OUTthere Airnorth January 2015

Issue 127 • January 2015

72 hours in Brisbane The new city chic

SUMMER LOVIN’

+ insidemining NORTHERN STAR SHINES Why everyone’s loving Darwin

Daytrips from the Gold Coast to love

Best beach

breaks Featuring the best undiscovered beaches

KITCHEN CONFIDENTIAL Matt Stone gets ethical GETAWAY Sapphire Coast AGRIBUSINESS Cotton farming on the rise

o y u f i d o d n a ’t!

M

@MatsosBeer

welcome

Welcome aboard!

In this month’s issue, we are proud to present Chelsea Basham as our new Airnorth ambassador.

After a great relationship with James Blundell, who paved the way over many years, we are looking forward to working with Chelsea, who we believe has a bright future in the music industry.

Elsewhere in these pages, we show you that not only does the Gold Coast offer beautiful beaches and great entertainment, there’s a host of day trip activities available too, and even better, just in time for the school holidays.

Now that school is out for the summer, it’s the perfect time to take the family away on a fun beach holiday. To help you decide where to go, we profile some of the best beach breaks available – from the Gold Coast, Cairns and Perth.

We have worked with many not-for-profit organisations and charities over the years, helping in the delivery of charitable programs to our nearest neighbours in the north, Timor-Leste. One such organisation is the Pittwater Friends of Soibada, which has an outstanding group of volunteers.

They have delivered many vital projects to the communities in this region, and in this issue you can read more about their initiatives and the background of this fantastic group and the Timorese people with whom they work closely.

Now sit back, relax with our inflight service, and enjoy the magazine.

Michael Bridge Chief Executive Officer

Favourite destination

Perth, Western Australia.

AIRNORTH RESERVATIONS: 1800 627 474 or AIRNORTH.COM.AU 1

safetyinfo

EMBRAER E170 Engines Two jet Wingspan 26m Length 29.9m Height 9.95m Maximum take-off weight 37,200kg Maximum cruise altitude 41,000ft/12,535m Maximum cruise speed 450kns/820km/h Passenger seats 76 Crew 2 pilots, 2 cabin attendants Passenger facilities 2 galleys, 2 lavatories, pressurised and air conditioned

EMBRAER E120 BRASILIA Engines Two turboprop Wingspan 19.78m Length 20.0m Height 6.35m Maximum take-off weight 11,990kg Maximum cruise altitude 32,000ft/9,754m Maximum cruise speed 300kns/555km/h Passenger seats 30 Crew 2 pilots, 1 cabin attendant Passenger facilities Lavatory, cabin ground heating/cooling system

METROLINER 23 Engines Two turboprop Wingspan 17.70m Length 18.10m Height 5.10m Maximum take-off weight 7,485kg Maximum cruise altitude 25,000ft/7,620m Maximum cruise speed 265kns/490km/h Passenger seats 19 Crew 2 pilots

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safetyinfo

Your safety and comfort are our priority BELOW ARE SOME GUIDELINES TO ENSURE YOUR FLIGHT WITH US IS MORE ENJOYABLE

SAFETY BRIEFING ON TIME EVERY TIME To assist in maintaining on-time departures, check-in time is 45 minutes prior to departure for domestic flights and 90 minutes prior to departure for international flights. Airnorth check-in counters close 30 minutes prior to domestic scheduled departures and 45 minutes prior to international scheduled departures.

FREQUENT FLYERS Airnorth is a member of the Qantas Frequent Flyer program. Members can earn and redeem their Frequent Flyer points on selected Airnorth scheduled services.

FLYING WITH CHILDREN Infant safety belts are available on Airnorth aircraft and are distributed prior to take-off.

CHILDREN FLYING ALONE If you have children between the ages of five and 11 (inclusive) travelling alone, we ensure they enjoy the attention of our staff on the ground and in flight.

AIRNORTH SERVICES On our services, you can expect a snack accompanied by a selection of tea and coffee or cold refreshments.

On selected afternoon services, alcoholic beverages are also available. Refer to our website for more details. airnorth.com.au

SPECIAL NEEDS Passengers with special needs and/or disabilities, please contact our Reservations Department.

Please listen carefully to the Safety Briefing and take the time to read through the Safety on Board card prior to take-off. This will help you familiarise yourself with the emergency exits, brace position and the location of your life jacket.

SEATBELTS Seatbelts must be fastened firmly for take-off, landing and while the seatbelt sign is illuminated. We recommend that your seatbelt be fastened at all times while you are seated in case of unexpected turbulence.

CARRY-ON LUGGAGE If you have carry-on luggage, please stow it in the overhead locker or under the seat in front of you. Hand luggage that is not correctly stowed may cause injury in the event of unexpected turbulence.

ELECTRONIC DEVICES Portable electronic devices can cause electromagnetic interference to the aircraft systems. The interference can cause aircraft systems to malfunction.

To provide adequate protection for the aircraft, please note that mobile phones must not be used at any time on board the aircraft. Other devices, such as MP3 players, iPods, CD players, portable palmtop and laptop computers, cassette players, personal electronic organisers and personal DVD and video games may be used during cruise only, NOT when the aircraft is taking off or landing.

TRAY TABLES/ SEAT BACKS Please ensure that your tray table and your seat back are in their upright positions for take-off and landing.

DEEP VEIN THROMBOSIS (DVT) It has been reported that some airline passengers have developed clots in deep blood vessels, often in the lower legs, as a result of sitting for extended periods without exercise or movement.

This condition is known medically as deep vein thrombosis or DVT. If bloodclot fragments break off and lodge in other areas of the body, such as the lungs, they may cause a potentially fatal pulmonary thrombosis when the person starts walking after being immobile for a lengthy period of time.

Risk factors for DVT include varicose veins, recent surgery or injury to the lower legs, malignant diseases, past history of DVT, obesity, pregnancy and recent childbirth. Anyone with any of these risk factors is advised to consult a medical practitioner prior to flying to find out how to minimise the risk of DVT. During the flight, we recommend that you take the following precautions: •D rink plenty of fluids, especially water, and minimise your intake of alcohol. • E xercise on board the aircraft by moving and stretching your toes, rotating your ankles, raising and lowering each leg and massaging your calves gently. In addition, we suggest that you avoid crossing your legs during the flight.

SMOKING Government regulations strictly prohibit smoking on all domestic flights. Special smoke detectors have been fitted to the toilets on board all of our aircraft. Smoking is also prohibited on the tarmac and throughout airport terminal buildings.

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contents getaway

food&wine

08 airnorthnews Airnorth’s new ambassador, Chelsea Basham, talks about her new role and her new tunes.

12 explore Three scenic drives from the Gold Coast to help you escape the madness for a day and get your breath back.

19 hotspot Discover a few great reasons why everyone’s talking about Darwin.

20 destination Not too far from an Airnorth port, these beaches are still a little bit off the beaten track.

28 community A Sydney group is sending help and hope to Soibada in Timor-Leste.

30 artspace Naomi Hobson’s love of country inspires her creativity.

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20

Issue 126 • December

Issue 127 • January

closeup

closeup

Aussie actress Eliza Taylor explains how ditching the ditzy blonde act is helping her to conquer Hollywood.

Aussie hunk Chris Hemsworth may just be the happiest man in tinseltown.

kitchenconfidential We chat to chef Pete Evans about paleo.

Seachangers have invigorated the New South Wales Sapphire Coast.

outtahere

food&wine

The South Coast of New South Wales offers the perfect blend of recreation and relaxation.

Simone Henderson-Smart wines and dines her way around the towns of Wagga Wagga, Leeton and Griffith.

food&wine

getaway

Fleur Bainger heads to the Swan Valley – Australia’s first Humane Food Region.

Faye James spends 72 action-packed hours in Brisbane and discovers a town that’s ditched the glitz in favour of cool.

getaway Faye James navigates the tricky world of travelling with kids and finds Australia is packed with family-friendly destinations.

outtahere

agribusiness We head to Griffith, home of Australia’s cotton industry.

insidemining • news and views • the state of mining • resource sector issues • finance and technology 5

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OUTthere_Full Page_275x210.indd 1

11/11/2014 2:42 pm

:42 pm

editor’sletter

GROUP EDITOR Faye James faye.james@edgecustom.com.au DEPUTY EDITOR Simone Henderson-Smart ASSISTANT EDITOR Riley Palmer INTERNS Toby Little, Kiaya Heise SUB-EDITOR Danielle Chenery PRINTER SOS Print & Media SENIOR DESIGNER Guy Pendlebury PRODUCTION MANAGER Brian Ventour CONTRIBUTORS Christine Retschlag, Kris Madden, Darren Baguley, Michael Yardney, Zoran Solarno, Andrew Crossley, Kevin Lee ADVERTISING SALES DIRECTOR Jason Popkowski jason.popkowski@edgecustom.com.au NATIONAL SALES MANAGER Chris Wykes chris.wykes@edgecustom.com.au SENIOR ACCOUNT MANAGERS Robert Desgouttes robert.desgouttes@edgecustom.com.au Peter Anderson peter.anderson@edgecustom.com.au WA, SA and NT SALES REP Helen Glasson, Hogan Media Phone: 08 9381 3991 helen@hoganmedia.com.au PUBLISHING DIRECTOR Geoff Campbell MANAGING PARTNERS Fergus Stoddart, Richard Parker

OUTthere is published by Edge 51 Whistler Street, Manly NSW 2095 Phone: 02 8962 2600, www.edgecustom.com.au OUTthere is published by Business Essentials (Australasia) Pty Limited (ABN 22 062 493 869), trading as Edge, under license to MGI Publishing Pty Ltd. Reproduction in whole or in part without prior written permission is strictly prohibited. Opinions expressed are those of the individual contributors and not necessarily those of the Publisher. Information provided was believed to be correct at the time of publication. All reasonable efforts have been made to contact copyright holders. OUTthere cannot accept unsolicited manuscripts or photographs. If such items are sent to the magazine, they will not be returned. Some images used in OUTthere are from Thinkstock and Getty Images.

From the editor...

Not sure if you’ve ever had the pleasure of travelling with little ones alone, but recently I travelled on my lonesome, with two kiddies under six in tow on a one-hour flight interstate to meet my husband at the other end.

Sounds pretty doable right? Just an hour flight, no biggie I thought. No husband, no problem.

Plonk on the iPad, a bit of Dora and I might even get some shut-eye. Wrong. So very, wrong. I don’t think I’ve ever felt so stressed travelling before.

My morning began with Miss Mia Grumpy Pants, five years old and going on 15, not being able to find the right outfit to travel in. Ten dresses down I was starting to lose my patience.

“Can you just eat your breakfast and we can get going?” I barked. The day was not starting well.

Finally, we got in the taxi but the two-yearold boy, Pablo the Terrible, refused to sit in the car seat and attempted to plank his way out, while screaming at full volume. What is usually a pleasant 30-minute drive turned into 45 minutes of hell, with traffic thrown into the bargain. The more Pablo the Terrible planked, the more irate the taxi driver became. “Can you control your kid back there please? It’s really dangerous.” He said this repeatedly in between screams.

I was trying my best, trust me. Pablo the Terrible just wasn’t backing down and Miss Mia Grumpy Pants was moaning intermittently about the status of her packing. She wanted to go back and get some more toys. I was beginning to get a bit frayed and desperate and we hadn’t even got on the plane.

Taxi ride over, I managed to negotiate my way to the check-in counter, planking toddler in one arm, trolley in another and five-year-old sullying behind. Things got marginally worse when Pablo the Terrible began to run up and down the luggage conveyer belt. “Can you stop your child doing that please? It’s very dangerous,” said the check-in lady. I felt like this would be the phrase of the day.

Check-in done, we ambled our way through security. Pablo the Terrible running rampant, more angry airport staff and Miss Mia Grumpy Pants becoming increasingly more sullen. Close

to the boarding gate, life became momentarily easier once we found ourselves a café and the kids got ordering. Banana bread and babycinos underway, I was looking forward to five minutes of peace. Nope. The cafeteria was situated right near the runway with planes in clear view. Pablo the Terrible was off again, attempting to board the plane in the sky before the gates had opened.

And when I did get on the plane, for the next hour all the kids did was cause more havoc, running up and down the aisles, stealing passengers’ food and kicking seats with me running apologetically behind. So much so, when I got off the plane to greet my husband, I literally collapsed on the floor in exhaustion.

Thankfully, when you read my story Getaway with the Kids, you’ll see the flight was well worth it. Kids running amok and all, when you get to the other side and begin exploring, the stress and exhaustion just melt away.

Got some funny kid’s travel stories to share?

Send them here inflight@edgecustom.com.au

Faye James and the OUTthere team facebook.com/OUTthereMagazineAustralia @OUTthereMagAus

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F I R S T

C L A S S

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O F

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Diya Restaurant

Happy Hour at the Deck

5-7pm daily.

Free drinks, gourmet canapĂŠs and wifi for both in-house and walk-in guests.

Conditions apply.

D I L I

To celebrate the receiving of Trip Advisor Certificates of Excellence in both 2013 and 2014, receive a complimentary glass of quality Italian wine when dining at Diya. Conditions apply. Limited time only.

DISCOVERY INN

Where attention to detail matters Diya Fine Dining Restaurant

Tel: +670 33 11 11 1 Fax: +670 33 21 04 5 www.discoveryinntimorleste.com email: reservation@discoveryinntimorleste.com, info@discoveryinntimorleste.com

airnorthnews

Chelsea and Airnorth take off Rising star Chelsea Basham shines more brightly than ever as the airline’s new ambassador.

IT ALL STARTED with a phone call back in 2011. After a stint of independent touring, the determined young country musician Chelsea Basham called Compass Bros managing director Graham Thompson out of the blue. One year later, she released her first album, I Make My own Sunshine.

Since then, Chelsea’s career has taken flight. After winning the Golden Guitar for Best New Talent in 2013, she went on to perform with international country superstar Keith Urban on his Australian tour in June 2014.

Now, the 24-year-old Wongan Hills native has officially been named the new Airnorth ambassador.

“Following our long-term association with country music legend James Blundell, we are very proud to appoint singer/ songwriter Chelsea Basham as our new Airnorth ambassador,” says Airnorth chief executive officer Michael Bridge.

“Chelsea’s passion for country Australia and her homegrown roots are a great fit for our airline and across the regional network

in which we operate. With amazing talent and a number of prestigious industry awards already under her belt, we are confident Chelsea has a very bright future ahead of her. Our relationship with Chelsea has grown over the past couple of years,

“Chelsea’s passion for country Australia is a great fit for our airline.” and we look forward to continuing it into the future as she continues to gain national recognition as an artist of substance.”

Chelsea made contact with Airnorth after friend and follow singer/songwriter Tash Parker introduced the airline’s chief to the video for her single ‘I Make My Own Sunshine’. The rest is history.

“He loved it,” says Chelsea. “We hit it off and I was invited to become an ambassador for Airnorth, for which I feel greatly honoured.”

In her new role, Chelsea will perform at various Airnorth functions, including the Barra Nationals on the Daly River, a selfproclaimed “personal favourite”.

Chelsea’s growing success nationally and internationally has onlyserved to fuel her love of travel.

“I am grateful my career allows me to see the world and our own beautiful country,” says Chelsea. “Seeing how other people live gives me a great perspective on life, for which I am extremely thankful.”

Chelsea always knew deep down she wanted to sing and credits her older brothers for sparking her love of country music in particular.

With two number ones and a new single released in late 2014, Chelsea Basham’s star continues to rise as Airnorth ambassador.

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OPEN LEARNING Year 11 and 12 Classes Online

• Attend classes online from your own home or any convenient location.

• Ideal for people with work, family and school commitments.

• Classes are taught live online by experienced Year 11 and 12 teachers.

• Online Classes run from 6:00PM or 7:00PM, Monday to Thursday.

• 24/7 access to resource-rich online course material and the Tuart College eLibrary.

• Go online now at www.tuartcollege.wa.edu.au to find courses available for you!

A Senior College of the Department of Education.

HOW TO ENROL OR FIND OUT FURTHER INFORMATION. Call Tuart College on (08) 9242 6222 or visit our Open Learning web page http://www.tuartcollege.wa.edu.au/openlearning Tuart College: Banksia Street, Tuart Hill, Western Australia 6060 EMAIL: tuart@tuartcollege.wa.edu.au

don’tmiss

December/January

Our top pick of events around the country ...

DEC

E TH VENT E M OF ON TH

27 DECEMBER 27–JANUARY 1

Woodford Folk Festival, Woodford Don’t miss out on Australia’s largest gathering of artists and musicians at Woodford Folk Festival. Each year features a program of music from global artists whose styles range from folk, world, blues, Indigenous, reggae and country to traditional, hip-hop and bluegrass.

