Liquid Life and Leisure - November by Liquid Life & Leisure

NOVEMBER | liquidlifeandleisure.com.au

FOOD JUNKIE Page 58

FUNDRAISE FOR FARMERS Page 12

LITHIUM BATTERY SERVICES PAGE 24

DISTANCE EDUCATION Page 68

2018 Tiffin Allegro Breeze 33IBR

market and since then, has been supplied from our dealership on the Gold Coast.

The birth of the Allegro Breeze in 2011 opened the door for a luxury Class A diesel pusher coach narrow enough for Australian regulations. Sure, Tiffin had been producing beautiful, bigger coaches for several decades at this stage but the narrow size of the Breeze made it a perfect candidate for the Australian

Powering the Breeze is an assertive Cummins ISV5.0 V8, the result of a three-year collaboration between Tiffin and Cummins. Designed, developed, and tested on the Breeze PowerGlide chassis, the ISV5.0 exceeds traditional diesel engines in durability, reliability, and performance. With an all new floor plan featuring 3 slide outs, these coaches are sure to impress! The Allegro Breeze comes in a variety of paint schemes outside opening up to a range

of cabinetry and decor options inside. At Tiffin Motorhomes, we build for quality first and foremost, limiting our production to ensure meticulous craftsmanship. It may not be the most business-savvy way to run a company but it is the best way. By investing the time and effort to do things right, we want you, as a Tiffin owner, to have the utmost confidence in your coach, as well as a peace of mind you wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t find with other manufacturers. You see, not only do we stand proudly behind our product, we stand behind you as well.

"Some of the standard features include 1000W of solar, automatic satellite, blu-ray player, 3x Smart LED TV’s, dual rooftop ducted reverse cycle air cons, gas furnace, 218L compressor fridge / freezer, Thetford cooktop / griller combo, convection oven, Queen bed with memory foam mattress, huge wardrobe, ensuite with full size shower, intelligent 12V system, 4000W inverter, 430a/h battery bank, front load washing machine, dual side and 1 rear cameras, automatic levelling system, huge electric patio awning, electric door awning, LED lights throughout, front swivel seats, solar and privacy shades on each window, 23L gas/electric hot water system and 5kw Cummins Onan diesel generator!!! It’s also been optioned with LED headlight and tail light package, exterior sound bar, 4G WIFI antenna, UHF radio and electronic brake controller!!

Further details can be found on our website and we

have lots of new stock arriving over the next 3 months!

Get in touch to begin ‘Roughing it Smoothly’.

Murray Robertson 0416 080 127 murray@tiffinmotorhomes.com.au

Alex Rees-Hyde 0411 616 617 alex@tiffinmotorhomes.com.au

P. 07 5563 2559 | E. service@tiffinmotorhomes.com.au www.tiffinmotorhomes.com.au

explore with

Come, be drawn to your True North. C L I C K H E R E TO S H O P O N A M A ZO N . CO M . AU

LIGHTING

C A ST I R O N CO O KW A R E

CO O L E RS

Illuminate the Moment - Shed some light on lifeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s journey with the range of lights from Barebones. Brighten up your outdoor space with warm, ambient light from one of our heritageinspired lanterns, complete with technology and function to match todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s journey.

Made For A Lifetime - Combining sweet herbs, fresh vegetables, and smoky meats in a rich warmth spurs a sense of peace. We deliver lasting cast iron pieces that are as naturally beautiful as they are durable. Your cast iron is pre-seasoned ready for the stove, oven or fire pit. All our cookware is free of harmful chemicals.

Crafted With Intent - Enjoying a meal in the great outdoors is a treasure. With our line of premium, weatherproof coolers, you can keep beverages and food fresh all day long. Featuring 100% waterproof seams and multilayer reflection technology to keep cold in and heat out.

KID-O-BUNK

CAM-O-BUNK

PERFECT FOR CAMPER TRAILERS & CARAVANS

CAMPING | BOATING | SLEEPOVERS | VISITING GRANDPARENTS

Find your local retailer or purchase online at:

www.disc-o-bed.com.au

NOVEMBER 2018

Contents... ON THE COVER

FUNdraise for Farmers 12 Get your tickets and get involved

Lithium Battery Specialists 24

What’s on in November 16th – 17th November Adelaide Auto Expo

https://adelaideautoexpo.com.au/

Top quality Battery management systems

Food Junkie 58 Tasty recipes

Kellys Column 68 Education on the road

BUSINESS PROFILES

Caravan and Camping Hire 28 Why hire a self-drive motorhome

Oz Satellite Rentals 38

Check out some must have devices for traveling

16th – 18th November The Great Outdoor & 4x4 Expo

https://toowoombaexpo.com.au/

18th November MTV Beats & Eats

http://www.mtv.com.au/beats-and-eats/tickets

Gold Coast Marine Training 46 Don’t miss out on all the fun this summer

USUAL SUSPECTS

Galways Go Round 10 Check out their boards

23rd – 25th November FUNdraise for Farmers

http://www.aussiedestinationsunknown.com.au /fundraise-for-farmers/

Freelance Aerial 14

Northern NSW is really beautiful

Everything Caravan and Camping 56 Weights reminder

SPECIAL FEATURES

23rd - 25th November

BendigoLeisurefest

https://leisurefest.com.au/Home

Lithium Battery Specialists 24 Leaders in lithium technology

Halseys Do Oz 28

Read about Halseys travels

Birdsville Races

What a blast of an even

29th Nov – 2nd Dec Australian PGA championship

https://www.queensland.com/en-au/event/ australian-pga-championship

from the editor...... Welcome LL&L Legends,

November!!! What, how did that happen? I went from not being ready to even see Christmas decorations Life & Leisure Team in the shops, to now a smallLiquid panic that Christmas shopping needs to start. How does that transition from way too much time to running out of time happen so quickly? Editor Hayley Taylor So here I am scouring the internet for as many gifts I can buy from clients, fellow travellers, small business owners and Director supporting as many people as I can before I go through the traditional shopping experience. (FeelBen free Charity to get in touch if you have some awesome products I can gift).

National Sales Manager Then there is the part where I had so much time to book Dan Charity somewhere for Christmas and now what do you know, I run a travel magazine and I am the last one to book and will have Designwhat defines a totally missed out on the “good spots” however good spot, sure would love beachfront, but truly what I have Flourish Design Studio come to learn is as long as we have that van hooked up and we hit the road I really don’t care where we end up and any spot Liquid Life & Leisure Headquarters away is really a “good spot”. The love I have for a road trip and travelling Australia, honestly Phone trumps any other travel I could do. (07) 5580 4988 We recently spent 3 weeks in America and although it was a Address great family holiday and one we had planned for many years, it BOXI 1076, Cove Q 4212 didn’t come close to thePO feeling can getSanctuary on our home turf, spending time in the outback, or by the beach listening to Hope Island, Gold Coast waves crash, in the car between destinations. It doesn’t matter if I’m in a tent, boating or away in the van. The ability to switch Websites off and just be in a moment with your location and loved ones is for me love. The love I havewww.liquidlifeandleisure.com.au for everything outdoors is seriously a true love; I know I am not the only one that feels this way. Email content@liquidlifeandleisure.com.au There is so much we have not yet explored due to commitment with family, work commitments and pure and simply put LIFE. Advertising However we are chipping away and get away when we can. content@liquidlifeandleisure.com.au This lifestyle definitely has so much to offer and we love being part of growing this life on the road, life on the water and family Deadline for Content: 15th of every month we have.

Enjoy the lead up to Christmas,Contributors stay safe and get those holidaysYasmin booked. & Leigh - Family Gap Year

Dan & Fee - Ozzy Wide Ozzy Pride Kelly Hayles Gudgeon - Destination and Travel Co-Founder & Blogger

Living & Loving Life

Liquid Life & Leisure Team Editor Hayley Taylor Director Ben Charity

National Sales Manager Dan Charity Marketing Manager Madi Taylor

Strategic Partnership Manager Kelly Gudgeon Design GraffitzDesign Design Studio Co Flourish

Liquid Life & Leisure Headquarters Phone (07) 5580 4988 Address PO BOX 1076, Sanctuary Cove Q 4212 Hope Island, Gold Coast Websites www.liquidlifeandleisure.com.au Email content@liquidlifeandleisure.com.au Advertising content@liquidlifeandleisure.com.au Deadline for Content: 15th of every month Contributors Yasmin & Leigh - Family Gap Year Dan & Fee - Ozzy Wide Ozzy Pride Leigh & Tegan - Wander to Wonder Kelly Gudgeon - Destination and Travel Adam & Sharon Galway - Galways Go Round LIQUID LIFE & LEISURE

Everything Boating, Caravanning, Camping, Travel and Outdoors… in one App!

App Latest products and news in Caravans, Camping, Stand-Up Paddle boarding (SUP), Kayak, Boating, Boarding, Dining, Health and Wellness, Must See and Do around Australia plus more!

Service, Products, Weather, Blogging, Events, Latest News and our Monthly magazine delivered to your device for FREE. DOWNLOAD IT TODAY AND RECEIVE: • Alerts- Receive up-to-date news and the latest information • Events- See all our upcoming events in detail and rsvp • Blog- Read our blog posts and stay connected • Photo Share - Share your photos with us • Magazines- View and print our magazines

Plus much, much more.

DOWNLOAD FROM APP CITY

GET IT FOR iOS

GET IT FOR ANDRIOD

Aussie Destinations Unknown is a caravanning and travel blog dedicated to adventurers, explorers and lovers of Australia. It’s for families with kids, and for couples travelling alone; for those who go in search of genuine, real-life experiences and exciting destinations across Australia. It is also for those who while may not be travelling, still love to experience this great country through our adventure narratives, reviews and photography.  ADU is the beloved project of me (Miriam) Chris and our three children; your average Aussie family with a passion for adventure and a love of caravanning.

When it’s just the two of us we often use the rooftop as it’s such a quick and easy set up. The back of the Hilux is permanently packed and ready, so it doesn’t take long for us to hit the road once we’ve decided where we want to go. Leaving the caravan behind also allows us to get to some locations that are a little trickier with a large van like ours in tow.

We have always loved camping and started like so many people do, with a tent and lots of ‘gear’. We soon moved up to a camper trailer (that Chris built in our back yard) and from there it was a little pop top caravan (Jayco Discovery) and we now have our Jayco Starcraft Outback and Alucab Rooftop Tent.

Our kids have grown up with this lifestyle and all have their own jobs and know what to do to help out.

We travel with the kids 50% of the time and we love it as much as when we travel alone. It’s a completely different experience that takes a little more planning and a lot more food and washing!

