Issue 122 • August 2014
RANCHIN’ IT
ources profes res sio or
Empowering our Indigenous artists
ion specificall cat yf bli
STRENGTH IN UNITY
The enga gin ly in-flight onth pu gm
ls na
Getting down ‘n’ dirty on a Mount Isa station
GETAWAY Things to do in and around Kununurra
MOVE UP WITH A
FREE UPGRADE
Rent an Economy through to a Full Size car with Avis in Australia before 30 September 2014 and receive a free single upgrade* up to a maximum Full Size Sports car. Plus you can earn Qantas Points^! Go to the Avis counter on arrival and quote coupon number UPPA050 when you rent.
*Offer cannot be used in conjunction with any other coupon or promotion, including package tour, corporate, travel industry or Government rates. Valid for a single car group upgrade, from a Group X to Group A, Group A to Group B, Group B to Group C, Group C to Group D, Group D to Group E, Group E to Group P. Subject to vehicle availability at time of rental. ^Membership and points are subject to the terms & conditions of the Qantas Frequent Flyer program. A joining fee may apply. For more information about earning points on car hire see Qantas.com/cars SAVI8112
welcome to Manila
McArthur River
Cairns
Tennant Creek The Granites Christmas Creek
Welcome aboard We have a jam-packed issue for you this
month. We explore family-friendly Queensland, offering plenty to keep the kids entertained these school holidays. One event not to miss is ‘Kids Week’, held in the heart of Surfers Paradise. It’s a week of free entertainment at the end of September, loaded with fun activities for all ages, with plenty to see and do. For those looking for a true outback adventure, the Mount Isa Rodeo is for you. In its 56th year, more than 25,000 visitors are expected to descend on the town where city meets country, east meets west and man meets beast. But if you’re after a more relaxing getaway, why not check out the Lake Moondarra Fishing Classic? It’s staged just 15 kilometres north of Mt Isa, and two days of family fun includes 20 prize categories, a fireworks spectacular, a DIY dragon boat regatta, live music and much more. A number of events will also be taking place in Timor-Leste in September. This includes the Tour de Timor, South-East Asia’s most challenging mountain bike race, held over five days and covering some of the most spectacular and remote regions of this beautiful country. This year also sees the return of D’Tour, a Timor-Leste/Australian Indigenous music collaboration. At the event, Tiwi Island band B2M will visit our northern neighbour to join Ego Lemos – Timor’s most popular singer/ songwriter – to host workshops for local musicians as well as visiting schools to encourage music students. It all culminates in a community concert in the heart of Dili. Now sit back, relax and enjoy our inflight service. Michael Bridge Chief Executive Officer
Favourite destination
The amazing setting of the annual Dinner Under The Stars, Cable Beach, Broome.
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
2
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. www.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.
3
F I R S T
C L A S S
L U X U R Y
beautifully appointed rooms
Happy Hour at the Deck
discover dili
5-7pm daily. Free drinks, gourmet canapĂŠs and wifi for both in-house and walk-in guests. Conditions apply.
I N
T H E
C E N T R E
tantalising modern cuisine
O F
D I L I
centrally located in Dili
Diya Restaurant
To celebrate the receiving of a 2013 Trip Advisor Certificate of Excellence, 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
contents food&wine
outtahere
09 airnorthnews D’Tour concert connects Dili and Darwin through music and the arts.
10 airnorthevents The 2014 Darwin Festival proves that the Top End has some real talent.
12 airnorthgetaways We highlight the top spots in Queensland for some family fun. Jason Benjamin, The Waiting Garden, 2011
15 don’tmiss Upcoming events worth checking out.
16 spotlight Danielle Chenery digs up the best of Kununurra’s outback experiences.
21 airnorthcommunity A look inside the peak advocacy and support agency for Indigenous artists in the Northern Territory and Western Australia.
26 explore Susan Fairbairn-Kirk travels to Mount Isa and finds her inner cowgirl.
Issue 122 • August
Issue 123 • September
checkin
closeup
Cortney Roark talks to snowboarder Ben Tudhope about competing at Sochi and the Cerebal Palsy Alliance’s Steptember campaign.
Discover what drives rising star Dan Sultan, acclaimed musician and ambassador of the GO Foundation.
closeup We catch up with legendary Australian actor Hugh Jackman and find out about his latest film and on-set capers.
outtahere 12 26
outtahere Cortney Roark takes you on a tour of Australia’s top art galleries and uncovers a few hidden treasures.
food&wine
Ben Smithurst is out to make sure you inject adrenaline into your next holiday.
We take a trip through the Coonawarra region ahead of the eagerly awaited annual Cabernet Celebrations.
food&wine
destination
Susan Gough Henly celebrates la dolce vita in the King Valley, sipping fine wines and tucking into Nonna’s homemade delicacies.
Michelle Hespe indulges her senses with a large dose of luxury on Tasmania’s ruggedly beautiful Freycinet Peninsula.
agribusiness
smallbusiness
Mitch Brook follows food’s fascinating journey from producer to plate and the transport links that make it possible.
Kris Madden explains what consultants can do to make recruitment easier for small businesses.
insidemining • news and views • resource sector issues • finance and technology
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EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Michelle Hespe michelle.hespe@edgecustom.com.au DEPUTY EDITOR Danielle Chenery ASSISTANT EDITOR Simone Henderson-Smart INTERN Cortney Roark SUB-EDITORS Sally Macmillan, Liani Solari PRODUCTION MANAGER Brian Ventour SENIOR DESIGNER Guy Pendlebury PRINTER SOS Print & Media CONTRIBUTORS Susan Fairbairn-Kirk, Ben Smithurst, Susan Gough Henly, Mitch Brook, Mandy McKeesick, Darren Baguley, Kris Madden, Kevin Lee, Jane Slack-Smith, Michael Yardney NATIONAL SALES MANAGER, Rex, OUTthere Peter Anderson peter.anderson@edgecustom.com.au NATIONAL SALES MANAGERS, Inside Mining Chris Wykes chris.wykes@edgecustom.com.au David Little-Jones david.little-jones@edgecustom.com.au SENIOR ACCOUNT MANAGER, National Property Guide, skytrans Robert Desgouttes robert.desgouttes@edgecustom.com.au WA, SA and NT SALES AGENT Helen Glasson, Hogan Media Phone: 08 9381 3991 helen@hoganmedia.com.au PUBLISHER Geoff Campbell CEO Eddie Thomas
ON THE COVER:
August: Aerial view of Bungle Bungles, WA.
September: The billy boils a fresh pot of tea in Mt Isa. Image by Susan Fairbairn-Kirk.
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... Imagine a tunnel of food above Sydney Harbour made from every common climbing food plant imaginable – pumpkins, beans, passionfruit, to name a few. And imagine driving through that tunnel, because the edible garden is suspended in old oil drums and is an interconnected assortment of people’s old junk – a sculptural garden bed really. It’s not just a cool idea. It’s being planted next month under Pyrmont Bridge. By the end of September, the seeds in the drums will be sprouting and sending their shoots skywards to the pylons, ready to entangle and create a living tunnel of nutrition. The man creating it, by salvaging food thrown out by chefs across Sydney, is Joost (rhymes with toast) Bakker, a florist, tulip farmer, builder, artist and visionary. He believes in a waste-free world, and he’s building the tunnel of food to show us how wasteful we can be. Joost owns a restaurant in Melbourne called Silo, which produces zero waste, as does his home in rural Victoria. So it’s easy to see why he thinks others can live waste free, too. It’s an inspiring aim, and it will be a sight to behold. Pyrmont Bridge will be ready for harvest in March 2015 and Joost hopes it will be a lush jungle of food by then. More and more people these days are conscious of what they eat and what they waste. Even so, a bold artistic statement like Joost’s – a living, nutritious mountain of proof – is what we need to encourage us to reassess what we do with our food waste. Joost is a step ahead of us, and he foresees a time when we can produce enough food in our cities to feed everyone. Then, he believes, we should turn the land we’ve cleared for food
production back into wilderness. Cities around the world are making big changes that will bring everyone closer to achieving Joost’s dream, from rooftop vegetable gardens, to beehives on city balconies, to people having their own water tanks and vegie patches in small inner-city spaces. I’m excited by it all, and seeing Joost’s bridge of food made from organic waste in September is going to be a great wake-up call for many of us. See if you can plan a trip to the big smoke around then to check it out. I think it’ll be worth it. But for today, enjoy your trip and the place you are headed to. Drop us a line anytime – we love hearing from you.
Michelle Hespe and the OUTthere team
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airnorthnews
Community, culture and celebration at D’Tour 2014 The D’Tour concert connects Darwin and Dili through music and the arts. SEPTEMBER 20, 2014, marks the third D’Tour concert – a night of community, culture and celebration – when musicians from TimorLeste and the Tiwi Islands come together for artistic, cultural and educational exchanges. This exciting partnership has been showcased in Dili and Darwin since 2012. With a week-long series of workshops, school engagements and a free outdoor concert, D’Tour is all about bringing together musicians from northern Australia and Timor-Leste. The aim is to build strong relationships, develop projects and highlight to the world that major obstacles such as remoteness, language barriers and a lack of infrastructure can be overcome through working together. Ego Lemos – Timor-Leste’s award-winning singer-songwriter – is the co-founder of D’Tour, together with Darwin-based record label Skinnyfish Music. The family-friendly, free concert held in Dili on September 20 will feature B2M from
the Tiwi Islands, as well as Ego Lemos himself. In addition to a night of concert performance, B2M and Ego Lemos will attend local schools to conduct songwriting
The Tiwi Island band is known to ‘lift the roof’ at any live show. workshops in order to promote cultural and skills exchange, as well as musical collaboration between the two regions. Ego Lemos is passionate about his culture and will be bringing his band and new work to perform to his home crowd – his first Dili performance in three years. After a hugely successful tour to the Indonesian province of East Nusa Tenggara and Timor-Leste in March this year, B2M will
return to Dili with D’Tour in September with a new debut album in hand. The Tiwi Island band is known to ‘lift the roof’ at any live show, and its newest fan base in Timor-Leste won’t be disappointed. Both B2M and Ego Lemos can’t wait to share with the Dili community what an impact they have when the East Timorese and Tiwi Islanders get together on stage, and they invite everyone to join them for a night of celebration of the two cultures on September 20. “I am looking forward to the third D’Tour concert and the opportunity it brings for collaboration between exciting contemporary artists from the Northern Territory and Timor-Leste,” said Peter Doyle, Australian Ambassador to Timor-Leste. D’Tour 2014 is proudly supported by Airnorth, the Australian Embassy in Timor-Leste, ENI and Skinnyfish Music. Email admin@ skinnyfishmusic.com.au for more information.
Top: B2M arrive in Dili; Above from left: B2M with their next generation of Timorese fans; B2M holding a workshop at Tiwi College; Ego Lemos performing.
LAND YOUR PERFECT JOB
9
airnorthevent
TOP END TALENT Discover the best of the Territory at this year’s Darwin Festival
TRAVELLERS who have always been intrigued by the Top End will find Darwin has plenty to say about itself when they visit in August for the 2014 Darwin Festival. The theme for this year is ‘100% Darwin’ and the festival features 105 events over 18 days. The program includes theatre, music, comedy, cabaret, dance and visual arts across 37 venues, all celebrating the vibrant, beautiful and unique capital of the Territory. “We wanted to create something that embraces the true Darwin as we see it, and as we’d like audiences and visitors to the Territory to see it,” explains artistic director Edwina Lunn. “Darwin is many things and it’s a real privilege to interpret Darwin and its very varied inhabitants in an arts festival program. We hope the result is a festival with more heart than ever.” A highlight will be the performance 100% Darwin over the opening weekend. It’s a theatrical piece in
which 100 locals from all walks of life, each representing one per cent of the Darwin population, show how Darwinians think, feel and act in a part-reality, parttheatre revelation. Opening night will also see renowned singersongwriter Tina Arena take to the stage, although musically the highlight of the festival will undoubtedly be the annual National Indigenous Music Awards, headlined this year by rockabilly/soul juggernaut Dan Sultan. The family-friendly awards night will be hosted by television personality Aaron Pedersen and feature a line-up of the best Indigenous music and dance acts from around the country under a star-filled sky. Dates: 2014 Darwin Festival, August 7–24; National Indigenous Music Awards, August 15. Full program and bookings: darwinfestival.org.au
The theme for this year is ‘100% Darwin’ and the festival features 105 events over 18 days. 10
airnorthgetaways
QUEENSLAND’S
HOTTEST
KIDS HOLIDAYS THE ONLY THING KIDS LOVE MORE THAN A HOLIDAY IS A QUEENSLAND HOLIDAY. SIMONE HENDERSON-SMART PICKS SOME OF THE STATE’S BEST DESTINATIONS. REEF HQ AQUARIUM, Townsville, North QLD If you prefer to stay dry while checking out the wonders of the Great Barrier Reef, this is the perfect place for you. Reef HQ is the world’s largest living coral reef museum, with walk-through tunnels that are a kaleidoscope of colour. Corals, reef fish, sharks, seahorses and sea stars compete for your attention, and there’s also a turtle hospital for budding conservationists to check out. reefhq.com.au
BAY DAYZ FESTIVAL, Magnetic Island, North QLD This annual month-long festival starts at the beginning of September and continues throughout the school holidays. The program is full of family fun, so take a bucket and spade and join in the sand-sculpting competition, spread out a picnic blanket for movies under the stars, or bait a hook and try your luck in the fishing competition. September 19 is Talk Like a Pirate Day, so pack an eye patch and your best “Arrrrr” as well. whatsonmagneticisland.com.au
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DRACULAS HAUNTED HOUSE, Surfers Paradise, Gold Coast If your kids love being spooked but yawn at the thought of the ghost train, take them to this five-storey turbocharged house of terror. Sculptors, scenic artists and animation technicians have created a labyrinth of lunging corpses, giant spiders and blood-soaked zombies, which you walk through at your own pace – although it’s more likely you’ll be running. draculas.com.au
airnorthgetaways
TREASURE ISLAND HOLIDAY PARK, Biggera Waters, Gold Coast As well as the usual caravan and camp sites, this holiday park has an assortment of accommodation options – villas, cottages and apartments – for families wanting extra comfort. The park is just a short drive from all of the major Gold Coast theme parks, but with its three pools, minigolf, a giant jumping pillow, live entertainment, art and craft activities and water park, your kids may never want to leave. treasureisland.com.au
SPRINGBROOK NATIONAL PARK, Springbrook, South East QLD
AUSTRALIAN AGE OF DINOSAURS, Winton, Central QLD
A half-hour drive from Tweed Heads gets you to a World Heritage-listed wonderland formed by an ancient volcano. The area comprises Lamington, Springbrook, Border Ranges, Nightcap and Mount Warning national parks – a dense, subtropical rainforest filled with walking trails, natural rock pools and perfect picnic spots. A highlight is the Natural Bridge in Springbrook National Park, a waterfall that cascades through the roof of a glow-worm cave into an icy pool below. nprsr.qld.gov.au/ parks/springbrook
This natural history museum has the world’s largest collection of Australian dinosaur fossils. The area around the museum is a massive dinosaur graveyard from which palaeontologists have unearthed crate after crate of fossilised bones. The on-site processing lab can barely keep up with the number of fossils discovered – which is great for visitors who want to be part of history, as they can lend a hand to either clean up the fossils or dig them out of the ground. australianageofdinosaurs.com
BROADWATER, Surfers Paradise, Gold Coast Surfers is, of course, all about surfing, but at Broadwater there are many other ways to get some high-octane action on the water. Grab a jet ski and race the kids around the mangroves and little islands all the way to South Stradbroke Island. For the ultimate rush, take a ride on the high-speed jet boats that pull off some crazy, white-knuckle manoeuvres which guarantee everyone gets a thorough soaking. Families wanting to slow down and take in the wildlife and vistas without them whizzing by in a blur can hire stand-up paddleboards and kayaks. paradisejetboating.com.au
WALKABOUT CULTURAL ADVENTURES, Daintree Rainforest, Far North QLD Give the kids a new perspective on Australia when they see the rainforest through the eyes of a local Indigenous tour guide. They’ll learn about the deep spiritual relationship that the local Kuku Yalanji people have with the land, as well as the rainforest’s bountiful native foods and medicines, while discovering waterfalls, rivers and waterholes in the World Heritage-listed rainforest. The tour also visits Indigenous art and craft galleries. walkaboutadventures.com.au
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don’tmiss
Compiled by Cortney Roark
these events in August & September if you’re in the right place at the right time. AUGUST 8–10
Mount Isa Rotary Rodeo
The biggest rodeo in the Southern Hemisphere features multiple rodeo events, from bull riding and steer wrestling, to barrel racing and poddy riding. As for outside the ring, the rodeo includes a mardi gras parade and live music. isarodeo.com.au
AUGUST 29–31
Mount Franklin Cardiac Challenge Bike Ride, Cairns
This ride to save lives has already raised more than $1.7 million for cardiac care in Far North Queensland since the first ride in 2007. Riders begin in Cairns and, three days and 333 kilometres later, arrive in Cooktown. cardiacchallenge.com.au
SEPTEMBER 5–14
Shinju Matsuri Festival, Broome
Shinju Matsuri is the premier arts, cultural and community festival in Broome, Western Australia. Shinju Matsuri will tempt your senses with an exciting whirlwind of colour, sound, taste and smell.
SEPTEMBER 13–17
Tour de Timor, Dili
The Tour de Timor is expected to attract more than 400 riders in what is often known as Asia’s most gruelling mountain bike race. Each year, Tour de Timor attracts riders from many countries and raises funds for Timor-Leste projects. Airnorth has been a major sponsor of the event since its inception and over the past five years has flown more than 500 Australian and international riders and their bikes to Dili to compete as well as countless support staff, medical teams, volunteers and media representatives.
