Issue 125 • November 2014
GORGEOUS GORGES Gearing up and getting active in Karijini National Park DREAM TEAM A design company and Indigenous artists weave their magic
urces profe ssi reso or
The enga gin g nthly in-flight p mo u
als on
TROPICAL Daytripping discoveries from Cairns
ion specificiall cat yf bli
THE ULTIMATE WATERFALL ADVENTURE YOUR HOLIDAY “BERKELE Y-STYLE”
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FOR ALL ENQUIRIES PLEASE CONTACT US WWW.BERKELEYRIVER .COM. AU
P: 08 9169 1330
• • • • •
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TERMS & CONDITIONS - Valid for March & April only. *Beverages included in price excludes reserve wine list Photos by Tony Hewitt
welcome to Manila
McArthur River
Cairns
Tennant Creek The Granites Christmas Creek
Welcome aboard It’s hard to imagine that Christmas is already
just around the corner. As the weather turns warmer, our thoughts turn to summer holidays, and Airnorth are happy to announce that travel this Christmas will be better than ever. We’ve added a new route to our flight map, taking passengers from Darwin to Cairns via Gove, just in time for that tropical Queensland holiday, or a trip to the Top End. As well as that, families wanting to reunite for Christmas in Townsville or Darwin will be happy to know we’ve added extra flights to our regular schedule between these two ports in the busy week leading up to Christmas Day. We also take a close look at Nhulunbuy in East Arnhem Land, which is serviced by flights from both Darwin and Cairns to Gove airport. Airnorth are very proud of their ongoing community support, and in this issue we highlight our much-needed sponsorship of The Nangala Project, which runs three different initiatives to aid and enrich Indigenous communities across the Northern Territory: The Indi Kindi, targeting literacy and numeracy in the under 5s; John Moriarty Football, who took a group of very excited and lucky kids all the way to Brazil for the recent FIFA World Cup; and Bunji Travel, a corporate volunteer workforce. Now sit back, enjoy our inflight service and we hope you enjoy this issue of OUTthere. Michael Bridge Chief Executive Officer
Favourite destination
Four Mile Beach. Nearest Airnorth port: Cairns.
AIRNORTH RESERVATIONS: 1800 627 474 or AIRNORTH.COM.AU 1
safetyinfo
EMBRAER E170 Engines Two jet Wingspan 26m Length 29.9m Height 9.95m Maximum take-off weight 37,200kg Maximum cruise altitude 41,000ft/12,535m Maximum cruise speed 450kns/820km/h Passenger seats 76 Crew 2 pilots, 2 cabin attendants Passenger facilities 2 galleys, 2 lavatories, pressurised and air conditioned
EMBRAER E120 BRASILIA Engines Two turboprop Wingspan 19.78m Length 20.0m Height 6.35m Maximum take-off weight 11,990kg Maximum cruise altitude 32,000ft/9,754m Maximum cruise speed 300kns/555km/h Passenger seats 30 Crew 2 pilots, 1 cabin attendant Passenger facilities Lavatory, cabin ground heating/cooling system
METROLINER 23 Engines Two turboprop Wingspan 17.70m Length 18.10m Height 5.10m Maximum take-off weight 7,485kg Maximum cruise altitude 25,000ft/7,620m Maximum cruise speed 265kns/490km/h Passenger seats 19 Crew 2 pilots
2
safetyinfo
Your safety and comfort are our priority BELOW ARE SOME GUIDELINES TO ENSURE YOUR FLIGHT WITH US IS MORE ENJOYABLE
SAFETY BRIEFING ON TIME EVERY TIME To assist in maintaining on-time departures, check-in time is 45 minutes prior to departure for domestic flights and 90 minutes prior to departure for international flights. Airnorth check-in counters close 30 minutes prior to domestic scheduled departures and 45 minutes prior to international scheduled departures.
FREQUENT FLYERS Airnorth is a member of the Qantas Frequent Flyer program. Members can earn and redeem their Frequent Flyer points on selected Airnorth scheduled services.
FLYING WITH CHILDREN Infant safety belts are available on Airnorth aircraft and are distributed prior to take-off.
CHILDREN FLYING ALONE If you have children between the ages of five and 11 (inclusive) travelling alone, we ensure they enjoy the attention of our staff on the ground and in flight.
AIRNORTH SERVICES On our services, you can expect a snack accompanied by a selection of tea and coffee or cold refreshments. On selected afternoon services, alcoholic beverages are also available. Refer to our website for more details. airnorth.com.au
SPECIAL NEEDS Passengers with special needs and/or disabilities, please contact our Reservations Department.
Please listen carefully to the Safety Briefing and take the time to read through the Safety on Board card prior to take-off. This will help you familiarise yourself with the emergency exits, brace position and the location of your life jacket.
SEATBELTS Seatbelts must be fastened firmly for take-off, landing and while the seatbelt sign is illuminated. We recommend that your seatbelt be fastened at all times while you are seated in case of unexpected turbulence.
CARRY-ON LUGGAGE If you have carry-on luggage, please stow it in the overhead locker or under the seat in front of you. Hand luggage that is not correctly stowed may cause injury in the event of unexpected turbulence.
ELECTRONIC DEVICES Portable electronic devices can cause electromagnetic interference to the aircraft systems. The interference can cause aircraft systems to malfunction. To provide adequate protection for the aircraft, please note that mobile phones must not be used at any time on board the aircraft. Other devices, such as MP3 players, iPods, CD players, portable palmtop and laptop computers, cassette players, personal electronic organisers and personal DVD and video games may be used during cruise only, NOT when the aircraft is taking off or landing.
TRAY TABLES/ SEAT BACKS Please ensure that your tray table and your seat back are in their upright positions for take-off and landing.
DEEP VEIN THROMBOSIS (DVT) It has been reported that some airline passengers have developed clots in deep blood vessels, often in the lower legs, as a result of sitting for extended periods without exercise or movement. This condition is known medically as deep vein thrombosis or DVT. If bloodclot fragments break off and lodge in other areas of the body, such as the lungs, they may cause a potentially fatal pulmonary thrombosis when the person starts walking after being immobile for a lengthy period of time. Risk factors for DVT include varicose veins, recent surgery or injury to the lower legs, malignant diseases, past history of DVT, obesity, pregnancy and recent childbirth. Anyone with any of these risk factors is advised to consult a medical practitioner prior to flying to find out how to minimise the risk of DVT. During the flight, we recommend that you take the following precautions: • Drink plenty of fluids, especially water, and minimise your intake of alcohol. • Exercise on board the aircraft by moving and stretching your toes, rotating your ankles, raising and lowering each leg and massaging your calves gently. In addition, we suggest that you avoid crossing your legs during the flight.
SMOKING Government regulations strictly prohibit smoking on all domestic flights. Special smoke detectors have been fitted to the toilets on board all of our aircraft. Smoking is also prohibited on the tarmac and throughout airport terminal buildings.
3
F I R S T
C L A S S
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L U X U R Y
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I N
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C E N T R E
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O F
Diya Restaurant
Happy Hour at the Deck
5-7pm daily. Free drinks, gourmet canapĂŠs and wifi for both in-house and walk-in guests. Conditions apply.
D I L I
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To celebrate the receiving of Trip Advisor Certificates of Excellence in both 2013 and 2014, receive a complimentary glass of quality Italian wine when dining at Diya. Conditions apply. Limited time only.
DISCOVERY INN
Where attention to detail matters Diya Fine Dining Restaurant
Tel: +670 33 11 11 1 Fax: +670 33 21 04 5 www.discoveryinntimorleste.com email: reservation@discoveryinntimorleste.com, info@discoveryinntimorleste.com
contents food&wine 08 airnorthnews Airnorth announces new daily flights between Darwin and Cairns, via Gove; extra flights will take travellers from Darwin to Townsville for the Christmas break.
10 airnorthcommunity The Nangala Project is enriching and improving the lives of young indigenous Australians.
12 destination Discover the beauty and tranquility of the Gove Peninsula.
15 don’tmiss A calendar of cool events.
16 drivetime Three very different daytrips from Cairns feature glorious scenery, top swimming spots and a food trail.
destination
21 artspace
Issue 124 • October
Issue 125 • November
A Sydney design duo weave magic with Indigenous artists.
closeup
closeup
Four years on, Faye James catches up with Masterchef Australia winner Adam Liaw and chats about his two great loves: cooking and family.
After a lifetime of performing, country songbird Kasey Chambers still relishes the challenge of making a new album.
alltorque
Ute Junker heads to Kangaroo Island and discovers exceptional produce and an abundance of wildlife.
16
Ben Smithurst falls for the new BMW.
outtahere 21
Brian Johnston reveals the best spots around Australia to pitch a tent.
food&wine A short drive south from Perth brings you to Margaret River, home to some of Australia’s best vignerons and producers.
destination Michelle Hespe eats and drinks her way through Victoria’s Yarra Valley, stopping for friendly chats along the way.
destination
food&wine Carla Grossetti heads to the pretty town of Orange to hunt down some of the top drops to appear at this year’s wine show.
outtahere Michelle Hespe visits Mount Baw Baw, Melbourne’s closest alpine resort, and discovers fun for families on any budget.
profile We meet OzHarvest founder Ronni Kahn.
insidemining • news and views • the state of mining • resource sector issues • finance and technology 5
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GROUP EDITOR Faye James faye.james@edgecustom.com.au DEPUTY EDITOR Danielle Chenery ASSISTANT EDITORS Riley Palmer, Simone Henderson-Smart INTERN Toby Little SUB-EDITORS Liani Solari, Merran White PRINTER SOS Print & Media SENIOR DESIGNER Guy Pendlebury PRODUCTION MANAGER Brian Ventour CONTRIBUTORS Sue Wallace, Ben Smithurst, Brian Johnston, Jock Serong, Michelle Hespe, Baldeep S. Gill, Darrell Croker, Christine Retschlag, Kris Madden, Darren Baguley, Kevin Lee, Andrew Crossley, Josh Masters ADVERTISING SALES DIRECTOR Jason Popkowski jason.popkowski@edgecustom.com.au NATIONAL SALES MANAGER Chris Wykes chris.wykes@edgecustom.com.au SENIOR ACCOUNT MANAGERS Robert Desgouttes robert.desgouttes@edgecustom.com.au Peter Anderson peter.anderson@edgecustom.com.au WA, SA AND NT SALES REP Helen Glasson, Hogan Media Phone: 08 9381 3991 helen@hoganmedia.com.au PUBLISHING DIRECTOR Geoff Campbell MANAGING PARTNERS Fergus Stoddart, Richard Parker CEO Eddie Thomas
ON THE COVER:
October: Hancock Gorge in the Karijini National Park, Western Australia.
November: Cairns Lagoon, Cairns, Queensland.
OUTthere is published by Edge 51 Whistler Street, Manly NSW 2095 Phone: 02 8962 2600, www.edgecustom.com.au OUTthere is published by Business Essentials (Australasia) Pty Limited (ABN 22 062 493 869), trading as Edge, under license to MGI Publishing Pty Ltd. Reproduction in whole or in part without prior written permission is strictly prohibited. Opinions expressed are those of the individual contributors and not necessarily those of the Publisher. Information provided was believed to be correct at the time of publication. All reasonable efforts have been made to contact copyright holders. OUTthere cannot accept unsolicited manuscripts or photographs. If such items are sent to the magazine, they will not be returned. Some images used in OUTthere are from Thinkstock and Getty Images.
From the editor... One thing that struck a chord with me this month was culinary discovery. Whether it was chatting to super-chef and this month’s close up Adam Liaw or catching up with a couple of friends who happen to work in hospitality, they all seemed to have something in common: a genuine passion for Australian produce and the people behind it. “There is so much we have yet to discover,” enthused my friend, who’d been foraging around regional New South Wales in search of unique produce from which to concoct his latest menu. “Did you know some of the best calamari comes from the Hawkesbury region and some of our best pork belly from the Northern Rivers?” he said when I mentioned that I was planning a road trip to Yamba this Christmas. Nope, can’t say I did – but I sure am going to check out Hawkesbury calamari when I travel yonder, past Bulahdelah and onwards to Mooney Mooney. But that’s another yarn to be saved for the next long car journey. Back to produce. My friend’s passion for produce was echoed when I found myself chatting to the well-travelled Adam Liaw about his new SBS TV series Destination Flavour Down Under. During the series, Adam found himself journeying all over the nation, from the glorious Western Australian coastline to the baking heat of the Red Centre and the tree-changers’ paradise that is northern New South Wales. Along his merry travels, Adam met many zealous gatherers and growers who he describes as ‘real people with real stories’. “It’s their passion – innovative behaviour and dedication is what makes them heroes,” he told me. “When I mentioned I was doing a food show in Australia everyone thought it would be boring – but when the show went on air, my twitter was flooded with tweets saying how much they had no idea Australia was like that.” In fact, TV sojourns based on ‘culinary Australia’ seem to be unearthing a widespread trend. Last month, Matt Moran’s Paddock to Plate launched its
second season. This season sees Matt clock up more than 20,000 kilometres travelling through the awe-inspiring landscapes of South Australia and Western Australia, from the blustering coastline of the Eyre Peninsula to the red dirt and big skies of the Kimberley. “There are so many incredible farmers and growers out there – this beautiful country of ours is just bursting with amazing produce. The changing seasons and climates of the lesser-known regions of South and Western Australia offer up some really fantastic and unique produce,” Matt said. As a foodie and a lover of all things delicious, what excites me about taking on this newly appointed role – apart from the travel stories – is the culinary adventures that await, and the inspiring true stories from real people I’m yet to encounter. I’ll certainly relish taking you along with me on this journey – I hope you enjoy the ride.
Faye James and the OUTthere team
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airnorthnews
Daily flights to Cairns from the Top End AIRNORTH is now operating daily return services in its state-of-the-art 76-seat Embraer E170 jet fleet from Darwin to Gove and on to Cairns. “Airnorth has a continued commitment, as we have done so for many years, to providing quality scheduled air services to the communities of the Darwin and the Gulf region,” says Michael Bridge, Airnorth’s chief executive officer. “We have now expanded our services for residents of Cairns and Far North Queensland while continuing to provide sustainable air services to Nhulunbuy for the long term,” says Mr Bridge. As one of Australia’s most sought-after holiday destinations, Far North Queensland has plenty to offer. Whether it’s an indulgent break, a thrilling adventure or your next family holiday, this beautiful region has plenty to offer everyone. It’sa glorious stretch of coastal land where ancient rainforest meets ocean and the Great Barrier Reef is your playground. Indeed, you’d be
hard-pressed to find a better getaway destination. Choose among the luxury beachfront accommodations, boutiques, bars and eateries of Palm Cove and Port Douglas; visit serene waterfalls and towering trees around the crater lakes of the Atherton Tablelands and browse Kuranda’s wildlife parks, cafés and markets. Journey through wilderness to Australia’s northern tip and explore Cooktown and Cape York; or follow in the footsteps of early explorers across the Gulf Savannah, a vast, rugged landscape where spectacular gorges, ancient lava tubes and pioneering history await exploration. One-way internet airfares from Darwin to Cairns start at just $215 per person. Book online at airnorth. com.au, with Airnorth Reservations on 1800 627 474 or through your local travel agent. For a full schedule of available flights, turn to page 13.
Have a Merry Queensland Christmas THINKING of taking the family on a beach holiday this Christmas? To help you get to the tropical sunshine of North Queensland, Airnorth has added extra flights to its Queensland schedule. Airnorth can have you in Townsville in plenty of time to unwrap your presents on Christmas Day, with extra services on both Saturday December 20 and Tuesday December 23.
Combined with its current regular scheduled flights, you now have even more options in the lead-up to Christmas and that well-earned break. Seats on these flights are on sale now and will sell quickly, so book now and grab a great internet airfare at airnorth.com.au, call Airnorth Reservations on 1800 627 474 or contact your local travel agent.
Airnorth’s Darwin/Townsville flight schedule – note that all flights are listed in local times.
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Flight nzo.
Origin
Destination
Depart
Arrive
Fri 19/12
Sat 20/12
Sun 21/12
Mon 22/12
Tue 23/12
Wed 24/12
Xmas Day
TL182
Darwin
Townsville
0700
1005
–
TL183
Townsville
Darwin
1105
1320
–
HARLEY-DAVIDSON PACKAGE DEALS At Hidden Valley Harley-Davidson we strive to make owning your Harley-Davidson as easy as possible. Until December 31 we are offering Flight and Accommodation packages to customers from remote regions such as Broome, Kununurra and Gove. Fly in and ride out or use the value of the package to start the customisation of your new Harley-Davidson. This amazing offer combined with our easy in-store finance solutions means owning a new Harley-Davidson has never been easier.
HIDDEN VALLEY HARLEY-DAVIDSON
637 Stuart Highway, Darwin (08) 8939 0390 www.ntmotorcyclecentre.com.au
airnorthcommunity
Nangala Project reaches out
THE NANGALA Project is a non-profit initiative to relieve poverty and disadvantage among Australian Indigenous children and their families through creating locally engaged, sustainable opportunity. The project runs three community programs in remote communities across the Northern Territory. Indi Kindi prepares kids under five years old for basic numeracy and literacy; John Moriarty Football uses soccer to improve school attendance and health outcomes for families and communities; and Bunji Travel is a corporate volunteer workforce that delivers projects while building bridges of cultural and social understanding. Indi Kindi Over the past two years, Indi Kindi has established itself as a small but powerful force, helping to equip remotely located Aboriginal people to improve learning opportunities for very young Indigenous children, including their own, by reaching kids who are not in preschool or crèche. The picture books and early-literacy activities program is working to meet the needs of very young children – in particular, those in the critical phases of neurological (brain) development that occur in the first three years of life – who most need support, 10
along with their families and local teachers. Indi Kindi engages with the local community, seeking feedback and advice as well as providing formal expertise to support and mentor three Indigenous staff in Borroloola and two in Robinson River.