The massive gathering is held over six days and nights in its very own village, lined with restaurants, stalls, bars, street and theatre parades and 35 performance venues. Whether you go for the music or simply to soak up the atmosphere, just go. woodfordfolkfestival.com

DEC

JAN

18

09

DECEMBER 18–31

JANUARY 9–31

Waterlandia, Perth

AFC Asian Cup Australia

Looking for an educational yet entertaining day out for the kids?

Scitech brings science to life with hands-on interactive exhibits.

Waterlandia uses multimedia to explain the water cycle. Kids can play with water by drawing and erasing and directing flow, all while keeping totally dry! scitech.org.au

Easily one of the largest football tournaments that Australia has ever hosted: 16 countries will compete in 32 matches over the course of 23 days. With Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Canberra and Newcastle all playing host, you can be sure to be close to a game wherever you are. afcasiancup.com

look

ahead

JANUARY 24–FEBRUARY 7 Doctor Who Symphonic Spectacular Tour, Australia Hosted by Peter Davison. Tickets and tour dates available at ticketek.com.au

FEBRUARY 18–MARCH 15 History of the Eagles Live in Concert Tour, Australia Get in quick before they sell out!

For tickets and tour dates visit eaglesband.com

SEPT

OCT

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25

SEPTEMBER 20–FEBRUARY 22

Lindy Lee: The Dark of Absolute Freedom, Brisbane

For the first time, an extensive survey of artist Lindy Lee’s work over three decades will be displayed at the University of Queensland Art Museum. Prepare to be enriched by the beauty of her technique and influence on Australian art. artmuseum.uq.edu.au

else

where

DECEMBER 3–8 ChocolART festival in Tübingen, Germany A six-day tribute to sweets.

Chocoholics rejoice! chocolart.de

OCTOBER 25–FEBRUARY 15

Fashion Icons, Adelaide

All the way from the Musée des Arts Decoratifs in Paris to the Art Gallery of South Australia comes an extensive exhibition of 20th and 21st Century fashion masterpieces. Any fashionista is sure to fall in love with this celebration of history and the development of fashion over time. fashionicons.com.au

DECEMBER 31 New Year’s Eve, Times Square, New York City, New York With live performances and celebrity appearances. timessquarenyc.org

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spotlight

Day-tripping from the Gold Coast The frantic pace of a Gold Coast holiday can sometimes require a little time out. Simone Henderson-Smart offers three great day trips to help you relax and recharge.

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spotlight

Rathdowney and Mt Barney The scenic drive that takes you on the 1.5-hour journey from the Gold Coast into Rathdowney, on the southern side of the Scenic Rim, is almost as pretty as the town itself. Winding through a mix of verdant valley farmlands and shady forests filled with rock pools and waterfalls, your camera will never be far from reach.

With a township formed in the early 1900s, Rathdowney is proud of its farming heritage. The town, dotted with original timber cottages, retains all of its rustic charm and mixes some lovely food and wine experiences with its history lessons.

Pop into Barney Creek Vineyard for a taste of amazing wines. Petit Verdot dominates the plantings, but there’s plenty of Shiraz, Grenache and Mouvedre as well, making for some velvety smooth blends. If you find something that really takes your fancy, grab a bottle and one of their generous antipasto platters, find a spot in the leafy gardens overlooking the creek and make an afternoon of it. If you still want to linger longer, the property has several self-contained cottages for sleepovers.

Other worthy pit stops include Rathlogan Grove for olives and fresh-pressed oils, and Classi di Cucina Italiana for authentic pizza, pasta, and Veneto cuisine cooking classes.

Working up an appetite for these wonders is easy, as Rathdowney is nestled under Mt Barney, an extinct volcano that is now a World Heritage-listed wilderness park. Hikers flock there, because unlike other parks where you’re told not to stray from the track, Barney doesn’t really have any – it’s wildlife in the wild.

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spotlight

Coolangatta A quick half-hour hoon down the coast gets you to the other surfers’ paradise, Coolangatta. Officially the southern-most tip of the Gold Coast, Coolangatta is right on the Queensland/New South Wales border, which always makes New Year’s Eve extra fun as the time difference means you can do midnight twice in one night.

There’s plenty of fun to be had all year round, however, especially with all of those theme parks in spitting distance. If you prefer to hug the coastline, stop in at Burleigh Heads National Park on your way south for a scenic cliff-top walk looking out past ancient volcanic basalt columns to the Pacific where you can spot humpback whales migrating (in spring and winter). There’s also a trail through the surrounding lush rainforest to get out of the sun for a while before you hit the waves at Burleigh, one of Australia’s most famous surfing point breaks.

Another great stopover along the Gold Coast Highway is Currumbin. Famous for its Wildlife Sanctuary, Currumbin also has an impressive surf museum just across the road, with more than 150 surfboards on show, as well as regular exhibitions.

Keep the surf thing going and book in a stay at Komune in Coolangatta – the beach-themed, beachfront resort with a beach club dishing up poolside Mexican-style tapas with cocktails, plus DJs. With no fewer than 16 tequilas on offer, patrons will be grateful for the proximity of their suites.

Officially the southern-most tip of the Gold Coast, Coolangatta is right on the Queensland/New South Wales border.

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Your connection to the World ANL is pleased to announce that the Perkins service is now part of ANL, the trusted name in shipping for nearly 60 years. ANL as part of the CMA CGM group, the 3rd largest container line in the world, offers shipments to/from Darwin and Dili and all major international ports with a seamless connection via Singapore to ANL’s fast and frequent services around the world. All with the added simplicity of a through Bill of Lading and surety that ANL will be handling the cargo from end to end.

Global connections to over 400 ports Frequent sailings Breakbulk cargo Project and heavy lift cargo Logistics solutions Container hire & purchase Modern flexible vessels New larger tonnage arriving soon!

Please Contact:

Australia ANL Darwin Import/Export: (+61) 08 8944 7600 Email: gossd@anl.com.au Mob: +61 448330133 Contact: David Goss

See www.ANL.com.au for up to the minute schedules

Dili Toll TL (ANL Agent) Tel: (+670) 331 0162 Fax: (+670) 332 4133 Email: lenor.castulo@tollgroup.com

Singapore Perkins ANL Singapore Tel: (+65) 6589 3288 Contacts: Angie Ong angieong@anlsingapore.com Pink Wong sij.pwong@anlsingapore.com

spotlight

FAST FACT The Scenic Rim, inland from the Gold Coast, contains more than 30,000 hectares of parkland and is home to six National Parks, making it easy to find your own space away from it all.

Lost World Valley After about 90 minutes, just as the ancient gum trees lining the road start to close in a little, and Razorback Mountain looms large on the horizon, the road narrows and then suddenly you enter this magical lost world. What appears to be a lush green valley is actually a hidden plateau – a piece of heaven perched on a shelf of Razorback Mountain. Even though you’ll feel like you’ve made an incredible discovery, Lost World Valley was actually discovered by the O’Reilly family, and the fourth generation are still welcoming visitors to their property, which now has self-contained luxury villas looking out over the rainforest. If you prefer a farm stay to involve a bit of farming, then

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Cedar Glen – with its original homestead still standing proud – is a better bet. Kids in particular will love the chance to milk cows, feed animals, collect eggs and ride horses.

If you can bear to leave your newly discovered Lost World, pay a visit to Kooroomba Vineyard and Lavender Farm. The cellar door is open Wednesday to Sunday, as is its restaurant, which serves up some really top-notch fare. Dining on prawn and fennel ravioli with broccoli purée, champagne velouté and toasted prawn essence as you sip on chilled Chardonnay and gaze across the lavender fields, you’ll feel like you’re in Provence – or paradise.

FACEBOOK.COM/MVBEER

VA L E /LGR

OF COURSE OUR LAGER TASTES GREAT, WE’VE GOT NEIGHBOURS LIKE THIS BLOKE/ PROUDLY BREWED IN M c LAREN VA LE, SOUTH AUSTRALIA

Conquer Cystic Fibrosis through research

I

n 2002 a small group of

parents of children with CF decided to raise money for Cystic Fibrosis WA (CFWA) which, at the time, was in need of financial support.

The 65 Roses Grand Ball for Cystic Fibrosis was born and $42,986.25 was raised.

Realising the potential they had to raise significant funds, and driven by the need to do all they could to make a real difference for people with CF, in 2003 this same group, in addition to raising money for CFWA, raised funds to donate to research.

Since then, the group has grown to encompass people with CF and family friends. This very dedicated and extremely hard working group have continued to organise the 65 Roses Grand Ball for Cystic Fibrosis, making it an annual event. Their major focus being research. Why? The answer is best told in the numbers. Life expectancy in Australia for people with CF in

the 1960’s was 5 years. It is now 35 years. Deaths in Australia of younger people have, thankfully declined dramatically since 1998. The six years from 1998 to 2004 saw a fall of 70% in the number of deaths of people with CF aged under 20 years.

The greatest contributing factor to this is undoubtedly research.

Research leads to improvements in treatments,which in turn leads to longer, healthier lives.

To date the 65 Roses Balls have raised $910,976.13 for CFWA and CF research.

In 2012, Conquer Cystic Fibrosis was incorporated, thus allowing for expansion and increased fundraising for CF research.

The Ball, the major fundraising event has been renamed “The Conquer Cystic Fibrosis Grand Ball”.

Unfortunately there is still no cure for Cystic Fibrosis. But that is something Conquer Cystic Fibrosis Inc, intends to change.

There is still no cure for Cystic Fibrosis

Conquer www.conquercysticfibrosis.com

C stic Fibrosis Inc.

hotspot

Why everyone’s talking about …

Darwin

We compile a selection of the best Darwin has to offer in food, drink, shopping and sleeping.

Fab Food Il Lido

Cold beer

The Precinct Tavern Even Darwin is not immune to the craft beer revolution that’s sweeping our beer-loving nation. The Precinct has an impressive 44 beer and cider taps offering a huge selection of craft beers, plus the usual suspects. Can’t decide? It makes life easier by offering a tasting tray of your choice of four brews to sample before committing to the full schooner. theprecincttavern.com.au

Shop ’til you drop

Perched on Wharf One with views out across the bustling Waterfront Precinct, Il Lido is the perfect spot for brunch, lunch or dinner. Better still, head there as the sun goes down and chill in the tapas lounge with a couple of cocktails and soft shell crab sliders as the perfect end to a top end day. On Friday nights they even throw in some live music and $5 drink specials to get the weekend party started. illidodarwin.com.au

Parap Village

Pee Wee’s at the Point

Luxe sleepovers

Pee Wee’s is pure Darwin: tropical palm-fringed lawns right on the water in Fannie Bay and a menu that showcases the very best of the local produce with the Asian twist that you’d expect.

If you’ve never tried crocodile, this is the place to wrangle it.

The coconut-crusted crocodile tail is caught in the wild then crispy fried and served with yoghurt panna cotta, dukkah spices, green paw paw chutney and a tropical salsa. For the less adventurous, the saltwater barramundi is a must. peewees.com.au

Darwin has kindly crammed four Indigenous art galleries, cool boutiques, fine food purveyors and a funky fairtrade gift store all into one small place. Parap Village, five minutes from the city centre, is one of Darwin’s hippest suburbs. Head there on Saturday when the markets are on to sample some live tunes, local art and craft, fresh tropical fruits and the famous laksa. parapvillage.com.au

Skycity

Even if you’re not into roulette and risk, it’s still worth rolling up to Skycity casino. The luxury, lagoon-style pool at the resort was named Australia’s best hotel pool by Gourmet Traveller this year, there’s complimentary use of the neighbouring tennis courts and golf course, there’s a strip of private beach plus five different bars and five restaurants onsite to ensure your tastebuds are just as entertained as the rest of you. skycitydarwin.com.au

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destination

20

destination

Simone Henderson-Smart takes a side step from the bigger resorts and uncovers some of Australia’s lesser-known holiday havens.

Where: Kingscliff, NSW Nearest Airnorth port: Coolangatta The quiet, seaside town of Kingscliff is only a 20-minute drive from Coolangatta airport and sits roughly halfway between the wild theme park action of the Gold Coast and the chilled-out hippie haven of Byron Bay; giving visitors the best of both worlds. If it’s a slower pace you’re after, there’s plenty of uncrowded beach with good surf breaks and a gorgeous tropical hinterland full of fruit farms and rainforest walks to keep you happy. Or throw a line into the Tweed River and while away an afternoon hauling in whiting, flathead and trevally.

Eat & drink: Kingscliff is still a bit of a secret. Happily, not so much so that you can’t get a decent coffee or a meal that won’t lead to an early heart attack. In fact, the main strip along this pretty bit of coastline is peppered with plenty of decent dining options. Open from 6.30am, Choux Box is the perfect spot to grab a postsurf breakfast. It’s relaxed enough not to worry too much about the sand between your toes, and classy enough to use fresh-baked sourdough under the local avocados with lemon. Further down you’ll find the Kingscliff Beach Hotel, which also elevates the usual fare to another level, with all steaks local, hormone-free and pasture-fed

and the schnitzels treated to a crunchy Japanese panko crumb. Upstairs is another level again where the more casual vibe of downstairs makes way for velvet lounge chairs, cocktails and fresh local seafood. There’s also a good-sized shopping centre to cater for the self-caterers.

Stay: Budget-conscious travellers have plenty of choice in Kingscliff, with two large caravan and camping grounds taking up poll position right on the beachfront, and another one on a lush 10 acres at the north end near the Tweed river, which also offers villas, cabins and cabanas.

At the other end of the accommodation spectrum sits the super luxe Peppers Resort and Spa, offering hotel rooms as well as one- to three-bedroom spa suites and is home to one of the largest luxury day spas in Australia.

Explore: Ten minutes up the motorway, at Tweed Heads South, you can hop on a boat to the relatively unknown and totally unspoilt Cook Island Aquatic Reserve, which sits just 600 metres off the coast. The waters surrounding the tiny island are brimming with marine life, and are an underwater photographer’s dream. Strap on a snorkel and swim with the green or loggerhead turtles or go the whole hog and dive down further to check out the rays, eels, wobbegongs, clownfish and giant Queensland gropers. coolydive.com.au

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BECAUSE AN EDUCATED GIRl CAN CHANGE HER wORlD.

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destination

Everything you want from a tropical resort, without the extravagant airfares.

Where: Palm Cove, QLD Nearest Airnorth port: Cairns Dreaming of an escape to a palm-fringed tropical paradise? Forget Fiji, say no to Noumea, and head straight to Palm Cove, just 20 minutes’ drive north of Cairns airport. Known for its laid-back vibe, luxury spas, beachside village atmosphere and calm, clear waters, Palm Cove is the ultimate place to relax and rejuvenate.

Eat & Drink: Rosa from Portobello has raided her mother’s secret recipe stash to deliver authentic Italian fare right on the beachfront, including a big bowl piled high with fresh mussels in a garlic, chili and white wine sauce with plenty of ciabatta to mop up the juices. There’s a fabulous selection of cheeses and salumi for those who prefer to graze and nibble over a couple of vinos, but you really can’t go past the woodfired pizzas – particularly Mamma’s favourite, which sees the tomato and hand-torn buffalo mozzarella topped with creamy taleggio, roast pumpkin, rosemary potatoes and guanciale (cured pig cheek).

Further up the beach is Vivo Bar & Grill.

Whether you’re seated inside or out, you can’t avoid the tranquil blue waters and gently swaying coconut palms just metres away as the

building has massive windows and French doors everywhere that open up to let the views and sea breezes in. Pop in for breakfast and try the organic yoghurt and vanilla bean panacotta served with Tableland lychees, mangoes, carambola, dried cranberries, raisins, medjool dates, roasted pistachios, macadamias and sunflower seeds. At dinner, their fixed price menu is incredible value at $49 for three courses, including a glass of Cape Mentelle Sauvignon Blanc or Shiraz.

Stay: Palm Cove is wall-to-wall luxury resorts and hotels, many with day spas, and all with views of either the Coral Sea or the majestic mountain backdrop. Campers don’t miss out on the killer views, with the local campground just 20 metres from the golden sand and beckoning blue waters.

Explore: In this picturesque part of the world, the highway hugs the coast and a drive north brings many rewards. Pop in to Port Douglas for a stroll down boutique and gallery-filled Macrossan Street or enjoy a plate of fresh, local seafood as the water gently laps beneath you at On the Inlet. If you’re there at 5pm, you can even meet resident 250-kilogram groper, George, when he swims up for a feed. A little further north is Mossman Gorge – the gateway to the Daintree Rainforest. The Daintree is one of the most complex ecosystems on Earth, and just one hectare of the 120,000-hectare forest can contain over 30,000 species of flora and fauna. The forest, along with the cool streams and pretty waterholes, make Mossman a mustvisit destination. pddt.com

Palm Cove is wall-to-wall luxury resorts and hotels, many with day spas, and all with views of either the Coral Sea or the majestic mountain backdrop.

