Horizons June/July 2021

JUNE/JULY 2021

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UNLIKE ANYWHERE ON EARTH Plan an unforgettable adventure in WA’s Kimberley

How our fuel prices compare to the rest of the world 10 safer used cars under $10,000 Epic adventures by four-wheel drive

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IT’S TIME TO

CREATE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE ON ONE OF AUSTRALIA’S MOST ICONIC OUTBACK DRIVES. Starting in Derby and ending

rock art led by a local Aboriginal

El Questro Wilderness Park

in Kununurra, the Gibb River

Elder. Just a little further, stay at

for a dip in the thermal pools

Road is 660 kilometres of the

Drysdale River Station for some

at Zebedee Springs, cruise

Kimberley’s most remarkable

R&R, then head out to explore

the pristine waters of

landscapes, rich culture and

Mitchell River National Park.

Lake Argyle, then discover

bucket-list experiences. Best of

World Heritage-listed

all, what you do in between is

As you push on towards

entirely at your leisure!

Kununurra, soak in the awe-

Purnululu National Park.

inspiring backdrop of the

There really is so much more

First stop out of Derby is

Cockburn Range as you cross

for you to discover on the iconic

Windjana Gorge National Park

the Pentecost River. More iconic

Gibb River Road. Are you ready

where you can discover ancient

adventures await – pull into

to wander out yonder?

E X P LO R E M O R E I T I N E R A R I E S AT A U S T R A L I A S N O R T H W E S T.CO M / WA N D E RO U T YO N D E R

DAY 1: BROOME

DAY 2: BROOME TO DERBY

DAY 3: DERBY TO WINDJANA GORGE NATIONAL PARK

DAY 4: WINDJANA GORGE NATIONAL PARK TO BELL GORGE

DAY 5: BELL GORGE TO MANNING GORGE

DAY 6: MANNING GORGE TO DRYSDALE RIVER STATION

DAY 7 AND 8: DRYSDALE RIVER STATION TO ELLENBRAE STATION

DAY 9 AND 10: ELLENBRAE STATION TO EL QUESTRO WILDERNESS PARK

DAY 11 AND 12: EL QUESTRO WILDERNESS PARK TO KUNUNURRA

DAY 1 3 A N D 1 4 : KUNUNURRA A N D P U R N U LU LU N AT I O N A L PA R K

MITCHELL FALLS

HORIZONTAL FALLS

DRYSDALE RIVER STATION

BELL GORGE

DERBY

BROOME

ELLENBRAE STATION

KUNUNURRA

EL QUESTRO WILDERNESS PARK MANNING GORGE

WINDJANA GORGE NATIONAL PARK TUNNEL CREEK NATIONAL PARK

PURNULULU NATIONAL PARK

Managing Editor Vanessa Pogorelic Deputy Editor Tatum Stafford Graphic Designers Renee Smith John Roberts Troy Hyatt Shaun Kennedy

Your RAC magazine Jun/Jul 2021

Advertising Gail Raj (WA only) Tel. 08 9388 7844 gail@mediatonic.com.au Lauren Casalini Tel. 03 8520 6444 laurencasalini@hardiegrant.com Horizons® Published by RAC WA

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Cover photo Bungle Bungle Range, Purnululu National Park Cover photographer Taryn Yeates Photography tarynyeatesphotography.com

Off the beaten track Five epic WA road trips that need a four-wheel drive

CAB audited as at September 2020 is 631,219 households

Our plastic wrapper is biodegradable

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Member lounge People, places and offers

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Member benefits RAC members save every day

Australia Post ISSN No 0810 8285.

The opinions contained in this publication may not be shared by the Royal Automobile Club of WA (Inc) or its related bodies corporate (together “RAC”) or any of its or their councillors, directors or employees. Advertisements in Horizons are the responsibility of the advertiser. No person should act or rely upon such opinions or advice and RAC accepts no liability for them. Any rewards or rights provided to a member cannot be transferred, assigned, sold or redeemed for cash. Inclusion of a product should not be construed as an endorsement by RAC.

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Contact

 facebook.com/RACWA  @racwa rac.com.au  editor@rac.com.au For deaf, hearing or speech impaired members: Emergency Roadside Assistance SMS number 0434 182 877 All queries relayservice.gov.au For more contact details, see page 73.

Roadside Assistance, Battery Services

Vehicle Condition Appraisals

13 11 11

1300 797 078

Membership, Motoring Advice, Insurance, Finance, Travel, Touring, Security Services

13 17 03

RAC Auto Services

1300 135 667 RAC Tyres

1300 651 042 Corporate Enquiries

9436 4111

June-July 2021 / Horizons

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President’s message We’re all in for a better WA

Member feedback Your views and opinions

Snapshot News from RAC

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Electric vehicle revolution How ‘fuelling up’ may change in the future

RAC Home Security Survey Common burglary types revealed

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WA fuel How we rank on quality and price

Making a safer choice 10 safest used cars under $10k

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Motor news Everything on wheels

Test drive Putting new cars to the test

Exploring the Kimberley Highlights by land and water

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Car doctor Your questions answered

RAC Little Legends Club® School holiday cycle safety

The 10 best Things to do in Margaret River

Horizons / June-July 2021

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With the power of your membership we’re all in for a better WA For over 115 years, we’ve worked together with our members for the better of WA. Every one of you has played a crucial role in that journey.

But, while we’ve come a long way, we’ve still got a long way to go. Tragically, someone is killed or seriously injured on Western Australian roads every five hours.

Urban sprawl is increasing congestion and our vehicle emissions are reducing air quality.

With the power of your membership behind us, we’re committing to a safer, more sustainable and better connected WA for all of us.

We’re all in for a better WA. Join us.

Find out more at rac.com.au/betterWA

YO U R R A C

President’s message We’re all in for a better WA Since RAC’s foundation in 1905, our members and the Western Australian community have guided our path. Together, we have been a powerful voice for change. Together, we can also make WA a safer, more sustainable and better-connected place for all.

Our focus is to build on our social and community impact activities which have included world-leading trials, such as our driverless RAC Intellibus® and RAC Electric Highway®, our support of the lifesaving RAC Rescue helicopter service, and our school education program, which has taught thousands of students crucial road safety lessons.

More recently our initiatives include launching Reconnect WA, which is seeing RAC partner with local governments across the State

to breathe new life into cities, towns and neighbourhoods through projects such as pedestrian and cycling-friendly streets, pop-up plazas and community art.

We also continue to highlight critical issues for government investment, including the urgent need for the $900 million Regional Road Safety Program to be fully funded and delivered. It was pleasing to see this initiative acknowledged during the 2021 State Election. This included the re-elected WA Government committing an additional $50 million towards the Program, adding to an already established $455 million funding partnership between the State and Federal Governments.

Every one of our members plays a crucial role in our journey. And while we have come a long way, we still have more work to do.

This includes making road safety a social, health and economic priority for WA because tragically, someone is killed or seriously injured on our roads every five hours. Urban sprawl is

Horizons / June-July 2021

also increasing congestion and our vehicle emissions are reducing air quality.

These are just some of the social and economic issues we face as a State, and at RAC we are focused on overcoming them.

Our 2030 vision is for a safer, sustainable and connected future for Western Australians.

This means a future where all communities are thriving, vibrant and connected.

Where new ways of moving around are bringing people together, making us happier and healthier. A place where our streets and roads are safer, and we spend less time commuting. Where it’s easier to walk and ride around our neighbourhoods. A place where there are more transport options, improved roads, safer vehicles, cleaner air, greener towns and cities, and an environment preserved for future generations.

RAC President

Jacqueline Ronchi RAC Council Club Patron His Excellency the Honourable Kim Beazley AC, Governor of Western Australia President Jacqueline Ronchi Senior Vice President Professor Ross Dowling AM Vice President John Driscoll Members of Council Leanne Bishop Allan Blagaich Freda Crucitti Jill Darby Tony Evans Stephen Fox Dalton Gooding Alden Halse Brian Hanson

This is our vision for WA and we are all in to achieve it.

Emmerson Richardson

Jacqueline Ronchi

Jim Walker

Julie Wadley

RAC President

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YO U R R A C

Member feedback

@racwa editor@rac.com.au

Learning to tow Many thanks RAC for the free Caravan Safety Session, it was so well presented and informative.

It would be fantastic if something like this was mandatory for all drivers to attend prior to towing.

I feel equipped to manage towing a caravan (or boat, or trailer) safely now and there will be significantly less yelling on arrival at the caravan park now!

Claire Tinson

RAC bstreetsmart 2021 Earlier this year, more than 12,000 Year 10 – 12 students attended our annual RAC bstreetsmart youth road safety event at RAC Arena. The event featured a live crash scene re-enactment attended by WA emergency services, and powerful presentations from people who have been directly impacted by road trauma.

We recently shared a story on Facebook about how deadlocks in certain cars can inadvertently trap someone inside.

Here are some of our members’ experiences: Happened to me, scary.

Locked in while my husband went to the shops, luckily he wasn’t gone long.

Michele Burns I tested this on my Subaru Forester, and was locked in.

Nothing could open the doors, or windows, other than starting the engine. Quite scary!

Helna Lindhout My car deadlock locks all doors from outside and all the doors from inside except the driver’s door.

So I can still exit from the driver’s door if deadlock is engaged. I think all cars should have this feature!

Jessie Pisani Holt

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June-July 2021 / Horizons

YO U R R A C

Aircraft art Seven-year-old Jaxon was inspired when he saw an RAC Rescue helicopter fly by, so he decided to whip out the textas and get creative.

Thanks to his dad Shane for sending us a picture of the finished artwork. We love your picture, Jaxon.

1960s first aid I’m staying with my 84-year-old father and needed a Band-Aid after cutting myself, so the 61-year-old RAC first aid kit came out. The kit was a gift to my dad from his mother when he got his first car. Thank you RAC! Carolyn Cook

Winning feedback

Sign of the times I love the Kwinana Smart Freeway operation. I travel from Farrington Road all the way to the city each weekday. One great part is the multiple large information screens that this week read “Don’t drive tired”. A very valuable message but I think one to maybe include, and just as important, is the phrase Bill Murray used in Groundhog Day, “Don’t drive angry”. Ron Smith

Getting creative with the karris Member Gary Tate took this picture during his recent stay at RAC Karri Valley Resort. The final product is actually three separate images digitally stitched, with a photo filter applied for a ‘painterly’ effect.

Send feedback and win Send us your opinions and feedback via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or email and you could win a year’s Classic Roadside Assistance.

For assistance or more information call 13 17 03 or visit rac.com.au Terms and conditions on page 73. Published letters may be edited for style and length.

While we try to respond to all letters we receive, a response cannot be guaranteed.

Horizons / June-July 2021

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Highlights of the adventure include: • Spend 7 nights in our network of luxurious safari camps and lodges • Discover the vast Arafura Swamp, location for the film ‘Ten Canoes’ • View ancient rock art galleries and cruise magnificent wetlands at Davidson’s Arnhem Land Safaris, Mount Borradaile • Enjoy a Welcome to Country performance at Yirrkala, followed by a special bush medicine and healing demonstration • Explore historic Victoria Settlement at Port Essington, Circa 1838 • Discover the pristine waters of the Cobourg Marine Park Sanctuary • Barramundi fishing & a range of breathtaking marine adventures • Enjoy an array of 4WD safaris and be immersed in this sacred land

YO U R R A C

News in brief from the RAC and beyond

How to weigh up a car’s fuel economy

driving environments, displayed in litres of fuel consumed per 100km.

(L/100km)

For consumers in the market for a new car, fuel economy is often high on the list of factors that guide their buying decision.

The Urban driving figure represents average fuel economy when the vehicle is used at lower speeds in stop/start urban driving conditions where the car is idling for longer periods and more fuel is generally used.

A vehicle’s fuel consumption figures are available from various sources, including the manufacturer’s website, independent car reviews and also on the vehicle itself.

All new cars sold in Australia must display a Fuel Consumption Label on the windscreen. This provides information about the vehicle’s CO2 emissions as well as fuel consumption numbers for three different general

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The three fuel consumption numbers are Urban, Combined and Extra-urban.

The Extra-urban fuel consumption figure represents average fuel consumption, driving at highway and freeway speeds as well as higher outermetropolitan speeds.

The figure for Combined fuel economy is a combination of both Urban and Extra-urban.

These figures are based on a specific and tightly controlled laboratory fuel consumption test. For this reason, they

will be different from the fuel consumed by the vehicle when driven on public roads, but they can be useful for new car buyers to compare consumption numbers across models because the test is the same for all cars.

For motorists mostly using their vehicles in metropolitan areas, the higher Urban driving figure may provide a more realistic estimate of the vehicle’s average fuel consumption.

Another consideration when comparing the fuel consumption of vehicles is the type of fuel they use.

Some consumers may be tempted by a car’s low fuel consumption figure, however if the car needs premium fuel to achieve the stated fuel consumption, any reductions in the car’s thirst for fuel could well be offset by the extra cost of the fuel in the first place.

For more facts about fuel see page 23.

June-July 2021 / Horizons

YO U R R A C

Nominations to election for RAC Council Rescue helicopter’s mission milestones No day is ever an ordinary one for the crews who operate the RAC Rescue helicopter service, but the first few weeks of this year did see a number of particularly significant mission milestones.

On 30 January 2021, the service flew its 8000th mission, rescuing a motorcycle rider who had been injured in a crash near Dunsborough.

During February, the crew flew their most northerly mission in the state, going to the aid of those trapped by the Carnarvon floods.

As part of that mission, the crew also transported the most people in a single day, providing emergency evacuations of 35 individuals. In total there were 67 people evacuated across one week, three of whom were medical rescues.

For more information and stories about RAC Rescue and how we’re supporting the WA community, visit rac.com.au The Rescue helicopters are sponsored by RAC, funded by the State Government and managed by the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES).

What should you do when you’re waiting at an intersection to turn right, and the traffic light turns yellow?

Filtered right-hand turns, where there’s no dedicated right-turn arrow, can be difficult to navigate.

Drivers must make several decisions including whether to enter the intersection and whether there is a suitable gap to enable a safe turn.

When the green light facing you is lit, and there are no signs or signals stating that turning right is prohibited, you are allowed to enter the intersection and turn right.

Before you make your turn though, you must give way to oncoming traffic travelling straight ahead or turning left (except if they’re turning left at a slip lane), and only cross

Horizons / June-July 2021

when there is an adequate gap in traffic so you can turn safely.

You must also give way to any pedestrian crossing the road you’re entering.

The Road Traffic Code 2000 (WA) states that if you’ve stopped, having fully entered the intersection, and the light changes to yellow or red, you must leave the intersection as soon as you can safely do so.