The project runs three community programs in remote communities across the Territory. John Moriarty Football Eight Indigenous girls and boys from Borroloola, Northern Territory have returned to their community after a whirlwind tour of Brazil where they experienced all the joys of this vibrant nation during the world’s biggest sporting event: FIFA’s 2014 World Cup. During the tour there were a lot of exciting experiences, including watching the Socceroos train in Vitoria with 3000 local schoolchildren; meeting Socceroos legend Tim Cahill and coach Ange Postecoglou
(who put on a training session for the impressionable young players); and watching the Socceroos play their opening World Cup game against Chile in Cuiaba. Other highlights included being invited to play against locals on the beach and futsal courts, where many legendary Brazilian players, current and past, learned their craft. All this and visits to local Indigenous communities proved to the kids that football is not only a world game but a game for all people, from all walks of life, who come together to enjoy joga bonito – ‘the beautiful game’. Airnorth is a proud sponsor of The Nangala Project. For more information, visit nangalaproject.org.au or airnorth.com.au
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destination
Discover East Arnhem Land
NHULUNBUY
Stretching along the Gove Peninsula on the edge of the Arafura Sea, this region – an explorer’s paradise – boasts striking coastlines, clear blue waters, glistening white beaches, secluded bays and abundant offshore islands and reefs.
AIRNORTH now operates daily flights from both Darwin and Cairns to Gove Airport that service the town of Nhulunbuy and surrounding regions. Things to do… You’ll find some of the best fishing in Australia in the waters off Nhulunbuy. There are no crowds to compete for the big one (or two!), and you’ll find plenty of locals on hand to show you the best spots. You can also hire your own boat or take an organised charter trip out to island groups and coves – Wessel Islands, Bromby Islets, English Company Islands and Elizabeth Bay – for a great day of reef or bluewater fishing, or outstanding snorkelling or scuba diving in crystal-clear waters. Visit Baringura – otherwise known as Little Bondi – with its stretches of unspoilt white beaches, perfect for picnics, snorkelling and daytrips. Or
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take a drive and camp at Cape Arnhem, backed by amazing sand dunes as far as the eye can see. More active visitors might wish to go hiking in Gayngaru, a seven-kilometre expanse of wetlands that’s home to around 200 bird species. If a relaxed pace is more your style, sit and take in the panoramic views from the Rotary Marika Lookout over the township, coastline, harbour and wetlands. East Arnhem Land’s connection to Indigenous culture is strong, and is woven seamlessly into the experiences available. Eco/cultural tours are available and are an interesting way to learn about this unique region and its traditional landowners, the Yolngu people. You can’t help but walk away from your holiday here with a deeper appreciation for the history of this land and a stronger connection to its people.
destination
You can’t help but walk away from your holiday here with a deeper appreciation for the history of this land.
Places to stay… Walkabout Lodge, the premier resort hotel in Nhulunbuy, is located in the centre of town with beach frontage. Every room is air-conditioned with ensuite facilities and a patio or balcony. There’s also a fully licensed on-site restaurant, lounge bar and shaded resort pool with barbeque facilities, and the friendly Walkabout team can help guests with transport and tour requests. Gove Peninsula Motel, less than a kilometre from the town centre, offers self-contained and air-conditioned rooms nestled in lush landscaped gardens with a saltwater swimming pool. Dining options are available from a café nearby that delivers to your room. Banubanu Wilderness Lodge is an eco-friendly island retreat located on Bremer Island, 13 kilometres north of Nhulunbuy. The accommodations here are simple but comfortable, in keeping with the retreat’s focus of leaving a minimal ecological footprint on one of Australia’s most pristine areas. Guests have a choice between fan-cooled cabins with ensuites and tented accommodation.
Dining Sample the freshest seafood – caught and cooked yourself or by a restaurant
back on shore. The Nhulunbuy/Gove area has great-quality pub restaurant food, bars, seaside boat clubs and in-hotel dining. Unique culinary experiences also form part of exclusive access tours to Aboriginal Home Lands, where you can eat traditional bush tucker. Gove Boat Club on the shore of Melville Bay is one of the best spots to enjoy a relaxing drink and a meal. Boasting views of Gove Harbour, it’s a perfect place to relax, meet some friendly locals and
brag about the big fish that got away! Gove Country Golf Club is a picturesque nine-hole, all-grass course with a driving range overlooking the coast. It offers air-conditioned, licensed club rooms for members and guests as well as a gaming room and kids’ lounge with books, TV and DVDs. The club’s à-la-carte Waterfront Kitchen Restaurant is open for lunch and dinner from Wednesday to Sunday and is a great place to refuel after a fun day on the green.
Airnorth’s Gove flight schedule – note that all flights are listed in local times. Flight number
Departure time
Arrival time
0745
0900
1520
1630
1330
1450
0945
1200
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
Sun
Darwin to Gove TL160 Gove to Darwin TL161 Cairns to Gove TL161 Gove to Cairns TL160
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don’tmiss
Compiled by Hannah Luxford
these events in October & November if you’re in the right place at the right time. OCTOBER 4–13
OCTOBER 24–25
NOVEMBER 15
Awesome International Arts Festival, Perth
Lake Moondarra Fishing Classic, Mount Isa
Beaufort Street Festival, Perth
The festival showcases contemporary arts by “bright young things” from around the world through free and ticketed events. Enjoy a variety of animation, theatre, film, dance and music productions in the heart of Perth. awesomearts.com/festival
Fifteen kilometres north of Mount Isa, picturesque Lake Moondarra hosts this annual outback fishing classic that includes fireworks, beach volleyball, yabby races, live music, trade exhibitions, camping and a dragon-boat regatta. lakemoondarrafishingclassic.com.au
Local music, art, fashion and cuisine are on show at Perth’s biggest street party. Immerse yourself in the festivities and experience Beaufort Street’s strong connection to local business and culture. beaufortstreet.com.au
NOVEMBER 21
Sherwood Community Festival, Brisbane
At the Sherwood community’s 19th annual festival there are plenty of goodies to buy, from the assortment of jewellery, clothing, crafts and homewares, to food and drink and handmade goods. The festival raffle’s main prize is a weekend for two in Port Douglas. www.sherwoodfestival.com
OCTOBER 8
Morning Melodies: A Celebration of Music Theatre, Perth
The Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts has received critical acclaim for its ability to product talented graduates, so don’t miss its third-year students singing a selection of show tunes in a fun, energetic performance. hismajestystheatre.com.au
NOVEMBER 10
Relativity, Australian String Quartet, Perth
Enjoy 19th-century works by Fanny and Felix Mendelssohn, along with two compositions from our own time created for string quartet and soprano by Brett Dean and Peter Sculthorpe. asq.com.au
NOVEMBER 30
Carols by Candlelight, Mount Isa
Get an early start on the festive season with local performances of carols by candlelight beginning at 6pm, along with food, drinks and fireworks. Entry is via gold-coin donation. tnqcalendar.com.au
OCTOBER 18
Townsville Artist Market
Promoting arts and crafts from the Townsville region, stallholders, entertainers and musicians offer market-goers a laidback afternoon from noon to 3pm. townsville.qld.gov.au
Image: Jacqui Way
NOVEMBER 14–15
Fist Full of Films Festival, Darwin
Short films by local talent are showcased in this celebration of Northern Territory filmmakers who have braved the sun and red desert dust to tell their stories. travelnt.com
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drivetime
HIGHWAYS TO HEAVEN Sue Wallace hits the road and discovers three very different experiences, all within easy reach of Cairns.
FOLLOW ANY LONG and winding road out of Cairns and chances are you will end up close to some spectacular white-sand beach, on which you may well leave the day’s first footprints. Alternatively, you could find yourself up close and personal with a tumbling waterfall in a pristine rainforest. But if you don’t want to leave things to chance, there are three great drives – all within 90 minutes of Cairns – that showcase what makes this area such a drawcard for holiday-makers from all over the world. All these drives feature stunning scenery, great lookouts and places to take a dip, as well as some of the gourmet produce for which the region is known. Drive One: ‘The Great Barrier Reef Drive’ from Cairns to Cape Tribulation 140 kilometres
This stretch of road, it is claimed, is one of the most scenic drives in Australia: it follows the spectacular coastline that hugs two adjoining UNESCO World Heritage areas – the Great Barrier Reef and the Wet Tropics of Queensland rainforest. From Cairns, drive north across the Barron River towards Cairns’ northern beaches. If you’re looking for adventure, stop off at AJ Hackett Cairns, a franchise of the famed bungy outfit located in the Smithfield rainforest about 25 minutes from Cairns’ centre, before heading on to beautiful Palm Cove. This one-time fishing village, now known for its laid-back style, smart resorts and upmarket restaurants, was named after its beachside palm trees. Feast on the eclectic cuisine of the tropics at Lime & Pepper at Peppers Beach Club & Spa, where the food has been hailed as innovative, tasty and visually impressive. Further on, at Ellis Beach Bar & Grill, prepare for a feast of oysters with luscious toppings, priced at just $1 each on Sundays. The drive then winds along the edge of the Coral Sea and through pristine rainforest until you reach glamorous yet laid-back Port Douglas, known as ‘the gateway to the Daintree’, the world’s oldest tropical rainforest.
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Thala Beach Lodge, nestled on a private headland between Cairns and Port Douglas, offers excellent eco-friendly luxury accommodation. Wander down Port Douglas’ main street for boutique shopping with a tropical twist; stop off at Four Mile Beach; and visit Mossman Gorge, a spectacular freshwater swimming hole. Further on, after the village of Daintree, you must cross Daintree River on the vehicular ferry before heading north to Cape Tribulation, where the rainforest meets the reef. Along the way, try your hand at ‘jungle surfing’ on a zipline that skims the rainforest canopy.
explore
5
1
4
2
3
1: Captain Cook Highway between Cairns and Port Douglas. 2: Cape Tribulation. 3, 4, 5: Palm Cove.
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drivetime
Drive Two: Cairns to Mission Beach 140 kilometres
This is another spectacular drive that takes you past quaint towns and villages, outstanding coastal scenery, tropical rainforest and white-sand beaches. Head south from Cairns towards Mission Beach, stopping in at Babinda Boulders for a dip at the popular swimming hole in the shadow of Mount Bartle Frere Queensland’s tallest mountain. Babinda Creek is also a great place to kayak and the waters here teem with fish, the odd turtle and even the occasional platypus. Josephine Falls, a scenic waterfall fed by rainwater run-off from Mount Bartle Frere, also has some great swimming spots and walking tracks. Further on, at Mena Creek, you’ll find Paronella Park, a heritage-listed attraction built by Spanish-born José Paronella in the 1930s – another excellent tourist attraction, with beautiful gardens. There is plenty of action at Mission Beach, including skydiving, sea kayaking, jetskiing, snorkelling, fishing, hiking and croc spotting. The local markets are another great drawcard. And for action-packed adventure, you can’t go past whitewater rafting on the mighty Tully River with local outfit Raging Thunder. From Kurrimine Beach Holiday Park, you might see manta rays swimming in the shallows and turtles coming in to nest. The small town is home to a winery, a beachfront pub, a café and an old-fashioned fish-andchip shop as well as a post office, a petrol station and a general store. One thing is for sure – no matter what road you take, there’s a host of great experiences waiting in Tropical North Queensland and a surprise around every corner.
FAST FACT Tropical North Queensland is the only place on earth where two World Heritage sites – the Great Barrier Reef and the Wet Tropics Rainforest – sit side by side.
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1: Millaa Falls. 2: Mission Beach. 3: An Atherton Tablelands green tree frog. 18
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Drive Three: Atherton Tablelands Food Trail 90 kilometres
From Cairns, head inland to the Atherton Tablelands, following the Kennedy Highway to Kuranda. Stop off at the pretty rainforest village - home to lots of restaurants and shops. A nature-lover’s haven, you can see koalas, butterflies, native and exotic birds, kangaroos and reptiles, including some of the world’s most venomous snakes. Kids will be thrilled by the life-sized replica of an Allosaurus dinosaur. If you have a sweet tooth, try the delectable Dutch licorice and rock candy at Kuranda Candy Kitchen or the handmade fudge at Kuranda Fudge Bar & Tea Room; coffee-lovers can stop in for an espresso and tour the Skybury coffee plantation just outside Mareeba. Or drop in to the Golden Drop Winery, where you can taste mango wine and port. Stock up on supplies en route– around here there are plenty of roadside stalls at which local growers sell fresh produce. And if you’re a strawberry-lover, you’ll be in seventh heaven at Shaylee Strawberries, which you can find on the Gillies Highway between Atherton and the historic town of Yungaburra. Other stand-outs on the food and wine produce trail include the Nerada Tea Plantation near Malanda, where you can tour the factory and enjoy a refreshing cup of tea in the restaurant. You can also sample smoked freshwater crayfish at the Smokehouse Café, part of Tarzali Lakes Aqua Centre, and local yoghurt and seasonal cheeses at Mungalli Creek Dairy in Millaa Millaa. Mt Quincan Crater Retreat offers luxurious accommodation in striking pole cabins, nestled among some of Tropical North Queensland’s most breathtaking scenery. For more information, visit: cairnsgreatbarrierreef.org.au drivenorthqueensland.com.au 19
artspace Russel, Sasha and their boys Anders and Mika, with Mavis Ganambarr and acclaimed Yolngu musician Gurrumul Yunupingu, at Galiwinku, Elcho Island.
Perfect Partners The owners of Koskela have always understood the relationship between art and design. But when they introduced an Indigenous element things really started to blossom, as Simone Henderson-Smart discovers. IN A WORLD populated by cheap, mass-produced, flat-packed, disposable products, a furniture company such as Koskela really stands out. Shunning the idea of imports and mourning the
decline of Australian manufacturing, husband-and-wife team Sasha and Russel Koskela sought to establish a business based firmly on the ethos of ‘designs with conscience’.
Their mantra is simple, as Sasha explains: “I remember listening to an interview on ABC radio. It was a really inspiring story and I remember the person talking about how he’d overcome all
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artspace
sorts of adversity in his life and that his motto was ‘follow your heart, trust your judgement, do it with joy’. It just struck a chord with me as we’d both left our corporate careers to do exactly that.” With a mantra in place, the next job was to find some local manufacturers. Sasha and Russel had very firm ideas about the artisans they wanted to collaborate with to turn their designs into products, citing three crucial qualities: a genuine commitment to quality (“We want our products to be able to stand on a global stage,” says Sasha); a willingness to try new things (“We will all fail unless we continue to innovate and try new materials, designs and processes”); and great systems and processes, which the couple saw as key indicators of consistency and quality.
By far the most rewarding collaboration came via a love of both social enterprise and Indigenous art. “I have always had a slow-burning passion for Australia’s Indigenous culture and really became interested in about 2004 when I started exploring the woven craft and art form,” says Sasha. “I think you can appreciate our Indigenous art on many levels: the artworks are beautiful pieces in their own right; the skill of the artists; and then at a whole other level, when the story behind the pieces is revealed and the connection to country is explained. I think this is when the pieces really come alive.” This smouldering passion spawned the idea of working with Indigenous artists to create something not only functional but uniquely beautiful. “It took about four years from when I first thought it would
Mavis Ganambarr stripping the pandanus.
be great to try to combine our design skills with the Yolngu weaving to when I felt confident enough to approach Elcho Island Arts,” says Sasha. “It took a while to get off the ground, more because it took Koskela a long time to readjust our ideas. In our world, you invest in a prototype and then try to make as many units of the same piece [as you can] to amortise that initial investment. It became pretty obvious to me that the women wouldn’t be interested in this sort of duplication and also that we wouldn’t get the best outcome if we were really prescriptive. This is why we ended up deciding on standardising the form and then giving the women complete freedom to weave whatever they liked onto it. We never know what will arrive back from Elcho – it’s like Christmas every time we get a delivery. I am always blown away by their creativity!” The ‘form’ Sasha refers to is a basic wire lampshade, which the weavers embellish as they please. “Each lampshade is unique,” enthuses Sasha, “and what is woven onto the frame is
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entirely determined by the weaver. Some of the lampshades feature handmade beads, shells, native grasses and raffia.” Artist Mavis Warrngilna Ganambarr, from Elcho Island, fondly remembers meeting Sasha for the first time. “I was at the Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair. I saw this lady, watching me weaving for a long time. She seemed very curious standing there and she walked past two, maybe three times. She looked shy, like she wanted to ask me something. She was holding something behind her back but I didn’t know what it was. I waved to her to say come over and she introduced herself and showed me the lampshade frames. “First I was thinking, ‘how can I do that weaving on that wire?’ and I asked Sasha how they put the light inside. She explained this to me and how when the light is on inside, it shines through, making shapes and shadows on the wall. Then I understood and was excited to make one.” When Sasha, Russel and their children visited Elcho Island soon after this first meeting, Mavis and her friends 24
took them out collecting pandanus plants, the fibre of which is used for their weaving. “We showed them bush materials and all of the natural dyes,” recalls Mavis. “It was special for her to see and know this; to know how special it is for us Yolngu people. “We showed her our country, all the flowers which show you which colour dyes you can find. We have been teaching Sasha a lot. She showed great respect for Yolngu culture, and the lampshades help to support the ladies in the community without jobs. I felt that she helped me inspire the young ladies to weave. I was very thankful to her for this as my yapa [sister]. We understood each other, and she helped us to keep our traditions going.” The social enterprise aspect ensures that Koskela keeps its profit from these pieces to a minimum, so that the enterprise is self-sustaining and benefits both the artists and their communities. Sasha was acutely aware of the importance of this sustainability, saying, “It was really important to me that if we started this, we would have a
This image: Dyed black pandanus. Above: A selection of lampshades from the Yuta Badayala and Tili Wiru collections.
artspace
“She explained this to me and how when the light is on inside, it shines through, making shapes and shadows on the wall. Then I understood and was excited to make one.” long-term commitment to the artists. It needed to be sustainable, as I’d seen too many instances of people coming into communities full of hope and promises and not really delivering. Maybe that’s why it took us so long before we felt confident enough to approach Elcho with our idea.” Koskela has since expanded the concept and now has similar arrangements with the Tjanpi Desert Weavers as well as with much-loved Indigenous artist Regina Wilson, who has exhibited at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Sydney, Musée du Montparnasse in Paris and the British Museum. Regina created three unique designs – wargardi (dilly bag), syaw (fish net) and ngan’gi (message sticks) – which were then printed onto linen and silk and used to produce two beautiful collections of textiles. The collections include cushions, scarves and throws that, like the lampshades, are available exclusively through Koskela. If Sasha has her way, it’s just the beginning of a long and lovely story.
