ROCKS January/February 2015 by Edge In-flight Magazines

WA&NT

ADVENTURE TRAVEL • EVENTS • PEOPLE • ENTERTAINMENT • SPORTS

FIGHTING FOR FREEDOM

ISSUE 16 JAN/FEB 2015

Punch your way to pardon in Thailand

GOOD INNINGS

Six reasons why cricket is awesome

E V ’ I “ D E L I NA ” . . . S I TH

Freestyle motocross legend Travis Pastrana talks monster trucks, mash-ups and memory loss

PLUS! Biking, ballooning, body bashing, and the nation’s best burgers

DIVING WITH HAMMERHEAD SHARKS + HOLIDAYS WITH A BITE: DIVING WITH HAMMERHEAD SHARKS

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FREE courtesy shuttle to and from your terminal 24 hour undercover or outdoor security parking

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For further information, please visit our website www.andrewsairportpark.com.au or contact our Head Office on (03) 9339 9400

Welcome to ROCKS, the in-flight magazine for Alliance Airlines Welcome aboard. We hope you’re enjoying your flight, either switching off from a busy time at work or getting yourself ready for your next stint at the mine. This magazine is created to entertain you, so sit back and enjoy the ride. This month get your skates on as we have one helluva a ride. On the cover, we feature American freestyle motocross legend Travis Pastrana, a lunatic mashup of Evel Knievel and Johnny Knoxville … with talent. Then we head to Thailand to discover 'punching your way to pardon', where pugilistic skill can earn years shaved off a prisoner’s sentence – no matter his offence. Next up we go hammerhead shark diving in The Galapagos Islands followed by some wild adventures on Australia's very own Gold Coast, from surfing the waves to biking and ballooning. We hope you enjoy this issue of ROCKS. Do drop us a line – we love hearing from you! inflight@edgecustom.com.au

Scott McMillan Managing Director Faye James and the team at ROCKS and Alliance

Surfers Paradise, Queensland.

GROUP EDITOR Faye James DEPUTY EDITORS Ben Smithurst, Simone Henderson-Smart ASSISTANT EDITOR Riley Palmer SENIOR DESIGNER Guy Pendlebury DESIGNER Steve Wright SUB-EDITOR Danielle Chenery CONTRIBUTORS Kevin Lee,

Ben Groundwater, Duncan Forgan, Mitch Brook, Zoran Solarno, Jennifer Pinkerton, Christine Retschlag ADVERTISING ENQUIRIES Jason Popkowski 02 8962 2656 or 0400 838 490 advertising@edgecustom.com.au

WA AND NT SALES AGENT Helen Glasson Hogan Media: 08 9381 3991 E: helen@hoganmedia.com.au PUBLISHER Geoff Campbell PRINTER SOS Print & Media

ROCKS is published by Edge 51 Whistler Street, Manly NSW 2095 Phone: 02 8962 2600 edgecustom.com.au ROCKS is published by Business Essentials (Australasia) Pty Limited (ABN 22 062 493 869), trading as Edge. 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. ROCKS cannot accept unsolicited manuscripts or photographs. If such items are sent to the magazine, they will not be returned. A selection of images used in this publication has been sourced from Thinkstock, Getty Images and Corbis.

January/February 2015

THIS SUMMER, TAKE IT OFF ROAD

This summer, get ready to go rugged. Go Big. Go Gator. The versatile Gator XUV825i has a 635 kg payload and the largest cargo box in its class, plus it has enough room for all your ﬁshing or camping gear. The powerful Gator RSX850i comes with a 46.2 kW (62 hp†) engine and speeds up to 85 km/h. It cuts through the terrain and makes every journey more exciting. See your local John Deere dealer to ﬁnd out more information.

†Engine horsepower and torque information are provided by the engine manufacturer to be used for comparison purposes only. Actual operating horsepower and torque will be less. Refer to the engine manufacturer’s web site for additional information.

JohnDeere.com.au

DARWIN

GROOTE EYLANDT

LAWN HILL

CAIRNS TOWNSVILLE

THE GRANITES

TREPELL PHOSPHATE HILL

KARRATHA ONSLOW

CLONCURRY

MOUNT ISA

EMERALD

TELFER

BARIMUNYA

COONDEWANNA

NEWMAN

PARABURDOO

ULURU (AYERS ROCK)

ALICE SPRINGS

GLADSTONE

BALLERA COOBER PEDY MOUNT KEITH LEINSTER

MILES

MOOMBA

PROMINENT HILL

BRISBANE

OLYMPIC DAM

LEONORA

NARRABRI

EAST JAURDI PERTH

PORT AUGUSTA

SYDNEY

ADELAIDE AUCKLAND MELBOURNE

ROTORUA

BLENHEIM

WELLINGTON

QUEENSTOWN TE ANAU

January/February 2015

EAST COAST PILBARA DIRECT

... simply the best FIFO experience.

PROVIDING CUSTOMISED AVIATION SOLUTIONS • FIFO charter services • ACMI aircraft leasing P W

• Ad-hoc air charter flights

07 3212 1501 E sales@allianceairlines.com.au allianceairlines.com.au/charter

ABOUT US Alliance Airlines was established in 2002, recognising the growing demand from the domestic mining and energy sector for a provider of safe and reliable air transportation services to and from remote site locations. Alliance commenced operations with two Fokker 100 aircraft servicing two FIFO contracts, both of which are still serviced today. Our company has since expanded its fleet and operational capabilities to better service the continuing air transportation needs of the mining and energy sector . Alliance is a leading mining services company specialising in providing: • FIFO services • Ad hoc charter services • ACMI, or wet leasing, services. In December 2011, Alliance successfully listed on the ASX as AQZ.

FLIGHT BOOKINGS For customers wishing to book flights between Perth and Karratha, this must be done online: www.allianceairlines.com.au/home For customers wishing to book flights between Adelaide and Olympic Dam, this can be done online: www.qantas.com

OUR FLEET FOKKER F100

Number

Passengers

100

Length

35.5 metres

Wingspan

28 metres

Engines

RR Tay 650-15 Turbofans

Cruise Altitude

11,000 metres

Cruise Speed

800km/h

Range

3,167km

Passenger Detail

All economy seat configuration, 33-inch seat pitch, galley, toilet, pressurised, air-conditioned

FOKKER F70LR

CHARTER BOOKINGS For corporate or private charters of Alliance aircraft, the following contacts are available: www.allianceairlines.com.au/charters sales@allianceairlines.com.au 07 3212 1501

SAFETY INFORMATION Even though you may travel frequently, please familiarise yourself with the Safety On Board card located in your seat pocket.

ALCOHOL Passengers are not permitted to bring alcohol on board for in-flight consumption. On flights where Alliance offers a bar service, our flight attendants adhere to RSA guidelines.

SEAT BELTS Please observe the ‘Fasten Seat Belt’ signs when illuminated. In the interest of safety, keep your seat belt fastened at all times in case of unexpected turbulence.

CABIN BAGGAGE

Passengers should ensure that carry-on baggage does not weigh more than 7kg and fits into the overhead lockers.

Number

Passengers

Length

31 metres

Wingspan

28 metres

Engines

RR Tay 620-15 Turbofans

Cruise Altitude

11,000 metres

Cruise Speed

800km/h

Range

3,800km

Passenger Detail

All economy seat configuration, 33-inch seat pitch, galley, toilet, pressurised, air-conditioned

FOKKER F50

Number

Passengers

Length

25 metres

Wingspan

29 metres

Engines

2 x PW125B Turboprop

Cruise Altitude

7,800 metres

Cruise Speed

500km/h

Range

2,600km

Passenger Detail

All economy seat configuration, 33-inch seat pitch, galley, toilet, pressurised, air-conditioned

January/February 2015

RZR 1000 KEY FEATURES • Exclusive 29” Maxxis Bighorn Tyres • 999cc EFI Engine with Polaris Variable Transmission • 123 km/h Top Speed • Quick Acceleration - 0 to 80 km/h in 5.3 Seconds • 2” Front & 2.5” Rear Walker Evans Anti-Bottoming Needle Shocks • Dual Rate / Dual Springs with 16-Position Adjustable Clickers • High Performance On Demand True All-Wheel-Drive (AWD) System • Factory Fitted Doors, Adjustable Driver & Passenger Seats and Adjustable Steering Wheel

CODY CROCKER

POLARIS RACING TEAM DRIVER DISC BRAKES FRONT & REAR

ADJUSTABLE DUAL SPRINGS WITH WALKER EVANS NEEDLE SHOCKS

HIGH PERFORMANCE ON DEMAND TRUE ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE (AWD)

4 time Asia Pacific Rally Champion – Subaru WRX 2 time ARC SXS Challenge Winner – Polaris RZR XP 900

0 - 80 KM/H IN 5.3 SECONDS

ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING

999CC EFI - 107 HP

For your nearest dealer call 1300 654 142 or visit www.polarisindustries.com.au

12 Travis Pastrana speaks to ROCKS

CONTENTS THE PICK

ISSUE 16

IN ORE

UNLEASHED

36 DIVING WITH SHARKS

Head to The Galapagos Island where you can get up close and personal with hammerhead sharks

42 ADVENTURES ON THE GOLD COAST

There’s more to this strip than bleached blondes and leathery tans

09 INCOMING!

Eddie Izzard, Festival Manly and Melbourne Munch!

16 TRAVIS PASTRANA

12 CRUST

14 MAN + MACHINE

America’s Evel Kneivel-cumJohnny Knoxville motocross legend tells all

Indulge in a Phat Bastard Burger and check out the best mini bars…

Jeep has a new signature Cherokee Diesel and we want one

22 FIGHTING FOR FREEDOM

We head to Thailand where you can punch your way to a pardon

insidemining • news & views • resources sector features • innovation & technology • the state of mining January/February 2015

THE PICK

ROCKS has sniffed out the best stuff so you don’t have to. Just sit back, relax and enjoy!

E VENTS + ENTERTAINMENT + TECH + MOTORS + FOOD & DRINK

ON THE DOWNLOAD

Play, create, snap – 3 cool apps

Pixelmator

FESTIVAL MANLY

> If one thing says summer, it’s a day at the beach with tasty food, good tunes and a near-fatal 4pm collapse from sunstroke. But it’s even better with friends, and this February, more than 175,000 people will be lining Manly Beach for what’s billed as Australia’s premier action sports and lifestyle event. The Australian Open of Surfing incorporates skating, music, fashion, art and, er, surfing. “The event has such a great vibe,” says professional surf queen Sally Fitzgibbons. “Don’t get sunstroke, though.” February 7 to 15, australianopenofsurfing.com

MELBOURNE MUNCH

> According to those who live there, Melbourne is Australia’s food and wine capital, and even though they’d duke it out with Adelaide in the final, they’re probably right. This year’s Melbourne Food & Wine Festival is a ripper, with international chefs including New York’s Dan Barber, London’s Ruth Rogers, Hong Kong’s Matt Abergel and Singapore’s Janice Wong. Not to mention local lad and SBS star Shane Delia, a confirmed rev-head, who’ll be distracted: MFWF’s last three days coincide with the Melbourne F1 Grand Prix. February 27 to March 15, melbournefoodandwine.com.au

EDDIE IZZARD

> Multilingual British comedy superstar Eddie

Izzard plans to chuck it in and run for Mayor of London in 2019. Hopefully he’ll win, so this might just be your last chance to see him live. Izzard has run 43 marathons in 51 days for charity and conquered the internet with Death Star Canteen. His new show, Force Majeure, kicks off in Sydney and crosses the country before winding up in New Zealand. January 28 to February 20, eddieizzard.com/gigs

(iOS, $6.49) The best image editing app for the iPad, this is as close as you’ll get to Photoshop capability on your tablet.

Retry

(iOS, Android, free) Okay, it’s a bit Flappy Birds, but it’s made by Angry Birds. You manoeuvre a small plane through obstacles, avoid walls, nab coins, do loop-the-loops. Crash. Hit retry.

Flic

(iOS, $2.49) Sorting the photos in your phone is tedious. If only you could do it like Tinder – flick left to trash, or right to keep.

SAY WHAT?

Got something to say about ROCKS ? Is there something you’re burning to see covered? Don’t mumble it under your breath – tell us what you think! Send an email to rocks@ edgecustom.com.au and have your say.* *Please be kind – our fragile egos might not be able to take it.

14 January/February 2015

FOR SALE FROM $775,000 316 / 8 ADELAIDE TERRACE, EAST PERTH WA 6004

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OUTER EDGE

BOOKS HOLDEN: THE GREAT YEARS, THE GREAT CARS STEVE NORMOYLE,

$29.99 Encompassing three iconic models – the Commodore, the Torana and the Monaro – in the glory years from 1968 to 2003, this is a meticulous tome aimed at petrol-head anoraks. Its action-andmovement layout pitches it younger, aiming squarely towards the teenager with musclecar posters on his walls and a deep, tribal hatred for Ford. But considering the homegrown V8’s impending demise, this title is as bittersweet as it is enthusiastic.

MOVIES

THE LAUGHING MONSTERS

Age shall not weary the stars of Hollywood’s biggest franchises, which is why there’s so much grey hair on the silver screen.

DENIS JOHNSON,

OLD AND OLDER

“D

o you know how hard it is to watch today’s Jim Carrey – that is, 52-yearold Jim Carrey … actual granddad Jim Carrey – try to do the crazy faces of ’90s Jim Carrey?” asked US critic Lauren Bans, of Dumb And Dumber To (in cinemas from January 8, co-starring 59-year-old Jeff Daniels). “I will tell you: it is very hard.” But what other remakes are dangerously defying the ages of their stars?

BILL & TED 3 Stars: Keanu Reeves (50 years old) and Alex Winter (49 years old) “There is a script,”the semi-centurion Reeves told MTV last year. “It’s closer to happening, but not happening. We’re fighting the good fight.”

Last instalment: 1989 Likelihood: Low

BEVERLY HILLS COP IV Stars: Eddie Murphy

(53 years old) “I haven’t done a streety guy, working-class, blue-collar character in ages,” Murphy told Rolling Stone. “So maybe [fans will react] like, ‘Oh, wow, I didn’t remember he was able to do that’.” Last instalment: 1994 Likelihood: Confirmed for 2016

INDEPENDENCE DAY 2 Stars: Jeff Goldblum

(62 years old), Bill Pullman (60 years old) “The humans knew the aliens would come back,” said writer/director Roland Emmerich. Not back? Will Smith, who reportedly

bailed on the twoinstalment sequel (called ID Forever parts 1 and 2) in 2013, so as not to be seen as “a sequel guy”. Last instalment: 1996 Likelihood: High

BAD BOYS 3 Stars: Martin Lawrence (49 years old), Will “not a sequel guy” Smith (46 years old) With Michael “everything is exploding” Bay directing, the second sequel to the buddy cop drama may arrive next year, after Lawrence put the hard word on Smith … via Twitter. “We’re working on the script,” said producer Jerry Bruckheimer. “We have a lot of faith and hope that we’ll do it.” Last instalment: 2003 Likelihood: Reasonable

$32.99 The spy thriller genre is forever saturated with Cold War trench coats, but the Berlin Wall is so 1989. Underground US writer Denis Johnson isn’t usually a spy guy and so his latest novel kicks off in Sierra Leone. It sees a Danish/American adventurer summoned to Africa by a scheming mercenary chum – African, handy with weapons – to journey overland for … a wedding. But! Weddings are boring, while multiple agendas, creeping violence and life-is-cheap is not. Not as good as Johnson’s Vietnam War-set Tree Of Smoke, but what is?