AUGUST 16
Broome Cup Carnival
Broome Cup Day brings together the local community and visitors who will travel far and wide to be involved in the town’s biggest social event of the year. Fever-pitched excitement precedes each race throughout the day, and punters are entertained by live music, local performers and fashion on the field finals.
SEPTEMBER 20–26
Kids Week, Gold Coast
Surfers Paradise has the September school holidays sorted, with Kids Week – a free, family-friendly event in Surfers Paradise celebrating all things kids. Kids Week will be loaded with fun activities for youngsters of all ages with plenty to see and do, including balloon twisting, cupcake decorating, character appearances and plenty more.
28 AUGUST – 2 SEPTEMBER
Sealink Magnetic Race Week, Townsville
Magnetic island is hosting its eighth ocean racing week, which marks the finale of the annual Queensland Season of Sailing. As well as first-class racing there will be parties, entertainment and fun-packed events for the whole family.
SEPTEMBER 12–21
Swell Sculpture Festival, Gold Coast
For 10 days, Currumbin Beach is an open-air gallery showcasing more than 50 sculptures by local and international artists. Visitors can walk the beach and enjoy the exhibition at any time of the day. There are also artists’ talks, masterclasses and workshops. swellsculpture.com.au
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spotlight
Kununurra: The oasis that is Kununurra is a gateway to the Outback. But be careful, its waters have been known to cause pregnancies ... Danielle Chenery explores five highlights in or near town.
ununurra has more than a few claims to fame. The epic movie Australia was filmed just outside of town; it houses a Celebrity Tree Park, where stars such as John Farnham and Baz Luhrmann have planted trees; and its waterfalls make women pregnant. No, really. Nicole Kidman, who reckons swimming in the falls helped her to fall pregnant with her daughter Sunday Rose, happily discovered what the local Indigenous women have known for centuries. But, babies aside, Kununurra, located in far northern Western Australia, just 37 kilometres from the Northern Territory border,
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top 5
offers easy access to many amazing geological sites and stunning waterfalls. Here’s our pick of five.
1. Bungle Bungles You’ll find these fascinating rock formations in heritage-listed Purnululu National Park. While local Indigenous people have known all about them for centuries, the rest of the world only woke up to them in the mid-1980s – just another example of how Australia’s expansive Outback is packed with so many undiscovered or newly discovered secrets. Purnululu means ‘sandstone’ and the orange-and-black Bungle Bungles
are sandstone domes that rise up to 300 metres above the plains. About 130 bird species are found here as well as the nail-tail wallaby and short-eared rock wallaby. You can explore on foot or by air – scenic flights leave from Kununurra. Bush camping and guided tours are also on offer. If you’re driving (4WD only), roads are open from April until November – weather permitting. From Kununurra it’s 200 kilometres of sealed road, then 50 kilometres of unsealed road until you reach the famed rocks.
Image: Tourism WA
spotlight
3. Home Valley Station Located in the Cockburn Range, Home Valley Station is about 115 kilometres from Kununurra along the Gibb River Road, which is close in Outback terms. You can pick up a 4WD in Kununurra, for short- or long-term hire, and off you go. Home Valley Station covers a whopping 248,880 hectares. It’s a working cattle station and tourism property and if you include its two out stations the area actually exceeds 1,416,400 hectares. Tourism aside, the Indigenous Land Corporation owns the land on behalf of the Balanggarra people of the East Kimberley. The station hosts an onsite training program for Indigenous men and women from the region that includes tourism, hospitality and pastoral operations. There are several accommodation options, from luxury suites on Bindoola Creek to campsites for the full outback experience of sleeping in a swag under the stars. You can enjoy plenty of outback adventure during your stay at Home Valley Station. There are gorges, waterholes, rivers, billabongs, waterfalls and stunning ancient landforms and ranges to explore. For a deeper insight into the Kimberley landscape and natural delights, take a tour with one of the station’s knowledgeable guides. Boating and fishing – yes, there’s plenty of barramundi – are highly recommended for all keen anglers. The Dusty Bar & Grill, located at the Home Valley Station, is the place to go for a good feed, with meals complimented by a good selection of quality Australian wines, and entertainment at night.
2. Molly Springs and the Grotto Just 30 kilometres out of Kununurra, towards Wyndham, lies Molly Springs. You can bask in the spring-fed pool and waterfall and because it’s a bit of a locals’ secret, there aren’t many tourists around. Which is a good thing, as it is not very big. But what it lacks in size it makes up for in sheer beauty. The wildlife agrees, with a variety of birds, goannas and fish calling Molly Springs home. Please note, though, that it is a sacred place and should be treated with respect. Further towards Wyndham, and 70 kilometres from Kununurra, is the Grotto. The journey is via sealed road and the turnoff is signposted. It’s basically a deep rock pool, with an estimated depth of almost 92 metres, circled by cliffs. It has 140 man-made steps that take you to the waterhole. But because of shallow rock ledges, resist the urge to dive in. Kununurra exlocal Louise Lonergan was a frequent swimmer at the Grotto and says it is best just after a heavy rain as the large pool at the bottom can become stagnant in the dry season. “The climb down is not for the faint-hearted,” says Louise. “It’s a very dangerous descent but it’s thrilling as the view is breathtaking. It feels like you are walking back in time. The geology is incredible – many layers of rock that have been folded and faulted over millions of years. You swear a dinosaur could walk past – it sounds clichéd but it’s true – and there’s heaps of cabbage tree palms and spinifex grass.”
Home Valley Station offers fine dining and activities such as horseriding.
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spotlight
4. Kelly’s Knob This is the ideal spot for seeing Kununurra and its dramatic surroundings from up high. It’s possible to drive most of the way up to the lookout, which is 191 metres above sea level at its highest point, although the last part of the way up is a rocky path so you’ll have to walk up steps. Take in views of Kununurra’s town, farmlands, dam, airport and the nearby ranges and lakes. Make sure you bring your camera to capture a classic Australian sunset shot. While you’re at it, take along a picnic and a bottle of something appropriate and make a toast to the town below.
Lake Argyle is full of fish and some 30,000 freshwater crocodiles. 5. Lake Argyle
Image: Tourism WA
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Lake Argyle is located in Western Australia’s far north, but Kununurra is its closest main town and an easy way to get here is via sealed road from Kununurra. A freshwater lake that was created by the damming of the Ord River, Lake Argyle is full of fish and some 30,000 freshwater crocodiles. Keen anglers may find Barramundi, Southern Saratoga, Archer Fish, Forktail Catfish, Mouth Almighty, Long Tom, Bony Bream or a Sleepy Cod at the end of their line. The lake is Australia’s largest expanse of fresh water and can grow from 900 square kilometres to 2000 square kilometres when it’s in flood. BirdLife International has identified Lake Argyle and its surrounding mudflats and grasslands as an Important Bird Area. The area supports about 150,000 waterbirds, including Magpie Geese, the wonderfully named Wandering Whistling-Ducks, Green PygmyGeese, and Sharp-tailed Sandpipers. Birds and fish aside, the Lake Argyle region is full of minerals. There are deposits of uranium, gold and copper and it has the richest deposit of diamonds in the world by volume – including the rare and expensive pink diamond, which can sell for more than $1 million per carat. The area is also unique due to the presence of the aptly named Zebra Rock. It’s estimated that these rock formations are about 600 million years old and they are found in small reef outcrops of stratified claystone or shale in the Ranford Formation. Scientists still don’t understand how the distinctive patterns formed in the stone but they make a lovely design all the same, and are used to make jewellery and artworks.
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airnorthcommunity
A powerful connection THE ASSOCIATION of Northern, Kimberley and Arnhem Aboriginal Artists (ANKAAA) represents about 5000 artists from 49 art and craft centres located in the Tiwi Islands and the Darwin/Katherine, Kimberley and Arnhem Land regions of Northern Australia. The work it does to support these artists is vital for keeping Indigenous culture strong and making it accessible to people here and overseas. ANKAAA does this with a mix of consultation, lobbying, training, networking and marketing. The association also holds workshops such as Harvesting Traditional Knowledge and runs programs such as the Arts Worker Extension Program, which provides
two exceptional artists from each of the four ANKAAA regions with training, mentoring, field trips and short-term interstate industry placements. ANKAAA’s CEO, Christina Davidson, speaks with OUTthere’s Simone Henderson-Smart about the power of art. What impact does an art centre have on an Indigenous community? ANKAAA is a peak body and support agency for Aboriginalowned art centres. All art centres operate as independent entities – usually Aboriginal corporations or associations – and they fulfil hugely varied roles in under-serviced and
often very remote Indigenous communities. They are not only providing artists’ families with livelihoods through selling art, they also typically serve as regional museums, keeping places, art schools and sometimes community centres, youth centres, internet cafés and even banks or post offices! They are very productive places and there’s no doubt that art has a tremendously positive impact on the wellbeing and sense of identity of communities and individuals. It’s salient that in many remote northern communities the art centre is also the only Indigenousowned business.
Above: Evangeline Cameron (Djilpin Arts, Beswick), participant of the 2013 ANKAAA Arts Worker Extension Program at the Art Gallery of NSW, Sydney.
“There’s no doubt that art has a tremendously positive impact on the wellbeing and sense of identity of communities and individuals.” 21
airnorthcommunity
How are you promoting Australian Indigenous artists overseas? ANKAAA has a range of marketing materials that are distributed regularly, including Arts Backbone magazine and the popular ethical buying guide Purchasing Australian Aboriginal Art: A Consumer Guide produced in four languages. Our mailing list covers international players and is always expanding. ANKAAA regularly facilitates opportunities for international exhibitions for art centres and has been a part of several international trade missions forging international industry links. ANKAAA’s chairman has travelled to China, Singapore, Russia and the United States over the past few years for exhibitions and to promote Northern Australian Indigenous art. At the end of 2014, ANKAAA will launch a documentary about the
This image: Marcus Pascoe at the Centre for Cultural Materials Conservation, University of Melbourne. Below right: 2013 ANKAAA Arts Worker Extension Program participants with John Saunders (ANKAAA) and Dion Teasdale (AWEP Project Support Officer) at the National Gallery of Victoria.
Harvesting Traditional Knowledge project, which will be screened overseas and at Australian cultural institutions. The film, produced by Yirrkala’s Mulka Project, introduces audiences to the fascinating depth of the link to country in northern Indigenous art, which is produced from ochres, plants, trees and native animal products from the region. It is informed by the fabric of ancient inherited patterns, designs and knowledge of Indigenous Australia’s integral relationship to country. What prompted the Harvesting Traditional Knowledge workshops? Listening to the ANKAAA members discussing the need to create more two-way learning opportunities where the voices of Indigenous artists and cultural leaders could be heard and their knowledge shared and complemented by the non-Indigenous knowledge and skills of cultural professionals such as museum conservators. 22
How successful have the workshops been? Hugely successful. Each time we’ve had more arts professionals wanting to attend than we can accommodate. Accommodation at the remote art centres, where the workshops are hosted, is often sparse, and logistics such as catering are hard to arrange. We’ve also been trying to keep the workshops small to allow for relationship building. Conservators have loved the workshops because they rarely, if ever, get the opportunity to go out on country and learn under the guidance of Indigenous elders about the traditional knowledge, the stories and the context of the objects they are conserving. The artists have found the workshops stimulating because sharing with the conservators and curators gives them an overview of what happens to their artworks when they leave the community, and how their historical collections are cared for in museums and
airnorthcommunity
Yinimala Gumana, Chair of Buku Larrnggay Mulka, Yirrkala, sharing traditional knowledge with conservation professionals.
galleries across Australia. The artists also like sharing knowledge about their objects in context, at home on Aboriginal land. It’s important that the workshops put Indigenous artists and elders at the centre of discussions about their communities’ objects, rather than to the side. For you, what’s the most rewarding thing about being involved with ANKAAA? It’s an extraordinary opportunity to work with some amazing people, including Indigenous leaders who have invaluable knowledge of this country and its ancient heritage – knowledge that most Australians don’t currently have the opportunity to encounter and
often don’t know exists. So it’s really wonderful to be a part of supporting traditional knowledgeholders to share their knowledge more widely. Most importantly, it’s a job where there’s a chance to contribute to something important, where you’re always learning and working with the ANKAAA board and members to support them in determining how Aboriginal art and culture can be strong and flourish in a rapidly changing, contemporary world.
“ANKAAA board members are very clear when they say words to the effect that art is not just something that looks good.”
Tell us about the idea that the land and the sea can’t talk, so artists have to speak for them. The statement was made by ANKAAA’s chairman, Djambawa
DJ Marieka , artist and arts worker, preparing bark during the first Harvesting Traditional Knowledge workshop at Buku Larrnggay Mulka.
Marawili AM, who is an acclaimed artist and cultural leader from the Madarrpa clan of north-eastern Arnhem Land. It’s also a more general vision of the role of art that is widely held by the other board members. It’s a simple statement but one of great spiritual depth, encompassing the metaphysics of traditional culture’s embedded relationship to country and people’s deep responsibility to care for it. It’s also a political statement. ANKAAA board members are very clear when they say words to the effect that art is not just something that looks good – it’s much more than that. Djambawa was a principal claimant in the Blue Mud Bay legal case, which resulted in the landmark native title victory for sea rights across Northern Australia. Djambawa made this statement in relation to the ‘Saltwater Bark Paintings of Sea Country’, which played a seminal role as evidence in the sea rights victory in the Australian High Court in 2008. This unique collection of 23
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“New media and new communication possibilities seem to be able to be quite seamlessly embraced.”
Top: (L-R) Marcus Pascoe (Maningrida Arts), Cara Pinchbeck, Curator of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Programs, AGNSW, and Barayuwa Munungur at the Art Gallery of NSW. Above: Marcus Pascoe at the Australian Centre for Indigenous Knowledges and Education, Charles Darwin University, Darwin. 24
bark paintings documents the spiritual and legal basis of the Yolngu people’s ownership of land in north-eastern Arnhem Land. The collection is an example of how art is used as a tool for claiming Aboriginal land and sea rights because it so concretely demonstrates specific knowledge that ties people to country. In this and comparable cases, such as the great Ngurrara Canvas from the Kimberley region, anthropologists and archaeologists work together with artists to prove how the specific and exacting traditional knowledge in artworks is linking people to particular tracts of country. What changes have you seen in Indigenous art since becoming involved with ANKAAA? On the one hand, much northern Indigenous art is like Western art before the modern era in that its primary subject matter is, in essence, religious. It’s about stories of how human beings came to be and how they fit into the cosmos. On the other hand, the art is staunchly contemporary and of this postmodern world. For example, the contemporary formats of video, photography and digital communication are enthusiastically and creatively embraced by all different age groups in remote communities – especially, but not
exclusively, by the young. This coming together is perhaps a little like the way Christianity can often sit surprisingly comfortably next to traditional cultural beliefs in the lives of individuals. New media and new communication possibilities seem to be able to be quite seamlessly embraced and put to work with a subject matter that is, in itself, in many ways unchanging. Then there’s the current burgeoning of printing on fabric and collaborations with fashion designers. This tradition of fabric printing goes right back to at least the 1960s as an active and continuing practice, but has extended noticeably over recent years. And not to forget ‘the women with clever hands’. The growth and continuing innovation in weaving and basket-making is phenomenal. Regina Wilson from Peppimenarti in the Northern Territory is an exceptional example. Regina is an elder working with other elders to sustain and revive ancient knotting techniques, such as those formerly used in fish traps. She makes magnificent baskets, as well as fabrics and paintings, and collaborates with Sydney design company Koskela in producing high-level products for national and international clients. For more information visit ankaaa.org.au
Mixing ochre paint at a Harvesting Traditional Knowledge workshop.
Exhibition
In the Saddle, On the Wall 6 – 29 August 2014. The University of Notre Dame, Broome Please join us for this exciting exhibition exploring cattle station history and aboriginal art in the Kimberley.
Exhibition details:
Featuring the life stories of 13 acclaimed artists including Freddie Timms, Mabel Juli, Alan Griffiths, Mervyn Street and Gordon Barunga. The exhibition combines short biographic films with new art works depicting station life. The films were produced as a collaboration between ABC OPEN and Kimberley Art Centres.
The exhibition space is open: Monday to Friday 8.30am – 4.00pm Saturday 9 August 1.00pm – 5.00pm Sunday 10 August Noon – 3.00pm
The University of Notre Dame Broome campus, 88 Guy St, Broome
www.kimberleyaboriginalart.com.au
Image credit: David Thompson
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A muster in full swing at the West Leichhardt working cattle station.
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ROUND ’EM UP, MOVE ’EM OUT Susan Fairbairn-Kirk experiences life on a working cattle station near Mount Isa. THE HISTORIC and mineral-rich town of Mount Isa, in outback Queensland, is the place to be in August. Every year, since 1959, a bunch of cowboys and cowgirls have clung to the backs of wild bulls and horses, wrestled with ornery steers and proven their prowess with ropes and whips in an attempt to win a place at the largest rodeo in the Southern Hemisphere, the Mount Isa Mines Rotary Rodeo. The atmosphere is electric and since participants are competing for a prize pool of $200,000, there’s a definite sense of determination in the air. More than 25,000 visitors are expected at this year’s rodeo, which is in full swing from August 8–10. As well as the rodeo events, there’s live entertainment, a Mardi Gras Parade, a Bush Poets Breakfast and more planned to create one massive country-style party. But our adventure takes us out of town, about 35 kilometres east of Mount Isa. At the sign that says Lake Julius, we turn left off the highway onto a red dirt and gravel road. The barren landscape is dotted with palatial red pyramids (the homes of termites), tufts of spinifex grass and other flora, whose value is appreciated by Indigenous Australians and the thousands of cattle that live here. We drive for 12 kilometres, our journey slowed by bumpy corrugations and our vision blurred by smears of kamikaze locusts on the windscreen, until we reach the sign announcing West Leichhardt Station.