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Hancock Gorge in the Karijini National Park, Western Australia
explore
Rock Stars
Rope up, strip down and plunge in. Get active in remote Karijini National Park and you’ll discover one of Australia’s best landscapes. Brian Johnston explores.
here’s something a little undignified about hanging on a rope over a rock ledge, feet scrabbling for a toehold beneath. My safety helmet has been knocked sideways over one eye. Below me – way below me – is a foaming pool of frigid water pockmarked with red boulders. To my left, a waterfall shudders, stinging my eyes with spray. “Watch out! Those rocks are slippery!” shouts my guide, Alan, while I dangle and curse. My knees are grazed and my muscles are aching. We’ve walked into Hancock Gorge down rough-hewn steps and a metal ladder bolted to the cliff face. We’ve picked our way along the bottom of the gorge, scrambling over tumbled rocks and ankle-threatening pebbles and, at one point, wading through a pool with waters chilly enough to induce a heart attack. At Spider Walk, I had to squeeze my gut through a cleft in the ravine less than a metre wide. At some point, I reckon, what has come down must go up again – we face a slog back out of the bowels of the earth. Somehow, my facial muscles are still working. I have a grin on my face as wide as the bruises on my shins. Hancock Gorge is hard work, but it’s a magnificent challenge, too. I feel like pummelling my chest and
yelling like Tarzan. And there’s a reward for all this effort. The rocks are splintered, battered orange and dramatic. The yawning canyon is a huge crack in a vast plain, its walls set on fire by the afternoon sun, grand and improbable as a landscape from a sci-fi flick. If I were 100 kilometres out of Sydney or Melbourne, this would be one of Australia’s most fabled landscapes. Instead, I have it to myself, apart from my guide, a few goannas and some dazed birds. Hancock Gorge is one of a tangle of gorges in Karijini National Park – about as ‘middle of nowhere’ as you can get, even for Western Australia. I drive 250 kilometres east from Nanutarra on the highway before the flat, spinifex-spotted plains crumple and suddenly produce Mount Bruce, the state’s second-highest peak at 1165 metres. The start of my adventure – just limbering up, you might say – is a hot five-hour hike to its summit and back. The track mostly follows the mountain ridge, rewarding me with views to eternity. In the distance I can see the scar of the Marandoo iron-ore mine. Shortly after Tom Price (one-dog town, convenient petrol pump) I’m in Karijini, one of Western Australia’s largest national parks, where the Pilbara’s ‘plenty
Hancock Gorge is a magnificent challenge. I feel like pummelling my chest and yelling like Tarzan.
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explore
Fortescue Falls’ pools are fringed by ferns and gum trees ... great red slabs of rock lie tilted where they fell a million years ago. of nothing’ is offset by multicoloured gorges rich in marble, silica and iron. I set up camp at shady Dales Gorge, where there’s little more than a few gas barbecues and bush toilets. Next day it’s an easy three-hour walk to Fortescue Falls, the only permanent waterfall in Karijini, where dozens of other falls roar during the wet season. Like a slice of tropical Queensland misplaced in the barrenness of the Hamersley Ranges, Fortescue Falls’ pools are fringed by ferns and gum trees – it’s just the spot for a refreshing skinny-dip. All around, rocks are stacked like sculptures, and great red slabs lie tilted where they fell a million years ago. Next day, I up the ante at Weano Gorge. It’s actually the most accessible of the national park’s gorges, and the occasional English backpacker and Perth retiree walks along the bottom between stands of eucalyptus trees to Handrail Pool, where fern-lined waterfalls slide over ink-black and rust-red rock. This is where sensible folk cool down and turn back, but I’ve booked Alan again for the onward adventure. Hooked to safety lines, we traverse the canyon along narrow ledges to Weano Falls, where we abseil 40 metres to the very bottom of the gorge. It’s bowel-clenching and finger-aching, but
the surroundings are slashed like a modern painting with bold colour. The Weano Falls ‘walk’ is classified as Class 6, the greatest degree of difficulty. Classes 1 to 3 can be conquered by anyone and shouldn’t be missed; the twokilometre meander along the cliff edge at Dales Gorge is a ripper at sunset. Anything more and you should be a serious hiker, or even have some rock-climbing experience. Class 5 walks feature indistinct trails and rough terrain and require advanced outback knowledge; Class 6 trails need special permits. Don’t go without guides, and do prepare for pain. At Knox Gorge, I have to crawl through tunnels and occasionally swim with flotation devices. At one point
Above: Weano Gorge is the most accessible of the national park’s gorges. Below: Roped in with West Oz Active. ADVENTURE TOURS
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Joffre Gorge Lookout is exhilaratingly grand, with a cliff face carved like an amphitheatre and gushing waterfalls after rain.
I paddle through a twisting, turning chasm and I’m suddenly catapulted off a five-metre drop into a pool below. Then we abseil down another waterfall before reaching Red Gorge – shadowy and a bit eerie – from which we float on inner tubes to Junction Pool. In the afternoon we have to clamber up a sometimes ropeassisted path and back to base. But Knox is one of the most splendid gorges in Karijini National Park, banded with red and purple rock. At the end of the week I relocate to Karijini’s only other camp site, at Joffre Gorge. It has a camp kitchen and showers, so it’s more popular than Dales Gorge but it lacks some of that getaway feel. It’s a good base from which to explore the surroundings, though. Joffre Gorge Lookout (pictured left) is exhilaratingly grand, with a cliff face carved like an amphitheatre and gushing waterfalls after rain. Getting down into the gorge itself provides you with dizzying looks upwards at the falling water. Awesome!
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Karijini Eco Retreat karijiniecoretreat.com.au Tom Price Tourist Park tompricetouristpark.com.au
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MORE INFO
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Five
minutes with …
Dewayne Everettsmith
Musician Dewayne Everettsmith builds on his personal experiences to create positivity through music. Cortney Roark chats with Dewayne about his unique style and inspiration.
Does your culture influence your music at all?
How did you first become interested in music? Music has always been a part of my family, going back generations. I was born with the bug and whenever there was the opportunity to sing, play the guitar and do my own private lounge-room concert for family, I grabbed it. I started learning guitar and singing in the school choir when I was 10 and I haven’t looked back.
What – or who – inspires you to write and perform music? Life ... life is great inspiration – from everyday experiences and observations. I appreciate the positive impact music can have on people and the change it can prompt. I hope to be the spark that turns into a fire for someone or something special.
How would you describe your musical style? I would say I fit a pop/soul vibe. I would also describe my music as honest, in the hope that people can relate to and interpret my songs as something that is personal and of meaning to them.
Yes, it does, but not in a political sense; more from a humanitarian point of view. I don’t like injustice at all, in regard to anybody ... and I think there is a lot of injustice. I think my culture allows me to experience sometimes what I wouldn’t want others to, and that comes through in my music.
‘It’s Like Love’ is a very powerful song. What’s the story behind it? ‘It’s Like Love’ stems from a project Tourism Australia ran, to partner an Australian singer-songwriter with a classical musician from somewhere in the world to write about how beautiful Australia is. From a singer-songwriter’s point of view, my aim was to write something people could interpret and relate to. I kept thinking of my grandparents and how their unconditional love has helped many, including myself, through some challenging times, and everybody relates to love. There is not enough unconditional love in the world and, hopefully, a song like ‘It’s Like Love’ can bring some of that back.
What inspired the song ‘Surrender’ (an emotive duet with Brisbane singer Thelma Plum)?
mental, emotional and physical. It’s about recognising abuse as it is – that abuse does not discriminate and, if we are to fix it, we need to break the silence and speak the truths of domestic abuse. We need to remove the shame, enforce responsibility and make it a community effort. Again, I hope ‘Surrender’ can create a spark.
How do you hope your audiences feel after your performances? I hope the audience will walk out being inspired, [with] a sense of empowerment – even, maybe, influenced [to change their] opinions in a positive way. I just hope they get something positive out of it – something is better than nothing.
“I appreciate the positive impact music can have on people and the change it can prompt. I hope to be the spark that turns into a fire for someone or something.”
‘Surrender’ is about domestic abuse and all forms of domestic abuse: financial, verbal, 1
citybites
citybites night
out
GRAIN BAR
Sydney
Nestled in between the heart of Circular Quay, this funky-chic bar offers a cool inner-city vibe, with great food and beverages to match. Check out the eye-catching central island bar, featuring giant curved slabs of sustainable Queensland Blackbutt timber, and the floating up-lit bottle wall. Better yet, snuggle up next to the large fireplace and soak in the views of the quay over a beautiful native garden. There’s an extensive range of cocktails and hand crafted local tap beers to accompany its freshly shucked oysters, salt and pepper calamari with Szechuan pepper, garlic and coriander, mouth-watering Wagyu beef burgers, vodka and lime-cured salmon, pizzetta with three cheeses – among an array of other delicious nibbles. grainbar.com.au
sleep
over
THE RUSSELL Sydney
If you’re looking to get away from the crowds, but still remain in the heart of the city, check out boutique hotel, The Russell. Featuring 29 rooms, it’s located in The Rocks, just moments away from Sydney’s greatest attractions. The idea behind the hotel was to create a home away from home feel, with its cosy standard, deluxe, superior and twin rooms. The hotel boasts a rich history with historical data dating back to 1790. Over time, the hotel area has been used as hospital, boarding house and shops. Stories of ghostly sightings are rife, including a sailor who reportedly haunts room eight! There are plenty of personal touches as well as historical memorabilia to keep guests feeling comfortable. The local pub, The Fortune of War sits just beneath, where the walls are peppered with old images, newspaper clippings and unique pieces of history. therussell.com.au 3
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AUSTRALIA • LONDON • MANCHESTER • EDINBURGH • POLAND • BRAZIL
entertainment
getsorted listen
read SOUTH OF DARKNESS
John Marsden Pan Macmillan Australia, $39.99 The revered John Marsden brings us the tale of Barnaby Fletch, a 13-year-old orphan living on the streets of London. Wistfully imagining a new life in Botany Bay, Fletch deliberately commits a crime that sees him transported there. What he encounters is far from the utopia he imagined. While many of Marsden’s 40-plus books are loved by young and old, South of Darkness is his first ‘adult’ novel.
JIMMY BARNES 30:30 TOUR Australian rock royalty Jimmy Barnes is celebrating 30 years since the release of his first solo album with a national tour. A jam-packed schedule will see Barnesy perform 30 shows around the nation between October and mid-December. In addition to performing at the annual A Day On The Green events, Jimmy Barnes will be travelling from Shoalhaven in New South Wales to Bunbury in Western Australia, to Warragul in Victoria, and just about everywhere in between.
While Barnesy is revered as a live performer, this tour coincides with the release of a special anniversary album, titled 30:30 Hindsight. If you can’t make it to one of his live performances, make sure you get your hands on his album, which revisits some of the rock star’s biggest hits and features collaborations with some of his favourite artists, including Keith Urban, Bernard Fanning and Tina Arena. 30:30 Hindsight is available on iTunes. For more information, visit jimmybarnes.com
watch staff pick
MY OLD LADY
In cinemas November 13 Adapted from Israel Horovitz’s play, My Old Lady tells the tale of Mathias Gold, a hard-on-his-luck New Yorker who moves to Paris to claim an apartment that he’s inherited from his estranged father. However, Mathias’ Parisian lifeline comes with an unexpected tenant. The film’s beautiful cinematography takes you through the Parisian locales with Woody Allen-esque reverence, while the engaging performances of Maggie Smith, Kevin Kline and Kristin Scott Thomas make you laugh and feel all warm and fuzzy.
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staff pick
YES PLEASE
Amy Poehler Pan Macmillan Australia, $32.99 In her first book, creator and star of comedy TV series Parks and Recreation, Amy Poehler gives us words to live, love and laugh by. Yes Please is a hilarious and wise melting pot of memoir, fictional anecdotes, ideas, mantras, haikus, and even sex-tips. A book on life written in the midst of her life, Poehler describes it as an attempt to convey what it is to be “young and old at the same time.”
MERCILESS GODS
Christos Tsiolkas Allen & Unwin, $32.99
From bestselling author of The Slap, comes a collection of short stories that, true to Tsiolkas’ style, delve into the gritty side of life. Driven by his hauntingly real characters, these stories navigate both the familiar and unknown. This book galvanises Tsiolkas’ status in modern literature and affirms his rare ability to affect his readers.
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Bittersweet
blues
Kasey Chambers has been living and breathing music all her life. After a rocky four years, she’s releasing her seventh solo album, Bittersweet. Faye James speaks to the songstress about her ups and downs and everything in between.
asey has these piercing emerald eyes. The kind that burn right through your soul with a fierce intensity. Her voice is husky, thick with experience and her hands move quickly as she speaks. You can tell there’s a lot going on up there, both in mind and spirit. It’s of no surprise really. Kasey’s life has been a colourful tapestry of weird and wonderful. Brought up in South Australia’s Mount Gambier, she spent the first 10 years of her life hunting foxes, living in the back of a car while relentlessly travelling round
hasn’t looked back. After years of touring Australia’s deserted pubs and dust-cloaked festivals, Kasey has 29 music awards under her belt and is now releasing her seventh solo album, Bittersweet. As we sit chewing the fat, I get the feeling this is her rawest album yet. The one that brings her life to the fore – both the good and the bad. “A whole lot has happened in these four years,” Kasey admits. “I’ve been through lots of different things. A marriage break-up (with musician and songwriter Shane Nicholson), the birth of my third
“A whole lot has happened in these four years. I’ve been through lots of different things, including a break-up.” the whole of the blue-skyed plains of the Nullarbor. And at night, while the campfires would crackle in the distance, she sat beside her father playing her favourite tunes from Hank Williams, EmmyLou Harris and Johnny Cash, slowly but surely developing her burning passion for country music. Her father Bill, mother Di and brother Nash, all played a big part in her musical DNA, and since hitting the stage as a mere 10-year-old, she
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child, Poet, and huge amounts of travelling – a lot of this is what has inspired the new album. Not that the album is full of divorce songs, no one wants to hear that,” Kasey quickly admits. “‘Bittersweet’, the title song, sounds like a break-up song but, really, it’s about emotions, good and bad, which have sparked my creativity throughout.” To give a little background, Shane played a huge part in Kasey’s musical career. They married in 2005, and
it was obvious they had a certain chemistry and empathy when it came to jamming. Their debut duo album, Rattlin’ Bones (2008), bagged a number one debut on the album charts and won best country music album at the ARIAs. In 2012, Kasey and Shane released their second album collaboration, Wreck & Ruin, which debuted at number six on the ARIA chart and won best duo at the annual Country Music Awards of Australia in Tamworth in 2013. It was just a few months after that Kasey and Shane announced their separation. Musically and personally, Bittersweet sees Kasey turning a page. It’s also Kasey’s first time producing an album without her brother Nash – her producer and manager – and Kasey admits it was quite a daunting process for her to fly solo without him. “It was Nash’s idea. Maybe he was getting sick of me!” Kasey laughs. “It was kinda scary to hand it over to someone else, but within the first hour, I knew I was in good hands.” The ‘good hands’ Kasey refers to belonged to Nick DiDia (Pearl Jam, Springsteen, Powderfinger) and Kasey and her team went on to record the album in just seven days, but for Kasey, this is pretty much the norm. “I always make albums
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December
November
KASEY CHAMBERS’ BITTERSWEET TOUR DATES
very quickly. I love playing everything live and not labouring over things too much. It’s kinda like treating it like a gig and we just jammed a lot while we recorded,” Kasey shrugs. It’s like she stumbles into brilliance – like water off a duck’s back. Kasey’s success is really quite awe inspiring – she holds the record for the highest awarded solo APRA Songwriter in Australia across 10 studio albums, she has 10 ARIA Awards, 20 Golden Guitar Awards and nominations for two Americana Music Awards, but she remains nonchalant
about how it affects her music. “It doesn’t really make a difference to how I make music but it certainly helps get the music out to a wider audience. It is a nice nod from the industry too, to know you’re not banging your head against the wall. It’s nice to know people notice what you’re doing.” So what inspires Kasey’s brilliance? “General life inspires me...” Kasey pauses for a moment to drink some water. “Going through ups and downs like everyone I guess. I use song writing as my therapy a lot of the time.
Kasey’s top 5 travel must-haves 1 My portable DVD player is number one – maybe as a reaction to growing up without TV. I now have to have the TV on to sleep – I don’t like silence!
3 My guitar – even if I’m not playing on stage, just so I can grab it if a song comes on.
2 Crime shows, sitcoms, it’s just a little piece of home.
4 I’m a daggy traveller, so tracky dacks. 5 Running shoes.
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Anita’s Theatre Thirroul, Wollongong
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Wests Newcastle
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Tivoli Theatre Brisbane
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Enmore Theatre Sydney
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Queenscliff Music Festival Victoria
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Her Majesty’s Theatre Adelaide
04
Vikings Canberra
05
Montreal Community Theatre Tumut
06
Theatre Royal Castlemaine
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Forum Theatre Melbourne
An outlet, I suppose. I don’t really think too much while I’m writing. I just let it come out the way it wants to. I do get very inspired by seeing other artists play. Paul Kelly is one of my biggest influences. One of the things I love is that he can write character songs. I draw on my own experiences, but sometimes I also like to do that [write character songs – about someone else]. Paul Kelly’s song – ‘Everything’s Turning to White’ is from the point of view of an old woman and it is just totally convincing.” Finally my time with the songstress is up. Kasey ends talking about the 2015 Tamworth Country Music Festival on January 25 next year and she’s pretty excited about it. “I love being there and doing gigs but I also love getting to spend time going to other people’s gigs too. Singing and jamming with mates. It’s always fun.” She smiles again and packs up her gear like a true nomad. I think of that song ‘Maybe Tomorrow’ by Terry Bush... “There’s a voice that keeps on calling me, down the road, that’s where I’ll always be...” And if Kasey had a theme song, that would be hers. 9
kitchenconfidential
CONFESSIONS OF A FOODIE Riley Palmer catches up with MasterChef Australia judge, foodie, restaurateur, chef and Citibank Dining Program ambassador, Gary Mehigan.
