one. The main driver of success? Seasonality.

“The beauty about Australian truffles is being able to now utilise truffles two times per year,” explains Italian-born Alessandro Pavoni, Executive Chef of two-hatted restaurant Ormeggio at The Spit in Sydney.

“Australian black truffles are some of the best I’ve ever tried – I love to use them.

They are very similar to French truffles, but an obvious difference and benefit is that the Australian ones are fresher when they get to us. Truffles don’t like to travel.”

GLOBAL DOMINATION Despite the difficulty in transporting fresh truffles around the world, Michelin-starred chefs, Chinese billionaires and Saudi royalty are eager for Australian truffles in the European ‘off-season’, early May to September.

TWC supplied black truffles to more than 30 destinations in 2018, including Thomas Keller’s famed Napa Valley eatery, The French Laundry, and British celebrity chef Heston Blumenthal’s restaurant The Fat Duck.

“The export market is really where the potential for huge growth in the industry can come from,” says Colin Carter, Vice President of the Australian Truffle Growers Association (ATGA). “There are many established wholesalers that are always looking for more truffles to export.

Australian truffles are sent to the US and Europe, but Asian countries are much closer and are seeking to purchase truffles.

“We do expect our production to increase 

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AGRIBUSINESS

HISTORICALLY PIGS WERE TRAINED TO FIND TRUFFLES, BUT TODAY SPECIALLY TRAINED DOGS ARE THE MOST COMMON – AND WELL BEHAVED – TRUFFLE HUNTERS.

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AGRIBUSINESS

and possibly move into third spot. The European harvest period is six months out of cycle to Australia’s, so we won’t be competing with them for fresh product. However, we suspect that Chile and other countries in South America that currently have fledgling industries may give us strong competition in the future.”

TRUFFLE GIN, ANYONE?

Images: Truffle & Wine Co

While truffles will always remain part of the fine dining experience, many home cooks and MasterChef aficionados are keen to add the truffle touch in their own kitchen, so the home-front truffle industry is booming.

“The domestic market is rapidly increasing as the home gourmet market is also expanding – in-season fresh truffles can be purchased online and shipped by express post straight to your door,” notes Carter. “There are now several truffle festivals around the country and pop-up shops specialising in truffles in-season.

However, newly producing growers may find the domestic market quite competitive.”

Winter festivals such as the Truffle Kerfuffle in Manjimup, The Truffle Festival in Canberra and Truffle Melbourne keep growing (in normal circumstances) due to increasing consumer interest, and there’s also a diverse range of products that growers are making to supplement the fresh side of their business.

Everyone knows about truffle oil, but truffle honey, truffle cheese, truffle butter, truffle mustard, truffle salami, truffle ice cream, truffle cider and even truffle gin can all be found online, or even at your local supermarket.

Usually made with lower-graded truffles, valueadded products are a more affordable way for most Australians to experience the deliciously aromatic and earthy flavour at home.

“The local truffle industry has changed drastically since I arrived in Australia in 2003. The quality has increased – it is now outstanding world quality without a doubt.

The quantity has increased, as well as the duration of the season. It is more affordable,” says Pavoni. “To me it is all about the intense flavour and smell. It is a unique experience; nothing else is even close to it.”

JULY/AUG 2020

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TRANSPORT TRUCKS

IF IT AIN’T BROKE, WHY FIX IT? There is fierce debate about just how much money should be spent on upgrading Australia’s trucks.

Words: Ian Lloyd Neubauer Australia’s freight task is growing fast.

Already the fifth-largest in the world, it will grow 75 percent between 2011 and 2031 demand, according to the government projections. Now with COVID-19 accelerated the trend in online shopping, the country’s freight tasks will grow faster still. This means more drivers spending more time on the road.

But is Australia’s truck fleet up to the task? Not according to the Heavy Vehicle Industry Association (HVIA).

The peak body representing truck manufacturers in Australia describes the age of the fleet – 14.9 years on average, one the oldest in the developed world – as “a matter of grave concern”.

Another industry body, the Truck Industry Council, says the same, adding that the fleet is so old that it would take “10 years of year-onyear record sales” just to reduce the average age of the truck fleet by six months. A modern truck fleet with high-tech safety features and energyefficient engines, it hypothesises, would not only improve operational productivity, but deliver far better health and safety outcomes but drivers and the general community. 

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Now with COVID-19 accelerated the trend in online shopping, the country’s freight tasks will grow faster still

TRANSPORT TRUCKS

THE NEW VOLVO GLOBETROTTER XXL. JULY/AUG 2020

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TRANSPORT TRUCKS

SCANIA K&S FREIGHTER.