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Images on this page and next by Susan Fairbairn-Kirk
Within a few hundred metres we’re in front of a homestead – an oasis surrounded by large mango and ficus trees. A burly bloke, whose blue shirt says ‘David’, greets us. He’s among the handful of volunteer nomads who work at the station and keep it viable. He directs us to an unpowered camp site next to a large, dry hole in the ground, under the cooling arms of a large ficus and on top of green, green grass. Spread out over 121,405 hectares, West Leichhardt is a working cattle station owned and operated by secondgeneration cattle farmer Ron Croft and his wife, Joan. Ron says, “My dad, Bill, left home and went bush at nine years of age to become a drover. He had a dream of having his own property.” Years later, after he was married and after Mount Isa Mines was established, Bill and his wife, Rose, drove a dozen cattle by horseback through the ranges from Cloncurry to their new home just west of Mount Isa. With 11 cows and a bull, they started a small dairy and began selling fresh milk to the local mining communities – a difficult business at a time without refrigeration. When the cattle numbers increased they moved to West Leichhardt Station. By the late ’70s, the number of cattle had increased to between 8000 and 10,000 breeders. Ron points out the original, modest house where he and his sister and brother grew up. He learnt the ropes from his father and eventually took over. Until last year Ron mustered on horseback, but, he says, it’s impractical now, so the mustering is done by bike and chopper. Before we say goodnight we arrange to follow David on the first of the musterings that take place in the dry season from March to November. The choppers will start out at daybreak and begin herding the cattle to the drafting yards 30 kilometres away. We make our way back to our camp site, looking up at the most amazing night sky I’ve ever seen. Every constellation is visible – at least the ones I know. There’s nothing more spectacular, or humbling, than an outback night sky. I set the alarm for 6am, not for an early start to mustering, but to experience the property during the ‘golden hours’. My eyes close to the sounds of nothing,
The billy boils a fresh pot for tea by the fire. Below: David is a volunteer nomad who works at the cattle station.
Spread out over 121,405 hectares, West Leichhardt is a working cattle station owned and operated by second-generation cattle farmer Ron Croft and his wife, Joan. LAKE MOONDARRA FISHING CLASSIC Lake Moondarra was created in 1958 to deliver water to the Mount Isa region. Since 1987, volunteer community group Mount Isa Fish Stocking Group (MIFSG) has stocked the lake with a variety of fish, including sooty grunters and barramundi, for the annual fishing classic held on the last weekend in October. This year the event will be held from October 24–25. Highlights include a DIY dragon boat regatta, beach volleyball and, of course, the fishing classic with a new format of 20 prize categories. Try your hand at hooking the heaviest barra or sooty grunter for a trophy title, and enjoy a weekend of fun for the whole family. Camp sites are available at the lake and the event is fully catered. Go to lakemoondarrafishingclassic.com.au for information about activities, competitor nominations, camping and accommodation.
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interrupted only by the eerie howling of wild dogs. At daybreak we set off for a short walk to the drafting yards and rodeo arena. At a large, full dam we meet up with David and a photographer and keen birdwatcher, both hopeful of sighting a few of the 100 or so birds that are common to the area. It’s hard to imagine any life being sustained here, especially cattle that not only need to survive but also need to be in prime condition for market. The cattle eat many native perennial grasses that, to the untrained eye, look like tufts of dead grass, and with supplement feeding and some support from the rain gods, this year, at least, they are in good condition. As the sun’s intensity increases we head back to get ready for the muster. In a 4WD tag-along headed by David, we drive towards Razorback Mountain. We look out towards a series of rugged ridges and escarpments that could contain mineral deposits of copper and gold. The Mount Isa region is rich with copper, zinc, silver and lead, and although some prospecting on the property has taken place over the years, Ron hasn’t struck it rich. Yet. We arrive at the mustering yards to the sound of bleating and bellowing. We watch the chopper pilots undertake a series of well-choreographed moves to herd a mix of cattle – Brahman, Brangus and Droughtmaster x Brahman, all started with Shorthorn genetics last century – that will go to the meatworks, store markets or live export markets. After the last of the cattle are herded the pilots set down. The billy is boiling and meat is cooking on the camp fire. “You’ve only just rounded them up and you’re eating them already!” Ron laughs, adding, “That’s not beef, it’s pork.” I wonder what Ron will do when he’s no longer able to work. He is 72. Is it time to retire, FAST FACT perhaps? Ron says that’s not an option. Mount Isa Mines Rotary “Old farmers don’t retire, they just fade Rodeo attracts 25,000-plus away,” he says.
visitors with bull riding, saddle bronc riding, steer wrestling, barrel racing and breakaway roping events.
Round-up GET THERE
Airnorth flies to Mount Isa from Darwin and the Gold Coast every Thursday. 1800 627 474, airnorth.com.au
STAY
West Leichhardt Station Lake Julius Road, Mount Isa 07 4743 8947 Isa Hotel Cnr Rodeo Drive and West Street, Mount Isa redearth-hotel.com.au/mount-isa-hotels. html
EAT & DRINK
Buffs Club Cnr Grace and Simpson streets, Mount Isa buffs.com.au
EXPLORE
Riversleigh Fossil Centre 19 Marian Street, Mount Isa outbackatisa.com.au
MORE INFO
mountisa.qld.gov.au/about-isa
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Five
minutes with …
Ben Tudhope
Photo courtesy of APC/SportTheLibrary
At just 14 years old, snowboarder Ben Tudhope competed at Sochi and was Australia’s youngest winter Paralympian to finish in the top 10. Ben chats with Cortney Roark about his inspiration and the Cerebral Palsy Alliance’s Steptember campaign.
How did you get interested in snowboarding? I was introduced to the snow when I was three years old. I always wanted to snowboard because my sister and dad did. The ski school’s rule was you couldn’t have snowboarding lessons until you were eight. When I turned eight I switched to snowboarding and never looked back.
Who is your support system when competing? And your inspiration? My greatest support is definitely my family. They are always there and support me in every way. The Monster Skatepark guys at Sydney Olympic Park, especially Hagan, have really helped me improve my snowboarding technique through skateboarding. My inspirations are my coach, Peter Higgins, who has taken me to Paralympic level since meeting him in 2010, and my teammate, Matt Robinson. Since the day I met Matty, I could talk to him about anything. No matter how I felt, he always put a smile on my face. At the World Cup finals in Spain, Matty took a major spill, damaging his spinal cord. Very sadly, he passed away. Matty was an inspirational guy who touched the lives of many. He lived life to the fullest and made the world a better place.
What has been your favourite moment as a snowboarder? Wow, fave moments are starting to line up! Just being in Sochi, wearing the green and gold, hanging out with the international
athletes and competing in the very first Paralympic snowboarding event was surreal. Being chosen as the Australian flag-bearer in the closing ceremony at Fisht Stadium, Sochi, in front of 44,000 people was quite an unbelievable experience, too. Plus, I received a wonderful welcome home from my school, Shore. It’s fantastic to know I had my entire school behind me, cheering and supporting me. But my all-time favourite moment as a snowboarder has to be competing at the Paralympics. The whole race was unbelievable. I felt being at the top of the course was out of my league. The atmosphere was electric. Pulling out of the gates was thrilling. I was really nervous and just hoping I wouldn’t fall. I didn’t know what I was thinking – everything was going through my head at 1000 kilometres an hour!
over the years – and many other services and equipment that people with CP so desperately need. I think the campaign will raise awareness about CP. Steptember also encourages kids with CP, and all Aussies, to be more active and it’s lots of fun.
How did you become an ambassador for the Cerebral Palsy Alliance’s Steptember health and wellness campaign?
I’d like to encourage other kids with CP to look out for activities they enjoy. It doesn’t have to be sport. If you find an activity you’re interested in and you’re having fun, it’s easier to work hard and get better at it. Just give it a go, because it becomes rewarding and makes life a lot better. Life is meant to be lived, and I truly believe the only limitations are the ones we place on ourselves.
I’ve been a client at the Cerebral Palsy Alliance since I was one. I know they’re pretty proud of my achievements at Sochi, but I also know they’re proud of me because I lead a healthy life and I love being outdoors and keeping fit. I’m so glad to be chosen as an ambassador for the campaign working alongside Kerri Pottharst.
How does the campaign benefit kids with cerebral palsy (CP)? The Steptember campaign benefits kids with CP through much-needed and deserved funding. The money helps to provide things like physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy – the sort of help I’ve benefited from
What is the biggest challenge you face when snowboarding? My biggest challenge is my size, weight and strength. I’m still growing and I’m pretty small for my age. It’s tough when you’re racing against full-grown, older men. I have other little challenges I’ve adapted to, like pulling out of the start gates and generating speed, especially when the racecourse is flat. I like steeper courses.
Do you have any advice for other children with CP?
How does it feel to be a top-10 Paralympian at such a young age? Nine months ago I would never have thought I’d compete for Australia at the Paralympic games this year. It shows that your wildest dreams can come true with a little hard work and lots of fun. To find out more about Steptember, or to register a team, go to steptember.org.au 1
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ITALIAN FARE WITH FLAIR SYDNEY
Darling Harbour’s King Street Wharf is always abuzz with crowds of excited tourists, and locals who have discovered this little niche in Sydney that’s perfectly positioned on the harbour’s edge, right in the heart of the city. Casa Ristorante is one of the many gems along this strip, and recently it’s been graced with an impressive renovation. The funky fit-out by acclaimed interior design agency DS17 (designers of Alpha and China Republic, also in Sydney) includes a cheese room and a traditional wood-fired pizza oven that was flown in from Italy so Sicilian-born head pizza chef, Salvatore D’Avola, can create authentic Napoli-style pizzas. And what a treat they are, with crispy bases and compilations of simple, fresh, delicious ingredients that have lovers of true Italian pizza flocking to sample D’Avola’s specialty. All the Italian classics, such as pollo saltimbocca and pollo parmigiana, and an array of traditional pastas are dished up with flair, with the menu always sticking to the restaurant’s grounding philosophy: Eat well, drink well and be happy. lovecasa.com.au
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CITY CENTRAL SYDNEY
Positioned between the busy streets of downtown Sydney and Chinatown, the Metro Hotel Sydney Central offers a private, stylish space to unwind and take in the city sights. The Australianowned hotel provides personalised service for all travellers, aiming to make time away from home carefree. Metro Hotel has 220 guest rooms, is smoke-free and has a 24-hour staffed reception desk, high-speed internet access and a rooftop pool. Located on the corner of Pitt and Campbell streets, it offers easy access to public transport, is within walking distance to Darling Harbour, and is a stone’s throw from Chinatown. Sample the cuisine at Cockle Bay Wharf, visit Paddy’s Markets, or nip across the road to the Capitol Theatre. Because it’s so close, the Metro offers a Capitol Theatre Package including an extended check-out until noon the following day. Priced at $165, it includes one night’s accommodation in a superior queen room and a hot buffet breakfast for two. Valid until October 31, 2014, it’s just in time to see the internationally acclaimed production of Wicked. Show tickets must be purchased separately. metrohotels.com.au 3
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entertainment
Compiled by Cortney Roark
listen
read NATURAL REMEDIES:
AN A–Z OF CURES FOR HEALTH AND WELLBEING
HEARTFELT COUNTRY With three platinum and five gold albums, Adam Brand has claimed his spot on Australia’s country music scene. After more than 15 years in the industry, Brand releases his 10th album, My Side of the Street, on August 8. The album features the single ‘What Your Love Looks Like’, as well as 12 new tracks that Brand describes as “real and honest”. “Going into the studio, I literally threw out all the rules that I’ve sometimes been hemmed in by,” Brand says. “No thoughts of genres, of trying to please management, record companies, etc
… I just played and sang the songs how I felt them in my gut.” At the same time, he draws upon some old-school influences, such as Bruce Springsteen, Fleetwood Mac and the Rolling Stones, all of which he calls timeless. On My Side of the Street, Brand’s enduring signature style remains, coupled with his artistic growth. It’s a work he’s proud of. To his fans he says, “I feel this is the best album I’ve ever made, but that’s just me. You be the judge.” For more information on Adam Brand go to adambrand.com.au
watch AUSSIE RULES THE WORLD As the Australian Football League is under threat from other world
sports, AFL star Brett Kirk goes on a mission to save the game. This documentary film follows Kirk on his international journey to find footy fans all over the world. The Second Nature Films production is directed by Michael Stringer McIntyre and narrated by actor David Wenham. Aussie Rules the World is sure to bring out the footy fan in everyone. In selected cinemas from July 22. Also available on DVD ($24.95). aussierulestheworld.com
download EVERNOTE FOOD App Store & Google Play, free This is the place to store all of those food pics, family recipes and noteworthy restaurants you want to try – when you get the time.
TEMPLE RUN: OZ App Store $2.49; Google Play $1.99 Temple Run is a game you can’t put down. Temple Run: Oz is even better. It has better graphics, new features and environments.
CARROT TO-DO App Store $2.99 We all make to-do lists. Often, we only make them to feel productive. This app makes your to-do list a game. It’s great motivation to get things finished.
Mim Beim, Rockpool Publishing, $29.99 Mim Beim, one of Australia’s most respected naturopaths, outlines the natural remedies that can help ease 200 ailments, ranging from colds to chronic conditions. She also offers advice for losing weight, boosting immunity, increasing energy levels and managing stress.
staff pick
ON THE ROAD … WITH KIDS
John Ahern, Pan Macmillan, $29.99 From the North Pole to Africa’s highest peaks, go on a journey to 30 countries with John Ahern and his family. Throwing in his high-flying job for a year-long trip in a battered campervan, Ahern creates a life less ordinary for his family and evolves into a connected partner and father.
BIG LITTLE LIES
Liane Moriarty, Pan Macmillan, $32.99 The New York Times bestselling author gives her unique take on parenting and schoolyard politics in her latest novel. When a parent is murdered on Pirriwee Public’s annual trivia night, the parents discover it’s the little lies that are potentially the most lethal.
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Mister NICE
Hugh Jackman, aka the Mayor of Hollywood, speaks with Ben Smithurst about near-death experiences and the pain of being perfect.
since he began bouncing between action films and musical theatre – musical theatre! – a dozen years ago, 2014 saw Tinseltown hit Peak Swoon. “I’m the most hetero guy I know and even I wanted to jump Hugh Jackman’s bones,” said fellow actor Brendan Fraser. “He’s just – I mean, we call him the Mayor of Hollywood – he’s just all-round amazing,” gushed Scarlett Johansson. “Hugh’s a great actor. He’s a great entertainer. He could do anything. He could do Broadway. He could do musical theatre. He could do movies – and probably a few other mediums we haven’t invented yet,” said Stephen Spielberg. This about a guy who plays Wolverine, a Marvel comic book mutant who is practically immortal but whose powers are really a bit naff. In a universe of beings who control gravity, living gods, interdimensional aliens and villains who consume entire planets, Wolverine has … cool claws? The boy from Oz’s most impressive achievement might not be amiability, but making a hairy berserker actually interesting. Still, the world’s nicest thespian bristles when I suggest that, against enemies with proper superpowers, Wolvie’s a bit … crap. “Oh, I don’t know about that. Unless you chop his head off, he’s going to come back at
“I mean, we call him the Mayor of Hollywood – he’s just all-round amazing,” gushed Scarlett Johansson.
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Images courtesy of Interview Hub. interviewhub.co.uk
N
ot since Mel Gibson’s heyday in the ’80s has Hollywood fallen so hard for an Australian dreamboat. Enter Hugh Jackman. When Mel’s career went down in flames – perfectly stormed by a Bermuda Triangle of booze, nut-case anti-Semitism and the phrase “sugar tits” – it wasn’t an enormous surprise. Even in his pomp, Mel had always seemed a bit of a dinosaur. Hugh, however, has rarely seemed less than perfect. Just ask Hollywood. Anyone in Hollywood. Robert Downey Jr, Michael Caine and Guillermo del Toro marvel at his acting chops. When Jennifer Lawrence stumbled up the Academy Awards steps to collect her gong, Hugh was the only star to leap, unthinking, to her assistance. Golden Globes host Amy Poehler, who might have been intimidated by Hugh’s brilliance at hosting the Oscars or the Tonys, instead drew strength from his proximity. “He was in the front row and just proud,” she gushed. “Between commercial breaks he’d be like, ‘You’re doing great.’ He’s a mensch, that guy.” Hollywood has Hugh fever. There’s currently no known cure. Indeed, while the devoted husband, father and World’s Nicest Bloke has been admired
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Explore the King Valley, one glass at a time BROWN BROTHERS CHRISMONT DA L Z OT TO L A CANTINA PIZZINI POLITINI REDBANK S A M M I R A N DA P ro s e c c o : fun & fizzy Italian s p a rk l i ng w i n e
The King Valley meanders through the cool foothills of the Great Dividing Range, a picturesque backdrop for touring and exploring the region’s cellar doors.
WINE HEROES
S a n g i ove s e : th e e ss e n c e o f Ki ng Va l l e y re d w i n e
The region is Australia’s home for Italian varieties, an inspired combination of altitude, soil and climate and the passion of the winemaking families. Participate in wine and food festivals, on Queen’s Birthday weekend and third weekend in November each year. Discover, sip and experience the King Valley for yourself, one glass at a time.