“It’s pretty spectacular, you just forget to look sometimes,” says a contemplative Gary Mehigan, staring at the at-once functional and iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge. We’re catching up at Aqua Dining, located at Milsons Point, and are both mesmerised by the restaurant’s floor-to-ceiling windows, which showcase the picture-perfect backdrop. Combined, with the promise of the award-winning food to come, it’s hard not to feel content. Perhaps even more so for Gary who – having succeeded in fashioning a life that wholly revolves around what he loves: food – is uncertain whether he’s presently engaging in business or pleasure. “Many years ago, I went; ‘I love food, I’m obsessed by food, my whole life is driven by food’ so I very deliberately
10
stopped trying to draw a line in the sand between work and play,” he explains. Gary’s authentic love of everything food is palpable. From ecological sustainability, to culture and travel, to economics – after speaking with him, it’s not unfeasible to believe that the Earth, in fact, revolves around food. And, in recent years, Gary’s food fanaticism has become contagious: “Our interest in food has snowballed,” he says. “People are reading every little detail on the back of the label or they’re going to the farmers’ market to buy what’s in season and grown locally.” Aside from the obvious benefits this has for our local economy and the sustainability of our resources, Gary also believes this approach to consuming food sparks variety and creativity in cooking.
“I think you enjoy food a lot more if, rather than robotically filling your trolley with the same things you buy each week, you’re filling it in the wintry months with beans, kale and peas, and in summer with asparagus, summer fruits and vegetables.” Coinciding with the rise of the Aussie ‘foodie’ has been the rapid rise of food as the reason for celebration in and of itself.
“I love food, I’m obsessed by food, my whole life is driven by food.” Realising we don’t need the guise of a secondary event to come together and eat good food, laymen and food savants alike are enjoying the food festivities that are increasingly dominating the Australian events calendar. “People love a secret, they love a pop-up, they love a reason to get out and socialise, and food, historically, is about that,” says Gary. From the monthly farmers’ markets in Boyanup (an agricultural region 195 kilometres south of Perth) to the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival, these events entice not only Aussie foodies, but also a growing number of food tourists. With the aid of some spruiking by our tourism industry, Australia is becoming renowned internationally as a major food destination. “We’re ranked very highly in the world,” explains Gary. “We’re up there with France, Italy and Spain as being a great food destination. It’s kind of unstoppable I think. It really celebrates our community, our culture.”
kitchenconfidential
PORK BELLY SLIDERS WITH GAMASHIO MAYO AND PICKLED DAIKON MAKES 12 PORK BELLY SLIDERS • 1 tbsp fennel seeds • 1 star anise • 1 tsp chili flakes • ½ tsp cumin seeds • Sea salt flakes • 1kg deboned belly pork, skin on, scored at 5mm intervals (ask your butcher to do this for you) • Boiling water, for blanching • Table salt • 2 tbsp olive oil • 12 brioche buns (8–9cm diameter) • 1 quantity Pickled Daikon • 1 large handful coriander leaves
GAMASHIO MAYONNAISE Gamashio is a Japanese condiment made from sesame seeds that has a distinctive umami flavour (which translates from Japanese to ‘pleasant savoury taste’). It’s a wonderful seasoning for salads, fish and dressings. I like to use unhulled sesame seeds, which are available from health food stores. • ½ cup (75g) natural unhulled sesame seeds • 2 tsp soft brown sugar • Sea salt flakes • 1½ cups (375ml) mayonnaise
It’s an exciting time for the Australian food scene. “It’s come of age,” says Gary. “20 years ago we couldn’t seem to find ourselves in the culinary world – were we fusion? Should we be Indigenous? I think we’re over trying to find excuses for what we are and what we do.” Cooking outside the confines of a label seems to have suited Australian chefs far better than any food identity could have.
Rare fare “There are some things I won’t touch,” says Gary. “Like I won’t try tarantulas,” which is an understandable aversion, unless you live in Cambodia and have grown up munching on the deep-fried critters. “And I’ve got this funny adversity to some textures,” he continues. “Like the Century egg, which is black and kind of gooey on the inside.” Again, the antipathy to a preserved egg that emits the aroma of ammonia and sulphur seems somewhat justified. Yet, Century eggs are a Chinese
delicacy. “It’s very interesting how we have perceptions of things we should and shouldn’t eat,” Gary muses.
Hot ‘n’ Spicy In what might appear to be a shrine to the chili god, the whole top shelf in Gary’s fridge is devoted to chili – Sambal Tumis, chili caramel, homemade hot sauce, pickled chilies, lime-chili, and – perhaps most revealing of his addiction – something in a little jar, the packaging of which looks like a stick of dynamite. “I love the pleasure and pain of chili,” he confesses. “It’s the ultimate condiment.”
Good Food Month If you missed out on Sydney’s celebration of all things food in October, fear not, because Good Food Month continues throughout November in Melbourne. Don’t miss the delights of Melbourne’s best restaurants, bars, pubs and artisan food businesses. goodfoodmonth.com
1. Use a mortar and pestle to pound the fennel seeds, star anise, chili flakes, cumin seeds and a good pinch of salt, to a coarse powder, then transfer to a large plate. 2. Place the pork, skin-side up, on a rack suspended over the sink and carefully pour over a kettle-full of boiling water. Pat dry with paper towel, then place the pork on the plate with the spices and rub in all over. Leave uncovered in the fridge for several hours (or overnight) to dry out. 3. Preheat the oven to 200°C fan-forced (220°C conventional). Place the pork, skin-side up, in a heavy-based roasting tin. Rub the skin with 2 teaspoons table salt and drizzle with the olive oil. Roast for 30 minutes, then reduce the temperature to 140°C fan-forced and roast, basting regularly, for a further 2 hours. (After this time, if the skin is not as crisp as you’d like it, place the pork under the hot oven grill for 5–10 minutes.) Leave the pork to rest for 10 minutes before cutting into 2-centimetre thick slices and then halving lengthways to fit the brioche buns. 4. Meanwhile, for the gamashio mayonnaise, place the sesame seeds in a heavy-based frying pan over low heat and toast, stirring regularly, for about 15 minutes or until fragrant, then set aside to cool completely. Place the seeds, sugar and a pinch of salt in a blender or small food processor and blend for 30 seconds or until fine but not too floury – some texture to the gamashio is good. Remove and set aside. 5. Make the mayonnaise according to the instructions. Then, with the mayonnaise still in the food processor, add the gamashio. Process for 30 seconds until well combined. Add a teaspoon or so of warm water to make a slightly thinner consistency if you like. 6. Cut the brioche buns in half and toast the cut-sides under the hot oven grill until golden. Spread both cut-sides of each bun with gamashio mayonnaise. Divide the pickled daikon among the bases, add a piece of pork belly, then top with plenty of coriander and the bun lid.
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destination
From organic produce and handmade wines to spectacular scenery and extraordinary wildlife, Kangaroo Island has it all, discovers Ute Junker.
THERE ARE KOALAS and sea lions, echidnas and kangaroos, but amid all of Kangaroo Island’s teeming wildlife, the most fascinating creature could just be the tiny Ligurian bee. Originally from northern Italy, the bee was introduced to Kangaroo Island in the 1880s, when this small land mass off the South Australian coast was declared a bee sanctuary. “It was the first legislation anywhere in the world to protect insects in the wild,” mentions Peter Davis, apiarist and owner of The Island Beehive. Today, the island has the purest strain of Ligurian bees in the world. “Ligurian bees are renowned for their productivity and their gentleness,” Davis says. “I get requests from beekeepers all over the world who want to buy my bees.” Davis doesn’t just sell bees, of course; he also sells honey. His hives, which look like weathered wooden boxes, are moved regularly around the island so the bees can gather pollen from different sources. Hives placed near sugar gums produce a light, sweet honey; honey made with the nectar of the mallee eucalyptus, by contrast, is darker and richer in flavour. Each of Davis’ 800 hives contains between 50,000 and 80,000 bees. How much honey they produce depends on the weather. “In a poor year, we get a total of around 70 tonnes of honey. In a good year, that goes up to 300 tonnes,” he says. Davis and his bees are part of the transformation of Kangaroo Island. The island has long been known as a natural paradise; now, islanders are taking advantage of their pristine surroundings to create organic locavore food and wine.
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destination
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Mercure Kangaroo Island Lodge Reflections Restaurant
‘The Rex Set Go Special’ For 2 Adults Stay 3 pay 2 Bonus Buffet Breakfast Bonus Room Upgrade $499.00 (save $356) PH:1800 355 581
destination
“This is a wonderful place to be a chef,” says Tim Bourke, executive chef at Southern Ocean Lodge, the island’s luxury lodge. “There are so many passionate producers creating fantastic products.” Bourke says he sources 90 per cent of the ingredients he uses to create his meals – dishes such as kingfish with pickled cucumber, yoghurt and herbs – from the island. The island’s foodie hub is Kingscote, the biggest town. Apart from Island Beehive, attractions include a eucalyptus distillery, a lavender farm that grows 12 different varieties, and Kangaroo Island Spirits, where distillers Jon and Sarah Lark produce a range of spirits including three different types of gin. Cheese fans will love the Island Pure Sheep Dairy, where visitors can watch sheep being milked and taste the range of delicious cheeses. The manchego and the haloumi are particularly recommended.
Kingscote is also a hub for the island’s artists. It’s estimated that 10 per cent of the island’s 4600 inhabitants are involved in some form of creative pursuit; many of them have their work on display at Fine Art Kangaroo Island. There are also several other galleries on the island, including the Some Bling New jewellery studio. Drive inland from Kingscote to Parndana, where families can visit the Kangaroo Island Wildlife Park. Thanks to its slower rate of development and virtual absence of pests, Kangaroo Island has an abundance of wildlife. Few visitors go home without a bushland encounter of some kind; however, if you want to have an up-close experience, the Wildlife Park is the place to go. “A lot of our animals are local wildlife that needed rescuing, so they are very used to people,” says Dana Mitchell who, with her husband Sam, owns the park. “Visitors can actually feed kangaroos and emus, and we have three koala sessions a day, where you can hold the koalas.”
Above: Foodie hub Kingscote features a lavender farm with 12 varieties. Below left: Savour manchego cheese at Pure Sheep Dairy. Below: Cuddle the koalas at Kangaroo Island Wildlife Park.
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destination
Those who prefer wine to wildlife will want to make an appointment to visit Islander Estate Vineyards, arguably the best winery on Kangaroo Island. Owner and winemaker Jacques Lurton is the scion of a famous Bordeaux wine family, who chose Kangaroo Island to set up his first winery. “We make our wines using traditional European methods, picking and pruning by hand and leaving the wine on the skins for a long time,” says general manager, Yale Norris. “The result is wines that are quite delicate and elegant.” With 10 hectares of vines, The Islander Estate produces between 5500 and 6000 cases a year. The winery’s flagship wine, a refined Cabernet Franc, is called The Investigator, aptly named after the ship on which Matthew Flinders charted the vast Kangaroo Island coastline.
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From Parndana, keep heading west to explore the island’s untamed side. It’s a good idea to pack a picnic to enjoy along the way: the sheer size of Kangaroo Island takes most visitors by surprise. At 155 kilometres from east to west, it is Australia’s third-largest island. More than one-third of that area is pristine nature, with landscapes ranging from heath and mallee scrub to coastal cliffs, wetlands, estuaries and bush. The rugged beauty of the West End is a great place for wildlife spotting, so keep your eyes peeled for wallabies in the undergrowth or koalas in the tree tops. Stop in at the Flinders Chase Visitor Centre before heading to the Remarkable Rocks – where windswept sandstone forms set along the dramatic coastline – and the lighthouse at Cape du Couedic, which was built between 1906 and 1909.
destination
The rugged beauty of the West End is a great place for wildlife spotting, so keep your eyes peeled for wallabies in the undergrowth or koalas in the tree tops.
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destination
For those feeling active, there are a number of hikes to choose from. The walk to Platypus Waterholes is a popular choice: one of the shortest walks, it’s also one of the island’s most rewarding. From the lighthouse, follow the boardwalk as it winds its way down the cliff. If it is a windy day – which it usually is – walk carefully: towering waves rolling in from the Southern Ocean drench the boardwalk frequently with spray. It’s worth the risk of getting wet to get close to the colony of around 7000 New Zealand fur seals that live at the base of the cliffs, lazing on the rocks or riding the waves in from a fishing expedition. Stunning scenery and wildlife, up close and personal – that’s the unforgettable Kangaroo Island experience people have come to expect.
Round-up GO
If you don’t fly to Kangaroo Island, you’ll be travelling there by ferry – either in your car or on a coach.
STAY
Lifetime Private Retreats offer four selfcontained luxury beachfront homes, with the option of gourmet catering by Hannaford & Sachs. For bookings call (08) 8559 2248, and for catering, call (08) 8559 2236. life-time.com.au, hannafordandsachs.com.au Southern Ocean Lodge is a spectacular setting for those looking to splash out. Its all-inclusive rates and luxurious rooms make it a holiday to remember. Hanson Bay Rd, Kingscote, (02) 9918 4355 southernoceanlodge.com.au Mercure Kangaroo Island Lodge Scenic Drive, American River, (08) 8553 7053 or 1800 355 581 kilodge.com.au
EAT
Enjoy local specialties such as wallaby shank at Bella restaurant, on site at Kingscote’s Kangaroo Island Seaside Inn. 7 Cygnet Road, Kingscote, (08) 8553 2707 kiseasideinn.com.au Seafood and other local produce shines at Reflections Restaurant in the Mercure Kangaroo Island Lodge. Scenic Drive, American River, (08) 8553 7053 kilodge.com.au
EXPLORE
Go wine-tasting: Islander Estate Vineyards iev.com.au (08) 8553 9008, is the best-known local winery, but there are other cellar doors worth visiting: if time permits, stop in at Bay of Shoals Wines and at Chapman River Wines Cellar Door, which has its own art studio.
MORE INFO
tourkangarooisland.com.au goodfoodkangarooisland.com.au 18
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food&wine
ORANGE
THE NEW SQUEEZE Orange boasts a vibrant food and wine scene, pretty pastoral landscapes and warm hospitality. In fact, you’d be hard-pressed to find a more inspired gourmet getaway, writes Carla Grossetti.
range doesn’t need to be told what it’s good at. While the pulse of the township has long relied on its proud agricultural traditions, a new slew of stylish hotels, rustic grocers, lively cafés, award-winning wineries and innovative bars and eateries has given the region more reasons than ever to be feeling rather pleased with itself. OJ, as the locals call it, has been revitalised in recent times thanks, in part, to an influx of committed tree-changers, young locals looking for alternatives to moving to the Big Smoke and creative types craving the space and freedom to cook up innovative ideas.
Grape expectations Although the fruit-growing region produces apples, cherries, stone fruit and grapes, it’s the cool-climate wines making their mark on the national and international wine stage that’s really put OJ and its surrounds on the map as a great place for a weekend escape. One of the best times to see examples of OJ’s civic pride is during the Orange Wine Festival. Orange Wine Festival chair Michelle Stivens says the annual event, which began nine years ago, has grown to such a size that it has to be held over a number of weekends. Stivens says this year’s festival has, “widened
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its focus to celebrate the region’s food, produce, growers and chefs in order to reflect the town’s status as a destination for both wine and food.”
Seasons of change While the region’s modern wine industry was pioneered by a few foresighted individuals who planted vines in the early 1980s, many of the area’s original orchards, such as Borrodell Vineyard and Brangayne, diversified into grape growing in the ’90s. The Brangayne vineyard lies on the northeastern slopes of extinct volcano Mount Canobolas, one of the highest and coolest grape-growing districts in Australia. The Hoskins family had grown apples, pears, peaches and cherries on the property since the 1930s and only replaced the orchards with wine grapes in 1994. Today, Brangayne is managed by David Hoskins, who says “the wines produced from single vineyard grapes express the true terroir of the region.” “As the seasons change, wines that are produced traditionally are allowed to tell their individual story and reveal their true character,” says Hoskins, whose boutique vineyard creates award-winning Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon.
Ferment. Wine culture you can taste. Ferment - The Orange Wine Centre showcase wines from the Central Ranges of NSW and beyond. Our state-of-the-art Enomatic wine dispensers let you taste and then purchase a wide range of wines, specially chosen by Peter Bourne. Ferment is Orange’s dedicated wine venue and also the cellar door and tasting room for Cooks Lot, Carillion, Montoro, Tamburlaine and Topers Wines. Located at 87 Hill Street, at the top end of town, Ferment is the hub of everything a visitor or savvy Orange local could want for wine.
www.orangewinecentre.com.au
we invite you to come, relax, unwind and indulge in the orange region
2015 Dates for your diary
Gnoo Blas Classic Car Show 7 – 8 Febraury Banjo Paterson Festival 12 – 17 February Orange F.O.O.D Week 10 – 19 April
to book your STAY simply go to www.visitorange.com.au Or stop in at the Orange Visitor Information centre OPEN 9am – 5pm | 7 Days FREE CALL 1800 069 466 151 Byng Street (Crnr of Byng & Peisley Sts), Orange /visitorange
/visit_orange
food&wine
Contemporary Italian and French influenced dish from Lolli Redini.
FAST FACT Orange was given its name by Major Thomas Mitchell in 1846, in honour of Prince William of Orange whom he met during the Napoleonic Wars (Prince William later became the King of Holland).
The property, Brangayne, was named by Hoskin’s grandmother, Winsome, after the handmaiden who attends to the tragic Isolde in Wagner’s opera Tristan and Isolde and prepares a love potion for her mistress. “That same dedication to Isolde is expressed at Brangayne each day by those who create the wine. Our wine label depicts wine as being the drink of love, which, as well as classical music, is one of my grand passions,” says Hoskins, at his rustic cellar door that is open daily, by appointment, to groups of 12 or more.