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destination

Where: Yallingup, WA Nearest Airnorth port: Perth A three-hour drive south of Perth gets you to Yallingup, or more specifically Smiths Beach. The unspoilt strip of white sand sits at the top of the Margaret River wine region, and is the perfect base from which to explore this food and wine mecca.

Eat & Drink: There are wineries aplenty in this part of Western Australia and the specialties here are Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay. The region is also known for a classic dry white style that is a blend of Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc. There are some big names within cooee of Yallingup, notably Pierro, Vasse Felix, Evans & Tate and Cullen. If you don’t want to drink on an empty stomach, begin at Vasse Felix – its two-hatted restaurant serves lunch daily with treats like braised goat served with tomatillo, mojo verde and blue corn.

Stay: Smack bang on Smiths Beach is a resort offering everything from family-friendly beach shacks to luxury four-bedroom residences. All are selfcontained, with large separate living spaces, outdoor barbecues, fully equipped kitchens and private car spaces. For those seeking retreat from the sand, the resort has its own swimming pool. Don’t fancy cooking while on holiday? Then there’s Lamont’s – a gourmet deli, tapas wine bar, bottleshop and restaurant that, between them, will have your needs covered, from that first espresso in the morning to after-dinner delights like lime cheesecake tart, lemon sorbet, gingernut crumbs and fingerlime pearls.

FAST FACT The West Australian coastline totals a whopping 20,871 kilometres. That’s a whole lot of beaches to explore! And they’re likely to be empty: even though it’s our largest state, WA is home to just 11 per cent of our population.

Top of page: Smiths Beach is WA’s answer to the Whitsundays. Minus the islands, but also minus the crowds; Above: The resort offers direct beach access; Below: Beachside luxe at Smiths Beach Resort.

Explore: Hidden beneath the wineries, the Margaret River region is riddled with spectacular limestone caves. Mammoth Cave is home to ancient fossils of extinct mega-fauna, while the impact of Lake Cave’s startling limestone formations is amplified by its reflection in the underground lake below. It’s also worth the drive down to Jewel Cave, near Augusta, to marvel at the largest of Western Australia’s limestone offerings and indeed the longest straw stalactites seen anywhere in the world. margaretriver.com 25

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HELLO OR GOODBYE? Photo credit: Mike Calder Photography.

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g n i s k l c a i a t P sen es

3

2

s ave h t s mu k a e br ach e b of ick p r Ou

1 Don’t be a sidekick Pictures and video are more than just pixels. They’re memories. With the new GoPro Hero4, you can take ultra high res shots and video for superior quality memories that will make you the hero of your holiday, $639 black, $509 silver gopro.com

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4 Cheeta cheek Flaunt your playful side with this Playboy Cheeta Bikini, part of a new range of swimwear available from bras’n’things that combines a bit of Playboy sass with bunny bling. Booster top $59.99 Tie-side bottom $39.99 brasnthings.com

5 Small but powerful For a natural clean on the go, there’s new Essenzza Health Fuss Free Mini Facial Wipes. With travel-size packs of eight wipes and three potent kinds and colours to suit your needs, you can be your best wherever and whenever. $25 ($2.50 per pack) essenzzahealth.com

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charity

Friends in

HIGH PLACES In 2010, a community group based on Sydney’s northern beaches set up a partnership with Soibada – a remote rural district in Timor Leste.

Their relationship has since paved the way for systemic change, writes Riley Palmer.

HIGH UP in the mountains and inseparable from the dense jungle and cragged hills on which it is situated, the district of Soibada is picturesque and remote. Located 135 kilometres from Timor Leste’s capital, Dili, the villages that comprise Soibada continue to pay the price of Indonesian occupation, despite Timor Leste’s status as a sovereign state since 2002. Taking the phrase “Think global, act local” and turning it on its head, a community from Sydney’s northern beaches, known as Pittwater Friends of Soibada (PFOS), is thinking local and acting global in an attempt not to enact change, but to enable the Soibada community to facilitate change themselves.

In 2010, a delegation representing Pittwater Council travelled to Soibada to sign a friendship agreement that set out a platform for any future collaboration. In particular, the agreement stipulated that any project implemented in Soibada be determined by the Soibada community in communication with the PFOS. Chairwoman of PFOS, Tamara Sloper Harding, describes the difficulty in honouring this agreement, and not imposing her views on what the community

will be used for things we largely take for of Soibada require. “When we visit Soibada granted – drinking, washing food, bathing, and see how very little they have in cooking and cleaning – a humbling comparison to us here in Pittwater, it is realisation for most of us but, for children natural for us to draw our own conclusions who have grown up in the relatively as to what should be done in the village,” privileged area of Pittwater, this realisation she says. “As volunteers and guests we must is more than humbling, it’s revolutionary. remain humble and listen carefully.”

Tamara says: “We’re teaching our youth By being consistent and not pushing its about the difference we can make in our own agenda, PFOS has slowly developed world, even with small acts.” In May 2014, a trusting relationship with the Soibada both Pittwater Parish Primary Schools community and the Suco chiefs (sub– Sacred Heart and Maria Regina – held village leaders) – not an easy feat in the events to commemorate 12 years wake of the various aid organisations of independence in Timor that have flitted in and out Leste, and to raise funds for of Timor Leste since its some of PFOS’ projects. independence. “Numerous FAST FACT The children raised well-intentioned Originally built by the enough money volunteers and aid Portuguese, Soibada was to install a tank, agencies have visited intended to become the capital guttering system and Timor Leste since of Portuguese Timor. The district a TankPro in Somoro Independence with School, in central promises and gifts,” is comprised of five villages Soibada. In order says Tamara. “However, and 10 sub-villages and has to gain insights into the number of people a population of about living without water that actually fulfill those 3000. supply infrastructure, the promises is small.” children at Maria Regina also Over the past few years, performed a water audit and PFOS’ committed actions have carried their water to the classroom in jerry broken through this barrier of mistrust. cans – a task which might make them think The Soibada community has requested twice before complaining about having to assistance in various projects, like accessing have a bath or shower. safe water in order to combat the high In addition to water purification, the prevalence of water-born diseases like Soibada community has highlighted malaria and dengue fever. So when Rob its priority projects as the construction Romer, inventor of Tank Pro, contacted of a guesthouse, the development of a Tamara to see if he could be of assistance, preschool and resource centre, sanitation she jumped at the opportunity to get him in its school, and medical assistance – on board. particularly for newborn immunisations.

“I will be hopefully setting up a rainwater/water collection tank at the school, and also installing TankPro to To become a Friend of Soibada go to sterilise this water,” explains Rob. The water pittwaterfriendsofsoibada.org

By being consistent and not pushing its own agenda, PFOS has slowly developed a trusting relationship with the Soibada community.

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artspace

COLOURS OF

COUNTRY

Naomi Hobson’s art is inspired by a desire to capture the beauty of her home in Far North Queensland, writes Simone Henderson-Smart.

PRIME MINISTER Tony Abbott has one of her paintings in his private collection and her work currently hangs in the National Gallery in Canberra, although it’s more likely that Naomi is most proud of the fact that famous Indigenous activist Noel Pearson has one of her pieces in his home.

Pearson and Naomi’s grandfather worked together in the ‘90s as the voice of the Cape York Land Council. Later, Pearson collaborated with Naomi’s mother Ann to revolutionise education in the region.

It’s this that Naomi credits for her ability to move easily between city and country, between modern and traditional.

“There is a lot of opportunity through the work that Noel does for people like myself to orbit in and out of both worlds – and come back and make a contribution to our community, whether it’s through art, dance, sport or academia,’’ she says.

Naomi studied at Cairns TAFE, and attributes her highly individual style of painting to this opportunity. “I’ve always had the stories to give me the foundation to paint,” she says, “but it was the furthering of my education with a visual arts course that helped me to express myself.”

It is these stories that inspire her – along with the country around the town of Coen where she was raised, 200 kilometres from Lockhart River and its Art Gang, of which she is a member.

“I have always painted in my own personal space where I feel most comfortable including my back veranda, in the dry river beds, on the banks of my childhood fishing places as well as at the camp sites that my families have lived and spent time for thousands of years. I will take time to look at the miniature things, the tiny things that nature hides,” Naomi says.

“My country has inspired me to become an artist, the colours and pattern of nature itself, stories from the past, the unique transformation of the land over the seasons ... and my own special places that are etched in my memory, these are places I regularly visit. It is through my art I aim to reflect and share with others in a contemporary way, my stories, culture and my country.”

Naomi was recently a finalist in the prestigious 2014 Telstra National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Art Award, with her artwork Twenty First being acquired by the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory in Darwin. She is currently represented exclusively by Alcaston Gallery in Melbourne.

It was there, at the opening of her sell-out first solo exhibition back in 2013, that Pearson told the crowd: “It’s the fulfillment of the vision hammered out [with Ann] more than two decades ago.” And his joy was all the greater because Naomi is no longer the exception but, increasingly, the norm for Indigenous children in Cape York.

“I have always painted in my own personal space where I feel most comfortable.”

Artwork on opposite page: Big Place 2014 – Synthetic polymer paint on linen, 150 x 96 cm ©the artist and Alcaston Gallery 2014. See more at alcastongallery.com.au

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artspace

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Photos by Michael Lawrence & Duncan Macfarlane

A non-profit humanitarian organisation whose aim is to improve the health, wellbeing and self-reliance of people living in isolated regions connected to us through surfing. surfaid.org

checkin

Five

minutes with …

Brent Grundy

Brent Grundy went from skipping meals to entrepreneurial millionaire within a year. Riley Palmer speaks with this modernday Cinderella about his trampolining franchise, Flip Out. Tell our readers about your philanthropic plans.

Each month, I plan to assist centres opening in underprivileged areas. Flip Out will provide one full-size main trampoline, but the core idea is to create jobs and train local people to operate the centre.

Describe a typical day.

When you were a child, what was your dream job?

As a child, James Bond inspired me. My dream was to be a successful businessman.

I had visions of flying around the world being spontaneous and intriguing.

How did your idea come to fruition?

I was sitting in a play centre for a child’s birthday party and I noticed there was a lot of noise but not much life. Most of the kids were uninterested in the activities available, and the guardians looked incredibly drained. It was then I decided to create a facility that would entertain kids and also adults.

What was your rock bottom?

Rock bottom was being penniless. Rock bottom was having no job and no energy.

It was skipping meals so I could feed my son. It was a lack of hope and emptiness.

However, rock bottom also enabled me to face my reality. I was broke with no skills, so it was time to create the new me.

I wake up at 7.15am to a one-year-old tapping me on the face to turn his cartoons on. Business calls start at 7.30am, in among which I drop my son at school.

Then the breakfast meeting begins at the head office, where I also mingle with new or prospective franchisers.

Throughout the day there are site visits, meetings with lawyers, emails to respond to, and international conference calls to be made – but I never miss having lunch with my wife and one-year-old son.

In the afternoons, I have marketing and promotions meetings, PR conference calls and general budget discussions, which are broken up around 3.30pm when I pick up my son from school and drop him off for his flipping classes. Then it’s dinner with the family, and a few calls throughout the night.

Where do you see your enterprise going in the next two years?

I see Flip Out opening 200-plus stores over the next two years, including in underprivileged countries, and in response to community disasters. Flip Out will help

people find a reason to smile in tough times – when kids are laughing and having fun, adults relax, and the urgency settles.

We will remain not-for-profit, and aim to boost community spirit and confidence in those who need it most.

What do you consider are your best skills on the trampoline?

I can do a front flip 180 and a backflip 360, but my best trick is diverting people’s attention to my stunt guys – they are the professionals.

What do you hope people get out of Flip Out? A sense of belonging, acceptance, equality, and a desire to achieve new goals – be it losing weight, staying fit, getting your agility back or learning new tricks.

“Rock bottom enabled me to face my reality. I was broke with no skills, so it was time to create the new me.”

1

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Longrain Sydney

For Asian with a luxe twist, a must-visit is Sydney’s famous Longrain restaurant. Chef Victor Chung has developed Martin Boetz’s original vision of taking South East Asian influences and merging them with carefully sourced ingredients and fresh zingy flavours. Try the finger-licking caramelised pork served with peanuts and prawns or the impressive whole steamed barramundi with ginger, shallots and black beans. Round it off with one of Longrain’s traditional desserts such as coconut jelly with vanilla tapioca and seasonal fruit. There are also banquet menus for four or more people for a reasonable $65 per person. Melbournites, don’t despair. There’s a Longrain Melbourne too. longrain.com

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over

Fraser Suites Sydney

If you’re looking to stay in Sydney for longer than a weekend, then try for a suite at Fraser, which will afford you luxury at a decent price tag. Perfectly situated in the heart of the CBD, the suites feature a Manhattan-style feel, with polished stucco walls, travertine marble flooring and a striking foyer entrance. The rooms are comfy yet elegant, with luxurious fabrics, original artworks, custom-designed furniture pieces and one-off accessories. Facilities include a spa, sauna, 20-metre lap pool and gym.

Don’t miss out on Fraser’s buffetstyle breakfast, made with a range of organic produce, alongside fresh pressed juices, and estate-grown tea and coffee. sydney.frasershospitality.com

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1.2 TONNE

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entertainment

getsorted listen

download

Guy Sebastian: Madness Tour

Viber

Guy Sebastian is finally embarking on his first national tour – Madness – in February 2015. The talented muso stole the show on the very first season of Australian Idol, back in 2003, with winner’s single ‘Angels brought me here’. Since then, he’s gone on to churn out 11 top-10 singles and an additional three top-fifteens. “I can’t wait mostly to share the new tunes live,” says Guy in anticipation for the tour. “I’ve worked so hard on this album.” Now you can experience the madness live in person. His latest album, Madness, is available now.

For tickets visit ticketmaster.com.au

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Feb 12 / WIN Entertainment Centre, Wollongong.

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Flipagram™

watch staff pick

App Store, free Google Play, free

Wild 115 min, Biography-Drama Twenty-six-year-old Cheryl Strayed’s world was falling apart. Her mother had recently passed away and her marriage was on the rocks, so she took off on the soul-searching adventure of a lifetime alone in the wilderness of the American West Coast. Based on Strayed’s bestselling memoir of the same name, Wild is directed by Jean-Marc Vallée (Dallas Buyers Club) and features award-winning actress Reese Witherspoon (Walk the Line).

In cinemas 22 January 2015. foxsearchlight.com/wild

Show off your adventures with Flipagram™. You can sync your photos from your favourite social media sites and your phone’s camera roll with music, and share the finished slideshow online. It’s the easy way to create memorable montages from your phone.

Your friends and family are sure to be impressed.

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THE TUNNEL

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THE BEST JOB IN THE WORLD

Ben Southall Penguin Books, $27.95 Ben Southall shows you how he was able to get his dream job and how you can do the same.

Airbnb App Store, free Google Play, free In need of a room or looking to list one? Airbnb lets you conveniently search and list accommodation options on your mobile. Listers can get to know guests prior to acceptance and guests can book a unique experience in a wide range of cities around the world for short and longterm stays.

5

closeup

Aussie superstar Chris Hemsworth talks to Faye James about his latest Marvel adventure, how far the franchise can go and why his daughter is no fan of the Thor costume.

THERE’S ONLY ONE Chris Hemsworth. And, indeed, this Aussie legend is making his mark. One of the biggest (figuratively and physically) Hollywood power players since landing the life-changing role of Nordic god Thor, his three outings as the hammer-wielding deity have turned over nearly $3 billion at the box office (Thor made $450 million, Thor: The Dark World took in $650 million and Avengers Assemble did a cool $1.5 billion).

And yet, despite being one of Tinseltown’s biggest draws, the 31-yearold remains a grounded boy at heart. His marriage to Spanish beauty Elsa Pataky couldn’t be better. They have three young kids – India, two, and six-month-old twin sons Tristan and Sasha who are boundless balls of energy – and he’s more than happy to wax lyrical about his life.

As the towering powerhouse reveals, if he doesn’t remain the person he was before success, he couldn’t look at himself in the mirror. “That type of attitude is so common and so unnecessary. It takes effort to be that offensive a person and it takes none at all to just be yourself and get on with folks. I know which I would always choose,” says Hemsworth, almost stoically so.

6

Born in Melbourne in 1983, growing up, Hemsworth spent a large portion of his youth hanging out with his brothers Luke and Liam – who both also became actors. Surfing was his great passion, but when Hemsworth stole a role in hit TV show Down Under, he knew his true love was acting. Like most of his counterparts, Hemsworth soon found himself a slot on

“Despite being one of Tinseltown’s biggest draw, he remains grounded.”