HOUSE OF KARLS DR KARL KRUSZELNICKI, $32.99

If Dr Karl’s long radio career answering phoned-in queries proves anything, it’s: (a) he knows a lot, and what he doesn’t know he’ll distract you from by telling you an interesting tangential fact, and, (b) some people still can’t use Google. This is another “Did you know?” ride through a kaleidoscope of semi-pointless, but fun, knowledge. Among other things, you will learn how to outrun a deer, the truth about green tea (ooh!) and why crime pays (but not well).

January/February 2015

WHERAET TO E INK & DR

FIVE OF THE BEST

BURGERS

Beef and buns have long been a winning combo. Slop some sauce on your chin with this lot. WORDS: Simone Henderson-Smart

Longboards Gold Coast, QLD

It’s a good thing this poolside place under the Q1 building declares itself to be laidback, because you’ll be flat out after consuming its 1.8kg Phat Bastard burger laden with wagyu, pulled pork, bacon, cheese, crispy beer-battered onion rings and salad. It’s open all day and, as you’d expect from the Goldie, there are cocktails and craft beers aplenty. longboardsbar.com.au

January/February 2015

Jus Burgers Perth, WA

Meat District Co. Sydney, NSW

Meatball and Wine Bar Melbourne, VIC

It’s hard to pin down what sets Jus Burgers apart. Firstly, it’s all about the fresh, local food thing and has an impressive line-up of producers and bakers handing over quality ingredients usually reserved for much fancier restaurants. But it’s the creamy garlic aioli, crunchy onion rings and impressively fat hand-cut chips which really seal the deal and prove why it’s Perth’s best. jusburgers.com.au

From the streets of LA to harbourside Sydney, the yanks hope to teach us a thing or two about the way of the burger by bringing Meat District Co. to our shores. With a focus on freshness, the meat here is free of hormones, steroids and pesticides, so you can feel good indulging in its American-style, bigger-is-better offerings. Go the whole hog and add a ½ rack of ribs. meatdistrictco.com.au

The Italians love their balls, and they’re not afraid to show it. Melbourne has not one, but three of these shrines of ball worship, where you choose your preferred ball, add sauce and then find something to sit them on. Want to score a hat trick? The sliders option – three for $18 – lets your balls sit snugly on mini-brioche buns that make for true burger bliss. meatballandwinebar.com.au

CRUST

MINI BARS

No, not the ones in hotel rooms that charge $20 for a beer.

UDABERRI Adelaide, SA Udaberri is Basque (y’know, as in Spanish peeps) for spring but we reckon it translates as “this has to be the coolest little bar in Radelaide!” The menu is full of pintxos and txuleta and other things you’re unlikely to be able to pronounce without a bit of booze under your belt, but don’t worry – they’re all just tasty morsels designed to nibble on while you drink. The wine list sees pretty much everything available by the glass and they’ll happily whip up cocktails even though there’s no menu. Cram on in. udaberri.com.au

Bonarche Sydney, NSW Half chef, half butcher, this couple turns out some truly amazing munch. The beef patties are cut, minced and made on the premises daily, but if you prefer your meat intact go a Steak Burger. The Butcher Burger sees a grilled porterhouse topped with fried onion, egg, bacon, melted cheese, aioli, beetroot, salad and a deliciously smoky BBQ sauce. bonarche.com

SMOKING PANDA Sydney, NSW

CLARENCES Perth, WA

The latest addition to Sydney’s small bar scene is a den of oriental opulence with a splash of LA kitsch. The bar shelves groan under the weight of 65 different bourbons – some rare and unique to the Panda – as well as more than 50 types of rum and a smattering of whiskies, vodkas and gins. Expert mixologist Grant Collins has contrived a cocktail menu full of fun and whimsy: Blue Lagoon sees vodka, blue curacao, lychee purée and fresh lemon served tall and topped with a zingy lemonade foam float and popping candy. The food is finger-licking and fresh and continues the Chinese theme with dumplings, sticky ribs and soft-shell crab sliders. thesmokingpanda.com.au This little gem in the heart of Mount Lawley offers the best of both worlds. Inside is all dim light and candles and cosy leather booths. Outside it’s pot plants and murals, fresh air and sunshine/ moonlight. Similarly well balanced is the bar, which stocks beers, wines and spirits in equal proportions keeping everyone as happy as the smiley, friendly staff. Food varies from mini morsels to full-blown meals, and shellfish aficionados flock there on Tuesday nights for a steaming bowl of mussels cooked in buttered cider, dill and chilli with a pint of lager for $25. clarences.com.au

January/February 2015

MAN + MACHINE

TRIBAL WARFARE

HONES T

INJUN

Jeep has a new signature Cherokee Diesel. But will it go up hills, or will it fall to bits? Or both? WORDS: STEPHEN CORBY

big part of the reason Jeep manages to pull off the whole, “look at this truck, it’s hard as nails, just driving one will make your testicles look larger” thing is its Cro-Magnon forehead. Jeeps have had pretty much the same front-end since M*A*S*H was popular, with a kind of slabbed-face look – very bluff and straight, as if they’ve been rammed into a wall a few times. The new Cherokee, then, with its slightly hoity-toity nose, a bit Isabella Rossellini or Benedict Cumberbatch, comes as a bit of a surprise. This, surely, has to be a soft Jeep, aimed entirely at the mums who now

influence an enormous number of car-buying decisions. And who can argue with their tactics when Jeep sales are up a staggering 40 per cent in Australia in the last year alone? Jeep’s trendy new styling, combined with the ferociously effective Don’t Hold Back advertising campaign, has seen its vehicles sell faster than iPhone 6s. To launch the Cherokee’s new diesel variant, however, Jeep decided to show off just how genuinely rugged it is. We followed a grumbling conga line of bigger, tougher looking Jeeps – the Compass, the Iron Patriot, the Terminator II, the Wrangler, the Blackhawk (caution: some of these

names are actually real) – into the Victorian high country for a few hours of spine-vibrating bush bashing. Unlike the cheaper petrol versions (even the highest-spec 3.2-litre V6 is $5000 cheaper than the new Diesel at $49,000, which is still a startlingly good price) our Cherokee comes standard with a proper, dual-range 4WD set-up, called Active Drive II. While it’s in what will be its more common school-run mode, this mid-size SUV can disengage its rear axle to improve fuel efficiency – also because you really don’t need 4WD in the Woolies carpark. The result, in the Diesel, is a combined fuel figure

1941

1942

1962

The first 16,000 Willys MB US Army Jeeps were produced at the request of the War Department in 1941. It produced just 45kW – as much as a 1998, first generation Smart FourTwo.

Ford built 12,778 amphibious Seagoing Jeeps – known, discouragingly, as “Seeps” – a year later. They were too clumsy for full production however.

The Cherokee is born. The full-size SUV line began under the Wagoneer name. The Cherokee name arrived in the US in 1974 and it lasted until 1983 before its return in 2014.

January/February 2015

of 5.8 litres per 100km, gallons ahead of the V6 petrol’s 10 litres per 100km. Out in the rough stuff, however, this pretty-faced hard nutter of a machine can really do the business, engaging low-range to climb the sort of boulder strewn tracks that would make a mountain goat think about taking the afternoon off. It can also ford raging rivers that would drown said goat quite quickly. It is truly astonishing just how much punishment this seemingly soft-roader can take, while you sit in a cabin that provides a reasonable facsimile of luxury, including an 8.4-inch infotainment touchscreen with sat nav, heated front seats and a reversing camera. Did we mention the

nine-speaker Alpine audio system? While the cabin feels spacious, and the rear seats are genuinely roomy, the Cherokee’s one let-down is a boot that seems surprisingly narrow and small for an SUV of this size. You can always throw anything extra in your giant trailer, of course, because this Jeep can haul some serious weight. Its 2.0-litre Diesel’s 125kW and 350Nm are good for a class-leading braked towing capacity of 2393kg – a 190kg jump over the petrol Cherokees. That power, and more particularly the torque, also make it an easy drive on the highway, with plenty of grunt on tap for overtaking. Slightly noisy and raw at low speeds, the Diesel is

1977

2005

2012

In season five, episode 15 of M*A*S*H – the Korean War sitcom that ran longer than the Korean War – reluctant Corporal Klinger (Jamie Farr) attempts to earn a medical insanity discharge by eating an entire Jeep.

Jeep previews the innovative Hurricane concept car, boasting a four-wheel steering system “allowing it to have both a zero turning circle and to ‘crab’ sideways”. Its engine found its way into the Grand Cherokee.

The incredibly annoying/ astonishingly successful “I bought a Jeep” ad campaign launches. In the two years since, Australian Jeep sales are up an astonishing 156 per cent.

also commendably quiet while cruising around. Jeeps have long been notoriously awful on the road – the other cars on our adventure were all Trail Rated, meaning they’re hardcore, but perhaps the company should consider a line of Road Rated vehicles as well – but the Cherokee is a noticeable step-up from something like the ropey Wrangler. The steering is still a bit too light and American in its feel, but it’s the best this company has ever provided, by far, and there is some understeer if you tip in to a corner hard. But, for the kind of driving most buyers will use it for it’s better than adequate nonetheless. And if they do ever decide to recreate the Jeep ads that sucked them in, they’ll find the Cherokee Diesel far more capable than anything a casual off-roadist can throw at it. Not many will find that out, of course. As a Jeep spokeswoman put it: “We like to say 100 per cent of our customers go off-road, but some of them only do it in their minds.”

January/February 2015

INORE

ST HUR T I M EN S DS: B R O W

is v a r T Meet a, the an Pastr reatest â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s g d l r o rts w o p s n actio te. athle

January/February 2015

INORE LEFT:TRAVIS IS A LUNATIC MASHUP OF EVEL KNIEVEL AND JOHNNY KNOXVILLE

orget Tony Hawk – 31-year-old American freestyle motocross legend Travis Pastrana is a lunatic mashup of Evel Knievel and Johnny Knoxville … with talent. A rising motocross champ, and the son and grandson of US marines, he made his name at the unhinged highest echelon of freestyle motocross (FMX), pulling off the first-ever FMX double backflip and backflip 360. And Rodeo 720. Then he started Nitro Circus, a sort of MTV stunt-show Jackass with real athletes and motors (for which he leapt from a plane, sans-parachute, to grab one in midair like Point Break). Even then, he was busy elsewhere. In 2005, Pastrana capitalised on his iconic FMX status to get a start in the US national rally car series. The drivers resented him for it, until 2006, when his Subaru WRX won four national championships … in a row. He also owns the world record for longest distance jumped in a car – at 268ft – between two ramps. Pastrana has also raced monster trucks and Nascar (finishing a respectable 14th in 2013). But now, the 10-times X-Games gold medalist is returning to Australia with his Nitro Circus live show. “I’ve had a lot of concussions,” Pastrana says. Without even slurring! Of course not. Slurring would be undignified as the pre-eminent action sports star of his age…

January/February 2015

66'336'3 '3 6 16'1 6'1 '1 5 11 5'11 5'11 '11

Befo fore re

After Aft

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After

MELBOURNE STORE

SYDNEY STORE

BRISBANE STORE

91 Johnston St Collingwood VIC 03 9078 7938

Shop 13, 227 Elizabeth St Sydney NSW 02 8021 3405

76 Wickham St Fortitude Valley QLD 07 3162 3499

www.TALLER.com.au Free delivery in Australia & worldwide delivery

Mr. JNK_July2014.indd 1

13/06/2014 09:55

INORE

Images: © Red Bull Media House

A lot of concussions? That’s a bit … scary. They scare you, yeah. I’ve lost months of memory. You hit your head and the last thing you remember was, literally, a month or two ago. And you’re like, wait, what happened in that time? What, I broke up with my girlfriend? Are you serious? And then you really don’t even remember. That’s the scariest part. I don’t mind broken bones – they heal. Ligaments are tough. My back has been a big problem with whatever discs are starting to be a chronic issue. But concussions are the ones that scare you. When I look at [a potential stunt] now, I look at it with a little more perspective about what’s a worst-case scenario. I might smack my head? Oh, okay, how do I avoid smacking my head? That’s not an acceptable outcome anymore.

Motocross guys are always cutting off casts and checking themselves out of hospital to race. How come? You have to. I wouldn’t wish motocross on my worst enemy, the amount of pain involved. But it was also the best time in my life, and the toughest. It’s like a marine’s mentality: if you want to be the best, you will do anything to be the best. For example, when I was racing, I didn’t have any friends. You had teammates, and they’re friends, but if it came down to the last turn then I would knock them into the cheap seats at the top of the stands. I didn’t give a shit, I wanted to win.

BELOW: TRAVIS OWNS THE WORLD RECORD FOR THE LONGEST JUMP BETWEEN CARS

Halfway across your world record 268ft jump – in a WRX – when there’s not much you can do, what were you thinking? “I’ve nailed this!” The take-off just felt good, but I couldn’t really see much in the air.

Because of the angle of the car? Yes. Because, like, in monster trucks you can sort of see through the floor and the bottom of it, and so it gives you a lot more reference. But everything just felt right. And then the front end was a little high and it kept going up, so I just hit the brakes and kind of levelled it back down a little bit … Which is a motocross thing, right, with the centrifugal force in the wheels? Yeah. You can take a little bit of knowledge from everything and make it work. When you decide to do something, say your revolutionary backflip 720, how long does it take between concept and execution? I started working on that before I started working on the double backflip. If you look at the first ever Nitro Circus video that we did back in 2002, on the bicycle, I was doing a trick in the foam pit that I crashed at the 2009 X Games on a motorcycle. So these tricks don’t come overnight. After the double backflip I kind of took a year off completely. And then I started from there for the next two years working on the 720. Were the other rally guys pissed off that an upstart could win in his second season? Ha! You’re supposed to have a first year in a 2WD car, and a year in PGT, but with all my sponsorships from motorcycles they threw me straight into the top class. There were a lot of people saying I was going to kill

January/February 2015

INORE

myself, that I was going to destroy rally. Yeah, I crashed at Pike’s Peak on my second rally, I crashed … I crashed a lot, actually, in my first year. So they were kinda right. Right. But that brought a lot of attention along with it. I’m great friends with everyone in rally now. Because when we came in, a lot more sponsorship came in.