New ideas ferment As well as the old-school experience at boutique vineyards, the future has arrived at Ferment: The Orange Wine Centre and
Wine Store in Orange proper. Housed in a beautifully preserved heritage building, Ferment features a high-tech Enomatic wine system that allows visitors to sample 24 wines by the glass. As well as squirting temperaturecontrolled wine into your glass, owner Simon Forsyth is on hand to dispense information about the wines, which can be enjoyed along with tasty tasting plates. Another premium venue in the business of ‘relishing all things vinous’ is the Union Bank Wine Bar & Dining, which sells predominantly cool-climate wines. Across the courtyard from the bar you’ll find the Swinging Bridge, where the historic stables have been converted into a cosy cellar door. “The food and wine at Union Bank is an expression of my vineyard and of my palate, with a seasonal menu that showcases local produce,” says Tom Ward, who manages Swinging Bridge Wines.
The good life On the food front, it’s evident that this is a town seriously in love with the land. As well as the region’s hatted restaurants – Lolli Redini’s, Racine and Tonic – casual eateries such as The Grocer & Co Organics, providore A Slice of Orange, The Endsleigh café at Byng General Store, Emma’s Table and The Agrestic Grocer are all wonderful advertisements for rural life. The Agrestic Grocer is a sort of ecominded clubhouse that, as well as reflecting the personality of its owners – friends Beau and Katie Baddock and Danielle and Lucas Martin – hints at the prevailing ‘farm-to-fork’ mindset of the local community. Here, the
Above: View from the deck at De Salis in Nashdale, 15 minutes from the centre of Orange. 23
food&wine
Ferment, the Orange Wine Centre, housed in a carefully preserved heritage building.
local farms and purveyors supply everything from Carbeen Pastured Produce eggs to The Second Mouse Cheese, Sacred Mountain Cider, Abilene Grove olive oil, Orange Roasting Co coffee, Perthville sausages, hand-pumped Badlands Brewery ale and oats rolled by bicycle on site.
Keeping its cool Cool Room Restaurant, a repurposed space that was one of the oldest coolrooms in the area, now houses a rustic café, wine store and shop selling farm produce. Its owners, according to Beau, aim to articulate to customers exactly what is on the plate and where it hails from. The specials are written on brown paper each day and include options such as a ploughman’s lunch, likely to feature house-made pickles, relish or fruit from the grocer’s own 0.6-hectare (1.5-acre) farm. “Ninety per cent of what is on your plate is translatable to a farmer or grower or artisan in the area,” says Beau. Another café that’s become deeply rooted in the area’s soul is the very funky Factory Espresso; Bills Beans’ flagship café. You may have to compete with locals for a table, but it’s worth it for the exceptional coffee and sweet or savoury treats. It’s true that no visit to Orange is complete without immersion in its wine culture. But now the dots in the area have connected, sealing its fate as a formidable food capital too.
Round-up GET THERE
Orange is about 260 kilometres from Sydney. Several airlines fly there regularly. Rent a car from Avis: avis.com.au
STAY
Borrodell Vineyard 298 Lake Canobolas Rd, Orange 02 6365 3425, borrodell.com.au Duntryleague guesthouse Woodward St, Orange 02 6362 3466, duntryleague.com.au
EAT & DRINK
Union Bank Wine Bar & Dining 84 Byng St, Orange 02 6361 4441, unionbank.com.au The Agrestic Grocer 426 Molong Rd, Orange 02 6360 4604, facebook.com/ theagresticgrocer
EXPLORE
Give Wine Week a squeeze. Orange Wine Week is held each spring in celebration of the region’s food and wine; this year, it runs from October 17 to November 2. tasteorange.com.au Take the Orange Heritage Trail Follow the ‘heritage trail’ around Orange and enjoy its architecture: handsome Victorian, Gothic, neoclassical and stuccoed Italianate buildings still integral to everyday life. Amazing views at every turn in Orange country
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MORE INFO
visitnsw.com.au tasteorange.com.au
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adventure
ADVENTURES ON THE Who said the Gold Coast was all about lazing on the beach? If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re after an adventure-packed trip, pack your bags, head to Surfers Paradise and get thrill seeking, writes Faye James.
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adventure
Up in the air! Enjoy the gorgeous scenery of the Gold Coast’s hinterland all from the comfort of a hot air balloon. OK, so you may need to be up at the crack of dawn, but the effort is well worth it. Glorious views against a crimson sunset is one memory to add to the bucket list – throw in a champagne breakfast at O’Reilly’s Canungra Valley Vineyards and wine tasting to boot and you’ve got a memory of a lifetime. hotair.com.au/goldcoast/balloon-rides
Jetboating Want to experience costal views while packing in some adventure? Book yourself on a jetboat and experience 360° spins and high speed drifting from Surfers Paradise over to Broadwater Beach. It’s a good way to tour the strip and get some waves in at the same time. Not for the easily seasick, you’ll be bashed about from corner to corner. paradisejetboating.com.au
Off-road adventures Head off-road into the Hinterland of Mount Tamborine. There are half-day tours available that will take you fourwheel driving alongside hillside tracks all the way up to Tamborine Mountain. On the way, stop for scones and tea at a traditional tea house, before taking a guided rainforest walk through Tamborine National Park. Witness sky-high trees, twisting majestically up to the sky, wild bush turkeys puffing up their necks, while listening to a cacophony of birdsong. The walk ends at Curtis Falls waterfall, which is a great spot to view at night as all the glow-worms come out in their glory, adding that extra magic to the walk. The tours also stop at Gallery Walk in the town, which features touristy-fare to take home to nanna. sc4wd.com.au 27
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Fishing
adventure
Ride the waves Grab your board and mosey on down to the aptly named Surfers Paradise Beach, which offers gentle Pacific Ocean breaks and challenging banks for surfers of all levels. The three-kilometre stretch of golden sand offers plenty of space for you to chillax after catching some waves. New to surfing? Get some advice from the legendary Cheyne Horan Surf School, which offers lessons from a reasonable $49 per hour. cheynehoran.com.au
Birdâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s eye viewing Another way to view the city in style is a on a helicopter. Depart from Broadwater and soar the skies over Stradbroke Island, The Sovereign Islands, Sanctuary Cove and Coomera before heading back past all the theme parks and back to Surfers Paradise. The $595 package for two finishes with either breakfast or high tea at the six star Versace resort for extra glam. goldcoasthelitours.com.au 29
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adventure
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Round-up GET THERE
Surfers Paradise is about 21 kilometres from Coolangatta airport, most airlines fly there.
STAY
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EAT & DRINK
Bike it Why not finish your adventure-packed weekend on a Harley Davidson? You can go on a short tour for one hour or venture up into the Hinterland for a couple of hours. If you’re feeling like you really need to burn more rubber, hike it down to Byron Bay or Tweed Valley in four hours – or, if you fancy both, hoon it down in eight. Go on, live a little… wildfiretours.com
Sample fine dining at its best at Vie, Palazzo Versace, Seaworld Drive, Main Beach QLD, palazzoversace.com.au Tuck into the freshest fish on the coast with stunning beachside views to match at The Fish House, 50 Goodwin Terrace, Burleigh Heads QLD, thefishhouse.com.au 31
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charity
WASTE NOT, WANT NOT From head chefs in hatted restaurants to recipients of charity services – one woman’s mission to educate and engage has transformed the nation’s attitude towards food, writes Riley Palmer. OZHARVEST IS celebrated throughout Australia as the simple solution to a complex problem: food wastage. Successfully delivering surplus food to people in need, this ‘food rescue’ organisation was little more than an idea – albeit a pervasive one – floating around in CEO Ronni Kahn’s head back in 2004. Now, 10 years on, OzHarvest has delivered around 28 million meals and rescued 9000-odd tonnes of good-quality food from landfill. In 2003, Ronni went on a trip to South Africa where she got in contact with an old friend. En route to an AIDS clinic she’d
set up in Soweto – the urban township of Johannesburg – this old friend explained nonchalantly that she was responsible for providing the entire community with electricity. Ronni was awe-struck: “I stopped and thought, ‘What can it feel like to know you’ve made an impact on that many people’s lives’? I just knew I couldn’t live my life the same way any more.” And, sure enough, Ronni’s life hasn’t been the same since. In the 20 years she spent as an event producer, Ronni recalls, “At all of my events there was abundant food; I was producing masses of waste!” So when she vowed to do
something more meaningful with her life, Ronni delved into an industry she knew intimately, adapted the entrepreneurial skills she’d honed and applied them to the food paradox that so baffled her: that, on the one hand, food waste costs Australians up to $10 billion each year and, on the other, two million Australians still rely on food relief. Her mission has always been twofold: the more obvious social one of providing material aid to those in need, and the environmental one of saving perfectly edible food from landfill. “For every kilo of food rescued, we save 143 litres of water and 33
charity
“Nourishment is reinventing the culture surrounding food in our society.” two kilos of methane gas from entering the atmosphere,” explains Ronni. It’s a staggering statistic, particularly in light of global efforts towards reducing emissions. OzHarvest began as a humble venture, “It was October 2004, when I drove a van to a homeless refuge and delivered beautiful, delicious surplus food from a catered event,” Ronnie recalls. Since then, she has been instrumental in amending civil liability laws across four states to allow good food to be given away without liability to the donors. “We have made it easy and safe to donate good quality food,” she says. Nowadays, OzHarvest rescues surplus food from restaurants, retailers, food outlets, hotels and corporate kitchens. “We collect from all types of food businesses, from cafés to high-end restaurants to TV show production sets like MasterChef [Australia] and My Kitchen Rules,” says Ronni. “And some of them include hatted restaurants: Peter Gilmore’s Quay has donated quails and Tetsuya’s [Restaurant] regularly donates beautiful food.” From one van 10 years ago, OzHarvest now has 23 vans operating in Sydney, Adelaide, Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Melbourne and Newcastle. “We will soon be expanding to the West Coast,” adds Ronni, “and perhaps you might even see us in New Zealand in the not-too-distant future”. Following on from the success of the food rescue component of the organisation, Ronni has expanded OzHarvest’s mission to encompass ‘Nourish Our Country’. “Nourishment is saving food from landfill and providing it to people in need,” she explains. “Nourishment is educating all sectors of our community to better utilise food, waste less, and promote healthy eating and nutrition. Nourishment is about nurturing community togetherness through food, providing pathways to employment and changing lives. Nourishment is reinventing the culture surrounding food in our society. That’s our vision for the future.” 34
With this vision in mind, OzHarvest has set up NEST (an acronym for Nutrition Education Sustenance Training), which has been successful in educating the consumers who access its services as well as the staff and volunteers within those organisations. NEST focuses on matters such as low-cost food purchasing and preparation; with the intention of empowering people to make better food choices and increasing their capacity for independence. Another OzHarvest initiative is REAP: a food-rescue resource for regional communities. Since REAP was established in 2011, more than 300 communities have registered, from Coolangatta to Ballarat.
Most recently, the company set up the Nourish Program, which aims to educate and train disadvantaged youth, and facilitate opportunities for them within the hospitality industry. “Goodman+, our founding partner, has this year donated a magnificent warehouse space in New South Wales, where we will be based.” Proving the extent of community support for OzHarvest, the organisation successfully ‘crowd-funded’ more than $80,000, enabling it to buy the kitchen equipment required to run the program. All the while, OzHarvest’s 600+ volunteers continue to collect excess produce and deliver it to upward of 550 charities.
On reflection, Ronni realises that the idea behind her food-delivery enterprise was seeded when she was a six-year-old girl growing up in apartheid South Africa. After her father had a near-fatal accident, Ronni’s resourceful mother made several shrewd decisions to make ends meet. One of many money-making ventures she undertook was baking 100 cakes in her non-commercial kitchen each day and delivering them – with Ronni’s compulsory assistance – to local clubs and cafés. “I was allowed to put the cherry on top,” she recollects fondly. Evidently, Ronni Kahn’s mother’s resourcefulness was genetic.
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agribusiness
HIDE AND SEEK The export of Australian hide and skin has boomed in recent years, but the current market decline has left many skin processors at a loss. Riley Palmer investigates.
IN THE WAKE of the global financial crisis, Australia’s economic resilience has been internationally lauded. While exports of mineral resources and mining commodities have been given the lion’s share of the credit for keeping Australia out of recession, many of our other exports have been overlooked. Often obscured from the public discussion, the value of Australia’s exports of hides and skins has increased rapidly in recent years; however, with what Knox International director Adrian Knox has labelled a “perfect storm” hitting the Australian sheepskin market, skin and hide processors are less certain about the near future. Between 2009 and 2013, the export of raw hides, skins and leather doubled, while those of fur skins and artificial fur increased by 177 per cent. The supply for these exports comes from sheep, cattle, goats, kangaroos, rabbits and deer – much or which is a by-product of the animals already culled in our abattoirs for meat. The market for Australia’s sheepskins is dominated by Russia and China. Historically, China has been a stable market due to constant demand for products such as Ugg Boots and car
seat covers. April 2014, however, was the deadline the Chinese government set for its new pollution regulations, which resulted in the forced closure of several Chinese tanneries. This has had an adverse effect on China’s demand for hides. Unfortunately for suppliers, Russia – which utilises its hides predominantly for clothing and shoes – has experienced a relatively mild winter, which has depressed the market for hides. “The market has been relatively flat since March,” says Australian Lamb Skin Processors marketing manager Darren Vinton. “The Russians buy all their skins in January and February, and start producing through the year for the next winter.” Skin and hide processors are keeping their fingers crossed that the already declining market doesn’t fall victim to the export sanctions Russia has enforced in response to criticism of its handling of July’s MH17 disaster. Hides and skins are not currently on Russia’s banned list, and processors are hoping it stays that way. “If a ban was put in place, it could have a major impact on our business,” says Vinton. “The end result, if there is a ban placed on Australian sheep skins, is that less will be paid to the producer.”
37
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agribusiness
Already, the value of sheepskin is down 50 per cent from where it was two years ago. And, according to Knox, it’s unlikely to improve overnight. “I don’t think prices will get much better until we see a complete (market) collapse – or it will be status quo rather than a gradual improvement,” he says. Knox believes that the sheepskin market needs to remain at current low levels to increase demand and inspire the usage of sheepskin in a greater range of products. Australia’s high environmental standards have resulted in many small manufacturers finding it too expensive to comply with water and chemical regulations. The decline in Australian manufacturers has meant that a lot of the sheepskin’s production value is now acquired offshore. Andy Luke of Brisbane-based Packer Leather says: “The tanning industry is an industry that moved offshore many, many years ago – essentially companies chasing low-cost locations, higher profits.” A beacon of hope, Packer Leather has reinvented itself time and time again to stay abreast
A lot of the sheepskin’s production value is now acquired offshore.
FAST FACT At three to four times the strength of cowhide, kangaroo hide is renowned as the strongest available. Australia harvests roughly three million kangaroo skins annually.
of the changing demands of the market. When most of Australia’s tanneries succumbed to cheap imports and closed up shop in the 1970s, Packer Leather moved into a niche market – kangaroo skins. Surviving through a Supreme Court case for site approval, the Whitlam Government’s ban on kangaroo exports and, most recently, the global financial crisis, Packer Leather is highly soughtafter on the world stage and supplies leather to a host of international sports and fashion brands: Kookaburra, RM Williams, Sherrin, Adidas and Nike, to name a few. There aren’t enough niche markets to make this degree of entrepreneurialism a possibility for all processors and manufacturers. That said, the outlook isn’t all doom and gloom. Many of the Chinese tanneries and leatherworks forced to close for environmental reasons are beginning to reopen, which, in conjunction with the upward trajectory of the Russian economy, indicates increasing demand.
39
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insidemining Issue 17 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; November 2014
08
CHIPPED
CHINA
Has Clive Palmer sullied our partnership?
MINING REVIEW New technologies are changing mapping and exploration
20
SPOTLIGHT Coping with endless dust and ventilation issues
33
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windowseat
Gladstone, Qld SANTOSâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; two-train LNG processing facility on Curtis Island in Gladstone is the end of a 420-kilometre underground gas transmission pipeline that begins in gas fields in the Bowen and Surat Basins. The facility is part of Santosâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; $18.5 billion GLNG project, which converts coal seam natural gas into liquefied natural gas for export.
3
news+views
news+views WELCOME TO THE WORLD OF TOMORROW Rio Tinto has announced that it is looking to secure a crucial advantage in the collection of mineral deposits with the introduction of a 3D technology known as RTVis. Designed to generate detailed 3D maps of a given area, the use of RTVis in the field improves the efficiency of mining production since it allows miners to focus on removing high value ore and
reduce waste and operational costs. RTVis has been introduced at Rio’s West Angelas iron ore mine in Western Australia, while trials have also begun in other Rio product groups including copper, energy and diamonds and minerals. This innovative technology grants Rio’s miners the ability to quickly and easily view, compare and evaluate data as it creates an image of what’s under their feet.
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“Armed with this detailed information, our operations to recover the ore bodies will be significantly more efficient and effective,” says John McGagh, Rio Tinto’s head of innovation. “It’s like an ultrasound image of the deposit delivered in realtime, something that we could never do before.” The other benefits associated with this technology are that it allows expedited feedback on the impact on equipment used in the mine. If the certainties in the ore deposits are picked up earlier in the process, this allows for even more efficient mine planning, which means safer mines and less impactful drilling.
