+RegionalBusinessReview
June/July 2015 • Issue 10
CAPE to CAPE Journeying through the stunning scenery of WA
Wine lovers’ workout Enjoying the finest wines, guilt-free
ESCAPE Mount Baw Baw CULTURE CLUB Event guide BEST BUYS Packing essentials
SMOOTHER SMOOTHER SMOOTHER FLIGHTS SMOOTHER FLIGHTS FLIGHTS START AT FLIGHTS START START AT AT START AT
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For further information, please visit our website ADELAIDE MELBOURNE www.andrewsairportpark.com.au or(03) contact (07) 3268 4222 (08) 8340 5200 9334 5777 your local branch For further information, please visit our website For further information, please visit ouryour website www.andrewsairportpark.com.au or contact local branch www.andrewsairportpark.com.au or contact your local branch For further information, please visit our website BRISBANE
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Where we fly
BARROW ISLAND
BRISBANE DARLOT MURRIN MURRIN GRANNY SMITH
MOOMBA
BALLERA
PERTH SYDNEY ADELAIDE PASSENGER FREIGHT
Our fleet 6 x BAe 146 (passenger) 4 x BAe 146 (freight) 5 x Avro RJ100 1 x Avro RJ85 1 x Embraer 190
British Aerospace 146 (w) Length: 26.16m–30.99m Wingspan: 26.21m Height: 8.59 m Cruise speed: 770km/h at 8534m Empty weight: 23,779–26,434kg Passenger capacity: 71–99 seats Freight capacity: 10,300 kg
Avro RJ85 Length: 29 m Wingspan: 26 m Height: 8.61 m Cruise speed: 801 km/h Empty weight: 23,900 kg
Avro RJ100 Length: 30.99m Wingspan: 26.34m Height: 8.59 m Cruise speed: 780 km/h Empty weight: 26,393kg
Embraer 190 Length: 36 m Wingspan: 29 m Height: 10.5m Cruise speed: 833 km/h Empty weight: 29,000 kg Passenger capacity: 104 Freight capacity: 3500 Kg
MELBOURNE
HOBART
Hello and welcome aboard It’s common for organisations today to throw out slogans and catchphrases that sometimes don’t have meaning or substance. Phrases like ‘Safety First’ or ‘Safety is our number one priority’. What does that mean? And more importantly, are they actually doing anything to foster a safety-conscious culture? At Cobham, our operating philosophy is defined by our guiding values in SPIRIT (Safety, Performance, Innovation, Relationships, Integrity and Trust). Sounds like a catchphrase, however the difference at Cobham is that our safety philosophy and culture is something we take very seriously. Everything we do at Cobham revolves around well-researched and developed processes and procedures, all aimed at improving safety. As with any large organisation, the biggest challenge we face is to ensure our employees embody our philosophy. At Cobham, we do this by collaboratively engaging with the ‘shop floor’ to understand how we can actively improve our working environment and make it safer. We’ve also implemented a ‘Just Culture Safety Philosophy’, which empowers our people to take safety seriously and gives each individual the responsibility of safety in the workplace. The end result for us is a workplace culture and philosophy where safety is never compromised. So, whether you’re enjoying your trip to work or you’re heading home, rest assured that we are always focused on getting you there safely and in comfort. Thank you for flying with Cobham, we love having you on board.
Ryan Both Vice President & General Manager, Regional Services
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contents
06 cobhamnews E190 crew training, a partnership with the Make a Difference organisation, reducing Cobham’s carbon footprint and unveiling the Embraer 190 aircraft.
10 getaway Jock Serong hikes from Cape Leeuwin to Cape Naturaliste in the coastal wilderness of Western Australia.
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06
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Issue 132 • June/July 07 cultureclub
What’s happening around the country, from art and music to theatre and cinema.
12 closeup
27 weekender
Michelle Hespe goes skiing in Victoria’s Mount Baw Baw and discovers a village that is as affordable as it is friendly.
Stunning Queenslander Margot Robbie talks about her rise through Hollywood’s ranks and her encounters with some big-name celebrities.
37 charity
16 kitchenconfidential
39 healthnews
18 food&wine
41 travelnews
The Powder Keg chef Elijah Holland tells Faye James how he makes traditional Brit food glam.
Simone Henderson-Smart tries out the wine lovers’ workout, cycling through Rutherglen and Beechworth.
+
Ningana Fine Foods is changing the lives of people with disabilities, writes Melissa Peterkin.
The latest tips, tricks and products to help you look and feel your best.
Hot tips, special offers and new venue launches that will have you dreaming and scheming about your next holiday destination.
RegionalBusinessReview Mini-mag inside featuring all the latest news & views from around Australia, including: • Inside Mining • Investment
• Agribusiness • News & Reviews 3
TIWI ISLANDS
ART | CULTURE | WILDLIFE
Beat Beat the the winter winter blues blues and and take take a a break break on on the the beautiful beautiful Tiwi Tiwi Islands. Islands. Follow Follow turtle turtle tracks tracks at at sunset, sunset, find find a a Tiwi Tiwi art art treasure, treasure, venture venture onto onto untouched waterways teeming with native fish, birds and untouched waterways teeming with native fish, birds and wildlife. wildlife.
Immerse Immerse yourself yourself in in remote remote island island life life in in the the Tiwi Tiwi Islands, Islands, only only aa short short ferry ferry trip trip or or 20 20 minute minute flight flight from Darwin. Darwin. Get Get to to know know the the Tiwis Tiwis on on the the Ultimate Ultimate Tiwi Tiwi Islands Islands experience, experience, meet meet the the artists artists at at the the art art from centres, hear the stories, follow the turtle tracks at sunset and experience amazing bird, fish and wildlife centres, hear the stories, follow the turtle tracks at sunset and experience amazing bird, fish and wildlife encounters encounters in in this this untouched untouched country. country. Staying Staying in in comfort comfort at at the the beachfront beachfront Bathurst Bathurst Island Island Lodge. Lodge. Inclusions: Ferry Ferry or or flights flights ex ex Darwin, Darwin, scenic scenic flight flight on on Tiwi Tiwi Islands, Islands, guided guided sightseeing sightseeing and and fishing fishing by by Inclusions: boat and on foot, art centres and museum, traditional welcome ceremony, screen printing workshop boat and on foot, art centres and museum, traditional welcome ceremony, screen printing workshop with with local local artists, artists, sunset sunset turtle turtle tracks tracks tour, tour, all all meals meals and and remote remote lodge lodge accommodation. accommodation. A personalised, personalised, small small group group experience experience available available from from late late June June – – September September 2015. 2015. A
For more more information information call call 1300 1300 For
sealinknt.com.au
• • • • • • • • • • • •
Lodge accommodation accommodation Lodge Ferry transfers Ferry transfers Tiwi Tiwi art art & & culture culture Top end fishing Top end fishing Guided Guided sightseeing sightseeing Coastal exploration exploration Coastal
TIWI ISLANDS
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130 679 679 or or visit visit 130 Northern Northern Territory Territory
editor’sletter
From the editor... Hello, fellow adventure-seekers! GROUP EDITOR Faye James faye.james@edgecustom.com.au ASSISTANT EDITOR Riley Palmer INTERNS Franzisca Eckhart, Mel Peterkin SUB-EDITORS Jael Livingston, Alarna Haigh PRINTER SOS Print & Media SENIOR DESIGNER Guy Pendlebury PRODUCTION MANAGER Brian Ventour CONTRIBUTORS Simone Henderson-Smart, Michelle Hespe, Jennifer Pinkerton, Jock Serong, Ben Smithurst ADVERTISING SALES DIRECTOR Scott Hunt scott.hunt@edgecustom.com.au NATIONAL ACCOUNT MANAGER Peter Anderson peter.anderson@edgecustom.com.au NATIONAL ADVERTISING MANAGER Robert Desgouttes robert.desgouttes@edgecustom.com.au WA, SA and NT SALES REP Helen Glasson, Hogan Media Phone: 08 9381 3991 helen@hoganmedia.com.au PUBLISHING DIRECTOR Geoff Campbell MANAGING PARTNERS Fergus Stoddart, Richard Parker
What do you look for in the perfect getaway? Is it the landscape? Gourmet food? Friendly locals or the activities on offer? This month we decided to seek out experiences that offer the perfect combo of adventure, delicious food and eye-popping scenery. Cycling wine tours are an option that tick all the right boxes, allowing you to enjoy gourmet food and wine while exploring the land and getting in some light exercise. I love these types of holidays. Not only is it a relaxing way to meander through rolling countryside, but it brings an element of guilt-free indulgence. Did you eat and drink too much at the last meal? Fret not, jump on your bike and work it all off. Even though we headed to north-east Victoria for ours, cycling wine tours are offered in most of Australia’s wine regions. Got something to say? Drop us a line at: inflight@edgecustom.com.au Remember you can also follow our daily updates on Facebook and Twitter, and if you want to view our issues online just go to: issuu.com/edgeinflight
Wish you wer
Faye James and the OUTthere team
facebook.com/OUTthereMagazineAustralia @OUTthereMagAus
OUTthere is published by Edge 51 Whistler Street, Manly NSW 2095 Phone: 02 8962 2600 edgecustom.com.au OUTthere is published by Business Essentials (Australasia) Pty Limited (ABN 22 062 493 869), trading as Edge, under license to MGI Publishing Pty Ltd. Reproduction in whole or in part without prior written permission is strictly prohibited. Opinions expressed are those of the individual contributors and not necessarily those of the Publisher. Information provided was believed to be correct at the time of publication. All reasonable efforts have been made to contact copyright holders. OUTthere cannot accept unsolicited manuscripts or photographs. If such items are sent to the magazine, they will not be returned. Some images used in OUTthere are from Thinkstock and Getty Images.
h Wish you were
ere
Letters of the month! I found your inflight magazine very good. Liked the articles and relevance of the write-ups. So much so, I pinched it to talk my partner into a trip to Tangalooma Resort. Keep up the good work! Aisling F Vallely I just wanted to say congratulations for the VSA magazine article published in April. It is a well written, insightful article and a suitable date to spread the good message during a time when some veterans struggle. I would like you to know that the positive impact this article will have on the resilience of our veterans will be felt wider than you may realise. Julian Robinson
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cobhamnews
E190 crew training THE RECENT introduction of the Embraer 190 (E190) aircraft has been a very exciting time for Cobham’s cabin crew and training department. Over the last few months, a group of cabin crew were selected to be trained and become the specialist cabin crew for the E190. Induction started with an intense week-long training regime that included a mix of classroom theory, practical demonstrations and multiple assessments, ending with a final exam. All crew agree that the highlight of the training was a trip to Brisbane and the opportunity to use the world-class flight training facilities at Aviation Australia. Here, crew put their theoretical training into practice using the ‘cabin trainer’ – a replica of the E190 aircraft with working doors, over-wing exits, cabin signals, emergency lights and more. 6
The crew worked tirelessly to perfect their emergency and safety procedures, paying specific attention to the differences between Cobham’s current fleet of 146 and RJ aircraft and the new Embraer aircraft. This included studying the new procedures and aircraft manuals. Of course, it was a challenging experience, but all crew showed their dedication and passion to their profession with the entire team exceeding their own expectations. The crew will now complete in-flight training, where they will be assessed on their standard operating procedures in real flight conditions. Being able to operate two different aircraft is a very rare privilege for our cabin crew and they have done an excellent job of the training. Congratulations, team.
Did you know Cobham also makes safety and survival systems? COBHAM MISSION Systems, located in Iowa, USA recently developed a new safety mechanism that allows mobile aircrew increased safety while working near open aircraft doors. Dubbed the Mobile Aircrew Restraint System (MARS), the system uses inertia reel technology mounted to the ceiling of the aircraft and is ideal for mobile aircrew, such as those in the military and law enforcement. MARS is more comfortable for the wearer than traditional tethering methods, reduces in-cabin trip hazards, can easily adapt to existing harnesses/belts, can be operated single-handedly and has a self-adjusting webbing length.
cobhamnews
Cobham makes a difference MAKE A Difference WA are delighted to work in partnership with Cobham Aviation Services to provide ongoing support to Western Australian families who have children living with severe or multiple disabilities. The support provided by Make a Difference WA makes a real difference to these families and improves their quality of life. Recently, Make a Difference WA and Cobham Aviation Services presented a modified vehicle to 11-year-old Zane Evans and his family. The Evans family, from Bunbury, needs support in all aspects of personal care for Zane. Zane has multiple disabilities including cerebral palsy, intellectual disability, vision impairment, epilepsy and thermoregulation impairment, and is unable to communicate verbally. Along with using a walker and a wheelchair for assisted mobility, Zane also needs continuous specialist medical care, which means he needs to frequently travel to Perth. Now with this modified vehicle, the trips to Perth have become a family affair – making travel more enjoyable for Zane. This modified vehicle will have a huge positive impact on the Evans family. Not only will it allow the entire family to travel together, it also enables them to start taking family vacations, something Zane’s mum Keira is excited about.
The Evans family are very grateful to Make a Difference WA for ‘making a difference’ to young Zane’s life and would like to thank Make a Difference WA and Cobham Aviation Services for their support.
The Evans family are very grateful to Make a Difference WA for ‘making a difference’ to young Zane’s life.
Cobham reduces its carbon footprint COBHAM IS always looking for ways to reduce its environmental impact and improve on environmental performance. As flying aircraft is such a significant part of our operations, fuel efficiency is an area where we can make a big difference to our environmental footprint. The weight of an aircraft plays a major role in the amount of fuel that is burned. Basically, the heavier the aircraft, the more fuel it will burn. With our BAe 146 and Avro RJ aircraft, for every 100 kilograms of extra weight on board the aircraft, an extra five kilograms of fuel is burned per hour. Considering these aircraft fly in excess of 16,000 hours per year, unnecessary weight on the aircraft can really contribute to increased fuel burn. Cobham recently undertook a review of the potable water uplifted onto the aircraft at the beginning of each flight and found aspects where fuel savings could be made. After completing the review and considering all safety and passenger impacts, it was found that a 10-kilogram weight saving could be made on each flight, simply by optimising the potable water on board. This initiative resulted in increased aircraft fuel efficiency, saving approximately 20,000 litres each year. This equates to an abatement of 50 tonnes of CO2-e per annum.
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cobhamnews
Unveiling the Embraer COBHAM RECENTLY held a launch event to celebrate the latest acquisition to its fleet – the Embraer 190. The aircraft was showcased to a number of customers, contractors, media and staff at the unveiling. This new aircraft will provide continued support to Chevron’s operations and projects in Western Australia, operating daily flights from Perth to Barrow Island in conjunction with Cobham’s current fleet.
