Airnorth June/July 2017

June/July 2017

Ancient

RITUAL Healing is at the heart of the 19th annual Garma festival

5 must-dos in Cairns Our top activities from the Queensland hot spot Soaring above the Kimberley Experience the coastline’s rugged beauty from the air AUTO REVIEW • ENTERTAINMENT • ART & CULTURE • MINING & INDUSTRY • EDUCATION

Tanami Rural Property - specialising in pastoral sales across Northern Australia • Rural property specialists with specific market knowledge of pastoral and rural property transactions • Proven sales record including 1.59 million hectares sold in 2016 • 20 years experience in the pastoral industry from the ground up • Strong negotiation skills that are solution focused • We understand the complexities and emotions that accompany the process of purchasing and selling rural land

Trust Tanami Rural Property to assist with your Northern Agricultural Investments Integrity Communication Confidentiality Ethics Commitment Innovation

www.tanamiruralproperty.com.au P: 08 8967 1727 | M: +61 409 987 436 Building 2, Level 1, 631 Stuart Highway, Berrimah NT 0828 E: sue@tanamiruralproperty.com.au

Dili, Timor-Leste Milingimbi Elcho Island

Maningrida

Gove Truscott

Wadeye

Groote Eylandt Katherine

Kununurra McArthur River

Broome The Granites

Tennant Creek

Cairns

Townsville

Alice Springs

Toowoomba

Perth

Melbourne

Welcome aboard!

If ever there was a time to experience the glorious Top End, it’s right now!

The dry season is finally here. The tropical rain has ceased – leaving nothing but clear blue sunny skies, and balmy, earthy nights in its wake.

Dry season in the north brings with it a refreshed, lively spirit that’s palpable amongst locals, and draws in visitors from near and far.

Over the coming months, the top of Australia comes alive with a series of events and festivals celebrating history, culture and entertainment, making it the perfect getaway.

The 2017 Carlton Mid Darwin Cup Carnival kicks off on the 8th of July, starting four weeks of racing festivities at the iconic Fannie Bay Racecourse. With this year’s theme, ‘Carnival of Colour’, the 2017 carnival is sure to be the boldest and brightest yet.

What better way to celebrate Darwin than attend the annual Darwin Festival, held over 17 jam-packed days in August? Take advantage of those stellar dry season nights, and get amongst the community spirit by celebrating Indigenous culture and Darwin’s history of resilience.

If you didn’t get your fill of race day excitement in Darwin, then head west for the 2017 Broome Cup Carnival. Set amongst the picturesque Western Australian coast, races

will stretch through July and August, culminating in the main event on the 18th of August.

The annual Garma Festival gets underway early August in Arnhem Land. Rich in economic, cultural and historical importance, the Garma gathering brings together business leaders, international political leaders, intellectuals, academics and journalists to discuss the most pressing issues facing Australia.

Heading east, the annual Townsville 400 comes screaming into Northern Queensland in July. If the V8s aren’t enough to get race-goers revved up, performances from Australian icons Jimmy Barnes and James Reyne sure will!

If you want a true winter escape, we’re delighted to announce additional services to Melbourne via Toowoomba, making travel down south even easier.

We also have extra services being offered for northern travellers, with additional weekend services departing from Darwin to Gove, Cairns and Perth.

Now sit back, relax with our inflight service and enjoy your journey with Airnorth.

Daniel Bowden Chief Executive Officer

Airnorth reservations: 1800 627 474 or airnorth.com.au

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contents

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08 Airnorth News 1 5 5 Cairns Must-Dos Don't leave without ticking these experiences off your bucket list

2 0 Timeless Wonder

East Arnhem Land will stir and soothe your soul

2 8 Never-Never Land A sky-high Kimberley coastline adventure

LIFESTYLE 01 ENTERTAINMENT 03 WHAT'S ON 04 CULTURE CLUB 09 HOT PRODUCTS 11 WINE COUNTRY DINING The Hunter Valley's top fine dining restaurants 16 AUTO REVIEW The best cars for less

DESTINATION 20 RENAISSANCE CITY Discover a glamorous new Perth ­­– first stop, the luxurious COMO the Treasury 25 NEW AGE OF CRUISE It's time to challenge everything you thought you knew about the cruising experience 36 AUSTRALIAN WINE SPECIAL Our wine industry has come of age. Find out why the whole world is excited in our special review

BUSINESS 57 NEWS AND VIEWS 59 AUSTRALIA'S ENERGY CRISIS What can be done to fix the issues surrounding Australia's energy supply?

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63 WHEN ONE DOOR CLOSES...

In the wake of recent power station closures, how are we reskilling the jobless?

75 EDUCATION SPECIAL Top boarding schools and universities around Australia

3

Tennis Star Alicia Molik

93 Konkerberry Drive PO Box 20 Kununurra, Western Australia, 6743 Phone: +61 (08) 9169 1133 Fax: +61 (08) 9168 1188 Freecall: 1800 852 144 (within Australia) Email: info@kimberleyfinediamonds.com.au www. kimberleyfinediamonds.com.au

Get in ! touch EDITOR Zoe Meunier zoe.meunier@edge.agency COMMISSIONING EDITOR Annabelle Warwick ART DIRECTOR Guy Pendlebury SUB-EDITORS Merran White, Jiyan Dessens PRODUCTION MANAGER Brian Ventour CONTRIBUTORS Darren Baguley, Michael Benn, Rowan Crosby, Jiyan Dessens, Deborah Dickson-Smith, Patrick Haddock, Sally Macmillan, Tim O'Reilly, Ben Smithurst, Anna Warwick PRINTER SOS Print & Media ADVERTISING SALES DIRECTOR Scott Hunt Phone: 02 8962 2600 scott.hunt@edge.agency NATIONAL ACCOUNT MANAGER Peter Anderson Phone: 02 8962 2600 peter.anderson@edge.agency WA, SA and NT SALES REP Helen Glasson, Hogan Media Phone: 08 9381 3991 helen@hoganmedia.com.au MANAGING PARTNERS Fergus Stoddart, Richard Parker

Read and share Outthere online at issuu.com/edgeinflight

Outthere is published by Edge Level 4, 10–14 Waterloo Street, Surry Hills NSW 2010 Phone: +61 2 8962 2600 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.

Editor's letter

T

his is my first issue as editor of Outthere, and if you’ll excuse the pun, I couldn’t be more thrilled to be on board. It’s inspiring to be at the helm (or should that be cockpit?) of a magazine that celebrates the beauty, diversity and unique stories of every corner of our magnificent country – and beyond.

In Airnorth this issue, we explore the hidden treasures of East Arnhem Land – a place as magical as it is remote. We also take an aerial tour of the stunning Broome and Kimberley coastline and the incredible Horizontal Falls, described by David Attenborough as “one of the greatest natural wonders of the world”, before guiding you through the 5 must-do activities in Cairns – who’s up for a jungle swing or day of tubing?

In Outthere, don’t miss our huge wine special which explores just how far

Australian wine-making has come in recent years, with a state by state, region by region guide to the best places for wine lovers to visit (best read with a glass of red in hand!).

Be sure to also check out our fantastic cruise special, which will make you rethink everything you thought you knew about cruising. If you ever wanted to experience dog sledding, glacier hiking or swimming with turtles, we have the cruise to transport you there in style.

Enjoy getting Outthere!

Zoe Meunier, Editor

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

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

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

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safety/info

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

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 airnorth.com.au for more details.

SAFETY BRIEFING

SMOKING

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.

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.

SEATBELTS

DEEP VEIN THROMBOSIS (DVT)

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.

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

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: • Drink plenty of fluids, especially water, and minimise your intake of alcohol. • Exercise 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.

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

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airnorthnews

HEALING AT THE HEART of

GARMA 2017

In traditional Yolngu culture, a

makarrata was a peace-making ceremony to heal divisions of the past between disputing clans. A senior mediator was called on to oversee the process, which typically involved inflicting pain on the person who had committed the wrong. Traditionally, a spear to the thigh was an acceptable form of discipline.

Once blood had been shed and the cleansing ritual had taken place, clan groups would consider the dispute resolved. Clan groups thereafter had an optimistic future, no grudges were held, and life continued on for all.

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Makarrata is the central theme of the 19th annual Garma festival of Indigenous culture, which will take place between 4-7 August near Gove in northeast Arnhem Land.

Denise Bowden, the CEO of the Yothu Yindi Foundation which hosts Garma, said the notion of a makarrata, of a healing, remained relevant today in the context of the ongoing process of reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.

“Reconciliation doesn’t end with a single act or gesture,” Mrs Bowden said.

“It’s a moving and constantly evolving process for our nation. Sometimes it’s

a case of two steps forward, one step back, but it’s important we keep working at it together as a unified approach.

“Whether we’re talking about Constitutional Recognition of Indigenous Australians, the push for a Treaty, or issues around land rights, there has to be room for give and take on both sides of the fence.”

In recent years, Garma has grown to become the number one Indigenous cultural event on the Australian calendar, attracting a mix of Aboriginal leaders, philanthropists, academics and policy experts, business leaders and politicians.

Darwin at Dusk

airnorthnews

The ceremonial bunggul.

“Reconciliation doesn’t end with a single act or gesture, it’s a moving and constantly evolving process for our nation”

The Key Forum, which hosts discussion on a range of contemporary issues relevant to Indigenous Australia, is one of the major drawcards.

But at its heart, Garma is a cultural celebration, a chance to explore the rich traditions of Yolngu culture, which has sustained the clans of Arnhem Land for 50,000 years.

Each afternoon, guests gather to watch the ceremonial bunggul (traditional dance), where the call of the yidaki (didgeridoo) and the rhythm of the clapsticks echo throughout the site, and colourful dance troupes from across the region perform a captivating expression

of ancient ritual and knowledge.

The spectacular Gapan Gallery showcases the talents of local artists from a range of regional arts centres, while an array of popular and emerging musical acts steal the show after sundown.

During the day, guests can participate in workshops focused on different aspects of Yolngu culture, such as spear-making, jewellery-making, basket weaving and instruction in the Yolngu Matha language.

With limited capacity at the beautiful Gulkula ceremonial grounds, tickets to Garma sell out fast.

Book early to avoid missing out at garma.com.au

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airnorthnews

AIRNORTH’S WIGGLY PARTY

By Paulie Stewart

Australia’s premier children’s entertainment troupe, The Wiggles, teamed up with Airnorth recently to bring joy and happiness to some of East Timor’s most disadvantaged children.

The ‘fab four’ – Anthony Field, Lachlan Gillespie, Simon Pryce, and Emma Watkins – donated a huge shipment of their merchandise to the ALMA Nuns located in Dili, who tend to many of the disabled and orphaned children in the former Portuguese colony.

Airnorth contributed to the Wiggly party, along with Toll Transport, by transporting 139 boxes of toys, clothes, boots, shoes, hats, cups and games.

I was lucky enough to collect the gear, before helping the nuns distribute it to some of the most disadvantaged rural communities in Timor-Leste.

I have a long personal relationship with the people of Timor-Leste, as my brother Tony was one of the five journalists murdered at Balibo in 1975.

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It was during the making of the movie Balibo – also supported by Airnorth – that I met the ALMA Nuns, whom I was told looked after “the lowest of the low”.

I have also been good friends with The Wiggles since they were members of the rock band The Cockroaches, and I was in Melbourne punk act The Painters and Dockers.

The guys who formed The Wiggles actually told me in the late ‘80s that they were going into children’s entertainment, to which I said, “Why? That’s crazy!

There’s no money or fame in that.”

Proving me totally wrong, The Wiggles emerged as one of the most successful entertainment acts in the world, regularly touring nationally and internationally.

Unknown to most, The Wiggles are involved in various charity work behind the scenes.

In the past, they have worked with UNICEF on an East-Timorese project supplying clean water and 300

low-cost sanitary latrines (including washing facilities) for five villages and schools in Ermera and Liquica districts.

Many Australians now support the ALMA Nuns after hearing of the great work they do at their facility in Dili opposite the International School.

The funds raised by their supporters have enabled them to purchase a new van which helps transport the disabled children they look after and build two classrooms to assist children with basic education.

Head ALMA Nuns Sister Isabel was ecstatic about the huge donation of Wiggles gear.

“God Bless Airnorth and The Wiggles,” she said.

“Many of our children will be getting their first ever toy and they are just so excited and so happy.

“We thank our Australian friends for their ongoing support and consider ourselves very lucky to be working with The Wiggles.’’

airnorthnews

To mor find ou t e ALM, search for A on yo Nuns utub e

To make a donation or for more information on the work of the ALMA Nuns in Timor-Leste, please send mail to: ALMA Nuns c/o Jesuit Mission P.O. Box 193 North Sydney NSW 2059

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airnorthnews

ADDITIONAL WEEKEND SERVICES

Events Upcoming

NEW dry season weekend services linking Darwin, Gove and Cairns Top End travellers now have more options for tropical getaways, when new conveniently timed dry

season services between Darwin, Gove and Cairns are launched.

Whether you wish to explore Kakadu, East Arnhem Land or the Daintree, Airnorth’s new services on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays between June and October will make planning a short break (or a long one) so much easier. New services commence Friday 23 June, 2017 and can be booked now.

July

June 3-August 19 in Broome 2017 Broome Cup Carnival broometurfclub.com.au July 8-August 7 in Darwin Carlton Mid Darwin Cup Carnival darwinturfclub.org.au July 7-9 in Townsville Supercars Townsville 400 supercars.com/townsville

August August 4-7 in Gulkula, NT Garma Festival yyf.com.au Darwin at dusk.

BACK TO PERTH IN 2017

August 10-27 in Darwin Darwin Festival darwinfestival.org.au

September

Seasonal Perth services from Darwin and Kununurra Airnorth returns to Perth with a seasonal Friday and Saturday service. Commencing Friday

23 June, 2017, travellers from Darwin and Kununurra will be able to take advantage of a late Friday afternoon departure to arrive in Perth in the early evening for a full weekend of footy or shopping, or to enjoy Perth’s spectacular new Elizabeth Quay precinct. For those wanting to head north to the Kimberley and Top End, a Saturday morning service will depart Perth at 8:15 am.

September 2-10 in Broome Shinju Matsuri Festival of the Pearl shinjumatsuri.com.au September 19-23 in Timor-Leste Tour De Timor tourdetimor.com September 15-24 in Toowoomba Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers tcof.com.au

Perth sunrise.

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AWANA (Welcome) to the Tiwi Islands “Ngawa kukunari ngini nuwa awungarra kapi nginingawula murrakupuni. Awi. We are happy that you are here in our country, in our land. Talking to everybody” TIWI GREETING

The Tiwi Islands, only 80km north of Darwin, has long been on the travellers’ must-visit list. Now accessible via high-speed ferry, it’s easy to experience the unique art and history of the vibrant Tiwi culture. Come up and meet the Tiwi people with a choice of day tours, or grab a walking map and museum ticket on board the ferry and explore the community of Wurrumiyanga at your own pace.

TIWI BY DESIGN DAY TOUR

TIWI ABORIGINAL CULTURAL EXPERIENCE

A leisurely walking tour with a local Tiwi guide including a visit tot the art centre and museum, plus a ‘behind-the-scenes’ screen printing session with a local Tiwi artist.

Tour in air-conditioned comfort through the Aboriginal community of Wurrumiyanga with local Tiwi guide, meet the Tiwi Ladies for morning tea and visit the art centres.

Tour from $325

Tour from $266

SeaLink 1300 130 679

sealinknt.com.au

AATKings 1800 672 141

aatkings.com

Ph: 08 8947 4700

Email: info@fcsnt.com.au

www.fcsnt.com.au

Specialising in Calibration, Metering, Hydrostatic Testing Australia Wide.

We constantly maintain ISO17025 accredited compliance allowing you the confidence of meeting your safety & industrial standards.

• Test, Oxygen Industrial Gauges • Chart Recorders, PRVs, Transducers • Torque Measuring Instruments • Flow Metering & All Fuel Farm Maintenance • Verniers, Dumpy Levels • Hydrostatic Testing ... and much more

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& es all m ime c r s d fo ring ve t e c i joine cove to sa v r e have ion & lients S n ey locat ur c h o t i hat ne ng o t a t m o wi r e c b • SLP Inspections li noun ely froion allo a • Degassing C to an ctiv brat l • Hose Testing & Repair e py colle cali u • Pressure Testing of F hap ting Compartments and Pipelines are pera O

Ph: 08 8932 7843

• Leak Detection, Modifications & Fitting of Equipment • Alloy Welding Services • Aviation Cleaning • Over the Counter Parts Sales

Email: admin.tankers@fcsnt.com.au

www.tankerrepairs.com.au

weekender

5

things to do in

CAIRNS There’s something for everyone in this sunny corner of Queensland. Outthere lists our top five activities‌

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weekender

1

Take a Kuranda Scenic Railway, Skyrail and Great Barrier Reef helicopter tour + cruise Get the full monty here with this jampacked itinerary as you hop onto the legendary Kuranda Scenic Railway and head through Horseshoe Bend, past Stoney Creek Falls and Barron Falls. Visit Kuranda Markets and shop for locally made and native arts and crafts before taking a ride on the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway to take in the rainforest canopy and glimpse tantalising aerial views of Cairns’ beautiful coastline.

Next up is the blue expanse of the Great Barrier Reef and your spectacular 30-minute helicopter flight to the outer reef. From the helipontoon at Hastings Reef, you will be transferred to a high-speed vessel to enjoy a tropical lunch.

After lunch, you will have more than two hours to snorkel and swim.

Divers are not forgotten – there’s scuba diving available for both beginners and experienced divers at an additional cost. viator.com

2

Brush up on Indigenous culture at Tjapukai Cultural Park

Learn about the Indigenous Tjapukai people at this awardwinning cultural hotspot.

Night and day packages include boomerang and spearthrowing demonstrations, didgeridoo and corroboree dance performances, bushwalks, turtle sightings, canoe rides, a buffet dinner by a fire and heaps more. tjapukai.com.au 16

weekender

3

Live on the edge

If action and adventure is what you’re seeking, Cairns can provide in spades. The Tully and Barron Rivers boast some of the best white-water rafting rapids in Australia, or head to the Mulgrave River for a half-day of tubing. AJ Hackett (ajhackett.com) is also a huge magnet for adrenalin junkies, with bungy jumping on offer as well as their Minjin Jungle Swing – the world’s fastest jungle swing and the only multi-person one in Australia. And if you’ve always wanted to try sky-diving, where better to do it than with an aerial view over the Great Barrier Reef?

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weekender

4

Cool down at the Crystal Cascades

Pack your swimsuit and a picnic and travel 17 kilometres out of Cairns to the Crystal Cascades, where you’ll discover secret stunning waterfalls and croc-free swimming holes. Once you’ve had a splash, embark on a steep rainforest walking trail that will take you about three hours round-trip.

5

Channel your inner gourmet with a Food, Wine and Rainforest Tour

Perfect for the gourmet enthusiast, this tour encompasses a visit to Wet Tropics World Heritage Rainforest at Lake Barrine and the Curtain Fig. Travel off the beaten track, onto small family farms and hear the stories behind regional foods, from paddock to plate.

Excite your taste buds as you savour the flavours offered by the producers.

This day tour visits a tropical fruit winery, a cheese and chocolate factory, as well as coffee and macadamia plantations.

Be entertained by an informative local driver/guide, who details the Atherton Tablelands’ history, places of interest, historic towns and the abundance of foods produced in the region.

The tour includes everything: lunch, farm tours, tastings, fees, morning and afternoon tea, plus accommodation, transfers from Cairns and the Northern Beaches (excluding Port Douglas). foodtrailtours.com.au/tropical-food-andwine-tours 18

Out With the Old In With the New Dingo Dingo Australia have released the new generation of Mini Diggers, with the new ‘Ozzy’ range.

Dingo’s new “Ozzy” range is complete with three, all new models, that improve on their previous machines. The Dingo Mini Digger is now better and stronger than ever with the new design focusing on quality and high performance. National Sales Manager Jason Roberts gives us a little insight into the new range “We have the Ozzy K9-P and K9-D which will replace the All Rounder. The contractor will be replaced by the Ozzy K9-C. Each of the Ozzy’s has more to give than ever seen or felt before. You have to feel the “Ozzy” to truly experience the difference.”

With the new machines come an all new look coupled with loads of new features making the Ozzy Dingo shine in all the right places. “Ozzy” Dingoes now have exclusive silver side panels and make use of the superior cast chassis technology that was developed and patented by Dingo. This chassis is distinct, and definitely the WORLD’s BEST. Add to this Tier 4 diesel and EFI petrol engines, combined with unique hydraulics that leave all others behind, the DINGO is a far superior product at a price that is great value for money.

Give Dingo a call on 1300 4 DINGO (34646) to speak to one of their friendly staff or Dingo Authorized dealers.

Every DINGO is made in Dalby, Queensland, by Aussies who care about Australia. We back Australian manufacturing and are PROUD AUSSIES.

destination

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destination

The timeless wonder of

EAST ARNHEM LAND Beautiful, isolated and steeped in culture, this region is full of unexpected surprises.