This means you don’t need to rush across in front of traffic to make your turn before the light changes to red. Wait until it’s safe to complete your turn, even if this means you need to finish crossing on a red signal.

RAC Council is the governing body of The Royal Automobile Club of W.A. (Incorporated) (RAC). Each year eligible members of RAC may apply to nominate for the Council. If you have an interest in electing for the Council and would like more information about the role of Council please contact CouncilElections@rac.com.au Nominations to fill five vacancies on the Council of RAC open on Thursday 1 July 2021 and close Friday 30 July 2021. Subject to the Rules of the Club, retiring members of Council are eligible for re-election.

Eligibility requirements for nominees are set out in the Rules (Rule 7) and By-Laws available on the website: rac.com.au, and in the Associations Incorporation Act 2015 (WA).

Prospective nominees are referred to Rules 12.3(a) and (b), which read: “12.3(a) Except in the case of retiring Councillors who are eligible and offer themselves for election or re-election under rule 12.3(c) and subject to rule 14.1(b)(ii), a person must be nominated by at least 25 Members who are Voting Members as at the date of lodgement of the nomination form.

12.3(b) The procedures to be followed in conducting the nomination process must be set out in the ByLaws, including the requirements for the nomination form and the date by which the nomination form is required to be lodged.”

Nomination forms may be obtained on application to the Chief Executive, RAC, 832 Wellington Street, West Perth, from 1 July 2021.

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O U R S TAT E

By Ruth Callaghan

Looking for the cheapest petrol and diesel is already a thing of the past for a small but growing number of drivers. Here’s how ‘fuelling up’ may change in the future.

While the take-up of electric vehicles (EV) has been relatively low in Australia (under 1 per cent of the light vehicle fleet, according to the National Transport Commission) the global switch from internal combustion engines is accelerating.

In February, Land Rover announced it would phase out diesel engines from 2026 and axe all petrol and diesel power by 2036. Ford has a target of selling only electric cars in Europe by 2030, and will not sell petrol or diesel there from 2026.

Volkswagen has also doubled down on its EV targets, and is forecasting the sale of a million EVs this year as it looks to compete with Tesla.

Horizons / June-July 2021

“Previously we haven’t had a great variety of EVs in Australia but we are seeing more coming into the market and more manufacturers signalling that they are moving away from internal combustion engines,” says RAC Group Executive, Social and Community Impact, Pat Walker.

How EV-ready are we?

Despite vast improvements in the distances a modern EV can travel between charges, a recent RAC survey shows access to public chargers remains one of the main barriers to EV purchase (with the cost of purchase being the top barrier).

But the gaps in WA’s public EV charging network are beginning to close, albeit slowly.

The website Plugshare shows Perth now has about 120 charging stations from Yanchep to Rockingham, about the same number as there are petrol stations that sell LPG. In contrast, Fuelwatch shows 400 petrol stations in metro Perth selling unleaded petrol.

“We’re starting to see good in-roads in terms of the infrastructure that will

be needed to support and encourage increased demand and uptake of EVs. This has included RAC rolling out the RAC Electric Highway® in 2015, which now features 12 locations between Perth and Augusta with publiclyaccessible fast and ultra-fast chargers, and we’re also seeing other expansions of private and public charging in WA.” So what does ‘filling up’ look like when you’re powered by electrons not petrol? For a start, it depends on the type of EV you’re talking about.

Three types of electric vehicles There are three main types of EVs found on Australian roads, and while numbers are still small, their popularity is growing.

In 2020, about 60,000 hybrid vehicles were sold, according to the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI). Most of them were Toyota hybrids, which don’t require plugs to charge. Instead, the electricity generated by the petrol engine and when braking is used to recharge the battery (a system that is common to other types of EVs as well).

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O U R S TAT E

Hybrids include an internal combustion engine so you can drive using ordinary fuel, as well as running more sustainably with electric assistance.

Some hybrids also come with the option to charge the battery externally. Known as plug-in hybrids (PHEVs), there were just under 1700 sold locally last year in Australia, according to the FCAI. Then there are battery electric vehicles (BEVs), which are solely powered by electricity and use an external charging outlet to charge the battery; these produce zero tailpipe emissions. At least 1750 were sold in Australia in 2020, with a further 3430 Teslas sold, according to national vehicle registrations.

In the Australian new car market in 2020, where overall vehicle sales were down by 13.7 per cent, sales of EVs bucked the trend, with battery EVs up 16.2 per cent, PHEVs up 18.2 per cent and hybrids up by a whopping 93.7 per cent (based on FCAI data).

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Charging at home vs public chargers For both BEVs and PHEVs, the most common charge point could well be a regular power point in the family home.

Both the easiest and slowest option, this is sometimes called trickle or level 1 charging, where the car is plugged into an ordinary household 10 amp plug (up to 2.4kW) powered by the electricity grid.

If you had a 16 amp socket (up to 3.7kW of charging power), such as those used to power a caravan, that would cut the charging time to about 12 hours.

For faster charging, you need a level 2 charger (sometimes referred to as a destination charger), either installed at home or at a residential development for overnight charging, or in parking locations.

These have between 7kW and up to 22kW of charging power – at the lower end it would fill a Nissan Leaf battery in up to seven hours.

Just like petrol, of course, you don’t have to fill up entirely. Ten minutes at approximately 7kW gives you 7.2km of distance (another handy rule of thumb), so an hour will give you more than 40km on the road.

More commonly though, locations offer level 2 charging at the higher charging rates, using 22kW chargers, which provide approximately 110km of charge per hour.

All the chargers described so far have used AC or alternating current power, with a converter built into the EV converting the charge to DC (direct current) power that is fed into the car battery.

But one of the big advances in EV technology is charging vehicles with DC directly into the car, and that’s what you can expect at most publiclyaccessible charging stations.

These level 3 chargers can range from fast charging, delivering 50kW, enough to juice up a Nissan Leaf in just

June-July 2021 / Horizons

O U R S TAT E

ultra-rapid charging stations in West Perth and Australind as part of the RAC Electric Highway®. These provide users with up to 400km of driving range in less than 15 minutes, which is a significant move forward.”

on using domestic power where we were staying. Relying solely on charge stations, particularly with their limited availability will require good planning though, particularly for other car models with reduced range.”

Changing the ‘refuelling’ routine

For more Western Australians to take to the open road in an EV, regional and rural chargers will have to be both present and visible.

The range of charging options might sound complex, but for EV drivers, the process of planning a slow charge overnight, with faster top-ups on the road, quickly becomes as natural as refuelling.

That’s the experience of Paola Chivers, an RAC member who recently toured the South West in her 2020 Hyundai Kona Electric.

40 minutes, to ultra-rapid at 350kW. Ultra-rapid chargers are suitable for use by all EVs; however, while there are currently no models on sale in Australia capable of accepting this full charge rate they can charge at rates higher than 50kW. When vehicles are capable of accepting the full 350kW, up to 1000+ km of range could be added per hour of charging.

The car, which has an approximate range of 449km, left Perth with a 96 per cent charge, and was topped up several times over a week-long journey.

“We travelled 240km from Perth to our accommodation in Yallingup, then an additional 20km picking up guests to bring them to a reception venue, and we plugged the car into a standard household power point overnight,” Chivers says.

“Public EV fast-charging stations are continuing to evolve, including improvements in their charge rate capacity, their durability and their ability to integrate with charging communication networks,” RAC’s Pat Walker says.

The accommodation power point was used again for a few days, while a DC charge back at her workplace was used on the fourth day to bring the car up to 98 per cent. “This was the first major trip in our car and I had calculated distances for the whole trip and identified back-up fast charging places if needed.

“Fast and ultra-rapid chargers are more expensive and best suited to locations where users will not dwell for very long and just want a quick top-up charge between their departure and destination locations – such as when travelling along the RAC Electric Highway®.

“Everything went as planned and in fact the range anxiety quickly dissipated.

I drove to the speed limit, we had the air conditioner on, streaming music and were full luggage-wise but one of the decisions on choosing the Hyundai Kona was its range.

“In partnership with Chargefox, we were thrilled to recently install

“We certainly didn’t experience any issues recharging as we’d planned

Horizons / June-July 2021

The WA Government allocated $21 million to the new State EV Strategy, the majority of which will enable the delivery of a state-wide network of charging stations, from Perth to Kununurra, along the south-west coast to Esperance and east to Kalgoorlie.

“The fuel retailing industry is well established, and we’ve already seen diversification in the offerings at service stations.”

But traditional service stations may also look to add EV charging to their forecourts, recognising that their business model will need to shift with changing consumer preferences and demand for different fuel types.

“The fuel retailing industry is well established, and we’ve already seen diversification in the offerings at service stations,” RAC’s Pat Walker says.

“The opportunity to not only cater for EV recharging but also to leverage any extra business brought by EV drivers is no doubt already being planned for.”

But while the transport sector plays a critical role, it could be the property sector that makes the biggest difference to EV take-up.

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O U R S TAT E BELOW: One of two ultra-rapid charging stations that are part of the RAC Electric Highway®.

and the general public, powered by the onsite battery and generating revenue for the strata company.

DevelopmentWA chief executive Frank Marra says the project illustrates how residential developments can be configured to support EV uptake, so everyone can power their vehicle from home.

“As an organisation, about 14 months ago we started to incorporate provisions in our design guidelines that require developers to allow for chargers in the circuitry in higher density buildings. We can see some of the astute developers in WA are already doing this,” he says.

“As the cost of the battery in the cars comes down, reducing the overall price, the economy of this will really start working.”

“The reality is that if we commit to things like this, we can make our state EV-ready.”

As the number of manufacturers investing in EVs grows, so has investment in battery technology, Marra says, making batteries lighter over time, cheaper to produce, more durable and capable of driving an EV further.

“From a metrics point of view, the maintenance of electric cars is very cheap, and the running costs of them can be extremely low.

Chargers in residential developments East Village at Knutsford, a sustainable residential community in Fremantle delivered by DevelopmentWA, the State Government’s development corporation, is one example of how mandating the infrastructure for EV charging can make it more attractive to buy into the new technology.

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The site, which will feature 36 dwellings, has been designed to allow each home to enable EV charging. It’s one of a number of green initiatives at East Village, which include a shared community battery, so homes can be 100 per cent powered by renewable energy.

East Village also features a shared 50kW EV fast charger which is available for use by residents, visitors

“If you’ve got a 1.5-kilowatt solar panel system on your roof, and you plug your car in to be charged by the PV system, you’re probably going to get between 60km and 80km of ‘free’ kilometres every day.

“As the cost of the battery in the cars comes down, reducing the overall price, the economy of this will really start working.”

June-July 2021 / Horizons

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Hand-crafted Avro Lancaster Bomber sculpture with bronze-tone finish Showcasing the 617 Squadron motto ‘Après Moi, Le Déluge’ • Clock and thermometer inspired by the Lancaster’s authentic cockpit instruments

Includes a fascinating

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Role: H ea Introd vy bomber uc Retired ed: 1942 : Numbe 1963 (Canad r a) Crew: built: 7,377 7: aimer, pilot, flight op en Length erator, mid gineer, navi -upper : 69 ft ga 5 in (2 Heigh and re tor, bomb t: 1. ar gunn Power 19 ft 7 in (5 18 m) ers .97 pl engine ant: 4× Rolls m) s, -Royce Maxim 1,280 hp (9 54 kW Merlin XX um sp V12 ee ) each at 15,0 00 ft (5 d: 240 kn (2 80 mph Guns: ,600 m 8× ) , 450 km guns in 0.303 in (7 /h) .7 Bombs three turret mm) Brow s, ni : lb (6,3 Maximum no with variatio ng machine 00kg) ns rm al or bo modifi cation 22,000 lb G mb load of s to bo rand Sl 14 mb ba am wit ,000 y. h

In 1942, the ground-breaking Lancaster Bomber entered into RAF service, making military history as it confirmed its battle-ready status. Symbolising the combined hopes of the Allied nations, this spectacular aircraft delivered a record 608,612 tons of bombs during its remarkable 156,000 sorties, proving itself to be one of the most successful night bombers of WWII! Now you can celebrate the landmark 70th anniversary of a true icon of the skies with the perfect tribute – the Lancaster Bomber Masterpiece Clock is a collectable unique to The Bradford Exchange.

Mastercrafted by hand for authentic detail...

• Market-first sculpture honouring the fearless Lancaster pilot Guy Gibson’s iconic aircraft, flown during his command of the famed 617 Squadron.

• Authentically mastercrafted with a gleaming bronze-tone finish – reminiscent of stunning museum-quality treasures.

• Mounted on a richly grained and polished wooden base with a precision Quartz movement clock and indoor thermometer – both inspired by authentic instruments from the Lancaster’s cockpit!

• Clock face inscribed with the stirring 617 Squadron motto of ‘Après Moi, Le Déluge’ (After Me, The Flood) – a striking reminder of the bomber’s contribution to the acclaimed ‘Dam Busters’ raids.

• Featuring the symbolic laurel wreath of victory, in addition to a brilliant brass-like plaque proudly commemorating the Lancaster’s service with the RAF!

Astounding quality and unique design – order yours today!

This anniversary edition is a one-of-a-kind celebration of an iconic aircraft and a legendary pilot. Arriving with a Certificate of Authenticity, this fine masterpiece is yours for just five interest-free instalments of only $35.99 – that’s $179.95, plus $19.99 postage and handling, backed by our famous 365-day guarantee. You need pay nothing now. To reserve your edition, simply complete and return the coupon or go online today at www.bradford.com.au/aircraft

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www.bradford.com.au/aircraft ©2021 The Bradford Exchange Ltd. A.B.N. 13 003 159 617 426-B3949.01

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YO U R R A C

RAC Home Security Survey To better understand community attitudes towards home security, the 2020 RAC Home Security survey asked members about their experiences with home burglary, their security behaviours in and around the home and their level of concern about home security in their area.

When did it happen?

6am-6pm

33%

40%

6pm-6am Unknown

26%

Most common home security incident

As with previous surveys, theft from front and rear yards remains one of the most common security incidents. Nick Rossi from RAC Security says householders should not neglect items kept outside their home. “You’d be surprised by what people leave in their unlocked backyards and even more surprised at just what gets taken. Don’t forget to secure your backyard, and lock up any valuables in other easily accessible areas outside your home.”

Despite many people working from home for extended periods during 2020, the survey also found that 40 per cent of those who reported having had a burglary experience ‘within the past 12 months’ were burgled during daylight hours (6am-6pm).

16%

of those who reported having experienced a home security incident at some time had property stolen from their front or backyard.

How did home break-ins happen?

40%

28%

10%

6%

Window broken/forced

Door broken/ forced

Door was unlocked

Garage/shed door

MORE THAN 60% of burglary experiences involved forced entry of a door or window.

Where were occupants at the time?

