TrueBlue Magazine - Dec 2019/Jan 2020

TrueBlue Dec 2019/Jan 2020

OUR HEART IS IN THE COUNTRY

MONKEY MIA MAGIC

Dolphins, whales, sunshine

A real Australian business magazine

ROLL ACROSS THE CAPE All aboard the Gulflander

THE RICHNESS OF BALLARAT

History, mystery and a truly golden heritage

in the Meet Dr Chris Brown

WORK IN THE RESOURCES SECTOR?

MAKE ROCKHAMPTON YOUR HOME!

RELOCATION INCENTIVES PACKAGES AVAILABLE

conditions apply*

liverockhampton.com.au

@liverockhampton

Letter from the COO

EDITORIAL

Welcome to the December/January issue of True Blue.

With December upon us and the long days of summer ahead, it’s a good time to get out and see what Australia’s central south coast has to offer.

South Australia’s Eyre Peninsula is the traditional land of the Barngarla people, and the Barngarla name for Port Lincoln is Kallinyalla, or Galinyala, which means ‘place of sweet water’.

Also known as ‘The Seafood Capital of Australia’, the vibrant waters of the Spencer Gulf and the thriving aquaculture industry make Port Lincoln a mecca for premium seafood, which is proudly served at many of the town’s pubs, restaurants and eateries.

Situated on the shore of Boston Bay, one of the world’s largest protected natural harbours, Port Lincoln offers an array of water activities for visitors, including shark cage diving, swimming with sea lions and recreational fishing.

Every year, over the Australia Day long weekend, the town hosts the iconic Tunarama Festival. An ode to tuna, the festival celebrates the local industry and sustainable fishing with fun tuna-themed events, such as the famous Tuna Toss competition. Flip to page 9 for more information on the Tunarama Festival.

Just a 35-minute flight from Adelaide, Rex operates up to eight daily return

services between Port Lincoln and the South Australian capital. In October 2019, in partnership with the District Council of Lower Eyre Peninsula, Rex announced the introduction of Rex Community Fares between Adelaide and Port Lincoln, bringing more affordable fares to the travelling public. Visit the Rex website for more information and to book flights.

In a brief review of the year that was, Rex is proud to have introduced the Rex Community Fare scheme on 25 routes in 2019, taking the total number of these routes to 40 across the network.

Rex subsidiary Pel-Air was awarded a contract extension by Ambulance Victoria for the provision of its fixedwing air ambulance services until June 2023. And, in 2019, Rex purchased three Saab 340 aircraft, taking the total Rex fleet size to 60 aircraft.

Finally, I would like to thank you all for your continued patronage and contribution to the success of Regional Express (Rex) this year. On behalf of the Rex team, we wish you and your family a happy and prosperous holiday period.

Safe travels, Neville Howell Chief Operating Officer

Publisher: Michelle Hespe publisher@publishingbychelle.com Art Director: Jon Wolfgang Miller AusBiz. Brand & Communications Manager: Effe Sandas advertising@publishingbychelle.com Lifestyle/Travel Brand & Communications Manager: Shakira Wood shakira@publishingbychelle.com Assistant Editor: Sarah Hinder editorial@publishingbychelle.com Editorial Assistant: Samuel Steinberg Sub-Editors: Shane Cubis & Sarah Friggieri

CONTRIBUTORS

Samuel Steinberg Deborah Dickson-Smith Louise Reynolds Jennifer Ennion Tim Richards Darren Baguley Ian Lloyd Neubauer Lisa Smyth Kirsten Craze

PRINTING

Blue Star PRINT 81 Derby St, Silverwater NSW 2128

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.

DEC 2019/JAN 2020

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Our writers have journeyed far and wide to bring us some colourful yarns about places that ought to be on your Aussie bucket list.

@TRUEBLUe _ MAG 2 TrueBlue

/TRUEBLUEMAG

Welcome to our last issue of True Blue for 2019, where I had the good fortune of chatting to someone who most of you would have seen plenty of times on your TV screens – the wonderfully charismatic and down-to-earth Dr Chris Brown.

Chris is best known for the television series Bondi Vet, and he hosts The Open Road With Doctor Chris on CBS. He also appears on The Living Room, is a presenter on I’m A Celebrity…

Get Me Out Of Here! and Chris & Julia’s Sunday Night Takeaway, and is a regular guest panellist on The Project.

Some might wonder if this leaves much or any room for what he loves doing the most – working with animals, great and small. “It’s what I studied hard and am trained to do,” he says.

“It will always be what I love to do, and it’s a slice of normality and realness,” he says. “It’s part of why I also love working on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here, as there I work with large African animals. You certainly don’t find sick lions in Bondi!”

One of the many causes Chris has recently put his weight behind is sarcoptic mange, a terrible condition among wombats that is killing entire populations of the beloved Australian creature. Basically it’s a mite infestation that causes skin infection and results in thick scabs covering the animal’s body. It comes in conjunction with a host of health problems that result in the wombat’s health rapidly declining, usually resulting in death. “Finding a cure is something I am very passionate

about working on,” says Chris.

Read more about Chris on page 28, and learn more about sarcoptic mange and how you can help by visiting dpipwe.tas.gov.au and entering ‘wombat mange’ into the search bar.

You will find loads of information about wombats and a detailed Q&A on the condition.

Travel-wise, for this issue our writers have journeyed far and wide to bring us some colourful yarns about places that ought to be on your Aussie bucket list. There’s Port Lincoln in South Australia, where you can swim with sea lions and great whites, or just kick back in a peaceful, beautiful part of the world. The seafood here is some of the best in Australia. We also help you step back in time in Ballarat and Sovereign Hill, and inspire you with the magic of Monkey Mia in stunning Western Australia. One of our writers took a journey across Cape York on the Gulflander train, and we look at some of the best things to do in Broken Hill and surrounds.

It’s great to have you back.

Wherever you are heading this Christmas and in the new year, travel safely, have fun and take care of those you love.

MICHELLE HESPE & THE TEAM AT TRUE BLUE

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Cover Story

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

THE NEW BOOM There’s a new mining boom on the horizon.

We bring you the latest.

TRANSPORT & LOGISTICS The Australian transport industry is transforming.

We meet with muchloved TV personality and Bondi Vet, Dr Chris Brown.

upfront

Features

05 Rex News

26 Coast House Tas

42 Golden Ballarat

Rex sponsors Film by, an initiative teaching filmmaking in regional schools; Rex flies event speakers to Bega’s Festival of Open Minds; Port Lincoln Tunarama Festival celebrates 59 years and the famous Tuna Toss.

A down-to-earth haven on Tassie’s Beaupre Peninsula.

Exploring the history of this gold-rush town.

32 Broken Hill

48 Monkey Mia

The best things to do in and around town.

There’s more than dolphins around this coastal haven.

10 Regional News What’s new and happening around Rex locations.

36 Port Lincoln

52 Gulf Country

Food and fun in Australia’s seafood capital.

We take a ride on the historic Gulflander train.

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11 Out & About

AUSSIE AVOCADOS How this fruit has taken the country by storm.

Everything Rockhampton has to offer.

GIN REVOLUTION The domestic spirit market is making big waves, with gin leading the revolutionary charge.

The latest theatre, books, art and tours.

13 Entertainment

14 What’s On & Hot A line-up of the best events across the country.

DEC 2019/JAN 2020

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COUNTRYARTS.ORG. AU

Photo by Chris Herzfeld

Celebrating regional South Australian art in 2020

UPFRONT A still image from a music video created by a student at a Film by film camp.

Building relationships through filmmaking Film by… Where creativity takes flight When students create film, they work together; they bounce ideas, collaborate, discuss, plan, visualise, problem-solve, organise, create and celebrate each other’s ideas, skills and achievements. Visual learning is inclusive learning. Anyone can feel confident to comment or have an opinion about something they have seen, which is not always the case with printed information, when accessibility requires the reader decode the print, read with enough fluency to comprehend, and have the necessary language conventions to make meaning.

By combining digital filmmaking tasks with traditional literacy objectives, children are provided with a clear, purposeful end goal to aim for. It enables them to appreciate that the creative process of writing, planning, drafting, editing and revising is integral to the quality of the end goal.

With the support of Rex Airlines, Film by teams travel to rural and remote schools to provide teachers and students with support to access filmmaking and professional training.

Four outstanding teachers, with extraordinary skills in filmmaking and visual literacy, were recently given the opportunity to work with rural and remote schools on a two-day filmmaking camp around Nyngan in rural New South Wales. The teachers (John Skene, a special-needs teacher at Miranda Public School; Jade McMillan, a stage-three teacher from Miranda Public School; Matt Watt from Terara Public School; and Susan Gonzalez from Forster Public School) spent two days with teachers and students from public schools in Marra Creek, Carinda, Quambone, Hermidale, Pilliga, Nyngan and Girilambone. What eventuated was days full of activities, fun and making

films, with firm friendships established.

Film by wishes a big ‘thank you’ to Rex for supporting this important initiative that provides opportunities, skill development and training to students in rural New South Wales. In the land of the oldest storytelling culture, it’s essential to offer the opportunity for all students to tell their stories and to guide a new generation of filmmakers to become the storytellers of the future.

Film by is an initiative of the New South Wales Department of Education, which supports the establishment of local film creating communities. Actor and producer Bryan Brown is a proud patron. Rex sponsored the Film by invitation-only inaugural event, held at the Bryan Brown Theatre in Bankstown, by providing flights for teachers from as far away as Broken Hill to attend and meet Bryan Brown himself.

To learn more, visit filmby.com.au DEC 2019/JAN 2020

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news

Festival of Open Minds Presented by About Regional On a glorious sunny day this September, 400 people gathered in Bega to hear Australia’s sharpest and most challenging speakers at the ideas-packed and thought-provoking Festival of Open Minds.

Nestled in the lush, dairy-producing Bega Valley on the New South Wales South Coast, local news journal About Regional presented a day of insight, interviews, ideas, food and music; acknowledging passionate people, those who drive our regional communities, our businesses and our creativity.

Skippered by ex-ABC Broadcaster Ian Campbell, About Regional, like many small businesses in country Australia, is powered by a small, passionate team.

“We love our community. Our journal supports and promotes our people and organisations through articles and interviews that tell their stories,” says Campbell. “This was the second Festival of Open Minds, which is an event designed to inspire, expand and energise our hearts and minds.

“The intention of the festival was to bring people together to share an experience and build understanding and knowledge. More and more people are feeling isolated, for all sorts of reasons. And people coming together to share an experience creates a real bond. There’s magic that happens within an event, and the people there are all privy to this shared moment – isolation is broken.”

To support the Festival of Open Minds 2019, About Regional approached 12 organisations operating throughout the region, big and small,

that build skills, create sustainable entities, and contribute to community life and health. Rex was one of the organisations that supported the event by bringing several wonderful speakers to Bega, via Merimbula Airport, and taking them home again afterwards.

Reverend Tim Costello, Chief Advocate at World Vision; Nas Campanella, Triple J Newsreader; Pastor Christie Buckingham, spiritual counsellor to executed Bali 9 smuggler Myuran Sukumaran; and Alasdair Tremblay-Birchall, comedian and joke writer, were all brought to and from the festival venue in Bega by Rex. Whether it’s fighting poverty and injustice head-on as Rev Tim Costello (pictured top) has, or looking to the oceans and seeing the possibilities of a revolutionary circular economy as Aly Khalifa did, the Festival of Open Minds changes the way we see the world and inspires us to transform it.

Paralympian Emma Booth (pictured below) stunned spectators with her positivity and determination, Aboriginal poet Sassi Nuyum opened hearts with

her searingly honest poems describing generational trauma, and a panel of local leaders created palpable ripples of pride in the local audience. It was a day of great significance for many.

Make no mistake, the festival was confronting and intense. People were enlightened and inspired, conversations were begun, issues were faced. And that’s its purpose.

Events like this can make you rethink how you interact with the world.

The festival will take place in Bega again in 2020, so come and join in!

To learn more, go to festivalofopenminds.com.au or aboutregional.com.au DEC 2019/JAN 2020

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to fly or drive?

Fly Albury to Melbourne from $99*one way. The choice is clear.

There’s no need to feel frustrated, under pressure or rushed next time you need to visit Melbourne. A little bit of planning can go a long way with the Rex Community Fare. Book 30 days in advance or unsold seats within 24hrs of departure.

Avoid the drive, book online at rex.com.au *Rex Community Fare book 30 days in advance or unsold seats within 24hrs of departure. Terms & conditions and booking fee/payment surcharges apply.

Community Fares are available via Rex Promo Fare and are subject to availability.

Stretch with

tra Legroom

$4.80 per sector Safety Pre-requisites and Terms & Conditions apply

Out!

news

Tremendous Tuna Toss at Tunarama Port Lincoln Tunarama Festival The Port Lincoln Tunarama Festival is held annually over the Australia Day long weekend. Celebrating its 59th year in 2020, Tunarama features a wide array of participation events, arts and cultural displays, local market stalls and, of course, some of the freshest seafood in the world – there truly is something for the whole family to enjoy!

A big highlight of the festival is the famous Tuna Toss competition.

Competitors travel from across the globe to see who can throw these 10-kilogram fish the furthest.

With big cash rewards and a really unique trophy up for grabs, this is an event for the bucket list.

The first Tuna Toss was held in 1980, when locals from the Tunarama Committee decided the festival needed a unique event that identified with Port Lincoln’s already-famous tuna fishing industry. The idea for the event was based upon the old technique used by local fishermen to unload fish from the boats that came into port, where men would stand on the decks of the boats and throw tuna up onto the waiting trucks.

Many local lads would line up in

uncertain economic times, looking for a few hours of paid work. They had to pass a simple test: throw a fish as far as they could. And the best throwers would get the work for the day. It was a prideful thing and a boast for the winners afterwards, as they spent part of their earnings at a nearby hotel to quench their hard-earned thirst.

For the Festival Committee, this was a natural event to consider, as the festival is run at the time of year when most fish are being landed and are in plentiful supply.

In the first year it ran, prior publicity had suggested the event may well become an entry in the Guinness Book of World Records. A long line of men stood on that line that day, tossing a tuna one by one, when a schoolteacher stepped up to the mark.

John Penny was well-known around town as a man of education, with a well-spoken demeanour. But little was known about his sporting ability (other than a spot of casual cricket and the like). Well, as it turns out, John trained for the Olympics in his younger day – for the hammer throw!

He had seen others before him throw in their various fashions, some ungainly,

some mighty. After just a short warm-up, he grabbed the fish and threw it way past where it had landed previously. Some were shocked and cried foul. But the judges saw nothing wrong with his skill, and the throw ended up winning the event.

Incredulous, many men vowed to learn more about how to throw that far, and returned the next year, trained and ready. Today, the Tuna Toss has become a notable annual event, now including both genders and renowned across the world.

In 1998, another Aussie hammer thrower, Sean Carlin, tossed a tuna 37.23 metres, and holds the Tuna Toss World Record to this day.

A decision was made a few years ago to replace the fish used in the trials with rubberised versions. The competition is a prime example of how the city interacts with its unique identity and the industry that drives it forward.