La Dolce Vita Wine & Food Festival, celebrate the sweet life Join the winemaking families of the King Valley on 15 & 16 November 2014 for La Dolce Vita wine and food festival. Sample new release wines including Italian varietals the region is renowned for. Enjoy authentic food prepared by local chefs and fabulous Nonna’s, and enjoy entertainment and activities, served up with warm welcoming King Valley hospitality.
w i n e s o f t h e k i n g v a l l ey. c o m . a u
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It’s true: Wolverine is gruff and grumpy. The nicest man alive is clearly not a method actor.
you, isn’t he!” Hugh says. “He has incredible healing powers. But that vulnerability you hint at is part of what makes him; that’s the beauty of the character. He is flawed even though he is strong and powerful. “Actually, in the latest film [X-Men: Days of Future Past] there are fewer mutants for him to fight, fewer teams for him to face. It’s more about characters and relationships. It’s an interesting change – I think it’s different from what you’ve seen in the past. I still reckon you wouldn’t want to mess with him, though. He’s still that antihero you don’t want to piss off.” It’s true: Wolverine is really quite gruff and grumpy. The nicest man alive is clearly not a method actor. X-Men director Bryan Singer tells the story of trying to bring out Hugh’s feral side – and failing. “He’s the most loving guy,” Bryan told the LA Times. “I sent some ridiculous note: ‘I need anger, that rage, that Russell Crowe side, get into a fight with your wife or something.’ The next day he came up to me and said, ‘Bry, I thought about what you said, but if I ever got into a fight with Deborra, I’d show up for work in tears.’” In fact, so devoted is Hugh to Deborra-Lee Furness, who he met on the set of Australian TV prison drama Correlli in 1995, that he kept a Wolverine filming incident, in which he almost died, to himself. “During the bullet train sequence – which I think is definitely the best part of the movie from an action point of view – I had a pretty scary moment,” he recalls. “It could have been a lot worse, believe me. “The idea was to flip outside the moving train to where there was a scene [where I’d be] clinging to the outside. As I attempted the move, my neck got stuck on the exit without telling my body, which then swivelled around and – bang! – everything stopped and I was completely dazed. “To be honest, the severity of the situation only dawned on me later, particularly when crew were coming up to me with concerned faces. I think I could have suffered serious neck injury on that one, but I’ve always been of the mind that if you emerge from something, then you’ve emerged, and that’s that. “My wife was asking why I was home so early, because I got sent home at about three that afternoon. I just had to play it down. There are a few things you don’t tell your wife about, and one of those is when you have a serious 9
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accident while doing an action scene. Another one is when you’re doing a love scene with a beautiful actress!” Hugh is now 45. While he was in trim shape on the set of the first X-Men film a decade and a half ago, he’s now an absolute ball of muscle. Playing a character that’s hundreds of years old and doesn’t age has its challenges – of which Hugh is aware. “Well, I don’t think I’ll still be doing it in hundreds of years’ time, I think I can safely say that!” he says. “Although, it’s a slight misconception that Wolverine doesn’t age – he does, just much slower than everybody else because he heals so well. It’s like he’s some protein monster.
Playing a character that’s hundreds of years old and doesn’t age has its challenges – of which Hugh is aware. “But thanks! It’s actually a huge commitment on my part in terms of training regime and diet, so that’s a nice thing to say.” It seems that everything Hugh says is a nice thing to say. In the extremely unlikely event that any of his fellow actors turn on him, it will be his fellow Australians. Put simply, Our Hugh sets the bar so high that he’s impossible for other Hollywood antipodeans to compete with. But all are apparently proud to call him a mate. It must be especially galling for Eric Bana, the ‘Mark Wahlberg’ to Hugh’s ‘Matt Damon’. People mistake me for Eric “all the time”, Hugh laughs. “That’s the worst thing about being mates with him,” Hugh jokes. “Actually, I don’t get recognised as much as you’d think, but we’re good mates. And I’m better looking anyway. Ha!” Typical. “Hugh Jackman is the world’s nicest man,” says fellow Aussie actor David Wenham, “and I’m determined to find something wrong with him. That’s my job in life.”
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Behold Australia’s greatest, most rip-snorting adrenaline holidays. Because sometimes Champagne and sunset massages just don’t cut it. Speed Week Where: Lake Gairdner, South Australia When: 23–27 March, 2015 America’s Bonneville Salt Flats, in northwestern Utah, is the planet’s most famous site for world speed record attempts. But Australia’s flats are better, because our salt is better. “We’ve got 20 points of contact on a salt crystal
here,” says Ben Slaughter, whose father, Trevor, a former Air Force R&D genius, is making a tilt at the world wheeldriven record, and hoping to top 800 kilometres per hour. “They’ve only got eight points, because they’ve mined out all the potash.” Each March, barring any rain, the Australian Dry Lakes Racers Association runs Speed Week on Lake
Gairdner, 150 kilometres northwest of Port Augusta, and next year is its 25th anniversary. On pure white salt below a surreal blue sky, camping at the lake costs as little as $60, with an extra $25 covering entry for the whole event. And it’s not just for pros like Slaughter in his 11-metre Streamliner; legions of hotrodders, steampunk bikers and various characters – literally crusty old salts – assemble every year. Contact: dlra.org.au
Become a Top Gun Where: Port Macquarie, Lismore and Cessnock, NSW When: all year round You may never buzz anyone’s control tower or have Val Kilmer ride your tail, but there’s no reason you can’t Spotify
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Whether you think they’re mindless killing machines, awesome killing machines or very beautiful killing machines, sharks are definitely killing machines. Kenny Loggins and sing ‘Highway to the Danger Zone’ on your way to Jetfighter at Port Macquarie, Lismore or Cessnock. Operating since 1996, Jetfighter straps you into an aerobatic, ex-military Czech fighter jet called the Albatros L-39C. Capable of five Gs – at 900 kilometres per hour – fighter ride-alongs aren’t cheap, with set prices starting at $1200 for a 15-minute ‘introductory mission’ and topping out at $3600 for a 40-minute ‘dogfight’. But that’s still reasonable, compared to the personal price of the alternative – a lifetime’s training by the Air Force. Contact: jetfighter.com.au
machines, sharks are definitely killing machines. It’s an Australian birthright to have an opinion about sharks, whether or not you’ve ever met one, but Rodney Fox has. He likes them, even though he survived one of the world’s worst non-fatal maulings in 1963. Fox went on to invent the shark cage. An avid conservationist, the man himself runs year-round, twoto-five night research expeditions out of
Port Lincoln, where you can get up close and deeply personal with the creatures that Fox has an unshakable taste for, even though one decided it didn’t like the taste of him. It’s $2995 for a five-night, ocean floor cage diving experience. Or if you prefer a more distant approach, there’s a two-night ‘Great White Adventure’ where it costs $995 to be a play-it-safe spectator. Contact: rodneyfox.com.au
Great White Shark Diving Where: Port Lincoln, SA When: all year round, with the exception of March. Whether you think they’re mindless killing machines, awesome killing machines or very beautiful killing 15
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Canyoning in Kalbarri Where: Kalbarri, WA When: April–November Abseiling and canyoning are popular countrywide, especially in the Blue Mountains, where visitors flock on daytrips from Sydney – and, as a bonus, return loaded up on Devonshire tea. But northwest Western Australia feels like another world, and its 350-millionyear-old geology provides an unexpected paradise of green-smattered gorges slashed into its ancient, rust-coloured mantle. Abseiling and canyoning are available in a 12-kilometre hike, for $135 per person, with rest spots enlivened by floating on tyre tubes in deep, green pools in normally inaccessible gorges. Contact: abseilaustralia.com.au
Tropical trail bike tours Where: Cape York, Qld When: all year round “I came off three times on the second day, once before a river crossing and twice afterwards,” said James Proctor, of Australian Road Rider magazine, an “off-road virgin” before his trip up the Cape last year. “By the time we stopped for lunch I was covered in mud.” But how was he feeling? “On top of the world!” With Cairns being a mountain biking mecca, it’s no surprise that the Daintree and Cape Tribulation is one of Australia’s best trail riding destinations. Roy Kunda has been running ‘trips to the Tip’ since 1991, and everything from two- to eight-day riding tours is available ($979–$5545, including bike hire), with water crossing, secluded trails, secret swimming spots and private property access. It’s also eco-certified, so don’t run over any salties… Contact: capeyorkmotorcycles.com.au
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Back country skiing Where: Mount Feathertop, via The Razorback, Victoria When: 30–31 August Mock Australia’s alpine areas at your peril. The country may be dry, hot and flatter than a pressed pancake, but blogs like Huck & Dyno have recently exposed some of the country’s most terrifyingly Himalaya-like terrain – and there’s no reason why an experienced skier should head off overseas before finding their way off-piste. At Victoria’s Feathertop, the state’s second-highest peak, you can take a hairy 12-kilometre tour across the Razorback ridgeline to the summit, including overnight camping, for $600 per head with the boys at VicAlps Adventures. Any trip where you’re assured that avalanche safety equipment is included means business. Unsurprisingly, it’s for experienced skiers only. Contact: vicalps.com
Surf tours Where: NSW South Coast (ex-Sydney) When: all year round Australia is one of the world’s greatest countries for drive-yourself surf travelling, from the Gold Coast’s points to Victoria’s reefs and the slabs of the south and west. But if you’re learning – or simply want a guide and a brace of enthusiastic mates – a guided surf tour is a good start. Australian Surf Tours offers two-day, two-night weekend camps to Bendalong, near Ulladulla, three hours south of Sydney. There are six breaks in the area, catering to different wind and swell directions. Afterwards, sit around the campfire, talk about the 12-second, 10-foot tube you totally caught out the front and bash out ‘Wonderwall’ on a nylon-stringed guitar. Wetsuits and lessons included, $320. Contact: australiansurftours.com.au
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Afterwards, sit around the campfire, talk about the 12-second, 10-foot tube you totally caught out the front and bash out ‘Wonderwall’ on a nylon-stringed guitar.
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food&wine
La Dolce Vita in
KING VALLEY Susan Gough Henly celebrates with Victoria’s Italian winegrowers.
THE AFTERNOON sun glints on Prosecco glasses beside platters of Milawa cheeses and crusty bread. Ancient river red gums shade our picnic area set with hessian-covered hay bales, blankets and bright pillows as Hereford cows feast on clover in a nearby paddock. Our horses also enjoyed chomping on those sweet green grasses on the 20-minute packhorse ride – more 20
of a lazy amble, really – to our picnic spot along the King River. Fifth-generation cattle farmers Anne-Maree and Graham Forge are the last original settler family on the King River. Before we had set out, they’d demonstrated the fine art of packing horses, which were once used to take supplies into the High Country. “I am so proud to be working
the same piece of property as my forefathers,” says Anne-Maree. “And it’s great to be able to show visitors our packhorse skills, especially with this delicious cargo!” Our adventure is called Packing Prosecco, courtesy of Dal Zotto Wines, the Prosecco-making pioneer of the King Valley’s vibrant Italian winegrowing community. It embodies
Images this page: Ewen Bell
everything that is great about this beautiful valley in Victoria’s High Country south-east of Wangaratta. Family is king in the King Valley, whether it’s Aussie settlers such as the Forges, or Italian families such as the Pizzinis, Dal Zottos and Politinis, who settled here after World War II. The Italians first grew tobacco but, encouraged by one of Australia’s oldest
winegrowing families, the Brown Brothers in nearby Milawa, they became contract grapegrowers. In the past couple of decades the grapegrowers became winemakers and today they are passionate about Italian varietals – the likes of Sangiovese, Nebbiolo, Arneis, Barbera and, of course, Prosecco. “We really appreciate that people will drive off the highway to come and see
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food&wine
It’s worth the drive to experience the breathtaking view of King Valley from Power’s Lookout.
FAST FACT The total vineyard area of the King Valley is a generous 1800 hectares, which represents half of all the grape plantings in north-eastern Victoria.
us, so we like to spend time with them,” says Katrina Pizzini. She is the wife of CEO Alfred, mother of winemaker Joel, and chief of her own wildly popular A tavola! cooking school, which is located in a row of converted tobacco sheds at Pizzini’s atmospheric winery. “All the winemaking families here are still very much hands on. There is nothing fake or commercial about visiting cellar doors here,” adds this local policeman’s daughter, who married at 17 and learned a lot about cooking from her mother-in-law, Rosa Pizzini, who is still going strong at 90. “You don’t just marry an Italian, you marry the family!” she quips. Kids are always welcome, too. Pizzini has a large box of toys at the cellar door and a gigantic sandpit outside. They’re not just for the visitors, either. The Pizzini grandchildren are often hanging out at the winery because their parents are always there. From Forge’s Farm at Oxley, we drive south through prime cattle country along the pretty King River. Along the way, the tiny townships of Moyhu, Whitfield and Cheshunt still evoke the best of country Australia, not yet gussied up for hip urbanites. As the valley narrows, patchworks of vines dotted with old tobacco kilns carpet the undulating landscape while gum-treecovered mountains frame either side, offering spectacular waterfalls and great bushwalking. The views aren’t too shabby either – at least that’s what local bushranger and Ned Kelly mentor Harry Power thought – and it’s well worth the 20-minute drive to Power’s Lookout to see the panoramas for yourself. “The King Valley brings all that we love about Italy right to our doorstep in Australia,” says Jackie Parsons who, with her husband, Mick, runs Hedonistic Hiking, a gourmet walking company that operates tours throughout Italy and
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food&wine This image and below: A grazing platter of Italian morsels at Dal Zotto; the Politini family at their cellar door. the Victorian High Country. “Above all, it is the people. When we work alongside the Dal Zottos, it’s like having fun with family and friends.” That is what it feels like when we arrive for lunch at Dal Zotto Wines’ La Frasca trattoria. The doors of the airy restaurant are thrown wide open onto the terrace, where people are sitting at tables under market umbrellas or relaxing on beanbags under the red gums. Cows graze among the vines, Dorper sheep are in the nearby paddock, and kids play on the bocce pitch. We enjoy an extra-dry L’Immigrante Prosecco as we feast on platters of homemade salumi (Italian cured meats), ricotta tarts, garlicky white bean dip and grilled eggplant – and radicchio salad from Nonna Elena’s garden. “Prosecco has an extra-special place in our hearts,” says son Christian, “especially for my father, Otto, who was born and raised in Valdobbiadene in the Veneto region, which is the home of Italy’s favourite sparkling wine.” When Otto found out that an Italian in Adelaide had imported Prosecco vines, he got some cuttings and, in
We enjoy an extra-dry L’Immigrante Prosecco as we feast on homemade salumi, ricotta tarts and garlicky white bean dip. 2004, Dal Zotto Wines released the first Australian-made Prosecco. Now, it’s fast becoming one of Australia’s favourite sparkling wines. “The Dal Zottos have one overarching philosophy,” says Christian, “and that is your origins are just as important as your future.” This could also apply to Politini Wines further up the valley. Sicilianborn Sam and Josie Politini converted their tobacco farm to vineyards in the 1990s and their wine label features Sicily’s ancient heraldic emblem with the blazing Australian sun at its centre. Their son-in-law and winemaker Luis Simian tells us that, while Politini’s Cabernet Sauvignon is a key ingredient in Brown Brothers’ renowned Patricia wine, they are also passionate about the Sicilian varietals Nero d’Avola and Grecanico. Our mouths water when we hear about Nonna Josie’s popular cannoli- and salami-making classes.
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food&wine
Food is never far away from wine in the King Valley. And the best time to celebrate this is during La Dolce Vita spring festival, when the wineries offer new releases of Prosecco, Pinot Grigio, Sangiovese and Barbera. The wines are accompanied by all the nonnas’ specialties, such as handmade pasta and gnocchi, pizza, seafood and scrumptious Italian desserts. There’s music and kids’ activities, too. Indeed, from the cooking classes to the packhorse picnics, from the easydrinking wines to the warm embrace of family traditions, the King Valley does a fine job – all year long – of celebrating la dolce vita.
Above and below: a beautiful valley vista; perfect Italian woodfired pizza is matched with Italian-style wines at Dal Zotto.
Round-up GET THERE From Albury, head south-west on the Hume Freeway and take the off-ramp to Wangaratta. Continue through town and take the Wangaratta-Whitfield Road to King Valley.
STAY
Casa Luna is a charming country inn offering stylish self-contained suites overlooking rolling farmland, plus gourmet breakfasts and Italianinspired dinners with King Valley wines. casaluna.com.au A number of King Valley wineries, including Pizzini, Chrismont and Politini, offer B&B accommodation in self-contained cottages. pizzini.com.au chrismont.com.au politiniwines.com.au
EAT & DRINK
Mountain View Hotel is a terrific country hotel offering both inspired fine dining and an excellent gastropub menu. mvhotel.com.au Patricia’s Table at Brown Brothers is an atmospheric country restaurant showcasing regional produce that complements Brown Brothers wines. brownbrothers.com.au
EXPLORE
Forge’s Farm offers a host of horsey activities, from the delightful Packing Prosecco picnic to trail rides and the North East Heritage Cattle Drive in November. forgesfarm.com Hedonistic Hiking offers guided walks combined with King Valley food and wines. hedonistichiking.com.au
MORE INFO
victoriashighcountry.com.au 26
history&heritage
Michelle Hespe visits All Saints Winery on its 150th birthday and meets three siblings whose passion for wine and their home country is four generations strong.
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history&heritage
ON MAY 3, 2014, The Great Hall at All Saints Estate in the famed Rutherglen wine region of north-eastern Victoria was lit up with hundreds of candles reflected in a glistening sea of wineglasses, which were crowded onto large wooden tables draped in black cloth. The tables were dressed to the nines, each featuring sculptural native tree branches clipped from the surrounding property, displayed in rustic timber vase-like structures. Turn-of-the-century oak barrels filled with fortified wines lined the hall, which is housed within a magnificent castle built in 1864, and its high-ceiling grandeur adds to the room’s fairytale charm. The sound of glasses clinking, laughter and murmurs of delight became an intoxicating melody as people ate, drank and celebrated; history and modern times seamlessly merging. It’s not unusual for The Great Hall to play host to
lavish parties, as it’s a magical place for a wedding or a big event, but this night was special as it marked 150 years of winemaking. The celebration was hosted by the three siblings, Eliza, Angela and Nicholas Brown, who now own and run All Saints Estate, and another producer of fine wines just down the road, St Leonards Vineyard, also in Wahgunyah. The eldest of the three, Eliza, is the CEO of both operations, while her sister Angela is the marketing and communications manager and their brother Nicholas is the vineyard and winery manager. They’re a passionate, tight-knit family team and the siblings come from four generations of winemaking. If their father, Peter Brown, was around to see them, he would be incredibly proud. Sadly, he passed away in 2005.
