OUTthere Cobham March 2014 by Edge In-flight Magazines

+ insidemining

March 2014 • Issue 02

ADELAIDE CALLING South Australia’s happening hub, uncovered

GET INTO PERTH With your family, your partner or your mates BUY THE SKY The Royal Flying Doctor Service launches a clever new campaign

Flagship Boutiques Parramatta ( 02) 9633 5500 Bondi (02) 9389 8822

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CUSTOM MAGAZINE OF THE YE AR

From the editor... In December last year, I made the wonderful decision to go to the Woodford Folk Festival in Queensland, which is held on a 250-hectare site in the Sunshine Coast’s Hinterland. The festival was in its 28th year, and since its inception it’s continued to grow to now be one of the largest cultural events of its type in Australia, attracting around 120,000 people. The festival once had the reputation of being a festival in the bush for hippies, but these days it draws an incredibly eclectic mix of people from all walks of life, and for children, there is a children’s festival with entertainment just for them. There were countless (over 2,000) bands, performers and speakers from across the globe, but the one session that I literally stumbled on, had me thinking back in laughter for the rest of the day. It was about 9am and I’d been up since the early hours as it was a scorching hot summer day and my home for a few days was a tent in the 700-strong tent city on the side of the festival streets. I wandered towards the sound of a crowd gathering, and heard a man ask into a microphone: ‘Are you ready to laugh?’ Ahh comedy, I thought. A few stand-up performances is a nice way to kick off a day, I made my way into the marquee and pulled up a chair, settling in among a crowd of about 100 people. The man running it, Anthony Ackroyd, stepped forward and welcomed everyone back to Wake up and Laugh – a daily laughter workshop. I briefly thought about leaving – after all, I laugh regularly, I thought, so why did I need someone else to show me how to wake up and laugh? I stayed put and before I knew it, everyone was on their feet getting into exercises – making groups according to colours and seasons we liked, and then animals we liked. Then suddenly we’re all quacking or barking or mooing like cows, and introducing ourselves to strangers clapping, while looking them in the eyes and saying loudly – ‘hoo hoo, ha ha ha.’ Everyone was splitting their sides laughing and grinning from ear to ear as they crisscrossed the room, saying and

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Michelle Hespe Email: michelle.hespe@edgecustom.com.au ASSISTANT EDITOR Mitch Brook IN-HOUSE WRITER Simone Henderson-Smart SUB-EDITORS Kathryn Wakelin, Kris Madden, Liani Solari PRODUCTION MANAGER Brian Ventour PREPRESS COORDINATOR Tarn Mount SENIOR DESIGNER Guy Pendlebury PRINTER SOS Print & Media

doing silly things that had us all just laughing more. I realised that I was only ever this silly when I was with my six-year-old son playing games and that I didn’t actually laugh enough at all. Ackroyd wrapped up the event and as people poured back out into the sunshine and the buzz of the festival, one thing was for sure, there were so many smiles and excited talk about the day ahead. So what have you got to lose? Give it a shot, I say. Laugh when you get up. Do something silly. Laugh at or by yourself. Even if you have to force it, before you know it you’ll be laughing at yourself for sounding silly – and that’s a good start. As they say, laughter really is the best medicine. Drop us a line sometime – we love hearing from you. And as always, enjoy your flight.

Michelle Hespe and the OUTthere team

CONTRIBUTORS Amal Awad, Sanchia Pegley, Christine Retschlag, Fiona Poynter, Kris Madden, Oryana Angel, Jane Slack-Smith, Karen Halabi, Melanie Hearse, Lesley Parker, Sue Webster, Ian Neubauer INTERN Dana Groop

WA, SA and NT sales agent: Helen Glasson, Hogan Media: 08 9381 3991 Email: helen@hoganmedia.com.au

ADVERTISING ENQUIRIES Phone: 02 8962 2600 Email: advertising@edgecustom.com.au

PUBLISHER Geoff Campbell CHAIRMAN Chris Innis CEO Eddie Thomas

OUTthere is published by Edge 51 Whistler Street, Manly NSW 2095 Phone: 02 8962 2600 Fax: 02 8962 2601 www.edgecustom.com.au

OUTthere is published by Business Essentials (Australasia) Pty Limited (ABN 22 062 493 869), trading as Edge, under license to MGI Publishing Pty Ltd. Reproduction in whole or in part without prior written permission is strictly prohibited. Opinions expressed are those of the individual contributors and not necessarily those of the Publisher. Information provided was believed to be correct at the time of publication. Some imagery sourced from Getty and Corbis. 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.

Height Safety & Confined Space Specialists Sales Servicing Inspections Training Access Unlimited Head Office & Dedicated Training Centre (MALAGA) Products, Servicing & Inspections

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HELLO OR GOODBYE? Photo credit: Mike Calder Photography.

Devil Facial Tumour Disease was discovered in Tasmanian devils in 1996. It’s a contagious cancer spread through biting, and it is always fatal. The devil population has suffered immensely and, more than 80% have been lost. The ‘Save the Tasmanian Devil Program’ supports the survival of the devil in its natural habitat, the Tasmanian wilderness. Funding is vital, and we need your help.

To make sure it’s not goodbye, the Tasmanian devils need your help!

AN INITIATIVE OF THE SAVE THE TASMANIAN DEVIL PROGRAM COORDINATED BY THE UNIVERSITY OF TASMANIA FOUNDATION

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Log onto www.tassiedevil.com.au for more info and ideas.

contents drivetime

outtahere

Issue 02 • Feb/March 05 welcomeaboard Flying with Cobham.

06 cobhamnews Results from our recent survey and a sneak peek at Cobham new technology and innovation.

08 cobhamcommunity The Bloody Slow Cup continues to grow as an action-packed weekend in Newman, WA.

14 charity The Royal Flying Doctor Service launches its clever new campaign, Buy the Sky.

19 explore Get into Perth, with your mates, your other half or with the kids in tow.

Issue 116 • February

Issue 117 • March

closeup

Jessica Mauboy is on top of the world, representing her Indigenous heritage through an explosive career.

Songstress Brooke Addamo, otherwise known as Owl Eyes, is making waves in the music industry.

drivetime

outtahere

Pack the kids for a rollicking driving holiday through the Hunter Valley, proving it’s not all about the (fantastic) wine.

Karen Halabi crisscrosses the country in search of the best Aussie pubs.

food&wine Discover what all the fuss is about in Orange, regional NSW. It’s a foodie’s haven with plenty to keep you satisfied.

The Swan Valley, just 20 minutes from the Perth CBD, is full of hidden treasures. Local Melanie Hearse knows exactly where to dig up the best food and wine experiences.

agribusiness

After a bumpy political ride over the past few years, how do our cattle exports fare?

Sue Webster weighs up recent advances in farming technology.

food&wine

insidemining • news and views • international mining • resource sector issues • finance and technology 3

FACEBOOK.COM/MVBEER

VA L E /LGR

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

Where we fly

BARROW ISLAND AREA C

YANDI

BRISBANE BALLERA MOOMBA MURRIN MURRIN PERTH

KAMBALDA SYDNEY PASSENGER FREIGHT

ADELAIDE MELBOURNE

HOBART

Our fleet 6 x BAe 146 (passenger) 4 x BAe 146 (freight) 5 x Avro RJ100 3 x Bombardier Dash-8

British Aerospace 146 (BAe-146) Length: 28.60 m Wingspan: 26.21 m Height: 8.59 m Cruise speed: 801 km/h) at 8,840 m Empty weight: 23,897 kg Passenger capacity: 71–99 seats Freight capacity: 10,300 kg

Avro RJ100 Length: 30.99 m Wingspan: 26.34 m Height: 8.59 m Cruise speed: 780 km/h Empty weight: 23,897 kg

Bombardier Dash-8 Length: 22.25 m Wingspan: 25.89 m Height: 7.49 m Cruise speed: 500 km/h) at 7,620 m Empty weight: 14,700 kg

Welcome aboard Long gone are the days when air travel was a luxury enjoyed by few. Nowadays, for many of us, air travel is a regular mode of transport, whether for business or leisure. This is particularly true for many of you who travel with us on a frequent basis and become familiar with our crew and aircraft. Flying is certainly a regular part of my work schedule, as I travel between Perth and our operations in Australia and Papua New Guinea, plus some international travel to visit our international Cobham operations. What I enjoy most about my time in the sky is the time to reflect on our business and prioritise my thoughts. A chance to catch up on emails also never goes astray. No matter if you travel with us often or once in a while, we’re here to make sure you have a comfortable journey, receive great service and reach your destination on time. Our new catering products are launching across the fleet as we speak, introducing new dishes, utensils, Cobham branded trays, and healthier choice menus in WA and some further enhancements to our menus in SA. You’ll also begin to see our Service Ambassadors appearing in the cabin across our flights over the coming months. Distinguished by their silver scarves, our Service Ambassadors will manage the in-flight experience and provide a central role for both our flight crew and passengers to liaise with when unusual circumstances present themselves. Thank you for flying with Cobham today. We love having you on board. Enjoy your travels.

Ryan Both General Manager, Regional Services Cobham 5

cobhamnews

You spoke, we listened Last year we conducted a passenger survey about our Western Australian airport facilities, aircraft, terminal, cabin service, quarantine and security. We received more than 1,400 responses over a two-week period. Overall, you told us you were happy with our speedy customer-focused service. Some things you were particularly happy about: • Cabin crew are welcoming and polite, offering high-level service • Aircraft are clean and tidy • Convenience of the terminal • Speed of check-in, and taxi service • Magazines and free in-terminal Wi-Fi However, there are always things we can improve on and thanks to your feedback, we know where to start. (See table, right) We also recently conducted an inflight survey for our South Australian flight operations too. We’ll share those results in an upcoming edition of Cobham OUTthere.

What you said

What we are doing

Terminal could have more tea and coffee services

We are exploring the introduction of a café

More TVs in the terminal

One new screen has been installed

Aircraft toilets could be improved

We have implemented a new system, and upgraded the hand-wash and deodorisers

Some aircraft had speaker static during announcements

We upgraded two aircraft (including speaker systems) in 2013, and will upgrade the remaining fleet in 2014

Pillow and blanket cleanliness

We are changing our dry cleaning supplier, reducing blankets in summer and looking at other alternatives

Quicker tray pickup after meal service

We have introduced Service Ambassadors to manage and improve the overall in-flight experience

In-flight magazine should be more frequent

A new, improved magazine was launched in December 2013. It includes more than 100 pages of reading material and is issued monthly

Catering meals could be rotated more often

Meal rotation has been increased from a fortnightly to weekly cycle and includes healthy choice options

Service Ambassadors taking flight In response to your feedback from recent surveys, we are introducing Service Ambassadors on board each flight. The Service Ambassador’s role is to manage and support cabin crew in upholding the highest level of service and safety standards on each and every flight. We currently have Service Ambassadors on flights to Area C; and by June, all Cobham flights will have fully qualified Service Ambassadors on board. You can recognise your Service Ambassador by their silver scarf. We are sure they will do their best to ensure their team make you feel welcome on board and help make your journey as comfortable as possible.

Did you know? Thanks to the professionalism of Cobham flight crew, engineers and support personnel, you can rest assured that your flight today is conducted with safety as the number one priority. But you may be interested to know that around the world, literally from the deep sea to space, Cobham is keeping people safe both in conflict and in peace. Here in Australia, Cobham flies aerial maritime surveillance on behalf of the Australian Customs Service ‘Coastwatch’ operation. Ten highly modified aircraft, fitted with the latest in radar and optical surveillance equipment, patrol Australia’s national waters on the lookout for illegal activity of all kinds, from drug smuggling to illegal fishing and quarantine violations. Elsewhere Cobham is recognised as a leader in communications 6

and life support equipment, used daily in roles as diverse as clearing minefields, providing emergency mobile communications after natural disasters, and helping astronauts on the International Space Station maintain a breathable atmosphere as they orbit the earth. Cobham’s IP Mesh radio technology uses every radio in the chain as a repeater to increase range and reach around communication blocking obstacles such as buildings and hills. They are in service with first responder emergency services, and with mines in Southern Africa, increasing both efficiency and safety. Next year competitors in the Volvo Ocean Challenge round the world yacht race will depend on Cobham satellite communications equipment to report their position and health, while our broadcast technology will enhance the viewing experience along the route.

Image: NASA/JPL Caltech

cobhamnews

Every Airbus airliner communicates through Cobham antennas. Every US Air Force and Navy pilot relies on Cobham systems to automatically inflate their lifejacket and release their parachute after an overwater ejection. And every US astronaut, from the very first in 1961 to the crew on the Space Shuttle’s final flight, has breathed through an oxygen regulator provided by a Cobham company. Cobham provides technologies that make communication possible when nothing else will. Our military radios can change frequency more than a thousand times a second to prevent jamming by opposing forces. Our television transmission and compression technologies, including the world’s smallest television transmitter, move digital data so efficiently that through our televisions we can now ride along with Red Bull Air Race pilots through their aerial

acrobatics, seeing what they see from the cockpit, as they see it. After natural disasters such as Hurricane Katrina and the Chinese Schezuan earthquake, Cobham invited disaster relief agencies to borrow dozens of special suitcasesized mobile satellite communications systems. With the push of a button the systems unfold, identify suitable satellites, lock on and then tell the operator they can now simply plug in their laptop or telephone. After major disasters this system, often mounted on vehicles for mobility, has sometimes been the only means of communication with the outside world to help coordinate relief efforts. Cobham’s products have always been designed with a thorough knowledge of the environment in which they will be used. This is why, in the age of touch screen and push button, Cobham’s military vehicle

intercom systems still feature large knobs, useable by gloved hands in a moving, bouncing armoured vehicle under fire. Cobham has produced more than 120,000 such systems for 20 armed services around the world, including Australia. The system

On land and sea, in air and space, Cobham is supporting human endeavours in exploration, commerce and security. has been credited with saving lives by enabling clear communications and saving the hearing of armoured vehicle personnel. On every continent, on land and sea, in air and space, Cobham is supporting human endeavours in exploration, commerce and security. 7

cobhamcommunity Clockwise from top left: A scrum sorts out the strong from the weak; police involved in the Bloody Slow Cup; the start of the motocross enduro event; the Cup raises funds for WA Police Legacy.

The Bloody Slow Cup EVERY year, Newman springs to life for the Bloody Slow Cup, the biggest Police Legacy fundraiser in the state and an important commemorative event for the community. The Bloody Slow Cup originated in 2005 as a game of Rugby Union between the Australians and New Zealanders who live and work in Newman. The event has since grown from fairly modest beginnings to include junior and senior netball, Golden Oldies rugby, touch rugby, golf and lawn bowls. All sports share the competitive spirit of Australia versus New Zealand. A recent addition is 20/20 cricket played under lights on the Friday night. International cricketers Brad Hogg, Tom Moody and Greg Blewett travelled to Newman for last year’s game. A motocross enduro three day event has also been introduced, where riders leave Newman, ride to Kumarina Roadhouse (south of Newman) and back. Dean Porter, the current Australian two-stroke champion, competed last year. As for the main game, of the nine times the rugby match has been held,

the New Zealand team have dominated, with Australia only victorious on one occasion in 2009. The New Zealanders did it again in 2013, winning 32-13. The Bloody Slow Cup is explicitly linked to the WA Police Legacy because, together with a memorial ceremony, the event commemorates four police officers who were involved in a light aircraft incident in the regional town in 2001. The Bloody Slow Cup provides an action-packed weekend in Newman and is a great example of police and community working together. And while the Newman locals and visitors enjoy taking part in various sporting events, the history of the Bloody Slow Cup is not forgotten. Cobham is proud to support the Bloody Slow Cup and what it means for the people of Newman. Last year, it flew members of the Perth/Bayswater team to the event to compete in the junior rugby match between Perth/Bayswater and Newman. This article includes contributions from Shane Sadler, Senior Sergeant 6236, Officer in Charge of Newman Police Station.

THE BLOODY SLOW CUP • Newman is a town in the Pilbara region WA. • The name of the event is a play on words from the Bledisloe Cup, the cup contested by the Australia national rugby union team and New Zealand national rugby union team. • Approximately 3,000 people attended the 2013 Bloody Slow Cup. • More information on the history of the Bloody Slow Cup can be found at police.wa.gov.au

cobhamcommunity

RIDING FOR RURAL FAMILIES LATE last year a group of cyclists from around Australia rode from Mount Gambier in South Australia’s south east to Adelaide. Cobham’s Captain Justin Bruce took part in the 1,008 kilometre ride over seven days with 22 other riders to raise awareness and funds for Ronald McDonald House Charities. Ronald McDonald House provides accommodation and support to Australian rural families who need to travel to cities for medical treatment. There are 13 Ronald McDonald Houses in Australia providing a home away from home for families of seriously ill children undergoing treatment. The South Australian charity’s fundraising focus for 2013 was to renovate a section of the South Australian Women’s and Children’s Hospital, creating a parents’ lounge/retreat for respite while their children undergo treatment. Along the fundraising cycle journey the team visited a number of schools to promote the Ronald McDonald House and teach the children about bike safety. They also gave away bikes to a few lucky children who participated in competitions held by their school.

Several fundraising dinners were held throughout the week during the evenings, which made the week certainly very busy both on and off the bike. Throughout the ride, the riders were affiliated with a child receiving treatment and their family utilising Ronald McDonald House in Adelaide. These children had written letters or made cards they handed to riders, to encourage them on the journey. Captain Bruce said it was a great privilege to see his affiliate child in hospital and meet the family he was sponsoring through his ride when he arrived in Adelaide. When the riders rolled into the Ronald McDonald House under police escort, they received a hero’s welcome and celebration. Captain Bruce raised more than $6,000 for the Ronald McDonald House and, collectively, the team raised more than $200,000, which will go a long way towards the renovation. You can keep up to date with the work of Ronald McDonald House Charities through their Facebook page at facebook.com/ RMHCAustralia

Top and above: 23 riders made the trip from Mount Gambier to Adelaide; Captain Justin Bruce with children from Ronald McDonald House.

When the riders rolled into the Ronald McDonald House under police escort, they received a hero’s welcome and celebration. 9

Photos by Michael Lawrence & Duncan Macfarlane

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

what’snew don’tmiss FEBRUARY 7–MARCH 1

Perth International Arts Festival

The kick-off for this festival is a three-day re-enactment that charts the grand and perilous voyage of a ship on the open sea. The performance is on the ocean, and lighting will be provided by the stars and an amazing firework display. That is only the beginning of a three-week epic salute to music, theatre, and dance. 2014.perthfestival.com.au

Shark fear in Western Australia

The increasing number of shark attacks (six deadly attacks in just two years) near Western Australian beaches has sparked concern among locals and has prompted plans to kill the sharks which threaten swimmers and surfers. The state government has taken action as it is concerned that the attacks are significantly affecting WA’s tourism industry. They are implementing a baited drum line system to create two monitored zones in popular swimming areas and commercial fishers will be hired to catch and kill sharks greater than three metres in these monitored zones. West Australians for Shark Conservation, president Ross Weir, said the new measures were criminal. “The rest of the world would like to know why the government is not facing legal action,” he said. “This policy violates 14 different United Nations laws conventions and treaties, as well as the Australian Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.” The conservation group will be doing all they can to sabotage the drum lines and prevent any kills as the great white shark is classified as a protected vulnerable species under the IUCN Red List.