Are co-drivers nerds? Yes, co-drivers are nerds. That’s the smart person’s way to rally. They’re anal, they’re meticulous. They have to be. The drivers are all kicked back on the car, asking: “Hey bro, what’s up?” While the co-drivers are all huddled together, saying: “Oh, yes, instruction 56 is a yadda yadda yadda.” Surely they’re ballsier than the drivers. They have no control. They are the puppet masters, though. It’s equal. My co-driver, Christian, missed three notes out of our whole first six years, and one was really funny because he flipped two pages – he said, “Right six over max crest,” which means f**king flat out. And I was thinking that it looked a little left, but I thought, alright, full-on. And the turn was a left two. We were right six. I went, “Oh, f**k – tuck and roll, man, we’re going in high.” We stopped rolling, and Christian looked over, like, “Sorry”. Would it surprise you to live to 80? Ha, yes. [Pause.] I mean, if I ever thought I was going to get hurt doing something or going to die then obviously I wouldn’t do it. You’re not stupid. But at the same time you make mistakes and, with the sports I do, a mistake could literally cost your life. I don’t expect myself to have a short

January/February 2015

life, but I don’t expect myself to have a long life. With all the injuries, I’d probably be bed-bound before I hit one-hundred – too hurt to walk, ha! Also, you’ve leapt out of a plane without a parachute. That was actually one of the safer things that I’ve done.

LEFT: THE 10-TIMES X-GAMES GOLD MEDALIST IS RETURNING TO AUSTRALIA WITH HIS NITRO CIRCUS LIVE SHOW

What? Obviously, with the ultimate consequence. Out of 999 times, it would have gone wrong once. So the odds were pretty good. If it was that time I wouldn’t have been talking to you, because there’s no Plan B. Plan B was point your toes and try to hit a wave where the surface tension is broken. It sucked. So Plan A had to work. Tour dates Australia Feb-April: http://www.ticketaustralia.com/

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INORE

Welcome to Thailand, where pugilistic skill can shave years off a prisonerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sentence â&#x20AC;&#x201C; no matter his offence. Words: Duncan Forgan

January/February 2015

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FIGHTING HIS WAY TO FREEDOM – LITERALLY

January/February 2015

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MUAY THAI TOURNAMENTS HAVE BEEN A FIXTURE OF PRISON REGIMES IN THAILAND FOR CENTURIES

January/February 2015

IN INORE MOO, A CONVICTED DRUG RUNNER, HOPES TO FIGHT HIS WAY OUT OF HIS SENTENCE FOR GOOD

atching prisoners practise their Muay Thai skills in a makeshift boxing arena inside Bangkok’s notorious high-security Klong Prem prison is a spectacle to behold. Moo, a convicted drug runner, and Pod, a debt-collector in the Thai capital’s notorious Nana Plaza red-light district, who is serving a life sentence for murder, were relaxed and humorous a few minutes ago when we spoke to them ringside. Now, they burn with intensity – their hooded eyes fixed on their sparring partner’s as they rain vicious blows with feet, knees and fists upon their bags. “Most of them will be here until their hair grows grey,” says Surawuth Rungrueng, the guard largely responsible for encouraging the development of boxing in Klong Prem. “Muay Thai and the respect it affords them is one of the things they can hold on to.” Boxing may have been Moo’s first love, but it was his skills at the wheel, not

in the ring, that fuelled the 23-year-old’s playboy lifestyle. For two years he lived the highlife as a driver for a drugs gang. However, his precarious career ended over a year ago when he was nabbed piloting a carload of yaba pills, a methamphetamine derivative that translates literally as “madness drug”. Now, instead of living the carefree life of a young bachelor, he spends 13 hours a day confined, along with four other men, to a 1.5- by 3.5-metre cell in Klong Prem. Yet he and other prisoners blessed with boxing skills have been offered a shot at redemption due to a unique quirk in the Thai correctional system that allows them to shave years off their sentence by using their pugilistic prowess. Muay Thai tournaments have been a fixture of prison regimes in Thailand for centuries. The tradition of holding bouts behind bars began in 1767, when the Burmese took thousands of Thai soldiers prisoner after the downfall of Thailand’s then capital Ayutthaya. While incarcerated, the best Thai boxers had to fight against

Burmese boxing champions. The ultimate champion, according to legend, was a Thai fighter named Nai Khanomtom, who was granted his freedom by the Burmese king after shocking one of Burma’s best fighters. This eccentric, not to mention controversial, tradition of favouring prisoners who are handy in the ring

January/February 2015

INORE is alive and well in Klong Prem and other Thai jails. Only these days the foreigners drafted in to spar with the locals are international Muay Thai fighters drawn to Thailand by the unique opportunity to pit their skills against the boxing stars of the Thai correctional system. The incorporation of foreigners has been spearheaded by an independent organisation called Prison Fight. Billing itself as a charity, Prison Fight aims to alleviate the drudgery of prison life for inmates by staging fight events behind bars. It provides sport equipment, modest financial rewards – inmates’ winnings are squirrelled away in a prison account and used to provide for families – and, most importantly, a realistic chance at having their sentences reduced. “We do this to give the foreign fighters an experience,” says Kiril Sokur, the Estonian businessman behind the Prison Fight enterprise. “But the events are also in keeping with Thai Buddhist beliefs. Karma is very important here and giving these guys (the prisoners) the opportunity to prove their talents is important. They may be criminals but they are also human beings.” We obtain access to Klong Prem not long after a Prison Fight meeting at the jail. We are tense, and not a little apprehensive, at the prospect of meeting hardened felons in one of Thailand’s most

THE MOOD IS BUOYANT AS THE THAI BOYS COME OUT TOP IN ALL BUT ONE MATCH

feared facilities. However, the mood among the men in the prison’s Section 5, the unofficial Muay Thai wing of the prison, could only be described as buoyant. The reason for their levity, we soon discover, is Thais have just come out on top in all but one of the nine matches at the Prison Fight event. As training takes place in the ring set up in the prison yard, prisoners clown around with each other, shadow boxing and dishing out playful slaps. One inmate, a wiry fellow with intricate tattoos covering his entire torso, is a particularly energetic presence, bounding around the yard with a permanent grin plastered across his face. “That’s Chui,”

PRISONERS CLOWN AROUND, SHADOW BOXING AND DISHING OUT PLAYFUL SLAPS 26

January/February 2015

our fixer tells us. “He’s a hitman.” Section 5 is for Klong Prem’s lifers. It is also the prison’s hive of boxing talent. Criminals with previous boxing experience like Moo and his cellmates, as well as other Prison Fight participants, are funneled into here upon entering Klong Prem. Guards, meanwhile, scout out candidates from other wings for a possible transfer. It’s a dedicated place: there’s a long, wide central corridor that separates the cells, used for twice-daily, hour-long running sessions, while the boxing ring, plus rudimentary training equipment, such as weights benches, dominate the outside yard. We find Moo ringside, taking a

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INORE

“BOXING HELPS FOCUS OUR MINDS ... IT PROVIDES DISTRACTION.”

break from training with his cellmate, Pod. The friends are regarded as two of Klong Prem’s best prospects, and both wiped the floor with their foreign opponents at the event. “I wouldn’t say it was easy,” says Moo of his recent triumph. “Those guys came all the way to Thailand, so they were determined to put on a show and they made it difficult for us. Muay Thai is in our blood though. We understand the techniques and we understand the mentality involved.” “It helps us focus our minds,” says Pod, 35, who has now served eight years

January/February 2015

of a life sentence for murder. “Life is not so very bad in here but it is really boring. Boxing provides distraction and there’s also the chance of getting your time shortened if you become a champion.” Sentence reduction is undoubtedly the most controversial aspect of the prison fights. Healthy distraction in the

prison yard is one thing, but why should convicted drug criminals, murderers and hitmen have a path to freedom through their fists? “Sentence reduction is not automatic,” says Surawuth. “If a prisoner behaves badly he won’t be put forward for the privilege – it doesn’t matter how good a fighter he is. But, if a prisoner shows real commitment to improving himself and his life, then we are willing to give him some incentives.” As the late afternoon sun casts long shadows in the prison yard, training is beginning to wind down for the day. At the side of the ring, Moo stares contemplatively towards the high prison walls, which are topped with thick rings of barbed wire and broken glass. Soon he will be trotted back behind thick locked doors for another long evening and night of nothingness. “I made a huge mistake,” he tells us. “And I’ve paid the price for what I did. From now on I only want to do things that will enhance my existence like using my boxing skills.” And, in the kingdom of Thailand at least, such skills can mean the difference between a life behind bars and, to put it simply, a life.

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! T A Z W HO INORE

: BEN WORDS

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THE COMMONWEALTH HAS FADED LIKE A QUEENSLANDER’S CURTAINS BUT CRICKET – GLORIOUS CRICKET! – ENDURES. IN HONOUR OF THE LATE PHIL HUGHES, WE RECAP WHY A GAME DATING BACK TO THE 16TH CENTURY REMAINS THE GREATEST THING ON GREEN GRASS.

January/February 2015

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BECAUSE THE BATS ARE AWESOME

It’s fashionable to mock modern sluggers for the bats that let them hit sixes at will – but those willowy canons are works of art.

MODERN BAT: ● West Indian bludgeoner Chris Gayle uses a 3lb (1. 4kg) bat – as did Indian maestro Sachin Tendulkar. However, the biggest change in the last decade of bat technology isn’t weight but the bat’s edges. “In 2004, we experimented with a flat-faced bat,” said West Australian bat maker, Paul Bradbury. “That meant the edges could be a lot bigger [up to 7 centimetres thick from one-centimetre 25 years ago] because you didn’t have to lose willow on the face of the bat.”

TRADITIONAL BAT: ● Don Bradman’s bat weighed just 2.3lb (1kg) – with a sweet spot a fraction of the size of modern cannons. Bats aren’t allowed to be wider than 10.8 centimetres or longer than 38 inches (96.5 centimetres). “The biggest change is, if you need to hit a six, it’s gonna go regardless,” said Australian T20 opener Aaron Finch. “You don’t have to worry about it not carrying the rope because even if you just mis-hit it, it’s still gonna go pretty comfortably. The cricket ball has never changed, but the bats have got enormous. It’s almost an unfair advantage.” January/February 2015

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BECAUSE MITCHELL JOHNSON IS THE MAN

It’s hard to recall now, but before his resurgent 2014 Ashes series, fast bowling mental Mitchell Johnson was a three-wayward-balls-an-over shambles. And yet, fulfilling Dennis Lillee’s “once in a generation” prediction, he became a legend. Sensing his aggression in the Gabba’s first Test, traitorous English Afrikaner Kevin Pietersen – the Poms’ best batsman – tried sledging the tattooed quick. “He looked at me, just stared at me, he didn’t say anything back,” recalled KP, in his biography. “He kept staring and walked past. Shit. Shit. Shit. On so many occasions in the past, Johnson has always bit back: shut up, KP, f**k off, big shot, shut up. This time he didn’t say anything and, immediately, I knew it was different. I would have preferred him to have said something, to engage with me, but he didn’t, and that’s when I knew the series could be tough.” At 32 years old, Johnson took 37 wickets in the series – a record – belatedly, coming of age as the world’s best quick.

BECAUSE THE WORLD CUP IS AUSTRALIA’S (UNLESS WE LOSE)

No advantage in modern or traditional cricket is as unbalanced as a home pitch. Or, since doctoring pitches to suit home sides – once considered unsportsmanlike – is now spoken of openly as unfair. “We’re a tough team to beat at home in our home conditions,” said past great Glenn McGrath, the all-time leading World Cup wicket taker, late last year. “It can be tough being the home country with a little bit more pressure and expectations but you can use that to your favour as well.” Staged in Australia and New Zealand, the tournament begins in February. icc-cricket.com/cricket-world-cup

January/February 2015

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BECAUSE IT’S EASIER TO EXPLAIN THAN EVER. THANKS TO GAME OF THRONES

Still having trouble explaining cricket’s haphazard alliance of Test playing nations? Use Rocks’ simple guide…

THE BIG FOUR: INDIA: HOUSE LANNISTER

AUSTRALIA: HOUSE STARK

Rich, powerful and more than happy to throw its weight around, turning a blind eye to any in-house skulduggery within India’s board, the BCCI, which controls the game. Home to the game’s most beloved, and most iconic character, the impish Sachin Tendulkar, whom everyone hopes will one day take the throne. But probably won’t.

Used to be proper doers whose might cowed all before them, but have cast about like headless chooks since losing their brains trust without a proper succession plan – or the troops to impose their will – afterwards. On the rise again, thanks to two John Snow-esque doers coming in from the wilderness. Could do with a few decent leggies.

ENGLAND: HOUSE FREY

SOUTH AFRICA: HOUSE TARGARYEN

Well-funded but burdened by a born-to-rule mentality and not above blatant skulduggery (carrying sweets in their pockets to make the balls swing, drafting in South Africans willy-nilly, anything Stuart Broad does, or Jimmy Anderson’s punchable face). Captained by the skilled but banal Alastair Cook, who has the creativity of a sock drawer, and – ironically – thinks about it like a sock.

A powerhouse team with endless potential, having accrued a multiracial talent-base, skilled across the board. South Africa boasts redoubtable swordsmen in AB De Villiers (dashing genius) and Hashim Amla (technically flawless), and a trio of dragon bowlers who, if they fire, lay waste to all before them. In an alarming Dothraki parallel, they have an accent best described as unlistenable.

THE MIDDLE TIERS SRI LANKA: HOUSE CLEGANE

PAKISTAN: HOUSE GREYJOY

WEST INDIES: HOUSE BARATHEON

NEW ZEALAND: HOUSE MARTELL

Mountain-like keeper turned batsman, Kumar Sangakkara still crushes skulls, but his sun is setting. Board basically does India’s bidding.

Used to be all-conquering doers, now shambolic and a bit pointless.

Peripatetic but with potential, although emasculated slightly by having to play home series in the UAE. Where they still dicked Australia utterly last year.

Ah, the Dornish. Nice wine, the occasional crowd-pleasing cameo player. But why are they here again? Not AGAIN!