Though the industry changes with technology and demand, this event definitively honours all the people who contributed to the beginnings of what is now one of the most significant fisheries in the Southern Hemisphere.

To learn more, visit tunarama.net DEC 2019/JAN 2020

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regional news Explore the Torres Strait Islands Local guide Dirk Laifoo takes guests on bespoke tours around the Torres Strait Islands with newly launched tour company Torres Strait Eco Adventures. Guests can explore the remote islands of Waiben (Thursday Island), Muralag (Prince of Wales Island) and Ngarupai (Horn Island).

The incredibly remote and undiscovered region is home to an interesting WWII and pearling history entwined with fascinating local islander culture. torresstraitecoadventures.com.au

CHARCOAL LANE

Charcoal Lane restaurant in Fitzroy, Melbourne, celebrated its tenth anniversary in 2019. The hatted restaurant employs Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and serves up a delicious seasonal menu of native Australian cuisine. Passionate about paying respects to Australian culture and land, the team at Charcoal Lane are excited to tell a story through native ingredients.

Think dishes of roasted emu fillet and eucalyptus-infused timbale, Parma hamwrapped wallaby, and sous vide crocodile green curry, alongside beautifully presented Australian-themed desserts. There’s also a cocktail menu brimming with bold native Australian botanicals and a list of wines and beers sourced from regional Australia.

The restaurant was founded by Mission Australia as a way to provide opportunities for Aboriginal people who are in need of a fresh start in life. Each dining experience helps to provide a supported, hands-on Mission Australia traineeship program for young Aboriginal people. Charcoal Lane engages and connects more than 30 young Aboriginal people every year. charcoallane.com.au

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QT Newcastle to open in 2020 A QT Hotel will open its doors in Newcastle in 2020, the fourth QT property to open in Australia in three years. The boutique designer hotel will take over the former 111-year-old David Jones Building and will feature 106 rooms, a rooftop bar and one of QT’s signature dining concepts. qthotelsandresorts.com

out & about For the love of Rockhampton Imagine living in a town where city comforts meet laidback ease? Imagine a place where your daily commute doesn’t mean missed time with family, but rather more precious downtime with those you love the most.

Sound like a dream?

Welcome to Rockhampton: central Queensland’s most liveable, affordable city, where big-city chic meets small-town affordability and friendliness.

One of the best perks? You don’t have to sacrifice the dream of owning your own home for your career or business – you can have both!

Affordable housing prices combined with the convenience of small-city living make that dream possible in Rockhampton, which is home to many privately run businesses fostered by a community that celebrates local ownership.

And you don’t need to forego those enticing city comforts. Dinner and a show? Rockhampton CBD is home to a plethora of dining options and the historic Pilbeam Theatre.

Shopping? Cherry-pick from the expansive array of boutiques along the city’s buzzing main strip. Career?

There’s opportunity aplenty for career pathways, further education and business start-ups.

And if you work in the resources industry, you may even be eligible for up to $7500 in relocation incentives.

It's time to find out!

With room to breathe and open spaces to roam, hike, bike and fish, the weekends are what they are meant to be: relaxing. And with the friendly community spirit, you’ll feel like a local in no time. The catch? There isn’t one. The city of Rockhampton awaits. liverockhampton.com.au

Stay a Night or Stay a While While in Griffith, come and stay at the recently refurbished Centrepoint Apartments right in the heart of Griffith’s CBD. Room Facilities: • 24 Serviced Studio Suites, One & Two Bedroom Apartments • King & Queen Beds • Flat Screen TV & Foxtel

• Personal CD/DVD Players • Climate Controlled Ducted Air-Conditioning • Complimentary WIFI • Electronic Swipe Keys • Hairdryers • Lift • Disabled Facilities •Secure Off-Street Parking

T: 02 6960 2000 E: sales@centrepointapartmentsgriffith.com.au W: www.centrepointapartmentsgriffith.com.au 129-139 Yambil Street GRIFFITH NSW 2680

HOME TO OVER 75 STORES

87 BAYLIS STREET, WAGGA WAGGA NSW 2650 | T: 026931 7277

wagga-marketplace

@wagga.marketplace

WAGGA M ARKE TP L AC E .C OM

entertainment

Watch, read & listen

WORDS: Sarah hinder

tour books Among The Pigeons, John L. Read

May 2019, Wakefield Press, conservation With frontline stories from cat refuges, owners, vets and conservationists, this book balances the benefits of indoor cats against the risks of outdoor cats. Jane Goodall describes it as “a book for cat lovers, doctors and those who care about the natural world”.

Khaki Town, Judy Nunn

October 2019, William Heinemann Australia, fiction Judy Nunn’s new bestselling historical novel, set in tropical Queensland at the outbreak of World War II, is based upon a true and shocking Aussie wartime story that has remained a secret for more than 70 years.

THEATRE War Horse

From January 1 at Sydney Lyric Theatre in Sydney NSW, then on to Melbourne Vic and Brisbane Qld This hilarious Broadway hit will have the whole family in stitches. Opening at Sydney Lyric Theatre in January, the musical will move on to Her Majesty’s Theatre in Melbourne in February, then on to Brisbane later in the year. sydneylyric.com.au

The Strayan Dictionary, Dominic Knight

December 2019, Allen & Unwin, humour This hilarious dictionary chronicles the definitive definitions of a collection of unique Aussie words, phrases and slang – from trakkie daks to Acca Dacca, from nah-yeah to yeah-nah.

You’ll be earbashing in fluent Strayan by the arvo, deadset.

Alice Cooper

February 8–18 in Perth WA, Adelaide SA, Melbourne Vic, Sydney NSW and Brisbane Qld Revered rocker Alice Cooper returns to Oz in February with the Ol’ Black Eyes Is Back show, featuring special guests Airbourne and MC50. alicecooper.com

art Velvet, Iron, Ashes

Until July 12, 2020, at State Library of Victoria, Melbourne Vic Opening up a new way of viewing and experiencing our history, this exhibition showcases treasures and quirky bites of Aussie history – such as why the armour of Ned Kelly is connected to cricket’s celebrated Ashes Urn – which will be on display from November 2019 to February 2020. slv.vic.gov.au DEC 2019/JAN 2020

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events

January 2–5

Mitchell ACT Consistently Australia’s biggest horsepower party since 1988, this four-day automotive lifestyle festival features epic modified car races and motor trade shows, and is home to the world’s biggest burnout. summernats.com.au

What’s On & What’s Hot December 14

Manjimup Cherry Harmony Festival

Manjimup WA Celebrating local food and wine, the town of Manjimup welcomes the local cherry season with a long table lunch, street parade, masterclasses, farm tours and art. cherryfestival.com.au

December 21

Woolworths Carols in the Domain

Sydney NSW This huge outdoor Christmas concert comes to life in Sydney’s sprawling Domain.

Family-friendly entertainment begins at midday and carols go well into the night. carolsinthedomain.com

14 TrueBlue

December 26–30

Domain Boxing Day Test

Melbourne Vic The Aussies will take on the Kiwis at the famed Melbourne Cricket Ground in the first Boxing Day test match against New Zealand since the draw in 1987. cricket.com.au

December 26–January 1

Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race

Sydney NSW & Hobart Tas This 75th anniversary event will see race villages at Sydney and Hobart come alive with Champagne and wine bars, as well as live race coverage of one of the most anticipated yacht races in the world. rolexsydneyhobart.com

WORDS: Sarah hinder

December 27–January 1

December 28–January 3

Woodford Qld This semi-rural town welcomes thousands of artists and visitors to join in comedy, street theatre, live music and fun workshops. woodfordfolkfestival.com

Hobart Tas Hobart’s waterfront will swell with stalls, workshops and live shows all revolving around food and wine. It’s a showcase of the absolute best Tassie has to offer. thetasteoftasmania.com.au

Woodford Folk Festival

Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race

The Taste of Tasmania

December 28–January 5 Falls Festival

Lorne Vic, Marion Bay SA, Byron Bay NSW and Fremantle WA It’s one of the biggest events on the Aussie music festival calendar. This year’s line-up includes Halsey, Vampire Weekend, PNAU, Of Monsters and Men, Peking Duk and Disclosure. fallsfestival.com

Image: Visit Canberra

Summernats

events Parkes Elvis Festival

January 17–19

Mona Foma

Photo: Jackie Cooper

Launceston Tas Attracting artists from all over the world, Mofo is a real eclectic arts festival, celebrated in true Tassie style. mofo.net.au

Parkes Elvis Festival

Parkes NSW Parkes hosts one of the largest Elvis-themed festivals in the world. Take part in tribute concerts and street parties with throngs of Elvis impersonators and fanatics. parkeselvisfestival.com.au

January 8–26

Sydney Festival

Sydney NSW Starting out the new year with a bang, more than 500 artists perform in theatres and artistic spaces across Sydney over three fun weeks. sydneyfestival.org.au

January 10–12

Cygnet Folk Festival

Cygnet Tas Dedicated to real music, people and experiences, the small hamlet of Cygnet has hosted this iconic folk festival since 1982. cygnetfolkfestival.org

January 17–26

Toyota Country Music Festival

Tamworth NSW Australia’s largest music festival, the iconic Tamworth event hosts the best country

artists from Australia alongside real bootscooting entertainment. tcmf.com.au

January 19–February 9

Midsumma Festival

Melbourne Vic Melbourne celebrates everything queer with cool performances, films, parties and events all through the city. Don’t miss the Midsumma Pride March in St Kilda on February 2. midsumma.org.au

Image: South Australian Tourism Commission

January 8–12

January 20–February 2 Australian Open

Melbourne Vic Tennis champions and enthusiasts from across the globe head to our very own Garden State for this Grand Slam event. ausopen.com

January 24–27

Rainbow Serpent Festival

Lexton Vic Artistic and welcoming to all, Rainbow Serpent showcases music, the arts and Indigenous culture in a fun and openminded atmosphere. rainbowserpent.net

January 16–26

Santos Tour Down Under

South Australia The biggest cycling race in the Southern Hemisphere, Santos follows 11 days of racing through South Australia.

Adelaide hosts an entire Tour Village of entertainment, including Australia’s largest cycling expo. tourdownunder.com.au

DEC 2019/JAN 2020

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SPECIAL FEATURE

Trundle ABBA Festival

On May 2, 2020, the regional New South Wales town of Trundle will come alive in celebration of the only ABBAthemed music festival in the country. WORDS: Sarah Hinder Trundle ABBA Festival has become one of the most exciting and iconic events in regional New South Wales.

Each May, ABBA fans travel out to Trundle to enjoy the Swedes’ music performed by world-famous ABBA tribute band Bjorn Again, alongside plenty of other performances.

Besides jamming to classic tunes like ’Dancing Queen’, ’Super Trooper’ and ’Fernando’, there’s a range of fun activities to explore, including market stalls, fashion competitions, dancing lessons, vow renewals and activities for kids.

For a truly memorable journey, get glitzed up in retro 70s and 80s gear, then jump aboard the ABBA Train. Departing from Sydney on May 1 and stopping overnight at

16 TrueBlue

Parkes, it’s a hugely popular and fun way to get to the Trundle ABBA Festival along the Lachlan Valley Railway. Proceeds of the journey contribute to the preservation of the railway heritage of central New South Wales.

There are also plenty of sites in and around Trundle, Tullamore, Condobolin and Bogan Gate to park your caravan, set up camp or book glamping tents. And in nearby Parkes, Forbes and the smaller Shire towns, there’s ample room to stay at historic hotels, pubs and motels.

If you’re an ABBA fan looking a fun weekend away and a truly memorable experience, the 2020 Trundle ABBA Festival is the place to be this coming May!

SPECIAL FEATURE

Closing the distance for the next generation of sporting champions Natural sporting talent in Indigenous communities is abundant, but the chance to develop up-and-coming sports stars is often missed due to remote locations. Bamaga Enterprises is a community-owned, Indigenous organisation located in the Northern Peninsula Area near the tip of Cape York. Bamaga Enterprises has assisted local youth and sporting clubs to achieve their goals through more than $80,000 worth of sponsorships.

Olive Whap is on the ball Bamaga’s Olive Whap is an emerging star in both rugby league and AFL. According to Olive’s mother, Mabelene Whap, remote communities have hidden talents that aren’t being recognised due to lack of exposure. Bamaga Enterprises sponsored Olive to travel to the Sunshine Coast for the Queensland Rugby League Junior State

Championships – Under 14 Girls.

“Olive progressed from Thursday Island to Atherton, then Townsville, where she was selected for the Northern Marlins Junior State team for QRL Northern Region,” says Ms Whap.

“The competition built her skills and gave her experience. It helped Olive realise just how tough you have to be to play at this higher level.” Olive is still playing rugby and AFL through Thursday Island Secondary College, and is thinking about schooling down south next year, to continue growing her skills.

Jaylen Poi Poi kicks goals around the world Jaylen Poi Poi began representing Australia in futsal (indoor soccer) from the age of 10. In 2013, Bamaga Enterprises sponsored Jaylen to travel with his mother, Nicole Poi Poi, to the US for the Under 12 Futsal Championships, and two years

later again for Jaylen to travel to Barcelona for the Under 14 Futsal Championships. Jaylen has continued his passion for futsal since, moving to Cairns to play at the highest local level. Now almost 17, he plays for the Redlynch United Redbacks Futsal Club in the Premier League.

“Although he now lives in Cairns, he is proud to be from Bamaga, and always refers to Bamaga as his home,” Ms Poi Poi says proudly. “Local kids approach Jaylen when he’s back home and ask about his success.

It’s an eye-opener for people from a small community to see a local achieve these goals, and to realise the possibilities that are out there.”

Bamaga Enterprises has re-invested more than $2.5 million of its profits in sponsorships, donations and community infrastructure since 2002.

To learn more, visit bament.com.au or call 07 4069 3533.

DEC 2019/JAN 2020

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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

directory

TrueBlue Experiences Great places to stay and awesome things to do across Australia.

COAST HOUSE Tasmania

COAST HOUSE Tasmania

RoofClimb Adelaide Oval

Adelaide Oval Stadium Tour

CYGNET, TASMANIA T 0409 446 290 E stay@coasthousetasmania.com coasthousetasmania.com

ADELAIDE OVAL, WAR MEMORIAL DRIVE, NORTH ADELAIDE SA 5006. T 08 8331 5222 E enquiries@roofclimb.com.au roofclimb.com.au

COAST HOUSE Tasmania offers exclusive boutique accommodation nestled on a private peninsula in the beautiful Huon Valley. Surrounded by waterways and wildlife, this stunning setting offers guests the ultimate tranquil getaway. Wine and gourmet meals are included with your stay.

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

ADELAIDE OVAL, WAR MEMORIAL DRIVE, NORTH ADELAIDE SA 5006 T 08 8205 4700 E enquiries@adelaideoval.com.au adelaideoval.com.au/tours

Take a fascinating journey behind the scenes.

