True Blue Magazine – January/February 2021

TrueBlue Jan/Feb 2021

OUR HEART IS IN THE COUNTRY

IF YOU READ ME, TAKE ME HOME!

A real Australian business magazine

DARLING DAYLESFORD

A gourmet getaway in the foothills of the Great Dividing Range

REDISCOVER SYDNEY

It’s time to get reacquainted with our harbourside city

KING ISLAND

Redefining paddock-to-plate in the Bass Strait

y a r ur M e t e P FINDING HIS PLACE

Find your Vibe in Sydney An urban waterfront escape in the city.

Vibe Hotel Rushcutters Bay is the perfect place to explore Sydney and then retreat to relax and unwind. With a heated rooftop swimming pool, fully equipped fitness centre and the popular Storehouse restaurant and bar you will have everything you need to connect and disconnect as you please.

vibehotels.com Sydney | Melbourne | Canberra | Gold Coast | Darwin | Marysville | Hobart

EDITORIAL

Publisher & Editor: Michelle Hespe publisher@publishingbychelle.com Deisgner: Ryan Vizcarra Assistant Editor: Bethany Plint editorial@publishingbychelle.com

ADVERTISING

Sales Manager: Richard Bunting sales@publishingbychelle.com

Rex was established in 2002 from a belief that regional Australia needed and deserved an air service of quality that provides good connectivity between regional centres and capital cities at affordable prices. This still remains our firm belief today.

We believe we have more than succeeded – Rex is now Australia’s largest airline with 59 destinations across all states.

With a legacy dating back almost 70 years, the only ASX-listed carrier to return operational profits every year since 2003, and established infrastructure at capital city airports across Australia, the expansion to domestic operations is simply the next natural step for Rex. As such, we are excited that, for the first time, the domestic travel market can look forward to a safe, reliable and affordable airline.

We are also bringing a new era of air connectivity to regional Australians.

Rex is making it cheaper and easier for travellers from regional Australia to connect to Australia’s major capital cities and vice versa.

Alongside the launch of domestic ticket sales in December, Rex has released ‘thru-fares’ which combine

regional and domestic airfares for the convenience of regional travellers who need to get to Melbourne via Sydney, or to Sydney via Melbourne.

Travelling on a Rex ‘thru-fares’ not only means affordable fares when booking, but convenience at the airport. Check in once, and your baggage is checked through all the way to your final destination.

No more fuss when transiting via Sydney or Melbourne.

Rex flights between Sydney and Melbourne and our range of domestic/regional ‘thru-fares’ are now on sale – visit rex.com.au for bookings. While you’re there, make sure you take the time to browse our network map - we fly to 59 incredible destinations. If you’re looking to holiday at home this summer, why not consider one of our spectacular coastal and outback destinations?

Flip to page 11 to discover our favourite spots to soak up the summer sun.

Thank you for your continued support. We look forward to seeing you next time.

Neville Howell Chief Operating Officer

CONTRIBUTORS

Michelle Hespe Winsor Dobbin Sarah Hinder Libby Masi Bethany Plint Emily Herbert Carolyn Breeze Saurabh Jain Bia Affonso Agrifutures Australia

PRINTING

IVE Print Sydney 81 Derby Street, Silverwater NSW 2128

Cover image: Mira Eady True Blue 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 True Blue are from iStock and Getty Images, and we make every effort to credit all contributors.

JAN/FEB 2020

1

Welcome Back Once again, we are dedicating this year to all things Australian, and we hope that by supporting Australian businesses and destinations, we will continue to make a difference to the lives of so many people.

There is so much you can do to contribute – simple things such as swapping to an Australian-made clothing label, trying an Australian beer or wine that you have never tasted, or staying in an Australian hotel or enjoying a outback farm stay. Let’s all make an effort and we can get our communities and our economy kicking along nicely.

From all of us at True Blue, we wish you and your loved ones the best for 2021.

Enjoy your travels and drop us a line anytime – we love hearing from you.

MICHELLE HESPE & THE TEAM AT TRUE BLUE

If you would like to read the digital version of True Blue, please be our guest!

TrueBlue Jan/Feb 2021

OUR HEART IS IN THE COUNTRY

A real Australian business magazine

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 2 TrueBlue

DARLING DAYLESFORD

A gourmet getaway in the foothills of the Great Dividing Range

REDISCOVER SYDNEY

It’s time to get reacquainted with our harbourside city

KING ISLAND

Redefining paddock-to-plate in the Bass Strait

Pete Murray FINDING HIS PLAC

E

IF YOU READ ME, TAKE ME HOME!

Cover image of Pete Murray by Mira Eady

WELCOME to our first issue of True Blue for 2021, and what a year it is set to be!

I personally can’t wait to board my first 737 Rex aeroplane and start exploring more of our wonderful country. They might be bigger planes, but there will still be the same fabulous Rex hospitality that so many of us have grown to love.

This issue we have covered a host of places that Rex fly to, including two of my many favourite places – stunning Sydney and beautiful King Island. We’ve also included a feature on Daylesford as so many of our Melbourne friends will be flocking to the countryside now that they can get out and about. I know most of us will never take travel for granted again.

I was also so pleased to meet musician Pete Murray, to chat about his awesome career, and the three pivotal moments that led him to where he is today – living in Byron Bay with his wife and three children, creating music that he loves, for fans who have been by his for decades. He’s as down-to-earth as he seems, and I am sure you’ll be hearing more of his calming tunes over the coming months and years.

34

Inside TrueBlue AusBiz.

Check out AusBiz. at the back of the magazine.

AGRICULTURE Meet the Pinnaroo Farmer who’s making a life out of lentils INDUSTRY Australia’s emerging lavender industry COMMUNITY #FinishWaterWaste is connecting metro and rual Australians IN THE WORKPLACE Why we’re failing at workplace wellbeing

upfront

Features

07 Rex News

24 Pete Murray

In this issue, we share the details of Rex’s move into the domestic travel market, marking 59 ports of call across the country.

Plus, our events round up is packed with awesome activities to keep you busy this summer. Find your next book, film or podcast in our Entertainment section.

The Australian music legend opens up about family, song writing and his unwavering belief in fate.

12 Moonlight Cinema

28 Discover Daylesford This once quiet country town in regional Victoria is now a highly sought after destination for gourmet getaways and romantic weekend escapes.

34 Rediscover Sydney Unexpected experiences in the harbour city.

38 King Island Redefining paddock-toplate in the Bass Strait.

44 Living La Vida Lakeside Australia might be known for its coastline, but don’t forget to look inland.

Summer is finally here, and with it comes Australia’s favourite oudoor cinema.

Coming to a park near you.

22 Sip, Eat, Sleep We scope out the best new and established venues to wine, dine, play and rest your weary head.

38 JAN/FEB 2021

3

Northern Peninsula Area

WITH RESPECT AND PRIDE WE STRIVE TO BUILD A FUTURE FOR OUR CHILDREN BASED ON UNITY, EQUITABLE SELF–GOVERNANCE, EDUCATION AND CULTURE. Cape York is at the very northern tip of Australia. It’s a narrow peninsula only 80 miles south of Papua New Guinea, with the Coral Sea to the east, the Arafura Sea/Gulf of Carpentaria to the west and the Torres Strait Islands to the north.

The Northern Peninsula Area (NPA) is a land of two seasons: the wet season, December to April, and the dry season, May to November. NPA is made up of five Indigenous communities; Injinoo, Umagico, New Mapoon, Seisia and Bamaga.

Northern Peninsula Area Regional Council (NPARC) NPARC is the governing local council involved in developing the local economy through everyday municipal services, operating local enterprises and administering social, community, cultural and recreational activities.

Visit the NPA, by air, sea or by road. Explore the adventurous, challenging and historical Telegraph Track or drive by the Scenic Peninsula Development Road all by 4WD only.

This sacred area is full of wonderful nature at every turn, scenic views, waterfalls, and sunsets equal to the best in the world and make your way to the very tip of the Australian continent, a must do when you visit this remote area.

Enjoy the cultural performances, indigenous arts and crafts, fishing tours, boat trips, scenic helicopter flights from Punsand Bay, croc spotting, or other seasonal tours.

Accommodation options range from motel units and self-contained cabins, to lodge rooms, eco tents and camping.

Embark upon adventure in the Cape York region. Come and experience the unexpected.

For all the latest information about the NPA visit the Council website – www.nparc.qld.gov.au

From the window seat

Broken Hill Outback New South Wales

FAST FACT

Image: Destination NSW

The town of Broken Hill, which was formerly established in 1883 after a German boundary rider discovered a rich ore deposit now known as the Line of Lode, entered the National Heritage List in 2015 as the longest running mining town in Australia. However, the Bulali and the Wilyakali people inhabited this area for millennia before any mineral wealth was discovered.

JAN/FEB 2021

5

GOOD NEWS

AUSTRALIA From 1 March 21*

MELBOURNE SYDNEY Connecting Australia since 2002

BOOK NOW!

100,000 tickets at

$79

00

rex.com.au

Proud Partners:

*Fares available until sold out. Fares governed by Rex Promo fare rules. Booking/Handling Fee and Payment Method Surcharge apply. Visit rex.com.au for more information

UPFRONT Keeping Australia connected ON DECEMBER 2, 2020, the landscape of Australian aviation changed as Rex released tickets for the launch of its domestic network.

Domestic services will take to the skies from March 1 2021, starting with three Boeing 737-800NG aircraft between Melbourne and Sydney.

By Easter, another two aircraft will be added to expand the domestic network to Brisbane, the aim to progressively grow domestic operations to ten routes within the first 18 months.

This latest milestone comes after Rex announced the Rex Board had approved an initiative to expand to domestic services at the end of June 2020.

Now, a historic new era for Australia’s domestic air travel is taking off. “Finally, Australians can look forward to not only a safe,

reliable and affordable airline, but one they can truly count on for the long term – Rex’s origins date back almost 70 years, making it Australia’s second oldest surviving carrier,” Rex Deputy Chairman, the Hon John Sharp AM said.

“This is an exciting opportunity for travellers. For the first time they don’t have to choose between low fares with minimal service, and premium pricing for more reliable flights. Over the past 20 years Rex has been the most reliable passenger carrier in Australia and our domestic services will naturally enjoy this superior reliability at affordable prices.”

“In short, we will be offering premium full service with our trademark country hospitality but at fares pegged at the budget carrier level,” says Mr Sharp, with fares “twice the value at half the price”.

Domestic services will have a twoclass cabin configuration (Economy and Business Class) as well as 30 premium seats with Rextra Legroom. Lounge access and onboard Wi-Fi will be free for Business Class, whilst Economy passengers can access these options for a small fee.

All fares include checked baggage allowance and catering.

To coincide with the release of domestic tickets, Rex has launched its new fare structure, offering six domestic fare class families with a competitive array of flexibility – bringing more choice than ever to the Australian consumer.

To celebrate the launch of domestic ticket sales, Rex has released 100,000 Promo Fares at $79*. Tickets are on sale at rex.com. au or through your travel agent.

Rex will begin with eighteen daily flights between Melbourne and Sydney.

Schedule subject to change, visit rex.com.au

JAN/FEB 2021

7

Bamaga NPA

Mornington Island (Gununa) Karumba Normanton

Burketown

Doomadgee

Cairns Townsville

Mount Isa

MARIJA CULTURAL & HISTORICAL TOUR

4WD TAG ALONG CULTURAL AND HISTORICAL TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

• Exclusive access to Australia’s largest salt pans • Learn about the traditional uses of different native plant species • Local knowledge on seasonal indicators • Cultural and historical sites • Bush tucker • Gangalidda guide • Self-drive tag-along (4WD)

GENERAL INFO

• Morning/Afternoon departures • Based on 3 vehicle minimum

DURATION

• Approx. 2.5 to 3.5 hours

INCLUSIONS

• Morning or Afternoon tea, Refreshments • Sunscreen and insect repellent • UHF Radios supplied (for the duration) if needed

BOOK NOW! - PH +(61) 7 4745 5111

news LEFT: John (L) with fellow captain Alex McIntosh (R) on an important Rex Boeing 737 test flight. “It is the proudest moment of my career,” John says.

