February 2022
SANTOS
Festival of Rugby Special lift out Pages 11 to 18
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Our Miss World PAGE 3
Celebration of Rugby 8-PAGE LIFTOUT
Learn to live with climate It seems that every time there is a major weather event it is blamed on climate change and each one is always bigger than the last, says columnist Tom Marland. “Each fire or flood or drought or cyclone is worse than the one before - or at least that is how it is reported. And almost universally - every weather event or natural disaster is today blamed on climate change,” Marland writes. “Whether one prescribes to the mantra of manmade climate change or not - the reality is that the earth and its climate can be an unforgiving and hostile place no matter how hard we try to tame it.” Recent research by Deloitte Access Economics has revealed that investment in better planning and preparation for natural disasters would save Australia $380 billion in gross domestic product over the next 30 years. “Australia will always be a land of ‘droughts and flooding rains’ - it is what we do in between which effects how we both respond and recover when mother nature decides to turn the scales,” Marland says.
Flocking to region The Western Downs is emerging as one of the big winners of a nationwide shift to regional living, as more Australians realise the benefits of the bush. With one-in-five city residents seeking to move to the regions, cities such as Dalby and Chinchilla are now standing out more than ever as options for young families and first time home buyers. STORY PAGE 5
Hamey Hayllor moved from Brisbane to Dalby after falling in love with second-generation farmer, Dan. They are pictured walking through a barley crop on “Kensington Park”, Macalister, with their children, Addison and Hunter.
COLUMN PAGE 21
New beef chief By Fiona Gowers
Simon Irwin’s distinguished and diverse career that encompasses a wealth of commercial business experience has culminated in his appointment as CEO of Beef Australia. After studying journalism, Mr Irwin worked
as a stock and station agent through rural Queensland before enjoying 34 years in leading roles across media operations and management for News Corp and APN. He managed The Central Queensland News in Emerald, was deputy general manager for The Daily News/Gold Coaster in Tweed Heads,
general manager of The News-Mail in Bundaberg, regional manager based in Lismore and Rockhampton, director of sales and operations and then, finally, executive general manager regionals. When News Corp in Queensland transitioned from a print to digital focus in 2020, Mr
Irwin called time on his career and began what his wife, Linda refers to as his “gap year”. It was during Mr Irwin’s “first real break since school” that the opportunity arose with Beef Australia and, as he says, “here we are”. STORY PAGE 4
11-12 FEB 2022 GALLAS FOX PARK ROMA, QLD
FEATURE EVENT GUIDE SCAN FOR EVENT AND TICKET INFO 12527859-BL04-22