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history&heritage
All Saints produces worldrenowned Muscat and Tokay, and on the night of the celebration, guests were treated to some of the family’s most beloved drops.
Peter was one of the original Brown Brothers, a company that has always held a firm place in Australia’s wine industry. The siblings focus on creating distinctive, handcrafted table wines and they are rightfully proud of the unusual varietals that All Saints and St Leonards produce, including Marsanne, Durif and a special Sangiovese Cabernet blend. “Marsanne is a beautiful variety to work with and a versatile wine with food,” says Nicholas. “Pierre is an ode to our dad (Peter) and is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot.” All Saints also produces world-renowned Muscat and Tokay (stored in The Great Hall’s barrels), and on the night of the celebration, guests were treated to some of the family’s most beloved drops, including Antique Label wines released for the occasion: 2010 Old Vine Shiraz and 2013 Grenache Shiraz Mourvèdre. Dessert was paired with the family’s signature fortified wine, the All Saints Estate Rutherglen Grand Muscat. “We create truthful wines that have
Top right, and above: Duck consommé with dumpling of locally foraged mushrooms and chestnut; Angela, Eliza and Nicholas speak to their guests about family, wine, their business and working together. 30
a real story and great flavours,” says Eliza. For the 150th birthday dinner, the three siblings sat on a stage before some of the enormous barrels while their head winemaker, Dan Crane, acted as MC, interviewing them for the audience so that all guests could learn more about the family and their wine. “We all enjoy the strong camaraderie between the three of us, and celebrating our successes together over a wine at the end of a big day,” Angela said. Crane also introduced wine industry legend James Halliday and wine historian David Dunstan. When Halliday spoke of the family’s dedication to producing fine wines, Nicholas joked that Halliday had once given one of their wines (a St Leonard’s Shiraz Viognier) a terrible review. To much laughter, he was presented with a bottle of it before he left the stage. Chinese celebrity chef Elizabeth Chong also took to the stage and spoke lovingly of her descendants, who worked on the All Saints vines back in the mid-1800s. “There is a sense of going back in time as soon as you drive down the elm tree driveway. It feels like a different world, another time, another place. There is this sense of ancient history, the feeling of stepping into the beauty of a time long gone,” Chong said. “My grandfather managed the vineyard workers at All Saints Estate, so I have this sense of being able to touch history.” The food and wine is a big drawcard for All Saints, and the property’s Terrace Restaurant has earned itself one chef’s hat, but the fascinating history of the Rutherglen region, and of All Saints Estate itself, makes it an incredibly interesting place to visit. Apparently, explorer Major Thomas Mitchell liked Rutherglen so much that his glowing report after travelling through the region in 1836 attracted many of the early settlers who came after him. Then along came John Foord and
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history&heritage
John Crisp in 1841, who annexed 35,000 acres of land that took in the towns of Rutherglen and Wahgunyah. Soon after, others took up large parcels of land and Foord went on to become a well-established pastoralist. By the 1850s he had built his own little empire with cattle, a river-crossing punt and a flour mill, and he had a prominent role in establishing a busy trading port. The town boomed and before long it had everything, from a bank and a brewery, to hotels and a police station. That boom was nothing, however, compared with the boom that occurred in 1851 when gold was discovered in what is now Rutherglen’s main street. Thousands poured into the town, literally overnight, to seek their fortunes. The Australian gold rush had begun. Many of those looking for gold came from China, and when the gold rush began to peter out, they had to find other work. This led to hordes of Chinese people taking up jobs on the land, many of them in vineyards that were being planted in the region. That’s when George Sutherland Smith and John Banks (the original Scottish owners of All Saints Estate who planted the first vines) stepped into the story. They built dormitories on the All Saints property, two of which still stand today – testimony to the hard work that the Chinese put into making some of the best wine in the region. Visitors can step into the Chinese dormitories and see them as they were back in the day: humble buildings with an open brick fireplace and basic bunk beds, and simple tin roofs that no doubt let in draughts and would have been bitterly cold in the Victorian winter. Just being on the property is like stepping into old world England, as the castle with its
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magnificent turrets and manicured gardens has not changed markedly since it was built. The design of it (specifically the battlement parapets and turrets) was inspired by The Castle of Mey in Caithness, Scotland. It was largely created from handmade bricks that were fired in the property’s own kiln. So, why build a British castle in Australia, you might ask? As it turns out, The Castle of Mey, which was most recently owned by the late Queen Mother, was where George Sutherland Smith’s father was a carpenter and joiner. Perhaps as a child he yearned for his own castle in a foreign land – so, like many others, he sailed abroad to chase his dreams? There’s no doubt that he would be proud to know that 150 years later, people still gather here to celebrate great food, fine wine and the bountiful land it comes from. allsaintswine.com.au, stleonardswine.com.au
Above: The original Chinese dormitories for vineyard workers at All Saints Estate. Below: The castle cellar door and entrance to The Great Hall at All Saints Estate.
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kitchenconfidential
SMOKE ON THE WATER Chef Damien Draper has taken the reins at Pony, on the Brisbane waterfront. He talks to Simone Henderson-Smart about his passion for protein. he Brisbane restaurant scene is flourishing, with new and exciting places opening on what seems like a weekly basis. It’s something that chef Damien Draper loves about the city, saying it helps to create a bigger and better food culture. At Damien’s restaurant Pony, the culture revolves around meat; gorgeous, tender slabs of it that have been slowly roasted over the open pit or charred on the wood fire grill that both take pride of place in the middle of the restaurant. Pony first rode into town in Sydney, settling into a dark and moody, exposed brick and timbered little home in the Rocks area down by the harbour. Brisbane’s Pony is also by the water, with views across the river from its perch on Eagle Street Pier. The main difference is the menu, with Brisbane expanding its meat dishes to include a succulent eight-hour slow roasted lamb shoulder among other things, and this suits Damien just fine. “Pony Dining is based strongly on the wood fire grill, with our menu being focused on the smoky element this
cooking method creates,” he says. “My personal style is uncomplicated, rustic and heavily based on proteins. I am particularly passionate about using braising meats in my menus.” For inspiration in creating the fabulous menu, which currently has a few Asian twists such as the swordfish steam buns with habanero aioli, cucumber and coriander, Damien refers to his extensive library. “I have a monstrous cookbook collection,” he says, “which has its own dedicated room in my house. I also read Gourmet Traveller every month, so I know what is on trend. I draw a lot of inspiration from these sources when I am putting a new menu together.” Pony has been a hit with locals and tourists alike. The new express lunch menu is keeping the city workers happily full, with offerings such as the soft shell crab burger with wasabi aioli, pickled radish and betel leaves. “When I see the customers in the restaurant with smiles on their faces, enjoying my menu, and hear their positive feedback, I know that I have done a great job.” ponydining.com.au
“My personal style is uncomplicated, rustic and heavily based on proteins.”
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kitchenconfidential
LAMB RUMP, RATATOUILLE, BABY SPINACH, CONFIT GARLIC PURÉE & OLIVE JUS Serves: 6 Ingredients: Confit garlic: • 400ml duck fat (or light olive oil) • 24 garlic cloves, peeled Ratatouille: • olive oil • 3 golden shallots, sliced • 3 garlic cloves, sliced • 100ml white wine • 800g whole peeled tomatoes • ½ cup basil leaves, wrapped in muslin • 1 green zucchini, diced into 1cm pieces • 1 medium eggplant, diced into 1cm pieces • 1 roasted red capsicum, peeled, seeded and diced into 1cm pieces • ¼ cup Italian parsley, cut into fine strips Olive jus: • 3 golden shallots, sliced • 3 garlic cloves, sliced • extra virgin olive oil • 100g black olives, pitted and halved • 100ml Madeira (sherry) • 5 black peppercorns • 5 sprigs thyme • 500ml veal glaze (veal glaze is a reduction of veal stock. If you have already prepared or bought veal stock, take 3 litres of the veal stock and boil it until it reduces and takes on the consistency of thick syrup.) Lamb rump: • 6 x 200g lamb rumps, trimmed, leaving a little fat • 200ml olive oil
Baby spinach: • 250g baby spinach, washed and stems removed • 50g butter Method: 1. Preheat oven to 230°C. Place an oven tray in oven until hot. 2. To confit the garlic: heat the duck fat in a saucepan to 120°C (or when it starts to smoke). Carefully add the garlic and cook for 10 minutes. Remove from the heat, drain, and blend in a food processor. Pass through a fine sieve, adjust seasoning with salt and pepper. 3. To make the ratatouille: heat some olive oil in a large heavy-based saucepan over low heat. Sweat the shallots and garlic, without colouring them, until softened. 4. Deglaze the pan with the white wine, bring to a simmer and allow the mixture to reduce for 2 minutes. 5. Add the tomatoes then bring back to a simmer and cook for 30 minutes, or until most of the liquid has evaporated. Remove from the heat. 6. Add the basil leaves wrapped in the muslin and set aside to cool. Once cool, remove and discard the basil. 7. Heat a little olive oil in a clean saucepan over medium heat. Sauté the zucchini and eggplant until just tender and coloured slightly. Remove from the heat and cool to room temperature. Set aside. 8. Begin on the olive jus: caramelise shallots and garlic in a heavy-based saucepan in a little extra virgin olive oil.
9. Rinse olives to remove the brine, then pat dry on kitchen paper. 10. Add olives to the pan and roast gently. 11. Deglaze pan with Madeira and reduce until nearly gone, and add remaining ingredients. 12. Simmer very gently to infuse jus with olives (around 20 minutes). 13. Taste to check seasoning and acidity levels, adding a touch of cab sav vinegar if the olives are a little overpowering. 14. Pass through a fine sieve, set aside. 15. To cook the lamb; heat a wide, heavybased frying pan over high heat. Brush lamb with olive oil and season with salt and black pepper. Seal lamb in pan until it is a good colour on all sides. 16. Place lamb onto the hot oven tray and roast for 10 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to rest for 5 minutes. 17. Meanwhile, heat the tomato base of the ratatouille in a saucepan over medium heat. Add the sautéed zucchini, eggplant and roasted red capsicum, stirring gently to heat through, then fold through the parsely leaves until just wilted. Season with sea salt and black pepper. 18. Heat confit garlic purée in small saucepan. 19. Heat a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add spinach, butter and salt and pepper, stirring often to wilt the spinach down evenly. The process should only take 30 seconds or so. Drain on paper towel. 20. Heat up the olive jus and carve lamb rump into six slices. 21. Refer to photo above for plating.
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agribusiness
GOOD MOVE
Farms are spread far and wide over Australia, so the transport links that connect producers with purchasers are vital lifelines. Mitch Brook reports. ustralia is a huge country, roughly the size of the United States, but has less than a tenth of the population, most of which is concentrated along the east coast. While many people prefer a seaside lifestyle, agriculture operates in the wide spaces of the continent’s interior. As farms are often located far from ports and marketplaces, the infrastructure links that connect the country are vital for the agriculture industries. On-farm tractors and utes can only be utilised so far, then producers must rely on road or rail to move their product to buyers. “Generally, we sell all our livestock on our properties, so we have an agreed price before our animals leave,” says Brent Finlay, president of the National
Farmers’ Federation (NFF). “They’re assessed and then sold either on-farm or on the internet.” Finlay, who is a meat and wool producer, with his farm based in SouthEast Queensland, says that once he’s made a sale and a delivery date is set, the product is shipped directly to the purchaser on trucks called B-doubles – semitrailers with an extra trailer added – with sheep on six decks, or cattle on double decks. The buyers of his livestock are usually abattoirs, and the product is the responsibility of the buyer after delivery. Ensuring the welfare of their animals is the greatest concern for livestock farmers, says Finlay. “There’s a strict amount of time they can be on the trucks, particularly the time they can be without water,” he says. “[The guidelines are] very
clear and the industry has been a part of developing those. We want our animals to get to the destination as fit and healthy as they possibly can be.” For grain, the process has an extra step between producer and purchaser: storage. Where livestock must be delivered quickly for animal welfare reasons, grain can be stored until it’s ready for purchase. Dr Michael Southan is general manager of grower interests at Grain Growers Ltd. Like livestock, grain is transported either by road or rail, also using B-double trucks. “Normally, it’s the farmer’s responsibility to get the grain from his farm to storage, or to the customer if they’re domestic, or to the nearest port for international customers,” he says. From ports, overseas buyers
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agribusiness
take the reins for transport. “The organisation of the logistics to get the grain off and delivered on time is one of grain producers’ greatest challenges,” says Southan. “You don’t want your truck to be caught in a queue waiting at the silo to deliver the grain, and stop harvesting back at the farm because the truck hasn’t been able to get back to get more grain away.” Farmers often prevent this possibility by introducing storage capacity on their own farms, allowing for a buffer. Storage allows farmers to continue to harvest without risking a build-up when there is nowhere to send their grain. Being quick and organised has other benefits, he says. “The faster you can get grain off and avoid delay, the less risk there is that you might have rain, which can slow you down or cause downgrading of the product.” While both Southan and Finlay say that rail has the potential to be the better transport for their commodities, they agree rail has become inefficient in recent times. Because road vehicles are easier to upgrade and investment in rail infrastructure is lagging, agricultural producers prefer road transport. “You can get a lot more grain on a train than you can get into a truck,” says Southan, “but we’ve had a movement
toward more truck transport because certain rail lines have become inefficient.” As worldwide demand for increasing amounts of food and fibre soars – particularly in the densely populated South-East Asian region – the requirement for livestock and grain will continue to grow well into the future. Southan and Finlay agree that in order for Australian farmers to increase the capacity of food produced, transport links will need to be continually improved. Over the past 10 years, various improvements have been made to road transport, with new combinations, including B-double trucks and road trains, allowing for more commodities to be carried. The improvements to trucks depend on the roads they’re travelling on, however. “The trucks and carrying capacity are getting bigger, but they get to a certain size and can become unwieldy,” says Finlay. “You’ve also got to have the roads to match these vehicles.” “Whichever way it goes, money will need to be spent on infrastructure,” says Southan. “That’s either on better roads that can handle the bigger trucks, or on improving and upgrading the rail lines so that the trains can run faster and at a higher capacity. It’s a complex issue at the moment and there’s definitely a need for investment in road and rail in Australia.”
FAST FACT In the May 2014 budget, the Abbott government stated it would reintroduce indexation of fuel excise to “create a more stable source of Commonwealth road funding over the longer term”.
As worldwide demand for increasing amounts of food and fibre soars – particularly in the densely populated South-East Asian region – the requirement for livestock and grain will continue to grow well into the future.
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insidemining Issue 14 – August 2014
27
THE FUTURE
OF HAULAGE Automation is the buzzword in haulage, logistics and transport
FOREFRONT Can mining and agriculture coexist? 8
INDUSTRY FOCUS An inside look at fuels, tyres and lubricants 15
MINING REVIEW The state of mining in Queensland 20
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Compiled by Cortney Roark
KEECH 3D PRINT TECHNOLOGY TO INCREASE PRODUCTION
FROM WASTEWATER TO FRESH RAINWATER
Mining wastewater was given a good clean up when new technology that treats and reduces up to 90 per cent of sludge was used for the first time at a mine in Queensland. Called the Virtual Curtain, this cost-effective technology removed metal contaminants from the mine’s wastewater, resulting in enough clean water to fill about 20 Olympic-size swimming pools. Sludge reduction has many benefits, says CSIRO scientist Dr Grant Douglas: “Our treatment produced only a fraction of the sludge that a conventional limebased method would have, and allowed the mine water to be treated in a more environmentally sound way. Reducing the amount of sludge is beneficial because the costly and timely steps involved to move and dispose it can be reduced.” Australia’s mining industry generates hundreds of millions of tonnes of wastewater annually, so the Virtual Curtain could encourage companies to be more sustainable. Douglas believes that it can increase a miner’s overall recovery rate and partially offset treatment costs by producing a material high in metal value. The technology was developed after Douglas and his team discovered that hydrotalcites – minerals found in some stomach antacids – could be formed by adjusting the concentrations of wastewater contaminants aluminium and magnesium to an ideal ratio and increasing the pH. Virtual Curtain can be applied to a range of industrial applications and is available through Virtual Curtain Limited.
The rail, mining and manufacturing industries are set to benefit from Keech introducing the first commercially available large-format 3D printer to the Bendigo region. The technology will allow Keech to improve manufacturing response time dramatically, compared with traditional manufacturing. Clients will be able to ask Keech to make a Computer Aided Design (CAD) drawing, make necessary changes, create a 3D prototype and put the item into production in less than a week – five weeks faster than before. Almost $1 million has been invested in the technology, including a grant of about $140,000 awarded by the Victorian Government. Keech brings in $50 million in annual revenue and invests approximately seven per cent in research and development.
NSW MINERAL SANDS MINE TO CREATE NEW JOBS Hundreds of jobs will be created when a new mineral sands mine in the Balranald Shire, New South Wales, is approved. The $200-million project will require 300 workers for construction of the mine and 200 workers to operate the mine thereafter. Construction of a rail load-out facility at Ivanhoe will also be needed. The facility will support the off-loading of materials from Cristal Mining’s processing centres at Broken Hill. Affected roads will receive ongoing maintenance to ensure they can support traffic changes. The mine is estimated to supply 109 million tones of mineral sands ore. The extraction of 7.2 million tonnes per year, over 20 years, will deliver $95 million in 5
9:19 AM
news+views
royalties for New South Wales. Precautions for environmental disturbances will be taken: a threatened species management protocol will be applied to the area, and there will also be native vegetation management of 16,540 hectares in nearby Mungo National Park and Mungo State Conservation Area.