On the bigger trips (like our 4-5 weeks over Christmas each year) we have the kids for half of the time, so we plan accordingly; like our Tassie trip this year. We will do all the things the kids will love like Port Arthur, Mount

Wellington, the East Coast and Christmas with my family while they are with us and after they fly out in early January we will do the more ‘adult things’ like mountain biking at Derby and the West Coast/Gordon River Cruise with my parents. And while we love our weekend getaways around South East Queensland and Northern New South Wales, and the longer trips that we take during the school holidays, Chris and I would love to be on the road full-time and we are working towards this. Once our kids graduate high school is when we are hoping to sell up and take off. One of our biggest challenges is finding the time get to the places we really want to see. Chris runs a successful signage company, Brandcraft, and I run a holistic health and fitness business, MiMFiT both based out of Brisbane. Our hours are quite flexible which gives us a little more time than couples working full

time, but we still have to put enough time and energy into them to keep them running. I do absolutely love my job though and fully intend on bringing the online part with us when we head off. One of our favourite trips so far was when we went out to The Big Red Bash, the most remote concert on the planet held on the edge of the Simpson Desert. The event itself was incredible, and venturing into the outback was one of the most eye-opening things we have ever done. You can read our blog posts here: Big Red Bash. We were devastated when we saw the effect the current drought is having on our farmers, their crops and cattle. Read our blog here: The Outback, So Much More Than Red Sand The prolonged and severe drought has taken an enormous financial,

our Aussie farmers how much we appreciate what they do and give give give! Load up the caravan/camper/tent ... or just come for the day. We have a rapidly growing pile of awesome prizes to give away and raffle off on Saturday. Please let us know if you would like to donate. Here are some of the people donating amazing prizes: • KNOBBYs Underwear • North Star Holiday Resort  • Caravan RV Camping • BIG4 • World Gym Southside • Shorties Espresso Bar • LSKD Clothing   • GIANT Nerang

environmental and emotional toll on thousands of beef and sheep stations, farms and other agricultural businesses right throughout Queensland. I have read that two-thirds of the state, or 120 million hectares has been experiencing severe rainfall deficit for almost 8 years. I have also read that farmers are so desperate that sadly some have resorted to taking their own lives. In Australia a farmer is twice as likely to commit suicide. We have decided that we can’t just sit by and watch this happen and have committed to doing all that we can to help. We love camping and we want to help – so we came up with a great idea! ‘FUNdraise for Farmers' is a camping weekend filled with crazy Aussie outback fun with all money raised going through the Rotary Club of Sydney to the Barrumbuttock

• 4x4 Megastore (TJM) • Switch Nutrition   • Mikes Shock Shop   • Caravanning with Kids • Laser Electrical The Lions Club of Springwood will be there all weekend with their awesome BBQ setup and we will also have other food/coffee vendors on site. Uplifting, fast, feisty fek'in fun Celtic Cowbhoys are performing Friday night and well-known country singer Tyson Coleman is live on stage Saturday night. We also have Dj Mason Maffick spinning foot stomping, smile provoking, upbeat songs throughout

Hayrunners helping them to deliver donated hay where it's needed most. With just a few weeks to go this is looking set to be one of the best weekends on your caravanning and camping calendar for 2018. We have some insane prizes to be won in one our raffles or by entering some of our crazy events like the Farmer Fun Run, Farmer Fashion Parade and more. It will be held on Nov 23-25, 2018 at the beautiful Bigriggen Campground on the Scenic Rim about an hour and a half from either Brissy or the Gold Coast. Come join us for this family friendly outback themed weekend, jam packed with fun activities, games, entertainment, live music, food, drink and coffee vans, farmer fashion parades, prizes and so much more. Bring your swimmers, wear your cowboy hat and don't forget to pack your dancing boots!! It's time to bring out your inner jillaroo and jackaroo and open up your wallets. Let's show

the day to set the outback mood. It is a dog-friendly park, but we won’t be having dogs at this event. Ticket pricing includes camping fees. Weekend Pass is for entry 9am Friday and checkout Sunday morning. Day pass is valid from 9am-6pm Saturday only.

PURCHASE TICKETS HERE: http://www.aussiedestinationsunknow n.com.au/fundraise-for-farmers/

Freelance Aerial Imagery

In between Newcastle and Port Macquarie is the often overlooked area of the Great Lakes on the mid north NSW coast. Central to the area are the twin towns of Forster and Tuncurry which are joined by a spectacular bridge that spans over the Wallis Lake. These small coastal villages are also surrounded by the Wallamba River and intersects with the Pacific Ocean.

All this water means only one thing, this region is the perfect location for all water based activities and more! This makes it the ideal location to live life on the water with boating, fishing, diving, paddling, surfing, cruising and whale watching all very popular activities, along with access to some spectacular coastal trails and National Parks. Fishing is a favourite pastime with the name Tuncurry meaning â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;plenty of fishâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; in the local indigenous language of the Worimi people, and Forster is famous for its oysters, and is the largest provider of Sydney Rock Oysters in Australia. Forster and Tuncurry are perfect to base yourself to enjoy the warm summer days at the beach, and add some seriously good shopping and award winning restaurants, means a full cultural experience is on offer.

While having fun in the sun is the perfect

The towns also boast some of the best

excuse to visit, equally enticing are the

festivals and events around too, with no

cooler winter beach days. Enjoying the

shortage of music, film and sporting

beach without the crowds, watching the

events to choose from during the year.

storms come in from the Pacific Ocean

There is so much to love about the mid

and the whales make their annual

north coast of NSW and these images

pilgrimages up and down the coast are

captured by Shane from Freelance Aerial

magic.

Imagery capture the beauty of the region perfectly.

While the water based activities are high on the agenda, make sure you take time explore the nearby national parks of Booti Booti, Myall Lakes or Wallingat National Parks which are home to some incredible walking trails, lots of wildlife and some pristine coastline.

CONTACT US If you would like to contact us to discuss Freelance Aerial Imagery capturing a special image or video for you, either enquire through this fantastic magazine, or email freelanceaerialimagery@gmail.com or keep an eye on us at www.facebook.com/meandmydrone

Aviation Reference Number (ARN) 1046734 Remote Pilots Licence Number (RePL) Multi-Rotor (Upto 25kg) 1046734

Your family adventures start here

NEW AGE ASSIST

Free 12 Month Membership with every purchase

3 YEAR

FACTORY WARRANTY

to start your new adventure www.newagecaravans.com.au

CELEBRATING 25 YEARS! For over 25 yeas now we’ve believed in the same simple philosophy – real food made by real people. Food should be tasty, wholesome and nourishing - not full of preservatives and additives – and above all, taste like real home cooking. Easy to prepare and backed by brilliant customer service. That’s the Gourmet way. From humble beginnings in 1990, husband and wife team Daniel and Susanne Wuthrich, founders of Gourmet Meals landed on the shores of

Australia and headed straight to the Gold Coast to follow their love for the water and the ocean. Back home, in Switzerland Daniel was a keen windsurfer on the Swiss lakes.  Dani gained employment at the Royal Pines fine dining kitchen, where he met Walter Muller – now Gourmet Meals’ five-star head chef who has been with them over 15 years. Sue started working as a chef at a Helensvale retirement village. It was during this time that the idea of starting up their own business, Gourmet Meals, formally known as Conessa,

was born, opening the doors in 1993. Partnering up with another local brand Kraft Cakes, Max and Judy Kraft – together with their culinary skills they created salad dressings, mayonnaises, tartare and cocktail sauces. They also made some delicious chutney dip sauces and distributed Bundaberg Maple syrup. Christmas cakes and puddings were next in line for their Gourmet repertoire. In 1998 a school teacher advised them of the growing

need for nutritional meals at schools as at that point in time the tuckshop menu consisted of pies and sausage rolls - oh how itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s changed! Also, around the same time they were asked to provide wholesome meals for an elderly person by a friend. Susanne and Daniel soon realised there was a huge need in the market for supplying healthy, nutrition meals to our seniors. They discovered the only business doing anything remotely close was Meals on

Wheels, whom they now work with. As of 1998 more and more staff were employed as the business gained momentum and many still remain as part of our team at Gourmet Meals to this very day. In 2005, our marketing began, and home delivered Gourmet Meals became a local brand here on the Gold Coast. Before we knew it, we had a top of the range Italian packing machine to keep up with the

demand which only grew from there on. From supplying a few tuckshops and a hand full of seniors with ready meals, we now produce some 3500 meals a day. This Gold Coast based, owned and operated business is a true family run business, holding the same values now as it had 25 years ago. Thank you to our loyal customers who have continued to support our local brand.

46/215 Brisbane Road, Labrador, Qld 4215 | Postal: PO Box 12, Arundel, Qld 4214 Phone: 1300 112 112 / 07 5529 3000 | Fax: 07 5529 0649 | Email: sales@gourmetmeals.com.au www.gourmetmeals.com.au

POWERING FREEDOM

Lithium Battery Management Systems By Chris Carrigan, Lithium Battery Systems A standard lithium cell is 3.2V. To turn these

individual cells into a safe 12, 24 or 48V battery requires a Battery Management System or BMS.

A BMS is a circuit board that has a connection

Do lithium batteries need a management system?

safety reasons the BMS needs to ensure that

Yes, and anyone who tells you otherwise is not

to the cells and monitors the overall battery. For the cells are always operating within known

limits and to actively respond if these limits are breached.

The LBS battery management system circuit board

telling the whole story. A lithium battery without

a good BMS is like driving around with a bucket of petrol in the back seat with a hose to the engine, technically possible but not very

sensible. If petrol is contained in a good fuel tank with proper fuel lines to the engine it is

safe and operational. Same with lithium cells;

once controlled they are safe but there is more to the story.

Lithium battery management -!3#D)12&'2(#)&2#52('*+25

'+.2&+)6#7=0J=+2+.(#e.#)+

The most important function of a lithium battery

management system is to ensure the cells -!3#.%=&=/*%6"#.2(.(#2)7% remain within safe operating limits and respond

D)12&"9##

if one of the individual cells is outside these We designed & engineered our own BMS from scratch

limits.

4#%'*%#J2&?=&0)+72#!F3# 0'7&=I)>2(#)+5#=.%2&#%'*

The action taken depends on the BMS; a good

one will disconnect loads if the voltage goes too

too high. It will also check that the voltage of

Why Don’t Lead Acid Batteries Need a BMS?

down the voltage of any cell that is higher than

All 12V battery types – lithium and lead acid –

low, and disconnect chargers if the voltage goes each cell in the pack is the same, and bring

the others. This is called balancing and ensures that cells are always operating safely.

are made of cells in series; these cells

eventually become slightly out of balance, so

that one cell becomes full before the battery as

Be aware of their functionality!

a whole is full. When this happens, the question

We have observed an operational flaw in many

BMS’s on the market: when the voltage of a cell is too low (ie, battery is empty) it will disconnect the battery, and will not reconnect until the

voltage of that cell increases again. However, in this situation many chargers will not operate,

because they cannot “see” the battery, and so another battery is required to jumpstart the

original battery so that it can be charged! This is clearly not convenient.

becomes what happens to the full cell when the charger is still providing energy to the battery.