Home and Away and, after three seasons, in 2007, Hemsworth took the plunge and headed stateside to make it big. His first gig came in the form of JJ Abrams’ remake of Star Trek and, soon after, he found himself auditioning against his younger brother, Liam for the lead role in Thor.

Today, in full costume as Thor,

including gold breastplate and flaxon extensions, the hulking star tries to cover up with a white dressing gown, but his yawning muscles are all too apparent.

Aside from saving the world alongside his fellow crusaders Scarlett Johansson, Mark Ruffalo and Robert Downey Jr, Hemsworth is keen to mix it up, both professionally and physically, taking his career to even more dizzying new heights.

Last year, he burned up the screen as Formula One legend James Hunt in Rush and, next year, he’ll showcase a significant weight loss in Michael Mann’s Blackhat and Ron Howard’s swashbuckler adventure, Heart of the Sea. And, among all this, the star still manages to play hands-on dad to his growing family. Just how does he do it?

“My two youngest are so young, they don’t even know who I am. My daughter, with the Thor costume especially, she used to be like ‘Oh yeah, it’s a bit different’, but she was happy that I’d pick her up and swing her around. Now, she’s like, ‘Off, off’, because it’s all bulky and metal and she pulls at the wig. She doesn’t like the look,” Chris laughs.

In fact, Chris is no stranger to change.

With varying role requirements, his career so far has involved quite a bit of yo-yo

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dieting. “I’d rather put the weight on than take it off. They both have their pluses and minuses,” he admits.

“I did Michael Mann’s movie right before I started with Ron and I’d started to lose the weight at the beginning of that. By the time I got to Ron’s film, eight, nine months after, I was exhausted and, by the end, dead. It comes back that little bit easier each time, the muscle memory.

But you go from one extreme to the other, whatever that is, eating nothing or eating everything. Neither is particularly comfortable,” he says.

“There’s three parts to the equation: there’s the working out, there’s the food and the sleep. And the sleep has been minimised a little bit now because of my three kids,” he laughs.

“I’m not complaining. They’re probably a little too young to realise, but dad does get weird looks when he appears so different after losing and gaining all this weight all the time!”

Hemsworth talks a lot about his kids and, as Australian Childhood Foundation ambassador, he feels strongly about the charity’s bigger cause.

“Having kids makes it all the more poignant and important for me. It’s the right of every child to have a safe and nurturing environment to grow up in and, unfortunately, that’s not always the case.

It’s up to all of us as a community, as human beings, to take care of each other, but especially kids,” he says candidly.

You can tell he’s good egg, with his heart firmly in the right place. I ask him if there were a hero’s superpowers he could steal, and have in real life, what attribute he would pick. “I love the speed of Quicksilver. He’s kind of cool. I could do the childcare quickly. Yeah, do all the cleaning up. My wife would be delighted.”

He smiles.

What a man. The kind you hear about in the movies.

9

kitchenconfidential

WASTE NOT, WANT NOT Riley Palmer investigates Melbourne’s red light district and speaks to chef Matt Stone about his innovative and sustainable ethos towards food.

You’d be forgiven for anticipating some form of impropriety given the constant crowd buzzing around Melbourne’s neon-lit Brothl. Far from being greeted by a madam, however, it’s the comforting aroma of broth that welcomes you into what turns out to be a rather organic setting. And I mean that in a literal sense. Taking sustainability to the next level, eco-innovator Joost Bakker is serving up leftovers – and they’re in high demand.

This isn’t the first time Joost has awed his clientele with sustainability measures that seem outlandish on paper.

Partnering with leading Australian chef Matt Stone for the establishment of the now prominent Greenhouse Perth (made primarily from recycled materials), the duo then founded the first business in the world to operate completely without waste – Silo in Melbourne, which has now been

transformed into Brothl.

Procuring surplus bones from some of Australia’s most acclaimed restaurants – Rockpool, Attica and The European, to name a few – Brothl creates nutrient-rich, nurturing broths out of what would typically end up in landfill. It’s hard to believe that something so appetising as to draw a crowd can be made from ingredients that were destined for the bin. But that’s the exact

KANGAROO WITH AUSTRALIAN NATIVE FRUITS, HERBS AND SPICES Serves 6 Ingredients • ½ tsp lemon myrtle • ½ tsp aniseed myrtle • 1 tsp mountain pepper • ¼ tsp roasted ground wattle seed • 1 tsp dried ground bush tomato • 3 tsp sea salt • 600g kangaroo loin • Oil for frying

• 2 tbsp butter • 400g warrigal greens • 200ml lightish red wine sauce (jus) • 8 quandongs • 4 davidson plums • 20 rye berries • 20 mungtree berries • 2 finger limes • ½ cup sea succulent

Method 1. Make a spice mix with the lemon myrtle, aniseed myrtle, mountain pepper, wattle seed, bush tomato and salt. Sprinkle generously over the roo. Leave out of the fridge for about 45 minutes.

2. Heat oil in a fry pan over high heat until hot. Add roo and cook for 5-8 minutes. Do not overcook; the roo needs to be rare. Let it rest for about 10 minutes.

3. Heat a fry pan. Melt the butter and add the warrigal greens. Season to taste.

Warm the red wine sauce in a pan. Once boiled, add the fruits except the finger limes. Leave to simmer. Wilt down and turn off.

4. Heat the roo pan up and quickly warm the roo. Carve into thin slices.

5. To serve, place the greens on the plate, roo over the top and then the fruits and sauce. Scrape the flesh of the finger limes and add with the sea succulent to garnish.

10

kitchenconfidential

“My food is very spontaneous. I always base a dish around a great inseason ingredient.” perception that Greenhouse, Silo and Brothl are revolutionising.

While Matt isn’t currently working at Brothl, his palate can be considered an authority on its food. “My favourite dish at the moment is fish broth with miso, wild greens, seawater-brined fish and fresh oat noodles,” says Matt. Preconceptions on landfill and leftovers aside, that sounds quite mouth-watering to say the least.

Matt’s latest adventures have taken him to the motherland to assist British chef Douglas McMaster, who ran Silo while he was in Australia, in opening Britain’s first zero-waste restaurant.

Matt has taken his wealth of experience and uniquely innovative approach to cooking with him: “My food is very spontaneous,” he says. “I always base a dish around a great in-season ingredient and the dish grows from there. I’m always thinking about taste, temperature and texture.”

Given their shared stance on sustainability, it’s little surprise that Joost and Matt – who seem to be a bit of a package deal these days – have some promising, albeit undisclosed, things on the horizon. “I’ll continue working with Joost on some exciting new projects,” says Matt. “As well as starting to write my first book,” he adds, almost as an afterthought.

Lowdown with Matt What are some day-today tips for living and eating sustainably?

Buy in bulk, grow as much of your own food as possible, even if it’s some herbs on a window sill, and composting. It all helps.

What ingredient couldn’t you live without?

Salt. That may seem very simple but it literally takes everyday ingredients to another level. You can’t survive without it.

What culture would you like to know more about?

I’d really love to learn more about the Indigenous culture and history of Australia. There are so many amazing foods, techniques and stories.

What’s the most unique thing you’ve ever eaten?

Scorpions in Bangkok, fermented fish in Stockholm, ants in Brazil and a Nordic Food Lab cheese intentionally full of live baby maggots.

11

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outtahere

(Sea) change is Good Simone Henderson-Smart discovers an unspoilt strip of the New South Wales coast, where the laidback lifestyle has lured many to stay a little longer.

13

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outtahere

AT FIRST GLANCE, the Sapphire Coast – apart from being breathtakingly beautiful – appears to be stuck in a bit of a time warp. Driving the coast road from Tathra to Bermagui, the ever-changing vista takes in dense forests, opening up to vivid green valleys full of plump, contented cows, and skirts long stretches of mostly empty, golden sandy beaches. Every now and then, the road is interrupted by a river mouth crossed by lovely old timber bridges. On the surface, this stretch of coast appears unchanged since the ’50s, evoking images of smiling, apronclad housewives and homemade apple pies.

It’s only when you stop and visit the local businesses that you discover the real story.

Sisters Emma and Poppy Benton have breathed new life into the beautiful old timber building on the wharf in Tathra. Yes, there are aprons and homemade apple pies, but there’s also seriously good coffee. Emma is almost apologetic that it comes all the way from Queanbeyan – 240 kilometres doesn’t sit well with her locavore philosophy – “but it was the closest we could find”, she says. The girls are all about fresh, local produce, and the salad that accompanies their pear and gorgonzola tart looks and tastes like they’ve ducked out the back and pulled it fresh from the earth.

The building itself is a gorgeous old thing with soaring, thick-beamed ceilings, huge doors flung open to let in the sunshine and views of the whales swimming past and original timber flooring where the water beneath can be glimpsed through the cracks.

The sisters have a keen eye for design, decorating the space with an odd, yet perfectly matched assortment of furniture. “It was all either borrowed or stolen from family and friends,” Poppy laughs.

As soon as she heard the space was available, Emma packed up her life in Sydney and headed south, and both the locals and the tourists are better for it. As well as the café, the Wharf Locavore has a gallery space for regular exhibitions and a great range of 15

outtahere

The salad looks and tastes like they’ve ducked out the back and pulled it fresh from the earth.

Round-up GET THERE

ceramics, textiles and jewellery for sale, as if the cakes and coffee and whales swimming past weren’t enough reasons for regular visits.

Lovers of all things fresh and local should also make a beeline for Pambula, a little further down the coast, and pay a visit to Captain Sponge. He has an oyster farm on Pambula Lake. He also has a boat he’ll take you out in and a sharp knife, and when he reaches into the lake and pulls out a Sydney Rock oyster, shucks it and hands it over, you will know the true meaning of fresh food and what oysters should really taste like – heaven in a half-shell.

Oysters are a regular fixture on restaurant menus in this part of the world, so there are endless opportunities to taste the local delicacy. In fact, they’re pretty much the only constant on the menu at Mimosa, where a blackboard menu ensures things are kept “fresh and flexible”, owner Gail says. “We just look at what we can get fresh locally and build the menu from there.”

Cashed-up seachangers flock here to sit on the deck looking out over the vineyard, dining on seared scallops, served on a bed of truffle oil pea purée with crispy speck, washed down with wines made by husband Glenn from the vines below. Their Tempranillo/Chambourcin is the perfect match for the crispy skin confit duck with a wild mushroom and thyme risotto. It’s lucky Glenn makes his coffee as

strong as his reds, or he may need to rouse diners caught snoozing in the sun, as a local father and son softly strum their matching guitars quietly in the corner.

Owners of Bellbird Cottage B&B in Bermagui, Gretel and Tony, made their seachange six years ago, ditching their public service jobs for a more meaningful way to serve the public – by being kind, generous hosts and serving up what must be the biggest breakfast ever imagined. They have always loved the area, but they are really excited by recent additions to the food, wine and live music scene here. It’s not just about decent coffee (although it does factor highly) – Tony is particularly excited by the oyster and whisky bar opening soon. Then there’s the Four Winds international jazz and classical music festival, which has their B&B booked out for that weekend in April until 2018, and attracts visitors from all over the world to check out this lovely bit of coast.

Of course, the best way to truly appreciate the beauty of the Sapphire Coast is to hop in a boat and look back on it from the sea.

Then you truly understand how pristine and precious this part of Australia is, with the National Parks hugging the long stretches of deserted beaches. There will be herons divebombing fish all around you, friendly locals ready with a smile and a wave and you might even see a few whales swimming past.

Merimbula is just a short flight from Melbourne or Sydney, or three-hour drive from Canberra.

EAT

The Wharf Locavore Tathra Wharf Wharf Rd, Tathra Mimosa Dry Stone Restaurant 2845 Bermagui Tathra Road, Bunga Check opening hours at mimosawines.com.au Il Passaggio Authentic Italian right on the waterfront.

Upstairs, 73–79 Lamont St, Fisherman’s Co-op, Bermagui ilpassaggio.com.au

STAY

Bellbird Cottage B&B 88 Nutleys Creek Rd, Bermagui bellbirdcottage-bnb.com

EXPLORE

Captain Sponge’s Oyster Tours Brett Weingarth 0429 453 545 Bermagui Whale Watching Tours fishbermi.com

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food&wine

Gourmet getaway Simone Henderson-Smart packs the stretchy pants for a three-day tour of the nation’s food bowl.

AMAZING THINGS happen to country towns when someone puts up their hand and says, “Hey, we should have a farmers’ market!”

Locals who work the land – and for most farmers they’re the second or third generation to do so – take their lifestyle in their stride.

Never boastful, ever humble ... about their produce, that is; thankfully tall tales still abound at the pub on a Sunday afternoon.

But with the introduction of the weekly gathering around produce-laden trestle tables under marquees, comes a new sense of pride.

Locals suddenly want to eat local and the foodies flock from miles around. Next thing you know, there are coffee roasters and craft beer brewers and restaurants raising the bar.

Wagga Wagga, Leeton and Griffith, in the Riverina, are in the midst of such a food revolution and locals and tourists alike are rejoicing.

Day

Wagga Wagga

one Live, breathe and love coffee? You’ll be in perfect company at Blessed Bean, Wagga Wagga’s artisan coffee roasters, who take things very seriously indeed. From building close relationships with sustainable and ethical farmers in Central and South America, Indonesia, India and Africa, to small-batch roasting for consistency and flavour and handcrafted blending, they have a coffee style to suit most palates. Although this ain’t no chain store. “That’s the killer … when the locals ask for a caramel latte,” laughs resident roaster and blender Jason.

18

Through regular master classes and cupping sessions, Jason hopes to educate and inspire and, given they currently pour around 500 coffees a week at their Best Street Café, it appears to be working.

After your early morning caffeine hit, head straight to Mates Gully on Fitzmaurice Street for a breakfast to remember. While you were sipping on your single origin, owner Paul was out on his farm picking fresh produce for the day’s menu. “We don’t make the butter or milk,” explains his wife Marcia, “but everything else is made in-house. My husband

goes out to the farm each morning and what he comes back with is what we cook.” The farm is home to free-range chickens for the freshest poached eggs, organic Dorper lamb for tasty sausages and both are served up with organic seasonal greens, house-made relish and crusty organic sourdough baguette.

Next, give your tastebuds more treats, and exercise your grey matter, with a cooking class at Food I Am cooking school. Perched high on a hill with views over Wagga Wagga, the school is a purpose-built gourmet kitchen where groups of happy foodies gather to be mentored by

food&wine

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food&wine

the best local chefs, including the gorgeous Melina Puntoriero (below) who splits her time between Australia and Italy. Impressive visitors include Christine Manfield, Giovanni Pilu and the folk from Spirit House in the Sunshine Coast hinterland. Classes vary, and encompass Italian, French, Asian and Spanish cuisine. Check the website for the latest calendar at foodiam.com.au.

In the evening, Wagga Wagga’s latest hot offering is the Oakroom Kitchen and Bar – recently ranked in The Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide. The menu is as sophisticated as the dark timbered interior, and the teapot cocktails to share are a delightful bit of whimsy to get the evening started.

If you prefer to start with a nice cold beer, then the Thirsty Crow Brewery is an absolute must. The family-owned microbrewery is already looking for bigger premises to meet the demand for their award-winning brews.

Its vanilla milk stout is a stroke of beer brilliance, and had brewer Chris Wealands mounting the stage at the Australian International Beer Awards just three months after opening.

Day

Leeton

two Leeton is the heart of Australia’s food bowl, and it’s estimated that each farmer in the general Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area feeds around 600 people per year. The amount of produce that comes from here is staggering: the Berri juice plant halves and squeezes eight million oranges per week; 90 per cent of Australia’s rice comes from this area; and one million hazelnut trees have been planted to meet the demands of Italian chocolate maker

Ferrero (yes, as in Ferrero Rocher). These facts and more, as well as produce tastings, are served up at 11.30am daily at the Leeton Visitor Information Centre.

For an idea of what can be done with all this lovely local produce, head to Pagès on Pine, where French-born chef Eric dishes up seasonal modern Australian fare with a Gallic twist, matched with local wines from Leeton’s own Lillypilly and Toorak wines. If you don’t make it to the restaurant, the cellar doors at both Lillypilly and Toorak are well worth a visit. The Riverina is known for its Botrytis Semillon dessert wine, which – for those who don’t know – sees the grapes left on the vine to ripen longer and be affected by a fungus that effectively sucks the water out of the grapes, concentrating the sugar and fruit flavours. It’s something you wouldn’t ordinarily eat; yet it makes the most extraordinary wine. Top wine buff James Halliday has given Lillypilly’s 2011 version 96 points, adding to its impressive five trophies and eight gold awards. Toorak Wines has a similarly impressive trophy cabinet, boasting a medal tally in Australian wine shows since 1998 of 162 bronze, 42 silver, 13 gold, three double gold and two trophies across its range of wines.