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getaway
A short stroll on the
CAPE COAST
Walking between the capes in southwest WA is a perfect way to burn off the finest gourmet food in the land. Words: Jock Serong
n a state where gigantic distances are everyday fare, Western Australia’s southwest corner is the standout exception. The coastline between Cape Leeuwin and Cape Naturaliste is as compact and diverse as anything you might find in Victoria, with a climate as agreeable as the NSW Central Coast. What’s more, the staggering range of plants and animals out here would give Tassie a run for its money. All in all, it’s a coastline perfectly designed for walking and absorbing. The coastline 70 kilometres north and south of the township of Margaret River is framed by the Cape to Cape Track: a walk that can take up to seven days for the truly committed, but which also works perfectly as a day trip, sampling the beaches, cafés and little towns that cling to this exquisitely beautiful coast. The traditional owners of these lands and waters, the Wardandi people, have lived among incredible bounty. Up to 80 per cent of the vegetation here is endemic to the area – a wild profusion of native flowers such as orchids, wattles and white beard-heaths under a canopy of Rottnest tea tree and peppermint and the larger jarrah-marri sheltering behind the ridge. At the southern end of the walk,
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towering karri trees give the region a deserved ancient character. It’s worth taking a torch at night to appreciate the wildlife that hides among this flora: as well as western grey kangaroos, there’s echidnas and bandicoots on the ground, and possums, cockatoos, parrots, rosellas and honeyeaters sitting in the tree branches. Loaded up with a full breakfast (more about the off-track scoffing shortly), the morning walk places you among an awakening world. The warm sun lures reptiles – beautifully-patterned carpet pythons, skinks and bearded dragons – to the rocks. Out to sea, humpback, southern right and (more rarely) blue whales cruise through these waters between June and December, along with pods of dolphins year-round. The Cape to Cape Track is divided into five roughly equal sections, each with its own campsite. The northernmost section is fully paved and has safety rails, making it readily accessible for people with disabilities. We are tackling two sections of the track, but there’s any number of ways to do the walking, from entirely independent hiking to fully-guided tours. The Friends of the Cape to Cape Track website lists about ten companies that offer various styles of walking along the route
getaway
Looking shoreward from the water, the scrub that slopes gently up from the beach is wild and untouched. The ocean and its creatures make the only sounds.
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getaway Cape to Cape Track
Locals are quietly enjoying a time-honoured Sunday ritual: a cold beer on the sand to see out the weekend.
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we’re travelling with Walk into Luxury, which puts a welcome emphasis on the local food, wine and resorts. The company also donates a percentage of its profits back to the ‘Friends’ group and other local charities. Armed with a backpack containing a guidebook and GPS device, we hike north along Injidup Beach, a vast stretch of empty, blinding-white sand. Offshore waves rear and break in shades of blue and green. A snack on a fresh orange from the backpack and its into the Indian Ocean for a dip. Looking shoreward from the water, the scrub that slopes gently up from the beach is wild and untouched. The ocean and its creatures are the only sounds in earshot. Coming up off the beach, we follow the signposts along the ridge to Smiths Beach, another stunning expanse of crystalline sand. It’s late afternoon, the air’s warm and still, and locals are quietly enjoying a time-honoured Sunday ritual: a cold beer on the sand to see out the weekend.
Further up the beach, a small gathering of surfers wait for a wave over a dark patch of reef. This coastline is internationally renowned for its surf, though there are so many different breaks that no-one looks starved for a wave. The Smiths Beach Resort is the perfect counterpoint to the track. Having walked for kilometres and dispelled any guilt, this is your chance to laze about in the pool, read on the balcony and pick away at local cheeses and cabernet from Lamont’s, the gourmet restaurant downstairs. Any leftovers – and indeed a fresh stash of gourmet produce – will go in the backpack for tomorrow’s walking. The next morning we walk from Sugarloaf Rock to Bunker Bay through very different scenery. Red-tailed tropical birds nest on Sugarloaf Rock, safe from land-based predators. Further north along this stretch, a group of divers struggle up the cliff with a bag of crayfish from the rockpools near Canal Rocks. The cliffs are steeper here as we approach Cape Naturaliste, but as we bend east near the lighthouse the land slopes downhill again, revealing the dazzling curves of Bunker Bay. Nestled in the trees is a welcoming café selling surprisingly good food and coffee. This is the unusual thing about the Leeuwin-Naturaliste coast – you can step out of the wilderness and find city-standard cuisine and head back in again, without changing your shoes. Further towards Margaret River, there’s an extraordinary expanse of scenery to take in: a marine reserve teeming with life at Yallingup Beach; giant waterfalls at Quininup and Meekadarabee; the soaring Wilyabrup sea cliffs near Gracetown and the strange limestone formation at Kilcarnup Beach known as Joey’s Nose, because it resembles a joey peering from its mother’s pouch. Halfway along the section where the Margaret River meets the sea, you’ll find some of the most dramatic surf in Australia. There’s a heavy shorebreak and views out to two of the most famous – and feared – waves in the region: Margaret River Main Break, and The Box. The Margaret is the most significant river to cross the walking route, and in
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getaway
Round-up GET THERE There are flights from all major cities to Perth daily with all major carriers. From there, it’s a two to three-hour drive south.
STAY Smiths Beach Resort, nestled in the sand dunes just south of Yallingup. smithsbeachresort.com.au Acacia Chalets, at Prevelly near Margaret River. acaciachalets.com.au
EAT & DRINK Lamont’s at Smiths Beach (and try their fantastic provedore store for supplies!) lamonts.com.au The Gnarabar, where you’ve a good chance of running into a touring pro surfer. gnarabar.com.au
EXPLORE
winter the crossing can test the nerves of even experienced hikers. One of the loveliest sections of the Cape to Cape Track meanders through the heathland on the ridge above Contos Beach, sprinkled with wildflowers in the spring. The shade of the Boranup karri forest on the protected side of the ridge makes a serene change from days of coastal exposure. Then it’s back to the beach for a sevenkilometre stretch between Boranup Beach and Hamelin Bay, with rarely any sound but the roar of the surf. Shipwrecks litter Hamelin Bay (including those of three unfortunate vessels that foundered during one storm in July 1900), and the snorkelling here is among the best on offer on the Western Australian coast. The track’s southern end is marked by the Leeuwin Old Waterwheel, which once pumped water from the swamps up to the lighthouse cottages. Over more than a century its been encrusted with the limestone that leaches from the water-supply and now stands frozen in time. It seems a subtle message from the land: wheels aren’t welcome here. If you want to see the best of this place, you’re going to have to get out and walk. 14
Walk into Luxury offer fully supported walking and gourmet packages. walkintoluxury.com.au Grab a coffee from the caravan at Margaret River mouth – it’s a local institution.
MORE INFO margaretriver.com capetocapetrack.com.au
The Cape to Cape Track meanders through the heathland on the ridge above Contos Beach, sprinkled with wildflowers in the spring.
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JUNE
05
Our top pick of events coming up around the country...
Disney on Ice presents Dare to Dream, National
F T O TH N N E EVE MO H T
JUNE 5–JULY 12 Starring Snow White, Cinderella, Rapunzel and Tiana – Disney on Ice’s latest incarnation is the “ultimate princess experience”, bringing four beloved Disney princesses together for a show-stopping stage spectacular. Combining the modern-day princess films Tangled and The Princess and the Frog with the timeless fairytales Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and Cinderella, this action-packed ice-skating extravaganza is a classic-meets-contemporary celebration of 75 years of Disney princess stories. Dare to Dream is coming to Perth, Adelaide, Newcastle, Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney this winter. disneyonice.com.au
JUNE
JULY
26
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JUNE 26–28
Truffle Kerfuffle Southern Forest Food Festival, Perth
Get set to discover the secrets of a global delicacy: the black Périgord truffle. At the festival, guests can hunt for truffles with the help of speciallytrained dogs, wander the farmers’ markets, sample truffle dishes and experience cooking masterclasses with some of Western Australia’s top chefs. trufflekerfuffle.com.au
look
ahead
AUGUST 7–9 Mount Isa Mines Rotary Rodeo Grab your cowboy hat and boots for the ultimate bull-riding competition! isarodeo.com.au
JULY 12
JULY
JULY
23
25
JULY 23–25
Beer Can Regatta, Darwin
Royal Darwin Show, Darwin
This annual charity event is a funfilled day of activities for the young and young-at-heart. The main event is a race across Darwin Harbour in homemade beer-can boats, but there’s also a host of other novelty races and challenges. Organised by the Lions Clubs of Darwin, this year’s beneficiary is HPA Disability Services. beercanregatta.org.au
This is a true Northern Territory experience, showcasing the best of the region. Pavilions present livestock, exotic birds and giant pumpkins for judging, and experts will be on hand to offer advice on everything from gardening to beekeeping. There is also musical entertainment, rides and arts and crafts. darwinshow.com.au
AUGUST 15–22 Hamilton Island Race Week Yachties and spectators converge for Australia’s biggest offshore keelboat regatta. hamiltonislandraceweek.com.au
else
where
JUNE 19–28 Queenstown Winter Festival New Zealand’s snow season kicks off with a buzzing blend of winter sports, culture and entertainment. winterfestival.co.nz
JULY 25
Australian Outback Marathon, Uluru
Competitors test their endurance through the heart of Australia, racing alongside some of Australia’s most spectacular landmarks, including the monumental Uluru (Ayers Rock) and Kata Tjuta (the Olgas). Shorter distances also available for those less inclined. australianoutbackmarathon.com
JUNE 24–28 Glastonbury Festival, England Kanye West and Foo Fighters are headlining the UK’s biggest music event, now in its 45th year. glastonburyfestivals.co.uk
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what to pack
What to pack Our faves for the month... staff pick
Eagle Creek Morphus bag, $395, eaglecreek.com
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Malin + Goetz beauty products, POA, mecca.com.au
what to pack Russell Athletic leggings, $59.99, russellathletic.com.au
Glagla Classic shoes, $89.95, glaglashoes.com.au
Derek Cardigan sunglasses, $89, clearly.com.au
Black Diamond Apollo lantern, $89.95, paddypallin.com.au
Nemo Nocturne 15 down sleeping bag, $499.95, paddypallin.com.au
Nemo Losi LS 2P tent, $479.95, paddypallin.com.au
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entertainment
Entertainment The latest and greatest things to hear, see and read...
listen
Viator
BLUR: THE MAGIC WHIP In 1997, Blur was one of the most iconic representations of Britpop, with the “woo-hoo!” hook of ‘Song 2’ in 1997 becoming a soundtrack for a new rock’n’roll generation. Critics have praised the album, starring original line-up singer Damon Albarn, guitarist Graham Coxon, bassist Alex James and drummer Dave Rowntree. Rolling Stone magazine gave it four out of five stars and said, “The band’s first album in more than a decade is a dark, seductive set that cements a legacy.”
JAMIE FOXX: YOU CHANGED ME FT. CHRIS BROWN Jamie Foxx has been moving and shaking in the film sphere in recent years, but those who recall his Oscar-winning performance as Ray Charles in Ray in 2004 know the man can sing. ‘You Changed Me’ , the lead single for his latest album Hollywood: A Story of a Dozen Roses, is a collaboration with Chris Brown that talks about finding a girl who is mentally and physically stimulating, who changed his life after a string of one-sided relationships.
App Store, free/ Google Play, free The new Viator app shows you the most beautiful photos of 2014. Selected from thousands of images, travel experts have made a selection of ten pictures that preview the most amazing experiences. Be inspired by the diversity of possibilities and convinced by personal recommendations!
WunderWalk
watch: MINIONS
staff pick
download
Animation, Comedy, Family The infamous minions from Despicable Me 1 & 2 are back in their very own feature film. Having served countless evil masters since the dawn of time, including T.Rex, Genghis Khan, Napoleon and Dracula – and always accidently destroying them – the minions fall into a state of depression and disorientation. But when Kevin, Stuart and Bob meet female supervillain Scarlett Overkill (Sandra Bullock) they find themselves in a world of trouble. Are the three minions able to find a new master and save minionkind from annihilation? In cinemas June 18. minionsmovie.com
read POSTER GIRL Beccy Cole, Hachette Australia, $32.99 Award-winning country music singer-songwriter Beccy Cole’s life story has all the ingredients of a compelling memoir: sacrifice and success; happiness and heartache; and the quest for inner peace and public validation.
App Store, free/ Google Play, free Are you sick of always visiting crowded touristy places on your vacation? WunderWalk offers you the perfect way to discover the world and then share it with your friends! The app uses recommendations from hundreds of people to generate a personal itinerary specific to your needs, offering you the best advice for food, shopping, attractions and more.
Foodspotting ULTIMATE RECORD BREAKING DESTINATIONS Samantha Wilson, New Holland, $29.99 If you love pushing the boundaries of adventurous travel, Samantha Wilson’s book has all the largest, highest, lowest, oldest, deepest and most extreme places to add to your bucket list.
SEASON OF SALT & HONEY Hannah Tunnicliffe, Pan Macmillan Australia, $29.99 After the death of her fiancé, Frankie Caputo withdraws from her life and flees to a remote cabin to overcome her loss. Spiced up with Italian recipes, this story handles grief and starting over in a most heartwarming way.
App Store, free/ Google Play, free Find and share your favourite dish wherever you are in the world with Foodspotting! The app allows you to find good restaurants and also certain dishes that have been positively rated with photographs by other users. Just tap in your location and enjoy your foodie favourites wherever you travel.
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cultureclub
CULTURE CLUB GOT A THING FOR THEATRE? LOVE LIVE MUSIC? ENJOY GREAT GALLERIES? READ ON FOR WHAT’S HAPPENING THIS MONTH...
© Anna Webber
SYDNEY FILM FESTIVAL
JUNE 3–14
Celebrating cinema from around the globe, the esteemed Sydney Film Festival prides itself on its selection of “courageous, audacious and cutting-edge cinema.” The 12-day festival screens documentaries, feature films, short films and animations across the city, with a special hub at Town Hall for free performances, exhibitions and industry talks. sff.org.au
ADELAIDE CABARET FESTIVAL
JUNE 5–20
With the man behind Dame Edna Everage, Barry Humphries, at the helm, the feather boas will no doubt be flying in all directions at this year’s song-and-dance festival celebrating the wonderful world of cabaret. From fishnets and false eyelashes to seductive serenades, audiences will be spellbound by the world-class line-up. Full program and tickets at adelaidefestivalcentre.com.au
stacffk pi
MELBOURNE INTERNATIONAL JAZZ FESTIVAL May 28–June 7
The 2015 Melbourne International Jazz Festival will set this chilly city on fire with a thrilling program featuring some of the world’s most legendary jazz artists, contemporary innovators, blistering instrumentalists and soulful singers such as Kurt Elling (pictured) and Herbie Hancock. Think intimate club gigs, late-night art parties, film screenings, talks and workshops – many of them free. melbournejazz.com
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cultureclub
June 19–24 ST PETERSBURG BALLET’S SWAN LAKE, MELBOURNE
© Andy Hollingworth
Critically acclaimed and internationally renowned, the St Petersburg Ballet is hailed as one of the greatest ballet companies in the world. Australian audiences can experience the majesty of a full-scale classical performance when the company brings its rendition of Swan Lake to Melbourne as part of its international tour. Tickets from ticketmaster.com.au
DYLAN MORAN ‘OFF THE HOOK’
July 10–August 19 Touring nationally
For fans of the hit British show Black Books, Dylan Moran needs no introduction. For the rest of you, it’s time to meet the incredibly witty, adorably disheveled and hilariously funny Irishman. If you love clever comedy, you’ll fall hard for Moran. abpresents.com.au
AUSTRALIAN FESTIVAL OF CHAMBER MUSIC, TOWNSVILLE
July 31–August 8 Celebrating its quarter-century in 2015, this year’s festival offers a free concert featuring the majestic 1812 Overture in the Queen’s Gardens on Sunday, August 2. It will also see the return of the everpopular concert crawl – where one ticket allows music lovers to attend three halfhour performances on the same night. For the full program head to afcm.com.au
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Exhibitions Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair runs from August 7–9 at the Darwin Convention Centre and comprises Indigenous art, music and performance. Indigenous art centres are a thriving expression of Aboriginal culture, however many dedicated galleries are located in remote regions that are hard to get to. For city-goers, each year a collection of works from more than 40 galleries across the country comes together under the one roof. As well as being a platform to showcase both established and emerging artists’ works, the fair provides buyers with the opportunity to purchase artworks direct from the galleries. darwinaboriginalartfair.com.au
Above: John Wolseley has taken inspiration for his latest exhibition from water, and how its fluidity shapes Australia’s landscape. John Wolseley: Heartlands and Headwaters is showing at the National Gallery of Victoria until September 20. In this series of drawings on paper, Wolseley explores the beauty and fragility of Australia’s wetland ecosystems. Using techniques similar to Australian Indigenous artists, he makes use of natural materials found on site; charcoal, ochres and plants – in order to give a true sense of the place that he is depicting. johnwolseley.net
Above: Artist Regina Pilawuk Wilson, of the Durrmu Arts program, will display her striking weavings at the Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair.