Cells of different chemistries react differently to this situation. When lead acid cells (including

AGM, gel etc) become full they do not absorb any more energy; rather that energy is

dissipated and flammable hydrogen is vented. However, when a lithium cell becomes full, it does not vent any gas so the excess energy

A good BMS will allow charging even when the

battery is empty; furthermore, it will allow a user to reset the battery and allow it to be “seen” by

a charger for a short period, so that the charger can begin to operate and recharge the battery.

from the charger has nowhere else to go – so the cell continues to absorb energy. Then the cell quickly becomes overcharged and goes

beyond safe operating limits – unless a BMS is there to intervene.

An advanced BMS will also have the ability to

5,#)+)6"(25#)+5#0=526625#'+#(=cI)&2#.=#2+(/&2#.%2#!F3,#7266(#)+5#)66#=.%2&# send information to a screen for remote monitoring and diagnostics, and receive a reset +5#I=&K#(2)062((6"#.=*2.%2&9## command remotely if required.

%#=+2#=?#=/&#!F3#D=)&5(#5/&'+*#)((20D6"#D2?=&2#I2#'+(.)66#'.#'+('52#)#

#02)+(#.%).#-!3#D)12&'2(#7)+#2)('6"#&/+#)'&#7=+5'G=+2&(,#7=\22#0)7%'+2(,# *%#J=I2&#52>'72(9# Chris Carrigan | chris@lithiumbatterysystems.com.au 0404 041 189

What features do I need in a lithium battery BMS? A BMS obviously needs to perform the basic functions of low voltage disconnect, high voltage disconnect and cell balancing. But more advanced features are needed if the battery is in a 4WD, car, RV or boat.

• Give accurate state of charge status; • Give live calculations of time-to-full or

time-to-empty based on load or charge; • Allow loads to continue whilst disconnecting charge at high voltage point; • Allow charging to continue whilst disconnecting loads at low voltage point; • Auto recover of errors; • Handle inrush currents up to 1000A so air conditioners, coffee machines, microwaves work; • Handle 200A continuous load currents; and • Connect to remote monitoring displays.

LBS 12V 50Ah Portable lithium battery 10kg

The LBS BMS

It is relatively easy to create a BMS for small capacity batteries, at low current that do the absolute basics of simply connecting the cells. The engineering challenge was to create a BMS that had advanced management and monitoring, could operate at very high currents (up to 1000A) and was robust enough to work within batteries that were suitable for cars, 466#=/&#D)12&'2(#)&2#52('* boats and homes in the hostile Australian environment.

All our batteries are designed in 3D CAD

The engineers at LBS undertook this challenge. After input from dozens of local engineering specialists and collaboration with electrical engineering students from the local universities our very own BMS was born. It is solid state, robust, stable and highly featured.

Simulation and Testing

4/(.&)6')+#52('*+25,# LBS batteries are designed, analysed and 2+*'+22&25#)+5# modelled in software to ensure the BMS, cells and all other internal components fit and work )((20D625#D)12&'2( seamlessly together.

LBS thoroughly tests each one of our BMS boards during assembly before we install it inside a battery. A high performance BMS means that LBS batteries can easily run air conditioners, coffee machines, microwaves and other high power devices.

<2(G+*#=/&#!F3# Testing our BMS Australian designed, engineered and assembled batteries

Lithium Batteries are ideal for marine applications.

*+25#'+#8_#$4_#

http://www.lithiumbatterysystems.com.au/

HALSEYS DO AUSTRALIA

As you all know we are the Halsey family and we have always put off traveling Australia, the reason being we always made excuses why we can’t , what are we going to do with the house, what about work, we can’t afford it, and most importantly our dog. Kirryn has always been on my back to go and one day I came home from work and said stuff it let’s go we can make this happen, and from that day on everything seem to fall into place. So on the 14th of April we headed north leaving our house and dog Jed in the capable hands of my sister. At home our life consisted of doing house Reno’s, long work hours and doing the same thing day in day out, always thinking how we can improve the house, and always on my mind where am I going to get my next bacon and egg roll or kebab from, for those who don’t know me personally these were a huge part of my life . This always caused tension between me and Kirryn by how much money was wasted on food.

We left on our adventure on a preety tight budget but knowing if I stopped my bad habits we would be fine As the trip went on I could feel as a family we were a lot closer we sat at the table as family with no tv reception. we were forced to talk to each other about life and how we were feeling. The kids soon learnt iPads were useless with no internet signal and swapped there iPad for there footy, cricket set and there only bucket of toys they bought away with them. Never once on our whole trip from the 3 week mark did they ask again for there IPad. Things were starting to get back to basics, we were getting remote, with no 240v power, just living of a battery and a solar panel, but honestly this was living. We had very limited water and showers went for 30 seconds max. The kids were realising not to turn every light on and no wasting water, we did have to explain to them though it was ok to have a drink of water. It was around now i was realising that the only bread within driving distance was frozen I had no chance of getting a kebab, but ahh well I was feeling better already.

We would all sit around a campfire and talk, all agreeing that this is what life is about, making new friends on the road and living with the basics, the two boys were learning so much more than what there iPad or a massive room full of toys would teach them. Me and Kirryn wouldn’t argue about the money I was spending or how we were going to do the next Reno. Of a day we would all play footy, ride bikes, play cricket, go for a walk, and just enjoy each other’s company. There was no tv, no phone signal and most places no radio. Although Kirryn did find one AM station. The kids had changed dramatically wanting to learn new things and everything Kirryn or I did they asked questions , who, what, when and why. It wasn’t until one day when we came across a bogged Mitsubishi in the scrub that I realised that Taj actually listens when I explain things to him. We pulled up behind this 4wd and before I new Taj was out of the car and asks the foreigner “what ya got ya

tyres at” the bloke says “what do ya mean” Taj says “have ya let ya tyres down” the bloke says “ no “ Before I even said g’dAy to the bloke Taj yells out “dad we are going to need the maxx tracks and tyre deflator this guys got no idea”. so I threw him the deflator and said “I’ll help ya in a sec mate I will get the maxx tracks off” I then turned around and there is a 5 year old demonstrating to a man how to let down his tyres. This blew me away and I realised that he does actually listen, he has learnt about moon phases, always talking about tides, and can start a campfire like a champion.

with not a lot of money behind us you don’t need to travel Australia with a shit load of cash you can do it on any budget, sure we have a bloody awesome caravan but it doesn’t have to be all like that we seen people In tents that were doing what we did and enjoying every second of it.

On the other hand his brother Jai just chases sheep with sticks and just causing carnage wherever he goes.

All in all I just needed to write this because I want people to get out there leave that comfort zone and experience what life is actually about with your family. It’s not a matter of what you have got in life it’s a matter of who, and that’s my wife and my two best mates .

When I think about it we are family of 4 living in a box without any dramas in our life, who cares how fancy your house is, who cares how much money you have, you don’t need a room full of toys and 300 games on ya iPad. We are out here living life to the fullest

As a family on this trip we have conquered more Than I have ever imagined by not making excuses we completed some extremely challenging climbs through Karijini National Park that some people don’t even attempt all because we didn’t make excuses.

As we drove through Sydney yesterday the family cried from there to home not wanting our adventure to

end and I’m not normally the soppy one but I admit I was a shot duck with tears streaming down my face. To the day I have lost 15 kgs and feel so much more happier with life and I now know the most important things in my life. I can’t wait to get back out there and keep the dream alive.

JUST GET OUT THERE AND DO IT, ITS BLOODY AMAZING. Cheers Todd

https://touch.facebook.com/HalseysDoAustralia

/?ref=page_internal&mt_nav=0

ALLSTAR 4WD CAMPERVAN x 3 available

VW EURO DELUXE 4-6 BERTH MOTORHOME 430

Our 4WD camper is perfectly suited to the outdoor adventurer who wants the ability to go beyond the bitumen road if they desire. reliability

Our practical Euro Deluxe 4-6 Berth Motorhomes offer a comfortable travel experience for those seeking a no fuss getaway.

$185 / Day | Malaga, WA

$190 / Day | Booral, QLD

4 BERTH HI-TOP CAMPERVAN X 4 AVAILABLE

2012 TALVOR EURODELUX

Our current model, automatic Hi-Top Campers offer a convenient way to travel for up to two adults and two teenagers, or three adults. You can also hire one child restraint and a stroller if travelling with an infant.

After driving a short while you find it is just like driving a car.It has everything you want for a short or long trip and when you stop, all you have to do is wind out the awning take out the chairs , go to the fridge and sit down to enjoy.

$90 / Day |

Western Junction TAS

$82 / Day | Anstead Qld

Check out our website https://cnchire.com.au/

2010 VW CRAFTER RENEGADE MOTORHOME

2009 MERCEDES SPRINTER

6 Berth VW Crafter Dual cab Motorhome Shower and toilet, cooking facilities, outdoor BBQ supplied, fridge and TV/DVD player, reverse cycle aircon, indoor/outdoor lighting, electric awning Automatic Transmission, 200000 kms

Fridge, Freezer, Gas/Electric Cooktop Microwave, Toaster, Kettle Outdoor Camp Chairs & Table & much more

$140 / Day | Hillarys WA

$90 / Day | Kuluin, QLD

the Ultimate introduction to road tripping Here at Liquid Life and Leisure, we get a lot of queries from people wanting to experience and try out the caravanning lifestyle but are not confident with towing a van, or want something a bit more secure with less set up than a tent or camper trailer. My advice to them is to do a short-term hire of a campervan or motor home. If you can drive a car, you can drive a campervan and most motorhomes. There is also no set-up, but you have the extra security and amenities available in a caravan. Australia has some of the most spectacular road trip highways. Places that aren’t necessarily off the beaten track but places you cannot fully experience if you only stay in hotels. For the inexperienced, motor homes and campervans are the perfect way to get away without having to plan out your entire route and pre-book accommodation in towns. It’s the perfect opportunity to see where the road can take you, without the expense of buying an RV that you may only use occasionally. Hiring a campervan or motorhome is for you if you like the idea of camping but the reality of sleeping in a tent or camper trailer are just a bit too like roughing it. You can set your own course, but still have some home luxuries. They are also perfect if you only have a short amount of time available but really want to get out and experience this great land. Caravan and Camping Hire Australia are one of the most experienced peer to peer RV hire companies in Australia. They allow RV owners to hire out their vehicles when they are not being used to those who don’t necessarily want to buy their own. Right now Caravan and Camping Hire Australia have around 30 campervans and motorhomes available for hire, with pick up in various places around Australia. If you have been thinking about a road trip, now is the time. Go to https://cnchire.com.au/product-category/motorhome-class-c/ and check out what is available.