One million hazelnut trees have been planted to meet the demands of Italian chocolate maker Ferrero (yes, as in Ferrero Rocher).

21

food&wine

Day

three

Griffith

Griffith boomed post WWI, when thousands of Italians took advantage of the cheap, well-irrigated land and Mediterranean climate and set up farms here. Many stayed, and the town is now a celebration of la dolce vita; families working together in wineries, olive groves, delis, cafés, pizzerias and gelato bars, bringing the flavours of Italy to the Riverina. It’s a little surprising then, that the best cappucino to be had in town is at artisan coffee roast house The Roastery. It’s run by local lad Scott Rudkin, who grew up hearing stories from his grandmother about her experiences on plantations in Papua New Guinea, fostering not only a love of coffee, but also a deep desire to promote ethical farming. The Roastery has seven different single origin coffees on offer, as well as its signature blend, keeping the local Italians very happy indeed.

There are some great restaurants in Griffith, but to really make the most of your trip, head to La Piccola Italian deli on Banna Avenue. The place is rich with the smells of all the different salamis and cured meats hanging from racks, picante cheeses, marinated antipasti and olives. Inhale deeply, buy a bit of everything and a loaf of crusty ciabatta and prepare for picnic perfection. If you’re looking for something to wash down all that lovely local produce, then head to Calabria Family Wines, where third generation winemaker and patriarch Bill Calabria is carrying on the family tradition of making premium wines. What started as an exercise in self-sufficiency has expanded to an award-winning commercial enterprise, making 25–30 million litres of the good stuff each year. Bill is a delight, and will happily share his stories, and vino, when you pop into his Tuscaninspired cellar door.

Above: Calabria Family Wines.

Below: Celebrate la dolce vita in Griffith.

Round-up STAY

International Hotel 2 Lake Albert Road, Wagga Wagga (02) 6971 7007 intlhotelwagga.com.au Banna Suites 470 Banna Ave, Griffith (02) 6962 4278 bannasuites.com

EAT & DRINK

Thirsty Crow Brewery 31 Kincaid Street, Wagga Wagga thirstycrow.com.au Oakroom Kitchen & Bar 70 Morgan Street, Wagga Wagga (02) 6921 4337 townhousewagga.com/the-oakroom The Blessed Bean 10 Best Street, Wagga Wagga theblessedbean.com.au

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72

HOURS IN BRISBANE Shaking off its Brisvegas moniker, this buzzy city is winning itself a more enviable reputation. Faye James scratches beneath its glossy exterior to find its inner chic.

24

getaway

risbane used to get a bad rap for being somewhat of a try-hard city, a little crass, a touch showy and not too sophisticated. Fast-forward to today and the Queensland capital is giving Melbourne and Sydney a run for their money. With its culinary scene on the up, thriving art and culture everywhere, contemporary hotels and opulent shopping streets aplenty, the hipsters are flocking to this town like birds of a feather.

Day 1

09:00 There’s no better way to start your day than with some serious retail therapy. Head to Elizabeth Street where you can discover some of Brissy’s hottest up-and-coming designers – try Little Lace or Violet Green for some unique finds. If you prefer something a little more luxe, there’s Xile, a renowned mecca for international labels such as Armani and Dolce & Gabbana.

Looking for punk/edgy? Try Highway 7 to satisfy. Adelaide Street is also ideal for the foodie-cum-fashionista. Uncover brands such as Kitten D’A mour and Princess Polly or Aesop before stopping off at the Noosa Chocolate Factory for velvety cocoa heaven.

12:00 Shopping made you peckish? Your first lunch in Brisbane should boast glorious views and delectable grub, no less. Head to Riverfront venue Riverbar & Kitchen, for waterfront views of the CBD and good hearty fare in comfy surroundings with a seaside twist. Sip on an ice-cool beverage while you soak in the spectacular Story Bridge and wait for your dishes to arrive. Tuck into generous platters such as roast chicken, with lashings of brussel slaw and jus or robust lamb shoulder soup with harissa, chickpeas and silverbeet. Its coffee is excellent 25

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and, if you have space, don’t miss out on the chocolate salted caramel tart. Salty, sweet yumminess that’s just too good to share. riverbarandkitchen.com.au

15:00 Time to work off that lunch! One activity that shouldn’t be overlooked is a kayak ride down Brisbane River. Jump aboard a kayak and paddle your way under Story Bridge and past South Bank – it’s a great way to view the city from the serenity of your own little boat, and the sound of gentle waves lapping your paddles while you peruse the sights is a great stress reliever.

You can hire out a kayak from just $45 for 90 minutes. Bargain! riverlife.com.au/adventures

17:00 Feeling like you need a bit of a rest after a long day? Check into NEXT Hotel, where you’ll find chic surroundings and great room rates.

They have, in their own words, “rethought their spaces” and offer a SilverNeedle DreamWeave Sleep System, which is basically a gel-layered mattress and super-comfy premium linens and fluffy pillows to encourage an incredibly luxurious sleep. The hotel’s open-spilt bathrooms can extend or divide the space, so you can make your room feel more spacious and functional. Download the SmartApp and you can control your room from your smart phone.

Set mood lighting, room temperature or surf channels. Don’t feel like getting some shut-eye?

Head to the gym, which is open 24/7, or bash out a few laps in the super-slick outdoor pool. silverneedlehotels.com/next/brisbane

20:00 Hungry for dinner but don’t feel like missioning out too far? Lennons Restaurant downstairs in the hotel pays homage to the iconic Lennons that used to exist on George Street back in its ’50s heyday. Under executive chef Todd Adams, the menu features bold flavours and prime ingredients such as grass-fed, dry-aged steaks, wood-fired octopus and chorizo or buttermilk fried chicken. For modern, artisan cuisine with a twist, this is the perfect spot for the avid foodie to dine.

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Local Tips Jake Bartholomaeus, Surf Lifesaving Lifeguard, South Bank DO: Riding along the river on Clem Jones promenade in the afternoon.

DRINK: My Sweetopia does the best coffee in South Bank.

EAT: Stokehouse for its massive mouthwatering steaks.

ESCAPE: Relaxing on the lush green lawns of the new Epicurious Garden.

DAY 2

09:00 Start your day with a culture fix at South Bank. Until mid-February, The Gallery of Modern Art exhibition Future Beauty: 30 years of Japanese Fashion showcases some of the great innovation of Japanese designers from the ’80s through to today. With nearly 100 garments to pore over, you can catch designers such as Issey Miyake, Rei Kawakubo of Comme des Garçons and Yohji Yamamoto, who have undeniably revolutionised the way we think about fashion over the years.

And, until mid-September, you can also view We can make another future: Japanese art after 1989, a presentation of around 100 works by more than 40 contemporary Japanese artists, drawn from the Queensland Art Gallery Collection. This emotive display of artworks will definitely ignite the senses for all lovers of contemporary art.

12:00

After a morning of gallery gazing, the perfect spot for lunch is the Champ Kitchen & Bar at South Bank. Locally owned and operated, the idea is to celebrate independent producers and suppliers through its dishes and drinks. Savour silky risotto with seafood bisque, reef fish and bugs, or melt-in-the-mouth confit of pork belly with sour red peppers and apple purée.

Finish with the cheese board served with fruit and warm bread and you have a lunch fit for a culinary king. Spotted while we were there was the famed Brian Cox from Journey Through the Cosmos who happened to be chowing down his lunch while on tour in Brissy. champkitchenandbar.com.au

14:00 They may look a bit cheesy, but one way to peruse the city is on a personal transporter known as an X-Wing, which looks like a cross between a scooter and pogo stick with wheels.

Basically, this contraption allows the rider to move quietly and efficiently between points without losing contact with your surroundings.

A bit like walking but much faster, cruising between 20-30 kilometres per hour. Try a mini-segway tour of South Bank to view the city without punishing your feet with blisters – after your sumptuous lunch at Champ Kitchen & Bar, you’ll find this a light relief from stomping the tarmac on foot. The tour takes you through the stunning Botanic Gardens, which is one not to miss for avid park goers. xwing.com.au

17:00 Fancy a brewski? Get yourself a beverage at The Charming Squire, which brings to life the original story of charming rogue and Australia’s 28

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first brewer, James Squire. With its raw, organic interiors that evoke a sense of history and storytelling, you can down one of its craft beers or ciders on tap while feeling you’re back in the day when James himself was brewing the pints. jamessquire.com.au/bar/brew-bar/thecharming-squire-queensland

18:00 For a home-away-from-home experience with a little luxe thrown in, check out Heal House, a new luxury stay in New Farm with fabulous friendly hosts Bryce and Lindsay at your service. This elegant guesthouse features just three exclusive rooms so a stay here is a unique experience to say the least. With plush interiors, unique artwork, inviting reading nooks, beautifully appointed suites and relaxing living areas, it feels like living in the home you’ve always dreamed of. Find a table on the verahdah and enjoy breakfast made of locally sourced produce garnered from the local farmers’ markets – there’s no better way to start your day. healhouse.com.au

20:00 Feel like dinner in the heart of action?

Head to Fortitude Valley where you’ll discover Brisbane’s raw, offbeat area, which fuses the slightly grungy with a touch of sophistication.

Local Tips Blair Allsopp, Brisbane Greeter, Fortitude Valley DO: Live music at The Tivoli or The Zoo. DRINK: The Beach Burrito for its beach scene and cool courtyard.

EAT: Alfred & Constance feasts that are fresh, free-range and delicious.

ESCAPE: TRYP, the street art is not to be missed.

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Heritage-listed properties can be found among contemporary buildings, and the famed Chinatown offers a wide range of authentic cuisine to satisfy the most demanding of diners.

That said, for killer cocktails and hearty, fingerlicking grub try Alfred and Constance, located on the corner of Alfred and Constance Street.

Tuck into carved whole hog with apple sauce, crackling and skin potatoes while you and your mates sip on one of its impressive Zombie Bowls.

This is where your night starts. A couple of Zombie Bowls down, hit the cool vibes at UP on Constance, a stylish rooftop bar close by, before heading on to the achingly chic and dimly lit Katarzyna, which has live music line-ups and even a bit of burlesque. alfredandconstance.com.au

DAY 3

08:00 Get up bright and breezy, ready to sample some culinary treasures at New Farm Park Jan Powers Farmers Markets. Start off with a freshly brewed coffee, then move on to warm flaky croissants, piping hot omelettes, sausages, dumplings, freshly baked bread, artisan sauces, olives, dips and whatever takes your fancy. Just find your spot, grab some food and flick through

Local Tips Marie-Louise, James Street Initiative, James Street DO: James Street Market for all manner of edibles from fresh seafood to farmyard produce.

DRINK: HIVE cafĂŠ, aptly named after the beehive colony on the roof.

EAT: Harveys for any meal of the day.

ESCAPE: Outshine offers a true escape with its range of services.

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the paper while you graze through a hearty, healthy and wholesome breakfast. There’s a great buzzy atmosphere and a huge kids’ playground if you’re with your brood. janpowersfarmersmarkets.com.au

10:00 Close to the markets is the famed Brisbane Powerhouse, a fabulous spot for arts, entertainment and a coffee overlooking the river.

Housed inside one of the city’s most famous locations, the Powerhouse used to supply electricity for the largest tram network in the southern hemisphere until it was officially decommissioned in 1971. In 2000, it was refurbished and reopened as a space for exhibitions. Until February 15, you can enjoy MELT: A Celebration of Queer Arts and Entertainment. Feast your senses on music, cabaret, comedy, circus, fashion and arts. brisbanepowerhouse.org

11:00 After a bit of artsy inspiration, now is the perfect time to flex some plastic and head to James Street to explore fashion, boutiques and eateries. Well known for being Brisbane’s most stylish retail precinct, this buzzy district is brimming with 130 boutique-style stores featuring top local designers such as Easton Pearson and Tom Gunn as well as plenty of niche homeware stores ideal for that ultimate statement piece for the pad. Head to Libertine to design your own personal fragrance or Jocelyn’s Provisions for home-baked cakes and delicious sourdough breads. jamesst.com.au

13:00 Final stop before your flight back is a hearty lunch at Gerard’s Bistro. Head chef Ben Williamson’s extensive menu is inspired by cuisines from southern Europe, the Middle East and northern Africa. Sample share plates such as freerange duck breast, caramelised pumpkin, quince, sour golden raisin and oat; or Murray cod, mussels and oysters in kishk, sweet onion, hazelnut and fermented green strawberry. Dishes are incredibly innovative and delicious and a meal here rounds up your visit to Brisbane perfectly. gerardsbistro.com.au

WHAT’S ON IN JANUARY? 3–11 Giggle and Hoot

& Friends, Queensland Performing Arts Centre

4–11 Brisbane International, Queensland Tennis Centre 10–22 AFC Asian Cup, Brisbane Stadium

14–25 Thriller Live,

Queensland Performing Arts Centre

14–17 The Sleeping Beauty, Queensland Performing Arts Centre 17 Disney Live! Brisbane Entertainment Centre 27 Guided Walks in the City Botanic Gardens

31 St Jerome’s Laneway Festival 2015 31

LIFE CHANGING. LITERALLY.

Available in 200mL and travel-friendly 50mL varieties, every Thankyou sanitiser contributes to one person receiving access to hygiene and sanitation programs.

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charity

Thankyou Group’s co-founders from left to right: Jarryd Burns, Daniel Flynn and Justine Flynn

Thankyou kindly Riley Palmer speaks with Daniel Flynn, co-founder and managing director of Thankyou Group, and learns how to change the world.

“IT ALL STARTED in my first year of uni,” says a thoughtful Daniel Flynn.

“I was in the middle of researching for an assignment and I came across this crazy fact that 900 million people in our world don’t have access to safe water.”

Passionate, outraged and idealistic, the then 19-year-old could not idly gloss over the implication of this statistic. “I knew I had to do something, despite the enormity of the issue,” he explains.

Now, as managing director of Thankyou Group, a social enterprise that funds projects in underprivileged

communities the world over, Daniel and his inspired team help make visible just how much we have to be thankful for.

“The reality is, the majority of Australians have never had to struggle for access to basic human needs like clean water and food,” says Daniel.

“These are necessities we are very accustomed to having here in Australia and, to be honest, up until that moment at uni, they were things I’d probably taken for granted.”

Sadly, many of us have fervently vowed to make a difference after

experiencing similar heart-rending revelations about the world we live in, only to get distracted by what’s on television or what’s trending on Twitter.

But Thankyou Group’s approach targets those of us who fall into this category by affording us bite-sized, comprehensible ways to change the world. By creating a product range consisting of items so many of us purchase already – bottled water, food, and body care products – and committing the profits from these products to ventures that lessen the impacts of global poverty, Thankyou

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charity

Hunger is responsible for killing more people each year than AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis combined.

In the 2013–14 financial year, Thankyou Group funded 468 projects across 84 communities in nine different countries.

Group encourages us to make conscious consumer choices.

And it’s no coincidence the products reflect the very nature of the need they are targeting. For example, bottled water profits go towards projects solving the world water crisis, food profits are committed to developments alleviating world hunger and body-care profits are dedicated to hygiene and sanitation projects. “There’s a need to fund water, food and health programs, so we want our products to relate back to these necessities,” explains Daniel. “Over time, as we grow, we want to maintain this linkage to our overall purpose, as this is the core of what Thankyou is all about.”

While Thankyou Group is a social enterprise, it isn’t a charity in and of itself. Instead, it operates what is known as a project-based model. It receives project proposals from various charities and, if the project meets its criteria, Thankyou will fund it.

“We have an open policy to support charities that specialise in development and have ACFID [Australian Council for International Development] accreditation,” explains Daniel. “We choose to work with big NGOs – such as Oxfam, the Red Cross and World Vision – simply because they have experience.

They have learnt the hard lessons and they know good development.”

When asked if Thankyou Group has considered starting up its own charity, Daniel says: “Yes, we have, but I believe Thankyou is able to have such a great impact because we don’t try to be masters at everything. We choose to use many specialists across our business –

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partnering with amazing manufacturers and charities, working with retail outlets and so on. I think this is what enables us to be successful.”

Another benefit of partnering with charities is Thankyou Group has subsequently had the resources to engage more fully with us, their consumers. Not wholly without reason, many people approach charities with scepticism and question where the money actually ends up. Instead of being disheartened by the community’s inherent distrust, Thankyou Group recognised the importance of providing evidence that the projects they’re funding are having an impact. So, in mid-2012, the team launched Track Your Impact – an app that allows consumers to see exactly where the profits from their individual purchases end up. Feeling a connection to the

tangible results is reassuring and also incredibly rewarding, even for the most sceptical of consumers.