5 SECONDS OF SUMMER JUNE 20–29
Tickets and tour dates available online now.
TOUR 10
GOMA Q: Contemporary Queensland Art is the first in a series of exhibitions that celebrates the best visual artists around the state. Profiling emerging, mid-career and senior artists from a range of disciplines – including painting, photography, ceramic, video, performance, installation and sculpture – the exhibition will show at Brisbane’s Gallery of Modern Art from July 11 to October 11. qagoma.qld.gov.au
JOHNNY MARR JULY 18–22
HIS HOLINESS THE 14TH DALAI LAMA JUNE 4–15
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GOLDEN GIRL
closeup
OUTthere speaks to Queenslander starlet Margot Robbie about her rise to fame, slapping Leo in the face and those steamy rumours about Will Smith...
AT JUST 24, Australian beauty Margot Robbie has already worked with the cream of Hollywood royalty. She starred in Martin Scorsese’s Oscarnominated hit The Wolf of Wall Street with Leonardo DiCaprio and she is cast alongside Tina Fey, Michelle Williams and Samuel L. Jackson (to name-drop a few) in a bunch of films slated for release in 2015. Not bad for a girl who, up until four years ago, was a regular on Neighbours. But Robbie has only good things to say about the soap, acknowledging that many Australians who make it big in Hollywood have graduated from either Ramsay Street or Summer Bay. “It’s like a rite of passage,” she says with a smirk. “And clearly it’s a tried and tested path boasting some huge success stories.” One might call Robbie an ‘overnight’ success. The actor moved to Los Angeles after only two and a half years on Neighbours. Once there, she promptly landed the role of Naomi Lapaglia in the The Wolf of Wall Street, playing the wife of shady entrepreneur Jordan Belfort (DiCaprio). The relatively unknown Robbie delivered a revelatory performance that made her one of the industry’s most in-demand stars. Since, she’s snagged lead roles in films such as Tarzan, Suite Française and The Taliban Shuffle – Fey’s highly anticipated comedy. But the first release in her 2015 assault is Focus, a comedy-thriller set in the world of organised con-artistry. Her sizzling chemistry with leading man Will Smith even led to rumours of an on-set romance. On the day we meet, Robbie is simply stunning in a black halter-neck top and cream trousers, but she’s also approachable, genuine and down-to-earth. 13
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What was it like working with Will Smith on Focus? Wonderful, funny. A blast. He’s the Will Smith that you see in films and TV. He’s the exact same guy. There’s such warmth and [he’s very] welcoming and no, there’s no attitude on set. He just rallies the entire set, gets everyone in this fantastic mood, which makes the whole day. You’re never going to be around him and not laugh, not have a good time. It’s just his natural makeup.
The chemistry between you guys is really something. I know, I think that came as a surprise to many people, even ourselves. We weren’t expecting it. But I guess you can never predict how you’re going to get along with someone. For some reason, we just walked into the room and got along so well and that went on throughout the shoot. It was fantastic. And it doesn’t happen with every actor you work with, it doesn’t happen with every person you meet.
You play an expert con artist in this film. Some useful tips for life? Very useful [laughs].
You also learned how to pickpocket – have you tried this out in real life? I have, and I’m not afraid to say, I’m rather good at it now. I started out terribly and would always get caught. They’d be like, ‘Eh, what are you doing? Why’s your hand in my back pocket?’ Now, they haven’t a clue.
You left Neighbours less than four years ago; do you ever pinch yourself and say, “How the hell did I get here?” Well, I pinched myself when I was working on Neighbours and I pinch myself where I am now. They were all fantastic opportunities for me.
Soaps are far more technical than one would think. There’s so much happening around you all the time, there’s so many people involved and storylines – [it’s] totally different from a movie in that regard and you have to be skilled to do that job. There’s often so little acknowledgement for that. We were shooting an episode a day. One whole episode a day.
Would you say the biggest coup was landing Naomi in The Wolf of Wall Street? Every actress in town was after that part. Yes, of course, it was huge. [I had to dive in] headfirst. It’s Scorsese – it was huge. It still is.
But Martin Scorsese and Will Smith are a long way from Neighbours.
And it all came about from that surprise slap across Leo’s face in the audition…
They’re just further extensions of the same job. Neighbours was my schooling – I really learnt so much and it annoys me when people say how happy I must be to have graduated up, as it were. Let me say, I was over the moon when I landed Neighbours. It was the biggest thing to happen in my life and so, so exciting. I never thought I’d get to that level.
I do wonder sometimes what would have happened had I not slapped him. I still remember that stunned silence when I did it.
You improvised it, right? I was supposed to walk away from him, but I just got really into the moment and turned around and smacked him and said, ‘F**k you!’
Margot’s rise to the top Neighbours (TV Series)
2008–11
Pan Am (TV Series)
2011–12
About Time 2013 The Wolf of Wall Street 2013 Suite Française 2014 Z for Zachariah 2015 Focus 2015 Tarzan 2015 Fun House 2016 Suicide Squad 2016
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I just got really into the moment and turned around and smacked him and said, ‘F**k you!’ Once I did it, I was like, ‘Well, that was a terrible idea, but at least I got to smack Leonardo DiCaprio!’ Once I did it, I was like, ‘Well, that was a terrible idea, but at least I got to smack Leonardo DiCaprio in the face!’
What was it like working with them [DiCaprio and Scorsese], considering they’ve worked together many times before? They had this bond where one finished the other’s sentence and it was like telepathy. I found myself thinking, ‘Was something changed there? Did I miss something?’ I had to up my game so much to keep up.
What can you tell us about your next movie, Tarzan? It’s not the traditional Tarzan story, it’s set after so you won’t be seeing him in the jungle. But there’s great action and [a] love story and its been a lot of fun.
You play Jane. How does she differ from the original story? Yeah, she’s quite independent, not so reliant on Tarzan. I kind of like the strong female characters. She’s a strong character and fun.
Lastly, in Suicide Squad, you’re back with Will. What can you tell us about the film? We’re due to start shooting I think, really soon, like literally right after [finishing Focus]. The script keeps changing as far as I know, so what I can tell is not much because I know so little myself! I don’t know what my relationship will be like with Will, I don’t think it will be similar to Focus but I’m so excited to get started. [It’s] so different from anything I’ve worked on before. 15
kitchenconfidential
Ye Modern Pub Signature dishes and drinks include oysters with gin and tonic sorbet, duck schnitzel lollipops and Negroni ice cream sandwiches.
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Home to not only what is perhaps Sydney’s most impressive gin collection, but to equally impressive chef Elijah Holland, The Powder Keg Restaurant & Bar in Potts Point embodies the essence of 17th-century English and Dutch cuisine. In true testament to its name, The Powder Keg provides the perfect blend of distinctive cocktails and delicious food. Signature dishes and drinks include oysters with gin and tonic sorbet, duck schnitzel lollipops, Negroni ice cream sandwiches and the Gunpowder Plot – a lethal concoction of gin, gunpowder tea, Fernet Branca, gunpowder syrup, dandelion and burdock bitters, lemon juice and egg white for froth, served in a smoke-filled glass casing. Formerly employed by popular Australian restaurants ARIA and Jonah’s, Elijah has been refining his craft since the age of 14. Today, his classic English- and Dutch-inspired dishes with a contemporary flair complement The Powder Keg’s main draw: gin-based cocktails perfected
Faye James speaks to chef Elijah Holland about his recreation of traditional dishes for the modern palate.
by mixologist and owner Grant Collins. His vision of a restaurant possessing both a modern setting and historic spirit is now a reality. Elijah’s passion for cooking and his commitment to the discovery and creation of new dishes is obvious, both in and out of the kitchen. Spending his free time foraging for native plants, flowers and other edibles for use in his culinary creations, this is just one of Elijah’s uniquely personal approaches to cooking. In true 17th- and 18th-century fashion, he strives to make as many of his dishes as possible from scratch – including “breads, butters, cheeses, ferments, pickles and charcuterie.” Elijah doesn’t take the creation of new dishes lightly, but rather executes his culinary decisions with a specific vision in mind. “It can take some time to plan,” he says, “but it’s an exciting process to have an idea and work hard to put it onto a plate and see it come to life.” It is obvious just by his presentation of dishes that a personal touch is important to Elijah.
SODA BREAD Ingredients • 250g wholemeal flour • 250g plain flour • 1 tsp bi-carb soda • 1 tsp salt • 420ml buttermilk • Sesame seeds Method 1. Mix flours, bi-carb soda and salt in a large bowl. 2. Add buttermilk slowly, while mixing slowly, until sticky dough forms. 3. Lightly flour your bench, gently roll and fold the dough a couple of times to combine. Do not knead. 4 Shape the dough into a loaf. 5. Cover a tray with sesame seeds and roll the entire loaf into the seeds. 6. Score the top, dust with flour and bake at 200 degrees for 30 minutes. 7. Leave to cool on a wire rack.
Rapidfire What ingredient couldn’t you live without? Butter! The amount that I dredge on my toast in the morning almost sickens my girlfriend. What’s the most exotic thing you’ve ever eaten? Emu egg! As far as traditional and cultural research goes, what country would you like to go to? Why? I’d love to go to Norway or Denmark. There is so much to explore and draw inspiration from; and food sustainability and way of life is remarkable. Some of the best and most innovative chefs I know have come from there.
This touch often comes in the form of a colourful display of freshly picked edible flowers. As chef of an establishment whose claim to fame is its drink selection, it speaks volumes about Elijah’s talents that he is able to create a menu that is both widely received and well-regarded by the public and food critics alike. So what does the chef himself recommend? “My plum Eton Mess,” he says. “This is my own little twist and version I feel really expresses my passion for food.” With Elijah’s mind brimming over with ideas, it sounds as though clientele of The Powder Keg can expect to see some exciting new menu additions in the near future. “I love to see how far I can push myself and my cooking,” says Elijah. “Food is such a creative thepowderkeg.com.au outlet for me.”
SOUR CREAM BUTTER Ingredients • 1l sour cream Method 1. Whip sour cream with an electric mixer or by hand until the mixture thickens and turns to butter. 2. Separate butter from buttermilk by straining the butter through a tea towel or cheese cloth. 3. Store in an airtight container in a cool place. 4. Slice warm bread and serve on wooden board with butter and a pinch of sea salt.
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food&wine
THE WINE LOVERS’
WORKOUT
Can you eat fabulous food, indulge in fine wines and exercise at the same time? In the Victorian wine regions of Rutherglen and Beechworth you sure can, writes Simone Henderson-Smart.
’ll confess: I hate gyms. Sweat and strain and being yelled at by some muscled-up 20-year-old in lycra leaves me cold. Unfortunately, I really love food and wine! There’s a dreadful incompatibility there – I’m totally aware of it – and until a recent weekend in north-east Victoria, I thought my waistline was doomed. That was until I discovered the joys of cycling through wine country.
Day one: Rutherglen Perhaps it’s because in their hearts they are naturally humble and hardworking, but the winemakers of Rutherglen do the family business thing really well. Morris and Campbells have been making wine here for five generations; at All Saints Estate the sixth generation has is now at the helm and, astonishingly, Stanton & Killeen are now into their seventh generation of winemakers. The region is probably best known for its fortified wines – most notably Muscat and Tokay – but there are other fascinating and fabulous wines created here by each new generation looking to leave its mark. As my guide, Natalie, says, “If you want to try something you’ve never had before, you’re in the right place.” We’re about to embark on a ‘Seasonal Food Foray’ tour and although I’m a little nervous about the 20-kilometre bike ride involved, I’m incredibly excited.
The brainchild of the owners at The Pickled Sisters Café, the foray is a picnic of sorts comprising four dishes made with seasonal and local produce, and matching wines from four different wineries. The meal comes packed in a pretty four-storey stainless steel tiffin that fits neatly into the bicycle basket. First stop is Cofield Wines, conveniently next door – although we have cycled from town so I feel I’ve earned my house-smoked salmon and herbed sour cream served with chargrilled baguette. The dish is paired perfectly with a chilled glass of Cofield’s 2012 Sparkling Pinot Noir Chardonnay. As Nat remarks, and I must agree, “Any day that you’re drinking champagne before midday is a good day.” There’s no rest for the wicked though, and we hop back on our bikes and head to our next pit stop at Pfeiffer Wines. The winery is abuzz. Vintage has come early this year and everything has ripened at once, so they’re picking and fermenting at a frantic pace. Word on the proverbial grapevine is that 2015 will be a brilliant harvest for Rutherglen wines and the vignerons are all very excited. We set up at a more peaceful spot next, on the bridge that crosses the carp- and turtle-filled river running through the estate. Along with some food for our new aquatic friends, The Pickled Sisters have also supplied us with a very generous glass of their 2013
The winery is abuzz. Vintage has come early this year and everything has ripened at once, so they’re picking and fermenting at a frantic pace.
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Images Š Ewen Bell
food&wine
Marsanne to match with our second course: Milawa free-range chicken and pistachio terrine served with peach chutney. At this stage, although I’m rather thankful for Rutherglen’s lack of hills, I’m holding up well. The sun is shining, there’s a cool breeze blowing and I’m exercising – with a smile on my face! I could get used to this. Next we pull up our bikes at the Stanton and Killeen cellar door. Dropping in for a quick pre-meal tasting, I’m particularly impressed by their reds. Although you can still find punch-you-in-the-face Durifs that can get up to 18% alcohol-by-volume, there is a refined elegance starting to show through in the red wines of Rutherglen. Stanton and Killeen’s 2012 Shiraz Durif (a 50/50 blend) is a fine example of this, and it goes down nicely with our seared fillet of beef served with salsa verde and a green bean, tomato and olive salad.