Like coming home: a pilot’s story ALTHOUGH IT’S the dawn of a new era for Rex, to John Veitch, “it feels like coming home”.

John has joined Rex Airlines as a pilot for the launch of its domestic Boeing 737 operations as a Check Captain.

However, he and Rex share a mutual history: both have their beginnings in Hazelton Airlines.

The story of Hazelton Airlines dates back to 1953, when a young Max Hazelton convinced his mother to buy him a small plane – the foundation for a charter and agricultural air service. By 1988, it had grown to a regional airline servicing 25 destinations with 50 pilots.

At about the same time, John Veitch knew that he needed a career change. At 21, he was studying an accounting degree and working in an accounting firm, and growing restless of life at ground level.

“I knew I didn’t like working indoors. Eventually I took out a loan to fund my commercial licence. That’s how my aviation career started,” he says.

During his flight training John instantly bonded with fellow student Jason Myers. Both then took jobs at Hazelton Airlines.

John began flying for Hazelton based in Sydney on the Piper Navajo, flying public transport routes as well as a lot of charter work in a fleet of Cessna aircraft.

“Hazelton was a big country airline that is what it was known for – the people welcomed you. The standards were very high from the pilots but it was just like one big happy community working together.”

“I was based in Cudal for a period so I would always say hello to Max and see him riding his bike from his house to

the hangar. One of the great men of aviation – iconic.

That’s what I would say about him. Max and his wife treated us like sons.”

Although John moved on from Hazelton in 1994, the connection to the country airline where he started his career never left, and the friendships forged (including with Jason) lasted years to come.

After Hazelton, John’s career took him to flying the Boeing 727 and 767 at Ansett. When Ansett collapsed in 2001, he joined Australian Air Express on the 727 freighter, gaining his first Check Command. John then joined Virgin Australia in 2003 as a 737 Captain, leaving as a Check Captain in 2016 to fly 777s for China Southern Airlines, returning to Virgin Australia as 737 Standards Manager in 2019.

Meanwhile, in May 2001 Hazelton Airlines had been acquired by Ansett Australia. Unfortunately it, alongside other subsidiary regional airline Kendell Airlines, also entered administration when Ansett collapsed in September 2001.

Staff and management rallied and both airlines were able to resume operations shortly thereafter. In 2002 both Hazelton and Kendell were purchased by Australiawide Airlines and Rex was formed - the cornerstone of the airline being the staff from Ansett, Hazelton and Kendell who had fought so hard to keep the airlines alive and regional Australia connected by air.

Eighteen years after Rex was established and amongst the ranks many ex-Hazelton and ex-Kendell staff still remain, including John’s best friend Jason, now a Check Captain for Rex. “I thought…this is where I want to finish my career – knowing the great people that are in this company and the business being such a successful business, to have the opportunity to come back here is just amazing,” he says.

“I’m just so glad to be back and working with my best friend, Jason, and many other friends. Our careers both began when we learnt to fly together. It’s a magnificent reunion.”

JAN/FEB 2021

9

Armidale

Dubbo

Parkes Mildura Griffith

Orange Bathurst

Narrandera-Leeton

Sydney

Moruya Snowy Mountains (Cooma)

Mount Gambier

Connecting regional Australia with amazing* thru-fares:

Melbourne King Island

Burnie

Burnie – Sydney King Island – Sydney Mt Gambier – Sydney Mildura – Sydney

$208 $178 $208 $208

Armidale – Melbourne Bathurst – Melbourne Cooma – Melbourne Dubbo – Melbourne

Griffith – Melbourne Grafton – Melbourne Moruya – Melbourne Orange – Melbourne Parkes – Melbourne Narrandera Leeton – Melbourne

$198 $178 $208 $207 $208 $208 $198 $188 $178 $208

*One way fares for bookings via rex.com.au. Thru-fares dependent on fare availability, and bound by Promo Fare Rules. Payment Method Surcharge & Booking/Handling Fee apply.

GRAND OPENING 27 MARCH VIA THARGOMINDAH SW QLD

Photo courtesy of Stu Gibson

Photos 1, 2, 4 and 5 courtesy of Tourism Australia

news

Soak up the summer sun with Rex Now more than ever is the time to explore the Australian coastline. With a weekend getaway or a nice long holiday, if soaking up the sun sounds like your cup of tea, Rex has you covered. With a network of 59 destinations, explore Australia’s white sands, crystal blue waters and abundant flora and fauna. No matter what state, take a trip to the coast – the beaches are endless.

Esperance is home to some of the best surfing, swimming and beach destinations in Australia. With squeaky white sand and turquoise waters, even the kangaroos can’t resist the beauty of Esperance beaches.

Hop on board, join in with the kangaroos and soak up the Aussie sun. This landscape is truly something to behold.

When travelling to Port Lincoln, one of the must-see places is Coffin Bay National Park. With its expansive coastal scenery, you’ll have trouble fitting everything there is to see all in one trip! Aside from being the perfect place to soak up the South Australian sun, Port Lincoln is also known for its boating, fishing and sailing attractions – just

to name a few. With huge sand dunes to explore, get lost in the wildlife and scenery of Port Lincoln.

In the middle of the Bass Strait, between Victoria and Tasmania, King Island is an oasis that certainly won’t disappoint. Famous for its beef, cheeses and fresh seafood, King Island is a terrific escape for the busy bee. Along with its fresh produce, King Island also hosts some incredible beaches with high waves for surfers and also calmer waters for a gentle relaxing holiday.

Located in the South Coast region of NSW, Moruya is the perfect escape for all. With small boutiques, historic buildings and water sport activities, escape to the NSW south coast and experience true tranquillity.

The only problem with travelling to Cairns is trying to choose which beach you are going to visit first! Cairns boasts a breathtaking display of marine life with dolphins, turtles, thousands of fish and more coral than you can count. Take a trip to Cairns and explore Tropical North Queensland.

JAN/FEB 2021

11

Events

Moonlight Cinema: Summer 2021 Summer is finally here and with it comes the return of Australia’s favourite outdoor cinema, Moonlight Cinema.

Celebrating 25 years of open-air cinematic splendour, Australia’s favourite and biggest outdoor cinema is welcoming movie lovers back to idyllic inner-city spots in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide for a summer season of fun.

Taking place in sprawling parklands and with tailored measures set up to ensure cleanliness and comfort, movielovers can return to Moonlight with confidence to enjoy balmy summer sunsets and unforgettable quality time with loved ones. More than a movie experience, Moonlight is an opportunity to kick back and relish in the great outdoors.

Being a BYO* event, Moonlight is one of the easiest nights out to plan. Prepare a picnic of mouthwatering morsels,

12 TrueBlue

sweeties for the little ones or a bottle of bubbly; you can bring it all to Moonlight. And if you don’t have time to pack your own, Moonlight Cinema will have you covered with onsite food trucks offering up a licensed bar, pre-packed picnic boxes, tasty hot food and movie snacks.

Find your cinema

Adelaide: Botanic Park, opening December ‘20 Brisbane: Roma Street Parkland, opening November ‘20 Melbourne: Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria, opening Jan ‘21 Perth: Kings Park & Botanic Garden, opening December ‘20 Sydney: Centennial Park, opening November ‘20 For tickets, session times and info, visit moonlightcinema.com.au

Directory

TrueBlue Experiences

Great places to stay and awesome things to do across Australia

King Island Escapes

Commonwealth RoofClimb

Adelaide Oval Stadium Tours

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

ADELAIDE OVAL, WAR MEMORIAL DRIVE, NORTH ADELAIDE SA T 08 8331 5222 E enquiries@roofclimb.com roofclimb.com.au

ADELAIDE OVAL, WAR MEMORIAL DRIVE, NORTH ADELAIDE SA T 08 8205 4700 E enquiries@radelaideoval.com.au adelaideoval.com.au

Immerse yourself among the raw beauty of King Island from the comfort of a 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 with King Island Escapes.

An unforgettable experience awaits with this exhilarating adventure across Adelaide Oval’s iconic roofline. Enjoy picturesque views of the city before testing your nerve with a lean-out point 50m off the ground. With a wide range of climbing possibilities, RoofClimb is a must-do for locals and visitors alike.

Take a fascinating journey behind the scenes of Adelaide’s sporting Mecca.

Explore the 100-year-old heritage scoreboard, gain an insight into matchday preparations inside the players’ change rooms, feel the roar of the crowd on the hallowed turf through the interactive players’ race, and more.

JAN/FEB 2021

13

I N F L I G H T I N F O R M AT I O N

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS As you sit back in comfort en route to your destination, the Rex crew hope you enjoy this entertaining and informative light reading.

Q. Why do the flight attendants insist that all window blinds be up for take-off?

A. The most critical phases of a flight are the take-off and landing. In the most unlikely event of a situation that requires an emergency evacuation, it is important that crew and passengers are able to have a clear view of the outside conditions in case of obstructions. For example, before exits are opened, staff must check for fire or other obstacles that may present potential hazards during the evacuation.

Q. Why do I have to stow my hand luggage in the overhead lockers, under the seats or in the seat pockets for take-off and landing?

A. Flight crews are required by Civil Aviation Regulations to secure the cabin as well as possible for take-off and landing. As mentioned, these are the most critical phases of the flight, and securing as much hand luggage as possible ensures that, in the unlikely event of an emergency, the exits and aisles stay as clear as possible, in case evacuation is necessary. It is also important to keep hand luggage secure whenever possible to ensure heavier items do not become airborne within the cabin. This is especially important when the aircraft is experiencing turbulence.

Q. Why do I feel so tired from flying?

A. As the aircraft altitude increases, air pressure decreases. As the pressure of the air decreases, the body absorbs less oxygen than it would at sea level — therefore, it must work harder to supply oxygen to the body’s cells. As the body is working harder, it becomes more tired.

Q. Why do I sometimes feel pain in my ears or sinuses during ascent or descent?

A. The sinuses and middle ear are air-containing cavities that connect with the nose via narrow channels. As aircrafts ascend and cabin pressure drops, air passes out of these cavities (without any effort from the passenger) to balance the cabin pressure. It is a different matter during descent, as the cabin pressure increases.

The channels close down and must be actively opened by holding the nose and blowing to inflate the cavities.

Facial and ear pain can occur during descent if re-

14 TrueBlue

inflation does not occur, and this is much more likely if the passenger has nasal congestion. If you must fly with a cold or hayfever, use a decongestant nasal spray before descent and buy some ‘ear planes’ to plug your ears. (Information contributed by Dr Daniel Hains, ENT surgeon.)

Q. When can electronic equipment such as laptops, iPods and mobile phones be used?

A. All Personal Electronic Devices (PEDs) must be placed in flight mode if access to the tarmac (including by bus) is required during boarding or disembarkation, and when instructed to do so by the Cabin Crew. Small handheld PEDs weighing less than 1kg, such as mobile phones, can be used in flight mode during all stages of flight. PEDs over 1kg, such as laptop computers, must be stowed appropriately for taxi, take-off and landing, and are permitted to be used only during cruise when the ‘Fasten Seatbelt’ sign is switched off. PEDs cannot be used while crossing the tarmac.

Q. What is the average speed of the aircraft when cruising in flight?

A. Our Saab 340 has an average cruising speed of approximately 500 kilometres per hour. The Boeing 737-800 NG has an average speed of 833.7 kilometres per hour.

Q. Why do I have to get permission from the Captain to move to a vacant seat?

A. The aircraft’s take-off speed is calculated by the weight and balance of the aircraft, and many factors need to be considered for a successful take-off. Factors include the weight of passengers and where they are seated, the weight of cargo, freight and fuel, the distance available on the runway, etc. For example, if there are 100 or more kilograms of freight in the cargo, the balance of the aircraft will be better maintained if passengers are seated in the forward rows.