How ‘free’ are your eggs? Ever-increasing numbers of consumers are purchasing eggs with the label ‘free range’, however many don’t actually understand what that means and how many products are legally free range products. The Greens are pushing to create a national and legally enforceable definition of the label in order to eliminate companies who simply use it as a marketing term to sell their brand. They want ‘free range’ to be defined as eggs from farms with 1,500 hens or less per hectare; or 2,500 hens per hectare under an approved paddock rotation system. This will not only protect consumers but also farmers who are doing the right thing by their hens and it will allow their cruelty-free practices to be suitably rewarded.

FEBRUARY 14–MARCH 16

The Adelaide Fringe Festival

Artists from around Australia and across the globe participate alongside local talent in art forms spanning cabaret, comedy, circus, dance, film, theatre, puppetry, music, visual art and design. adelaidefringe.com.au

MARCH 7–24

Sculpture by the Sea, Perth

Hundreds of awe-inspiring sculptures will be decorating the beach of Cottesloe in March. The scenery is a part of the art in some works, including Horizon by Lucy Humphrey, a glass ball that changes every time you blink, reflecting the majestic Indian Ocean. sculpturebythesea.com

BAG TRACKER

Travellers who are nervous about losing luggage can now put their minds at rest with an easy to use mobile tracking device. The tag can be placed inside any bag and uses GSM cellular signals (Global System for Mobile Communications) that, when linked to the user’s mobile phone via the LugLoc app, can track the bag to any airport in the world. RRP: $49. lugloc.com.au

spotlight

The 10 best things to do in

ADELAIDE Simone Henderson-Smart discovers there’s a lot more to Adelaide than meets the eye.

CENTRAL MARKET

RIVER TORRENS

Adelaide locals value fresh, seasonal produce, so they flock to the huge Central Market to pick up their weekly groceries. Offering much more than just fresh fruit and vegetables, the market is home to specialty outlets such as The Smelly Cheese Shop and Barossa Fine Foods. The complex also houses several cafes, the pick of which is Lucia’s (right). Pull up a chair and soak up the colour, smells and market madness while you sample home-style Italian cooking and fabulous coffee. adelaidecentralmarket.com.au

Take a stroll along the grassy banks of the River Torrens, which meanders like a continuous tree-lined oasis through the city. If you’re feeling more energetic, head to the front of the Convention Centre, where there are paddleboats for hire, or pick up a free bicycle courtesy of the Adelaide City Bikes scheme. However you choose to get there, make your way to Jolleys Boathouse Restaurant, perched right on the riverbank, for a nice long lunch. jolleysboathouse.com

HAIGH’S CHOCOLATES Move over, Willy Wonka! Even without a golden ticket you can still fulfil your childhood fantasy by visiting the Haigh’s Chocolate factory for a behind-the-scenes tour with lots of tastings. Make sure you leave plenty of time to decide what to buy from the store at the end of the tour, as the selection of handmade truffles, giant chocolate frogs, fudge, bars and chocolates will have your head spinning. haighschocolates.com.au

HISTORICAL HAHNDORF

CITY TRAMS

Twenty minutes out of the city, in the pretty Adelaide Hills, is the charming town of Hahndorf. Settled in 1839 by German Lutheran families, the town continues to salute German country life with its coffee houses, chocolate-box shops, strawberry fields, and pubs that serve enormous plates of traditional German fare. At The Hahndorf Inn expect to encounter busty wenches, lederhosen and a one-metre-long bratwurst hot dog. hahndorfinn.com.au

Adelaide’s trams are free within the city, allowing you to hop on and off whenever you like, making the market to mall to museum trek easy on the feet. However, it’s worth paying the small fare to take the trip all the way to the beach at Glenelg, where the main strip, Jetty Road, is lined with shops, bars and restaurants. Make the journey extra special with a Temptation Sailing cruise and wild dolphin swim. dolphinboat.com.au

spotlight

COOPERS BREWERY Beer lovers will find plenty to inflame their passion on a tour of the Coopers brewery. The Cooper family has been making beer in South Australia since 1862 and its brewery – Australia’s largest independent – has managed to remain family owned and run. Learn their story, uncover the secrets to making great beer, either on a grand scale or at home, and then enjoy tastings. tours.coopers.com.au

PUB CRAWL

NORTH TERRACE Stroll along North Terrace and check out the National Wine Centre, the Art Gallery of South Australia, the State Library, Government House, Parliament House, and the National War Memorial. southaustralia.com

Rundle Street, in the hip east end of town, is the place for all things fashionable. Happily, it’s also perfect for a pub crawl. Park yourself at a sunny table outside The Austral and begin with a cleansing ale. Down the street you’ll find the eclectic Exeter with its cool, leafy courtyard. The Elephant is pure British kitsch, complete with mock Tudor facade and beers by the pint. A cool final resting place is The Stag, also known as ‘Adelaide’s worst vegetarian restaurant’ because of its meat obsession. rundlestreet.com.au

DAYTRIPS

ADELAIDE WARBIRDS If you’ve always wanted to perform death-defying aeronautical stunts, pop on your goggles, twirl your moustache and head to Adelaide Warbirds for an extreme adventure flight in an exmilitary aircraft. Ease in with a low-level flight along the coast, or go for the ultimate rush of pulling loops and barrel rolls in a genuine ex-air force jet. adelaidewarbirds.com.au

Get out of town! If you have more time for exploring, there are plenty of great daytrips from Adelaide. • Fly to Port Lincoln on the Eyre Peninsula and in just over an hour you can be swimming with sea lions or cage diving with Great White sharks courtesy of Adventure Bay Charters. adventurebaycharters.com.au • A two-hour drive to Cape Jervis and a quick ferry trip gets you to Kangaroo Island, which is known for its unspoilt beaches, prolific wildlife and incredible produce. For sheer indulgence, stay at Southern Ocean Lodge. southernoceanlodge.com.au • Visit Penfolds in the Barossa Valley and make your own wine blend from grenache, mourvedre and shiraz. They’ll bottle it for you and name you as assistant winemaker on the label. penfolds.com

A two-hour drive to Cape Jervis and a quick ferry trip gets you to Kangaroo Island, which is known for its unspoilt beaches, prolific wildlife and incredible produce.

Above from top: The Stag Hotel; the incomparable Southern Ocean Lodge; Penfolds’ Barossa cellar door. 13

charity

The sky’s no limit In an age of brand awareness and social media, the Royal Flying Doctor Service is reaching out to a new generation with an innovative campaign. Forget buying a patch of earth – how about some sky? By Amal Awad.

IT’S A NATIONAL institution and one that has been saving the lives of Australians since 1928, when Reverend John Flynn, a Presbyterian minister from outback Australia, campaigned for an aerial medical service. In 1912 his Australian Inland Mission was established to address the spiritual, social and medical needs of Outback residents. Five years later a letter from a medical student interested in aviation inspired Flynn to pursue an aerial medical service. A fortuitous meeting with the founder of Qantas, Hudson Fysh, saw his dream become a reality. The first Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) flight left Cloncurry in May 1928 in Victory, a single-engine timber and fabric biplane that Qantas had leased to the aerial medical service. Eighty-six years later, the RFDS services approximately 290,000 people a year, which equates to one person every two minutes. The RFDS now has more than 1,000 employees, 280 doctors and nurses, 180 pilots, 63 aircraft, 21 aviation bases and many volunteers. What many people don’t realise is the RFDS is reliant on government funding 14

and donations. Cue ‘Buy the Sky’, which is not only an exercise in brand awareness for younger generations, but also an innovative way to fundraise for the RFDS. “We’re lucky enough to have lots of supporters and donors around the country, but they tend to be more of an older generation, so over-65s, and they tend to be more regionally based,” says Rebecca Wyles, national corporate affairs and marketing director for the RFDS. It’s a logical connection, given the work the flying doctors do in remote communities. “[Older people] are the ones who see us around the most,” says Wyles. Currently, the RFDS receives funding from a variety of sources. Approximately 24 per cent comes from the Commonwealth Government and 45 per cent from state and territory governments. Additionally, fundraising contributes 17 per cent of funding, while about 13 per cent comes from corporate partnerships. The desire to fundraise is tied in with a huge push to build the RFDS brand in the digital age.

Above and right: The RFDS services one patient every two minutes; Outback Wrangler’s Matt Wright is an RFDS ambassador and supports the campaign.

charity

The RFDS has more than 1,000 employees, 280 doctors and nurses, 180 pilots, 63 aircraft, 21 aviation bases and many volunteers.

“We wanted to do something to reach out to a younger demographic based around metro centres of Australia and just remind them about what we do and kind of build a relationship with them,” Wyles says. In particular, the RFDS set out to pursue a digital campaign, which culminated in buythesky.com.au, a project that was in the works for about two years and launched in mid-October 2013. The initiative allows people to buy a patch of virtual sky for $50 (which is tax deductible). More specifically, the donor can assign a name to a portion of one of the many routes in the RFDS’s 7.15-million-square-kilometre service area. The money will go to the purchase of new equipment, such as new neonatal incubators that can sit on the planes, and health programs. “Not a lot of people know this, but we actually run clinics in remote areas as well. So a plane will fly out with a doctor on scheduled visits, be they weekly or monthly visits,” explains Wyles. Meanwhile, to offer some perspective, a plane costs in the vicinity of $8 million, and the RFDS runs about 14,000 free clinics a year – the only access that people in remote areas have to medical care. Traversing 90 per cent of Australia, with a focus on rural and regional areas, the RFDS carries out 40,000 air evacuations a year. And its realm extends beyond the rural. “A lot of our work is doing inter-hospital transfers around metro cities,” notes Wyles. She cites the example of a boy who required a liver transplant and had one hour to get to Melbourne to accept a sudden organ donation. Moreover, the RFDS is a service for which demand is rising in numbers higher than ever, notes Wyles. “We’ve measured [demand] as 26 per cent higher than in 2006. That’s largely driven by the mining boom, but also travellers and tourism, and ‘grey nomads’ – empty-nesters driving around the country,” Wyles explains. 15

charity

This image: Farmers in remote areas rely heavily on the Royal Flying Doctor Service.

FAST FACT The Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia (RFDS) is one of the largest and most comprehensive aero-medical organisations in the world.

What it means to ‘buy the sky’ The concept of selling patches of sky is the brainchild of advertising agency Havas and, to Wyles’s knowledge, is a first. “You’ll hear of charities selling virtual things. I think there was a guy in America who sold patches of the moon for money. But, as far as I know, no-one else is selling patches of sky,” she says. The RFDS has mapped a selection of its routes, which allows donors to select a path and use Google Earth to see what is beneath that patch of sky. “What’s really cool is you can opt in for flight alerts, so when a RFDS plane flies through your patch you get an email [or SMS/ Facebook] alert,” says Wyles. Donors also receive a certificate stating their ownership of a patch of sky, with co-ordinates and flight path information. 16

Outback Wrangler’s Matt Wright has a lot of respect for the work of the RFDS, and has recently been made an ambassador. “What they do is amazing,” says Wright. “Up there, where I’m from, falling off your motorbike or having an accident on a tractor, in a car or on a horse is a regular, daily occurrence. I’ll probably end up in one of those planes one day, so it’s a great cause for me to get behind!” Matt’s support of the campaign has attracted a good response, says Wyles. And she’s pleased that people are not only responding to the campaign but also giving it a nod on social media. “When they buy their patch they’re sharing

it, and that’s important from a word-of-mouth perspective, as we’re all familiar with the snowball effect from social media and what that can do,” she says. “That’s what I love about it. It’s not just a donation. You actually feel like it’s a journey you’re taking, and you’re getting something back – when you get an alert, someone is potentially having their life saved as they fly through your patch.” ‘Ownership’ of the virtual patch expires after 12 months, but Wyles isn’t sure how long the campaign will run. “I think the average life of a campaign is three years. So in terms of how long this is going to go on for, we’re still very much at the start, so who knows?”

The RFDS has mapped a selection of its routes, which allows donors to select a path.

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Conquer Cystic Fibrosis through research

n 2002 a small group of

parents of children with CF decided to raise money for Cystic Fibrosis WA (CFWA) which, at the time, was in need of financial support. The 65 Roses Grand Ball for Cystic Fibrosis was born and $42,986.25 was raised. Realising the potential they had to raise significant funds, and driven by the need to do all they could to make a real difference for people with CF, in 2003 this same group, in addition to raising money for CFWA, raised funds to donate to research. Since then, the group has grown to encompass people with CF and family friends. This very dedicated and extremely hard working group have continued to organise the 65 Roses Grand Ball for Cystic Fibrosis, making it an annual event. Their major focus being research. Why? The answer is best told in the numbers. Life expectancy in Australia for people with CF in

the 1960’s was 5 years. It is now 35 years. Deaths in Australia of younger people have, thankfully declined dramatically since 1998. The six years from 1998 to 2004 saw a fall of 70% in the number of deaths of people with CF aged under 20 years. The greatest contributing factor to this is undoubtedly research. Research leads to improvements in treatments,which in turn leads to longer, healthier lives. To date the 65 Roses Balls have raised $910,976.13 for CFWA and CF research. In 2012, Conquer Cystic Fibrosis was incorporated, thus allowing for expansion and increased fundraising for CF research. The Ball, the major fundraising event has been renamed “The Conquer Cystic Fibrosis Grand Ball”. Unfortunately there is still no cure for Cystic Fibrosis. But that is something Conquer Cystic Fibrosis Inc, intends to change.

There is still no cure for Cystic Fibrosis

Conquer www.conquercysticfibrosis.com

C stic Fibrosis Inc.

explore

IN TWENTY FOUR HOURS Whether you’re with your kids, your partner or your mates, when the sun sets in the West, there’s still plenty to make your day, finds Simone Henderson-Smart.

FAMILY- FRIENDLY 7am – 9am: Nobody does smorgasbord like the Swedes, and breakfast at Miss Maud’s is sure to fuel up your little Vikings and get them ready for adventure. Be sure to try the trademark pastries that spawned 11 little pastry houses around the city. missmaud.com.au 9am – 11am: Let’s face it, every child wishes they had a license to print money (most parents too) so take them to see the folks who do at the Perth Mint. It’s also home to Australia’s largest natural gold nugget collection and a one-tonne gold

coin worth a cool $50 million. Not very practical, is it? perthmint.com.au 11am – 12pm: Wander through 12,000 kilometres of West Australian coastline in just one hour at the Aquarium of WA. From the icy waters of the Southern Ocean to the tropical coral reefs of the far north, meet moon jellyfish, snorkel with sharks and taunt the crocodile from behind the safety glass. aqwa.com.au 12-2pm: Head to Salt on the Beach for a truly kid-friendly lunch complete with indoor playground. Hurl the children into the bouncing castle to keep them

entertained while you slip in to the microbrewery and try a few of their ales. 2pm – 5pm: Scitech is a hands-on science museum with plenty to inspire and entertain the whole family. Make molecular origami, take a journey into space in the planetarium, or explore different types of energy by testing your skills in the world’s largest interactive ball race. scitech.org.au 5pm – 9pm: Head out to the Swan Valley (just 30 minutes from town) in time for the kids to don their complimentary gumboots and feed the

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animals at Settlers Rest Farmstay, which happens at 5pm each day. They will have the run of the farm, although they won’t, really, because obviously they’re not allowed to drive the tractors. But it’s fun, and then after they’ve exhausted themselves, it’s just a short trip out to one of the many wineries for dinner later in the evening. If gastro-pub grub is more your style, then cosy up by a log fire at the Rose & Crown hotel in lovely Guildford. 9pm: Back to your three-bedroom cottage at Settlers Rest for a country-style star-filled sky and total peace and quiet. Bliss!

COSY COUPLING 7am – 9am: Start the day perched high in Kings Park with a nature hit and breakfast at the Botanical Café as you look out across the city you’re about to plunge into. 9am – 12pm: Head to Fremantle for a wander down the famous cappuccino strip where busy cafes and designer boutiques are joined by micro-breweries and galleries in a noisy, colourful battle for your attention. The markets are well worth a visit for the buskers alone. 12pm – 5pm: Forget the Swan River cruises brimming with tourists and snuggle all the way to the wineries on the back of a 20

custom trike (svtrikes.com). Follow the 32 kilometre Swan Valley wine and food trail that takes in more than 150 wineries as well as galleries and breweries. Stop for a refuel at Taylors quirky Art and Coffee House where whatever is in the garden defines the menu. 5pm – 7pm: Cruise back to town and pull up a Chesterfield in the dark, cosy Andaluz underground bar, serving up glamour, cocktails and Spain in equal measures. andaluzbar.com.au 7pm – 10pm: Keep the glamour going with a velvetdraped, chandeliered fine-dining experience at 1907. The one-time rag factory – yes, ‘rag factory’ used to be a thing – is a true tale of rags to riches and now offers gems like Cape Grim grass-fed Black Angus rib eye on the bone straight from the paddock to the plate. 10pm – 2am: One of the other great things about 1907 is that it’s smack bang in the middle of bar territory. A quick stroll in the moonlight will take you to the rooftop Aviary, the similarly elevated Conservatory, the cute Cheeky Sparrow and the off-themap wonderland of Wolf Lane. 2am: Recline in Parisian-style luxury in your inner-city boutique apartment at the Outram in West Perth, just by Kings Park, and recharge for another day.

FAST FACT Kings Park is one of the world’s largest inner city parks; covering more than 400 hectares. The park is rich with wildlife and displays over 3,000 species of Western Australia’s unique flora.

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Shift your view and see Perth from the water as you paddle up the Swan River in a kayak.

Clockwise from top left: Little Creatures brewery; sunset on the Swan River; the gold-filled Perth Mint; interactive family fun at the Scitech science museum; aerial view of the Kings Park war memorial.

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The Crown complex is brimming with bars and restaurants so why not have a progressive dinner party through them all?

MATES WHO RATE

Above from top: Channel your inner James Bond with a martini at the casino; aerial view of the Crown complex; the so french, so chic Bistro Guillaume. 22

7am – 9am: Golf is a great way to start any day, but at the Canningvale Country Club a quick whip around their ninehole par 3 course leaves time for paintball too. Note: paintball is excellent for golf-loss revenge. 9am – 10am: Head over to the Gordon St Garage and restart your battle-scarred heart with a cup of their Mano a Mano special blend of coffee roasted on the premises, and a huge brekky of the usual suspects plus a glass of prosecco to toast the winners. gsgarage.com.au 10am – noon: Do what Dave Grohl and the Foo Fighters did when they hit town and grab a Harley Davidson each from West Coast Bikes and rumble up the coast like rockstars. westcoastbikes.com.au Noon – 3pm: Beer lovers will find comfort in the arms of no less than 18 pubs in a short crawl through the streets of Fremantle. Must-visits include microbreweries the Sail and Anchor, Mad Monk and Blacksalt. Finish up at Fishing Boat Harbour where the Little Creatures Brewery serves up tours and tastings as well as woodfired pizzas and beer-

friendly share plates in a massive converted boatshed right on the water. littlecreatures.com.au 3pm – 5pm: Shift your view and see Perth from the water as you paddle up the Swan River in a kayak hired from About Bike Hire who are conveniently 15 metres from the river’s edge. aboutbikehire.com.au 5pm – 12pm: Time to suit up Bond-style and hit the casino. Start with a martini to remember at MINQ. The Linney’s Elit Martini comes with a complimentary sterling silver pearl-tipped drink stirrer – one that is adorned with fresh French Cavern-cured blue cheese-filled olives that have been soaked in Louis XIII cognac. The Crown complex is brimming with bars and restaurants so why not have a progressive dinner party through them all? Begin with oysters and a glass of champagne in La Vie and a couple of Japanese fusion wagyu tacos at Nobu. Move on to Neil Perry’s woodfired wonders at Rockpool and finish with French sweetness at Bistro Guillaume. Midnight – dawn: The party continues with roulette wheels and DJs spinning all night long.