ORICA THE ORACLE FOR CONFIDENCE Orica Limited, a provider of commercial blasting systems, tunneling support systems, and chemical products in the mining industry, has announced probable lucrative blasting deals to mining clients. Orica chief executive Ian Smith recently said the company is looking to offer mining clients blasting contracts with a twist: his firm assumes all of the risk and payment is only exchanged if the operation is successful. “We can say to people we are prepared to take risks,” Smith told The Australian Financial Review. “If it doesn’t work, don’t pay us for it – we’re that confident.” Cost cutting has had a ripple effect throughout the mining industry and many services have felt the brunt of it. With this in mind, Smith has reportedly said such a drastic move has become necessary to counteract repeated cost cutting measures from the mining sector. “We see it as a higher margin but it is only on the bass that their margin improves,” said Smith. “So it is not just charging for something but guaranteeing that their cost per tonne goes down, and we want to share in that.” According to Fairfax, seven per cent of Orica’s current contracts use Smith’s new risk-assuming model. 5
news+views
COASTAL REFORM During a Shipping Australia event in Sydney, the Australian Government announced its renewed focus on an increase in competitive and efficient coastal shipping, allowing more resource support employers to operate in the marketplace. AMMA (Australian Mines and Metals Association) chief executive Steve Knott says Australia’s ‘coastal highways’ should be a competitive advantage for the nation, not a major financial drain on local employers. “Protectionist policy approaches to globalised industries are always dangerous, and the flaws in the former government’s tiered licensing system are well-documented,” said Knott. “Such an approach does not create a more competitive and buoyant shipping sector and it does not assist Australian enterprises to better compete with the rest of the world.” With the retraction of the carbon and mining taxes and the cutting of red tape on project approvals and exploration, Knott said, “Coastal shipping reform is another piece to the puzzle in building a domestic policy framework that will see yet-to-be-determined resource projects approved and developed in Australia.” He believes coastal shipping is another important step in removing key impediments to doing business in this country and internationally.
OFFSHORE VISA CHALLENGES QUASHED
‘RESERVE OUR GAS’ CAMPAIGN LAUNCHED
A decision by the Federal Court has restored confidence in Australian and non-Australian nationals working in the offshore resource industry. The Federal Court has rejected challenges by the Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) and the Australian Maritime Officers Union (AMOU) regarding the offshore skilled migration visa arrangements. “The offshore resource sector uses a very small number of non-Australian specialists, but has created 70,000 jobs in Australia and injected $200 billion into our economy,” said CEO of AMMA Steve Knott.
The launch of a national campaign for more staunch control over Australia’s natural gas exports is underway. The ‘Reserve Our Gas’ campaign strongly encourages the Federal Government to authorise laws guaranteeing that a percentage of Australian-sourced gas remains in Australia rather than being exported. Australian Workers Union (AWU) national secretary Scott McDine has voiced his concern that Australia is out of step with other major nations like the United States, which retains a percentage of gas for its use. “Australians have a right to know their rapidly rising gas bills are actually completely preventable,” claimed McDine. “We just need to do what every other gas-exporting nation does and bring in laws to look after the local population.” A study by BIS Shrapnel, which was commissioned by the AWU, predicts the detrimental effects that continued rising gas prices would have on the economy. The study claims that one in five heavy manufacturers will shut down within five years and overall manufacturing production will decline by 15.4 per cent by 2023. If this were to happen, manufacturing shutdowns would occur, resulting in a devastating loss of 235,000 jobs nationwide.
“The offshore resource sector has created 70,000 jobs and injected $200 billion into our economy” “It is well beyond time that some sensibility is restored in this area and Australia’s oil and gas operators can get on with creating jobs and economic value for our country.” The unions’ campaign has jeopardised thousands of Australian jobs by threatening the very small number of nonAustralian skilled workers who provide important international technical expertise to local projects.
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forefront
WE EXAMINE WHAT PALMER’S RECENT COMMENTS IN RELATION TO CHINA MEANS FOR FOREIGN INVESTMENT IN COAL.
WORDS: CHRISTINE RETSCHLAG
CHIPPED 8
forefront
D CHINA 9
Image by Kurt Parton at The Illustration Room
forefront
I
f a day is a long time in politics, what does a year look like for Queensland’s Clive Palmer, the first major resources player to ever enter the Australian Federal Parliament last November? Even Palmer himself would arguably be reluctant to call it anything but chaotic, colourful and controversial. Not surprisingly, the major miner was never going to do anything but support the repeal of the carbon tax, but it was his recent comments in relation to China that shocked many. For the record, Palmer’s August comments, in which he labelled the Chinese as “mongrels” who “shoot their own people” were made outside the House of Parliament on the ABC program Q&A. But was it all a storm in a teacup, or has he cracked the good China by criticising Australia’s major trading partner? Palmer is involved in a legal battle with Chinese state-owned company CITIC Pacific, which has accused his Mineralogy company of siphoning off $12 million in funds to fund the Palmer United Party’s (PUP’s) federal election campaign. During his appearance on Q&A, he said the “communist Chinese government” was trying to take over Australia’s ports and steal the nation’s natural resources. “I don’t mind standing up against the Chinese bastards and stopping them from doing it,” a defiant Palmer said at the time. The comments caused a major ripple around the nation – which last year traded almost $151 billion worth 10
of goods and services with China – with Prime Minister Tony Abbott describing Palmer’s comments as “over the top, shrill and wrong”, Opposition Leader Bill Shorten calling them “irresponsible”, Western Australian Premier Colin Barnett labelling Palmer’s outburst as “racist”, and Immigration Minister Scott Morrison dismissing the comments as “unhelpful” and “silly”. A day later, PUP Senator Jacqui Lambie added fuel to the fire when she warned that Australians were at risk of becoming “slaves to an aggressive, anti-democratic, totalitarian foreign power” amid warnings of the threat of a “Chinese communist invasion”. Curiously, Palmer met with his own PUP Senator Dio Wang, who is of Chinese heritage, but said the issue was not discussed; Dio later told Channel Nine Palmer’s comments neither concerned nor offended him. Inside Mining contacted Palmer’s press representative to seek clarification on his comments about the Chinese and what he’d achieved in his first year in Parliament. While nothing was forthcoming on Palmer’s parliamentary achievements, his office did release a statement in which the Member for Fairfax said his comments were not directed at the Chinese community or the Chinese government but at one Chinese state-owned company he claimed had failed to honour its agreements and announcements made to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in 2006.
But was it all a storm in a teacup, or has he cracked the good China by criticising Australia’s major trading partner?
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“I have been a major supporter of the Chinese for a long time. What is unacceptable is a Chinese stateowned enterprise that abuses the legal system for commercial gain in a global strategic effort to control resources,” Palmer says in his statement. Around the same time, Chinese state-owned newspaper the Global Times called for sanctions to be imposed on Palmer’s businesses and other Australian companies in a move the MP labelled as an “extraordinary reaction” to his television comments in a statement also provided to Inside Mining. One week later, Palmer apologised publicly “to Chinese people everywhere” for his comments. But has the damage already been done? Michael Roche, chief executive of the Queensland Resources Council, refused to comment on Palmer specifically but told Inside Mining that Queensland’s resources sector has enjoyed a “long and productive relationship with Asia” that was expected to grow in line with the region’s economic development. “It is important for Australia to remain open to foreign investment. The progressive liberalisation of global investment regimes has been a major contributor to the expansion and consolidation of the global minerals industry and Queensland’s reputation as a willing, reliable supplier of quality resources,” Roche says. “However, this capital is increasingly mobile as
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nations pursue mining investment more vigorously than ever. “There are real issues compromising the competitiveness and productivity of current operations and serving to constrain new investment in Queensland that we need to address.” Minerals Council of Australia director of industry policy Sid Marris has also declined to comment on “the politics and the rhetoric” but told Inside Mining that the trade and investment relationship between the Australian mining industry and China “remains strong” and will continue to grow. “Chinese investment has grown rapidly over the past eight years, with more direct investment in Australia than the United States. While growing rapidly, the total stock of Chinese investment is lower (at about 3 per cent) than the United States (24 per cent), UK (14 per cent) or Japan (10 per cent),” Marris says. “Australia is a well-established and reliable supplier of premium product. So whether it is our iron ore, our coal or other metals and minerals, demand for resources product will continue to fuel a dynamic two-way relationship.
“Australian industry, not just mining, has been built on foreign capital. We do not have the population and savings base to sustain the investment needed to seize the opportunities that ongoing industrialisation and urbanisation of the Asia region offers. “This is as true for India as it is for China, another Asian country that is working to lift hundreds of millions of people out of poverty. Chinese and Indian capital is voting with its feet and we are confident that will continue. Australia needs it to continue.” Marris says cost competitiveness is “essential” to ensure Australia does not miss the opportunity of growth in Asia. “It means removing the bureaucratic waste generated by a duplicative approvals process that sees the average Australian project take 3.1 years to be approved, compared to 1.8 years elsewhere,” he explains. “It means having a workplace relations framework that allows firms to adapt to operational and market conditions and, therefore, deliver better returns and high wages through greater productivity.”
“Chinese and Indian capital is voting with its feet and we are confident that will continue.”
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INCREASINGLY STRICT STANDARDS FOR WORKING AT HEIGHT ARE PUTTING PRESSURE ON COMPANIES TO IMPLEMENT SAFER METHODS FOR THEIR WORKERS.
HEIGHTENED
CONCERN WORDS: MITCH BROOK
15
safety
industryfocus
Many areas of mine sites put workers at increased risk of accidents, and the machinery employed at these sites can present further problems, potentially compromising operators’ safety while on worksites. Anytime workers operate at height – as they do frequently in industries such as mining, construction, maintenance and the like – there are certain risks of which they must be aware and hazards for which they should prepare if they’re to maximise their workplace safety. To access areas higher than normal, it is becoming an industry standard to use elevating work platforms (EWPs) rather than scaffolding or ladders, as EWPs have better safety features – and safer practices to go with them. “The ladder is now pretty much extinct on work sites, and that’s because the most common workrelated injury in Australia was falling off them,” says Phil Rutter, owner-director of EWP training company Training for Higher. “Whereas before if you needed to get access to a two-storey building you’d just put a two-stage ladder up and climb up, that option’s no longer available for most sites – you have to use an EWP.” WorkSafe Victoria considers ladders to offer a ‘level 5’ level of protection – the lowest on their rating scale – meaning they’re to be considered a
Fatal falls According to Safe Work Australia*:
232 workers died from falling from a height in 2003-11
16% of these involved falls from a ladder
There was a 75% decrease in fallrelated fatalites in the mining industry: from 20 in 1989-92 to just 5 in 2008-11
50% of falls resulting in a fatality were from 3m or less
*published October 2013
last resort when safer methods of working at height are available, such as EWPs, industrial safety nets or harness and rope access systems. Among these, WorkSafe Victoria recommends working from the ground using extended tools (Level 1) or using ‘passive’ fall prevention devices, such as EWPs (Level 2), as the safest methods of working at height. Harnesses and regular worksite safety equipment are standard for EWP operators. Typically, EWPs come in two varieties: the scissor lift, which uses a concertina-style extension to raise a work platform; and the boom lift, which raises a platform on a swing arm, which can be telescopic or jointed. Each type of EWP has its own safety concerns and equipment, but training applies equally to both. To work above 11 metres, a worker must hold a valid National Licence to Perform High Risk Work class WP, issued by a work health and safety regulator such as WorkSafe Victoria. For EWPs under 11 metres, a ‘Yellow Card’ issued by the national EWP Association (EWPA) will suffice for work safety requirements. “Both of these courses have been overhauled in the last two years with a bigger emphasis on safety and sorting out sites and their hazards,” says Rutter. Updating course material is important as the prime safety concerns for EWPs can change over
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industryfocus
Fast facts • In the three years 2009–11 there were 3830 serious claims due to a fall from a ladder. This is equivalent to three injuries each day requiring the worker to be away from work for one or more weeks. Of these claims, 145 were from the mining sector.
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time depending on the sort of worksite accidents that are most prevalent. “It varies from time to time as to what the main issues are,” says Phil Newby, executive director of the national Elevating Work Platform Association of Australia (EWPA). “At the moment there are a few issues with the wearing of safety harnesses in boom lifts and what length lanyard you should have. Crushing has also become a big issue on certain mine and infrastructure sites in the last two or three years. There have been a couple of accidents, and one is one too many.” Newby and Rutter agree that, when it comes to increasing safety for workers at height, the prime consideration is educating workers, as a substantial proportion of the injuries that occur in EWPs result from operator error. “[You have to] try to keep workers aware of hazards around them and what they’re doing,” says Rutter. “The actual mechanics of operating the machine is not a part of the courses. The big part of the courses is assessing the sites and identifying hazards. “These [machines] don’t just snap in the middle of the air. They may deteriorate over a period of time, but you can see that and it should be picked up in the process of checking the machine before you get in it, which is now mandatory [on] worksites.” Every EWP in Australia must have a logbook
tracking the record of pre-operational safety checks done by operators. “It should be filled in every day to show that you’ve done the checks,” says Newby. “When there’s an incident on site, WorkCover always goes straight to the logbook to see if it’s been filled in correctly. It also serves the usual function for maintenance as well.”
“If there is a safer way of doing something then you’re obliged to have seriously considered it.” Newby says there has been an increase in the efforts of companies and worksites to improve safety for their workers, for reasons including occupational health and safety requirements, insurance requirements and company regulations. When it comes down to it, protecting workers when they’re operating at height is best for everyone involved. “I think people [are] just trying to work more safely,” says Newby. “You try and design the risk out, and if there is a safer way of doing something then you’re obliged to have seriously considered it.”
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miningreview
20
miningreview
AND THE SURVEY SAYS… Technological advances have thoroughly changed the game of exploration, mapping and surveying. We take the measure of what this means for the mining industry. WORDS: CHRISTINE RETSCHLAG
HOLD ONTO YOUR hard hats! Just when you thought things couldn’t become more interesting in the Australian mining industry, they’re about to change. And rather than the talk being centered on party politics and the introduction and scrapping of controversial taxes, it’s about the technology. Mining is about to become a whole lot more exciting, thanks to advances in this field that are reshaping jobs such as surveying, mapping and exploration from manual and mundane into exciting and futuristic. Erik Birzulis, managing director of Landair Surveys, a land, engineering and aerial surveying company based in Victoria but operating nationwide, ranks “playing with new technology” as one of the benefits of working in the industry. It’s these “many different types of technology”, says Birzulus, that can provide surveying solutions for mining that meet the requirements currently causing ripples above and below ground. These include:
• aerial photography and photogrammetry; • aerial LiDAR (light detection and ranging); • land surveying using total stations and GPS; • land scanning – mobile and static; • unmanned aerial systems (drones); • echo sounders, and • smart-phone apps. “The industry has evolved from using large teams of surveyors taking measurements manually to smaller teams taking a lot of measurements with technology such as GPS, laser scanners and digital aerial photography,” Birzulis says. “Measuring has now become the easy part of surveying; what you do with the large amounts of data – ensuring data is fit for purpose, quality checking and extracting useful information from the data – is the skill surveyors use. “Next year, satellite imagery will be available commercially with a resolution of 25 centimetres and there is talk that in a few more years, 10-centimetre-resolution
21
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miningreview
imagery will be available. We will also see digital aerial cameras becoming smaller and having higher resolutions. Ground-based photogrammetry (mapping from photographs) will also become more prevalent. “All the new technology will bring massive amounts of data. Using cloud computer systems, there will be new automatic feature extraction and mapping tools developed, allowing for even quicker turnaround times.” But with new technology comes new challenges. “Challenges include keeping up with technology and storing the massive amounts of data,” Birzulis says. “Other challenges are about ensuring our clients realise the value surveyors add to the data. There are now more people providing data, but it is important to have the qualitychecking procedures and understanding of measurement to ensure the data is fit for the purpose intended.” Over on the other side of the continent, Brad Jurovich, director of Jurovich Surveying in Western Australia, says the Roy Hill iron ore project in the Pilbara is one of the largest at the moment, outside of liquefied natural gas (LNG). Jurovich is based on site, surveying for construction work that will involve a workforce of around 1200 at its peak. The company is also working on the Rio Tinto Yandicoogina mine expansion project and has its sights set on a Fortescue Metals Group project due to start. Technologies currently employed by Jurovich include: • aerial photography for planning and traffic control purposes; • traditional methods such as total station work for high-accuracy construction work; • sub-millimetre digital levels; • GPS for locating and setting out underground services and cabling, and • multiple software packages including Liscad, Bricscad and ArcGIS. “Technology in surveying has been advancing at an exponential rate in recent years. Almost all equipment is now able to be used robotically, reducing the number of man hours required to complete a task,” Jurovich says.
“Advancements in unmanned aerial surveying have reduced the costs of imagery acquisition and, as such, we’re seeing that being used a lot in planning of projects; and [there’s been] an increase in geographic information systems (GIS) in major projects. “Laser scanning is another area the industry is rapidly moving towards and [it] can be useful in mining in terms of planning for expansions, by utilising this technology to create accurate 3-D models of existing structures,” notes Jurovich. “I can see aerial photography being used more in the future, along with further introduction of geographic information
“There are now more people providing data, but it is important to have the quality-checking procedures.”
Above: Preparing to launch an unmanned aerial vehicle.