AIR TURBULENCE

Q. Aircraft often experience air turbulence, but what causes it?

A. Imagine the air around the aircraft is water in a stream. We can see how water is disturbed around rocks

or when two streams converge. Turbulence in the air is similar: as the aircraft passes through cold air or in the vicinity of terrain that has disturbed the airflow – often incorrectly referred to as ‘air pockets’ – the aircraft climbs and descends in the same way that a boat moves on water. Though turbulence can be uncomfortable, it poses no threat to the aircraft and is akin to driving on a rough or unsealed road. More severe turbulence can be associated with developing thunderstorms. Aircraft have sophisticated weather radar that pilots use to avoid these areas. Occasionally, a flight attendant will discontinue serving passengers in turbulent conditions; this is a precaution to ensure everyone’s safety.

Q. Why should I keep my seatbelt fastened even when the ‘Fasten Seatbelt’ sign is switched off?

A. On occasions, the flight crew cannot foresee turbulence or it is not picked up on the flight-deck radar.

Because of this, we could unexpectedly experience turbulence at any time. The company recommends that you always keep your seatbelt fastened while you are seated – for your safety, just in case unexpected turbulence is encountered.

ENGINE NOISES

Q. Why do the aircraft’s engine noises change during the flight?

A. Aircraft need more power to climb than to descend, in the same way that a car needs more power to go up a hill than down one. The Saab 340 turboprop has more than enough power to climb, so shortly after take-off you will notice a change in noises as the power is reduced.

The pilots also control the pitch angle of the propellers for various stages of the flight, and as they ‘change gears’ this can also be heard in the cabin.

Q. What should I do if I see or hear something that does not look or sound right?

A. Please advise your flight attendant. The flight attendant may be able to answer your query and allay any fears. If not, the flight attendant will contact the flight deck and advise the pilots of anything unusual.

Rex encourages open communication and will always treat a passengers’ concerns with the utmost seriousness.

BAGGAGE Carry on baggage ROUTES

FARE TYPE

CARRY-ON BAGGAGE

ALL REGIONAL SERVICES

ALL FARES

7KG

PROMO AND SAVER FARES

7KG

FLEX

10KG

BIZ SAVER

10KG

BIZ & BIZ PLUS

15KG*

ALL DOMESTIC SERVICES

CHECK- IN Online check-in You can check-in online through the Rex website, rex.com.au, on your desktop or mobile devices between 48 hours and 60 minutes prior to the scheduled departure time of your flight.

*no one piece may weigh more than 10kg

Checked baggage Airport check-in If you have checked baggage, we recommend that you arrive at the airport for check-in at least 60 minutes before the scheduled departure of your flight at all airports except Burketown, Queensland (90 minutes before).

ROUTES

ALL REGIONAL SERVICES

Rex check-in closes: •6 0 minutes prior to scheduled departure time at Burketown airport.

•3 0 minutes prior to scheduled departure time at Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney, Perth and Queensland airports (with the exception of Burketown above).

•2 0 minutes prior to scheduled departure time at regional airports in NSW, SA, Tas, Vic and WA.

ALL DOMESTIC SERVICES

FARE TYPE

CARRY-ON BAGGAGE

COMMUNITY, PROMO, SAVER

15KG

FLEX

23KG

PROMO, SAVER & FLEX

23KG

BIZ SAVER, BIZ AND BIZ PLUS

32KG

Passengers with international connections (within 24 hours) are permitted a 23 kilogram free baggage allowance upon presenting a valid itinerary or ticket.

Special requirements: Passengers with special requirements must check-in at the airport (online check-in is not available) no later than: • 90 minutes prior to scheduled departure for domestic flights and flights departing from Burketown.

•6 0 minutes prior to scheduled departure for regional flights departing from major cities and all Queensland regional airports except Burketown (please see below).

•4 5 minutes prior to scheduled departure in NSW, SA, Tas, Vic and WA regional airports.

Please refer to rex.com.au for more baggage allowance information.

Excess baggage Additional checked baggage allowance may be purchased during booking.

For baggage presented at check-in which is over the baggage allowance, excess baggage is subject to capacity and a surcharge of $5.50 per kilogram is applicable.

REX AIRCRAFT FACTS AIRCRAFT

MAX. TAKE-OFF WEIGHT (KG)

SPEED (KM/H)

AVAILABLE SEATS

GALLEY

REST ROOM

FLEET SIZE

CRUISE ALTITUDE (METRES)

CREW

SAAB 340

13,155

520

30-36

Y

Y

60

7,600

3

BOEING 737-800 NG

79,015

833.7

176

Y

Y

6

10,000 TO 12,000

6

JAN/FEB 2021

15

Exercise and stretch regularly while seated SEATED EXERCISES

Inflight Comfort

ANKLE CIRCLES Lift feet off floor, draw a circle with the toes, simultaneously moving one foot clockwise and the other foot counterclockwise.

Reverse circles. Do each direction for 15 seconds.

Repeat if desired.

FOOT PUMPS Start with both heels on the floor and point feet upward as high as you can. Then put both feet flat on the floor. Then lift heels high, keeping the balls of your feet on the floor. Continue cycle in 30-second intervals.

Flying can be demanding and altitude may make your body more sensitive to the effects of alcohol and caffeine.

Sitting in one place for a long time can be uncomfortable and slow down your blood circulation. To help your body adjust to flying and to maintain your personal comfort and wellbeing, we recommend you take the following steps: Keep hydrated. Drink plenty of fluids – water, juice, non-caffeinated soft drinks – to prevent dehydration, fatigue and headaches. Minimise intake of alcohol and coffee. Moisten the face to help reduce the drying effects of cabin air.

Eat lightly. Eat lightly on longer flights toavoid indigestion – our inflight menu is designed to provide lighter meal options.

KNEE LIFTS Lift leg with knee bent while contracting your thigh muscle. Alternate legs. Repeat 20 to 30 times for each leg.

SHOULDER ROLLS Hunch shoulders forward, then upward, then backward, then downward, using a gentle, circular motion.

ARM CURLS Arms held at 90° angles,elbows down, hands in front. Raise hands up to chest and back down. Alternate hands.

Repeat in 30-second intervals.

SEATED STRETCHES

Exercise. We encourage you to do the gentle onboard exercises on this page to enhance your wellbeing during the flight. We recommend you do these exercises for about five minutes every one to two hours.

You should also occasionally walk down the aisles, as space permits.

In addition, we recommend that you avoid crossing your legs.

Please note: you should not do any of these exercises if they cause you pain or cannot be done with ease.

KNEE TO CHEST Bend forward slightly.

Clasp hands around left knee and hug it to your chest. Hold the stretch for 15 seconds. Keeping hands around knee, slowly let it down. Alternate legs.

Repeat 10 times.

FORWARD FLEX With both feet on the floor and stomach held in, slowly bend forward and walk your hands down the front of your legs toward your ankles.

Hold the stretch for 15 seconds and slowly sit back up.

OVERHEAD STRETCH Raise both hands straight up over your head. With one hand, grasp the wrist of the opposite hand and gently pull to one side. Hold the stretch for 15 seconds. Repeat on the other side.

Please note: you should not do any of these exercises if they cause you pain or cannot be SHOULDER STRETCH Reach your right hand over your left shoulder. Place your left hand behind your right elbow and gently press your elbow toward your shoulder. Hold the stretch for 15 seconds. Repeat on the other side.

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NECK ROLLS With your shoulders relaxed, drop your ear to shoulder and gently roll your neck forward and to the other side, holding each position for five seconds. Repeat five times.

done with ease.

Moving about the aircraft. You may move about the aircraft as space permits and when the seatbelt sign is off. However, when the seatbelt sign is on you are required to remain seated with the seatbelt fastened.

If you feel unwell, tell the cabin crew. They can assist with the more common inflight complaints and, if necessary, can seek further advice and assistance for you.

On descent. Ears and sinuses can cause discomfort, due to the change in air pressure on descent. To minimise discomfort: • Yawn or swallow frequently.

• Pinch your nostrils together and blow firmly into your cheeks with your mouth closed.

If you have ongoing discomfort, seek the advice of the cabin crew.

21/12/20 10:16 am

UP, UP AND AWAY! Rex: Our heart is in the country

Bamaga NPA

Mornington Island (Gununa) Karumba

Cairns

Normanton

Burketown

Doomadgee

Townsville

Richmond

Mount Isa

Hughenden

Julia Creek Winton

Boulia

Longreach Bedourie Birdsville

Carnarvon

Windorah

Charleville Brisbane West Wellcamp (Toowoomba)

Quilpie Cunnamulla

Monkey Mia

Brisbane

St George

Thargomindah

Coober Pedy

Ballina (Byron Bay)

Lismore Ceduna

Broken Hill Whyalla

Perth Esperance Albany

Port Lincoln

Regional Routes

Armidale

Parkes

Mildura

Adelaide

Griffith

Dubbo

Orange

Bathurst

Narrandera-Leeton Wagga Wagga Albury

Kangaroo Island (Kingscote)

Mount Gambier

Domestic Routes

Grafton (Yamba)

Melbourne

Sydney

Moruya Snowy Mountains (Cooma) Merimbula

King Island

Burnie

JAN/FEB 2021

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Watch, read & listen

Entertainment By: Bethany Plint

books

podcasts

Dare to Lead with Brenè Brown

The Heart of a Horse, Candida Baker January 2021, Murdoch Books, autobiography Baker uses her lifelong love of horses as the main conduit for bridging the gap between our thought process and intuition, highlighting the magic that happens when we keep an open mind about the idea of communication.

EXHIBITION Wanderlust Melbourne

5 December - 31 January in Fitzroy, VIC Traverse imaginary borders and be transported to five beloved cities and dream destinations around the world through Melbourne’s first ever interactive travel experience. No passport or plane ticket needed – just a sense of adventure! wanderlustmelbourne.com

The Rock, Aaron Smith December 2020, Transit Lounge Publishing, memoir Holding a unique mirror to Australia and its notable figures, the award-winning journalist and last editor of the Torres News, reflects on our nation’s shortcomings, unresolved past and uncertain future from the country’s most northerly outpost, Thursday Island.

FILM Indiana Jones Trilogy

From January 2021 Everyone’s favourite troublesome explorer is back on the big screen for a three-part series over January and February, taking us along on his wild journey in Raiders of the Lost Ark, The Temple of Doom and The Last Crusade all over again.

Let the binge begin!

Burnout Survival Kit, Imogen Dall January 2021, Bloomsbury, self improvement When your brain feels like a mouldy wrung-out dishcloth, this book – filled with hacks for stress, anxiety, networking, sleep and more – will be your secret weapon for moving (and laughing) through the pain and finding joy.

The renowned researcher, author and speaker shares her poignant conversations with some of the world’s leading culture-shifters, change-catalysts and troublemakers to help us show up, step up and dare to lead.

Every Little Thing

Who invested pants? How did ‘pink for girls’ and ‘blue for boys’ happen? What do dogs say when they bark?

These are the kinds of burning questions that are answered on a delightfully informative show, packed with useless information.

MUSIC Melbourne Music Week Extended

9 December - 28 February at various venues around Melbourne Spanning the entirety of summer, the beloved Victorian festival returns with a revised program of live events to support the recovery of Melbourne’s music community. mmw.melbourne.vic.gov.au

NAB Business Fit

This series features conversations with experts in wellbeing, psychology, business and science who explore the valuable lessons that can be applied to help SMEs work through challenging times.