WORDS: TIM O’REILLY

ast Arnhem Land is an area of ancient culture and timeless beauty. Dazzling white-sand beaches, turquoise-tinged bays and rugged red-cliffed islands will leave first-time visitors in awe, while the adventures awaiting those willing to ‘go the extra mile’ represent a true wilderness experience.

On one horizon, a smattering of islands juts out into the Arafura Sea; on another, seemingly endless kilometres of dune-clad foreshores punctuated by headlands line the Gulf of Carpentaria.

In places, remnant rainforest and coastal vine thickets are a vivid green amid earthy colours. This is a land of plenty, where nature has not been taught the manners of the civilised world; where mud crabs and barramundi jostle for position with the crocodiles.

Picture yourself out on cobalt-blue waters, the now distant silhouette of human infrastructure vanishing into the coastline. The early-morning sun rays take a long time to creep above red-ochre cliffs topped with tall trees. Birds are already hunting and fish can be seen fleeing in all directions, chased by other hungry fish.

Bruce Davey, a Top End ‘character’ who has carved out a life from the sea, runs a colourful operation out to the Wessel Islands from Nhulunbuy. He describes his charters as a chance to explore the untouched natural beauty of remote East Arnhem Land.

“Wildcard Luxury Cruises and Fishing Adventures take clients to a bay a day on an ocean less travelled. In the evenings, cruise the local seafood menu in a relaxed atmosphere like no other,” Bruce enthuses.

The vessel Wildcard is a maritime work of art; it cruises out of Gove Harbour with a string of tenders trailing behind it. The cruising season commences just after the New Year and runs through till April – it’s the time of year when local waterfalls are running, the land is looking green, sunsets are breathtaking and the wind is often nonexistent, making some of the bays around the English Company and Wessel Islands groups simply spectacular. Imagine the flat, calm waters of a horseshoe-shaped bay enclosed by silica-sand beaches, with waterfalls in the distance, cascading into the sea off rugged cliffs.

East Arnhem Land incorporates a massively diverse range of habitats,

"The early-morning sun rays take a long time to creep above the cliffs. Birds are already hunting and fish can be seen fleeing in all directions" 21

Wet season in Katherine provides many unique opportunities for hiking and rockhole swimming.

Come into the Katherine Visitor Information Centre for all your current up to date wet season information and for your best local rockhole experience and the hiking in the Nitmiluk National Park!

Welcome to Katherine!

See our land..... help us share our story!

Often called the ‘Crossroads of the North’ because of its location, Katherine is the fourth largest town in the Northern Territory and is located 312 km south-east of Darwin on the Katherine River.

The Katherine Visitor Information Centre is fully accredited and operated by the Katherine Town Council. Visit our online booking site to make all of your tour and accommodation bookings online: www. visitkatherine.com.au before you arrive, or come on into our centre and see one of our friendly staff and we’ll keep you busy on your holiday.

Katherine Visitor Information Centre Cnr of Lindsay St and Stuart Highway Katherine NT Phone: 08 8972 2650 Email: visitor@ktc.nt.gov.au Web: www.visitkatherine.com.au

Inf The K orm athe ati rine V on isit Ce or ntr e

destination

destination

vegetation types, coastal formations and fauna.

The scenery and vast space can be harsh and beautiful simultaneously. Any visit to Arnhem Land should be preceded by adequate planning and on your travels through the region, remember: the wishes of its traditional owners must be respected at all times.

Considering its remoteness, this region is actually well serviced, thanks to two wellappointed townships: Nhulunbuy (Gove) and Alyangula (Groote Eylandt). Any nonIndigenous visitor to the area wanting to travel outside the boundaries of these townships will need an appropriate entry permit. Travelling the Central Arnhem Highway takes travellers through Aboriginal homelands: the Northern Land Council issues permits to traverse these parts at no cost (visit nlc.org.au).

Nhulunbuy

Regular flights from Cairns and Darwin service Gove Airport, an easy 15-minute drive from the regional township of Nhulunbuy. All major services can be found here, including shopping centres, a Tackle World store, a hospital, camp grounds, hotels, motels, boat ramps and regular fuel. Sitting right at the end of Gove Peninsula, this bustling centre has provided support for – and been supported by – a long-running bauxite mine operation and a recently-shut-down alumina refinery.

The township of Nhulunbuy is quite a lush little oasis, tinged with green and dotted with the smiling faces of local Yolngu people, the area’s traditional owners. The broader Gove Peninsula offers a rich coastal and island playground in every direction but west.

The East Arnhem Land website (eastarnhemland.com.au) supplies invaluable information for travellers to the area. The Dhimurru Land Council (dhimurru.com.au) controls access permits to general and special access areas within a day’s drive of Nhulunbuy.

"Nhulunbuy is quite a lush little oasis, tinged with green and dotted with the smiling faces of local Yolngu people"

Groote Eylandt

Further south and with a spectacular island airstrip is Groote Eylandt, the second regional centre of East Arnhem Land. Regular flights between Darwin, Gove and Groote Eylandt Airport afford access to this rugged island, the fourth-largest in Australia. Surrounded by turquoise water and protruding into the Gulf of Carpentaria, the island harbours hundreds of isolated beaches and coves. Together with Bickerton Island and a few smaller satellite islands, this area is very isolated.

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destination

Groote Eylandt is still controlled by its traditional owners, the Anindilyakwa people, comprising 14 clans in the wider archipelago. The Anindilyakwa Land Council (anindilyakwa.com.au/land-sea/ access-permits) controls permits to 15 recreation spots on the island, open to visitors for camping and fully accessible by vehicle and boat.

The main township of Alyangula was created for manganese mining workers and has amazing facilities including a first-class resort, a golf course, two clubs, an arts centre and shops, as well as a bank, coffee shop, swimming pool, post office, health centre and police station.

Angling and outdoor adventure is a way of life for Groote residents. Besides the ravenous mackerel, trevally and queenfish riding the current lines, this area can also turn on great bluewater fishing, with sailfish and small marlin frequently among the local catches. Groote Eylandt Sport Fishing (grootefishing.com.au) runs fantastic trips through the archipelago on one or the other of its pair of fully customised vessels, both equipped with the latest technology.

Accommodation for fishing groups is at the surprisingly large and brilliantly appointed Groote Eylandt Lodge. The 12 elevated fishing cabins located right on the water’s edge are complemented by a further 60 water-frontage rooms in three accommodation types. An array

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of tours, including cultural excursions, island explorer tours and walking trips, can be organised through the lodge (grooteeylandtlodge.com.au). Currently, large infrastructure investments are being made around cultural appreciation of the Anindilyakwa people and their rich history.

East Arnhem Land by road

Driving to East Arnhem Land from almost anywhere is quite another experience altogether. As you head south and then east of Katherine onto the Central Arnhem Highway, a real sense of isolation creeps in. Road signs and fuel stops become fewer and the mixed bitumen and dirt turns decidedly more dirt the further east one goes. Being 4WD only territory, anyone towing boats, caravans or trailers should do so with extreme caution.

Just before crossing the picturesque Goyder River, the road veers north-east and you’ll drive through a series of rangy, red, bauxite-rich bends of oft-corrugated dirt road. Towards the end of the drive, a plateau of undulating hills and vast hectares of gadayka (stringybark) let you know that the journey is nearing its end.

Driving all the way to Nhulunbuy is something of a daunting excursion, but when the coast comes into view, it fills you with a sense of achievement and gratitude.

This is Yolngu country, and the Yolngu are an exceptionally strong Aboriginal

"Angling and outdoor adventure is a way of life for Groote residents."

“Visitors should not miss this major Centre...�

Lonely Planet Guide to Indigenous Australia

Do not miss this community owned and operated award winning Indigenous Art Centre, Theatrette and Museum specialising in bark paintings, yidaki (didjeridu), memorial poles, sculpture, fibrework and limited edition prints.

Opening Hours 8am - 4.30pm Monday - Friday and 9am - noon on Saturday

08 89871701 art@yirrkala.com

www.yirrkala.com Buku-Larrnggay Mulka Centre is at Yirrkala on the way from the Gove Airport to Nhulunbuy.

Staying at Groote Eylandt Lodge:

VALE BREW ALWAYS I GOOD

• Waters Edge Accommodation • Seagrass Restaurant & Bar • Day Spa

• Art Centre & Cultural Experiences • Conference Suite

one of the most exciting fishing grounds in the world

VALE BREWING. ALWAYS IN VALEGOOD BREWING. ALWAYS IN COMPANY. GOOD COMPANY.

GROUP SAFARIS CORPORATE RETREATS PRIVATE CHARTERS

DRINK RESPONSIBLY

Call toll free 1800 877 O77 or visit GrooteFishing.com.au

DRINK RESPONSIBLY

"Many Yolngu reside in small communities located on their traditional homelands" tribe, which manages a vast tract of north-east Arnhem Land (and has done so for millennia).

Many Yolngu reside in small communities located on their traditional homelands. Yirrkala, with around 800 residents, is the largest Yolngu community on the Gove Peninsula and is situated 15 kilometres south-east of Nhulunbuy.

Cultural attributes are woven into the tapestries of art and carvings at the BukuLarrnggay Mulka Art Centre in Yirrkala (yirrkala.com). This timeless Indigenous art centre is of international significance and includes an expansive gallery of Aboriginal art and artefacts, a fascinating museum and a theatre.

Additional options around Gove Peninsula

This year, the Garma festival, hosted by the Yothu Yindi Foundation, takes place from 4-7 August at the ceremonially significant Gulkula site. Tickets and registration are required for the landmark festival and camping is available on site (yyf.com.au).

Wildcard Luxury Cruises offers exclusive cruise itineraries to some of the most remote parts of East Arnhem Land between January and April (wildcardluxurycruises.com.au).

Gove Sports Fishing & Diving Charters offers an array of charter options, including stays at a remote island safari camp (Wigram Island Retreat) in the English Company Island group (govefish.com.au).

Bremer Island is a scenic wonderland located just off the Gove Peninsula, where a couple runs the Banubanu Wilderness Retreat for up to 16 guests, who stay in modern safari-style tents on the beachfront (banubanu.com).

Accommodation at the popular Walkabout Lodge (walkaboutlodge.com. au) and Gove Peninsula Motel (govemotel. com) should be booked before travelling.

For more information about East Arnhem Land, including the Yolngu people, local history, attractions and tours, visit the East Arnhem Land Tourist Association website, eastarnhemland.com.au

TOUR TRADITIONALLY Lirrwi Tourism (lirrwitourism.com. au) runs various tours out of Yirrkala, providing visitors with the rare opportunity to experience the land and sea through the eyes of the area’s traditional owners. Randy Yibarbuk is a Yolngu man who coordinates an array of Lirrwi’s tours. A dedicated, responsible, respectful and motivated tour guide and driver, Randy is an excellent role model to younger Yolngu.

Lirrwi runs a mix of accredited tours, including: • ‘Crossing Country’ cultural tours – Yolngu Dhukarr; • corporate cultural-awareness tours – Wangany Dhukarr; • education group tours – ‘extraordinary-curricular’ activities; • ‘dilly bag’ tours for women – Gay’Wu; • art tours, incorporating cultural aspects and art centre visits.

destination

The flight to Never-Never Land Ready for the adventure of a lifetime that fits into a morning?

Take to the skies and swoop over the Buccaneer Archipelago and astonishing Horizontal Falls to Cape Leveque.

WORDS: ANNA WARWICK

ango, Foxtrot, Whisky, Bravo, over...”. Snatches of pilot Ryan’s radio chat buzz through my huge headphones as the propeller begins to spin and the engine roars to life.

“OK, close the door.” Ryan nods my way.

Nervous, I reach out and pull the red lever, swinging the cabin door to. As copilot, this is my only task aside from not touching the pedals and controls so the six of us don’t nosedive to our deaths.

The light plane takes off over the azurewhite-and-red-striped Broome coastline, climbing north as the morning fog – the ‘Kimberley Rain’ – lifts. Ryan points out pearl and crocodile farms on the wide-open Roebuck Plains below, adding to the illusion that we’ve stepped back in time.

The further we fly, the higher we rise, but the ride is smooth as we drift over Mount Jowlenga. Ryan tells of explorers stranded up to their necks in mud, driven Catholic missionaries, and the SAS officers who are dropped to find their way out of this nevernever land in the wet.

We approach the King Sound, where gigantic near-12-metre tides, second only to the 15-metre waves that crash against the shores of Nova Scotia, rise and fall twice a day.

One tiny red road reaches the Disaster Bay coast, at the end of which three or four tiny tin roofs indicate an Indigenous community.

Before us in the massive Sound lie massive bays and massive islands, surrounded by the

massive Kimbolton Range. This is the northwest tip of Australia, 27,932 square kilometres of near-untouched land and sea country that belongs to the Wanjina Wunggurr Dambimangari people.

The mangrove-lined beaches are met with clear ocean water flushed through the Sound each day, but out deeper it gets milky, turquoise striped with grey from the mud sucked back from the flats. “That’s a good sign: the falls will be full,” says Ryan.

We are flying toward an extraordinary natural phenomenon: what could be the world’s only horizontal waterfalls. Below us, two long, high, green peninsulas jut like fingers from the mainland, with deep crevasses where the tides push millions of litres of water back and forth through the rock with such force it roars forth in a jet of whitewash. It’s so beautiful, I can’t quite believe my eyes.

Ryan flies over and around the falls, dipping the plane to the right and then to the left, and leaning back apologetically so I can see past him and down into the sparkling water.

We fly north over the Archipelago as 800 or more beautiful green islands rise from clear waters below, some rocky and flat, some mountainous. We all speculate about which of these isles would make the best home, and which could be for our friends and family. Ryan says some are occupied, but whether you can inhabit them depends on access to fresh water and permission from the traditional owners.

I cannot see a living soul...

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destination

Out in the deep water, surf curls over and over a reef, perfect waves never reaching the shore.

We approach the northernmost headland, Cape Leveque, at the entrance to the Sound, and loop around yet more islands. “Can you spot the runway?” Ryan asks. We descend over a curving white beach and a forest of low-lying trees as he makes for the long red airstrip, landing the tiny plane like a dragonfly on a twig.

It’s hot in the little tin box of a plane, the sun high in the sky even at 9am. I jump out onto the tarmac, grinning from ear to ear.

We soon find ourselves in a civilised oasis, sitting down for espressos and a delicious cooked breakfast at the campsite restaurant overlooking the beach. Yes, there’s camping here if your vehicle makes it up Cape Leveque Road, and luxury cabins by the sea.

After dining, we head down a red-dirt track through a moonscape of jagged red

cliffs, sacred to the native tribes, onto Kooljaman beach – two glorious kilometres of paradise. Everyone leaps into the gentle waves. After splashing about in the calm green water, I lie on the sparkly white sand to cool off. Before long, the sun begins to singe my winter skin.

Back on the plane, headed south along the Kimberley coastline, we see the silvery backs of whales breaching and splashing in the sun. In shallow Pender Bay, Ryan points out a white catamaran he reckons has been stranded on the mud flats since full moon. “He’s missed the tides; he’ll be here for a week,” Ryan says.

We skirt bay after stunning bay. Ryan tells the story of a Kimberley fisherman, who allegedly discovered a package of diamonds in a plane wreck, then handed some out to his mates.

We fly over the mission town of Beagle Bay, where part of the film Bran Nue Day was shot, and pass over James

Price Point, the sacred piece of land successfully rescued from exploitation by the people of Broome.

One passenger – a Broome local – points out a remote cliffside. “That’s Barred Creek. It’s a great spot for barramundi fishing and you still have phone reception.”

Ryan chimes in, “It’s almost barra season. Have you heard that local Kimberley saying: ‘When the mangoes are ripe, the barra are on the bite?’.”

‘I’m not in Kansas anymore!’ I muse.

Indeed, at this moment, I feel like Peter Pan. Far too soon Ryan radios in to the little airport outside of Broome. We descend over Willie Creek and the seeminglyendless sands of Cable Beach, dotted with 4WDs and fishermen lounging in deckchairs.

It’s only when Ryan himself fishes – “Not a bad landing?” – that I realise we have touched back down to earth.

This is food for the spirit that will leave most adventures for dead.

FALLS FLIGHTS Several scenic flight operators offer half day tours, departing from Broome and flying over the Horizontal Falls, with morning or afternoon tea at Cape Leveque, including: • Broome Aviation – broomeaviation.com/ scenic-flights/incredible-islands • King Leopold – kingleopoldair.com.au • Kimberley Air Tours – kimberleyairtours. com.au/broome-tours In addition, Horizontal Falls Seaplanes Adventures (horizontalfallsadventures. com.au) operate flights to the falls as well as a fast boat ride through them, and KAS helicopters (kashelicopters.com.au) also head from Broome to the falls.

For more information, visit australiasnorthwest.com

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Your story starts with us...

Kununurra, the Kimberley

helispirit.com.au call 1800 180 085

freshwaterapartments.net.au call 1300 729 267

triplejtours.com.au call 08 9168 2682

lifestyle

Entertainment

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The latest and greatest things to hear, see and read...

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Wattpad

st picaff k

Iron Maiden: Vinyl Reissues We’re stepping back in time this month, courtesy of Iron Maiden releasing brandnew pressings of albums from 1990 to 2015 in heavyweight 180-gram black vinyl.

Cut from high-resolution remasters so you can enjoy crystal-clear audio, each album will be packaged in identical artwork to that of the initial vinyl releases.

Brave New World, Rock in Rio (Live), Dance of Death and A Matter of Life and Death are available from 23 June. Death on the Road (Live), Flight 666 (Live), The Final Frontier and En Vivo! (Live) are available from 21 July.

Prince: Purple Rain (Deluxe Edition) Transport yourself back to 1984 with this exciting reissue of Prince’s iconic album, Purple Rain, including major hits ‘Purple Rain’, ‘When Doves Cry’ and ‘Let’s Go Crazy’. Celebrating Prince’s extraordinary legacy, the remastered deluxe edition also features two albums of previously unreleased Prince music from the era, and two complete concert films from the Paisley Park vault.

Available from 9 June.

App Store, free Google Play, free Looking for a new or old book? Look no further! This is a free-for-all of downloadable books for your chosen device.

Offering an endless library of literary favourites – books

by Jane Austen, Arthur Conan Doyle, Lewis Carroll and Shakespeare – it also includes many publications from up-and-coming authors and fanfiction stories ripe for endless reading.

TED

App Store, free Google Play, free Feed your curiosity and expand your world with TED – a carefully curated library of more than 2000 inspiring TED talks from remarkable people. Organised by topic and mood, from tech and science to the surprises of your own psychology, you’ll be able to create your own lists, download talks directly to your device for long-haul flights and even bookmark titles for later.

watch Beatriz At Dinner Comedy M

It premiered at the Sundance Film Festival to international acclaim: Beatriz at Dinner, starring Salma Hayek, John Lithgow and Connie Britton, will take you back to every awkward conversation you’ve ever witnessed at a dinner party. Heroine Beatriz, a passionate and righteous LA healer hailing from a poor town in Mexico, finds herself locking horns at an affluent dinner party with a rapacious real estate developer. You’ll find yourself laughing and wincing at the satirical styling and squirm-inducing silences.

Beatriz at Dinner opens in cinemas across Australia from 9 June.

read

Wunderlist

Half Wild Pip Smith, Allen & Unwin $29.99

Based on the true story of Eugenia Falleni, a runaway from Wellington, New Zealand who lived a life of dark intensity on the edge of Sydney society in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Half Wild is a brilliant exploration of identity, power and shifting perceptions.

Scheduled for release in June.

Some Tests Wayne Macauley, Text Publishing $29.99

This unsettling fictional journey deep into the strange world of the medical system follows Beth, who is shunted from specialist to specialist, never receiving any answers. Unnerving and brilliant, Some Tests is about waking up one morning and finding your ordinary life changed forever.

The Gulf Anna SpargoRyan, Picador $29.99

A heart-wrenching coming-of-age story, The Gulf traces the journey of 16-yearold Skye and her 10-year-old brother Ben as they take their fate into their own hands to escape family violence.

Acute, moving and ultimately uplifting, It explores issues of family, responsibility and power.

App Store, free Google Play, free Forget paper lists and trying to track down long-past expenses and receipts, Wunderlist is the answer to all your family admin needs.

From organising and sharing your to-do, work, grocery, movies and household lists to assigning tasks to specific family members, no matter what you’re planning, how big or small the task may be, Wunderlist will make it super easy to get stuff done!

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Discover the Murray River Join the gracious PS Murray Princess on one of her regular 3,4 or 7 night cruises or join one of the fabulous special event cruises.

Join one of our many special cruises we operate during the year. They are lots of fun and fill fast, so book early!

3 Night ‘Hot August Night’ 25 Aug 7 Night Mannum to Renmark 1 Dec

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From From

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Combine a holiday to Adelaide with a cruise on the PS Murray Princess and a 2 day tour of Kangaroo Island. From $1713pp*.