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Remaining competitive in a market increasingly crowded with companies vying for a dwindling number of projects, will be one of the biggest challenges for the industry moving forward.
systems (GIS) on sites.” While laser scanning is becoming a more commonplace request from clients and building information modeling (BIM) is “somewhat of a catchphrase”, says Jurovich, Australians seem to be lagging behind other countries when it comes to embracing the concept. “This makes it hard for us to justify the additional costs to clients as opposed to [those of] traditional methods,” he says. Jurovich believes that remaining competitive in a market increasingly crowded with companies vying for a dwindling number of projects will be one of the biggest challenges for the industry moving forward. “Increased wages costs for local labour makes it hard for companies [that] aren’t currently employing 457 workers to stay competitive with those who are,” he says. “With the introduction of new technology such as laser scanning, it’s about trying to justify the additional costs involved. “And then there’s communication: with so many areas being so isolated and having so many people in one area, there are a lot of times where it can be very hard to get phone or
internet reception. That makes communication and transfer of data very hard.” A spokesperson for the Australia-wide Surveying & Spatial Sciences Institute (SSSI) says many mine surveyors are employed directly by some of the mining majors, such as BHP Billiton, Fortescue Metals Group, Newcrest Mining and Rio Tinto. “Although the fundamentals of land surveying haven’t changed and the purpose is still the same, the techniques and methods have evolved drastically over the past century,” the spokesperson says. “While in the past – up until the early 1900s – most land surveyors had access to little more than a level, tape measure and a theodolite – modern land/mine surveyors have access to some of the most advanced tools in the world. “The industry may move into greater use of terrestrial laser scanners. In addition, mine surveying companies are now beginning to adapt to each new advance in imaging and analysis to provide solutions to the challenges faced throughout all stages of the extraction process, from exploration to rehabilitation.” 25
specialreport
LET THERE JUST AS HOUSEHOLDERS ARE BEING ENCOURAGED TO CHANGE THEIR INCANDESCENT GLOBES TO LONGER-LASTING, MORE EFFICIENT LEDS, THE MINING INDUSTRY IS ADOPTING THIS NEW TECHNOLOGY. WORDS: MANDY MCKEESICK
26
specialreport
I
t seems everyone is using light-emitting diodes (LEDs). In our homes, LED ceiling globes illuminate LED-screen televisions and computer monitors. As we drive, we stop at LED traffic signals under LED street lights and, when the road turns rural, our LED headlights show the way. On planes and trains and boats and farm machinery, the LED light is the new technology. There is even futuristic talk of them being implanted under the skin and used as medical tattoos. This ‘new’ technology has been around for more than 50 years
but only in recent times, with the development of ‘white’ LED light, have we experienced exponential growth in the number of LED-driven applications available. An LED emits light at a specific wavelength, resulting in a specific colour. Red was the first colour developed, back in 1962, by American Nick Holonyak; in subsequent decades, green, orange, yellow and blue LEDs came onto the market. These early LEDs were first seen in electronic devices and were popularised in digital clocks. White light is not a specific colour but rather, a combination of
wavelengths. Not until the late 1990s were methods developed to enable the production of white LEDs, and from that time onwards, the lighting world as we know it changed forever. And the change didn’t take long to reach the mining sector. Julia Utan is segment leader for mining and export with Hella Mining, a company that recognised early the advantages LED lighting would have over conventional halogen-type and high-intensity xenon lights. “LEDs form the next generation of solid-state lighting being highly efficient, durable and having an extremely long life.
27
specialreport © Hella Mining
Above: AS 5000LED® work lights mounted on a vehicle.
Hella Mining LED lights, equipped with advanced optics, are designed to be reliable in harsh mining conditions,” Utan says. Previously specialists in automotive lighting, Hella Australia established Project Argon in the mining boom of 2002 to research and design LED products. “We were faced with a new challenge in a new environment and spent the first year of Project Argon gathering data from minesites around the world, in conditions ranging from -40o to 60oC. We placed sensors on mining machinery and measured a suite of variables including humidity, vibration, shock and temperature, and from these were able to develop products to meet the extreme demands of the mining industry,” Utan explains. The first of these products reached open-cut and underground mine sites in 2004 as HID (high intensity discharge) lights and, following customer input and feedback, LEDs were soon refined for general use. New-generation LED products born from Project Argon and 28
manufactured in Australia include the compact AS 5000LED® work light that can be mounted on machinery such as trucks and shovels, the DuraRAY3® warning beacon, with its good penetration of fog and dust, and the revolutionary HypaLUME®, a groundbreaking breed of floodlight. The heavy-duty HypaLUME® contains 56 high-powered Cree LEDs, which together produce more than 22,000 Lumens output at a colour close to daylight, suitable for DC and AC applications. The HypaLUME® was designed specifically for use in the rugged environmental conditions of worksites such as mines and, in 2013, Hella Mining joined forces with Australian-owned AllightSykes to deliver this product to industry.
AllightSykes has taken the HypaLUME® and incorporated it into specialised mining equipment, utilising eight of the lights on its MS-9 mobile towers. Each of the towers is fitted with a two-cylinder, 500cc, water-cooled engine and needs refuelling only once every three weeks, in comparison to similar, older-generation metal halide lights that needed to be refuelled weekly. The LED towers also come with a 500-hour service interval and deliver an 18-tonne annual reduction in the tower lighting’s carbon footprint. “The metal halide lights still have a place in the mining industry, particularly for intricate work, as they are brighter and are better able to provide intense focused light; however, the LEDs have the advantage of providing huge energy
The LED towers deliver an 18-tonne annual reduction in the tower lighting’s carbon footprint.
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LED
specialreport
Fast fact • Organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs), allowing light panels to be made in flexible arrays, are the technology of the future. Imagine rolling up your television screen and taking it with you.
and efficiency gains through lower maintenance and fuelling costs,” Grant Mack, general manager of mobile lighting for AllightSykes, says. “The mining sector is not known for its sweeping adoption of new technology but LED is truly transformational.” This transformation has also meant that owners of metalhalide lighting towers are faced, potentially, with massive asset redundancy – but AllightSykes has
this covered, too. “We have been in this business for over 20 years,” Mack contends, “And recognise the needs of our customers, so we offer a ‘retrofit and upgrade’ option that allows the older towers to be converted to LED as time and money allows.” AllightSykes delivers new products and an upgrade service to minesites through rental companies and direct sales. “We are a sister business to Coates Hire, which gives us an insight into the rental space, but we’ve also worked hard to develop strategic relationships with the other major rental houses. Sales into rental fleets account for around 60 per cent of our revenue. We can also supply direct to mines that prefer balance-sheet transactions or have longer-term requirements, via our key account managers and field sales force,” Mack says. Lighting can be taken for granted when a LED is providing
near-daylight conditions, but it pays to remember that the open flames of candles and carbide lamps were the leading cause of mine explosions and fatalities in the industry’s early days. In the six years from 1907 to 1913, more than 800 people lost their lives in mine disasters in the United States alone, and it wasn’t until the adoption of the electric light that mine safety increased substantially. Olderstyle electric units had their own problems with glare, reflection and poor light output. So despite all its brightness, efficiency and fuel economy, perhaps the greatest advantage the LED brings to mining is the safety it brings mine operators. Whether they’re underground at the coalface or working in an open-cut at night, LED products – developed and proven in Australian conditions – are a revolutionising vision in the industry.
31
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spotlight
COMING UP
FOR AIR
VENTILATION ON DEMAND (VOD) USES POWERFUL NEW TECHNOLOGY AND IN THE FACE OF STIFF NEW DIESEL-PARTICULATE EMISSION STANDARDS, IT’S SET TO REVOLUTIONISE THE MANAGEMENT OF VENTILATION AND DUST IN AUSTRALIAN MINES. WORDS: DARREN BAGULEY
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safety
spotlight
GETTING AIR deep underground is mining’s oldest challenge, with the first written account of the various types of ventilation technology featuring in Georgius Agricola’s De Re Metallica (On the Nature of Metals), which was published in 1556. While the technology has changed a huge amount, the problem remains the same: how to keep air moving through mines so that stale air is replaced regularly with fresh air. With the advent of machinery underground, the problem has grown; nowadays, it includes the need to extract diesel and petrol fumes as well as particulate matter. With diesel particulate matter (DPM), the problem has become
more difficult in recent years because as diesel engines have become cleaner and more efficient, the particulate matter they emit has become finer and finer and removing it from the air is more problematic. According to ConsultMine CEO Allison Gollsby, around 50 per cent of the energy consumed by the mining process goes into ventilation (including heating air). To reduce energy consumption, mine operators are increasingly looking at automatic control solutions designed to minimise the amount of pumped air. The old solution – ‘just turn up the fans’ – is a far less viable option with increases in energy costs and the need to keep noise levels within environmental limits. As a result,
mine operators are getting smarter about how they ventilate. “There is a move worldwide to remote or telemetric monitoring of mine atmosphere conditions,” Gollsby says. “Robust, suitable and intrinsically safe instruments are available for measurement of gas concentrations, air velocity and air pressure. These are often tied to extensive mine monitoring and communication systems.” VoD takes this trend one step further, says ABB Australia Pty Limited’s industry group manager, mining, Michael Terry. “[Globally] there’s a huge trend towards VoD, especially when it comes to reductions in operating costs, safety and reduction in energy
35
spotlight
costs. If you’re just pumping air indiscriminately into a mine, you don’t know if it’s getting to where it is required and, before we were able to do VoD, a lot of systems would just pump air down into a mine whether people were there or not. The system wouldn’t have the intelligence to know where it was or wasn’t needed. “Now, with the combination of RFID (radio-frequency identification), automation, 3-D modelling and monitoring, we can see where work is being performed and if a person or machine enters an area, then the system will know and start ventilation, but it will only provide ventilation to that area. The 3-D modelling is used to track where each person and machine on the mine site is using RFID devices on personnel’s equipment, combined with a strong communications network that monitors where they are. The strength of the communications network is that 36
we’re able to monitor in real time.” While VoD has been around for a while, it didn’t come together as an integrated technology until relatively recently. “Much of this has been driven by the advent of wi-fi and ethernet underground, and the technology has advanced to the point where it is more reliable and has become that cost-effective that any device, any sensor you care to name, can be wi-fi-enabled,” says Terry. “This is due to companies adapting what was available commercially for industrial applications to the point where it is now proven, reliable technology.” Even though the technology is now reassuringly reliable (how often these days does a home wi-fi router stop working?), there’s a huge requirement for redundancy underground – so that if a communication link is broken in one place, there is another path it can use
to reach its intended destination. Because VoD is easier to install in a new mine than it is to retrofit to an existing site, and because most of Australia’s mines are long established, no system for encouraging VoD uptake in mines has yet been implemented in Australia. Nevertheless, both Gollsby and Terry say there are projects in the pipeline that are likely to become operational in the near future.
Fast fact • A study found that in 15 healthy volunteers, 24 hours after inhalation of 300mu g/ m3 diesel exhaust for an hour, mild systemic inflammation and an impairment of vascular endothelial function were observed.
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“It’s something mines are considering at the moment,” says Terry. “While there are huge energy savings to be made, it’s not just those efficiencies but the safety aspect, which will drive uptake of VoD. The number-one priority on a mine site is safety but there are also productivity improvements inherent in VoD, because you’re able to better manage your workforce through the 3-D mine mapping and the monitoring of personnel, which gives you more visibility.” What is also likely to drive the uptake of VoD in Australia is the adoption of new standards for DPM by Western Australia and New South Wales, with a mandatory level
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Fast fact • Ventilation is also required by those working in open-cut mines. As coal oxidises it can absorb oxygen and the de-oxygenated air can pool in the low points, as can other gases released by the mine as well as emissions given off by a blast.
of no more than 0.1mg per cubic metre. Diesel was classified as a Class 1A carcinogenic in 2012 and, as a report by Curtin University masters student Sara Fernandez, Diesel Particulates: Does diesel exhaust exposure affect underground miners’ health?, has shown, better monitoring will likely be the first
step towards meeting this standard. Gollsby notes that DPM sticks to walls and gets stirred up when vehicles pass. “This means that, as a rule of thumb, most mines are going to have to get another two to four times the amount of air over a machine to keep DPM levels within the maximum allowable.”
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Breaking the divide
WORDS: DARRELL CROKER
Good policy has positive results for all employees, regardless of their sex. KATIE-JEYN Romeyn, executive general manager, people and business services, at St Barbara Limited, made some telling points about gender when she accepted a Western Australia Chamber of Minerals and Energy (CME) 2014 Women in Resources Award, earlier this year. An Australian-based ASX-listed gold producer and explorer, St Barbara won the highly contested award in February. “This way of thinking and acting certainly underpins our success in reducing the pay equity gap, alongside three principles,” she said. “Every organisation needs leaders who believe in effective management practices and have the determination to change things for the better. Every organisation needs strong alliances within and outside, so the right mix of policies, programs and measures can be brought to bear. And every organisation
needs champions with the belief, skills and drive to advocate change.” Romeyn accepted the award “with the hope that, some day, awards and publicity for reducing the pay gap will be a thing of the past because gender equality should be a given, just like getting up each morning”. She acknowledged that CME’s various awards put women in mining at front and centre, but made the point that the accolades “advance the broader cause of effective and engaging workplaces”. St Barbara believes effective gender pay equity policies and programs make the workplace better for women and men. “In the end, our company believes that creating the right environment and the right platform for talent to succeed, irrespective of gender, is one of the keys to business success,” Romeyn said.
St Barbara’s Katie-Jeyn Romeyn
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Improved state of affairs Most states now have awards recognising the efforts of women in mining. Cate Sims, a specialist in Aboriginal relations with Rio Tinto, won the coveted 2014 NSW Mining Outstanding Woman of the Year award. The award acknowledged Sims’ efforts to break down employment barriers and promote diversity in the New South Wales mining industry. “She is the leading individual in Indigenous affairs and engagement for Rio Tinto and for our industry and a most deserving winner,” said NSW Minerals Council CEO Stephen Galilee. Sims works in conjunction with the Aboriginal Community Development Fund and supports school programs in the Above: NSW Mining’s Outstanding Initiative award went to Thiess in recognition of its efforts to attract and retain women in the industry. Hunter Valley assisting young Aboriginal women to achieve professional career goals. because they recognise the significant NSW Mining’s Aspiring Star award went September 2, at the Brisbane Convention opportunities to increase business to Abbey Sheridan, a technical services and Exhibition Centre, during which St productivity. vacation student at Glencore Barbara was crowned winner. Coal Assets Australia. Peabody Energy Mining is often characterised by The lunch coincided with the annual mining engineer Alice Sila won the Rising its remote working environments, hard Queensland Inspire Convention run by Star award. The NSW Outstanding physical labour and long shifts. In the the Queensland Resources Council in Initiative award went to Thiess in recognition past, this has contributed to discouraging conjunction with Women in Mining and of its efforts to attract and retain women in women, especially those with children. Resources. The Inspire!Convention is a full-day professional development But new opportunities for women are the industry. Thiess has set a target beyond and networking event for women in being created. 20 per cent for female employment and the sector. Queensland’s female mine workers say participation in the industry by 2020. companies are already addressing the issue As a result of its success in Western Addressing the industry’s of gender pay gaps and inflexible hours, Australia, St Barbara was automatically skills shortage which turned women off mining in the nominated as a finalist in the inaugural In Australia, mining still has a skills past. They have instituted parent-friendly Women in Resources National Awards. shortage in some trades and professions. work rosters and already have better pay and These awards aim to further increase the This will be exacerbated when the conditions in place. profile of successful women, along with A survey completed by the Office for industry rebounds. At present, women are resources sector champions of diversity Women Queensland, the Australasian filling fewer than 20 per cent of jobs in programs, both female and male. It’s hoped Institute of Mining and Metallurgy and the industry. Increasing the participation the awards will provide ambassadors and the Women in Mining Network said that of women in the sector is seen as key role models to attract and retain women in women are an untapped resource and to addressing this shortage. In addition, the industry. that they offer a solution to the growing many companies are looking to improve Judging took place earlier this year and skills shortage. their recruitment and retention of women the presentation ceremony was held on 43
mininginsider
Women with university science degrees are in high demand ... and women tradies have as many opportunities as men.
AMMA’s executive director – industry services, Tara Diamond.
No company would say the work is easy – that applies equally to men and women. Living away from home and loved ones can put pressure on relationships. But if the balance between the family and the mine is achieved, the wages and flexible work packages could mean a better overall lifestyle. And it’s worth remembering mining jobs are not all about hard hats and underground labour. Previous experience and qualifications can lead to women filling other skilled and unskilled jobs in the industry. Skilled mining jobs for women include scientific, business and information technology roles. Women with university science degrees are in high demand. Business roles are available to women with degrees in management, accounting, project 44
management, human resources and occupational health and safety. And as the mining industry evolves, so must its supporting information technology and software. Women tradies have as many opportunities as men, including electricians, boilermakers, carpenters and welders. It’s becoming more common to see women in hard-hat roles, especially as drivers and operators. There are just as many opportunities for unskilled women in ‘gender-neutral’ roles and the support network. In 2004, the Minerals Council of Australia established the Women and Mining Dialogue to “engage industry and external stakeholders on issues related to the effective participation of women in mining, and the extension of the socio-economic
benefits of mining operations to women in neighbouring communities”. Recently, the Australian Mines and Metals Association (AMMA) launched a campaign to help boost participation by women in mining to 25 per cent by 2020. AMMA director Tara Diamond said the number of women working in mining is about 15.5 per cent, which is just not good enough. AMMA is putting together a series of workshops, together with the Women In Resources Alliance, to assist employers to find and employ greater numbers of women in the mining industry. Additional research suggests having more women in leadership teams within the mining industry can lead to greater return in capital and improved economic growth of the company they work for. Just ask St Barbara.
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THE RIGHT LIGHT
AUSTRALIAN SAFETY STANDARDS ENSURE THAT ADEQUATE LIGHTING KEEPS WORKERS SAFE.
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n the mining industry in particular, the right lighting is crucial. Not only for adequate visibility, but also because of the extreme, and often harsh, environments that the lights will need to withstand in this industry. Choose the wrong product, and you could be up for constant replacement or maintenance; both of which are costly. Increasingly, mining companies are looking to LED solutions for these exact reasons, although it pays to do your research. Even though LEDs are known to be quite resilient to vibration, many products simply are not built to withstand the continuous exposure. Metal body parts develop fatigue, stress cracks, corrosion and eventually fall apart. Also, any secondary bolt-on solutions to a standard lighting product will render the lighting inferior from the onset. Another potential issue is that contrary to popular belief, LEDs produce and are sensitive to heat. If not for heat management or efficient heat dissipation the product will cook itself in normal ambient conditions. This is further exacerbated by the extremes of mining environments and the ever-growing demand for more powerful LED products. All this information may be overwhelming, and it may be tempting to avoid the switch. However, the values of LEDs are real, they simply require careful consideration of product in order to deliver real benefits. Use these points as a guide to assist your decision- making: • Is the supplier a professional vendor of specialised lighting? • Does the vendor have a complete understanding of the application and
an appreciation of the environment and the challenges it presents, before recommendation of a product? • Is the recommended product fitfor- purpose, not simply adapted for the application? • Is there demonstrated performance in a similar environment/ application? • Are performance reports available from a NATA Certified photometric testing facility to verify the claimed output? • Does the vendor supply a comprehensive warranty and local support? When done right, LED lighting can really deliver a whole raft of advantages, including: • Long operating life, unmatched by other light sources • High endurance to continuous exposure to vibration
• Instant on/off switching, no warm-up/ restrike delays. • Flicker-free high quality and high colour-rendering white light • Low surface temperatures • Improved light levels and potential for energy savings • Little / no UV and infra-red radiation These are the issues that drive Coolon’s engineers in the design and development of its LED products. Coolon works closely with its customers to deliver the highest quality and reliable LED lighting solutions in a range of applications that meet the needs of mining and industrial environments. All Coolon LED products are proudly made in Australia and boast a solid three-year manufacturer’s warranty. For more information, visit its website: coolon.com.au
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THE FIFO PRICE IS RIGHT
YOUI CAR INSURANCE POLICIES RECOGNISE THAT FIFO WORKERS DRIVE LESS, SO SHOULD PAY LESS.