Travelling Australia in a Camper Trailer

DAVO’S DO AUSTRALIA Thousands of travellers are currently lapping their way around Australia in as many varied styles of transportation as there is imagination. While many people opt for the relative comfort of an RV or caravan, many others choose to hook up with a camper trailer. We spoke to two families about why they decided to travel in a camper trailer and how their experiences have been on the road.

Davo’s Do Australia are a family of three, Matthew, Sandy and 10-year-old Thomas. They set off from Mandurah, south of Perth in Western Australia in July 2018. They are planning to travel for a year but would like to extend it out a bit longer. Matthew said they chose to tow a camper trailer for a couple of reasons, “we chose the camper due to our desire to travel off the beaten track. The camper is a little more nimble and

easier to get through, around and up and over. Keeping our cost down was a factor as well,” For the Davo’s, Matthew said, “the ease of towing, generally less towing weight, easier to store when not in use, still being able to enjoy a ‘camping’ experience while staying in a camper”, are the advantages and they outweigh the negatives. He said the hardest part of living in a

camper is generally weather related. “Weather has a large bearing on cooking with a camper, having no air conditioning or heat can be an issue when in hot, humid or cold climates. Weather can also effect your camping experience with its windy and wet!” The Davo’s though say they are having a ball. “We’ve already had so many highlights. Watching the sunset on Cable Beach; touring Lake Argyle in a tinnie was fantastic, and of course meeting other travellers has been great. But on a personal note, exploring the Gibb River Road and everything that it has to offer was one memory that will stand out forever!” Matthew said if he had any advice for others thinking of opting to use a camper trailer over a caravan or other RV it would be to be prepared. “Study your travel plans and exactly what,

and where, you’ll be using the camper, and it will hold up in the conditions. Study the layout and configuration based on family size, budget and how and where you want to use it. Do one or more trial trips in various conditions before embarking on an extended length trip”. Davo’s Do Australia are travelling in a 2017 Toyota Hilux, towing a 2014 Travellmax XF forward folding camper trailer. They are set up with fridges in both the Ute and the camper and have a closed canopy on the Ute with roof racks and a basket on the canopy. They have dual batteries, 2 way, LED light bar, Anderson plug for the camper, AFN bullar and lifted suspension with 33’ tyres.

UNCUT AUSSIE ADVENTURES are a family of two people and two furbabies. Lauren and Steve, along with Ellie the Cavoodle and Crumpet the Spoodle are from Melbourne and fell in love with the camping lifestyle after a honeymoon camping trip to Fraser Island in 2014. Since then they have been dreaming and planning to make travelling Australia full-time a reality. They are now six months into their 12 month lap and hoping to extend that further at the end. Lauren and Steve said they decided to do camper trailer over caravan because they planned on getting into some remote areas and needed their set up to be able to handle it.

“The most important thing to use when deciding what to buy was simply that it had to be tough, reliable and a quality Australian Made brand. We planned on taking it to the most remote and rugged locations and wanted peace of mind that it could handle whatever we threw at it. In the end, it came down to what we could afford that lived up to that criteria, so we ended up with a camper trailer over a caravan and feel that we made the right decision”.

“But on a serious note the camper trailer can be a bit tricky when you’re staying in high wind areas which wouldn’t be such a problem with a caravan or RV. The noise of canvas flapping in the wind has kept us awake for a night or two during our travels”.

“We don’t feel that we are restricted as to where we can take it – it goes anywhere our car does! We also get better fuel economy only towing 1.2 tonne as opposed to a larger van and leaves less wear and tear on our vehicle”.

However, they said, “these experiences don’t come close to the highlights like Cape York, Horizontal Falls and the entire stunning coastline of WA, but when we look back on our trip so far, it’s the laughter, the sunsets, the moments that just take your breath away, and getting to spend every day with the ones that you love that stand out to us the most. We wouldn’t trade these memories for anything in the world”.

Lauren and Steve said the downsides to being in a camper trailer are few, but they do miss having some creature comforts, “Sometimes we just miss having a couch!”

Lauren and Steve’s advice to anyone thinking about travelling with a camper trailer is, “Make sure you have a good dual battery and solar set up. We have not had to pay for a powered site

yet as we can run our fridges, charge our devices and light our campsite all from our solar set up”. “Also, annex walls are a worthwhile investment. We bought ours with us ‘just in case’ and have used them so much more than we thought – need a break from the wind; block out the flies; or privacy from your very close neighbours, annex walls will do the job!” “You also need to think about how you will keep cool in the summer and warm in winter. Camper trailers don’t have the best insulation. Bring some 12v fans to beat the heat under the canvas and think about either a diesel heater or Arctic sleeping bag for extra warmth during the chilly nights”.

Uncut Aussie Adventures are travelling in a Nissan Navara as a tow vehicle and towing a Johnno’s Off-Road Delux Camper Trailer. They have made quite a few modifications to the car, including some performance work to make it more reliable and capable of going anywhere they wanted to go.

IMAGES AUSTRACK CAMPERS

https://www.facebook.com/austrack/

NE W E N R U O B L E M M O O R SHO W 65 Merola Way, Campbellfield, Vic 3061 Monday - Friday: 9.00 am - 5.00 pm Saturday: 9.00 am - 1.00 pm Ph: 03 9357 0993

www.austrackcampers.com.au

About Us Founded in 2007, Oz Satellite Rentals provides a rental service for Satellite Phones, GPS units, UHF Radios and Camper Trailers. Unlike traditional rental companies that require you to visit their store, Oz Satellite Rentals conducts all business over the internet. Use our website to submit a booking request, and

Address: 1203 Dandenong Rd, Malvern East 3145 Phone: (03) 8554 4397 | Mobile: 0419 215 443 Email: rentals@ozsatelliterentals.com

we'll promptly get back to you about the availablity of products you wish to rent. You can then pay us by credit card or bank deposit, and once we've received your payment we'll send the items to you via courier to ensure prompt delivery. Then once you've finished with the products, just post them back to us. Easy. Of course you can still talk to us on the phone if you prefer, just as you can pick-up and drop-off your items if you so wish. Of course these options do no allow as much flexibility, but we understand that some customers may prefer this. Our director, David Funston, has been in the adventure instustry for many years. A qualified 4WD trainer, David knows exactly what you will need for your 4WD or camping trip, and will be able to advise you on which of our products will best suit your needs.

Satellite Phone

Spot Messenger

Only Iridium's global service allows field personnel to send and receive voice, messaging and data regardless of location. Individual-to-office, office-to-individual, individual-to-individual. Compact, rugged, and flexible, Iridium equipment is easy to carry, easy to use, and yet affordable.

Whether you're just checking in, allowing others to track your progress, or calling for help - SPOT gives you a vital line of communication with friends and family when you want it, and emergency assistance when and where you need it. And since it utilizes 100% satellite technology, SPOT works around the world - even where cell phones don't.

PLBâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Wherever you are at sea or on land, the rescueME PLB1 provides the reassurance that emergency services can be alerted by the press of a button. The rescueMe PLB1 can be operated with a single hand in even the most challenging situations. A simple spring loaded flap covers the activation button preventing inadvertent use.rescueME PLB1 works with the only officially recognised worldwide dedicated search and rescue satellite network (operated by Cospas Sarsat). As this is funded by governments there are NO CHARGES to use this service. When activated the rescueME PLB1 transmits your position and your ID to a Rescue Coordination Center via satellite link. Rescue services are promptly notified of your emergency and regularly advised of your current location.

Satellite Internet Iridium GO! provides global voice calling and text messaging solutions for your smartphone, as well as enhanced data capabilities offered through optimized apps to meet your unique needs. No worries. No roaming charges. Just connected and in touch wherever you are, whenever you need, with the devices you rely on everyday.

AED Defibrillators Hire an AED for Risk Management and Duty of Care Ideal for: School Camps Sports Days Water Sports Outdoor areas Workplace Festivals Building sites (short or long term) School Fetes Clubs Weekend Events Holidays Caravan & camping trips An AED is the solution for helping treat victims of suspected sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) in demanding environments and conditions. Lightweight, rugged, and reliable, it can withstand rough handling, extreme temperatures, dust, or wet environments. Comes with carry case, adult and kids pads, manual, face shield and gloves.

Ultimate Camper This ideal go anywhere camper has just the right amount of luxury options to make remote camping an absolute joy, this camper will appeal to customers that want the best that off road camping has to offer. The Ultimate camper has everything that you need to go adventuring in comfort, reliability and style

Compatible with AppleÂŽ and Androidâ&#x201E;˘, Iridium GO! extends the use of your trusted smartphone and devices no matter where you are with: Apps optimized for voice calling, SMS, email, weather monitoring, and more A 100 foot radius Wi-Fi connection for up to five mobile devices

Tvan Camper Throughout the years the Tvan has been widely acclaimed by journalists, owners and explorers. Faster access for side of the road stops Family friendly tent extension and loads of room for everyone's gear Mc2 suspension - Go anywhere without limits Super fast access to kitchen and fridges Revolutionary tent with quick & easy magnetic catches Protected from insects and the elements by strong walls that provide great insulation from noise, hot sun, cold nights and wind. When the tent is deployed (doubling your living space) it's attached to a fold out hard floor, so you'll be up off the ground, dry and secure. Most importantly, when it's time to move on, your bed will remain made up and dry, even after a wet pack-up.

$25,000 IN PRIZES UP FOR GRABS! Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a long, hot summer of prizes ahead for Club Marine members. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re giving away 25 prizes of $1,000 to spend at any of our Member Rewards partners. All you have to do is hold a current Club Marine Pleasure Craft Insurance policy and Club Marine Magazine subscription at the time of each prize draw to be automatically entered. We will draw 5 lucky winners per month between 1 November 2018 and 31 March 2019!

$1,000 25 prizes of

to be won!

BUY, RENEW OR SUBSCRIBE NOW P

1300 00 C LU B (2582)

C LU B M A R I N E.C O M.AU

Insurance is underwritten by Allianz Australia Insurance Limited (Allianz) ABN 15 000 122 850 AFSL No. 234708 of 2 Market Street, Sydney. Club Marine Limited (Club Marine) ABN 12 007 588 347 AFSL No. 236916 is a related body corporate and issues boat insurance as agent of Allianz. Before making a decision, please consider the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) or Policy Wording. Full terms and conditions available at clubmarine.com.au. Authorised under NSW Permit No.: LTPS/18/28567 , ACT Permit No.: TP18/0191, SA Permit No.: T18/1749.