‘ROCK’ CREATED FROM PLASTIC Scientists have identified a new type of ‘rock’ that will stay in the earth’s strata forever. Named plastiglomerate,
it is made of plastic rubbish and other detritus. The rock is formed from melted plastic that collects anything it touches on the beach – such as coral, shells and twigs – and then hardens. There are two types of plastiglomerates, as classified by scientists conducting research in Hawaii. ‘In situ’ plastiglomerate is created by plastic melting into existing rocky outcrops, while the more common ‘clastic’ plastiglomerate forms as a loose structure. Oceanographer Captain Charles
COAL SEAM GAS MINING BAN DEFEATED
A motion calling for a ban on coal seam gas (CSG) mining has been defeated at the National Assembly of Local Government, falling short by seven votes out of a total 300 councils present. The motion by Griffith City Council called for the Federal Government to intervene to ban all CSG activities on agricultural land, in the hope of protecting the national interest and Australia’s ability to continue to produce clean, safe food. Phil Laird, Lock the Gate national coordinator, reported that the motion was a corollary of more than 53 individual councils and two council representatives already passing motions that aim to restrict the spread of invasive, unconventional gas mining. Laird says he is thankful for the support the motion received but sees issues with the final decision made. “It’s incredibly disappointing that just as large numbers of local councils are calling for increased federal regulation of CSG drilling, the Federal Government is moving in the opposite direction, voting in the lower house last week to hand the CSG water trigger back to state governments and gut federal biodiversity controls.”
Moore discovered plastiglomerate and believed molten lava melted the plastic to create it. It is thought that plastiglomerate will endure and provide future generations with insights into our lifestyle today.
QUEENSLAND AIMS TO BECOME THE LEAD EXPLORATION STATE Queensland hopes to position itself as Australia’s leading exploration state, according to a report released by the Ministerial Advisory Committee on Exploration (MACE). Looking past falling levels of investment in the exploration industry worldwide, Natural Resources and Mines Minister Andrew Cripps, who formed MACE, said the Newman government was working with the resources sector to grow resources as a pillar of the Queensland economy. “The Newman government has a strong plan for a brighter future and we’re committed to ensuring Queenslanders enjoy the benefits of the resources sector for generations to come,” Cripps said. The resources sector employs tens of thousands of people and provides livelihoods for families now and into the future, Cripps said. “That’s why we’re working with the sector to position Queensland as the best-performing exploration jurisdiction in Australia and to identify how we can improve the way we do business to make that happen,” he added. “We are committed … to developing a 30-year vision and action plan to grow a robust resources sector that will continue to deliver significant economic benefits for Queensland communities.” Cripps went on to say that the Queensland Government is investing in a strong and prosperous future for the mining sector by showing support for the exploration sector. “It is not only vital that the regulatory system be world class, but that the Queensland Government heed the advice of MACE and remove the financial and administrative barriers to exploring in Queensland,” he said.
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forefront
Can mining and agriculture coexist? MINING AND AGRICULTURE ARE BOTH ESSENTIAL INDUSTRIES. ONE PROVIDES FUEL, ENERGY AND MATERIAL FOR CONSTRUCTION; THE OTHER, FOOD AND FIBRE. BUT WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE TWO COMPETE FOR LAND? WORDS: MANDY McKEESICK
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forefront
Image by Paolo Lim at The Illustration Room
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forefront
O
ver many years, Peter Andrews has developed and refined Natural Sequence Farming, a landscape management technique designed to improve agricultural land. It has gained the attention of prominent Australians, such as retail giant Gerry Harvey and board member of Soils for Life Michael Jeffrey, and spawned books, workshops and television appearances. So when Andrews’ home property, Tarwyn Park, was sold to mining interests in May 2014, the old question of whether mining and agriculture can coexist was once again thrust into the spotlight. Tarwyn Park is but one example of the time, innovation and funds that farmers traditionally put into their land in an effort to not only produce food and fibre but also maintain and improve the environment around them. The process takes years of effective management and becomes a source
of pride yet, due to the often slim economic margins in farming, the results of this process tend to be susceptible to financial pressures. The food bowls of Australia’s eastern seaboard are currently a hotspot of conflict between miners and farmers, with court proceedings and protests well reported in the media. Vast resources of coal and gas underlie places such as the Liverpool Plains in New South Wales and the Darling Downs in Queensland – places also rich in agriculture, from livestock to intensive market gardens. Phil Laird is national coordinator for the Lock the Gate Alliance, which was formed in these food bowls as a response to community concern over the rapid expansion of coal and gas development. According to their website, the Lock the Gate Alliance “is a national grass roots organisation made up of thousands of individuals and more than 160 local groups who are concerned about inappropriate mining”.
Vast resources of coal and gas underlie places also rich in agriculture, from livestock to intensive market gardens.
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forefront
“We are not against all mining,” says Laird. “Just mining that goes against long-term national interests, such as water quality, environment, health etc.” Laird owns a cattle property in the Maules Creek district of New South Wales, where sheep are raised alongside wheat, canola and cotton crops. Whitehaven Coal already has two mines in the area, and the proposal to develop another, larger mine is causing concern. “Our biggest worry is the mine, which will extend to a depth of 300 metres, will empty our aquifers,” says Laird. “Research suggests we will see a five- to 10-metre drawdown of the freshwater table, and underneath is the saline water of the coal seams. The mine will centre on Leard State Forest, which is home to 34 threatened and endangered species, and will impact surrounding grazing and cropping land. “This strategy of locking the gate is all about people power – putting power and equalisation back into negotiations (with mining companies), letting communities take back power and forcing governments and big business to listen.” And it’s not just the farmers joining the fight. “We have an unusual mix of people here; farmers, environmentalists, Aboriginal groups and climate change proponents are all against the new mine,” Laird adds. Not all landholders oppose the development of energy resources. On the extensive grazing properties around Roma, central Queensland, where in a good season the cattle grow glossy and fat, gas companies such as Santos have been working cooperatively with farmers for many years. The most obvious benefit to the farmers is the guaranteed income provided by compensation and access agreements – cash flow
12
“We are not against all mining, just mining that goes against long-term national interests.”
forefront
that is there, regardless of the season – but other benefits extend to the provision of roads and earthworks. Flow-on effects from the establishment of gas wells on properties include investments in regional infrastructure and the expansion and solidification of local businesses and employment opportunities for farming families, who otherwise may have drifted to the cities to find work. Queensland cotton grower Ian Hayllor believes the relationship between farmers and the coal seam gas (CSG) industry is improving as science underpins the discussion, government ensures compliance, and companies better understand the requirements of agriculture. He cites an Aquifer Connectivity Trial, conducted on his Dalby property, as a great example of all parties working perfectly together. “The trial was funded by Arrow Energy, designed and managed by OGIA (Queensland Government’s Office of Groundwater Impact Assessment), involved community input and an independent hydrologist, and was peer reviewed. It is a great example of using ground truthing to prove models,” he says. Hayllor is also a commissioner with the GasFields Commission. The commission is an independent statutory body that was established in 2013, with the objective to “manage and improve sustainable coexistence of landholders, regional communities and the onshore
gas industry in Queensland”. Another form of coexistence stems from the recycling of mining water. Near Injune, in Queensland, Santos is using reverse osmosis to purify the water, which is then re-injected into the aquifer serving the community of Roma. The water is also being used to irrigate leucaena for cattle fodder. On the semi-arid plains of the Pilbara in Western Australia, Rio Tinto is growing hay. Red dirt and spinifex are typical of the Pilbara, but green grass, centre pivot irrigators and tractors provide a startling contrast on Hamersley Station. The Hamersley Agricultural Project uses excess water from the Marandoo iron ore mine to grow rhodes grass, which Rio Tinto bales and is using to supplementary-feed 25,000 head of cattle on the six properties it owns in the area. Plans are underway to sell this product to other graziers, giving them feed options throughout the dry season. This, in turn, may open the doors of opportunity and lift the uncertainty cast since the suspension of the live trade export in 2011. It appears there is potential for mining and agriculture to coexist in particular circumstances. Both industries have a commitment to environmental stewardship and both acknowledge their practices alter the landscape, yet both will always be required in society. For everything, there is a place.
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Haul truck manufacturers CAT and
Westport Power Inc are cooperatively developing the next generation of engine technology – Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG)-powered vehicles. According to Westport vice-president partner relationships, Bruce Hodgins, mining company interest in natural gas as fuel is being driven by the need to reduce operating costs, with the reduction of emissions a side benefit. Initial concerns about price and supply security are being addressed and it looks like a technology that’s time has nearly come. “The mining companies are concerned with security of supply of LNG and long-term price differentials, but those items are being addressed with the larger LNG producers. “There are some significant additional benefits with high-pressure direct injection (HPDI) technology that directly injects both diesel and natural gas at the end of the compression stroke and is capable of Tier 4 emissions with minimal after-treatment.” In real terms, this gives an approximate 20 per cent reduction in greenhouse gases (GHG) versus diesel while performing like diesel, which means there is no need to retrain haul truck drivers. The HPDI system under development by CAT and Westport uses a high percentage of gas
Fast fact • In 2009-10 contract miner Downer EDI Mining Pty Ltd (DEDIM), moved more than 121 million bank cubic metres of overburden and product on mine sites and used 0.27 petajoules of diesel fuel and biodiesel B20.
under all operating conditions, more than 90 per cent over the haul cycle. In effect, 100 per cent diesel is only used to allow a loaded truck to get out of the pit. There are some aftermarket dual-fuel conversion systems currently being used by various companies. This technology fumigates natural gas in with the air flow during the intake stroke under higher load conditions. This means the truck retains the ability to operate on 100 per cent diesel, but only 30 to 60 per cent LNG is used over a duty cycle. Driver retraining is needed as the converted engines lack the pulling power of pure diesel and methane emissions can negate the GHG benefits – or even have higher GHG than diesel. Nevertheless, Hodgins says, “Dual-fuel technology does provide a low-risk entry point for mining companies to experiment with LNG, establish LNG supply, distribution, and onsite storage with proper permitting and safety protocols so that mines are able to adopt HPDI technology when it is commercially available.” At the height of the mining boom, worldwide demand for haul truck tyres outstripped supply to the point where junior miners who hadn’t locked in long-term supply contracts were left out in the cold and had to ground trucks for lack
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industryfocus
There’s an old saying, “oil is cheap, engines are expensive”, and it’s even truer for haul trucks than it is for the family car.
Fast fact • In 2011, one giant 3.5-metre wide haul truck tyre cost more than a new Mercedes Benz SLK convertible sports car.
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of new tyres. According to Kal Tire’s manager of sales and marketing Australia, Danny Moore. “Supply of [haul truck] tyres has eased and availability has increased, at least in the short term. Tyre performance is being scrutinised more heavily at present due to a push to reduce costs, as are operational/maintenance considerations (tyre pressures, general site maintenance and clean up, load and haul procedures, etc.). The price of these tyres has come off rapidly, so some of the second- and third- tier manufacturers are finding that the gap between their price and the major manufacturers has reduced significantly. While this is better for the end user, it makes life much more difficult for developing brands.” The main technology advance that mining companies are deploying for haul truck tyres is on-
board air pressure monitoring systems. These systems have been around for a while, but Moore notes that more players have come into the market with differing offers. “The better ones provide real-time monitoring of both pressure and temperature, relaying alerts in real-time back to site managers, when the tyre is reaching its limits. This then allows the site manager to manipulate that vehicle’s haul, stand the vehicle down for a period of time to let things cool off, or send the vehicle to the workshop for maintenance, instead of going through the aggravation of downtime due to failed tyres. These systems also potentially lead to increases in tyre performance, as pressures are kept at the optimum levels.” There’s an old saying, “oil is cheap, engines are expensive”, and it’s even truer for haul trucks than it is for the family car due to the harsh operating environment. Shell Australia spokesperson Paul Zennaro says, “Technically advanced products exist today to improve productivity and lower total cost of ownership. Drop-in solutions such as synthetic lubricants are becoming more widespread and offer immediate benefits. Depending on the product and application, Shell has demonstrated reductions in energy consumption in the range of two to five per cent and there is typically the added benefit of extended oil change intervals.”
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miningreview
The state of resources in Queensland The resources industry has hit stumbling blocks in the past few years. We investigate the issues and opportunities facing Queensland. WORDS: MITCH BROOK
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miningreview
QUEENSLAND IS still one of the major players in the Australian mining industry. Now that commodity prices have dropped and investment has been reduced, the general consensus is that the mining boom has ended. However, there are still new projects on the horizon, so what’s in store for the Queensland resources sector? The state has abundant resources, notably coal, bauxite, copper, lead, zinc and silver. Liquefied natural gas (LNG) is also set to become a significant resource for the state. The end of the boom “We’ve just come through one of the most extraordinary periods of investment in the resources sector’s history,” says Michael Roche, chief executive of the Queensland Resources Council, the peak representative body for the mining and gas industries in Queensland. “So, yes, the investment phase is on the wane.” The period he refers to is the mining boom, which many say is now behind us. Statistics released by the Queensland Government Department of Natural Resources and Mines show that coal export prices have decreased over the past three years to the end of 2013, but production and export volumes have steadily increased. Far from spelling the end for the industry, these figures show it is simply transitioning into a new phase, suggests Roche: “We’re moving into a production phase. So all of those investments will result in higher volumes of exports of coal and minerals.”
Budget winners While the Federal Budget drafted by the Abbott government has been criticised for targeting many sectors of Australia to aggressively make savings, the resources industry, country-wide, is arguably one of the better-off sectors. The government has promised to axe both the carbon and mining taxes, which will reduce pressure put on the industry by the previous Labor government. Another measure that will assist mining companies in Queensland is the Exploration Development Incentive, which, according to the Federal Budget, will “encourage investment in small exploration companies undertaking greenfields mineral exploration in Australia. Australian shareholders of these companies will receive a tax offset for the company’s greenfields exploration.” Whether Prime Minister Abbott can pass the bill in Parliament is another matter. The sector in Queensland has also had strong backing from the state government. Its 2014–15 budget outlines support for ongoing and new projects and for responsible management of land affected by mining activity. “Our industry has received bipartisan support over many years,” says Roche. “Certainly, the current Queensland Government is a strong supporter of the resources sector, both mining and, of course, the gas industry.”
On the up The up-scaling of the export of LNG is expected to boost Queensland’s economy significantly over the next few years.
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miningreview
“From about December 2014, Queensland will be an exporter of gas in the form of LNG to the rest of the world,” says Roche. This change will have a strong impact on the state economy, purportedly initiating extremely strong growth. In his speech announcing Queensland’s new State Budget in June, Queensland Treasurer and Minister for Trade Tim Nicholls said: “In 2015–16, the ramp-up in LNG production is expected to underpin a surge in exports, which, combined with an improved domestic economy, is forecast to boost economic growth to an 11-year high.” The mining of uranium is also expected to play an important part in Queensland’s resources future. Currently, Australia is the world’s thirdlargest producer of uranium and has the world’s largest reserves (estimated at 31 per cent of the world total). While legislation in Queensland had prohibited uranium mining since 1989, this ban was lifted in 2012, allowing uranium mining to start up again; several projects are already underway across the state.
Barrier to progress Another development that will boost the Queensland resources industry, particularly exports, is the Abbot Point Port development in North Queensland. There are plans for the port to undergo significant expansion to allow increased access for the export of resources, primarily coal. The expansion has been hotly contested, with opponents from scientific fields and the tourism industry claiming the dredging and
dumping of spoil – routine processes for the creation and expansion of ports – so close to the Great Barrier Reef, puts the reef at risk, threatening its ecosystems and integrity, and thus the industries that rely on it. “The Abbot Point Port development, and particularly the dredging for the port, has been the subject of an extraordinary campaign of lies and misinformation,” says Roche – a view vehemently opposed by those campaigning against the port. While the Federal Minister for the Environment, Greg Hunt, has approved the project, the approval did not come without conditions – 95, to be exact. In his statement approving the port, he announced the 95 environmental conditions for the go-ahead of the port, explicitly including “measures for protection of marine species and their habitat, ecological communities, flora and fauna”.
Bright future Mining is always a sector that attracts scrutiny, but it is also an industry that forms an integral part of Queensland’s and greater Australia’s economy – at least for now. While there have been setbacks, those involved in the industry are confident the future is not bleak. “We’re very optimistic about the fundamentals around demand,” says Roche. “We do have the challenge of remaining globally cost-competitive, but we are blessed with a whole range of minerals and energy commodities that the rest of the world wants.” For Queensland, it will be a matter of turning those available resources into tangible profits.
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Image: European Truck Factory
specialreport
FROM HAULAGE TO LOGISTICS TO TRANSPORT, AUTOMATION IS THE BUZZWORD IN MINING TODAY.
CARRY THAT WEIGHT WORDS: KRIS MADDEN
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specialreport
THE PAST two decades have seen dramatic changes in the application of autonomous technologies in the mining industry, with notable leaps forward over the past two years in particular. As mining companies are being driven to dig deeper in more remote locations to find the volumes of resources required for a commercially viable mine, the future of haulage, logistics and transport becomes crucial. From fully-automated sites, autonomous trucks and automated surface drilling, through to driverless trains in the Pilbara, mining is undergoing an automation revolution. Inside Mining looks at some of the innovative companies that are rising to the challenge.