65% Burglary experiences 1 in 3 people reported having experienced a home security incident at some time, with 11% being victims in the last year.

20

Not at home

24%

At home

11%

Away for holidays/work

June-July 2021 / Horizons

YO U R R A C

Home risk factors

18% of those with rear

Home security behaviours

1 in 3 people keep spare

laneway access have had items stolen from their yard in their current home.

house keys outside their home.

1 in 10

people don’t usually activate their security system when leaving home.

homes are not visible from the street Security tip The possibility of being seen breaking in is a big deterrent for a burglar. The front of your home should ideally be clearly visible from the street.

1 in 7

2 in 5

people don’t usually lock their valuables in a safe place when leaving home.

35% of people with sheds

leave them unlocked.

Security tip In addition to having property stolen from your unlocked shed, tools and other hardware equipment inside it could be used to break into your home.

It’s recommended you keep your shed locked when it’s not in use.

1 in 3 homes don’t have a garage door.

To assess the level of security in and around your home and for ideas on how to improve it, use the RAC Security checklist.

Visit rac.com.au/securitytips

RAC Member Home Security Survey, November 2020.

953 respondents.

Horizons / June-July 2021

21

N E P O NOW ING

R HEAR U O Y L FOR AL E NEEDS CAR

Life’s much better with hearing aids

I love my new hearing aids. They’re the best thing since sliced bread. I wear them all day every day and wonder how I coped without them. I’d missed out on years of social life because as much as I’d try to contribute to conversations, my efforts weren’t always successful and at times the acquaintance would look at me and walk away. It was really embarrassing, as I felt I must have said the wrong thing. It was like I was trying to put together the pieces of a puzzle, exhausting work with me attempting to make out what was said. So I’d fade into the background, keeping a low profile, hoping nobody would notice.

Undoubtedly, my hearing was affected by my line of work, exposed to noisy conveyer belts and trucks, all without wearing hearing protection. Hearing tests were always done, but I don’t think I’m an orphan in not acknowledging that my hearing wasn’t surviving the

stress put on it by constant noise. But getting hearing aids has changed my life. I can hear the birds and the chooks, and people ordering their coffee in a café. If I go out for a meal, I can have a proper conversation. I’m back in the thick of it and lovin’ it.

My wife Jenny thinks my hearing aids are great too, because she doesn’t have to constantly raise her voice to be heard. “I can’t talk about him behind his back now, I don’t need to repeat myself and he asks me not to yell when I’m speaking to him at what was previously his normal hearing volume”, says Jenny.

To anyone who is noticing that they aren’t hearing as well as they should, I say go and get a test done with Brad’s company, and they’ll set you straight. If I take my hearing aids out now, I want to put them right back in again because I don’t like not being able to hear well. Life’s much better with hearing aids. Terry Chimes

Register for a FREE hearing aid trial Let us show you how effortless hearing should be - even in background noise - with a 2-week home hearing aid trial.

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*Eligible pensioners and veterans may be entitled to free or subsidised digital hearing aids and free hearing services.

Conditions apply to clients under the HSP. To find out if you’re eligible, visit hearingservices.gov.au.

O U R S TAT E

FUEL USE PRICE AND QUALITY HOW WE COMPARE TO THE REST OF THE WORLD

WHERE DOES OUR FUEL COME FROM? Of all refined petroleum products sold in Australia in 2019/20, more than 70 per cent were derived from crude oil imported from overseas.

The remainder was also imported but as already refined petroleum.

You may be surprised to learn that only a small percentage of crude oil imported into Australia comes from the Middle East.

COUNTRIES FROM WHICH AUSTRALIA IMPORTS CRUDE OIL

BRUNEI DARUSSALAM

Currently most of the fuel sold by fuel retailers in Western Australia comes through the BP refinery in Kwinana.

With BP’s Kwinana refinery and Melbourne’s Altona refinery set to close this year, Australia will have an even greater reliance on international supply chains for its refined fuel product.

Horizons / June-July 2021

MALAYSIA

7% 26%

Malaysia and the USA between them make up almost half of our imported crude oil (47%).

LOCAL REFINERIES

7%

LIBYA

11% UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

21%

USA

23

O U R S TAT E

FUEL USE PRICE AND QUALITY

COUNTRIES WITH THE

MOST EXPENSIVE PETROL

HOW WE COMPARE TO THE REST OF THE WORLD

1 NETHERLANDS

$

2 DENMARK

$

3 GREECE

$

4 FINLAND

$

5 ISRAEL

$

2.55/L 2.41/L 2.34/L 2.34/L 2.30/L

(PREMIUM UNLEADED*)

COUNTRIES WITH THE

LEAST EXPENSIVE PETROL 1 USA

95C/L

2 CANADA

$

3 TURKEY

$

4 CHILE

$

5 AUSTRALIA

$

1.28/L 1.28/L 1.32/L 1.37/L

(PREMIUM UNLEADED*)

REGULAR UNLEADED

21

81 60

1.12

1.23

1.27

45

53

65

1.02

67

70

62

58

24

TAX

NZ

AUSTRIA

JAPAN

KOREA

1.60

PRICE

1.72

1.73

1.77

CHILE

AUSTRALIA

USA

CANADA

PRICE COMPARISON

97 75

1.10 63

91 86

TOTAL FUEL PRICE June-July 2021 / Horizons

O U R S TAT E

COUNTRIES WITH THE

MOST EXPENSIVE DIESEL 1 ISRAEL

$

2 SWITZERLAND

$

3 BELGIUM

$

4 SWEDEN

$

5 NORWAY

$

2.41/L 2.28/L

*Our international petrol price comparisons use premium unleaded petrol as many countries do not have the octane equivalent of Australia’s regular unleaded petrol.

Prices in AUD for premium unleaded petrol including taxes. September quarter 2020, OECD. Source: Australian Petroleum Statistics, December 2020. Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources.

2.21/L 2.19/L 2.12/L

COUNTRIES WITH THE

FUEL USE

LEAST EXPENSIVE DIESEL 1 USA

90C/L

2 CHILE

90C/L

3 CANADA

$

4 NEW ZEALAND

$

5 TURKEY

$

6 AUSTRALIA

$

IN WA

91 RON

45%

1.04/L

40%

1.06/L

DIESEL

1.16/L 1.18/L

8% 95 RON

7%

98 RON

RETAIL FUEL PRICES

AUSTRALIA 2015-2020 150

120

90

2015

Horizons / June-July 2021

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

25

O U R S TAT E

BP KWINANA CLOSURE

For some, the announcement

by BP in October 2020 that it would close its refinery in Kwinana by mid2021 and convert it to an import terminal was a surprise.

However, considering the huge, export-focused oil refineries that have been coming on stream in Asia and the Middle East in recent years, the efficiencies of these in comparison to the Kwinana refinery had become increasingly obvious.

For example, the giant Uslan refinery in South Korea, from where Australia receives some of its refined fuel, is about seven times bigger in capacity than BP Kwinana.

BP itself said low margins and an oversupply in the local market combined to make the Kwinana refinery no longer economically viable.

Exxon Mobil offered similar reasons in February 2021 when it announced

the closure of its refinery in Altona, Melbourne, a move that will see just two refineries left operating in Australia by the end of 2021: Ampol’s Lytton plant in Brisbane, and Viva Energy’s Geelong refinery.

“BP have probably made a smart business decision to shut down the relatively small refinery and make more profits from operating their port facilities as an import terminal,” said Perth-based fuel industry expert Costa Tsesmelis, of Protos Consulting.

Tsesmelis told Horizons he believed it was unlikely WA drivers would notice any change in fuel pricing at the pumps stemming from the BP refinery shut down.

He said the question of fuel security was a complex one and depended on the scenario.

“A closure of the Strait of Hormuz (the narrow and busy oil shipping route linking the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman) for example, for a couple of months would cause major product supply disruptions in our region

irrespective of whether or not we are refining or merely importing product,” he said.

But Tsesmelis said while local fuel contamination could cause some temporary supply problems, BP Kwinana could probably store more finished product than when the refinery was operating, increasing fuel security with the terminal operations.

“Certain niche products for WA such as the Opal zero aromatics petrol for remote WA regions may no longer be readily available,” Tsesmelis said.

However, he expected contingency plans would be in place to ensure supplies of Opal continued.

One silver lining is that the closure of the Kwinana refinery is likely to result in a noticeable reduction in sulfur dioxide emissions from the refinery itself.

Though the BP Kwinana refinery shutdown will still be a major blow for those families affected by the loss of 590 jobs.

AUSTRALIA’S POOR FUEL QUALITY Australia is falling well behind other nations in fuel quality rankings.

The quality of Australian petrol is currently ranked 85th in the world behind Argentina (84th), Bosnia and Herzegovina (83rd), Algeria (82nd), Iraq (81st) and Mexico (80th). Of all OECD countries, Australia allows the lowest quality fuel.

Across Europe, the US and Canada, Russia, and most of Asia, the sulfur content of petrol is limited to 10ppm.

In Australia, the allowable sulfur content in unleaded petrol is up to 150ppm 15 times the ‘international standard’ of allowable sulfur content. When burnt in cars, this high sulfur content is detrimental to human health and the environment, and reduces the ability of vehicles to keep their total exhaust emissions down.

More than 99.99 per cent of countries that Australia imports refined 26

automotive petroleum from have an existing minimum fuel specification for sulfur of 10ppm.

Diesel fuel in Australia has met minimum 10ppm sulfur specifications since January 2009.

When emitted from vehicles in their exhausts, sulfur can bind with other compounds in the atmosphere to form small toxic particles and clusters that create visible smog, and easily dissolves in water. When large amounts of sulfur mix with water in the atmosphere, it contributes to acid rain.

In 2018, the Department of Environment and Energy released the Better fuel for cleaner air—draft regulation impact statement (Draft 2018 fuel RIS) which considered options including timeframes for implementing stricter fuel quality standards in Australia.

In its submission to the Draft 2018 fuel RIS, RAC called for the introduction of fuel improvements by 2022. In 2019 however, it was announced fuel quality improvements will not occur until July 2027.

HOW AUSTRALIA COMPARES ON SULFUR CONTENT IN PETROL (FIGURES IN PARTS PER MILLION)

AUSTRALIA UP TO

150

USA

10

CANADA

14 10

SOUTH KOREA CHINA EU JAPAN

10 10 10 June-July 2021 / Horizons

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“This Hearing Aid Has Changed My Life” Testimonials

“Wish I had gone to Hearing Loss Specialists sooner, my hearing aids have changed my life. I now hear sounds I had not heard for many years and my family and friends no longer have to repeat themselves.

Thank you, Gerry and staff, for your honesty, integrity and support. You are amazing!”

T.Kirk, WA. “I would recommend Hearing Loss Specialists for their service and understanding. I have tried other types of hearing aids for a few years, which have not been very successful, the noise of shopping centres etc. was unbearable, I would not wear them half the time because of that. The new ones I have now are brilliant, noisy areas are not a problem. The staff at Hearing Loss were very helpful and understanding. Five out of Five stars!”

G.Finnie, WA.

“Thank you to you Gerry and your wonderful staff.

My experience with your hearing loss practice has been excellent. The hearing aid you recommended are the best I have ever had. It’s a life-changing experience to be able to hear clearly and I so appreciate your patient and caring manner, Kind regards” M.Bowden, WA. “I have recently gone from old hearing technology from 6 years ago to the latest digital technology thanks to Hearing Loss Specialists. I must say I am impressed with the difference. I can hear from any direction and am able to communicate without straining to hear.”

T.Ovens, WA.

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Increasing evidence with hearing loss and the link to dementia Findings from a recent study* revealed a striking measurable improvement in memory after 6 months of daily hearing aid use. *(Anderson 2019 and Glick and Sharma)

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9350 6311

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Call today to book your appointment

CANNINGTON 12 Pattie Street

DUNCRAIG

Glengarry Specialist Centre

NEDLANDS

Hollywood Specialist Centre

ROCKINGHAM

Waikiki Specialist Centre

MOTORING

THE REAL COST OF BUYING THE WRONG CAR Even cars with a reputation for reliability may not hold together when it matters most.

If you were driving a 2007 Mitsubishi Lancer and were involved in a serious collision with another vehicle, your risk of being killed or seriously injured would be twice as high than if you’d been in a 2013 Volkswagen Golf.

That’s because the Golf gets a top 5-star rating for safety in RAC’s Used Car Safety Ratings while the Lancer only scores 1 star.

The release of this year’s Used Car Safety Ratings has seen many more used vehicles achieve a 5-star rating, according to RAC’s manager vehicles and fuels, Alex Forrest, giving car buyers across all categories and budgets a good selection of safer vehicles.

Horizons / June-July 2021

“Generally speaking, newer cars are safer and the safety improvements even across generations of the same vehicle can be clearly seen in models such as the Toyota Camry, Mazda6, and Toyota RAV4,” Forrest says.

vehicles are also poorer, with features such as autonomous emergency braking and lane keeping technologies less likely to be available.

“But newer isn’t always safer.

With the Used Car Safety Ratings based on real-world crashes, a vehicle’s size can also be a major factor.”

Smaller vehicles that did perform well for safety were European and in particular German cars. This is more often because these vehicles are in the luxury class so are more likely to carry a wider range of safety features.

In this year’s ratings, the ‘light’ and ‘small’ car classes had the highest proportion of poor and very poor performing vehicles.

This reflects the role vehicle mass plays in safety, with lighter vehicles performing worse on average.

But while these cars often have advanced safety for their age, maintenance costs can be higher for European cars than in similarly aged Japanese and Korean vehicles. Fortunately, midsized Japanese cars also did well in this year’s ratings.

Often the safety specifications of small and light

Overall, the safety performance of a vehicle

will depend on how many safety features are present, how well they are designed and how well they work in combination to offer protection from injury in a crash. Using the Used Car Safety Ratings as a guide will help simplify the process of identifying the safest possible car for the money you have.

How does your car rate?

For the full list of vehicles in the 2020 Used Car Safety Ratings guide, visit rac.com.au/ usedcars

29

MOTORING

OUR 10 SAFEST USED CARS UNDER $10K Using the annual Used Car Safety Ratings guide, we’ve found 10 cars with a 5-star rating that can be found for under $10,000.

Audi A3 2004 - 2013 From $5000

BMW 1 Series 2004 - 2013 From $6000

PROS Well-featured and refined interior, now almost fully depreciated. Great to drive, especially sports models.

CONS Potential for maintenance to have been skimped on.

PROS Economical, good handling, well-equipped, refined.

CONS Cost of parts and maintenance. Tyres may be more expensive than mainstream cars.