SWING SWING AWAY, AWAY, WORK WORK OR PLAY OR PLAY .PEKIJ?$.PEKIJ?$ ELL?@@IJK$ ELL?@@IJK$ F=A>$ K?E>$ F=A>$ QF$K?E>$ @IPOGF$ QF$ OAGGIJK$ @IPOGF$ E$ OAGGIJK$ >?G?E@?$ E$ >?G?E@?$ IPOEL<9$)7*$OGE@<IL9$*DIJK4E@?$I@$<=AKC9$D?E<C?>$>?@I@<EJ<$ IPOEL<9$)7*$OGE@<IL9$*DIJK4E@?$I@$<=AKC9$D?E<C?>$>?@I@<EJ<$ ute. G?H?>$ :$ DI<C=A<$ G?H?>$ :$ DI<C=A<$ >?ELCIJK$ >?ELCIJK$ =H?>$ =>$=H?>$ LGIPQIJK$ =>$ LGIPQIJK$ IJ<=$ F=A>$ IJ<=$ <>ALM$ F=A>$ ute <>ALM$ DQG FXVWRP Í¤WWHG WR \RXU WUXFN 7KH 6ZLQJ&DVH LV D SUHPLXP DQG FXVWRP Í¤WWHG WR \RXU WUXFN 7KH 6ZLQJ&DVH LV D SUHPLXP Q?N1$*DIJK4E@?$I@$<C?$P=@<$IJJ=HE<IH?$EJN$H?>@E<IG?$<>ALM$ Q?N1$*DIJK4E@?$I@$<C?$P=@<$IJJ=HE<IH?$EJN$H?>@E<IG?$<>ALM$ EBB=>NEQG?$@<=>EK?$@=GA<I=J9$EJN$QELM?N$QF$E$SF?E>$DE>>EJ<F1 uteEBB=>NEQG?$@<=>EK?$@=GA<I=J9$EJN$QELM?N$QF$E$SF?E>$DE>>EJ<F1 @<=>EK?$Q=R$?H?>$PEN?1$7AIG<$<=$GE@<$B>=P$GIKC<D?IKC<9$CIKC$ @<=>EK?$Q=R$?H?>$PEN?1$7AIG<$<=$GE@<$B>=P$GIKC<D?IKC<9$CIKC$

')*3$./*%)##)%.,/1$ ')*3$./*%)##)%.,/1$ ;".48$#.5%:,55$('6,+)#1 ;".48$#.5%:,55$('6,+)#1

%&'$*'4"('9$+'(*)%.#'$%-.*%:#,48$ %&'$*'4"('9$+'(*)%.#'$%-.*%:#,48$ !"##$%&'$('#')*'$#'+'($%,$*-./0$ !"##$%&'$('#')*'$#'+'($%,$*-./0$ )##,-*$3,"$%,$,!'/$3,"($*-./04)*'$ )##,-*$3,"$%,$,!'/$3,"($*-./04)*'$ ,"%1$!(,+.2'*$')*3$)44'**$5(,6$ ,"%1$!(,+.2'*$')*3$)44'**$5(,6$ -.%&$,($-.%&,"%$)$8'31 -.%&$,($-.%&,"%$)$8'31 %&'$7)48$,5$%&'$%).#0)%'1 %&'$7)48$,5$%&'$%).#0)%'1

CONVENIENT TRUCK BED STORAGE SOLUTION

FULL RANGE OF MOTION FULL RANGE OF MOTION

GREAT STORAGE SOLUTION FOR YOUR UTE

*<=>?@$=A<$=B$<C?$DEF *<=>?@$=A<$=B$<C?$DEF

!AGG$<C?$>?G?E@?$G?H?>$<=$@DIJK$=A< !AGG$<C?$>?G?E@?$G?H?>$<=$@DIJK$=A<

'E@F$ELL?@@9$J=$>?ELCIJK 'E@F$ELL?@@9$J=$>?ELCIJK

EASYEASY LIFT-OFF LIFT-OFF REMOVAL REMOVAL 'E@F$=J9$?E@F$=BB9$DI<C=A<$ 'E@F$=J9$?E@F$=BB9$DI<C=A<$ EJF$<==G@1$%EM?$F=A>$K?E>$ EJF$<==G@1$%EM?$F=A>$K?E>$ DI<C$F=A1$.<$LEJ$?H?J$@<EJN$ DI<C$F=A1$.<$LEJ$?H?J$@<EJN$ AO>IKC<$=J$I<@$=DJ1 AO>IKC<$=J$I<@$=DJ1

35 kilo holding capacity

9&':)7);<),=>)?%&8:') Swing Case Australia 27@72&'A()A"+)27#)%7/&,A) T: 0423 408 v744 /'"1%)7,,)A"+1)8%71> sales@swingcase.com.au

PHONE: 0418 905 421 SEND MAIL AT :trent.gotchacovered@hotmail.com MEETS US AT :TRENT WALTON FOLLOW US RESELLER IN NARRABRI, NEW SOUTH WALES

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT TRANSPORTABLE SHEDS HOW ARE THEY ANCHORED TO THE GROUND? HOLD DOWN OPTIONS - SHADE SHEDS AND CANVACON SHEDS

1. Saddle Plates - Saddle plates are dyna bolted to a concrete slab. Used for more permanent structures. Four saddle plates are used for 6m x 6m shade shed or canvacon shed. 2. Hold Down Pegs These ground anchors are great for semi-permanent installation in good cohesive soil. Used for shade sheds and canvacon products and can maintain wind ratings below. Temporary W41/N3 - 6 hold down pegs (Standard wind rating for most areas around Australia) Permanent W41/N3 – 8 hold down pegs (Standard wind rating for most areas around Australia) Temporary W50/C2 – 8 hold down pegs (Cyclonic wind rating for sheds predominately along coastline from Rockhampton to Cairns) Permanent W50/C2 – 12 hold down pegs (Cyclonic wind rating for sheds predominately along coastline from Rockhampton to Cairns) 3. Concrete Pier Kit - for a more permanent installation. Footings are concreted into the 450mm round and 600mm deep hole. For details on installation see our installation guide

Can I Attach Guttering? Every Shade Shed is designed with a 75mm overhanging roof, so it’s simple and straight forward to attach a guttering kit. The ridges on the roof run from front to back, so the rain will run either off the front or the back of the Shed (depending on construction method). Can I Enclose it? Shade Sheds are engineered to only have 2 sides enclosed to maintain the appropriate wind or cyclone rating. If you require the sides of the shade shed to be enclosed inform your sales representative and you can be quoted for additional wall sheeting. Do I Need Council Approval? All Transportable Shade Shed products come complete with an engineered set of plans which can be used for council approval. Our products are designed with the features to allow the sheds to be a transportable unit, however it is the customer’s responsibility to apply for council approval. Do we deliver Australia Wide? Transportable Shade Sheds have stock depots throughout Australia. We transport our sheds to most areas ensuring our product arrives to the customer in the same condition as leaving the depot. We also provide very competitive freight cost along our delivery route. Call 1300 667 433 to discuss freight timeframes and cost. Does it Come with a Warranty? Transportable Shade Sheds is a registered Queensland Building Services Authority (BSA) member. Every product manufactured by Transportable Shade Sheds comes with a 10 year structural warranty and a 10 year warranty on the Colorbond Steel.

MORE THAN JUST INSURANCE. BE REWARDED WITH CLUB MARINE.

When you join Club Marine you’ll discover that boat insurance is just the beginning. Club Marine have been providing outstanding claims service to boaties of all kinds for more than 50 years and offer broad, flexible and affordable policy options to give you the cover you need. With Club Marine, you can have fun on the water knowing you’re covered. ALL CLUB MARINE MEMBERS HAVE ACCESS TO:

Have peace of mind on and off the water 24/7 with Club Marine Assist. 1

Get discounts and benefits at favourite marine retailers with Club Marine Member Rewards.

Enjoy Australasia’s premier lifestyle marine publication with Club Marine Magazine.

Access the right boating information anywhere, anytime with the Club Marine App.

GET A QUOTE TODAY P

1300 00 C LU B (2582)

C LU B M A R I N E.C O M.AU

Insurance is underwritten by Allianz Australia Insurance Limited (Allianz) ABN 15 000 122 850 AFSL No. 234708 of 2 Market Street, Sydney. Club Marine Limited (Club Marine) ABN 12 007 588 347 AFSL No. 236916 is a related body corporate and issues boat insurance as agent of Allianz. 1 Club Marine Assist is provided by Club Marine Limited. Assistance services are provided by AWP Australia Pty Ltd trading as Allianz Worldwide Partners ABN 52 097 227 177. Terms of service are available on clubmarine.com.au.

Keep informed with expert boating and fishing tips from industry experts on Club Marine TV.

Heidi Ph: 0487 895 683 E: heidi@goldcoastmarinetraining.com.au www.goldcoastmarinetraining.com.au/contact-us Suite 9, Lvl 1, Runaway Bay Marina Offices

In much of Australia it’s been a long cold winter. But can you feel that? Yes, that’s the feeling of the sun thawing everything out, it’s that hint of summer approaching. It won’t be long now; the days will be longer and warmer. The weekends and holidays will once again be all outdoors, and life will be all about all those activities you can do on and in the glorious water. Aussie summers are synonymous with water activities. It’s estimated that 85 per cent of Australians live no more than 50km from the coast or a river. That’s a lot of opportunity for swimming, fishing, surfing, wakeboarding or being out on a boat, jet ski or some other vessel.

Boating is one of the fastest growing leisure activities in Australia. In 2012 there were just over 2.1 million people, or just over 11 per cent of the population, who lived in a household with some kind of boat or water vessel. That figure is now closer to 2.6 million or around 13 per cent of the population, who have some sort of boat in their household. What’s more surprising is that it’s not the wealthy who are now buying boats. The biggest consumers for boats now are in fact middle class Australians, who have seen that they too can enjoy the lifestyle that owning a boat can offer. With such a big jump in boat ownership, there is obviously a bigger need to provide easy to access and affordable education for people on the safety aspects of being on the water. Maritime Safety Queensland and the Australian Maritime Safety Authority Australia have strict rules and guidelines around boating. You should be familiar with local and be aware of what the weather forecast will be before you head out to sea so you are not caught out in storms or worse. In many parts of northern Australia, summer is the time where the weather is the most unpredictable. You also need to be familiar with the fact that traffic on the water, unlike on a road, can come from any direction, and just like in a car, there are strict drink driving laws that apply to skippering a vessel on the water. As the skipper on your boat, you are responsible to know the maritime collision regulations. Just like learning how to drive a car, there is a lot to learn, and apart from being aware of the safety aspects and rules of being at sea, you also need to ensure you have the correct licence for the vessel you intend to be using. So now, with the summer weather fast approaching, it is the perfect time to get ‘licensed to thrill’ so you, your family and friends, are ready to enjoy the best and safest summer ever on the water.