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

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directory

King Island

Coral Cove Apartments

Kalbarri Edge Resort

Rock Cottage, Winmark Wines

2B HORSESHOE BAY RD, BOWEN QLD 4805 T 07 4791 2000 E stay@coralcoveapartments.com.au coralcoveapartments.com.au

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

229 WOLLOMBI ROAD, BROKE, NSW T 0429 265 268 E info@winmarkwines.com.au

Situated in Bowen at the northern end of the Whitsundays, centrally located between Townsville and Mackay, and just a 45-minute drive to Airlie Beach. The apartments, which are very modern, spacious, self-contained and fully air-conditioned, all have king beds and are available with one, two or three bedrooms.

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

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

King Island Escapes

Outback Pioneers – Tours and Experiences

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

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

Relax and reconnect at Porky Beach Retreat.

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128 EAGLE ST, LONGREACH QLD 4730 reservations@outbackpioneers.com.au T 07 4658 1776 outbackpioneers.com.au

Unleash your pioneering spirit with Outback Pioneers. Discover Nogo Station, experience a gallop on the Cobb & Co Stagecoach, cruise the Thomson River, shop in The Station Store or dine at The Stonegrill. Free Wi-Fi for all guests.

Winmark Wines is a breathtakingly beautiful property situated on 116 acres in the Hunter Valley. It has recently launched its first vintage of chardonnay. Nestled into the landscape is Rock Cottage — a perfect getaway for exploring the Broke region. The retreat has three bedrooms, a cosy living area with a fireplace and a spacious dining room.

Sapphire Waters Motor Inn 32-34 MERIMBULA DRIVE, MERIMBULA NSW 2548 T 02 6495 1999 E info@sapphirewatersmotorinn.com.au sapphirewatersmotorinn.com.au

An award-winning motel located just a short walk from the CBD, restaurants and clubs of Merimbula. We have a large range of room types to suit all occasions. Set on Merimbula Lake on the Sapphire Coast, we offer some of the most spectacular scenery on the NSW coast.

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

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inflate the cavities. Facial and ear pain can occur during descent if re-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 inside the departure terminal and must remain in flight mode until inside the arrival terminal.

Small handheld PEDs weighing less than 1kg, such as mobile phones, can be used in flight mode during all stages of flight on Rex’s Saab 340 aircraft. 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. Approximately 500 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. The Saab 340 has a 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.

UP, UP AND AWAY!

Regional Express: Our heart is in the country

Bamaga NPA

Mornington Island (Gununa) Karumba Normanton

Cairns

Burketown Doomadgee

Townsville Mount Isa

Julia Creek

Hughenden

Richmond

Winton

Boulia

Longreach Bedourie

Windorah Charleville

Birdsville Carnarvon

Brisbane West Wellcamp (Toowoomba)

Quilpie Cunnamulla

Monkey Mia Coober Pedy

Brisbane

St George

Thargomindah

Lismore Ceduna

Grafton (Yamba) Armidale

Broken Hill

Perth

Port Augusta Whyalla

Ballina (Byron Bay)

Dubbo

Parkes

Orange Esperance Albany

Mildura

Port Lincoln

Adelaide

Kangaroo Island (Kingscote)

Griffith

Newcastle Bathurst

Narrandera-Leeton Wagga Wagga Albury

Mount Gambier

Melbourne

Sydney

Moruya Snowy Mountains (Cooma) Merimbula

King Island

Burnie

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

CHECK- IN

BAGGAGE

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.

Checked baggage Passengers on all fares (except Rex Flex) are permitted a 15 kilogram free baggage allowance.

Passengers in possession of a Rex Flex Fare are permitted a 23 kilogram free baggage allowance.

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).

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

Rex check-in closes: • 60 minutes prior to scheduled departure time at Burketown airport.

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

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

Cabin baggage A maximum of two pieces per passenger up to a total of 7 kilograms of cabin baggage is permitted onboard.

Excess baggage Excess baggage is permitted subject to restrictions of the day and a surcharge of $7.70 per kilogram.

Virgin Australia Baggage Agreement Rex accepts the checking of baggage to/from Virgin Australia flights. Ask at check-in for more information.

Passengers with special requirements Passengers with special requirements must check-in at the airport (online check-in is not available) no later than: • 60 minutes prior to scheduled departure in major cities and all Queensland regional airports except Burketown (please see below).

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

• 90 minutes prior to scheduled departure in Burketown.

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

34

Y

Y

60

8,000

3

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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 to avoid 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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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Retreat

Peninsula of peace

In a beautiful pocket of Tasmanian countryside, a remote retreat offers a true escape.

WORDS: Michelle Hespe COAST HOUSE Tasmania, standing alone on Beaupre Peninsula near the lovely village of Cygnet, was designed and created for seclusion. It is a place for dreaming, relaxing and watching the world go by. A place where guests can step back from the crazy pace of life, breathe in fresh air, and just be.

The architecturally designed house has glass windows on both sides so that the wind-swept paddocks can be enjoyed from the kitchen, with the awe-inspiring water views spread majestically in front like an ever-changing painting.

High, church-like gabled wooden ceilings rise above the cosy yet spacious open-plan living, dining and lounge area, with two bedrooms and large separate bathrooms tucked away at both ends.

The beauty of the house shines through in the many lovingly created details such as the handmade wooden kitchen bench and stairs leading to a nature-viewing mezzanine level, and couches crafted from soft Tasmanian cowhide. Then there’s the hand-stitched cushions and the dreamy alpaca blankets made by local designer-makers including Hobart’s renowned ‘The Maker.’

Tucked up inside the house – by the fire in winter or autumn, or with the sliding doors open in spring and summer – the house feels as though it’s the only building in the country, with front-row viewing of natural wonders that unfold on the water, in the bush and on the hills peppered with Tasmanian blue gums.

It’s a place where white-bellied sea eagles and wedge-tailed eagles soar freely, while

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dolphins and seals play below. Some guests have even been graced with the spectacular sight of whales cruising by.

The surrounding countryside and nearby villages in this region capture the essence of what most people love about Tasmania – abundant produce from fertile, picture-perfect landscapes where the locals treat visitors like old friends.

A short drive along the Cygnet Coast Road leads to berry and apple farms, vineyards and cellar doors (you simply can’t visit Tasmania without sampling its sparkling wines and pinot noirs) cool distilleries and breweries, markets, galleries, cafes, restaurants and boutique stores selling locally crafted goods.

At night guests can cook up a storm and might be lucky enough to watch one roll over the bay, the water broken into swathes of colour and layers like those created by the strokes of a master oil painter.

When night has fallen, the fun begins, as that’s when the resident Tasmanian marsupials come out of hiding and arrive to say hello. Plump pademelons, sweet little bettongs and shy bandicoots are in abundance out here, playing in the shadows as they enjoy the cool cover of night.

The Internet, TV and other modern preoccupations don’t really get a look-in out there on Beaupre Peninsula. Why would they when Mother Nature has put together a far more enticing, not to mention perfectly peaceful, package? TB coasthousetasmania.com | 0409 446 290

Retreat

CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: Taking in the stunning view of Kangaroo Bay; A place for two at Sunset; A fire to cosy up to in winter; COAST HOUSE Tasmania; A heart-shaped fossil found on the rocky shores of the bay.

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Cover Story

in the We catch up with vet turned TV presenter Dr Chris Brown, who is co-hosting the 2020 series of I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! in South Africa.

Photo: Ten/Nigel Wright

WORDs: Michelle Hespe

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A lot can happen in a person’s life, and sometimes we don’t realise, especially if we are very young, that a particular moment or event can be a catalyst for defining who we grow up to be. For Dr Chris Brown, something happened when he was just a little tacker on the set of Newcastle’s Romper Room. The show was like a rite of passage for Novocastrian kids, and Chris, being from Merewether, had his big appearance with host Miss Kim back when he was four years old.

“I remember going on there as a shy little kid, but then when the cameras were rolling all of a sudden there I was with Miss Kim and the other kids telling them all about animals,” he says with a laugh. “I talked about my pets and the animals my dad took care of as a vet.

They couldn’t shut me up.

I think I took up the entire 20-minute episode blurting out facts about animals.

When it was over, I was emotionally drained and raced to the toilets and collapsed in a cubicle! They asked me if I wanted to film another episode and I told them no, that I was exhausted. I had nothing left. There I was as a little four-year-old diva who had reached his quota for the day! Pretty funny, really.”

That was a few decades ago, and today Chris certainly fits a lot more into his day – in fact, you’d be hardpressed to get through a week without seeing him on TV or the cover of a magazine. As many people know, Chris was discovered by a marketing manager in Mosman Hotel, where, over dinner and beers with some mates, he was recounting some amusing stories about his work as a vet.

“There you go – Mum always said that nothing good would come from hanging out at the pub, but that guy saw something interesting in me,” he laughs. “Although I have to say, when I was asked 

Cover Story Dr Chris Brown during the new series of I’m A Celebrity…

Get Me Out Of Here!.

“I AM STILL OFTEN AT OUR BONDI JUNCTION HOSPITAL. IT’S WHAT I AM TRAINED TO DO, AND LOVE. I WILL NEVER STEP AWAY FROM THAT.”

Photo: Ten/Nigel Wright

Cover Story

CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: Dr Chris Brown and his recurring co-star Julia Morris; Chris with one of many beloved animals; Chris raising awareness for wombats with sarcoptic mange; Chris on The Living Room wih co-host Miguel Maestre.

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to turn up at the studio, I was sceptical. A part of me thought it was all a joke – that I was being punked. Turns out it was for real.”

Speaking of being real, although Chris is a TV presenter and guest across a host of popular shows – The Open Road With Dr Chris, The Living Room, I’m A Celebrity…

Get Me Out Of Here!, Chris & Julia’s Sunday Night Takeaway, The Project and Bondi Vet – his passion still lies in his work with animals.

“The TV work I do takes up a lot of time, but I am still often at our Bondi Junction hospital. It’s what I am trained to do, and love. I will never step away from that,” he says with conviction. “If I’m at home then I might be there all week. It’s a slice of normality and realness. And pets

don’t care if you’re on TV or not! People often walk in and say things like, ‘Oh, do you actually work here?’. I have to laugh – of course I do! The show isn’t made up. One guy even came in and said, ‘Geez you’re familiar! You’re on TV, aren’t you?’. I would have thought the name of our place – Bondi Vet Hospital – would be a good hint!

Anyway, it took him a while and then he goes, ‘Oh, you’re that guy Dr Chris who takes care of the animals on that show!’.”

The new series of I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! begins airing on January 5, 2020, and it’s another part of his life that Chris loves. “The camaraderie is awesome.

You become close friends with people. You see them pushed to their limits and what

Cover Story

“THE CAMARADERIE IS AWESOME. YOU BECOME CLOSE FRIENDS WITH PEOPLE. YOU SEE THEM PUSHED TO THEIR LIMITS AND WHAT THEY ARE. GOING THROUGH.” they are going through is tough. I get to know the contestants on a deeper level.”

As anyone who has watched the series knows, casting is crucial. “They need to be people that everyone knows, and people who viewers want to learn more about,” Chris explains. “There might be controversy in their lives and people naturally want to hear their side of the story. Everyone is going to love a few in this next group, and the show is really based on how they all bond. It’s so real.”

It’s this live element of the show that keeps Chris hooked. “Anything can happen at any stage – there could be chaos just around the corner,” he says. “And I see these people every day – see how they grow and interact. It’s a nice position to be in, and I come to appreciate the undercurrents.

These people are in the top of their fields in sport, politics, acting… and we are all humans after all. That’s what the audience loves – seeing things laid bare.”

The show takes up the majority of Chris’ time, but he also relishes practising his craft in South Africa. “I work with African animals while over there – I’m a vet on the side,” he says. “It’s like an extended working holiday for me, and I can brush up my skills on working with lions and leopards! That has taught me a lot of patience and that I always need Plan Bs and Cs. ”Over there, I need to think on my feet, as it can literally save my life. I had a lion on an operating table last year, for instance, and he woke up when I had my hand down his throat. He clamped his jaws down! We managed to sedate him again, but I tell you what, that really had my heart racing!”

One thing’s for sure, life for Dr Chris Brown is never boring. TB DEC 2019/JAN 2020

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Photo: Destination NSW

Outback Adventure

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Outback Adventure

The best of Broken Hill Known as ‘Silver City’, Broken Hill has one of the most interesting mineral mining histories in New South Wales. Here are five of the best sites to see in and around town.

WORDs: Samuel Steinberg

1 The Living Desert and Sculptures You can’t go out to Broken Hill without expecting motifs of the desert. The Living Desert and Sculptures site is a spectacular experience just out of town that will add some artistic flair to your journey. It’s a 2400-hectare reserve with distinct topography and outback scenery, scattered throughout with plenty of walking trails to explore flora and fauna while you learn about why the local Aboriginal history and environment is so important. discoverbrokenhill.com.au

A SIGNIFICANT MINING TOWN, EVEN ITS STREETS ARE NAMED AFTER VARIOUS MINERALS AND COMPOUNDS.

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Outback Adventure

4 Broken Hill Regional Art Gallery

2 Broken Hill Heritage Walk Tour Joining a two-hour volunteer-run Broken Hill Heritage Walk Tour will educate you on the history of the town and its architecture. It’s the best way to familiarise yourself with the area and get a sense of what else there is to explore here. After all, Broken Hill has a fascinating history. As one of Australia’s most significant mining towns, even its streets are named after various minerals and compounds. Put yourself in the shoes of a miner and embark on a walk to remember. brokenhill.nsw.gov.au

3 The Palace Hotel Originally constructed as a coffee palace in 1889, The Palace Hotel has evolved into one of Broken Hill’s best venues for accommodation and fine dining. The building is filled with murals that adorn its walls – a colourful change of pace from the desert outside. The hotel was also an important location in Aussie film The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert.

You can even stay in the Priscilla Suite, where the film’s characters stayed. The hotel has a bar and restaurant that serves top-quality grub – so even if you don’t stay here, the restaurant is well worth a detour. thepalacehotelbrokenhill.com.au

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Broken Hill Regional Art Gallery holds historical significance as the oldest regional gallery in New South Wales. It has a great permanent collection as well as temporary exhibits from local, state and national artists. It also grants the annual Pro Hart Outback Art Prize to artists it deems exceptional, and has acquired several heritage awards over the years for its dedication to restoration and refurbishment of local historical site Sully’s Emporium. In 2004 the gallery relocated to inside the emporium to embrace Broken Hill’s cultural heritage. bhartgallery.com.au

Photos: Destination NSW

Outback Adventure

5 Broken Earth Cafe and Wine Bar

Settled on a hill overlooking town, Broken Earth Cafe and Wine Bar offers exceptional vistas over Broken Hill. Of course, they serve coffee and wine as well as light lunch options. The best time to visit the cafĂŠ is at dawn or dusk, when you can experience the spectacular sunrise or sunset over the outback town. brokenearthcafe.com

SI T E S

A N D

LINE OF LODE MINERS MEMORIAL Considered an icon of Broken Hill and its mining industry, the Line of Lode Miners Memorial is a dedication to all the miners who have lost their lives since the industry boomed in 1883.