Next we pull up our bikes at the Stanton and Killeen cellar door. Dropping in for a quick pre-meal tasting, I’m particularly impressed by their reds. The blessed folk at The Pickled Sisters have saved the best for last. As previously mentioned, the Tokays of Rutherglen have a well-deserved reputation for quality and Campbells has some of the very best. It’s a wonderful match for our dessert of orange and almond cake, served with confit of oranges and citrus syrup and a tub of local Gundowring vanilla ice cream. I’d be more than happy with just the tub and the Tokay – and say as much when I go into the cellar door for a tasting. “Oh I know!” laughs Ian, the man behind the bar. “We once had a group doing just that. I told them, ‘that doesn’t have the heart foundation tick of approval … you keep that up someone’s gonna die!’” Not if they have their bikes though, Ian. It’s all about balance.
Day two: Beechworth Feeling emboldened by my efforts yesterday, today I decide to tackle 38 kilometres of the Murray to Mountains Rail Trail. Damian Cerini of Tour de Vines has put together a cracking itinerary that makes the most of the region’s produce and wineries.
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food&wine
We visit vignerons, stop for a much-needed ice-cold beer, pop into an olive grove, taste cheese and lunch at the famous Milawa Cheese Factory and, finally, wind up at the Brown Brothers’ bustling cellar door. What started out as a hobby has now become a full-time business for Damian. “I used to bring friends here from Melbourne for weekends of eating and drinking and cycling, and it just kind of took off from there,” he explains. He’s picked a perfect part of the world for it. It’s not as flat as Rutherglen, but thankfully our route is downhill and pretty soon I’m going faster on a bike than I’ve ever done before and I’m not even pedalling. The trail is busy, and I note that my fellow cyclists are hardly spring chickens. “Cycling’s the new golf,” a smiley old bloke declares at our first stop, the Pennyweight cellar door. “Lots of older people are getting into it and it’s something we can do with our wives. Most guys who play golf just go by themselves.” He’s part of a group of three couples who are doing the same tour, but they just have a map and are taking their time at each place, smiling and chatting and sampling. It’s very clear from the sparkle in their eyes and the grins on their faces that they’re big fans of the wine lover’s workout too.
Round-up GET THERE Rutherglen and Beechworth are a 30-minute drive from Albury.
STAY At a self-contained boutique villa set in a working vineyard: The Wicked Villa 165 Hopetoun Rd, Rutherglen 02 6032 7022 rutherglenvic.com/accommodation/ the-wicked-villa
EAT Sip and graze at: Thousand Pound 82 Main Street, Rutherglen 02 6035 2222 thousandpound.com.au Feast at: All Saints Estate 315 All Saints Road, Wahgunyah 02 6035 2222 allsaintswine.com.au
MORE INFO victoriashighcountry.com.au tourdevines.com.au
22
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food&wine
Hunter Valley
Wine & Food Month The Hunter Valley is well known for its delicious year-round food and wine offering, but for the entire month of June as the Hunter celebrates its culinary heritage, there are a number of events planned that allow you to get up close and personal with the region’s chefs and winemakers. Here’s a sample of what’s on offer this year.
Olive Long Table Luncheon The Art of Gnocchi
June 6, 13, 27, 11.30am Learn how to make gnocchi in a masterclass at renowned Italian restaurant Il Cacciatore before enjoying a fabulous two-course meal overlooking the beautiful Hermitage Estate.
hermitagelodge.com.au
June 6, 12pm The annual Whispering Brook Olive Long Table Luncheon has become one of the region’s most popular events. Guests are seated (weather-permitting) at a long table in the olive grove and served a Mediterranean-inspired menu prepared by Andrew Wright. Lunch is accompanied by live music, followed by a tutored walking tour in the olive grove with a guest speaker talking about the amazing properties and applications of extra virgin olive oil.
whispering-brook.com 24
Viva Verdelho
Weekdays in June, 10.30am– 2.30pm Tullochs, the pioneering family of Verdelho, have matched five styles of Verdelho – from the low alcohol sparkling style of Verscato to the luscious fortified Créme de Vin – with five creative food accompaniments. Foodie delights range from Thai beef salad to Turkish delight.
tullochwines.com
food&wine
Dine with the Dynamic Duo
June 14, 12pm This year the Hunter has produced two young culinary superstars: Young Restaurateur of the Year, Troy Rhoades-Brown, and Gourmet Traveller Wine’s Young Winemaker of the Year, Gwyn Olsen, of Briar Ridge Wines. Join Gwyn and Troy at Muse Restaurant in Hungerford Hill for a sumptuous four-course menu matched with Briar Ridge wines. The menu is creative and flamboyant with liberal use of liquid nitrogen to create dishes the whole restaurant “oohs” and “aahs” over as plates are served. The food is completely delicious (and beautiful), but the standout dish has to be the Muse coconut dessert. Book early, this event will sell out fast. musedining.com.au
Wine… and Die!
June 20, 6.30pm The Sebel Kirkton Park is putting on an event with a kick this year – a progressive degustation dinner filled with gourmet food, fun and fictional intrigue. The aim of the game is to solve a murder-mystery before the guilty party strikes again. Guests are encouraged to dress up in costume and stay, play and solve a murder.
Bare Vine & Bubbles
sebelhuntervalley.com.au
petersonhouse.com.au
June 27–28, 10am–4pm Peterson House is famous for bubbles and breakfast, and this event is an opportunity to sample their wines as well as those of Savannah Estate and Lambloch Estate. Paired with gourmet delights from Restaurant Cuvée, this is sure to titillate your tastebuds.
For a full list of events and venues visit winecountry.com.au 25
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Screaming for Michelle Hespe visits one of the lesser-known ski resorts in Victoria and discovers a village that is as affordable as it is friendly.
Mount Baw Baw
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outtahere
he sound of kids screaming filters through the snow gums that are so heavily laden with snow it’s hard to tell where the trees stop and the mountain begins. There’s a snaking road, covered in sun-dappled snow, leading to a break in the trees where the screams have reached fever pitch. All of a sudden an adult voice joins the pandemonium – yelling out: “Move it! I’m going to hit you!” Rounding a final corner in the road, the cause of the screams is in full view – a hillside so white in the midday sun that it’s hard on the eyes. And all over it, like fluorescent sprinkles on a giant cupcake, are the brightly clad bodies of hundreds of children (and a few adults) on toboggans. They are going for it – some standing up, knees shaking as they tightly grip the rope handle, others hurtling backwards, some joined together with little gloved hands, and some sitting properly, neatly tucked in, screaming with joy as they fly down the hill into a sweeping bend that slows them
Rounding a final corner in the road, the cause of the screams is in full view – a hillside so white in the midday sun that it’s hard on the eyes. down just in time to avoid hitting upcoming bushland. It’s hard not to smile while taking it all in. And this scene alone – the kids, the laughter and the excited shrieking – sums up the spirit of Mount Baw Baw. This small village is all about family-friendly fun. You don’t go to Baw Baw if you’re a competitive skier or snowboarder into challenging runs that have the potential to land you in hospital. Nope. And you don’t go to Baw Baw if you can’t get up a hill on a poma – the type of ski lift that consists
of a circular ‘seat’ you place between your legs and a pole you hang onto for balance. In this beautiful mountaintop resort, only a few hours’ drive from Melbourne, it’s all about nice, easy runs (there are only seven) and there are no chairlifts – so the poma or t-bar lift are your only way up. But that’s what gives Baw Baw its character – there are people being helped up by strangers everywhere – newbies on the snow who are just getting their balance and landing in a tangled heap of limbs, stocks, skis and laughter.
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outtahere
There’s a lot of shrieking and the poma operators are never short of patience as they watch people fall off – helping them up so that they can give getting up the mountain another shot. That’s not to say that there aren’t some great runs in Baw Baw for those who know their way around the slopes. There are plenty of intermediate and advanced skiers about, but it’s more about cruising than flying down the kind of black runs you might find in Victoria’s Falls Creek. And for Europeans and Americans accustomed to the high slopes of places like Montana’s Big Sky or France’s Val Cenis, Baw Baw is a place that can give them an on-snow holiday that isn’t going to have them heading home with a sore coccyx and painful burning thighs. Skiing aside, there are the huskies of Baw Baw to meet and two hound dogs who think they are huskies. All winter long, the resort offers sled tours, where you can check out the pristine areas of the resort behind a team of eight very excited dogs, learning about them and their environment as you glide through the
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Skiing aside, there are also the huskies of Baw Baw to meet. And two hound dogs who think they are huskies.
outtahere
Above: Wining and dining at The Village Restaurant.
Narnia-like landscape. The Howling Husky Sled Dog Tours headquarters in the Village Bowl is worth visiting even if you don’t go for a ride, just to meet the many well-loved and pampered dogs. Off the snow and après ski, Baw Baw is just as welcoming and family-oriented. There are four places to eat in the village,
plus the Skiosk located at the base of the skiing area, and most of the apartments and accommodation options have fully-equipped kitchens for dining in. The Village Restaurant offers the most upmarket cuisine in town – the chef doing a great job of creating delicious meals from fresh food sourced in Gippsland and the surrounding valleys, which
are renowned for their abundance of fine produce. The Village, as the regulars call it, also has a deck with jaw-dropping views across Latrobe Valley. Whether it’s summer or winter, the deck is the place to be... unless you’re a kid, and then the place to be is in the Village’s movie room – that’s chockers with bean bags and other rugrats. Staff show the latest films in the afternoons so the little ones can wiggle out of their boots and suits and hang out (or pass out) while the adults indulge in a little food and wine. A few minutes’ stroll down the road is Alpine Bistro, the place for a pub lunch or dinner and an après ski drink, and down further, right on one of the two tobbogan fields, with awesome views of the snow gumsurrounded ski runs, is Kelly’s Café. It dishes up more casual food such as pizzas, pies and toasties, and it’s also (thankfully) licensed. Many a parent can be spotted relaxing with a beverage while their kids scream their hearts out on toboggans. Another reason so many people are drawn to Baw Baw, is that it’s affordable ski holiday destination.
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outtahere
There’s a huge array of cabins, lodges and apartments to rent for about $100 to $200 a night, a backpackers where beds are only $25 a night, and a Flashpackers – offering double rooms that are more upmarket for just $75 a night. Or you can go all the way and rent a stylish house for about $2,000 a weekend for 14 people, and for a premium offering in winter, you can rent out a super stylish lodge that sleeps six, for $1,400 for an entire weekend. All of these options are, more or less, right on the snow. Although Mount Baw Baw turns into a winter wonderland when the snow hits, it’s equally popular in the summertime, when people flock to the mountain for awesome mountain biking trails, downhill road biking, hiking, bushwalking, climbing and to simply enjoy some downtime. The village is heavily into promoting the arts and offers programs for writers in residence, as well as an Eco Art prize that gives
artists a chance to work on projects in the inspiring natural surrounds. In 2013, Baw Baw also launched the ArchiBawBaw, a portrait competition that offers a total of $,000 prize money for the best portraits of someone who has an interesting past linked to Mount Baw Baw. Some of the top entries can be seen hanging at The Village Restaurant, keeping the history and heritage of the region alive and local. That’s the thing about Baw Baw – yes, it’s a stunning alpine location with its snow gums, creeks, rivers and mountains – but it’s really the people who make it special. As soon as you step through the big stonework walls that frame the village’s entry gates, you’re surrounded by people, staff included, who are just so happy to be there. And if it’s winter, then the joyous screams of kids getting their toboggan kicks will no doubt be a timeless holiday soundtrack to remember.
It’s a stunning alpine location with its snow gums, creeks, rivers and mountains – but it’s really the people who make it.
Round-up GET THERE Mount Baw Baw is a 2.5-hour drive from Melbourne, and in the snow season it’s a requisite to have tyre chains on board to enter the resort. Alternatively, drive or train it to Moe and organise a transfer with Mt Baw Baw Transport Service online at mountaintopexperience.com/snow
STAY There are self-catered options on the mountain to suit every budget – head to mountbawbaw.com.au/accommodation for the full run down.
EAT & DRINK The Village Restaurant Bookings essential: 03 5165 1123 Alpine Bar & Bistro Open ‘til late, during winter only, for a quick coffee, a hearty pub feed, or to dance the night away.
MORE INFO mountbawbaw.com.au
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insidertips
INSIDER TIPS
THIS MONTH WE SPEAK TO JAY O’SHEA FROM BAND O’SHEA ABOUT THE BEST MUSIC HOLIDAYS OUR FAVOURITE COUNTRY MUSIC FESTIVALS CMC Rocks You’ll see a fantastic array of country music talent, both international and local. CMC goes all-out to bring the biggest A-list stars from the USA and Canada to Queensland and have them play right alongside our local faves. cmcrocks.com.au
Gympie Music Muster Be prepared for some down and dirty country fun. This place is full of good times and happy memories just waiting to be made. muster.com.au
Tamworth Country Music Festival It’s iconic and kinda crazy, but an awesome opportunity to discover new talent in country and blues, roots, rock and reggae. I’ve had some of the best times I can remember in Tamworth. tamworthcountrymusic.com.au
TPAOCPKI5NAGLS
E S SE
NTI
1. A cool cap to cover bad hair. WILSON TOUR CAP
RRP $19.95
2. Lip balm. I ALWAYS carry it. BOTÁNI’S HEALING LIP BALM
RRP $11.95
3. Tint with sunblock, essential when you’ve got skin like mine. JANE IREDALE TINTED MOISTURIZER SPF 15+ RRP $54 4. Bug repellant – as long as it’s only toxic to bugs! PARA’KITO BUG REPELLANT CLIP
RRP $24.95
5. A serious pair of sunglasses to block out the Aussie sun. ARMOUR POLARISED
RRP $64.95
Best time of the day.
Early evening – that’s when everyone gets fired up. Drinks are flowing, everyone’s mood is spiked and the place is jumpin’, jumpin’!
Don’t leave home without...
Pants. I’ve tried it – and it didn’t work out so well!
Ideal travelling companion.
O’Shea’s latest album The Famine and the Feast is out now.
My husband and kiddos. I can’t imagine doing anything without them. I’m such a sook!
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Conquer Cystic Fibrosis through research
I
n 2002 a small group of
parents of children with CF decided to raise money for Cystic Fibrosis WA (CFWA) which, at the time, was in need of financial support. The 65 Roses Grand Ball for Cystic Fibrosis was born and $42,986.25 was raised. Realising the potential they had to raise significant funds, and driven by the need to do all they could to make a real difference for people with CF, in 2003 this same group, in addition to raising money for CFWA, raised funds to donate to research. Since then, the group has grown to encompass people with CF and family friends. This very dedicated and extremely hard working group have continued to organise the 65 Roses Grand Ball for Cystic Fibrosis, making it an annual event. Their major focus being research. Why? The answer is best told in the numbers. Life expectancy in Australia for people with CF in
the 1960’s was 5 years. It is now 35 years. Deaths in Australia of younger people have, thankfully declined dramatically since 1998. The six years from 1998 to 2004 saw a fall of 70% in the number of deaths of people with CF aged under 20 years. The greatest contributing factor to this is undoubtedly research. Research leads to improvements in treatments,which in turn leads to longer, healthier lives. To date the 65 Roses Balls have raised $910,976.13 for CFWA and CF research. In 2012, Conquer Cystic Fibrosis was incorporated, thus allowing for expansion and increased fundraising for CF research. The Ball, the major fundraising event has been renamed “The Conquer Cystic Fibrosis Grand Ball”. Unfortunately there is still no cure for Cystic Fibrosis. But that is something Conquer Cystic Fibrosis Inc, intends to change.