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puzzletime

PUZZLES The Quiz

2014 FIFA World Cup? 7. The children’s toy Lego was created in which country? 8. Who was the first African American to win a best male actor Oscar? 9. ‘Twitchers’ is a name associated with practitioners of which hobby? 10. Which Australian city hosts the popular Mindil Beach Sunset Markets? 11. A ‘tredecennial’ would be held HOW often? 12. What do Ben Macdui, Mount Townsend and Mount Saint Elias have in common? 13. What is ‘digamy’? 14. In this year, Telecom changed its name

1. In the corporate world, what does the O of CEO stand for? 2. To be indifferent to someone is to give them the ‘cold WHAT’? 3. Who was Sullivan’s operetta partner? 4. The city of Chiang Mai, which sits along the Ping River, is in WHICH country? 5. Which type of pastry is used to make profiteroles and eclairs? 6. Which two European powerhouses did Australia draw in their group for the

Arrow words Quechua

2 6

Goal

Charm

Mate

Eating plan Soup legume

6 3 5 7

Selfish Actress, -Thurman

Top dog

Submit

Wheat tip

Plump

5 8

Aroma Bliss

America (1,1,1)

Model

Views

Ship’s stabiliser

Pass (law)

4 1 7 2 5

Gentler

Cap

Convey Banished Pen fluids

Sudoku solution

8 9 2 7 4 3 6 5 1

7 4 8 6 5 9 3 1 2

5 3 4 9 6 1 2 8 7

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G R I L

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6 5 3 8 1 2 7 4 9

2 1 9 3 7 4 8 6 5

1 6 7 5 2 8 4 9 3

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4 2 6 1 3 5 9 7 8

9 7 1 2 8 6 5 3 4

-- & don’ts

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3 8 5 4 9 7 1 2 6

Mideast region, -- Strip

Cut

Arrow words solution

Enclose

9 7 1 2 8 6 5 3 4

4 2 6 1 3 5 9 7 8

Magi, Three Wise --

1 6 7 5 2 8 4 9 3

2 1 9 3 7 4 8 6 5

Day trips

5 3 4 9 6 1 2 8 7

7 4 8 6 5 9 3 1 2

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Plotted

1 5 7 3 9 5 7 4 2 7 9 2 6 7 8 1 1 5 3

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8 9 2 7 4 3 6 5 1

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Fill the grid so that every column, every row and every 3x3 box contains the digits 1 to 9.

Sudoku Rating: Barely

Lamp

to Telstra and Pay TV was introduced to Australia. 15. Heidi Middleton and Sarah-Jane Clarke founded which Australian fashion label in the late ’90s? 16. What would you be suffering from if you had cephalgia? 17. Who was the Australian prime minister at the time of the First Gulf War? 18. What shape are the pupils of a goat’s eyes? 19. Alizarin is a hue of which colour? 20. ‘Bachmann’s bundle’ is part of which human organ?

QUIZ SOLUTIONS 1. Officer 2. Shoulder 3. Gilbert 4. Thailand 5. Choux 6. Spain and the Netherlands 7. Denmark 8. Sidney Poitier 9. Bird-watching 10. Darwin 11. 13 years 12. They are all the 2nd highest mountains in their country. 13. The legal remarriage after the death or divorce of one’s first husband or wife 14. 1995 15. sass & bide 16. A headache 17. Bob Hawke 18. Rectangular 19. Red 20. Heart

checkin

Five

minutes with …

Taasha Coates

The Audreys, ARIA award-winning Australian blues/roots band, released its new album ’Til My Tears Roll Away this month and will be touring around Australia in May/June. Danielle Chenery talks to lead singer Taasha Coates about creativity, performance and family.

Tell me about how The Audreys first started? Guitarist Tristan and I met while we were both Uni students in Adelaide. We started playing covers, then originals, then we got a few more band members. In 2005, we got signed by ABC. We made albums in 2006, 2008 and 2010 and we won ARIAs for each album – in the Best Blues and Roots album category. We were never the favourite. With the first award we were told we had no chance. The second time we were told there was no way we would win twice, and before winning the third time, we were told there was really no way we would win three times.

What have been your most rewarding moments? I love playing live. You have to love it as a working musician because there is a lot of effort that goes into it – a lot of faffing around. But I love being on stage. I am starting to enjoy recording more though. I used to see it as a necessary evil to be able to go on the road, but I’m starting to enjoy it more and have more ideas. Because we’ve had the same producer, we’ve learnt so much, and now it’s more of a collaboration – more of a creative process.

What about the challenging side? Being a musician, the low income is a challenge, especially when you have a

family. It’s one thing to run out of money for rent and food when you’re on your own, but another when you have a kid. But my partner is really supportive. Also there’s a lot of unglamorous parts to being a musician. I have to do my own accounts. Then there’s emails and admin and travel, which can get boring and tiring. Writer’s block can also be hard. Tristan and I live in different states, so if we arrange to meet and have nothing, it’s hard. One time, we went to lots of trouble to organise a writing session – had babysitting organised, food stocked, ready to go, but then we had no ideas. So we just went to the nearest pub and got pissed. We’d had a session at the same place, months earlier and came up with five songs in three days. Sometimes you wake up and your brain is swirling with ideas, other times, it’s nothing.

What inspires you creatively? Other music, but our songs are narratives – we try to tell stories. We like to think of a character and give them a story, so I can be inspired by books I read, people I know and the absurd love you feel for your own child.

What do you aim to communicate through your music? There is definitely a mood to our music, but it’s not something contrived. I think it would show if it was. Once we decided to deliberately try something upbeat and it sounded stupid. I’ve also learnt not to impose our interpretation of songs onto people. Someone once told me they loved a song for something specific, but I said ‘No, it’s not about that!’, and they got really upset. So we try not to be too directive – we let people do what they will with our songs.

What are your favourite haunts in South Australia? I live in the Adelaide Hills and I’m immensely fond of the area and my dad lives in the Barossa Ranges. I love the wine districts and hills. When I was a kid I spent a lot of time in the Murray – I learnt how to swim in the Murray River. I prefer it to the sea; I’m not made for the sea. I live in Mount Barker now, which is the Adelaide Hills’ largest regional centre. It’s nice when you’ve got a kid to be able to walk to the shops and places like that. It’s about 40 kilometres from the city. It’s walking distance to everything I need.

What’s your favourite place in Australia? I love Avoca Beach in NSW. I also lived for a while in Brisbane and loved the border area between Queensland and NSW – the Ballina area. My partner is an ex-Queenslander. So even though I said I’m not made for the sea, I do love coastal areas. I tend to like beach culture. I like Ballina because it has hills – it’s pretty and lush.

“When I was a kid I spent a lot of time in the Murray – I learnt how to swim in the Murray River. I prefer it to the sea.”

entertainment

getsorted listen

watch TAKING TO THE SKIES

Jim Eames

A collection of Australian aviation tales from the hilarious to the absurdly dangerous, as told by author, journalist, and generally huge fan of flying, Jim Eames. Includes forgotten stories about the Catalina flying boats, and a wild stunt performed by a civil aviation director who taxied a plane down a main street in Perth, before parking and attending a ball.

tune in

staff pick

THE GRASS CASTLE

Karen Viggers

HARDER TO TAME McAlister Kemp The story of how the music video for the title track of McAlister Kemp’s latest album, Harder to Tame, was filmed, is almost as wildly entertaining as the song itself. Drew laughs as he comments the music video was a bit ‘racier’ than their other videos, but was the largest scale production they have done, despite being short on extras on the day of filming. Their peer rep solved that problem brilliantly by walking into a local youth hostel and offering free beer to anyone who wanted to be in a music video. It has only been five years since Drew McAlister and Troy Kemp started playing music together and they’ve come from casually jamming in their spare time, to being at the top of the country music charts in Australia. Now they’ve even begun to catch fire in the US. Despite all of the awards, including the prestigious CMC (Country Music Channel) Music

EVEREST

App store, free Determine your own personal ‘Everest’ . This app will help you break your goal down into manageable steps. Track your progress, and find inspiration from people in the community with similar goals.

Award for Best New Oz Artist, Drew and Troy are so humble they are still surprised by the dedication of their fans. They were amazed when they played at CMC Rocks last year and the crowd began singing along with them. Drew acknowledges touring is a gruelling process, but it is also clearly his passion. “Touring is a challenge. Period. That hour and 15 minutes on stage is the most pure part of this business. That time on stage, that’s when there’s no record companies, no legal contracts – none of that stuff. It’s the pure part – that’s why we do it.” Drew’s advice for aspiring musicians is to make sure you keep your priorities in check. “Family is everything, you can’t do any of this unless you have a really good base at home.”

DROPBOX

App store, free A free and easy way to move files you are working on from your computer to your phone or iPad. Enables you to bring your files everywhere with you and view them offline.

INSTRUCTABLES

App store, free DIY instructions for how to make just about anything, from silly putty to a chair made out of tennis balls. Share your own ideas and enjoy the innovative creations of fellow DIYers.

Much like the author herself, lead character Daphne grew up riding horses and working with cattle. The story begins with tragic upheaval when Daphne and her husband are forced off the land they call home. Years later, while on a visit back to her valley, Daphne meets Abby, a young girl who avoids people because of a horrific event she suffered in her teens. The women help each other to live without the burden of their secrets.

ONE BOY MISSING

Stephen Orr

Celebrated author Stephen Orr releases a novel that begins as a crime mystery before becoming something deeper. When a butcher sees a young boy being shoved into the boot of a car, he reports the crime to Detective Bart Moy. When Moy can’t find anyone who is missing a child, he continues to search anyway, in honour of his own son who he had lost.

citybites wine

dine

LOFTY HIDEAWAY Sydney

Tucked away in Manly’s Market Lane, new bar-cum-eatery – Donny’s – brings a slice of New York to Sydney’s Northern Beaches. With its funky décor; high ceilings, exposed brickwork, copper pipes, chic lighting and hardwood bench tops, you’d be hard-pressed not to imagine this stylish bar amid the cool hangouts of the Big Apple’s Meatpacking District. Co-owner, avid foodie and ex-actor Matt Clifton, has brought this loft-style bar to life with an imaginative menu and creative cocktails. Having worked at Merivale’s Ivy, Matt knows a thing or two when it comes to stylish hotspots and crowd pleasing food and drink combos. Get into Donny’s signature Barramundi Wellington washed down with a chilli and coriander Margarita (or three) while listening to laidback bar-time beats. Prices are definitely above that of the pub grub Manly was once known for, but if you’re looking for something funkier than most, Donny’s is set to be a haunt for locals, and a destination for those who know it’s worth crossing the bridge or harbour for a great night out. donnys.com.au

night

out

FRESH START FOR A WELL-LOVED CLASSIC Sydney

The beloved institution that is Macleay Street Bistro has new owners and a hot new head chef at the helm, reinvigorating a restaurant that has set a benchmark for French classic bistro-style dining in Sydney for 30 years. In this intimate, sophisticated dining space in the middle of thriving Potts Point, it’s all about wonderful seasonal flavours and pure, classic French combinations. And now there’s also an international boutique organic and biodynamic wine list to indulge in. Chef Tom Williams has worked at some of Sydney’s top restaurants over the past 15 years, including Bambini Trust and Tetsuya’s. His refreshing summer menu includes elegant entree dishes such as a House-Cured Tasmanian Salmon with a Fennel and Orange Salad. And for mains, there’s a melt-in-your-mouth Spinach and Ricotta Gnocchi with Sage Buerre Noisette perfectly summing up how Williams ups the ante on beloved classics. For sweet tooths, the Champagne-Poached Pear and Passionfruit Sorbet leaves palates sparkling, inciting thoughts of starting the fun all over again. macleaystbistro.com.au 4

citybites

sleep

over

BUSINESS CHIC

Perth

For people travelling regularly for business, finding a hotel that feels like a home away from home is key to having an enjoyable and productive trip. Fraser Suites pride themselves on being both a hotel, and a haven offering short- and long-term stays in apartment-style suites. Fraser Suites Perth upholds this approach; and being completely built from the ground up, the architects and designers have poured over every detail. The suites are modern yet welcoming, super stylish yet comfortable, and it’s an assuring mix of a hotel with help on hand 24/7, yet with the feel of chic, innercity apartment living. Fraser Suites Perth is in the Free-Transit Zone of Perth’s CBD, meaning it’s a quick walk to most of the city’s hotspots. The building houses 236 studio residences and 1-2 bedroom apartments, a range of configurable meeting rooms and entertainment spaces, and a health and wellness sanctuary including a 25 metre pool, sauna and 24-hour gym. There’s also a bar and The Dining Room restaurant offers modern meals using the state’s finest produce. perth.frasershospitality.com

sleep

over

SMILES AND STYLE Adelaide

Friendliness and effortless style are the name of the game at the Mercure Grosvenor Hotel, Adelaide. As soon as you pass through the grand stone facade and into the foyer, the smiling staff ensure everything goes as smoothly as possible. Right in the middle of the city on trendy, bustling North Terrace, the hotel is the perfect base from which to explore Adelaide and her many renowned wine regions – all within driving distance. A recent refurb of the 245 rooms has spruced up the classic contemporary interiors, and all rooms and suites feature sophisticated furnishings and state-of-the-art amenities. The hotel’s Federal Restaurant and Bar offers a refined choice of great local wines, and the modern Australian dishes showcase the region’s enviable produce. For onsite meetings, conferences, weddings and special events, the Mercure Grosvenor Hotel Adelaide features seven fully flexible meeting rooms. So if stylish accommodation, personalised service and first-class amenities are at the top of your agenda, you know where it’s at. mercuregrosvenorhotel.com.au

“As soon as you pass through the grand stone facade and into the foyer, the smiling staff ensure everything goes as smoothly as possible.” 5

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ON ADDAMO Brooke Addamo, otherwise known as Owl Eyes, has come a long way since her Australian Idol days. Danielle Chenery talks music with one of Australia’s rising young stars.

rooke Addamo, aka Owl Eyes, was only 17 years old when she was thrown into the spotlight as one of the finalists on reality TV show Australian Idol, back in 2008. She was somewhat controversially eliminated from the show during the Top 11 results night when, on voting night, lines went down in her local area. But six years later, the 23-year-old, originally from Werribee in Victoria, hasn’t looked back. She claims Idol did nothing for her anyway. “It broadcasted my awkward teenage years on national TV,” she laughs. “For my current career it did nothing – I’m on a completely different path now,” she says confidently.

For Addamo, her musical journey began when she was 12 years old. “I fell in love with music early when my parents signed me up for singing lessons to combat shyness,” she explains. “It became my whole world as a teenager. I feel like it really raised me – it helped me grow as a woman and find myself. I am still learning all the time but I have come far,” she says. The music industry certainly isn’t known for being a gentle one to grow up in. “I tell myself to not sweat the small stuff but it doesn’t always work because I freak out about stupid things all the time,” she says. “But the music industry has taught me to stand up for myself and for what I believe in. You have to be strong to get your way.”

Addamo describes her music as “synthy, dreamy pop jams you can dance to”. As Owl Eyes, she has released three EPs: Faces (2010); Raiders (2011); and Crystalised (2012). Last year came her first full-length album, Nightswim. She has multiple triple j Hottest 100 appearances to her name and has really nutted out her songwriting process. “When I am not recording or writing I take a notepad around to write down words or phrases,” she says. “I watch movies and listen to music to stay inspired, and then I take little seeds of ideas into the studio and work on music – usually starting with a beat and layered synths. Then the music dictates the melodies that come

“The music industry has taught me to stand up for myself and for what I believe in. You have to be strong to get your way.”

www.safesite.com.au 1300 360 211

Senior Boarding and Beyond... • Contemporary interiors • Friendly share-house environment • Flexible approach to living routines • Independent study facilities • Wireless internet access to room • Extended hours Learning Resources Centre and campus café • Individual bathroom facilities • Social activities

The Ravenswood Residential College provides you with the environment to support the successful completion of your secondary education. We recognise the individual preferences of senior students and offer you the choice of either the Higher School Certificate or the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma to complete your schooling. Ravenswood students consistently attain outstanding academic results, with over 30% of the class of 2012 gaining an ATAR/UAC rank of 95 or above.

Scholarships for 2015 To support families in regional Australia, Ravenswood is offering Residential College Scholarships for students entering Year 10 or Year 11 in 2015.

All applicants must sit the ACER test. Registrations online from September 2013 at www.ravenswood.nsw.edu.au

To find out more about Senior Boarding at Ravenswood contact our enrolments team on enrol@ravenswood.nsw.edu.au

Full, weekly and short-stay boarding A Uniting Church girls’ school – K–12 Just minutes from the Gordon rail and bus interchange

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to my mind. I am very fortunate to work with some amazing producers,” she explains. “I am inspired by so much music at the moment. My favourite album of last year was The North Borders by the band, Bonobo,” she adds. Modestly, Addamo admits her biggest achievements are “yet to come” but says releasing Nightswim is one of her top accomplishments. “It took me a while but I am so happy I stuck it out because it has opened a lot of doors for me,” she says. Indeed, Addamo is still very much at the beginning of an exciting music career, with 2014 looking to be her biggest year yet. She’s currently working on some new music and hopes to have something fresh out there soon. But first, this young Australian songstress is heading overseas. She’s

Addamo is still very much at the beginning of an exciting music career, with 2014 looking to be her biggest year yet. off to the US this month for SXSW (South by Southwest), which is an annual interactive film and music festival and conference that takes place in Austin, Texas. “It will be my first overseas tour and I am so excited. It is the next step in my music career and I am very ready for it,” she says. “I am very lucky because my company is taking me to Coachella, a famous annual music and arts festival in California,” she adds. “I love being on tour,” she enthuses. “The last tour I did was with Flight Facilities, touring around playing the Falls and Southbound festivals, which was amazing. I love touring with Flight Facilities – they are all great friends 9

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of mine, and the crowds for those shows were insane.” Addamo says her biggest goal in life is to be “making music for a very long time”, and one of her dreams is to perform at the Forum Theatre in her hometown of Melbourne. “It’s a beautiful old building and every show I have seen there has had great sound,” she explains. Addamo admits that while social media has its obvious benefits for the music industry, she finds keeping on top of it all a bit of a challenge. “It is easier to find new and exciting music now, but you have to have a strong online presence to be heard, and sometimes I am not great at maintaining that,” she says. Just working in the Australian music industry is keeping Addamo happy for now. “It is so inspiring. So many of my friends are achieving amazing things at the moment and I am so proud to be part of it all.”

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outtahere

Great

Outback Pubs Australia is bursting at the seams with great Aussie pubs in towns where true Australian country hospitality is still alive and well, writes Karen Halabi.