Nissan Pathfinder 2005 - 2018 From $9000

Nissan X-Trail 2007 - 2014 From $8500

BMW 5 Series 2003 - 2010 From $7500

Kia Carnival 2006 - 2011 From $6000

PROS Proven mechanicals in earlier models. Reasonable off-road ability.

CONS In later models, CVT reliability and thirsty V6 petrol engine.

PROS Affordable, good selection of vehicles in used market.

CONS Basic interior, engine noise due to CVT transmission.

PROS Interior refinement, good performance, great handling for vehicle size.

CONS Higher maintenance costs compared to mainstream cars.

May be difficult to sell later.

PROS Hugely spacious, flexible interior. Affordable.

CONS High fuel consumption on petrol models. Interior can wear quickly.

Ford Mondeo 2007 - 2015 From $5000

Holden Commodore VF 2013 - 2017 From $9900

Mitsubishi Triton 2006 - 2015 From $7000

Subaru Liberty/ Outback 2010 – 2014 From $9000

PROS Spacious, especially the wagons. Diesels are efficient, great alternative to an SUV. CONS Servicing diesels can be pricey, lack of cruise control on some models, drab interior.

PROS Plenty of room inside, excellent handling.

CONS V6 engine can be coarse, technology beginning to age.

PROS Good value. Hardy, but simple interior materials.

CONS Coarse engine in earlier models.

PROS Full-time all-wheel drive.

Outback does SUV job without looking like one.

CONS Tyres can wear more quickly.

*Prices sourced from publicly available used car listings in February 2021. Due to ongoing changes in demand, prices for some models currently advertised may differ from those listed. We also remind readers that these are advertised asking prices rather than actual sale prices, and therefore should be used as a guide only.

30

June-July 2021 / Horizons

MOTORING

What you could save by making a safer choice Every used vehicle has its own unique history, so finding out as much as possible about the vehicle you’re considering buying will mean you can make a more informed decision.

For many used car buyers, the most important prepurchase checks are those that will save them from being financially stung once the car is theirs. This can include finding out the service history of the vehicle, whether it is mechanically

sound and checking if it has finance owing on it from a previous owner.

These are all important enquiries, but one of the most important questions to ask about the car is often overlooked in the process.

How well would it protect you in crash?

It is estimated that if all vehicle buyers in Australia chose a car that had the highest safety rating, road trauma could be reduced by 33 per cent.

Up to 290 lives could be saved and serious injuries to another 5800 people could be avoided.

Knowing the safety rating of a used vehicle is the most important detail you can check before making a decision to buy. Fortunately, finding a used vehicle with the features you need that also has the highest used car safety rating is getting easier.

Today around 92 per cent of all new vehicles sold in Australia hold the maximum

5-star ANCAP safety rating. As those vehicles filter through to the used car market, their safety credentials also have the potential to benefit used car buyers.

With around 75 per cent of car buyers purchasing used rather than new vehicles, putting the safety rating of a used car at the top of your shopping list has the potential to change road crash outcomes for all road users.

Know your stars The Used Car Safety Ratings (UCSR) should not be confused or compared with the ratings given by the Australasian New Car Assessment Program

Horizons / June-July 2021

(ANCAP). ANCAP also uses a five-star rating system but only tests new vehicles, deriving its results from laboratory crash testing and the vehicle’s safety

technology. The star ratings used by the UCSR program are derived from the data obtained from real world crashes.

31

a j o u rn ey th at ’s b eyond

E X T R A O R D I N A R Y

I N D I A N PA C I F I C & THE GHAN

DARWIN

PACK AGE I N CLU SI ONS

4

Litchfield

Katherine

2 nights all-inclusive rail journey on the Indian Pacific, Perth to Adelaide 1 night accommodation in Adelaide at Eos

by SkyCity including breakfast

P ERTH – A D EL A I D E – DARW IN Alice Springs

10 DAYS

2

9 NIGHTS

Treat yourself to the best of both worlds with this immersive itinerary that includes two of the world’s most iconic rail journeys – the Indian Pacific and The Ghan. Combining remote outback vistas and cosmopolitan city stays, this journey truly captures Australia’s remarkable diversity.

2

INDIAN PACIFIC

Kalgoorlie

PERTH

THE GHAN

Marla

Cook

4 nights’ accommodation at the Vibe Hotel Darwin Waterfront including breakfast daily

Rawlinna 1

ADELAIDE

3 NIGHTS

At Sal Salis Ningaloo Reef you’ll discover the rugged beauty of the Western Australian bush and the stunning Ningaloo Reef. Swim alongside majestic whale sharks in this all-inclusive and utterly unforgettable offer.

INCLUSIONS • Accommodation in a Sal Salis Wilderness Tent with eco-en suite bathroom • Chef prepared dining, with an open bar of fine wines and beverages • Guided wilderness activities • Swim alongside the majestic Whale Sharks • Return transfers to and from the camp

$3,320 *pp

1 day Litchfield National Park Waterfalls Tour

OFF TRAIN EXPERIENCE

Exclusive Beach Safari Camp

from

‘Charles Darwin’ Sunset Dinner Cruise Half day Jumping Crocs and Nature Adventure

NO. OF NIGHTS STAY

*Advertised prices are per person based on Motor Org Special Holiday fare, in a Gold Service Twin Cabin on Indian Pacific, Perth to Adelaide and The Ghan, Adelaide to Darwin based on travel in April 2022.

Offer valid for new bookings from 01 June to 31 July 2021. Travel validity is between 01 April to 31 August 2022. Offer is subject to availability. Blackout dates apply. All discounts and savings have been applied to the price. Save up to price is based on Everyday fare. Not available with any other offer. If advertised hotel is not available, a similar property of Journey Beyond’s choosing will be booked. Full Payment is required at the time of booking. Booking and credit card fees may apply. 100% Cancellation fees apply. The fare is non-transferable and non-refundable. Should suspension of services occur due to governmentimposed restrictions, 100% of the monies paid will be placed in a future travel credit. For full terms & conditions visit https://journeybeyondrail.com.au/. Prices correct as at 13 April 2021. E&OE. | 00488JBR

4 DAYS

2 nights all-inclusive rail journey on The Ghan, Adelaide to Darwin

SAVE UP TO $270 PP ~

*Advertised prices are per person based on Advance Purchase rates, in a in a Wilderness Tent based on travel in April 2022. Offer valid for new bookings from 01 June to 31 July 2021. Offer Valid for arrivals between 01 March and 31 July 2022 . Offer is subject to availability. Blackout dates apply. All discounts and savings have been applied to the price. Save up to price is based on Everyday rates. Not available with any other offer. 100% Cancellation fees apply.

The fare is non-transferable and non-refundable. Should suspension of services occur due to government-imposed restrictions, 100% of the monies paid will be placed in a future travel credit. For full terms & conditions visit https://www.salsalis.com.au/. Prices correct as at 14 April 2021. E&OE. | 00488JBR

from

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T R AV E L

FIVE EPIC WA ROAD TRIPS THAT NEED A FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE

BY CHRIS MORTON

ABOVE: Cape Leveque Road, Broome.

Western Australia’s vast distances can be both daunting and exhilarating, with opportunities to find places that you can have all to yourself.

So many Western Australian road trippers are now pushing a little further to find a truly unique adventure in their own backyard.

But to really get away from the state’s well-trodden paths and experience some of our most incredible natural wonders, a reliable four-wheel drive is a must.

Horizons / June-July 2021

Once you’ve gained some solid fourwheel driving experience in a range of conditions and terrain, the adventures on offer across the state can be truly breathtaking.

To get you started, we’ve highlighted five epic WA road trips. Some will suit novice four-wheel drivers; others are only recommended for those who are highly

experienced but each one will take you through stunning landscapes that you simply wouldn’t be able to reach without your trusty four-wheel drive.

As with any off-road adventure, thorough preparation and planning is essential. No matter what your level of experience, gather as much information as you can about the route you’re taking. Have all the gear on board that you might need in case things don’t go to plan, and don’t be tempted to tackle any trickier drives until you have a good amount of experience.

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T R AV E L

TRIP 1:

The Holland Track The Holland Track was first established in 1892 by experienced bushman John Holland as an alternative route from the south to the booming goldfields around Coolgardie. Establishing a track that allowed the passage of horse-drawn carts over 500km through seemingly impenetrable bush in just over two months was heralded as a remarkable achievement for the time. The twoweek journey was a major thoroughfare for miners travelling from the south, only becoming superseded with the extension of the railway from Northam to Coolgardie.

Although the original track started at Broomehill, most trips along the track commence from Hyden. Starting from Wave Rock, you’ll travel through sand plains and heath, interspersed with eucalypt woodlands. The route is dotted with granite outcrops of varying sizes as well as historic sites. A section of the No. 1 Rabbit Proof Fence is also crossed. As this section is still

maintained, a permit is required to travel along the fence maintenance track.

Even though you may hear other travellers tell you that they have driven the entire track in a two-wheel drive, we ask that you don’t. Only travel this one in a four-wheel drive, stay out of mud holes when you can and avoid creating new tracks. Minimise your impact so that future generations can also enjoy our heritage.

Spring is the best time to travel, when the wildflowers are blooming and before the summer heat. Winter should be avoided due to sections of the track becoming impassable.

Vehicles travel along the track in both directions. Keep a look out for oncoming vehicles and be prepared to pull over for larger groups. The towing of caravans along it is not advised.

There are no supplies, fuel, or water available along the track so ensure you carry enough to last. A minimum fuel range of 450km is recommended with enough water for each person in your party for a minimum of three days.

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Both Hyden and Coolgardie offer some great local history and significant landmarks that are well worth a look. Catch the sunrise and sunset from Wave Rock, book a local tour or even dip your toes in the water at Lake Magic.

Fast facts - trip 1 Difficulty

 Easy to Moderate.

Time

 Allow 3 days (2 on the track and 1 day to get home).



More information Wave Rock Visitor Centre 9880 5182.

Coolgardie Visitor Centre 9026 6090.

Ian Elliot

ABOVE: Sunset at Wave Rock near Hyden; RIGHT: Holland Track - Cave Hill Woodlines.

Given the remoteness of the area, ensure you have adequate medical supplies, a first aid kit, tools and spares, including a tyre repair kit and compressor. The safest way to travel is in convoy with a group.

June-July 2021 / Horizons

T R AV E L BELOW: Cape Peron coastline, Francois Peron National Park.

TRIP 2:

Middle Lagoon (Dampier Peninsula) Picture pindan red cliffs along secluded turquoise beaches and you’ll find yourself somewhere along the Dampier Peninsula, north of Broome.

The notorious Cape Leveque Road had long been known as a destroyer of cars and trailers for those who either failed to deflate their tyres or reduce speed, with the corrugations providing a suspension-damaging ride for the unwary. Scheduled for completion by the end of 2021, the sealing of the road will not only provide all-weather access to the communities, pastoral leases and commercial operations along the peninsula, it will also allow easier access for visitors into the area.

Getting to Middle Lagoon still requires a capable four-wheel drive due to heavy corrugations and sand in places. To reduce wear and tear it’s best to deflate your tyres (including on whatever you’re towing).

The majority of the campgrounds in the area are privately owned and bookings are essential. Pender Bay itself is a National Heritage-listed coastal wilderness where you can stay at Whalesong Campgrounds. This secluded paradise is the perfect spot to enjoy stunning ocean views for a few days. The area has some great fishing, however due to the possible presence of saltwater crocodiles, swimming is not recommended.

Pender Bay is located off Middle Lagoon Road via Cape Leveque Road and is approximately 4.5 hours from Broome.

Ensure you have everything you need with you. The closest store is Beagle Bay.

accessible by two-wheel drive, a high clearance four-wheel drive is the only option for venturing further north.

The park is well known as being where the ocean meets the desert, featuring magnificent red cliffs, sandy white beaches and the turquoise blue waters of Shark Bay and is the perfect location for anyone wanting to wet a line or just soak in the remote beauty.

There are five campgrounds and camping fees apply.

Big Lagoon on the western side is a great location to launch boats or to explore the area by canoe or sea kayak and offers basic barbeque and toilet facilities.

Once the site of a pearling camp in the late 1880s, Herald Bight provides some protection from prevailing southwesterly winds. There is a toilet here but no drinking water. Boats can be launched from the beach however the sand is extremely soft.

TRIP 3:

Francois Peron National Park

South Gregories, Gregories and Bottle Bay are all located on the northern end of the park and offer great locations for fishing, swimming, and snorkelling.

There are basic toilets and gas barbeque facilities.

Once a pastoral lease, Francois Peron National Park occupies the area to the north of both Denham and Monkey Mia. Although the Peron Heritage Precinct, which is comprised of the original station homestead, is

Caravans and large trailers are not recommended due to the extremely soft sand and deeply rutted tracks. Offroad camper trailers and smaller boats are okay to tow. All vehicles entering are asked to drop their tyre pressure

Horizons / June-July 2021

before venturing in (including what you’re towing). There are no facilities for fuel, food or water so ensure you’re fully stocked for your stay. If you start to run low on essentials head to Denham for supplies.

Fast facts - trip 2 Difficulty

 Easy to Moderate.

Time

 Allow at least ½ day to

travel from Broome, longer if you plan on stopping off at Beagle Bay.



More information visitbroome.com.au

Fast facts - trip 3 Difficulty

 Moderate.

Time

 If you’re heading in for a

day trip from either Denham or Monkey Mia then allow a full day to explore. Due to the soft sand it can take several hours to reach Cape Peron. Take your time and explore everything the park has to offer.



More information dpaw.wa.gov.au sharkbay.org

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T R AV E L

TRIP 4:

Nuytsland Nature Reserve Located 450km east of Esperance is the extremely remote Nuytsland Nature Reserve, home to iconic destinations such as Cape Arid, Point Culver, Israelite Bay and the stunning Baxter Cliffs.

Entering the reserve from the western end will bring you through Cape Arid National Park before passing Point Malcom and Israelite Bay. Stretching from Israelite Bay to Wylie Scarp, the heath-covered coastal plain is broken up with salt lakes and clay pans with eucalypt woodlands making way for bluebush which is typical of the Nullarbor. Spectacular granite outcrops dot the landscape, bursting through the surrounding vegetation.

Aside from the spectacular coastal scenery and countless opportunities to discover your own private beach, the area boasts the Eyre Bird Observatory and the longest underwater cave in the Nullarbor, Cocklebiddy Cave. The area is also steeped in history from Western Australia’s pioneering past as well as once being a significant hunting ground for the local Aboriginal people.

Given the extreme remoteness of this location, travellers need to ensure they’re well prepared and have adequate experience. There are no services available so you must be fully self-sufficient and carry communications equipment, first aid and recovery gear. Track conditions vary greatly depending on the time of year and previous weather events, making some sections impassable. Beach driving in this area can be notoriously difficult and care must be taken.

Fast facts - trip 4 Difficulty  Extremely difficult.