3 Night Discovery cruise

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3 nights Mercure Grosvenor Hotel Adelaide

From

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7 Night Murraylands & Wildlife cruise

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3, 4 or 7 night cruise on the PS Murray Princess including all meals

3 Night New Years Eve 29 Dec

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2 Day Best of Kangaroo Island tour including accommodation, 2 lunches & breakfast

*Conditions apply, see website for Special Event Cruise departure dates, Early Booking Saver conditions and further details on cruises and packages. From rates based on inside cabin with 2 x single beds. Cruises depart Mannum, South Australia and include coach transfers from Adelaide or secure car parking at Mannum. Fares valid to 31 March 2018. ABN 69 007 122 367.

Call 1300 729 938 or visit murrayprincess.com.au

lifestyle

What’s On

Our top pick of events coming up around the country...

JULY

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O T T SED O N MIS BE

Splendour in the Grass, Byron Bay, NSW 21–23 JULY This fantastic coastal festival features a line-up of the hottest acts of 2017, including The XX, Queens of the Stone Age, LCD Soundsystem, Royal Blood, Haim and Sigur Rós. Combining live music, mosh pits, great festival food and on-site camping, Splendour typically sells out in a matter of minutes – though you can always hope for ‘resale tickets’. Happily, there are some exciting sideshows to placate those unlucky fans who miss out on the main event. splendourinthegrass.com

JUNE

JUNE

9

JULY

23

JULY

4

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9–12 June

23–25 June

4–6 July

July 12

Tatts Finke Desert Race, NT

Truffle Kerfuffle, WA

Big Red Bash, QLD

Holden State of Origin game III, QLD

The richest off-road, multi-terrain race in Australia. Each year, 600-plus competitors cover the 460-kilometre course from Alice Springs to the remote Finke community, traversing some of the most remote parts of the country. A true Outback experience, the Finke Desert Race delivers oodles of excitement and true-blue action.

Held in the heart of Australian truffle country, Manjimup, this festival pays homage to one of the world’s greatest delicacies: the black Périgord truffle.

Along with the live truffle hunts, masterclasses and farmers’ market, there will be a veritable glut of gala meals featuring other produce from the region, including wine from the famed Margaret River region. trufflekerfuffle.com.au

The world’s most remote music festival, the Birdsville Big Red Bash takes place in the heart of the Aussie Outback. This year, it’s set up on the Simpson Desert and features some of Australia’s bestloved country and rock music stars, with a flotilla of homegrown talent as well as desert drag races, Indigenous craft workshops, delicious food and family fun. bigredbash.com.au

State versus state, mate versus mate, with more than three decades of history, the State of Origin continues to be a pinnacle event on the NRL calendar. Held at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium, this year’s State of Origin decider is sure to be a nailbiter.

Be there to be a part of one of Australia’s unique sporting experiences. tickets.nrl.com/origin

finkedesertrace.com.au

else

where

21–25 June Glastonbury Festival, UK The UK’s biggest music event is back for another epic set on the unique Pyramid Stage. glastonburyfestivals.co.uk

22–25 June Queenstown Winter Festival, NZ An exhilarating blend of sports, culture and entertainment: experience the ultimate in cold-weather fun. winterfestival.co.nz

look

ahead

19–26 August Audi Hamilton Island Race Week, Hamilton Island, Qld Australia’s biggest offshore keelboat regatta has something for everyone! hamiltonislandraceweek.com.au

29–30 September Deni Ute Muster, Deniliquin Celebrate all things Australian at this epic cultural event beside the beautiful Edward River. deniutemuster.com.au

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lifestyle

CULTURE

club

Got a thing for theatre? Love live music? Enjoy great galleries?

Read on for what’s happening this month...

9–24 JUNE ADELAIDE CABARET FESTIVAL, SA The best local, national and international cabaret artists take centre stage at the Adelaide Cabaret Festival, which delights each year with its bold program. A wondrous feast for the senses, this year’s festival will host 58 international artists from as far afield as the United States, Ireland, United Kingdom, Japan and New Zealand, together with 372 Australian artists including 234 from South Australia. adelaidecabaretfestival.com.au

VIVID SYDNEY, NSW 26 MAY–17 JUNE

It claims to be the world’s largest festival of light, music and ideas, and this year’s Vivid celebrations will be bigger, bolder and brighter than ever. In addition to the stellar light displays, this year’s festival features a diverse line-up of music, including performances from Boy George, Fleet Foxes, The Avalanches and Dianne Reeves, plus an ideas program headlined by renowned American contemporary artist Shepard Fairey. vividsydney.com

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lifestyle

14–16 July CAIRNS INDIGENOUS ART FAIR, QLD Experience the vibrant Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures at this three-day celebration of the power and beauty of Indigenous Australian art. Featuring curated exhibitions of big-name artists such as Gail Mabo, Daniel Body and the globally-recognised Pormpuraaw Art Centre, the eighth Cairns Indigenous Art Fair is shaping up to be one of the best yet. ciaf.com.au

2–5 JUNE

Jazz by the Bay, WA After four fantastic years, this sensational west-coast extravaganza is going global, with international acts making an appearance for the very first time.

Headliners include three musicians from the legendary Buena Vista Social Club orchestra; popular Perth jazz crooner and musician Adam Hall and the Velvet Playboys; UK-based jazz singer and recording artist Karen Lane; and festival favourite Cathrine Summers. jazzbythebay.com.au

30 JUNE–15 JULY

What Rhymes with Cars and Girls, TAS Unabashedly romantic, this tender musical is adapted from Tim Rogers’ iconic solo album.

Playwright Aidan Fennessy has threaded Rogers’ beautiful songs together to create an engaging new tale of contemporary love in urban Australia. Performed with a live band, it’s an intimate musical treasure telling of two lovers brought together by fate – and a pizza delivery gone wrong.

tastheatre.com

June–July THE BOOK OF MORMON, VIC Nothing’s sacred in this multi-award-winning Broadway blockbuster from South Park co-creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone and Frozen songwriter Bobby Lopez. The story of two missionaries who attempt to bring the Mormon religion to a remote Ugandan village, The Book of Mormon is a smart, satirical and surprisingly moving musical that will have you hooked from start to finish. bookofmormonmusical.com.au

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lifestyle

Frank Stella Feneralia from the Imaginary places series 1994–97, National Gallery of Australia, Canberra, gift of Kenneth Tyler 2002

 Frank Stella: The Kenneth

Tyler Print Collection National Gallery of Australia, ACT Until July 2017 Artist Frank Stella and master printer Kenneth Tyler played a significant role in the development of 20th-century American printmaking.

Throughout his career, Stella has been “a constant adventurer and highwire act, an unstoppable risk-taker”, says the NGA, and this is evident in the technicolour masterpieces that validate and renew abstraction, finding new imagery that embraces shape, space, colour and decoration. nga.gov.au/stella

Jeffrey Smart: The Traveller, courtesy of the Queensland Art Gallery, Qld.

 Sidney Myer Fund

Australian Ceramic Award Shepparton Art Museum, VIC 17 June–13 August A must-see for those passionate about emerging Australian artists, these inspirational awards celebrate and promote contemporary homegrown talent in the field of ceramics. With the 2017 shortlist including up-and-coming artists such as Glenn Barkley, Karen Black, Laith McGregor, Jenny Orchard and Yasmin Smith, this year’s event is set to push the boundaries of contemporary ceramic art. sheppartonartmuseum.com.au

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Queensland Art Gallery, QLD 1 July–29 October This exhibition explores the metaphysical aspects of travel through works by Jeffrey Smart, Jan Senbergs, Hiroaki Takahashi, Craig Koomeeta and others. Including decorative objects as well as paintings, prints, sculptures and videos, Travellers uses the idea of the journey to raise questions about freedom and physical limitation, the fluidity of identity and the passage of time. qagoma.qld.gov.au D.D DUMBO

Tickets and tour dates available online now.

TOUR

 Travellers

Astor Theatre, Perth, WA 29 June

THE AMITY AFFLICTION Thebarton Theatre, Adelaide, SA 17 June

REMI & SAMPA THE GREAT Beachfront Hotel, Darwin, NT 7 July

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Dometic Reversing Camera

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lifestyle

RE WHE T TO EIANK & DR

FIVE OF THE BEST

WINE COUNTRY FINE DINING The Hunter Valley has long been a world wine mecca, but its fine dining options also deserve accolades. Jiyan Dessens takes a tasty tour of some of wine country’s best restaurants.

BISTRO MOLINES MOUNT VIEW

Looking for five-star French fare in the Hunter Valley to go with your favourite pinot noir? Look no further: under the helm of legendary Hunter Valley chef Robert Molines, this many-timeshatted French provincial-style bistro is a destination well worth including on your gourmet getaway itinerary. Set in the grounds of Tallavera Grove Vineyard in aptly named Mount View, Bistro Molines delivers consistently fine food, made even more enjoyable by the personable service and European-influenced serenity. Packed with locally sourced seasonal produce and much-lauded, long-standing favourites, Molines’ menu may change frequently but never strays far from his French roots.

Indulge in the divine duck liver pâté, pan-friend quail with thyme buerre noisette, twice-roasted Hunter duckling or nearirresistible braised black mussels mariniere, served with Sally’s famous champagne cocktail. bistromolines.com.au

When entering Pokolbin go for Broke – Broke Road, that is! Between the rows of vines and verdant dells, you’ll discover Muse, a two-hatted modern Australian restaurant at Hungerford Hill Winery. Head chef and co-owner (with wife Sally) Troy Rhoades-Brown plans a new four-course degustation menu for each season. Don’t miss the smoked Newcastle mackerel served with house-made crème fraîche, Hunter Valley partridge or suckling pig, and Rhoades-Brown’s famed coconut-shell dessert. Each delicious course is paired with matching local wines, and you’ll dine alongside an open fireplace in a dining room warmed by earthy colours and a mix of textures: gleaming metal, raw wood and roughly hewn stone. musedining.com.au

MUSE RESTAURANT POKOLBIN

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lifestyle

RESTAURANT BOTANICA

POKOLBIN

Perhaps the most famous restaurant in the Hunter Valley is Circa 1876, secreted at the end of a tree-lined drive within the idyllic Roscrea Estate. Housed in an historic cottage with soaring ceilings, raw timber beams, classical chandeliers and several working fireplaces, the Circa 1876 dining room exudes an aura of whimsical luxury that appeals no matter what the season. Under Sydney-born head chef Trent Barrett, the restaurant offers two-, three- and five-course chef’s tasting menus, designed to please even the pickiest gourmand. Highlight dishes include the sesame-crusted yellowfin tuna served with wasabi roe; the seared duck breast; Wagyu 5+ MB rib eye on the bone, for two; and Barrett’s iconic crème brûlée foam served with house-made truffle honey. convent.com.au/dining/circa-1876

CIRCA 1876

POKOLBIN “At EXP., it’s all about the experience,” says the spiel for head chef Frank Fawkner’s modern Australian fine-dining hotspot in the heart of the Hunter Valley. And they’re not lying. Set in a scenic country garden within Oakvale, one of the oldest wineries in Australia, EXP. is renowned for its theatricality. Think culinary experimentation and interactive, envelope-pushing presentation, with a chef personally delivering each and every plate. Embark on a food odyssey when you order the ‘EXP.osure’ or ‘EXP.erience’ tasting menu – five courses or a belt-loosening eight – with dishes that might include delectable house-made haloumi, local Pinnacle Meats Wagyu beef served with native rice and black garlic, Riverine warm blue cheese and famed Fraser Isle spanner crab, each perfectly paired with boutique wines or the EXP. take on beer: honey ferment topped with chai foam and served in corked test tubes. exprestaurant.com.au 12

You can sit outside and enjoy panoramic views across leafy green vineyards to the Broken Back Range, or hunker down indoors in front of a roaring fire. Whatever you choose, Restaurant Botanica will be a highlight of your culinary excursion. With an emphasis on all things botanical (and many fine, fresh botanical specimens sourced from the restaurant’s own kitchen garden), head chef Matthew Bremerkamp creates modern Australian dishes with pan-Asian influences, focusing on seasonality and freshness. As well as mouthwatering meat dishes – local pork belly served with apricot and almond; crispy confit duck – there are vegetarian and vegan menus featuring dishes such as wild mushroom risotto served with truffle oil; tarragon gnocchi; and stuffed zucchini flowers. spicersretreats.com/spicers-vineyards-estate/dining

EXP

POKOLBIN

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+3.0 tonne braked towing capacity on all MU-X models when fitted with an optional genuine Isuzu UTE tow bar kit. ^5 years/130,000km whichever occurs first, for eligible customers. Excludes accessories. >The Capped Price Servicing Program (“CPS Program�) applies to Eligible Vehicles with a Warranty Start Date on or after 1/1/15 at Participating Isuzu UTE Dealers only. The 5 years Capped Price Servicing covers the first 5 Scheduled Services for 16.5MY and later vehicle models for up to 5 years/50,000km (whichever occurs first). CPS Program is subject to change. For full terms & conditions and current pricing visit isuzuute.com.au/service-plus.

CAN I FLY THERE? Out now - CASA’s new free app to help you fly safely.

‘Can I fly there?’ is an excellent safety awareness tool for all drone flyers.

Shows the rules, and no-fly areas around Australia, such as near airports and restricted airspace.

Available at casa.gov.au/droneapp webapp

snapshot Cape Peron, Francois Peron National Park, WA

lifestyle

BANG

If money is no object, by all means, enjoy your Bugatti. But you needn’t spend big to enjoy your next car – in a crowded market, there are bargains galore.

FOR YOUR BUCK WORDS: MICHAEL BENN

BEST PERFORMANCE WAGON Skoda Octavia RS If you’re a car company, being called ‘quirky’ can be taken many ways.

If you are Hyundai, you will think it’s an insult and insist that the asymmetric-doored Veloster is very sensible, thank you: Have you seen our i30? If you are Mini, you will smile broadly and send flowers to your marketing team.

And if you are a French marque, and thus believe it is perfectly acceptable to jam the transmission tunnel so far into the driver’s left knee that he hobbles about like a Tonya Harding victim after every trip to the shops, then it’s par for the course. (Citroën, for example, was so concerned that the insouciance of the 2CV was wearing off that it made the Cactus. It is a subcompact SUV so ugly there are plastic mattresses glued to the sides, presumably because aesthetes would be prone to ramming it with shopping trolleys.)

But Škoda? It’s the genuine article: a company 16

as weird as its low-key, wilfully disruptive marketing. Once, it was a hilarious Czech joke, but access to Volkswagen’s parts (and tech) bin has made it genuinely formidable… and genuinely competitive. If still a bit fruity.

Skoda’s best car, and volume seller, is the brilliant Octavia RS. It has a 169kW/350Nm Golf GTI engine and European styling, but isn’t even a consideration for most buyers. True, its resale

value is given a kicking due to the badge, but to sit behind the wheel of the RS is to experience genuine sleeper-car joy. It’s punchy where it matters, comfortable for everyday trips, utterly practical and still ‘wagon sexy’, with a great manual version – the driving enthusiast’s option in a world gone mad for automatics and SUVs. The Octavia RS should cost more than $43,490 driveaway, but it doesn’t.

lifestyle

European model shown

“Amongst fierce competition, Mazda’s booming seven-seat familyhauler stands out” FAMILY MOVER Mazda CX-9 Sport Soft-roaders were once abominations – weird, talentless, big-bottomed motoring curiosities that everyone expected would fade without fanfare, except then they thrived, like the Kardashians. But now? Well, here’s the thing: on the way to becoming the new normal, SUVs got good. And not just some of them – most of them. Yet even amongst what is, arguably, the fiercest competition in the history of the motor vehicle, Mazda’s booming seven-seat family-hauler stands out. It’s willing and refined, dependable and has a more than capable – if not enthusiastic – 2.5cyl four-litre petrol engine, toting 170kW/420Nm. With a $51K price, as new, it will even fetch you a quite healthy resale in a few years.

“Excellent comfort, styling and frugality make the CX-3 legitimately lovely”

BABY SUV Mazda CX-3 Neo What’s this? A Mazda2 in high heels? Well, sort of – but no. If SUVs generally would’ve been difficult to predict two decades ago, then the pint-sized ‘city SUV’ would have blown your V8-lovin’ old man’s mind in his teens. Except, over the past few years, they’ve gone to the next level – with options offered by everyone from the premium Germans (Audi’s Q2) to the formerly gasoline-swilling Americans (Jeep Renegade) to the Amelielevel perky (Fiat 500X). But for delight-perdollar, the little two-litre in-line four-pot Mazzy takes beating. Excellent comfort, styling, frugality and 109kW/192Nm make the CX-3 legitimately lovely – and it murders many of its rivals for engagement behind the wheel. Just don’t expect to fit your golf clubs in the 264-litre boot. Hard to top for $23,546.

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lifestyle

AUSSIE BRUISER Holden SS-V Redline Ute The last locally produced Holden ute is a corker so corky it could plug wine – cheap wine, admittedly, dribbled down a chin bristling with three-day growth, before falling asleep in a telephone booth on a highway. The SS-V Redline is a lovely sendoff, blessed with a booming, brash engine note that sounds like you’ve trapped Thor under the bonnet and he’s trying to yodel his way out – thanks to a pliable, party-ready, 304kW (and 570Nm!) V8. Don’t let the fact

that the 6.2L V8 also drinks like Thor put you off. Car-based utes will soon be extinct, and we’ll be the poorer for it. Be warned, though: you’ll struggle to brush anything like Holden’s claimed 12.9L/100km figure for the six-cog auto (12.8L/100km with the manual). It’s just too tempting to sink the slipper. And the cabin! Finally, Holden boasts a Commodore interior to match many of the Euros. Oh well – at just $54,600 (a bargain for this dying breed of V8 oomph), enjoy it while you can.

“It’s blessed with a booming, brash engine note that sounds like you’ve trapped Thor under the bonnet”

CHEAP AND VERY, VERY CHEERFUL Suzuki Celerio Its name sounds like a Japanese/Italian proskater and it is definitely bare bones – sans cruise control, telescopic steering wheel adjust, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and with a tiny 1.0-litre, three-cylinder engine.

But from just $12,990, the Celerio is relatively spacious, pliable up to 110km/h (a speed you’ll never top, legally, anyway), and harder to argue with, overall, than a career politician.

But its best quality is its manners. Micro cars often cope poorly with choppy surfaces and Australia abounds in these. Typically, especially when cornering, Celerio-sized cars are easily – and alarmingly – unsettled.

Suzuki’s li’l guy is no 7-Series but, pound-forpound, it’s almost as unflappable. And you can even put passengers you don’t actively despise in the rear seats.

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experience

With new jewels adorning its crown, downtown Perth is a breath of fresh air, just like the ‘Freo Doctor’ that blows along the wide blue river below.

COMO The Treasury is the perfect hub from which to enjoy it all.

WORDS: Anna Warwick

n the wake of the boom, this west-coast city is enjoying a renaissance. The Elizabeth Quay riverside precinct, new arcades, laneway bars, top-notch restaurants, a swanky stadium – recent developments mean even the locals barely recognise their home. But they’re not complaining.

The lungs of Perth have always been the enormous oasis that is Kings Park.

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Rich in wildflowers, it is home to a few manicured lawns and gardens but is mainly untamed bushland. Likewise, there’s nothing tinsel about this town – even with its Hollywood-esque number of technicolour blue-skied days.

A short stroll from the park, the beating heart of the glamorous new CBD is the Cathedral Square development, an elegant precinct that houses the best hotel in Australia and

New Zealand and the second-best hotel on Earth, according to the Conde Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards 2016 and the Gourmet Traveller awards 2016 (in which it was named Hotel of the Year and New Hotel of the Year).

Occupying part of a cluster of grand old Victorian-era State Buildings, COMO The Treasury is a trove of wonders with New York style. The 140-year-old buildings, which once

RENAIS

experience

served as the post office, land titles office, treasury and Perth’s original seat of government, have been immaculately restored to the tune of $110 million.

Outside, the precinct boasts stately columns, cantilevered balconies and Victorian slate-tiled roofs finished with copper trimmings. The interiors have stunning original features – grand halls, beautiful archways and original dark wood flooring – plus gleaming

modern touches and distinctive artworks. The huge and impeccably appointed hotel rooms and suites are different shapes; their pared-back grey-green décor echoes the West Australian landscape.

Walking into the pristine hotel after a long drive up from ‘down south’, we felt we’d stepped into a sophisticated sanctuary with every elevated detail of style and service

designed to soothe and delight.

Woven together by softly lit corridors, sweeping staircases and lifts, the four State Buildings are something of a maze, but once you find your way down to the COMO Shambhala spa and yoga studio – and up to the glasswalled pool that hangs, seemingly weightless, over Murray Street and then over to two-hatted Wildfire restaurant – you’ve got the sum of it.

SANCE

city 21

Our outback gold prospecting tours run from May to October. This is a 7 day all inclusive tour leaving Perth or Albany heading to the West Australian goldfields. We use the latest Minelab equipment and accommodation is at our gold lease staying at the million star hotel - actually canvas tents, comfy beds and a eco friendly camp! You will get to experience first hand the historic goldfields and all this amazing region has to offer. So what are you waiting for? Join us for a wine around the campfire and come look for some GOLD!!!