NEXT TIME YOU’RE passing through a country town, head for the wide verandahs and cheery atmosphere of the local pub. It’s here you’ll discover the soul of a town. It’s also where the beer is cold and yarns are spun. Pubs across this wide brown land are brimming with character. And characters. There’s nothing Aussies like more than to crack a cold one on a hot summer’s day. When you’re in the bush, stopping at a welcoming watering hole to wash away the taste of dust with an ice-cold beer is as close as you’re likely to get to heaven. The bush pub is a gathering place for locals. Here you’ll find fair dinkum Australians who’ll share a story, crack a joke and apologise when their dog eats one of your thongs. Shout the bar, buy a ticket in the meat tray or just tear a wet coaster into 1,000 bits – the choice is yours, and you’re more than welcome. Then order a counter meal and bed down for the night. Here’s a state-by-state rundown of Australia’s best bush boozers. NEW SOUTH WALES In Broken Hill, call into The Palace Hotel, the historic, three-storey pub with long verandahs and elaborate cast-iron

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balustrades that featured in the movie, Priscilla, Queen of the Desert. Or visit The Silverton Hotel, 26 kilometres away, in a mining ghost town known for its hospitality and 50 or so quirky local residents. Much further north you’ll come across The Billi Pub in historic Billinudgel, the former home of Mar Ring, Australia’s (and possibly the world’s) oldest publican. Mar was publican for 53 years until the age of 101. She lectured Bob Hawke on how to pull a beer; and was awarded an MBE. A painting of her still hangs over the public bar. This timber pub in the Brunswick Valley, close to Byron Bay, is steeped in history, with many photos of the old township and with a good collection of memorabilia. The Billi is simply a good old country pub of yore with tall stories and a friendly atmosphere. The Bistro tucker is home style cooking and Norma is the best pub chef this side of the Black Stump.

same name. Known originally as the Federal McKinlay Hotel, it was sold for $290,000 after the movie was made and is now a tourist attraction – McKinlay’s only one. One of Australia’s most legendary watering holes is The Birdsville Hotel. On the desolate Birdsville Track in Outback Queensland near the South Australian border, it dates back to 1884 and epitomises the essence of the Outback.

DID YOU KNOW? Australia’s unofficial national anthem, Waltzing Matilda, was sung for the very first time at the North Gregory Hotel in Winton in 1895. It was written about an incident at the nearby Combo Waterhole.

QUEENSLAND The Tattersalls Hotel in Winton has also been serving up genuine outback hospitality for 120 years, and is a top spot to share an icy beer with a Banjo Patterson poem’s worth of locals including miners, station owners, ringers, truck drivers, cattle buyers and shearers. All that’s missing is a drover and a beardy bushranger in a slitted tin hat. A little further north along the Matilda Highway, be sure to stop and drink a toast to Australia’s hardest working dog, the blue heeler, at The Blue Heeler Hotel in Kynuna. It’s the 100-year-old hotel where Banjo himself observed Champagne being handed through the window to end the angry shearers’ strike of the 1800s. The Combo Waterhole, the famed billabong featured in ‘Waltzing Matilda’, is 20 kilometres south of Kynuna. On the same outback highway headed north towards Mt Isa, you’ll meet locals as colourful as Mick Dundee. Many point out what is and isn’t a knife at the historic Walkabout Creek Hotel in McKinlay. It’s famous as Crocodile Dundee’s regular drinking spot in the original film of the

Historic Eumundi on the Sunshine Coast boasts Joe’s Waterhole. Formerly The Commercial Hotel, which is obviously a much better pub name, there is something special about this quirky Queensland pub. Wide balconies and timber latticework shades dimly lit bars and swirling ceiling fans. At Nobby, in the Darling Downs around Toowoomba, masses of memorabilia adorn the walls of Rudd’s Pub. This 100-year-old pub isn’t named after a recent Prime Minister; rather it’s a memorial to outback poet Steele Rudd. The walls of this pub-cum-museum are covered with photographs, knick-knacks and reminders of the times in which Steele Rudd lived. Rudd also inspired the hugely popular 1930s-50s Dad and Dave radio series, and you can sit back and listen to ‘Dad and Dave’ yarns and even order a ‘Dad and Dave Combo’ for dinner.

SOUTH AUSTRALIA The only stopover on the 528 kilometre Birdsville Track, the Mungerannie Hotel

You’ll meet locals as colourful as Mick Dundee over an ice-cold beer in the historic Walkabout Creek Hotel in McKinlay in outback Queensland. 15

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sits on the edge of the Sturt, Stony, Simpson, Tirari and Strzelecki deserts, and beside the Derwent River – an oasis in sharp contrast to its surrounds. Right in the heart of Burke and Wills explorer country, the Innamincka Hotel at Cooper Creek in South Australia played host to early drovers who brought cattle down the Strzelecki Track. The pub’s convivial ‘Outamincka Bar’ has become the stuff of bush legends and is a must-stop for anyone travelling in these parts. You can’t get more outback than the famous Prairie Hotel at Parachilna in South Australia. Built in the 1890s, the pub attracts visitors from all over the world who come to try the renowned Australian native cuisine or bush tucker, otherwise known as ‘feral food’, while drinking in draught beer as well as the view of the magnificent Flinders Ranges. The William Creek Pub is bang in the middle of the world’s largest cattle property, Anna Creek Station. At 23,800 square kilometres, Anna Creek is almost half the size of Tasmania, but by way of contrast, William Creek – population: six – is SA’s smallest town. The William Creek Pub has an almost legendary status and is the only ‘watering hole’ on the Oodnadatta Track between Marree and Oodnadatta. The only corrugated iron hotel still trading in SA, this original pub is filled with mementos from thousands of visitors.

WESTERN AUSTRALIA The Roebuck Bay Hotel, or ‘Roey’ as the locals call it, lives by the saying “if it’s going to happen in Broome, it’s going to happen at the Roey”. If you stumble across local character, ‘Swindle’, pull up a chair and order a coldie because he has enough

tales about pearling and gangsters to last a week. While sunset camel rides on Broome’s Cable Beach are world famous, it’s the tales about beer drinking camels that draw attention at The Whim Creek Pub. Halfway between Karratha and Port Hedland, this pub has its own wildlife sanctuary and was once home to a camel with a penchant for beer. You can’t miss it – it’s painted bright pink! The biggest and best-known pub in Kalgoorlie, with 11 beers on tap, The Exchange holds the record for the biggest sales of Jim Beam bourbon in regional WA. It was originally constructed as a shed in the late 1800s. The population of the small goldmining town of Kookynie, 200 kilometres from Kalgoorlie in Western Australia, is fewer than 10 people, but the town’s 1894 vintage Grand Hotel, with its big verandahs and spacious rooms, survives. It was once the favourite watering hole for local prospectors.

NORTHERN TERRITORY The colourful Daly Waters Pub, clad in corrugated iron, served Australian and American airmen – including a fighter squadron – who were based in the town during WWII. Once a popular drover’s rest, this unusual pub, built in 1930, gained fame as a stopover for pilots and passengers arriving on the new Qantas airline in 1934. (Daly Waters, incongruously, was the site of Australia’s first international airport.) Today, it’s a 16

pit-stop for thirsty tourists travelling the Explorer’s Way between Alice Springs and Darwin. You can spend hours browsing the walls of the pub bedecked as they are with foreign currency, souvenirs, underwear and machinery. At Maluka’s Bar at Mataranka Springs, just south of Katherine, you can lean against the bar with its bright paintings and then toddle off to see the nearby replica of the hut in which Jeannie Gunn lived at Elsey Station. The first white woman in the area, Gunn told her story in the 1908 autobiographical novel We of the Never Never. The world-famous Humpty Doo Hotel in Arnhem Land is conveniently located for travellers heading to Kakadu. The hotel has many slightly mad local characters, as per all great frontier boozers; pull up a pew. At The Barra Bar & Bistro on the Kakadu Highway, you can cook your own local delicacies on a supplied barbecue with an accompanying buffet. Just south of Darwin on the Darwin River Road at Berry Springs, you’ll find The Litchfield Pub, home of the bull arena and shed, which has a 55-metre long bar. True Australian country hospitality is still very much alive and well in our Outback hotels. Whatever the style of accommodation or the location, the locals will greet you with a firm handshake and a steady gaze and call you ‘mate’. Our great Aussie pubs are about the people and the places, and they’re undoubtedly the heart of our nation.

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food&wine

Celebrating 180 years of winemaking, the Swan Valley has become a destination for foodies and wine buffs. Mel Hearse works up an appetite while checking out the goods.

aving grown up in the Perth foothills, I’m no stranger to the magic of the Swan Valley – I’ve been there for school excursions to the various petting farms; spent days at Caversham Wildlife Park with my own children; and I’ve attended more than a few weddings at some pretty salubrious venues in the region. Indeed one of the key reasons to visit the Swan Valley again and again and never tire of its charms is the sheer volume of experiences it offers. The Swan Valley food and wine trail itself boasts more than 200 attractions along the 32-kilometre stretch, including wineries, restaurants, cafes, breweries, distilleries, art galleries, seasonal roadside stalls, heritage sites, wildlife and family fun. You can go for a few days, a week, a day or even just a couple of hours. It’s been a favoured spot for long, lazy lunches with friends for decades and it’s even a great place to bring the kids. “The region is compact and easy to navigate, so visitors can comfortably explore six or seven attractions in a day”, says Mike Foley, chief executive for the City of Swan, who adds the area is known for its local produce and organic offerings. Most recently I was treated to a two-day

spa stay at Brookleigh Estate, and while I enjoyed the spa treatments immensely, and the dinner at the onsite Stewart’s lived up to its reputation for fabulous fine dining; I also really enjoyed grabbing one of the hire bikes and trundling around the area. Some highlights included my daily jaunts to the Swan Valley Café for organic omelettes filled with oozing cheese, delicious coffees and, for one memorable lunch, a plate piled high with incredible salads made from local produce. On another recent visit to the region, my family set off with the intention of stopping at all the shop-front outlets and food stalls along the trail. We packed in the House of Honey, the Swan Valley Egg Farm, the Margaret River Chocolate Factory and Mondo Nougat. Come lunchtime, we dropped into Elmars and discovered it was a lot bigger than expected. It has a great sit-down dining area and the largest glass microbrewery in the Southern Hemisphere. Not only does it offer its own beers and wines on site, there’s also a selection of wines from other local vineyards. Having left Elmars far later in the afternoon than expected, we headed back out along the trail for our next planned stop – Maggie’s Place. Maggie’s is a good place

to leave until last if you plan to stock up. It sells high-quality seasonal produce from local producers, so there is no better way to fill your fridge. The ladies in the shop front have no shortage of ideas and enthusiasm on what you can do with the various ingredients and how to get the most out of them. Owner Maggie Edmonds, a retired farmer who lives on a small rural property north of Bindoon, is passionate about supporting local growers and shares a wealth of information on how to use up all your produce to avoid the massive wastage seen in Australia. “Soups, juices and casseroles are a great way to use veggies that are past their prime, and a lot of them can be frozen if you don’t want to consume them immediately but they are approaching their used by date,” she says. We left the Swan Valley after seven hours with our car and bellies almost uncomfortably full. There are a number of fine dining options along the trail, most notably Stewart’s, Fillaudeau’s Café Restaurant and Dear Friends, all of which make good use of the local and often organic produce on offer. My last meal at Stewart’s involved a slow cooked lamb fillet, creamy mash and seasonal greens that were all locally sourced and phenomenal in flavour.

Below: There is a Margaret River Chocolate Factory in Swan Valley.

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food&wine This image: Upper Reach Winery won Best Exhibitor at the 2010 Swan Valley Show.

Wine, beer and cheer The Swan Valley has no shortage of vineyards, and you’ll need to do little more than drive up the Great Northern Highway or East Swan Road to find plenty of quality vineyards and cellar doors to stop at. One that rates a special mention is Upper Reach; which took out the gong for Best Exhibitor at the 2010 Swan Valley Show. Owned and operated by Derek and Laura Pease, Upper Reach is an eighthectare property nestled on the banks of the Swan River. You can chill out on the deck enjoying good food and wine or take a tour of the vineyard with Laura. The wines themselves have steadily gained a strong reputation: the 2009 Reserve won Gold at the Perth Royal Show as the top WA shiraz

“We pride ourselves on using locally sourced produce, hence the constantly changing selection.” and second top shiraz overall, and then took out another gold and three trophies at the Swan Valley Wine Show. They were also named Gourmet Traveller’s Star Swan Valley Cellar Door in 2013. Talijancich Wines is another really worthwhile stop on the trail, which came recommended to me by a sommelier friend who had worked at the vineyard years ago. The staff is knowledgeable and talked me through the wines in a way that helped me learn rather than feel how little knowledge I have about wines. The vineyard has been in the family since 1932 and is the first vineyard in WA to achieve bio-dynamic certification – and also one of the few in the country to produce the Spanish varietal graciano. If spending an afternoon in a massive beer garden is your bag, or you are looking for a child-friendly spot to set up for a long lunch, then Feral Brewing Company is a good choice. It boasts vast grassy play areas and open dining spaces that make good use of their rural setting. It’s easy to spend an afternoon enjoying the craft beers produced on site, or sample from the ever-changing menu. “We pride ourselves on using locallysourced produce, hence the constantly

Above: Stewart’s Restaurant at Brookleigh Estate has a reputation for fabulous fine dining. 21

food&wine

changing selection,” says sales manager Steve Finnery. He says the brewery was set up as a destination in itself – a place to visit with friends and enjoy a day outside of the daily grind. “The brewery is located on an amazing bit of land that makes you feel like you could not be any further away from the city in Outback Australia. There is a real rawness to the Swan Valley that can’t be found anywhere else,” he adds.

Stay and play If you have the luxury of time, the Swan Valley offers a range of accommodation to suit all budgets. One of our favourite holidays was a stay at the Perth Vineyards Holiday Park, which offers luxury selfcontained cottages and sites set among the vineyards. There is also a range of boutique bed and breakfasts, friendly farm stays, chalets and self contained cottages. There are more than 20 operators who offer a range of tours through the region. Visitors can choose to travel in a horse-

This image: The Swan Valley and Eastern Region visitor centre, located in the Guildford Courthouse.

drawn wagon, by coach or join a boat cruise. The Swan Valley Shuttle operates a hop-on and hop-off bus from Wednesday to Sunday. Brookleigh Estate also offers bike hire to visitors to the area – a great way to get from stop to stop and work up an appetite along the way.

Upcoming events In 2014, the Swan Valley will celebrate 180 years of winemaking in the region with many wineries hosting events. A few highlights for March include: • The Twilight Concert Series at Upper Reach Winery on March 1 and 15; • Lionel Richie and John Farnham performing at Sandalford Wines on March 2; • The third annual Swan Valley Vintage Weekend, which runs from March 14–16. A host of events are organised as part of the weekend, giving visitors the opportunity to enjoy some fine wine, good company and experience firsthand the crafting of Swan Valley wine from vineyard to bottle.

Round-up GO

The Swan Valley is 25 minutes from the Perth CBD and only 10 minutes from Perth Airport.

STAY

Brookleigh Estate 1235 Great Northern Highway, Upper Swan 08 9296 0018, brookleigh.com.au The Vines Resort & Country Club Verdelho Drive, The Vines 08 9297 3000, vines.com.au

EAT & DRINK

Talijancich Wines 26 Hyem Road, Herne Hill 08 9296 4289, taliwine.com.au Upper Reach Winery 77 Memorial Avenue, Baskerville 08 9296 0078, upperreach.com.au

EXPLORE

Check out the local arts and crafts while travelling the trail – the area is rich in local artisans. Yonga Boodjah Aboriginal Art Gallery features the works of acclaimed artists Phil Narkle, Dennis Kickett (Noongali) and new talent Fiona Reidy. 6571 West Swan Road, West Swan, 08 9374 0049, YongaBoodjah.com.au

MORE INFO

swanvalley.com.au

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Valley of Delights Michelle Hespe explores Tasmaniaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Derwent Valley, and discovers an historical haven brimming with surprises.

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Staff at the New Norfolk asylum’s antique store getting into the madness of Halloween.

WILLOW COURT, in the grounds of the old mental asylum of New Norfolk, Derwent Valley, is rollicking with colour and the vibe of a party in full swing. Ghosts, zombies, witches, lunatics, pumpkins and people of all ages are bathed in the spring sunshine – smiling, selling and buying wares of all sorts. In the shade of the willow tree that gave the court its name back in the 1830s when it was planted and the building was erected; and along the footpath leading to the hospital’s main entrance, are market stalls selling everything from incense, candles and tie-dyed clothing, to books, bags and homewares. The freshly prepared food has the whole scene enveloped in the scent of home-baked goodness. The asylum, which now houses an antique store bursting at the seams with fascinating collectibles and furniture capturing the remarkable history of the region, is like a theatre stage. That’s largely because it is a theatre stage today, with witches winding their way through the objects and crowds, stopping to entertain and harass whoever they can. Every year, New Norfolk celebrates Halloween with this fancy dress market, with all the locals getting in on the fun and madness. A psychiatric doctor behind the cash register in a laboratory coat and goggles, and his pregnant wife dressed in the ragged white nightdress of a clearly demented patient, are grinning ear to ear as they sell, wrap and package up pieces from years gone by.

The mad markets are the first stop on my full-day exploration of the Derwent Valley organised by Herbaceous Tours, with a focus on the region’s history. Sally Legosz is the passionate mastermind behind Herbaceous Tours – a business that expertly tailors trips of all types in Tasmania. Her main aim is to make sure people get exactly what they are after when exploring the Apple Isle and its many diverse and inspiring landscapes, villages towns and cities. Whether it’s history, culture, geography or food and wine, Sally has the contacts, passion, the knowledge and the know-how, meaning her clients are always delighted by the adventures spread before them.

Not simply salmon Set in a romantic 19th century English garden planted back in 1861, the Salmon Ponds Heritage Hatchery in the Derwent Valley’s town of Plenty is a soul-soothing set-up. It’s the oldest hatchery in the southern hemisphere. With its rich, fertile landscape that has barely changed in 150 years, it doesn’t take much imagination to envisage the ladies and gentlemen of yesteryear relaxing on the shaded lawns. In the moat-like ponds, thousands of fish at all stages of life can be watched or fed as they gracefully sweep through the crystal clear waters beside intensely green grassy-knolled islands. If you love to eat seafood, it’s hard not to salivate while eyeing off the plumped-up

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brown, rainbow and brook trout, and the over-sized shimmering Atlantic salmon. And it’s interesting to note that until the first brown and rainbow trout were bred here in 1864, it was impossible to fish for these striking creatures anywhere in the southern hemisphere. They became the base stock of streams and lakes in Australia and New Zealand. Those more into the sport itself rather than a finished product on a plate, will love the onsite museum’s coveted collection showcasing the changing face of fishing equipment over time, and the history of Tasmanian angling. It’s all arranged in a cottage built for the first superintendent of the Salmon Ponds back in 1865.

The secret world of Redlands It’s always a great sign when you turn up somewhere and there’s an artist in the fields with an easel and paints, quietly working on capturing the surrounding

Top to bottom: Distiller Dean Jackson at Redlands Estate; The Salmon Ponds, with its rich, fertile landscape, has barely changed in 150 years.

scenery. Redlands Estate deserves that kind of dedicated artistic attention, because it is a wonderful world of natural and man-made beauty. The gardens were originally created in 1819 by George Frederick Read – a wealthy merchant banker. Twenty years later, Count Strzelecki visited the banker and implemented a 300-acre irrigation system on the then 800-acre property, which survives to this day. Convicts toiled away for years to create the farm and buildings on the property, where hops were grown for grog, nicotine for smoking and trading, hemp for hanging hops, and beautiful gardens for relaxing, including a walled ‘Secret Garden’ and tennis courts. The remarkable sandstone and wood cottages, sheds, main house and other buildings – including an old granary and a general store – still stand, as reminders of the community of people who once called Redlands home.