In this special report, we look at why Australia’s all-important trucking fleet is so old and present the case for – and against – modernisation.

THE ARGUMENT AGAINST

SCANIA ADVANCED EMERGENCY BREAKING.

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“My old truck works fine, so why should I invest in such a huge amount?”

That’s the reason most owner-drivers in Australia have for not upgrading, says Todd Hacking, CEO of the HVIA. “They know new trucks are safer and will probably reduce their running costs, but it’s a low-margin industry and owner-drivers just don’t have that kind of coin.”

Alexander Corne of Scania, a Swedish manufacturer of heavyduty trucks in the 16-tonne and above category, the kind used for long-distance haulage, concurs.

“Traditionally we’ve had quite an old fleet in Australia because of the ‘make do and mend it’ mind frame many of us grew up with, and affordability ties into that,” he says. “It’s expensive to

keep a truck on the road in Australia.

A new truck can cost anywhere from $200,000 to $350,000. Registration and insurance costs are also dear. So even though a new truck will cost you less to operate in the long run, the nature of freight in Australia is that we have a high level of owner-drivers who operate in a competitive industry and who find it hard to justify such big investments.”

Shane Coates of the Glen Cameron Group, a freight company based in Melbourne with about 1,000 trucks, says even large companies like his gag at the expense of the new rigs.

“Today’s trucks have a range of safety features that you would typically find in an expensive German car and can come to a complete stop if someone were to walk in its path. The Euro 6 class of trucks now available in Australia isn’t just a new badge, it’s a second engine that sits alongside the main engine that particles out 99 percent of the exhaust toxins, so what goes out of the truck is nearly as clean as what goes in. But all these new technologies, of course, come at an additional cost.”

However, the one overriding impediment for investing in new trucks according to the dozen-odd industry sources interviewed for this report is the historical lack of government incentives in Australia. “In most developed countries, the uptake of new technology and purchase of new vehicles is more frequent and driven by legislation, which in turn has been driven by carbon emissions reduction targets” Scania’s Corne explains.

THE ARGUMENT FOR It took a global pandemic, but Canberra has finally introduced some of the incentives truckies have been crying out for decades. In April the threshold for instant asset-write offs for business equipment was increased from $30,000 to $150,000.

TRANSPORT TRUCKS

SCANIA PROVIDES NEW TRUCK GENERATION PRIME MOVERS T0 SHOOBRIDGE TRANSPORT.

WHAT’S NEW IN TRUCK TECH? • Advanced Emergency Breaking – If a vehicle gets in the truck’s path and the driver doesn’t react it will stop the truck as quickly and safely as possible • Pedestrian Recognition System – Only just unveiled by Volvo in Europe, it warns the driver if a pedestrian or cyclist comes between the truck and the curb • SEA Electric Truck – Caused quite a stir at the Brisbane Truck Show earlier this year.

“It’s the way of the future especially in the light and medium range,” Hacking says.

The move lit a firecracker under the light commercial vehicle market. “Light commercial vehicles are absolutely flying out the door right now because of the instant asset write-off. Many businesses in the construction industry are taking advantage of it,” says Adam Lewis, sales manager at Suttons Trucks Arncliffe in Sydney.

The threshold is still not high enough for new heavy-duty rigs. But it is high enough to incentives the purchase of ‘newer’ used 16-tonners.

“Now is an excellent time for someone who has a contract to move gravel or bulk materials to go out and buy a newer truck and cleaner truck that won’t break down and has more advanced safety features,” says Corne.

Matt Wood at Volvo Trucks in Brisbane concurs. “The buying model for heavy-duty trucks in Australia is they have their first life on the highways doing long haul and are then on-sold for local roads. Those are the kind of buyers who can benefit from the write-off,” he says. “But even with the pandemic, people are still buying new trucks. There’s quite a bit of cautious optimism in the market,” he says.

Above and beyond what the government can offer, there are endless reasons for investing in new trucks, says Coates of the Glen Cameron Group group, where the average age of trucks is only 3.5 years.

“We buy a lot of new Volvo and Mercedes Benz trucks because they provide us with total life cost solutions – trucks that come with aftermarket support services that keep our fleet on the road,” he says. “Certainly these technology features add to our cost of doing business and convincing our customers that it makes longer term financial sense isn’t easy. However, many of our customers who also have clear environmental directives are very much on board, and our founder Glen Cameron wants his employers working in the safest possible environment.

And to reduce our carbon footprint.”