Take a trip on the wild side! Travel on a 4wd only track to the stunning rugged scenery of West Cape Howe National Park. Our extraordinary eco-tour will take you on an awesome off-road journey to places that few people will ever see. 1, 3 and 5 day guided walks along the Bibbulmun track and Stirling Ranges are also available. Please call for more details.

The Great Southern is the largest wine region in Australia with approximately 50 wineries, many of international acclaim. There are a fantastic selection of boutique farms boasting delicious fresh organic produce from berries, marron, cheeses to irresistible hand made chocolates. With such a diverse range, there is sure to be something to tempt the most discerning pallet. We offer various wine tours around the Albany, Denmark, and Mt Barker/ Porongurup Regions.

The Western Australian wild flower proliferation is a must see. This fantastic tour will quench your thirst for natures best. We take you on our special route to capture the most scenic and diverse ecosystems. You will travel through the Stirling Range National Park, stay overnight at a seaside camp, travel through Fitzgerald National Park and Climb Mount Barren.

You will visit some pristine beaches, Cave Point, Point Ann and Bremer Bay and overnight at Quaalup Homestead to walk among the wild flowers.

Starting in Western Australia's oldest established city, Albany is alive with stunning scenery and a deep history, just waiting for you to discover. See inspiring sites such as rugged coastlines, pristine beaches and stunning National Parks. Let us show you a region rich in Biodiversity with rare and unique flora and fauna. We are a specialist tourist company offering quality service, safety and maximum experience at an affordable price. With creative itineraries, new adventures are never far away.

CHECK OUR FANTASTIC TOURS FROM ALBANY AND GOLDFIELDS@

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Perth Airport Transfers– Full Chauffeur service in luxury vehicles.

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experience

Perth city folk love the precinct’s restaurants and its awesome front bar, The Treasury, on St Georges Terrace and Cathedral Avenue, with smartly dressed professionals lining up each morning for espressos from the downstairs coffee cart.

As we were guests, breakfast at hatted restaurant Post, on the ground floor, was included. Once the franking room of the original Perth General Post Office, the clean-lined restaurant serves Mod-Oz delicacies with French flair, as well as a healthy COMO Shambhala menu. The maître d’ recommended her favourite dishes, and remembered how I like my eggs when we came back.

Breezy and light by day and glittering by night, the prize diamond in COMO The Treasury’s crown is heavenly Wildflower, occupying a glass box that was crane-lifted onto the fourth floor.

Sneaking up for a peek after lunch at subterranean Thai restaurant Long Chim, we realised we’d discovered Perth’s best-kept secret – and stayed a

couple of hours lounging on the shady balcony, sipping tea and enjoying the spectacular river views.

We were back for dinner among the city lights that night – definitely the highlight of our stay.

In fact, we barely left the hotel, meaning to but somehow being drawn instead to another beautifully refurbed nook or cranny of the complex. Stepping out to explore Cathedral Square and the curved glass walls and cosy spaces of the new City of Perth Library – also part of the State Buildings redevelopment by Kerry Hill Architects – was easy.

As was a sunlit wander down to Elizabeth Quay, from whence you can climb The Bell Tower, walk around the suspended bridge and catch a ferry to South Perth or Fremantle.

Pop-up markets and concerts come and go across the lawns year-round.

But aside from a stroll, The Treasury was home, until we reluctantly took our keys back from the valet and checked in to reality again. comohotels.com/thetreasury

“The maître d’ recommended her favourite dishes, and remembered how I like my eggs when we came back”

DURING YOUR STAY On Foot

CBD shopping: Murray Street has it all, with a paved mall flanked by department stores offering well-known brands.

Luxury lures are tucked away in little lanes between Murray and Hay streets.

Kings Park: Astonishingly tall, whitetrunked trees line the entrance road to this inspiring patch of green. Dine on a gourmet picnic by the Swan River.

Perth Cultural Centre: Get your fix of Aboriginal art at the Art Gallery of Western Australia before roaming the Urban Orchard, a city rooftop garden of leafy greens and herbs. Nearby, The Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts (PICA) houses free exhibitions.

Small bars: Down in the old Safe room of The Treasury, velvet-laden Halford Bar is the place to lounge. Beneath St George’s Terrace, Bobèche is a Prohibition-style haven. Varnish on King is a sophisticated wine and whiskey den. Helvetica is one of Perth’s favourite clandestine gems, while The Laneway Lounge boasts cocktails and live tunes.

In neighbouring Northbridge, the Mechanics Institute is an institution. If you can find the entrance to Sneaky Tony’s cocktail joint, you’ll have to check Facebook for a password on weekends.

Alley bar Alabama Song offers American fare, cocktails and 130-plus rye whiskeys and bourbons.

Cruise

Take a day trip to car-free Rottnest Island and explore more than 60 pictureperfect beaches as well as coral reefs and history-packed buildings. You’ll also meet the happy (and always hungry) local marsupials, the quokkas.

Cruise upriver to Western Australia’s oldest wine region, the Swan Valley, stopping for tastings of the region’s warm-climate wines as well as local chocolates, coffee, craft brews and more.

Private cruises, organised by COMO The Treasury, can be personalised to include snorkelling, diving or sunset dining. Keep an eye out for the Swan River’s resident dolphin pod as you drift along.

Fly

Experience a scenic fixed-wing flight or helicopter adventure over the Perth coastline and Rottnest Island, the Swan Valley or the Perth Hills and patchwork farmland of the Avon Valley.

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Contact a provider or visit nbn.com.au/skymuster Experiences may vary depending on a range of factors including your broadband speed choice, provider, equipment, signal quality and latency. © 2017 nbn co ltd. ‘nbn’, ‘bring it on’, ‘Sky Muster’, ‘gen nbn’ and the Aurora device are trade marks of nbn co ltd | ABN 86 136 533 741.

BWMNCO0426/275x210SM

NEW AGE of CRUISE

Ever wanted to swim with turtles in the Galápagos?

Go dog-sledding in Alaska? Or indulge in great food and wine in Europe?

You can do all this – and much, much more – on a cruise.

© Nathalie Michel

Words: Sally Macmillan

Galápagos Islands • Antarctica • Croatia • Alaska • Canada • Southeast Asia

special feature

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one are the days when cruising meant boarding a ‘floating block of flats’ for a so-organised-it’s-regimented holiday – now, there’s a wealth of choice for discerning travellers to destinations that are accessible only to boutique ocean ships. Here are six of our favourites.

GALÁPAGOS ISLANDS Close encounters with rare animals and birds in their native habitat; swimming with turtles, sea lions and reef sharks; and meeting people from all walks of life who are passionate about wildlife are among the many highlights of an expedition-style cruise around the Galápagos Islands.

Travelling from Australia to Quito in Ecuador can take more than 30 hours, so it’s definitely worth adding on a side-trip in South America. But even if you don’t, sailing through the Galápagos Islands is one of life’s most extraordinary and unforgettable adventures.

Small ships operate year-round in the archipelago, which is the world’s secondlargest marine reserve. Island visits are carefully controlled to preserve the natural environment and wildlife – the native birds and animals here have no instinctive fear of humans, as the islands have been isolated from the mainland for millions of years.

Ecuadorian naturalist-guides take you in small groups on kayaking, snorkelling and hiking trips for astounding wildlife experiences. On Isabel Island, you’ll see giant Galápagos tortoises ambling through the bush mere metres away, while your guide fills you in – quietly – about each tortoise’s age, size and sex.

On shore walks, you’ll learn about the island’s marine iguanas and neon-coloured Sally Lightfoot crabs, and you can join inland hikes to photograph spectacular volcanic rock formations.

The islands are an ornithologist’s dream. As well as spotting Darwin’s famed finches, you’ll see blue-footed boobies, red-footed boobies, frigate birds and flightless cormorants – so close that you won’t need binoculars or a zoom lens.

Cruise

Insider Alastair Fernie is MD of CruiseAway, Australia’s leading cruise travel specialist. Here is the lowdown on his hot cruise tips.

Travel is Alastair Fernie’s lifelong passion. He has enjoyed a 36-year career in the travel industry and 10 years ago, he discovered the world of cruising.

Q. What are the top five destinations you have experienced on a cruise?

A. Egypt’s Nile River; island-hopping in Hawaii and the Caribbean; anywhere in the Mediterranean; and New Zealand’s South Island.

Q. What makes these places so special and why are they best visited by ship?

A. The life and history of Egypt is all about the Nile, so a river cruise is the best way to experience the country. Sailing from one exotic island to another can only be done by ship and, in Europe, visiting a string of cities in one journey is easy when you take a river or ocean cruise.

The glorious vistas of Milford Sound are simply stunning from the sea.

Q. What’s next on your cruise ‘to do’ list?

A. A trans-Pacific voyage from New York to Sydney – my two favourite cities – that sails through the Panama Canal is right up there.

G ADVENTURES – GALÁPAGOS Our pick: G Adventures’ 15-night fly/cruise/stay package in May 2018 includes a 6-night Galápagos Islands cruise onboard the 20-passenger Montserrat, 1 night stay in Quito & Lima and a 7-night National Geographic Journey to Machu Picchu in Peru.

Phone 1800 917 730, see cruiseaway.com.au/outthere

Q. What’s your number one tip for travellers who might think cruising is only for the ‘newly wed, over-fed and nearly dead’?

A. Talk to a travel specialist about the destination and the experience you’re looking for – chances are, travelling by ship will be the ideal way to achieve your travel goals.

Q. Why should clients book with CruiseAway?

A. First and foremost, we are passionate cruise travel specialists – with a website. This is compared to an online agent you can’t even talk to, or a general travel agent who doesn’t have specialist knowledge about cruise travel.

© Lorraine Turci

special feature

© Nathalie Michel

ANTARCTICA It’s the driest, coldest, windiest continent on the planet, yet this vast frozen wilderness has exerted a powerful fascination for explorers since the early 1800s.

Antarctica has no indigenous population – the few people who live there work on international research stations – but during the summer, intrepid travellers can now cruise to the Antarctic Peninsula and beyond to experience mind-blowing mountain scenery, surreal, glacier-studded icescapes and an awesome array of wildlife.

Most 10- and 12-day voyages to the Antarctic Peninsula start from Ushuaia, the ‘Land at the End of the World’, in Argentina’s Tierra del Fuego province. Prepare yourself for rocky seas on the two-day crossing of Drake Passage (then it’s a pleasant surprise when it’s almost glassy!) and don’t expect to follow a rigid itinerary. Your captain is likely to change course if he spies humpback or killer whales (orcas), so passengers can see them up close; equally, if conditions don’t allow a scheduled landing, the ship will divert to a safer harbour.

Once the ship is anchored, you can take Zodiac or kayaking trips around majestic bays packed with gigantic icebergs, or go ashore to see colonies of Adelie and Chinstrap penguins; elephant, leopard, crabeater and Weddell seals basking on the ice; and native skua, snow petrels and albatrosses nesting or soaring into the wide open sky.

It’s virtually impossible to convey the sheer majesty of Antarctica in words and photos; it really has to be experienced to be believed.

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PONANT — ANTARCTICA Our pick: The 13-night fly/stay/cruise package is built around a 10-night cruise on Ponant’s luxury expedition ships Le Soleal, Le Lyrial or Le Boreal, with multiple departures between November 2017 to February 2018 and November 2018 to February 2019.

Return flights to Buenos Aires, domestic flights to Ushuaia and 3 nights’ accommodation in BA are included.

Phone 1800 917 730, see cruiseaway.com.au/outthere

special feature

DALMATIAN COAST, CROATIA Croatia’s Dalmatian Coast is a European hot spot that offers sophisticated, historic cities, unspoilt villages, Roman ruins and beautiful beaches – and one where you don’t have to pay through the nose for coffee or to eat out in style.

Island-hopping on a small ship is the best way to explore this stunningly scenic stretch of the Adriatic – there are 79 islands and some 500 islets in Dalmatia – and a round-trip cruise from Split is a wonderful introduction to its people, places and culture.

Split is the region’s biggest city and fans of Game of Thrones will recognise Diocletian’s Palace, the sprawling Roman ruins that make up the heart of the city and are now home to buzzy bars, restaurants, shops and some 3,000 local residents.

A good cruise itinerary will take in a sprinkling of popular islands – Korčula, Hvar, Brač – as well as the fairytale walled city of Dubrovnik, where you need to spend at least a couple of days.

Every island has its own distinct character. Korčula claims to be the birthplace of explorer Marco Polo and is renowned for its white wines; Mljet’s National Park is a paradise for nature lovers; Hvar’s spectacular waterfront ‘Old Town’ is a magnet for partygoers; and Brač is famous for its beaches. You will find your favourite and be hooked for life.

KATARINA LINE – CROATIA Our pick: Katarina Line’s Croatian Islands cruise.

Enjoy an unforgettable 7-night round-trip cruise from Split on a Deluxe class vessel with multiple departures between May to October 2018.

Phone 1800 917 730, see cruiseaway.com.au/ outthere

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special feature

ALASKA Alaskans are extremely proud of their state and often refer to the rest of America as ‘the lower 48’. There are surprisingly few of them in the country’s biggest state – only about 740,000 people live in 1,717,856 square kilometres of vast open spaces, mountains and forest.

Most mainstream cruise lines follow a similar route through Alaska’s stunning Inside Passage, calling at towns such as Ketchikan, Skagway, Sitka and Juneau – Alaska’s capital, which is accessible only by air and sea. Away from the touristy waterfronts, there’s a wealth of exciting activities on offer: heli-skiing, dog-sledding, fishing, zip-lining and glacier hiking, to name just a few.

You’ll probably spend a day ‘scenic cruising’ in Glacier Bay but if you’re looking for a more in-depth experience of this wild and wonderful place, a small-ship cruise is the way to go.

Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve is, arguably, Alaska’s crown jewel, a 13,355 square-kilometre coastal area within the Inside Passage. Flanked by towering snow-capped mountains, the bay is an almost mystical place of deep fjords, massive tidewater glaciers and abundant wildlife.

Three days of hiking, kayaking and Zodiac trips in the Glacier Bay area gives you the chance to see brown and black bears, moose, wolves, humpback whales, seals, sea lions and hundreds of native eagles and seabirds. National Park rangers are on hand to share their expert knowledge of wildlife sightings and geological phenomena; witnessing a glacier calving is one of life’s most memorable experiences.

UNCRUISE ADVENTURES – ALASKA Our pick: UnCruise Adventures’ Glacier Bay National Park Adventure 7-night round-trip cruise from Juneau. Multiple departures available between April to September 2018 onboard the 60-passenger Wilderness Adventurer.

Phone 1800 917 730, see cruiseaway.com.au/outthere

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© Scott Forsyth

© Dennis Minty

special feature

CANADA & THE NORTHWEST PASSAGE Traversing the Northwest Passage – the formerly frozen sea route between the northern Atlantic and Pacific Oceans across the roof of Canada – has been described as “the new frontier in soft adventure”. Only in the past few years has this challenging route become navigable by ships other than icebreakers, and even today it’s not a journey for the faint-hearted.

Highlights of a 16-night voyage from Kugluktuk, on Canada’s mainland north of the Arctic Circle, to Kangerlussuaq in Greenland range from the sheer exhilaration of following in the footsteps of famous explorers to seeing polar bears, seals and whales among the icebergs and pack ice. Onboard experts, such as historians and scientists, present lectures and workshops en route, and you’ll learn more than you ever imagined about the culture, wildlife and geography of the Arctic.

Unlike Antarctica, which has never been inhabited, the Canadian Arctic is home to the Inuit (meaning ‘people’), who are thought to have migrated to the region from Alaska several thousand years ago. Their history is much debated by archeologists but today, the Inuit welcome visitors to their fascinating communities, where you can witness traditional drum dancing and throat-singing and buy locally made sculptures and artworks.

The Arctic is not all about ice, either; during the summer months, when the sun shines for up to 24 hours a day, hikes across the tundra reveal all sorts of lichens, flowers and berries. You’re also likely to see herds of shaggy musk ox, caribou deer and maybe even Arctic foxes and hares.

ADVENTURE CANADA – NORTHWEST PASSAGE Our pick: The 18-night Into the Northwest Passage in August 2018 or Out of the Northwest Passage in September 2018. Both cruise/stay packages include a 16-night Adventure Canada expedition cruise to the Canadian Arctic and Greenland onboard the 198-passenger Ocean Endeavour. Phone 1800 917 730, see cruiseaway.com.au/outthere © Michelle Valberg

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special feature © @PONANT

SOUTHEAST ASIAN ISLANDS An island-hopping voyage that visits West Papua, the Spice Islands, Borneo and the Philippines offers a fascinating insight into ancient and diverse cultures – in West Papua alone, there are more than 300 different tribes and about 40 who have never been in contact with the western world.

When you arrive in Asmat, in West Papua, local tribesmen adorned in war paint and feathers meet the ship in canoes; in sleepy Banda Neira you’ll discover the tragic story of its people as it was colonised by Dutch, French and British spice traders.

Banda Neira is at the heart of the Spice Islands (now known as the Malukus) and is the only island that has a town of any size; it was originally built by the Dutch East India Company, and crumbling colonial buildings, a museum and the 17th-century Fort Belgica stand witness to a turbulent history.

Today, the region’s pristine coral reefs and breath-taking natural beauty attract divers and travellers who are looking for a tropical escape far from the tourist crowds; sailing among the spectacular limestone Kai Islands is like going into another world.

In Borneo’s Sandakan, the Kabili-Sepilok Forest Reserve and Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary offer the best areas for viewing wildlife in Malaysia and a visit to the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre is a must for animal-lovers.

This is a voyage of discovery on many levels; L’Austral’s expedition team of naturalists, marine biologists, geologists, an anthropologist and ornithologist organise and accompany excursions; sometimes these are spontaneous, depending on the destination, which adds to the sense of adventure.

PONANT – SOUTHEAST ASIAN ISLANDS Our pick: Our fly/stay/cruise package is created around a 16-night expedition cruise on Ponant’s luxury expedition ship L’Austral between Cairns and Manilla. Departing in March 2018 it includes accommodation in Cairns and Manila, a domestic flight to Cairns to join your cruise, and return from Manila.

Phone 1800 917 730, see cruiseaway.com.au/outthere

This feature was made possible by CruiseAway

by Dreamlines. Visit cruiseaway.com.au/outthere or phone 1800 917 730 to find out about these and many more life-changing adventures.

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Escape to where time stands still to ensure your business doesn’t

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT SESSIONS IN TUSCANY

RETREAT TO ADVANCE

How does Retreat to Advance work?

Retreat to Advance is a five-day retreat in Tuscany. It is the space to think; a place to develop your ideas aided by two experienced business mentors; and an opportunity to share and receive feedback from other business owners just like you. It is the gift of time, the time you don’t have day to day. It is a place where you can stop the inputs and focus on your output. It is a space where you are able to set free your business’s potential.

Who will benefit from Retreat to Advance?