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Today, there is also a 45-minute whisky tour offering visitors insight into how whisky is made on the property; or a longer, four-hour tour where you can get hands-on with the distiller and really learn the ropes. There is also a three-day ‘Royal Distiller’ package for single malt enthusiasts which includes five-star accommodation, transport (helicopter if desired) to Redlands, and an incredible experience where guests handcraft their own barrels, malt barley, distil whisky (which is later aged) and fill six of their own customised 20 litre-barrels with Redlands Single Malt. The Redlands extravaganza includes digging for peat, flights to other wineries and Tasmanian producers, and a personal chef to cook all meals to boot.

The Possum Shed on Tyenna River has some of the most delicious homemade cakes, fresh hot scones and sandwiches in the area.

Down by the river You might drive straight past this little gem of a cafe if you aren’t in the loop – The Possum Shed on Tyenna River has some of the most delicious homemade cakes, fresh hot scones, sandwiches and pies in the area, and they can be savoured while seated on the lovely outdoor balcony by the river’s edge, where the water literally babbles along beneath you. It’s the perfect stopover on the way to Russell Falls in Mount Field National Park, and with the fresh mountain air, it’s a nice way to make sure you’re bright and bushy-tailed for longer drives. There’s a range of unusual teas and coffees available, and the walls and shelves are always loaded with an eclectic range of local artworks and craft. It could really be called the Platypus Shed, as local resident Flossie the platypus often makes herself comfortable beneath the café on the banks of the river. Many guests have been lucky enough to meet her, and her portrait is proudly displayed on the balcony’s wall.

Fall for Russell Even if you’ve only seen a few photographs of Tasmanian waterfalls, you’ve most likely clapped your eyes on stunning Russell Falls in Mount Field National Park. With its three tiers of majestically cascading clean mountain water, surrounded on all sides by a fairytale rainforest that wouldn’t look out of place in Lord of the Rings, it

has to be one of the most picturesque waterfalls in Australia. And it’s an easy 20-minute walk along an immaculately kept bark chip pathway from the tourist information centre in the park. People have been attracted to this enchanting area for more than a hundred years, as the falls were Tasmania’s first nature reserve and Mount Field has been a national park since 1916.

Woodbridge on Derwent After a long day of exploring the Derwent Valley, finding a luxurious place to relax and indulge in, is a pursuit that should be taken very seriously. And if you prefer your luxury mixed inextricably with history, then you can’t go past Tasmania’s only member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World, The Woodbridge on Derwent. This elegant mansion, which was built in 1825 and meticulously restored to its former glory, sums up all that is wonderful about Tasmania – its beauty, history, and its many fine wine and culinary offerings. The hotel gracefully adorns the banks of the Derwent River, surrounded by vivid swathes of flowers and lush foliage through which pebbled paths flow down to the

Above from top: The Possum Shed on Tyenna River has an outdoor balcony by the water; front balcony of The Possum Shed; wildlife abounds. 27

‘At the Creek’ Julia Creek Visitor Information Centre

MEET A JULIA CREEK DUNNART and watch a live feeding session of grubs, crickets and cockroaches. ‘At the Creek’ is a multi-award winning visitor information centre and tourist attraction in Julia Creek. Throughout the Centre there are several interactive audio and visual tools to help you experience what it is like to live, work and play in McKinlay Shire and Julia Creek. A new addition to the centre is ‘Beneath the Creek’ which explores the underground features that have shaped the regions past through an interactive floor and touch screens. ‘Beneath the Creek’ features the nocturnal viewing area of the endangered marsupial the Julia Creek Dunnart. The Julia Creek dunnart (Sminthopsis Douglasi) is a small JULIA endangered nocturnal marsupial found only in the Mitchell grass plains of the Shire. DUNNCREEK C h Sightings are rare, which is why the centre’s nocturnal viewing area is so special. espec eck out ou ART r new ially d Cre we ed ‘At the Creek’ is open from October to March on weekdays from 9.00am photo ek Dunna icated to bsite r s t , to 5.00pm and from April to September the complex is additionally open on follow educat . See a the Julia bun ion D buy d igby on so al inform ch of Saturday and Sundays from 9.00am to noon. a and e unnart re cial media tion and la ven f So come to the visitors centre to learn about the land, the culture, eed h ted merc . You can find o im! Visit t handise industries past and present, education via School of the Air, meet a local and he sit ut mo www e to re. .juliac learn the history of transportation ranging from Cobb and Co to the Great reekd unna rt.com Northern Railway. .au 34 Burke Street, Julia Creek Qld 4823 P: 07 4746 7690 E: tourism@mckinlay.qld.gov.au www.atthecreek.com.au Follow us on Facebook: www.facebook.comJuliaCreekVisitorInformationCentre Find The Julia Creek Dunnart on Facebook: www.facebook.com/JuliaCreekDunnart MCKINLAY SHIRE - 2014 EVENTS CALENDAR

The Julia Creek Dirt n Dust Festival will celebrate its 20th year in 2014!

Dirt & Dust Festival

11-13 April

Julia Creek Artesian Express Races

12 April

Julia Creek Campdraft

16-18 May

McKinlay Races

21 June

Saxby Roundup

27-29 June

Julia Creek Races

July

Sedan Dip Campdraft and Rodeo

22-24 August

Sedan Dip Races

23 August

Julia Creek Races

September

A three day celebration of all things dirty and dusty including:

North West Pony Club

September

Junior and Senior Triathlon, Horse Races, Australia’s Best Butt, Dirt

Cultural Capers

October

n Dust Bullride - Sanctioned by PBR, The Mick Lindsay Band, Family

Julia Creek Western Riding Club Challenge

3-5 October

Julia Creek Races

November

Entertainment, Gum Boot Mud and Slush Events!

The Julia Creek Dirt n Dust Festival – is not just your average dirty weekend! P: (07) 4751 6607 | www.dirtndust.com

11-13th April 2014

Please contact At the Creek on (07) 4746 7690 or via email tourism@mckinlay.qld.gov.au for further information.

getaway

river where guests can arrive by seaplane. The suites blend modern luxurious amenities with elegant historical grandeur, and the small touches are what obviously matter to owners Laurelle and John Grimley – such as guests’ names inscribed in calligraphy on dainty bedroom door plaques. A dining experience at The Woodbridge on Derwent, in a whitewashed whimsically decorated pavilion above the river, is one that will linger with you long after you’ve taken your last sip of dessert wine. It’s an intimate dining room experience, and the beautifully presented meals crafted from the finest of Tasmanian produce can be matched with exquisite local wines. Dishes such as the slow roasted pork belly with ginger, garlic and marmalade glaze, red cabbage braised with apple and spices, pumpkin puree and sugar snap peas sum up the meals that make for contented diners. Lingering in the pavilion to take in the view is encouraged, but that would mean missing out on the luxurious suites. One guest put it beautifully; saying that staying at the hotel is like being given the keys to a friend’s mansion. If only all friends had houses like Woodbridge, and if only we all had lush backyards like the Derwent Valley countryside.

Round-up STAY

Woodbridge on Derwent 6 Bridge St, New Norfolk woodbridgenn.com.au

EAT & DRINK

The Possum Shed 1654 Gordon River Rd, Westerway thepossumshed.com.au Redlands Estate 759 Glenora Road, Plenty redlandsestate.com.au

EXPLORE

Herbaceous Tours herbaceoustours.com.au Willow Court Historic Site newnorfolk.org Salmon Ponds Heritage Hatchery and Gardens 70 Salmon Ponds Rd, Plenty salmonponds.com.au Russell Falls in Mount Field National Park parks.tas.gov.au

MORE INFO

derwentvalley.tas.gov.au derwentvalley.com.au

Image: The castle-like exterior of Woodbridge on Derwent.

agribusiness

AG-MACHINES: BRAINS AND BRAWN WHILE THE FARM MACHINERY MARKETPLACE GETS WOWED BY BIGGER AND BIGGER BRUTES, THE REAL DRIVE FOR FARM PROFIT IS ACTUALLY IN THE SMALL STUFF – CLEVER TECHNOLOGY THAT IS CREATING KNIFE-EDGE PRECISION, WRITES SUE WEBSTER.

ut on the river flats they’re cutting baby-leaf lettuce. A hydrostatic drive unit is powering a horizontalplane saw shearing the plants off at precisely the right level to avoid soil contamination. The delicate leaves are carried up a conveyor belt and boxed, still in the field. No scramble for seasonal pickers. Down at the local tractor dealership, the new farmhand is learning to steer a harvester without getting a whiff of diesel. Like a pilot, he is training on a simulator and working interactively on his PC. Across the desk, an older contractor is doing a refresher class. Come harvest, there’ll be no staff downtime. On the fringes of Brisbane, in a sensitive water catchment area, microwave sensors are driving the automatic system on the twin-disc fertiliser spreader. A swivelling arm sets a spread pattern that self-adjusts application rates if rain suddenly hits, 30

or a different batch of fertiliser is introduced. No excess nutrients leach away or escape into run-off. In the foothills of the Great Divide, there is no rattle of diesel in the orchard packing shed. The silent plug-in hybrid tele-handler is stacking boxes, working indoors and creating no fumes. When the driver is finished, she recharges the 30kWh lithium battery off the shed’s solar panels. A Western Australian wheatfield contractor is cutting forage using data from moisture sensors to determine how finely to chop the material to ensure the best nutritional content. In Tasmania’s ‘heavy carrying country’ they’re sorting spuds. An upward blast of air through a conveyor screen is keeping newly-dug potatoes aloft, separating them from the heavier lumps of clay and rock. These impurities are caught in a segmented lock and drop away, leaving the potatoes to travel on for washing and packing. No bottlenecks.

Near Mt Gambier, a laser-guided arm is attaching cups to the four teats of a genome-mapped Holstein cow who has ambled into the dairy unaided. A scan of her electronic ear tag identifies her nutrition spreadsheet. The customised feed is automatically batched and dumped into her feed bin. The farmer never leaves her seat in the glass-panelled control room. Across the wide brown land, the new crop is going in. A robot-driven air seeder is following GPS co-ordinates to within centimetre-tolerance. It is planting GM-derived seeds at precise depths, delivering varying amounts of pre-emergent fertiliser depending on soil type or switching seeds mid-pass: automatically swapping from grain to maize seeding. Sensor monitoring alerts when there is over-sowing. No wasted seed. And as the unmanned robot trundles across the field, it draws down data on the seed type, the soil

agribusiness

type and the climatic conditions. And as it works, it collects real-time information about the sub-surface soil condition using electro-magnetic imaging and digital probes. That information feeds back via the telemetry links for analysis. Some of these technologies exist on Australian farms; some are pending. But the indisputable trend is this: agricultural equipment on tomorrow’s farms will not just be harvesting food and fibre; they’ll be harvesting facts for feeding back into the system for subsequent harvests. In November 2013, John Deere launched a software collaboration giving farmers wireless feeds to manage their machine and agronomic data. Earlier in the year the company’s vice president, Public Affairs Worldwide, Charles R. Stamp, Jr admitted: “We are at the beginning of another technological era, which even yet doesn’t have a shorthand name. It is the convergence of computer and

satellite technology, enabling monitors, sensors, telematics, cloud data storage and more. It’s amazing how technologically advanced agricultural machinery is today. For example, our 7R tractor contains five times the amount of software code in the US space shuttle’s flight-control software. “Mechanisation is an oftenoverlooked factor in analysing the challenge of feeding the world. Improved crop genetics and fertilisation receive the most focus, especially when discussing agriculture in the developing world. But, it is clear that the challenge can only be met

with increased mechanisation.” Improved information technology was identified as one of the three major contributors to growth in farming in the Australian Bureau of Agricultural Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES) November technical report. The report highlighted two elements of precision agriculture: auto-steering using GPS; and applying fertiliser at variable rates by remote monitoring. Auto steering has won a lot of fans, particularly on large landholdings. It represented two-thirds of the 2012 cropping area, up from

“It is the convergence of computer and satellite technology, enabling monitors, sensors, telematics, cloud data storage and more.” 31

agribusiness

just under half in 2008. Variable fertilisation rates technology saw slower adoption. Tillage gear is the hot-ticket item this season, according to the Tractor and Machinery Association of Australia, which reports that sales of tillage gear and air-seeders are shaking off the doldrums that have lingered since 2007. However, overall the Australian marketplace for ag technology take-up is patchy and lacks potency. Our farms account for only about four per cent of the world’s ag equipment purchases, and even those sales figures are optimistic, according to Alan Kirsten, owner of Agriview, Australia’s foremost ag machinery market researcher. “In Australia, between 10,500 and 11,000 tractors are sold annually, and a good proportion of those are sold to lifestyle farms,” he said. His company has tracked ag equipment sales for more than 30 years and one of the strong trends has been longer buying cycles. He puts the average re-equipping cycle now at about 14 years. “In cropping 32

terms, we’re still tilling and sowing the same amount of area but there’s fewer farmers and their properties are bigger. The equipment is doing less hours; it’s more efficient and it’s lasting longer, so the sales cycles are going on longer and longer as a result.” While the marketplace might not be quantity-driven, it is becoming more componentry-driven in the hunt for accuracy. Seed Hawk national sales manager Tim Needham said: “There’s definitely a trend towards precision placement and guidance. Seeding rates are getting lower, which increases the requirement for precision. We’re now seeing hybrid canola rates down to one to two kilograms per hectare. You have to have accuracy at those low rates.” Modern farm machinery can be big – juggernaut big. And while the giga-sized grunty gear and the big boys-toys get all the attention at field days, the real revolution is the small, smart stuff. Change is ever-present in farm machinery. After all, it was only 60 years ago, in 1953, that tractors surpassed horses as the major source of power on Australian farms.

DID YOU KNOW • A.H. McDonald built the first

Australian-made tractor in 1908. It weighed 4.5 tonnes and had a power to weight ratio of 307kg/ kW. Australia once had 25 tractormaking firms, now it has none.

• The word ‘tractor’ was

patented in 1890 by George. H. Edwards of Chicago for a steamer design that was never commercialised. The word was first used to describe a piece of agricultural equipment in 1906.

• There are more than 60 tractor

factories in China and the annual growth in domestic tractor demand in that country is estimated at six per cent.

insidemining Issue 09 – March 2014

IN FOR THE

LONG HAUL Growth predicted for the transport sector

FOREFRONT

MINING REVIEW

INVESTMENT

TECH TALK

Sandvik AutoMine™: The New Era of Mining. There can be only one true forerunner. In underground mining automation, it is undoubtedly Sandvik AutoMine™. The Sandvik AutoMine™ product family covers fleet automation, single loader automation, block cave draw control and process control systems. Benefits include increased fleet utilisation, improved working conditions and safety, increased production as well as reduced maintenance costs. Sandvik AutoMine™ provides industry-leading safety, productivity and peace of mind for your operations. Join the movement towards The Future of Mining. It’s This Way: mining.sandvik.com SANDVIK Part Sales 1800 1 726 3845 | General Enquiries 1300 1 726 3845 info.smc-au@sandvik.com 1 www.mining.sandvik.com/au

Sandvik AutoMine 1-3P advt.indd 1

14/02/14 2:48 PM

Simply Reliable By keeping design simple and using proven technology, Skyjack products offer the rental industry’s best life cycle value through low cost of ownership, ease of service and maintenance while retaining high residual values. Skyjack products feature: • Standard color coded and hard wired relay based control systems which are easy to trouble shoot and repair using commonly available components • Common components across model groups making replacing or repairing components easy and cost effective • Replaceable modular platform railings and repairable fiberglass cowlings. • No complicated and expensive computers or can-bus systems • Robust steel construction

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For information call +44-1691-676235 or visit us online at www.skyjack.com

Vertical Mast Lifts • Electric Scissor Lifts • Rough Terrain Scissors • Articulating Booms • Telescopic Booms • Telehandlers

INSIDE_MINING_JAN_2014.indd 1

12/13/2013 8:32 AM

advertorial

2 AM

news+views 2000 existing suppliers and no time or resources to answer every single phone call. Thus, a potential supplier will be much more successful with an actual face-to-face conversation with an engineer. Industry events are the perfect place to meet potential clients who are actively looking for goods and services in the mining and resource sector.

MINE GAMES

HANDLING THE HAZARDS OF TRENCHING Trenching is an integral part of pipeline installation, and because of the hazards linked to excavation and trenching jobs, the Occupational Health, Safety and Welfare Act has provided detailed provisions covering this heavy work. The OHS&W Act aims to enlighten employers about their responsibilities regarding the safety and welfare of workers involved in trenching activities, and the regulatory provision covers guidelines on the quality of equipment used in trenching as well as the assessments and evaluations that should be done by the employer to ensure safety. OHS&W regulations require that thorough assessments must be made by an engineer for any trenching work that exceeds 1.5 metres in depth. The employer and the project manager must devise safety systems to ensure it is safe to work at the site. Trenching work involves

different safety risks, which can be due either to natural factors or the processes or equipment used by the employer. The type of soil is a big factor – disturbed ground, or previously excavated ground, presents bigger safety risks to workers and sufficient care is necessary when dealing with such soil. These risks can be considerably controlled with the help of a reliable contractor. Reay Services Group is focused on providing top quality contractor work for PE pipeline and mining services; specialising in pipeline installation as well as safe trenching work. The company makes sure all the necessary site studies are performed, and only the latest trenching machines are used to make work more efficient and less exhausting for the workers. More info at reaygroup.com.au

DECENT EXPOSURE

Expo) at Rockhampton Showgrounds from March 19–20, the inaugural North Queensland Industry and Resources Expo (NQ Expo) at Townsville Entertainment and Convention Centre from March 27–28, and the Surat Basin Energy and Mining Expo at Toowoomba Showgrounds from June 18–19.

Why attend an industry expo? You will find a mother lode of important information and discover golden networking opportunities. Live demonstrations can help you find the best equipment for the best price; and you can talk directly with experts and even the creators themselves. Find ways to strengthen your existing business relationships, or field new ones. Seek out potential employment opportunities, or new training methods for your own employees. Australian Events are key players in the expo business and have three must-visit events coming up: the Central Queensland Industry and Resources Expo (CQ

THE ART OF SUPPLIES Speaking of industry gatherings, attending one may also be the best way to secure a mine supply contract. As Centennial Coal’s group contract manager Stewart Jolly explained at a recent Austmine event, most mining sites already have more than

No, we don’t mean playing bat and ball with a rock and a pickaxe; we mean applying game elements and design as a problem solving and training strategy for the mining industry. The fancy word for it is ‘gamification’, and it has the potential to address two challenges currently facing the mining industry: one – the need to quickly train a new, younger workforce as the old one retires; and two – the need to give miners ‘hands-on’ experience in a safe environment. Whether using an actual 3D simulation, like the aviation industry has for many years, or simple games encouraging teamwork and competition, companies have found gamification is a winner for encouraging stronger collaboration and more innovative thinking.