MON U M E N T S

JP KEENAN LOOKOUT A lookout that takes in the best views of Broken Hill, JP Keenan Lookout is a great place to watch the sun rise over town. Its park also makes for a wonderful picnic location with a backdrop of the city.

BROKEN HILL TRADES HALL The heritage-listed Broken Hill Trades Hall commemorates the historic struggle for safer mining conditions in Broken Hill.

Designed by Tom Jackson, it was built from 1898 to 1905.

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Aquatic Adventure

words: deborah dickson-smith | photography: jayne jenkins

Sea lions, sharks and seafood at

Port L incoln

THIS IMAGE: A beautiful leafy seadragon. RIGHT: A very curious sea lion.

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Aquatic Adventure

If Port Lincoln, located west of Adelaide and north-west of Kangaroo Island, is known for anything, it’s the fishing industry. Especially tuna, and specifically the export-grade southern bluefin tuna (SBT), much sought after for sashimi in Japan.

Port Lincoln – named nostalgically

by Matthew Flinders in 1802 after his home county in England – saw its first European settlers in 1839.

The pleasant land surrounding the large sheltered cove named Boston Bay – three times larger than Sydney Harbour – was even shortlisted as a site for the fledgling colony’s capital. 

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Aquatic Adventure

Sealing, whaling and agriculture kicked off the economy well before fishing gained prominence. Tuna fishing started in the 1950s, and since the ’90s modern tuna ranching (and processing) techniques have enabled Port Lincoln to cash in on the lucrative Japanese market to the tune of more than $100 million annually. One assessment ranks Port Lincoln as the city with the highest number of millionaires per capita in the country. Hence the self-proclaimed title ’The Seafood Capital of Australia’.

With the fishing industry stabilised and quotas enforced, Port Lincoln has started to pursue other means of generating income.

The local tourism industry now outstrips the lucrative trade in tuna.

So why make the trip to Port Lincoln – what is there to see and do?

FISHY FROLICS

In keeping with its seafood heritage, the Port Lincoln Tunarama Festival has been held annually for 59 years. A true family event, the festival takes place over the Australia Day long weekend (January 24–27, 2020). It features a wide array of community events, arts and cultural displays, and local

market stalls, plus, of course, some of the freshest seafood in the world.

Port Lincoln is also the place to visit for thrilling close encounters with some of the ocean’s most impressive apex predators: great white sharks.

Adventure Bay Charters and Calypso Star Charters operate advanced ecocertified shark cage diving experiences, allowing visitors to view great whites in their natural habitat. They both run daytrips to the Neptune Islands to see these predators from viewing cages that sit just below the water’s surface.

For an intimate encounter, certified divers on Rodney Fox Shark Expeditions are lowered to the ocean floor in a specially designed cage. The three-night trips to the Neptune Islands also take in the islands’ bird life, dolphins and sea lions.

Closer to shore, you can swim with sea lions on a half-day tour to Seal Cove, cavorting with delightful and intelligent critters who just love to show off.

Underwater, search the seagrass for one of the ocean’s most beautiful creatures, the leafy seadragon – found only here, in Australia’s southern waters.

A raft of playful sea lions near Port Lincoln.

Fast Facts • Coffin Bay was not named for a sea burial but after Matthew Flinders’ naval buddy, Sir Isaac Coffin.

• Former Port Lincoln tuna fisherman Dean Lukin won Australia’s first weightlifting gold medal at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games.

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Aquatic Adventure The shark cage diving experience with Calypso Star Charters.

Fact File WHERE TO STAY In Port Lincoln and surrounds, accommodation ranges from backpacker lodges and holiday parks to a swag under the stars at Coodlie Park Farm Retreat, or the serene atmosphere of sustainably designed Tanonga Luxury Eco-Lodges, each with its own Japanese-style bath. visitportlincoln.net.au GETTING THERE FROM ADELAIDE Rex has direct flights to Port Lincoln daily.

FOODIE FINDS Besides plentiful seafood, there’s local pork and bacon, Eyre Peninsula grain-fed beef and lamb, locally grown fruits and vegetables, plus a range of products, including olive oil, honey, chocolates, nuts and bakery products made from locally grown and milled grain.

According to TripAdvisor, the top five restaurants in Port Lincoln are rated at least 4/5.

• The Rogue & Rascal (best coffee in town) • Del Giorno’s (Italian and seafood) • The Marina Hotel (pub food with a local twist) • Sarins Bar & Restaurant • Peacock Gardens Chinese and Thai Restaurant.

Port Lincoln is located at the southernmost tip of the Eyre Peninsula – a giant, fertile promontory growing a surprising array of produce, including top-notch wine.

South Australia’s premium wines need no introduction, but the Eyre Peninsula region is still new to the scene. According to renowned wine critic James Halliday: “The strong maritime influence of the Spencer Gulf, combined with patches of terra rossa over limestone soils similar to Coonawarra, make the area particularly suited to full-bodied red wine production from shiraz, merlot and cabernet sauvignon, while riesling and chardonnay have also performed quite well.”

Take a gourmet tour to Coffin Bay and enjoy a feed of the famous oysters at 1802 Oyster Bar, grown in the ideal waters just across the road.

Wash it down with the excellent Lincoln Estate Sauvignon Blanc or Boston Bay Shiraz. TB

A black-footed rock wallaby on the Neptune Islands, off the coast of Port Lincoln.

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SPECIAL FEATURE

IMAGE: Instagram influencer Jordan Vick at Glen-Forest Tourist Park.

Photo: Harry Vick.

Eyre Peninsula sea change Whether you love world-class wine, want wildlife experiences or are looking for a slower pace of life, the Eyre Peninsula is where you ought to be.

WORDS: Sarah Hinder

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SPECIAL FEATURE

Glen-Forest Tourist Park Just a 20-minute drive from Port Lincoln, Glen-Forest Tourist Park is home to 161 hectares of picturesque farmland open to families year-round.

With 48 hectares dedicated to an animal park, you can see native animals of all stripes up close, including koalas, kangaroos, wombats, dingoes and emus, as well as farm animals such as sheep, cows, goats, horses, pigs and ducks. There’s even peacocks, camels, buffalos and ostriches, and an impressive walk-in bird aviary.

You can also try your hand at PuttPutt Mini Golf and a Timber Adventure Maze. To see everything in good speed, and have fun along the way, a 30-minute Segway tour takes in highlights of the animal park and tours the adjoined Lincoln Estate Wines vineyards. visitglenforest.com

Lincoln Estate Wines Located within Glen-Forest Tourist Park, Lincoln Estate Wines is an award-winning winery that exports its recognisably Port Lincoln wines across the world, including to Japan, China and the US. Established in 2003 by the Turvey family, today guests can explore the phenomenal 32-hectare vineyards and enjoy wine tastings at the cellar door. The Lincoln Estate range produces drops that are distinct to the Eyre Peninsula region, such as Diamond Sea Sparkling, Sashimi Sauvignon Blanc, Blacklip Shiraz and Bluefin Merlot. lincolnestatewines.com.au

LINCQLN ESTATE ,..._, Eyre Peninsula Wines

,..._,

Boston Bay Retirement Village Located within Port Lincoln CBD, Boston Bay Retirement Village offers relaxed and spacious units, perfect for those looking for a sea change. Built, owned and operated by the Turvey family for 32 years, the retirement village contains 31 two-bedroom units that are vibrant, young at heart and centered on independent living.

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Explore

Golde n

day s

o f

BAL L AR AT If it weren’t for the cars lining the road, Ballarat’s Lydiard Street could still be in the late 1800s. The grand Victorian-era buildings adorning both sides of the street echo Ballarat’s gold rush, an era that saw it become one of the wealthiest towns in the world.

WORDs: Louise Reynolds

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Explore

Photos: Visit Victoria

“Behind the bricks and mortar, every building tells a story.”

THIS IMAGE: Hop Temple, Ballarat.

LEFT: Outside the Ballarat Times office in Sovereign Hill.

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Explore

B

allarat, about 120 kilometres from Melbourne, was settled by graziers in the 1830s.

But the discovery of gold here in 1851 changed everything.

Within two months of the first gold strike in August 1851, 4000 people had rushed to Ballarat, hoping to strike it rich. Some prospered. Most failed.

With the luck spread thinly, prosperity and poverty collided at Ballarat, leaving lasting stamps on Victoria’s third-largest city and shaping seminal moments in Australia’s history.

Ballarat tour guide Andrew Sharpe has meticulously researched the city’s colourful history and characters to devise his popular heritage and true crime walking tours.

“Only 5 per cent struck it rich on gold,” says Andrew. “The people providing the goods and services to the prospectors made the real money.

You knew who had money and who didn’t. In the face of adversity, some were entrepreneurial and others were opportunistic.”

The gold rush created Ballarat’s architectural grandeur. A few blocks of Lydiard Street are widely considered to be the best-preserved Victorian-era streetscape outside of the UK. IMAGES: Gold also made Ballarat an aspirational city, a Clockwise from left: The Gulflander at Normanton Station; place the wealthy and famous wanted to visit.

Krys the Croc statue at Normanton; “Behind the bricks and mortar, every building The Big Barra statue at Normanton. tells a story: sometimes good, sometimes bad,” Andrew says. “That’s Ballarat. You’re never that far removed from the town’s history and CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Craig’s Royal Hotel all that’s happened here.”

Ballarat; Ballarat ceramics; Plenty has happened at Craig’s Royal Hotel, Ballarat Botanic Gardens; which is one of Ballarat’s most famous landmarks.

Gold panning at Sovereign Hill.

It became a goldfields icon in 1867 when

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Queen Victoria’s son, Prince Alfred, the Duke of Edinburgh, came to stay. Its long guest list of celebrities includes other royals, author Mark Twain and Dame Nellie Melba, who once sang to an adoring crowd in the street below from the hotel’s reading room balcony.

A block away from Craig’s Royal Hotel, entrepreneur and philanthropist James Oddie – who tried his luck unsuccessfully on the gold diggings before making a fortune in real estate and banking – helped found the Art Gallery of Ballarat, Australia’s oldest and largest regional gallery, in the 1880s. The gallery houses an expansive collection of Australian, British and European art, including works by a ‘who’s who’ of Australian painting from Streeton, Dobell, McCubbin and Heysen. Free guided tours are a perfect way to discover the gallery and its stories. Tom Roberts’ Charcoal burners (also known as Wood splitters) holds pride of place.

The much-loved artwork was nearly lost when it was brazenly stolen in 1978, but it was recovered a year later after a ransom was paid.

Just outside the city centre, 41 hectares was set aside in 1860 for a lavish botanical gardens with tree-lined avenues and ornate garden beds. It became famous for its collection of fine statues. Businessman Thomas Stoddard bought and donated its 12 Italian marble statues.

Scottish-born Russell Thomson donated more pieces, including a popular statue of William Wallace (aka Braveheart) in tribute to his ancestry.

Today the most popular statues in the Ballarat Botanical Gardens are the collection of busts lining the Prime Ministers Walk. It’s the only known complete collection of Australian Prime Ministers – but not all of our former PMs are flattered by the honour. Paul Keating, whose bust looks uncannily cartoon-like (which could be because it was made by former cartoonist and Rubbery Figures creator John Nicholson), is 

Explore

Photos: Visit Victoria

“The discovery of gold here in 1851 changed everything.”

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Explore

Photos: Visit Victoria

CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: People in historical dress at Sovereign Hill; worker at Soho Foundry in Sovereign Hill; Ballarat architecture.

said to hate it. Kevin Rudd is also said to have been less than impressed with his likeness.

With the lasting impact of gold on the city’s architecture and culture, it’s no surprise that Ballarat’s most popular tourist attractions hero its gold rush heritage. At Sovereign Hill, an entertaining and realistic outdoor museum, life on the diggings is recounted from the perspectives of prospectors, shopkeepers, tradespeople, mine owners and Chinese immigrants. There are plenty of opportunities to get hands-on, such as panning for gold, going bowling, touring a mine or watching artisans demonstrate their skills. New offerings at Sovereign Hill in 2019 include evening lamp-lit tours and an all-new $8 million sound and light show that explores the story of gold.

Yet for all the riches gold brought to Ballarat, for many prospectors, life on the diggings was dire. In 1854, miners rebelled against unpopular and expensive mining licences imposed by the government in Melbourne. Troops were sent from the capital to quell the insurrection, known as the Eureka Rebellion. In a quick but bloody battle, 22 miners and eight soldiers were killed.

The cultural impact of the gold rush and the fight for miners’ rights is explored at the Eureka Centre. One of Australia’s most famous historical relics, the Eureka Flag, is housed here. TB

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Fact File

STAY Back on Lydiard Street, Craig’s Royal Hotel remains Ballarat’s premier accommodation.

Extensive refurbishments in 2003 maintained its vintage opulence and heritage character.

Quality Inn Heritage is partly made up of the former Bank of NSW dating back to 1862.

It features stylish and modern accommodation that champions the building’s heritage. A few doors down the street, Quality Inn The George Hotel Ballarat offers luxurious accommodation in a building that was Ballarat’s second licensed hotel in 1854. It has a mix of hotel rooms and fully self-contained accommodation options – ideal for families.

EAT Craig’s Royal Hotel provides options for all-day dining.

The Gallery Restaurant offers buffet breakfast followed by sophisticated lunch and dinner menus. A quick coffee and a snack are also on offer all day at Craig’s Café and Larder. Knife Fork Spoon Kitchen and Espresso is the pick of the city’s cafés for breakfast and lunch. The popular and busy L’Espresso and Ballarista also have great coffee and breakfast. If you love pizza, head to ever-popular The Forge Pizzeria for its delicious thin-crust woodfired pizzas. There are some pizza-shop classics like Hawaiian and capricciosa alongside a gourmet menu featuring trendy toppings like pulled pork, woodfire-roasted pumpkin and garlic prawns.

Getaway

Bottlenoses beyond

&

Photo: Tourism WA

At the end of a road, where a turquoise bay meets cream sand, hundreds of travellers converge every week.

They’re drawn to Monkey Mia Reserve, on a sliver of land about 850 kilometres north of Perth, for one reason: bottlenose dolphins. But these aren’t any dolphins and this isn’t your average holiday destination. These friendly pods have been interacting with humans for at least 35 years, turning this salty outpost into one of Australia’s most iconic locations.

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Part of the Shark Bay World Heritage Area in Western Australia, Monkey Mia is of “outstanding global significance”, partly due to the presence of rare and important plants and animals, says Amy Trezona, a Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions reserves officer. “It’s one of the few places in the world you can witness incredible dolphin behaviours, such as coastal foraging or calves socialising in the shallows, right from the beach.”

Dolphins are the drawcard, but they’re just one of many reasons to journey to WA’s famous Monkey Mia. WORDs: Jennifer Ennion

BOTTLENOSIN’ AROUND

The aptly named Dolphin Bay has calmed since my arrival; the seagrass on the shore snatched by the overnight tide. Swathes of tourists eagerly gather on a boardwalk as the morning sky turns pastel. A Parks and Wildlife ranger signals for everyone to line the water’s edge and we all but run for the best vantage point.