Eddie Thomas Rarebreed Consulting

The retreats are designed for small to medium size business owners, entrepreneurs and start-ups, who lack both the space, time and support to drive the success of their business. Whether you are looking for accelerated growth, acquisitions, a buyout, or simply to share your business thoughts with other likeminded business owners, then Retreat to Advance is for you. The retreat is designed around your needs, we are there to guide you process of mapping out exactly what you need to do to achieve your objectives.

www.rarebreedretreats.com Get in touch today to discuss how this will benefit you and your company: +393661213941 eddie.thomas@rarebreedconsulting.com

experience

Wine Trails

Australian wine country is tailor-made for road-tripping, with stunning country vistas, gourmet eateries and local attractions all vying for your attention – before you’ve sampled even a drop of wine. The experts at New Age Caravans lead the way along some of the best wine trails on offer…

HUNTER VALLEY, NSW Home to some of Australian’s oldest wineries and most stand-out wines, the Hunter region is a little under three hours’ drive north of Sydney. One of the eastern seaboard’s newest self-drive tours, the Hunter Valley Way is an ideal route for anyone keen to enjoy the area’s scenic attractions. The drive starts at the M1 in Lake Macquarie and finishes in Merriwa on the Golden Highway, at the end of the Hunter Valley. En route, you can take in the quaint country towns and rural vistas set against the majestic backdrop of the Broken Back Range and Watagan Mountains. Camp around Cessnock to ensure you’re within easy access of the region’s best wineries, cellar doors, restaurants, and cheese and chocolate factories. visitnsw.com/Hunter_Valley

MARGARET RIVER, WA Around three hours’ drive south of Perth, the Margaret River region offers not just premium wines, cellar doors and vineyards, but the best of Western Australia’s rugged beauty, with its iconic red coastline, beautiful beaches and caves. Start your tour ‘down south’ at Busselton and its famous jetty before heading to Dunsborough, an arty gourmet Mecca. From here, you’re within easy reach of some of the area’s most glorious beaches: Meelup, Eagle Bay, Yallingup and more. Head further south along Caves Road and spend as long as you possibly can touring conveniently sited wineries, heavenly restaurants, gourmet ‘factories’ and art galleries. margaretriver.com

BAROSSA VALLEY, SA With expansive vineyards and magnificent vistas, South Australia’s Barossa Valley is ideal for touring, with good signage throughout the region. Make it memorable by taking the Barossa Scenic Heritage Drive, a picturesque 57-kilometre route that winds through Bethany, Angaston, Nuriootpa, Greenock, Seppeltsfield, Marananga and Tanunda. Meander along Seppeltsfield Road, lined with palms and no fewer than 18 wineries. Drive up to Mengler’s Hill Lookout for awe-inspiring views across the

Barossa Valley. Not enough wine action for you? The Epicurean Way is a gourmet food and wine drive that links South Australia’s four iconic wine-making regions: McLaren Vale, the Adelaide Hills, the Barossa and Clare Valley. It’s a four-day trip, but nobody will judge you if you stretch it out a bit longer. barossa.com/visit

TAMAR VALLEY, TAS Tasmania’s north offers a wealth of attractions – not least, its covetable cool-climate wines. The vibrant city of Launceston on the banks of the Tamar River is the gateway to this enticing region and offers an eclectic array of food, wine and culture. Nearby lies the rugged natural beauty of Cataract Gorge. From Launceston, drive through the stunning Tamar Valley to Hillwood Berry Farm, before taking your pick of 30-plus vineyards on the Tamar Valley Wine Route, enjoying the locals’ warm hospitality, delicious fresh produce and award-winning restaurants. While you’re in the area, visit historic George Town and Mount George Lookout, meander along the North East Arts Trail and go coastal at Lagoon Bay and East Beach. discovertasmania.com.au/what-to-do/self-drive/ tamarvalley

YARRA VALLEY, VIC Sample Australia’s best pinot noir and sparkling wines in the Yarra Valley, less than 60 kilometres – an hour’s drive – north-east of Melbourne. Take in the best the Valley has to offer along the 13-kilometre Coldstream Trail: sample (and buy) delicious cheeses, pick strawberries and visit lush gardens, microbreweries and dairies in between tastings at cellar doors. From there, continue your journey in whatever direction you choose – Lilydale is a 10-minute drive away, the wonders of the Dandenong Ranges lie nearby. Or get close to some Australian wildlife at Healesville Sanctuary, home to more than 200 species of native birds and animals. Want more of a wine fix? Travel a further 200 or so kilometres north to the King Valley, famed for its Italian wine varietals and traditional cool-climate wines. visityarravalley.com.au

HOW TO NAVIGATE

THE WINE TRAILS

SAFELY

A day spent tasting wines doesn’t mix with driving, so here’s how to ensure you enjoy your wine routes safely: 1. CHOOSE YOUR DRIVER Decide in advance who your designated driver will be. In most states, the blood-alcohol limit for drivers (or ‘qualified passengers’ accompanying learner drivers) is 0.05. For L-plate and P-plate drivers, and anyone in control of a transport vehicle, the limit is zero.

2. MASTER THE SPIT Your designated driver can still enjoy tasting wines en route by swilling and savouring without swallowing.

To experience a wine’s full ‘flavour profile’, draw enough air into your mouth while tasting to move the wine all over your palate. After spitting out the wine, preferably into a plastic cup you then tip into the ‘dump bucket’, draw air into your mouth again to allow you to taste the wine’s ‘finish’.

3. CONSIDER LEAVING YOUR VEHICLE BACK AT BASE If you’re planning a full day exploring local wineries, consider leaving your vehicle at your base and joining an organised car or cycle tour.

4. MAKE SURE YOU HAVE ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE Plan for every eventuality by ensuring you’re covered, with roadside assistance and adequate insurance. New Age Caravans customers can call New Age Assist on 1300 968 396 for 24-hour help.

Check out the amazing caravan ranges at newagecaravans.com.au

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experience

Australian wine

COMES OF AGE Experience, confidence and lessons learnt from the past have led us to a wine-making industry well worth raising a glass to...

WORDS: Patrick Haddock

t’s official: Australian wine has never been in a better position, globally. One could argue that there has not been such tangible excitement since James Busby planted what were among the first wine grapes Down Under.

And it’s not just us blowing our own trumpets; the world is excited about Australian wines, and is enthusiastically banging the drum for this ‘New World order’.

It’s a far cry from the times, not so long ago, when overoaked chardonnays and rich, extracted reds from Aussie wine labels failed to impress overseas critics. Australia’s new generation of winemakers exudes a new-found confidence and is hell-bent on making its mark on an increasingly

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discerning global market.

Industry body Wine Australia is championing this bold new wave of winemakers.

At the recent The World’s 50 Best Restaurants 2017 awards in Melbourne, Wine Australia jumped at the chance to invite 30 of the best sommeliers on the planet to the party. This select group are global taste trendsetters, making decisions about which treasured wines to pair with exquisite dishes from the world’s top chefs.

This was tactical genius from Wine Australia, enabling them to present the next generation of Australia’s vinicultural industry: a dynamic and innovative crop of winemakers – alongside established family wineries, each with an engaging story to tell.

Finding our way Of course, it has not always been this way. Australia’s wine export industry has had more than its fair share of ups and downs. It started with great hope in the late 1980s as the UK market discovered in Aussie chardonnay what it coined “sunshine in a glass”.

This appeal, however, had a shorter-than-expected shelf life. Almost as quickly as Aussie wines had been embraced by the British, they were shunned by late-’90s consumers and critics with more pared-back tastes, for producing over-oaked chardonnays and overly simple reds that, all too frequently, made their way into the discount bins of high-street wine outlets.

There followed a grape glut Down Under as a wave of eager

new vignerons, banking on export success, planted row upon row of grape vines, only to have orders from the UK dry up.

The Brits’ change of heart left Australia with tonnes of grapes that had very little worth.

Remember when we first started seeing ‘cleanskins’ in the 1990s? It was around this time that oversupply meant you could get a bottle of wine for less than you could a litre of ‘goon’.

Add to this wine aficionados’ sudden love affair with a certain variety from New Zealand, and we were facing a wine crisis. Everyone was drinking imported sauvignon blanc and ignoring what was right on their doorsteps.

There was the odd success story, such as that of Australia’s

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Yellow Tail label, low-priced ‘critter wine’ that enjoyed such popularity in the US that at one stage, the company was selling up to eight million cases of its product to America a year.

It was time for some introspection.

Quietly, the Australian wine industry re-grouped and took a good, hard look at what was important: vineyard sites, climate, clones, picking times and fermentation techniques.

We travelled and worked in wine regions the world over, with Aussie winemakers taking on board some of the techniques their wiser old-world counterparts were employing.

This quiet momentum has led us to what is, arguably, the most exciting time in this country’s rich

but chequered vinicultural history.

We now have a diversity of old vines – some even more ancient than those in France – along with established singlevineyard vines. And we have a bold new band of winemakers who are reinventing the rules, mixing random varieties and exploring ‘minimal-intervention’ winemaking.

The ‘less is more’ approach is being adopted by a groundswell of regional heroes who appreciate that wine is ‘just fruit’ and does not need many of the nasty additions typically used to make ‘clinically perfect’ wines. These new minimalists are creating wines of interest and character – made more distinctive, more exciting, by their slight imperfections.

In recent years, Australian winemakers have made more progress with regard to wines made from chardonnay grapes than with those of any other variety. Indeed, our top chardonnays can now rival the best of Burgundy, thanks to smart picking regimes and less overt use of oak, resulting in wines with tight acidity and sculpted fruit.

Regions have clearer ideas about the best varieties to plant in their respective areas, and are pulling out vines not well suited to the terroir.

We are seeing a dominance of mid-weighted Mediterranean styles instead of the blockbuster reds of yesteryear – wines that suit our food and are more subtle and refined.

Elegant wines from Australia’s cool-climate regions are winning top international awards. And we’re getting increasingly positive feedback on our pinot noir as vine age increases, boosting the intensity of flavour of the resulting wines.

This is just the tip of the iceberg: exceptional new varieties are being planted and harvested in the Riverland region; wines are being made in egg fermenters and open vats, then housed in large-format oak.

Important decisions are being made regarding quality, and we, the consumers, are benefitting as never before.

Right now, rest assured that Australian wine is in extremely good hands.

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New South Wales

New South Wales NSW has some of the most diverse wine regions in the country. There are old and new wine-grape-growing regions, including some of the oldest vineyards in the world. There are regions in hot climates and cool; vineyards on elevated slopes and on the flat; classic varieties and new ones to discover. There’s tradition mixed with innovation and assured modernity. The 14 regions that make up the state’s

vinicultural bounty have something for everyone.

Collectively, the output from NSW’s abundant wine regions accounts for nearly a third of Australia’s $5 billion-perannum wine industry.

Since 1995, wine production across NSW has trebled to more than 480 million litres a year, making it a significant contributor to regional economies in the Hunter region north of Sydney and around Mudgee, Cowra and Orange in

the state’s Central West.

Wine is a growing industry in various other NSW regions, too, including the Mid North Coast’s fertile Hastings region, New England, Shoalhaven, the Southern Highlands, the Canberra district, Hilltops (around Young) and Tumbarumba.

The state’s oldest wine region is the Hunter; the youngest and most recent addition is the GI of New England, making interesting cool-climate wines.

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The variety of soils and climates across NSW make it possible to grow just about any wine-grape variety imaginable.

Currently, the varieties planted most widely across the state are shiraz and chardonnay, but semillon and riesling varieties are almost as well represented.

New varieties, such as vermentino and tempranillo, are gaining a foothold as people’s tastes change and ‘food-friendlier’ wines are being conceived.

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New South Wales

experience

Jim Chatto, McWilliam’s Wines.

© Chris Elfes

Jim Chatto – McWilliam’s Wines What do you like about the Hunter Valley?

It is a beautiful place with a rich history. I love the wine styles, for their uniqueness and sheer quality.

What’s so special about Mount Pleasant?

The estate’s three vineyards, Mount Pleasant (planted 1880/1921), Rosehill (planted 1946/1965) and Lovedale (planted 1946), have stood the test of time, and continually produce great fruit. Mount Pleasant also has a strong company culture, with everyone engaged in the legacy and in being a part of something truly great.

What does it mean to continue the work of Maurice O’Shea?

It’s humbling. At first, it was a little bit daunting – ‘big shoes’ and the like.

The gravity of the responsibility is not and will never be lost on me. There is so much to learn about the wines he made and the vineyards he planted.

Experimentation was and will always be part of the legacy O’Shea gifted to Mount Pleasant. This realisation has allowed me to relax and explore. It’s really very liberating.

Shiraz or semillon?

Like choosing a favourite child, this is an impossible question. That said, I first came to the Hunter to make semillon. Hunter semillon was the first wine that ‘caught my eye’. So, if pushed, semillon.

What’s great about living in the Hunter Valley?

The picturesque mountain ranges. The proximity to some of Australia’s best surf beaches. The strong wine community, which works together towards success and long-term sustainability.

Is the climate of the Hunter challenging for a winemaker?

Climate is a challenge for all winemakers, everywhere. Whether it’s frost, hail, rain or drought, every vintage presents new and different challenges.

The climate in the Hunter has shaped the styles we make; this is the way it should be. We make medium-bodied reds and light bodied whites. We crop our vines very low, allowing for full-flavour maturation at moderate

to low sugar levels – meaning we can pick earlier and, hopefully, avoid the pressures of rain later in the season.

I believe the best wines are made in marginal climates where everything needs to be right; nothing can be left to chance. To quote a great mate and legendary Hunter winemaker, Andrew Thomas, “It’s the one per centers that make good wine great”.

What’s the wine you’re most proud of?

The 2014 Mount Pleasant reds – probably some of the best wines I will ever make. Only time will testify to this.

What’s so special about Hunter wines?

They are unique in style and flavour. No other region can make wine that tastes like a great Hunter period. In the Australian context, they have an unmatched ability to age – yet, due to style, drink well from day one.

In an international context, they easily hold their own. They are unashamedly medium-bodied and thus extremely versatile. Every good wine list should have Hunter shiraz and semillon.

Focus on Mount Pleasant:

This is a winery that needs little introduction; it is renowned for making some of the Hunter Valley’s best shiraz and semillon. In 2017, the winery was voted Winery of the Year (and Semillon of the Year) by wine writer James Halliday, in his annual guide.

Mount Pleasant Wines has a rich history, thanks in large part to the forward-thinking Maurice O’Shea, who was instrumental in harnessing the quality of the fruit and creating some of the most special wines ever to come out of the Hunter Valley.

Today, chief winemaker Jim Chatto and his team are the custodians of the estate’s vines and continue to work on the legacy left to them.

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experience

New South Wales

Hunter Valley It’s Australia’s most visited wine region, has some of the oldest vines on the planet and is home to a unique white grape variety – semillon – that is the envy of the vinicultural world.

Of course, we are talking about the Hunter Valley, one of Australia’s most unique regions, home to gloriously inconsistent weather patterns, a region where every vintage is like playing Russian roulette with Mother Nature.

Hunter winemakers would have it no other way, and whether it’s boiling hot or pouring with rain, they manage to turn out some of the nation’s best shiraz and chardonnay. The other white variety of note is the aforementioned semillon, a mercurial grape variety which 42

can be opened and drunk right away or left to age 10 years in the bottle, developing slowly into a golden elixir.

The Hunter’s dramatic backdrop is the jagged Broken Back Range, a picturesque setting for some of the oldest vines in the country at Tyrrell’s, one of the nation’s oldest wineries.

The Hunter also has a vibrant emphasis on tourism, boasting more than two million visitors a year. In 2016, a record three million visited. Not just wineries are drawcards; visitors come here for rock and jazz concerts, ‘weekend escapes’ in luxury hotels and spas, and to dine at superb regional restaurants.

The Hunter Valley boasts some memorable cellar-door experiences, too, from the grand

and modern to the boutique and artisanal.

No trip would be complete without stopping in at the cellar door at Tyrrell’s Wines, with its original homestead; or at Keith Tulloch’s, with its Hamptons-like architecture.

There are countless additional options for tasting and buying wine – from wineries specialising in traditional Hunter varieties, such as Mount Pleasant and Andrew Thomas, to innovative wineries experimenting with

At a glance…

alternatives, such as Domaine De Binet; low-intervention winemaking at Harkham Wines; and biodynamic wines at Krinklewood.

NSW’s Hunter Valley, by being unafraid to mix tradition with innovation, has maintained its reputation as one of the world’s most forward-thinking, collaborative wine regions, with Hunter winemakers – even the most competitive among them – congregating frequently to taste each other’s wines post-vintage.

Climate: warm to hot Varieties: shiraz, semillon, chardonnay, verdelho Cellar doors: Mount Pleasant, Audrey Wilkinson, Usher Tinkler Wines, Tyrrell’s, Tulloch, Andrew Thomas Restaurants: Muse, EXP, The Cellar

E S T A B L I S H E D

1 8 9 5

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New South Wales

Calabria.

Riverina Sometimes referred to as ‘the engine room of NSW’, the Riverina is a vast cropping, horticultural and vinicultural region known for producing a huge amount of Australia’s bulk grapes.

It’s also the home to one of Australia’s most successful wine export stories: Casella and its mighty Yellowtail brand.

The Riverina has a richly diverse culture, with large populations of Italian and Greek immigrants ensuring that a cultural heritage celebrating food and wine has been maintained. One of the most famous dessert-wine styles – the Noble One from De Bortoli – comes from the heart of the Riverina; the inspiration behind it was, allegedly, to make a wine ‘in the shadow of France’s famous Chateau d’Yquem’.

At a glance…

Also in the region is the headquarters of McWilliam’s Hanwood Estate and its vast array of table wines, as well as some terrific fortifieds.

A visit to Calabria Family Wines is a must; expect warm Italian-style hospitality and an extensive range of wines at its Tuscan-style cellar door.

De Bortoli Wines’ cellar door is another to asterisk on your tasting itinerary. Follow your tasting with a picnic under pergolas in the extensive winery gardens.

A little over six hours’ drive from Sydney, Griffith is your gateway to the Riverina, and is the perfect place to base yourself if you’re keen on activities such as farm and orchard visits, or want to join in one of the many celebratory festivals held in and around the region’s heart each year.

Climate: hot Varieties: shiraz, semillon, chardonnay Cellar doors: McWilliam’s, Calabria, Casella Restaurants: La Scala, Guiseppe’s

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Victoria

Yarra Valley Viticulturally, Victoria is as varied as the rest of the country, with a rich topography of climates and regional idiosyncrasies making it a must on the itinerary of serious wine-lovers.

Some might argue that no visit to Victoria would be complete without a day trip to the Yarra Valley. An hour’s drive from Melbourne’s CBD, the region is responsible for some world-famous chardonnay, pinot noir, cabernet and shiraz.

It’s a Mecca for the wine tourist, with such a dizzying array of cellar doors it’s hard to know where to start.

The first Yarra Valley vines were planted nearly 180 years ago by the Ryrie Brothers, on a property known today as Chateau Yering. The potential of the region did not take long to be realised and today, Yering’s winery produces two of Australia’s most revered varieties: chardonnay and pinot noir.

Must-sees are the amazing Giant Steps/ Innocent Bystander complex in Healesville, which marries food and wine in a one-stop destination; and the recently upgraded Oakridge winery, with its excellent chardonnay and one of the Yarra Valley’s best restaurants, run by chef Matt Stone.

Of course, it’s not all wine: make a beeline for Four Pillars Gin distillery for a tasting of one of Australia’s best-loved gins.

Alongside world-class wineries and restaurants, there are scenic walking and cycling trails, hot-air ballooning operations, and a wealth of five-star accommodation in case you want to stay longer in the Valley.

At a glance…

Climate: cool Varieties: chardonnay, pinot noir, cabernet sauvignon, shiraz Cellar doors: Giant Steps, De Bortoli, Yarra Yering, Yeringberg, Mac Forbes, Seville Estate Restaurants: ezard @ Levantine Hill, Oakridge

Yarra Yering.

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Other regions to head to in Victoria There’s so much diversity on offer in Victoria that it’s hard to know where to start. Head to Goulburn or Nagambie Lakes and stop in at Tahbilk, one of Australia’s oldest family wineries, or visit the Great Western and iconic Best’s winery: the stories and the wines here will have you captivated.

If fortifieds are more your thing, journey to Rutherglen for some of Australia’s best examples: the cellars of Stanton & Killeen, Campbells Wines and Morris Wines will ensure you leave with a boot-full of topaque, muscat and apera (port).

Cool-climate wine regions such as Henty, Beechworth, Milawa and the Pyrenees all produce stellar wines, many of them now household names: think Castagna, Giaconda, Brown Brothers and Mount Langi Ghiran.

There’s the Italian imprint and influence in the King Valley, with an abundance of prosecco and Italian varieties such as sangiovese.

And if you’re a lover of pinot noir, you’ll want to sojourn to the Mornington Peninsula, with its diverse and interesting estates.

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experience

Leeuwin Estate vineyards.

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Western Australia

Western Australia

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Margaret River Western Australia is a dream for winemakers – particularly for those in the Margaret River region, with its regular maritime breezes cooling the vineyards at night. Just three hours from Perth and less than 50 years old, the Margaret River wine region – or ‘Margs’, as it is affectionately known – is producing wines of global importance.

The region was founded by Dr John Gladstone, a man perspicacious enough to recognise the combination of climate and soil type as the perfect environment for grape growing. Although the region is responsible for just three per cent of the country’s grape production, it represents more than 20 per cent of the premium wine market.

The varieties that dominate here are chardonnay and cabernet. The region also lays claim to some of Australia’s most famous and ‘collected’ wineries, including Cullen, Vasse Felix, Leeuwin Estate, Voyager Estate and many more.

At a glance…

Climate: Maritime, warm Cellar doors: Vasse Felix, Voyager Estate, Leeuwin Estate, Cullen Wines Restaurants: Settlers Tavern, Cullen, Voyager Estate, Vasse Felix

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Tasmania

experience

This image and below: Moorilla Estate at MONA, Tasmania.

Images this page © Moorilla Gallery

TASMANIA It’s difficult not to be seduced by the natural beauty of Tasmania – and then you try the wines and become smitten with the seductive reds and whites of this cool-climate paradise. Like much of Europe, Tassie enjoys mild summers and long autumn days that help produce refined and elegant wines.

The varieties that prosper here are pinot noir and chardonnay, both also used for sparkling wine production, as well as cabernet sauvignon, pinot gris and riesling. With more than 160 producers and 90 registered cellar doors on the Apple Isle, you’re spoilt for choice, and each year, the southernmost state’s fine wines gain greater notoriety, forging a global reputation for excellence.

The best thing about visiting Tasmania as a wine destination is that everything is within a relatively short distance, whether you’re basing yourself in Hobart or in Launceston.

At a glance…

Climate: cool Cellar doors: Josef Chromy, Moorilla Estate, Pipers Brook, Frogmore Creek Restaurants: Franklin, Stillwater, Black Cow Bistro, The Source at MONA

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South Australia

SOUTH AUSTRALIA When people think of Australian wine, those big, flavoursome reds come to mind – and South Australia is the one state that produces these styles consistently and with aplomb.

There’s so much diversity and history here that choosing which regions to cover can be a challenge, especially if you’re a first-time visitor. But whether it’s the dry rieslings of the Clare Valley, the full-bodied reds of the Barossa or the sleek, pared-back chardonnays of the Adelaide Hills, South Australia delivers an enviable abundance of classy wine.