Time

 Travelling from Esperance,

the main section of the reserve is a 6-hour drive.

Cape Arid and Israelite Bay are about 2 hours east of the town. At a minimum this is an overnight trip, however given the distances involved we recommend staying longer.



More information dpaw.wa.gov.au visitesperance.com

TRIP 5:

The Canning Stock Route Described by many as one of the most challenging four-wheel drive adventures in Australia, the Canning Stock Route (CSR) is not for the inexperienced or ill-prepared. This 1800km desert track claims fourwheel drives every season with the cost of recovery for broken vehicles measured in the thousands. Solo travel is not recommended, and the towing of trailers, campers and caravans is discouraged.

Completed in 1910, the CSR was once the longest and toughest stock route in the world and thanks to its length and extreme isolation, attracted travellers from around the world.

The CSR follows a series of water holes and wells that were used to supply water to the cattle being driven along it and crosses three deserts: Gibson, Little Sandy and the Great Sandy Desert. The entire trip is filled with vistas rarely seen that are both spectacular and terrifying in their remoteness. Sites of great cultural significance to local Aboriginal people

BELOW: Nuytsland Nature Reserve - pristine beach south-west of Point Malcolm.

June-July 2021 / Horizons

Alan McCall

Ian Elliot

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T R AV E L

Phil Bianchi

exist along its path and are not to be interfered with. Given the sensitivity of the terrain, ensure that you do everything you can to minimise your impact on the landscape.

Only well-prepared travellers should attempt the CSR. High clearance fourwheel drives that have been thoroughly prepared prior should be used.

There are no services available along the CSR and all provisions must be carried. There are opportunities to have fuel left along the CSR but this must be arranged prior to departure.

Phil Bianchi

Fast facts - trip 5 Difficulty

 Extremely difficult.

Time

 Travel is recommended north

to south starting at Halls Creek. It is approximately 30 hours from Perth then allow a minimum of 14 days to travel the length of the CSR. Travel from Wiluna back to Perth is approximately 11 hours.



More information permits.canningstockroute.net.au TOP: Canning Stock Route - south of Well 26; MIDDLE: Camping on the Canning Stock Route; BELOW: Canning Stock Route - Slate Range south of Well 27.

Horizons / June-July 2021

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Wander through the

wildflowers

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T R AV E L

THE KIMBERLEY by land and water

By Mark Daffey

The Kimberley is one of Australia’s last frontiers – a stunning wilderness filled with ancient landscapes. And there are two ways to see it that are both very different.

Adventurous travellers will find the Kimberley region hard to resist. Its gorges snake towards the ocean fed by some of the highest, most voluminous waterfalls in the land.

There are brittle mountain ranges

worn down by time. Beaches and inlets that become inundated beneath some of the world’s highest tides. Its offshore reefs and lagoons protect turtles and rays and humpback whales swim

in its ocean currents. There is nowhere else like it on the planet.

But which is the better way to explore it: by land or water?

BELOW: King George River gorge.

Horizons / June-July 2021

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T R AV E L

ABOVE: Purnululu National Park; BELOW: Horizontal Falls, Talbot Bay.

When to go

By land

Gushing waterfalls and incredible lightning displays are typical of the Kimberley’s wet season that lasts from November to April. Rivers swell and unsealed roads close, preventing overland travel beyond the Great Northern Highway that connects Broome and Kununurra via Fitzroy Crossing and Halls Creek.

Cyclones may occur during January or February as well, and it’s during these months that even the highway often closes. It also explains why cruises don’t operate until March – peak viewing time for waterfalls.

Broome is the largest town in the Kimberley with holidaymakers drawn to its resort accommodation and beaches.

But if you confine your visit only to here then you’ll definitely be missing out.

The south-easterlies start to blow by April, heralding the arrival of the dry season. Temperatures and humidity remain high and the inland regions begin to open up again. Vegetation is still green by June, when the tourist season reaches full swing. Days are predictably clear and dry and evenings cooler until August.

By September, temperatures are once again on the rise, steadily building until the monsoon rains arrive again in November. Cruises will have halted by this time and overland travel has most likely ceased.

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In the east, Kununurra is a leafy oasis set amongst orchards and farmlands that are nourished by the Ord River irrigation scheme. It’s the gateway to Hidden Valley, Lake Argyle, the Bungle Bungle Range, and the Wolf Creek meteorite crater. The Ord Valley Muster in May is the biggest event on the town calendar.

Just two roads connect the east and west Kimberley – the Great Northern Highway and the unsealed Gibb River Road. The latter is considered one of Australia’s great four-wheel drive routes, linking cattle stations that are as big as some European countries.

Arguably the region’s most spectacular natural attraction is the Bungle Bungle Range inside Purnululu National Park, with its massive banded sandstone domes resembling beehives. Easy walking trails here reach Cathedral Gorge and Echidna Chasm, while Piccaninny Gorge’s inner sanctum requires an overnight trek.

June-July 2021 / Horizons

T R AV E L

Mark Daffey

BELOW: Dawn view of a cruise ship in Prince Frederick Harbour; BOTTOM: Montgomery Reef.

Windjana Gorge and Tunnel Creek, in the Napier Ranges at the western end of the Gibb River Road, are popular destinations on day or overnight tours from Broome. The soaring walls of Windjana Gorge shade a series of pools teeming with harmless freshwater crocodiles, while the extensive Tunnel Creek cave system burrows through the ranges for close to a kilometre.

Following the Gibb River Road east, there are countless opportunities to branch away from the track to swimming holes and waterfalls. The rock pools in Emma, Bell, Galvans, Adcock and Manning Gorges are all great places to wash the red Kimberley dust off after a day of driving.

By water With very few exceptions, the Kimberley’s splintered, 2500km-long coastline is accessible only by boat. Massive tides ebb and flow with alarming speed and intensity here, dictating cruise itineraries on a daily basis. This is especially evident at Horizontal Falls, a tidal pinch that’s said to be like an ocean trying to squeeze through a letterbox.

The best way to feel that power is up close, on a motorised Zodiac ride.

Montgomery Reef is a truly fascinating sight, rising from the sea like a waterlogged spaceship as the tides recede. Also offshore are the Lacepede Islands. Both are regular inclusions in cruise itineraries.

King George Falls is Western Australia’s largest waterfall by volume and is most impressive immediately following the wet season, when twin cascades tip over the edge of a sandstone plateau that’s 80m high.

King Cascade is a spring-fed fountain that tumbles year-round into an inkblack lagoon 20km inland from the Prince Regent River mouth.

There are idyllic anchorages right along this splintered coast. Headlands and islands rise vertically from the sea in Doubtful Bay and at the mouth of the Hunter River in Prince Frederick Harbour – a notorious haunt for crocodiles and sharks.

Back on the highway, Grade V and VI rapids on the Fitzroy River attract white-water rafters during the wet season, then tranquil boat tours run through Geikie Gorge once the rains subside and the river calms.

In the far north, the four-tiered Mitchell Falls is the highest waterfall in Western Australia. Many visitors see the falls by helicopter excursions from cruise ships, but the overland journey along the bone-jarring Kalumburu Road is an adventure in itself.

Horizons / June-July 2021

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Mark Daffey

Mark Daffey

T R AV E L

ABOVE: King Cascades on the Prince Regent River; BELOW: Sunset camel ride on Cable Beach in Broome.

ABOVE: Caves eroded by tidal waters in Winyalkan Bay.

Inland stays

Guests on APT’s Kimberley tours stay in the company’s own wilderness lodges near Mitchell Falls, Bell Gorge and the Bungle Bungle Range.

Accommodation is typically in private tented cabins, with open-air, threecourse dinners and buffet breakfasts included. Similarly, comfortable tented accommodation is available at the Marunbabidi Wilderness Lodge.

If you’re going overland, options range from $10-a-night bush camping to $3000 suites. Station stays are the most common way to overnight outside the towns. Several former cattle stations that are now preserved for wildlife and habitat conservation also offer overnight stays.

Station activities include helicopter flights over the Cockburn Ranges, tag-a-long four-wheel drive tours to remote gorges and waterholes, horseback and bird watching excursions, fishing and canoeing, and hikes along walking trails.

At the top end, El Questro offers luxury homestead stays perched on the edge of Chamberlain Gorge, while Home Valley’s shady ‘Grass Castles’ are situated on the banks of the Bindoola Creek.

There’s safari-style ‘glamping’ beside Annie Creek at the Australian Wildlife Conservancy’s Mornington Wilderness Camp, comfortable stockman’s cabins at Ellenbrae, homestead rooms at Mt Elizabeth and Mt Hart, rustic bungalows at Drysdale River, Savannah huts at Birdwood Downs, and bush huts and an air-conditioned bunkhouse at Diggers Rest.

Cruising the Kimberley Cruises were suspended during 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Some have already resumed this year, with many booked out months in advance. The cruise season begins in March each year – a month or two earlier than land-based tours, which are still at the mercy of the wet season – and ends in October.

Mark Daffey

Cruises depart Broome, Cygnet Bay or Wyndham. Vessels range from eightpassenger minnows to ocean liners.

As a rule, smaller vessels are more manoeuvrable, though passengers on larger ships can also access tight river gorges and beaches by tender.

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Standards range from five-star luxury cruise liners to budget charters where passengers sleep in tents and swags

June-July 2021 / Horizons

Mark Daffey

T R AV E L

ABOVE: Cockburn Range, El Questro Station; BELOW: Pentecost River Crossing, Gibb River Road.

on beaches. Facilities may include spa baths, helicopters, Wi-Fi capability, gourmet meals and extensive wine lists, with prices determined accordingly.

in to pitch tents, prepare meals or load up the truck under the watchful eye of an expedition leader, but the rest of the time is yours to enjoy.

COVID-19 prevention protocols vary from one cruise line to another. Before booking, ask what health and booking cancellation policies are in place.

Are refunds or credits offered, for instance? Are bookings transferable?

Do cancellation fees apply?

By joining a tour, you won’t be wasting time driving to and from the Kimberley either – just fly into Broome or Kununurra then off you go.

By tour or independently?

Land-based tours are essentially chauffeur-driven services through a remote area. You might have to chip

Horizons / June-July 2021

On the flipside, tour itineraries are pre-determined, with little flexibility to stay an extra day or two. The greatest advantage of travelling independently is the freedom it offers. You can take as long as you like and find camping spots away from the masses.

If you do choose independent travel, be well prepared especially along tracks like the Gibb River or Kalumburu Roads.

Away from the towns, you can restock supplies and fuel up at Mt Barnett Roadhouse (the entrance point for Manning Gorge), at the Imintji Store near Bell Gorge, or at El Questro. Be sure to take a detailed paper map – mobile phones don’t always work out here.

Above all, remember to stop, relax and take it all in whenever you can.

And count yourself lucky to be able to see one of the world’s last true wilderness regions.

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MOTORING

Motor news

By Alex Forrest

The latest news from the motoring world

Hyundai’s safety fence Palisade, as you may know, means a large fence for keeping undesirable things out.

You may also be aware that Hyundai saw fit to name its huge, eight-seater SUV the Palisade. Its refinement is a result of it being very good at keeping external noise out, and its imposing size and mass does engender a sense of safety. Also, when parked at the side of a road, the top-of-the-range Palisade can use its radars to scan traffic approaching from the rear. If it does detect an approaching vehicle, it’ll beep and display a warning on the dash saying to watch for traffic. So a pretty safe vehicle overall.

But the Palisade isn’t the only vehicle to be named after a big fence – it’s been done before with Chinese brand Great Wall. See our Hyundai Palisade review on page 47.

Glasses that see you The term ‘safety goggles’ has taken on a whole new meaning. Spanish-based car maker Seat has developed a pair of eyeglasses that track the wearer’s eyes using infrared sensors and cameras. The technology is being used

by Seat engineers to better design vehicle cabins to make them more intuitive for drivers to use. Seat said that by tracking a driver’s gaze, engineers can get precise information about how easily humans use vehicle interiors, such as the controls on the centre console, the infotainment system and the buttons on the steering wheel. The intention is to then design car interior controls that are more intuitive to help the driver’s eyes and mind return to focusing on the road more quickly.

Horizons / June-July 2021

Charging past 50 Secretly developed on a shoestring budget by Chrysler Australia and launched in 1971, the Valiant Charger had the odds stacked against it in its early days. However, with the option to choose a powerful six-cylinder engine combined with its cool, raked rear styling that included a ducktail spoiler, the Charger went on to be a roaring success. Roaring particularly loudly were those racing Charger variants, which utilised a trio of high-performance Weber carburettors to deliver the engine as much fuel as it could use. In fact, Chrysler Australia, Valiant’s parent company, flew a whole Charger car all the way to the Weber carburettor factory in Italy to ensure the engine was perfectly matched to the exotic carburettors. In 1972, a Charger R/T E49 finished in third place at the iconic Bathurst touring car race in New South Wales. Sales of Valiant Chargers benefited further from the simple but catchy ‘Hey Charger’ TV advertisements in the early 1970s, which included the open-palm two-finger ‘V’ salute and which, now 50 years later, still resonates with Charger fans. Charger production ended in 1978. In Western Australia, 2021 brings even more cause for celebration given the Charger Club of WA turns 25 years old. The club has even produced a book documenting its first two decades, which includes old advertising brochures lovingly reproduced, and images of old Western Australian Chrysler dealerships. The book costs $150 and is available by visiting chargerclubofwa.asn.au.

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MOTORING

Alex Forrest reviews the latest cars

Engine Features Safety Price

Specifications Engine: 1.5-litre 3-cylinder petrol turbo Power: 132kW (petrol); 60kW (electric motor) Torque: 265Nm (petrol); 160Nm (electric motor) Claimed fuel economy 2.2L/100km Price: fr $73,110 drive away ANCAP safety rating 

Volvo XC40 Recharge The XC40 Recharge plugin hybrid we tested for this review was launched in 2020, and uses a 1.5litre, three-cylinder petrol engine in conjunction with a 10.7kWh battery that powers an electric drive motor.

The fully electric XC40 Recharge is a different vehicle and should be landing on Australian shores in the weeks after this edition of Horizons lands in letterboxes.

At $73,110 drive away, the XC40 Recharge plug-in hybrid is expensive compared

46

to other non-hybrid premium small SUVs, including non-hybrid iterations of the XC40. Pricing for the petrol-only XC40 starts at $54,270 drive away.

But the Recharge plug-in’s party trick is that it can be charged up with a cable and can then run for about 40km on battery power alone. Using a regular household power socket, it’ll take four to five hours to fully charge from ‘empty’.

For most people living in urban areas with an average commuting round trip of approximately 30km, that will be enough. If you need to drive further than that

between charges, the petrol engine will kick in and help.