THE ALSO RANS ZIMBABWE: GENDRY

BANGLADESH: HODOR January/February 2015

INORE

BECAUSE THE SLEDGERS RULE

Five days is a long time to refine the vitriol. Sledging remains a key part of the game – but no sport does it like cricket. Here are three of the best:

Rod Marsh (Australia):

“How’s your wife and my kids?” Ian Botham (England):

“The wife is fine but the kids are retarded.” Mark Waugh (Australia):

“What are you doing out here? You’re too shit to play for England.” James Ormond (England):

“Maybe so, but at least I’m the best player in my family.” Glenn McGrath (Australia):

“Oi, Brandes, why are you so fat?” Eddo Brandes (South Africa):

“Coz every time I f**k your wife she gives me a biscuit.”

COUNTERPOINT

… With Billy “The 12th Man” Birmingham

So, cricket’s great. Except for one area: the commentary box. Apart from Richie, Chappelli and Tubs, they’re useless. Q: Do you look at the team now and wish you’d be able to take the piss out of a few of them when they enter the box? A: There’s not enough room in the commentary box for every former sportsman who wants to be in the media. But you must see comedy potential in some of them? Yeah, but they don’t have the f**kin’ voices! See, over the years, when Richie started the Packer World Series … actually, I used to see Kerry just down in Double Bay. Just draining babies’ lifeblood in the street? Ha ha! He’d always have his back to the street and people talking to him and I always wanted to go up and meet the guy. I’ve always credited him with the idea of the 12th Man. Cricket in the 1970s, until Packer started the World Series, was just dead. Black-and-white coverage, one camera, ABC. Packer, thankfully for everyone, came out and said, “This is a f**king gladiatorial sport – there’s a guy hurling a rock down at a guy at bloody 100mph! We’ve got to take this thing and bring a bit of Hollywood into it.” And he pulled in Richie and Tony and coloured the game, and the cameras everywhere and the lights and the pitch report with the keys going in and all that shit, which was great. So after the success of Australiana, I thought I might try to do something with my loungeroom impersonations of Benaud and Tony and Bill. It just seemed like a motley crew of people and they all had their own idiosyncrasies. Maxie Walker was there too, and Keith Stackpole and Frank Tyson, and I used to just sit around on a Saturday afternoon doing Richie with Halfadozenmarsbars and Mushtak Uphisarse, and I didn’t think much about it because I had all my mates doing it too. It was like a Benaud-a-thon at my joint. Right. So … the new guys? Right. So it’s a long-winded way of getting back to your question, but Slats, Warnie, Heals – the new guys – they don’t have anything about their commentary style or their voices that I could latch onto.

January/February 2015

AUSTRALIA

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HAMMERED The Galapagos Islands is the perfect spot to get up close and personal with hammerhead sharks. Words: Ben Groundwater

he water’s cold in the Galapagos Islands. It’s only about 14 degrees, and the air temperature today isn’t much higher. Our dive boat rocks and the wind whips sea spray into our faces as we zip up some pretty serious wetsuits and begin to think about getting in. Somewhere in those grey, murky depths below, hammerhead sharks are circling. Huge schools of them. Maybe barracuda as well. Up above it’s not much safer – the weather is getting worse, the current driving our boat closer and closer to the rocky jaws of the Isla Tortuga shoreline. The day is far from perfect. “Diving in

January/February 2015

the Galapagos is many things,” says our instructor, Paco, as he assembles his gear, “but it isn’t easy.” It is, however, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that none of us is prepared to pass up. So we don our diving gear, pull masks on, stuff regulators into our mouths, take a couple of deep breaths for courage, and then tip ourselves backwards, off the boat and into the cold, gloomy depths. Tourists flock to the Galapagos Islands for many reasons. For some it’s the lure of landscapes untouched by outside influence, a place of lumbering old tortoises, of birdlife that will basically come and perch on your

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January/February 2015

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TOOLS OF THE OCEAN THE SEA IS DEEP AND FILLED WITH HARDWARE Hammerhead shark Reaches up to 6m and weighs up to 580kg. The hammerhead’s bonce is thought to be so shaped to enhance its ability to sense prey.

Does it look like a real tool? Yes.

Shovelnose shark No longer technically considered a shark – it’s now called the shovenose guitarfish – this species has recorded only one attack, having gummed a diver who interrupted it while he was mating.

Does it look like a real tool? A trowel, maybe.

Sawfish Reaches up to 7m and weighs up to 2.5 tonnes. The sawfish uses its razor-studded nose to slash fish into paste and root for prey in sand.

Does it look like a real tool? Yes.

Rex Hunt Bearded AFL legend notorious for impaling fish through the lip and torturing them for a bit, before pashing his prey and returning it – humiliated – to the ocean.

Does he look like a real tool? If you’re a fish, yes.

FIS

HY TA

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T EN AT

TH E GA

shoulder, of marine iguanas lazing on hot rocks, and of towering, smoking, bubbling volcanoes. For the really adventurous though, the appeal of the Galapagos lies not on land, but below the surface of the water. Where else can you scuba-dive with penguins and sea lions? Where can you find turtles that sometimes seem to outnumber fish? And where could you hope to find huge schools of the Galapagos’ most famous underwater citizen: the hammerhead shark nonetheless? That’s what we’re chasing today, hoping to spot a few in the murky sea surrounding Isla Tortuga, an ancient island that was once a fully formed volcano, but over millennia has sunk into the ocean, leaving just a horseshoeshaped outcrop protruding from the surface. It’s a wild place of steep, rocky shorelines and strong winds. As we descend today through layers of cold water, it becomes clear how difficult this dive is going to be: not only is visibility down to about six or seven metres, but there’s a strong tidal surge, whipping us back and forth across the

rocky ocean floor. You have to reach out and grab on to something just to stay in one place and have a look around. Almost immediately, we’re attracting attention. There’s a flash next to me and I look up to see a sea lion playing in the air bubbles pouring out of my regulator. The animal dances and twirls, stopping frequently to check out our group of bubbling, black-clad divers, fixing a beady eye on us before twirling out of sight in the gloomy ocean. Turtles are everywhere, washing back and forth with the surging current, flapping to stay in control. A huge school of barracuda creeps up from the murky depths, their razor-sharp teeth gleaming in the low light. But we’re here for the star of the show, and it takes about 20 minutes before we finally spot one. At first it’s just a shadow, a huge, dark shape on the edge of our dull horizon. Then there’s the swish of a fin and it materialises in front of us, a hammerhead shark, its broad, flat nose menacing, its prop-forward torso gliding silently behind. Your breath catches in your

LAPAGOS

GALAPAGOS’ MOST FAMOUS UNDERWATER CITIZEN, THE HAMMERHEAD SHARK

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throat the first time you come face-toface with a Galapagos hammerhead, a huge grey mountain of flesh and teeth. This one circles for a while, eyes fixed on us, fins swishing, before it loses interest and fades into the darkness. This is the underwater world of the Galapagos, and one of the best things about it, is it’s not limited to those visitors with a scuba-diving licence. The trip I’m doing is aboard the MV Grand Odyssey, a luxurious expedition vessel that puts the emphasis as much on what’s below the water as what’s above it. Some of the passengers on board this trip are divers, but the majority are just snorkelling, taking in the wonders from high above. Some days you don’t even need to get wet. One of the first shore landings on the Grand Odyssey cruise is at Las Tintoreras, an islet created by petrified lava. Baby marine iguanas bask on the rocks, while a natural channel of water in between is filled with reef sharks, which come to rest and breed. A short walk takes you past more than 30 of the sharks just lazing in the warm waters, an arm’s length away. Day two of the trip, and we’re anchored at a place called Punta Morena – up above, volcanoes like Sierra Azul and Sierra Negra rise from the horizon, the calling cards of these islands, but below is where the action lies. The underwater world at Punta Morena is moulded by the forces of nature, a seascape of jagged volcanic rock that’s now covered in seaweed. Marine iguanas, those fantastic products of evolution, usually feed underwater

here, but today it’s all turtles, huge reptiles that appear in front of you like ships coming out of the mist. Sea lions, too, come to check us out. A colony of penguins flits past. This is everything that makes the Galapagos great. A few days later at Playa Espumilla, we witness a flock of boobie birds fishing. We’re paddling away, staring at the sea life when the water around us explodes into bubble, teeming with boobies who re-emerge a few seconds later with that very same sea life we were just admiring stuffed into their bills. That’s the reality of the Galapagos: it’s eat or be eaten. Which makes you worry just a bit about those sharks.

THE LOWDOWN GETTING THERE LAN Airlines lan.com WHERE TO STAY MV Grand Odyssey Packages available through chimuadventures.com WHAT TO DO Scubadragon Dive Centre scubadragongalapagos.com MORE INFORMATION chimuadventures.com

January/February 2015

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January/February 2015

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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 threekilometre 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 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 to Surfers Paradise. You can end the flight on breakfast or lunch, and it will set you back $595 for two people. goldcoasthelitours.com.au

January/February 2015

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UP IN THE AIR

Revel in the 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 sunrise 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/

BIKE IT

Why not finish your adventurepacked 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

OFF-ROAD ADVENTURES Head off-road into the hinterland of Mount Tamborine. There are half-day tours available that will take you fourwheel driving along 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. The walk ends at Curtis Falls waterfall, which is a great spot to view at night as all the glowworms 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

January/February 2015

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Want to experience costal views while packing in some adventure? Book yourself on a jetboat and experience 360-degree 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

ROUND UP CLIMB SKY POINT

Catch some serious vistas on Australia’s highest external building climb. You’ll need to put aside at least 90 minutes, as the climb will take you from level 77 all the way up another 30 metres, or 298 stairs. Not for the faint-hearted, if you suffer from vertigo, take a rain check. If not, hike it up and experience amazing 360-degree views of the Gold Coast region. skypoint.com.au

GET THERE Surfers Paradise is about 20 kilometres from Coolangatta airport.

STAY Book yourself a luxe apartment with breathtaking views at Q1 Resort and Spa, 9 Hamilton Avenue, Surfers Paradise, QLD. Q1.com.au

EAT & DRINK 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 beachside views to match. The Fish House, 50 Goodwin Terrace, Burleigh Heads QLD. thefishhouse.com.au

January/February 2015

ROCKS JOKES

HIGH JINKS

*burp...

Chortling above the cloud line

An apple a day One day, three explorers were hiking through the jungle when they were attacked by a tribe of fierce warriors. They were soon overpowered, knocked out and woke up tied at the foot of the tribal leader’s throne. The chief said, “All your lives will be spared if you can find 10 of one fruit and bring them back to me.”

BENDER, FUTURAMA

A short while later, the first man returned with 10 apples. The chief ordered him to put all 10 up his backside. If he could do so without making any expression, he would be set free. The man tried, but on his third apple he winced, and was immediately killed on the spot.

HIGH BROW I TOLD MY WIFE SHE WAS DRAWING HER EYEBROWS TOO HIGH. SHE LOOKED SURPRISED.

Minutes later, the second guy came back with 10 grapes, and was given the same order – but after nine grapes, he began laughing hysterically, and was put to death.

Inked

Moments later, the pair met in heaven. “Why did you laugh?” asked the first explorer. “You only needed one more grape and you’d have made it!” “I know,” he said. “I couldn’t help it. I saw the third guy walking in with pineapples.” 48

“Morgan made me walk the Professor. There we were, in the park, when suddenly some old lady says I stole her purse. I chucked the Professor at her, but she kept coming. So I had to hit her with this purse I found.”

January/February 2015

Yesterday I went to a temporary tattoo parlour to get a tattoo. After it wouldn’t wash off this morning I went back to complain, but the tattoo parlour wasn’t there.

SOUNDBITES FROM A CRAZY AMERICAN COMEDIAN JIM GAFFIGAN

I did a gig in the United States once for the homeless. I said, “It’s nice to see so many bums on seats.” My favourite animal is the manatee, the sea cow. Have you ever seen that animal? The manatee is endangered, and I think it’s because it’s out of shape. It looks like a retired football player. You could be a genius, ¬¬ – you try to write a postcard, you come across like a moron anyway. It’s always like, “This city’s got big buildings. I like food. Bye.” It is amazing how email has changed our lives. You ever get a handwritten letter in the mail today? “What the? Has someone been kidnapped?”

WA&NT

58 KATHERINE GORGE We traverse the Nitmiluk Southern Walks – taking the road less travelled to discover the Top End’s greatest hidden treasure amongst one of its most famous locations, the iconic Katherine Gorge.

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UNLEASHEDWA/NT WORDS: JENNIFER PINKERTON

The 40-kilometre on-foot adventure to Nitmiluk National Park’s Eighth Gorge, a cockatoo’s flight from Katherine, is not for the faint hearted. But with zero crowds and views fit for a king, this trek might just be one of the Top End’s greatest hidden treasures.

January/February 2015

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y hair shoots from my scalp like a nest of frightened snakes. “Can you say that again?” Northern Territory parks officer Megan Thomson blinks, sighs and repeats her words. “Watch out for buffalos and wild pigs,” she says. “They’ve been spotted hanging around the trail.” I contract a sudden stutter. “S-s-s-o-o… what should we do if we come across a buffalo or pig?” Megan’s face falls blank. “Avoid them.” The thought bubble in my mind opens upon a scene. Two figures wear backpacks the size of small planets. A pack of wild buffalo surges towards the pair. Dust flies. The walkers leap into a tree. Branches break. So do bones. Dreams follow closely behind. “Thanks for the advice,” I respond flatly, before pushing through the doors of the air-conditioned Visitor Centre into 38-degree heat. Midday may not be the ideal time to begin a four-day walk at Nitmiluk National Park, especially during the tail end of the dry season when temperatures nudge the forties. I naively think the heat won’t matter. Besides, we’re keen to kick-start an adventure before the monsoon soaks our corner of the world, making it tough to wander outdoors, let alone go camping. Nitmiluk is famous for Katherine Gorge. This network of 13 water-filled canyons, 23 million years in the making, is named after the daughter of James Chalmers who sponsored John McDouall Stuart’s exploration of the country’s north. Compared to other

January/February 2015

NITMILUK IS FAMOUS FOR KATHERINE GORGE, A NETWORK OF 13 WATER-FILLED CANYONS NAMED AFTER THE DAUGHTER OF JAMES CHALMERS

trails of the Top End, such as the nearby Jatbula and the walks of Kakadu, the Nitmiluk Southern Walks fly somewhat under the radar – a fact confirmed by the miniscule number of travellers on the trail. Over four days, we’ll pass just half a dozen other walkers. Only once will we share a campsite. Back at starting gates, a steep, un-shaded climb carpets the first part of the walk. The mercury bulges like Superman’s muscles and black cockatoos drawl overhead, making squawking noises akin to rusty swings. Heads down, we plough on past flaking gums, blonde grass and rocky outcrops. Paul is carrying most of the weight, so I shouldn’t complain. Yet I do. For most of the day. Until we reach Dunlop Swamp, that is – a paperbark-lined oasis, nine kilometres along the track. I crumple to the ground and tuck into a muesli bar before psyching myself up for the final three kilometres that remain.