Phil Lehmann, WD wines Barossa Valley, Coonawarra As group winemaker for WD wines, what does an average day entail?

Right now we are in the midst of vintage so it’s a daily grind of processing fruit and ensuring everything is getting done. It also means being on the phone and talking to the guys in Coonawarra regarding the right time to pick. I’m also on the road a lot between the regions and juggling being a dad of two, it’s fairly hectic but fun and challenging.

How many tonnes are you processing per vintage?

Just over a thousand tonnes which includes our interests in the Barossa and Coonawarra.

What is it about the Barossa that you love?

It’s the diversity. People think we are a one trick pony for big reds but in essence the region is a complex tapestry of different soils and an amazing viticultural resource. We can make supercharged shiraz or medium bodied and elegant wines too.

Taylor’s Wines, Clare Valley, SA.

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Was it always inevitable with your family connection that you would work in wine?

Not necessarily, but my father was a larger than life character and it was hard not to get swept up with his enthusiasm, plus we grew up surrounded by winemaking and were always in the winery. I studied engineering and was headed in that direction but then realised that I wasn’t doing what I should have been doing. After several vintages overseas in Burgundy and California I realised it was in my blood.

People, Places and Time.

Phil Lehmann, Winemaker

Modern Barossa Valley Reds.

Pure Eden Valley Whites.

2015 Block 8 Shiraz —

96 points

James Halliday, Wine Companion Online, July 2016 “Full crimson-purple; if only more Barossa Valley shiraz could taste and feel like this.

Purity and intensity, its characters border on minerality - great life, vitality and length.”

2014 Evangelist Shiraz —

97 points

Tony Keys, The Key Report, September 2016 “It’s all that top-quality, old-vine Barossa shiraz should be, and more. A wonderful, wicked temptress that takes one to heights of pleasure. Fantastic wine.”

2016 Peace of Eden Riesling —

97 points

Kim Brebach, Best Wines Under $20, August 2016 “There’s so much bright energy here, the wine almost leaps out of the glass. I can’t recall the last time I gave a $20 wine 97 points but this one is brilliant.”

2015 Blood and Courage Shiraz —

93 points

Toni Paterson MW, The Real Review, March 2017 “The cherry and raspberry aromatics are extraordinary and I adore the suppleness of the tannins and the quiet intensity of the fruit, not to mention the wine’s value!”

Visit www.stjohnsroad.com and enter promo code ‘fly’ to receive a special introductory offer.

Available nationally at fine dining establishments and all good retailers.

experience

South Australia

This image and above: Grant Burge, Barossa.

Barossa Valley The Barossa is quintessential Australian wine country. It may be an oddball mix of German butchers and Lutheran churches, custard slices and winery dogs – but it’s this fascinating melding of German and Anglo-Saxon cultures that makes the Barossa such a hotbed of diversity – and, of course, wine.

The Barossa has a history dating back to 1837. The region is split into three sub-regions: Tanunda, Angaston and Nuriootpa.

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German migrants made Tanunda their home in the late 1800s, which is why you can enjoy some of the best cured meats outside Germany in the region’s top butcher shops even today. Angaston is a more Anglophile hangout, with an ‘old-school’ English feel about it. Here, you are surrounded by 19th-century architecture and, on weekends, it becomes even more of a foodies’ paradise as the famed Barossa Farmers Market comes alive, selling fresh local produce and tempting treats.

Nurioopta – or ‘Nuri’, as it’s known to the locals – is the region’s bustling epicentre; you’ll find the cellar doors of renowned regional labels such as Wolf Blass and Penfolds on its doorstep, along with Linke’s Central Meat Store, which is

At a glance…

famed for its top quality range of smoked meats, particularly its bacon.

The Barossa continues to be Australia’s ‘engine room’ for shiraz, producing styles that are recognised and admired the world over.

Climate: warm to hot Varieties: shiraz, cabernet sauvignon, grenache, riesling, chardodnay, semillon Cellar doors: Grant Burge, Peter Lehmann, Penfolds, Kaesler, Teusner, Chateau Tanunda, Seppeltsfield Restaurants: Fino, fermentAsian, Appelation

Rich in history and tradition, Katnook Estate lies in the heart of Coonawarra. Influenced by unique terroir, Katnook Estate wines offer concentrated flavours, great complexity and true regional expression.

VISIT US

Cellar Door OPEN DAILY - Riddoch Highway, Coonawarra S.A.

experience

South Australia

McLaren Vale Of all the South Australian wine regions, there’s something extra-special about the Vale. First-time visitors to the region will be struck by the Vale’s glorious vistas of sea meeting vines. There’s something infectious about the enthusiasm of this region, too.

McLaren Vale is famous for its ‘big reds’ and Mediterranean blends, but produces a host of other varietals in between. The region is full of innovators, a fact that’s reflected in the action of many of the area’s wineries, which forge boldly ahead, experimenting with new ideas and varieties.

The regional hero is shiraz, full-flavoured and redolent of the diverse soil types of the area. Grenache is also a much-loved variety produced locally, as is chardonnay. But it’s this experimentation, and the planting of alternative varieties – everything from fiano and vermentino to nero d’avola and sagrantino – that’s keeping the Vale’s innovators excited.

And this melting pot of medium-bodied Mediterranean grape varieties is now getting their chance to shine Down Under.

At a glance…

Climate: Mediterranean, warm Cellar doors: d’Arenberg, Chapel Hill, Oliver’s Taranga, Wirra Wirra, S.C Pannell

This image and above: d’Arenberg, McLaren Vale.

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South Australia

experience

Wayne Stehbens Katnook Estate Senior Winemaker, Coonawarra

Wayne Stehbens, Katnook Estate Senior Winemaker.

You have done more vintages at one winery than any other Australian winemaker, what does Katnook mean to you?

There are a couple of others out there, but I am coming up to my 40th vintage in Coonawarra. My first vintage in Coonawarra was in 1978 at Rouge Homme, but 1980 up to this current vintage have all been with Katnook. Katnook is a very large part of, not just my working life, but also my family life. My father was Katnook’s vineyard manager starting in 1968, so I grew up helping in the vineyards and winery before moving on to making Katnook’s wines. My wife, Michelle, is Katnook Estate cellar door manager and has also worked for Katnook for over 20 years.

So, it’s been a real family affair and in many ways Katnook is part of my heart and soul.

Coonawarra Known for its long-lived reds from the ‘terra rossa’ (red soils over limestone), Coonawarra produces some of the country’s most distinct cabernets. Coonawarra is geographically long and flat, which is why it’s also known as the Cigar. While the big Cigar’s not renowned for its natural beauty, the region’s vineyards and cellar doors more than compensate, with an array of varieties produced but cabernet, shiraz and chardonnay remaining the regional heroes.

Why is cabernet sauvignon so suited to the region?

Definitely the climate and soils.

Cabernet sauvignon grows and ripens well when planted on Coonawarra’s terra rossa soils and combined with the sea breezes and cool climate. The grapes also tend to be smaller so there is a large skin to juice ratio. All this just combines and works for making premium quality and ageworthy cabernet sauvignon that Coonawarra is so well known for.

At a glance…

The Coonawarra area can thank one John Riddoch for planting vines here in 1890, followed by famous names like the Redmans and Wynns, who saw the potential of the unique soils of the region.

Penola is the town at the heart of the region and it’s here you’ll find some local attractions that will give you the historical background of the area’s early settlers. Of course, food and wine is a big drawcard here, and there are fine offerings in abundance.

Climate: warm Cellar doors: Balnaves, Zema Estate, Katnook Estate, Wynns, Parker Estate Restaurants: Pipers of Penola, Upstairs at Hollick, Ottelia+Fodder

What’s the wine you’ve been most happy or proudest of?

A difficult question but Katnook Prodigy (the first vintage released in 1997 won a Jimmy Watson) and Odyssey. World class wines from Coonawarra which have endured.

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business

NEWS&VIEWS Cyclone Debbie relief approved for Queensland primary producers The unilluminating stoush between the Queensland and Australian governments ended, finally, with the Commonwealth approving Category C funding for primary producers affected by Cyclone Debbie and the resulting floods.

The much-anticipated decision means that farmers from the Gold Coast north to the Whitsundays can now apply for grants of up to $25,000 each to assist them with clean-up and recovery.

While the Queensland Government is still totalling the damage bill, Queensland Emergency Services Minister Mark Ryan said the impact of Cyclone Debbie and the associated flooding will be in the region of $450 million.

An initial damage assessment for the agricultural and fisheries sectors in the Mackay and Whitsunday region came in at $300 million; the horticulture industry around Bowen has sustained losses of about $100 million; the sugar industry is looking at $139 million in damage; and the cyclone has cost the beef industry an estimated $30 million.

Further south, the torrential rain that followed Cyclone Debbie has caused around $35 million in damage to agriculture and fisheries in the Logan, Scenic Rim, Lockyer Valley and Gold Coast local government areas.

Dinosaur Canyon opens in Winton Winton’s premier tourist attraction, the Australian Age of Dinosaurs museum, has opened a new attraction: a permanent outdoor dinosaur exhibit built over boulders and a gorge.

Centred on a 300-metre suspended walkway that was three years and $1.3

million in the making, the exhibit consists of five galleries displaying 1:1 scale bronze replicas of the dinosaurs indigenous to Outback Queensland as long ago as the Cretaceous Period, 100 million years ago.

The unique display is the brainchild of Australian Age of Dinosaurs founder and chairman, David Elliott. The local grazier discovered a dinosaur bone while mustering sheep on his property in 1999 and has spent the past decade developing the Australian Age of Dinosaurs museum.

For Elliott, the walkway and its galleries are another step towards developing a world-class natural history museum.

Testing produce for contaminants in Katherine An Australian Defence Force investigation into chemicals linked with firefighting foam has been extended to the Northern Territory town of Katherine.

The ADF investigation is studying the effect the leaching of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) into the water table near RAAF Base Tindal has had on the environment and the area’s human population.

PFAS chemicals are an ingredient used in firefighting foam employed by the ADF at RAAF bases all over Australia, including Darwin, Katherine, Amberly and Williamtown. An ADF spokesperson stated that produce such as eggs and vegetables that were produced with contaminated bore water would be tested for PFAS levels.

Commercial producers in the area had already done their own testing and the ADF investigation will be confined to private residential properties.

Fish from the Katherine River are also being tested as part of the investigation, as fish caught near RAAF Base Williamtown had been found to have detectable levels of PFAS following the use of firefighting foams.

In the wake of the Williamtown investigation, both the Environmental Protection Agency and the Health Department had concluded that fish with detectable levels of PFAS were safe to eat as part of a balanced diet coming from a range of sources.

CSG report warns of increased methane near Condamine River A University of Melbourne Energy Institute report has warned that continued coal seam gas (CSG) operations “could significantly increase gas releases from weak or porous zones such as the Condamine River” in southern Queensland.

Last year, landholder concerns about increased methane emissions from the Condamine River near Chinchilla received national attention when the ABC and other news outlets aired dramatic footage of NSW Greens MP Jeremy Buckingham setting the river alight.

The Melbourne Energy Institute’s report, which was commissioned by The Australia Institute, reviewed existing scientific literature to assess the level of migratory or ‘fugitive’ emissions from CSG development in Queensland.

Report co-author and geophysicist Dimitri Lafleur and University of Melbourne chair of geology Mike Sandiford, the report’s other co-author, said the data provided by CSG producer Origin Energy showed a quadrupling of the amount of methane released into the Condamine River between 2013 and 2016, then a decline in recent months.

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AUSTRALIA’S ENERGY CRISIS WORDS: ROWAN CROSBY

How is it that Australia, a nation built – at least in recent times – on its plethora of natural resources, can find itself in the midst of an energy crisis? And how can it be resolved?

ecent years have seen the prices of electricity for both domestic and industrial use in Australia rise steadily, while there has been an increasing incidence of supply interruption and blackouts around the nation, most notably in South Australia. This prompts us to pose the obvious question: why?

As Australia transitions away from ‘traditional’ energy sources such as coal toward renewable energy, the road becomes a little rocky, and it’s this period of transition that is causing some headaches for the government and both domestic and industrial energy users.

As it stands, around 86 per cent of Australia’s electricity is generated through what we could call ‘fossil fuels’, according to Origin Energy.

In fact, the entire world relies heavily on fossil fuels, as they are generally the cheapest and most commercially accessible source of energy, and Australia is no different.

However, the sudden closures of ageing coal plants at Hazelwood in Victoria and Port Augusta in

South Australia in the past few years have put increased pressure on an already strained power supply.

Renewables and reliability

Interestingly, South Australia has been the state that has embraced the use of renewable energy sources the most.

In April this year, SA surpassed its renewables target of 50 per cent by 2025 eight years early, having previously met its 2014 goal of 33 per cent well ahead of schedule. This is significantly more, on average, than the proportion of power generated from renewable sources across the rest of the country, according to RenewablesSA. Renewables represent the future of energy generation globally; the challenge is coping with variation in supply. “The quantity of renewableenergy generation in a region such as SA can vary substantially, from supplying less than one per cent up to 80 per cent of the state’s needs,” explains Environment and Energy Minister Josh Frydenberg.“When the wind’s not blowing and the sun’s not shining, power is not being

generated. This means that days of easily forecastable supply are over.”

After more than a decade of advancing the cause of renewables, the SA Labor Government recently announced an emergency energy package that includes the establishment of a new, state-run gas power plant and a proposed 100-megawatt battery storage system for power generated from renewable sources such as solar and wind.

In the meantime, that leaves not only SA, but all Australia’s states and territories, and the federal government, to examine closely the mix of energy sources they rely upon moving forward.

The issues with gas

As the world makes a slow transition away from fossil fuels such as coal, energy investment has also been moving towards different energy sources. Natural gas, long touted as a stop-gap measure to help Australia transition toward renewable energy sources, has seen significant development and investment in the past decade.

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business

ELECTRICITY GENERATION ACROSS AUSTRALIA 13% NATURAL GAS

7% HYDROPOWER 4% WIND 2% ROOFTOP SOLAR 1% BIOENERGY

73% COAL

SOURCE: ORIGIN ENERGY

However, a recent report from the Climate Council, ’Pollution and Price: The Cost of Investing in Gas’, highlighted various problems with this.

Climate Council Councillor and energy-sector expert Andrew Stock still sees some issues, economically and environmentally, with using gas in the near term.

“Australia’s massive expansion of international gas exports is pushing up power prices here on home soil,” explained Stock at the time of the report’s release. “We’re now in a situation where Australia has overcommitted to its gas exports, resulting in even steeper domestic prices. Prices will only rise into the future.”

Part of the problem dates back to the approval of three export terminals in the Queensland port town of Gladstone, which allowed companies on the east coast to ship their gas overseas for the first time.

A 2009 Queensland Government report, ‘Blueprint for Queensland’s

LNG Industry’, noted that allowing gas to be converted from coal seam gas (CSG) into liquefied natural gas (LNG) for export, had the potential to create a shortfall of gas for domestic usage.

The report advised the Queensland Government to ensure there was enough gas available to meet domestic demand, listing options including holding back production in certain areas to supply Australia’s needs.

Stock said using gas power as a stop-gap in the transition to renewable energy and storage technology was not only financially risky, but would lock in up to a billion tonnes of extra pollution over future decades.

“There is no doubt, however, that Australian industrials are being screwed by the LNG industry, who contracted to sell more gas to overseas producers than they can produce,” he contended.

In March, PM Malcolm Turnbull hosted yet another gas summit

aimed at fixing soaring gas prices; however, little progress has been made since to address the underlying issues that the nation is facing.

Potential solutions

Regulations can change, and rising prices have the potential to encourage new gas supply.

Renewable storage solutions are getting cheaper and more efficient at an exponential rate and, as energy prices continue to increase, consumers are presented with the option of taking energy generation into their own hands through the use of retail-level solar panels and battery storage, as we’ve seen from high-profile companies such as Elon Musk’s Tesla and its Powerwall.

In the near term, however, Australia’s states and territories are faced with the possibility of continued interruptions, and a power grid that is less than perfect, unless there are some significant changes in policy and thinking on a national level.

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business

RESKILLING AN INDUSTRY

WHEN ONE DOOR CLOSES...

Is enough being done to help workers left jobless after the closure of Hazelwood power station – and others like it – as they make the transition to a new future?

t’s been deemed one of the dirtiest power stations in the world. Indeed, the closure of Victoria’s Hazelwood brown-coalfuelled power station has been mooted ever since carbon emissions became a serious political issue.

When its owner, French energy giant Engie, announced late last year that it was shutting Hazelwood down, shock waves reverberated through the Latrobe Valley community.

Nevertheless, the focus quickly turned to how to best assist the community to transition in the face of the loss of nearly 1,000 jobs.

The Victorian Government pledged $266 million to create an “economic growth zone” in the Latrobe Valley, including $50m

to attract businesses by reducing relocation costs, “cutting red tape [and] making quick planning decisions”; $22m to help workers transition with training, financial and personal counselling and $20m to run the Latrobe Valley Authority as it manages the transition. The biggestticket item, however, will be $174m in infrastructure projects such as railway lines, roads, schools, sporting and other community facilities.

Late to the game?

Although the Victorian Government’s robust response is laudable, the ACTU, the CFMEU and Latrobe Valley community groups such as Voices of the Valley have asked the obvious question.

WORDS: DARREN BAGULEY

Due to its age, it was only a matter of time before Hazelwood ceased operations, so why did the transition planning start only after Engie announced it was closing the plant?

Why was there no transition plan already in place?

This really is the million-dollar question. The Australian energy market is undergoing a structural shift, and has been doing so for some time – nine coal power stations have been retired in the past five years.

In its 2015 World Energy Outlook Special Report, Energy and Climate Change, the International Energy Agency (IEA) flags the closure of old and inefficient coal power stations as a key component in taking effective action on climate change.

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business

According to the Australian Energy Market Operator’s consultation paper, Material Issues and Proposed Inputs for the 2016 National Transmission Network Development Plan (NTNDP), we will need to close 8,700MW of capacity (the equivalent of about five large coal power stations) by 2030 to meet the Turnbull government’s climate target under the Paris Agreement. To meet the more aggressive target of keeping global warming to under two degrees Celsius, Australia will have to close one Hazelwood-sized power station every year between now and 2030.

The question therefore remains how to help affected communities best achieve this transition.

According to London-based management consultant Robbie Tilleard, who grew up in the Latrobe Valley and wrote a Masters’ thesis on de-industrialisation, “Australia is not the only economy dealing with this sort of thing”.

“Western economies have been de-industrialising for decades now,” Tilleard says. “In some ways, we have a really good idea of what we can do in the short term to help individuals but we’re also really bad at understanding how to transition communities and have sustainable growth in the long term.”

Smart business sense

Tilleard says that the Victorian Government’s response ticks all the right boxes. The infrastructure spending will provide shortterm employment to cushion the economic shock of hundreds of job losses, while the retraining funding will help people acquire new skills.

“Access to credit is also important,” he says. “The further you get away from capital cities the harder it is to access funding for business ventures.” Tilleard also sounds a note of caution, however. While providing existing businesses with credit and assistance in helping them expand is often very effective, helping people start new businesses is less so.

“Evidence suggests business64

“nine coal power stations have been retired in the past five years” start programs are better for sales turnover [in the region] than employment and productivity,” he says. “The danger is that a large proportion of small businesses fail, so business credit and advice needs to be well placed and well timed.”

A tailored approach

Over the longer term, Tilleard says it’s important that reskilling efforts combine individualised training with career advice.

“Newcastle in 1999 is a really good example of things going right,” he says. “As a region, it had a lot of things going for it, but one of the good things government and BHP did was to provide individualised training and career support.

“One great example is that of someone who had been an electrician at the smelter for more than 20 years.

He had access to a training grant to do anything he wanted, and career guidance. As part of the career guidance process he established

that he really liked using his hands and eventually he chose to become a remedial masseur, and he ended up having a vibrant and successful second career.”

Somewhat more controversially, Tilleard argues that de-industrialising communities need to be prepared to “shrink their way to greatness,” in other words encourage and incentivise people to leave the Latrobe Valley to seek work elsewhere.

“Population decline … undermines a wider sense of community and social trust, [but] if people stay and there is no work, welfare dependency and social issues will increase. Policy must recognise out-migration as an essential part of the Latrobe Valley’s recovery process,” he contends.

While the Latrobe Valley has an uncertain future, it won’t be the first regional community forced to deal with the disruption caused by the massive structural shift the Australian economy is undergoing.

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The Aggreko Remote Monitoring (ARM) solution provides real-time asset monitoring and dedicated diagnostic support from technical experts, preventing issues, improving uptime and helping customers keep operations running at maximum efficiency.

An integral part of the ARM solution includes the company’s Remote Operations Centre and technical support team. The team of technical experts work 24/7 and coordinate rapid response to ARM’s alarm notifications by evaluating equipment data and initiating the most efficient response.

The system monitors thousands of critical equipment parameters,

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When equipment is outside certain parameters, alerts are sent to the Remote Operations Centre, enabling the team to diagnose and respond efficiently. Aggreko remotely fixes the issue with the site when possible, or dispatches a qualified technician if necessary.