Toddlers, teenagers and adults stand shin-deep in the mild water, scanning the surface for dorsal fins. 

Photo: Lachlan Ennion

Getaway

THIS IMAGE: Shells from Shell Beach.

LEFT: A dolphin at Monkey Mia. DEC 2019/JAN 2020

49

Getaway

CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: Stand-up paddleboarding in the Shark Bay World Heritage Area; western grasswren; Hamelin Pool coastline; dining at Boughshed Restaurant in Monkey Mia.

Photos: Tourism WA

While waiting, we learn how a few select female dolphins are fed up to 10 per cent of their daily food requirements, ensuring they continue to hunt naturally and teach their calves survival skills. It’s music to my ears.

After hearing about the personalities of the dolphins, one swims to within a metre of me and my three-year-old son; its sleek body easily spotted in the clear water. Another dolphin edges close to a volunteer. Then a third joins the party and we grow louder with excitement.

The 30-minute dolphin experience has changed a lot since the 1980s. No longer are dolphins given fish scraps from fishermen and holidaymakers, as the legend goes. They’re only fed in the morning to allow the remainder of the day for natural activities, says Amy. (The best time to see them is between 7.30am and 10am. Reserve fees apply: $15 a day for adults and $5 for children.)

The feeding takes place at one

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end of RAC Monkey Mia Dolphin Resort, which in 2018 underwent a $20 million redevelopment that’s increased its size from four to nine hectares. Accommodation now includes dormitories, campsites, family studios and beachfront villas. There’s also a sophisticated restaurant and bar area, resort-style pool, and a general store.

As a result, the famous destination has been brought into the 21st century and you can easily pass a few days here. Or you can daytrip from Denham (25 kilometres away), with Rex flying between Perth and Shark Bay Airport.

MORE THAN DOLPHINS A lone lugger rests in a glassy bay as a reminder of Denham’s shell farming history. A little up the road, Shark Bay Hotel catches tourists’ eyes with its white-shell bricks, quarried and hardpacked in the early 1900s. Further along, cyclists on the self-guided Denham Discovery Trail come across The Old Pearler Restaurant (a top spot for seafood) and St. Andrews Anglican Church, both built out of cockles in what is a quirky feature of Australia’s westernmost settlement.

Its remoteness ensures Denham has a sleepy vibe despite it being a main hub in the Shark Bay area, country of the Malgana, Nanda and Yingkarta people. The town makes a peaceful base for further exploration, not only to Monkey Mia but also into Francois Peron National Park (primarily four-wheel-drive routes), and to Shell Beach and Hamelin Pool.

About 45 kilometres to the southeast, Shell Beach lures roadtrippers keen to set foot on a shore made of miniature shells, blindingly white and rough underfoot. They’re the same cockles literally forming the foundation of Denham.

The local Coral Coast tourism board claims that, in areas, the shells at the beach are up to 10 metres deep and span for more than 70 kilometres.

From the car park, visitors crunch

over gently rolling dunes to a bottlegreen bay perfect for stand-up paddleboarding. It’s bliss and an hour easily passes. But, like the Monkey Mia dolphins, there’s more to see.

TIDAL HISTORY Not far away, the ebb and flow of the ocean reveals a fascinating history. To the unwitting, Hamelin Pool is like many other stretches of Australian coastline; low tide exposes a seabed pockmarked with rocks and irregular shapes. But, if you do your research, you’re bound to be impressed by the Hamelin Pool stromatolites, said to be the oldest and largest living fossils on Earth.

“The organisms thrive in the area’s hypersaline water, which is twice as salty as normal seawater,” says Elisabeth McLellan from non-profit organisation Bush Heritage Australia. ”They provide a living laboratory to study how life first began and evolved on Earth.”

For an idea of what Earth may have looked like 3.7 billion years ago, visit

Fact File RAC Monkey Mia Dolphin Resort parksandresorts.rac. com.au/monkey-mia Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions dbca.wa.gov.au Hamelin Station hamelinstationstay.com.au Bush Heritage Australia bushheritage.org.au

Hamelin Pool at low tide for great views from a jetty. To make the most of the fossils and Shell Beach, it’s worth unhitching the caravan or nabbing one of the motel-style shearers’ quarters at nearby Hamelin Station, a 200,000-hectare red-dirt property owned by Bush Heritage Australia and managed in partnership with the traditional owners.

In the evenings, travellers gather to share stories in the communal kitchen and dining area. They hatch plans to journey to Steep Point, the westernmost spot on mainland Australia, and learn about the station’s flora and fauna, which includes several threatened species such as the malleefowl, the Hamelin skink and the western grasswren. These species and the fact the reserve is protected are just two reasons this part of Australia is a special place.

“I love being on Hamelin Station Reserve,” says Elisabeth. “It’s ‘big country’ – big skies, big landscapes, big potential. There’s space to be inspired, to connect with nature, to dream big and to reflect on what’s really important in life.”

I couldn’t have said it better myself. TB

Photos: Ben Parkhurst

Getaway

VISITORS CRUNCH OVER GENTLY ROLLING DUNES TO A BOTTLE-GREEN BAY. DEC 2019/JAN 2020

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Adventure Travel

O

UTBCK A

T R AC K S

From the time of the 19th century gold rush, the Gulflander train has carried passengers between the remote Queensland towns of Normanton and Croydon. Still going strong, the ‘train from nowhere to nowhere’ now treats visitors to a memorable savannah rail journey.

Photo: TEQ & Lincoln Fowler

WORDs: Tim Richards

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IT TELLS A STORY ABOUT THE FRONTIER NATURE OF THIS TOWN IN THE GULF SAVANNAH REGION.

I

Adventure Travel

’m walking to Normanton’s railway station when my eye is caught by Krys the Croc. It’s a lifesize fibreglass model of the largest crocodile ever to be shot in Australia, and it’s hard to ignore at 8.63 metres in length. As well as being terrifying, it tells a story about the frontier nature of this town in the Gulf Savannah region of north-west Queensland. The original Krys was downed in 1957 by Krystyna Pawlowski, who later regretted that fatal shot and became a conservationist in partnership with her husband Ron. In the 1970s, they helped convince the Australian Government to ban the hunting of crocodiles.

There’s always been a tension between nature and development here in Normanton, the place that inspired Nevil Shute’s novel A Town Like Alice.

At one point it was expected that Normanton would become the next big tropical city – another Darwin – but instead it’s stayed a sleepy 

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Adventure Travel

Photo: TEQ & Ezra Patchett

Photos: Tim Richards

CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: Gulflander at Normanton Station; Krys the Croc statue at Normanton; the interior of Gulflander; the Big Barra statue at Normanton.

settlement of about 1200 people. It has good historical bones, though, with some impressive colonial buildings along with the Purple Pub (painted that lurid colour all over) and the Big Barra, a statue of the famous local catch.

I’m in town to catch a train from the attractive station that’s set within gardens like an old farmhouse. Here I find the Gulflander waiting beneath a corrugated canopy, its engine running and frame vibrating as its crew ready it for departure.

Remarkably, this remote railway has been in operation since the late 19th century. Originally laid toward Cloncurry to the south, it was diverted inland to Croydon after the start of that town’s 1885 gold rush. Having survived a major flood in 1974, the Gulflander hung on to become a quirky tourist train.

What helped it last so long was the railway’s unusual track, whose arched steel sleepers allowed the rails to sink solidly into the ground. This innovation meant the train could keep going in up to 15 centimetres of water – a huge benefit in a region often hit by heavy wet season rains.

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“Gold is long gone, but the train survived because it could still get through floods,” says stationmaster and driver Ken, as he eases our maroon and gold engine, with its attached passenger carriage, out of the station.

It’ll take five hours, including a tea break, to cover the 150-kilometre route to Croydon on its weekly Wednesday run (returning to Normanton on Thursday). As it’s so early in the train’s operating season, there are only four passengers onboard: myself and a family group from Sydney, who tell me they’ve often travelled to interesting railway experiences. I’m sensing that this remote rail journey – dubbed ‘the train from nowhere to nowhere’ – is a magnet for rail enthusiasts.

We passengers spread out, each taking one of the reddish-brown bench-style seats, next to sliding

Photo: TEQ & Ezra Patchett

Adventure Travel

windows framed by maroon curtains.

There’s a distinct ’1950s school bus’ vibe about the interior, especially with Ken in the cabin with us, sitting up front on the right.

As we bump along the rails, passing the airport where maintenance workers give us a friendly wave, Ken adds commentary via a hand-held microphone. “You’re lucky to be here this time of year, as the countryside is still very green. Later in the year it’s brown – still beautiful, but not as green.”

It does look lush and well-watered as we leave town, passing slender gutta-percha trees with dark trunks.

Above us is a big sky of light grey cloud, made luminous by hidden sunlight.

Suddenly a black-necked stork takes flight in front of us. Then I spot a group of brolgas by the rails, flying off as we approach. Later on, a group of plains turkeys scatter.

It seems our fate to scare birds into flight. The unpeopled landscape may be serene, but this is the noisiest train I have ever ridden in: growling and rattling as it passes along the rails, slightly uneven where they’ve sunk down into the soil.

In addition to its weekly trip to Croydon, at the height of tourist season there’s a shorter jaunt to the colourfully named Critters Camp, along with other special excursions. As we pass that location, a small wallaby tears across the front of the train. I also spot a few cattle by the line, mostly Brahman, a reminder that the cattle industry is a mainstay of the local economy.

At Blackbull we stop for tea and blueberry muffins. This site once had a refreshment room and a camp for rail maintenance workers. Its shed is the first railway building I’ve seen since leaving Normanton.

“In 1943, the station building was destroyed by a storm, and its remains were used to build this shed,” explains Ken. Another reminder of the power of nature in the Gulf Savannah country.

Back in motion, we pass paperbark trees in blossom from recent rains.

Ken also points out the bloodwood tree – the tallest in the region.

We’re almost to Croydon now, passing an abandoned townsite, Golden Gate. In its gold-mining heyday it was home to 1500 residents and additional ‘suburban’ train services to and from Croydon. There’s nothing to be seen now beyond a scattering of abandoned mining machinery.

Nearing the end of our journey, we ascend True Blue Hill, named after a former mining company and the steepest point on the route, after pausing to let a couple of cows cross.

Then Ken eases the Gulflander into  DEC 2019/JAN 2020

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Adventure Travel

Photo: TEQ & Peter Lik

ABOVE US IS A BIG SKY OF LIGHT GREY CLOUD, MADE LUMINOUS BY HIDDEN SUNLIGHT.

Photo: Queensland Rail Travel

ABOVE: Croydon�s station at sunset.

LEFT: Gulflander en route.

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Croydon’s station, a simple metal structure built in 2005 after termites destroyed its predecessor.

Croydon is even smaller than Normanton. Though the railway reached the town in 1891, the gold that prompted its construction quickly ran out. By 1933 Croydon had just 226 residents, and it’s not much bigger than that today. But it’s been lucky in inheriting some interesting architecture from that long-lost golden age, and, of course, it still has a weekly train service.

Like Croydon, the Gulflander is a happy survivor: a strange little train that has endured when logic suggested it should not. I’m glad I’ve been able to catch it to nowhere. TB Tim Richards travelled courtesy of Queensland Rail Travel. For fares and bookings on the Gulflander, visit gulflander.com.au

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VICTORIAN TREASURE RECOGNISED ON THE UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE LIST This year, south-west Victoria’s Budj Bim Cultural Landscape was officially recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Located in the traditional Country of the Gunditjmara people, near the Great Ocean Road, Budj Bim contains one of the world’s oldest and most extensive aquaculture systems. Engineered by the Gunditjmara ancestors, the systems – connected across 100 square kilometres – were used to trap eels.

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Managing Director of Twisted Healthy Treats.

Tell us the story of Twisted.

For 10 years, Twisted has been pushing the boundaries and creating guilt-free, delicious frozen treats for all Australians, which are low in or have no added sugar, use only natural ingredients and are based on clean recipes. Today our products produced in our new production facility in Alexandria, Sydney, are available in 5,000 school canteens and 1,800 supermarket shelves nationally, with exports to the US, Asia and beyond commencing very soon.

What’s different about Twisted?

Twisted is Australia’s only all-women producer of nutritious, clean and healthy frozen treats. For the last decade, we have been a market leader within where the world is moving, in terms of consumers taking a more proactive approach towards healthier food choices, while not seeking to compromise their desire for a delicious frozen treat. In response to this dynamic environment, we innovate continually to ensure we are always benefiting the well-being (and fun!) of our customers.

Our new range of delicious low calorie, no-added sugar probiotic frozen yoghurts and lite ice creams, a first for the Australian market, are great examples of this.

What are you most proud of?

I’m incredibly proud of the way my all-female management team (who have been with me from the beginning) and I have successfully taken on an ice cream segment controlled by much larger multinationals, and delivered healthy frozen treats which are a quintessential Australian celebration of authenticity, integrity, innovation, family-owned business, local farmers, female entrepreneurialism, and health.

What’s the future for Twisted?

We will continue to innovate and bring to the market what more and more Australians want, namely, decadent frozen treats jam-packed with health benefits. For our customers, we’ll continue to make the seemingly difficult healthy choices around food easy. As we say at Twisted, “Complexity out, simplicity, health and guilt-free deliciousness, in!”

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solutions

Are you looking for a reliable workforce to help you plan ahead?

The Pacific Labour Scheme (PLS) is an employer sponsored program connecting eligible businesses in rural and regional Australia with workers from nine Pacific island countries and Timor-Leste. The PLS offers employers access to a reliable workforce when there is not enough local labour available to fill low and semi-skilled positions.

The PLS is open to all sectors, including: • • • • •

Aged care and social assistance Accommodation and food services Non-seasonal horticulture & agriculture Fisheries and aquaculture Meat processing

For more information: Contact the Pacific Labour Facility Enquiries@pacificlabourfacility.com.au Phone: (07) 3557 7750 www.pacificlabourmobility.com.au

SPECIAL FEATURE Jason Mani from Malaita province in Solomon Islands harvests vegetables at Gracekate Farms.

Photo: Pacific Labour Facility

David Sondopiea from Papua New Guinea works at Skybury Farm in Mareeba, Queensland, through the PLS. Photo: Pacific Labour Facility

Helping regional and rural businesses address labour shortages The Pacific Labour Scheme connects workers with rural and regional Australian businesses that can’t find enough local labour.

Kerry and Simon McCarthy own and manage Gracekate Farms on the Darling Downs in Queensland, supplying leafy greens to farmers’ markets as well as major national supermarkets.

Gracekate Farms has employed workers from Solomon Islands through the Australian Government’s Seasonal Worker Programme (SWP) since 2012, and many of these have returned to the farm for several seasons in a row. Having these seasonal workers on the farm has enabled the business to expand, and the McCarthys have now also signed up to the Government’s newer Pacific Labour Scheme (PLS) to meet their longer-term labour needs.