If we feel benevolent after purchasing just one box of Thankyou muesli, it’s hardly surprising Daniel feels this all the more acutely. “People I have met in the field who have received access to clean water or hygiene training have inspired me a lot,” he says. “It’s in those moments I have been really humbled and blown away. I have also been moved by young people, especially those in school, who have been motivated by Thankyou and have taken the initiative to do something of their own accord.”

Changing the way we look at dayto-day items like water, muesli-bars and soap, Thankyou Group’s influence reaches far beyond the tangible impacts its app can track – and for that, we can all be thankful.

“I have been moved by young people in school who have taken the initiative to do something of their own accord.”

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theproducers

AUSTRALIA COTTONS ON Australia produces some of the world’s finest cotton.

Faye James has a yarn with some experts in the Riverina.

IN 2009, when a cluster of passionate cotton farmers in the Riverina region joined forces to transform a couple of dust-cloaked paddocks into a cotton gin named Southern Cotton, they had no idea it would become a multimillion-dollar operation in just 12 months. What’s more, they had no inkling they would press an incredible 166,000-plus bales in the first year.

In fact, after failing to convince the major cotton merchants to build a gin in the area, local farmers Tim and Roger Commins, Larry Walsh, Gerard and John Toscan and rice grower Scott Hogan literally had all their funds set against this project. At times, as floods and droughts came and went, they thought their venture wouldn’t make it to the end of the season.

Fast-forward to today, and Southern Cotton has just pressed more than

500,000 bales and is growing in production on a daily basis. “The potential for the cotton industry in this region is enormous,” says the general manager of Southern Cotton, Kate O’Callaghan.

“As an irrigated crop, cotton gives a great return on investment and we’ve got a lot more growers – more than 60 – who have only been growing cotton for a couple of years. They wouldn’t be able to enter the industry without the cotton gin but now we have helped them make their business sustainable and lucrative.”

Southern Cotton’s growers come from Leeton, Griffith, Hay, Coleambally and out over Berrigan and Swan Hill. “A local grower just recently won the best crop in the region with a great return on investment, compared to rice, corn and soybeans,” says Kate.

“Everyone thinks cotton is very

Kate 0’Callaghan, Southern Cotton’s general manager.

FAST FACTS • Australia is the thirdlargest cotton exporter in the world behind the United States and India.

• Over 99 per cent of Australia’s cotton is exported, with 68 per cent sold to China.

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theproducers

“The cotton industry gives you the ability to forward market the crops up to three years ahead and the cotton seed is another source of income for the grower.” expensive to grow, and yes it is, but a lot of these expenses are at the end of the season.

With prompt payment for lint two weeks after ginning, the large costs incurred at harvesting, freight and ginning, are easily managed.

“The cotton industry gives you the ability to forward market the crops up to three years ahead and the cotton seed is another source of income for the grower.”

Southern Cotton is also passionate about educating others on the wider cotton industry. Kate often invites school students, retirees and tourists to the Southern Cotton gin so they can learn more about the industry.

“We’re trying to educate people on the sustainability of irrigated cotton in the region and tell them the facts about cotton.

WHAT IS A COTTON GIN? At the gin, machines are used to separate the cotton lint (ginned cotton) from the cotton seed. This is then pressed into bales and packed and shipped mostly overseas.

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If you can give people a good experience when they come here and showcase the ginning experience and the reasons why we do things, then they can learn a lot about the industry. Education and understanding is a big part of our mission,” Kate says.

The company’s focus on innovation to improve sustainability and efficiency is changing perceptions and was recently acknowledged in the broader community when Southern Cotton won the Excellence in Innovation award at the 2014 MurrayRiverina Regional Business Awards. What’s more, Kate has been named as a finalist in this year’s Telstra Women’s Business Awards and is listed in the Women in Australia Agribusiness 100.

“It’s exciting times for Southern Cotton and the cotton industry as a whole,” Kate

AGRICULTURAL STUDIES LEAD TO HARVARD Cotton grower John Norman is a leader in the cotton industry, farming 60,000 acres of irrigated and rain-fed country, with 40,000 acres cotton-ready. Through his business, Norman Farming, at Toobeah Queensland, John has won many awards in the cotton industry.

A graduate of Marcus Oldham, the business management college at Geelong Victoria, John is convinced his time there sparked his excitement for learning. Keen to continue his education, John applied to study the three-year Owner President Management program at Harvard University USA. One of 178 successful applicants from 1000 registrations, John undertakes three weeks of study each year on campus. He equates the teaching methods at Marcus Oldham with Harvard in that case studies are a major learning tool. He is convinced that agricultural and business case studies “pull the best out of you”.

Supported by a strong team, John believes in building a profitable business that can also contribute to the local community and preserve the environment.

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insidemining Issue 19 – Jan/Feb 2015

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MINING REVIEW Capitalising on the importance of safety

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SPECIAL REPORT Who were the movers and shakers of 2014?

THE FUEL REVOLUTION 33

Modern engines and pollution pressures are changing the fuel and lubricant industry

Image courtesy of BHP Billiton

snapshot

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Klipspruit, South Africa

Status: Producer Type of Work: Open-Pit Location: Mpumalanga, South Africa Commodities: Coal 3

news+views FOSSIL FUEL DIVESTMENT Australia’s mining and resources industry may not be subject to a carbon tax, but that hasn’t stopped it from paying a significant price anyway. In a move that continues to inflame much public debate, the Australian National University (ANU) has divested itself of shares in seven fossil fuel companies: Santos, Newcrest Mining, Iluka Resources, Sandfire Resources, Oil Search, Independence Group and Sirius.

While these companies represent just $16 million of a $1 billion portfolio, the ANU’s decision to divest overwhelmingly reflects a larger public perception of climate risk and the impact it will have on return on investment moving forwards.

With the fiscal influence to almost circumvent government altogether, institutional investors – which manage pension funds, superannuation funds, insurance companies and sovereign funds – are also acting on the risks associated with financial investment in fossil fuels.

For instance, Bendigo and Adelaide Bank has said it will not lend to firms involved in thermal coal and coal seam gas.

Deriving largely from action initiated at US campuses, the ANU isn’t the only big-name institution supporting the fossil fuel divestment movement. Internationally, high-profile supporters of the movement include the Rockefeller Brothers Fund, Stanford University, Glasgow University, and the World Council of Churches. In Australia, the Uniting Church is joining the movement, and Sydney University has ruled out future investments in coalmining.

REDUNDANT RED TAPE From the grant of tenure, exploration, extraction, processing, transport and mine closure, through to the relinquishment of tenure, the mining industry is subject to an excess of red tape.

A report released by the Minerals Council of Australia (MCA) in October 2014, announced that a net increase

EXCITING FUTURE AHEAD FOR TEX ONSITE A new South Australian base extends TEX Onsite’s horizons and reach.

TEX Onsite is thrilled to open its new Adelaide facility, which is an expansion in response to the ever-increasing demand for its services.

Managing director, Mick Kirwan, said the new facility will enable TEX Onsite to expand its reach across Australia. “No longer will South Australia be serviced by Victorian-based technicians. This will not only improve response time, but also reduce costs with technicians now based out of Adelaide,” Mick said.

Ray Wennerstroem leads the Adelaide team. He is an experienced TEX Onsite technician with years of valuable experience under his belt.

The team will offer full calibration and testing services, complying with quality standard IEC 17025, with plans for three additional calibration and testing vans to service South Australia by February.

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Facilities in Victoria, New South Wales, ACT, Queensland, Western Australia and the Northern Territory, are joined by the new South Australian arm. This range of facilities allows TEX Onsite to increase operations, ensuring its continued competitiveness within the industry.

For more information on services provided please call 1300 785 935 or visit texonsite.com.au

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of 577 acts had been implemented between December 2007 and May 2013 – with 874 new acts having been passed, and only 297 repealed. The MCA cited five particular weaknesses for regulatory reform, including: the volume of regulation, overlap across different levels of government, inadequacies in the regulation-making process, failure to

review existing rules and deficiencies in the performance of regulatory bodies.

The federal government appears largely in agreement with the MCA’s findings, as evidenced by its commitment to cut $1 billion in red tape every year, and host biannual parliamentary repeal days. As a starting point, the Prime Minister and parliamentary secretary Josh Frydenberg, 5

news+views

who has a specific responsibly for deregulation, suggested the repeal of the carbon tax and mining tax would reduce compliance costs in mining. This is a welcome hypothesis given the compliance workforce in the mining sector has grown by approximately 17 per cent since 2006.

Deloitte backs up the assertion that there is an overabundance of regulatory measures in a report entitled Get out of your own way: Unleashing productivity.

However, Deloitte’s findings suggest bureaucracy isn’t solely to blame for the excess of rules, and that the mining industry itself needs to look at things like its FIFO rosters, which can be inefficient if they feature no work on fly-in days,

regardless of distance travelled or mode of transport concerned.

REVALUING THE BOOM Recent research conducted by Jonathan Pincus, visiting professor of economics at the University of Adelaide, and former adviser to the Productivity Commission, suggests the resources boom from 2003– 04 to 2011–12 contributed significantly more to Australia’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) than the three per cent indicated in Beyond the Boom, a report conducted by John Edwards in 2014.

Published by the Minerals Council of Australia, Pincus’ report highlights the flow-on effects the mining boom had

BOLLÉ HAVE A KEEN EYE FOR SAFETY

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As a continuation of its innovation and the desire to develop products for the broader market, Bollé Safety recently launched a new and innovative lens coating system. The exclusive PLATINUM coating system on both sides of the lens not only gives the glasses a high resistance to scratching, but it also delays the onset of fogging for two minutes.

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on the economy beyond mining output, mining value-added or mining exports.

The report states: “Edwards’ calculation relies on Australian dollar prices, which doubled. Yet the national gain came from the rise in US dollar export prices, which quadrupled.” Completely omitted

by Edwards, the higher exchange rate dispersed the benefits of steeper export prices to Australians purchasing imports, i.e. shoppers. Pincus states: “... the doubling of the exchange rate saved about 10 per cent of GDP on the nation’s import bill.”

Drawing on estimates conducted by the Australian Bureau of Statistics that factor in this trading gain, Pincus indicates the mining sector’s actual contribution to national GDP over the decade was closer to 14 per cent.

Finger pointing aside, this far greater figure has implications for the capacity of Australian households and governments in adjusting to the significantly decreased terms of trade.

AWARDS AND ACCOLADES The 2014 Australian Mining Prospect Awards shone a light on the most innovative and influential companies and individuals of last year. They also provided an insight into the trajectory of mining technologies and best practice in relation to mine safety and impacting the surrounding environment.

While each of the 16 winners, spanning key industry categories, represent excellence in the sector, the ever-increasing scrutiny and importance placed on mining safety makes MineARC’s EnviroLAV – winner of the Excellence in Mine Safety, OH&S category – particularly notable. The EnviroLAV is a self-contained semi-permanent toilet system that only requires emptying every 18–24 months. It’s 100 per cent air-driven by micro-aeration filters that continuously break down waste in conjunction with a biodegradable, non-toxic EnviroZYME solution. This means, even in the volatile environment of underground coal mining, there is no risk of electrical sparks or explosion, unlike conventional electric toilet systems.

INDUSTRIAL LAND FOR SALE OR DEVELOPMENT

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spotlight

RENEWING THROUGH REHAB IN THE PROCESS OF MINING THERE ARE UNAVOIDABLE EFFECTS ON THE ENVIRONMENT, BUT ONE WAY MINERS CAN MITIGATE THESE IS TO CONSIDER THE REHABILITATION OF MINED LAND DURING AND AFTER MINING OPERATIONS. WORDS: MITCH BROOK

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spotlight

IN MINING there’s a fine balance between the benefit of what is pulled out of the ground and the effects of mining operations on the environment. It’s a trade-off that’s often in the political spotlight: what governments are doing to prevent long-term damage to ecosystems, and what responsibilities mining companies have to mitigate their effect on the areas that surround their operations.

Mining operations don’t last forever – there comes a point when the yield of a mine becomes too small to continue operations and the mine closes. It’s at this point that one of the most effective methods for repairing and mitigating long-term damage to the environment can be undertaken. The rehabilitation of mined land helps return the affected areas of mine sites to a condition similar to that they were in before operations began.

Melina Gillespie is a senior research officer at the Sustainable Minerals Institute’s Centre for 11

Mined Land Rehabilitation at the University of Queensland.

The centre researches solutions for environmental management and sustainability relating to all resources commodities.

“Mining is a temporary land use, so it’s important to consider appropriate long-term post-mining land uses,” she says. “Minimising the negative impacts of mining can assist in achieving cost-effective and successful rehabilitation outcomes in line with land use goals and to the benefit of nearby communities and the environment.”

While it is widely recognised that mining is an essential part of Australia’s – and the world’s – economy, it’s important for those

involved in the resources industry to realise the impact mining operations can have on the environment and to plan for the eventual cessation of mining operations.

“Early planning for rehabilitation and closure is imperative to mitigating environmental impact and achieving successful rehabilitation,” Gillespie concurs. “Given the large range of commodities (bauxite, mineral sands, coal and metalliferous mines) and thus the associated mining procedures, steps vary dramatically from site to site.

“At a basic level, steps [towards the rehabilitation of mined land] should include: early planning for rehabilitation and closure; thorough characterisation of the

“Early planning for rehabilitation and closure is imperative to mitigating environmental impact.”

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Fast fact • Alcoa says monitoring of rehabilitation programs showed 90 per cent of birds, 89 per cent of reptiles and 100 per cent of mammals in areas around its operations recolonised the rehabilitated areas within 10 years.

resulting [land] for use; clever design of landforms to maximise stability and plant growth; selection of appropriate species for inclusion in seed mixes; and long-term monitoring to measure success.”

The approach that a mine site should take to rehabilitating the surrounding land depends on the site’s practices and the particular resources that are being or have been extracted. Three principal areas of concern when rehabilitating a site are the surrounding waters, soils and ecosystems.

“Given the multifaceted approach that mine sites need to take to ensure successful rehabilitation,

integrated research projects that consider all influencing factors are key,” says Gillespie. “Chemically and physically stable landforms are important in assisting the development of sustainable ecosystems in varying climatic conditions. All are important – all are intrinsically linked.”

The good news is that successful rehabilitation projects are underway around Australia.

One is Alcoa’s bauxite mine in the Darling Range area, south of Perth.

Alcoa states that it is “committed to high standards of environmental performance and aims to return 100 per cent of plant species richness in our rehabilitated mine site areas, compared with premined jarrah forest.”

The company aims not only to reintroduce plant life to the area after its mining operations have ceased but return the land to its pre-mined state, encouraging natural ecosystems to flourish and helping to restore the site’s pre-mining uses, including timber harvesting, conservation, water

catchment and recreational uses.

The rehabilitation of Alcoa’s Darling Range mine site includes the following steps, as outlined on its corporate website: reshaping mined areas to blend with the existing landscape; returning topsoil and logs to encourage the return of flora, fauna and soil nutrients; contourripping subsoils to assist in treeroot penetration, maximise water infiltration and assist in erosion control; seeding tree, understorey and other species indigenous to the jarrah forest; and applying nitrogen and phosphate fertiliser, usually via helicopter in a one-off application. This is followed by fauna management, including fauna surveys, provision of habitats such as logs, relocation of species into the area and fox baiting.

As is the case in many areas of mining, various new technologies are applicable to the task of rehabilitating mine sites.

One such technology is the use of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) to survey mine sites, paired with specially designed software,

13

spotlight

as an aid in planning the return of the terrain to a state comparable to the one it was in pre-mining.

Position Partners supplies software and hardware to the mining industry including UAS technology for various applications. Gavin Docherty, UAS product manager for the company, says the UASs, which include fixed-wing and multi-rotor systems, can be used to survey a site before mining works begin and make a digital terrain model that can be used as a reference when returning the terrain to its pre-mined state.

“If you have a broadacre requirement, you go with the fixed wing to cover larger areas,” says Docherty. “Around camp, or

Fast fact • The multi-rotor AscTec Falcon 8 UAS is capable of carrying a range of cameras and sensing equipment across the visual and infra-red spectrums.

14

around infrastructure or built-up environments and high structures, and for smaller-volume calculations, you use the multi-rotor.”

Docherty says early use of UAS technology was recreational. It has been developed for military and commercial applications since, but there are still roadblocks to the adoption of UASs by surveyors.

“One major setback to the widespread adoption of this technology has been CASA [Civil Aviation Safety Authority] regulations,” says Docherty.

But recent changes to those regulations are making it easier for people to be able to deploy unmanned aerial vehicles.

“Because of that, we’ve had a slight increase in sales in the past three months – mainly because of the understanding of the CASA requirements and the realisation that it’s possible,” he says.