CSG CONTROVERSY New restrictions to coal seam gas (CSG) extraction announced by the government recently in New South Wales are not being well received. Following last October’s prohibition of CSG development within two kilometres of all its residential areas, the state government added more reforms in January. These excluded 2.7 million hectares of residential zones, future growth areas and land used for vineyards and horse breeding from CSG operations, and requiring mining and CSG ventures to have Gateway Certification before even applying for development on an additional one million hectares of the state’s prime farmland. The NSW government says it believes the reforms are well balanced and clear, but not everyone agrees. On one hand, the Australian Petroleum Production and exploration Association (APPEA) warn of skyrocketing gas prices, and argue the 3

news+views

reforms are too broad and poorly timed, given that the NSW chief scientist has yet to release a final report on the impacts of CSG development. And on the other hand, many NSW farmers and lobby group ‘Lock the Gate’ assert the reforms are not broad enough and the Gateway process won’t actually stop unacceptable development. The only ones not complaining are those living in the metropolitan and residential zones where extraction is barred.

RIO BUYS NHULUNBUY Ahead of the closure of its alumina refinery in Gove at the end of July, Rio Tinto has announced a bailout package to help support the local community. Project director Jo-Anne Scarini says the packages show Rio Tinto recognises the adverse impact the refinery closure will have on the town of about 4000 people, especially given that 1000 jobs will be lost. “Rio Tinto recognises the regional economy will transition over a number of years and has committed to provide financial support to Nhulunbuy businesses and a safety net for residential property investors over the next three years,” she said about the package. There has been no dollar figure placed on how much the support package will come to, but Rio Tinto has committed to reducing local business power tariffs by as much as 50 per cent in the first year and will also reduce rents on the majority of its commercial properties in town by a similar amount. Local homeowners will have their council rates and charges subsidised, and mortgagees will get a reprieve with interest costs being reduced by 50 per cent in the first year. Ms Scarini also hopes to retain a workforce of approximately 300 from the operation to keep the local community as large as possible, and will be looking to support FIFO opportunities out of Nhulunbuy to other operations across Rio Tinto.

PEOPLE MAKE IT HAPPEN, SAYS McLANAHAN

MINERS HIT PAYDIRT advertorial

George Sidney, president of McLanahan Corporation, is a firm believer that ‘people make it happen’, and it is this attitude that has guided the mining and minerals processing equipment company through 179 years of continuous operation; through war, depression, boom and bust. McLanahan Corporation has had its fair share of extraordinary people, such as Samuel Calvin McLanahan who developed the first single roll crusher and log washer. However, the company has found it is often ordinary and practical people with good experience and intentions from diverse backgrounds who mould and remould company culture, leading to success over time. In Australia, McLanahan’s people follow the philosophy of continual improvement. This does not just mean making a better product, it also means delivering a better experience. The company strives to deliver real value to its customers in every area, from customer service and equipment manufacture through to field services. Another favourite catch cry from George Sidney is: “Make it safer, simpler and smarter.” McLanahan provides equipment with significantly lower part counts, more standardised parts, and lighter stronger materials – all to make life simpler. Design changes have also led to faster installation times, with fewer personnel, through modularisation. Also, innovations in sealing and protection lead to vastly improved wear rates and replacement intervals to deliver greater overall availability. Better still, using new automation telemetry, data management, trending analysis and condition status monitoring, the need for human interaction and constant maintenance is removed – making it a safer experience for all workers. mclanahan.com

Jobsearch giant Seek has released its annual salary survey, and it looks like the mining industry is still reaping rewards. Resources and energy jobs rank at the top of the food chain when it comes to take home pay, commanding the top five positions in the survey. Top spot goes to oil and gas 5

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geoscientists with an average salary of $158,671, compared to a national average across all salaries of $81,055. The next four on the ladder are mining managers, mining geoscientists, oil and gas drillers and mining engineers. Interestingly, the sector stayed on top even though the average salary across mining, resources and energy dropped six per cent to $138,083; reflecting an overall drop in salaries across all sectors nationally.

SCALING BACK THE SCALE A new automated scale control system – the first of its kind in Australia – is decreasing both time spent unclogging pipes and the production costs for Western Australia’s Boddington gold mine. Senior metallurgist Paul Petrucci said Boddington used to accidently dose excess lime in the process water during unplanned outages; causing scale build-up. However, the new system has substantially reduced the problem. It can be monitored remotely and around the clock – and includes a customised, site-specific, anti-scalant based on water quality tests. This means build-ups, blockages and other scale events can be dealt with much more quickly and efficiently, minimising chances of production down-time or even a full plant shut down.

KEEPING IT LOCAL

advertorial

In an effort to attract more Indigenous workers, CopperChem, owner of the Great Australian Mine on the outskirts of Cloncurry near Mount Isa, is skewing its workforce in favour of a local workforce over fly-in fly-out employees. Between February and November 2013, FIFO’s dropped from 80 per cent to just 20 per cent. According to the mine’s Indigenous liaison officer, Leon Gertz, the local Indigenous workers are much more stable as employees because they’re already established in the area. Most of these workers are graduates of the 10-week course at Dugalunji Training Camp near Camooweal. The program guarantees most graduates a job, and Scott Seymour, one of 30 Indigenous workers at the mine, said the opportunity changed his life. Other mining companies, such as Rio Tinto, BHP Billiton, and Fortescue Metals Group are also increasing their Indigenous workforce.

TARANAKI’S GROWTH CATCHES MINER’S ATTENTION Taranaki in New Zealand is catching the attention of miners wanting to find work close to a place they are happy to call home. The region is in the midst of its busiest onshore program yet, and next year the attention will head offshore. All of New Zealand’s oil and gas production happens in Taranaki, and things are booming there at the moment. Miners are attracted to its innovative oil and gas industry, which offers plenty of job opportunities along with the region’s exciting lifestyle. Globally there aren’t a lot of locations that offer both. Because Taranaki is undergoing growth, a lot of job opportunities are becoming available, spanning a raft of projects from prospecting to engineering and more; however the region is most popular for its lifestyle. It offers everything from epic surf breaks, to an impressive events calendar, and many miners end up living less than 10 minutes from work, making it suitable for young families. For more information on Taranaki check out swapsides.co.nz

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forefront

Bigfoot SOME SAY THE MINING AND RESOURCE SECTORS’ IMPACT ON THE ENVIRONMENT IS JUST A SMALL FOOTPRINT; OTHERS CHARGE IT’S TOO HEAVY A TREAD.

Illustration by Gregory Baldwin at illustrationroom.com.au.

WORDS: ORYANA ANGEL

forefront

â&#x20AC;&#x153;The clearance and land disturbance can be dramatic, which is why we have a strong regulatory system.â&#x20AC;? 9

T E L E H A N D L E R S

Illustration by Gregory Baldwin at illustrationroom.com.au.

forefront

THERE’S NO denying it. Mining in Australia has an impact on the environment, but experts in the sector say damage is actually minimal – and, to an extent, justified. “Mining creates less than one per cent of the national footprint,” says Association of Mining and Exploration Companies (AMEC) CEO Simon Bennison. “When compared to other land use activities, like agriculture and urbanisation, it’s very small,” he adds. The main environmental impacts of mining are deforestation; greenhouse gas emissions; surface and groundwater disturbance; and soil and air pollution – impacting native vegetation and fauna. But then there’s the dollar value the mining and resource sector injects into the economy, helping to support a way of life Australians have become accustomed to. The Reserve Bank recently estimated the Australian resource sector makes up 18 per cent of gross value added to the economy. With mining becoming increasingly important, its contribution to the economy has doubled since 2003-4. Taking into account the demand, supply and the spill-over effect created 11

from the industry, mining makes up nearly a quarter of the Australian economy. “Apart from export dollars, employment, revenue and tax streams that flow back to various government bodies, mining provides raw materials that are the basis for many of our dayto-day infrastructure and facilities we are dependent on,” says Bennison. He further adds the Australian mining and resources industry is so heavily regulated, on a state and federal level, that environmental impact is examined in great detail before any project is passed. “Overseas, we are [regarded as] one of the leading nations in mine rehabilitation practices,” says Bennison. In Western Australia, our richest state in terms of natural resources, the management of environmental protection, in relation to mining, is largely overseen by the Department of Mines and Petroleum (DMP), the Department of Environmental Regulation and the Environmental Protection Authority of WA. DMP executive director of environment Dr Phil Gorey says athough it’s a weighty income for the

state, the mining footprint is actually quite small. For exploration licences, the disturbance [to the environment] is 0.1 per cent of the actual tenement area. For mining, it’s a bit higher; around five per cent of mining lease area is disturbed, according to Gorey. “At that scale, the clearance and land disturbance can be dramatic, which is why we have a really strong regulatory system where every decision to approve a mine site is informed with clear understanding of what the environmental impacts might be and all practical measures taken to offset those impacts.” One of the big issues for WA, and other parts of the country, is mine rehabilitation after operations have ceased. In July, the DMP rolled out a new environmental security system, the Mining Rehabilitation Fund, which requires holders of mine tenements to pay a levy for the rehabilitation of abandoned mines in the state. Essentially the fund is an insurance policy for the state, for instances when the mine goes bankrupt. “The small cost required to plan for mine closure is greatly offset by the company then avoiding unnecessary costs later on, when closure is not better planned,” says Gorey. The fund will also contribute to the rehabilitation of some 10,000 abandoned mine sites from earlier mining days, which now mar the outback landscape. Today mining projects are in a different league than they were 100 years ago, and gaining approval is a far more complicated process. Not all projects get the go-ahead either: the bid by Central West Coal to develop a coal mine south of Eneabba, in 2011, was rejected by the Environmental Protection Authority, as it didn’t meet environmental objectives for protecting flora and fauna. Indeed, last year the WA government knocked back Vasse Coal Management’s underground black coal mine proposed for an area about 15 kilometres from the popular Margaret River wine destination. 11

forefront

And then there’s the battle raging over the proposal to construct the world’s biggest coal port at Abbot Point, Queensland, 25 kilometres north of Bowen – on the doorstep of the Great Barrier Reef. The planned port expansion will see the relocation of three million cubic metres of mud and sediment dredged up in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. It’s been approved by state government, and recently got the green light from federal government. Australian Marine Conservation Society Great Barrier Reef campaign manager Felicity Wishart, says the project will cause considerable damage to the reef. “All this seabed dredge spoil will be dumped in the reef’s waters and recent new modelling shows that sediment from dredge dumping travels much further and for longer (it can be suspended and resuspended numerous times) than previously thought,” says Wishart. “The Great Barrier Reef is a World Heritage Area and a marine park. It needs to be adequately protected.” This project is just one of many

dredging proposals in the reef – about 40 million cubic metres of proposals are waiting approval, according to Wishart. Of course there are differences of opinion, and the peak representative

A battle is raging over the proposal to construct the world’s biggest coal port on the Great Barrier Reef’s doorstep. group for Queensland mineral and energy companies says the project will not cause significant harm to the reef. “Neither an increase in shipping traffic nor decades of port dredging has been scientifically recorded as contributing to coral cover loss or a historical decline in the environmental health of the reef,” says Queensland Resources Council chief executive Michael Roche. Yet the expansion is critical for the state economy and jobs, he says. “As well as supporting the industries that drive the state’s economy – minerals and energy, agriculture and tourism – functioning ports and shipping are essential for the livelihoods and well-being of almost one million Queenslanders who work and live alongside the Great Barrier Reef.” However, Roche agrees the mining sector, like other human activity, impacts the environment. “Where the government has a role to play is in assessing to what extent a proposed development may have a ‘significant impact’ on the environment. “As such, both the Queensland Government and the Australian Government have various environmental legislation that

require a proposed project to assess the extent of their proposed impact, and to then first avoid, then minimise, mitigate and then offset an impact,” says Roche. Dr Stuart Rosewarne, a senior lecturer in the department of political economy at Sydney University, says there are two major problems with the development of the mines in the Galilee Basin (where the coal will be sourced to be exported from Point Abbot). These are the likely damaging consequences that dredging to accommodate coal vessels will have on the Great Barrier Reef, and the longer term implications the issue of greenhouse gases – in the vicinity of 100 million tonnes – could have in exacerbating climate change. “The challenge we have in trying to limit the onset of problems is that governments are unconditionally wedded to supporting the resource boom for short term economic gain and not considering the longer term consequences of those developments,” says Dr Rosewarne. Chamber of Minerals and Energy of Western Australia environment manager Kane Moyle recognises that, in some instances, there are unavoidable environmental impacts, however the value a mine may bring in terms of future employment and financial benefits justifies that impact. In those instances, the mining companies have to offset that impact through other means. “Offsets are typically a direct acquisition of land, which is then vested in conservation. “There are also indirect offsets such as research programs to boost scientific knowledge or other environmental management programs in the region,” says Moyle. The resource sector is a big contributor in this area, taking in scientific research done in remote WA for museums and other university research institutions, he adds.

MWH has a team of global experts who provide clients with mine closure services. We are focused on managing your risk using cost optimised solutions. Our Perth team works closely with regulators to ensure you meet your requirements cost effectively.

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Images courtesy of Aurizon

HEAVY HAULERS EYE GROWTH LAST YEAR WAS CHALLENGING FOR THE MINING SECTOR, BUT AUSTRALIA’S MAIN RAIL FREIGHT OPERATORS FOR THE RESOURCES INDUSTRY ARE PREDICTING GROWTH IN 2014 – AND PUTTING MONEY INTO EXPANSION AS A RESULT. WORDS: FIONA POYNTER

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industryfocus

The Australian

mining sector faced its fair share of challenges in 2013, but the future looks bright for the country’s heavy haul infrastructure groups, who are determined not to let a weaker coal export market derail their expansion plans. Australia’s main rail freight operators for the resources industry, Aurizon and Asciano, are predicting continued growth in haulage volumes, underpinned by expectations of long term growth in the country’s resources sector. With big projects afoot, the firms are gearing up for an exciting 2014. Aurizon, formerly known as QR National, is Australia’s largest rail freight operator. The firm manages the 2670-kilometre Central Queensland Coal Network that links the state’s coal mines to ports at Bowen, Mackay and Gladstone on Australia’s eastern seaboard. From these ports, black coal is bound for energy hungry markets in Japan, China, South Korea, India and Taiwan. With a keen eye on growth, Aurizon is in the midst of a massive staged expansion of its central Queensland rail infrastructure to service the new Wiggins Island Coal Export Terminal (WICET) at the Port of Gladstone. The project aims to add 70 million tonnes annually to central Queensland’s export capacity. Queensland is already Australia’s largest coal exporting state, with annual exports of around 200 million tonnes. “The $900 million Wiggins Island Rail Project (WIRP) is one of the largest rail expansions in Australia and represents a significant commitment to the

Fast fact: Trains transporting coal are among the longest in the world. They can comprise as many as six locomotives and 148 wagons, amounting to a length of more than two kilometres. A train of this size can carry about 8500 tonnes of coal.

future growth of Queensland’s coal industry,” a spokesperson from Aurizon told Inside Mining. WIRP will develop new rail lines and upgrade existing lines in stages, creating a vital link between WICET and mines in the southern Bowen and Surat basins. Stage one of the project involves six segments of expansion, allowing for a 30 per cent increase in coal tonnage transported from the southern Bowen Basin by 2015. But Aurizon’s vision for growth extends well beyond WIRP. The rail group is currently investigating the huge potential of Queensland’s last vast coal reserve in the Galilee Basin. It is working with mining and infrastructure firm GVK Hancock to unlock the basin’s resources through the joint development of a rail line and a new coal terminal at the existing Abbot Point Port. “This work not only brings us a step closer to jointly providing the primary rail and port solution for the Galilee, it brings the whole region a step closer to realising the benefits of one of the largest regional development opportunities this state has seen for decades,” says Aurizon managing director and CEO, Lance Hockridge. GVK Hancock’s involvement in the project allows the miner to provide an integrated ‘pit to port’ solution for exporting coal, comprising mining, rail and port capabilities. “We will create jobs, contribute to the economic development of the region and improve quality of life,” the firm says. GVK Hancock owns the Alpha, Alpha West and Kevin’s Corner coal projects in the Galilee Basin.

industryfocus

Fast fact: The construction of aluminium wagons equipped with rotating couplings was a crucial innovation for the Queensland coal industry at the beginning of the 1980s. This reduced unloading times by enabling the wagons to be emptied simply by being turned upside down.

The proposed rail and port infrastructure development is expected to attract an investment for Queensland in the order of $6 billion, providing more than 1300 jobs during construction, and around 300 long-term jobs once operational. But initially only 300 kilometres of the 500 kilometres of new corridor and track under the original GVK Hancock proposal will be constructed, before connecting into existing Aurizon infrastructure. This will allow a phased development at the Abbot Point T3 terminal to match volumes and ramp-up, thereby materially reducing the initial cost of infrastructure, according to GVK Hancock and Aurizon. “We’re pleased this also aligns with government objectives – getting early tonnes out of the Galilee, at lower cost by tapping into existing infrastructure and consolidating tonnages onto a common corridor,” says Aurizon’s Hockridge.

Competitive edge Minimising costs remains top of the agenda for mining firms in the face of soft global markets, high production costs and a high dollar. Increased competition in the rail haulage sector is key to enabling miners to reduce costs. There are signs that port and rail haulage group Asciano (which owns Pacific National Coal) could be encroaching on Aurizon’s territory, according to some miners. “Gradually, we are seeing more competition in coal transportation,” Australian mining firm Bandanna Energy told Inside Mining. “Bandanna

Energy recently signed a 10-year contract with Asciano, which competes with Aurizon. Increased competition is a good thing, but there is room for more,” the miner’s chief development officer, Stuart Clarke says. Asciano’s Pacific National Coal is the largest operator in New South Wales and the fastest growing coal haulage operator in Queensland. The rail group has recently expanded its Australian east coast operations with the acquisition of Newcastlebased integrated logistics company Mountain Industries. The investment boosts the capabilities of Asciano’s ports and stevedoring division, aiding the development of a ‘pit to port’ logistical solution for its customers. But while infrastructure operators may be focused on expansion, rail and port fees have become an increasing problem for miners struggling to cope in the downturn. Many are facing charges regardless of whether they actually use the infrastructure – an industry practice known as take or pay. This is forcing some miners to continue coal production, even if it is uneconomical. Take or pay is one the biggest challenges facing the coal industry today, according to Bandanna Energy, which is yet to enter into production. It is an especially big liability for small, independent producers. In the case of Bandanna Energy, rail and rail freight makes up over 20 per cent of the cost of production, with this figure rising to around 40 per cent when port charges are taken into account. “It is a double-edged sword because you need port and rail allocations in order to get project financing, but once you have secured these, you then have the perceived burden of take or pay commitments,” says Bandanna Energy’s Clarke. But it is less of a burden for the miner compared to other juniors, as Bandanna’s Springsure Creek mine is only 38 kilometres from an existing rail line, unlike some mines, which are hundreds of kilometres from any existing rail lines. Queensland’s coal industry is undoubtedly feeling the effects of a weaker export market. Spending in the Mackay region – comprising the city of Mackay and the northern Bowen Basin coal region – fell 12 per cent as a result of the coal industry’s belt tightening, according to an Australian Bureau of Statistics breakdown of resources sector spending across Queensland in 2012-13. “The state’s resources diversity has delivered a record economic contribution to the people of Queensland but there’s also a salutary reminder that our hard won reputation as a minerals and energy supplier of choice should not be taken for granted,” says Queensland Resources Council chief executive Michael Roche, in response to the figures.