The XC40 Recharge also has the clever ability to save the battery’s power for later by pressing the ‘Hold’ button which lets the car favour the petrol engine and conserve the battery’s energy. This is useful when driving at highway speeds, where the battery would otherwise drain quickly.

In Hybrid mode (its default on start-up), power delivered from the combination of both petrol and electric sources makes for quiet but still responsive acceleration.

An XC40 Recharge plug-in would reduce your visits

to the petrol station and therefore lower your car’s exhaust emissions. You’ll also enjoy the turbinesmooth running when using the electric motor only.

Plus, you’ll be in a beautifully finished premium small SUV. But you’ll need to recharge it much more regularly than a fully electric car. And remember, when you do fill the petrol tank, it’ll need more costly 95 RON premium.

Finally, as we found with previous versions of the XC40, the large interior touch screen does take the driver’s eyes away from the road for longer than we’d like, such as when adjusting the climate control.

June-July 2021 / Horizons

Specifications Engine: 3.8-litre petrol V6 Power: 217kW @ 6000rpm Torque: 355Nm @ 5200rpm Claimed fuel economy 10.7L/100km (petrol V6)* Price: fr $66,400 drive away ANCAP safety rating Not rated

Hyundai Palisade With its eight seats, a luxurious interior, a Korean badge and huge size, the Hyundai Palisade occupies a unique pocket of the new car market.

Nowhere else can you get such a high-quality interior that can swallow eight people in relative comfort in an SUV package for under $70,000.

You might say the Palisade is the luxury people mover you get when you want the extra space but not the people mover part.

Horizons / June-July 2021

Though the entry-level Palisade costs around $66,000 drive away, the top-of-therange one brings all-wheel drive and a diesel engine and costs almost $83,000. That’s quite different from the Hyundai of 35 years ago, which made its Australian debut right here in WA with a tiny hatchback costing $9990.

The Palisade is 210mm longer and 75mm wider than Hyundai’s next smallest SUV, the Santa Fe, and you can feel the extra space everywhere.

This includes the legroom and headroom in the third row.

As with the Santa Fe, frontwheel drive versions of the Palisade get a petrol V6. If you

want all-wheel drive, you’ll have to get the 2.2-litre diesel.

buttons to select Drive, Park, Reverse or Neutral.

The Palisade’s 3.8-litre petrol V6 is creamy smooth and its refinement suits the rest of the Palisade well. Under acceleration in the wet, the front tyres can scratch for grip. That’s easy to manage with the throttle, but for towing we’d recommend the all-wheel drive diesel.

The rest of the interior has luxuries such as heated and cooled front seats and buttons to electrically release the second-row seats so the third row occupants can easily step through.

Overall, input into the suspension and steering tuning

by Hyundai’s Australian engineering team has produced a big SUV that handles more like a mid-size one.

Instead of a transmission lever, the Palisade has

We are also pleased to report that the Palisade comes standard with a full-sized spare tyre.

After the tyre pressure monitoring system indicated the pressure in the right rear tyre was low, we found it had been punctured by a screw on the road and swapped it for the identical spare.

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Specifications Engine: 1.0-litre, threecylinder turbo petrol/ electric motor Power: 74kW @ 4500-6000rpm Torque: 172Nm @ 1500-4000rpm Claimed fuel economy 5.4L/100km* Price: fr $30,490 drive away^ ANCAP safety rating 

Automatic, ^as tested

*

Kia Stonic The ever-present battle between car makers for consumers’ attention, and ultimately their dollars, in the baby SUV market has resulted in feverish competition and therefore some highly appealing choices for buyers.

These vehicles are otherwise known as city SUVs – tiny hatchbacks with raised suspension and some extra cladding around the wheel arches. Most of them are front-wheel drive only, and most cost several thousand dollars more than their lowerriding hatchback siblings.

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Nonetheless, city SUVs are the hot item right now, and the Kia Stonic, which is based on the Kia Rio, is right in amongst the main contenders.

Pricing for the Stonic starts at $23,490 for the entry level S manual, with the auto needing another $1000. The mid-spec Sport auto costs $26,490, while the GT-Line is $30,490.

The Stonic ticks boxes that are particularly important to buyers in this segment, such as its seven-year warranty, a good level of standard safety gear, cheap running costs and competitive pricing.

Even though the 1.0-litre turbo makes the same power (74kW) as the larger 1.3-litre engine in the cheaper Stonic variants, the 1.0-litre produces significantly more torque and can do it from very low in the rev range. This helps make the Stonic better to drive in city traffic, and it uses less fuel, too.

In the GT-Line, the 1.0-litre three-cylinder turbo only needs 91 RON regular unleaded fuel, which can’t be said of all small petrol turbo engines – many need 95 RON premium.

The Stonic’s interior is well laid out and practical. For example, rather than screen menus, there’s a physical button for

changing the radio between AM, FM and digital audio.

In the GT-Line, the 1.0-litre turbo is bolted to a seven-speed dual clutch transmission, which at low speeds can be slow to select the appropriate gear and get you going, especially when the engine start/stop function is turned on.

The Stonic’s styling is bold and modern, and well suited to this category where looks do count. However, we did find it amusing that there are two large fake exhaust outlets in the rear bumper, with the single small, real exhaust exiting surreptitiously under the bumper.

June-July 2021 / Horizons

Specifications Engine: 1.5-litre, three-cylinder petrol/electric hybrid Power: 85kW (combined petrol/electric) Torque: Not available Claimed fuel economy 4.0L/100km (AWD hybrid)* Price: fr $32,600 drive away^ ANCAP safety rating Not rated Automatic, ^hybrid 2wd GXL

*

Toyota Yaris Cross Sure, it still has Yaris in its name, but this is a very different vehicle from the Toyota Yaris you may know in the traditional sense.

Firstly, like the Kia Stonic also reviewed in this edition, the Yaris Cross is a city SUV. It’s designed more for those who want a taller ride height and slightly more road presence than a regular small hatchback, but with similarly low running costs and easyto-park dimensions.

As such, in the Toyota SUV range, the Yaris Cross

Horizons / June-July 2021

sits just below the CH-R small SUV, which Toyota introduced in Australia in February 2017.

The Yaris Cross is also unusual because it can be had as a hybrid, making it the first car in the city SUV class to get a hybrid powertrain.

It’s spirited to drive around town but very economical at the same time, and day-today running costs are low, which is helped by the fact it can use 91 RON fuel.

However, the initial purchase price is high compared to other city SUVs, with the cheapest petrol-only model starting at $30,500, and

the cheapest hybrid model costing $32,600.

The Yaris Cross comes in three model grades, being the GX, GXL and Urban. All three of these can be had with a petrol-only engine and front-wheel drive, a petrol/ electric hybrid in front-wheel drive, or petrol/electric hybrid with all-wheel drive.

A particularly likeable aspect of the Yaris Cross is its CVT transmission, which responds quickly and keeps acceleration smooth when the driver needs it and is totally fussfree at parking speeds.

There are some negatives

about the Yaris Cross which buyers will need to consider. Firstly, there’s the aforementioned price point.

For the top-of-the-range all-wheel drive hybrid Yaris Cross, you’ll need $42,450 drive away, though that does get you plenty of safety features including a centre airbag. You also have that hybrid system, which brings big driveability and fuel economy benefits.

Another minor pitfall is that if you plan to do some towing, the petrol-only version will be the best choice as its braked towing limit is 1250kg, whereas the hybrid’s is 400kg.

49

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DIRECT FLIGHTS FROM PERTH TO HOBART AVAILABLE | CONTACT YOUR RAC SPECIALIST TO TAILOR A TASMANIAN HOLIDAY TO SUIT YOU Terms and conditions apply. Prices are correct at 16 April 2021 and are subject to availability. Prices are per person, twin share and include GST. Prices are subject to fluctuation due to changes in surcharges, fees and taxes. Blackout dates, event pricing and minimum night stays may also apply. Offers apply to new bookings only and are valid until 9 December 2021, unless sold out prior and can be withdrawn at any time without notice. Itineraries are subject to alteration and cancellation without notice.

Accommodation is based on specific room types; upgrades are available at additional cost. ~Car hire rates include airport surcharges, daily registration recovery fees & administrative fees, excess reduction & unlimited km’s. #Car upgrade is subject to availability and is from economy to compact automatic. +Bonus credit is limited to one per package and can only be used for additional tours and attractions in the TasVacations program, cannot be exchanged for cash, credit or to discount the package price.**Bonus free petrol is based on a minimum night stay with Innkeepers Tasmania and valid for travel between 01.05.21 – 21.12.21. For further information and terms and conditions, please contact RAC Travel.

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MOTORING

Ask the

Car doctor

Our experts answer your questions

Win free fuel Send us your question for the Car Doctor and if it’s published, you’ll receive a $50 fuel voucher to use at any Puma location Australia-wide, thanks to RAC Member Benefits.

Send your questions to editor@rac.com.au or post to The Car Doctor, Horizons GPO Box C140, Perth WA 6839 Please include your full name, address and daytime telephone number with your question.

I wondered if I chose to change from regular unleaded fuel to premium in my car, would I need to empty/flush the fuel tank before doing so or can you just make the switch, and what benefits will my car have that I may not notice?

Tom, Carine Providing your car is designed to run on regular unleaded petrol, you do not need to empty or flush your car’s fuel tank in order to switch to running on premium petrol. You can just start filling it with premium instead of unleaded. When running on premium fuel, you may notice slightly crisper performance and/or a very small improvement in fuel economy.

However, the biggest change you’ll notice is the increased amount you spend on fuel, given 95 RON premium costs about 15 cents per litre more than regular unleaded. Unless your car’s manufacturer specifies that premium fuel is required, you will be better off financially by sticking with regular unleaded given the slight economy improvements usually aren’t enough to offset the extra cost of the fuel.

At the last service we were advised that there was a slight build-up of carbon on the throttle body and $265 was required (in addition to other servicing costs) to fix it. This was a surprise because as a result of the lockdown, our vehicle had travelled less than 2000km since the last service. In fact, some five months elapsed between filling the car with petrol about mid-March to refuelling again on 2nd September.

What causes carbon build-up and is it a result of lack of use of our vehicle?

Margaret, Dianella If the advice was that your vehicle’s throttle body had only a slight amount of carbon and you have not had any problems with running your car, it may be poor value to have this work done at this time. Using your car only for short trips, where it doesn’t get to full operating temperature for very long or at all, may contribute to carbon build up. However, if you don’t use your car at all, you won’t get any extra carbon build up.

If your question is chosen for publication, please allow up to eight weeks for delivery. See page 73 for terms and conditions of entry.

I have a 2016 Subaru Outback.

At my last service I asked if they could put two new tyres on the front and at the next service would replace the rear tyres. The answer was ‘no’, and that they needed to replace all at the same time or none at all. Why can’t I replace one or two at a time?

Peter, Australind The recommendation from Subaru is to replace all four tyres at the same time. Subaru has also said they must be replaced with tyres that all have the same degree of wear and are the same brand, size, load index and speed rating. The reason given by Subaru is that not doing so could result in serious mechanical damage to the drive train of your car. Specifically, it is the car’s all-wheel drive system that requires all tyres to be of the same circumference and grip levels. We would recommend getting at least three quotes from tyre sellers before committing to a purchase.

RAC members can take advantage of our Motoring Advice Line. If you have a motoring question, call 6150 6199 Monday to Friday between 9am and 5pm to speak to one of our experts.

Horizons / June-July 2021

51

YO U R R A C

People, places, prizes and RAC news

Early storm warning Many people associate storm season in the southern half of WA with the winter months of June to August, however some of the most damaging storms often occur earlier in the year, according to RAC Insurance claims data.

In May 2020, two storm events resulted in more than 10,000 damage claims to RAC at a cost of over $20 million.

Cold fronts early in the season can bring damaging wind, rain and even hail, with damage exacerbated by households often being unprepared for these early storms.

To make sure your home is well prepared, clear gutters and downpipes of debris to avoid water overflowing and potentially causing damage in

52

the roof space. Prune trees that are close to the side of your home to help keep gutters and downpipes clear through the winter.

Also, just prior to a storm, make sure loose objects in your yard are either stored or safely tied down. Trampolines are a particular hazard during high winds. RAC Insurance receives many claims for damage caused by unsecured trampolines that have been lifted and carried by the wind, so ensure they are safely secured.

Is your cover up to date?

Although preparation is important, storms can be unpredictable. Make sure your home is protected with RAC Home and Contents Insurance.

To get a quote or check you have the right level of cover, call us on 13 17 03.

Beat the winter blues with RAC Parks & Resorts If you’re overdue for a getaway, don’t let the cooler weather stop you. There are plenty of winter holiday packages on offer at RAC Parks & Resorts across the north and south of the state.

You can chase the sun and stay at RAC Monkey Mia Dolphin Resort for three nights from $299 per night, including a wildlife cruise and daily breakfast.

Or instead, opt for a romantic weekend in the forest near Pemberton, with a two-night stay at RAC Karri Valley Resort for $239 per night. The package includes daily breakfast and a dinner at the Resort’s Lakeside Restaurant. Plus, RAC members receive complimentary resort activities and late checkout.

To view the full range of winter packages, visit racparksandresorts. com.au/winterescapes Terms and conditions apply. See website for full details.

June-July 2021 / Horizons

YO U R R A C

Our 2021 Pet Search winners

How tyre tread works to keep you safe

More than 4400 West Aussie dogs and cats battled it out for the RAC 2021 Pet Search crown, and we’re thrilled to announce that the adorable Oscar and Norman are our grand prize winners.

Tread patterns on regular car tyres can vary considerably but for the most part, they’re all designed to do the same job on a wet road – provide an escape route for water to be squeezed away from beneath your tyre, and allow the rubber surface to maintain a good grip on the road.

Our panel of judges were charmed by Oscar’s contagious smile and Norman’s curiosity and mischievous nature.

Their owners will both receive a $500 RAC Parks & Resorts voucher for their next pet-friendly getaway, and $1500 in prize money.

Remarkably, the surface area of the tyre in contact with the road, known as the contact patch, is actually very small which makes the condition of the tyre critical to safe roadholding, especially in wet weather.

o view the full gallery of 2021 T Pet Search entrants, visit rac.com.au/petsearch2021

After a hot summer, make sure your tyres are fit for winter road conditions by checking the tyre walls for bulges and cracks.

Also check that the depth of the tread is adequate. The minimum legal tread depth in Australia is 1.5mm, but ideally you should consider changing your tyres once they get to 3mm of tread.

To check the depth, look for the wear indicator bars moulded into each tyre. If the bars are flush with the surface of the tread, it’s time to change the tyre. If your tyres don’t have wear indicators, use a tread depth gauge and measure the tread at different points on all tyres.