Conventional surveying methods might mean exploring a site on foot and taking measurements manually, which could take a week or longer. “With a UAS it could take you 20 to 30 minutes,” says Docherty. The benefit for anyone rehabilitating mine sites is clear: using unmanned aerial vehicles makes it simpler and faster for mining companies to mitigate their operations’ negative effects on their environs down the track.

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miningreview

NEW TECH PUTS SAFETY

FIRST With safety emerging as a key area for new technology investment in Australian mining, we investigate what it means for our mining industry to play it safe.

WORDS: RILEY PALMER

AS THE AUSTRALIAN mining boom inevitably plateaus, the pressure on the mining sector to decrease expenses and increase productivity intensifies.

Historically, cutting costs has meant cutting jobs, but reduced manpower is not always conducive to optimal levels of workplace safety. In a line of work where human error can result in death or severe injury, industry officials and miners alike are seeing the role of Collision Avoidance Systems (CAS) in mining as essential.

Across the board, CAS are understood to save lives and significantly reduce injury rates. The basic premise underpinning all of the numerous technologies associated with CAS, is that they can detect the presence of staff or machinery within a certain distance of a machine. Depending on the specifics of the technology implemented, they have the capacity to send warning signals and interact with the vehicle’s brakes if there is a perceived danger.

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In February and March 2014, leading business information service Timetric questioned 110 key decision makers from more than 90 Australian mines on their investment intentions relating to mining technology. According to the study’s findings, 30 per cent of Australian mining companies are considering investing in collision-avoidance and proximity-detection systems within the next two years, with safety their number one driver for investment.

This anticipated surge in investment is further based upon the acquisition and uptake of such technologies by large equipment suppliers. Recent deals have included Caterpillar’s partnership with Seeing Machines, Hexagon AB’s acquisition of SAFEmine and GE Mining’s purchase of InfoTronix.

Of course, investing in CAS can also improve a site’s productivity and profitability but, generally, these improvements are in direct response to increased safety. A whitepaper released

by GE Mining states: “In manufacturing, where safety technology is more developed, best-in-class organisations using advanced safety technology are reporting the lowest injury rates and high productivity rates.”

A Safe Work Australia report shows that 36 mining workers died from work related injuries between 2007–08 and 2011–12. Of those 36 deaths, 21 involved vehicles. Unfortunately, Australia’s figures are largely borne out around the globe, with the largest number of fatalaties occurring in Chile and New Zealand. The reality is, collisions on both surface and underground mine sites have been occurring since the introduction of heavy equipment, which is not altogether surprising considering factors such as restricted external vision due to blind spots and limited manoeuvrability.

While there is no way to eliminate risk altogether, CAS minimise the room for human error by using technologies such as radio detection and ranging, sonar, global positioning systems, radio transceiver tags, radio frequency and cameras. These technologies have been proven to prevent potential collisions and assist operators by improving traffic awareness in a way human-operated devices such as walkie-talkies and horn signals have been unsuccessful.

CAS currently occupy a relatively small portion of the mining technology market. This is most likely due to the justifiably strict mandating of such

“In manufacturing, where safety technology is more developed, bestin-class organisations are using advanced technology.”

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Shel

miningreview

Fast facts: • Timetric’s report highlights Australia’s three top areas for new technology investment in mining as: environmental monitoring and emissions management, equipment health monitoring and diagnostics, and collision avoidance/ proximity detection.

• The Civil Aviation Safety Authority began lobbying for Airborne Collision Avoidance Systems on commercial aircraft in 1995, almost 20 years ahead of the mining industry.

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technologies to ensure they meet intrinsically safe requirements.

However, this has recently been addressed through the release of industry guidelines that pertain to relevant legislations and International Organisation for Standardisation standards, such as the MDG 2007 Guideline for the selection and implementation of collision management systems for mining.

The United States and South Africa are both leading the way internationally on safety. In these countries, government regulation of mining safety, through the legislation of CAS, has been in consideration since 2013.

In Australia, it is believed similar compliance measures may be in the pipeline with investigation into the use of CAS and proximity detection both listed as priorities in the 2012–2013 report issued by Queensland’s Commissioner for Mine Safety and Health.

Demonstrating the latest in mining safety technology at the Queensland Mining and Engineering exhibition in 2014, SAFEmine displayed its TrackingRadar System – an adjunct to its existing CAS. Offering 360-degree visibility at any speed, SAFEmine’s CAS has already been recognised for saving lives in Australia and abroad. In a SAFEmine press release from September 2014, Martin Leggat, a mine surveyor at the New Acland mine in the Darling Downs region of Queensland, says: “I was driving along in a light vehicle and came to an intersection, looked both ways, didn’t see anything, so I started to accelerate. Then SAFEmine CAS went off and alerted me that a vehicle was coming and, within a second, there was big 793 dump truck coming down on me, so the system basically saved me.”

And that is exactly what it means for the mining industry to play it safe.

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YEAR IN REVIEW WORDS: CHRISTINE RETSCHLAG

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AS MANY MINES AROUND AUSTRALIA SHIFTED FROM CONSTRUCTION TO THE PRODUCTION PHASE, WAS 2014 MORE ABOUT ABOVE GROUND?

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specialreport

Clockwise from top left: Julia Gillard, Tony Abbott, Clive Palmer, Christine Milne.

N

ever was the Australian resources sector more font of mind than during 2014 – good news for an industry that relies heavily on high visibility. But rather than it being all about the fluro vests that dominate regional airports around the country, it was largely about the men and women in suits down in Canberra. The focus was on one man’s mission in particular, that of newly elected Prime Minister Tony Abbott to repeal both the Carbon Tax and the Minerals Resources Rent Tax (MRRT), which his predecessor Julia Gillard had delivered to the populous. But if you’re tempted to stop reading now, thinking that’s the year in a nutshell, it turned out to be a much tougher nut to crack than even Abbott imagined possible: it took him until mid-July – some seven months after he was elected – to make good on

24

his key campaign promise to dump the Carbon Tax. And it would be almost two more months before he was able to repeal the MRRT. Pivotal to these monumental changes, of course, was the Palmer United Party (PUP) headed by Clive Palmer, the first major Australian miner to enter the federal parliament. But despite his undeniable vested interest in the abolition of both imposts on mining companies, Palmer didn’t make it easy for Abbott, with a series of protracted negotiations to assist Australian families following a brutal federal budget.

But eventually and inevitably, both imposts were scrapped in

what Greens leader Christine Milne described in a report in The Australian as giving the billionaire miner Palmer what he wanted, specifically “to get rid of the mining tax for big miners”.

Said Milne: “Within one hour they want to come in here, circulate amendments, just bang them on the desk and say it doesn’t matter what you think about it, we’ve done the deal, we’ve got the numbers, we can ram it through.”

Addressing the Senate in September, Milne said it was “absolutely imperative” that the deal faced scrutiny “because it is saying ‘big miners, get out there and pop your champagne corks. Clive

It took Abbott some seven months to dump the Carbon Tax.

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specialreport

Palmer has just delivered for himself and for you Rio Tinto, for BHP, for all of them, a mega windfall gain’. If ever there was a conflict of interest, it is this one,” she said.

From the minute he launched his eclectic campaign for the Queensland seat of Fairfax, Palmer was never going to be anything but controversial. While he surprisingly held up the Abbott government’s tax repeals far longer than anyone expected, it was his comments in relation to China – Australia’s major trading partner – which proved to be the real clanger. On the ABC program Q&A in August, Palmer labelled the Chinese “mongrels who shoot their own people”. His comments followed a legal battle with Chinese state-owned company CITIC Pacific, which accused

Fast fact • Australia is the world’s third-largest producer of uranium. Each uranium mine can create around 300 new construction jobs and a further 300 jobs in operations.

Palmer’s company Mineralogy of siphoning off $12 million in funds to fund the PUP’s federal election campaign. Palmer later stated his comments were not directed at the Chinese community or the Chinese government but at one Chinese state-owned company.

One week later, the outspoken

Clive Palmer was never going to be anything but controversial.

Palmer apologised publicly “to Chinese people everywhere” for his infamous comments.

While it would be tempting to concentrate solely on the politicians who added so much chaos and colour to the Australian mining landscape in 2014, there were some significant developments in the resources sector itself.

In what some hailed as the next big boom, the Queensland Government lifted the ban on uranium mining.

Mount Isa mayor Tony McGrady, a former mines and energy minister for Queensland, believed the move placed the state on the brink of something big. Holding just under one third of the global total, Australia is the world’s thirdlargest producer of uranium after Kazakhstan and Canada. McGrady told Inside Mining that each uranium mine would create around 300 new construction jobs and a further 300 in operations.

“This could be the start of the second mining bonanza in Queensland,” he said.

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specialreport

“Australia needs to be ‘hungrier’ in bringing on projects of all sizes, including small and mediumsized mining projects.”

“For many years, Queensland rode off the back of a sheep and is now riding off the back of the coal trucks. If we can find something else that the world wants, my view is that we sell it.”

And the timing of a new boom couldn’t have been better, with many mine workers looking around with a sense of impending doom as mines moved from the construction to production phase and many workers were laid off.

While the days of low-skilled labourers turning up at sites and scoring lucrative roles were over, major recruiters were divided over where the industry was headed in 2014. Some, such as Hays Energy, said there remained pockets of activity in some areas around Australia including Western Australia’s iron ore industry and 28

drive-in, drive-out workers in Queensland. While the Northern Territory remained tight, there were emerging sectors throughout the industry seeking qualified professionals. Specialists in major liquefied natural gas and coal seam gas projects were starting to benefit from higher demand through 2014.

Meanwhile, the Minerals Council of Australia (MCA) warned that low-cost competitors such as Indonesia, Columbia, South Africa, Mozambique, Mongolia and India, as well as interior provinces in China, were nipping at the nation’s heels in the global resources game.

“Australia needs to be hungrier in bringing on projects of all sizes, including small and mediumsized mining projects,” an MCA spokesperson said.

What it potentially lacked in

DID YOU KNOW? • Some commentators believe placing a penalty on carbon, at just over $25 a tonne, was Australia’s most controversial policy implementation since the Howard government’s decision to join the Iraq invasion in 2003.

• Prime Minister Tony Abbott said by axing the Carbon Tax, the average family would save $550 on costs such as power bills.

• The Senate voted 39-32 to scrap Labor’s carbon pricing scheme after securing the support of PUP senators and other cross-benchers.

hunger, the Australian mining industry, in all of its fabulous forms, made up for in controversy, colour and characters in 2014. While there may have been an inordinate amount of focus on the grey walls of the federal parliament and the suits that dominate within, no one could ever accuse the Australian mining industry of being dull in 2014.

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resourceinsight

Fe

Name: Iron Element Category: Transitional metal Melting Point: 1538 °C Electron Configuration: [Ar]3d6 4s2 Atomic number and mass: 26/55.845(2) Discovered: Ancient times.

Origin of name: Derived from the Anglo-Saxon word “iren”.

Iron facts • The symbol for iron, Fe, comes from the word “ferrum”, Latin for iron.

• Iron beads made from meteorites have been found in Gerzeh, Egypt that date back to the year 3500 BC, or even earlier.

• The earth’s core is composed of both solid and molten iron while just over five per cent of the earth’s crust contains iron.

• Today, iron is mainly used with other metals to make steel, an iron alloy that has been made by man for the past 4000 years or more.

• Plants require iron to make chlorophyll, which is necessary for photosynthesis, while iron in the human body has many functions, including oxygenating the blood.

• Iron can be wrought (shaped) or cast (molded) to make everyday items such as gates, pots and pans.

• Iron is one of the most common elements on earth, has a relatively low production cost and has a wide variety of uses.

• Iron ore that is smelted, or made into a metal from its ore state, is called “pig iron”.

• China, Australia and Brazil are currently the top three producers of iron ore worldwide.

• The body of an average, healthy human being contains four to five grams of iron. Humans lacking in sufficient iron are considered to be “iron deficient”.

• Iron can be found naturally in a range of meats and vegetables including but not limited to: meat, seafood, chicken, beans, seeds and nuts.

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DIESEL FUEL is the life force behind Australia’s mining industry and it’s currently required to operate most heavy-duty machinery. Having proper fuel quality and minimising contaminants is absolutely fundamental to the overall productivity of any mine.

However, new engines, which are coming on to the market to comply with the global regulation of emission reductions, are necessitating cleaner and less contaminated fuel in order to operate reliably and with any longevity.

According to filtration specialists Donaldson Company, there are four main types of contaminants: water, foreign particulate matter, biological growth and wax formation. They need to be detected at various points along the fuel supply chain: firstly, when the fuel is delivered to a site and placed into bulk storage, then when it leaves the tanks and is pumped into the fuelling station, and again when it is pumped into the vehicle, which itself has a very fine filtration system.

OEM engine and transport manager at Alfa Laval, Theodore Esplin says: “All along the fuel supply chain, these filters need to be regularly replaced and the old ones disposed of.” He says although this can be a costly process, it is necessary.

While contaminants can never be completely eliminated – particularly water and dirt, which are essential on a mine site – they can be minimised through the use of emerging technologies in filtration. Interestingly, development manager for mining and filtration for HYDAC International, Mark LeRoux, suggests filtration processes are largely compromised by human error.

“Incorrectly sized filter systems for particulate are an occurrence seen all too often on mine sites. Money spent on smaller-sized filter systems seems to override the long-term outlook on getting larger systems installed,” he says.

Of course, renewable energy is a hotly debated topic as far as fuelling the

Having proper fuel quality and minimising contaminants is absolutely fundamental to the overall productivity of any mine.

35

mininginsider

mining industry goes, and one that can’t be ignored when discussing innovations in fuel. Despite much industry ambivalence, numerous renewable energy systems already power mines in Australia and internationally, with German consulting firm THEnergy revealing renewable energy systems are up to 70 per cent less expensive than diesel power at mining sites. According to the data it’s collated, THEnergy says the best business cases can be observed for hybrid power plants – that is, solar or wind systems that are integrated into existing diesel plants.

A fraction less friction Despite a decrease in investment in Australia’s mining industry at large, industry consultants and research analysts Frost & Sullivan predict the

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“Offering customised solutions and demonstration of efficiency has proven effective in winning new contracts.” mining lubricant market is expected to grow. In a recent report entitled “Analysis of the Mining Lubricant Market in Australia”, Frost & Sullivan found the market earned returns of $446.3 million in 2013 and predicted it would reach $650.5 million in 2019. Interest in lubrication technology primarily stems from the financial incentives – that higher performing lubricants can extend the life of machinery components, and cut maintenance, fossil-fuel use and operating costs.

According to Frost & Sullivan senior consultant Sarah Wang, the mining industry’s focus is shifting from mass production to enhanced production.

“Offering customised solutions and demonstration of efficiency has proven effective in winning new contracts,” Wang says. “Being a highly specialised product group that is directly linked to operational performance and cost, as well as providing technical support, is highly valued by customers.” This is particularly pertinent to any new

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companies considering entering the Australian market, given its dominance by five well-established suppliers.

One such company sparking a lot of interest in this highly competitive industry is Finnish-based Nanol Technologies, which has combined chemistry, nanotechnology and exhaustive research to develop a commercial lubricant additive called Nanol. It’s long been understood that nanotechnology can reduce friction in almost anything – from diamonds to toothpaste. However, it has never been successfully employed in lubricants – until the present day.

In laymen’s terms, Nanol forms a protective layer of copper nanoparticles on the friction surfaces, which prevents hydrogen from destroying the contact surfaces. The metal-plating copper film protects the friction zones against

38

Fast facts: • There is no single fuel called diesel.

Instead it refers to anything used to fuel a diesel engine.

• Generic types of lubricants still make up 40 per cent of the lubricants consumed in Australia’s mining sector.

wear while reducing the temperature of the friction units, which extends the lifetime of the machine.

Nanol Technologies senior advisor Aubrey Burrows brings with him more than 30 years of experience from a career largely focused on energy efficiency and long-life lubricants. He says what makes Nanol so effective is its chemistry and how it operates.

“The Nanol additive is homogenous and contains copper particles, which are dispersed in a stable colloid,” he says. “This means Nanol products do not have any problems and difficulties associated with conventional nanotechnology and there are no health and safety concerns.”

A product that varies so vastly both chemically and mechanically, Nanol is potentially a game-changer as far as mining lubricants go.

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GREEN, MEAN EFFICIENCY MACHINE SANDVIK ASTOUNDS THE MARKET WITH ITS EFFICIENT NEW TIER 4I TH551.