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FRESHWATER CROCS KEEP THINGS INTERESTING IN THE WATER

STACKS OF STONE, LIKE ANCIENT CAMBODIAN RUINS, ONLY CLOSER TO HOME

Perhaps the heat serves as a handicap after all. We amble down through vertical stacks of stone that remind us of ancient Cambodian ruins. Then, after following a rock ledge around the upper gorge rim, we arrive at our destination for the night: Smitt’s Rock. It’s almost day’s end and I feel flatter than cardboard. Paul energetically scrambles down another one kilometre of steep rock for a well-earned swim. But like a Paris Hilton-style flake, I instead crash in the tent. Thirty minutes later, I awake in a groggy haze, just in time to see sunset soak the gorge in golden light. Cockatoos again make a noisy appearance; their calls bounce off cliff walls. This feels peacefully remote, almost surreal. The next morning we rise early and I follow Paul down through knots of scrub, stone and plum trees to the pebble-filled entrance to the gorge. We’re already sporting light coats of dirt, and the pools feel like holy water,

January/February 2015

Images in this article courtesy of Jennifer Pinkerton and Tourism NT

DID YOU KNOW? Though short on salties, Katherine Gorge has its fair share of freshwater crocs, whose sex is determined by the temperature surrounding unhatched eggs. The hotter it is outside, the more likely hatchlings will be male. In fact, anything over 32 degrees guarantees an all-male crop of crocs.

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cleansing off yesterday’s less-than-perfect vibe. “Is that a night heron?” Paul asks. And it is. We stay as still as possible, gazing at the comma-shaped bird, apparently working the day shift by accident. We retrace our steps, exert our lungs and return to Dunlop Swamp. It’s there we see them: consecutive parcels of buffalo dung. I freeze and scan for predators. None in sight. Yet I remain on high alert as we tread the next 10 kilometres to the Eighth Gorge, the furthermost point of the walk. Along this stretch, we’re treated to a cloud of rainbow bee-eaters, small delicate birds clad in azure, tangerine and bottle green feathers. I gulp as we then step over dark blobs scattered among the dried-out creek bed that leads down to the Eighth Gorge: more scary dung piles, this time from wild pigs. Again, we arc our way over rock shelves and tumble through a run of lush rainforest before reaching our home for the night. And what a home it is. I gasp in appreciation. While our campground is set high on a

Y sandy embankment, a nearby lookout ledge reveals one of the most stunning sites I’ll see in the Northern Territory. “Quick! Come check this out,” hollers Paul. Considering he spends 99 per cent of his time in low-key mode, I know this must be something special. I risk twisting an ankle in order to bolt over and witness the view. It doesn’t disappoint. Imagine an Australian Game of Thrones set. Cliffs around 40 metres high blush in tones of pink, bronze and rose. Between them ebbs a rippling, glassy expanse of indigo water. Sandy banks rise on the gorge’s opposite side. And a swim-out spot directly below features low-bending trees that hang a canopy over a shallow, crystal-clear pool. We feel as though we’ve stumbled on some sort of dreamland – a water world unto itself. The Eighth Gorge is so dreamy, in fact,

IMAGINE A GAME OF THRONES SET, CLIFFS AROUND 40 METRES HIGH BLUSH IN TONES OF PINK, BRONZE AND ROSE

January/February 2015

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UNLEASHEDWA/NT that we abort plans to camp at Dunlop Swamp the following night and double our time at the Eighth. We swim to neighbouring gorges, fall asleep inside shadows when the sun burns its brightest, and we follow the prettiest grasshopper that ever was as it leaps over black boulders near the water’s edge. Its multi-toned blue wings flash technicolour as it flits out of our way. We note its bright pink legs and purple feet. Yet later, we can’t locate the insect in any Top End fauna guide. Perhaps this gorge really is an alternate universe, more delightfully unpredictable that any hotel suite we’re likely to encounter. With heavy hearts, on the fourth morning we leave and face a long walk back to base camp. The mercury peaks again, bulging in its muscle tee, as we march the 20 kilometre track. We again pass the rainbow bee-eaters and the dung, yet now I’m out in front. Not a complaint in sight. And a little less fear factor, too. As we stride back to the Visitor Centre, where Megan informs us that we “smell like perfume”, the thought bubble in my head opens on a new scene. But this time it’s one that becomes reality. Two figures wear backpacks the size of small planets. They reach the end of the walk, slip off their boots and slip on fancy clothes. They stand at the edge of the lower gorge. A breeze blows and Katherine River licks at their weary toes. Up pulls up a boat, merrily filled with dinner tables and tinkling wine bottles. The travellers hop aboard. And as the sun sets, they float between glowing cliffs – a gentle end to a wild walk. Dreams follow closely behind.

PERHAPS THE GORGE REALLY IS AN ALTERNATE UNIVERSE, MORE DELIGHTFULLY UNPREDICTABLE THAN EVER

FACT FILE / THE LOW DOWN STAY Campsites along Katherine Gorge and Nitmiluk Caravan Park nitmiluktours.com.au Cicada Lodge, luxury accommodation at the base of Katherine Gorge cicadalodge.com.au EAT & DRINK Nitmiluk National Park Visitor Centre and Nitmiluk Caravan Park nitmiluktours.com.au WHAT TO DO Dinner Cruises, Canoeing and Helicopter Flights nitmiluktours.com.au MORE INFO

parksandwildlife.nt.gov.au

DID YOU KNOW? In 1978, traditional Aboriginal owners, the Jawoyn people, lodged a land rights claim over Katherine Gorge National Park. They won in 1989. The park became known as Nitmiluk National Park and a joint-management system began between the Jawoyn and the Northern Territory government. 64

January/February 2015

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GLAMPING WORDS: JENNIFER PINKERTON

January/February 2015

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From desert glamping to floodplain chill-outs, these Northern Territory retreats mix the wildest of remote wilderness with haute-design comfort.

ack in the day, adventure-loving travellers hauled backpacks the size of whale sharks, braved hostels with soupsplattered kitchens and spent the odd night sprawled over bus terminal seats in a bid to catch some shut-eye. But adventure no longer comes with the obligation to rough it. According to Australian Traveller publisher Quentin Long, “glamping” – or “flashpacking” as it’s also known – is a movement trending north. “We’re definitely seeing a rise in comfortable wilderness experiences,” he says. “This is opening up a type of travel to people who ordinarily wouldn’t be interested, particularly with options like ‘princess walking’, where somebody else carries your bag on a hike, or tours where you hike all day then retreat to a beautiful lodge with a personal chef. Like traditional camping, there’s wilderness, it’s immersive, it’s authentic, but it’s very, very comfortable.” Glamping is a movement headed north in a literal sense, too. For a long time, there was just one flashpacking locale in the Northern Terrtory: Longitude 131, the luxury stay for Prince William and Kate Middleton on their 2014 trip to Uluru. But property numbers have spiked in recent years. The Top End has added retreats such as Bamurru Plains, Wildman’s Wilderness Lodge and Nitmiluk National Park’s Cicada Lodge, which opened in 2013. As Nicolette Mewing from Tourism NT says, FIFO work opportunities in the NT and Western Australia have added fuel to this sector’s uptake. This is particularly so in the tropics, owing to projects such as the Inpex natural gas development. Glamping offers adventurers something seriously special – enjoyment of remote, rugged and hard-to-reach destinations, while cocooned in luxury and style. Of equal value, such stays are often based in locations with little to no phone and internet access. And in 2015, being offline is a luxury in itself, although it does takes a little getting used to. Rocks road-tested three of the Territory’s top places to glamp. Here’s what we found.

“LIKE TRADITIONAL CAMPING, THERE’S WILDERNESS, IT’S IMMERSIVE AND IT’S AUTHENTIC BUT IT’S VERY COMFORTABLE”

LUNCH AT LONGITUDE 131

January/February 2015

UNLEASHED made from pebbles. A dark wooden lodge forms Bamurru’s main communal quarters. Here sits a shared dining table, an open kitchen and a help-yourself fridge full of wine, beer and spirits. There’s also an outdoor deck featuring a pandanus-framed pool. Each meal is a group experience, and chef Lee O’Neill doesn’t disappoint with his simple, satisfying dishes and delectable desserts, such as crispy salmon on layered potatoes and blueberry-topped panacotta. We head out for sunset as a group. Via corridors of plum trees, we arrive on an open plain, watching as brumbies mill

IT DOESN’T LOOK LIKE A FISHERMEN’S PARADISE HERE, BUT IN 2010, SIX BAMURRU GUESTS LANDED 729 BARRA IN SIX DAYS

BAMURRU PLAINS, MARY RIVER, KAKADU Just shy of Kakadu, three hours’ drive from Darwin, lies Bamurru Plains. It’s a working, 70,000-hectare buffalo station. While many guests make the hop via chartered plane – a service the lodge offers for a fee – we choose the road. In doing so, we’re able to gaze, ground level, at a David Attenborough wet dream’s worth of wildlife. Blue-winged kookaburras, corellas, kingfishers, brumbies and magpie geese watch as we pass. Larissa White, who hosts Bamurru with her partner, Logan Walker, meets us on the property’s outskirts and ships us to the lodge via open-air 4WD. As it’s late in the dry season, the bird traffic is not as thick as it could be, Larissa explains. “When the rain comes, it looks like everything here has

January/February 2015

been coloured in with a green highlighter.” This is proper glamping. Individual cabins are made of corrugated iron, wood and mesh, each looking upon a floodplain via the latter, which allows fresh air to circulate – and lets you feel as if there’s nothing between you and the landscape. Bathrooms have a rustic feel, with exposed brass plumbing and a shower floor

WE’RE ABLE TO GAZE FROM GROUND LEVEL AT A DAVID ATTENBOROUGH WET DREAM’S WORTH OF WILDLIFE

about, buffalos drink from pools of water and corellas drift in the twilight overhead. That night, gazing up at the stars, we eavesdrop on the distant calls of the wild. Bamurru Plains is as close to a traditional safari experience as you’ll find in Oz. It’s a peaceful pocket of private land – one that allows guests to synch up with the bush, rather than with their inbox.

ROCKS RATING: 4/5 ADVENTURE DRAW-CARD: Floodplains and river systems teeming with wildlife, explored via 4WD safari or air-boat BEST TIME OF YEAR TO TRAVEL: April to September INTERNET ACCESS: Not encouraged, though available onsite upon request CAVEAT: Group dinners are spent in the company of Bamurru hosts, so if you’re a couple wanting time alone, spell this out in advance

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CICADA LODGE, KATHERINE GORGE With our boots full of blisters and three days of challenging hiking behind us, Cicada Lodge appears like a mirage in the 38-degree heat. It’s a secluded, tranquil place in which to sleep soundly, cool down and nosh on thoughtfully prepared food. You’ll need the energy to best explore Nitmiluk National Park’s treasures. Here, the greatest rewards come to those willing to walk, canoe, cruise or fly the furthest. Our host, Liz Magon, receives us in the dining room-cum-entrance before leading us to one of 18 discrete units. A maximum of 36 guests can occupy Cicada at any time, and the lodge is 50 per cent owned by the Jawoyn Indigenous Corporation, the area’s traditional owners who received joint park management rights in 1989. Our suite feels bit like a one-bedroom house, minus a living room or kitchen. A small, walled balcony kisses the bush. A king-sized bedhead divides the room, seamlessly creating a separate space for working (no thanks!) or for preparing Java from a coffee pod machine. A glass-walled bathroom features an enormous shower and stone-finished amenities. Raised wooden paths link the units with Cicada HQ. Around these swirls another of Cicada’s charms: a native Australian garden, brimming with wattle, bottlebrush and banksias in pinks, reds and yellows. We luxuriate in the cool of Cicada’s pool, sipping on flutes of welcome champagne. Later we spruce up for the evening’s activity: a cruise along Nitmiluk’s first and second gorges. Our river journey begins. Owing to the heat and extreme conditions, a neighbouring stretch of bush – one that hosts the famous Jatbula Trail – is on fire. The mix of smoke and scarlet light provides a stark contrast to our boat’s slow waltz. And, as the sun sinks, this

THE MIX OF SMOKE AND SCARLET LIGHT PROVIDES A STARK CONTRAST TO OUR BOAT’S SLOW WALTZ

KATHERINE GORGE, TRADITIONALLY KNOWN AS NITMILUK, COMPRISES A SYSTEM OF 13 GIANT, INDIVIDUAL GORGES

atmosphere amplifies when hundreds of black bats soar from the horizon and travel beyond us, up the gorge. After exploring the second gorge on foot, and receiving commentary on Nitmiluk’s history, culture and ecology, we return and begin our dinner. Tables are formed by pairing couples and lone rangers. We find it refreshing – after three days to ourselves – to tune in to others’ travel tales. Night turns to day and we wake early, hike the first gorge and marvel at the low clouds covering the river like a blanket. Back at the lodge, a three-course breakfast awaits. Here, splendour abounds outdoors while coziness awaits inside.

While it’s perhaps not so much “glamping” as “lodging in luxury”, Cicada lets you explore at your own pace and enjoy as much privacy – or as little – as suits your style.