While the SWP allows farmers to employ workers from nine Pacific

countries and Timor-Leste for unskilled roles for up to nine months, the PLS enables employers to recruit workers for low-skilled and semiskilled roles for a longer period of one to three years, subject to local market testing requirements.

Kerry McCarthy says the Solomon Island workers have been highly productive and have hit the ground running from the start.

“Our team from Solomon Islands is fabulous – because of them we’re now able to plan ahead,” she explains. “It will be great to get a more permanent workforce on the ground soon to help us prepare for the harvesting season.”

Along with the SWP and the Working Holiday Maker Programme, the PLS is another way in which rural and regional

Australian businesses and Pacific island workers can benefit from labour mobility arrangements in our region.

People from Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu can apply for employment in Australia through the PLS. Anyone who signs up to the scheme from these countries has the same workplace and health and safety rights as Australian workers, and built-in systems protect them against exploitation.

Rural and regional Australian employers from any industry or sector can apply to join the PLS. For more information, and to find out your eligibility and if Pacific labour mobility meets your employment needs, visit the website: pacificlabourmobility.com.au DEC 2019/JAN 2020

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MINING: TECHNOLOGY

NEW TECHNOLOGY IN MINING For a long time, the industry has been incredibly conservative, but that is all changing as mining goes high-tech.

Words: Darren Baguley

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MINING: TECHNOLOGY

The industry is now seeing a second wave of technological innovation based on digitisation.

For many years, mining has been one of the most – if not the most – conservative industries in the world.

Safety was, and still is, its numberone focus. But mining lagged behind manufacturing and construction, not to mention banking and retail, when it came to adopting automation, digitisation and big data.

What a difference a bust following a boom and a few years makes.

During the boom, mining companies focused on production, production and production – get the ore out of the ground, process it and ship it.

That was all that accounted. However, for more than a few companies, costs ballooned, and the business was only profitable because of the record prices being paid for commodities.

But, as Warren Buffett has said: “It’s only when the tide goes out do you discover who’s been swimming naked.” And when commodity prices started to drop, mining company shareholders discovered there was a lot of skinny-dipping going on. The resulting shock led to a focus on cost reduction that – unlike cost-cutting in previous mining downturns – was based on technology. The first wave of technology was automation: top-tier miners such as BHP, Fortescue and Rio Tinto invested in drones, driverless trains, haul trucks and drill rigs.

The industry is now seeing a second wave of technological innovation based on digitisation and the Internet of Things (IoT); an

advance that is generating big data that mining companies can use to further streamline their operations and drive efficiency. According to a spokesperson for Austmine, the peak industry body for the Australian Mining Equipment, Technology and Services (METS) sector, several trends are clear.

“As mining companies are seeking to connect operations across all assets … there are new companies entering mining that wouldn’t be typically associated with the industry (Amazon, Google, etc) [and they and the METS sector more broadly] are collaborating within the industry to create new solutions for pressing challenges.”

One of the challenges all mining companies face is maintaining a social licence to operate in an environment where it can no longer be taken for granted, and there is a growing role for technology and digital for social licence measures. One company at the forefront of this trend is K2fly, whose Infoscope Land Management System is designed to help small and large companies maintain their

social licence to operate on land. The platform provides a single integrated spatial solution to manage land access and compliance information across multiple industries. As well as offering a full life-cycle ground disturbance process, Infoscope helps companies to deliver effective stakeholder, tenement, cultural heritage, native title and environmental management.

Bis is a mining services company that provides logistics, materials handling, specialist underground equipment and consulting services to resources companies across Australia and Indonesia. Starting life more than 100 years ago as Brambles Industrial Services, Bis revolutionised out-of-pit haulage with its dual-powered offroad road trains and it is continuing to innovate, recently launching Rexx, a robust haul truck that leverages Bis’ unique experience as both a leading mine haulage operator and a proven original equipment manufacturer (through its subsidiary Powertrans).

Designed and built in-house, in Perth, Rexx has been built to carry  DEC 2019/JAN 2020

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MINING: TECHNOLOGY

a 160-tonne payload, and travels more than four times further than conventional haul trucks, which eliminated double handling.

Southern Innovation’s SITORO Multichannel Analyser is a superefficient, multichannel ore analyser for high-performance material analysis applications, including synchrotron X-ray analysis, electron microscopy, industrial and lab-based X-ray fluorescence and medical imaging.

According to Southern Innovation, SITORO delivers faster, more accurate material analysis and classification by using non-linear digital signal processing algorithms to decode pulse pile-up in real-time, dramatically increasing measurement efficiency and reducing measurement time.

The UFR3C is a three-tonne robot that uses a Caterpillar excavator as the robotic base – but it does much more than just dig holes. Attachments include mowers, mulchers, augers,

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trenchers, slashers, drilling buckets, grab assemblies and more – all with software allowing autonomous operation. Universal Field Robots has leveraged advances in stereo camera vision and LiDAR technologies to allow for precision world sensing, and their internet-connected machines can be monitored and controlled from anywhere on Earth.

Developed by former researchers from CSIRO’s Data61, Emesent’s world-leading Hovermap was the first drone in the world to fly autonomously in an underground mine. Hovermap is the culmination of a decade of research by CSIRO’s Robotics and Autonomous Systems group into drone autonomy and 3D LiDAR-based simultaneous localisation and mapping (3D SLAM) techniques.

It automates data collection in areas too dangerous or difficult for people to survey or navigate, such as stopes or ore passes in underground mines.

FAST FACTS AUSTRALIA’S METS SECTOR • Generates more than $90 billion annually in revenue.

• Employs about 400,000 people.

• Exports to more than 200 countries.

MINING: TECHNOLOGY

The Internet of Things promises to revolutionise the mining industry.

The IoT promises to revolutionise the mining industry, but for it to realise its promise, mines need to have networks capable of managing the flood of data such systems produce.

MST Global has been building mining and tunnelling technology for 30 years and its technology provides a complete digital ecosystem. Smart sensors that allow for control and automation of mobile and fixed assets can be wirelessly connected to a network specifically designed for the underground environment. Wearable tags provide real-time insights and alerts through monitoring and tracking mine personnel with voice and communication technologies available to support workers when they need it the most. MST has built the software to help make sense of all this data, but it is all enabled by a smart network able to handle a high level of data and connectivity requirements.

All the above companies and products are developed – many are also manufactured – in Australia and there are many more. Safescape is trialling its Bortana EV in underground mines ahead of production starting in 2020, Gekko Systems is finding ways to turn waste into energy, and Aggreko is developing modular solar farms to power remote mine sites and reduce the industry’s carbon footprint.

Politicians like to talk about how Australia needs to become the innovation nation, but if the METS sector is anything to go by, we’re already there.

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ABSOLUTE PAVING PRECISION From resurfacing Singapore’s Formula 1 Grand Prix track, to paving roads, runways and other fine tolerance projects, when you need millimetre precision look to Topcon for your next paving application.

Topcon’s range of survey, milling, paving and compaction solutions will help save time, reduce material waste and deliver precision results, every time.

Let’s discuss your next project: 1300 867 266 | positionpartners.com.au

SPECIAL PROMOTION

Final trim the Topcon way

Topcon machine control technology will provide you with the flexibility to mix and match your grader solution to suit different applications at different stages of the project you’re working on.

With many of the new construction graders in Australia arriving from the factory or dealer with the option for an integrated system and basic machine control technology already installed, it is more important than ever to ensure you have the best solution on your grader that both suits your current needs and has the ability to grow with your business.

If you rely on a factory-fitted system, you may be limited by the fact that these systems are often not upgradeable or transferable between machines, so if you need a more sophisticated solution, it can be difficult to proceed without starting again with a different option. This can be needlessly expensive and time-consuming.

Ensuring you have the best machine control solution is arguably even more important on your grader, because if fine tolerances are not achieved consistently across the site, it will result in rework and extra materials, increasing costs and decreasing efficiencies. Ideally, you need to get the grade right the first time, and Topcon machine control can ensure you do.

“The machine control technology available from Topcon is compatible across all machine types, makes and models. This makes it a highly

flexible and customisable solution.

A GNSS machine control system can be adapted with a high precision laser transmitter that combined will deliver millimetre vertical precision for fine grading tasks, a technology unique to Topcon,” says Josh Allan, Construction Business Manager at Position Partners Australia.

Topcon machine control technology is the most flexible on the market, so you can mix and match your solutions to suit whatever job you’re working on.

All contractors can attest that every job is different, and you often need more than one machine control system configuration to complete the range of tasks you work on to the tolerance you require.

Topcon grader machine control gives you the option to: • Easily swap machine control technology between machines – so you can stretch your machine control system across a range of machines.

• Scale up or scale down to suit the job – for example, you might box out a subdivision with GPS/ GNSS, but then you can switch to a sonic tracker to follow the kerb.

Topcon lets you work with 2D or 3D technology without having to install a whole new system.

• Combine GPS/GNSS with other technology, including laser or prisms with a total station, to increase accuracy even further for final trim work.

DEC 2019/JAN 2020

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MINING: THE NEW BOOM

THE NEXT MINING BOOM Mining Boom 1.0 is over, but there’s another just around the corner.

Words: Darren Baguley

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MINING: THE NEW BOOM

The world is unlikely to see a phenomenon like the boom of the early 2010s for at least a generation – if ever – but after a bumpy few years, the mining and energy industry is getting interesting again. This time it’s mainly Western Australiabased and being driven by liquefied natural gas (LNG), iron ore and the technology metals that will power the 21st century.

New mining activity is happening in other parts of Australia, mainly Queensland, but where the major LNG, mining, processing and exploration activity is occurring is Western Australia. Lithium, cobalt and vanadium are essential to making high-technology componentry such as mobile phones, solar cells and the different kinds of batteries we’re going to need for electric vehicles (EVs) and to store power from renewable sources. Australia sits on top of large proven reserves of all these metals, and Bloomberg New Energy Finance is predicting a surge in demand for these metals, plus copper and high-purity nickel, as sales of EVs soar to 30 million by 2030. 

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MINING: THE NEW BOOM

ABOVE: IAN SANDERS, NATIONAL ENERGY, RESOURCES AND INDUSTRIALS INDUSTRY LEAD PARTNER AT DELOITTE AUSTRALIA.

Not only does Australia have reserves of these critical resources, we’re also politically and socially stable, a factor that helps offset our high labour costs and high levels of environmental regulation. This factor cannot be underestimated. Deloitte’s West Australian Index noted that cobalt surged to a six-month high during September before finishing the month up 13 per cent at US$36,484/t.

The increase is driven by increasing demand coupled with shrinking supplies as the world’s largest cobalt producer, Glencore, announced plans to shut down its Mutanda mine in the Democratic Republic of Congo at the end of 2019. This shutdown is expected to eliminate about a fifth of the global cobalt supply.

According to Deloitte Australia’s National Energy, Resources and Industrials Industry Lead Partner Ian Sanders: “The automotive industry

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is very excited about EVs – by 2025 they’re expected to be 15 per cent of new vehicle sales worldwide and, in 2040, 60 per cent, so demand is very high for the respective metals, and it will only increase. There is currently huge demand in China, the US and Europe for lithium, cobalt, copper and nickel, but the concentrated supply of those minerals is of concern. For example, the major cobalt resource is the Democratic Republic of the Congo; for lithium it’s Chile, vanadium it’s China and Russia.

There are [not] dozens of countries supplying these key minerals, which is a key concern of the supply chain.”

ACIL Allen’s Executive Director, Western Australia and Northern Territory, John Nicolaou, believes “there certainly is greater optimism in the WA resources sector, and the ramp-up in prices for key commodities and raw materials that feed into

batteries such as lithium has been one of the key drivers of that optimism.

Nevertheless, iron ore is by far WA’s largest commodity and it continues to go from strength to strength, although liquefied natural gas has been a recent success for WA. LNG was a big driver of the investment boom in early 2010s, but there is a long tail to that story.”

The long tail is the Burrup Hub, a development of an additional 20 to 25 trillion cubic feet of gas resources from the Scarborough and Browse fields of the north-west coast of Western Australia. Building on the existing Pluto LNG and North West Shelf projects, the hub will create a regional LNG production centre on the Burrup Peninsula. According to Woodside, building the $40 billion hub will employ more than 4600 workers when construction reaches its peak in 2023, and economic modelling suggests that up to 460 additional local Karratha operations jobs will be created or sustained on average.

Both Sanders and Nicolaou are upbeat about the future for Western Australian iron ore, as evidenced by the recent announcement of three 

MINING: THE NEW BOOM

In Western Australia, nickel is getting a new lease on life as it is a key component of batteries.

FAST FACTS • Australia has 17 per cent of the world’s accessible reserves of iron ore – the world’s largest resource.

• Australia has the world’s second-largest reserve of lithium, but the largest reserve of hard rock lithium.

• In 2018, the global electric car fleet exceeded 5.1 million, up 2 million from the previous year and almost doubling the number of new electric car sales.

• Norway is per capita the largest user of EVs, with more than 50 per cent of new cars sold.

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new mines: BHP’s $5 billion South Flank, Fortescue Metals Group’s $1.7 billion Eliwana mine and Rio Tinto’s $2.6 billion Koodaideri mine.

“What you can’t forget is iron ore and metallurgical coal are critical in new infrastructure and we’re not seeing a downturn in those commodities,” says Sanders. “Vale’s [loss of its social licence to operate after a tailings dam collapse killed hundreds of people] is certainly a significant factor, but the accessibility of Australia gives us a real competitive advantage. China and India are continuing to grow and infrastructure in the developed world continues to grow and those factors are as important as the terrible events in Brazil.”

Nicolaou adds that, historically, iron ore out of north-west Western Australia has a unique advantage – the quality of the resource and distance to market relative to Vale in Brazil – but also points out: “The resource is part of it but a lot of credit needs to go to the miners in WA. Their investment in efficient production in the aftermath of the resources boom refocused away from growth strategy so costs of production are very low. This provides them with significant profits when

prices are high and a buffer when prices come off as they do.”

While nickel has been around for thousands of years, in Western Australia it is getting a new lease on life as it is a key component of batteries. Nicolaou says: “It is quite a volatile market that does get peaks and troughs, and as a result we see marginal mines close and reopen.”

This volatility saw prices surge and fall last month as Indonesia announced it would ban nickel ore exports from 2020 as it develops an electric battery industry backed by Chinese stainless-steel giant Tsingshan Group.

According to at least one analyst, this could lead to the reopening of Canadian miner First Quantum’s mothballed Ravensthorpe nickel mine in Western Australia’s south-east.

Volatility is the watchword for many of the tech metals, however there is no doubt the world is undergoing a step change in the way we produce energy and transport ourselves and our goods. Miners in Western Australia are well positioned to take advantage of this slow-motion boom that will significantly change the face of Australian mining.

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TRANSPORT & LOGISTICS

DELIVERING THE GOODS

Whether on the road or flying high, the transport industry is transforming in the greatest ways. Words: Ian Lloyd Neubauer

It’s arguably the most important sector in our entire economy – one that underwrites the viability of most businesses and organisations in Australia. From the foods we eat to the medicine that keeps us well and the fuel that propels the aircraft you are flying in now, they’re all dependent on transport and logistics. But it’s changing rapidly. Here are three short stories about the men and women who toil thanklessly to grease the wheels of commerce and the quantum changes redefining the industry.