JAN/FEB 2021

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Events

2-26 Jan Sydney Festival

Sydney, NSW Embracing the outdoors like never before, this summer’s Sydney festival comprises 130 events across an action-packed 21-day program. More than 1,000 performers will come together to highlight the abundance of talent across the nation through a range of mediums including live theatre, music and circus spectaculars. sydneyfestival.org.au

What’s On Our pick of the top festivals, shows and sporting events around the country this January and February. compiled by: Bethany plint 18-21 Feb

Australian PGA Championship

Brisbane, QLD Australia’s most energetic golf tournament is returning to Royal Queensland Golf Club from 18 to 21 February 2021. A stellar list of Australian players are expected to compete for the Joe Kirkwood Cup. championship.pga.org.au

Ends 29 Feb

Here I Am: Art By Great Women

Canberra, ACT Featuring more than 100 contemporary Indigenous and non-Indigenous artists from around Australia,

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including ARIA-winning jazz prodigy Kaiit and euphoric funk craftsman Midlife. malthousetheatre.com.au

the latest exhibition by Kambri at ANU showcases some of the best female creative talent through a number of outdoor public art and gallery exhibitions, live art, music events, film screenings and public talks. kambri.com.au

Ends 28 Feb

Melbourne Music Week Extended

21-31 Jan Live at The Malthouse

Melbourne, VIC An epic 10-day music series is set to christen the stage of a brand new COVIDsafe venue in Melbourne’s Southbank. The Malthouse Outdoor Stage will host a range of local artists

Melbourne, VIC Spread over three glorious months of summer, Melbourne Music Week Extended brings a longer, larger and more dispersed program of free and ticketed events, breathing life back into the city after a tough 2020. Featuring a stellar line-up of local acts, the revival of Melbourne’s music scene starts here. mmw.melbourne.vic.gov.au

Events

1-12 Feb

National Sustainable Living Festival

18 Feb – 7 Mar PHOTO 2021

Melbourne, VIC In celebration of Melbourne’s “new normal,” the inaugural PHOTO 21 International Festival of Photography will reanimate the streets and galleries of Melbourne and regional Victoria, bringing the arts, culture, academic and business sectors together through free outdoor workshops and exhibitions.

Nationwide For more than two decades, the National Sustainable Living Festival (NSLF) has presented a leading events and education platform with the mission of encouraging widespread cooperation in the pursuit of social and ecological sustainability.

The unique festival returns in 2021 to continue to encourage Australians in joining arguably the most important social movement of our time. slfl2021.org

28 Feb World Naked Bike Ride Melbourne, VIC A beloved global event, Melbourne’s World Naked Bike Ride returns for its 16th consecutive year.

Riders will bare all on a brisk ride through some of Melbourne’s iconic locations including St Kilda, Fitzroy, Carlton and Collingwood. The event aims to highlight the vulnerability of cyclists to motorists and promote cycling as a positive alternative to driving, as well as encouraging body positivity for all. wnbrmelbourne.com.au JAN/FEB 2021

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Sip, Eat, Sleep

City Bites

words: Bethany Plint

Firepit at Pirate Life Brewing Things are heating up in Port Adelaide this summer as Pirate Life Brewing welcomes a new pop-up. Having honed his skills during a 3-year stint heading up Singapore’s eminent Burnt Ends, Head Chef Jake Kellie is joined by Zachary Goddard who made a name for himself at London’s esteemed fine diner Leroy. Firepit offers a changing menu of premium, locally-sourced, whole cut meat and fish, cooked over coals every Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Don’t forget to wash it down with one of Pirate Life’s new brews, the dangerously drinkable South Coast Pale Ale.

Chancery Lane International travel may be off the cards but Scott Pickett’s new Melbourne outfit brings a taste of Europe to Little Collins Street. Housed in the historic Normanby Chambers building, Chancery Lane promises classic European dishes with a twist, offering everything from a simple dry-aged duck burger to an indulgent seafood platter and caviar bumps. The floor-to-ceiling wine cellar, bespoke finishings sourced from local artisans and arched black steel framed windows create a unique space for an elevated dining experience.

Pinchy’s Champagne and Lobster Bar Emerging from lockdown just in time for summer, Pinchy’s returns to Melbourne’s premier balcony bar to deliver the perfect setting for a luxurious afternoon in the sun. With an extensive Champagne and Chablis menu sourced from owner Jeremy Schnick’s personal cellar, and the delectable seafood-focused offerings plated up by Head Chef Jack Tsa’s team, Pinchy’s invites guests to try the finer things in life in a casual setting.

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Sip, Eat, Sleep

Summer Stays The Sebel Yarrawonga True luxury has arrived at Lake Mulwala on the Murray River. The Sebel Yarrawonga is the stylish new accommodation offering at Silverwoods Golf and Lifestyle Resort. Just three hours’ drive from Melbourne, The Sebel’s well appointed studios and one, two, and three-bedroom apartments offer a lovely change of scenery. Keen golfers can play a few holes at Black Bull, highly regarded as one of the country’s top golf courses. Grab a drink at the Stock & Barrel Bar, enjoy a casual bite at the Sunset Pool Bar or sit down to an elegant meal at Elizabeth’s fine dining restaurant. And if you find yourself in need of pampering, The SOL Health & Wellness Day Spa will take your stay to a new level of luxury. thesebelyarrawonga.com.au

Powerhouse Tamworth by Rydges Three years in the making, the New England region’s only five-star hotel has opened its doors after a multi-million dollar redevelopment. Powerhouse Tamworth boasts 20 brand new luxe serviced apartments, and 61 refurbished rooms and suites, all designed to the high-quality spec that award-winning designer Paul Kelly is famous for. Guests can treat themselves to a tipple at the Coal Bunker Bar, indulge in a spread at iconic regional dining establishment, The Workshop Kitchen or throw back a cocktail by the pool to cut through the outback heat. rydges.com/powerhouse-hotels

Judges House, Murramarang National Park Nestled in the unspoilt Yellow Rock bushland with views across to Batemans Bay, this newly refurbished cottage brings a new accommodation experience to the South Coast. The three-bedroom weatherboard abode features huge windows, a large wrap around deck and an open plan living area – perfect for entertaining. With a secluded beach just steps away, guests can swim, kayak and fish to their heart’s content, or head into town with restaurants, cafes and shops just 30 minutes away in gorgeous Batemans Bay. nswparks.info/judges NOV/DEC 2020

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Cover Story

PETE MURRAY In his place Family, music and fate are the cornerstones of Pete Murray’s life, and they have come together as beautifully and seamlessly as his latest music.

WORDs: Michelle Hespe

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Cover Story

T

HERE ARE usually some pivotal moments in people’s lives that put them on the right track, and Pete Murray has three of those that have also formed his approach to life.

One of these moments is an event that most people who know Pete Murray and his music are aware of: in 1993 when he was a rising star in football, Pete had a knee injury that abruptly ended his career. He was already representing Queensland and had dreams of playing for Australia, so at the time it was a crushing blow.

Another of those moments is not so well known, and it has undoubtedly made him the life-loving and devoted family man that he is.

“My guiding philosophy in life is to work to live,

not live to work,” he says.

“I was never interested in working by the clock and I knew from a young age that I would not pursue a job working for someone else. To me, life is about your lifestyle, and having time. Time is precious, and I learnt that at 18, when my father suddenly died.”

After years of hard work, Pete’s mother and father sold their business and decided to travel around Australia and semi-retire.

They hit the road but a few weeks later, his father had a heart attack and passed away.

“From that moment I knew that life was not about money – it was about having time to do what you want to do. I’d just turned 18 and had my first beer with my dad and realised I didn’t really even know him,” Pete explains. “But then weeks later, he was gone. 

Still from Pete’s ‘Found My Place’ video lip.

Photo by Mos and Co

JAN/FEB 2021

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Cover Story

“I didn’t want that to happen in my own life, and family is and always will be the most important thing to me,” he says. “I make sure I always have time with my family and always go to our kids games and spend as much time as possible with them. We get up, go for a coffee as a family then head to the park or beach and play around. I hope that they remember those times and the things I do with them – whether its jumping off the cliffs at Lennox head or just mucking around. Family is just so important.”

Pete’s new track that is bound to warm the hearts of his fans is Found My Place – and he explains that it’s about finding his home and love, but the track is also about passing on your wisdom on to the people you care about.

The easy listening, calming acoustic music that Pete is famous (and adored for) gives this forthcoming EP a sense of assured warmth – listening to it makes you think of a friend’s embrace or the warmth of a loving family home.

The third moment in Pete’s life that led him to where he is now as a musician, was when he met a guy called Charlie – who he named his first son after.

“I was 21 years old when I met Charlie Parker,” says Pete. “He was about ten years older than me and he gave me some advice that I will never forget – he said that I had to make sure I had at least one year in my life of just bumming around and doing what I wanted to do.”

Pete took Charlie’s advice and during that time, he decided he was going to learn to play the guitar.

Charlie liked the sound of doing that too, and they agreed to both get into it. Pete started lessons and really enjoyed it, while Charlie said he’d get to it later.

“But he had an aneurysm and passed away at 30 years of age,” Pete says. “I don’t think he ever saw me play. If you’d told me that I would have a career as a musician when I was in school, I would have laughed. But here I am.”

Those three moments in Pete’s life have cemented his belief in fate. “I am a massive believer in fate,” he says. “Things happen for a reason, and you might prevent something from happening but then it will come back and it will happen as it was meant to.

Fate has brought me to where I am now, for sure.”

Pete now lives in Byron Bay with his wife Mira Eady and his three children (Charlie, Pedro and their

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daughter Saachi) aged between three and seventeen. Mira takes most of his photos and she is the one he turns to for feedback on artwork. “I also love to run my songs by her – she’s very creative and is presently studying art,” he says.

Ask some people about 2020 and they might groan, but it was an incredible year for Pete both personally and professionally, and his new music is testimony to that.

“Parts of this year were awesome!” he says. “Byron was empty of tourists and I’d run into some of the older guys who have lived here for a long time, and they’d comment that Byron in 2020 was like it was in the 70s – a sleepy surf village. It was a ghost town! I had the beach and the waves to myself, could park anywhere, and it was so peaceful. But I get the fuss – Byron is a beautiful place and who wouldn’t want to live here?”

Although there is a lot of new music to be released during 2021, Pete says that he finds it quite challenging to write a song.

“Pulling everything together to make it work can be hard,” he says.

“It’s about getting a song to the point where people can connect to it, sing along to it. It means a lot to me if I can create a song that connects with people and helps them to improve things in their life.”

Songwriting may be challenging, but since 2003, Pete has released seven albums, and he is one of only a few Australian artists with over one million album sales under his belt. He’s also been nominated for 17 ARIA awards.

Pete’s debut album, the roots/rock infused ‘Feeler’ sold 450,000 copies and it also, astoundingly, spent two and a half years in the Top 100.

In 2004 he released ‘So Beautiful’ – the classic song that so many people know him for, and it went on to become the Most Performed Australian Song of the Year.

Pete performing at Twilight at Taronga 2020 Summer Concert Series.

Photo by Tom Crawford

In late 2005 his sophomore album, ‘See The Sun’ debuted at #1 in Australia. The first single ‘Better Days’ became a #1 airplay track while ‘Opportunity’ became the most played track on Australian radio in 2006.

In 2008, Pete’s third album ‘Summer At Eureka’, debuted at #1 in Australia, making it his third consecutive album to hit the top of the charts.

His fourth album, ‘Blue Sky Blue’ went gold, and in 2013 Pete released ‘The Byron Sessions’ – an album with new acoustic versions from the Blue Sky Blue album.

In 2017 Pete released his critically acclaimed album ‘Camacho’ which he toured nationally across Australia, and then he headed overseas to write and tour. “I’ve been really focussed on producing this body of new work and taking the time to get it right,” he says. “I dropped off the scene for a while there but with this EP, and with my next tour, I am back.”

Back indeed. ‘Found My Place’ is now out and fans are falling over themselves with praise for the moving music that perfectly encapsulates

‘The Night’ EP artwork.

Photo by Mira Eady

In February and March, Pete will be performing around Australia as part of ‘By The C’ – a celebration of music and community in beachside locations.

He’ll visit Glenelg in SA, Cronulla in NSW, and St Kilda in Victoria. He’ll also be in Sandstone Point, Qld, to perform at the Crowd Surf festival.