Haulage: automation leads the way German-based European Truck Factory (ETF) claims to have rewritten the playbook on haul truck design, saying it initiated the “first significant change in rigid haul truck design for 60 years”. To accommodate demand
for higher payloads than even the largest conventional big trucks can provide, ETF truck units are designed to be linked to form a ‘Haul Train’. “The Haul Train can be operated under the same conditions [as ETF’s other trucks] but controlled by just one front operator. The rest of the powered, linked units precisely follow the lead machine, fully controlled using the most innovative and technically advanced supervisory system available,” says Eddy de Jongh, chief executive of ETF Trucks. “Of course, all our trucks are autonomous-ready, but where a fully autonomous conventional truck operation requires a huge investment in technology and infrastructure, if your mine currently operates conventional trucks of any capacity, the ETF Haul Train can integrate and start moving more material immediately. “You first need to look at current mining truck designs, together with their inherent operating disadvantages. Then, take a different ‘out of the box’ perspective or view of what you recognise needs to change
From fully-automated sites, autonomous trucks and automated surface drilling, through to driverless trains, mining is undergoing an automation revolution.
Image: European Truck Factory
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specialreport
in order to move the haul truck into the 21st century. Only then you will truly appreciate the total logic of our design,” says de Jongh.
Logistics: lean manufacturing Global industrial group Sandvik is applying what it calls ‘lean manufacturing’ techniques to its aftermarket services, with the aim of cutting the time that equipment is out of production. In May 2014, Sandvik opened its fourth High Productivity Centre in Orange, New South Wales, at a cost of $5.5 million. The centre offers aftermarket repairs, maintenance, support and service, as well as setting environmental, health and safety
performance standards for mining operations throughout the state. “If you think about production over a 20-year period, we’ve been able to achieve in the vicinity of 70 to 80 per cent productivity gains over this period when we are building machines,” says Jim Tolley, Sandvik Mining’s vice-president, sales area Australia. “The trick now is in the aftermarket. Sandvik’s service benchmarks are to ensure that our customers’ equipment remains safe and fully productive 24 hours a day, seven days a week, every day of the year. “In the aftermarket, we haven’t seen very high productivity gain, which is why we’re introducing the high productivity methodology to
the aftermarket business. We’re focusing on driving out waste in aftermarket and support.” In doing this, Tolley says the company has cut the average remanufacture time from 15,000 hours down to 10,000 hours and is looking at driving it even further down.
Transport: efficient materials handling In many mining regions ore grades are declining. New mines are being developed in more remote areas, pits are getting deeper, and underground mines are becoming larger. This means more material must be transported over longer distances, presenting new challenges for material handling systems.
Image: Sandvik
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specialreport
The future of automation While it’s easy to get excited about fully-automated, remotecontrolled mine sites, it’s important to understand the time lines (and therefore the return on investment) for implementing such projects. At Mining IQ’s Mine Automation and Communication event in Brisbane last April, both Rio Tinto and Glencore Xstrata spoke about projects that had started in the mid1990s but have only commenced in the past three or four years. Still, it’s good to know there are pioneering companies out there forging the way ahead for mining in the future.
Image: European Truck Factory
Siemens, one of the world’s leading suppliers of automation systems for mining materials handling, says its automated truck/ trolley and conveyor technology systems are meeting the transportation challenges of the present and future. “Our comprehensive, integrated portfolio of automation systems and solutions is helping customers meet the challenges of resources scarcity and environmental protection,” says the company’s website. “By identifying cost sources and making energy flows more transparent, our innovative products and systems can help to reduce energy and operating costs by up to 20 per cent – a benefit to both our customers and the environment. “By enabling customers to digitally and seamlessly integrate their production, administration and maintenance processes, our software solutions offer major potential for cutting costs and substantially accelerating time to market, which is an enormous competitive advantage in the global innovation sweepstakes.”
While it’s easy to get excited about fullyautomated, remote-controlled mine sites, it’s important to understand the time lines (and therefore the return on investment).
One-stop shop Chris Miers has been involved in heavy haulage his whole life. His parents formed Miers Bros Heavy Haulage in 1970 and completed several major Australian projects, including the Clinton Coal Facility and Phosphate Hill Mine, before their company was purchased in 2004. Miers has worked with many big names – including Komatsu Australia, Bucyrus Mining, Hitachi and Terex Mining – and on massive projects involving moving mining excavators and dump trucks across Australia. He started his own consultancy, Queensland-based Australian Heavy Logistics, at the end of 2010 to offer a complete logistics package in the heavy haulage industry. “Our business provides safe, efficient and experienced service across Australia in the mining, gas and construction industries,” says Miers. “We are involved in every part of the supply chain and we pride ourselves on providing a ‘one-stop shop’ where the client only has to deal with one contact at all times. australianheavylogistics.com.au
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Rough Environment Smooth Filtration
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Availability & Reliability 80% of all system breakdowns are related to contaminated oil. Clean oil helps you avoid downtime.
Most Common Benefits: • Cleaning oil, tanks, gearboxes and systems while they are in operation • Reduced downtime –less planned as well as unscheduled shutdowns • Industry lowest cost per kilo dirt removed • Short pay-back time • Reduced maintenance costs • Enhanced process stability and efficiency • Reduced wear on pumps, cylinders, bearings, etc. • Avoid diesel bugs • Increased oil and component lifetime • Significant reduction in use of in-line filters (up to several hundred percent reduction)
What do we do differently than other filtration systems? • We clean oil, tanks, gearboxes and systems while they are in operation • We remove particles, water and varnish • We filter down to 0.8 micron • Our filters have industry highest dirt holding capacity • Filter insert can be changed without system shutdown • We do not only clean the oil, but also remove dirt from your tanks, pipes, gearbox, etc. • Since our filters also clean the entire system, we typically eliminate up to 80% of shutdowns because cleaning tanks is no longer needed
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Changing operation conditions and rough environments entail dirt and condensate in the oil. Unclean diesel destroys needle valves and injector pumps rapidly. Unclean oil and varnish seize proper operation of hydraulic systems. Diesel bugs block in-line pressure filters.
Dirt and water in the oil systems cause wear, corrosion and erosion on pumps, cylinders and valves. Oil degradation products result in malfunction of critical components.
Storage Tanks Lube oil, hydraulic oil, and diesel fuel oil Oil and fuel are already contaminated with particles and condensate by transportation and transferring. During storage, diesel can additionally be polluted with microbes due to high condensation from transfer and transportation. Diesel will during storage form water condensate, which will create microbes (diesel bugs). the tanks.
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overseas&underground
Industry trend analysis: Mergers and Acquisitions This report by Business Monitor International predicts that merger and acquisition activity in the mining space will pick up over the coming quarters. This will be driven by the low valuations of mining firms, the push for operational efficiency in the mining space and the chase for overseas assets by Chinese investors. DESPITE A PICK-UP, austerity will remain a key priority for mining firms and thus merger and acquisition (M&A) activity will not return to the headier times of last decade. Instead, we can expect consolidation in the mining space to pick up over the coming quarters. Mining firms will continue to push for asset sales in the face of weaker commodity prices and growing
demand for shareholders’ returns. Majors such as BHP Billiton (BHP), Rio Tinto (Rio) and Anglo American are all pursuing a mandate of cost efficiency by shedding their non-core assets and focusing on the development of brownfield projects. Notably, BHP, which made $6.5 billion of divestments over the past financial year, is mulling over a $20 billion demerger of its aluminium, manganese,
coal and nickel operations in a bid to simplify its portfolio. M&A activity in the mining sector should continue to gather pace over the course of 2014. For example, the value of gold mining M&A in Canada surged to a four-year high of $4.9 billion in recent months as a result of the wave of asset sales driven by the meltdown in gold prices last year.
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overseas&underground
M&A in the mining space will be driven by three main factors
1
Low valuations A handful of larger miners with strong balance sheets will look to capitalise on the low valuations of mining firms through outright acquisitions. Given the low odds of success and the cost-intensive nature of greenfield development, we can expect miners with producing assets or ownership of material discoveries to prove the most attractive. This implies that more junior miners will struggle to stay solvent in 2014, on the back of funding constraints including share prices. According to Bloomberg, there have already been four unsolicited or hostile bids, with a total value of $4.5 billion, for mining firms announced since March this year. This contrasts with $594 million for the whole of 2013. Goldcorp’s $3.3 billion failed takeover bid for Osisko Mining was the largest unfriendly offer for a mining firm following First Quantum Minerals’ US$4.7 billion purchase of Inmet Mining in 2012.
It is estimated that China has ploughed more than US$226 billion in the purchases of global resources since 1995. In particular, an easing of approval rules by China’s National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) could trigger more M&A deals in the coming quarters. The new verification and registration regime will substantially simplify the regulatory process administered by the NDRC and its provincial counterparts for Chinese outbound investment. From May 8, 2014, only the following projects must be verified: • Total investment amount exceeding $1 billion (the aggregated sum of money, securities, in-kind contributions, intellectual property rights or technology, equity, debt and guaranteed amounts provided by Chinese investors); or • Mining projects involving ‘sensitive countries and regions’ or ‘sensitive industries’ – these include countries and regions where China does not have diplomatic relations, or which are
2
Push for operational efficiency Some mining firms will seek to achieve greater economies of scale through mergers. For instance, the recent (failed) pursuit of Newmont Mining by Barrick Gold was driven by a desire to unlock cost synergies, estimated at $1 billion, due to the companies’ complementary operations in Nevada.
3
Chinese rush for overseas assets We can expect that the rush for overseas mining assets by Chinese investors will provide a firm platform for mining M&A in the coming years. As exemplified by the recent purchase of the $5.8 billion Las Bambas project, China will continue to enhance its grip on overseas mines in order to plug the structural shortfalls in domestic production.
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Many mining firms will be reluctant to divest their assets at current prices.
subjected to international sanctions, or embroiled in war or riots. ‘Sensitive industries’ include cross-border water resources development and utilisation, large-scale land development, transmission lines, power grids, basic telecommunications operations, as well as news and media. All other overseas mining projects only require registration, not verification.
No return to headier times Nonetheless, it is not expected that mining M&A will stage a return to the headier times of last decade. Austerity will remain a key focus in the mining sector due to the cooling of Chinese economic growth and the subsequent softening of mineral prices. Indeed, enthusiasm for big-ticket acquisitions will remain low compared with the years during the China-led commodities boom. Additionally, many mining firms will be reluctant to divest their assets at current depressed prices, choosing instead to hunker down until a cyclical recovery takes hold.
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MINE SURVEYORS TAKE OFF WITH UNMANNED AERIAL SYSTEMS (UAS) Gary Robertson, a registered surveyor and senior engineer at a large coal mine in Central Queensland, has been keeping an eye on the development of UAS technology since 2000, when the first military drones were released and hobbyists were designing their own remote-control aircraft, and has become a UAS controller himself. “I could instantly see the potential for surveyors to use an unmanned aircraft for a wide range of applications on a mine site. It was just regulations and computing power that let us down,” he said. Because UAS can carry different payloads, such as an infrared camera or even gas monitoring equipment, Mr Robertson explains that they can benefit a wide range of mine applications, including: • Reconciliation: using photogrammetry techniques for monitoring stock pile volumes and design comparisons for excavation and dumping equipment (where a fast turnaround of data is essential so that mining operations can take action while the machinery is still in the area) • Rehabilitation and environmental: using infrared and multi/hyperspectral
payloads for vegetation mapping and topsoil monitoring • Geology and geometric applications: UAS can cover a large area that could previously only be mapped with manned aircraft • Gas monitoring and spontaneous combustion: fly aircraft into the area to monitor sulphuric gas levels. Without UAS the monitoring is ‘hit and miss’, as it involves setting out monitoring devices based on wind direction in the hope something is collected • Imagery: multispectral 3-band imagery for use in presentations, data analysis, and QA of GIS layers • LiDAR: use for volumes, excavations and dumping, reconciliation, dig versus design, ramp grades & width compliance • Geotechnical monitoring: detect movement in the spoil piles by comparing UAS data to scan data. Mr Robertson worked with local UAS service provider Airmap3D to explore and test a potential UAS mining solution. Matt Ewing, director of Airmap3D, conducted a demonstration flight and data analysis over the mine with his SIRIUS and SIRIUS Pro UAV.
Mr Ewing also did his homework before committing to a UAS. “I was starting my own business that was completely centred around this technology, so I had to make the right decision,” he said. “As with any complex technology venture, I also needed to buy from a supplier that would be able to support me.” He opted for the SIRIUS UAV, distributed in Australia and New Zealand by Position Partners. “The hardware met all of our safety requirements, as it is launched by hand just above the operator’s head and it has semi-autonomous control options to ensure a safe landing,” Mr Robertson said. “The data it supplies is well within our accuracy requirements and the SIRIUS Pro has the unique ability to map accurately without setting out ground control points through GPS RTK solutions. This has the added safety benefit of removing surveyors from the active mine site environment while also reducing job request turnaround times.” For more information about the Sirius Pro, visit positionpartners.com.au
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Australian mining communications of the future AUSTRALIAN MINING sites are located in remote locations where reliable communication infrastructure is often inaccessible. However, communications networks are essential for the successful operation of a mine site; whether it is for safety and security, employee welfare, asset tracking or real-time data transfer. Beyond this, communications networks are also powering evolving technology such as automation and mobility applications, which are helping mining companies to reduce costs while increasing productivity. With extensive reach and a quality connection that provides an ‘at home’ experience, satellite has played an increasingly important role to provide fast, reliable and secure communications – enabling mining companies to achieve their business objectives. Communication challenges Each stage of remote site development has fluctuating requirements and varying tasks that require access to reliable communication services. Flexible satellite communications infrastructure enables immediate data transfer and information sharing with head office during exploration and discovery phases, accelerating data analysis and decision making. Once construction begins on the site, high-speed and high-volume satellite communications supports operations, and assists with the safety and welfare of employees. Finally, once the site is operational, satellite communications essentially replicates the head office environment at the remote site, with fast, reliable, and secure connectivity for day-to-day tasks. Project requirements are continually evolving as technology advances and 42
more bandwidth becomes available. This drives satellite providers to provide innovative communications solutions and subsequently creates new capabilities for the mining industry in terms of operational and production efficiency. In their recent report, satellite industry experts Northern Sky Research (NSR) highlighted that the mining market is observing an increasing trend to support remote automation processes and continues to have strong bandwidth requirements in terms of VLAs, WLANs, voice, and video with crew and operational separations. GE’s ‘The Industrial Internet@Work’ report noted that mobility is playing an increasingly important role in workforce productivity. “Wireless connectivity and the explosion of smart phones, tablets and related devices are putting real-time information and collaboration tools into the hands of workers everywhere from factory shop floors to hospital waiting rooms and offshore oil rigs. “As the availability and performance of the global communications fabric continues to mature and expand, the deployment of these technologies and the sophistication of the applications they support continues to grow.” As automation, mobility and other emerging trends increase in day-to-day activity, NSR (2014) projects that global mining demand for satellite capacity will
grow at double-digit annual rates over the next 10 years.
The cost of downtime Mine site profitability can be severely impacted by network downtime. It has been suggested that downtime costs in mining can be upwards of $50,000 per hour, so a reliable network is indispensable. Satellite operators provide communications solutions that have essential elements to minimise downtime. These include satellite diversity to support remote operations wherever they occur, 99.99 per cent up-time network availability to ensure ‘always on connectivity’, a 24x7x365 network operations centre if required, and secure communications to ensure the privacy of information and business activity protection. However, as technology becomes further entwined in all aspects of individual roles and operations, complex networks are formed increasing capacity demands. The World Teleport Association (WTA) alluded to this shift. “Teleports were once basic satellite uplink facilities. Today, they are more likely to be the hubs of dozens or even hundreds of overlapping complex networks mixing satellite and terrestrial transmission media with management, data, and business support systems.” (WTA, 2014) To ensure complex communications networks can be implemented effectively and critical
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“Today, teleports are likely to be the hubs of dozens or even hundreds of overlapping complex networks.”
commercial elements can be met, a true communications partner is required.
Satellite initiative A key provider of critical commercial satellite services today is NewSat, an Australian company that is transitioning from a teleport operator to a satellite operator with their Jabiru Satellite Program, a world first in the satellite industry. NewSat’s Jabiru-2 will launch in September to provide fresh capacity and highly targeted coverage for the resource industry in and around Australia, Papua New Guinea, Timor Leste and the Solomon Islands. Ready for the complex
communication challenges of tomorrow, Jabiru-2 will support innovative and bandwidth heavy applications – including data transfer, video conferencing, remote asset monitoring and workplace health and safety. Annunziata and Evans (2013) suggest, “Most significantly, workers will see their jobs become more rewarding as they will have faster access to information and be better able to collaborate; they will learn and upgrade their skills at a faster pace, while becoming more efficient and productive.”