Gold Coast Marine Training (GCMT) run boat and jet ski licence courses on the Gold Coast at Runaway Bay Marina every weekend and most weekdays. GCMT trainers have years of experience in the maritime industry, including skippering and crewing on a range of commercial vessels which means they truly understand the importance of all safety aspects at sea. GCMT have a passion for the ocean and boating and want to pass on that experience and passion to others, thereby making sure the ocean is as safe as possible for everyone. GCMT offer the highest quality of training on the Gold Coast to ensure that you come away

with all the necessary skills to keep you and your family and friends safe out on the water and they also offer the most affordable prices. GCMT can offer courses to individuals, groups, clubs or schools or other groups and also runs specialized team building boat and jet ski licence courses for organizations. At GCMT you can do a face to face boat licence course, jet ski licence course or a combination of both in one day at Runaway Bay Marina. This includes a theory component and practical hassessment on the boat and

jet ski that will ensure you are as prepared as possible for your own venture out on the water. GCMT also offers online boat and/or jet ski licence courses. The theory is completed in the comfort of your own home at your own pace and then the practical component and written assessment is completed in a few hours at one of our office locations. The practical boat assessment will be done ona rib inflatable 570 BRIG Navigator with a 90 HP engine or a Delta Bay Rib Inflatable with a 150 HP engine on the back. These vessels are great to learn on and with inflatable tubing surrounding the hull of the vessel it offers a bit of padding for inexperienced skippers who are still learning how to park and maneuver the vessel. The jet ski licence course is completed on one of the Yamaha VX cruisers. They are perfect jet skiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s to learn on and are stable with forward and reverse control systems. So, no matter your ability. Heidi and her crew will be able to get you on the water, safely and with all the knowledge you need to ensure the best summer you will ever have.

Photo credit: @tyronedenmanproductions For information call Heidi on 0487 895 683 or email her at heidi@goldcoastmarinetraining.com.au or have a look at their website https://www.goldcoastmarinetraining.com.au/

Proud Sponsors of

The 2018 Paper Tiger International Championships

The 2018 Maersk Line Paper Tiger Internationals were dominated by a strong New Zealand contingent, claiming all podium positions, and out-sailing the Aussies to win the coveted teamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s trophy. The event, hosted by Frankston Yacht Club in Victoria, Australia, saw a fleet of 48 boats take to the waters of Port Phillip Bay over the Easter long weekend. The event was made possible by Maersk Line, who generously shipped the 20 boat New Zealand Team to Melbourne for the event. Supporting sponsors included Permex, and Redhead Sails. The Paper Tiger class continues to provide a great social atmosphere and affordable racing, with half of the top 10 boats, including the winner, home built by their skippers.

The 2019 event will be held over Easter at Napier Sailing Club, New Zealand.

SUMMER IS COMING TIME TO GET YOUR SHADE ORGANISED

Here at John’s Motor Trimmers Perth, we have experienced firsthand the highest manufacturer standards necessary when producing quality repairs. The use of the latest equipment together with manufacturer processes place John’s Motor Trimmers Perth repair quality ahead of the field. Our experience, together with the latest modern technology, has significantly increased accuracy in all our repair procedures. This significantly decreases turnaround times allowing us to get the job done efficiently and effectively. John’s Motor Trimmers Perth talented and professional team can provide full custom trimming jobs, making your vehicle or vessel really stand out. We provide nothing but top tier service, and use only the very best in materials, assuring you get quality and professional trimming for your vehicle or vessel. Whatever your trimming requirements may be, from cars and caravans to boats and trailers, John’s Motor Trimmers Perth have the team and experience to get the job done right.

www.johnsmotortrimmers.com.au | 7 Adrian Street, Welshpool, WA 6106 Telephone: 0419 784 647 | E-mail: marine@johnsmotortrimmers.com.au

Karijini National Park

www.wandertowonderoz.com | www.instagram.com/wandertowonderoz www.facebook.com/wandertowonderoz Karijini National Park is Western Australia’s second largest national park and one of the most spectacular sights in the Pilbara. The park has two billion years of natural history on show and an abundance of walking trails to explore! Here’s the Wander to Wonder Oz guide!

Hamersley Gorge  We kicked off our adventure with Hamersley Gorge, the most remote of the gorges a few

hours from Karratha where we had stopped to prep. It was an easy walk from the car park

down the rock steps to the gorge floor where a beautiful stepped waterfall creates a cool

pool to swim in surrounded by high walls of

red rocks. We were spewing to discover that the trail to the Spa Pool has been closed

since Nov 2017 due to the number of injuries sustained by walkers and although we were

hanging to explore we decided to set a good example for the kids who can unfortunately read now! Many people do push on and I have to say, the photos look amazing!

Fortescue Falls, Fern Pool & Circular Pool  We had a fantastic day hiking and swimming in the Dales Gorge trio! Starting at the

Fortescue Falls car park, we followed the man made stairs down 100m into the gorge to see Karijini National Park’s only permanent

waterfall. Fed by a spring, it cascades more

than 20 metres down a series of natural rock steps before finishing in a deep pool. From

there if you continue right it’s an easy 300m walk to the sweet falls and swimming hole of the Fern

Pool. Following the track left through Dales Gorge

ends at Circular Pool and you guessed it - another great spot to cool off in! If you have little legs in

your tribe you may prefer to drive to the Circular Pools car park and walk down from there.

Hancock Gorge Kermit’s Pool

We were itching to take on this Class 5 walk often described as ‘journey to the centre of

Earth’! The fun started with a series of metal

ladders to descend into the gorge floor. From

there you wade through cold pools, negotiate rock ledges on the gorge walls and clamber through stony creek beds. The gorge walls narrow and things start to get tricky at the

aptly named ‘Spider Walk’ section where arms and legs are required on either side

(somewhat challenging with two little ones). This leads to the finishing point and the beautiful Kermit’s Pool, a deep pool of

turquoise water. Warning - it’s freezing!

Lower Weano Handrail Pool

Another tricky Class 5 walk that we took on after refuelling from Hancock Gorge. The

1.5km return walk starts with some fairly easy steps down the cliffs into the gorge. From there it becomes more adventurous with

scrambling over boulders, wading through

water and balancing on narrow passages. We were thankful we only had two kids to cling

onto as we negotiated the slippery rocks and

handrail down to the chilly waters of Handrail Pool. Leigh was the only game one who

continued swimming through the high narrow walls to the end of the trail!

Star Observation Tour  We did a day/night observatory tour back in Charleville, QLD and loved it so we were stoked to discover the REMTREK “Camp Constellation" at Dales Campground. The remote outback location means that stars can be seen with incredible clarity allowing us to spot Jupiter, Saturn, many constellations and the stunning Jewel Box just to name a few. Phil the guide was extremely knowledgeable and enthusiastic, sharing lots of fascinating facts about our universe and the odd joke or two! Astro sessions run most nights from Dales Gorge Campground and bookings are essential for each night via the signage situated at the campground. Our session commenced 6.30pm and went for three amazing hours! Pricing was $30 for adults and $20 for children aged 6-16yrs.

Accommodation

We spent our first night at Hamersley Gorge Campsite opposite the gorge entry. It was large, open spaced with bins and fires allowed. From there we intended on staying at Dales Campground but unfortunately had some issues with our water pump. So without running water we fast tracked to Karijini Eco Lodge via Tom Price for a fuel top up. While the site may have cost us $40 per night with no power or water, we did snag a ripper (and huge) spot opposite the main amenities and reception. Hello hot showers, flushing toilets and proper coffee!! Finn even took Mum out on a dessert date while Dad and Bodhi went star gazing.

Planning & Preparation Having the right footwear is a key factor in hiking - trust me as I’ve attempted quite a few in thongs and felt very sorry for myself! Do yourself a favour and invest in a pair of hiking boots as well as some reef shoes for walks involving water (Hancock and Weano). They have a better grip than hiking boots and make wading through water 100 x more comfy than bare feet! Make sure you pack plenty of water, snacks, sunscreen, first aid kit, hats, your camera and a wet bag for any items you can’t afford to take a swim. To save space we hike in our bathers and only carry a towel each for the kids as the sun is quick to dry you off! Be sure to follow our adventures on Facebook, Instagram and on our website!

Happy Travels, Tegan & Leigh

When free camping we use 2 x 125 watt solar blankets to keep our Waeco fridge running and to top up our Emergency Solar

Generator, which we then use to charge our 240v electrical devices such as laptop and

SLR camera. When out exploring we carry a

small jump start booster which can charge our phone, cameras and GoPro as it sucks to get to an awesome location and realise your

camera is out of bloody battery! All our gear is from Pocket Power Australia

Fuel is available at Tom Price and Auski

Roadhouse depending on which direction you’re coming from.

Like all National Parks in WA a Parks Permit is required. These can be purchased

individually or as a yearly pass which works

out cheaper if you’re planning to visit a few!

The Rio Tinto Rail Access Road is a quicker way to get to Tom Price via Millstream

National Park. Permit is available from

Karratha or Tom Price Info Centres for a gold coin donation and involves watching a 20min safety video.

Understanding Weights Knowing your weights and caravan towing capacity is essential for safe towing

Tare mass is the base weight of the van at manufacture without payload or after-market accessories, without water in the tanks or the gas bottles filled.

caravan or trailer and is measured unhitched and sitting on itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s jockey wheel and axle(s).This is a rating set by the manufacturer and cannot be exceeded.

ATM (Aggregate Trailer Mass) is the maximum manufacturer specified weight of your loaded

GVM (Gross Vehicle Mass) is the maximum allowable total mass of a fully loaded motor

vehicle, consisting of the tare mass (mass of the vehicle) plus the load (including passengers). GTM (Gross Trailer Mass) is the maximum weight your trailer can be at its axle(s) and is sometimes referred to as the axle capacity. Typically this is measured while the caravan or

trailer wheels are sitting on a weighbridge but the hitched tow vehicle isn’t. TBM (Tow Ball Mass) is the effective mass on the tow ball from the trailer hitch. The maximum TBM is not typically specified by the manufacturer but as a guide should be up to 10% of the ATM. GCM (Gross Combined Mass) is the rating provided by the manufacturer. When you weigh your tow vehicle and your caravan or trailer when they are all loaded up.