THE AGE OF DRONES Transporting goods from retailers to households is one of the most costly parts of the supply chain; it accounts for 15 to 20 per cent of transaction costs because logistics operators face congested city roads on one end and sparsely populated countryside on the other. It also adds to greenhouse gases, congestion and traffic accidents. But that’s about to change thanks to a new generation of automated drones that can cut delivery costs and times by magnitudes.

By 2030 it’s estimated that at least one-quarter of all household deliveries will be carried by drones.

The revolution has already begun in Canberra, where Alphabet startup Wing launched the world’s first commercial drone delivery service. 

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TRANSPORT & LOGISTICS

A new generation of automated drones can cut delivery costs and times by magnitudes.

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Photo: Wing

TRANSPORT & LOGISTICS

IN AUSTRALIA, DRONES ARE EXPECTED TO INCREASINGLY SHARE SPACE WITHIN THE DELIVERY SECTOR.

“We’ve been active in Canberra since April, building a selection of 17 retailers and niche items consumers want to get delivered now, like coffee, salads and hardware supplies that weigh up to 1.5 kilograms, the maximum payload of our drones,” says Wing’s Head of Australian Operations Terrance Bouldin-Johnson. “We don’t foresee drones taking over the delivery business, but we certainly believe they will co-exist in the space. It’ll be about taking away that extra trip to the store when you forget to buy sugar or eggs.

Think about it – for a car to cover 10 kilometres of busy or winding roads, it can take up to 30 or 40 minutes, but our drones can, in a straight line at 125 kilometres per hour, cover that distance in less than five minutes.”

The day when drones can deliver vital goods like medicine and engine parts to rural and remote locations is also on the horizon.

“I would say there is a very good possibility that we will be able to do long-distance deliveries and life-saving deliveries one day,” says BouldinJohnson. “But right now we’re focusing on perfecting small urban deliveries.

We have already carried out 80,000 test flights without hitting a single bird or causing any kind of problem.”

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THE ZERO-ROADFATALITY VISION Every year, more than 200 people are killed in truck crashes on our roads.

Driver fatigue is partially to blame, but less so today than in the past due to regulation that restricts the number of hours commercial drivers can work in a 24-hour period. New technologies are also helping to mitigate the problem.

“Today there is a very high focus on safety in the trucking business,” says Glen Cameron of Glen Cameron Group, a Victorian logistics company.

“All our trucks are remotely monitored by satellite for data points that can be indicative of driver fatigue – things such as speed, harsh braking and hard cornering.”

But truckies are not to blame in most trucking accidents.

“In 93 per cent of fatalities involving a truck, the other party was at fault,” says Michael Byrne, Managing Director of Toll Group. “Yet national and state road-safety strategies are silent on how light-vehicle drivers can share the road with trucks.”

To help spread the word, several Australian companies are investing time and resources to help turn their vision of zero road fatalities

into a reality. Glen Cameron Group, for example, has sponsored seven different driver-education radio commercials this year, covering topics like overtaking trucks safely and keeping out of trucks’ blind spots.

“We’re trying to educate all road users – not just truck drivers – because most people are not aware of the complexities of heavy vehicles and their braking distances,” says Cameron.

Australia Post is also doing its bit; it recently pledged $200,000 to support a safety exhibition by the Australian Trucking Association targeting 16- to 25-year-old drivers – a vulnerable group that accounts for just 10 per cent of the driver population but a quarter of all fatal truck crashes.

“We’re always looking for ways to keep our people and communities safe,” says Australia Post Group Chief Operating Officer Bob Black.

“Last year we experienced 768 road injuries across our workforce nationally. That means three posties were injured every workday – that’s three posties too many.”

THE END OF GENDER IMBALANCE When it comes to gender imbalance, the logistics and transport industry

TRANSPORT & LOGISTICS

CURRENTLY, WOMEN ACCOUNT FOR JUST 26.4 PER CENT OF THE AUSTRALIAN TRANSPORT AND LOGISTICS INDUSTRY.

takes the cake: just 26.4 per cent of the workforce is female, according to Teletrac Navman, a fleet management firm. The figures are even worse in the field, with just 6.5 per cent of women in driving positions. The pay imbalance is also out of touch; women in transport and logistics earn an annual average of $21,923 less than men.

“There is obviously not a great perception of women working in the transport industry,” says Melissa Taylor, Managing Director of Taylor’s Removals, a 101-year-old company based in Toowoomba, Queensland, and the Australian Trucking Association’s 2016 Trucking Industry Woman of the Year.

“I started in administration, which is typically where most women work in the industry because we tend to be good organisers,” she says.

“But more than that, women have a different way of looking at things than men, and that adds a lot of value to the bottom line. Half of our office workforce is female and the gender mix works brilliantly; it promotes wider perspectives for problem-solving.”

Some inroads are now being made thanks to industry initiatives like GenR8. Developed by Queensland Trucking Association, it offers Year 12 students work-experience slots with transport companies that count towards matriculation.

“Nowadays it’s not just teenage boys applying as mechanics. We have had many girls coming through in the marketing and accounts sides of the business, and there is so much happening in IT in transport where women can play a major role,” says Taylor, who contributed her time probono for GenR8 programs in Brisbane before establishing a chapter in Toowoomba. “At first they are really shy because it’s such a male-dominated industry, but by the end they’re going out and getting jobs and working their way up to executive positions like I did.

Seeing those young women go and do that is really fantastic.”

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The Aboriginal Artists Project combines the fashion accessory designs of Catherine Manuell with the artworks of many wonderful women artists from remote Australian communities. Shown here is the Bush Yams artwork by Evelyn Pultara from the Utopia region of Central Australia. A percentage of the proceeds from the sale of these products goes directly to the artists.

Call us on 03 9486 4066 for help or a little personal service, or email: info@catherinemanuelldesign.com

www.catherinemanuelldesign.com

AGRIBUSINESS: AVOCADOS

THE AVOCADO BANDWAGON How this strange little fruit became a major global player – and a delicious toast spread too.

Words: Ian Lloyd Neubauer Going back a generation, the avocado was still a slapdash breakfast spread used when the Vegemite had run out or a condiment you tossed into a salad before it over-ripened.

“Avocado was always just something I ate. We didn’t sell that much of it,” recalls Australian restaurateur and TV chef Bill Granger.

That all changed in 1999, when Granger released Bills Sydney Food, a cookbook that included the first published recipe for smashed avocado on sourdough toast. At the time, Granger thought it was silly – putting ‘toast’ in a cookbook. But as consumers learned of avocados’ many health benefits – they’re high in healthy monounsaturated fats, protein, nutrients and vitamins – the dish captured the zeitgeist of the good-food movement and an outsize following all over the world.

Smashed avocado on toast is the signature dish at Flinders Lane, Hole in 

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Photo: Avocados Australia

AGRIBUSINESS: AVOCADOS

ABOVE: AUSTRALIAN RESTAURATEUR, TV CHEF AND AUTHOR OF COOKBOOK BILLS SYDNEY FOOD, BILL GRANGER.

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the Wall and a wave of Australian-owned cafés that are the toast of the town in New York – a fancy sandwich filling rife with social symbolism, as Melbourne property tycoon Tim Gurner learned when he told millennials on 60 Minutes that if they really want to save up for a home they should stop paying $19 for avocado on toast.

Within the following 48 hours, Gurner fielded more than a thousand interview requests from across the world. When he refused to speak to them, the paparazzi tracked down his wife and kids. What began

as a social commentary on housing affordability in Australia became part of an international debate about the stellar popularity of a creamy green fruit that is technically a berry.

OVERSUPPLY The global avocado market still has plenty of room to grow, according to USbased market research firm TMR. Last year it was valued at $20 billion. By 2026 it’ll hit $31.5 billion.

Avocado is in high demand not only in the food industry but also in the cosmetics and pharmaceutical sectors for

its respective anti-ageing and anti-inflammatory properties. Studies show that cholesterol levels can fall 17 per cent after a seven-day diet rich in avocados; Kim Kardashian even uses it as a face mask.

Mexico, the home of the avocado, produced a third of global supply last year.

This year the country will boost production by six per cent. Peru and Chile are now net exporters of avocados to the US, while the Dominican Republic, Indonesia and Colombia are also major global players.

The Australian avocado industry has gone into

AGRIBUSINESS: AVOCADOS

Photo: Avocados Australia

Photo: Avocados Australia

Australian avocados are geared almost exclusively for the domestic market.

overdrive too. Production has increased 84 per cent in the past decade and 11 per cent last year alone, according to peak industry body Avocados Australia.

But Australian avocados are geared almost exclusively for the domestic market. Only 3.7 per cent of the 85,500 tonnes we produced last year was exported. This country is in fact a net importer of avocados, with 23,355 tonnes flown in from New Zealand in 2016-17, according to the Department of Agriculture.

Second-generation Western Australian avocado farmer Jennie Franceschi says we don’t export much because the price for avocados in Australia is above the global average.

“There was a time a few years ago when they were selling for $3.50 in supermarkets and up to $5 or $6 at specialty retails,” she says. “But as with all farming entities, when

people come across a good thing, they go a little bit too hard at it. Right now, almost half of the trees in the ground in Australia are not even in production. The south-west of WA looks like the Barossa Valley, but instead of vineyards, they’re all avocado trees.

Like the wine industry, a lot of farmers jumped on the avocado bandwagon, and soon we’ll go into oversupply.”

She adds: “It’s already begun. Last summer, the supermarket price fell as low as $2. That’s why so many pensioners were buying avocados.”

A LITTLE PAIN Avocado Australia CEO John Tyas says his organisation is working on solutions. “We are trying to increase domestic consumption with a lot of marketing and promotional activity,” he says. “As at March 2019, 73 per cent of Australian households  DEC 2019/JAN 2020

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Photo: Avocados Australia

AGRIBUSINESS: AVOCADOS

5 WEIRD THINGS MADE FROM AVOCADO

consume avocados. That indicates that there is room for growth.”

Right now, Australia produces about 420 million avocados annually. Based on Avocado Australia’s projections, that number will hit 600 million within a few short years. This indicates that even if household penetration reaches 100 per cent, the avocado market will be under pressure.

“We know it won’t be sufficient, so we’re going to have to ramp up export activities,” Tyas says.

“Currently we export to Singapore, Malaysia and a little to Hong Kong, but we really need to access the larger markets in Asia – India and China. Last year

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we managed to get access to the Japanese market, but only with avocados from fruit-fly-free zones in WA and the Riverland of South Australia. We still have a lot of work to do.”

Franceschi agrees.

Her father was one of three pioneering avocado farmers in the 1970s who invested in the legal framework that gave WA its fruit-fly-free status and allows the state to export hard fruit from healthy branches to Japan today.

“It was an example of how early adopters spent their time and money to grow a strong industry that benefitted everyone – not just themselves,” she says.

“I’ve been trying to build export markets for avocados

for 10 years, but what I’ve found is that growers don’t want to commit to longterm contracts at global prices if they think they can get 50 cents more selling at home. That’s why we have such low exports – farmers putting short-term gains ahead of long-term viability.

“But where will all the fruit go when all those young trees come online and we double our volume?”

Franceschi asks. “Even if the domestic price drops to $1, people will only buy so many avocados in one day. I think farmers are going to have to see their fruit go unsold and feel a bit of pain before they start thinking about the big picture and invest in export markets.”

1. AVOCADO HONEY Made in Finland from avocado blossom nectar, it has a syrupy taste with notes of licorice.

2. CUBED AVOCADO A no-mess, no-fuss prepackaged solution sold frozen at supermarkets in Sweden.

3. AVOCADO HERBAL TEA Made from avocado leaves in Indonesia, it helps to inhibit the formation of kidney stones.

4. AVOCADO OIL MAYONNAISE More expensive than other edible oils with a high smoke point, it’s great for salads and dips.

5. DR CHUNG’S FOOD VEGEMIL KIWI AVOCADO SOY MILK Made in South Korea, it’s described as ’delicious, nutritious and fun’.

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REVOLUTIONARY GIN

GIN’S GLORIOUS REVOLUTION

Photo: Jun Takano

Today there are more than 170 gin distilleries in Australia; five years ago there were barely 20.

With Aussie craft gins winning international awards and taking a cut of the domestic spirits market, is this exceptional growth here to stay, or will it prove to be just another ‘Gin Craze’? Words: lisa smyth

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REVOLUTIONARY GIN

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“Without the shackles of a long history or legacy of gin production like in the UK, Australian distilleries have the courage and creativity to push the boundaries of gin-making.”

If you were a lowly foot soldier in the 17th century, going into battle would have seemed a terrifying prospect.

There was a very good chance you were going to die, which is why William of Orange sent his soldiers into battle with what would become known among their British foes as ‘Dutch courage’ – a shot of jenever, the forefather of gin.

“Some refer to the recent popularity of gin as the ‘Second Glorious Revolution’,” explains Jon Lark, owner of Kangaroo Island Spirits, one of the first Australian distilleries to produce gin using native botanicals back in 2007. “The first was in the UK in 1688, when the Catholic King James II was overthrown by his Protestant daughter Mary and her Dutch husband William of Orange.

“The new government passed legislation putting import restrictions on French brandies and encouraging local gin production, which led to the infamous ‘Gin Craze’ in London at the time.” In fact, gin became so cheap that the average Londoner consumed about 52 litres of gin each year – more than one bottle per week!

While we might not be drinking gin at such an unhealthy rate, Australians are consuming more of it than ever before. In the past year (2017-18), Australian consumption of gin increased by 33 per cent, and it is predicted to continue to grow at

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a rate of 12.2 per cent until 2023.

“Gin was the fastest-growing spirit across the world in 2018,” says Andrew Burge, founder of Australia’s top gin subscription club, Gin Society. “The popularity is driven by the availability of premium products, and the explosion in range, styles and flavours.

“Without the shackles of a long history or legacy of gin production like in the UK, Australian distilleries seem to have the courage and creativity to push the boundaries of gin-making, especially given the many fantastic native botanicals we have available, like lemon myrtle, wattleseed and Tasmanian pepperberry.”

A MODERN REBELLION Of course, until recently, Australia was most closely associated with another spirit. Rum was commonly used as currency in the New South Wales colony, and the Rum Rebellion of 1808 – the only successful armed takeover of government in Australian history – was partly due to the stifling of the rum trade by Governor William Bligh.

Rum and other spirits were blamed for the colony’s ills – violence, crime, poverty – and small pot distilling was outlawed for the following 100 years. The Australian industry was only revived in the early 1990s when Bill Lark, the ‘Grandfather of Australian

Photo: Leigh Eardley

Photo: Jun Takano

REVOLUTIONARY GIN

FROM LEFT: GIN COCKTAIL AT PATIENT WOLF DISTILLING CO; GINS FROM IMPERIAL MEASURES DISTILLING; DISTILLING MACHINERY AT PATIENT WOLF DISTILLING CO.

spirits’ and Jon Lark’s brother, decided to champion the overturning of the law in Tasmania so he could distil whisky. With his success, the new rebellion had begun.