Tickets and details are available at petemurray.com/#shows ‘Found My Place’ is out now. Pete’s new EP, ‘The Night’ is out March 5, 2021.

You can pre-order it now at: petemurray.lnk.to/TheNightEP

Pete’s soothing, uplifting style of acoustic music. He’s not only found his place – this down-to-earth musician from Byron Bay has found his own space in the history of Australian music industry. TB JAN/FEB 2021

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THIS PAGE: Garden at Lavendula Swiss Italian Lavender Farm OPPOSITE PAGE: Book barn and Ralp & Ralfs.

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Images: Tourism Victoria

Discover

Discover

Discover

DAY L E S F O R D Three decades ago, Daylesford was a quiet country town in regional Victoria.

Back then it was best-known for producing high-quality potatoes. Fast forward to 2019, and Daylesford and the neighbouring Macedon Ranges wine region are gourmet getaways for Melbourne’s movers and shakers.

WORDs: Winsor Dobbin

JAN/FEB 2021

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Discover

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Hepburn Bathhouse & Spa, balcony of the Convent Gallery, Wombat Hill House Cafe, the Convent Gallery, locally grown lavender & lunch at The Lake House.

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JUST A one-hour drive from Melbourne Airport, the region is home to standout wineries including Curly Flat, Passing Clouds, Cobaw Ridge and Bindi. Daylesford and the next-door village of Hepburn Springs are alive with topnotch restaurants, vibrant country pubs, wine bars and up-market accommodation.

The area is known for its natural spring mineral spas and is home to 80 per cent of Australia’s effervescent mineral water reserves.

Standouts include the Mineral Spa at Peppers Springs Retreat and Salus Spa. Daylesford has a definite chilled-out vibe; relaxed but blessed with myriad coffee and food options, and extremely popular with same-sex couples.

The town’s emergence on Australia’s gourmet radar is largely thanks to Alla WolfTasker and her artist husband Allan. The couple stumbled upon a piece of unused, gorseinfested land overlooking a lake and saw immense potential despite it being strewn with rubbish and rusted car parts.

That overgrown land soon emerged as The Lake House, one of Australia’s first country-chic hotels. Wolf-Tasker quickly built a reputation as a formidable cook and promoter of rural produce, championing local seasonal cuisine long before it became a mantra for the industry.

SIP The Daylesford Hotel in town has a great selection of local wines and beers (even a local gin and tonic combo) and good-value pub grub. There’s also a good day to be spent exploring the wineries of the Macedon Ranges.

Stop on the way in or out of Daylesford at atmospheric former mining settlements like Kyneton, Trentham and Woodend, which have artisan bakeries, small eateries and traditional country pubs to explore.

Woodend's Holgate Brewhouse, housed in a 19th-century redbrick hotel, offers tastings paddles of classic beers using just four ingredients – malt, hops, yeast and Macedon Ranges water. The tavern at Daylesford Cider highlights traditional styles of cider made with English-heritage cider apples.

Visitors can sample a range of gins and liqueurs at the Herbal Lore cellar door, which is housed in the old Daylesford Butter Factory, or head to Kyneton's Animus Distillery for a tasting of hand-crafted gin.

ABOVE: Freshly picked carrots from the Farmers Market in Woodend & truffle hunting at Black Cat Truffle Farm.

EAT The Daylesford Macedon region is blessed with several terrific dining destinations.

The landmark Lake House is, of course, on every gourmet’s list, but make sure you add quirky Frank and Connie’s Kitchen in Hepburn Springs, where chef Caliopi Buck serves up some delicious small plates and share dishes from an ever-changing blackboard menu.

Other favourites with locals include the Surly Goat in Hepburn Springs, the Farmer’s Arms gastropub and The Argus Dining Room in the Peppers complex.

Lunch at Passing Clouds winery, just out of town at Musk, is a must-do. Sample some excellent pinot and shiraz, and then sit down for a rustic feast featuring local meats grilled over coals, with herbs and vegetables from the adjacent potager.  JAN/FEB 2021

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Discover

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Accommodation at the Lake House, fresh beets at the local farmers market, Lavandula Swiss Italian Lavender Farm & Wombat Hill Curios and Collectables.

Images: Tourism Victoria

Good breakfast choices include The Boathouse, overlooking Lake Daylesford, which serves up smashing scrambled eggs, and Cafe Koukla at Frangos, known for a friendly welcome and excellent casual dining throughout the day along with an open fire on days when the mercury plummets.

Pop into Cliffy’s Emporium to pick up some savoury treats for the trip home, or perhaps some chocolates from Sweet Decadence at Locantro.

Those lucky enough to be in Daylesford on a Sunday can visit the markets at the old railway station or take a heritage train ride through the local countryside.

STAY The Lake House is the pinnacle of regional destination dining but also boasts 33 beautiful rooms and suites in either a waterfront or garden lodge setting. Six acres of country gardens extend down to the waters of Lake Daylesford and provide guests with immediate access to the lake shore and the Wombat State Forest beyond.

A new infinity pool with spotted gum relaxation terraces is the latest arrival, with uninterrupted views to the lake shores and pool service available throughout the day.

There are also dozens of country cottages and B&Bs to choose from,

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but it pays to book in advance to secure the best rooms as Daylesford can be hugely popular at weekends.

Clifftop at Hepburn is ideal if you’re looking for self-contained accommodation. It has magnificent views, super-comfortable beds, luxe furnishings and a range of gourmet treats, including local chocolates.

Imagine having your own full-sized pinball machine, a two-person day bed that doubles as a swing, or an in-house Spotify system.

If you’re after a unique experience, the award-winning Shizuka Ryokan Japanese Country Spa and Wellness Retreat in Hepburn Springs could be just what you need. Choose from traditional accommodation, gourmet cuisine and spa treatments, as well as holistic wellness and health treatments.

Hepburn at Hepburn is a peaceful sanctuary. Here you can lounge in your private villa set in the natural surrounds of gardens and bushland located directly opposite the renowned Hepburn Bathhouse and Spa. The Dudley Boutique Hotel is another popular luxury accommodation choice, and the Farmers Arms Hotel a good budget option. There are also several camping possibilities. TB

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Rediscover

SYDNEY

Unexpected experiences and places to explore around this beautiful capital city will have reconsidering what you think you know about Sydney.

Words: Sarah Hinder

Queenscliff Tunnel Image: Destination NSW

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BUSHLAND, BEACHES & THE ROYAL NATIONAL PARK Sydney is well known for its beaches and its beauty. But there’s far more to this diverse city to explore than the regular sunny days spent at Bondi and boating around the harbour.

If you’re in search of green spaces, go north. A veritable bushland haven, the north side of the city is pocketed, literally all over, with bushland filled with tracks and trails for all skill levels to explore.

A good place to start is anywhere along the Great North Walk. Winding its way all the way from Sydney to Newcastle, the epic trail begins in the centre of the city, before making its way across the harbour and meandering between pockets of bushland throughout the leafy northern suburbs.

Meanwhile down south, the Royal National Park is a popular (but very worthwhile) venture into seaside scrubland with stunning vistas straight out to sea. Forgo the well-trodden tourist tracks towards Wedding Cake Rock, and perhaps try out the Palm Jungle loop track beginning right down south.

THE NORTHERN BEACHES Sydney’s Northern Beaches is home to, in my (and many locals’) opinion, the best and most beautiful beaches that all of Sydney has to offer.

An easy ferry ride over from the city, Manly attracts loads of visitors in the warmer months, and is a great place  JAN/FEB 2021

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Explore to start – bursting at the seams with hip cafés, swanky bars and restaurants, ice cream parlours, cool street shopping and a good patrolled beach. However, just a hop and skip up the coast, you’ll find less frequented, beautiful beaches with fewer tourists and welcoming, laidback locals.

There are several unpretentious beaches up north. For a few goodies – try out Whale, Avalon, Narrabeen and Newport. All offer a perfect combo of places to eat just a short walk from the beach and relaxed beaches where you’ll meet local northern Sydneysiders. For something even more quiet, take the (several) stairs down to Bilgola or tiny Turrimetta.

THE HISTORICAL Q STATION While you’re northside, be sure to head down to the Q Station at Manly North Head. Originally the historic Quarantine Station, where migrants and other arrivals to Australia were quarantined before entering the country, the station holds history in its walls.

Its days of quarantine began in the 14th century as a way to protect Australia’s coastal communities from plague epidemics, and between the 1830s and 1984, many migrant ships suspected of contagious diseases were required to dock and offload its passengers at the Quarantine Station before being admitted to the general population.

In the decades before and after its closure, the station has been used for other purposes, including tours that preserve its history. In the aftermath of Cyclone Tracy, which hit the Northern Territory on Christmas Day 1974, most of Darwin’s population was evacuated to other Australian cities, with many in Sydney housed at the Quarantine Station. My grandfather worked there at the time, and my father remembers handing out blankets and food to the evacuees as a kid.

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CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Getting barrelled at Manly Beach, Q Station at North Head, distilling vats at Archie Rose, lunch at Ombre Bar, exhibition at Carriageworks, aerial of Whale Beach & an Aboriginal Walking Tour at Barangaroo.

Today’s reincarnation is the modern-day Q Station, where visitors can explore the grounds, take nightly ghost tours and stay the night in its original restored buildings.

ABORIGINAL HISTORY & WALKING TOURS A short walk up to the headland delivers stunning panoramic views back towards the Sydney skyline unlike any other vantage point around the city (North Head is the furthest headland out from the harbour). The Sydney basin was once inhabited by 29 Aboriginal clans, collectively known as ‘Eora’. A great way for visitors to explore Sydney’s Aboriginal history is on an Indigenous-led tour. In the city’s newest harbourside precinct, an Aboriginal Walking Tour around Barangaroo, provides some insight into the local natural environment and culture of the Indigenous people who lived here for thousands of years. Join an Aboriginal Heritage Tour when wandering the Royal Botanic Gardens to discover its Indigenous heritage through local plants, bush tucker, artefacts and storytelling.

ARTS AND CULTURE While expansive and epic at first glance, Sydney has an intimate and unintruding arts scene – which is so worth getting to know. Its cobblestoned laneways and backstreets swirl throughout the inner

Images: Destination NSW, Archie Rose Distilling & Q Station.

Explore

city suburbs, where unpretentious art galleries and secret rooftop bar doorways shyly poke their nose.

Though a big institution, there’s no going past the Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA) when listing the best arts and culture in the city.

Modern art and multimedia exhibitions perennially fill its highceilinged halls, while the upstairs view overlooking the harbour is something else – a real hotspot during Vivid Sydney.

For something different, look out for MCA ARTBAR, which hosts themed events at the museum after dark four times a year, curated by a different artist or art collective each time.

In Redfern, Carriageworks cannot be underrated as fantastic arts venue.

The versatile space, which is based around an old tram station, features art exhibitions year-round, (including the Biennale of Sydney), as well as

weekly Farmers Markets and fabulously curated events like the Sydney Writers Festival.

BIG CITY NIGHTLIFE For a night out, small bars, eateries and clubs line the streets throughout Surry Hills, Paddington and Darlinghurst – in this inner city triangle you’ll be spoilt for choice of almost any cuisine you could imagine.

Just south of the CBD, a tour of Archie Rose Distillery is a great way to quench your thirst while learning a little. The boutique distillery offers a range of experiences, such as its signature distillery tour, where you can learn how gin, whisky and vodka are produced. For an even more hands-on experience, try a gin- or whiskymaking class, where you learn the art of whisky blending and gin botanicals, before taking home your own signature blend, and a little taste of Sydney, at day’s end.