Ball Weight The Force ( in Kg’s) exerted downwards on a vehicle’s tow ball by your fully packed caravan. When your caravan is hitched, this mass is included in your tow vehicle’s payload. Axle Load How much weight the front and rear axles can handle safely. The combined sum of both axle ratings usually adds up to more than the GVM, giving a bit of leeway as to where the weight is distributed throughout the vehicle.

on or load up to take away (usually about 300kg allowance).The payload is worked out by deducting the “Tare Mass” from the “ATM”. It must not be exceeded under any circumstances. Safety, insurance & warranty may be affected if the specified payload is exceeded

Payload is all the bits you add

More information available at www.everythingcaravanandcamping.com

WHEN TRAVEL AND FOOD IS YOUR LIFE MEET BEC “THE FOOD JUNKIE”

PINEAPPLE AIOLI This is fantastic as a potato, or coleslaw salad dressing as it’s a bit runnier than your average aioli. One of my favourite is to generously coat roasted potatoes or chips in a blend of smoked paprika and smoked Cyprus salt, then have this aioli as a dipping sauce on the side, heaven. Smokey potato pineapple goodness. Today we apply the same seasoning to chicken. Also works on pork, prawns and fish. You can change pineapple to mango, not one too ripe. Add some curry powder or some fresh mint or chives. So many ways to play with a base mayonnaise. Explore! Best to read the whole recipe before you start so the order makes sense.

INGREDIENTS ·

1 medium size onion (1 cup roughly chopped)

· · · ·

1 teaspoon oil 1 tbsp. fresh turmeric ½ tsp chopped garlic 1 cup finely diced fresh pineapple

MAYONNAISE · · · · · · ·

2 egg yolks 1 tsp sea salt 1/2 teaspoon pepper 1 teaspoon spoon rice wine vinegar 1 teaspoon mirin 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard 1 cup sunflower oil

METHOD 1. Place fresh finely diced pineapple in a sieve to drain or place on kitchen towel. Remove as much juice as possible. draining in the fridge, covered, overnight works a treat. Set aside. 2. Roughly chop onion and slice garlic. Sautee in olive oil till transparent. Add turmeric, stir and allow to cool. 3. Now to make the mayonnaise. Place the egg yolks, mirin, rice wine vinegar, Dijon mustard and salt and pepper in deep jug or deep bowl. Using a stick blender or beater or hand whisk slowly add the sunflower oil. A food processor works really well too. Continue to mix and add the oil till all combined. 4. Place the cooked and cooled onion and turmeric mix and mayonnaise in a food processor or blender and blend till paste like. If mayonnaise has been made in a food processor just add the cooled onion and turmeric mix. 5. Place mayonnaise in a bowl. Stir the well-drained pineapple in to the mayonnaise and ready to go. The turmeric colour with intensify as time goes on. Gloves when handling turmeric is a good idea. 6.

It’s also really delicious without the pineapple.

Check seasoning.

Makes approx. 2 cups

Note If the emulsion of the oil with the other ingredient’s splits, stop straight away. In a separate bowl place another egg yolk, ½ tsp mustard, ½ mirin and ½ teaspoon of rice wine vinegar. Slowly and whisking very well add the split mix slowly to recombine. If the end flavor is really intense add a bit more oil, very, very slowly and continue to whisk at all times. Any other problems, ask me.

TASTE OF QUEENSLAND MANGO CHEESECAKE As promised, here is the mango cheesecake that I made at the Great Australian Bites festival, cooking demonstration on Australia day. Its a delicious, light, taste of Queensland summer.

MANGO MADNESS. INGREDIENTS

Base 100g Anzac cookies 50g macadamia nuts 50g desiccated coconut 1/4 cup coconut oil

FILLING

2x 250g block Philadelphia cream cheese 300ml thicken cream 2 cup diced fresh mango 1-2 tbsp lime juice 1/2 cup caster sugar 2tsp powered gelatine 4tbsp boiling water 1 tsp vanilla bean paste

METHOD Line a 23cm spring form tin base with plastic glad wrap. Place broken Anzac cookies, coconut, macadamia nuts and coconut oil in a food processor and blend to combine. Place the biscuit mix into the plastic lined cake tin and press into the base. Using your hand press till flat and right up to the sides, completely cover the round base. This recipe only gives a case crust, if you want to go up the sides of the tin double the base mix. Place in the fridge to set. In the meantime in a deep mixing bowl place the cream cheese, breaking into bits as you go, thickened cream, 1 tbsp lime juice, (you can add more at the end, just taste the mix to check your required sweetness) and caster sugar. Place on low speed and start to mix the filling. Add 1 cup of the chopped mango, vanilla bean paste and beat till well combined. You may have a few small lumps, donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t stress. Dissolve the gelatine in boiling water and through a fine sieve add to the mix whilst still mixing. Place the other cup of diced mango evenly into the base of the cake tin and pour over the cream cheese mix. Refrigerate till set, 3-4 hours, overnight if you can wait that long perfect.

TIPS I like to make 1 1/2 quantities of the biscuit bake and make a centre circle on the top of the cheesecake (see picâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s) and finish with slices of mango. Other fruits can be used strawberries, peaches, pineapple, cantaloupe, blue berries and the list goes on.Play around with the biscuit base, try different cookies, chocolate chips and other nuts. Just do a fridge test with a small amount of the base mix to check it sets, different ingredients may need a bit more coconut oil to set

Instagram @ the_food_junkie Website and blog www.thefoodjunkie.com.au Facebook - The Food Junkie @ thefoodjunkiechef

We all aim to spend as much time on our boats as we can. So, it makes sense to ensure your AC and DC electrical systems on your boat are operating at their highest potential, and are wired and upgraded to current Australian standards. This will ensure your family and friends safety, and protect your investment.

your requirements; install automatic charging systems for solar, wind and engine charging options and upgrade your lighting system to LEDâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s for an energy efficient solution. Whether the installation is interior, exterior or underwater, ADL can supply high quality light fittings to suit all applications.

ADL Marine Electrics are industry specialists, with more than 15 years operating in the marine industry. ADL Marine can make sure your boat is up to Australian Standard, as well as offer you a full electrical inspection of your AC and DC operating systems. We also offer an easy to follow maintenance plan to keep everything operating as it should.

ADL Marine is based at East Coast Marina, Manly, Brisbane. If required, can also provide a mobile service anywhere between the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast. If your boat is on a trailer you, can bring it to them and have the piece of mind your pride and joy is safe in their secure boat yard with camera surveillance and security. The team of qualified electricians will have you back on the water in no time.

ADL Marine can service and repair all brands of anchor winches; customise your battery system to

ADL Marine specialises in: Design, installation and repair of complete wiring systems in new and used vessels. Location and repair of electrical system faults in AC or DC installations. Installation of battery systems to suit individual requirements. Installation of automatic charging systems and battery monitoring solutions. Installation of 240 volt sub circuits, switchboards, battery chargers, inverters, combis & generators. Bow and stern thrustor installations. Load testing and battery replacement. Electrolysis testing and rectification. Wiring Refurbishments ADL Marine can refurbish your old electrical system and have it last for another 20 years! Our expert team can design, manufacture and install the correct system to suit your individual requirements. If you sail the bay, or cruise the coast, ADL can design the right system for you.

Electronics ADL Marine can supply and install all your navigational and fish finding needs. Audio Systems ADL Marine is an authorized Fusion Marine Stereo installer. The Fusion range of stereos, speakers and amplifiers can fulfil any requirement.

Anchor Winch Sales & Service ADL Marine is the recommended service agent for Maxwell Anchor Winches. With extensive knowledge and access to a large range of parts for all makes and models. ADL can overhaul your old winch and make it look and perform like new, or supply and install the entire range of vertical, horizontal and drum winch solutions.

Service & Maintenance

Caravans and RVs

Maintenance can make or break your trip. Maintenance needs to be performed correctly for safety and to avoid a disappointing trip out on the water or land. If you are uncertain or unsure about your electrical systems operation and condition, contact ADL Marine and they can put your mind at ease and give guidance so your trip can go as you planned it would.

ADL offers its services to Road Boats as well.

Electrical Contractor #83808 http://www.adlmarineelectrics.com.au/ | Email: adlmarineelectrics@bigpond.com East Coast Marina, 570 Royal Esplanade, Manly, QLD 4179 Australia | Ph: 0419 653 657

THE BIRDSVILLE RACES, QLD 2018

BIRDSVILLE RACE TRACK ENTRY*

MAREE CRICKET GROUND

The iconic Birdsville Races, known as the ‘Melbourne Cup of Outback Racing’ is one not to be missed. Taking place on the first weekend of September each year, it is the perfect excuse for a road trip through the heart of Australia. Director of VC Events Co Australia Ginnie Hope-Johnstone and her crew took a trip flying into Adelaide and driving up the Birdsville Track. After an overnight stopover in Parachilna where the ‘Feral Feast’ of Emu, Kangaroo, Camel and Goat is a must do at the famous Prairie Hotel, they continued on through Mungerannie and finally Birdsville. Upon crossing the QLD border to Birdsville, you will find thousands of friendly race-goers camping along the road between the race track and town centre, with the population swelling to around 9,000. You’ll find the famous Birdsville Hotel, Birdsville Airport spotted with hundreds of pilots camped under their planes, the Birdsville Bakery famous for their camel pies and the not to be missed Fred Brophy’s Boxing Troupe – the last in the world, all in close proximity to each other around the town. The week is filled with fun activities for punters in conjunction with the Birdsville Race Club, including a fun run, comedy night, cocktail party, race days on both Friday and Saturday, Fashions on the Field, Trackside Marquees and plenty of live entertainment, all helping to raise much needed funding for The Royal Flying Doctor Service. The perfect recovery from the races is to venture 20 minutes out of town to visit the impressive sand dune known as ‘Big Red’, where you can either walk or 4WD up the dunes themselves. An event not to be missed; Birdsville Races 6th & 7th September 2019 – where the dust never settles.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY * TO SALTY DINGO MEDIA

BIRDSVILLE RACE TRACK*

BIRDSVILLE RACE TRACK HOME STRAIGHT*

BIRDSVILLE RACE TRACK FINISH LINE AND THE MAIN GRANDSTAND*

ENTERTAINMENT â&#x20AC;&#x2019; THE CRACK UP SISTERS*

THE MELBOURNE CUP MEETS THE BIRDSVILLE CUP*

FRIDAY S NOVELTY FASHIONS ON THE FIELD

SATURDAY S FASHIONS ON THE FIELD BEST DRESSED LADY*

VC EVENTS CO AUSTRALIA DIRECTOR GINNIE HOPE-JOHNSTONE WITH THE MELBOURNE CUP

THOUSANDS OF CAMPERS ALONG THE MAIN ROAD INTO BIRDSVILLE*

PILOTS CAMPED UP UNDER THEIR PLANES AT BIRDSVILLE AIRPORT*

FRED BROPHY HOLDING UP THE WINNING BOXER IN HIS BOXING TROUPE*

THE BIRDSVILLE HOTEL AT SUNSET

HOPE-JOHNSTONE AND RACHAEL CONNELL AT BIG RED

ENJOYING A COLD BEER POST RACES ON SUNDAY

STATE BORDER APPROX. 5KM FROM BIRDSVILLE

MUNGERANNIE HOTEL, BIRDSVILLE TRACK SA

ARABANA SIGN ON THE BIRDSVILLE TRACK, SA

THE FERAL FEAST AT THE PRAIRIE HOTEL, PARACHILNA SA

VC EVENTS CO AUSTRALIA EMPLOYEES GINNIE

Education on the road

Ever thought about giving it all up and hitting the open road with your family? The logistics of it might seem overwhelming, but Liquid Life and Leisure spoke to families that are making it work with schooling while travelling. The Bensons are from Melbourne. Simon and Jo, along with their three daughters, Zoe (11) in grade 5, Hannah (10) in grade 4, and Maia (6) in Prep, have been on the road since August 2017.