ROCKS RATING: 4/5 ADVENTURE DRAW-CARD: Nitmiluk National Park and its network of 13 gorges, explored via foot, canoe, day cruise, dinner cruise or helicopter BEST TIME OF YEAR TO TRAVEL: All-year-round INTERNET ACCESS: Available onsite, but nil or limited outside the Visitor Centre precinct CAVEAT: Unlike other properties, Cicada isn’t about guests interacting with each other – though the optional dinner cruise caters for this if you’re social MORE INFO: cicadalodge.com.au

January/February 2015

UNLEASHED

AT THE FOOT OF KING-SIZED BEDS LIES LONGITUDE’S KICKER: THE VIEW – A CARPET OF SPARSELY SPACED TREES LEADING TO ULURU ITSELF. IT’S AN AGELESS VISTA

NOT BAD FOR A TENT

UNLEASHED

LONGITUDE 131, ULURU Desert colours delight us as we whir along Longitude 131’s private entry road. The terracotta red of the earth, pricked with bright green plumes of spinifex, locks all passengers in a beauty trance. We almost forget the heat. It’s 40 degrees and rising. At the entrance to the lodge, two female attendants stand in jeans, polished-buckle belts and blue linen shirts. The style is immediately formal outback, and the hospitality is as warm as the afternoon sun. Longitude has served as the country’s majestic centrepiece stay since 2002. The lodge boasts 15 elegant tents: raised huts with roofs made from white sails. On the walls hang themed paraphernalia, a bit like mini-museum cabinets, and each hut is based around an explorer. Ours is William Gosse, the bloke responsible for calling Uluru “Ayers Rock” in ’73. That’s 1873. At the foot of king-sized beds lies Longitude’s kicker: the view – a carpet of sparsely spaced trees leading to Uluru itself. It’s an ageless vista, and perhaps the hardest thing to leave. Panoramic rock views are equally impressive from the Dune House, a raised building that’s home to Longitude’s dining area, cocktail lounge and library. Upon our arrival, it’s here we’re handed cool towels and iced-tea. Also laid out is the ultimate settle-in snack board – lined with brie, cucumber, figs, lime-rind goat’s cheese, olives, prosciutto and grapes. Longitude organises tailored itineraries for guests. These typically involve at least two group activities per day, dubbed “signature experiences”. On our first afternoon, we head out for sunset drinks and canapés, followed by an under-thestars dinner. This is held on a long, shared table and includes Indigenous dance and music performances, a desert astrology session and an artful four-course dinner – the standard size for all Longitude meals. On the topic of gastronomy, the food at Longitude is flawless – a highlight of the trip (along with its second-to-none location). “We’d describe our head chef Seona Moss’s style as romantic,” says assistant lodge manager Sara Williams. After sampling Moss’s cauliflower and camembert soup, topped with truffle and black garlic, as well as her dessert of burnt honey cream and quandongs with milk tuiele, it’s impossible not to agree – whether you’re a full-on foodie or you’ve never seen a fork. The next morning we’re up at 5am for a Kata Tjuta stroll before the heat grows too

THE 348-METRE ULURU, IN GEOLOGICAL TERMS, IS AN “INSELBERG”, LITERALLY AN “ISLAND MOUNTAIN”

intense. That afternoon, our group meets again, this time for an evening cultural walk at Uluru, hosted by informative in-house ecologist Nicola Stelluto. As we conclude and our minds drift to dinner, the desert skies blacken and release their sheets of rain. Water rushes down Uluru’s crevices, creating rows of miniwaterfalls: a beauty-filled finale to a trip that’s flush with the stuff. Upon departure, staff send us off like they would their own family. They check guests onto flights, select seats and print

boarding passes. As we wave farewell, Longitude staff even hook packed, healthy lunch bags on our elbows – comfort personified. Now, where’s my phone?

ROCKS RATING: 5/5 ADVENTURE DRAW-CARD: Exploring the dual heritage-listed Uluru and Kata Tjuta National Park by foot, mountain bike, helicopter or bespoke Harley Davidson tour BEST TIME OF YEAR TO TRAVEL: May to October INTERNET ACCESS: Available onsite, but nil or limited inside the National Park CAVEAT: Not ideal for shy solo travellers as the lodge is mostly frequented by travellers in pairs. MORE INFO: longitude131.com.au

January/February 2015

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insidemining Issue 19 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Jan/Feb 2015

MINING REVIEW Capitalising on the importance of safety

SPECIAL REPORT Who were the movers and shakers of 2014?

THE FUEL REVOLUTION 33

Modern engines and pollution pressures are changing the fuel and lubricant industry

Image courtesy of BHP Billiton

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Klipspruit, South Africa

Status: Producer Type of Work: Open-Pit Location: Mpumalanga, South Africa Commodities: Coal 3

news+views FOSSIL FUEL DIVESTMENT Australia’s mining and resources industry may not be subject to a carbon tax, but that hasn’t stopped it from paying a significant price anyway. In a move that continues to inflame much public debate, the Australian National University (ANU) has divested itself of shares in seven fossil fuel companies: Santos, Newcrest Mining, Iluka Resources, Sandfire Resources, Oil Search, Independence Group and Sirius. While these companies represent just $16 million of a $1 billion portfolio, the ANU’s decision to divest overwhelmingly reflects a larger public perception of climate risk and the impact it will have on return on investment moving forwards. With the fiscal influence to almost circumvent government altogether, institutional investors – which manage pension funds, superannuation funds, insurance companies and sovereign funds – are also acting on the risks associated with financial investment in fossil fuels. For instance, Bendigo and Adelaide Bank has said it will not lend to firms involved in thermal coal and coal seam gas. Deriving largely from action initiated at US campuses, the ANU isn’t the only big-name institution supporting the fossil fuel divestment movement. Internationally, high-profile supporters of the movement include the Rockefeller Brothers Fund, Stanford University, Glasgow University, and the World Council of Churches. In Australia, the Uniting Church is joining the movement, and Sydney University has ruled out future investments in coalmining.

REDUNDANT RED TAPE From the grant of tenure, exploration, extraction, processing, transport and mine closure, through to the relinquishment of tenure, the mining industry is subject to an excess of red tape. A report released by the Minerals Council of Australia (MCA) in October 2014, announced that a net increase

EXCITING FUTURE AHEAD FOR TEX ONSITE A new South Australian base extends TEX Onsite’s horizons and reach. TEX Onsite is thrilled to open its new Adelaide facility, which is an expansion in response to the ever-increasing demand for its services. Managing director, Mick Kirwan, said the new facility will enable TEX Onsite to expand its reach across Australia. “No longer will South Australia be serviced by Victorian-based technicians. This will not only improve response time, but also reduce costs with technicians now based out of Adelaide,” Mick said. Ray Wennerstroem leads the Adelaide team. He is an experienced TEX Onsite technician with years of valuable experience under his belt. The team will offer full calibration and testing services, complying with quality standard IEC 17025, with plans for three additional calibration and testing vans to service South Australia by February. TEX Onsite is an Australian leader in onsite testing and instrument calibration services. A fleet consisting of more than 30 service vans and five aircraft allows TEX Onsite to reach even the most remote customers across Australia. Facilities in Victoria, New South Wales, ACT, Queensland, Western Australia and the Northern Territory, are joined by the new South Australian arm. This range of facilities allows TEX Onsite to increase operations, ensuring its continued competitiveness within the industry.

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of 577 acts had been implemented between December 2007 and May 2013 – with 874 new acts having been passed, and only 297 repealed. The MCA cited five particular weaknesses for regulatory reform, including: the volume of regulation, overlap across different levels of government, inadequacies in the regulation-making process, failure to

review existing rules and deficiencies in the performance of regulatory bodies. The federal government appears largely in agreement with the MCA’s findings, as evidenced by its commitment to cut $1 billion in red tape every year, and host biannual parliamentary repeal days. As a starting point, the Prime Minister and parliamentary secretary Josh Frydenberg, 5

news+views

who has a specific responsibly for deregulation, suggested the repeal of the carbon tax and mining tax would reduce compliance costs in mining. This is a welcome hypothesis given the compliance workforce in the mining sector has grown by approximately 17 per cent since 2006. Deloitte backs up the assertion that there is an overabundance of regulatory measures in a report entitled Get out of your own way: Unleashing productivity. However, Deloitte’s findings suggest bureaucracy isn’t solely to blame for the excess of rules, and that the mining industry itself needs to look at things like its FIFO rosters, which can be inefficient if they feature no work on fly-in days,

regardless of distance travelled or mode of transport concerned.

REVALUING THE BOOM Recent research conducted by Jonathan Pincus, visiting professor of economics at the University of Adelaide, and former adviser to the Productivity Commission, suggests the resources boom from 2003– 04 to 2011–12 contributed significantly more to Australia’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) than the three per cent indicated in Beyond the Boom, a report conducted by John Edwards in 2014. Published by the Minerals Council of Australia, Pincus’ report highlights the flow-on effects the mining boom had

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on the economy beyond mining output, mining value-added or mining exports. The report states: “Edwards’ calculation relies on Australian dollar prices, which doubled. Yet the national gain came from the rise in US dollar export prices, which quadrupled.” Completely omitted by Edwards, the higher exchange rate dispersed the benefits of steeper export prices to Australians purchasing imports, i.e. shoppers. Pincus states: “... the doubling of the exchange rate saved about 10 per cent of GDP on the nation’s import bill.” Drawing on estimates conducted by the Australian Bureau of Statistics that factor in this trading gain, Pincus indicates the mining sector’s actual contribution to national GDP over the decade was closer to 14 per cent. Finger pointing aside, this far greater figure has implications for the capacity of Australian households and governments in adjusting to the significantly decreased terms of trade.

AWARDS AND ACCOLADES The 2014 Australian Mining Prospect Awards shone a light on the most innovative and influential companies and individuals of last year. They also provided an insight into the trajectory of mining technologies and best practice in relation to mine safety and impacting the surrounding environment. While each of the 16 winners, spanning key industry categories, represent excellence in the sector, the ever-increasing scrutiny and importance placed on mining safety makes MineARC’s EnviroLAV – winner of the Excellence in Mine Safety, OH&S category – particularly notable. The EnviroLAV is a self-contained semi-permanent toilet system that only requires emptying every 18–24 months. It’s 100 per cent air-driven by micro-aeration filters that continuously break down waste in conjunction with a biodegradable, non-toxic EnviroZYME solution. This means, even in the volatile environment of underground coal mining, there is no risk of electrical sparks or explosion, unlike conventional electric toilet systems.

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RENEWING THROUGH REHAB IN THE PROCESS OF MINING THERE ARE UNAVOIDABLE EFFECTS ON THE ENVIRONMENT, BUT ONE WAY MINERS CAN MITIGATE THESE IS TO CONSIDER THE REHABILITATION OF MINED LAND DURING AND AFTER MINING OPERATIONS. WORDS: MITCH BROOK

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IN MINING there’s a fine balance between the benefit of what is pulled out of the ground and the effects of mining operations on the environment. It’s a trade-off that’s often in the political spotlight: what governments are doing to prevent long-term damage to ecosystems, and what responsibilities mining companies have to mitigate their effect on the areas that surround their operations. Mining operations don’t last forever – there comes a point when the yield of a mine becomes too small to continue operations and the mine closes. It’s at this point that one of the most effective methods for repairing and mitigating long-term damage to the environment can be undertaken. The rehabilitation of mined land helps return the affected areas of mine sites to a condition similar to that they were in before operations began. Melina Gillespie is a senior research officer at the Sustainable Minerals Institute’s Centre for 11

Mined Land Rehabilitation at the University of Queensland. The centre researches solutions for environmental management and sustainability relating to all resources commodities. “Mining is a temporary land use, so it’s important to consider appropriate long-term post-mining land uses,” she says. “Minimising the negative impacts of mining can assist in achieving cost-effective and successful rehabilitation outcomes in line with land use goals and to the benefit of nearby communities and the environment.” While it is widely recognised that mining is an essential part of Australia’s – and the world’s – economy, it’s important for those

involved in the resources industry to realise the impact mining operations can have on the environment and to plan for the eventual cessation of mining operations. “Early planning for rehabilitation and closure is imperative to mitigating environmental impact and achieving successful rehabilitation,” Gillespie concurs. “Given the large range of commodities (bauxite, mineral sands, coal and metalliferous mines) and thus the associated mining procedures, steps vary dramatically from site to site. “At a basic level, steps [towards the rehabilitation of mined land] should include: early planning for rehabilitation and closure; thorough characterisation of the

“Early planning for rehabilitation and closure is imperative to mitigating environmental impact.” 11

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Fast fact • Alcoa says monitoring of rehabilitation programs showed 90 per cent of birds, 89 per cent of reptiles and 100 per cent of mammals in areas around its operations recolonised the rehabilitated areas within 10 years.

resulting [land] for use; clever design of landforms to maximise stability and plant growth; selection of appropriate species for inclusion in seed mixes; and long-term monitoring to measure success.” The approach that a mine site should take to rehabilitating the surrounding land depends on the site’s practices and the particular resources that are being or have been extracted. Three principal areas of concern when rehabilitating a site are the surrounding waters, soils and ecosystems. “Given the multifaceted approach that mine sites need to take to ensure successful rehabilitation,

integrated research projects that consider all influencing factors are key,” says Gillespie. “Chemically and physically stable landforms are important in assisting the development of sustainable ecosystems in varying climatic conditions. All are important – all are intrinsically linked.” The good news is that successful rehabilitation projects are underway around Australia. One is Alcoa’s bauxite mine in the Darling Range area, south of Perth. Alcoa states that it is “committed to high standards of environmental performance and aims to return 100 per cent of plant species richness in our rehabilitated mine site areas, compared with premined jarrah forest.” The company aims not only to reintroduce plant life to the area after its mining operations have ceased but return the land to its pre-mined state, encouraging natural ecosystems to flourish and helping to restore the site’s pre-mining uses, including timber harvesting, conservation, water

catchment and recreational uses. The rehabilitation of Alcoa’s Darling Range mine site includes the following steps, as outlined on its corporate website: reshaping mined areas to blend with the existing landscape; returning topsoil and logs to encourage the return of flora, fauna and soil nutrients; contourripping subsoils to assist in treeroot penetration, maximise water infiltration and assist in erosion control; seeding tree, understorey and other species indigenous to the jarrah forest; and applying nitrogen and phosphate fertiliser, usually via helicopter in a one-off application. This is followed by fauna management, including fauna surveys, provision of habitats such as logs, relocation of species into the area and fox baiting. As is the case in many areas of mining, various new technologies are applicable to the task of rehabilitating mine sites. One such technology is the use of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) to survey mine sites, paired with specially designed software,

spotlight

as an aid in planning the return of the terrain to a state comparable to the one it was in pre-mining. Position Partners supplies software and hardware to the mining industry including UAS technology for various applications. Gavin Docherty, UAS product manager for the company, says the UASs, which include fixed-wing and multi-rotor systems, can be used to survey a site before mining works begin and make a digital terrain model that can be used as a reference when returning the terrain to its pre-mined state. “If you have a broadacre requirement, you go with the fixed wing to cover larger areas,” says Docherty. “Around camp, or

Fast fact • The multi-rotor AscTec Falcon 8 UAS is capable of carrying a range of cameras and sensing equipment across the visual and infra-red spectrums.

around infrastructure or built-up environments and high structures, and for smaller-volume calculations, you use the multi-rotor.” Docherty says early use of UAS technology was recreational. It has been developed for military and commercial applications since, but there are still roadblocks to the adoption of UASs by surveyors. “One major setback to the widespread adoption of this technology has been CASA [Civil Aviation Safety Authority] regulations,” says Docherty. But recent changes to those regulations are making it easier for people to be able to deploy unmanned aerial vehicles.

“Because of that, we’ve had a slight increase in sales in the past three months – mainly because of the understanding of the CASA requirements and the realisation that it’s possible,” he says. Conventional surveying methods might mean exploring a site on foot and taking measurements manually, which could take a week or longer. “With a UAS it could take you 20 to 30 minutes,” says Docherty. The benefit for anyone rehabilitating mine sites is clear: using unmanned aerial vehicles makes it simpler and faster for mining companies to mitigate their operations’ negative effects on their environs down the track.