A mobile application is also available for customers where users are notified of any critical equipment performance alarms and contacted immediately by an expert. With the ARM mobile application, Aggreko gives customers visibility anytime, anywhere into its equipment’s performance conditions, potentially saving unanticipated downtime and capital expenditure costs.

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GERMAN 3D LASER TECHNOLOGY

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Under the agreement, Position Partners will offer sales, training and technical support for a range of Z+F laser scanners to customers throughout Australia, New Zealand and PNG. “Z+F has a reputation for delivering industry-leading solutions that are innovative, reliable and highly accurate,” said Martin Nix, Position Partners CEO. “We are delighted to partner with a company that shares our passion for pioneering a better way and we look forward to offering customers the very best when it comes to 3D laser scanning technology that is backed by our extensive technical expertise and local support,” he added.

Position Partners laser scanning experts have been trained at Z+F’s headquarters in Germany, to enable

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Z+F will also assist Position Partners to establish a local calibration check facility in Australia to minimise service turnaround times.

In what’s believed to be an industry first, Position Partners and Z+F have also agreed to provide free customer training at Z+F’s German headquarters with the sale of every 5010X and 5016 laser scanner. Each sale includes flights, accommodation and training for one representative at no extra cost.

“Sceptics may assume we’ve built the cost into the price of the product but that isn’t the case,” explained Position Partners’ Scanning Systems Product Manager, Paul Malatzky.

“We want to ensure customers get the maximum amount of benefit from these sophisticated instruments by providing training and knowledge direct from the people who developed them.”

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“We welcome this new reseller agreement with Position Partners, a company with a large network of offices to support customers at a local level,” said Dr. Christopher Fröhlich, one of the founding partners of Z+F. “We look forward to a successful partnership and offering well supported, reliable instruments to the surveying, engineering, construction and mining industries.”

For more information on the range of Z+F 3D laser scanning instruments available from Position Partners call 1300 867 266 or visit www.positionpartners.com.au

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specialfeature

From blue and white, to green and gold he boarding experience at St Joseph’s Nudgee College is one like no other. The support for your learning is immeasurable, the friendships forged are forever, and access to world class facilities is at your doorstep. Current Captain of the Under 20 Australian Rugby Union team Reece Hewat experienced Nudgee College’s boarding life firsthand as a student from 2013 to 2015.

“Being a boarder is really something special; the term home away from home is often used, because that’s exactly what it is,” he said.

“It’s a bit like being on a big school camp all year where you get to spend most of the time with your friends.”

While Reece said he enjoyed his entire Nudgee College journey, his Senior year in 2015 was a highlight.

“As a boarder, you grow up with all the boys in your year level, so finishing school together is an incredible experience,” he said.

In life, there are always challenges, and the challenge that is often spoken about in regards to boarding is homesickness. During his boarding years, Reece’s family were located more than 1000km away in the New South Wales Central Coast region.

“You can get a bit homesick early on, but then you realise that all the boys there are in the same situation and you have heaps of people to talk things through with,” he said.

“All the House Mums, Heads of Boarding House and Supervisors definitely do their part and prepare you for any problem that you may face.”

According to Reece, boarding can give you the upper hand when you finish school and are faced with the ‘real world’.

“In many ways you are starting your independent life; you get used to doing things for yourself and not relying on your parents as much,” he said.

“I’m living out of home now and being in boarding definitely made the transition easier.”

As a boarder Reece also developed a knowledge of different cultures through living with more than 250 boys from all over the world.

At Nudgee College, Reece was the Captain of the Nudgee College 1st XV Rugby team when he was in Year 11 and Year 12, and also earned the captaincy of the Australian Schoolboys team as a Senior.

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WE SEEK MORE THAN THE QUALIFIED WE VALUE THE FEARLESS Uni of Southern Qld p78

SKROO TURNER CEO, FLIGHT CENTRE

If you’re looking for that combination of knowledge and belief that top employers seek, look no further than USQ – the No. 1 uni in Australia for graduate employment.* With over 700 professional development courses available, including one of Australia’s top 5 MBA programs^, and renowned online learning resources, we equip postgrads with the skills the world demands.

USQ.EDU.AU/POSTGRAD *Good Universities Guide, 2017 ^Financial Review Boss magazine, 2015

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USQ tips its hat to Roneel oneel Narayan has 3,000 reasons to smile; the same number of kilometres he travelled to make it to his USQ graduation.

“I’m so excited! This is a big milestone for me,” he said, pumping the air with his fist.

Born in Fiji, Roneel quite literally crossed an ocean to study USQ’s Master of Business Administration.

His journey started two years ago, as on online student undertaking a Master of Project Management.

“I was studying online from Fiji.

But when I finished, I knew I needed to keep going.”

“With further study, there’s opportunity for growth,” he said.

Roneel was awarded USQ’s Vice-Chancellor’s International Postgraduate Scholarship.

He moved to Australia last year and completed his Master of Business Administration.

“I’m working full time now with an engineering firm. And I’m looking forward to what opportunities the MBA brings me.”

Ranked in the top five MBA programs

in the country, according to Australian Financial Review BOSS rankings, the degree is one of Australia’s largest.

The survey, which is undertaken every two years, saw the USQ School of Management and Enterprise’s MBA program move from eighth to fifth.

The grading system assesses business education across Australia, weighing factors such as feedback from recent alumni, academic staff credentials and business experience, and program design.

“It is a testament to the quality of our program and commitment to delivering the best outcomes for our students,” said USQ’s MBA Program Director, Associate Professor Jane Summers.

She said providing a flexible program that allowed students to study online and in their own time and space was clearly meeting a market niche for postgraduate business education.

“One question on the MBA survey asks why they chose this particular institution, and many noted they wouldn’t have otherwise been able to study if they didn’t have the online option.”

USQ’s MBA program has a number of

key features that help to set it apart and provide enhanced value to students.

These include being able to specialise in focused areas in addition to the traditional business courses, an emphasis on high quality teaching with personalised support, relevant and innovative curriculum and an international faculty with strong industry networks.

USQ Vice-Chancellor, Professor Janet Verbyla, said the ranking is a reflection of the dedication and hard work shown by staff and MBA students.

“With the MBA from USQ, students are landing themselves jobs in some of the fastest paced and most interesting careers in the business world,” Professor Verbyla said.

“Just go for it,” is the advice from graduate, Roneel Narayan.

“Look for opportunities to further your education and go for it.”

For more information on USQ’s master’s degree in business administration (MBA), visit: www.usq.edu.au/study/degrees/ master-of-business-administration.

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It starts with understanding.

From the moment your daughter moves into our Boarding House, she’ll feel a part of something special.

We believe that caring for your daughter is not only our job, it is our privilege. We would love to play a part in your daughter’s journey.

OranjeCreative_7979

Please call 08 8373 4062 or email admissions@walford.asn.au to learn more about boarding life at Walford.

Walford Anglican School for Girls 316 Unley Rd Hyde Park SA 5061

T. 08 8373 4062

E. admissions@walford.asn.au

/walfordschool

walford.asn.au

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From the Riverland to National Champion alford Boarder and Rowing National Champion, Ella Grummet, was born and raised in Loxton South Australia. Loxton is located on the south bank of the River Murray in the Riverland region and is known for its grain farming.

Growing up in Loxton Ella attended Loxton Primary school and applied for a boarding scholarship at Walford School in 2013. During the scholarship process, Ella was asked if she would be interested in being part of the rowing community and as her father, Mac Grummet, was a rower in Victoria, she fondly remembers the way Mac talked highly about the sport and how much he enjoyed it.

When Ella arrived for her first year of boarding in 2014, she trained with the rowing squad and successfully made the two seat in the Year 9 A quad boat, a position she would also retain the next season in the Year 10 A boat. Her Year 10 A crew won the Rowing South Australia Champion Schoolgirl Crew in the 2015/16 season for being the most

successful schoolgirl crew in the state.

Now into her fourth year and studying Year 12 as a boarder at Walford, Ella reflects on her time in the boarding house.

‘Living with all the girls and having lots of sisters is a great support system; there are girls who started with me in Year 8 and we are close friends. Ms Jones-Parry (Walford Boarding Manager) and the boarding house staff are really supportive and when I have any problems they are like my second mum.

On the weekends we go to sporting events like the AFL at Adelaide Oval, we go shopping in Rundle Mall, watch movies at the cinema and of course there is rowing training in there too!

All the girls really enjoy the Boarding Socials with other schools too.

Walford is so close to everything.

It’s really easy for us to get into the city, head to the beach at Glenelg or get something to eat at all the cool cafés on King William Road.’

With a disrupted first half of the season the Walford First VIII of; Meg

Juers, Kirsty Penhall, Charlotte Hall, Aine Seed, Lavinia Prince, Matilda Young, Katelyn Nicholson, Mia Gowland and Ella, came together for the first time on January camp 2017.

When the season proper commenced, this First VIII crew opened their first of eleven South Australian Schoolgirl eight races with a convincing win. They went on to win the following ten races in South Australia with an average winning margin of 9.46 seconds.

This Walford First VIII crew, now declared the State and National Champions are only the third South Australian Schoolgirl crew to ever achieve this exceptional result. In fact, the past keepers of this record are both Walford Crews from 1994 and 1997.

“Ella is an exceptionally hard worker. She is a huge asset to the Walford rowing program and it has been fantastic to see how much she has grown and learnt over the years.”

Walford Director Of Rowing - Coach David McGrath

81

The school of

choice for

Learning | Co-curricular | The Arts Agriculture | Boarding Downlands College has a unique history, beautiful surrounds, a distinctive spirituality and unequalled character. Our 38 hectare campus, located 20km from the Brisbane West Wellcamp Airport, is a great place for siblings to grow up together, forming memories that last a lifetime.

W h e re y o u r

h e a r t finds a home

T: 07 4690 9500 | 72 Ruthven St, Toowoomba | A Missionaries of the Sacred Heart College INDEPENDENT |

CATHOLIC | COEDUCATIONAL | YEARS 5-12 | DAY & BOARDING

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One school, two experiences Written by M Cavanough (Downlands Past Student and current staff member)

am in a position that few people experience – that of returning to work at their high school to take up employment after graduation. I am lucky enough to have experienced Downlands under two different leaders, in two different eras and from two different perspectives, one as a student and the other as a staff member.

My Downlands journey began in 2001 after my family relocated from Rockhampton. Being in Year 10, the thought of starting over at a new school was daunting; however, my fears were quickly allayed as I immediately felt welcomed by staff and students alike, and was quickly drawn into a great group of friends, many of whom are still close today. I also met teachers who have left a lasting and positive impact on my life.

Downlands provided opportunities that were not available to me at my previous school. One example was the subject offerings. As I was not interested in mainstream Science subjects (I did not require Science for university), the option

to study Agricultural Science as an OP subject in Senior was appealing. I always enjoyed attending classes at the Colleges on-site Rural Centre.

I learned valuable lessons at Downlands, both in and out of the classroom. Through the Colleges Pastoral Care program, founded on the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart (MSC) Ethos, I began to appreciate and understand others; to consider how I could give back to my community; and to become a more selfless person.

I graduated from Year 12 with a good OP, an offer in the tertiary course of my choice, a strong network of friends and experiences that taught lessons that would last me a lifetime.

Fast forward to 2013 and an employment opportunity at Downlands.

It sounded like a wonderful role and I considered that my previous experience at the College would compliment the requirements of the position.

The past four years as a staff member of Downlands has exceeded all my expectations. Given the time since my

own graduation, change was inevitable - not only in small things, such as the uniform (hurrah!), but also the extension of choices available. Downlands now has the most diverse curriculum on the Darling Downs; more career pathways for students; and a vast and varied offering of co-curricular activities. There are many new, and a few familiar, teachers who continue to inspire young minds through a dedication and passion that can only be driven by an enjoyment of their workplace and what they do.

One aspect still underpinning all areas, including academic lessons, is the aspiration to be ‘people of the heart’.

Through Social Justice programs, Retreats and the over-arching Pastoral Care program, students and staff are encouraged to connect, to become involved in their community, and to seek to make a positive contribution to society.

My experience at Downlands has shaped who I am and I am grateful for the opportunity to share my school with a new generation of Downlanders.

Downlands College is a Years 5 – 12, independent, Catholic, coeducational, day and boarding school, located in the picturesque region of the Darling Downs in Queensland. The College offers a broad curriculum, diverse co-curricular opportunities, on-site rural centre and a quality pastoral care program built on the Ethos of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart (MSC).

We invite you to experience the Downlands community for you and your family, please book a personalised tour with Enrolments Coordinator, Ms Merilyn Rohde via phone, 61+ 07 46 909500, or email, enrolments@downlands.qld.edu.au.

Above from left: The beautiful grounds at the front of the College; My friend Corinne and I at our Year 12 Valedictory. Corinne remains one of my closest friends to this day; With one of my Downlands colleagues, Mrs Catherine Mims.

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Three Frensham Full Boarders are national team members rom Walgett, Gilgandra and Wellington, three Year 12 students, Arabella McKenzie (Rugby 7s Youth Commonwealth Games), Paige Wilson (Australian U20 High Jump Champion – Youth Commonwealth Games) and Olivia Barton (Oceania Cup Team – 3 Day Eventing) will be representing Australia this year, in three different Sports.

Arabella has represented Frensham since Year 7, in Softball, Basketball, Football, Hockey and Touch. ‘Over the past two years I have had to learn to prioritise and organise my commitments to meet expectations as a sportswoman and a senior student. I am grateful for the support of my parents and the School. Being from such a small town, so far from training, I feel extremely fortunate to be representing Australia.’

Olivia, selected for the trans-Tasman team as one of four riders to represent Australia, will compete against a New Zealand team at the Melbourne International 3 Day Event in June.

An equestrian friend noted, ‘this is an incredible achievement; she is so quiet about her success and is really dedicated.’

Olivia Barton

Paige Wilson

Amelia Douglass

Paige is one of Frensham’s most recognised achievers in Sport, having reached national championship level as an U16 high jumper. ‘She is an inspiration! When her coach comes to Frensham, we see her complete a gruelling couple of hours of agility and sprint training – and that’s just the part we see!’

Additionally, local student Amelia Douglass (Year 11) represented Australia in the Junior Competition at the 2017 Aquis Champions Tour in Queensland, the team winning against Japan: ‘To be invited to compete was amazing and the results were my best ever – on the three horses I had at the event.’ Also a senior rider, Valentina Aliprandi (now Year 12) was selected in 2015 for the Australian Youth Show Jumping Festival team which successfully competed against a New Zealand team and won the competition.

Arabella McKenzie

A boarding tradition we value If there is one thing that sets Frensham apart from other schools, it is our boarding tradition. For generations it has helped shape our values, and exists in the rhythm of daily life here.

Being a boarder is more than just a title at Frensham. It is a way of life.

State-of-the-art Learning Environment Frensham’s teaching facilities are worldclass. The richness of Frensham life provides girls with the environment in which both emotional and intellectual maturity can develop, combined with the skills, confidence and academic discipline to excel in their further studies.

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Abbotsleigh p86

An Anglican Pre K-12 day and boarding school for girls In Sydney?

Come and visit us – we’d love to show you around Enrolment infomation www.abbotsleigh.nsw.edu.au Email registrar@abbotsleigh.nsw.edu.au Phone 02 9473 7744

Empowering young women since 1885

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From bush to jungle –

former boarding student follows dream bbotsleigh, a Pre Kindergarten to Year 12 Anglican day and boarding school for girls, has welcomed boarders since its foundation in 1885.

The School offers all the advantages of a large city school, but is set on the tranquil surrounds of Sydney’s upper North Shore in Wahroonga – sprawled across 12 hectares of land and close to the end of the M1 motorway and 10 minutes from the end of the M7 motorway.

The majority of the School’s 170 boarders in Years 7 to 12 come from country areas, with around 90 per cent from regional New South Wales.

Along with day students, Abbotsleigh boarders enjoy the highest standards of education, resources and opportunities.

Aside from its exceptional academic results, the leaders and staff of Abbotsleigh also believe in a rounded education in a caring, Christian environment that helps empower students to become compassionate and constructive global citizens.

Past boarder parent Nicola Dillon and her family, from Moree, chose to send their daughter Lara to Abbotsleigh.

Lara completed Year 12 in 2015. She is

currently studying at Sydney University for a Bachelor of Veterinary Biology/ Dr of Veterinary Medicine, after taking a year off in 2016 to work and travel throughout Europe.

Nicola says her daughter, once a ‘shy little girl’, positively thrived during her time at Abbotsleigh.

“Coming from Moree, a farming area eight hours’ drive north west of Sydney, we found Abbotsleigh to be the perfect school for our daughter Lara, who spent six years there as a boarder. The boarding cohort and culture is very strong and committed with boarding being an integral part of the school,” said Nicola.

“My daughter came to Abbotsleigh at the age of 12 from a small bush school of 20 students. She found the boarding experience to be invaluable, making lifelong friends in the care of remarkable academic and boarding staff. The culture of Abbotsleigh helped her blossom into a fine young girl and she became Head Boarder. Abbotsleigh gave Lara the opportunity to excel in sport, academics and the arts which she would never have had otherwise,” said Nicola.

“The style of education at Abbotsleigh with the high standard of teaching has

enabled many of the boarding students to receive excellent HSC results – this would not be possible without the care and constructive learning that is given to all the girls throughout their boarding years, particularly in Year 12. The School Council and the Headmistress show a strong commitment to boarding and this has made Abbotsleigh one of the top boarding schools in the state.”

“As a parent, I thoroughly enjoyed our six years at Abbotsleigh. Being President of the Boarder Parents’ Association for two years gave me a huge insight into the running of the boarding school and being a link between the country and the city, and the warm associations I had with both parents and staff.”

Abbotsleigh will be present at the Boarding Schools Expo in Tamworth held at the Memorial Town Hall on 28-29 July where families can speak with Boarding staff about all that Abbotsleigh has to offer.

When in Sydney, tours of the campus and boarding facilities can be arranged through the School’s Registrar, Colleen Fenn on registrar@Abbotsleigh.nsw.edu. au or by phoning 02 9473 7744.

Visit www.abbotsleigh.nsw.edu.au

Lara Dillon with elephant in Thailand

87

OT0517 CRICOS No: 00489C

Explore the BGS Journey

OPEN DAY Saturday 12 August 2017 from 12-3pm

Brisbane Grammar School invites you to explore the opportunities that are part of being a BGS student at our Open Day on Saturday 12 August.

Open Day will allow you to explore what opportunities are available to support the success and enjoyment of your son’s BGS Journey. We are committed to learning and preparing boys for life as global citizens through: academic development, sport, the Arts, special interest clubs, community service and much more.

Walk through the School accompanied by our senior students and explore your BGS journey.

For more information enrolments@brisbanegrammar.com | +61 7 3834 5200 | www.brisbanegrammar.com

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A world of opportunity beyond the classroom any are aware of Brisbane Grammar School’s reputation inside the classroom, but outside the classroom its students are learning and growing equally. Learning beyond the classroom is a key component of the BGS journey.

Extracurricular involvement is seen as central to students’ overall development, promoting connectedness, skills in teamwork and fostering leadership.

The school’s rich extracurricular life embraces sport, the visual and performing arts; including music, art and drama, as well as a range of other cultural activities, and special interest clubs. There is a place for boys wanting to learn new skills and make new friends, through to elite performers with the highest aspirations.

While BGS students aren’t required to participate in the extracurricular program, an incredible 93% of boys take part in at least one extracurricular activity each year, with that number growing to almost 100% for Middle School boys in Years 5-8. Both the music and football (soccer) programs, for example, each attract just shy of 50% of all students.

The extracurricular program aims to develop students’ skills, and to fulfil their potential for intelligent performance.

It also seeks to provide important opportunities for boys to both explore and extend their talents, and gain greater self-knowledge and awareness.

Enriched by the involvement of staff, all teachers across the school are involved in coaching a team or club, alongside parents, former students, and the many qualified coaches and instructors.

The outdoor education program is another important part of a student’s BGS journey where learning is

encouraged beyond the classroom.

Located on the shores of Lake Moogerah, about 100km south-west of Brisbane, the core program is adventure-based and focuses on experiential education.

Students take on everything from climbing and abseiling, to kayaking and hiking and much more in between.

They develop strength within the individual, between individuals, and between groups and the environment.

There are expedition components within the program for each year level, which increase in difficulty as students progress through the years.

Further afield, BGS students continue to establish themselves as global citizens through the public purpose program, and opportunities such as the annual service

trip to Cambodia. Students form teams and embark on local projects, including building homes or improving schools.

Many return with newfound perspectives and tighter bonds with their classmates.

Students at BGS receive a world-class education inside the classroom, but equally important is the school’s focus on learning beyond the classroom. Together they combine to offer an education nurturing their intellectual, physical and emotional wellbeing to become thoughtful, confident men of character who contribute to their communities.

Explore the BGS website today at brisbanegrammar.com or visit the school on Open Day on Saturday 12 August.

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Iconic Queensland school creating endless possibilities tanding proudly in the treelined streets of Toowoomba, Queensland, is a school where once visited, impressions last and conversations are had of the ‘feeling’ you get when exploring the grounds. This feeling is one of positivity, possibilities, inclusiveness and respect. This is the Glennie difference.