But what if you want drinks with a view? Well, Sydney has that well and truly sorted, too. Rooftop bars are trendy places to go during the day for a change of pace and at night for a vibrant area to unwind and have a good time. Located in Circular Quay on the rooftop of award-winning restaurant Salt Meats Cheese, Bar Ombré offers seductive views of the harbour, especially at sunset. Nibble on a selection of Italian-inspired antipasto while swirling a gleaming orange Aperol Spritz in your glass. TB JAN/FEB 2021

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KING ISLAND wit h the lo c als

King Island is renowned for its beef, cheese and golf courses, however its stunning vistas and the warmth of welcoming residents will also steal your heart.

WORDs: Michelle Hespe photos: kramer photography

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Image: Images courtesy of Dairy Australia

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SOME MIGHT think a restaurant without a menu, or indeed any food, might not cut it as a business plan. But the fact that The Restaurant with No Food – one of King Island’s many endearing community projects – is among its most charming and talked about assets, says a lot about how different this beautiful island hamlet is.

Local artist Caroline Kininmonth conceived the concept a decade ago.

An old boatshed by the working harbour in the island’s main town of Currie burnt down, and Caroline decided to resurrect it as a restaurant that locals or tourists could frequent, armed with their own food and drink.

She rallied residents for support, and as anyone who knows how vibrant Caroline and her art is would guess, set about creating a space like no other. Painted in eye-popping fluorescent yellow and decorated inside and out with Caroline’s signature artworks (whimsical depictions of King Island and its landmarks, such as the nearby lighthouse) and pieces lovingly sourced from op-shops, the boatshed is a wildly creative blend of restaurant, gallery and loungeroom.

World-famous chef Tetsuya Wakuda recently cooked up a storm there — local beef, cheese, abalone and lobster was on his menu — and he’s not the first person to fall in love with what is now an iconic venue symbolising the resilience, resourcefulness and creative nature of the island’s residents.

If you need a cuppa and baked treat provided, though, make sure to visit Portside Links, a gallery and retreat in the sweet village of Grassy. The gobsmacking views over Grassy Harbour are complemented by the fantastic artworks-in-progress by owner Marilyn Chapman. She and husband Ken visited the island as tourists, fell in love with the landscape, and built the gallery to showcase the plethora of art and craft on their new home. They started serving coffee and cake, and now it’s as much a gallery as it is a cosy café where people gather to talk art and life.

FROM TOP: Ports of King Island, KI Bakehouse & Porky Beach Retreat

WORKING WITH THE LAND King Island has the glossiest, happiest looking cows on the planet. They reflect the natural abundance and fertility of an island that produces some of the best beef in the country.

Portuguese-born Ana Pimenta and her Tasmanian husband Tom Perry studied agriculture at university, and share a passion for the environment, animals and sustainable living. So the wonderfully engaging and educational farm tour they offer — Meat Your Beef — merges their interests and gives guests a real-life, hands-on experience on a working cattle farm, while learning about their extremely successful business.

Ana is also an exceptional cook, so tours can include a three-course meal and Tasmanian wine. It’s all made even more special by the couple’s two outgoing children, their friendly pet dogs, a rescue magpie called Weagle (“Who thinks it’s a dog!” says Ana) and poddy calves that need feeding from a big bottle.

Just down the road is horticulturist Carmen Holloway, who has been dubbed the Garlic Queen of King Island due to her annual crop of around 15,000 organic bulbs, and  JAN/FEB 2021

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Getaway THIS PAGE: Kelping on the shores of King Island & Cape Wickam from above OPPOSITE: King Island cows

the fact she’s spent more than a decade collecting, researching and trialling garlic cultivars. Her garlic has no herbicides, pesticides, fumigants, bleach or GMO, and food-lovers from all over Australia order it direct.

With husband and farmer James and their two kids, Carmen has created a permaculture paradise with the intention of re-establishing wildlife habitats that once existed on their patch of the island. The family has 600 acres for their cattle and 15 acres they’ve set aside for a permaculture farm and an ongoing organic environmental experiment.

There are chooks free-ranging in the abundant veggie patches, guinea pigs foraging through the undergrowth (“they’re great lawn mowers,” says Carmen) and bees producing honey by the gallon. And there’s a dazzling array of edible plants and trees — nectarine, lemon, lime, plum, cherry, apple, apricot, walnut and quince, and an impressive avocado plantation.

There’s also a special wetland habitat attracting rare frogs to the property, thus their business’s name: Frogshack Farm Tours. “I want to re-introduce the green and gold frog into this environment, and we already have the striped marsh, smooth froglet and the brown tree frog,” says Carmen with

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pride. “We are actually one of 50 survey sites in Tasmania to monitor the wildlife and natural habitat, and we have six of Tasmania’s 11 frogs and over 50 bird species, including the black cockatoo.”

HAULING IN THE KELP Kelp is big business on King Island, and it’s one of few places in the world where giant “stormcast” bull kelp washes up by the truckload. It only grows in extremely cold water in places such as Tasmania, Chile, Norway and Iceland, and although it doesn’t have a root system it suctions on to the reef, so it takes big muscles and a tough winching system to remove it.

“We can only take what Mother Nature donates to us, washed up on the shores,” explains GM (name here?).

“It’s illegal to take it from the ocean — it would destroy the eco-system in which it thrives.”

He explains that kelping is a great way for King Island families to make money, and they know due to weather reports when there’ll be a haul ready and waiting. It’s often a father-and-son business, and it’s good money, with a truckload worth about $1,500.

Kelp is in more products than people realise, and is in high demand — it’s a foaming agent in beer and a binding

agent in things such as cat food, toothpaste, shampoo, salad dressing, cakes, dairy products, frozen foods and even pharmaceuticals. The cows on King Island also love to eat it, as it gives a dose of vitamins and minerals that keeps them healthy. Another reason why the beef here is so good.

CHATTING OVER CHEESE King Island’s mineral-rich soils, cool climate, abundant rainfall and consistent salt spray create incredibly lush pasture that is perfect fodder for cows, meaning the local herds produce unusually rich milk.

King Island Dairy collects milk from just 10 nearby farms, meaning it’s as fresh as it comes – straight from cow to

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dairy on a daily basis, from paddock to factory within a few hours.

The dairy has been producing cheese and cream for over 100 years, and when you add cheesemakers with a passion for culinary perfection to the story, the result is some of the most-loved cheese on the shelves. Chief cheesemaker extraordinaire, Swiss-born Ueli Berger, heads the operation, and the business produces around 2,000 tonnes of cheese a year, as well as employing around 100 locals.

On offer is a lip-smackingly delicious array of brie, camembert, washed rind, cheddar and blue cheese — and visitors to the Cheese Store can indulge in a tasting of all varieties straight out of the factory across the paddock.

Shey Cooper grew up on King Island, left in her early 20s, then returned to set up an idyllic life with her children near the dairy.

Now she works at the cheese store running the tastings and selling produce to fellow cheese lovers.

“We are so lucky to live here – you have to remember not to take it for granted,” she says. “We’ll be enjoying a platter of local food: awesome beef and this beautiful cheese, sipping on Tasmanian wine, and remember how fortunate we are to have all this amazing produce, so fresh, right here to enjoy.”

PRESERVING HISTORY To put the many colourful historical pieces of King Island together, I wander around the meticulously curated King Island Museum, where most exhibits have been donated by local families.

The building was formerly the lighthouse keeper’s home, and you can also marvel at the Currie Lighthouse right next door. King Island has a fascinating (and somewhat grisly) history of shipwrecks that have claimed more than a thousand lives, including Australia’s worst ever maritime civil disaster — the Cataraqui wreck of 1845. It claimed the lives of 400 people, including many women and children who were headed from England’s Liverpool to Melbourne.

Luke Agati, president of the Historical

Society and an historical author, loves to take people around the museum, working as a volunteer to keep King Island’s history alive. He’s particularly fond of the ANZAC relics, as King Island had the highest population of ANZACs anywhere in the Commonwealth.

PERFECTING PARADISE King Island is at the bottom of Australia, with Bass Strait to one side and the Indian Ocean on the other. Thus the weather can be wild and wonderful, the sunrises and sunsets nothing short of majestic, and the coastline has a beautiful ruggedness that enchants photographers, filmmakers, and those out for adventure in untamed territory.

Just outside Currie, settled into the wind-whipped landscape above Porky Beach, is Porky Beach House. This secluded four-bedroom home sums up barefoot luxury, and its owner Alex has truly redefined accommodation on the island. Her attention to detail surpasses some of the finest hotels in the world, and the views can be taken in from every room or the awesome wine barrel-shaped sauna perched on a hill, its decked-in spa on the lawn below.

Sitting in that sauna with a glass of Tassie red in hand, and a little platter of KI delicacies including an ash brie from the dairy “just down the road,” I can confidently say there is nothing else like it in the world.

In fact, the same can be said of King Island.

FACT FILE The Restaurant with No Food

Email: devilsgap@kingisland. net.au Phone (Caroline): 0429 621 180 devilsgapretreat.com.au/ boathouse.html

Meat Your Beef King Island Farm Tours

meatyourbeef-kingisland.com

Frogshack Tours kingislandgarlic.com

Information about the kelp industry kingisland.net.au

King Island Dairy

kingislanddairy.com.au

King Island Escapes (Porky Beach House) kingislandescapes.com.au JAN/FEB 2021

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Aussie Made

Summer essentials 1. evo hair Born out of South Australia, evo is a family-owned and operated brand that has been providing salons across the globe with top-notch haircare since 2005, growing from an Aussie upstart into a global movement of salons, stylists and free thinkers.

5. In The End From a tragic story in Outback NSW came the inspiration for a tough yet essential life resource. This beautifully illustrated journal serves as a guide to assist families in navigating the necessary events and tasks after the death of a loved one.

8. Pirate Life Brewing Co. Born on the Nullarbor and raised on the Adelaide Plain, the brains behind Pirate Life Brewing have a passion for making great

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beer, and their South Coast Pale Ale is no exception. It’s light-bodied, refreshing and encapsulates the laid-back spirit of the South Coast.

4. Sand & Sky Created by twin sisters Sarah and Emily Hamilton, Sand & Sky highlights the best Aussie botanical ingredients such as purifying Australian Pink Clay, glow-giving Australian Emu Apple, and hydrating Tasmanian Spring Water.

2. Leina and Fluer This proudly Australian owned fashion label is redefining the way success looks and feels for the modern, professional woman. Celebrating women, for who they are, not the size they are, the colourful, vibrantly patterned range is developed in sizes 8 to 24.

7. Sleepy Merino Made from 100% natural, renewable and biodegradable material, you can sleep easy knowing that these gorgeous Merino wool pyjamas will not only feel soft and luxurious but won’t contribute to the introduction of microplastics into the environment like those made from other synthetic materials.

6. Summer Picnic Tables No more sand in the dip, no more knocked over beers and no more ants crawling into your goodies – these picnic tables are as stylish as they are practical. An essential for this summer, the Aussie couple behind the brand aim to deliver unique, high quality pieces that are all handmade using premium local timber in their Gold Coast workshop.

9. Unbreakable Drinkware from Palm Outdoor With the aim of creating the highest quality unbreakable drinkware range in the world, designer Marc Newson and engineer Robert Wilson have truly outdone themselves with their new range of tumblers, wine and whisky glasses which are all 100% recyclable, BPA free and scratch resistant. Perfect for drinking around the pool.

3. Recycled Mats If being more active was one of your New Years resolutions, this eco-friendly yoga mat is the perfect thing to keep you motivated and inspired. Made from eco rubber and hemp, boasting anti-bacterial and mould resistant properties, these gorgeous mats will inspire your every move.

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Adventure

Living La Vida, lakeside Australia may be known for its gorgeous ocean beaches, but it also has beautiful lakes in every state. From crystal clear to pink water lakes surrounded by beautiful nature, these ten waterways are a must-see.