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andvik’s Tier 4i TH551 dump truck is revolutionising efficiency for Mincor Resources NL. At Mincor’s Kambalda nickel mines, the first of four giants roars responsibly as it simultaneously maximises the potential of each load while emitting just 1/25 of the diesel particulate of the mine’s Tier 1 predecessors. A combination of technological innovation and attention to detail has helped make the Tier 4i TH551 a heavy-duty hardworking machine that still manages to significantly reduce fuel usage and emissions. Not to mention, its Volvo Penta TAD1662VE engine is nothing to mess with.

“The primary reason we went with these new trucks was for the productivity improvements we believe we will achieve,” says Brett Fowler, general manager at the Kambalda Operations. Indeed, the TH551’s onboard weighing systems constantly inform the LHD operator of the truck’s loading status so no trips are wasted. This increases efficiency and speed overall.

“The fact the truck and loader operators had immediate access to good information meant loading improved ‘by itself’,” says Fowler. “In other words, if our operators have the right information at the right times, then they can – and do – make better decisions.” And in the mining industry, as with any industry, it pays to be informed.

With significantly less diesel particulate emissions, the TH551 is improving underground air quality for workers and also saving fuel, which was another reason why these trucks were the right choice for Mincor. “For our first

TH551, fuel consumption has been about 35 per cent less than the nearest Tier 1 truck,” says Fowler. The efficiency of the TH551 will also allow for the use of fewer trucks while getting more work done, potentially taking an eight-truck job down to as low as four to six trucks.

In addition to precise payload and emission reductions, the trucks also promise easier maintenance and Fowler has not been disappointed in this regard either. “The way the units are designed to be maintained has been pretty well

thought out,” Fowler says. “For one example, the onboard jacking system to lift a fully-laden vehicle in less than 30 seconds for a wheel change is a really nice touch.” Changing a tyre underground is no easy task, but Sandvik has thought of everything in the design of its new Tier 4i TH551 and is taking steps to improve efficiency in all aspects of the job. Clearly the TH551’s winning combination of lower fuel costs, fewer emissions and higher productivity is proving to be an all-around win for Mincor.

“With significantly less diesel particulate emissions, the TH551 is improving air quality for workers.”

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THE FIFO PRICE IS RIGHT

YOUI CAR INSURANCE POLICIES RECOGNISE THAT FIFO WORKERS DRIVE LESS, SO SHOULD PAY LESS.

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hose familiar with insurance company Youi will know that they don’t believe in a one-size-fits-all approach. Individual circumstances vary so much – particularly when it comes to car use – that it seems unfair to charge the same amount to everyone across the board.

Fifo workers in particular can save enormous amounts on their premiums – getting up to a massive 29 per cent discount from Youi – because while they are out on the mine sites, their cars are just sitting in the garage collecting dust. Why should anyone pay for that?

Youi prides itself on being a company that asks a few more questions. Rather than making assumptions about individual car use, it tailors insurance packages specific to your needs – often with enormous cash benefits.

Youi is all about how you use your car. And leaving your car garaged while you are regularly away for weeks at a time is one of the factors they reward well. And with so much focus on saving money these days it would be crazy not to at least do a quote with them.

Youi are pretty confident they’ll be able to beat your current car insurance

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premium. You might have seen their latest TV ads saying that they’re the fastest growing car and home insurance company in Australia at the moment.

You don’t do so well if your support services like claims and client care aren’t top notch. These guys have set new benchmarks in insurance and are always striving to better their service levels.

As well as very competitive car insurance, they also offer motorcycle insurance, watercraft insurance,

caravan and trailer insurance and home and contents insurance, being able to look after almost all that you own. Plus if you have car insurance with them, you qualify for a 20 per cent discount off contents insurance with them.

So why not give Youi a try today? Go to youi.com.au to start a quote or call them on 13youi, (that’s 13 96 84) and talk to one of their very professional call centre advisors.

CLIENT FEEDBACK FROM YOUI’S ONLINE WALL: FIFO mine worker: “I have saved a whopping 20 per cent with Youi over my previous car insurance. As a FIFO mine worker, I hardly use my car at home. Youi recognised this and dropped the cost of my monthly payments. Thanks Youi – I wish I came across sooner.”

- Sam Car policy update: “Can’t speak more highly of Youi. I work away in the mines and my car is parked up most of the time. Youi is the only company that understands that and offers significant discounts because of it. Youi answers the phones extremely efficiently and the operators are always friendly and helpful.

- Benjamin For more real feedback on Youi, check out the Youi Wall at youi.com.au/youiwall

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The Quiz

PUZZLES 2

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ACROSS 1. Zigzag (through traffic) 4. Dockside 7. Crawled 8. Southern US drawl 9. Strikes forcefully 12. Disliked 14. Playwright, Oscar ...

15. Ultra manly 16. Possibly 17. Cowardly person

DOWN 1. Bereaved wife 2. Study of relics 3. Levels 4. Electrical power units 5. Spectres 6. Pennants 10. Teem 11. Enchantress, ... fatale 12. Hillbillies 13. Song

Rating: SUDOKU

SKYWEST Handy 2663 SkywestHandy020.pdf © Lovatts Publications 16/11/2010 - Artist - ns

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SKYWEST SkywestSudoku020.pdf Moderate © Lovatts Publications 14/12/2010

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© Lovatts Publications - www.lovatts.com.au

SUDOKU SOLUTION:

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WE A V E WH A R F I R V A P L D CR E P T P A O H N TWA NG WH A MS S R S E I S O F H A T E D W I L D E I I I A O MA CHO T R G M K N T MA Y B E S I S S Y CROSSWORD SOLUTION:

© Lovatts Publications - www.lovatts.com.au

8 3 6 5

9 5 3 6 2 1 8 7 4

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column, every row and every 3x3 box contains the digits 1 to 9.

QUIZ SOLUTIONS: 1. John Howard 2. Brazil 3. Austin Powers 4. Somalia 5. Aquarius 6. Sunflower 7. The Devil 8. Romania 9. JK Rowling 10. Macarena 11. Apple 12. Qatar 13. 50% 14. Cork 15. Both WA models 16.

USA and China 17. Matthew Flinders 18. Pastry 19. Gina Rinehart 20. Birds

CROSSWORD

1

1. Lazarus Rising is the published memoirs of which statesman?

2. Formula One Champion Ayrton Senna’s homeland held three days of national mourning when he died. Where was he born?

3. “Oh behave!” became a catch phrase after Mike Myers used it in which film role?

4. Which is further north, Tanzania or Somalia?

5. If you were born on Australia Day, what would your star sign be?

6. Before modern materials, the dried stalks of which flower were used to fill life jackets to provide buoyancy?

7. According to the saying, who finds work for idle hands?

8. In what country is Count Dracula’s Transylvania?

9. Which successful author donated the royalties from her novel, The Tales Of Beedle Bard, to charity?

10. Los del Mar and Los del Rio both had a hit with which song?

11. What type of fruit is a Blenheim orange?

12. After beating Australia in the bidding process, which country was chosen to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup? 13. Approximately what percentage of the population has an IQ of less than 100?

14. Which bottle stopper is also an Irish county?

15. What do Nicole Trunfio and Jessica Gomes have in common?

16. Which two countries are the only natural habitats of alligators?

17. A cat named Trim was the companion of which famous explorer?

18. If a dish is en croute, what is it wrapped in?

19. Name the mining billionaire who is reputedly Australia’s richest woman.

20. A book by wildlife artist James John Audubon sold at Sotheby’s for a record $11.5 million in December 2010. WhatFill wasthe his favourite grid so subject? that every

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5

WAYS TO SPOT A DODGY RENO

If you think buying and renovating is too much hard work and you want to purchase something already built, then take note!

We often hear advice

ZORAN SOLANO Senior buyers agent Zoran Solano, from Hot Property Specialists Buyers Agency.

about how to give your property a magic makeover for peanuts, which can be good for the seller.

But it’s not so good for the buyer when they go to resell or rent, or are forced to replace the inferior fixtures and hardware used in the initial renovation much sooner than anticipated. Indeed it’s usually the buyer who gets lumped with the consequences of a dodgy renovation.

So we’re about to help you avoid picking up a property that’s been given a dodgy reno by sharing with you just a sample of the most obvious things to look for to determine if the overall reno has been undertaken properly.

Some of the things that I look out for are: • Lack of consistency.

I often find that poorly renovated properties don’t have a common theme or a consistent standard

of finish. For example, I’ve often seen a six-burner stove fitted into a kitchen that clearly isn’t a gourmet kitchen.

• Inappropriate design.

This refers to when the owner or tradesperson chooses a cheap ‘on sale’ item, instead of a better quality alternative when the better quality item is needed.

• Patchy paintwork or unfilled gaps. These are the first signs of someone cutting costs and corners. Recently I inspected a fully renovated property that was riddled with problems. In this case, the taps weren’t sealed off properly allowing water to get behind the fitting.

• Water leakage marks on cabinetry. On the poorly finished bathroom mentioned above, the vanity units showed signs of water leakage, which indicated that there was a plumbing problem.

• Potential pest issues.

Often people alter properties with no care to the potential pest issues they are contributing to. Timber contacting the ground is a big giveaway that there could be a higher risk of termites at the property. Also garden beds against the base of a house is a potential breach point for termites.

This is just a sample of what to look for to tell if the renovated property you’re potentially buying has been built to the standard you expect.

Zoran Solano is the office manager and senior buyer’s agent at Hot Property Specialists Buyers Agency. He has been a buyer’s agent for more than five years now, and is recognised as one of Brisbane’s leading agents in buyer representation. hotpropertyspecialists.com.au (07) 3170 3760.

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THE LAWN TAMER

Large property? Cut down on mowing time with a Ferris Zero-Turn mower.

If you live on acreage and enjoy looking out on a sea of emerald green as far as the eye can see, you understand the importance of having the right equipment to cut and maintain the lawn.

No-one with a large tract of land wants to spend their spare time on endless hours of lawn maintenance with a small tractor-style lawnmower, especially not when there’s a

Rob, and he knows machinery.

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Just in time for summer, Ferris is introducing three new models: the F125XT, the 52” IS 2100Z and the 61” 2100Z Zero-Turn. Ideal for large plot owners, the F125XT can mow up to 4.3 acres per hour while the 2100Z can

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freshly manicured green space in its wake. “Many operators don’t realise that they slow down over uneven terrain,” says Rob, “until they test drive a Ferris mower with suspension and notice the mower deck follows the movement of the wheels and the flow of the terrain, resulting in a beautiful, consistent cut.”

The Ferris IS 2100Z Zero-Turn ride-on mower is ideal for large plot owners.

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WHERE SHOULD MINERS INVEST? Kevin Lee shares his tips on how to become a smart property investor.

KEVIN LEE

Kevin Lee is a property investment adviser in Australia.

To attend one of his free no-secrets seminars, visit smartpropertyadviser.com.au

IRONICALLY the answer is not in a mining town.

I read an article recently that revealed some alarming (yet inevitable) price drops experienced in some popular mining towns.

Price drops of 40 per cent or more and vacancy rates of up to 14 per cent, no less!

If you’re reading this article while on your way to Port Hedland, listen up – Port Hedland experienced a 40 per cent price drop. Some properties have dropped from $1.5 million all the way down to $900,000.

I doubt the blood-letting

is finished yet. I’ll bet those people who bought those “great investments” (as they were touted) not that long ago, are feeling very sorry right now.

These numbers are shocking, especially when you consider, in 2002, the median price in Port Hedland was around $200,000.

Were those properties really worth $1.3 million more than they were just 12 years ago? I don’t think so. Those markets – in fact all volatile markets – are driven by speculation, greed, ego and naivety. And not necessarily in that order.

Print media suggests that in today’s market, positively geared properties are becoming harder to find, especially in our capital cities. It’s more than just a suggestion though – it’s a fact.

Over the past 18 to 20 months, tens of thousands more property buyers have flooded the market, primarily to take advantage of the lowest interest rates we’ve seen in the past 50 years. With the average Australian able to obtain a three-year, fixed-rate home loan at 4.59 per cent, it could be argued their lack of experience (plus their eagerness for the title

All volatile markets are driven by speculation, greed, ego and naivety. And not necessarily in that order.

53

Photos by Michael Lawrence & Duncan Macfarlane

A non-profit humanitarian organisation whose aim is to improve the health, wellbeing and self-reliance of people living in isolated regions connected to us through surfing. surfaid.org

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Occasionally, these towns slowly become abandoned and die completely ... there are about 63 of them scattered across the Australian landscape.

“investor”) have consequently pushed up prices. Unfortunately, in many areas, the rental market hasn’t followed this trend and, as a result, properties that could have been delivering high rental yields are now generating average rental figures simply because the property they had to have was seemingly overpriced.

For example, look at properties I was buying for clients at $230,000 in western Sydney, earlier this year. Agents are now trying to get unsuspecting investors to offer above $280,000 – but the rent is either the same or possibly dropped by $10 a week. In other words, the gross rental yield is down because the price has been pushed beyond the norm.

Property researchers are now warning residential returns

are very low, especially when compared to other yield assets. In some parts of Sydney, especially at the top end of the price scale, gross rental yields are as low as 2.1 per cent – just enough to cover the strata levies, water and council rates. I hope they paid cash, because there’s scant left to service a mortgage. Let’s be honest: investing in residential property has always been (for many investors) about chasing capital growth. To these types of investors, residential property is nothing but a gambling platform that offers an opportunity to make a short-term win.

However, statistics provided by reputable property researchers support what I’ve been saying for the past 18 years or so – that residential investments should

be held for the long term in order for them to deliver a worthwhile return on your investment.

Unfortunately not everyone gets this. Many property investors still chase the dream of that big payday – you know, the one on the front and back covers of every property magazine: boom suburbs, spectacular capital growth, a year’s salary in less than 12 months, gold in mining towns (or any other far flung one-industry town). They often seduce with the promise of positive cashflow and/or rental guarantees in the bag.

One example I’ve seen is a Queensland country town of fewer than 700 people being shown on a map in an advert, in a big bold font, whereas the font for the major town in that region, with almost 16,000 permanent

residents, is so small you can hardly find it.

In 2012, I wrote an article that warned investors far and wide to steer clear of mining towns, but I guess my warning wasn’t heard. What people seem to forget is mining towns are created and operated with a maximum workforce until construction is finished. Then it’s business on a shoestring. Investing in real estate in a mining town is dangerous and always short-lived.

If we can learn anything from history, it’s that once a mine is built and the population reverts to what it was before, vacancy rates explode and the massive oversupply of properties forces sale prices through the floor.

Occasionally, these towns slowly become abandoned and die completely ... there are about 63 of them scattered across the Australian landscape.

Although there is a growing fear that positively geared properties are disappearing in today’s property markets, my Smart Property Adviser clients and I are still finding them. We’re using

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National

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It is important to know that property investors are divided into three groups: the dreamers, the doers and the doubters.

a system which I created while unpacking 18 years of knowledge into the content of our two-day intensive course.

The system is called Fast Track and it employs a simple 39-point checklist that ensures you do the right research to find the right properties for you and your investment strategy.

There are five key steps in the Fast Track system.

Step 2: Suburb research

Step 1: Macro research

Step 3: Property market research

Macro research is all about navigating your way through the hype to identify potential investment locations. It is at this point that you analyse the property clock, identify employment growth areas and seek to pinpoint those areas where demographic change is strong.

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Suburb research is all about narrowing in on the locations you identified in your macro research to find specific suburbs. Your focus is on identifying budgeted and committed infrastructure.

Conduct local council research on residential and commercial developments, and do suburb comparisons using industry specific research tools.

Property market research is all about analysing the property market in the suburbs you’ve identified. Please note, there is no such thing as the property market. There are many property markets. This step is where you do your research by checking for-sale

prices and rental returns in the area. And don’t forget to check the vacancy rates.

Step 4: Micro research Micro research is all about the details. I always recommend my clients visit the area they’re interested in. I also recommend they speak to the local police and check out the competition to see what else is on the market and what’s available for rent.

Step 5: Property comparison Property comparison is all about identifying the property type that will deliver the best results. As the final step of the system, this is the most important. This step is where you identify what properties are in high rental demand and

which properties will deliver high rental yields. It’s also important to remember that some properties may require renovation. Don’t ignore these; the added value may be beneficial to your return.

In summary, it’s important to know that property investors are divided into three groups: the dreamers, the doers and the doubters. Dreamers chase the hope of capital growth, while doers focus on affordability. Doubters own one or two investment properties but can’t see it being a long-term financial strategy. Of the three groups, it’s the doers who see the best results overall.

By focusing on affordability, doers are able to buy properties in areas where 80 per cent of the population can afford the rent. They succeed because their investment strategy requires them to purchase positive cash-flow and positively geared properties.

Which group of invstors would you like to belong to?

If you’d like a free copy of the complete 39-point checklist, visit: smartpropertyadviser.com.au/thefast-track

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