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While the Australian mining industry relies heavily on human resources, it is equally dependent upon the machines that drive the sector. Christine Retschlag examines the fuels, lubricants, tyres and machinery that keep the nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s key exporter well-oiled.

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Despite its crucial

impact on mining operations, little has been written about the exact cost of machinery downtime and failure. In fact, one of the most recent pieces of research harks back to a 1998 paper produced by Kreilis and Singleton at the Coal Operators’ Conference at the University of Wollongong. While the paper itself is dated, the sentiment it contains remains pertinent, if not more important, today: that both costs and equipment reliability have one significant thing in common – they are driven substantially by maintenance. “Maintenance, once the Cinderella of the boardroom, is a pivotal function and demands management attention and, if it is managed well, can be a source of competitive advantage,” the research states. “They [major miners] made the decision to put maintenance high on their agendas because they realised that good maintenance is a vital factor to achieving excellence.” While major miners and some machinery suppliers appear reluctant to speak publicly about their machinery citing “competitive reasons”, the Kreilis and Singleton research paper states maintenance costs are commonly between 30 and 50 per cent of mine site total operational costs,

with BHP spending between $1 billion and $1.5 billion each year on servicing its machines and equipment. The Construction & Mining Industry Group (CMEIG), told Inside Mining it was “critical” in this billion-dollar industry, that every facet of machinery works. The CMEIG was formed in 2003 as a non-profit organisation to represent the construction and mining equipment industry and allied equipment and services on issues impacting on the delivery of business. Members of the CMEIG national executive read like a Who’s Who of the mining machinery business and include representatives from Tutt Bryant, Caterpillar, Volvo, Komatsu, Clark Equipment, Hitachi, Toyota Material Handling and Atlas Heavy Engineering. Liebherr-Australia sales and marketing general manager Dave Pichanick has told Inside Mining the German-based company – which has

been operating in Australia for 20 years – had 55 per cent of the market share in its machinery classes of main mining excavators and ultra-class trucks. Liebherr manufactures the biggest ultra class trucks in the world at 360 tonnes. “Our reputation is very strong, we are a reliable market leader and have the most popular machine in our classes. We are ahead of the pack,” he says. “It is a simple business where we don’t have all the other processes and equipment the other companies have.” Pichanick says, while lubricants needed to be changed every 500 to 1000 hours and tyres every 3000 to 5000 hours, much depended on the mine site conditions such as abrasion, twists and turns and gradient. “Maintenance has to be really good. The bigger the equipment, the more maintenance and planning. If you don’t service it at the right time, eventually something will go,” he says. “The

“Maintenance, once the Cinderella of the boardroom, is a pivotal function and demands management attention and, if managed well, can be a source of competitive advantage.”

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bigger you go, the more tender loving care you have to give.” Pichanick said the mining machinery market is currently more competitive than it had been even two years ago. According to the Mining and Construction Machinery Manufacturing in Australia: Market Research Report, released by IBISWorld in November last year, slowing growth in the mining sector is adversely affecting demand for industry products. “The Mining and Construction Machinery Manufacturing industry is forecast to decrease by 2.3 per cent over 2013-14 to $4.9 billion. This is in contrast to the past five years, with revenue estimated to grow at an annualised 1.7 per cent over the five years to 2013-14,” the report states. “Weak construction activity and volatile consumer sentiment has reduced demand for [specialised] mining machinery. “In light of less than favourable business conditions, growth has slowed as mining firms have shifted their focus from capacity expansion to lowcost production.” The report, subtitled, ‘A small cog in the works: Downstream industries weaken, containing industry demand’, goes on to say industry players are intensifying their efforts to improve operational efficiencies to curb expenditure, which suggests the mining industry could be poised for some exciting machinery innovations in the coming years. “Investment and research expenditure remain crucial for companies to produce more durable and efficient machinery and equipment. Large players recognise the value of innovation in obtaining a greater market share,” the report states. “During the past few years, there have been moderate improvements in technology ranging from advanced drilling equipment to innovative shovel and crushing equipment.” Robert Trzebski, CEO of Austmine, which is the leading industry association for the mining supply sector, has told Inside Mining Australia

DID YOU KNOW • The CMEIG directly represents employers of more than 10,000 Australians, and services a construction and mining industry employing tens of thousands. • With annual sales revenue of more than $10 billion, CMEIG members supply and maintain equipment for the nation’s mining, quarrying, construction, electric power generation and forestry industries. Most of the world’s major manufacturers are represented in the association’s membership.

leads the world in mining technology and services. “It is all about the technology. The mining industry is faced with four key issues – productivity, cost efficiency, safety and responsible mining/the environment,” he says. “Automation is the future. Rio Tinto recently announced that it is getting rid of 250 train drivers in the Pilbara, but where there are losses there are also new opportunities. Mining is not the most progressive industry, but it has to be because cost pressures will continue. “Other parts of the world, such as China, are good at copying similar products and they are at lower prices but also lower quality. There is competition and pressure but quite often even under normal circumstances, the most expensive product and service in Australia leads the world.”

Trzebski says while factors such as volume, price, availability and suitably of operations are all considered when mining companies are selecting machines and products, supply is the biggest issue that is affecting the mining industry. “There was a time probably three or four years ago when you had to wait 1.5 years to get the tyres delivered. Now there are plenty of trucks sitting around,” he says. “The buyer is king now. There is an oversupply of everything at the moment.” But miners shouldn’t get too complacent about the current competitive prices, says Trzebski, with reports Southeast Asia will be requiring $30 billion worth of mining equipment in the next three to four years. “The boom times are definitely over but demand will continue growing,” he says. 23

overseas&underground

THE NEW PILBARA As the iron boom changes gears in Pilbara, West Africaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s untapped resources are drawing eyes down under. WORDS: IAN NEUBAUER

This image: Gabon’s President Ali Bongo came to Australia in 2013 to spruik mining investment opportunities in Gabon.

overseas&underground

IN APRIL last year, President Ali Bongo of the West African nation of Gabon flew into Perth to address a meeting of the Australian African Business Council. His mission? The Western Australian equivalent of selling ice to the Eskimos: asking local mining companies to throw their hats into the ring at Gabon’s Belinga iron ore deposit, one of the largest undeveloped iron ore deposits in the world. “We have a stable country in the heart of Africa that offers many investment opportunities, particularly in the mining sector,” Bongo said. “We are asking Australian companies to help us to develop our mining sector. Gabon will welcome you with open arms.”

OUT OF AFRICA Investing in foreign mines is a risky proposition, especially in Africa where civil unrest, unstable government, endemic corruption, skills shortages and byzantine labour laws are par for the course. Gabon, however, boasts significantly lower sovereign risk than its neighbours in Sub-Saharan Africa. It has a democratically elected government, a relatively small population of 1.6 million 26

in a landmass larger than Victoria, well-established offshore petroleum and refinery industries and one of the region’s most modern deep-water ports. Outside the capital Libreville, infrastructure is generally poor with only one major railroad, the Trans Gabon Railway (TGR). But things are about to get a whole lot better. Over the next six years, Gabon’s $12.8 billion National Infrastructure Master Plan will see 21 major projects in health, education, housing, internet, rail and road come online. Gabon is an “attractive investment destination”, according to CIA’s The World Factbook. Oil money is being used to pay for the new infrastructure. But with oil production now passed its peak and

estimated to fizzle out by 2025, the Gabonese Government has began planning for an after-oil scenario. Since 2010, it has attracted more than $4 billion in direct foreign investment outside the oil sector. Industrial extraction of gold began in 2012, with production projected at 1.2 million tonnes per year, and Gabon is now the world’s second-largest producer of manganese, which is a key ingredient in the production of stainless steel. Australia has played a hand in Gabon’s progress, becoming our third largest merchandise trading partner within Africa and accounting for $400 million of trade on top of the $1 billion worth of crude oil we buy each year.

Industrial extraction of gold in Gabon began in 2012, with production projected at 1.2 million tonnes per year.

overseas&underground

The senate building, Libreville, Gabon.

Last year, when Gabon revoked a Chinese company’s rights to mine manganese and iron ore at Belinga for failing to get a start on a 250 kilometrelong railway needed to connect Belinga to the TGR, BHP came knocking. In January, Bloomberg reported a deal was about to be inked following a high-level meeting between Gabon and BHP. But in March, BHP closed its offices in Libreville without warning and froze all its projects in the country.

BHP’s reversal was attributed to a slump in Chinese demand for steel that has seen the miner scale back nonperforming assets all over the world. At the time it was seen as a huge blow for Gabon but, looking forward, it’s likely to be remembered as a temporary setback. The Belinga Deposit could hold as much as four billion tonnes of iron ore, so the safe bet is it’s only a matter of time until another mining giant takes over from where BHP left off. A number of small Australian mining companies are placing millions on that bet by exploring mining concessions that lie in close proximity to the Belinga. Among them is Perth-based Volta Mining. In June, the company announced it was on track to formalise finance, drilling services and access to rail for its Mbombo iron ore project, a 4000 square kilometre concession that lies roughly halfway between Belinga and the TGR. “We are pleased with the progress of discussions achieved to date and look forward to successfully concluding arrangements,” says Volta’s managing director David Sumich. “The resulting agreements will better enable us to generate significant value for our shareholders and Gabon.’’ Then there’s Sydney-based Waratah Resources. In July, Waratah’s managing director Ben Fitzpatrick brought a delegation of South Korean Government officials and corporate investors to discuss a rail solution for its Mekambo-Est iron ore project, a 1300 square kilometre 28

concession some 100 kilometres west of Belinga that could hold up to one billion tonnes of iron ore. “BHP and RIO are so big they are like governments, but we are a lot more flexible in the way we operate,” Kirkpatrick says. “Our mines won’t go online for a couple more years but that’s fine with us, we’re in it for the long run. Meanwhile, we’ve created a revenue stream for the project by selling

commodities in China and we’re looking at building thousands of new houses together with the Gabonese Government. “It takes a lot of time and money to do things in the jungle. It’s going to be a slow burn,” Kirkpatrick says. “But the Gabonese are striving to build a great nation and I’m confident they’ll succeed. In five years’ time, mining companies are going to be rushing in to get a piece of the action.”

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TOP-GRADE COLOURED GEMSTONES CAN BE A PROFITABLE LONG-TERM INVESTMENT, BUT INVESTING IS NEVER WITHOUT SOME RISK. WORDS: LIAM EGAN

Traditionally,

Australians are not gemstone investment oriented, but coloured gemstones can be a worthwhile long-term investment. Investment-grade coloured gemstones represent a stable asset class that, historically, has shown consistent price growth, say industry sources. Industry pundits attribute this growth partly to demand for diversity, and partly to a mainstream asset investment portfolio, particularly since the onset of the global financial crisis. Coloured gemstones are also increasingly in demand as a portable source of wealth in turbulent economic times. Price growth, furthermore, is set to escalate over the next few decades, the sources said. This will result from an anticipation of increasing scarcity of investment-grade stones coming onto the market as existing supplies are held onto tightly by investors and few new natural sources of supply are being discovered. The impact of this anticipated shortage is already evident in the market for investment-grade pink diamonds, says Varoujan Djeva, managing director of Australian Diamond Brokers. Recently, price increases have been more substantial for pinks than for any other type of diamond, the result of a growing investor awareness that the Argyle diamond mine in Western Australia’s Kimberley region – which produces 90 per cent of the world’s pink

diamonds – has limited production time left to unearth investment-grade pinks, and the equally valuable and even rarer blue, green and red diamonds. Adding to their appeal as an investment is the fact that each Argyle diamond comes complete with an Argyle certificate, Djeva says. This certification will only help to drive the price of pinks upwards as Argyle production of the stones winds down over the next decade. Graham Easy, executive officer of the National Council of Jewellery Valuers’ New South Wales division, says, however, that while investment-grade coloured gemstones “have a fine record as a stable asset over the long term,” investing in them is not without significant risks. Of crucial importance is ensuring the gemstones you’re buying are natural and not enhanced stones, he says. For example, 90 per cent of sapphires currently being sold in the marketplace are treated in some way to enhance their colour or quality. While enhanced stones do have commercial value, it is far less than the value of an investment-grade natural stone, albeit the fact that both can look equally beautiful to the untrained eye. To mitigate this risk, cautions Easy, no gemstone should be purchased without certification from an internationally recognised gemological laboratory, as some current methods of treating non-natural stones can be difficult to detect.

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Adding to the risk is the fact that a lot of laboratories internationally are capable of testing and certifying stones as natural and untreated, but only a few of them can provide stones with globally recognised certification. These are the Asian Institute of Gemological Sciences (AIGS), the Gübelin Gemological Laboratories and the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). For coloured diamonds not originating from the Argyle mine, the Antwerp Diamond High Council (HRD) can provide investors with this globally recognised certification. Easy also cautions against buying gemstones purely on the basis of their valuation. “It is interesting the recognised laboratories mentioned above would never provide a valuation on a stone,” he says. “They would only ever tell you what the stone is and whether it is natural and untreated.” Equally, he emphasises no-one can tell you what a particular gemstone will be worth in the future. A valuation gives you nothing but a quote on what it would cost to replace the stone at the time of purchase. “If a client asked a reputable valuer what the value of a stone would be in 20 years, he or she would undoubtedly be told to come back in 20 years and get a replacement value quote done.”

Australia’s gem industry Australian diamonds were first discovered in Bathurst in 1851

90% of diamond production takes place in the Kimberley, WA

16m total carats produced

annually in Australia

$578.3m bi-annual revenue

from diamonds, 2012-13

Easy added there are “outrageous claims” on the internet by some companies about gemstone value and price appreciation. It goes without saying an investor should never buy a stone without seeing it, he cautions. Auctioneer David Bubb of ABA Associates in Sydney advises self-education is critical for would-be investors in coloured gemstones, and provides an extra layer of protection against the high risks involved. He advises any intending investor to complete a course in gemology, such as one of those offered by the Gemmological Association of Australia (see end note). “These courses will ‘never make you an expert’,” he cautions, “but you will at least learn the rules of buying and selling gemstones.” These sales take place principally through retail jewellers, some of which also act as brokers, as well as through auction houses and internet-based dealers. There are also some wholesalers who will sell to investors. On the other hand, Bubb says, the marketplace has benefits for skilled investors, in that it means gemstones are bought and sold in a “true supplyand-demand market” (as opposed to the colourless diamond market, for example, which, historically, has been price-controlled by the De Beers

Coloured stones: Among the most valuable coloured gemstones are rubies, sapphires, emeralds and rare coloured diamonds.

investment

Fast facts:

corporation). By extension, this means that an investment-grade coloured stone will “get a world price based on supply and demand”. It also potentially increases the liquidity of gemstones as an investment, he adds. “If, for example, the market climate is bad for a gemstone’s sale in Australia, you can try to sell it in America; or if it’s bad in America, you can always try to sell it in China.” Currently, there is strong demand for investment-grade gemstones from within China, Central Europe and America, says Kenneth Marks of Sydney gemstone jeweller and broker Percy Marks Fine Gems. The auction houses in New York, for example, are now fetching some “incredible prices” for good gemstones, Marks notes. Recently, an Argyle diamond sold for more than US$1.3 million at Christie’s Auction House in New York; 30 years ago, the same stone would have sold for US$50,000 to US$100,000, he says. The most valuable coloured gemstones are emeralds, sapphires, rubies and pink diamonds, as well as blue, green and red diamonds, although the latter three types are very rare nowadays, Marks says. Outside the coloured diamonds, he adds, most global demand currently is for Burmese sapphires, Burmese rubies and Columbian emeralds. There is also significant demand for Alexandrites, aquamarines and black opals. Over the past 10 years, the approximate per-carat price of investment-grade Columbian

The factors that give gemstones an investment value are carat weight, colour, clarity and cut, as well as certification – however, base prices for investment-grade gems are ultimately set by supply and demand. A stone’s ‘beauty’ depends on its colour (hue), vividness and tone, along with its brilliance, clarity, transparency, proportion, symmetry and finish. In general, the bigger the investment-grade stone, the greater its potential value and prospect for growth. The largest pink diamond discovered in Australia is known as the Argyle Pink Jubilee, at 12.76 carats unpolished. It was unearthed at the Rio Tinto Argyle diamond mine in Western Australia in 2011.

emeralds would have doubled to US$50,000, depending on the size of the stone, Marks says. In general, bigger stones are more valuable than smaller stones. A Burmese ruby would have more than doubled in value from the approximate US$16,000 per carat price it would have fetched 10 years ago, he notes. Generally, rubies from Thailand are not as valuable as others, but they would still fetch substantially more than the approximate US$8,000 they would get 10 years ago. Kashmir sapphires, which are in particularly strong demand in China right now, would also have nearly doubled in price from roughly US$16,000 10 years ago, which is a significant jump. Alexandrites from Russia have a very limited market, Marks says, but these rare gems would easily have doubled in value on the approximate US$12,000 per carat they fetched in 2003. The value of other beautiful gemstones, such as tsavorite, tanzanite and tourmaline, would also have grown significantly over the past decade, he says – however, because they have a tendency to dip in and out of fashion, it has been more difficult to give a reliable estimate of price growth for these. The Gemmological Association of Australia (gem. org.au) offers courses such as the GAA Diploma in Gemmology, as well as other short introductory courses.

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…that’s because he and his Hunter Valley team are repairing giant Off the Road Tyres in the world’s most advanced tyre repair facility. When it comes to OTR repairs, not many have the experience of Robbie Roser. He knows that every small step in Bridgestone’s unique OTR Tyre Repair System demands the most exacting of standards to ensure every repair complies with, or exceeds, Australian Standard AS4457.2-2008. The Bridgestone Tyre Repair System has been developed over many years and is based on a fundamental understanding of the tyre, providing ‘worlds best’ quality of repair and the highest levels of safety when the tyre is returned to service. Bridgestone’s Tyre Repairers are craftsmen. Each are trained to the exacting and accredited (Australian Skills Quality Authority) Bridgestone Tyre Repair Training course. This training course provides the only comprehensive Off the Road Tyre repair accreditation in Australia. www.bridgestone-earthmover.com.au

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techspecial

Sandvik automated mining system for single loaders Sandvik is delivering multiple safety solutions, putting better work practices at the forefront. andvik’s AutoMine Lite for Loading automated mining system is designed for single load-haul-dump operations in hard rock underground mines, providing a safer, more productive alternative to conventional remote control systems. With a number of highly successful installations around the world, it provides full remote load-haul-dump (LHD) supervision and control of a single loader – and can be easily upgraded to a fully automated Sandvik AutoMine system. According to Rowan Melrose, Sandvik’s global head of automation, automated operations improve working efficiency, reduce risks in hazardous production areas, and can eliminate the need for operators to travel underground during shift changes. “AutoMine Lite significantly enhances working safety and makes operating easier through automating as much as possible of the load-haul-dump cycle,” he said. “Repeatable tasks of tramming (hauling) and dumping are completely automated while the bucket loading cycle is tele-operated.” AutoMine Lite is designed to suit a range of different mining methods and applications, including: • Sub-level caving and open stoping, loading to ore passes, crusher, stockpile • Backfilling • Transfer level loading from ore passes or crusher • Block caving in hazardous areas • Mine development, including loading after blasting • Other operations requiring high levels of safety and remote control of a single LHD. AutoMine Lite consists of an ergonomically designed operator station,

an integrated onboard automation package for the loader, a purpose-built safety system, and a reliable and simple communications system between them. In addition to AutoMine Lite for Loading, Sandvik offers a full suite of AutoMine solutions for fleet and single machine operations, across both surface and underground mining. In other recent news, Sandvik and the Australian-based Maptek Pty Ltd have announced a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to develop integrated planning, execution solutions and automation systems for the entire mining industry. The MOU is designed to develop automated mining equipment, which can connect to and work directly from

the data produced by Maptek’s industry leading range of mine planning and measurement products, said Sandvik’s Rowan Melrose. Peter Johnson, Maptek’s general manager – Australia, said the agreement would result in miners being able to send detailed design and modelling data flowing though their mine operations, and monitor real time performance and conformance. “This is the next step towards further unlocking the inherent value in resource and mine planning data,” he said. “The biggest challenge remains consistent delivery across the mining value chain, and this initiative between Maptek and Sandvik is aimed directly at achieving that.”