WORDs: Libby Masi

DOVE LAKE TAS Surrounded by mountains and lush vegetation, the awe-inspiring Dove Lake is one of Tasmania’s most popular places to visit. The wild and rugged Cradle Mountain towers above, serving as a scenic backdrop and reflecting off the water’s surface. The best way to explore is a journey along one of Tasmania’s premier nature walks. The Dove Lake Circuit Walk is a 5.6km loop trail around the lake with breathtaking scenery all along the way. It’s boardwalk-styled path makes the hike family-friendly and should only take two hours – not including pit 44 TrueBlue

stops to soak in the views and highlights. On the east coast of Dove Lake, Glacier Rock displays striations parallel to the water that were caused by rocky debris within the glacier that carved out the basin as it moved through Cradle Mountain. The Ballroom Forest is a cool temperate rainforest known for its ancient myrtle-beech trees that grow above the moss-covered forest floor, creating a stunning cathedral effect. The rustic boatshed on the north-western shore, built in 1940 by Cradle Mountain’s first ranger, now marks the spot for a marvellous photo-op.

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Image: Images courtesy of Dairy Australia

LAKE MCKENZIE QLD One hundred metres above sea level on Fraser Island, sits the brilliant freshwater Lake McKenzie. It is a perched lake, meaning that at such a high elevation above the water table, it’s purely made up of rainwater. The water is exceptionally crystal-clear, because its only pollutants are sunscreen and lotions that rub off swimmers. High acidity levels make it nearly impossible for any organic matter to survive aside from a few Fraser Island short-neck turtles and fish. Beautiful to look at and so soft to walk on, the impressive pure white silica sand acts as a filter for the water, enhancing that purity and clarity. The island is covered in walking trails and thrilling 4WD tracks to help you see the island from a unique perspective.

LAKE HILLIER WA Pretty in pink, Lake Hillier is on Middle Island in the Recherche Archipelago.

Only 600 metres long and 250 metres wide, the lake’s fascinating colour makes up for what it lacks in size.

Dunaliella salina is a type of microalgae that lives in the water, producing carotenoid pigment beta carotene, thought to give the lake its bubblegum pink hue. Lake Hillier also contains large quantities of halophilic bacteria and archaea within its salt crusts, producing similar carotenoid pigments within their cell membranes. Once used for salt extraction, this lake is now a huge tourist attraction as it maintains its vibrant pink colour all year round. The surrounding island is remote and rather difficult to access, making it practically impossible for tourists to visit by ground. Luckily, Lake Hillier looks its best from an aerial perspective and, conveniently enough, Goldfields Air Services offers scenic flights and aerial tours of the region.

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Adventure

LAKE EYRE SA Approximately 15.2 metres below sea level, Lake Eyre appears as a vast expanse of shimmering salt, stretching across the southern Australian outback. Located within the Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre National Park, its basin crosses three state (and one territory) borders, covering a sixth of the continent, making it one of the world's largest internally draining river systems. White salt takes the place of water, looking like a field of snow that meets the horizon in the desert. Lake Eyre contains little to no water, but around every eight years heavy rains bring the place to life, inviting

thousands of migratory birds for a pit stop. In the past 150 years, the lake has only filled to capacity three times. To see its magnificent sights and dynamic landscape, you can book flighted tours above the salt lake – or you have the option to drive to this isolated spacious spot via the Oodnadatta Track. Camping is permitted in the park, allowing overnighters to see the stars as never before in a place without any light pollution. Halligan Bay Point campground, located directly on the lake’s salty shores, is the perfect place to stargaze and immerse yourself in the outback.

MYALL LAKES NSW The Myall Lakes are a part of the region’s diverse ecosystem varying from coastal dunes to dense rainforest.

Lake Myall National Park is a popular holiday and camping destination with activities that everyone in the family can enjoy. The waterways here are ideal for sailing, canoeing, kayaking, windsurfing, swimming and other water sports.

Among the complex river and lake system, the region possesses 18 types of wetlands listed under the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance.

Fishing is very popular here, with many great places to thrown in a line. With the proper bait and patience, you’re a good chance to catch bream, whiting, Australian salmon.

BLUE LAKE SA Mount Gambier’s Blue Lake sits within the crater of an extinct volcano that last erupted 5000 years ago. True to its name, the lake is a vibrant cobalt blue in the sunny months of December through March. Almost overnight, as the season changes in April, the Blue Lake transforms, its waters turning a darker, grey steel colour. This change is due to microscopic calcite crystals scattering the light as it hits the water’s surface. It may be tempting to hop in for a refreshing swim, but this is the town’s water source, so that’s forbidden. Instead, visitors can enjoy the lake’s beauty from the Blue Lake Circuit, a 3.6km walking track around its circumference.

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LAKE AMADEUS NT In Australia’s red centre, about 50 kilometres north of Uluru, Lake Amadeus stands out in the dry-aired landscape of the Amadeus Basin. Due to regional aridity, the lake’s surface is usually a sparkling salt crust. With an estimated 600 million tonnes of salt, Lake Amadeus’ brilliant white surface – reaching 180 kilometres long and 10 kilometres wide – is a shocking sight to see in the desert.

Dozens of small irregular islands of red sand and hardy plants stand centimetres above the surface, but given enough rainfall, the salt crust transforms into a shallow waterbed that serves as a beautiful oasis in this harsh landscape.

The easiest and most comfortable way to visit Lake Amadeus is by air. Many aerial tours await your booking, and include other iconic sights such as Uluru, Kata Tjuta and Kings Canyon. Take a trip to see the Northern Territory’s largest salt lake and admire the brilliant sites all around it.

LAKE ST CLAIR TAS Part of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area, Lake St Clair can be found at the southern end of the Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park. Over two million years, several glaciations carved out the land where Australia’s deepest freshwater lake now sits. The Aboriginal people of the region know it as Leeawuleena, meaning “sleeping water”, as befits the tranquil surrounds. These still waters mirror the gorgeous mountain and wooded landscapes that appear in every direction. Cynthia Bay is renowned for mesmerising views from its shore across the lake to Mount Olympus, Mount Ida and the Traveller Ranges. The bay is teeming with wildlife – look out for the Bennett’s wallaby and Tasmanian pademelon.

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Adventure

LAKE ARGYLE WA Formed in 1972 by the damming of the mighty Ord River to support agricultural development, Lake Argyle has become a beautiful and fun place to visit. Holding 10.7 cubic metres of water at full supply – more than 18 times the size of Sydney Harbour – the scenery of this expansive lake is like no other. Known as the jewel of Kimberley and surrounded by the Carr Boyd Ranges, this amazing marine environment is a paradise in the outback with a wide array of adventures and activities for anyone who visits. A wildlife cruise along the lake’s shoreline provides the chance to experience close encounters with freshwater crocodiles, fish, wallabies and more than 240 species of birds. A huge network of bushwalking and mountain-biking trails allow travellers to enjoy the tranquillity of the lake from afar.

GIPPSLAND LAKES VIC Making up Australia’s biggest inland waterways, and covering more than 600 square kilometres, the Gippsland Lakes are separated from the ocean by the pristine golden sands of the Ninety Mile Beach and coastal dunes.

There are endless fascinating things to discover in this network of lakes, marshes and lagoons, and the easily navigable waters are a boater’s dream. A haven for wildlife, the Gippsland Lakes are home to a unique population of dolphins, while allowing other bird and marine life to thrive. The many small islands are easily reached by ferry or water taxi.

Rotamah Island is inhabited by various birds, kangaroos, wallabies and other native animals, while Raymond Island is home to a colony of koalas.

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NEWS+VIEWS | MINING | AGRIBUSINESS | INFRASTRUCTURE

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

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

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AUSBIZ NEWS

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

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

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

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

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

To find out more, visit straighttothesource.com.au

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

AUSTRALIAN RADIO TOWERS

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

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

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

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

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

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

rugged Australian climate in mind.

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

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

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

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

“Delivering sustainable solutions

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

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

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POSITION PARTNERS

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

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

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

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

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

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

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POSITION PARTNERS

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

In the open pit, there are numerous sensors monitoring pit walls, waste backfill and surveying pillar movement.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

JAN/FEB 2021

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AGRICULTURE

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

Words: emily herbert photos: Melissa Brown

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

“Skeet had a massive tree change.

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

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

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after the land as much as possible, Skeet uses a multi-pronged approach to weed management, helping to reduce chemical use while boosting production and soil health. The family sow wheat, then barley, followed by a pulse crop for nitrogen fixation benefits in the soil.

That’s not to say they haven’t had their challenges. After a huge career change, the pair have had to learn everything from scratch. “In the first six years, we had two droughts, a number of devastating frosts and a plague,” says Phillipa.

But the benefits of spending more time at home with their kids far outweighs the difficulties of running the operation. In fact, it was the couple’s youngest daughter, Annabelle, that helped steer Phillipa towards her latest venture. The five year-old was a fussy eater with difficulty sleeping, and a nutritionist suggested more protein could be helpful. So Phillipa began

AGRICULTURE

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

JAN/FEB 2021

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

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

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

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

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

“If the lentils are chipped or dented from coming through the header and aren’t deemed pretty enough for the packet, they don’t make export grade – even though they have exactly the same nutritional value,” Phillipa says. “It seems like such a waste, especially if producing a milled product. I started to look into milling lentil flour for more than just our family.

Ultimately, my vision is that The Pinnaroo Farmer will one day use not just our lentils, but crops from around the district, giving farmers greater autonomy about how their lentils are sold.”

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With demand for plant-based proteins on the rise, Phillipa feels optimistic about her product’s future. Devising a system to separate the lentil and grain side of their operation, the flour is completely glutenfree – another value add that the Lawson’s customers love. The lentils are harvested, then sent to be cleaned before returning to the farm to be processed by Phillipa’s small domestic mill. Samples of the flour are then sent to Adelaide to be tested for gluten traces, which helps put Phillipa’s mind at ease about the purity of the product.

In all, the red lentil flour has taken six months to go from concept to delivery – now stocked in the Pinnaroo bakery, a supermarket in Adelaide and online.

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

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

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

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

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

Pour into the tin.

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

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

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

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

JAN/FEB 2021

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INDUSTRY

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

Words: bethany plint

SUNSET OVER A THRIVING LAVENDER FIELD

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INDUSTRY

Image: Thomas Despeyroux

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

Australia’s emerging lavender industry is set to grow thanks to a partnership between AgriFutures Australia and La Trobe University’s Institute for Agriculture and Food (LIAF) that will identify the best conditions and farming methods for the fragrant purple flower.

The research project aims to educate the farming industry on best practices for cultivating high quality lavender products, from growing to extraction. Lead investigator and LIAF Research Director Professor Jim Whelan says the work could position Australia as a world-leader in lavender oil exports and support diversification in the farming industry. 

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INDUSTRY

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

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

“Boosting grower confidence in the future of the industry is at the core of this work, and we look forward to achieving this through a combination of scientific expertise and dedicated industry research, development

Image: Baraa Jalahej

“Lavender is highly sought after for marketing opportunities from ornamental flowers, to oil production for use in cosmetics; aromatherapy and culinary applications, as well as agritourism,” says Professor Whelan.

“This project will equip farmers with the tools and knowledge to grow consistent, sustainable and high-quality lavender.”

La Trobe agronomist Dr Marisa Collins says, “Lavender is super tough and highly tolerant of poor soils, drought, frosts and wind, but to tap lavender’s full potential, we will provide growers with tailored crop nutrition strategies that are backed by peer reviewed science.”

The project is funded as part of the AgriFutures Emerging Industries Program which has its sights set on supporting the emergence of rural industries that can reach or exceed $10 million revenue by 2022.

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Image: Olga Tutunaru

QUALITY VS QUANTITY A member of the mint family, lavender has a long history of cultivation, dating back to the Romans. It is a perennial shrub, native to the Mediterranean region which thrives in welldrained soils drenched in sunlight.

Often dried out for potpourri, it has recently experienced a spike in demand, swept up with the essential oils movement.

The lavender flowers are steam distilled to extract the intensely fragrant oil which is now commonly used in aromatherapy.