There is still no cure for Cystic Fibrosis
Conquer www.conquercysticfibrosis.com
C stic Fibrosis Inc.
charity
A GIFT
THAT GIVES ingana Enterprises Inc. has found an innovative way to add relish to the lives of people with disabilities. Through its subsidiary company, an Australian Disability Enterprise called Ningana Fine Foods, it is providing 27 people with disabilities with meaningful employment at its farm in Griffith, New South Wales. Here, in the cultivated dirt of the Riverina, the fruit and vegetables of Ningana Fine Foods are planted, harvested and packaged by the organisation’s supported employees. According to Jo Polkinghorn, Business Development Manager at Ningana, what makes Ningana Fine Foods so special is the fact that its employees are able to “travel the journey from planting the seedlings through to labeling and packaging the products and delivering them to the customers.” Jo believes that being communityminded is an essential ingredient for a successful business. In her self-proclaimed role as a ‘Minister of Opportunities,’ Jo identifies, creates and garners support for different opportunities within the organisation that will help the organisation achieve social and economic participation on behalf of individuals living with disabilities. One such initiative was the opportunity to create a range of preserves from the
Ningana Fine Foods is helping people with disabilities put food on the table – quite literally. Melissa Peterkin speaks to the social enterprise about adding value to people’s lives.
farm’s produce. In November 2012, Ningana launched a range of subsequently certified-organic preserves under the ‘Jam I am’ and ‘Wam Bam Man Jam’ collections. Although it initially only featured a trademark strawberry jam, the range of preserves for sale has since grown to include flavours such as pumpkin chutney, strawberry topping, tomato relish, orange marmalade and – the latest addition – zucchini pickle. What’s more, its organic fruit and vegetables are sold at local markets as well as markets in Sydney and Melbourne, and the organisation is “currently working with a distributor to take the products to the major cities.” A typical day starts at about 7am, when Ningana’s employees – whose ages range from 18 to 64 – begin their work on the farm. Everyday jobs include planting, harvesting, weeding, watering, tractor driving and labelling jams. The challenges of employing individuals living with disabilities are met with
determination by Ningana’s staff, who ensure that employees are able to achieve goals in the workplace environment. While employment is an important aspect of Ningana’s mission, the true success lies in providing its employees with “skills, a social network, a weekly structure, an income, the opportunity to participate in the community [and] access to a wider support group.” Founded in 1965, Ningana Enterprises provides support for more than 100 individuals living with disabilities and their families. As well as employment, the organisation assists with training opportunities, respite care, accommodation services, day programs and support with living skills. All sales of preserves and fresh food is put back into the organisation, making any Ningana Fine Foods product truly a gift that gives. “Ultimately we want to empower people with a disability and their carers to lead full and valuable lives,” Jo says.
What makes Ningana Fine Foods so special is the fact that its employees are able to “travel the journey from planting the seedlings through to labeling and packaging the products and delivering them to the customers.” 37
www.safesite.com.au
Conquer Cystic Fibrosis through research Life expectancy in Australia for people with Cystic Fibrosis (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.
There is still no cure for Cystic Fibrosis, but it is something Conquer Cystic Fibrosis Inc. intends to change.
www.conquercysticfibrosis.com
Conquer C stic Fibrosis Inc.
healthnews
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WORK IT
THIS MONTH MASSAGE THERAPIST ANITA WHELAN TALKS TO US ABOUT THE BENEFITS OF MASSAGE. “Massage isn’t just about relaxation and a good ‘rub down’. On a purely practical level, massage can relieve muscle tension, pain and restriction – all of which can lead to headaches, muscle tears, sports injuries and repetitive strain conditions. “Massage is also an amazing stress-management tool. Thorough treatment from a certified massage therapist – who listens not only to what you say verbally, but what your body is saying – will assist you to reconnect with your body and hear what it tells you. The body is extremely sensitive and if we are able to listen to its language, we can prevent many stress-related disorders. “Regularity is the key to success. One treatment can feel good and seem to ‘fix the problem’, but before you know it your back starts hurting again, or the headaches return. Regular treatment keeps the soft tissue in good condition, preventing it from forming adhesions (knots). Regular massage maintains a healthy flow of oxygenated blood to the soft tissue (organs included!). “A good therapist will keep notes and continue to work with you to achieve and maintain good joint and soft tissue mobility and flexibility; working with you and providing you with treatment that is specific to your needs. “Rule of thumb for how often one should receive massage: if there is no injury or underlying condition, one massage weekly for one month; then one massage fortnightly for one month; then one massage monthly for general good health.” anitawhelan.com.au
LIQUIDO ACTIVE Liquido Active has collaborated with renowned US Yogi Tiffany Cruikshank on a new socially-conscious line of active wear. A percentage of all sales are donated to charities in India, including the Nabadisha Education Project, which addresses education and support issues for children in Kolkata. The bold prints and colours of this limited-edition range has been popular with celebrities such as Sofia Vergara. What makes these garments even better is that they are made from amni polyamide, a breathable and durable fabric that offers 50+ UV protection. liquidoactive.com
HEADS UP ON HANGOVERS Planning a big night out, but dreading the next day? Try HeadsUp, a new Australian product specifically formulated to prevent the symptoms of a hangover. Containing a combination of plant extracts, vitamins and minerals, it claims that best results will be achieved by taking up to four tablets before bed after consuming alcohol. Please see packaging for full ingredients, claims and dosage instructions. headsuprelief.com.au 39
A world of engineering
Charles Darwin University (CDU) is the frst, and the only, Australian university to have both undergraduate and postgraduate qualifcations accredited under the EUR-ACEŽ label system. Coupled with accreditation from Engineers Australia, an engineering degree from CDU will give you the fexibility to pursue an engineering career around the world. What’s more, CDU is ranked in the top 2% of universities worldwide*. As a recognised leader in online education, we can help you realise your global potential in a way that best suits you.
CDU060-OT
Find out more at cdu.edu.au/engineeringworld
*Times Higher Education, World University Rankings 2013-2014. CRICOS Provider Number: 00300K (NT) 03286A (NSW) | RTO Provider Number: 0373
TRAVEL NEWS OUR HOT PICKS FOR THE MONTH
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Hotel luxe
If you’re getting tired of the cookie-cutter hotel stay, then you’ll love QT’s fabulously quirky residence right in the heart of Sydney. Located within the historic Gowings and State Theatre buildings, the hotel retains much of the art deco architecture, and boasts an award-winning spa and restaurant. Indulge in a range of sumptuous treatments before hitting the famous Gowings Bar & Grill for the best steak in town, then head back to your ultra-chic room for the night. qthotels.com.au
The Greens
NEWS FROM THE RIVERINA Barellan Beer (the crowdsourced beer launched at Taste last year) is now available at Barellan and District War Memorial Club and the Commercial Hotel, Barellan. Farm tours are available by appointment, providing visitors with the opportunity to see where the barley has come from.
North Sydney bowling club The Greens is freshly refurbished, and has a new menu to go with it! The menu features wholesome dishes such as 12-hour roasted lamb shoulder, whole stuffed spatchcock with warm puy lentils, baby corn and pickled zucchini or blue swimmer crab spaghetti. Top it all off with spectacular views of Sydney Harbour – it can’t be beaten. thegreensnorthsydney.com.au
FUSION BREAKFAST Following popular demand, Sokyo at Sydney’s The Star is now open for breakfast between 7am and 10.30am, serving a delicious continental breakfast with a Sokyo twist. We highly recommend the modern creations such as the hearty Sumo Breakfast (choice of eggs, grilled bacon, Japanese sausage, sautéed mushroom, edamame, roasted potato, tomato, avocado, toasted ciabatta), the healthy Bircher-San (quinoa bircher muesli, watermelon, mint, crispy lychee, Greek yoghurt) and the sweet pancake with banana purée, Nutella and walnut crumb. Delish! star.com.au
LORD HOWE ISLAND SCENTS
Perfect for beauty m avens !
We simply adore the latest range from Maine. Its crisp coconut fragrance with a twist of lime juice, sweet orange, fresh cilantro, and subtle bergamot, with base notes of vanilla bean and coconut cream – the new collection is sure to transport you to an island paradise. The range, which reflects the moistureladen sea breezes of Lord Howe Island, includes Hand & Body Crème, Hand & Body Wash, Body Polish, Hand & Nail Crème and French Milled Soap. Scrumptious! cocco.com.au 41
TWO~ BO COMNUS PLIM INC ENT LUS ARY IO DR N ~ INK S!
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Cosy up in the Bunyas
G E TAW
It’s a great time to celebrate winter on high in the majestic Bunya Mountains. An offshoot of the Great Dividing Range formed about 30 million years ago, this unique habitat protects the largest remaining bunya pine forest in the world. Crisp mountain air, walks in the national park, soaring views and holiday houses warmed by crackling fires make it the perfect place to cosy up. Walks ranging from 500 metres to 10 kilometres traverse rainforest, bunya pine and eucalypt forest, waterfalls and grassy ‘balds’, and offer the chance to see native wildlife and 121 bird species including brilliantly coloured king parrots, satin bowerbirds and crimson rosellas. There’s just enough civilisation to keep you happy – cafés, an elegant restaurant, a general store, monthly markets and a daytrip diversion to the cellar doors of the South Burnett Wine Trail. The best news is that it’s less than two hours’ drive from Toowoomba. southernqueenslandcountry.com.au
Get hands-on at Cobb + Co
Taste a Strangebird A Strangebird isn’t actually a bird. It’s a wine trail through the lesser-known alternative wine varietals produced in Southern Queensland Country’s Granite Belt region. If you think Chardonnay and Shiraz are the be-all and end-all, be you’ll be blown away by the likes of Verdelho, Viognier, Marsanne, Tempranillo, Petit Verdot and Gewertztraminer. Join winemaker and educator Peter Orr for a Strangebird Trail Masterclass – a sensory journey at Stanthorpe’s Queensland College of Wine Tourism on June 6. You can also do a self-guided Strangebird trail – simply pick up a map from a local information centre or download it from qcwt.com.au
Discover your creative side learning a traditional skill at one of Cobb + Co Museum’s hands-on workshops in Toowoomba. Expert artisans guide small groups in skills such as silversmithing, blacksmithing, glass-bead art, stick-furniture making and leadlighting. School holiday workshops are also offered for teens. While you’re there, take a look at the museum’s outstanding collection of horse-drawn vehicles and explore the natural and cultural history of the Darling Downs cobbandco.qm.qld.gov.au
ON THE GO Need better equipment to eat on the go? Try the Light My Fire MealKit. Designed by Scandinavian Joachim Nordwall, this stylish kit will fit nicely into your backpack, picnic basket or even your lunch box. It contains everything you need to prepare and eat a meal anywhere. Made from easy-to-clean, taste-free material, it is also stain- taste- and odour-resistant, BPA-free, microwave safe, dishwasher safe and stackable. Just perfect. paddypallin.com.au
Perfect for travel ling!
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EUDCTAION CAHNGES EEVRYTIHNG If you’re not educated reading a simple sentence is almost impossible! Imagine trying to get a job, keep yourself healthy or support your family if you never got to finish school? That’s the story for more than 60 million girls around the world. But it doesn’t have to be... We believe that every girl on the planet has the right to an education. And we’re doing something about it. We work with girls in Sierra Leone, West Africa – one of the worst places on earth to be born a girl. We provide scholarships, build new classrooms, offer business training and remove the barriers to them completing their education.
And we want you to join us. BECAUSE AN EDUCATED GIRl CAN CHANGE HER wORlD.
Changing the world one girl at a time.
www.onegirl.org.au
travelnews
TRAVEL NEWS
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New craft brewery:
Young Henrys Young Henrys, whose flagship store opened in Newcastle, NSW in 2012, is about to open its second venue – in the Margaret River region of Western Australia. The ‘Beer Farm’, 20 minutes north of the Margaret River township, will provide the region with a fresh, innovative and environmentally-friendly approach to craft beer. younghenrys.com
New cellar door:
Brygon Reserve
Brygon Reserve Wines’ new cellar door is only nine kilometres from Margaret River and is located right next door to Colonial Brewing Co on Osmington Road. Since 2009, this dynamic winery has claimed more than 400 awards and accolades, including nine international trophies. Visit the cellar door for award-winning wines and take a peak into a working winery surrounded by picturesque vineyards, landscaped lawns, a private lake and chalet accommodation. brygonreservewines.com.au
MUST DO! If you’re suffering from food and wine overindulgence in the Margaret River, get yourself to the Boranup Forest for a bush adventure on an electric quad bike. Vroom, vroom! That’s right: an electric quad bike! EcoAdventures Margaret River is the only place on earth that operates these environmentally-friendly vehicles, built specifically for this landscape. Take a fully-guided tour to some of the hidden gems of the forest and nearby Hamelin Bay, both of which are part of the Leeuwin Naturaliste National Park. You can even take an iPad with you to learn about the region’s flora and fauna, shipwrecks, ecology and the cultural history of the region. margaretriver.com.au 45
Agribusiness
Open to opportunities in rural Australia? TAKE A CLOSER LOOK. Government grants are available for registered general dentists who want to work in private practice in a location more regional, rural or remote than their current location. Look what’s on offer: • Relocation grants of $15,000 to $120,000 • Infrastructure grants up to $250,000
The 2015/16 funding rounds are: • 7 September–9 October 2015 • 22 February–24 March 2016 To see if you’re eligible: Visit: www.rhwa.org.au/DRISS Email: DRISS@rhwa.org.au Freecall: 1800 475 433
Dental Relocation and Infrastructure Support Scheme is funded by the Australian Government and administered by Rural Health Workforce Australia.