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miningreview

NEW TECH PUTS SAFETY

FIRST With safety emerging as a key area for new technology investment in Australian mining, we investigate what it means for our mining industry to play it safe. WORDS: RILEY PALMER

AS THE AUSTRALIAN mining boom inevitably plateaus, the pressure on the mining sector to decrease expenses and increase productivity intensifies. Historically, cutting costs has meant cutting jobs, but reduced manpower is not always conducive to optimal levels of workplace safety. In a line of work where human error can result in death or severe injury, industry officials and miners alike are seeing the role of Collision Avoidance Systems (CAS) in mining as essential. Across the board, CAS are understood to save lives and significantly reduce injury rates. The basic premise underpinning all of the numerous technologies associated with CAS, is that they can detect the presence of staff or machinery within a certain distance of a machine. Depending on the specifics of the technology implemented, they have the capacity to send warning signals and interact with the vehicleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s brakes if there is a perceived danger. 17

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In February and March 2014, leading business information service Timetric questioned 110 key decision makers from more than 90 Australian mines on their investment intentions relating to mining technology. According to the study’s findings, 30 per cent of Australian mining companies are considering investing in collision-avoidance and proximity-detection systems within the next two years, with safety their number one driver for investment. This anticipated surge in investment is further based upon the acquisition and uptake of such technologies by large equipment suppliers. Recent deals have included Caterpillar’s partnership with Seeing Machines, Hexagon AB’s acquisition of SAFEmine and GE Mining’s purchase of InfoTronix. Of course, investing in CAS can also improve a site’s productivity and profitability but, generally, these improvements are in direct response to increased safety. A whitepaper released by GE Mining states: “In manufacturing, where safety technology is more developed, best-in-class organisations using advanced safety technology are reporting the lowest injury rates and high productivity rates.”

A Safe Work Australia report shows that 36 mining workers died from work related injuries between 2007–08 and 2011–12. Of those 36 deaths, 21 involved vehicles. Unfortunately, Australia’s figures are largely borne out around the globe, with the largest number of fatalaties occurring in Chile and New Zealand. The reality is, collisions on both surface and underground mine sites have been occurring since the introduction of heavy equipment, which is not altogether surprising considering factors such as restricted external vision due to blind spots and limited manoeuvrability. While there is no way to eliminate risk altogether, CAS minimise the room for human error by using technologies such as radio detection and ranging, sonar, global positioning systems, radio transceiver tags, radio frequency and cameras. These technologies have been proven to prevent potential collisions and assist operators by improving traffic awareness in a way human-operated devices such as walkie-talkies and horn signals have been unsuccessful. CAS currently occupy a relatively small portion of the mining technology market. This is most likely due to the justifiably strict mandating of such

“In manufacturing, where safety technology is more developed, bestin-class organisations are using advanced technology.”

Shel

miningreview

Fast facts: • Timetric’s report highlights Australia’s three top areas for new technology investment in mining as: environmental monitoring and emissions management, equipment health monitoring and diagnostics, and collision avoidance/ proximity detection. • The Civil Aviation Safety Authority began lobbying for Airborne Collision Avoidance Systems on commercial aircraft in 1995, almost 20 years ahead of the mining industry.

technologies to ensure they meet intrinsically safe requirements. However, this has recently been addressed through the release of industry guidelines that pertain to relevant legislations and International Organisation for Standardisation standards, such as the MDG 2007 Guideline for the selection and implementation of collision management systems for mining. The United States and South Africa are both leading the way internationally on safety. In these countries, government regulation of mining safety, through the legislation of CAS, has been in consideration since 2013. In Australia, it is believed similar compliance measures may be in the pipeline with investigation into the use of CAS and proximity detection both listed as priorities in the 2012–2013 report issued by Queensland’s Commissioner for Mine Safety and Health. Demonstrating the latest in mining safety technology at the Queensland Mining and Engineering exhibition in 2014, SAFEmine displayed its TrackingRadar System – an adjunct to its existing CAS. Offering 360-degree visibility at any speed, SAFEmine’s CAS has already been recognised for saving lives in Australia and abroad. In a SAFEmine press release from September 2014, Martin Leggat, a mine surveyor at the New Acland mine in the Darling Downs region of Queensland, says: “I was driving along in a light vehicle and came to an intersection, looked both ways, didn’t see anything, so I started to accelerate. Then SAFEmine CAS went off and alerted me that a vehicle was coming and, within a second, there was big 793 dump truck coming down on me, so the system basically saved me.” And that is exactly what it means for the mining industry to play it safe.

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YEAR IN REVIEW WORDS: CHRISTINE RETSCHLAG

AS MANY MINES AROUND AUSTRALIA SHIFTED FROM CONSTRUCTION TO THE PRODUCTION PHASE, WAS 2014 MORE ABOUT ABOVE GROUND?

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Clockwise from top left: Julia Gillard, Tony Abbott, Clive Palmer, Christine Milne.

ever was the Australian resources sector more font of mind than during 2014 – good news for an industry that relies heavily on high visibility. But rather than it being all about the fluro vests that dominate regional airports around the country, it was largely about the men and women in suits down in Canberra. The focus was on one man’s mission in particular, that of newly elected Prime Minister Tony Abbott to repeal both the Carbon Tax and the Minerals Resources Rent Tax (MRRT), which his predecessor Julia Gillard had delivered to the populous. But if you’re tempted to stop reading now, thinking that’s the year in a nutshell, it turned out to be a much tougher nut to crack than even Abbott imagined possible: it took him until mid-July – some seven months after he was elected – to make good on

his key campaign promise to dump the Carbon Tax. And it would be almost two more months before he was able to repeal the MRRT. Pivotal to these monumental changes, of course, was the Palmer United Party (PUP) headed by Clive Palmer, the first major Australian miner to enter the federal parliament. But despite his undeniable vested interest in the abolition of both imposts on mining companies, Palmer didn’t make it easy for Abbott, with a series of protracted negotiations to assist Australian families following a brutal federal budget. But eventually and inevitably, both imposts were scrapped in

what Greens leader Christine Milne described in a report in The Australian as giving the billionaire miner Palmer what he wanted, specifically “to get rid of the mining tax for big miners”. Said Milne: “Within one hour they want to come in here, circulate amendments, just bang them on the desk and say it doesn’t matter what you think about it, we’ve done the deal, we’ve got the numbers, we can ram it through.” Addressing the Senate in September, Milne said it was “absolutely imperative” that the deal faced scrutiny “because it is saying ‘big miners, get out there and pop your champagne corks. Clive

It took Abbott some seven months to dump the Carbon Tax.

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Palmer has just delivered for himself and for you Rio Tinto, for BHP, for all of them, a mega windfall gain’. If ever there was a conflict of interest, it is this one,” she said. From the minute he launched his eclectic campaign for the Queensland seat of Fairfax, Palmer was never going to be anything but controversial. While he surprisingly held up the Abbott government’s tax repeals far longer than anyone expected, it was his comments in relation to China – Australia’s major trading partner – which proved to be the real clanger. On the ABC program Q&A in August, Palmer labelled the Chinese “mongrels who shoot their own people”. His comments followed a legal battle with Chinese state-owned company CITIC Pacific, which accused

Fast fact • Australia is the world’s third-largest producer of uranium. Each uranium mine can create around 300 new construction jobs and a further 300 jobs in operations.

Palmer’s company Mineralogy of siphoning off $12 million in funds to fund the PUP’s federal election campaign. Palmer later stated his comments were not directed at the Chinese community or the Chinese government but at one Chinese state-owned company. One week later, the outspoken

Clive Palmer was never going to be anything but controversial.

Palmer apologised publicly “to Chinese people everywhere” for his infamous comments. While it would be tempting to concentrate solely on the politicians who added so much chaos and colour to the Australian mining landscape in 2014, there were some significant developments in the resources sector itself. In what some hailed as the next big boom, the Queensland Government lifted the ban on uranium mining. Mount Isa mayor Tony McGrady, a former mines and energy minister for Queensland, believed the move placed the state on the brink of something big. Holding just under one third of the global total, Australia is the world’s thirdlargest producer of uranium after Kazakhstan and Canada. McGrady told Inside Mining that each uranium mine would create around 300 new construction jobs and a further 300 in operations. “This could be the start of the second mining bonanza in Queensland,” he said.

specialreport

“Australia needs to be ‘hungrier’ in bringing on projects of all sizes, including small and mediumsized mining projects.”

“For many years, Queensland rode off the back of a sheep and is now riding off the back of the coal trucks. If we can find something else that the world wants, my view is that we sell it.” And the timing of a new boom couldn’t have been better, with many mine workers looking around with a sense of impending doom as mines moved from the construction to production phase and many workers were laid off. While the days of low-skilled labourers turning up at sites and scoring lucrative roles were over, major recruiters were divided over where the industry was headed in 2014. Some, such as Hays Energy, said there remained pockets of activity in some areas around Australia including Western Australia’s iron ore industry and 28

drive-in, drive-out workers in Queensland. While the Northern Territory remained tight, there were emerging sectors throughout the industry seeking qualified professionals. Specialists in major liquefied natural gas and coal seam gas projects were starting to benefit from higher demand through 2014. Meanwhile, the Minerals Council of Australia (MCA) warned that low-cost competitors such as Indonesia, Columbia, South Africa, Mozambique, Mongolia and India, as well as interior provinces in China, were nipping at the nation’s heels in the global resources game. “Australia needs to be hungrier in bringing on projects of all sizes, including small and mediumsized mining projects,” an MCA spokesperson said. What it potentially lacked in

DID YOU KNOW? • Some commentators believe placing a penalty on carbon, at just over $25 a tonne, was Australia’s most controversial policy implementation since the Howard government’s decision to join the Iraq invasion in 2003. • Prime Minister Tony Abbott said by axing the Carbon Tax, the average family would save $550 on costs such as power bills. • The Senate voted 39-32 to scrap Labor’s carbon pricing scheme after securing the support of PUP senators and other cross-benchers.

hunger, the Australian mining industry, in all of its fabulous forms, made up for in controversy, colour and characters in 2014. While there may have been an inordinate amount of focus on the grey walls of the federal parliament and the suits that dominate within, no one could ever accuse the Australian mining industry of being dull in 2014.

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Name: Iron Element Category: Transitional metal Melting Point: 1538 °C Electron Configuration: [Ar]3d6 4s2 Atomic number and mass: 26/55.845(2) Discovered: Ancient times. Origin of name: Derived from the Anglo-Saxon word “iren”.

Iron facts • The symbol for iron, Fe, comes from the word “ferrum”, Latin for iron. • Iron beads made from meteorites have been found in Gerzeh, Egypt that date back to the year 3500 BC, or even earlier. • The earth’s core is composed of both solid and molten iron while just over five per cent of the earth’s crust contains iron. • Today, iron is mainly used with other metals to make steel, an iron alloy that has been made by man for the past 4000 years or more. • Plants require iron to make chlorophyll, which is necessary for photosynthesis, while iron in the human body has many functions, including oxygenating the blood.

• Iron can be wrought (shaped) or cast (molded) to make everyday items such as gates, pots and pans.

• Iron is one of the most common elements on earth, has a relatively low production cost and has a wide variety of uses.

• Iron ore that is smelted, or made into a metal from its ore state, is called “pig iron”.

• China, Australia and Brazil are currently the top three producers of iron ore worldwide. • The body of an average, healthy human being contains four to five grams of iron. Humans lacking in sufficient iron are considered to be “iron deficient”. • Iron can be found naturally in a range of meats and vegetables including but not limited to: meat, seafood, chicken, beans, seeds and nuts.

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DIESEL FUEL is the life force behind Australia’s mining industry and it’s currently required to operate most heavy-duty machinery. Having proper fuel quality and minimising contaminants is absolutely fundamental to the overall productivity of any mine. However, new engines, which are coming on to the market to comply with the global regulation of emission reductions, are necessitating cleaner and less contaminated fuel in order to operate reliably and with any longevity. According to filtration specialists Donaldson Company, there are four main types of contaminants: water, foreign particulate matter, biological growth and wax formation. They need to be detected at various points along the fuel supply chain: firstly, when the fuel is delivered to a site and placed into bulk storage, then when it leaves the tanks and is pumped into the fuelling station, and again when it is pumped into the vehicle, which itself has a very fine filtration system. OEM engine and transport manager at Alfa Laval, Theodore Esplin says: “All along the fuel supply chain, these filters need to be regularly replaced and the old ones disposed of.” He says although this can be a costly process, it is necessary. While contaminants can never be completely eliminated – particularly water and dirt, which are essential on a mine site – they can be minimised through the use of emerging technologies in filtration. Interestingly, development manager for mining and filtration for HYDAC International, Mark LeRoux, suggests filtration processes are largely compromised by human error. “Incorrectly sized filter systems for particulate are an occurrence seen all too often on mine sites. Money spent on smaller-sized filter systems seems to override the long-term outlook on getting larger systems installed,” he says. Of course, renewable energy is a hotly debated topic as far as fuelling the

Having proper fuel quality and minimising contaminants is absolutely fundamental to the overall productivity of any mine.

mininginsider

mining industry goes, and one that can’t be ignored when discussing innovations in fuel. Despite much industry ambivalence, numerous renewable energy systems already power mines in Australia and internationally, with German consulting firm THEnergy revealing renewable energy systems are up to 70 per cent less expensive than diesel power at mining sites. According to the data it’s collated, THEnergy says the best business cases can be observed for hybrid power plants – that is, solar or wind systems that are integrated into existing diesel plants.

A fraction less friction Despite a decrease in investment in Australia’s mining industry at large, industry consultants and research analysts Frost & Sullivan predict the

“Offering customised solutions and demonstration of efficiency has proven effective in winning new contracts.” mining lubricant market is expected to grow. In a recent report entitled “Analysis of the Mining Lubricant Market in Australia”, Frost & Sullivan found the market earned returns of $446.3 million in 2013 and predicted it would reach $650.5 million in 2019. Interest in lubrication technology primarily stems from the financial incentives – that higher performing lubricants can extend the life of machinery components, and cut maintenance, fossil-fuel use and operating costs.