Two main species of lavender appear to dominate the industry – common English or true lavender (Lavendula angustifolio) and spike lavender (L. latifolia). The former yields the best quality oil, while the latter delivers three times the quantity but at an inferior grade.

Distinction between the two varieties has proven a challenge for the Australian lavender industry in the past. Previous inconsistency in identification led to the market being flooded with lavender oil products which, while all marketed as the same strain, had varying degrees of quality and potency. An agreement reached by the two industry bodies – The Essential Oils Producers Association of Australia and The Australian Lavender Growers Association – in conjunction with Standards Australia posits that frequent testing must

INDUSTRY

and extension (RD&E) plan,” says Mr McCue. LIAF experts in soil science, plant mineral nutrition, chemical analysis, field trials and data collection, curation and analyses will map the performance of different lavender varieties and farming practices to optimise their growth and production. They will also thoroughly assess soil characteristics and fertiliser regimes, and develop future breeding strategies to optimise lavender quality and yield.

The project is in partnership with lavender producer Larkman Nurseries; essential oil distiller and exporter Golden Grove Naturals; The Australian Lavender Industry Association (TALGA) and phenotyping technology company Scientific Instruments Australia – the Australian arm of global phenotyping company Photon Systems Instruments.

MORE ABOUT LIAF & AGRIFUTURES

FAST FACTS

The La Trobe Institute for Agriculture and Food (LIAF) is a research institute for soil science and agronomy, seed biology, nutritional bioengineering and medicinal agriculture – based at the University’s Bundoora campus. LIAF research aims to meet critical societal needs relating to seed production, food and nutrition challenges posed by a growing population in a resource constrained world.

AgriFutures Australia is the trading name for Rural Industries Research & Development Corporation (RIRDC).

AgriFutures Australia invests in research, leadership, innovation and learning to support industries that do not have their own research and development function, as well as new and emerging industries.

LAVENDER FLOURISHES BEST IN DRY, SANDY OR GRAVELLY SOILS IN FULL SUN AND NEEDS LITTLE TO NO FERTILISER. AUSTRALIA'S LAVENDER INDUSTRY CONSISTS OF MANY SMALL PRODUCERS AND ONLY A FEW COMMERCIAL FARMS. SOME OF THE PROPOSED BENEFITS OF LAVENDER OIL INCLUDE REDUCING ANXIETY, INSOMNIA AND DEPRESSION; EASING DIGESTIVE PROBLEMS; AND ACCELERATING THE HEALING TIME FOR MINOR BURNS AND BUG BITES.

JAN/FEB 2021

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FINANCE

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FINANCE

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

More than just digital transformation, COVID-19 has revealed the need for financial transformation.

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

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

For businesses to survive Australia’s

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first recession in the digital era, they need to start considering the value of financial transformation investments in parallel with digital strategies.

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

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

In a survey of 1,200 consumers in Asia-Pacific, 51 per cent admitted to abandoning their cart because their preferred payment method was not

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

The rise of digital payments has brought more choice than ever to the eCommerce industry, with subscription models and buy now, pay later platforms becoming a trend that Australian consumers have latched on to for good. This boils down to two emerging payment behaviours: an aversion to debt, and a disinterest in ‘ownership.’ Research by Zuora indicates that 70 per cent of people believe subscriptions free them from the burden of ownership, with 57 per cent wanting to own less ‘stuff.’

These trends connect payments to more than just the checkout; it shows flexible payment options are a holistic part of the eCommerce experience.

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

FINANCE

debit or subscriptions, they will find a competitor who does.

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

GET FINTECHS TO DO THE HARD WORK FOR YOU Financial infrastructure and payments are a complex part of any business.

Given the relative newness of diverse digital payment methods, it’s unlikely that the average company will have a qualified ‘payments expert’ to lead a financial transformation strategy. That’s why financial technology providers (fintechs) exist; to take the complexity out of the transformation journey.

Australasia is home to more than

5,000 active fintechs, and unlike the big banks, fintechs are considered specialists in niche elements of financial services.

The aim of financial transformation is to automate certain processes that minimise human-touch; reduce spend; and maintain a competitive edge when it comes to customer acquisition. The best way to achieve this? By leaning on providers who transform both the back-end financial infrastructure of your business, and the customer experience.

As an example, 70 per cent of ANZ businesses are looking to shift to a subscription model within the next two to three years. However, having the right financial transformation strategy will be critical to their success as a subscription provider.

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

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

There is no point investing solely in customer-focused technology if it causes more work for you behind the scenes.

The real value of fintech-led transformation is using best in class payment providers enabling businesses to replace outdated practices like paper-based bank debit in the case of GoCardless.

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

JAN/FEB 2021

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beyond anxiety

COMMUNITY

#FinishWaterWaste: HELPING FARMERS MANAGE THE ONGOING IMPACTS OFÂ DROUGHT

Image: Tyler Alberti

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

Words: Saurabh JaiN

JAN/FEB 2021

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Image: Archie Sartracom

COMMUNITY

Too many of the rural communities across Australia are still recovering from the terrible trifecta that was Summer 2019/20 – heatwaves, drought and bushfires. This was compounded further by the challenging impacts of COVID-19, which brought even more uncertainty to the nation’s farmers in 2020.

The huge physical distance between us means that many Australians living in metropolitan areas are unaware of the continuing impact of the long-term drought in rural communities, with many still facing water restrictions and, in the worst cases, reliant on deliveries of water that are trucked in. Such is true for towns like Clifton and Stanthorpe in Southern Queensland.

To provide support, Finish and Rural Aid created the #FinishWaterWaste initiative in 2019. The national program aims to educate metro-dwelling Australians on the struggles of drought as experienced by rural communities and farmers, and encourages positive

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behaviour changes that help save water, such as committing to stop pre-rinsing dishes. With the 2020 #FinishWaterWaste campaign, in return for each promise to skip the rinse made via #FinishWaterWaste on social media, 40 litres of water will be delivered to a farmer to help them on the long road to drought recovery.

“Farmers around the country are still struggling for water security as the long-term impacts of one of the worst droughts on record drags on,” says Saurabh Jain, Marketing Director ANZ at RB Hygiene. “Working closely with Rural Aid, we have continued to ramp up our #FinishWaterWaste deliveries over the past year, delivering our biggest ever set of water drops in 2020 to help bolster farmers’ supplies,” adds Jain.

Since launching in 2019, the initiative has raised in excess of 14.8 million litres of water for struggling Australian farmers, with deliveries of water continuing into 2021. This is part of

Finish’s commitment to ensure the nation’s farmers are not forgotten and continue receiving support.

A RESPONSIBILITY TO AFFECT CHANGE #FinishWaterWaste came from the insight that rinsing dishes before stacking them in the dishwasher wastes up to 40 litres of water per load. By simply stopping this unnecessary habit, Australians could collectively save 20 billion litres of water in just one year.

“As a leader in household cleaning and hygiene products, we have a responsibility to affect change that delivers wider benefits to society and the environment. Water is almost like liquid gold to our farmers – it really is one of the best gifts we can give them,” Jain explains.

KEEPING OUR FARMERS GOING Farmers Cate and Karl Hinshelwood from Clifton, Queensland,

COMMUNITY

received a delivery of water via the #FinishWaterWaste initiative in late 2020. The drought has taken its toll on their 25-year old farm, whittling the couple’s cattle down from 300 to just 50, and forcing them to economise to keep the farm going.

“At the height of the dry, our dams dried up… and we got no water from the bore,” explains Karl. “We had to purchase quite a lot of water to keep the stock, the house and everything going.”

The farmers had less than 10 inches of water in their tank when a #FinishWaterWaste water carter arrived at their property in September to deliver 12,500 litres of water. Without it, Cate and Karl said their livelihood would have come to a standstill.

“The thing that’s really opened our eyes up is the support that people are giving and that companies are giving towards people out in the bush that are suffering – there is a lot of people really suffering,” says Karl.

Image: Tyler Alberti

HOW CAN WE HELP RURAL AUSTRALIANS? The good news is, there is plenty we can be doing to support farmers like Cate and Karl who are still impacted by drought. As rainfall remains unpredictable, it’s more important than ever that the issue of drought isn’t simply a case of ‘out of sight, out of mind’. Those of us who live in metropolitan areas, where resources are more plentiful, should continue to be water-conscious in our everyday life.

Simple changes can have an amazing cumulative impact on changing the tide of water-scarcity.

Finish has launched the “40 Litre Challenge” to encourage Australians to live off 40 litres of water for one day and ultimately become more water conscious. Each experience shared on social media, using the hashtag #FinishWaterWaste, will trigger a 40 litre water donation to a farmer in need.

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

FIVE WAYS TO SAVE WATER AROUND THE HOME

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

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

Choose the half-flush on a dual flush toilet.

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

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

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

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IN THE WORKPLACE

BIA AFFONSO LEADING A WORKSHOP WITH HER TEAM AT NEU21

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IN THE WORKPLACE

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

Words: Bia Alfonso Photos: chris mcconville

In most traditional workplaces, wellbeing is a box ticked after fruit bowls and Employee Assistance Programs (EAP) are provided, offering employees confidential counselling services and healthy food options.

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

JAN/FEB 2021

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IN THE WORKPLACE

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

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

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

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

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AusBiz.

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

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

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

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

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

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

IN THE WORKPLACE

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

human-centred policies, practices, processes or KPIs. Employees are often stigmatised as being problematic if they end up in the HR’s office.

We thought that we were giving our people everything they needed to feel good, but we are still stuck in a mindset of fixing complex challenges with technical solutions. Sometimes a real conversation is more powerful than any fruit bowl or free yoga class that we don’t have time to attend.

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

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

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

JAN/FEB 2021

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AGRICULTURE

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

Words: AGRIFUTURES AUSTRALIA

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AGRICULTURE

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

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

That could all change, however, with the development of a new variety that will be widely accessible to farmers around the country, allowing the smaller players of Australia’s agricultural industry to jump on the quinoa bandwagon and enjoy some of its success.

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

opportunities for farmers to grow the popular superfood, with increased production potential for both local and international markets. As the first public, non-contract variety in Australia, “Kruso White” may be the key to transitioning quinoa from a niche, cottage crop to wider adoption across Australian broadacre farming environments.

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

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

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

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

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

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AGRICULTURE

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Credit: Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development

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

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

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

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

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

KIMBERLEY GRANDE HOTEL EXPERIENCE THE BEAUTY OF THE KIMBERLEY

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

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15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

27

D

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

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

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

D

SOLUTIONS:

Y

E

A

M T

R

A

F R

L

A

D

H

A

C

S

H

E A T S

S

B

E

T

L

I W

R A

D

R

A

S

T T

E

R L

T

L

N

N G U

R B

Y A

F

D I

G T

D

B

F R N

U A

E

O O O

O S A

I

E

S B

T

T

A L

G R

P O R

E G A P

I D

E R

A N

K

C

R N A

O A

H

T C

B

A

I

T

T C U

A

P

C

S

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

AusBiz.

SMOOTHIE SOFT DRINK SOYA MILK TUMBLER

H

32

ICED TEA LATTE LEMON SQUASH LEMONADE MILKSHAKE ORANGE JUICE RICE MILK

C O C

APPLE JUICE CARAMEL CHOCOLATE COFFEE CORDIAL FIZZY DRINK GLASS

B O O B O O

25. Young chap started like a dream (3)

27. Cook taco mix for parrot (8)

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

26. Hope deer is let loose (6)

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

R

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

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

D

16. Sole position in the way (9)

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

R

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

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

I

22. Dashes off other half of code (4)

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

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

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

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

I

19. Depress some prudish ear?

Tenacious! (10)

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

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

T

18. Complaining bitterly about fence (7)

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

S

17. Longed for Ned after 12 months (7)

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

C

14. I leave train games for ships (10)

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

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

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

T

12. Temptation changed a bit (4)

WORD SEARCH

S

11. Be salver or be disloyal (6)

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

T

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

E

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

C

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

M

DOWN

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

D O

ACROSS

D

26

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