Jo is a school teacher and said the style of schooling they use is mixed. “We do what I call an Eclectic Blend of Roadschooling. It’s a blend of lots of different styles of schooling. Some days we have a very relaxed approach to schooling where the kids choose their own school activities, other days we sit down and do four to five hours of formal workbooks and activities I’ve planned. Other days we might do educational activities, for example in recent weeks we’ve visited a space

museum, explored caves, swum with sea lions and toured wildflower country”. Jo said she has chosen this style of schooling to fit with the educational needs of the three girls. “I have three very different learners. Zoe has Sensory Processing Disorder and struggles with math; Hannah has Auditory Processing Disorder and possible dyslexia; and Maia is showing amazing academic skills and already achieving a reading and math level at that of her older sisters”.

“Our homeschooling program allows me to cater to their own individual needs rather than having a prescribed curriculum sent out to me based on their age”. Jo said her background as a teacher does help but every school day is different with no specific structure. “Our school day can start anywhere between 7am and finish up to 9pm at night. Some days the girls are awesome and on task with their schoolwork and some days they are totally off with the fairies or fighting like cats and dogs”. “Due to Zoe’s SPD and Hannah’s APD, they needs lots of movement and breaks but after 14 months on the road they are pretty used to me as their teacher and what I expect when I say ‘school work time’”.

“There are so many great things about Road Schooling. The life experiences the kids are getting now far outweigh what they were getting when they were sitting in a classroom. I can tailor the learning to the interests and the level of each of my kids and I can change things if something isn’t working. The hands on learning and the memories they are making are going to stay with them for a lifetime, and there’s not just academic benefits either. We as parents have been given the opportunity to really get to know our children, not just see them for a few hours around school times”. “I’ve also seen a huge improvement in my kids’ relationship with each other. They truly know each other now

and their bond is so much stronger because of the time they spend together”. It’s not all sunshine and rainbows though, Jo said the hardest parts are getting the kids to see you as two different people – Mum and teacher, and the pressure of responsibility. “I’ve chosen not to go with a Distance Education or Homeschool program that send the kids schoolwork to me, which means that the kids education falls solely on me. I alone must make sure I am providing a well-rounded education for all three of my girls. I need to plan, program, implement and document their progress. At times this can be quite overwhelming and daunting and I do worry that I’m not doing it right!”

Jo said that if you are thinking about a similar style of Road Schooling then her advice is to loosely plan. “Have lists of activity ideas prepared, lists of documentaries and shows on the ABC IView app, keep a craft box with you, have a bag of literacy and numeracy games and resources ready to play, have a small box of readers, make a list of LEGO challenges and make Pinterest your best friend for all things education”. For many other families the need for help with education is the reality. Having pre-prepared lessons and support from a teacher makes it a bit easier. The Rodgers hail from Port Macquarie in northern New South Wales. Joe and Mel, along with Lily (9) in Year 3, and Sienna (6) in Kindergarten, have been on the road since January 2017. They spent the first 12 months exploring Victoria and South Australia before heading west and stopped in Karratha for 10

months where the girls attended a local primary school before they again hit the road. Mel said, “We will continue living the travelling life until we all get sick of each other!” While they are travelling they have chosen to use Distance Education. “We are going through North East Public School. They are based in Port Macquarie, so it made it easier before we left home, as we were able to meet our teacher and get a run through of what was expected”. “We chose Distance Education because I am not motivated enough to set programs and decide what the girls needed to learn. I find it so much easier that they send me all the bits and pieces and we just do the work. The school is fantastic, they send you everything you need right down to the rulers, paint, paper and if there are any ‘projects’ to complete they send all the materials you need to

complete it”. “We have face to face class sessions once a week, where our teacher does the school lesson with the girls, either together or individually. There are also class meet ups which happen online, so the girls can see who else is in their class”. “Distance Ed suits us, I find the teacher can focus on a specific thing with each of the girls, for example Lily is getting lots of math’s as that is her weak point, and Sienna has lots of reading and writing to complete because that’s what she needs to focus on”. “This year has been a bit different because now both girls are doing schooling. Last year it was just Lily. We do find we have to do some separate class time because they both need attention and I can’t concentrate on both at the same time”. “We try and spend 40 minutes

on schooling a day. We try and do it in the morning, otherwise they are too tired at the end of the day to even think of work”. “I’ve found they are both really good at doing the school work, when they put their mind to it! But to be honest I think the school side is the worst part about travelling”. “Most of the arguments we have are around school, and I understand that, who wants to do school with your parents. It can get tiresome trying to explain to the girls that they need to do school work even though they think they are on holidays permanently”. “I guess the best part of having the girls in Distance Ed is that it means we can live this lifestyle and know the girls aren’t going to be held back. When the girls attended primary school in Karratha we found Lily wasn’t behind at all after having already done 12 months of Distance Ed”. Mel said while this is the lifestyle they have chosen to live, they still believe the school environment is the best learning environment for their family and plan to put the girls into local schools whenever they plan to stop for any length of time. “Lily would never argue with a teacher as much as she argues with us, but it’s a small price to pay for being out here and experiencing new places and new things”.

“I also know that our teacher is only ever a phone call away if it gets too much”. “I know a lot of people say that Distance Ed is strict and doesn’t fit into the travel life, but I think it does. The teachers realise you are not in a regular classroom and try and accommodate every need. It’s also really cost effective. It’s $60 per year for the girls to attend and they supply everything, we just supply the internet and the kids!” If you are deciding which style of schooling will suit your family while travelling, it’s a good idea to talk to your local education authority before making the decision that might best suit your children and your situation. Distance education requires that the student is still enrolled with the education department and still meets the requirements set out by the State school curriculum. While home schooling will mean you will need to apply for an exemption from school and provide all curriculum and materials yourself. This may also mean your child may not be eligible to sit formal examinations to achieve their Year 10 and Year 12 assessments but they will still be subject to an annual review of your child’s development. For travelling families with older students, parents need to work closely with education departments and schools to ensure their children are covering all the required areas of the curriculum, especially if students are wanting to sit for

Year 10 or 12 assessments. For younger students, the education requirements are a little easier to manage on the road. Most states are happy to release students for long term travel as long as they meet some basic requirements and have regular contact with teachers. Some families' base schools maintain this contact and send curriculum materials to parents who then send back to the teacher for marking.

Whatever style of education you decide to utilise the best advice from other travelling families is to research and find out exactly what the expectations are and whether they will fit into your travel plans. The requirements from different Distance Education schools vary, and if you decide to use other forms of homeschooling make sure you are able to offer a well rounded program for your child. But most of all, travelling as a family is an opportunity that not everyone gets, use the experiences from your travel and make it fun, for everyone!

n a C n i T a n i s Chao The Gibb River Road

Nestled in the heart of the Kimberley the GRR is close to the furthest point from our south coast NSW home of Woonona. We'd seen the pictures, we knew it was rough, wild and rugged and we couldn't wait to get there. After a year on the road our excitement had only grown and we were finally on our way. After many months of researching and googling it wasn't without trepidation that we stocked up

the cupboards, dustproofed the caravan and triple checked our spare tyres. Are we crazy taking 4 small kids and a caravan to this place? Will our caravan survive the trip? The sales guy said it would... Our adventure began from the west, we waded through tunnels known to home many freshwater crocs at Tunnel creek, then watched scores of them converge on a sand island at Windjana Gorge.

Before we had even turned on to the Gibb river Rd this was already a trip like no other. For the next 3 weeks we explored waterfalls and swimming holes, scrambled over rocks to find crystal clear gorges waiting for us, had campfires at night with new friends and watched the sky fill with trillions of stars. We trekked out the iconic Mitchell Falls, swam in places we had never heard of and finally perfected our damper recipe. All the while dragging our caravan behind

us. So was it worth it? That's a hell yes from us. Aside from no longer having a microwave in our caravan we luckily didn't sustain any damage, not even a tyre. The national Park camping grounds were great, all had showers, toilets, firepits and potable water, we didn't have any trouble finding a spot even in the middle of the July school holidays. What we really loved was that they were split into a quiet camp and a noisy/generator area. I wish more places had

this setup, it's much more relaxing for parents of small children. We spent less than a month on the Gibb, it was enough for this trip but has left us plenty to go back for next time. The kids were amazing, they tackled all the walks with the ease of little mountain goats, even the baby surprised us with his stubbornness and determination shown by his constant cries of 'own self!'

As we shook and rattled our way through the heart of the Kimberley the kids grew before my eyes, they seemed stronger, more confident in their abilities, they helped me plan meals and build fires to cook them on. We had just enough wrong turns and misadventures to keep things interesting and add to the adventure. It certainly hasn't been the most relaxing or laid back month, I'm not sure you can even call it a holiday, but certainly an adventure we won't forget.

Article supplied and written by Jacq Dobner

NO JOB TOO BIG OR SMALL At ALL TONES Marine Painting on the Gold Coast we take pride in all our work. We specialise in all aspects of boat spray painting from gel coat repairs to full paint resprays. OUR SERVICES include: • FULL BOAT RESPRAYS • GEL COAT REPAIRS • MARINE PAINT REPAIRS • DETAILING • FIBERGLASS LAMINATION Each job we take on we make sure it is finished to the highest quality to ensure our clients are 100% satisfied. With our experienced team of painters we will always make sure you get what your looking for. All Tones Marine Painting can also perform minor repairs to boats off site. For your convenience we can come to your site and perform your repair or restoration. Contact us to discuss your options.

No job too big or small! We range from jet-skis to super-yachts. Let us help keep your pride and joy looking great.

Tony Eltze 0434 527 409 info@alltonesmarinepainting.com.au www.alltonesmarinepainting.com.au Horizon Shores Marina, Shed D4 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 6 1 Cabbage Tree Point Road, Woongoolba, Qld 4207

FOLLOW OUR SOCIALS www.facebook.com/liquidlifeandleisure Instagram @liquidlifeandleisure www.liquidlifeandleisure.com.au