According to Frost & Sullivan senior consultant Sarah Wang, the mining industry’s focus is shifting from mass production to enhanced production. “Offering customised solutions and demonstration of efficiency has proven effective in winning new contracts,” Wang says. “Being a highly specialised product group that is directly linked to operational performance and cost, as well as providing technical support, is highly valued by customers.” This is particularly pertinent to any new

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companies considering entering the Australian market, given its dominance by five well-established suppliers. One such company sparking a lot of interest in this highly competitive industry is Finnish-based Nanol Technologies, which has combined chemistry, nanotechnology and exhaustive research to develop a commercial lubricant additive called Nanol. It’s long been understood that nanotechnology can reduce friction in almost anything – from diamonds to toothpaste. However, it has never been successfully employed in lubricants – until the present day. In laymen’s terms, Nanol forms a protective layer of copper nanoparticles on the friction surfaces, which prevents hydrogen from destroying the contact surfaces. The metal-plating copper film protects the friction zones against

Fast facts: • There is no single fuel called diesel. Instead it refers to anything used to fuel a diesel engine. • Generic types of lubricants still make up 40 per cent of the lubricants consumed in Australia’s mining sector.

wear while reducing the temperature of the friction units, which extends the lifetime of the machine. Nanol Technologies senior advisor Aubrey Burrows brings with him more than 30 years of experience from a career largely focused on energy efficiency and long-life lubricants. He says what makes Nanol so effective is its chemistry and how it operates. “The Nanol additive is homogenous and contains copper particles, which are dispersed in a stable colloid,” he says. “This means Nanol products do not have any problems and difficulties associated with conventional nanotechnology and there are no health and safety concerns.” A product that varies so vastly both chemically and mechanically, Nanol is potentially a game-changer as far as mining lubricants go.

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andvik’s Tier 4i TH551 dump truck is revolutionising efficiency for Mincor Resources NL. At Mincor’s Kambalda nickel mines, the first of four giants roars responsibly as it simultaneously maximises the potential of each load while emitting just 1/25 of the diesel particulate of the mine’s Tier 1 predecessors. A combination of technological innovation and attention to detail has helped make the Tier 4i TH551 a heavy-duty hardworking machine that still manages to significantly reduce fuel usage and emissions. Not to mention, its Volvo Penta TAD1662VE engine is nothing to mess with. “The primary reason we went with these new trucks was for the productivity improvements we believe we will achieve,” says Brett Fowler, general manager at the Kambalda Operations. Indeed, the TH551’s onboard weighing systems constantly inform the LHD operator of the truck’s loading status so no trips are wasted. This increases efficiency and speed overall. “The fact the truck and loader operators had immediate access to good information meant loading improved ‘by itself’,” says Fowler. “In other words, if our operators have the right information at the right times, then they can – and do – make better decisions.” And in the mining industry, as with any industry, it pays to be informed. With significantly less diesel particulate emissions, the TH551 is improving underground air quality for workers and also saving fuel, which was another reason why these trucks were the right choice for Mincor. “For our first

TH551, fuel consumption has been about 35 per cent less than the nearest Tier 1 truck,” says Fowler. The efficiency of the TH551 will also allow for the use of fewer trucks while getting more work done, potentially taking an eight-truck job down to as low as four to six trucks. In addition to precise payload and emission reductions, the trucks also promise easier maintenance and Fowler has not been disappointed in this regard either. “The way the units are designed to be maintained has been pretty well

thought out,” Fowler says. “For one example, the onboard jacking system to lift a fully-laden vehicle in less than 30 seconds for a wheel change is a really nice touch.” Changing a tyre underground is no easy task, but Sandvik has thought of everything in the design of its new Tier 4i TH551 and is taking steps to improve efficiency in all aspects of the job. Clearly the TH551’s winning combination of lower fuel costs, fewer emissions and higher productivity is proving to be an all-around win for Mincor.

“With significantly less diesel particulate emissions, the TH551 is improving air quality for workers.”

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THE FIFO PRICE IS RIGHT

YOUI CAR INSURANCE POLICIES RECOGNISE THAT FIFO WORKERS DRIVE LESS, SO SHOULD PAY LESS.

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

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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The Quiz

PUZZLES 2

7 8 9

14 15

ACROSS 1. Zigzag (through traffic) 4. Dockside 7. Crawled 8. Southern US drawl 9. Strikes forcefully 12. Disliked 14. Playwright, Oscar ... 15. Ultra manly 16. Possibly 17. Cowardly person

DOWN 1. Bereaved wife 2. Study of relics 3. Levels 4. Electrical power units 5. Spectres 6. Pennants 10. Teem 11. Enchantress, ... fatale 12. Hillbillies 13. Song

Rating: SUDOKU

RATING

9 8 4 1 2 7 9 2 5

✭✭✩✩

6 5

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

3 7 5 8 1 6 4 9 2

4 1 9 7 3 2 6 8 5

8 2 6 9 5 4 7 3 1

2 3 7 5 4 8 1 6 9

6 9 4 1 7 3 2 5 8

5 8 1 2 6 9 3 4 7

1 6 8 4 9 7 5 2 3

2 6 3 9 8 7 5 7

SUDOKU SOLUTION:

7 4 2 3 8 5 9 1 6

WE A V E WH A R F I R V A P L D CR E P T P A O H N TWA NG WH A MS S R S E I S O F H A T E D W I L D E I I I A O MA CHO T R G M K N T MA Y B E S I S S Y CROSSWORD SOLUTION:

8 3 6 5

9 5 3 6 2 1 8 7 4

column, every row and every 3x3 box contains the digits 1 to 9.

QUIZ SOLUTIONS: 1. John Howard 2. Brazil 3. Austin Powers 4. Somalia 5. Aquarius 6. Sunflower 7. The Devil 8. Romania 9. JK Rowling 10. Macarena 11. Apple 12. Qatar 13. 50% 14. Cork 15. Both WA models 16. USA and China 17. Matthew Flinders 18. Pastry 19. Gina Rinehart 20. Birds

CROSSWORD

1. Lazarus Rising is the published memoirs of which statesman? 2. Formula One Champion Ayrton Senna’s homeland held three days of national mourning when he died. Where was he born? 3. “Oh behave!” became a catch phrase after Mike Myers used it in which film role? 4. Which is further north, Tanzania or Somalia? 5. If you were born on Australia Day, what would your star sign be? 6. Before modern materials, the dried stalks of which flower were used to fill life jackets to provide buoyancy? 7. According to the saying, who finds work for idle hands? 8. In what country is Count Dracula’s Transylvania? 9. Which successful author donated the royalties from her novel, The Tales Of Beedle Bard, to charity? 10. Los del Mar and Los del Rio both had a hit with which song? 11. What type of fruit is a Blenheim orange? 12. After beating Australia in the bidding process, which country was chosen to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup? 13. Approximately what percentage of the population has an IQ of less than 100? 14. Which bottle stopper is also an Irish county? 15. What do Nicole Trunfio and Jessica Gomes have in common? 16. Which two countries are the only natural habitats of alligators? 17. A cat named Trim was the companion of which famous explorer? 18. If a dish is en croute, what is it wrapped in? 19. Name the mining billionaire who is reputedly Australia’s richest woman. 20. A book by wildlife artist James John Audubon sold at Sotheby’s for a record $11.5 million in December 2010. WhatFill wasthe his favourite grid so subject? that every

3 7 5 8 1

4 1 9 7 3

8 2 6 9 5

2 3 7 5 4

6 9 4 1 7

5 8 1 2 6

1 6 8 4 9

9 5 3 6 2

7 4 2 3 8

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WAYS TO SPOT A DODGY RENO

If you think buying and renovating is too much hard work and you want to purchase something already built, then take note! We often hear advice

ZORAN SOLANO Senior buyers agent Zoran Solano, from Hot Property Specialists Buyers Agency.

about how to give your property a magic makeover for peanuts, which can be good for the seller. But it’s not so good for the buyer when they go to resell or rent, or are forced to replace the inferior fixtures and hardware used in the initial renovation much sooner than anticipated. Indeed it’s usually the buyer who gets lumped with the consequences of a dodgy renovation. So we’re about to help you avoid picking up a property that’s been given a dodgy reno by sharing with you just a sample of the most obvious things to look for to determine if the overall reno has been undertaken properly. Some of the things that I look out for are: • Lack of consistency. I often find that poorly renovated properties don’t have a common theme or a consistent standard

of finish. For example, I’ve often seen a six-burner stove fitted into a kitchen that clearly isn’t a gourmet kitchen. • Inappropriate design. This refers to when the owner or tradesperson chooses a cheap ‘on sale’ item, instead of a better quality alternative when the better quality item is needed. • Patchy paintwork or unfilled gaps. These are the first signs of someone cutting costs and corners. Recently I inspected a fully renovated property that was riddled with problems. In this case, the taps weren’t sealed off properly allowing water to get behind the fitting. • Water leakage marks on cabinetry. On the poorly finished bathroom mentioned above, the vanity units showed signs of water leakage, which indicated that there was a plumbing problem.

• Potential pest issues. Often people alter properties with no care to the potential pest issues they are contributing to. Timber contacting the ground is a big giveaway that there could be a higher risk of termites at the property. Also garden beds against the base of a house is a potential breach point for termites. This is just a sample of what to look for to tell if the renovated property you’re potentially buying has been built to the standard you expect. 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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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 50

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.”

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propertyguide

WHERE SHOULD MINERS INVEST? Kevin Lee shares his tips on how to become a smart property investor.

KEVIN LEE

Kevin Lee is a property investment adviser in Australia.

To attend one of his free no-secrets seminars, visit smartpropertyadviser.com.au

IRONICALLY the answer is not in a mining town. I read an article recently that revealed some alarming (yet inevitable) price drops experienced in some popular mining towns. Price drops of 40 per cent or more and vacancy rates of up to 14 per cent, no less! If you’re reading this article while on your way to Port Hedland, listen up – Port Hedland experienced a 40 per cent price drop. Some properties have dropped from $1.5 million all the way down to $900,000. I doubt the blood-letting

is finished yet. I’ll bet those people who bought those “great investments” (as they were touted) not that long ago, are feeling very sorry right now. These numbers are shocking, especially when you consider, in 2002, the median price in Port Hedland was around $200,000. Were those properties really worth $1.3 million more than they were just 12 years ago? I don’t think so. Those markets – in fact all volatile markets – are driven by speculation, greed, ego and naivety. And not necessarily in that order.

Print media suggests that in today’s market, positively geared properties are becoming harder to find, especially in our capital cities. It’s more than just a suggestion though – it’s a fact. Over the past 18 to 20 months, tens of thousands more property buyers have flooded the market, primarily to take advantage of the lowest interest rates we’ve seen in the past 50 years. With the average Australian able to obtain a three-year, fixed-rate home loan at 4.59 per cent, it could be argued their lack of experience (plus their eagerness for the title

All volatile markets are driven by speculation, greed, ego and naivety. And not necessarily in that order.

Photos by Michael Lawrence & Duncan Macfarlane

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propertyguide

Occasionally, these towns slowly become abandoned and die completely ... there are about 63 of them scattered across the Australian landscape.

“investor”) have consequently pushed up prices. Unfortunately, in many areas, the rental market hasn’t followed this trend and, as a result, properties that could have been delivering high rental yields are now generating average rental figures simply because the property they had to have was seemingly overpriced. For example, look at properties I was buying for clients at $230,000 in western Sydney, earlier this year. Agents are now trying to get unsuspecting investors to offer above $280,000 – but the rent is either the same or possibly dropped by $10 a week. In other words, the gross rental yield is down because the price has been pushed beyond the norm. Property researchers are now warning residential returns

are very low, especially when compared to other yield assets. In some parts of Sydney, especially at the top end of the price scale, gross rental yields are as low as 2.1 per cent – just enough to cover the strata levies, water and council rates. I hope they paid cash, because there’s scant left to service a mortgage. Let’s be honest: investing in residential property has always been (for many investors) about chasing capital growth. To these types of investors, residential property is nothing but a gambling platform that offers an opportunity to make a short-term win. However, statistics provided by reputable property researchers support what I’ve been saying for the past 18 years or so – that residential investments should

be held for the long term in order for them to deliver a worthwhile return on your investment. Unfortunately not everyone gets this. Many property investors still chase the dream of that big payday – you know, the one on the front and back covers of every property magazine: boom suburbs, spectacular capital growth, a year’s salary in less than 12 months, gold in mining towns (or any other far flung one-industry town). They often seduce with the promise of positive cashflow and/or rental guarantees in the bag. One example I’ve seen is a Queensland country town of fewer than 700 people being shown on a map in an advert, in a big bold font, whereas the font for the major town in that region, with almost 16,000 permanent

residents, is so small you can hardly find it. In 2012, I wrote an article that warned investors far and wide to steer clear of mining towns, but I guess my warning wasn’t heard. What people seem to forget is mining towns are created and operated with a maximum workforce until construction is finished. Then it’s business on a shoestring. Investing in real estate in a mining town is dangerous and always short-lived. If we can learn anything from history, it’s that once a mine is built and the population reverts to what it was before, vacancy rates explode and the massive oversupply of properties forces sale prices through the floor. Occasionally, these towns slowly become abandoned and die completely ... there are about 63 of them scattered across the Australian landscape. Although there is a growing fear that positively geared properties are disappearing in today’s property markets, my Smart Property Adviser clients and I are still finding them. We’re using

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propertyguide

It is important to know that property investors are divided into three groups: the dreamers, the doers and the doubters.

a system which I created while unpacking 18 years of knowledge into the content of our two-day intensive course. The system is called Fast Track and it employs a simple 39-point checklist that ensures you do the right research to find the right properties for you and your investment strategy. There are five key steps in the Fast Track system.

Step 2: Suburb research

Step 1: Macro research

Step 3: Property market research

Macro research is all about navigating your way through the hype to identify potential investment locations. It is at this point that you analyse the property clock, identify employment growth areas and seek to pinpoint those areas where demographic change is strong.

Suburb research is all about narrowing in on the locations you identified in your macro research to find specific suburbs. Your focus is on identifying budgeted and committed infrastructure. Conduct local council research on residential and commercial developments, and do suburb comparisons using industry specific research tools.

Property market research is all about analysing the property market in the suburbs you’ve identified. Please note, there is no such thing as the property market. There are many property markets. This step is where you do your research by checking for-sale

prices and rental returns in the area. And don’t forget to check the vacancy rates.

Step 4: Micro research Micro research is all about the details. I always recommend my clients visit the area they’re interested in. I also recommend they speak to the local police and check out the competition to see what else is on the market and what’s available for rent.

Step 5: Property comparison Property comparison is all about identifying the property type that will deliver the best results. As the final step of the system, this is the most important. This step is where you identify what properties are in high rental demand and

which properties will deliver high rental yields. It’s also important to remember that some properties may require renovation. Don’t ignore these; the added value may be beneficial to your return. In summary, it’s important to know that property investors are divided into three groups: the dreamers, the doers and the doubters. Dreamers chase the hope of capital growth, while doers focus on affordability. Doubters own one or two investment properties but can’t see it being a long-term financial strategy. Of the three groups, it’s the doers who see the best results overall. By focusing on affordability, doers are able to buy properties in areas where 80 per cent of the population can afford the rent. They succeed because their investment strategy requires them to purchase positive cash-flow and positively geared properties. Which group of invstors would you like to belong to? If you’d like a free copy of the complete 39-point checklist, visit: smartpropertyadviser.com.au/thefast-track

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