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hose familiar with insurance company Youi will know that they don’t believe in a one-size-fits-all approach. Individual circumstances vary so much – particularly when it comes to car use – that it seems unfair to charge the same amount to everyone across the board. Fifo workers in particular can save enormous amounts on their premiums – getting up to a massive 29 per cent discount from Youi – because while they are out on the mine sites, their cars are just sitting in the garage collecting dust. Why should anyone pay for that? Youi prides itself on being a company that asks a few more questions. Rather than making assumptions about individual car use, it tailors insurance packages specific to your needs – often with enormous cash benefits. Youi is all about how you use your car. And leaving your car garaged while you are regularly away for weeks at a time is one of the factors they reward well. And with so much focus on saving money these days it would be crazy not to at least do a quote with them. Youi are pretty confident they’ll be able to beat your current car insurance
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premium. You might have seen their latest TV ads saying that they’re the fastest growing car and home insurance company in Australia at the moment. You don’t do so well if your support services like claims and client care aren’t top notch. These guys have set new benchmarks in insurance and are always striving to better their service levels. As well as very competitive car insurance, they also offer motorcycle insurance, watercraft insurance,
caravan and trailer insurance and home and contents insurance, being able to look after almost all that you own. Plus if you have car insurance with them, you qualify for a 20 per cent discount off contents insurance with them. So why not give Youi a try today? Go to youi.com.au to start a quote or call them on 13youi, (that’s 13 96 84) and talk to one of their very professional call centre advisors.
CLIENT FEEDBACK FROM YOUI’S ONLINE WALL: FIFO mine worker: “I have saved a whopping 20 per cent with Youi over my previous car insurance. As a FIFO mine worker, I hardly use my car at home. Youi recognised this and dropped the cost of my monthly payments. Thanks Youi – I wish I came across sooner.” - Sam Car policy update: “Can’t speak more highly of Youi. I work away in the mines and my car is parked up most of the time. Youi is the only company that understands that and offers significant discounts because of it. Youi answers the phones extremely efficiently and the operators are always friendly and helpful. - Benjamin For more real feedback on Youi, check out the Youi Wall at youi.com.au/youiwall
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Name: Uranium Element category: Actinide Electron configuration: [Rn] 5f3 6d1 7s2 Atomic number; mass: 92; 238.02891 Melting point: 1,132 °C Boiling point: 4,131°C Discovered: 1789 by German chemist, Martin Heinrich Klaproth Etymology: Named in honor of Herschel’s recent discovery of the planet Uranus in 1781.
Uranium facts • Aside from being utilised in the nuclear power industry, uranium is used as a target for X-ray production, as ammunition for some types of military weaponry, as a shield against radiation, as a counterweight for aircraft control surfaces and in the gyroscopes of inertial guidance systems.
• Naturally occurring uranium consists of three isotopes: uranium-234, uranium-235 and uranium-238. All three isotopes are radioactive, however, only uranium-235 is a fissionable material that can be used for nuclear power.
• Uranium compounds have been used for centuries to colour glass as they produce orange, red and yellow hues.
• Uranium is sold only to signatories of the Nuclear NonProliferation Treaty.
• Thirty-one countries use electricity generated from uranium in nuclear reactors, accounting for about 12 per cent of the world’s electricity.
• Australia’s known uranium resources are the vastest on the planet, accounting for about 31 per cent of the world’s total.
• There are three operating uranium mines in Australia: Ranger in Northern Territory, Olympic Dam in South Australia, and Beverley with Four Mile in South Australia.
• Australia’s uranium has been mined since 1954.
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HAVING ULTRA-HIGH-INTENSITY BLASTING COULD PROVE A RARE TRIUMPH FOR BOTH THE MINING SECTOR AND THE ENVIRONMENT. WORDS: RILEY PALMER
AUTHORED by Orica’s Dr Geoff Brent and his research team, UltraHigh-Intensity Blasting – A New Paradigm in Mining outlines a new method in open-pit mining that has since been heralded as a step-change in conventional blasting practices. Where previously, mine-to-mill studies have demonstrated the higher efficiency of mineral processing through increases in blast energy, these increases have, until now, been deemed unsafe due to the resulting flyrock, vibration levels, airblast and wall damage. The new technique, however, enables the safe utilisation of ultrahigh blast energies. Speaking on behalf of the research team, Dr Brent says: “The key to the breakthrough has been to use the rock itself to contain the explosive energy by the selective deployment of state-of-the-art digital electronic initiation systems in novel blast designs.” The process uses innovative electronic blasting systems to facilitate dual blast layers within a single blast event. This enables the energy in the lower layer to be increased significantly – to up to five times that of conventional energy – fragmenting the ore far more extensively than conventional blasting methods do. Orica managing director Ian Smith indicates the significance of this research in the context of global
environmental issues. He cites its importance in relation to energy consumption and carbon emissions in particular – two issues notorious to mining. “The use of electricity to mill ore is usually the largest consumer of energy on a mine site,” he says. This new blasting method has the potential to cut carbon dioxide emissions associated with grinding by up to 30 per cent. The economic implications of reducing emission penalties and energy costs are also considerable, as are the financial benefits of increased productivity. “Independent modeling has indicated that increasing the explosive energy by several-fold can lead to increases in mill circuit throughput of up to 40 per cent and saving tens of millions of dollars annually,” says Smith. Given the worldwide trend of decreasing gold grades, open-cut gold mining, in particular, would benefit from ultra-high-intensity blasting. “More ore needs to be ground
and processed in order to achieve production targets,” says Dr Brent, “and this method has the potential to generate a step-change in mine productivity, particularly in complex or lower grade ore bodies. It can render ore bodies that might ordinarily be uneconomic both affordable and practical to extract.” Furthermore, the study indicates the management of dilution of gold ore within a blast. Another benefit of this technology is that it can be operated in relatively close proximity to key mining infrastructure such as mine highwalls. This is due to lower levels of vibration resulting from ultra-highintensity blasting in comparison with conventional blasting methods. The significance of this research has been acknowledged by the industry: Dr Brent and his research team were awarded the 2014 Coalition for Eco-Efficient Comminution (CEEC) Medal at the International Mining and Resources Conference.
“The key to the breakthrough has been to use the rock itself to contain the explosive energy.”
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PROPERTIES TO AVOID
The heads-up on which properties are not a good investment.
MICHAEL YARDNEY
From Metropole Property Strategists
Michael Yardney is a director of Metropole Property Strategists, which creates wealth for its clients through independent, unbiased property advice and advocacy metropole.com.au propertyupdate.com.au
AT ANY GIVEN time there could be more than 350,000 properties for sale in Australia but, to my mind, less than five per cent are what I’d call ‘investment grade’. Let’s look at what type of property an investor should not buy. Properties the banks don’t like There are certain properties that the banks don’t seem to like, and against which they will lend a lower loan-to-value ratio, meaning you’ll need to fork out a bigger deposit. Importantly, if the bank is wary of the property, rather than thinking you know better, take it as a warning sign and consider looking elsewhere. Generally, banks restrict lending to properties that appeal to a limited resale or tenant market, including: Serviced apartments. Buying these carries a lot more risk than buying an ordinary apartment
does, as you’re relying on the operator to get it right and on the tourism and business markets to remain strong to maintain occupancy. These properties have a limited resale market (because only investors buy them, you’re cutting out up to 70 per cent of potential purchasers), a limited letting market and, often, expensive ongoing management costs. Small units. Most banks prefer apartments to comprise at least 50 square metres of living space, not including balconies or car parking space. However, with our changing lifestyles, some will now lend on properties that measure 40 square metres. Studio apartments and student accommodation. These have restricted markets because of their size. Large off-the-plan developments. Banks are
concerned about concentration risk and therefore restrict how many apartments they will lend on in some large, new complexes. There are additional potential issues with off-the-plan properties that would make me wary of this type of investment.
Properties and problems to avoid Out of place. I would only buy a property that fits in with the overall character of the neighbourhood. While I personally love terrace houses, if it’s the only one in a street of bungalows, I’d look elsewhere and buy a property that’s consistent with the streetscape. Wrong location in the street. Even the best streets can have sections with an unattractive mix of properties, or properties that are too close to the shops or main road. Choose livable
Importantly, if the bank is wary of the property, rather than thinking you know better, take it as a warning sign and consider looking elsewhere. 57
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streets and make sure you buy the right property in the right section of the street. Wrong position in the block. Avoid apartments in sub-optimal positions in the block. You know what I mean: the ones overlooking the car park or situated near the waste bins. Encumbrances on title. Check the title carefully for easements, covenants or overlays that could restrict your capacity for future extensions or rebuilding. Other title troubles. Banks will restrict their lending for apartments on some older forms of title, such as company share or stratum titles. Body corporate problems. When buying an apartment, carefully peruse the minutes of the last few owners corporation meetings. Are there any issues with the building or excessive expenses planned? Has a sinking fund been set up to handle future repairs or refurbishment? 58
I’m not suggesting you shouldn’t buy yourself a weekend getaway property. What I’m saying is don’t pretend you’re buying it as an investment.
Avoid main roads and secondary locations. Sure, people live everywhere – but when the market slows, secondary properties are harder to sell, and they fall in value first. Holiday homes or apartments. I’m not suggesting you shouldn’t buy yourself a weekend getaway property if you can afford it. What I’m saying is don’t pretend you’re buying it as an investment, because you’re likely to end up with an asset that isn’t meeting your lifestyle dreams and doesn’t deliver your financial objectives. No car parking. While an absence of parking may save you some money today, it will always limit an apartment’s
appeal to tenants, home owners and future investors. Rental guarantee apartments. Remember, the cost of the rental guarantee – which is usually inflated to make the return look better than it really is – is added to the purchase price and used by the developer to justify inflated prices. In other words, you’re paying the developer up-front to guarantee the rent for you. And it’s not uncommon for the rent to drop when the rental guarantee period expires, leaving you with a hole in your budget. National Rental Affordability Scheme. The NRAS is a federal government
initiative designed to tackle the issue of affordable housing whereby investors receive a tax incentive to provide housing at below-market rental rates. A very specialised type of property.
The take-home The overall lesson is this: If you want your property portfolio to outperform, you need to own the type of property that will appeal to a wide demographic of owner-occupiers who generally comprise the bulk of purchasers. They also tend to buy emotionally, pay higher prices and push up the price of properties similar to yours. And these are the types of properties the banks are willing to lend up to 80 to 95 per cent on. Now, that’s interesting, isn’t it?
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The perils of buying sight unseen
BUYER BEWARE ZORAN SOLANO From Hot Property Specialists Buyers Agency
Recently I came across a blog that contained advice from two of Australia’s most predominate property pundits recommending that investors buy sight unseen. As a buyers’ agent, there have been many times I have witnessed first-hand, mistakes made by investors who decide to purchase sight unseen only to regret it later on. I do understand the argument for not letting your preconceived ideas affect the purchase of a good investment opportunity, but there are things that online real estate sites, statistics, reports, and selling agents’ photos don’t show you. Things such as aspect, the level of the backyard, the proximity to unsightly neighbours/ neighbourhood or a main road are unlikely to be visible from a photograph. It is often the ‘unseen’ factors that are the most likely to affect the re-sale value of your investment.
Case example Just recently we were searching for an investor looking for a premium investment property. We came across a beautiful house in the blue chip Brisbane suburb of Bulimba. On paper it ticked the boxes; large block, relatively new house, low maintenance, good depreciation, strong potential rental yield, flood free etc. From the photographs online and the information sourced from data reports, the property was looking great and the client was excited. I arranged a personal inspection because my local knowledge told me that there were high voltage power lines in that location, which were not visible in the photos. I realised that photoshop changes had been made to remove the power lines from the professional marketing photographs. When I forwarded my clients the report on the property they were surprised but happy to have dodged a bullet. As buyer’s agents, we realise
that many investors don’t have time or the knowledge to undertake the proper research needed when looking for properties interstate or overseas. Flying into a city to inspect properties of interest can be a waste of time and money and can create a high stress situation. But recommending that investors buy sight unseen is downright irresponsible. It makes sense to engage a buyers’ agent to do the legwork and undertake an independent inspection and review of any investment property as your personal advocate on the ground. It could save you thousands. Zoran Solano is the office manager and senior buyer’s agent at Hot Property Specialists Buyers Agency. He has been a buyer’s agent for more than five years now and is recognised as one of Brisbane’s leading agents in buyer representation. hotpropertyspecialists.com.au (07) 3170 3760.
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THE LAWN TAMER
Large property? Cut down on mowing time with a Ferris Zero-Turn mower. If you live on acreage and enjoy looking out on a sea of emerald green as far as the eye can see, you understand the importance of having the right equipment to cut and maintain the lawn. No-one with a large tract of land wants to spend their ‘spare’ time on endless hours of lawn maintenance with a small tractor style lawnmower, especially not when there’s a
Rob, and he knows machinery. If you’re accustomed to lawn maintenance being a chore, the Ferris Zero-Turn has decidedly taken the challenge to transform a labour of love into a pleasant at-home experience. If you have rough terrain, be prepared to be amazed as Ferris’ patented suspension allows for a smooth ride at the same rate of speed you would mow an even lawn, leaving a
Just in time for summer, Ferris is introducing three new models, the F125XT as well as the 52” IS 2100Z and the 61” 2100Z Zero-Turn ride-on mowers. Ideal for large plot owners, the F125XT can mow up to 4.3 acres per
hour while the 2100Z can reach a rate of 5.1 acres per hour so you can spend less time working and more time enjoying. Of course, safety always comes first with Ferris. Strict testing assures for a safe and comfortable ride, while a 2+2 year limited warranty will leave you worry free. Call 1800 356 632 to locate your closest dealer.
Ideal for large plot owners, the 2100Z Zero-Turn can mow up to 5.1 acres per hour. quick and viable method of cutting the grass. Don’t believe something like that exists? Take it from Rob Mellor, Briggs & Stratton Commercial Category Manager for Australia and New Zealand. “There’s something special about the smell of freshly cut grass, and with a Ferris ZeroTurn mower, you can enjoy the sweet aroma while you swiftly and efficiently get your lawn into shape – all without having to break out into a sweat,” says 62
freshly manicured green space in its wake. “Many operators don’t realise that they slow down over uneven terrain,” says Rob, “until they test drive a Ferris mower with suspension and notice the mower deck follows the movement of the wheels and the flow of the terrain, resulting in a beautiful, consistent cut.”
The Ferris IS 2100Z Zero-Turn ride-on mower is ideal for large plot owners.
*AITA Statistics Ytd December 2013. #Source: Logistik Magazine 2013. Pictures are for illustration purposes only. Actual colour of products may differ from picture displayed.
Make sure your material handling provider ticks all the boxes. Whether you require a single forklift or a fleet, we want to show you why Toyota Material Handling sells more forklifts than any other company. We’ve got Australia’s biggest range to provide you with the best possible material handling solutions, and the
customer service and parts support you’d expect from the world leader .# So if you’re looking for a forklift provider who really ticks all the boxes, talk to your local Toyota Material Handling branch today.
1800 425 438 www.toyotamaterialhandling.com.au
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ACROSS 1. Stretch (for) 4. More evil 7. Resupply with guns 8. Mumbai is there 9. Animal skin disease 12. Peruses 14. Brazilian dance 15. Synagogue scholar 16. Proper name 17. Reasoning
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QUIZ SOLUTIONS: 1. Saturday 2. Hats 3. Mosaic 4. Rose 5. Stretching and yawning 6. Eye 7. Perth 8. Chrissie Hynde 9. Divergent 10. Drachma 11. Or near offer 12. Mike Baird 13. Hamilton Island 14. A diary 15. No Doubt 16. Glove 17. Malaria 18. Liverpool F.C. 19. Utah 20. Salyut 1
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FINDAWORD Solution: ART GALLERY
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DOWN 1. Kingdom 2. Set-up 3. Haul strenuously 4. Spew forth 5. Shaping garden 6. The R of HRH 10. UK racecourse 11. Roomy 12. Resist authority 13. Fast jet effect, ... boom
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Which day of the week is named after the Roman god Saturn? What does a milliner make? What is the ancient art form that fastens pieces of tiles to create a picture? What is the national floral emblem of the United States? If someone is pandiculating, they are doing what? Astigmatism affects which part of the body? Formula One driver Daniel Ricciardo hails from which Australian city? Who was leader of the late ’70s band The Pretenders? What is the name of the Veronica Roth novel that has spawned a 2014 film of the same name? 10. What was the currency of Greece prior to the Euro? 11. In classified ads, what does ONO stand for? 12. Who became the 44th Premier of NSW, following Barry O’Farrell’s resignation? 13. HTI is the airport code for which Australian destination? 14. What was Samuel Pepys famous for creating? 15. Which band did Gwen Stefani belong to before launching her solo career? 16. ‘Handschuh’ is a German word meaning what? 17. Which disease derives its name from the Italian for ‘bad air’? 18. You’ll Never Walk Alone is the anthem of which English Premier League football club? 19. In which US state was the first ever KFC restaurant? 20. Launched in 1971, what was the name of the first space station?
FINDAWORD - Colour Find all the words listed hidden in the grid of letters. They can be found in straight lines up, down, forwards, backwards or even diagonally. The leftover letters will reveal the mystery answer. AQUA AZURE BEIGE BLUE BROWN BUFF CYAN GREEN GREY LILAC LIME MAGENTA MAROON MAUVE NAVY OCHRE OLIVE ORANGE PRIMROSE PURPLE TANGERINE TERRACOTTA TURQUOISE WHITE YELLOW
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© Lovatts Puzzles
& Timor-Leste Developing Together
Alola Foundation Education Program, Balide