It is this kind of attitude that will ultimately prevail, says Hacking at the HVIA. “I think within 10 years there will be a modernisation of the Australian fleet because the savings are there in the long run, especially with these new government incentives. It’s basically more money for jam.”

JULY/AUG 2020

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BUSINESS MUMS

BUSINESS MUMS

MUMS IN BUSINESS words: Tatyana Leonov | illustrations: jon wolfgang miller

Being a mother is no easy feat, and when you look at mothers who also work... well, that is no easy feat. In this issue we celebrate three amazing women who managed to bring up families while launching businesses.

TIFFANY DROGE: JUMPLY Tiffany has always loved the outdoors, often actively exploring regions near her base Melbourne with her husband Nathan. When their first daughter Tanner was born in August 2016, Tiffany didn’t see why she and Nathan couldn’t keep up their active lifestyle.

But it wasn’t so much the newborn juggle that Tiffany found a challenge... more the lack of quality baby products around for active families.

“Tanner was only a few months old when we realised that the baby products that we had purchased were not working for us,” she says.

Tiffany resigned from her full-time job as a health and physical education teacher and started working on a concept she hoped would encourage parents who had been active prekids, to keep living as they had before… albeit with a bit more to carry. Puggle Baby Australia was launched in February 2017.

A Kickstarter campaign was next on the cards, and baby Chase was born while they were in the midst of the whole thing. “But the result was 100 per cent worth it,” she says.

When you look for baby or nappy bags online, hundreds of options pop up, but Tiffany set about creating a product that would have sections for laptops, swimmers, passports and an RFID-protected pocket – to help travelling families stay safe.

As awareness of the brand grew, Tiffany realised rebranding and expanding were the next steps. “We changed the name of the company to Jumply in January 2020, as we wanted the new name to resonate with the idea of parents getting out and about with their kids,” she explains. “Then in mid-January 2020 we launched into Japan.”

In a way, Tiffany and her family encapsulate the Jumply brand. Chase is now 19 months old and running around, while four-year-old Tanner is a proud older sister who loves moving just as much as Chase. And Tiffany and Nathan are showing no signs of slowing down, teaching their kids that an active lifestyle is – at least for them – the norm.

THE STORY 2016: Welcomed Tanner into the world.

2017: Launched Puggle Baby Australia.

2018: Chase was born. Launched a successfully funded Kickstarter campaign for the Adventure Nappy Backpack.

2019: Rebranded as Jumply.

2020: Launched Jumply into Japan.

JULY/AUG 2020

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BUSINESS MUMS

NAOMI KOROLEW: THE POP UP WEDDING COLLECTIVE It’s a little bit ironic that Naomi Korolew decided to work in the wedding industry after choosing to leave her own marriage in January 2014. “I confess that I’m not the kind of girl who was totally into weddings,” she laughs.

As it turned out, her ex decided he didn’t want to continue living in Australia, and Naomi found herself a sole parent to a one-year-old: “This made continuing my corporate career working as a senior manager in the oil industry impossible – unless I wanted to outsource parenting – which I didn’t.”

Naomi started by assessing her likes and dislikes, taking a good hard look at the opportunities available in her local area.

“This is what led me to becoming a marriage celebrant,” she says. “It ticked all my boxes and was an industry with a low barrier to entry.”

Next Naomi identified couples with kids as a demographic being underserved by the traditional wedding industry, and in July 2016 she launched a local pop-up wedding company with few different levers to create simple, beautiful and affordable occasions.

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“The average wedding spend in Australia is over $50k, but the pop-up concept can save couples 70 to 80 per cent of the average wedding budget, without sacrificing on quality,” she says.

Local interest grew quickly, then a global shift in attitude towards wedding budgets helped Naomi decide what to do next: “I rebranded, relaunched and expanded our offers in December 2019 to include even more weddings, plus pop-up elopements.”

These days Naomi is living the balanced lifestyle she craved when the idea started coming into fruition. Now that her son, Hugo, is at primary school, she works during school hours and at nights when he’s asleep. Many of her pop-up elopements are midweek, and when she has weddings he has playdates or goes to his grandparents.

Supported by her two virtual assistants, Naomi’s Collective has swelled to involve more than 20 contractors, but family always comes first. She and Hugo take a month off over winter every year to explore a different country together. But she can’t help herself: when she sees an opportunity to make life easier for couples, she takes it – and Destination Pop Up Weddings are coming soon.

THE STORY 2014: Became a sole parent and resigned from the oil industry.

2015: Identified the wedding industry as an opportunity and began studying to become a Commonwealthregistered marriage celebrant.