Food manufacture & retail
Wine
travelnews
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Devils in the Dark
Endemic to Tasmania, Tasmanian devils are pocket rocket carnivores that are as fascinating as they are feared. Seeing them up close during the day is a rare experience due to their nocturnal nature, but visitors can now view this mysterious creature during a Devils in the Dark tour. Developed at East Coast Natureworld in Bicheno by a devil expert with more than 30 years’ experience, this is an incredible opportunity to see the animals behave in a simulated ‘wild’. The hissing, screaming and fighting begins at sunset – be there, or be square!
devilsinthedark.com.au
Brooke St. Pier
TABLE CAPE
LIGHTHOUSE TOURS Shining like a beacon as you approach, the Table Cape Lighthouse has been protecting sailors and ships since 1888. The only operating lighthouse open for tours on Tasmania’s mainland, it now offers an insight into what it takes to operate these life-saving warning lights. Learn about the history of the lighthouse and ascend the spiral staircase for sweeping views of Table Cape, formed over 13 million years ago. Adults $10, children $5. tablecapelighthousetours.com.au
The Brooke Street Pier has been around since the 1820s and has always helped attract trade in Hobart. Now, there’s a new contemporary take on the old pier, in the form of a four-storey floating pier. Is it a building? Or is it a boat? Either way, it’s an ever-changing space full of food, artisans and tourism, currently featuring the likes of The MONA Ferry, William McHenry Distillery, Grandvewe Cheeses and Bright Eyes coffee. brookestreetpier.com.au
Bespoke Tasmania Tours and Gin Workshop Well-travelled, well-heeled local Kim Dudson’s Bespoke Tasmania features exclusive tours of the very best Tasmania has to offer: artisan brewers and distillers and access to exceptional historical properties and premium food producers. Kim will handcraft tours to suit the visitor’s interest and now also offers Gin Workshops with none other than master distiller William McHenry of McHenry’s Gin. Over four spirited hours, you’ll tour his distillery, enjoy a tutored tasting learning about the gin flavour profile in depth and finish with a gin-matched lunch in the pretty mountainside grounds as well as your own bespoke gin recipe. Tours start from $225 or can be incorporated into a Bespoke Tasmania day tour. bespoketasmania.com
Perfect for cold c limate s
CRAGHOPPERS COMPRESSLITE JACKET We just love these jackets. Lightweight, super-compressible and ready for action, straight from its own stow sack, it’s a smart choice for instant warmth. CompressLite jackets are extremely warm, windproof and thankfully rainproof too. RRP $129.99
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AGRIBUSINESS
MINING
INVESTMENT
PLUS...
The latest news, information and innovations from the agricultural industry
Helpful insights and fascinating facts about the Australian mining and resource sector
Top tips from the experts on how to make the most of your hard-earned cash
Conference destinations Motoring review Must-have boys’ toys Seasonal flavours
RegionalBusinessReview Issue 4 – June/July 2015
Fruits of
their labour Up and coming movers and shakers in the agribusiness sector
WORDS: BEN SMITHURST
MAZDA BT-50 IT MAY HAVE A FACE ONLY A MOTHER COULD LOVE, BUT EVEN BEFORE ITS SCHEDULED RHINOPLASTY, THE JAPANESE UTE IS PLENTY TOUGH. STEP BROTHERS isn’t the greatest achievement in the film careers of either John C Reilly or Will Ferrell, but if you are looking for a film to quote endlessly at your mates then you can do worse. It has very little to do with cars and even less to do with utes, but there is a scene where Will Ferrell’s rude co-worker, Randy, makes a fist and talks about how dearly he’d love to beat Will’s ass. “I don’t know what it is about your face,” says Randy, pursing his lips and gripping his knuckles, “but I just wanna deliver one of these right in your suck hole.”
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Mazda’s BT-50 has a punchable face. Burly, with a wide, gurning grin, it is the Kyle Sandliands of work utes: if you don’t like it, then the most fleeting of glances at its face makes otherwise reasonable men disproportionately angry. It has done so since it debuted its current face, which was pencilled in Australia by Mazda’s Japanese ute design chief, Ryo Yanagisawa, at Ford’s Broadmeadows facilities in Victoria. (Mazda and Ford have shared utility components between
the BT-50 and Ranger, respectively, or their earlier iterations, since 1972.) Nobody has much liked how the BT-50 has looked since it landed in 2011. Indeed, it is widely believed that the ute’s distinctive bull bar – which looks like nothing so much as a vehicular version of a party mask from a Florentine masked ball – was designed specifically to cover as much of it as possible. And yet as 2015 broke, it had still managed to secure 8.75 per cent of Australia’s ute market.
Mazda is aware of this, though, and so will shortly debut a mid-life styling revision, touching on both the interior and exterior looks. This is important, because compared to cars, which debut new root-and-branch models regularly, lifecycles for utes typically stretch for a decade or so. This is good, and much deserved. Because the innards will remain – and even among a brace of worthy contenders in a year hot with new offerings, including Toyota HiLux, Nissan Navara and Mitsubishi Triton, the plucky Mazda holds its own. The Mazda’s pre-facelift range starts with a manual 2.2L four-cylinder two-door cab-chassis rear-wheel-drive 4x2 XT (from $25,570), which produces 110kW at 3700rpm and 375Nm from 1500-2500rpm. It runs all the way to an automatic, halo version at $53,140, which buys a 3.2L five-cylinder turbo-diesel dual-cab 4x4 GT, and pumps out 147kW at 3000rpm and a thumping 470Nm from 1750-2500rpm. That compares
Mazda and Ford have shared utility components between the BT50 and Ranger, respectively, or their earlier iterations, since 1972. RegionalBusinessReview
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very favourably to Toyota’s super-popular HiLux, the priciest midyear 2014 version of which, the Black Limited Edition, cost $55,900 as a 3.0L diesel four-pot, and produced 126kW and 360Nm. Australia has embraced Mazda in the small car market. The Mazda3 is the car that put paid to the Holden Commodore’s record 15-year streak at the top of Australian sales charts in 2011 and 2012. Since then, it has jostled with the Toyota Corolla as the nation’s most popular new car – and while the Corolla has edged it to the number one slot in 2013 and 2014, the lil’ Mazda3 is undoubtedly a superior car on the road. Even considering its limp-wristed curves, and the generally Spartan layout of most utilities, where the luxury bar is set criminally low, the BT-50 follows the Mazda3’s lead. Which is to say that it is better dynamically, and with better ride and handling, than most rivals. Its elegant interior shifts it from ‘basic tradie sled’ to being a ‘road-oriented work ute’. As per Mazda’s volume passenger cars, the Mazda2, Mazda3 and Mazda6, the cabin layout is intuitive and clutterfree. There’s six-speaker sound, USB and iPod connectivity, and Bluetooth streaming is standard in crew-cab versions – a classy set of interfaces that are let down only by a poxy five-inch LCD screen.
2014 Mazda BT-50 GT
SPECIFICATIONS Engine Type DIESEL TURBO F/INJ Engine Size
3.2L
Cylinders
DIESEL TURBO 5
Torque
470Nm @ 1750rpm
Power
147kW @ 3000rpm
Fuel economy 9.2L/100km Shape
Four-door ute
Transmission Auto 4x4 dual range Price
4
$53,140
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Braked towing capacity is a belting 3500kg, with payload capacity leading its competitors at 1350kg (with the 147kW engine) for the freestyle cabin, dropping to 1088kg with the dual cab model. The tray has half-a-dozen tie-down hooks. There are a choice of two transmissions: a six-cog manual or a buttery six-speed auto. Independent front suspension flatters a rigid rear axle –the leaf springs thereon add to the typical ute judderiness, because 1350kg is a lot to
support. But even with no extra weight over the rear tyres, it’s a reasonably settled performer for non-work driving. It’s unfair to describe the BT-50 as ugly. Indeed, its punchable visage is a reflection of the delicacy of its curves. Its lines are a turn-off because nobody on a building site likes a poseur. But what it lacks in overt manliness, it makes up for in ability – and value per dollar. No matter how steroidal its cosmetic update, its bare-bones performance will remain.
Its elegant interior shifts it from ‘basic tradie sled’ to being a ‘road-oriented work ute’.
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agribusiness
We bring you the latest news, innovations and opinions as Aussie agribusiness transitions from the mining boom to the dining boom.
meettheproducer
Deliciously delicate Dekopon BRANDED THE SUMO CITRUS IN HOMAGE TO ITS JAPANESE ORIGINS AND AMPLE SIZE, THE DEKOPON IS BOTH DELECTABLE AND UNATTRACTIVE. WORDS: RILEY PALMER
It’s fair to say the Dekopon is visually unattractive. It is oversized for a mandarin, has dimpled thick skin and, perhaps most unappealingly, possesses a variety-defining knobby protuberance called a ‘top knot’. But scratch below the surface – an almost effortless procedure given how easy the Dekopon is to peel – and you have a sweet-tasting, seedless citrus fruit whose firm flesh gives way to an intense and highly moreish flavour. Packed by Aussie citrus-pundits Pacific Fresh, the Dekopon – or Sumo Citrus as it is more commonly known – has only been harvested in Australia since 2011. Entering into its fifth season, the Sumo Citrus is growing in popularity, making the tender harvesting and packaging of this delicate fruit all the more important. Australia’s relationship with the Dekopon began a whole decade before the first harvest. Taking us back to the beginning, chairman of Pacific Fresh, Frank Mercuri, says; “We [Pacific Fresh] imported the Dekopon budwood from Japan in 2001. But it had to be checked by quarantine for any viruses, so it wasn’t released to us until 2003.” As Australia’s sole producers of the Dekopon, Pacific Fresh were at that time only given two trees from quarantine and were subsequently tasked with multiplying them. “There’s a lot of work in multiplying the budwood,” says Frank. “It takes a lot of 18
RegionalBusinessReview
time … It’s a costly exercise.” Of course, even after mandarin orchids are planted, commercial yields don’t normally begin until the third or fourth establishment year, making the risks of introducing a new citrus variety both extensive and long-term. Over the past 14 years however, Pacific Fresh growers have risen to the challenge. “We planted 14,000 trees between 2006 and 2008,” explains Frank, “and today we proudly have 40,000 trees in the ground.” Currently Dekopon are grown on 15 different farms in the Riverina. Located in south-western New South Wales, the region’s warm climate, high soil fertility and relative abundance of water make it one of the most prosperous citrus regions in the world. “The variety started out only being grown in Leeton,” says Frank, “but we now have farmers growing them for us in the Sunraysia and Riverland areas, too.” The Sumo is usually harvested from late July to early September, and while there is little difference in the growing of Dekopon than other citrus varieties packed and marketed by Pacific Fresh (such as Navels, lemons and grapefruit), the harvesting and packaging processes vary greatly. “Each of our growers has their own picking crew,” says Frank. Likening Dekopon to stoned fruit he continues; “The fruit is so fragile that is has to be picked with snippers.”
meettheproducer
or $2.50 per mandarin. While this is still considered pricey by way of mandarins, in the context of production costs the expense is understandable. Although exporting the Dekopon to countries like Japan certainly is appealing, Pacific Fresh is first looking to boost the supply and sale of Sumo mandarins at home in the domestic market. “At the moment we are only supplying Woolworths Australia in New South Wales and Victoria, but those sales are going very well,” says Frank. “The Sumo is already very popular, but as we increase to more stores throughout Australia it should get even more so. There are still consumers who don’t know the variety because it’s not sold in their town yet.” That said, Australia’s recent Economic Partnership Agreement with Japan and Free Trade Agreements with both Korea and China are a point of much interest in Australia’s citrus industry more broadly. “As volumes increase in the next few years we’ll certainly be looking to export,” says Frank. “The Dekopon is very popular in Japan, the United States, and Korea in particular.”
Even after mandarin orchids are planted, commercial yields don’t normally begin until the third or fourth establishment year. Once picked, the delicate handling of these mandarins continues right the way down the remainder of the production line. “Pacific Fresh had to invest a lot of money in machinery to be able to handle the delicate Dekopon,” explains Frank. “Normal citrus can take a bit of punishment,” he continues, “but for the Dekopon we had to install belts instead of rollers,” an investment that cost the company a fair bit, in fact, close to half a million dollars.
Thus the Dekopon are a much more labour-intensive fruit than other citrus varieties, making them more costly to both produce and purchase. In Japan, where the fruit originated, it’s alleged that a single Dekopon sold for a market value of $10. Fortunately, since it first landed on Australian supermarket shelves in 2011, the Dekopon hasn’t cost consumers close to that much – with Woolworths Australia selling the fruit for roughly $7 per kilo,
FAST FACTS • Scientists at a government research facility in Japan developed the Dekopon (originally called Shiranuhi) in 1972, when they crossed a kiyomi – an orange-tangerine hybrid – with a ponkan. Dekopon is a compound word deriving from deko (meaning bump) and pon (from ponkan – the fruit from which it originates).
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profile
A success story Founder and director of specialist succession planning company ProAGtive, Isobel Knight knows a thing or two about the busines of farming. She shares some pearls of wisdom about planning for the future of rural Australia. WORDS: RILEY PALMER
NOT TO REDUCE her to the sum total of her titles, but Isobel Knight has accrued a rather long list to her name – mother of three, wife, cattle trader, scholar, director of ProAGtive, winner of the 2013 NSW and ACT Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation (RIRDC) Rural Woman of the Year… the list goes on. Yet underneath all of these labels and accolades, Isobel is overwhelmingly driven by her innate desire to make a significant difference in the lives of rural families going into the future. What is succession planning and why is it so important in a rural setting? I think succession planning has been quite ill-defined. People tend to see it as simply having a will – and all that ensures, potentially, is that an asset goes from one person to the next. True succession planning is actually about business continuity, and business continuity through the generations. In a rural setting it’s a little more complex than it might be in a pure business sense, because we’re talking about our farms and our families, and these farms are our homes.
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What prompted you to get into succession planning? The first time I became aware of anything in regards to succession was probably when my father and his brothers – who had all worked in a family business together – reached their long-term goal, which was to have a farm each. The real struggle arose when they had to decide exactly how their business partnership was going to unwind, because they didn’t have a predetermined recipe for that. It was quite difficult because, from a strategic viewpoint, they had very different ideas. Rather than communicate, they avoided it, because they didn’t want to create upset or conflict. So that was the first I had to do with it, and I saw that it was so much more complex than dividing assets by however many people. At that time, there was no-one helping families through the process of working out how the business itself was
going to be able to support all of the family needs going forward, so that is why I started doing this work. It’s very much about how to manage a business ongoing; who’s going to make what decisions, how it’s going to be financed and what opportunities it creates. So much of that is about communication, psychology, understanding process and understanding farm financial analysis. I’ve studied business law, psychology, counselling, mediation, grass management and all sorts of things to try and tie some of this in, so that people could be supported much better in better decision-making. How important is education to people living in rural communities? I see it as being vital. As a result of Gough Whitlam’s government my tertiary education was free – and if it wasn’t for that, then I couldn’t have done it. I think the barrier today is just the sheer cost associated with education for people in rural communities versus those already in metropolitan areas. For instance, my
True succession planning is actually about business continuity, and business continuity through the generations.
profile
FAST FACTS • In her downtime, not that there is very much of it, Isobel does watercolour paintings of the Australian countryside. • ProAGtive model internally exactly what they encourage their clients to do – an external party facilitates their biannual strategic team meetings.
strong businesses, and people choosing to stay in Australian agriculture.
children have had to go away from home to study, so we’ve had to pay for their living and there are so many rural families who simply can’t afford to pay for that. Also, when I think back, there weren’t many people in my family who had tertiary qualifications prior to me, so that was a bit of a barrier psychologically. If you add the cost on top of not understanding how the whole system works and not knowing its value, because it hasn’t been in your family culture, it just compounds the degree of difficulty. How do you juggle raising three children, running ProAGtive and managing your cattle trading business? There’s a lot of logistics management. We have a yearly planner and a monthly planner and everything is colour-coded [laughs]. My husband, Rod, really supported my need to establish a career for myself, and my need to make a difference. If I hadn’t had his
support it would have been completely impossible. But because he was able to be flexible with his time as a farmer – he wasn’t a 9 to 5 worker – we were able to fit in the needs of the children. And I won’t say we did it well, because I don’t actually believe that any parent ever strikes a perfect balance. You oscillate from one extreme to the other and you never feel like you’re doing it well. Certainly it’s easier now that our children have grown up. What’s been the most rewarding thing about working at ProAGtive? When one of my colleagues started working with me, she said, “The hardest thing about this work is that there’s no instant gratification,” [laughs] – and there’s not! It’s quite hard to start with. People are going through a psychological journey, which can be quite confronting. But then the rewards come as time goes on and families are committed to the process. You see families that are well connected with strong relationships,
In 2013, you won the NSW and ACT RIRDC Rural Woman of the Year award. What was that experience like for you? I didn’t expect to win because I’m not a political animal. I’m relatively unknown, and succession is not a topic that has ever been popular. So I actually saw it as incredibly brave of the judges – the recognition that this is an important arena in rural Australia and for the work that’s being done was really rewarding. The other thing that was terrific about it was the opportunity it gave me to network with other women from all different backgrounds. This helped me recognise that for so many women – myself included – even if we sound articulate and have degrees behind our names so that on paper we’ve got the wherewithal, a lot of us generally lack confidence. The whole experience was quite inspiring, too, because I realised that I have more to contribute. In time I’d like to use some of the experiences I’ve had – courtesy of the families I’ve worked with – to actually advocate for rural Australia at a different level. I’m not quite there yet, but the award gave me the insight into that being a true and eventual possibility.