LEFT: Oscar (top) and Norman RAC 2021 Pet Search winners.

Win a double pass to see Aussie shows of your choice at RAC Arena We’re giving you the chance to see three events of your choice at RAC Arena, choosing from a list of incredible Australian performances and productions set to hit the stage before the end of the year.

To enter Simply visit rac.com.au/ winarena and fill out the entry form for your chance to win.

To stay up to date with all the great talent coming to RAC Arena, visit racarena.com.au For terms and conditions, see page 73.

Members can pick up a free tyre tread gauge at RAC Auto Services centres.

Just drop into one of the nine centres located across the Perth metropolitan area.

If you do need new tyres, call us on 1300 651 042.

Horizons / June-July 2021

53

Members save

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RAC can help with any battery situation Non-emergencies included

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YO U R R A C

School holiday cycle safety These school holidays, whenever you’re out riding your bike, always follow the rules for safe riding. To help you remember the rules, take our safe cycling word find puzzle and read Flutter’s tips.

RAC Little Legends Club® is a free and fun road safety program for kids. When they join the club, they get their own membership card with access to RAC’s great benefits and discounts.

For answers and even more puzzles, visit rac.com.au/puzzles

Word find

Flutter’s tips to stay safe on your bike

Can you find all ten road safety words?

WHEELS HELMET FOOTPATH BELL LOOK

TRAFFIC LISTEN SCOOTER RIDE BRAKE

W W E G M L L S N E K F P S P H Y O H P T P L C X O W P B F H J O F L G R V O O M L O E A G T T O H N Y A Q O O L H L D Q E P O E D M L F R K T P L Y O D D T C O R A D F P N E J P T B X P I H D Q O H I D B R Z O E D A P O B Q Y N Q C R Z M T I C T E D N W A G W F X B R Z N Q H W A L W X J L I O R A C U B V N H L I S T E N I A H R I D E K E E V I U P A N K F

W F K T F F F E J O P K G E W F Q X K W A O P L O V Z S U I W H E L M E T C C S I L V D X

Horizons / June-July 2021

> Wear a correctly fitted helmet > Wear bright or fluorescent clothing > Wear shoes to protect your feet > Make sure your brakes are working > Have bike lights and a bell > Ride on the footpath For more info and tips on bicycle safety, visit rac.com.au/bicycles

55

Endorsed by the Defence Force Welfare Association of Australia

VIETNAM VETERANS HONOURED

55th Anniversary of Australia’s First Troop Deployment Remembered

$29.99 + $9.99

Historic 24-carat Gold-layered Coin Honours One who was Only 19

Gunship, troop carrier, med-evac – the Iroquois “Huey” chopper became an iconic symbol for our Vietnam veterans

He was only 19, yet served his country with honour like his father before him

Available now for just $29.99, plus P&H

Vietnam 55 th Anniversar y Commemoration became unwitting casualties of a war nobody understood or wanted. The worst was to face them upon their return home.

Spat at, abused, denied return servicemen status that their fathers had enjoyed, they retreated from society. By 1987, our Vietnam veterans were duly given the recognition they so justly deserved. Their call to duty has reverberated through the Anzac legend, a lone voice seeking solace amongst the heroes of Gallipoli, Kokoda, Korea and other conflicts which have become part of our collective history.

That voice is now given substance and form in the “Call of Duty – Vietnam 55th Anniversary Commemorative” golden proof coin.

Our Vietnam veterans remain unique heroes in the Anzac legend. No service personnel before or after the conflict have endured as much on and off the battlefield.

Like the diggers of previous generations, they are deserving of our respect.

From 1962, when the first military advisors entered the region, the Vietnam theatre has polarised popular opinion.

As our troops were committed to action against the Communist People’s Army of Vietnam in 1965, it became apparent that the Vietnam conflict would be a war unlike any other. Waged on the nightly television news as much as on the battlefield, civilians saw war in all its ugly brutality. By the time of the Tet Offensive in 1968, serious questions were raised as to why our troops were fighting there in the first place. Were the Communists really a threat to our freedom? As the casualties mounted, so did the political rhetoric. Caught in the middle were our diggers. Whether they joined up freely or were conscripted ‘nashos’, they Shown larger than actual size of 38.6mm

How to order: Call: (02) 9841

Struck to a high specification and

Due to the extreme limitation, only the earliest responders will successfully secure this proof coin honouring our Vietnam veterans. A Certificate of Authenticity detailing important provenance information pertaining to the coin will be issued with the coin. Peak collector interest is all but assured for this long overdue commemoration to those who were only 19 and with it the potential of a swift, early sell out of the “Call of Duty – Vietnam 55th Anniversary Commemorative.”

©2021 The Bradford Exchange Ltd.

3311

118708

COMPLETE AND SEND THIS APPLICATION FORM IN AN ENVELOPE TO:

THE BRADFORD EXCHANGE, REPLY PAID 86369 PARRAMATTA NSW 2124

Reserve yours online now:

www.bradford.com.au/veterans

the lowest edition numbers. For this reason applications will be processed on a strictly first-come, first-served basis and are limited to one per Australian household.

Successful applicants also qualify to view the next coin in the Veterans Remembered Commemorative Collection for only $79.99 (plus $9.99 postage and handling) sent entirely without obligation on our 14day home approval service. All the coins are minted to Proof quality, the highest possible collector quality. Applicants may cancel at any time and all purchases are covered by The Bradford Exchange 14Day Money-Back Guarantee.

The earliest applications will receive

DELUXE PRESENTATION CASE

Each commemorative is individually numbered, meaning no two are alike. Yours is the one and only issue of its kind – the ultimate collector’s item

Open Mon-Fri 8.00am-5.00pm

QUOTE REFERENCE

layered in pure 24-carat gold, only 9,999 numbered issues will ever be minted. It is available now for only $29.99 – a saving of $50.00 – plus $9.99 postage and handling.

A.B.N. 13 003 159 617

VIETNAM 55

TH

ANNIVERSARY COMMEMORATIVE

Certificate of Authenticity

Our Vietnam veterans remain unique heroes in the Anzac legend. Perhaps no service personnel before or after the conflict have endured as much on and off the battlefield. And like the diggers before them, are just as deserving of our respect.

The story of our Vietnam diggers can now be told proudly, clearly and with a voice that acknowledges our debt of gratitude to them.

1962: Honouring those who were only 19. They were the forgotten diggers. A generation of young men who fought for Australia like their fathers before them. But they returned as outcasts. 55 years after our first troop deployment, a new crown coin has been struck to honour the men whose bravery will never be forgotten.

This limited edition commemorative depicts a digger ‘in-country.’ Ever vigilant, he surveys a terrain in which snipers may lay in wait. A flight of Iroquois “Huey” choppers loom overhead. Gunship, troop carrier, medivac, the Huey was an ever-present symbol of war and of home to the Vietnam digger as he answered the call of duty. The obverse features a commemorative seal depicting the “Huey” chopper, the years of military involvement and the heartfelt message “A Nation’s Gratitude”.

Struck to a high specification and layered in pure 24-carat gold, with a limitation of only 9,999 issues worldwide.

Alloy Fully layered in pure 24 carat gold Diameter 38.60mm Edition limit 9,999 issues Issuing authority The Commonwealth Mint Reverse Portrait of lone digger, his battalion in relief and the iconic “Huey” Obverse Commemorative seal depicting the “Huey”, years of service and the heartfelt message “A Nations Gratitude” Quality Proof, the highest possible quality, struck especially for collectors

© The Bradford Exchange

403-COM85.01

403-COM85.01

An elegant, high gloss case to display the coin will also accompany a future delivery and is yours FREE as part of your collection. Shown with a Certificate of Authenticity.

This coin is not legal tender and bears no monetary face value

YES, I wish to apply for the “Vietnam 55 th Anniversary Commemorative” for just $29.99 (plus $9.99 P&H).

I do not need to send any money now.

Mr/Mrs/Miss/Ms Address

First Name

Surname

ORDER REFERENCE:

118708

Postcode Phone

Email

Signature

Please allow between 2-10 business days for delivery. All sales subject to product availability and reservation acceptance. Credit criteria may apply. Our privacy policy is available online at www.bradford.com.au. You must be over 18 years old to apply. From time to time, we may allow carefully screened companies to contact you. If you would prefer not to receive such offers, please tick this box. q

Make the most of the great everyday savings you get as an RAC member. Whether it’s discounts on travel, fuel, gas for your home, pharmacy, groceries, entertainment, dining or RAC products and services – RAC members save every day.

RAC members save big on tickets from a range of cinema locations - see page 59.

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*38% discount off the usage component of the standard tariff for two years when selecting the Monthly Energiser plan.

To take advantage of this offer, you must enter your valid RAC membership number during the sign up process, and your application must be accepted by Kleenheat. Visit Kleenheat.com.au/rac for full offer terms and conditions.

June-July 2021 / Horizons

visit rac.com.au/mb for more

Get blockbuster savings on movie tickets That’s the power of membership

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Save 4 cents per litre at Better Choice That’s the power of membership Show your RAC membership card to save

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1300 929 929 | wizardpharmacy.com.au ^You need to supply us with the hard copy of your paper prescription at pick up. †We must have your hard copy paper prescription on file for script delivery. See wizardpharmacy.com.au/delivery for full home delivery criteria, terms & conditions.*Available to all current RAC members when a valid RAC membership card is presented in-store or online. RAC members don’t need to be a Wizard Rewards member to receive the 5% discount. Discount not available on PBS prescriptions, clearance lines or postage. RAC membership can only be associated with one Wizard Rewards card.

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June-July 2021 / Horizons

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*T&Cʼs apply. RAC Member discount applies to RRP and cannot be used in conjunction with other offers or deals. Free Water Quality Testing only available to homeowners living in the greater Perth Metro Area.

Please visit our website for more information. Offer valid until 31/7/2021

Horizons / June-July 2021

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June-July 2021 / Horizons

visit rac.com.au/mb for more

60 Starts Tuesday 1 June

Shop our 60th birthday deals in June and go in the draw to win one of two prizes every day!

Retravision is celebrating 60 years in business, leading the way with all the electrical stuff you love.

As part of our celebrations, we’ll be giving away two prizes every day in June. For your chance to win, simply shop online or in store – or subscribe to our eNewsletter.

In 60 years, a lot has changed, but there’s still a lot more in store at Retravision.

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@RetravisionAU Shop online 24/7 at retravision.com.au *Available to all valid RAC Members when a valid RAC membership card is displayed instore or used online. Discount not applicable to the following brands which are excluded from the RAC member offering including but not limited to: Asko, AEG, Falcon, Falmec, Gaggenau, La Germania, Miele, Speed Queen and Neff. Retravision acts as an agent for these brands and isn't permitted to offer a discount or bonus. Discount applies to products only and does not apply to installation services. Entries for the 60 Years 60 Giveaways competition close 12pm AWST on 30/06/21 - terms and conditions apply, see website for details.

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June-July 2021 / Horizons

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June-July 2021 / Horizons

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Horizons / June-July 2021

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Ready for a road trip?

Explore your very own backyard and see some of the best this country has to offer with Thrifty. Wherever you’re headed, you’ll save 15% on day rates, plus get 15% off each day on accident protection options. As always, when you book with Thrifty you’ll enjoy flexible bookings for full peace of mind.

rac.com.au/thrifty All vehicle rentals are subject Thrifty’s standard terms & conditions. RAC Members receive 15% off the best rate of the day, free upgrade where available, up to SUV vehicles only and $5 a day off accident protection options.

Save 40% on select First Aid Kits and Supplies Look out for your little ones, with our Tiny Tots First Aid Kit or stock up on First Aid Supplies.

Members save

40%

*

The power of membership

Visit stjohnwa.com.au/RAC or call 9334 1233 and quote RAC40 *Terms and Conditions Apply. Sale items and only available while stocks last. Offer ends 31 July 2021.

68

June-July 2021 / Horizons

and start saving today

Horizons

CONVERSION FROM OLD TO NEW COLORBOND ROOF SHEETS

BEFORE

more offers

COMMERCIAL ROOF SHEETING REPLACEMENTS

DBW ROOFING SPECIALISTS AFTER

Fully Registered Builder no: 101551

RESIDENTIAL BEFORE

RESIDENTIAL AFTER COMMERCIAL Full Colorbond Roof Replacements for Residential & Commercial properties.

CONVERSION FROM CEMENT TILES TO COLORBOND ROOF SHEETS

BEFORE

DURING

AFTER

“Full building service offered including modifications and renovations” • Conversion from tiles to tin

DBW

Roof replacements & multi • Replacement offor oldstrata tin roofs withdwellings new insurance and permits supplied • FullBuilders roof replacements for building residential and commercial Replacement of all roof • No smallsheets, repairsfascias and vents Full roof replacements for commercial, industrial and residential Builders co-ordinate all Shire and Engineer approvals.

No small repairs All insurance supplied.

0408 814 917 ROOF SHEETS dbwbuilders@yahoo.com.au CONVERSION FROM OLDDavid TO NEW COLORBOND COMMERCIAL ROOF SHEETING REPLACEMENTS BEFORE

Commercial & Residential Builders & Roofing Specialists Builders REG. NO. 101551.Valid until 31/07/21.

AFTER

» Members receive $500 off

FP_V2.indd 1

8/10/19 11:47 am

“Full building service offered including modifications and renovations” Roof replacements for strata & multi dwellings Builders insurance and building permits supplied Replacement of all roof sheets, fascias and vents Full roof replacements for commercial, industrial and residential No small repairs

Skylights and Roof Windows for any interior space!

David 0408 814 917

dbwbuilders@yahoo.com.au

Commercial & Residential Builders & Roofing Specialists Builders REG. NO. 101551. Valid until 31/01/20.

FP_V2.indd 1

31/07/21

8/10/19 11:47 am

» Members receive 5% off Solatube Brighten Up Series Skylights, Solatube Whole House Fans & Velux Roof Windows with SkylightsWA

Horizons / June-July 2021

69

en

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Show your RAC member card

Horizons

Hidden

$1 Save Save

WATER BORES

ATER BORES 18 METRE BORE

RAC members pay $4,000

$3,600

18 METRE BORE

•

plus get a free tap and

pressure release valve RAC members (worth $240)* pay $4,000 More RAC bore •

$3,600Save

packaged & depths available

on ongoing water bills

on ongoing wa bore drilled bills • Submersibleter

to 18metres (ideal in most lower-lying Perth suburbs) • Tier one multi-stage stainlesssteel submersible pump with an industry Submersible bore drilled beating P. M. Technology to 18metres (ideal in most Italian 1hp motor • Standard electrical lower-lying Perth suburbs) connection to house power Tier one multi-stage • Plumbed to existing reticulation stainlesssteel submersible • Your stainless steel pump pump andeep industry will bewith invisible, beneathP. theM. ground. beating Technology

$1000’s

– Ask us today!