“The willingness to embrace Australian craft spirits is borne out of the success of the Australian whisky industry on the world stage, and the growth of a new generation of drinkers who are looking for quality over quantity,” notes Chris Jones, co-founder of South Australia’s Imperial Measures Distilling. The distillery’s Ounce Gin ‘Bold’ won Champion Gin at the 2019 Australian Distilled Spirits Awards.

“Another reason is the resurgence of the cocktail and the subsequent small bar scene,” says Jones. “People no longer have any reservations about trying new Australian spirits, and we are constantly finding people who say they ‘never used to like gin’ and are now converts.”

THE PERSONAL TOUCH The connection to the ‘craft’ of making gin is definitely a key component to its recent success, with many urban and regional distillery doors open for tastings, and more and more including bars and cocktail lounges. Much like Australian wineries and craft breweries, distilleries are creating spaces where they can share the story – and the provenance – behind their gins.

“The level and depth of questions we get about our gins is becoming very sophisticated,” says Matt Argus, co-founder of Melbourne’s Patient Wolf Distilling Co. “People now want to know everything, from what botanicals are used to whether the gin has been made using a German copper still or one that’s been made in China from stainless steel.”

Having launched in 2016 from a boutique space in Brunswick, in September 2019 Patient Wolf moved its distillery to a large warehouse in

Melbourne’s Southbank that now includes a 30-seat bar. “We would have one-off open days in Brunswick, and we’d get 500 people in an afternoon. We wanted to open that up,” says Argus. It is now Australia’s largest urban independent gin distillery in terms of production capacity.

GOING GLOBAL In February 2019, Adelaide’s Never Never Distilling Co.’s Southern Strength Gin beat out global brands like Tanqueray, Hendrick’s and Gordon’s to win the World’s Best Classic Gin at the influential World Gin Awards in London. It was the first time an Australian gin had won the award.

“Aussie gin is pound for pound the best in the world,” says Stuart Gregor, co-founder of uber-popular Four Pillars Gin and President of the Australian Distillers Association (ADA).

“If you take the 10 best Australian gins and put them up against the 10 best  DEC 2019/JAN 2020

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Photo: Benito Martin

REVOLUTIONARY GIN

GIN AND TAXES

FOUR PILLARS BLOODY SHIRAZ GIN.

FAST FACTS • Kangaroo Island Distillery won Best Contemporary Gin at the 2019 International Wine and Spirits Competition, the first Australian gin to be awarded a trophy in the prestigious competition.

• The category of ‘Navy Strength’ gin (57 per cent alcohol) refers to the fact that the British Royal Navy used to test a gin by igniting it, which proved it hadn’t been diluted.

• There were 168 gin entries in the 2019 Australian Distilled Spirits Awards, far more than liqueur (49), whisky (35) and rum (27).

• A mixture of gin, Campari and sweet vermouth garnished with an orange peel, the Negroni is now 100 years old, having been invented by Count Camillo Negroni in Florence, Italy, in 1919.

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gins from across the world, we would win. We have a natural affinity for flavour and our local environment is pure and natural.”

Having launched in regional Victoria’s Yarra Valley in 2013, Four Pillars was one of the first Aussie gins on the market. It has grown at an average rate of 83.4 per cent a year since it launched, and in March 2019 multinational brewing giant Lion acquired a 50 per cent stake in the business. Now available in more than 25 international markets, it is expected to soon overtake Hendrick’s Gin as Australia’s most popular premium gin brand.

“We want to become Australia’s global spirit brand,” says Gregor.

“We needed a partner that would help us go to scale internationally, but also help us expand our home experience. We are doubling our Healesville distillery and bar in 2020.”

There is one issue that is impeding the growth of most of Australia’s gin distilleries: tax. As of October 2019, the excise duty on spirits is $85.87 per litre of pure alcohol, compared to $50.70 per litre of full-strength beer, and wine that is taxed at 29 per cent of its wholesale price. When you add GST, it can mean that some distillers are paying nearly 50 per cent of their total revenue in tax.

“The excise regime in Australia is very punishing and it really makes no sense,” says Gregor, clearly exasperated. “Every six months the excise is increased, which means every six months our cost of production goes up. Since we opened we have had 13 tax increases, but the wine industry hasn’t had a tax increase in 17 years.”

According to the 2019 Ginventory Survey conducted by The Gin Boutique, 55 per cent of distillers said their number-one barrier to growth was excise and taxation costs. “Price point is a massive constraint for consumers as well,” says co-founder Glenn McPhee. “An Aussie gin will cost $40 to $45 on a US shelf but $70 to $80 on an Australian shelf. Still, 20 per cent of respondents said they buy more than one bottle of gin a month.”

Despite the cost barriers for small producers, a new distillery is opening in Australia almost every week. With expressions like Four Pillars’ Bloody Shiraz, Archie Rose Distilling Co.’s ArchieMite Buttered Toast and Adelaide Hills Distillery’s Green Ant, it’s clear Australian distillers are keen to make their mark on the gin world.

“Gin can express a place like no other spirit,” reveals Gregor. “It is the number-one spirits category by miles and it will continue to grow with different expressions using native botanicals that reflect our ‘place’, our Australia.”

WWW.BILPINCIDER.COM FACEBOOK.COM/BILPINCIDER INSTAGRAM.COM/BILPINCIDER

PROPERTYBIZ

HOME TRUTHS: THE PRICE OF ADVICE Buying a home isn’t rocket science, but purchasing property in the hope of making a pretty penny can be a particular skill.

Words: Kirsten Craze

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PROPERTYBIZ

LEFT: MOSMAN, NSW. BELOW: PARTNER AND BUYER’S AGENT AT EMPOWER WEALTH, TV PRESENTER AND PODCASTER, BRYCE HOLDAWAY.

An increasing number of everyday Australians are engaging professional buyer’s agents, also known as buyer’s advocates, to help them purchase their first place, their dream home or an entire property portfolio.

Once a tool for cashed-up, timepoor city slickers, these real-estate professionals are being used as one weapon in an arsenal of tricks that buyers are harnessing to climb today’s property ladder.

“People lean on buyer’s agents for a range of reasons, and that’s what a lot of consumers neglect to think about. Gone are the days of someone rich or busy meeting a buyer’s agent because they haven’t got the time,” explains Cate Bakos, president of the Real Estate Buyers Agents Association of Australia (REBAA).

“One of the main reasons people engage an advocate is simply to deal with sales agents. A lot of people feel out of their depth or just don’t like

dealing with agents. We also speak their language; we can frame an offer in the right way, know when to put in an offer – and when to wait,” she says.

Bryce Holdaway, buyer’s agent and partner at Empower Wealth, television presenter and co-creator of The Property Couch podcast, says that despite prices softening in major markets, buyer’s agents still play their part because it’s not all about negotiating prices down.

“In bigger markets like Melbourne, Sydney and, to a certain extent, the hotter parts of Brisbane and Adelaide, if you find a good property you have to move very quickly to secure it, and that’s part of what a buyer’s agent will bring to the table,” he says. “If you’re not in a position to move quickly, you’ll keep losing properties.

You’ve got to be able to respond quickly and lean on your buyer’s agent, because a whole heap of emotions are going to come up. They’ve done

it all before – they’re experienced.”

Although there is no industry standard, REBAA suggests the average buyer’s agent charges approximately two per cent of the purchase price, although upfront fixed fees can be negotiated.

THE JOB AT HAND Holdaway says the cost of not hiring an advocate can go beyond the fee.

“A lot of people think ‘What value does a buyer’s agent provide?’.

We would say four things, really.

Number one is we buy the right house in the first place. Number two is we help avoid procrastination.

Number three is we make sure you don’t pay too much. Finally, we make sure you tap into our network – that in itself can save an enormous amount of time.”

Bakos agrees and adds that a good advocate is an analyst, not a shopper.

“People wrongly assume we’re  DEC 2019/JAN 2020

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PROPERTYBIZ

walking through glamorous houses all the time; it’s fair to say that less than a quarter of our time would be walking through houses. The other three quarters would be assessing and conducting due diligence, talking with clients and dealing with agents,” she says.

Bakos notes that another misconception about the job is that they swoop in and take over househunting duties from start to finish.

“A lot of buyer’s agents have varying types of service. I certainly have different tiers because I enjoy the client being engaged in the process. It pays for the consumer to interview their buyer’s agent to find out how to get the best out of them. Many people want to learn and be involved, and they just need someone to hold their hand to make sure they don’t make a mistake.”

ESCAPE FROM THE CITY The number of buyer’s agents operating in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane has boomed over the past decade as prices increased and buyers suffering FOMO sought help. Today their popularity has grown, with investors as well as sea- and tree-changers looking to buy beyond the city limits.

As co-host on the ABC series Escape From The City, Holdaway says there’s no substitute for having a helping hand on the ground.

“Local knowledge is something you absolutely need. Most people think about the price of a buyer’s agent but don’t consider what the value actually is. If you get it wrong when buying, it’s a high-value transaction and trying to change it will set you back significantly.”

Bakos agrees that buyers who are

unfamiliar with an area should seek out specialist knowledge.

“If a buyer’s agent is based in a particular region, and that’s their hometown, they would be very familiar with the selling agents and understand what locals value and want.”

Offloading a regional property can often take longer than one with a metropolitan address, especially if an owner has bought in the wrong part of town.

“Also, its capital growth might have been low compared to something else in the same town. So you just want someone to help you futureproof your decision,” says Bakos.

“It pays for the consumer to interview their buyer’s agent to find out how to get the best out of them.”

THIS IMAGE: UMINA BEACH, NSW. TOP: PRESIDENT OF THE REAL ESTATE BUYERS AGENTS ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALIA (REBAA), CATE BAKOS.

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And, as Holdaway says, going it alone can take both an emotional and a financial toll.

“Imagine paying for accommodation and flights and taking annual leave just to go house-hunting, because generally you’re not going to buy a property in the first week. If you’re looking from the city, it’s all listingsbased, so you might not see it all.

Even to get the feel of a place you’ve got to go a few times. People totally underestimate the emotional cost.”

PROPERTYBIZ

FAST FACTS • Buyer’s agents can help with the whole house-hunting process or just be a bidder on your behalf at auction.

Purchasers can usually pick and choose the amount of involvement.

• In the USA and Canada, 90 per cent of people engage a buyer’s agent or buyer’s advocate to help with their property purchase.

BEST-KEPT SECRETS Call them off-market, pre-market or secret listings, they are one of the things buyers can tap into when using an advocate. While Bakos says it’s true they do have insight on homes that aren’t advertised, she adds that buyers should beware.

“It’s one of the most common questions I get asked, and people probably place too much emphasis on it – they think we’ve got a secret property portal. We can reach out to an agent and very quickly get off-markets, but not all off-markets are good. Unfortunately, there are opportunistic sellers and agents who will flog an off-market home at a premium just to get the sale.

You’ve got to assess whether it’s a genuine off-market with a motivated vendor, or whether you will pay a premium just to have a run at the property without competition.”

WHO USES THEM? Emilia Rossi, a marketing strategist and co-founder of online wedding

MARKETING STRATEGIST AND CO-FOUNDER OF ONLINE WEDDING MARKETPLACE CAPRIESS, EMILIA ROSSI.

marketplace Capriess, says despite her and her husband Socrates having a solid financial IQ, they still saw the value of investing in a buyer’s advocate.

“We’ve got very particular goals we want to achieve in the next five, 10, 15 years. It just made sense getting experts on board to help us. My husband and I are very much numbers- and data-driven people, and it actually took us two years to do our due diligence and find our advocate at Empower Wealth,” she says.

Spending money on a buyer’s agent when you’re trying to make money might seem counterintuitive, but Rossi says that the financial logic is definitely there.

“They do save us money in the long run. They also take the stress out of purchasing. Without them, we’d have to go and do the research – this way, we don’t even need to lift a finger. They’ve got their team, they bring what we need to the table and we just have a look. Plus,

we can tap into their expertise – they live and breathe this stuff.”

She says her buyer’s agent has suggested investment properties in both metropolitan and regional areas.

“I was a bit skeptical of buying outside of where I knew, but as long as they have the numbers and the data to back up the historic trends, I’m confident.”

Rossi adds that the additional cost of a buyer’s advocate should quickly pay for itself.

“They’re doing you a favour, because if you catch that first property with exceptional capital growth, you’re then able to leverage and purchase your second or third or fourth. If you mess up that first one, you’re stuck. That’s what I think people trying to get into the market overlook,” she explains.

“I just sold two dud properties – ones that I’d bought without that expert advice – and I was very lucky I didn’t lose any money. The point is, if I hadn’t spoken to Empower Wealth, I’d be in a very different position right now.”

DEC 2019/JAN 2020

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PUZZLES

CROSSWORD

18. Embroidery expert

13. Divulge

21. Anchorage native

14. Awry

22. Alter (text)

16. Type of cigar

23. Fling, shipboard ...

18. Benefit (of) 19. South African currency 20. Scalp growth

BARBERRY BLACKBERRY BLUEBERRY CRANBERRY ELDERBERRY

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GOOSEBERRY GRAPE LOGANBERRY MAYAPPLE MULBERRY

RASPBERRY STRAWBERRY THIMBLEBERRY WOLFBERRY

P Y R R E B E L B M I H T

A E O Y R R E B K C A L B

R R G J E X P K W Q L H W

T R A K Y R R E B N A R C

S Y B L U E B E R R Y H G

W B O P A Z L J G R A P E

B R S L O G A N B E R R Y

E E E I Y R R E B L U M O

R D B K S Z K D Q M K W R

R L E R A S P B E R R Y W

Y E R E L P P A Y A M O A

O D R B D Y R R E B R A B

U W Y R R E B F L O W R R

SOLUTIONS:

11. Fencing swords

U W Y R R E B F L O W R R

17. Radio interference

O D R B D Y R R E B R A B

10. Exclude

Y E R E L P P A Y A M O A

6. ... Sea Scrolls

15. Water removal system

R L E R A S P B E R R Y W

12. Adopted (policy)

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: BERRIES.

R D B K S Z K D Q M K W R

5. Recurrence of illness

E E E I Y R R E B L U M O

9. Consumer pressure

WORD SEARCH

B R S L O G A N B E R R Y

4. Recedes

W B O P A Z L J G R A P E

8. Steam burn

A E O Y R R E B K C A L B

3. London’s Marble ...

R R G J E X P K W Q L H W

2. Dog or horse

7. Baby fierce cat (4,3)

T R A K Y R R E B N A R C

1. Rectified

4. Made slip-up

S Y B L U E B E R R Y H G

DOWN

1. Transylvania is there

P Y R R E B E L B M I H T

ACROSS

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Lincoln Estate Wines is the producer of high quality wines. The maritime climate and ironstone soils are a premium resource for growing such exceptional wine.

Come and taste our wines while watching over the kangaroos and even pat a koala.

www.lincolnestatewines.com.au