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agribusiness
water,
water
everywhere
WORDS: RILEY PALMER
Once an abundant natural resource, water is fast becoming a valued commodity. In the land of droughts and flooding rains, agribusiness depends on water management to secure their industry now and into the future.
FROM A YOUNG age we are taught that without water, there is no life on earth. We know this intellectually, yet many of us still struggle with the practicality of water preservation, indulging in a lengthy hot shower on a cold winter’s morning or failing to fix a leaky faucet. If you can imagine this battle with resource preservation expanding from your individual use to large-scale irrigated agriculture, you’ll begin to understand the context of concern surrounding our nation’s water security. Add into the mix political tumult, climate change and predicted El Niño weather patterns across eastern Australia, and the subject of water 22
RegionalBusinessReview
security and resource management principally elicits feelings of anxiety and uncertainty … Which is precisely why water management is a topic we can’t afford to put off for a rainy day – and not least of all because they are so few and far between. All of our rural communities’ most viable industries – not to mention the economic drivers of our nation as a whole – depend on water and its proper management to succeed, from farming livestock and crops, to the production of power and energy. Thankfully, the framework implemented by Australia to manage our water resources is broadly regarded as setting the international
benchmark. Waterfind CEO Alister Walsh reiterates this point, saying, “The management model that was developed in relation to the Murray Darling Basin is a model that has since been used as a framework for most resources in Australia. In fact, a lot of countries around the world are looking quite closely at how we’ve done it. We’re generally known as world leaders in this space.” He credits our current model to the management implemented during the millennial drought. “The interjurisdictional management became really apparent in the drought because the states had to cooperate in the face of really critical circumstances,” he says.
agribusiness
“But it’s meant that we’ve got a best practice framework really, in both the cooperation of resource management between states, and the confidence that provides agribusiness and irrigators in Australia today.” To put these accolades in context, water management is an extremely complex process. For starters, there are five different levels of management in Australia – national, cross-border, state or territory, regional and local. And as Alister indicates, the relationships between these levels of management are vital in cohesively governing water markets, pricing, supply and quality. Where policies and regulations can vary
between borders, water is literally a free-flowing commodity and as such, it doesn’t adhere to territorial lines drawn on a map. “It’s not that there’s a line down the middle of the Murray River and that the resource stops at the border,” laughs Alister. This is where one of the main regulators of water supply, water trading, becomes important. Operating within a framework of self-management, water trading is the buying and selling of water access entitlements and allocations on either a permanent or temporary basis. “Water trade in its infancy really grew out of the southern connected system,” explains Alister. “Agreements were made between
New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia to allow for the transfer of water between the Murray, the Murrumbidgee, Goulburn, Loddon, Campaspe etc. that opened up many more opportunities for irrigators to trade across the region.” The relationship between the states meant that just prior to the millennial drought taking hold, water became available to irrigators who were unable to simply turn off their production. Alister recalls, “Some irrigators that may have been growing annual crops just didn’t grow anything, and water was moved to other irrigators that had long-term investment in permanent plantings.” In this way, people involved in RegionalBusinessReview
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permaculture – who feel not simply the income impacts of losing crops for that season, but the asset impact for years to come – were able to survive the drought. “Everybody needs water, don’t get me wrong,” reiterates Alister, “ but without a certain amount of water the investment they’ve made in growing and maturing a permanent crop can been cut short.” These days, water trading is a nation-wide practice, and one that has seen more crossover between urban and rural water use than ever before. “Through direct buyback or efficiency funding for infrastructure, over the past decade we’ve really seen Melbourne start to tap into the Goulburn region as a backup resource, and Canberra tap into the upper-Murrumbidgee,” says Alister. However, the overwhelming trend of recent years is that we are able
to use less water, more efficiently. “Yes, the output from the Murray-Darling Basin has dropped back,” something Alister attributes to factors like climate change. “But we’re achieving much higher economic output than we were before the drought, with lower levels of water use. We are doing more with less.” Yet the various governments, irrigators, regulators, environmentalists and individuals at the coalface – irrigators, farmers, producers etc – are all in agreement that there is still more to do. Hence the federal government-funded programs that are helping to facilitate major infrastructure projects and increase the efficiency of irrigation distribution in exchange for water saved, such as the Private Irrigation Infrastructure Operators Program for NSW (PIIOP), and the On-Farm Irrigation Efficiency
Program. “Certainly the PIIOP and OnFarm programs’ funding has enabled a lot of system improvement,” says Alister. “All of the investments that do recover water are actually future-proofing a lot of these areas. So the investment leaves a legacy that allows these communities to do a lot more with a lot less for a long time to come in future.” Having been a delivery partner for Rounds Three and Four of the On-Farm program, Waterfind have been involved in some inspiring business turnarounds. “Getting involved with the On-Farm program is really another way for us to create wealth for agriculture and make sure that regional communities have an ongoing capacity to operate,” explains Alister. “We’ve been involved in storage reconfiguration, channel reconfiguration, the transition from traditional rice-paddy operations to bankless channels, and in some cases, simple things like laser levelling paddocks.” While uncertainty surrounding water security seems to be flowing in the wake of the government’s disbandment of the National Water Commission, we need only look to the foreign capital that’s being invested in Australian agriculture and international interest in our water management systems to recognise that the insecurity is largely overstated. In fact, the level of improvement in water use to economic output over the past decade speaks for itself. “We’ve almost doubled our level of GDP output per gigalitre used,” says Alister, “so that’s a significant efficiency gain and one that puts us in good stead.” RegionalBusinessReview
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The Sydney Theatre Compan y may be a little further up the road but Pier One has a typ e of theatre all its own. The show belongs to newcomer The Gantry, with its menu of freshly-foraged, simple flavour s taking centre stage. As you would expect from a place on a pier perched on the harbou r foreshore, it’s all about seafoo d – well, mostly. There’s also some Mirrool Creek lamb, Cap e Grim beef and Jumjum muscovy duck all trying to stea l the limelight. The wine and cocktail lists are the per fect sup por t act, with the stunning scener y created by award-winn ers Bates Smart inside and the natural splendour of Sydney Har bour outside. There’s even a condensed pre-show menu, just in case you’re heading up the road to see what Cate Blanchett’s up to at the theatre . thegantry.com.a
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The 100-metre meal We’re all aware of food miles these days, and while it’s not always possible to eat local, visitors to Margan Estate in the New South Wales Hunter Valley wine region can enjoy a fabulous meal of Suffolk lamb and heirloom vegetables with a glass of Barbera – with everything grown within 100 metres of the restaurant. Served daily for lunch throughout June as part of Hunter Valley Wine & Food Month. A full calendar of events is available online at winecountry.com.au
Aussie brand, Buderim Ginger, has identified that cooking with cordial is set to be the next cooking trend. thegingernet.com
Masterclass
Located at Sydney’s iconic fish markets, The Sydney Seafood School offers regular cooking classes during the week as well as weekends. Their winter classes range from simple barbecue, paella and Singapore chili crab to more challenging classes led by celebrated chefs such as Damien Pignolet and Alessandro Pavoni. For the full schedule and bookings go to sydneyfishmarket.com.au
Destination: Flavour McLaren Vale Sea and Vines, June 5–8 Coonawarra Cellar Dwellers, July 1–31
FRESH PICKINGS
This month we’re loving: Brussels sprouts Low calorie, extremely low GI and linked to cancer prevention, surprisingly the health benefits of these cute little bundles aren’t too well known. They are even high in vitamin C, with a 1-cup serve delivering a hefty 125 per cent of the RDI – perfect for the winter months. Forget the smelly boiled version, just quarter and add to a stir-fry. They also pair up well with bacon. But then, what doesn’t? 28
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Yum yum cha
Fans of Byron Bay’s Red Ginger Asian food and homewares emporium will be delighted to know that their can’t-stop-at-one dumplings and steamed buns are now available from select IGA stores in New South Wales, as well as at the Standard Market Company’s outlets in Brisbane and the Gold Coast.
FARMERS’ MARKET
Slow Food Farmers’ Market Melbourne, VIC There are several farmers’ markets around the Melbourne suburbs, but this is the only one dedicated to the slow food movement. Based on the basic principles of good, clean, fair food, the produce here is fresh, seasonal and organic – direct from the farms and full of nourishment. Highlights are the handmade cheeses from the lovely ladies at Holy Goat, and the fresh pastas and sauces made with homegrown veggies from the family at Take Me Home Pasta. WHERE: Abbotsford Convent, St Heliers Street, Abbotsford. WHEN: Every fourth Saturday of the month, 8am–1pm.
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“The length of tenure is a result of the positive working relationships we have built and the value we deliver to the customer in precedence to margin at any cost.”
THE QUIET ACHIEVER: one of Australia’s largest underground mining production projects ne of Australia’s largest underground mines - the OsborneStarra copper and gold mine in Queensland – is nearing end of life after 20 years of operation and 29 million tonnes of copper and gold ore production. The pending completion of the project’s development and mining contract by PYBAR Mining Services marks an achievement that has redefined it as a major player in the Australian market - firmly cementing its position 32
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as Australia’s third largest underground mining contractor. The Osborne-Starra project, owned by Chinova Resources, is among the top 20 largest metalliferous underground mines in Australia by tonnes of ore mined and one of the top three largest mining operations in the country that contract out all or the majority of their mining function. PYBAR CEO Paul Rouse said: “This project is a validation of PYBAR’s ability to manage projects to the end of a mine’s life. The length of tenure is a result of the positive working relationships we
have built and the value we deliver to the customer in precedence to margin at any cost.” PYBAR has been responsible for all of the mining activities at the OsborneStarra operation, comprising of up to 150,000 tonnes per month of ore production, as well as up to 400 metres per month of development. Today, the Osborne mine is also approaching the exhaustion of its ore reserve with mine production due to conclude by September 2015. For more info visit: pybar.com.au
insidemining
Helpful insights and fascinating facts about the Australian mining and resource sector.
miningprofile
REMUNERATIVE
ROSTERING
WITH A VISION TO PROVIDE THE FIRST END-TO-END CLOUD-BASED WORKFORCE MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE FOR THE RESOURCES, CONSTRUCTION AND ENERGY SECTORS, ENVERRO CEO LEIGH KELSON IS NOTHING IF NOT AMBITIOUS. WORDS: RILEY PALMER
M
ining rosters have copped a lot of flak in recent years. Among other offenses such as inefficiency, they are seen to facilitate the itinerant lifestyles that are often associated with issues of mental health. Designing the perfect roster seems elusive, yet it’s something all mining companies strive for – not only for the sanity of their workers, but also for improving their overall profitability and productivity. Having developed a cloudbased rostering platform specifically for the resources, construction and energy sectors, Enverro make tangible these industry-wide objectives and bring us one step closer to the elusively perfect roster. We speak with Enverro chief executive Leigh Kelson about his company’s new software – the Crew & Roster solution – and how it centralises worker data and reduces manual errors common to largescale projects. Q: Describe what the Crew & Roster solution is and how it’s different from what currently exists. A: Our Crew & Roster solution simplifies the process of assigning workers to crews, managing roster patterns and filling vacancies on large capital projects.
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This is critical functionality for any company responsible for providing labour on construction, resource and energy projects. While many large or mid-size mining operations already have an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system or a human resource information system (HRIS) in place, these systems only manage a portion of human resource processes and are typically companycentric, not project-centric. This means that the mission-critical logistics related to qualifying, approving, scheduling and deploying workers to and from remote worksites is often managed via a spreadsheet, or something similar. Q: What are the most common manual errors made with largescale rosters? A: One of the most common inefficiencies is managing resources between projects. Poor management of
made. As a result, travel and related costs increase as well as prolongation fees. Not to mention that project equipment is sadly underutilised. Q: How does Enverro account for the varying rosters required by companies whose mining operations differ? A: Our software differs from other solutions in that it is highly configurable via a web-based interface and that it is project-centric. It facilitates a number of industry-standard patterns, but also allows our customers’ experienced human resources teams to build custom patterns to assign the safest roster for a particular project, or even a particular type of crew. Q: What mining companies are currently using Enverro? A: Crew & Roster is still very new,
Poor management of the demobilisation cycles and ineffective transitioning of workers on and off projects can cost companies millions. the demobilisation cycles and ineffective transitioning of workers on and off projects can cost companies millions. Also, working with multiple spreadsheets increases the likelihood of errors being
but is currently in use on several LNG projects and is in the process of being implemented by Homeground Solutions (a subsidiary of Decmil Group). Australian mining contractor,
miningprofile
FAST FACTS • Until November 2014, Enverro was known as PRM Cloud Solutions – a software company launched by Leigh Kelson in 1996.
Downer, is currently using Enverro to help them bring international employees into Australia. They found that mobilising their workforce was complicated, made more difficult through the use of spreadsheets to track their employees. They couldn’t access documentation about individuals in one place and had no way to store supporting documents that might be required for a government audit. In using Enverro, Downer has been able to understand everything going on with an individual at a glance, store all related records and documents in one location and run reports quickly and easily. They can also track things like ongoing visa monitoring, compliance and post-placement care
activities – things that play an important role in workforce retention. Q: How do you account for the rapid changes that are taking place across the Australian resource sector? A: We have learned from our customers that the one thing to expect is constant change. We have to support the reality that people take leave or require unexpected schedule variance, that rosters may need to be tweaked or completely rebuilt, that crews can be assigned new patterns and that workers move among crews frequently. So our software has been designed with visualisation tools that enable us to recalculate rosters in real-time.
• Enverro floated on the Australian Stock Exchange (ASX) in December 2014, seeking an initial public offering (IPO) of $4 million to help fund their international expansion. The company is particularly interested in establishing themselves in Texas, which is renowned for its oil and gas industry.