Mining’s future evolution The availability of high-powered satellite capacity in and around Australia is essential
for the future evolution of the mining industry. While communications can be an afterthought for many large projects and remote operations, constant connectivity and ‘always on’ communications enables organisations to access key information, make faster decisions, support employee welfare and ensure critical operations function effectively. As the information age continues to advance, having fast, reliable and secure connectivity to support increasingly complex communications networks, provided by a true communications partner, will be the key component for future efficient and productive mining activity. 43
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ASTEC AUSTRALIA IS ON TOP OF EVERYTHING UNDERGROUND While
most suppliers are battening down the hatches and settling in for the long winter that will be the end to the mining boom, Astec Australia is moving forward. Astec are using the current period to introduce and establish themselves in the mining industry and plan on getting themselves known. Astec Australia’s range of underground mining solutions from supplier Breaker Technology includes the complete range of Mobile Underground Utility and TM15 Mobile Rock Breaking Equipment. Astec Australia currently has two TM15 Mobile Rock Breakers in operation, with a third due to be delivered, in two major Block Cave developments; one on the east coast and the second over on the west coast of Australia. The Mobile Rock Breaker assists in the removal of oversize material from the draw points, with a decrease in the overall cycle time of previously used methods in the industry. National Product Manager for Breaker Technology, Todd Aslander says,
“The use of a Mobile Rock Breakers in a Block Cave production application is key to maintaining high productivity.” Below and above ground, Astec Australia has also installed mineral processing systems. Two recently installed projects include the completion of a turnkey crushing, screening and materials handling solution at an iron ore mine in Whyalla, South Australia, and mobile equipment supplied for iron ore processing near Mt Moss near Townsville in Queensland. Astec Australia’s mineral processing and communition solutions have proved very popular in Africa with some of the world’s largest miners. These miners have appreciated significant cost savings using Astec equipment and have benefited from an improved operations. What is surprising to many is the wide range of equipment that Astec has for such a new entrant in the market. The heritage comes predominantly from their Astec Group suppliers, Osborn Engineered Products and Telsmith, who together offer milling, mineral sizers, crushing and screening
solutions. Osborn’s Coal Processing solutions offer Mineral Sizers, Apron Feeders, Rotary Coal Breakers and Vibrating Screens. The other area covers their range of comminution equipment such as AG, SAG, ball mills and scrubbers. “What we are most excited about,” states Brian Easton, Astec Business Development Manager – Mining, “is our range of comminution and mineral sizing technology. This technology has already proven itself in Africa and South East Asia and we are working on expanding this equipment in Australia based on these successful installations”. Many in mining might know of Astec from its traditional exposure in the asphalt and extractive industries, where it is a major supplier, known roundly for its innovative, hard-working products and unwavering customer support. Astec is located in Brisbane, Melbourne and Perth and is fully established in these key resource markets and ready to deliver on its promise of Australia-wide service capabilities, 24/7 support and service and spare parts availability.
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5. Over 50 Billion dollars in investment across 11 current projects in mining, defence, government, infrastructure and agricultural. 6. Up to another 28 potential projects in mining, oil and gas projects set to kick off over the coming decade. Some of the most significant mining, oil and gas projects the country has ever seen are being and will be serviced and supplied through Darwin. 7. Strategic location within close proximity to Asia. 8. Depreciation components typically double other capital city locations due to high construction standards,
building materials and cyclone ratings. 9. ‘Multi-tiered Economy’, with Mining, Defence, Government, Agriculture and Tourism all providing economic benefits. 10. Limited space to grow within the CBD area with Darwin situated on a Peninsula surrounded by water on 3 sides putting residential property in the CBD at a premium for property investment.
Contact Real Estate Central Projects to discuss all your real estate investment options and opportunities.
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17/07/2014 10:18:22 AM
National
propertyguide
We bring you the latest in property and investment analysis, penned by the professionals A REALITY CHECK Do Australians need to rein in their credit spend? 49
CASH FROM PROPERTY Tips on how to make more money from property 52
WISE WORDS Investment inspiration from Einstein 55
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BUYING AT AUCTION IN QUEENSLAND! Tips and Tricks from the auction expert. Sale by auction in Queensland is becoming more and more popular as the market starts its upswing in the property cycle. In this interview we speak to Property Buyers Agent Zoran Solano about his expert tips and tricks to getting auction ready. Zoran says it all starts from when you first identify the property, if it is being marketing for auction, don’t sit of the fence and wait too long, contact the selling agent and declare your interest, Marketing campaigns for auctions usually run around 4 weeks leading up to a set auction date, this is the time you, the buyer need to action your pre auction checklist, it is very important you have the below items undertaken before you bid on auction day. • Inspect the property either personally or arrange someone to inspect it on your behalf NEVER BUY SITE UNSEEN. • Arrange your Finance, Do not go to auction without a Formal Pre-approval. • Do your own research on the market. • Have the property formally valued, or appraised by a Buyer’s Agent to determine fair market price for the property. • Get a copy of the contract of sale and Title search. • Have confirmed your chosen solicitor or conveyancer, and have them review the contract of sale. • Pre-Purchase inspections Now by around midway through these points Zoran says you will know if you’re on the right track or not, if you have hit stumbling blocks with the above items you know this isn’t BUYER’S AGENT
STRATEGISTS
the right property or the right time for you to buy at auction. Many of these steps are often disregarded by interstate or inexperience’s buyers but they are the all important things to do before bidding at auction, in Queensland sellers are not legally obligated to undertake or supply prepurchase inspections such as Building and pest, council approvals, flood history ect. This is why as a buyer you need to seriously consider these taking the time to know what you’re purchasing. Then finally, its auction time, you have done your due diligence; you have set your maximum purchase price, but have you set your strategy? Every buyer needs to have a bidding strategy, for Zoran it changes subject to the property and even depending on the auctioneer who is calling the auction. This is where his local knowledge and experience really shines. If you want to know more about Zorans auction strategy and Auction tips Visit www.HotPropertySpecialists.com.au
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National
propertyguide
DOES AUSTRALIA NEED A REALITY CHECK? Kevin Lee drives home some uncomfortable truths about our increasing appetite for living beyond our means.
KEVIN LEE
Founder and director of Smart Property Adviser
TAX TIME has just ended, and many Australians who received a tax return may have used it to buy a new television, toys for the kids or even ‘toys’ for themselves. If you’re guilty of buying a new gizmo, don’t beat yourself up. Everyone is entitled to spoil themselves once in a while, right? But imagine if you had used your tax return to pay off one of your credit cards, or to knock $1000 off your home loan. Many people fall prey to the ‘end of financial year’ (EOFY) marketing trap and feel the need to buy something new with their tax return because the item is ‘on special’. The reality, though, is you don’t really need that thing, do you? Your excess cash could be put to better use, such as paying off your credit cards. In fact, the five biggest mistakes people make with their
credit cards are that they: • often make late payments • exceed the limit • overuse the card • make only minimum payments • don’t pay the card down to zero every month. Most people understand – and quite often ignore – the first three mistakes, but not many people fully understand the last two mistakes and how damaging they can be to your financial future. Let me explain: if you don’t pay off the balance of your credit card/s in full every month, not only will you pay interest, but every time you apply for a loan the banks will multiply your total credit card limit by four and deduct that figure from your borrowing capacity. So, if you’re a couple and you have a combined credit card limit of, say, $38,000 and you carry some debt over each month – $152,000 gets taken off your borrowing capacity. This type of information should make people reconsider their financial priorities, but, more often than not, it’s forgotten. Albert Einstein said: “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” You can’t expect to see your financial position improve if
you repeat bad habits, which are the result of a poor mindset. In the crazy world we live in, anyone can achieve great success. We live in ‘the lucky country’, but we urgently need a reality check. Why? Because we have a combined credit card debt of $50.1 billion. A pack-a-day smoker spends approximately $6570 a year on cigarettes and 11 per cent of households with smokers suffer severe financial stress. In 2012, Australians spent $14.1 billion on alcohol. Our burning desire to satisfy our egos, greed and bad habits is costing us billions of dollars. In the property investment market, I see ego and greed in action every day. In fact, 1.76 million Australian property investors lost a total of $13.2 billion due to negative gearing in 2011. The only driving force that would encourage someone to buy a negatively geared property, in my opinion, is greed. Because we all know that property values double every seven to 10 years, don’t we? Yeah, right. That’s a very dangerous belief and an equally dangerous path to tread. I’ve been in the finance sector for almost 20 years, an investor for 18 years, and a licensed
buyer’s agent for the past two, and I can see greed is alive and well in some areas of the property market today. In particular, across the Sydney market at large. Units we were buying for clients just two years ago for $185,000, over the past 16 months or so we’ve begrudgingly had to pay up to $253,000 for them. The insanity has gone too far. Recently, I walked out of a “compact two-bedroom unit” in Campbelltown that had an asking price of $237,500. It was a tiny 52-square-metre one-bedroom unit converted by the owner into a makeshift two-bedder – he’d converted the lounge room into that second bedroom. Then I inspected an average two-bedroom unit on the outskirts of Penrith that I was merely ‘okay with’ at $240,000. The agent floored me when she said the owner had just knocked back $280,000! Rents have not increased in the past two years; if anything, they’ve slipped back by $10 a week. But because interest rates are still low, the number of people desperate to buy a cheap property has pushed the prices of these properties through the roof. This is a bubble! These 49
National
propertyguide properties simply aren’t worth the prices buyers are paying. It’s greed and ego that’s driving people to pay these ridiculous prices. There are many negative factors that influence our financial and investment decisions; some of these are driven by the need to satisfy our bad habits and some are driven by ego and greed. Now we’re into a new financial year, you can make better decisions about your money, but the only way to do this is to invest in your financial education and reassess your mindset. You have 24 hours in a day. So do people such as Sir Richard Branson, Bill Gates and Warren Buffett. How you spend that time determines your level of success, both physically and financially. I’ve spent hours and about $62,000 over the past 18 years on my own finance, real estate and financial education. I still read
25 business books each year. I’ve attended dozens of conferences, seminars and courses hosted by highly successful people. Financial education was removed from the education system years ago. Today, if you want to obtain your financial education you must first invest the time and money. Then, most importantly, put 100 per cent of what you’ve learned to work. Knowledge alone will not make you successful; you must create a written set of goals and then take action towards achieving them. My advice is to be careful about who you seek your financial and/or investment education from; there are plenty of sharks, just waiting to part you from your money. A good financial education includes being able to see through the ‘smoke and mirrors’ and identify the
sharks so you avoid becoming a victim. Here’s an alarming statistic from a 2008 Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) report: the group with the lowest levels of financial literacy in Australia were people aged between 18 and 24. Today, those people are 24 to 30 years old – the age group preparing to buy their first home, start a business or invest in property. It’s more crucial than ever to invest in your financial education and future-proof your finances. We all want to leave the rat-race and lead the lifestyle we want. Without the right financial education, however, you could possibly be working for the rest of your life or until you reach retirement age. When you do retire, if you didn’t make sustainable financial arrangements earlier in life,
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you may have to rely on the age pension, which might not be enough to sustain the retirement lifestyle you’d always wanted. You can’t assume the age pension will be sustained at current levels or even available when you retire. Currently there are more than 2.2 million people receiving the Australian age pension, and more than five million baby boomers will reach 65 years of age over the next seven years. McCrindle Research forecasts there will be more 65-year-olds than one-year-olds in 2020. Don’t waste time. Get the financial education you need. Tomorrow could be too late. Kevin Lee is regarded by many as Australia’s most trusted property investment adviser. To attend one of Kevin’s free ‘No Secrets’ Seminars, visit smartpropertyadviser.com.au
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National
propertyguide
Ever wondered how people make money from property? Jane Slack-Smith has the answers.
Three ways to make money with property JANE SLACKSMITH Mortgage broker and investment expert
I BELIEVE that there are three ways to make money through property: 1. Buy below the market. 2. Buy in an area going up in value. 3. Add value by subdividing, changing the property use, or renovating. Every property in my portfolio was bought with those three moneymaking ideas in mind. This became my Trid3nt Strategy.® It gives you three ways to make money, so if you make a mistake with one you have the other two to fall back on. This minimises your risk when investing. Let’s look at the first buying strategy. We’ve all heard the saying you make money when you buy, but what exactly does that mean? Let’s imagine this: there is a property on the market for $400,000, and your research 52
tells you this is a true market value. You pay that amount and the property is now yours. Alternatively, you hear that the owner needs to sell quickly as they have bought elsewhere and they will consider any reasonable offers. You offer $350,000, they say no, but they will take $375,000, and you agree on that price. In theory, the property is still worth $400,000, so if you were to put it on the market tomorrow, and be willing to wait longer than the other vendors, you could sell for $400,000. Hence you have acquired an additional $25,000 in equity. This is one way for you to make money when you buy. Alternatively, you could wait for capital growth to play its part. If the growth rate were 6.25 per cent per annum then it would take a year for your property to grow by that same $25,000. Or imagine you go in and do a quick $12,500
renovation – re-carpet, repaint, update the kitchen, polish floorboards and clean up the place. This would take maybe four weeks to do, which means four weeks of lost rent, four weeks of stress coordinating tradespeople, and maybe even sacrificing your own time to help out. At the end, if you have done a great job, the property might be worth an additional $25,000. In each instance, you have created $25,000 worth of equity in your property in three different ways: 1. By questioning the real estate agent and negotiating – bingo! $25,000 of equity. 2. Waiting a year and hoping that all your research on capital growth was right and your property has grown by $25,000. 3. Spending $12,500 and putting in your own time, sweat (and tears) to create $25,000 within four weeks,
although you are really ahead only $12,500. Each has exactly the same outcome – you make money – although the first option gets you an immediate result. So next time you hear someone say you make money when you buy, you’ll know how they did it, and that you can do it too. It all comes down to knowing the right questions to ask the real estate agent and how to negotiate. I will let you in on a secret: I have actually done all three – bought below the market, done a quick cosmetic reno and bought in an area with capital growth. If you would like to learn how to do this visit yourpropertysuccess.com.au. Jane Slack-Smith is founder of Your Property Success, an online property investing education portal. For further information visit yourpropertysuccess.com.au
The next time you hear someone say you make money when you buy, you’ll know how they did it, and that you can do it too. It all comes down to knowing the right questions to ask the real estate agent and how to negotiate.
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Attention: Investment is subject to DHA’s lease terms and conditions of sale. Investors retain some responsibilities and risks. Prospective investors should seek independent advice. 1. Rent may be subject to abatement in limited circumstances.
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SPECIAL THEORY OF REAL ESTATE What Albert Einstein can teach you about the art of property investment.
MICHAEL YARDNEY
From Metropole Property Strategists
Michael Yardney is a director of Metropole Property Strategists, which creates wealth for its clients through independent, unbiased property advice and advocacy. metropole.com.au propertyupdate.com.au
PROPERTY investment is certainly not rocket science, and while you don’t have to be a genius to succeed in real estate, it never hurts to learn from great minds when trying to achieve great things. So let’s look at some quotes attributed to Albert Einstein and see how we can turn these pearls of wisdom into profits from property.
1
If you can’t explain it simply, you don’t understand it well enough. There’s a lot to learn about success in real estate, which can be overwhelming for the beginner investor. But it’s not that complicated. Take the time to educate yourself and learn what’s really possible rather than get fooled by a smoke-and-mirrors
get-rich-quick scheme that promises you millions with no money down and little effort.
2
Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will spend its whole life believing that it is stupid. We are all different, with different abilities and strengths. That’s what makes the world interesting, isn’t it? You’ll be good at some things and not others. It’s okay if you’re not a genius in tax or structures or finance. Property investment is a team sport, so surround yourself with experts in the areas you’re not good at.
3
A little knowledge is a dangerous thing. So is a lot. Many first-time investors jump into the market without having a
plan or a good team of advisers. They buy one of the very first properties they come across, often close to where they live (because it’s familiar), where they enjoy holidaying or where they want to retire. These are all emotional reasons, which almost always lead to investment disaster. While you need to have a sound understanding of property investment strategies and structures and a good knowledge of the market on which to make your decision, there is such a thing as information overload. I’ve seen many would-be investors not take action, stuck in analysis paralysis. Either they’re too confused by the constant barrage of mixed messages, they spend too long trying to educate themselves so they understand ‘everything’,
It’s okay if you’re not a genius in tax structures or finance. Property investment is a team sport, so surround yourself with experts in the areas that you’re not good at. 55
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propertyguide
or they spend too long looking for the ‘perfect’ investment that ticks all the boxes. While they’re waiting for the market to be perfect, the realists are busy actually buying properties and making money.
4
It takes a touch of genius – and a lot of courage – to move in the opposite direction. This is a brilliant quote, because the practice of going against the crowd and investing countercyclically is what makes many successful property investors stand out. Warren Buffet put it rather eloquently when he famously said, “Be fearful when others are greedy, and greedy when others are fearful.” Sure, it’s easy to jump on the buying bandwagon when everything is rosy with the markets, buyer sentiment is high and economic conditions are favourable. But you need courage and foresight to take action when everyone else is paralysed by fear and uncertainty. Making your own path rather than following everyone else’s can be daunting, but in doing so you’ll enjoy many more lucrative 56
Whatever it is that’s stopping you from achieving what you want won’t change until you change. To become a successful investor, work on yourself first. Become financially fluent and get a good team around you.
opportunities as an investor. Because as Einstein said…
5
In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity. Just as every property boom we experience paves the way for the next downturn, each property slump sets the scene for the next upturn. Don’t forget that any investors who own substantial property portfolios today, actually sowed the seeds of their fortune during difficult economic times when the property markets slumped after the 2003 boom or in the severe downturn that occurred 12 years earlier. They took advantage of the opportunities that the buyer’s market of their day provided and then waited for time, compounding and leverage to work their magic.
6
The world that we have created is a product of our thinking; it cannot be changed without changing our thinking. If what you’re doing isn’t working for you, then something needs to change. When things don’t work out, most investors jump from one strategy to the next. They try positive cash flow properties, and when this doesn’t yield results they try off-the-plan, options or renovations. But this is rarely the solution. These unsuccessful investors blame the economy, the banks, the market, interest rates and so on. And all of these are beyond their control. It (whatever ‘it’ is that is stopping you from achieving what you want) won’t change until you change. To become a successful investor you must work on yourself first.
Become financially fluent so you understand the economy, property markets and finance tax and the law as they relate to real estate. Get a good team around you, engage a mentor who can see your blind spots, and join a mastermind group of like-minded investors so you develop the right mindset. Attend (the right) seminars and never stop working on your own personal development.
7
Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new. The power of all this knowledge is in its implementation. It has no benefit unless you take action. Things won’t always work out as you’d hoped and, of course, there are risks involved in getting into property. But there are bigger risks to your financial security if you don’t.
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