The best option for your daughter’s education is the one which is right for her.

Glennie provides a well-rounded education for girls from Kindergarten to Year 12 and boarding from Year 6, grounded by Christian values within the Anglican ethos.

A nurturing environment for your daughter.

There is a lot to learn and manage when growing as a young woman, so at Glennie we take seriously our responsibility creating a comfortable and private second

home for boarders to be able to feel capable to all there is in and outside of school life, within a vibrant, supportive and dynamic environment.

Each boarder in Year 6 to 11 has her own living area; a cosy and modern roomette to ensure her privacy, as well as spacious common rooms, lounges and kitchens to encourage social interaction.

Year 12 boarders enjoy their own semiindependent living with their own room in a dedicated building complemented by shared lounge spaces, and kitchenettes.

At Glennie your daughter has the opportunity to become a confident, considerate, self-assured, well-skilled young woman, ready to face the everchanging demands of the adult world. We will encourage her to find and develop her unique talents and become All She Can Be®.

on the affordability of high quality independent schooling and Glennie strives to ensure families are supported as much as possible in this changing economic climate.

Glennie has limited the annual boarding fee increase to 2.5% per annum for new and continuing boarding enrolments. In each subsequent year, this annual fee increase will be capped at this amount for the duration of your boarding enrolment, so you have consistency and can be prepared for the investment in a Glennie education.

Casual, weekly and full-time boarding options are available with flexible fee payment options afforded to every Glennie family. Sibling discounts are also available for tuition and boarding.

A unique school for your unique daughter.

Consistency in fees for your security.

Increasing school fees have an impact

For more information or to book your personal tour of the school, contact our Registrar, Karen Morris on 07 4688 8807.

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AN EDUCATION DESIGNED FOR GIRLS Strong Academic Focus Nurturing, Personalised Care Technology and Innovation Focus Marine Science and STEM + Arts, Enrichment and Sports Programs Fully Renovated Boarding College with Ocean Views CATHOLIC (61) 7 4753 0300

ALL GIRLS

SECONDARY

DAY & BOARDING

St Patrick’s College Townsville 45 The Strand Townsville Qld 4810 Australia enrolments@stpatscollege.qld.edu.au www.stpatscollege.qld.edu.au/enrolments

Cricos # 03317K

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Look at us now! Renovations are complete, boarding with ocean views ur girls have returned this year to find a fully renovated boarding house including dormitories, common rooms and study rooms. This completes the 2016/17 boarding renovation project which also included the refurbishment of the dining hall, our Café by the Sea, with its large deck overlooking Cleveland Bay. The boarding house at St Patrick’s College is located in one of the most iconic buildings along Townsville’s Strand beachfront. Featuring the original 1800s front verandah and entrance, the building has a grand feel, capturing the essence of heritage Queensland style. Our boarders love to make use of the verandas with their sweeping views of the ocean and cool breezes.

St Patrick’s College Townsville has been serving the needs of rural, remote and international families for generations and continues to educate

confident, intelligent and empowered young women in the Mercy tradition.

Contemporary learning in a contemporary environment

It is important that our boarders feel at home and inside our boarding house, our new spaces cater to the various age groups, leisure and study needs.

Study rooms are equipped with funky furniture, contemporary lighting, movable boothing and ‘genius bars’. All dorms, study and common rooms are air-conditioned, Wi-Fi connected and provide a homely feel with kitchenettes and modern facilities that make life comfortable. The entire College has now undergone a major renovation that has transformed the campus into a beautiful and contemporary learning space.

With a variety of accommodation options suited to different age groups, our girls have the very best of care.

Director of Boarding, Ms Benita Bowles says boarding at St Patrick’s College is welcoming and joy-filled. “We are all about empowering our girls and this means different things to each student, depending on their talents, abilities, strengths and passions,” Ms Bowles said. “Through the curriculum, extracurricular opportunities and pastoral care, girls know they are respected and loved. In return, they know a successful and happy life means respecting themselves and each other. We are about preparing our girls to live and work in a global community without borders and prejudice, inspiring our girls to contribute meaningfully to their world.”

If you are looking for boarding options for your daughter, visit us online or call us to arrange a tour of our College campus and boarding house.

Above from left: The grand building, St Patrick’s College boarding house on Townsville’s Strand beachfront; Ms Benita Bowles, Director of Boarding; Our boarders are loving the renovated facilities 93

St Margaret’s PRE-PREP - YEAR 12

BOARDING YEARS 5-12

Interviewing now for 2018 to 2020 entry From Athol Station to Womblebank, and Allandale to Whitwell, the daughters of rural and remote Australia are at the very heart of the St Margaret’s boarding story.

Discover why St Margaret’s has been the first choice in boarding for generations of outback families for more than 120 years.

DISCOVER the DIFFERENCE!

www.stmargarets.qld.edu.au

11 Petrie Street Ascot QLD 4007 • T: (07) 3862 0777 • E: admissions@stmargarets.qld.edu.au

St Margaret’s School Council Ltd ABN: 69069684019 CRICOS Code: 00511K

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Boarders are never home alone at St Margaret’s f you were ever to pass by St Margaret’s Anglican Girls School in Brisbane of a weekend, you would hear the sounds of laughter from a cobbled-together team of boarders having a hit on the tennis courts, the chatter of children relaxing under the shade of wisteria vines adorning the arbour outside their dormitory, and the giggles of the younger girls playing jump rope against the backdrop of spectacular views that extend to the city and beyond to distant ranges.

Head of Boarding Lesa Fowler says what you would hear are the sounds of home.

“On any given weekend there are usually 130 to 140 girls in residence, so there is always plenty going on and lots of company to be had,” said Ms Fowler.

Ms Fowler said that St Margaret’s had long adopted the very deliberate approach of not offering overnight or weekly boarding.

“So many of our boarders are from

remote and regional areas of Queensland, New South Wales, the Northern Territory and beyond, and don’t have the chance to go home most weekends.

“To accept weekly boarders who can return home every Friday diminishes opportunities to build an authentic and connected boarding community, which is the key to a successful boarding program” said Ms Fowler.

“While the girls have plenty of freedoms and can go out whenever their parents are in town, we do have a number of closed weekends that help the boarders really get to know one another and bond through fun, purposeful activities, that often have a life skill element to them as well.”

The other aspect of maintaining a consistent boarding population was the importance of routine.

“Consistency and routine play a big part in students successfully navigating their busy teenage lives – whether living

at home or in a boarding house,” said Ms Fowler.

“Having friends and relatives staying over can be exciting, but, if it’s always happening, the disruption can be unsettling, and it’s exactly the same with boarding.

“We have rejected short-term boarding options, offering instead a sixweek minimum stay, which in itself is a rarity, with most boarders here for the duration of the year, in term time.

“We take our intent to create a home away from home for our girls very seriously, and this means that sometimes it’s what we don’t do – in this weekly boarding – that makes all the difference,” said Ms Fowler.

St Margaret’s is now interviewing for entry into 2018 – 2020. Contact Mrs Judy Robinson on (07) 3862 0762 for all boarding enquiries or email admission@ stmargarets.qld.edu.au

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CSU GRADUATES IN THE SPOTLIGHT – JOSHUA THOMAS

With a Bachelor degree from Charles Sturt University (CSU) under his belt, Joshua Thomas is ready to take on the world.

He has exhibited his art at major local and international galleries and has recently returned from the trip of a lifetime where he was a finalist in the Sony World Photography Awards 2016 Student Focus category in London.

Now that he’s back in Australia, Joshua is embarking on his next project - Bachelor of Creative Practice (Honours) in Photography with Charles Sturt University (CSU).

“I can’t think of any other place where I would receive such unique opportunities to further my career, such as exhibitions at major galleries, unique resources such as a black and white dark room for developing,” he said.

“You have access to top of the line equipment and lecturers who take you seriously and push your abilities to a whole new level.”

F5248 *Graduate Destinations Survey 2013-15, published at: qilt.edu.au

Offered on campus at Wagga

Wagga, the Bachelor of Creative Arts and Design (Photography) delivers hands-on experience from the moment students step into the classroom, and darkroom.

“The visual art department offers many resources such as photographic studios, equipment and close lecturer and student consultations,” Josh said, “My lecturers were always very supportive and engaging, opportunities were always offered to further my practice and conceptual thinking, which was an aspect I felt was really important towards my learning process.”

Redevelop your world with a degree from CSU.

futurestudents.csu.edu.au

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Workplace learning at CSU delivers jobs for graduates eading off to university is an exciting time for students. And studying for a Charles Sturt University (CSU) degree, there’s never a dull moment. From the time students start at CSU, they are at the forefront of their chosen field. Hands-on learning experiences, from providing dental care in remote NSW, to working alongside paramedics at the London Ambulance Service or paid work placements for student engineers, set CSU students up for future success.

A CSU degree takes students beyond the classroom and into the field so they are ready to tackle the challenges of their chosen career.

When Nathan Ross started studying to become a paramedic he had no idea his degree would take him all the way to one of the world’s busiest ambulance stations in London.

Nathan says, “I’ve had the opportunity to work alongside many paramedics in trauma situations, and with patients facing a variety of medical complaints, mental health cases and much more.

“I am grateful to have had this international experience as it’s developed my communication, clinical practice and teamwork skills to prepare me for a job.”

Erin Currier’s Bachelor of Dental Science placement in outback NSW gave her first-hand experience in the challenges of rural health care. Erin says, “We treated members of the local community and patients from surrounding properties who travel hundreds of kilometres for dental treatment.

“We did teeth extractions, denture work and restorative treatment to people of all ages including school children.

“Working on placement out at Brewarrina provided a real insight into working in a rural and remote

community and highlighted the limited access to health care in these communities”.

CSU has a long tradition of incorporating workplace learning in its education of the professions which is why CSU has the highest graduate employment rate in the country* and the University’s new engineering program is set to break new ground in this space.

“We provide every opportunity for our students to undertake real projects and gain real experience while receiving sound academic support and guidance during their five years of study at Charles Sturt University,” says CSU Foundation Professor of Engineering, Euan Lindsay.

Now in their second year, the first group of engineering students is preparing for CSU’s first placements in businesses and local government organisations, which could see these students earn up to $135,000 during their degree.

Workplace learning - also known as an internship, cadetship, clinical placements, practicum, field work or professional experience - gives CSU students’ real-world learning opportunities and practical skills they need to hit the ground running after graduation.

Secure a future as a highly employable graduate by calling CSU on 1800 334 733 or visiting futurestudents.csu.edu.au.

Below left: CSU dental science student in Brewarrina in 2016; Below right: CSU paramedicine student Nathan Ross (middle) in London in 2016

*Graduate Destination Survey 2013-2015, published by Quality Indicators for Learning and Teaching (QILT).

97

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO PARTNER UP WITH AUSTRALIA’S LARGEST REGIONAL UNIVERSITY? It means finding the edge to your advancement in CQUniversity’s wide range of postgraduate courses. It means studying where and how you like – on campus or online via our renowned and flexible distance education mode, with access to our 20+ national locations. It means benefitting from the expertise and support of a uni ranked in the top 2% worldwide*.

It means choosing a uni doing things differently. *Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2016–7.

POSTGRADUATE COURSES STARTING MID-YEAR IN:

» » » » » » » »

accident forensics

technology

accounting

» maintenance and

arts

asset management

business creative industries dementia studies diagnostic imaging domestic and family violence studies

» engineering » healthy aging studies » human resources management

» information systems

THE

CRICOS Code: 00219C | RTO Code: 40939 | P_AD_170041_OutThere

UNI

TAFE AND UNIVERSITY QUALIFICATIONS

» information

» management » marketing and

public relations

» nursing (re-entry, mental health)

» » » » »

OH&S paramedic science project management teaching tourism

APPLY NOW TO START MID-YEAR

TO YOUR

AMBITION

specialfeature

Best brains in the industry lead CQUni’s safety sciences afety science is a rapidly growing field of expertise; a field that has been spurred on by increasing regulations around safety and health, not only in Australia but worldwide.

According to the Australian Government’s Job Outlook, employment in the safety sciences is expected to grow strongly until late 2020, with most jobs to be in public administration and safety, mining and construction.

This increasing regulatory focus on health and safety, together with a global business emphasis on achieving reduced costs and higher reliability, has resulted in CQUniversity safety sciences graduates being highly sought after by a range of industries including mining, manufacturing, maritime, aviation, defence, transport and logistics, health and consultancy.

CQUniversity has recently welcomed Dr Milos Nedved to its safety science team. He will be based at the University’s new Perth campus.

Dr Nedved has spent half a century at the forefront of industrial safety across the globe. He believes that, by joining CQUniversity he has now joined one of the world’s top safety science academic teams.

Dr Nedved says, “CQUni’s Associate Professor Yvonne Toft has assembled the best brains in the transport and industrial safety domain which is why I’m proud to join the team.”

He says the safety science courses offered by CQUniversity are by far the best he has seen in Australia, United States or Europe in the last 35 years.

Dr Nedved will be supporting new students at the Perth campus, while helping with fresh course developments and supervising postgraduate research students studying via distance.

He brings with him vast experience in chemical process safety analysis methods, drawn from work with the giant Dow and Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI) consortiums.

Dr Nedved has also worked

extensively as a United Nations (UN) Expert in Chemical Safety and as a UN Chief Technical Advisor in Major Hazard Control. He has also assisted legal firms as an expert witness in accident investigation for hundreds of court cases.

CQUniversity offers a range of courses in transport and safety sciences, available to start mid-year, from certificates through to PhDs. These courses include a comprehensive range of graduate certificates suited to those who would like to upskill in niche areas such as accident phenomenology, advanced accident investigation practice, advanced safety science practice, and fatigue risk management. Masters courses are also available in both advanced safety science practice and safety science (specialisation).

All transport and safety science postgraduate programs are offered online via distance education.

For further details about starting a course in safety science mid-year, search ‘CQUni’ or visit cqu.edu.au/midyear.

Above left: Safety science expert Dr Milos Nedved joins CQUni’s academic team in Perth; Above right: Master of Safety Science (Accident Investigation) students on fieldwork at the crash lab facilities at CQUniversity Bundaberg.

99

Boarding at Loreto

Years 7 - 12 (full time and weekly) We support our boarders by providing:

Marryatville

• • • • • •

Individual rooms Academic support, including supervised study sessions by tutors and teachers Access to gym and cardio facilities Health and wellbeing programs, including an on-site clinical psychologist An on-site Heath Care Centre with regular doctor visits A school environment which is conducive to high academic achievement and to the development of strong, articulate and independent women

An independent Catholic day & boarding school for girls from ELC to Year 12 316 Portrush Road, Marryatville, South Australia www.loreto.sa.edu.au | (08) 8334 4200

CRICOS No. 00692G

specialfeature

Helping shape strong, confident and articulate young women Loreto is a leading South Australian day and boarding school offering an all-girls’ education in Early Learning (6 weeks – 5 years), Primary School (Reception – Year 6), and Senior School (Years 7-12).

s an Early-Learning-to-Year-12 College offering both day and boarding, we have a strong focus on the developmental needs of girls, both academically and pastorally.

One of seven Australian Loreto Schools united by the vision of Mary Ward, the College prides itself on the development of confident, articulate and courageous girls and young women who have the social consciousness to make a difference in the world.

We are driven by an international focus, through our connection to over 150 Loreto schools worldwide and through our dedication to the International Baccalaureate programme, from Reception to Year 10.

We value the holistic education of girls as demonstrated by our students’ outstanding academic achievements and their sporting accomplishments.

Our students achieve some of the best Year 12 results in the state and our student performance in the National Assessment Program - Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) tests are consistently above average. Our strong academic performance has seen the College produce two of South Australia’s

Rhodes Scholars in the last four years.

Our girls’ success is attributed to a 400-year-old tradition of Loreto education, our dedicated staff, and our broader community, who share our vision for young women.

Boarding

Loreto College, Marryatville, is the only all-girls’ Catholic boarding school in Adelaide. The boarding precinct is home to 60 girls from Adelaide, country South Australia, interstate and overseas.

Our Boarding House caters for students in Years 7-12 as full-time or weekly boarders. Weekly boarding provides the capacity for students who live in the regional areas of Adelaide to return home on weekends.

Boarding school life provides the opportunity to establish lifelong friendships and enables each student to develop resilience, confidence and leadership.

Loreto boarding students are encouraged to develop initiative and self-reliance and to act independently.

Our boarders consistently achieve strong academic results due to support structures, including study and

tutoring programs aimed at assisting girls to achieve their personal best.

Two separate houses on the College grounds form the Boarding School, the historic Karrawood House, which provides a wonderful sense of home, and Reid House, comprising contemporary designed accommodation. Each purposebuilt space has been designed to best facilitate communal living, while providing privacy by way of each girl having her own individual room. Main dining and common areas provide ideal spaces for all our Boarders to come together for meals and activities.

Living within the College grounds, Boarders have access to all school facilities including the gymnasium and fitness studio (consisting of a cardio and weights room), netball and tennis courts and music centre.

Our Little Sister program provides a caring relationship between older and younger students, particularly when they are new to the Boarding House.

For more informtion, visit the Loreto College, Marryatville website: loreto.sa.edu.au

101

Boarding at Pembroke opens a world of opportunity • A vibrant co-educational, non-denominational, day and boarding school from Early Learning Centre (ELC) to Year 12. Boarders are enrolled from Years 7–12.

• Offering the South Australian Certificate of Education (SACE) and International Baccalaureate Diploma (IB) as pathways to tertiary studies.

• Average class size in Middle School is 18. Average class size in Senior School is 13.

• An outstanding learning culture – students want to learn and enjoy learning.

Students are engaged, purposefully busy and well-rounded.

• Renowned for academic excellence and outstanding Year 12 results. Extensive subject choice including Vocational Education and Training (VET) options.

• Careful focus on the personal development of students and their well-being.

• Community service and leadership opportunities feature prominently across all year levels.

• Outdoor Education programme and opportunities from Years 7–12.

• 30 sport choices.

• 25+ co-curricular choices (music and other non-sporting options).

• Located on 10 hectares 6km east of Adelaide City centre in a quiet residential area.

Enrolling now for 2018 and 2019

ADELAIDE, SOUTH AUSTRALIA

“Boarding at Pembroke has challenged my thinking about what I am capable of doing in the world – there are endless opportunities waiting for me.”

Year 9 Boarder

Year 10 outdoor education camp, Coorong, SA

For further information email admissions@pembroke.sa.edu.au, visit the School website www.pembroke.sa.edu.au or telephone +61 8 8366 6217 342 The Parade, Kensington Park, South Australia 5068

snapshot Hamersley Gorge, Karijini National Park, Western Australia

Use of PEDs

(Personal Electronic Devices) The use of Personal Electronic Devices and telecommunication devices on board is allowed in certain circumstances. This information is to help you ensure that you are using these devices correctly on board our aircraft.

The belo tables vario w list th PED us type e so s for t and deta f heir ils u boar se on d.

PERMITTED DEVICES

Mobile Phones

PED Type

Restrictions For Use

Mobile phones can be used: • When passengers are embarking/disembarking via an aerobridge • Gate-to-gate on board the aircraft Mobile phones must be placed in ‘flight mode’ once the last aircraft door has been closed.

Mobile phones can continue to be used in flight mode until you arrive at your destination.

Hearing aids Medical implants Electronic watches GPS receivers Video and still cameras Calculators Electric shavers

May be used at any time on board the aircraft.

TRANSMITTING DEVICES WITH FLIGHT MODE OPTION Flight Mode ‘Flight mode’ must be selected on your devices prior to the last door closing on departure.

Selecting flight mode will disable devices’ transmitting functions, preventing them from making calls or sending emails.

Mobile phones and personal digital assistants (PDAs) without flight mode capability activated may not be used in-flight.

Flight mode capability is only permitted during take-off and landing on the Embraer E170 aircraft.

PED Type

Restrictions For Use

Small PEDs PEDs of less than 1 kg that can be held in one hand, with their largest dimension no greater than 25 centimetres.

Examples include Kindles, iPads, Galaxy tablets and smart phones.

• Approved for use gate-to-gate.

• In order to be used on board, these devices must have their transmission capabilities deactivated prior to the last cabin door closing.

Large PEDs

• These devices must have their transmission capabilities deactivated prior to the last cabin door closing if they are to be used in-flight.

• Devices must be stowed in overhead bins or under the seat in front of you during taxi, take-off and landing.

• Devices with transmission capabilities deactivated (i.e. in flight mode) may be used in-flight once the ‘Fasten Seatbelt’ signs are extinguished after take-off, and until the ‘Fasten Seatbelt’ signs are illuminated for landing.

PEDs weighing 1kg or more, PEDs of less than 1kg that cannot be held in one hand, PEDs with their largest dimension greater than 25cm or clam-shell-type devices.

Examples include laptops and personal computers.

Turboprop PED requirement All personal electronic devices, even those with flight mode capability, must be switched off prior to boarding the aircraft and passengers are to follow the direction of the crew as to when they’re safe to use upon landing. PEDs are not to be used when crossing the tarmac.

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