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advertorial

The safety is in the fabric When safety is involved, fabric is critical. Use this guide to help choose your manufacturer of flame resistant workwear wisely.

Flame resistant

workwear is an essential piece of safety equipment for protecting workers exposed to heat, flames, arc flash and flash fire. It’s the last line of defence in these hazardous environments in the event an accident occurs. However, the success of your flame resistant (FR) clothing program depends heavily on the fabric used to construct the garments. Both arc rating and flash fire testing are done by fabric brand and weight; the fabric brand is also the key factor in durability of FR properties, initial and long term comfort, shrinkage control, wear life, and more. For these reasons, it’s very important you take an active role in specifying a proven fabric brand such as Westex Ultrasoft for the production of your finished garments. Here are a few questions to consider when evaluating fabric manufacturers: • Are the fabric’s flame resistant properties guaranteed to last the life of the garment (and if so, by whom, and with what qualifiers)? Lately, there’s been a lot of discussion about the difference between “inherent” and “treated” FR fabrics. These terms refer to the methods used to achieve a fabric’s flame resistant properties. And while some manufacturers would like you to believe this issue is important, it’s important to remember these terms have no basis in textile science. A better approach to choosing the right fabric is to look for data and performance characteristics that prove how well it performs in the real world, over time. Flame resistant fabrics such as Westex Ultrasoft, with its 28 years’ experience and tens of millions of garments in circulation worldwide are evidence of the irrefutable facts, which solidify a

reputable brand. Combine this with the results of multiple independent laboratory evaluations and you have a sound basis for a safety decision. It’s not how the flame resistance is engineered that counts; it needs to be FR for the life of the garment. • Is the fabric comfortable? Let’s face it – no one on your team is going to want to wear an uncomfortable, stiff garment that shrinks a size or two as soon as you get it near a washing machine. In order for your FR clothing program to be successful, it’s critical the garments you select are made from durable, yet comfortable, fabric that your employees will want to wear. Cotton rich flame resistant fabrics such as Westex Ultrasoft® are worn

by workers worldwide because of the combination of durability, protection and comfort. Learn as much as you can about the fabric’s feel against the skin and susceptibility to shrinkage. • Is the fabric’s brand reputable? You get what you pay for; so don’t be afraid to pay for quality—it’ll pay off in the long run. Generic and offbrand fabrics often claim to provide excellent protection, but their bargain basement prices should definitely make you think twice about their claims. A marginally lower up-front investment on a low-quality product is a high risk that could lead to employee injuries, program dissatisfaction and/or significant additional costs downstream. 41

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Position Partners acquires DynaRoad software distribution rights SURVEY AND MACHINE CONTROL SPECIALIST COMPANY POSITION PARTNERS HAS ACQUIRED THE DISTRIBUTION RIGHTS FOR DYNAROAD MASS-HAULAGE AND SCHEDULING SOFTWARE IN AUSTRALIA.

Position Partners

is now the distributor of DynaRoad software, in close collaboration with Dr Russell Kenley, CEO of Location Based Management Systems (LBMS). The distribution announcement follows the recent acquisition of Helsinki-based DynaRoad Oy by Topcon Positioning Group and the establishment of the Topcon Helsinki Technology Centre. The new centre will see collaboration and integration between Topcon’s positioning and machine control systems and DynaRoad’s construction project planning and scheduling solutions. “As Topcon’s exclusive Australian partner, Position Partners and DynaRoad’s local supplier LBMS were able to take the opportunity to work together and create an ideal setup for the Australian market,” said Martin Nix, Position Partners CEO.

“We are thrilled Dr Kenley has agreed to work with us in an advisory capacity. His expertise with DynaRoad software will be a terrific asset to our customers and employees alike.” Dr Kenley added: “The synergy between Topcon and DynaRoad from a development perspective will be mirrored in Australia at a distribution level, as I work alongside Position Partners to deliver well supported solutions to our customers. “Market adoption of DynaRoad has grown considerably in recent years, so it is the perfect time for Position Partners to take on the distribution. As a national company with extensive knowledge of the civil construction industry, they are the ideal fit,” Dr Kenley said. DynaRoad is a workflow solution specifically designed for major earthworks projects. In addition to traditional project

management software, it features mass-haul optimisation, advanced resource-based scheduling and site monitoring. DynaRoad can build powerful models to rapidly calculate and optimise haul distances, reduce the need for stockpiling and plan and control project execution. The DynaRoad software, when combined with Position Partners’ Tokara telematics and Topcon’s SiteLink 3D Enterprise platform, will create an integrated machine control and planning solution for all phases of an earthworks project, including estimation and preplanning, through to construction and completion. For more information about DynaRoad mass-haul solutions and Position Partners, please visit positionpartners.com.au or call 1300 867 266.

Did you know? With offices in every state and more than 200 people, Position Partners is the largest Australian-owned company that focuses entirely on the distribution and support of positioning and machine control solutions for surveying, civil works, mining and building projects. Position Partners is committed to increasing productivity for its customers and building lasting business relationships around high calibre positioning activities. Position Partners is Topcon’s exclusive Australian partner for machine control and positioning systems. A full range of leading instruments and systems is backed by superior service and industry expertise to give its customers the support they need for any project.

INDUSTRIAL LAND FOR SALe OR DeVeLOPMeNT ROCKHAMPTON

Gracemere Industry Park is the first of its kind in the region and is set to become Central Queensland’s leading industry park.

Key features:

The park is designed with Type 1 Road Train access in mind, with wide estate roads and immediate access to the Capricorn Highway and the purposebuilt Gracemere Industrial Area Overpass.

• Gateway to Central Queensland’s mining region, ideally located to major road infrastructure with immediate access to key transport routes

The park offers competitive land solutions for local and international businesses looking to be part of the region’s continued economic growth. Land allotments cater for High, Medium and Low Impact industrial users, with sites from 2000sqm to 5Ha.

• The only High Impact industrial land of greater than 3Ha immediately available in the market • Purpose-built Toll NQX Logistics Facility already under construction

• Direct multi-combination vehicle Type 1 Road Train access • Design and Construct warehousing and workshop solutions also available • The land is not flood affected • Government Incentives available

For more information on this exciting opportunity: Neale Crow - Knight Frank T: 0418 886 162 Glen Wintour - Gibb Group T: 0456 816 260 Matt Thiselton - Gibb Group T: 0433 197 729

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NewSat delivers fast, reliable and secure satellite communication solutions to the energy sector

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techtalk Sponsored by

SMART MINING

WHILE MINERS IN THE FIELD WILL ALWAYS OPERATE WITH A CERTAIN DEGREE OF RISK, GREAT MEASURES ARE BEING TAKEN TO IMPROVE SAFETY CONDITIONS – AND A BIG PART OF THIS PROGRESS IS THROUGH NEW TECHNOLOGY. WORDS: ORYANA ANGEL

n an industry where 10 tonne trucks are driven for 12 hour shifts, work is conducted hundreds of metres under the ground and explosives regularly employed, it’s little wonder that safety and comfort is a serious issue for miners. Tragedies like the Pike River coal mine accident, where 29 miners were killed in New Zealand, the Beaconsfield mine collapse in a Tasmanian gold mine, the Chilean mining accident in 2010, the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig explosion in the Gulf of Mexico and hundreds of other deaths in mines around the world serve as a grim reminder of the inherently risky nature of the work. The mining industry is the sixth-most dangerous for employees, according to recent Safe Work Australia figures. In 2009–2010, it had 14.9 serious injury claims per 1000 employees, and six fatalities for a rate of 3.5 per 100,000 workers. Figures aside, there has been big progress in improving the safety of mine workers through the development of new technology. Robert Trzebski, CEO of

Austmine, the peak body for the Australian mining equipment, technology and services sector, says there has been a major shift in the industry since the GFC. “We have entered what we call the technological age of mining. It’s really about smart mining and using technology to make mining more pleasant and safe,” says Trzebski. “Mining technology minimises

the contact between humans and machinery. It removes the risk of impact of operations on human beings,” he says. Baseball caps that monitor driver’s conditions; glasses that predict micro-sleeps; autonomous trucks, trains and drills; and collision avoidance technology are just some of the technologies being used to improve safety.

Clockwise from top left: Mining engineer shows the minister the importance of stone dusting in an underground coal mine; aerial view of mine site – with the use of VR, the layout of mine facilities and terrain can be studied; simulation of underground coal mine Longwall, with simulation of chocks and shearer.

techtalk Sponsored by

Mark Williams, the director of Simtars – a new virtual reality (VR) mine training facility in Brisbane – acknowledges working in the mining industry is dangerous. The three big-ticket issues, supported by statistics and fatalities, are mine ventilation, strata control or supporting the roof of a mine, and transport management, he says. “Most of the mining injuries in the past 10 years have been as a result of vehicle collisions – both underground and above,” says Williams. “It’s all about situational awareness. In mining, the environment changes constantly and you have to be able to identify hazards and manage risk.” The new VR training facility, the most advanced of its kind in the world, is based on an exact replica of an underground and open-pit coal mine at the Carborough Downs Mine near Moranbah, in the northern Bowen Basin. “Because we expose trainees to the environment and put them under a range of situations to test their reactions, it’s all about how they identify hazards – for example, we can simulate fires, a roof or wall collapse and vehicle collisions,” says Williams. Chamber of Minerals and Energy WA workplace health and safety manager Richard Wilson says using 46

technology to improve the life and safety of its workers is paying off. “The long term injury rates have halved in the sector over the past 10 years,” says Wilson. Autonomous technology has brought about great change, he adds. “Take for example autonomous trucks – there’s a huge safety advantage. The drivers of the 10 tonne trucks that lift hundreds of tonnes of ore every day, are not sitting in the cab all day; they are in an air-conditioned office in Perth where they are less likely to be fatigued and are more aware of their surroundings. “If an accident does happen, and the truck runs off the side of the road, the driver won’t be injured,” says Wilson. This technological revolution in the industry has also helped raise the bar on comfort for workers. Rio Tinto has developed the mobile camp, which is used in the exploration stage of a new project

when there is nothing on site yet. “It’s a palatial camp on wheels, with the latest technology, that can literally be dropped in the middle of the desert and be fully-functional from day one,” says Wilson. This is a far cry from conditions miners lived, and worked in, just a decade or so ago. “Back then, camp might have been a row of dongers with communal bathroom facilities,” says Wilson. “Today they have full service gyms, five-star conditions, commercial gyms and everything else needed to ensure workers are healthy and happy,” he adds. With loneliness and isolation a big risk factor in modern day mining, internet connectivity is now a given at most mine sites – no matter how remote it is. “Often there are iPads on loan for workers so they can speak to their family in the privacy of their own accommodation.”

“If an accident does happen, and the truck runs off the side of the road, the driver won’t be injured.”

Clockwise from top left: Walkway above the conveyor transfer – roof mesh is secured using roof bolts; trainer shows the minister how VR can help workers understand hazards associated with moving parts of the conveyor; simulation of underground coal mine Longwall with simulation of chain conveyor – with VR all areas can be safely visited.

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National

propertyguide

Check out some of the latest hot properties on the market in our regional towns and cities.

Want to know where the next big property market wave will hit? With Blue Horizons, you can be assured to be in the right place at the right time. The heart of good property investment is ﬁnding the next boom but it can be tricky. Traditionally it was seaside towns that displayed the double-digit growth we are looking for. Today it’s locations with high employment growth that send property prices soaring.

Blue Horizons is your perfect partner. We specialise in offering high yield, rapid capital growth property investments resulting from mining and industrial expansion. We have been 100% focused on the Surat Basin since 2008, personally investing in these areas ourselves. We act as your property partner, taking care of business while you are at work. From choosing colours to ﬁnal inspections, and everything in between, we provide a personal and complete service.

Blue Horizons has identiﬁed resource towns backed with the strength of mining and gas developments, that are packing a ﬁerce punch. For example, Chinchilla, Miles and Wandoan located in Queensland’s Surat Basin; rural towns set to explode with $30 Billion worth of coal and gas projects surrounding them. A boomtown is about more than just the booming employment – it’s about the corresponding development in both residential and commercial arenas. Skyrocketing rents and capital gains are in store for anyone smart enough to invest in property now. You are in the perfect position to expand your wealth beyond your expectations.

Once you start working with Blue Horizons, we will inform you of new releases as they happen. We have a diverse selection of properties to offer - House and Land, Duplex and Land, Townhouses and Villas, all competitively priced and delivered turn key with the highest level of ﬁnishes.

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S U R AT B A S I N I N V E S T M E N T O P P O R T U N I T I E S PACKAGE A - DUPLEX 2 x 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, double car lock up units, ducted A/C, stone benchtops standard. Price: $715,000 Rent: $1600 per week Gross return: 12% per annum

PACKAGE B - HOUSE 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, double car lock up, ducted A/C, stone benchtops as standard. Price: $460,000 Rent: $1000 per week Gross return: 11% per annum

PACKAGE C - TOWNHOUSE 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, double car, lock up, separate fenced yard, ducted A/C as standard. Price: $439,000 Rent: $865 per week Gross return: 10% per annum

Disclaimer: Information provided is not intended to be Tax, Financial or Accounting advice. We recommend you obtain independent advice from your own Tax, Financial or Accounting Professionals as individual tax or ďŹ nancial positions may vary.

Roma

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COASTAL PROPERTIES WITH POTENTIAL FOR LONG TERM CAPITAL GROWTH. North Stradbroke Island is just an hour from Brisbane with some of the best beaches in Australia. Discover Stradbroke has a range of unique houses and apartments for sale with magnificent views in walking distance to beaches, shops, cafes and restaurants. Make your dream a reality.

Take a virtual tour on discoverstradbrokerealestate.com.au Or call Julie Elliott on 0408 853 940 or 07 3415 3949.

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Brand New Townhouses for Sale Each townhouse consists of: - 3 bedrooms & 2 bathrooms - Ensuite & WIR to main - BIR to the second & third bedrooms - Double Lock up garage - Open plan living area - Modern fittings and fixtures - Landscaping with shared recreation area - Deck LISTED: $495,000.00 REF: One11

Contact our Residential Sales Team: Sophie Keily 0408 380 091 Karley Geale 0412 474 341 Commercial Industrial: Nellie Smithurst 0413 121 241 Kim Coghlan 0432 168 952

77 Camooweal Street, Mount Isa Jays Real Estate is family owned and operated, boasting 3 generations who work in the business. As Mount Isa’s largest agent, Jays has remained independent of national franchise agencies, standing alone on its record of professionalism for over 30 years. We strive to give old fashioned service and care, with plenty of local knowledge.

Ph: 07 4744 8000 sales@jaysre.com.au

Investors be aware: Mount Isa continues to have a strong demand for modern, brand new, quality accommodation

www.jaysre.com.au

CASH POSITIVE INVESTMENT PROPERTY FEATURE PROPERTY ANDERGROVE, MACKAY

$379,900 Terrace Home and Land With No Body Corporate rent unfurnished @ $450pw/rent furnished @ $550pw Cash Flow Per Annum $4,238 The Mackay Regional Council area is one of the fastest growing in Queensland, with an average annual growth rate of 2.9% The Mackay region is the gateway to the rich coal deposits in the Bowen basin.

• • • • • •

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Whether you’re a first time investor, or an investor adding to your portfolio our professional team will assist you to develop an individual investment strategy and to locate quality, high performing properties that will enable you to achieve your individual investment goals. Our professional team can arrange financing the deal with lenders who understand the needs of property investors

HOUSES, TOWNHOUSES & DUPLEXES FROM $330,000 TO $550,000 SUITABLE FOR SELF-MANAGED SUPERANNUATION FUNDS In the following high-growth areas in QLD: • Chinchilla • Miles • Roma • Emerald • Gladstone • Mackay • Moranbah • Clermont • Blackwater • Kingaroy • Coomeran • Pimpama • Northlakes • Brisbane ALL OF OUR PROPERTIES ARE LOCATED IN PRIME RENTAL AREAS AND WILL HAVE PROFESSIONAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT Contact Alan at: info@wilsonrealty.com.au or on 0421 705 116.

Positive Cash Flow From Day One. Since it’s inception after the Reserve Bank Reforms in March 2009, ATM ownership continues to hit all the right keys.

Owning a ﬂeet of ATMs, has become a well known business

opportunity

since

Own Your

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BENEFITS OF OWNING YOUR OWN ATM

launched in March, 2009. Many of our clients have

Instant income - you will be paid calculated from the very

diversiﬁed their portfolio and are now enjoying 20%

ﬁrst day you purchase your machines.

p.a. returns that an ATM business provides for the life of the agreement.

Buy in cash or borrow with property equity and pay down your non tax deductible debt on your home faster.

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large

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wall,

portfolio

allowing

and

you

not

hit

make

the

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investments in the future. Unlike a term deposit, where you are liable for tax at the ﬁrst dollar of interest earned, ATMs being plant and equipment, can be depreciated to offset transaction income earned. These

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BUSINESS HOURS ATMs TRANSACTION FORMULA 0 -783 transactions $235 per month 784 + calculated at $0.30 per transaction Site Name

Serial Number

Total Transactions

Total Monthly Amount Due

national ATM deployers place the machine in the site and

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KIC090600143

2,002

$600.60

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Sea Lake Foodworks

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1,282

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705

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ATM income is directly deposited into the account of your

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471

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472

$235.00

costs for parts and maintenance, insurance and payment

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KIC091200001

556

$235.00

processing for the life of the agreement.

Northhampton Supermarket

KIC090300074

813

$243.90

BP Childers

KIC091200002

1,123

$336.90

ATM owners are paid a minimum 20% p.a* or $.30 per

Grand Old Crow Hotel

KIC090200028

490

$235.00

Sportsmens Hotel

KIC090300065

842

$252.60

transaction, whichever is higher, paid monthly. In times of market volatility, a portfolio of ATMs can provide a steady income stream and potentially solve your

Total Amount Due

$2,993.00

This portfolio of 10 business hour ATMs cost $140,000 plus gst.

cash ﬂow issues * Example: a business hour machine costing $14,000 ex gst, the annual return is $2,800 or $235 per month. Returns continue for the life of the agreement.

www.ownyourownatm.com .au ay vary. Disclaimer: Information provided is not intended to be Tax, Financial or Accounting advice. We recommend you obtain independent advice from your own Tax, Financial or Accounting Professionals as individual tax or ﬁnancial positions m

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