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news+views ROLLS-ROYCE ENGINES TO POWER WORLD’S FIRST MINING SHIP Rolls-Royce – the elite of the automobile industry – will provide the engines to power the world’s first seabed mining vessel. Designed by SeaTech Solutions for Marine Assets Corporation (MAC), the ship is expected to reach completion by
late 2017 and will be used off the coast of Papua New Guinea by Nautilus Minerals’ Solwara 1 project in the Bismarck Sea. In water depths of up to 1,600 metres, highgrade copper, gold, ore and silver will be extracted from the seabed. From March 2016, Rolls-Royce will deliver six nine-cylinder engines, three underwater mountable thrusters, two
RAPP-IT PIPE Repair Bandages have recently launched a larger sized bandage (100mm x 9m, RAP304) which is ideal for emergency applications on large industrial pipes. The release was prompted by increased demand from mining maintenance managers nationwide for an appropriate bandage to repair leaking or damaged pipes with a diameter greater than 6”. Rapp-it Technical Specialist, Shayne Evers, said that a standard pipe repair on a 10” pipe with a RAP304 is cheaper and uses less bandages to achieve a successful repair. “This is an important time and money saver for maintenance teams, as a faster repair results in less downtime. It also enables a smoother application with greater tension applied throughout the repair,” Evers said. As an Australian owned and operated company with thirty years’ experience servicing the mining and industrial sectors, Rapp-it understands how important it is to maintain stringent quality assurance programs for the benefit of its customers. The product has been awarded a NATO (Northern Atlantic Treaty Organisation) number, an internationally recognised certification awarded to key quality products and suppliers. Rapp-it Pipe Repair Bandages are a leader in their market, currently the only pipe repair bandage with NATO Certification in the world. Rapp-it continually meet customer demands by researching the effects of harsh chemicals and solvents on site. In particular, Rapp-it have researched and tested the effects of hydrochloric and sulphuric acid, along with MEK and caustic soda, with no results indicating damage to the bandage strength. Rapp-it is also compliant to Australian and New Zealand Potable Water Standards, thus being safe for use on drinking water lines. Rapp-it Pipe Repair Bandages are suitable for use in a wide variety of pipe repair applications, with four smaller bandage sizes available, ranging from 50mm to 100mm wide and 3.6m to 4.8m long. Rapp-it Pipe Repair Bandages are an emergency pipe repair kit which can be used on all types of rigid pipes, including poly, steel and concrete in many different situations.
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retractable Azimuth thrusters and two bow thrusters all to the Fuijan Mawei shipyard in China. The company’s six B33:45 medium-speed diesel generators will provide the vessel with 31.4 megawatts of power. Mark Reeves, MAC’s chief operating officer, is very optimistic about the deal and says that since it was reached, “it is apparent that there is huge potential in subsea mining,” a sector of the industry that “can be extremely lucrative compared to land mining, with mineral content per tonne of ore considerably higher than land-based mines.” President of Rolls-Royce Commercial Marine, John Knudsen, shares in the anticipation of the contract established between the company and MAC: “Deep sea mining is an exciting new industry and with our extensive pedigree in the offshore business, we look forward to working with [MAC] and their partners in enabling them to become first movers in the extraction of valuable minerals from the seabed.”
MINING MACHINES A joint project by industry companies Anglo American and Atlas Copco that emphasises the development of new underground mining equipment has entered an advanced stage, with testing anticipated to begin later in the year. Mechanical excavation technology research and development by Anglo and Atlas has been underway since 2012, and is focused primarily on ensuring both faster and safer underground mining. Mikael Ramstrom, Atlas Copco manager of global strategic projects and alliances, says that one method of achieving more cost-efficient and predictable ore production is to “move towards continuous mining systems based on mechanical rock cutting.” The new mining equipment is “expected to transform the extraction process of ore RegionalBusinessReview
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from underground hard rock mines.” As part of Anglo American’s FutureSmart™ approach to mining, the equipment developed through this project is designed to promote “sustainable, lasting change.” The philosophy behind this is explained by Anglo American group head of technology development Donovan Waller: “We are looking for a radical transformation of the way we do things and that means taking a fresh approach. Anglo American believes in seeing how technology can benefit entire systems, not just certain parts of them. We also believe that the benefits to the industry
as a whole can only be realised through openness and collaboration.”
ROCK-SOLID SUICIDE PREVENTION In an effort to reduce the risk of suicide among workers in the mining and oil and gas industries, Mining Family Matters has partnered with Wesley LifeForce Suicide Prevention Networks. While the majority of attention around mortality within the industry concerns accidental work-related fatalities, suicide is a statistical reality that requires an equal amount of preventative measures.
GUT-WRENCHING slow-motion: an underground mine worker walks towards a blind corner; an LHD bears down, head-on; flesh and machinery collide. A terrifying image for every mining man or woman, management or operator, but one only too common in Australian mines. Though our safety standards are among the world’s toughest, we saw a spike in fatalities to 17 workers Australia-wide in 2013/14 largely due to unnecessary accident. A poignant reminder our mine workers face hazards every day of their working lives. A new electronics system, operating in hard rock and now under trial in Australian coal mines, is already saving lives. It detects converging man and equipment, equipment and equipment, even equipment approaching infrastructure using a low frequency magnetic field. Used in all mining operations, the magnetic field provides safe non-visual detection within the high-risk zone, from zero metres to 35 metres from the equipment. It instantly sets off warning alarms for both worker and machine operator and even shuts down machine operation. Worker alarms are fastened as close as belts and hard hats. The HazardAvert system was developed in the USA by STRATA Worldwide using NASA low frequency electronic field technology used as part of the space program. The system is deployed in over 100 mines in the USA, South Africa, and now Australia. Modified and fully approved for the rigorous Australian safety standards, the system is suited to underground and surface coal and hard rock mining.
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In particular, those working and living the fly-in fly-out (FIFO) lifestyle are especially at risk. Western Australia mental health commissioner Tim Marney explains how FIFO workers can be at risk: “Social isolation, family or financial stress and high risk-taking behavior; those are three proven risk factors predominant in an age and gender cohort already predisposed to suicide. Add to that shift work, and it is clinically proven that messes with mental health.” Now known as the Rock Solid Suicide Prevention Program, the initiative seeks to build “emotional resilience and help prevent suicide among workers in the male-dominated resources industry, while also resourcing families with practical strategies to survive the challenges of working away … or shift work,” says Mining Family Matters. The program will include interactive learning workshops for companies to better understand how to lessen work-related stress on employees. Ideally, the program will help to not only inform, but also remind companies and workers alike of the importance of mental health, especially in such a risky and demanding industry.
REDTRAX Redpath Mining Contractors and Engineers have developed a new raisedrill carrier dubbed ‘Redtrax’ to transport raisebores and other materials around mining sites. The innovative piece of equipment “frees previously required mine equipment such as telehandlers, forklifts and LHDs that were required, allowing them to perform other duties simultaneously elsewhere on the mine site,” says Redpath. The machine is “compatible with sand, mud and water, both on surface and underground.” Its ability to handle heavy loads “makes swift work of transporting a variety of raisedrills,” states Redpath and while Redtrax is designed for specific Redpath models, it will be able to handle most drills on the market. Additional features of Redtrax include: low noise levels, low emissions and the option to be controlled remotely or via an umbilical cable. Eight Redtrax machines are anticipated for release this year, with more units to be released in 2016. RegionalBusinessReview
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Image: BHP Billiton
Coal mine in Bełchatów, Poland
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specialreport
TRICKS OF THE TRADE WHETHER A SKILLED CRANE OPERATOR OR A GEOLOGICAL ENGINEER, EMPLOYEES OF THE RESOURCES SECTOR ARE INCREASINGLY REQUIRED TO HAVE A FORMAL EDUCATION. WORDS: RILEY PALMER
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A
t risk of bursting a few bubbles, it must be said that the oftenpeddled ‘get rich quick’ sentiment associated with the mining industry is largely a fallacy. In fact, the inflated incomes attained by employees of the mining sector during a boom, while often perceived as quick-cash, are more likely the result of a lot of forethought, time and effort put into formal education. According to Mining Careers, 63.4 per cent of miners have a Certificate III or higher – a statistic corroborated by CEO of Engineers Australia, Stephen Durkin and Deputy Director of The University of Queensland’s (UQ) Sustainable Minerals Institute (SMI), Professor David Brereton, both of whom have noticed a rising level of interest in tertiary qualifications relating to mining specialties over the past decade. In a hands-on industry where skills were once largely learned on the job, Professor Brereton insists that expectations of mining professionals are changing. “Learning on the job is useful for acquiring the knowledge and skills for specific roles, but today’s industry professionals need to be able to step outside these roles and take a broader view,” he says. “The ‘on-the-job’ approach is about the ‘here and now’, whereas mining is a rapidly changing industry.” He pauses to take stock before adding; “People need to know what is coming down the road and how
to deal with those challenges.” Additional expectations placed on individuals at all levels of the industry are essentially what is driving the resources sector’s requirement for tertiary education. Speaking on the engineering trends in relation to the mining sector, Mr Durkin explains; “As budgets get leaner and staffing gets tighter, more and more mining companies are seeking engineering
“Professional attributes other than just technical skills are becoming increasingly important in today’s modern world.” 44
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graduates with a combination of knowledge and experience that means they can hit the ground running.” While he concedes that there is still a significant role for on-the-job training, Mr Durkin has noticed that apprenticeships or internships tend to be simply one constituent in the broader context of formal education, rather than the complete component. He adds; “Professional attributes other than just technical skills are becoming increasingly important in today’s modern world. This extends to things like project management, leadership skills, systems integration, communications skills, ability to
‘The most important project I’m managing is my own career.’
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It was the real-world experience and the connections of the lecturers in industry that convinced Kylie Rivers to choose us for her Master of Project Management. Her decision has paid off. Kylie is responsible for managing more than 30 projects and her career outlook is promising. Forecasters predict there will be a shortage of highly qualified, experienced project managers by 2020. Graduates interested in taking their project management careers to the next level will be able to choose between two courses: Master of Project Management 3 semesters full-time.*
Graduate Certificate of Project Management 1 semester full-time.*
Flexible study options for both courses are available, as well as online continuing professional education modules. For prerequisite requirements and more information, search ‘QUT Project Management’ or visit www.qut.edu.au/project-management to make your next project your most rewarding. *Part-time mode available.
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“They need to make sure they have the qualifications and experience that will maximise their employability and they have to be adaptable – education is a way of doing this.”
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listen to what is required and explain implications around difficult technical issues, cross-cultural intelligence, cultural awareness and an understanding of the laws around industry.” Of course, mining industry education is currently at a critical juncture; at once faced with the declining nature of Australia’s resources sector, and the potential changes ahead for the entire tertiary education sector as it faces government reform. Both Professor Brereton and Mr Durkin have noticed that the mining boom brought with it an increase in specialised qualifications: for instance, where a student may have previously studied mining engineering as an elective, they are now able to study it as a stand-alone degree. “We are generally seeing a rising level of interest in people seeking specialist professional qualifications to supplement the basic
bachelor’s degree,” says Professor Brereton. “Although,” he reflects, “numbers are down a little at the moment because of the downturn in the industry.” Mr Durkin postulates about the future of these specialisations in the current industry context, saying; “Often, but not always, these specifically-named degrees revert back to a foundation degree as the market and economic conditions change.” He muses; “It will be interesting to see what happens to highly specialised degrees like mining engineering if the tertiary sector undergoes deregulation.” Irrespective of the semantics, formal education will continue to be a requisite for the majority of people working on a mine site; from technical operators such as a plant foreman or shift boss who require a VET/TAFE or university qualification and extensive training, to professionals like metallurgists and surveyors who require a university degree and experience. Referring to engineering specifically, Mr Durkin states; “Education remains and will continue to remain integral to engineering, both in the mining sector and elsewhere.” He believes that the skills learned through tertiary studies give individuals a competitive advantage that sets them apart even when the sector is in decline. “From a student’s point of view, as the resources boom reaches its peak and starts to slow down, having a solid tertiary education, coupled with as much experience they can get through job placements may give them a competitive advantage over other job hunters.” Professor Brereton agrees, adding; “It’s a cyclical industry, and employees need to plan for the long haul. They need to make sure they have the qualifications and experience that will maximise their employability and they have to be adaptable – education is a way of doing this.”
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TRADE IF YOU’VE EVER WONDERED WHAT THE WORLD OF FOREIGN EXCHANGE (FOREX) TRADING CAN OFFER YOU, HERE RORY MCCANN, A FORMER MINER SHARES HIS STORY ABOUT LEARNING TO TRADE THE CURRENCY MARKETS.
MY TRADING journey began in March, 2013 whilst at home on R&R. At the time I was working as a leading hand on the MCJV QGC export pipeline. I was based in camps from Chinchilla to Gladstone working a FIFO roster of 28 and 9. On that break I attended a two day Foreign Exchange Trading Workshop with Learn to Trade, held at their live trading floor in North Sydney. I did not have much knowledge of Forex, nor the extraordinary size of the market - $US5 trillion traded daily! I knew this was what I had been looking for- endless opportunities for an additional income stream that I could access anytime, anywhere. When I started trading, I became over-excited and made lots of mistakes. I saw the AUD/USD shoot up and placed a trade that had potential to make huge cash returns - but I didn’t stick to the strict risk management techniques I’d been taught at the course, and lost my entire stake instead. Since then I’ve learnt I have to be disciplined, follow the risk management rules and a trading strategy that works for me. This year I was invited to the launch of a new charting software package, SmartCharts. This innovative
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software has turned trading on its head for me. I previously spent painstaking hours looking over possible trade set-ups and there was always room for calculation errors and missed opportunities. Now, I simply nominate the top ‘flashing choices’ that have shown all the right signals for being potentially good trades, I check the sets ups are indeed good and then take the trade by hitting the BUY or SELL signal suggested. These are entry, exit and stop-loss levels that I can double check and of course adjust later as the trade unfolds within the risk and strategy rules I’ve learnt. Then I sit back and wait for pending orders to trigger! My profits took off straight away and I was able to take twice as many trades and double the profit! Of course I have wins and losses but with the right strategies and especially trading risk discipline it’s been working well for me. Now, only two years into my FX trading journey I have been lucky enough to leave my job and focus on
becoming a ‘full-time trader’. I aim be at my screen trading for about 10 hours per week. I’m now working alongside Learn to Trade to help reach-out to other miners who may also be looking for an interesting new money making skill. My lifestyle now allows more time to do the things I enjoy, spending time with my family and reaping the benefits of working from home. For anyone looking to try their hand at currency trading or simply looking for a secondary income now is a great time to start! The volatility of the market is increasing and accessible tools like SmartCharts enable every day people to find and exploit those trading opportunities. Living the good life, Rory McCann. If you’re in interested in learning to trade currencies using risk management techniques, get in touch with Learn to Trade today for a FREE 2 hour on-site introductory workshop on 1800 7209 64 or visit us online at learntotrade.com.au/fx/
I’m now working alongside Learn to Trade to help reach-out to other miners who may also be looking for an interesting new money making skill.
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