R BORES

plus get a free tap and Italian 1hp0111 motor Call for a quote on 9246 Troy 0408 454 130 David 0499 248 562 | PERTH METRO pressure release valve on • Standard electrical on going Check us out online virginbores.com.au (worth $240)* connection to house power

18 METRE BORE

water bills

• Plumbed to existing More RAC bore reticulation packaged & • Your stainless steel pump • Submersible depths availablebore drilled will be invisible, deep *Subject to obligation-free site visit. Other depths & pump configurations recommended/available as required depending on your location & depth to water. Assumes electrical & reticulation connection nearby & accessible, up to 10m cable and pipe run. Cannot be claimed in conjunction with any other special offer. Valid until 31/03/20..

Must be claimed at time of quotation.

to 18metres (ideal in most beneath the ground. today!

RAC members – Ask uslower-lying Perth suburbs) • Submersible drilled to 18 metres $4,000 18 METREpay BORE •Call Tierbore one multi-stage for a quote on 9246 0111 (ideal in most lower-lyingsubmersible Perth suburbs) stainlesssteel Troy 0408 454 130 David 0499 248 562 | PERTH METRO • Tier one multi-stage pump with stainless an industrysteel RAC members beating M. Technology Check usP.out online virginbores.com.au submersible pump with an industry pay plus get a free tap and 1hp motorItalian 1hp motor beating P.Italian M. Technology *Subject to obligation-free site visit. Other depths & pump configurations recommended/available as required depending pressure release valve • electrical Standard electrical on•your location & depth to water. Assumes electrical & reticulation connection nearbypower & accessible, up to 10m cable and Standard connection to house pipe run. Cannot be claimed in conjunction with any other special offer. Valid until 31/03/20.. (worth $240)* toclaimed house power Must be at time of quotation.

• Plumbed connection to existing reticulation plus get a free tap and • Plumbed to existing • Your stainless steel pump will be invisible, More pressure release valveRAC bore reticulation deep beneath the ground. (worth $240)* packaged & • Your stainless steel pump depths available will be invisible, deep More–RAC bore packages available — Ask us today! beneath the ground.

Ask us today!

$3,600 $3,750 $4,220

Call for a quote on 9246 0111

ditions apply

No more rubbish!

In your pool this winter With Elite Safety I Debris Covers

Call 1300 136 696 poolcovers.com.au/commercial Visit our factory showroom at 10 Cressall Road, Balcatta

Troy 0408 454 130 David 0499 248 562 | PERTH METRO Check us out online virginbores.com.au *Subject to obligation-free site visit. Other depths & pump configurations recommended/available as required depending on your location *Subject to obligation-free visit. Otherconnection depths & pump configurations recommended/available as required depending & depth to water.

Assumes electrical & site reticulation nearby & accessible, up to 10m cable and pipe run.

Excludes low yield areas. on your location & depth to water. Assumes electrical & reticulation connection nearby & accessible, up to 10m cable and Cannot be claimed in conjunction with in any other special offer.

Applies package deals only. Valid until 31/07/21. pipe run.

Cannot be claimed conjunction with any other specialto offer.

Valid until 31/03/20..

Must claimedatatthe timetime of quotation.

Must be be claimed of quotation.

EC 14442

10% OFF TO RAC MEMBER S *Con

0’s $100 000’s

*Offer available until 31/07/2021 31/5/2020. Factory direct sales only.

Not vaild with any other offer or if Elite has to measure pool.

» Members save $710

» Members receive 10% off*

RAC Ad adjustments_Mar21.indd 3

31/3/21 9:07 am

Choose WA! Think big, support small. {Easy as!} Simply head to dinnertwist.com.au and enter WELOVEWA when you hit the checkout to receive $25 off anything!*

*Discounts valid until July 31st 2021. T&C apply. Limit of 4 orders only.

Max value $100. Please visit www.dinnertwist.com.au/RAC for more information.

» Members receive $25 off* 70

June-July 2021 / Horizons

and start saving today

Horizons

more offers

Having Difficulty on the Stairs?

31/07/21 Valid to 30/09/20 30/11/20

· Gutters and downpipes · Gutters and downpipes Roof restoration · Roof restoration Ridgecap re-pointing

• The only company to supply and install our own stairlifts • For straight or curved staircases • Indoor and outdoor lifts • Free home assessment • Fast installation • Safe and reliable

We will · Ridgecap beat anly Skylights re-pointing il! e owte qu W · Skylights All general roof repairs beat an!y quote · All general roof repairs work guaranteed

· All work guaranteed Re-roofs/Roof extensions · Re-roofs/Roof Free quotes extensions · Free quotes

Call 0439 707 578 Call 0439 707 578 or 9398 9861 or 9398 9861 www.roofrenewals.com.au

Maintain your independence, let Acorn Stairlifts keep you safe to enjoy your freedom!

300mm $185 ZINC 300mm $195 COLORBOND $190installed ZINC $185 ZINC Fully *Conditions apply $200COLORBOND COLOURBOND $195 30/11/20 valid until 30/09/20

1800 239 169

Fully installed *Conditions apply 30/11/20 31/07/21 valid until 30/09/20

www.roofrenewals.com.au

CALL NOW FOR YOUR FREE BROCHURE & QUOTATION

» Members get a free whirly bird on a full house gutter replacement*

» Members receive $100 off any new stairlift purchase

GARAGE DOOR NEEDING ATTENTION? pp p New Doors pp p Replacements pp p Services pp p Spare Parts We install, repair, and service all makes and models of doors & motors

9303 9334 Unit 1, 5 Quantum link, Wangara WA 6065

edenrocgaragedoors.com.au *must show or quote your RAC member number at time of booking.

Discount applies to garage doors spare parts and servicing only. Offer expires 30/09/20.

31/07/21.

30/11/20.

» Members save 10% off door spare parts and servicing* Horizons / June-July 2021

EdenRoc.indd 2

» Members save 10% on caravan parts*

25/3/20 4:17 pm

71

more offers

Horizons

END OF FINANCIAL YEAR SALE

MOBILITY SCOOTERS

LIFT & RECLINE CHAIRS

ADJUSTABLE BEDS Valid until 31/07/21

UP TO 20% OFF NEW MOTORISED MOBILITY EQUIPMENT Mobility Scooters • Adjustable Beds • Lift & Recline Chairs • Electric Wheelchairs + More Pop into one of our showrooms and test out the products for yourself www.motobility.com.au info@motobility.com.au

19 Pearson Way, Osborne Park (08) 9242 7333

2/17 Gordon Road, Mandurah (08) 9479 3232

» Members save up to 20% on new motorised mobility equipment. Some exclusions apply. Valid until 31/07/21 72

June-July 2021 / Horizons

Terms & conditions RAC Arena Promotion, page 53 The competition begins on 10 May 2021 at 09:00am and ends on 1 August 2021 at 11.59pm (Australian Western Standard Time). Up to one entrant (winner) may each be awarded only one prize as follows: One double pass to three events of their choice held at RAC Arena between 1 September 2021 and 31 December 2021. The winner shall be chosen by the judges from the entries at random. The winner will be drawn on 2 August 2021 and notified by writing. When the winner is notified of their prize they will also be provided with details as to the collection of their prize. The judges’ decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into. The promoter reserves the right not to select winners of all or any prizes in its absolute discretion. Each winner must claim its prize on or before 6 August 2021. Prizes must be claimed in person unless a winner is otherwise advised.

Identification, which includes a photograph, will be required. Prizes will only be awarded following winner validation and verification. This competition is subject to the promoter’s Privacy and Security Statement and Group Privacy Policy.

Car Doctor, page 51 Entrants may submit more than one entry.

Up to three entrants (winners) will be awarded only one prize as follows: one $50 fuel voucher to use in one transaction at any Puma Energy location Australia-wide. The prize is not transferable or redeemable for cash. Entries that do not, in the absolute discretion of the panel of judges, comply with these requirements

are invalid. The winner will be notified by email, telephone or letter. When the winner is notified of their prize they will also be provided details as to the collection of their prize. Entrants published in June/July 2021 Horizons must claim their prize by 14 July 2021. In the event that no contact details are supplied, or RAC cannot make contact with the winner, the prize may be withdrawn at the absolute discretion of Horizons magazine. Prizes will only be awarded following winner validation and verification. This competition is subject to the promoter’s privacy and security statement and group privacy policy.

Winning Letter, page 9 Entrants may submit more than one entry.

One entrant (winner) will be awarded only one prize as follows: a year’s Classic Roadside Assistance valued at $183. If the winner already has Roadside Assistance, the Classic Roadside Assistance will be applied as credit to their account until their cover runs out. Entries that do not, in the absolute discretion of the panel of judges, comply with these requirements are invalid. The winner will be notified by email, phone or letter. When the winner is notified of their prize they will also be provided details as to the collection of their prize. Entrants published in June/July 2021 Horizons must claim their prize by 14 July 2021. In the event that no contact details are supplied, or RAC cannot make contact with the winner, the prize may be withdrawn at the absolute discretion of Horizons magazine. Prizes will only be awarded following winner validation and verification. This competition is subject to the promoter’s privacy and security statement and group privacy policy.

Contact us The Royal Automobile Club of WA (INC) 832 Wellington Street, West Perth GPO Box C140, Perth WA 6839 tel: 13 17 03 rac.com.au Member Service Centres – Metropolitan Carousel Shop 1098, Westfield Carousel, 1382 Albany Hwy. Dianella Shop 20, Dianella Plaza, 360/366 Grand Promenade.

Mandurah Shop SP037, Halls Head Central, 14 Guava Way. West Perth (Head Office) 832 Wellington St. Member Service Centres – Regional Albany 110 Albany Hwy. Bunbury Primewest Centrepoint SC, 60 Blair St. Geraldton Shop 8, Stirlings Central SC, 54 Sanford St. Kalgoorlie 51-53 Hannan St. Travel Centres Applecross Shop 2, 14-16 Riseley St. tel: 6150 6459 Carousel Shop 1098, Westfield Carousel, 1382 Albany Hwy. tel: 6150 6454 Dianella Shop 20, Dianella Plaza, 360/366 Grand Promenade. tel: 6150 6455 Joondalup Shop T31, Lakeside Joondalup SC, 420 Joondalup Drive. tel: 6150 6477 Mandurah Shop SP037, Halls Head Central, 14 Guava Way. tel: 6150 6456 West Perth 832 Wellington St. tel: 9436 4830

Full terms and conditions for competitions available at rac.com.au/competitions

BATH TI ME One of Karratha’s hidden gems, Miaree Pool, is close enough for an after work dip. It’s warm fresh waters invite you in, but be prepared to share it with an abundance of birdlife. To live the not so everyday, every day, visit karrathaiscalling.com.au

Horizons / June-July 2021

73

YO U R R A C

Ten best (that you may not have known about)

Margaret River Adventure Co.

Things to do in the Margaret River region

Do you have an idea for The 10 Best?

Send your suggestions to editor@rac.com.au

Join an adventure wine tour For a different kind of wine tour, hop on Sean Blocksidge’s Margaret River Discovery Tour. Alongside a few bespoke winery experiences, you’ll sample gourmet local produce, go four-wheel driving, walk a section of the Cape to Cape track and canoe down the tranquil Margaret River.

Take a sourdough workshop The One Day All About Sourdough class at One Table Farm is a must-do for foodies visiting the region. Featuring crumpet, doughnut, pizza base and cracker demos, the workshop teaches essential sourdough skills, beginning with your very own 12-year-old sourdough starter provided by the farm.

Go adventure caving Giants Cave is one of the only caves within the region where you can experience a self-guided caving walkthrough by torchlight. Upon arrival, you’ll be given a helmet, a torch and a safety briefing before you descend a whopping 86 metres. Expect vertical ladder climbs, tight spots and rock scrambles.

Go ‘coasteering’ Described as a blend of rock-hopping, shore-scrambling, swell-riding and rock jumping, coasteering is a fascinating way to view the coastline up close. Run

by Dr Cam O’Beirne from Margaret River Adventure Co., these two-hour tours will see you don a wetsuit and jump into the ocean, making your way between rocks and shoreline to discover otherwise inaccessible places.

Safety is always a priority on the tours.

74

ABOVE: Coasteering along the South West coast.

Learn the art of glass making

Join a Wadandi cultural tour

As well as handmaking his own blown art glass, artist Gerry Reilly runs interactive workshops and classes at his Melting Pot Glass Studio. The ‘Create Your Own Wine Glass’ is a popular option, where you’ll have the chance to craft a totally unique, stemless wine glass. Bookings are essential.

The Wadandi people have a deep connection to the region covered by the South West’s Cape to Cape track.

To learn more about this history, join Koomal Dreaming’s Cape Cultural Experience, which includes a walking tour of local flora and fauna and a didgeridoo session.

Get hands-on with reptiles

Watch birds of prey take flight

The Discover Deadly Education Centre was founded to encourage a positive attitude towards ‘dangerous’ animals.

They host a range of interactive reptile activities, including crocodile feeding sessions, snake bite first aid workshops and the chance to hold pythons and lizards.

Visit a shell museum Home to Australia’s largest private collection of shells, the Bellview Shell Collection displays more than 30,000 rare specimens collected from all over the world. It also features rare shark teeth and handcrafted shell jewellery that’s available for purchase. The museum is open on weekends, public holidays and during school holidays.

The Eagles Heritage Raptor Wildlife Centre houses Australia’s largest collection of injured, orphaned and displaced raptors, including hawks, eagles, falcons and owls. Watch one of two 40-minute daily flight displays to see these beautiful birds up close, then pose for a photo with Ivy the barn owl.

Tour an organic farm and winery Burnside Organic Farm owners Jamie and Lara McCall offer a unique twohour tour of their 15-hectare farm. On the tour you’ll learn about organic farming and permaculture, explore organic vineyards and an avocado orchard, and taste fresh honey, capers and biodynamic wines produced onsite.

June-July 2021 / Horizons

We find the best, so you don’t have to.

RAC Home Repair & Maintenance We know their workmanship and you know our customer service » » » »

No call out fee 12-months guarantee* on all repairs Access a wide range of home repair services through our on-line booking system A dedicated customer support team available 24 hours, seven days a week

Members save

10% off labour*

The power of membership

Book online at rac.com.au/homerepair or call 1300 655 057 *Terms and conditions apply

Everything you need to take care of your home Don’t have RAC Combined Home and Contents Insurance?

Get $70 off for the first year when you switch online.

Get a quote at rac.com.au/homeandcontents Issued by RAC Insurance Pty Limited. Check the PDS at rac.com.au to see if this policy is right for you.

Discount subject to minimum premium. Cover for tools and household appliances are subject to policy limits