2016: Soft-launched The Peninsula Pop Up Wedding Co. 2019: Rebranded as The Pop Up Wedding Collective. Expanded pop-up wedding offerings and added elopements.

2020: Re-launched as The Pop Up Wedding Collective.

BUSINESS MUMS

VANESSA WILTON: MANLY SPIRITS CO The story of Manly Spirits Co came to life in late 2015, when Vanessa was holidaying with her husband David in Tasmania. “While driving through the hills of Tasmania on a foodie weekend, we had a light bulb moment,” she says. “I had reached the chapter in my life where the ability to build a scalable business had arrived. I saw the craft beer explosion and the rise of craft spirits globally and decided that we needed more Aussie spirits to grace back bars and bottle shops.”

The business planning stage took the couple six months. Then it took another six months to secure buildings, design the brewhouse, stills, bottles, packaging and cocktail tasting bar. “Our distilling philosophy is that we take the best of tradition and then innovate with the use of native Australian and marine botanicals producing complex modern spirits,” Vanessa explains. “Authenticity and passion are instilled into all our products and brand.”

Although she doesn’t have one favourite product, Vanessa can name a few that customers keep coming back to. There’s Lilly Pilly Pink Gin with its fruity notes, and the internationally awarded Australian Dry Gin made with locally foraged sea lettuce.

The bespoke bottles are decorated with the company’s signature Fibonacci pattern. “It represents perfection and balance in nature,” Vanessa explains.

The kids (who ranged from ages 13 to 18 when Vanessa and David launched the distillery) have all been involved, too. “They have all worked in the business, as cocktail bartenders, IT support staff, sales reps, event staff, bottlers and packers. And some have been fired and rehired from the business,” Vanessa laughs. “They get some pretty good perks, too… mainly being able to have parties at the distillery and cocktail bar.”

The older two of the four, Harrison and Bella, also like to come along to yoga. “I believe in work-life, balance so I launched the Gin Yoga concept in 2018 as a bit of fun at the distillery,” says Vanessa. “There’s nothing like adding the extra challenge of perfecting your ‘crow pose’ whilst sipping your gin with your wheat straw.”

THE STORY 2015: Found soul mate and remarried.

Went on a foodie holiday to Tasmania.

2016: Quit corporate job to focus on the distillery.

2017: Launched brand with gin and botanical vodkas. Opened distillery and tasting bar to the public.

2018: Won double gold at the San Francisco World Spirits Awards.

Won NSW Telstra small business of the year.

Started distributing nationally.

2019: Expanded distribution with duty-free and exports to the UK and Europe.

JULY/AUG 2020

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PUZZLES

CROSSWORD

18. Lunches or suppers

13. Task-completion date

21. Childhood disease

14. Verve

22. Watery hail

16. Comprehend (4,2)

23. Fine particle

18. Small rugs 19. Indecent material 20. Auld ... Syne

AZALEA CARNATION DAFFODIL DAHLIA DAISY FORGET-ME-NOT FREESIA

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GARDENIA GERBERA JONQUIL LILAC MAGNOLIA ORCHID PANSY

PETUNIA PROTEA ROSE SNAPDRAGON SWEET PEA TULIP VIOLET

U T C G A R D E N I A A J

O L A P R P A H T I L R L

N U M O I N R P I A L E F

E U F L R J E H C D M B H

Y Y U A W A A R E B R E G

G I G R E G C T D E E I O

A U N O S R E O I E E A L

R Q O T O A F T S O I W Y

D N L E R F Z I M N N S S

P O I A A W A A U E I R O

A J A D D E T T L A N K O

N P V I O L E T D E D O K

S Y S N A P A I L H A D T

SOLUTIONS:

11. Spiral pin

S Y S N A P A I L H A D T

17. Took (baby) off bottle

N P V I O L E T D E D O K

10. Italian fashion & design hub

A J A D D E T T L A N K O

6. Teen hero

15. Assess

P O I A A W A A U E I R O

12. Made angry

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: PRETTY FLOWERS.

D N L E R F Z I M N N S S

5. Gum sore

R Q O T O A F T S O I W Y

9. Sanctuary

WORD SEARCH

A U N O S R E O I E E A L

4. Manner

G I G R E G C T D E E I O

8. Surpass

O L A P R P A H T I L R L

3. Inscribe

N U M O I N R P I A L E F

2. Witness

7. Happened (upon)

E U F L R J E H C D M B H

1. Repeatable (of speech)

4. Florida city

Y Y U A W A A R E B R E G

DOWN

1. Raise petty objections

U T C G A R D E N I A A J

ACROSS